cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of the percolation behavior of quasi- and transversely isotropic short-fiber composites with a continuum model

Abstract This study uses a continuum model to predict the percolation threshold of composites consisting of electrically conducting fibers in an insulating matrix. The influence of preferred orientations (resulting from differences in processing conditions) on the threshold volume fractions is discussed. The model consists of an impenetrable cylindrical core surrounded by a fully penetrable soft shell. The hard core represents a physical fiber whereas the soft shell represents an effective range for electrical conduction in the otherwise insulating matrix. The simulation procedure consists of the addition of fibers to a control volume to probe the formation of a 3-D interconnected network. Finite size scaling (FSS) theory is used to predict the threshold volume fractions for infinite systems. The correlation length exponent was found to be 0·89, in agreement with values reported in our earlier study for particulate composites as well as in other literature studies. For transversely isotropic composites, the threshold values were found to be anisotropic for finite systems. However, the anisotropy vanishes as the system size becomes infinitely large. The correlation length exponent for these transversely isotropic composites was also found to be 0·89. The effect of shell thickness on the threshold volume fractions is investigated. The influence of fiber aspect ratio on percolation behavior is discussed, and the simulation results are compared with experimental results reported in the literature.
Improving gene annotation of complete viral genomes

Gene annotation in viruses often relies upon similarity search methods. These methods possess high specificity but some genes may be missed, either those unique to a particular genome or those highly divergent from known homologs. To identify potentially missing viral genes we have analyzed all complete viral genomes currently available in GenBank with a specialized and augmented version of the gene finding program GeneMarkS. In particular, by implementing genome-specific self-training protocols we have better adjusted the GeneMarkS statistical models to sequences of viral genomes. Hundreds of new genes were identified, some in well studied viral genomes. For example, a new gene predicted in the genome of the Epstein-Barr virus was shown to encode a protein similar to alpha-herpesvirus minor tegument protein UL14 with heat shock functions. Convincing evidence of this similarity was obtained after only 12 PSI-BLAST iterations. In another example, several iterations of PSI-BLAST were required to demonstrate that a gene predicted in the genome of Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 encodes a BALF1-like protein which is thought to be involved in apoptosis regulation and, potentially, carcinogenesis. New predictions were used to refine annotations of viral genomes in the RefSeq collection curated by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Importantly, even in those cases where no sequence similarities were detected, GeneMarkS significantly reduced the number of primary targets for experimental characterization by identifying the most probable candidate genes. The new genome annotations were stored in VIOLIN, an interactive database which provides access to similarity search tools for up-to-date analysis of predicted viral proteins.
Performance comparison of consistency maintenance techniques for cloud database

Consistency is always sacrificed to achieve the key features of a cloud platform: scalability, availability and reliability. These key features require different forms of consistent states to be introduced. Different techniques are also introduced to maintain consistency. Our goal is to compare the performance and throughput of different data consistency techniques. An experimental set up is planned for the comparison among these consistency techniques.
A displaced neritic diatom (Delphineis karstenii) in pelagic sediments of the southeast Atlantic

Abstract This paper documents the occurrence ofDelphineis karstenii, a neritic diatom, in pelagic sediments of the northern Cape and southern Angola Basins (southeast Atlantic Ocean). Maximum abundances are found in the southern Angola Basin, although the source area appears to be the diatomaceous sediments which blanket much of the Namibian continental shelf. The observed pattern implies large-scale displacement ofD. karstenii valves first northward along the continental margin, and then westward into deep waters. Transport evidently occurs in the surface waters of the Benguela Current, which flow northward along the Namibian coast and then turn westward, away from the coast of Angola and out into the Angola Basin. These observations suggest thatDelphineis valves, and perhaps other shallow-water diatom valves, may be displaced downslope on other continental margins. Failure to recognize such displacement could lead to incorrect ecological and paleoecological interpretations.
Intracellular distributions and putative functions of calcium-binding proteins in the bullfrog vestibular otolith organs

Hair cells in the bullfrog vestibular otolith organs were immunolabeled by monoclonal and polyclonal antisera against calbindin (CaB), calmodulin (CaM), calretinin (CaR), and parvalbumin (PA). S-100, previously shown to immunolabel striolar hair cells in fish vestibular organs, only weakly immunolabeled hair cells in the bullfrog vestibular otolith organs. Immunolabeling was not detected in supporting cells. With the exception of CaR, myelinated axons and unmyelinated nerve terminals were immunolabeled by all of the above antisera. Immunolabeling was seen in all saccular hair cells, although hair cells at the macular margins were immunolabeled more intensely for CaB, CaM, and PA than more centrally located hair cells. As the macula margins are known to be a growth zone, this labeling pattern suggests that marginal hair cells up-regulate their calcium-binding proteins during hair cell development. In the utriculus, immunolabeling for CaM and PA was generally restricted to striolar hair cells. CaR immunolabeling was restricted to the stereociliary array. Immunolabeling for other calcium-binding proteins was generally seen in both the cell body and hair bundles of hair cells, although this labeling was often localized to the stereociliary array and the apical portion of the cell body. CaM and PA immunolabeling in the stereociliary array in saccular and utricular striolar cells suggests a functional role for these proteins in mechanoelectric transduction and adaptation.
Ephrin receptor, EphB4, regulates ES cell differentiation of primitive mammalian hemangioblasts, blood, cardiomyocytes, and blood vessels

Differentiation of pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells is associated with expression of fate-specifying gene products. Coordinated development, however, must involve modifying factors that enable differentiation and growth to adjust in response to local microenvironmental determinants. We report here that the ephrin receptor, EphB4, known to be spatially restricted in expression and critical for organized vessel formation, modifies the rate and magnitude of ES cells acquiring genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of mesodermal tissues. Hemangioblast, blood cell, cardiomyocyte, and vascular differentiation was impaired in EphB4 –/– ES cells in conjunction with decreased expression of mesoderm-associated, but not neuroectoderm-associated, genes. Therefore, EphB4 modulates the response to mesoderm induction signals. These data add differentiation kinetics to the known effects of ephrin receptors on mammalian cell migration and adhesion. We propose that modifying sensitivity to differentiation cues is a further means for ephrin receptors to contribute to tissue patterning and organization.
Kinetic study of anation reaction of meso-tetrakis-(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphinatodiaquaruthenate(III) with thiocyanate ion in aqueous solution

Abstract The reaction of NCS − (0.010−1.0 M) with Ru(TPPS)(H 2 O) 2 3− to form Ru(TPPS)(NCS) 2 5− has been studied at 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 °C in μ = 1.00 M (NaClO 4 ) and 0.010 M HClO 4 . The addition of the second NCS − is rapid compared to the first step. The reaction is interpreted to occur via a D mechanism with a pseudo-first-order rate constant that can best be described by the relationship k obs = a [NCS − ]/( b + [NCS − ]), where a is interpreted to be the rate constant for formation of an intermediate of reduced coordination number and b is a competition ratio {H 2 O/NCS − } for this intermediate. The values of a ( k 1 ) were (1.77 ± 0.45) × 10 −4 , (3.01 ± 0.83) × 10 −4 ), (5.82 ± 0.12) × 10 −4 , (9.90 ± 0.24) × 10 −4 and (1.73 ± 0.73) × 10 −3 s −1 at 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 °C, respectively. At 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 °C, the values of b ( k 2 k 3 ) were (2.40 ± 0.81), (1.78 ± 0.69), (1.92 ± 0.55), (1.44 ± 0.52) and (1.09 ± 0.64) M, respectively. The value of ΔH ≠ was (93.7 ± 1.88) kJ mol −1 and that of ΔS ≠ was (−13.3 ± 5.95) J mol −1 K −1 .
Organizational Factors Inhibiting the Design of Effective Emergency Management Information Systems (EMIS)

The BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has led to a large number of articles in various news sources attempting to report on the reasons for and consequences of this disaster. We use this literature as a basis for exposing the possible systemic problems in BP that would explain this catastrophe and we offer some conclusions as to what designers should strive to do whenever possible to counter these difficulties. There are a large number of well known problems of organizational structure, behavior, and communications. It is entirely possible that these problems have become more pervasive and common in organizations than we would expect. The enormity of these issues may also contribute to the difficulty of designing and implementing effective Emergency Management Information Systems (EMIS) capable of dealing with all the tasks that such a system must be able to address.
HYPERKINESIS COMES OF AGE: What Do We Know and Where Should We Go?

The first heuristic description of the hyperkinetic impulse disorder made its appearance in the literature just over twenty years ago. Although there are many who are made restless and irritable by continuing ambiguities and controversies surrounding the hyperkinetic syndrome, the past two decades have brought considerable maturation in our knowledge of this concept. The present paper sketches the state of the art in regard to hyperkinesis, and draws conclusions about directions for both research and clinical work.
Manipulating the generalized radiance and measuring the instrument function

In this paper we propose a particular experimental setup for measuring the instrument function, the Weyl transform of the non-negative definite Hermitian operator representing the effect of the instrument in a measurement. Once the instrument function is known, the results of various measurements involving wavefields of any state of coherence can be calculated. For simplicity, we will concentrate our discussion on the case of one transverse spatial dimension.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy in transplanted kidney

Abstract Urolithiasis is the least described urologic sequela of renal transplantation. We describe a renal transplant patient who presented with painless gross hematuria. An intravenous pyelogram demonstrated a 4 × 7-mm calculi in the region of the ureteropelvic junction, causing moderate hydronephrosis. The patient was treated successfully with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Serum creatinine and twenty-four-hour creatinine clearance were unchanged from levels prior to ESWL.
SU‐GG‐T‐445: Sequential Treatment of Brain Metastases Using a Markov Decision Process

Purpose: To use a Markov Decision Process (MDP) to model the sequential treatment of recurrent brain metastases. The purpose of the model is to calculate the optimal set of treatment decisions given the state of the patient. Improved systemic cancer control has resulted in growing numbers of patients who undergo multiple treatments for brain metastases. Given this situation, it is important to determine the optimal treatment decision at any point in time given the condition of the patient and the possibility of future treatments. Methods: Sequential stochastic decisions can be optimized with respect to a given reward using dynamic programming methods. A model of patients with brain metastases was constructed using a definition of state, a set of actions (whole brain RT, surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, waiting), transition probabilities between states dependent on a given action, and a reward based on quality of life. Transition probabilities were obtained from the literature and clinical data. The problem was solved for both an infinite horizon, resulting in a stationary policy, and a fixed horizon, resulting in optimal decisions for each decision epoch. Results: The model was developed and validated by comparison with clinical judgment. Selection of adequate state variables and suitable rewards was made by comparing optimal policies with standard clinical situations. After the development phase, the model was used to study the role that possible subsequent treatments have on optimal decisions. The effects of knowledge regarding expected lifespan on optimal policies was investigated. In addition, comparisons of stationary policies with finite horizon policies were made. Conclusion: A first attempt at applying MDPs to radiation therapy decision making focussed on improving treatment strategies for metastatic braincancer. An important application of this model will be to determine the extent to which improvements in our knowledge of a patient's prognosis will alter recommended therapies.
Synthesis of Trithiocarbonate and Dithiocarbamate Containing Resins and Their Application in Metal Ion Extraction

Two chelating resins, containing trithiocarbonate and dithiocarbamate groups, respectively, were synthesized efficiently from a commercially available cross-linked chloromethylated polystyrene. The pH dependence of the metal extraction for Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) was studied. Both resins exhibited high affinity toward Pb(II) and Cu(II). The sorptive capacity of trithiocarbonate and dithiocarbamate resin with respect to Cu(II) was 3.5 and 4.4 mg/g of dry resin at pH 6. The application of the resins for selective adsorption and the concentration of metal ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated.
Delinquency, parental involvement, early adult criminality, and sex: Evidence of moderated mediation

One purpose of this study was to determine whether parental involvement, measured in late adolescence, mediates the relationship between delinquency in mid-adolescence and crime in early adulthood. This study's second purpose was to ascertain whether this relationship is moderated by sex, such that late adolescent parental involvement mediates the delinquency-crime relationship in females but not in males. A secondary analysis of data provided by 579 (272 males, 307 females) members of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child (NLSYC) was conducted in an effort to evaluate the possibility of moderated mediation in the relationship between delinquency at age 16, parental involvement at age 18, and criminality at age 24. Moderated mediation analysis, path analysis, and causal mediation analysis revealed the presence of a conditional indirect relationship between delinquency, parental involvement, and adult crime moderated by sex. These results are consistent with views on cumulative disadvantage and gendered pathways to crime. Language: en
Call admission control for non-geostationary orbit satellite networks and other capacity-varying networks

Many networks, such as non-geostationary orbit satellite (NGOS) networks and networks providing multi-priority service using advance reservations, have capacities which vary over time for some or all types of calls carried on these networks. For connection-oriented networks, call admission control (CAC) policies which only use current capacity information may lead to excessive and intolerable dropping of admitted calls whenever the network capacity decreases. Thus novel CAC policies are required for these networks. We present the admission limit curve (ALC) and prove it is a constraint limiting the conditions under which any causal CAC policy may admit calls and still meet call dropping guarantees on an individual call basis. The ALC also leads to a lower bound on the call blocking performance achievable by any causal CAC policy which provides dropping guarantees to individual calls. Also, we introduce a new CAC policy which uses knowledge of future capacity changes to provide dropping guarantees on an individual call basis and which achieves blocking performance close to the lower bound. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sustained focal effects of low-dose intramuscular succinylcholine.

We studied low-dose intramuscular succinylcholine in 9 subjects as part as an ongoing investigation of its potential to predict responses to botulinum toxin. We measured compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) from the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscles in each foot before and after intramuscular injections of 2.5 mg of succinylcholine into the EDB. Succinylcholine reduced mean CMAP amplitudes to 42% of baseline; the maximal reduction occurred at 19 ± 6 (mean standard deviation) minutes. Recovery to 73% of the baseline CMAP amplitude (approximately 50% recovery from block) occurred at 105 ± 49 minutes after injection. Repetitive (train-of-four) stimulation at 2 Hz produced mild CMAP decrements (5–25%), but only during the recovery phase. Varying the succinylcholine concentrations (10, 20, or 50 mg/mL) while holding the total drug dose constant did not change the rate of onset or the extent of block. No systemic complications occurred. We conclude that: (1) 2.5 mg intramuscular succinylcholine can safely induce selective muscle weakness with a time course that differs from intravenously administered succinylcholine; and (2) further clinical studies comparing intramuscular succinylcholine and botulinum toxin are warranted. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Differential aggregation properties of secretory proteins that are stored in exocrine secretory granules of the pancreas and parotid glands.

Low-pH- and calcium-induced aggregation of regulated secretory proteins has been proposed to play a role in their retention and storage in secretory granules. However, this has not been tested for ...
Inhibition in vivo of reticulo-endothelial phagocytosis by synthetic polyamino acids.

Summary1. Treatment of mice with synthetic PL or PG regularly inhibited hepatic, and frequently also splenic, phagocytosis of subsequently injected Cr51-labeled sheep red cells. 2. This inhibition was roughly proportional to the dose of polyamino acid, and disappeared after approximately one week. 3. The interference with phagocytosis was offered as an explanation for the previously reported depression of formation of antibodies in mice treated with PL.
M-UDP: UDP for mobile cellular networks

In this paper we present our implementation of a modified UDP protocol appropriate for the mobile networking environment. Our protocol, like UDP, does not guarantee reliable delivery of datagrams. However, unlike UDP, it does ensure that the number of lost datagrams is kept small. In this paper we discuss our implementation of M-UDP (in NetBSD) and compare its performance against that of UDP in an experimental mobile network that is currently under development at the University of South Carolina.
Online Stochastic Optimization with Multiple Objectives

In this paper we propose a general framework to characterize and solve the stochastic optimization problems with multiple objectives underlying many real world learning applications. We first propose a projection based algorithm which attains an $O(T^{-1/3})$ convergence rate. Then, by leveraging on the theory of Lagrangian in constrained optimization, we devise a novel primal-dual stochastic approximation algorithm which attains the optimal convergence rate of $O(T^{-1/2})$ for general Lipschitz continuous objectives.
Do faculty-student collaborations affect achievement in engineering and technical fields? A large-scale analysis

Analyzing survey data from a national sample of 3,118 undergraduates majoring in STEM, this study examined the extent to which faculty-student collaborations affect academic achievement as measured by college grades. Results suggest a statistically significant association between faculty-student relations and grades, even after controlling for confounding influences. Also, time spent studying was positively associated with college grades. Implications for future research and practice will be discussed.
Adverse Effects of Nicotine and Immunosuppression on Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cell Viability, Tissue Repair and Oxidative Stress Gene Expression

Background Renal dysfunction in non-renal transplantation is a major arbiter of poor late allograft outcomes. Tobacco recidivism is an important modifiable risk marker for cardiac allograft loss, but its effects on renal dysfunction remain poorly studied. Methods In a 96-well plate, 10 −5 proximal tubular epithelial (PTE) cells (HK-2, American Type Culture Collection) were cultured overnight and treated with sirolimus (SRL; 100 nmol/liter), nicotine (N; 10 −7 mol/liter) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF; 10 μmol/liter), alone or in combination for 24 hours. Cell viability was quantified by treatment with tetrazolium salt WST-1 and calculated as the difference in percent inhibition with respect to the optical densitometry (OD) of treated and untreated cells. Gene and protein expression was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot techniques. Results OD decreased with SRL (−52.7 ± 2.85%), N (−47.3 ± 3.84%) and MMF (−53.3 ± 2.4%) in isolation. Further reduction in OD occurred when N was combined with SRL (−63 ± 2.3%, p p p phox , NOX-1 and Rac-1 at 18-, 16- and 12-fold, respectively). The pre-treatment of cells with inhibitor of superoxide generator diphenylene iodonium (DPI) reversed these effects. Conclusions Nicotine adversely amplified the effects of SRL and MMF on tissue repair and oxidative stress markers, subsequently modulating PTE viability. However, caution is advised in extrapolating these in vitro findings to the human model.
Estimation of Latent Heating of Rainfall during the Onset of the Indian Monsoon Using TRMM PR and Radiosonde Data

Abstract The objective of this study is to estimate the vertical structure of the latent heating of precipitation in the vicinity of the Himalayas. Based on a cloud physics parameterization and the thermodynamic equilibrium equation, a simple algorithm is proposed to estimate latent heating from a combination of radiosonde and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) data, specifically, the radar reflectivity and the rain-rate estimates. An evaluation of the algorithm against 6-hourly areal averages from diagnostic budget studies during the South China Sea Monsoon Experiment (SCMEX) suggests that the algorithm captures well the vertical structure of latent heating between the top of the moist layer and the cloud-top detrainment layer. The retrieval algorithm was applied systematically over the Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau within a region comprising 15°–32°N and 70°–95°E during June, the month of monsoon onset, for three different years (1999, 2000, and 2001). The esti...
Constitutive equations for thermomechanical deformations of glassy polymers

Poly-Carbonate (PC) and Poly-Methyl-Methacrylate (PMMA) are lightweight and mechanically tough transparent glassy polymers. Their mechanical behavior at low to moderate strain rates has been well characterized; however, that at high strain rates needs additional work. We propose two modifications to existing pressure-dependent viscoplastic constitutive equations that enable one to simulate better mechanical deformations of PC and PMMA at high strain rates. First, the elastic moduli are taken to depend upon the current temperature and the current effective strain rate. Second, two internal variables are introduced to better characterize the strain softening of the material at high strain rates. A technique to find values of newly introduced material parameters is described. We compute the local temperature rise due to energy dissipated during plastic deformations. The true axial stress vs. the true axial strain curves in uniaxial compression from numerical simulations of the test configurations at high strain rates using the proposed constitutive equations are found to agree well with the experimental results available in the literature.
Reconstitution of the subclass-specific expression of CD4 in thymocytes and peripheral T cells of transgenic mice : identification of a human CD4 enhancer

During thymic maturation, CD4-CD8-TCR- immature thymocytes differentiate through a CD4+CD8+TCRlo intermediate into two functionally distinct mature T cell subsets: helper T cells expressing CD4 and a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted T cell receptor (TCR), and cytotoxic T cells expressing CD8 and and MHC class I-restricted TCR. The mutually exclusive expression of CD4 and CD8 is maintained in the periphery during expansion of these mature T cell subsets. To elucidate the mechanisms controlling CD4 and CD8 expression on differentiating thymocytes and mature peripheral T cells, we have examined the expression of human CD4 gene constructs in the lymphoid tissues of transgenic mice. Our analyses demonstrate that sequences contained within or closely linked to the human CD4 gene are sufficient to reconstitute the appropriate regulation of human CD4 expression on all thymocyte and mature peripheral T cell subsets. Specifically, appropriate developmental regulation was dependent on two sets of sequences, one contained within a 1.3-kb restriction fragment located 6.5 kb upstream of the human CD4 gene, and the other present within or immediately flanking the gene. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified the 1.3-kb restriction fragment as the likely human homologue of an enhancer found 13 kb upstream of the mouse CD4 transcription initiation site. The human CD4 transgenic mice provide a useful system for the identification and characterization of additional sequence elements that participate in human CD4 gene regulation and for the elucidation of regulatory mechanisms governing the developmental program mediating the maturation of the CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral T cell subsets.
Developmental regression and autism reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

We report demographic and clinical characteristics of children reported to the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) as having autism or another developmental disorder after vaccination. We completed 124 interviews with parents and reviewed medical records for 31 children whose records contained sufficient information to evaluate the child's developmental history. Medical record review indicated that 27 of 31 (87%) children had autism/ASD and 19 (61.3%) had evidence of developmental regression (loss of social, language, or motor skills). The proportion of VAERS cases of autism with regression was greater than that reported in population-based studies, based on the subset of VAERS cases with medical record confirmation. This difference may reflect preferential reporting to VAERS of autism with regression. In other respects, the children in this study appear to be similar to other children with autism. Further research might determine whether the pathogenesis of autism with developmental regression differs from that of autism without regression.
Chronic alcohol exposure negatively impacts the physiological and molecular parameters of the renal biotin reabsorption process.

Normal body homeostasis of biotin is critically dependent on its renal recovery by kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells, a process that is mediated by the sodium-dependent multivitamin transpor...
Impact ionization in InAlAs/InGaAs/InAlAs HEMT's

The kink effect and excess gate current in InAlAs/InGaAs/InAlAs HEMT's have been linked to impact ionization in the high field region of the channel. In this letter, a relationship is established between experimentally measured excess gate current and the tunneling of holes from the quantum well formed in the channel. The channel hole current is then obtained as the quotient of the excess gate current to the gate-voltage-dependent transmission probability. This channel hole current follows the exponential dependence of the ionization constant on the inverse electric field.
Tetrahedral rigid-body motion in silicates

The atomic displacement parameters (ADPs) obtained from published refinements of silicate crystals measured at or below room temperature are examined to determine ifT04 (T = AI,Si) tetrahedra display rigid-body thermal motion. In Inany cases, the correlation found among the ADPs is consistent with the TLS model of rigid-body motion. For these data, the translational motion is described by the ADPs of the central T atom, whereas both librational and translational motion are displayed in those of the surrounding 0 atoms. The libration angle for rigid tetrahedra is quadratically dependent on the difference between the isotropic equivalent displacement parameter of the T and 0 atoms, Beq(T) and Beq(O), respectively. The value of Beq(O) is on average twice that of Beq(T), with an observed maximum value of ",2.0 A2. Variation in the observed Si-O bond lengths of rigid tetrahedra in the silica polymorphs is related only to the fractional s-character of 0, h(O). ADPs that do not indicate rigid-body motion for a given tetrahedron may be used to identify crystals containing disorder or suggest problems with the refinement.
Reducing vibration and providing robustness with multi-input shapers

Input shaping is a command generation method that creates commands that result in low levels of residual vibration. This paper introduces new methods to design input shapers for multi-input systems. To justify the new methods, the multi-input vector diagram is used. Multi-input shaping design procedures are introduced that result in shapers that use secondary actuators to reduce vibration and increase robustness to modeling errors. Simulations of a nonlinear mobile tower crane model are used to illustrate the proposed method.
Thermal chemistry and photochemistry of hexafluoroacetone on rutile TiO2(110)

The ultraviolet (UV) photon-induced decomposition of hexafluoroacetone ((CF3)2CO; HFA) adsorbed on the rutile TiO2(110) surface was investigated using photon stimulated desorption (PSD) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). HFA adsorbs both molecularly and dissociatively on the reduced TiO2(110) surface. The initial ∼0.2 ML (where 1 ML equates to the cation site density of the ideal surface) coverage of HFA thermally decomposes resulting in the formation of adsorbed trifluoroacetate groups, with further HFA exposure resulting in molecular adsorption. No evidence was found for HFA photochemistry on the reduced surface. HFA adsorbed and desorbed molecularly on a pre-oxidized TiO2(110) surface with only a minor amount (∼1%) of thermal decomposition in TPD. A new adsorption state at 350 K was assigned to the reversible formation of a photoactive HFA-diolate species [(CF3)2COO]. UV irradiation depleted the 350 K state, resulting in evolution of CF3, CO, and CO2 in the gas phase and formation of surface bound trifluoroacetate groups. 18O isotope scrambling experiments showed that the ejected CO2 was from photodecomposition of the HFA-diolate species while the CO photoproduct was not. These results are in contrast to the photochemical behavior of acetone, butanone and acetaldehyde on TiO2(110), where UV irradiation resulted in the gas phase ejection of one of the carbonyl substituent groups as well as a stoichiometric amount of carboxylate left on the surface. We conclude that fluorination alters the electronic structure of adsorbed carbonyls on TiO2(110) in such a way as to promote complete fragmentation of the adsorbed carbonyl complex to form gas phase CO2 as well as to open up additional photodissociation pathways leading to CO production.
Continuous design transmutation method for problems in engineering analysis

Many problems in engineering analysis and design involve searching solutions of a system of equations. In most cases, because these equations are highly coupled and non-linear and thus unlikely to yield close-form solutions, researchers seek possible solutions using numerical techniques. In this paper, we present a ‘Continuous Design Transmutation Method’, a numerical method based on the polynomial continuation theory that has been discussed in recent works appearing in engineering literature. Our model departs from similar approaches in that its start system and homotopy are based on physical design and not pure mathematical equations. To avoid singularity on real paths, we introduce a heuristic disturbance mechanism. First, we simplify target design in order to construct a design that possesses both a similar structure and known solutions. Then, we construct a homotopy between the governing equations of the simplified design and those of the target design. The solutions of the target problem emerge as one tracks the solutions of the simplified design's governing equations as these incrementally evolve from the simplified design into the target design. Using our method, one tracks only isolated solutions of the simplified problem. All of the extraneous paths have been eliminated before the solution-tracking procedure begins. As a result, not only can one easily interpret, in physical terms, the transmutation process, but one can also monitor the design feature changes. In this paper, we demonstrate our method as applied to two sample problems: a five-point position-generation problem for a planar four-bar mechanism and a function-generation problem for an RSSR linkage. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lithography for enabling advances in integrated circuits and devices

Because the transistor was fabricated in volume, lithography has enabled the increase in density of devices and integrated circuits. With the invention of the integrated circuit, lithography enabled the integration of higher densities of field-effect transistors through evolutionary applications of optical lithography. In 1994, the semiconductor industry determined that continuing the increase in density transistors was increasingly difficult and required coordinated development of lithography and process capabilities. It established the US National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors and this was expanded in 1999 to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors to align multiple industries to provide the complex capabilities to continue increasing the density of integrated circuits to nanometre scales. Since the 1960s, lithography has become increasingly complex with the evolution from contact printers, to steppers, pattern reduction technology at i-line, 248 nm and 193 nm wavelengths, which required dramatic improvements of mask-making technology, photolithography printing and alignment capabilities and photoresist capabilities. At the same time, pattern transfer has evolved from wet etching of features, to plasma etch and more complex etching capabilities to fabricate features that are currently 32 nm in high-volume production. To continue increasing the density of devices and interconnects, new pattern transfer technologies will be needed with options for the future including extreme ultraviolet lithography, imprint technology and directed self-assembly. While complementary metal oxide semiconductors will continue to be extended for many years, these advanced pattern transfer technologies may enable development of novel memory and logic technologies based on different physical phenomena in the future to enhance and extend information processing.
Constant molecular aging rates vs. the exponential acceleration of mortality.

Laetitia Gorisse, Philippe Gillery, and their coworkers (1) at the University of Reims elegantly document carbamylation as a biochemical change of aging in long-lived proteins that accumulates progressively across the life span. In human skin samples, the main carbamylation product, homocitruline (HCit), shows intriguing linear increases across the life span, with faster accumulation in two shorter lived species. Carbamylation thus joins other markers of protein oxidation and DNA methylation that accumulate at constant rates throughout the adult life span.
PHYSICAL HETEROGENEITY OF BOVINE GAMMA GLOBULINS: GAMMA-1M GLOBULIN ELECTROPHORETIC HETEROGENEITY.

SummaryIn the bovine species, gamma-1M globulin occurs as an electrophoretic continuum with most molecules of near mean mobility. No electrophoretic sub-groups of particularly high concentration, as described for 7S gamma globulins, were noted. Complement-fixing antibody activity was associated with bovine gamma-1M globulin molecules whose mean electrophoretic mobility was slower than the mean mobility of the protein as a whole. The marginal extent of this manifestation argues against anticipation of as heterogeneous a distribution of particular biological activities within the gamma-1M globulin spectrum as has been shown to be the case with 7S gamma globulins.
Production and perception of the English /æ/–/ɑ/ contrast in switched-dominance speakers:

This study investigates how fluent second-language (L2) learners of English produce and perceive the /ae/–/ɑ/ vowel contrast of Southwestern American English. Two learner groups are examined: (1) early, proficient English speakers who were raised by Spanish-speaking families but who became dominant in English during childhood and, as adults, lack communicative abilities in Spanish, and (2) Spanish-speaking late learners of English who continue to be dominant in Spanish. The participants provided data in three tasks: one production and two perceptual. The study finds that both learner groups differ from native controls in their production and perception of the /ae/–/ɑ/ contrast. The findings shed light on our understanding of the relative effects of age (at onset of language exposure) and language dominance (at time of testing) by showing that sequential bilingualism impacts phonetic behavior even when speakers have become dominant in the target language.
Szeged in 1934

1. WHY SZEGED? The year 1933 was dreary and dismal for most people. This was precisely at the end of my studies for the doctorate. By some miracle, I was spared unemployment. I was awarded a National Research Council Fellowship, for a year of postdoctoral study at Harvard University under the guidance of Marshall Stone. There were four N.R.C. fellows at Harvard: Magnus Hestenes, David Nathan, Deane Montgomery, and me. Montgomery and I formed a seminar, to lecture each other on the material in Oswald Veblen's Analysis Situs. We were joined by Norman Steenrod, who shone by his determination to find out what was really going on. These fellowships had been severely cut, both in number and in stipend. Nevertheless, even with the reduced stipend of $1,600 for twelve months, I managed to live in Boston like a Bohemian, dividing my activities between wooing the recalcitrant muse of mathematics and indulging in the follies of youth: drinking beer, going to symphony concerts, and jogging in the park. This extra year at Harvard was supposed to give us a "coat of varnish," as one of my friends put it. Whether it turned us into gentlemen or scholars is a moot question. It did provide a line in my curriculum vitae. Future employers were impressed. Stone told me that the two mathematicians in all the world who could be most helpful to my development were John von Neumann and Frederick Riesz. (His Hungarian name, Frigyes, became Frederick when anglicized). von Neumann's name was well known to me, of course. Of Riesz, situated at the other end of the world, I was only vaguely aware. But Stone's remark was prophetic. Stone and I agreed that my energies were best spent digging deeper into Hilbert and Banach spaces. That meant a frontal attack on Stone's Colloquium Series Publication, Linear Transformations in Hilbert Space, a remarkable 622-page book more often quoted than read. Stone's style has sometimes been subject to comment. It is infinitely correct but, like many of his other qualities, carried out "a outrance," with some bizarre results. For example, one of his theorems (p. 590) takes two complete pages-for the statement. The last chapter of the book fills 218 pages. Stone had a special sense of humor. At one of our infrequent meetings I mentioned some problems as possible candidates for research topics. About the best one of my problems, Stone said, "Oh, I don't know. Somebody must have
Biology and Host Relations of Avetianella longoi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an Egg Parasitoid of the Eucalyptus Longhorned Borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Avetianella longoi Siscaro, an egg parasitoid of the eucalyptus longhorned borer, Phoracantha semipunctata (F.), was recently introduced into California. Developmental and reproductive biology of the parasitoid, including host selection, and its potential as a biological control agent of the borer were evaluated in the laboratory. These studies demonstrated that A. longoi required ≈16 d to develop from egg to adult: at 25°C, longevity of adults averaged 26 d, and fecundity was ≈200 eggs per female. Oviposition rate was ≈10 eggs per day for young females (1–10 d old), but fell to half that number in older females (>20 d old). Younger females tended to produce primarily female progeny, whereas the progeny sex ratio of older females was male biased. Young female A. longoi preferred newly laid P. semipunctata eggs for oviposition and these eggs yielded nearly equal numbers of male and female parasitoids. However, adult females oviposited in older host eggs if no alternatives were available, resulting in a female-biased sex ratio. Because of its relatively high fecundity and its ability to use host eggs of a range of ages, A. longoi seems to have good potential as a biological control agent. In addition, A. longoi can complete 6 generations for each beetle generation, allowing parasitoid populations to expand rapidly. These biological characteristics may allow the parasitoid population to respond numerically to outbreaks of P. semipunctata . By killing the eggs of the borer, A. longoi reduces the number of beetle larvae attempting to colonize the host tree, thus improving the chances that the tree will survive borer attack.
Religious Attendance and the Mobility Trajectories of Older Mexican Americans: An Application of the Growth Mixture Model

Although several studies have examined the association between religious involvement and physical functioning, there is no consistent empirical evidence concerning the true nature of the association. The Hispanic population is also surprisingly understudied in previous work. In this article, we employ seven waves of data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly to examine the association between religious attendance and performance-based mobility trajectories among older Mexican Americans. Growth mixture estimates reveal three latent classes of mobility trajectories: (1) high, (2) moderate, and (3) low. Multinomial logistic regression estimates show that the odds of being classified as having low mobility (versus high and moderate mobility) are lower for respondents who attend religious services than for respondents who never attend. Religious attendance does not distinguish between moderate and high mobility. Our regression results confirm that religious attendance is associated with favorable mobility trajectories among older Mexican Americans.
Effects of the oviduct and wheat germ agglutinin on enzymatic digestion of porcine zona pellucidae.

Seventy-two crossbred gilts were utilized to examine whether the oviduct rendered zona pellucidae resistant to protease digestion, whether the uterus reversed this resistance and whether such a uterine reversal was necessary for hatching. Oocytes were aspirated from follicles 22 to 28 h after onset of estrus (d 0); oviductal and uterine oocytes or embryos were collected on d 1 to 6. These oocytes and embryos were subjected to a solution containing .1% trypsin and .1% pronase (37 degrees C) for observation of zona pellucidae digestion. Zonae of oviductal oocytes were more (P less than .001) resistant to digestion than were follicular oocytes. Placement of follicular oocytes in oviducts for 30 min rendered zona pellucidae more (P less than .001) resistant to protease digestion than oocytes not exposed to oviductal secretions. Resistance of zona pellucidae to proteases, however, decreased (P less than .001) after entry into the uterus. Zonae of morulae retained in oviducts took longer (P less than .001) to digest than those recovered from the uterus. Blastocysts also were treated with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA; 50 micrograms/ml) for 40 min to determine whether artificial induction of zona resistance to enzymatic digestion affected the ability of embryos to hatch. Though WGA treatment delayed (P less than .001) enzymatic digestion of zona pellucidae, time from collection to hatching was not affected. This experiment indicated that the oviduct delayed enzymatic digestion of the zona pellucidae, whereas the uterus reversed this delay. The re-establishment of enzyme susceptibility after uterine entry, however, appeared to be unrelated to the subsequent ability of blastocysts to hatch.
Japan: The Problematic Leadership Role

For the past decade Japan’s international role has been the subject of a growing body of literature. While some envision Japan as the new hegemonic power,1 others hold a contrasting view.2 Yet the balance of analysis is apparently in favour of the one that assumes Japan’s capability and willingness to undertake a leadership role. Even those working outside the hegemony/non-hegemony dichotomy and suggesting ‘bigemony’ or ‘co-hegemony’,3 ‘supportership’4 or an ‘entrepreneurial’ role,5 all imply the existence of some sort of Japanese-style leadership.
Old Copper in Minnesota: A Review

Old Copper refers to a complex of large utilitarian artifacts, such as spear heads, celts, and knives, that are made of nearly pure native copper. The complex, whose classic phase spans portions of...
Allosteric Networks in the Nucleosome Core Particle

Eukaryotic organisms package their genetic material using the nucleosome core particle (NCP), a histone octamer that stably wraps approximately 146 basepairs of DNA. Accessibility of DNA is modulated by a variety of biochemical processes, including post-translational modifications (PTMs) and histone variant substitution. The significant global effects resulting from such highly localized changes suggest the presence of allosteric mechanisms. In this molecular dynamics study, we present a comprehensive analysis of allosteric networks within the canonical NCP and nucleosomes containing transcription-related H2A variants: H2A.Z (modulator), macroH2A (repressor), and one in which the canonical H2A sequence was mutated to possess macroH2A-like L1 loops. While these variants are structurally similar to the canonical form, the altered sequence at key locations - such as the dimer-tetramer and the dimer-dimer (L1-L1) interfaces - provides significant dynamic differences. We observe that macroH2A systems rely most heavily on the L1 loops for propagating dynamic correlations, while the major type and H2A.Z nucleosomes display a preference for utilizing DNA base-pairs and protein-DNA contacts. The increased intra-protein correlation of macroH2A systems creates stronger dynamic couplings throughout the entire NCP. Lastly, we quantify the importance of individual residues to networks within each molecule via the betweenness centrality metric and identify several known PTM sites in the canonical system. These data suggest that strategic changes caused by PTMs may alter stability locally as well as globally via these networks. Furthermore, variant inclusion alters the structure of allosteric pathways and may act to modulate chromatin stability.