cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Film Breakdown and Anodic Dissolution during Stress Corrosion Cracking of Carbon Steel in Bioethanol

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of X-65 carbon steel was investigated in simulated fuel-grade ethanol (SFGE) using the slow strain rate test method, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, open-circuit potential, and potentiostatic current monitoring. Results indicate that crack initiation on carbon steel in the SFGE environment is associated with plastic deformation in the material, which leads to a surface film breakdown. The competition between active anodic dissolution and repassivation ahead of the crack tip controlled the propagation of these cracks in SFGE. Within the anodic dissolution range, both crack density and crack growth rate in the through-thickness direction increased as the potential increased. The applied cathodic potential eliminated the SCC in this system. The mode of SCC for the carbon steel in aerated SFGE was predominately transgranular.
Control of the Photophysical Properties of Polyatomic Molecules by Substitution and Solvation: The Second Excited Singlet State of Azulene

The UV−visible−near-IR absorption spectra, S2 → S0 fluorescence quantum yields and S2 fluorescence lifetimes of 1-fluoroazulene, 1,3-difluoroazulene, and several of their alkyl-substituted derivatives have been measured at room temperature in up to six solvents, benzene, dichloromethane, ethanol, acetonitrile, n-hexane, and perfluoro-n-hexane. The quantum yields (up to 0.2) and lifetimes (up to 9.5 ns) of the S2 state of 1,3-difluoroazulene are exceptionally largethe largest ever reported for an upper excited singlet state of a polyatomic molecule with a closed-shell ground state. The nonradiative rate constants for the decay of the S2 states of these molecules in these solvents and of azulene, 1,3-dichloroazulene and 1,3-dibromoazulene, determined previously, have been analyzed in terms of the weak coupling case of radiationless transition theory. The data show that the nonradiative rate constants for the S2 states of azulene, 1-fluoroazulene, and 1,3-difluoroazulene in the nonpolar solvents follow the l...
Fluorometric studies of oxidative metabolism in isolated papillary muscle of the rabbit.

The fluorometric technique for measuring the levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides was used to study oxidative metabolism in isolated rabbit papillary muscle at 23°C. The 100% standard level of tissue fluorescence was defined as that measured for muscles resting in oxygenated 10 mM pyruvate solution. This level increased 15% with anoxia and decreased 45% with stimulation in substrate-free solution. Thus, about one-half of the standard tissue fluorescence was metabolically labile and this labile fraction is suggested to be mitochondrial in origin. Decreased tissue fluorescence following mechanical activity was identified with increased oxidation of mitochondrial reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) owing to stimulation by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), released during activity, of mitochondrial respiration. The kinetics of the fluorescence transients were slowed fourfold by removal of pyruvate. This effect was not significantly reversed by addition of 10 mM glucose. The time integrals of the fluorescence transients were linearly related to the amounts of mechanical activity in the presence, but not in the absence, of pyruvate. A positive correlation was observed between the steady-state peak tension at constant stimulus rate and the resting level of reduction of pyridine nucleotides in various media. The fluorometric results are interpreted to be indicative of the steady and transient states established by the substrate dehydrogenases and the respiratory chain during oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria.
The Harvard trauma questionnaire: adapting a cross-cultural instrument for measuring torture, trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in Iraqi refugees.

Background: Mental health assessments in post-conflict zones have relied heavily on Western psychiatric scales. Yet, a strict dependence on the paradigms of Western psychiatry risks inappropriately...
Purification Of A Water-Sensitive Natural Product With An Aprotic Cpc Solvent System

Abstract The partition coefficients of arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin (PG) H2 and PGE2 in the binary acetonitrile-hexane two-phase solvent system can be favorably modified by addition of diethyl ether. In the ternary two-phase solvent system acetonitrile-hexane-diethyl ether the partition coefficients of AA and the prostaglandins diverge as the ratio of ether to acetonitrile-hexane (1:1) is increased from 0.00 to 0.15 while the partition coefficients of PGH2 and PGE2 diverge as the ratio of ether to acetonitrile-hexane (1:1) is increased from 0.15 to 0.30. Isolation by CPC of PGH2 from the AA bioconversion reaction mixture is described.
A cognitive approach to vision for a mobile robot

We describe a cognitive vision system for a mobile robot. This system works in a manner similar to the human vision system, using saccadic, vergence and pursuit movements to extract information from visual input. At each fixation, the system builds a 3D model of a small region, combining information about distance, shape, texture and motion. These 3D models are embedded within an overall 3D model of the robot's environment. This approach turns the computer vision problem into a search problem, with the goal of constructing a physically realistic model of the entire environment. At each step, the vision system selects a point in the visual input to focus on. The distance, shape, texture and motion information are computed in a small region and used to build a mesh in a 3D virtual world. Background knowledge is used to extend this structure as appropriate, e.g. if a patch of wall is seen, it is hypothesized to be part of a large wall and the entire wall is created in the virtual world, or if part of an object is recognized, the whole object's mesh is retrieved from the library of objects and placed into the virtual world. The difference between the input from the real camera and from the virtual camera is compared using local Gaussians, creating an error mask that indicates the main differences between them. This is then used to select the next points to focus on. This approach permits us to use very expensive algorithms on small localities, thus generating very accurate models. It also is task-oriented, permitting the robot to use its knowledge about its task and goals to decide which parts of the environment need to be examined. The software components of this architecture include PhysX for the 3D virtual world, OpenCV and the Point Cloud Library for visual processing, and the Soar cognitive architecture, which controls the perceptual processing and robot planning. The hardware is a custom-built pan-tilt stereo color camera. We describe experiments using both static and moving objects.
Fluorescent Nucleic Acid Hybridization Methods.

In the last several years a number of approaches have been developed that permit detection of nucleic acid hybridization using fluorescence techniques. These have several advantages over the previously available radioactive procedures. Among these are much higher spatial resolution, the speed with which the results are available, the reduced hazard, and the possibility of distinguishing the binding of multiple probes using different fluorochromes. Exploitation of this potential requires application of optical techniques of increasing sophistication such as development of new fluorophores, improved methods of visualizing multiple dyes in the same sample, application of image processing to extract quantitative information, and optimized optical sectioning for three dimensional reconstructions.
Dextransucrase constitutive mutants of Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-1299

Abstract Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-1299 dextrans are separated into two kinds: fraction L, which is precipitated by an ethanol concentration of 38%, and fraction S, which is precipitated at an ethanol concentration of 40%. Fraction S dextran contained 35% of α-1,2 branch linkages, and fraction L contained 27% α-1,2 branch linkage with 1% α-1,3 branch linkages. We have isolated mutants constitutive for dextransucrase from L. mesenteroides NRRL B-1299 using ethyl methane sulfonate. The mutants produced extracellular as well as cell-associated dextransucrases on glucose media with higher activities (2.5–4.5 times) than what the parental strain produced on sucrose. Based on Penicillium endo -dextranase hydrolysis, mutant B-1299C dextransucrases produced slightly different dextrans when they were elaborated on a glucose medium and on a sucrose medium. Mutant B-1299CA dextransucrase elaborated on a glucose medium and on a sucrose medium synthesized the same dextran, although the dextran was different from those of other mutants and the parental strain. Mutant B-1299CB dextransucrase, elaborated on a glucose medium and on a sucrose medium, formed different dextrans. Differences in water solubility, susceptibility to endo -dextranase hydrolysis, and the physical appearance of the ethanol precipitated dextrans elaborated by different mutants grown on glucose media and sucrose media were found. All mutant dextransucrases elaborated on a glucose medium bound to Sephadex G-200. After activity staining of nondenaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis activity bands, 184 and 240 Kd for each enzyme preparation, although each dextransucrase formed different dextran(s).
Discrete symmetry and CP phase of the quark mixing matrix

Abstract A simple specific pattern of the two 3 × 3 quark mass matrices is proposed, resulting in a prediction of the CP phase of the charged-current mixing matrix V CKM , i.e., sin 2 ϕ 1 ( β ) = 0.733 , which is in remarkable agreement with data, i.e., sin 2 ϕ 1 = 0.728 ± 0.056 ± 0.023 from Belle and sin 2 β = 0.722 ± 0.040 ± 0.023 from BaBar. This pattern can be maintained by a discrete family symmetry, an example of which is D 7 , the symmetry group of the heptagon.
Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect versus redshift test for the cosmological parameters

We describe a method using the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect caused by individual inhomogeneities to determine the cosmological parameters ${H}_{0}$, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{\mathrm{m}}$, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}$, etc. This ISW-redshift test requires detailed knowledge of the internal kinematics of a set of individual density perturbations, e.g., galaxy clusters and/or cosmic voids, in particular their density and velocity profiles, and their mass accretion rates. It assumes the density perturbations are isolated and embedded (equivalently compensated) and makes use of the newly found relation between the ISW temperature perturbation of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the Fermat potential of the lens. Given measurements of the amplitudes of the temperature variations in the CMB caused by such clusters or voids at various redshifts and estimates of their angular sizes or masses, one can constrain the cosmological parameters. More realistically, the converse is more likely, i.e., if the background cosmology is sufficiently constrained, measurement of ISW profiles of clusters and voids (e.g., hot and cold spots and rings) can constrain dynamical properties of the dark matter, including accretion, associated with such lenses and thus constrain the evolution of these objects with redshift.
Whole grain intake and cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis

Abstract Background and aims Whole grain food sources have been associated with lowered risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies in recent years have strengthened this observation and elucidated potential mechanisms for this association. This study sought to quantitate the available observational evidence on whole grain intake and clinical cardiovascular events. Methods and results Seven prospective cohort studies with quantitative measures of dietary whole grains and clinical cardiovascular outcomes were identified from MEDLINE searches and a review of the literature. Based on event estimates adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors, greater whole grain intake (pooled average 2.5 servings/d vs. 0.2 servings/d) was associated with a 21% lower risk of CVD events [OR 0.79 (95% CI: 0.73–0.85)]. Similar estimates were noted for different CVD outcomes (heart disease, stroke, fatal CVD) and in sex-specific analyses. Conversely, refined grain intake was not associated with incident CVD events [1.07 (0.94–1.22)]. Conclusions There is a consistent, inverse association between dietary whole grains and incident cardiovascular disease in epidemiological cohort studies. In light of this evidence, policy-makers, scientists, and clinicians should redouble efforts to incorporate clear messages on the beneficial effects of whole grains into public health and clinical practice endeavors.
Development of Trypanosoma lewisi in experimental chimaeras.

SYNOPSIS. Development of Trypanosoma lewisi in chimaeric mice with and without rat serum supplements was studied in 5 protocols. Chimaeric mice were male and female C3H/An Cum and 1C3F1, [(101/CUM × C3H/An Cum) F1] exposed to 950-1000 R of whole-body X-irradiation. Their hemopoietic systems were replaced with Sprague-Dawley rat bone marrow. Trypanosomes did not develop in any mice not supplemented with rat serum. Ih those chimaeric and normal mice given rat serum the trypanosomes grew and developed large populations, more so in chimaeric than in normal animals. The development of this trypanosome cell in heterologous mice is viewed as mediated principally thru nutritional factors supplied by rat serum with alteration of host-immune status being of lesser importance.
ULSLEA: A Limit Equilibrium Procedure to Determine the Ultimate Limit State Loading Capacities of Template-Type Platforms

During the past three decades, an immense amount of effort has been devoted to development of sophisticated computer programs to enable the assessment of storm wind, wave, and current loadings and the ultimate limit state capacity characteristics of conventional, pile-supported, template-type offshore platforms. These programs require high degrees of expertise to operate properly, are expensive to purchase and maintain, and require large amounts of manpower and time to complete the analyses. Due to the sophistication of these programs, experience has shown that it is easy to make mistakes that are difficult to detect and that can have significant influences on the results. This paper summarizes the second phase of development and verification of simplified procedures to evaluate environmental loadings and ultimate limit state lateral loading capacities of template-type platforms. Reasonable simplifications and high degrees of user friendliness have been employed in development of the software to reduce the engineering effort, expertise, and costs associated with the analyses. The computer program that has been developed to perform the simplified analyses has been identified as ULSLEA (ultimate limit state limit equilibrium analyses) (Mortazavi and Bea, 1994).
Increased AF1q gene expression in high‐risk myelodysplastic syndrome

Summary The AF1q gene is expressed in normal haematopoietic progenitors, but less so in differentiated blood cells. In 47 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), AF1q copy numbers were 0–6·8 × 106/μg RNA compared with 1·5–2·4 × 105/μg RNA in normal marrow. AF1q levels correlated with international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) scores (P = 0·004) and the risk of post-transplant relapse (P = 0·05). Among IPSS high-risk patients, survival correlated inversely with AF1q levels (P = 0·04). Thus, AF1q levels correlate with high-risk MDS and may provide a marker for risk stratification.
Accessory minerals and subduction zone metasomatism: a geochemical comparison of two mélanges (Washington and California, U.S.A.)

Abstract The ability of a subducted slab or subducted sediment to contribute many incompatible trace elements to arc source regions may depend on the stabilities of accessory minerals within these rocks, which can only be studied indirectly. In contrast, the role of accessory minerals in lower- T and - P metasomatic processes within paleo-subduction zones can be studied directly in subduction-zone metamorphic terranes. The Gee Point-Iron Mountain locality of the Shuksan Metamorphic Suite, North Cascades, Washington State, is a high- T melange of metamafic blocks in a matrix of meta-ultramafic rocks. This melange is similar in geologic setting and petrology to the upper part of an unnamed amphibolite unit of the Catalina Schist, Santa Catalina Island, southern California. Both are interpreted as shear zones between mantle and slab rocks that formed during the early stages of subduction. Some garnet amphibolite blocks from the Gee Point-Iron Mountain locality display trace-element enrichments similar to those in counterparts from the Catalina Schist. Some Catalina blocks are highly enriched in Th, rare-earth elements (REE), the high-field-strength elements Ti, Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf (HFSE), U and Sr compared to mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), and to other garnet amphibolite blocks in the same unit. Textural and geochemical data indicate that accessory minerals of metamorphic origin control the enrichment of Th, REE and HFSE in blocks from both areas. The Mg-rich rinds around blocks and the meta-ultramafic matrix from both melanges are highly enriched in a large number of trace elements compared to harzburgites, dunites and serpentinites. Evidence for recrystallization or formation of accessory minerals in the former rocks suggests that these minerals control some of the trace-element enrichments. Data from the Gee Point and Catalina melanges suggest that the accessory minerals titanite, rutile, apatite, zircon and REE-rich epidote play a significant role in the enrichment of trace elements in both mafic and ultramafic rocks during subduction-related fluid-rock interaction. Mobilization of incompatible elements, and deposition of such elements in the accessory minerals of mafic and ultramafic rocks may be fairly common in fluid-rich metamorphic environments in subduction zones.
Microstructure of Amphiphilic Monodendrons at the Air−Water Interface

Grazing incident X-ray diffraction and X-ray reflectivity have been performed on Langmuir monolayers of low generation monodendrons containing a crown-ether polar group, azobenzene spacer, and varying number of peripheral alkyl chains of 1, 2, 4, and 8. We observe that the cross-sectional mismatch between the bulky polar head and the alkyl tails has a profound effect on the local ordering of the alkyl tails. It is found that the alkyl chains in a single-tail molecule are significantly tilted away from the surface normal. The tilt is eliminated in molecules with two or more alkyl chains where the cross-sectional mismatch is in favor of the peripheral tails. The molecule with one tail possesses a supercell orthorhombic packing caused by structural nonequivalency on the neighboring tails. The two- and four-tail molecules form a mixed structure best described by a quasi-hexagonal unit cell, and the eight-tail molecule forms a more stable hexagonal unit cell. Peripheral tails for these molecules are in standin...
Tidal circulation and energy dissipation in a shallow, sinuous estuary

The tidal dynamics in a pristine, mesotidal (>2 m range), marsh-dominated estuary are examined using moored and moving vessel field observations. Analysis focuses on the structure of the M 2 tide that accounts for approximately 80% of the observed tidal energy, and indicates a transition in character from a near standing wave on the continental shelf to a more progressive wave within the estuary. A slight maximum in water level (WL) occurs in the estuary 10–20 km from the mouth. M 2 WL amplitude decreases at 0.015 m/km landward of this point, implying head of tide approximately 75 km from the mouth. In contrast, tidal currents in the main channel 25 km inland are twice those at the estuary mouth. Analysis suggests the tidal character is consistent with a strongly convergent estuarine geometry controlling the tidal response in the estuary. First harmonic (M 4) current amplitude follows the M 2 WL distribution, peaking at mid-estuary, whereas M 4 WL is greatest farther inland. The major axis current amplitude is strongly influenced by local bathymetry and topography. On most bends a momentum core shifts from the inside to outside of the bend moving seaward, similar to that seen in unidirectional river flow but with point bars shifted seaward of the bends. Dissipation rate estimates, based on changes in energy flux, are 0.18–1.65 W m−2 or 40–175 μW kg–1. A strong (0.1 m/s), depth-averaged residual flow is produced at the bends, which resembles flow around headlands, forming counter-rotating eddies that meet at the apex of the bends. A large sub-basin in the estuary exhibits remarkably different tidal characteristics and may be resonant at a harmonic of the M 2 tide.
The Jacobian conjecture in two variables

Abstract The two-dimensional Jacobian conjecture states that given f and g in C [x, y], if the Jacobian ∂(f, g/∂(x, y) ϵ C x, then the transformation (f, g): C x C → C x C is invertible. In this paper we give a proof of this under the further assumption that the degree of f or g has at most two prime factors.
State of Stress and Strain in a Rectangular Belt Pulled Over a Cylindrical Pulley

This paper deals with the contact pressure between a belt and the pulley to which it transmits force and with the bending and membrane stresses in the belt. The anticlastic configuration of the belt is also taken into consideration. The commonly known simplified approximate analysis of the pressure, as well as the results of a more elaborated theory, are presented. Also given in the paper are the description and evaluation of several experimental stress analyses methods that can be used to solve the problem. Two and three-dimensional photoelasticity, thickness measurements and electrical strain gages were found to be the most practical approaches. The correlation of results obtained using the theories and the experimental methods is discussed. It is estimated that the peak contact pressure is 3.5 times the one computed using the plane stress assumption. Results obtained will also have application in the design of wire-ropes or cables transmitting forces to sheaves, or drums.
Pathology in euthermic bats with white nose syndrome suggests a natural manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

White nose syndrome, caused by Geomyces destructans, has killed more than 5 million cave hibernating bats in eastern North America. During hibernation, the lack of inflammatory cell recruitment at the site of fungal infection and erosion is consistent with a temperature-induced inhibition of immune cell trafficking. This immune suppression allows G. destructans to colonize and erode the skin of wings, ears and muzzle of bat hosts unchecked. Yet, paradoxically, within weeks of emergence from hibernation an intense neutrophilic inflammatory response to G. destructans is generated, causing severe pathology that can contribute to death. We hypothesize that the sudden reversal of immune suppression in bats upon the return to euthermia leads to a form of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). IRIS was first described in HIV-infected humans with low helper T lymphocyte counts and bacterial or fungal opportunistic infections. IRIS is a paradoxical and rapid worsening of symptoms in immune compromised...
Charter Schools and “Customer” Satisfaction: Lessons from Field Testing a Parent Survey

ABSTRACT Since the development of magnet schools in the 1960s—and more recently, the proliferation of charter schools in the last fifteen years—school choice has been a pervasive element on the education reform landscape. With this growth has come the need for information tools to help site-based educators manage, grow, and improve their schools. This is a radical change from traditional public schools. Typically, district administrators decide where students attend school and, consequently, satisfying the “customer” has not been much of a priority in public education. This article reports on both the process of development and the information gained from a field test of a parent stakeholder satisfaction survey for charter schools and other schools of choice. The survey has been designed to assist schools with recruiting and retaining educational consumers by providing information both for external accountability and internal accountability. Preliminary findings from the first stakeholder group surveyed—p...
MOCVD of Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 and their superlattice structures for thin-film thermoelectric applications

The characteristics of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 and their superlattice structures are discussed in this paper. We have grown c-oriented films on both hexagonal sapphire and fcc GaAs substrates, with specular morphology and occasional stacking faults. Single crystallinity was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). The stoichiometry (Bi:Te = 2:3, Sb:Te = 2:3) of the films were confirmed by X-ray photo-emission spectroscopy (XPS) and Rutherford back-scattering. We have also attempted to grow short-period (∼ 10 to 80 A) superlattice structures in the Bi2Te3Sb2Te3 materials system. X-ray diffraction data indicating the quality of these layered structures is presented. The advantages offered by the nature of chemical bonding in these materials, along the growth direction, for obtaining abrupt interfaces is discussed. The electrical transport properties of the MOCVD-grown p-type Bi2Te3Sb2Te3 structures and other thermoelectric properties including thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient are discussed. The initial results on the performance parameter known as figure-of-merit of the superlattice structures, measured parallel to the plane of the superlattice interfaces, are significantly higher than in conventional bulk materials. These initial results suggest a significant potential for MOCVD-based materials technology for high-performance, thin-film, thermoelectric refrigeration.
Protective effect of vitamin E in rats with acute liver injury

We have previously shown that supplemental vitamin E has a cytoprotective effect in the liver of rats with chronic CCL4-induced liver cirrhosis. In this study, we hypothesized that vitamin E would have a protective effect in acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine. D-Galactosamine-induced injury has been thought to be due to a synergistic direct toxic effect and presence of intestinal bacteria and/or endotoxins. D-Galactosamine was used to induce acute "hepatitis" (1.5-2.0 g/Kg body weight, ip). Rats were placed on either standard chow or the same chow supplemented with vitamin E (300 mg DL-alpha-tocopherol/Kg diet) and 6 days later were given D-galactosamine. There was significantly improved early (5-day) survival and late (14-day) survival in the vitamin E-supplemented group. The vitamin E beneficial effect was manifested also by decreased liver fat and collagen content and decreased SGPT level. Because bacterial endotoxins have been implicated as playing a role in the pathogenesis of D-galactosamine hepatitis, the same experiment was carried out using germ-free and conventional rats. There was significantly improved survival in both the germ-free and conventional vitamin E-supplemented groups both at 5 and 14 days. There was no significant difference between conventional and germ-free rats with or without vitamin E supplementation. In summary (a) vitamin E improves the early fat and collagen accumulation in the liver, decreases SGPT level, and improves survival in the D-galactosamine experimental model of acute liver injury in both conventional and germ-free rats; and (b) D-galactosamine toxicity is probably not mediated through intestinal bacteria and/or endotoxins.
Primal versus Dual Methods for Measuring the Impact of Ozone on Cash Grain Farmers

A comparison of primal and dual methods for measuring the impact of ozone on the profits and outputs of Illinois cash grain farms uses the sample data in Mjelde et al. after adding an additional year of data and making refinements. On the basis of the evidence presented, it is not possible to say definitively whether the production or profit function specification is superior. Both models seem to fit the data well and give plausible results in terms of indicating if an effect is present. While ozone has been shown to be deleterious to an individual farmer, however, this does not imply that reductions in ozone levels throughout the nation would lead to increased farmer profits. It could lead to an increase in supply, which would likely cause a decrease in price. Other factors highly correlated with ozone could also be responsible for the observed effect. 7 references, 1 table.
Probabilistic Prognosis of Fatigue Crack Growth Using Acoustic Emission Data

This paper presents a structural health monitoring methodology that uses acoustic emission (AE) features to predict crack growth in structural elements subjected to fatigue. This allows for the prediction of the failure of the structural element at the current load level. The methodology uses Bayesian inference to account for different sources of uncertainty such as uncertainty in the data (AE signal), unknown fracture mechanics parameters, and model inadequacy. The methodology is divided into two main components: a model updating component that uses available data to build a joint probability distribution of the different unknown fracture mechanics parameters, and a prognosis component in which this multivariable probability distribution is sampled to predict the stress intensity factor range at a future number of cycles. The application of the methodology does not require knowledge of the load amplitude nor the initial crack length. The methodology is validated using experimental data from a compact test specimen under cyclic loading.
Direction-Finding Wideband Linear FM Sources with Triangular Arrays

A new algorithm is proposed to estimate the two-dimensional (2D) elevation-azimuth angle of a wideband linear frequency-modulated (LFM) signal utilizing a triangular array. This temporal-invariance ESPRIT algorithm is developed based on the time-delayed data sets collected by the triangular array. The approach can offer closed-form direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of the LFM signal with no a priori knowledge of the incident source's frequency spectrum. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is verified by Monte Carlo simulation. Closed-form Cramer-Rao bounds of the direction-of-arrival and parameters of the LFM signal are also derived.
Langmuir isotherms of flexible, covalently crosslinked gold nanoparticle networks: Increased collapse pressures of membrane-like structures

Abstract A series of hydrophobic gold nanoparticles were prepared by the Brust–Schiffrin method, employing thiols with chain lengths ranging from C6-C18 as capping ligands. Solutions of the purified nanoparticles were cast as monolayers upon the air–water interface of a Langmuir trough. After collecting characteristic compression isotherms and noting collapse pressures for each monolayer film at 20 °C, the impact of covalent crosslinking was studied by introducing a solution of dodecanedithiol in hexanes to the floating film of nanoparticles. It was discovered that characteristic collapse pressures increased significantly for films of nanoparticles with capping ligand alkyl chain lengths of less than 16 carbons. The films were easily transferred to a substrate, and TEM analysis revealed that the films retained a flexible, membrane-like morphology.
HCV RNA levels in hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent non-tumorous livers.

Abstract To determine the antiviral effects of drugs targeted to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic hepatitis patients, an accurate quantitative method with high sensitivity is needed. Reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most sensitive method for the detection of HCV sequences in clinical specimens. However, this method is not quantitative. For this purpose, a quantitative competitive assay was developed that combines RT and PCR followed by image analysis to quantify HCV RNA. This assay targets the highly conserved 5′ non-coding region of HCV and is based on the co-amplification of wild type HCV RNA with known amounts of mutant synthetic RNA. The mutant internal control used in these experiments differs from the wild type RNA by two nucleotide substitutions, which introduces an internal restriction enzyme site. In this report, this method was used to determine the levels of positive strand RNA in 11 HCV positive hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and compared these with adjacent non-tumorous liver tissue. To confirm that the difference in viral titers is not related to variations in the amount of RNA used in the assay, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA was also assessed by competitive RT-PCR in all tissue extracts. Using this competitive assay it was determined that HCV RNA levels in the liver and tumor samples ranged from 103 to 106 molecules per μg of total RNA which is similar to previous reports. Interestingly, the amount of HCV in all the non-tumorous liver specimens were found to be significantly higher (P
THE OCEANIC SHRIMP SERGESTES SIMILIS OFF THE OREGON COAST1

Sergestes similis is the most abundant pelagic shrimp in modified subarctic waters off Oregon and the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Off Oregon, its distribution changes with season and distance from shore. Largest numbers were caught in waters over the continental slope in 6-ft midwater trawls and 1-m plankton nets. Smallest catches were over the shelf and greater than 65 nm (120 km) offshore. Largest nearshore catches were made during winter, largest offshore catches during summer. Observations on the size of eggs in ovaries, the percentage of females with mature eggs, and the catches of young shrimp all indicated that spawning of the S. similis population is prolonged through most of the year. Young shrimp were not uniformly abundant, however, suggesting pulses of spawning in winter and spring. Growth rates and age structure estimates from length-frequency histograms implied that the population is largely comprised of animals of age-group 0. Individuals mature sexually after about one year when they attain a carapace length of 11 mm. Large individuals over 12 mm are rare and may die after spawning.
CULTURE AND MIND IN PEIRCEAN SEMIOTICS: ONE ASPECT

An important feature marking Peirce’s thought is its continual war against psychologism. This term may in his case be defined as the practice of positing vague, irreducible categories of mind to answer questions that in fact require precise categories of logic. In philosophy proper we can see Peirce’s anti-psychologism in his backing of realism against nominalism and in his opposition to Cartesian rationalism. With respect to his semiotics the most important instance is his idea of the interpretant, which is not conceived primarily within a psychological context, i.e. the individual mind interpreting a sign, but rather a context of external relation between one sign and another. The relation is one of mutual conversion: one sign acts as the interpretant of another sign and vice-versa.
Three-dimensional DIBL for shallow-trench isolated MOSFET's

This work presents a new phenomenon: the three-dimensional (3-D) DIBL effect. The effect is examined by studying the width-dependent punchthrough leakage of deep-submicron shallow-trench isolated (STI) MOSFET's. Different from previous works on STI, where phenomena are investigated in a low V/sub d/ range, the 3-D DIBL is based on analyses in the large V/sub d/ range. For STI process,the effect suppress DIBL and the suppression is more effective as scaling down device width. The phenomenon is a result of the 3-D electrostatic effect, which diverts drain fields away from channel into the gate electrode over field oxide region. The effect reduces the total drain fields penetrating through the channel into the source, and hence suppress the DIBL. A simple dipole theory describing the 3-D DIBL phenomenon is presented to extend the previous DIBL theory, which is based on two-dimensional (2-D) approach. Three-dimensional device simulations are used to obtain insights on electric field and surface potential to illustrate the physical basis for the 3-D DIBL theory.
Mouse Cytomegalovirus Immediate-Early Protein 1 Binds with Host Cell Repressors To Relieve Suppressive Effects on Viral Transcription and Replication during Lytic Infection

Herpesviruses start their transcriptional cascade at nuclear domain 10 (ND10). The deposition of virus genomes at these nuclear sites occurs due to the binding of the interferon-inducible repressor protein promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) and/or Daxx to a viral DNA-protein complex. However, the presence of repressive proteins at the nuclear site of virus transcription has remained unexplained. We investigated the mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) immediate-early 1 protein (IE1), which is necessary for productive infection at low multiplicities of infection and therefore likely to be involved in overcoming cellular repression. Temporal analysis of IE1 distribution revealed its initial segregation into ND10 by binding to PML and/or Daxx and IE1-dependent recruitment of the transcriptional repressor histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) to this site. However, these protein aggregates are dissociated in cells producing sufficient IE1 through titration of PML, Daxx, and HDAC-2. Importantly, binding of IE1 to HDAC-2 decreased deacetylation activity. Moreover, inhibition of HDAC by trichostatin-A resulted in an increase in viral protein synthesis, an increase in cells starting the formation of prereplication compartments, and an increase in the total infectious viruses produced. Thus, IE1, like trichostatin-A, reverses the repressive effect of HDAC evident in the presence of acetylated histones in the immediate-early promoter region. Since HDAC also binds to the promoter region of IE1, as determined by the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, these combined results suggest that IE1 inhibits or reverses HDAC-mediated repression of the infecting viral genomes, possibly by a process akin to activation of heterochromatin. We propose that even permissive cells can repress transcription of infecting viral genomes through repressors, including HDAC, Daxx, and PML, and the segregation of IE1 to ND10 that would inactivate those repressors. The virus can counter this repression by overexpressing IE1 when present in sufficient copy number, thus reducing the availability and effectiveness of these repressors.
The Nature of Intuitive Justification

In this paper I articulate and defend a view that I call phenomenal dogmatism about intuitive justification. It is dogmatic because it includes the thesis: if it intuitively seems to you that p, then you thereby have some prima facie justification for believing that p. It is phenomenalist because it includes the thesis: intuitions justify us in believing their contents in virtue of their phenomenology—and in particular their presentational phenomenology. I explore the nature of presentational phenomenology as it occurs perception, and I make a case for thinking that it is present in a wide variety of logical, mathematical, and philosophical intuitions.
Data management for a class of iterative computations on distributed‐memory MIMD systems

The paper discusses data management techniques for mapping a large data space onto the memory hierarchy of a distributed memory MIMD system. Experimental results for structural biology computations using the Molecular Replacement Method are presented.
Student perceptions of the school physical fitness testing program : the Fitnessgram

OF THE DISSERTATION STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING PROGRAM: THE FITNESSGRAM
A tale of two blogospheres: discursive practices on the left and right

In this article, the authors compare the practices of discursive production among top U.S. political blogs on the left and right during summer 2008. An examination of the top 155 political blogs reveals significant cross-ideological variations along several dimensions. Notably, the authors find evidence of an association between ideological affiliation and the technologies, institutions, and practices of participation. Blogs on the left adopt different, and more participatory, technical platforms, comprise significantly fewer sole-authored sites, include user blogs, maintain more fluid boundaries between secondary and primary content, include longer narrative and discussion posts, and (among the top half of the blogs in the sample) more often use blogs as platforms for mobilization. The findings suggest that the attenuation of the news producer-consumer dichotomy is more pronounced on the left wing of the political blogosphere than on the right. The practices of the left are more consistent with the predi...
Self-assembly of core–shell nanoparticles for self-healing materials

New core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized by grafting a poly(acrylate amide) shell onto a cross-linked polystyrene nanoparticle (NP) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The core–shell NPs self assemble into self-healing materials in which the dynamic hydrogen-bonding shell confers self-healing properties while the hard cross-linked core provides stiffness.
Cyclical Regulation of the Exocyst and Cell Polarity Determinants for Polarized Cell Growth

Polarized exocytosis is important for morphogenesis and cell growth. The exocyst is a multiprotein complex implicated in tethering secretory vesicles at specific sites of the plasma membrane for exocytosis. In the budding yeast, the exocyst is localized to sites of bud emergence or the tips of small daughter cells, where it mediates secretion and cell surface expansion. To understand how exocytosis is spatially controlled, we systematically analyzed the localization of Sec15p, a member of the exocyst complex and downstream effector of the rab protein Sec4p, in various mutants. We found that the polarized localization of Sec15p relies on functional upstream membrane traffic, activated rab protein Sec4p, and its guanine exchange factor Sec2p. The initial targeting of both Sec4p and Sec15p to the bud tip depends on polarized actin cable. However, different recycling mechanisms for rab and Sec15p may account for the different kinetics of polarization for these two proteins. We also found that Sec3p and Sec15p, though both members of the exocyst complex, rely on distinctive targeting mechanisms for their localization. The assembly of the exocyst may integrate various cellular signals to ensure that exocytosis is tightly controlled. Key regulators of cell polarity such as Cdc42p are important for the recruitment of the exocyst to the budding site. Conversely, we found that the proper localization of these cell polarity regulators themselves also requires a functional exocytosis pathway. We further report that Bem1p, a protein essential for the recruitment of signaling molecules for the establishment of cell polarity, interacts with the exocyst complex. We propose that a cyclical regulatory network contributes to the establishment and maintenance of polarized cell growth in yeast.
Fast furnace determinations of aluminum and iron in bone and soft tissues

Abstract A fast method for Zeeman graphite furnace AAS was developed for the determination of Al and Fe in bone and soft tissues. No pyrolysis step and no modifier was used. The analytical time was reduced to less than 1 min per determination with no loss of analytical precision and accuracy. A simple HNO3 digestion resulted in clear solutions which could be quantified with pure aqueous standards. The analytical performance of the Al determination in bone and soft tissues was considerably improved by using the STPF technique and a residual problem was solved by simply pretreating a L'vov platform with a bone digestate. For the determination of Fe, the use of HNO3 was required to ensure highest accuracy.
Crystal Structure of the HLA-DM - HLA-DR1 Complex Defines Mechanisms for Rapid Peptide Selection

HLA-DR molecules bind microbial peptides in an endosomal compartment and present them on the cell surface for CD4 T cell surveillance. HLA-DM plays a critical role in the endosomal peptide selection process. The structure of the HLA-DM-HLA-DR complex shows major rearrangements of the HLA-DR peptide-binding groove. Flipping of a tryptophan away from the HLA-DR1 P1 pocket enables major conformational changes that position hydrophobic HLA-DR residues into the P1 pocket. These conformational changes accelerate peptide dissociation and stabilize the empty HLA-DR peptide-binding groove. Initially, incoming peptides have access to only part of the HLA-DR groove and need to compete with HLA-DR residues for access to the P2 site and the hydrophobic P1 pocket. This energetic barrier creates a rapid and stringent selection process for the highest-affinity binders. Insertion of peptide residues into the P2 and P1 sites reverses the conformational changes, terminating selection through DM dissociation.
Inequality, poverty, and development

The relationship between the distribution of income and the process of development is examined. Multivariate regression analysis is used to estimate cross-country relationships between the income shares of different percentile groups and selected variables reflecting aspects of the development process that are likely to influence income inequality. The estimated equations are then used as a basis for broad generalizations about the relationship between income distribution and development. Cross-section analysis of the relationship between inequality and the level of development yields a distinct U-shaped patern. Overall, analytical results are best viewed as useful documentation of empirical regularities or stylized facts of cross-country experience. There is strong support for the proposition that relative inequality increases in the early stages of development. Cross-section results do not support the hypothesis that the deterioration in relative inequality reflects a prolonged absolute impoverishment. Statistical data are included. 17 references.
Hybrid Optical Wireless Networks

This paper describes a dynamic reconfiguration algorithm for a hybrid fiber wireless network, which takes advantage of dynamic reconfiguration in WDM based optical networks to provide bandwidth on the fly. The WDM technique for optical networks allows network operators to extend the existing capacity of passive optical networks manifolds. However presently, WDM networks were used mostly in long haul backbone networks and recently have been put to use in metropolitan networks (MAN). But till now not much work has been done on use of WDM networks in MAN. We use wireless technology to solve the Last mile problem of WDM networks. Wireless networks on the other hand are always constrained by need of bandwidth and we use WDM based optical networks to provide that. So both network technologies complement each other. Our proposed approach allows providing bandwidth on demand. It also allows for service differentiation by service providers, and sharing of infrastructure by several service providers.
Party and Policy in the States

Current theory and research in American state politics challenge us to examine the relationship between the party in control of state government and changes in welfare spending in each of the fifty states in separate longitudinal analyses over thirty years. Party-policy linkages are found in only twenty of the states. States are classified by both party competition and the policy-relevance of their parties. The theoretical distinction between competitive parties and policy-relevant parties is developed, and suggestions are made for future research on class-based and non-class-based party systems in the states.