cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-Range Low-VHF Channel Characterization in Cluttered Environments

The lower VHF band has potential for low-power, short-range communications, as well as for geolocation applications, in both indoor and urban environments. Most prior work at low VHF focuses on longer range path loss modeling, often with one node elevated. In this paper, we study indoor/outdoor near-ground scenarios through experiments and electromagnetic wave propagation simulations. These include the effects of indoor penetration through walls and obstacles, as well as indoor/outdoor cases, for both line of sight (LoS) and nonLoS (NLoS), at ranges up to 200 m. Mounting our receiver (Rx) on a robotic platform enabled the collection of thousands of measurements over an extended indoor/outdoor test area. We measure the channel transfer function, employing bandpass waveform sampling, with pulse and tone probe signals. Based on statistical tests, we show that the measured channels have a nearly ideal scalar attenuation and delay transfer function, with minimal phase distortion, and little to no evidence of multipath propagation. Compared with higher VHF and above, the measured short-range VHF channels do not exhibit small-scale fading, which simplifies communications Rx signal processing, and enables phase-based geolocation techniques.
Minimum mass of burning aluminum particles for ignition of methane/air and propane/air mixtures

Single aluminum particles of various diameters (20 μm to 80 μm) were suspended on a glass fiber in a methane/air or propane/air combustible gas mixture at room temperature and pressure. The particle was heated and caused to burn by a pulse from a neodymium: glass laser. The minimum diameter of single burning aluminum particles that ignite methane/air mixtures was determined experimentally to be between 20 μm and 30 μm. The minimum diameter is less than 20 μm for propane/air mixtures and is presented as a function of fuel/air equivalence ratio, . The energy of combustion of aluminum particles of minimum diameter (0.3 to 1.0 mJ) is of the same order as the minimum spark ignition energy of the gas. The methane/air mixture ignitable by the smallest particles has about the same equivalence ration (≈0.9) as the mixture ignitable by the least energetic spark; and the propane/air mixture ignitable by the smallest particles has an equivalence ration (≈1.5) greater than the mixture ignitable by the least energetic spark (≈1.25). This was unexpected because the burning aluminum removes oxygen from the combustible gas making the mixture fuel-rich in the vicinity of the particle. Data from the present study and two previous studies verify that, among various metals, the minimum particle mass for ignition of the gas is inversely related to its heat of combustion.
Freeze Dried Alfalfa as a Protein Source for Turkeys, 0–4 Weeks of Age

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to evaluate freeze dried alfalfa as a protein source for starting turkeys to four weeks of age. Freeze dried and dehydrated alfalfas were each fed at graded levels of 2.5 to 10 percent in corn-soybean diets. Body weight gain was reduced when the level of dehydrated alfalfa exceeded 2.5 or 5.0 percent, and when freeze dried alfalfa was fed at all levels. Freeze dried alfalfa reduced body weight gain more than dehydrated alfalfa. Feed efficiency data showed similar trends relative to treatments. When experimental diets were pelleted in the second experiment, some increase was seen in body weight gain with freeze dried alfalfa, and there was improvement in feed efficiency with the control and dehydrated alfalfa diets.
Physiologic Anemia of the Newborn: in vitro evaluation of inhibitors of erythropoiesis

Decreased hemoglobin concentration occurs at six weeks of age. Its mechanism is unclear. We studied six infants at six weeks of age and their parents, with the in vitro plasma clot assay for erythroid progenitor cells CFU-E and BFU-E. Serum samples and peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (MNC) were obtained by venipuncture. Bone marrow (BM) aspirate MNC were obtained from a normal adult volunteer. MNC were fractionated into T-cells and non-T-cells by sheep erythrocyte rosetting. Some PB-MNC from each baby were pre-incubated with: a) fresh plasma (FP), b) rabbit complement (RC), c) FP and baby's serum (BS) and d) RC and BS, for one hour at 37°C. All cultures contained 5 × 104 cells per micro-well. 1 × 104 T-cells were added to some experiments. The baby's PB-MNC produced a mean of 7±2 BFU-E colonies per clot, and 9.5±5 BFU-E when cultured in the presence of BS. Pre-incubation with FP, RC, FP+BS and RC+BS produced 5±1, 4±1, 5.5±2 and 4±2 BFU-E respectively. Adding baby's T-cells to his/her parents' PB-MNC increased the number of BFU-E from 11 to 19. BM-MNC produced a control of 250±10 CFU-E and 30±6 BFU-E per clot. In the presence of BS there were 219±30 CFU-E and 26±8 BFU-E. The addition of BS to cultures of baby's PB-MNC or the pre-incubation of these cells with BS and complement showed no significant inhibition of PB-BFU-E. The baby's T-cells increased the number of PB-BFU-E. Similarly, BM-CFU-E and BM-BFU-E were not inhibited by BS. T-cell suppression of erythropoiesis or serum inhibitors of erythropoiesis, either complement mediated or not, do not explain the physiologic anemia of the newborn.
Hydration properties of lamellar and non-lamellar phases of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.

Abstract Two of the most common phospholipids in biological membranes are phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Over a wide range of temperatures the PCs found in biological membranes form lamellar (bilayer) phases when dispersed in excess water, whereas PEs form either lamellar or hexagonal phases depending on their hydrocarbon chain composition. This paper details the hydration properties of lamellar and hexagonal phases formed by PCs and PEs, focusing on the energetics of hydration of these phases. For the hexagonal phase, the energy of bending the lipid monolayer is a critical term, with other contributions arising from the energies of hydrating the lipid headgroups and filling voids in the interstices in the hydrocarbon region. For the lamellar phase of PC, the water content is determined by a balance between the attractive van der Waals pressure and repulsive hydration and entropic (steric) pressures. In the case of PE bilayers, recent experiments demonstrate the presence of an additional strong, short-range attractive interaction, possibly due to hydrogen-bonded water interactions between N+ H3 groups in one bilayer and the PO4− groups in the apposing bilayer. This additional attractive pressure causes apposing PE bilayers to adhere strongly and to imbibe considerably less water than PC bilayers.
Performance of lactating dairy cows fed Coastal Bermudagrass pellets and corn silage individually and in combination.

Abstract Groups of six cows each were fed ad libitum: a) Coastal Bermudagrass pellets, b) corn-soybean silage, c) one-half Coastal pellets and one-half silage, and d) rye pasture during an 8-wk treatment period. The Coastal Bermudagrass was harvested 3 wk after the previous cutting, dehydrated, ground, pelleted, and stored 1.5 yr prior to feeding. The silage containing 77% corn dry matter and 23% soybeans was ensiled in a trench silo. Each cow that did not receive pasture was fed 1.36 kg/day of long Coastal Bermudagrass hay. Feeding pellets and silage in combination significantly increased forage dry matter intake and milk production over that of those fed either of the forages individually. Protein, SNF, and fat content of milk and body weight gains were not materially affected by the combination. Performance of cows given pasture was not significantly different from the combination group. Average adjusted milk production during the last week of the treatment period, when the effect was maximum, for those fed a) pellets, b) silage, c) pellets and silage, and d) pasture, was 12.5, 13.3, 15.6, and 15.2 kg/cow/day. For the first three treatment groups, respectively, average forage dry matter intake was 13.1, 10.7, and 14.3 kg/cow/day.
New structures in the bi­pyridine–copper(II) nitrate–methanol system: [(bpy)2Cu(NO3)]NO3·CH3OH and [(bpy)2Cu(NO3)]NO3

Reaction of 2,2′-bi­pyridine (bpy) and copper(II) nitrate in methanol results in two complexes, namely light-blue bis(2,2′-bi­pyridine)­nitrato­copper(II) nitrate methanol solvate, [Cu(NO3)(C10H8N2)2]NO3·CH3OH, (I), which is unstable in air, and the product of its decomposition, catena-poly­[[[bis(2,2′-bi­pyridine)copper(II)]-μ-nitrato-O:O′] nitrate], {[Cu(NO3)(C10H8N2)2]NO3}n, (II). The crystal structures of both compounds were determined from one crystal at room temperature. Later, the structure of (I) was redetermined at low temperature. In (I) and (II), the Cu atom is coordinated by two bpy and one or two nitrate ions, respectively. The second nitrate ion in (I), along with the methanol solvent mol­ecule, is found in the outer coordination sphere, not bonded to Cu. The nitrate in (I) is chelating, while in (II), it bridges (bpy)2Cu complexes, forming a one-dimensional chain structure. The Cu cation in (II) lies on a twofold axis and the uncoordinated NO3− ion is located close to a twofold axis and is therefore disordered. Compound (I) converts into (II) upon loss of solvent.
Selective distribution of saturated fatty acids into the monoglyceride fraction during enzymatic glycerolysis

Four triglyceride fats and oils (beef tallow, lard, rapeseed oil and soybean oil) were reacted with glycerol while using lipase as the catalyst. For all fats examined, at reaction temperatures above the critical temperature (Tc), the fatty acid compositions of the monoglyceride (MG) and diglyceride (DG) fractions and of the original fat were similar. A relatively low yield of MG was obtained (20–30 wt%). When the reaction was carried out with beef tallow or lard at a temperature below the Tc (40°C), the concentration of saturated fatty acids in the MG fraction was 2 to 4 times greater than that in the DG fraction. Correspondingly, the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids in the DG fraction was more than two times greater than that in the MG fraction. At 5°C, a similar trend was observed for rapeseed oil and soybean oil. Direct analysis of partial glycerides during glycerolysis by high-temperature gas-liquid chromatography showed that below Tc the content of C16 MG increased relatively more than C18 MG. C36 DG and C54 TG were apparently resistant to glycerolysis. Preferential distribution of saturated fatty acids into the MG fraction was accompanied by a high yield of monoglyceride (45–70 wt%) and solidification of the reaction mixture. It is concluded that during glycerolysis below Tc, preferential crystallization occurs for MGs that contain a saturated fatty acid.
Ephemeral grounding as a signal of ice-shelf change

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) observations of ice-shelf tidal deformation reveal the wide transition between grounded and floating ice as well as local areas where the ice shelf is only grounded at low tide, a condition that we call ephemeral grounding. Ephemeral grounding creates a subtle, local disturbance on the vertical motion field of the ice-shelf surface in response to changes in oceanic tide which is detected with millimetric precision using InSAR. These ice-shelf features are, however, not expected to produce a noticeable disturbance on the ice-shelf velocity field. To illustrate the influence of ephemeral grounding on ice-shelf creep flow, we use a finite-element model in which ephemeral grounding is incorporated through a variable basal friction coefficient. The results show that while ice rises (permanently grounded areas) have a pronounced influence on the ice-shelf velocity field, areas of ephemeral grounding have a vanishingly small influence. What is thus of most interest is the capacity for observations of ephemeral grounding to reveal subtle changes in ice-shelf thickness over time. We discuss an example in the Thwaites Glacier area, West Antarctica, where multi-year data show how ice rises become ephemeral grounding and subsequently disappear. This result is consistent with the grounding-line retreat and ice thinning of Thwaites Glacier.
Ethical Naturalism as a Challenge to Theological Ethics

There are many versions of naturalism as an overall position, and there are several significant and influential kinds of naturalism in ethics. The latter views may or may not be realist, and, if realist, may or may not be reductive in one or another sense. The antirealist versions include the noncognitivist view that moral claims do not ascribe genuine properties and, unlike assertions of fact, are not strictly speaking true or false. Which of these views, if any, are harmonious with theism, particularly the monotheistic view that God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent? More broadly, which, if any, are a good basis for ethical reflection in the field of religion, conceived broadly as including nontheistic religions? One would think that, whether or not divine directives determine our obligations, the very existence of God would guarantee that there is a real distinction between right and wrong—or anyway that there are normatively authoritative standards of conduct, as there may be even in nontheistic religions. This essay will clarify naturalism in ethics, identify some major options for theologically oriented ethics, and sketch an ethical view that might capture many of the best elements in both perspectives.
Mediating Pathways Explaining Psychosocial Functioning and Revictimization as Sequelae of Parental Violence Among Adolescent Mothers

Adolescent mothers are at high risk for negative life events, such as previous childhood physical abuse, impaired psychosocial functioning, and young adulthood revictimization. However, little is known about the potential pathways in these events; hence, little is known about opportunities for intervention. This study used structural equation modeling to investigate mediators of the effects of parental child abuse on later psychosocial functioning and revictimization (in the form of intimate partner violence and sexual violence) among adolescent mothers, with longitudinal data spanning 2.4 years. On psychological distress in the final time period, parental physical child abuse had an early and then maintained effect but also effects mediated by earlier psychological distress and revictimization. Psychological distress rather than substance use appeared as the primary psychosocial factor mediating the effects of parental violence on both future distress and revictimization. For prevention of further psychosocial impairment and revictimization, these findings indicate the need for early intervention with adolescent mothers who come from abusive families and who display higher levels of psychological distress.
Methods for Detection of Incipient Primary Hypothyroidism: A Comparative Study

Patients who have received radio-iodine for treatment of hyperthyroidism as well as patients with Hashimoto' thyroiditis may develop hypothyroidism insidiously. We have found that failure of serum triiodothyronine levels to rise after intravenous administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, in conjunction with a prompt elevation of serum thyrotropin, may be of predictive value in identifying those patients who will subsequently develop hypothyroidism. Elevated basal levels of thyrotropin also correlate with subsequent hypothyroidism. In contrast, basal thyroxine levels, basal thyroidal uptake of radioiodine, thyroidal uptake after intramuscular thyrotropin, and triiodothyronine rise after intramuscular thyrotropin do not.
Academia—An endangered species

With the use of these logarithmic formulas, maximum errors in weeks were: for foot, + 0.39 at 9 weeks and - 0.59 at 20 weeks; for leg, - 0.62 at 19 weeks and - 1.09 at 20 weeks; and for arm, - 0.71 at 19 weeks and - 1.25 at 20 weeks.
Radical sphenoidectomy with nasopharyngeal flap

Abstract Chronic sphenoid sinusitis is a common problem with serious consequences. Ocular disturbance, blindness and even death can occur as a consequence of this chronic infection. Sphenoid marsupialization is a procedure in which the floor of the sinus, which is a common wall with the roof of the nasopharynx, is removed endoscopically and a flap of nasopharyngeal vault mucosa is placed within the sinus. This diminishes the sinus size and opens it completely so that it will not be a site of collection of purulent material in the future. Five patients are illustrated who had severe refractory chronic sphenoid sinusitis, all of which have had previous surgery and all treated successfully with sphenoid marsupialization.
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF WHEEL RAIL CONTACT STRESSES FOR U.S. FREIGHT CARS

Importance of the wheel rail contact stresses in track degradation and safety of trains is discussed. Theroetical elastic contact stresses based on Hertz theory for various U.S. railroad cars are presented. These contact stresses were produced for simulation of different cars on the IIT-GM-EMD wheel rail simulation facility which is briefly discussed. Experimental measurements of contact areas at the facility for 55, 70, 95 and 125 ton cars, including changes due to the plasticity and wear effects are given. Based on these, the average contact stress variation with time is shown. It is observed that the contact stresses for cars stabilize at a nearly constant value within a range of 88-103 ksi. Due to increased plasticity effects under cyclic loading the stabilized contact stress levels for heavier cars are found to be at lower stress levels as compared to lighter cars. Stabilized contact stresses are compared with theroetical values predicted by Melan and Johnson under simplified load and material behavior conditions. Experimental values are somewhat higher as expected. Laboratory data on contact stresses is compared with contact stresses measured at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing for 10 ton cars. Good corroboration with laboratory data was observed. A summary comparison of current industry design contact stresses with laboratory and field measurements shows that the contact stresses are too high and not stable for U.S. freight cars using the current AAR standard wheel rail designs. A concept of profile stability is proposed for future profile designs which are much needed for the heavy tonnage cars.
Ising correlations at the critical temperature

Abstract We demonstrate how the quadratic difference equations of Hirota's Toda lattice form, recently derived for the planar Ising model, provide a particularly easy way to obtain pair correlation functions at the critical temperature. The new results are also relevant for the dimer problem.
HOXA5-Induced Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells Is Mediated by Caspases 2 and 8

HOXA5 is a transcriptional factor whose expression is lost in more than 60% of breast carcinomas. Our previous work demonstrated that the overexpression of HOXA5 in MCF7 cells resulted in cell death through a p53-dependent apoptotic pathway. To determine whether p53-independent apoptotic pathways are involved in HOXA5-induced cell death, we engineered a p53-mutant breast cancer cell line, Hs578T, to inducibly express HOXA5. Induction of HOXA5 expression led to cell death with features typical of apoptosis within 24 h, and the expression levels of mutant p53 and its target genes either decreased or remained unchanged. To decipher apoptotic pathways, the HOXA5-expressing cells were treated with a variety of apoptotic inhibitors. Besides a general caspase inhibitor, caspase 2- and 8-specific inhibitors largely abolished HOXA5-induced apoptosis, whereas caspase 1-, 3-, 6-, and 9-specific inhibitors had no significant effects. Western blot analysis further confirmed that caspases 2 and 8 were activated after the induction of HOXA5 expression. Further, several small interfering RNAs which specifically silenced caspase 2 and caspase 8 expression significantly blocked HOXA5-induced apoptosis. HOXA5 expression could also sensitize cells to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis by at least 100-fold. These results indicate that expression of HOXA5 can induce apoptosis through an apoptotic mechanism mediated by caspases 2 and 8.
Association of Bacteroides fragilis with Childhood Diarrhea

Enterotoxigenic strains of Bacteriodes fragilis (ETBF) have recently been found to be associated with diarrheal illness in Apache and Bangladeshi children. This study was conducted to define the role of ETBF in diarrhea of children in an urban setting. Fecal specimens from 991 children with diarrhea and 581 asymptomatic age-matched controls were cultured for B. fragilis (BF). The isolates were tested for enterotoxin production using a human colonic epithelial cell line. BF was isolated from 318 (32.1%) of the patients and 123 (21.2%) of the controls (p < 0.001). In children < 1 year old which comprised about 50% of both patients and controls, the BF isolation rates were comparable (26.5% vs 25.7%; p = 0.812), contrasting with the significant difference in isolation rates for children < 1 year (37.6% vs 16.5%; p = < 0.001). Overall, ETBF were identified in 4.4% of patients and 3.1% of controls (p = 0.2). However, ETBF were significantly associated with diarrheal disease in children 1-5 years (5.4% vs 1.8%;...
Policy algebras for access control: the propositional case

Although different organizations operate under different requirements for protection of their data, increasingly there is a need for organizations to connect their computing resources together to achieve common goals. The fundamental problem addressed in this paper is to capture the algebra used in composing access control policies of collaborating organizations. In doing so, we seek a framework that can be viewed at many levels of abstraction (such as abstract vs. explicit or propositional vs. predicate), independent of implementation mechanisms and environments, and is expressive enough to model existing practices of policy compositions.Propositional version consists of a syntax where policies are viewed as abstract symbols, and semantics consists of authorization state transformers, where an authorization state is a collection of (subject, object, access set) triples and a set of propositions satisfied by them. Syntactic rules are provided to simplify policy expressions without knowing their semantics, thereby supporting algebraic manipulations of uninterpreted policies. Because our algebra is at an abstract level, it can model any policy independent of the language that is used to implement it. We show how to reason about completeness, consistency, unambiguity and of abstractly specified policies and their semantic equivalence.
High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of benzodiazepines using diode array, electrochemical and thermospray mass spectrometric detection

Abstract Twenty benzodiazepines were examined via a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array-dual electrochemical detection and HPLC-thermospray mass spectrometric detection. Although UV detection at 230 nm resulted in extensive overlap of the benzodiazepines, each compound gave unique UV spectra. Twenty percent of the benzodiazepines tested gave response ratios via oxidation detection, and the values obtained were unique. All compounds except chlorazepate gave MH + ions as the base peak via thermospray-mass spectrometric detection with filament off; additional ions were detected for many compounds. Using single ion chromatograms all benzodiazepines can be chromatographically resolved.
Regional coronary blood flow in awake resting and pharmacologically stressed dogs.

Abstract To determine the transmural distribution of blood flow in the major regions of the heart we used the radioactive microsphere method to measure flow in multiple layers of the septum and right and left ventricle in four dogs. Studies were done in awake dogs in the resting, and isoproterenol infusion states, and in the sedated state during methoxamine- and propranolol-induced left ventricular failure. The transmural distribution of right ventricular flow was uniform at rest redistributed to higher midwall flow during isoproterenol infusion, and redistributed to a near linear decrease in flow from the endocardium to epicardium during ventricular failure. Left ventricular transmural flow decreased slightly from the endocardium to epicardium at rest, was near uniform during isoproterenol, but in failure there was a redistribution such that subendocardial flow was approximately twice subepicardial with a near linear decrease across the myocardium. Septal flow distribution tended to follow the absolute right and left ventricular flows. These results demonstrate that the transmural distribution of myocardial blood flow in septum right and left ventricles varies within and between hearts at rest and during isoproterenol and pharmacologically induced left ventricular failure.
Representation of strong baseline contributions in 1H MR spectra

A comparison is made between two optimization procedures and two data models for automated analysis of in vivo proton MR spectra of brain, typical of that obtained using MR spectroscopic imaging at 1.5 Tesla. First, a shift invariant wavelet filter is presented that provides improved performance over a conventional wavelet filter method for characterizing smoothly varying baseline signals. Next, two spectral fitting methods are described: an iterative spectral analysis method that alternates between optimizing a parametric description of metabolite signals and nonparametric characterization of baseline contributions, and a single-pass method that optimizes a complete spectral and baseline model. Both methods are evaluated using wavelet and spline models of the baseline function. Results are shown for Monte Carlo simulations of data representative of both long and short TE, in vivo 1H acquisitions.
An Automatic Apparatus to Cover and Uncover Plants in Photoperiod Experiments

Fig. 1. (A) Diagrammatic end view showing arrangement of box and winch in relation to side wall and roof of greenhouse. (B) Arrangement of motor, speed reducing gear, and winch. The drum of the winch is a piece of hard wood with the outer end turned down to form a shaft. This is supported in a hole in a board attached to the base and lubricated with oil and graphite. The ends of the drum are discs of plywood, and the inner end is bolted to a plate on the reducing gear.
Teaching the smart grid fundamentals using modeling, simulation, and hands-on laboratory experiments

This paper addresses two critical issues related to the future power engineering education: what to teach and how. While the Smart Grid concepts have been emphasized lately the need to modernize the power engineering education has been well recognized by many for some time. As the Smart Grid emphasis got linked to a substantial funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the opportunity for creating innovative ways to teach new concepts in the power engineering became real. Since the ARRA and other investments in the power grid infrastructure and demonstrations require additional personnel with new skills, there is a need to revisit the power engineering education goals. Two fundamental issues that characterize the future power engineering education are emphasized in this paper: multidisciplinary education and integrative nature of the Smart Grid solutions. The paper illustrates how the desirable concepts may be conveyed using modeling, simulation and hands on laboratory experiments.
LASERS IN HEALTHCARE: FOCUS ON CORNEAL REFRACTIVE SURGERY

Refractive surgery techniques allow people with vision defects to see without the use of external aids. The authors provide a comprehensive picture of state-of-the-art, corneal surgery.
A Human Herpesvirus MicroRNA Inhibits p21 Expression and Attenuates p21-Mediated Cell Cycle Arrest

The oncogenic human gammaherpesvirus Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) expresses 12 viral microRNAs (miRNAs) in latently infected cells. Here, we report that cellular mRNAs encoding the cellular cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, a key inducer of cell cycle arrest, are direct targets for KSHV miR-K1. Ectopically expressed KSHV miR-K1 specifically inhibited the expression of endogenous p21 in KSHV-negative cells and strongly attenuated the cell cycle arrest that normally occurs upon p53 activation, yet miR-K1 did not prevent the induction of other p53-responsive genes. Stable knockdown of miR-K1 in latently KSHV-infected human primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) B cells revealed a derepression of p21 expression and enhanced cell cycle arrest following activation of p53. Our data demonstrate that miR-K1 represses the expression of p21, a protein with known tumor suppressor functions, and suggest that this KSHV miRNA is likely to contribute to the oncogenic potential of this opportunistic viral pathogen.
Ball bearing measurement with white light interferometry

ABSTRACT Requirements on high-performance of ball bearings in terms of the loads they experience and their reliability are increasing as the automotive, aerospace, and power generation industries look to cut costs, reduce emissions, and improve efficiency. Most bearings are evaluated with a stylus profiler or with a bright field scopes or microscopes for form, roughness, and defect classification. Two-dimens ional stylus measurements captures only very localized surface profiles unless multiple scans are performed which slow the m easurement time unaccepta bly; this leads to inadequate sampling and sometimes greatly varying results based on location and directionality of the line scan. Bright field microscopes deliver only the lateral information about defects but not their depth, volume or surface roughness. White light interferometry can be very successfully utilized in the measurement of full field form, roughness and defect detection and is gaining adoption. They provide rapid, accurate, three-dimensional imaging compatible with the newly de veloped ISO 3D surface parameters whic h are expected to rapidly displace traditional 2D metrics. These surface parameters allow for better characterization of surface structure and better understanding of the production process and bearing and race wear. New 3D filtering techniques allow effective separation of form, waviness, and roughness for highly accurate and repeatable bearing qualification Keywords: roughness measurement, ball bearings, 3D areal S pa rameters, robust Gaussian regression filter, defect detection and characterization.
Modulation of human nk cells by interferon and prostaglandin E2

Our studies have shown that stimulation of human natural killer (NK) cells by poly I: C does not depend on or require monocytes. In contrast, the presence of monocytes in a mixed population of mononuclear cells stimulated by poly I:C suppresses NK. activity. The suppression can be partially overcome if indomethacin (10−6M) is added to the culture during stimulation. Culture supernatants from poly I:C stimulated monocytes do not have detectable levels of anti-viral activity but contained appreciable amounts of PGE2. Our results offer an explanation as to how NK cells may protect themselves from suppression by PGE2. We have demonstrated that IFN-activated NK cells become resistant to PGE2-mediated suppression; moreover the suppression does not require cells other than the large granular lymphocytes, the major effector cell type for NK. Taken together, the data suggest that stimulation of NK cells is dependent on and regulated by the relative levels of interferon produced by lymphocytes and PGE2 produced by monocytes.
Assessing the collection development need for CD-ROM products

Abstract The following article grew out of a paper presented at the 16th mid-year meeting of the American Society for Information Science, Kings Island, Ohio, May 18, 1987. It was one of four included within a panel entitled “Integration of Optical Disc Products into Library Collections. ” This paper concludes that we are going to spend more money for improved access to existing paper products and incur new peripheral expenses related to housing and providing access to these materials in the electronic format. This picture may change, however, as the type of data included changes from being largely bibliographical to actual information for research.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy: centers of excellence or excellence of centers?

Currently, an anatomic lobectomy or segmentectomy and complete mediastinal lymph node dissection can be achieved through two to four small incisions, without rib spreading, using videoscopic visualization. This article discusses the assimilation of this technique, video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy, into the practice of a thoracic surgeon and attempts to answer the question: How do we, as professionals, assure quality (defined as a proper oncologic surgery) and safety while introducing this new technology?
Titanium isotopic anomalies in chondrules from carbonaceous chondrites

Abstract Isotopic analyses of Ti from chondrules of carbonaceous chondrites reveal that Ti anomalies are present; anomalies are detected only at 50Ti. For a suite of eight Allende chondrules, four give well-resolved anomalies which range from a 50Ti deficit of two ϵ-units to a 50Ti excess of nine ϵ-units. No clear link is evident between the structure or composition of the chondrules and the Ti anomalies. However, the chondrule with by far the largest Ti isotopic anomaly is also Al-rich. Yet the absence of a strict correlation between the Ca, Al, & Ti contents and the Ti anomalies, together with the similarity of the 50Ti excess for the one chondrule to that of most Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), indicate that the relation between degree of refractory enrichment and the magnitude of Ti isotopic anomalies is not a simple one. Single chondrules from Murchison, Kaidun, and Kakangari all fail to exhibit a well-resolved anomaly, although in the latter two the single analysis of each precludes resolving anomalies of less than three ϵ-units. These observations support the view that the Ti isotopic diversity in chondrules is an inherited feature from their precursor assemblages of dust. Models which envision similar precursors for both chondrules and matrix are consistent with the Ti isotopic data. But at least two distinct solid-matter reservoirs are required for the Allende chondrules alone, which underscores the diversity in the nebular dust. These Ti anomalies also caution that more than one dust isotopic component may be necessary to account fully for the oxygen isotopic variations in chondrules. The Ti anomalies in chondrules argue strongly against models which ascribe the Ti anomalies in CAIs to unique features of their evolution; instead, heterogeneities were more common in the nebular dust.
'Hypersonic slip flows' and issues on extending continuum model beyond the Navier-Stokes level

Results of a direct simulation Monte Carlo method for a hypersonic flow about a flat plate at a 40 deg angle of attack have been compared with corresponding results from a theory for fully viscous shock layers (FVSLs). Using the 13-moment equations for a Maxwell gas, it is demonstrated that nonequilibrium and equilibrium FVSL flows can be correlated. With the exception of the pressure density, most of the flow properties along a streamline (including heat flux and shear and normal stresses) are correctly predicted to leading order by the Navier-Stokes model.
A novel epiphytic cyanobacterium associated with reservoirs affected by avian vacuolar myelinopathy

Avianvacuolar myelinopathy (AVM) is a newly discovered bird disease, which is killing bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and waterfowl in the southeastern United States. Surveys were conducted to investigate exotic macrophytes (e.g. Hydrilla verticillata) as a substrate for attachment by toxic cyanobacteria that may be associated with the incidence of AVM. While the specific cause of the disease has not been confirmed, one hypothesis is that birds ingest a neurotoxin produced by cyanobacteria epiphytic on macrophytes. A strong relationship was found between the field abundance of a specific undescribed epiphytic cyanobacterium and the incidence of AVM. The undescribed species is a filamentous, heterocystous, true branching cyanobacterium. Morphological characteristics place the cyanobacterium in section V, order Stigonematales. The 16S rRNA sequence identity was determined from environmental isolates of this unknown Stigonematalan species using DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). The 16S rRNA sequence data were aligned with additional cyanobacteria sequences to determine designations for probe development, to lay groundwork for its formal description and to advance understanding of the species’ phylogeny. Real-time PCR assays were developed for rapid, specific detection of the Stigonematales species from environmental samples. The genetic probe produced by this study will help test the hypothesized link between these cyanobacteria and AVM, and therefore help guide decisions on managing hydrilla and other invasive macrophytes in AVM-affected waters. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Detailed Phenotypic and Molecular Analyses of Genetically Modified Mice Generated by CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Editing

The bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 system has been adapted for use as a genome editing tool. While several recent reports have indicated that successful genome editing of mice can be achieved, detailed phenotypic and molecular analyses of the mutant animals are limited. Following pronuclear micro-injection of fertilized eggs with either wild-type Cas9 or the nickase mutant (D10A) and single or paired guide RNA (sgRNA) for targeting of the tyrosinase (Tyr) gene, we assessed genome editing in mice using rapid phenotypic readouts (eye and coat color). Mutant mice with insertions or deletions (indels) in Tyr were efficiently generated without detectable off-target cleavage events. Gene correction of a single nucleotide by homologous recombination (HR) could only occur when the sgRNA recognition sites in the donor DNA were modified. Gene repair did not occur if the donor DNA was not modified because Cas9 catalytic activity was completely inhibited. Our results indicate that allelic mosaicism can occur following -Cas9-mediated editing in mice and appears to correlate with sgRNA cleavage efficiency at the single-cell stage. We also show that larger than expected deletions may be overlooked based on the screening strategy employed. An unbiased analysis of all the deleted nucleotides in our experiments revealed that the highest frequencies of nucleotide deletions were clustered around the predicted Cas9 cleavage sites, with slightly broader distributions than expected. Finally, additional analysis of founder mice and their offspring indicate that their general health, fertility, and the transmission of genetic changes were not compromised. These results provide the foundation to interpret and predict the diverse outcomes following CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing experiments in mice.
Dryland performance of sweet sorghum and grain crops for biofuel in nebraska

ABSTRACT Sweet sorghum [SS; Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a potential biofuel crop for the Great Plains. Sweet sorghum was compared with corn [ Zea mays (L.)] and grain sorghum for potential ethanol yield, energy use effi ciency, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emis-sions at seven dryland site-years in Nebraska. Seasonal rainfall ranged from approximately 340 to 660 mm. Soils were deep with medium texture at all site-years. Th e eff ects of seeding rate, N rate, and cultivar on SS performance were evaluated. Sweet sorghum sugar yield was not aff ected by seeding rate and N application at six of seven site-years, but yield was increased by 19% at one site-year. Calculated ethanol yield and net energy yield were 33 and 21% more, respectively, with the grain crops compar ed with SS, but mean net energy yield of an earlier-maturing SS cultivar was comparable with the grain crops. Th e mean ratio of energy produced in ethanol per total energy invested was 23% less for grain crops compared with SS. Mean life cycle GHG emis-sions were 53% and 66 to 69% less compared with gasoline for SS and grain crops, respectively. Very effi cient use of the ethanol coproducts was assumed for the grain crops while SS bagasse was assumed to be returned to the fi eld. At least one SS cultivar is competitive with grain crops for some biofuel criteria, but SS is not competitive with grain crops for total or net liquid transpor-tation fuel produced per hectare.
Distinct developmental patterns of expression of rat α1, α5, γ2S, and γ2L γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor subunit mRNAs in vivo and in vitro

We have quantitated the alpha 1, alpha 5, gamma 2S, and gamma 2L gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor subunit mRNAs in the maturing cerebellum in vivo and in cerebellar granule neurons differentiating in vitro. Absolute amounts of mRNA were measured by reverse transcription and competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis with appropriate internal standards. The alpha 1 and gamma 2L mRNA content increased continuously during postnatal cerebellar maturation and their changes with time matched very closely those of the cerebellar granule cells differentiating in vitro. The gamma 2S subunit mRNA showed a relatively constant pattern of expression both in vivo and in vitro, with comparable absolute concentrations in both developmental paradigms. The alpha 5 mRNA was initially high in vivo and decreased (eight-fold) to adult levels as postnatal cerebellar development progressed. In vitro the amount of alpha 5 GABAA receptor subunit mRNA was higher than in vivo at 3 days, increased by more than twofold by 8 days, and declined to approximately the initial values at 23 and 28 days in vitro. Collectively, the results indicate that the alpha 1, alpha 5, gamma 2S, and gamma 2L GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs are regulated differentially in a temporal manner during in vivo and in vitro maturation. Moreover, a comparison of the ontogenetic profiles of the gamma 2S and gamma 2L mRNAs indicates that alternative splicing of the gamma 2 primary RNA transcript is regulated developmentally during postnatal maturation of the rat cerebellum.
Effect of N‐alkyl chain length on the mutagenicity of N‐nitrosated 1‐naphthyl N‐alkylcarbamates

1-Naphthyl N-alkylcarbamates (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and n-butyl) were synthesized and then nitrosated with a dichloromethane extract of nitrous acid. The respective N-nitrosated carbamates were purified and tested for mutagenicity using Salmonella typhimurium LT2 strain TA98 and TA100, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D3. The reactivity of the four nitrosocarbamates toward 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)-pyridine (NBP) was measured in order to assess their strengths as alkylating agents. Bioassay results indicated an inverse relationship between the length of the N-alkyl chain and the mutagenicity of the N-nitrosonaphthylcarbamates. The NBP test results indicated an inverse relationship between chemical reactivity and N-alkyl chain length.
Solar Cycle in Photosphere and Corona

The solar cycle in photosphere and corona reflects the internal dynamics on the Sun. According to the modern understanding the observed behavior of solar activity is related to the dynamo process in convection zone and photosphere and it is closely connected with the evolution of the coronal structures. The observational data from ground and space allow us to investigate the solar cycle as a complex phenomenon and to clarify the most important features such as polar magnetic field reversals, non-uniform distributions of the solar activity complexes and fine structure of the solar cycle.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html
Do I Exist?: Transcendent Subjects and Secrets in The Sixth Sense

Like many recent films, The Sixth Sense poses existentialist concerns. We argue that the film challenges capitalist regimes of everyday life by creating tension between the postindustrial subject and the “secret” of being. However, the film's narrative ultimately supports the “everyday” with a transcendence that overcomes the other and his secret. While the film resonates with an American culture increasingly wary of consumer and professional identities as the means to experience a full and rich life, the film reinforces the idea that it is through a professional identity that one may comfortably manage the trauma of having one's existence called into question.
Model based recognition using pruned correspondence search

A polynomial time algorithm is presented (pruned correspondence search, PCS) with good average case complexity for solving a wide class of geometric maximal matching problems, including the problem of recognizing 3-D objects from a single 2-D image. The PCS algorithm is connected with the geometry of the underlying recognition problem only through calls to a verification algorithm. Efficient verification algorithms are given for the case of affine transformations among vector spaces and for the case of rigid 2-D and 3-D transformations with scale. Among the known algorithms that solve the bounded error recognition problem exactly and completely, the PCS algorithm currently has the lowest complexity. Some preliminary experiments suggest that PCS is a practical algorithm. >
Combustion optimization with inferential sensing

The paper presents development and implementation of an advanced combustion controller (ACC) for a coal-fired boiler. The solution consists of combustion controller (multi-variable predictive controller) and combustion optimizer (cautious strategy stochastic optimizer). Optimization is based on a model of the CO and NO/sub x/ emissions. The model is used to calculate the setpoint of the optimal air/fuel ratio(s) maximizing the efficiency of the plant under constraints given by emission limits.
Evaluation of Four DNA Extraction Methods for the Detection of Tritrichomonas Foetus in Feline Stool Specimens by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Feces are increasingly valued as practical samples for molecular diagnosis of infectious disease. However, extraction of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quality DNA from fecal samples can be challenging because of coextraction of PCR inhibitors. Because the type and quantity of PCR inhibitors is influenced by diet, endogenous flora, and concurrent disease, it is unlikely that extraction method performance with human feces can be directly extrapolated to that of domestic cats. In the present study, 4 commercially available DNA extraction methods were examined for their influence on the sensitivity of PCR for the detection of Tritrichomonas foetus in feline stool. DNA was extracted from serially diluted feline-origin T. foetus trophozoites in the absence or presence of feline feces. The ZR Fecal DNA kit was identified as affording the greatest analytical sensitivity and reproducibility and was able to detect >or=10 T. foetus organisms per 100 mg feces in 100% of PCR reactions. Further, the identified extraction method could be completed in the shortest time of all kits tested.