cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quaternion Julia set shape optimization

We present the first 3D algorithm capable of answering the question: what would a Mandelbrot-like set in the shape of a bunny look like? More concretely, can we find an iterated quaternion rational map whose potential field contains an isocontour with a desired shape? We show that it is possible to answer this question by casting it as a shape optimization that discovers novel, highly complex shapes. The problem can be written as an energy minimization, the optimization can be made practical by using an efficient method for gradient evaluation, and convergence can be accelerated by using a variety of multi-resolution strategies. The resulting shapes are not invariant under common operations such as translation, and instead undergo intricate, non-linear transformations.
Ranque Vortex-Tube Combustion Chamber

RECENT experiments carried out here lead to the conclusion that the vortex tube of Georges Ranque1 may form an extremely useful compact combustion chamber and also a possible research tool for the investigation of cool flames. Many applications of the vortex tube have appeared during the past fifteen years, as shown by Westley2, but, so far as it has been possible to ascertain, the nearest approach to the burner described here is due to Moore and Martin3 and Martin (private communication). Moore and Martin, using a single-outlet vortex tube made of ‘Pyrex’ glass, discovered the peculiar behaviour of premixed propane-air flames in this burner, together with the extreme flame stability obtained over a wide range of ratios of air to fuel. Owing to the limitations of their air supply, and to the size of the glass tube, they were apparently unable to obtain the rates of flow needed for some of the behaviour described here.
Effects of copper on immune system parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Aricultural, urban, industrial, and mining sources release metals into waterways. The effects of sublethal concentrations of metals on integrated physiological processes in fish, such as immunocompetency, are not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the physiological effects of a range of sublethal copper concentrations (6.4, 16.0, and 26.9 μg Cu/L) on Shasta-strain rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed in soft water. Trout were sampled after 3, 7, 14, and 21 d of exposure to copper. The percentage of monocytes was consistently elevated at 26.9 μg Cu/L, and the percentage of lymphocytes was decreased. A consistent increase in the percentage of neutrophils occurred at 26.9 and 6.4 μg Cu/L. Respiratory burst activity was decreased for all concentrations at all sampling days, but a significant reduction occurred only at 14 and 21 d of exposure to copper. B-like cell proliferation was decreased by exposure to the higher copper concentrations. Proliferation results, however, had high variability. T-like cell proliferation and phagocytosis were not altered. Hepatic copper concentration was consistently elevated in trout exposed to 26.9 μg Cu/L; no correlation was found between hepatic copper concentration and the immune system responses investigated. Consistent alterations in immunological parameters suggest that these parameters could serve as indicators of chronic metal toxicity in natural systems.
Sodium Urate Accelerates Precipitation of Calcium Oxalate In Vitro

Precipitation of calcium oxalate crystals from a metastable solution can be detected within 10 min if crystalline sodium urate is added at a solid to liquid ratio of 0.1 mM or more. Without urate, precipitation begins after 50 min. Uric acid is not effective. Pyrophosphate inhibits the effects of sodium urate.
Radial basis function networks for classifying process faults

It is shown that under certain conditions the backpropagation network classifier can produce nonintuitive, nonrobust decision surfaces. These result from the inherent nature of the sigmoid transfer function, the definition of the training set, and the error function used for training. The backpropagation network has no mechanism in the standard training scheme for identifying regions not in any known classes. The radial basis function network overcomes these difficulties by using a nonmonotonic transfer function based on the Gaussian density function. While producing robust decision surfaces, the radial basis function also provides an estimate of how close a test case is to the original training data, allowing the classifier to signal that a test case potentially represents a novel class while still presenting the most plausible classification. For applications where this type of behavior is important, such as fault diagnosis, the radial basis function network is shown to offer clear advantages over the backpropagation network. The radial basis function is also faster to train because the training of the two layers is decoupled. >
Generation, transport, and deposition of tungsten-oxide aerosols at 1000 °C in flowing air/steam mixtures

Abstract Experiments were conducted to measure the rates of oxidation and vaporization of tungsten in flowing air, steam, and air/steam mixtures in laminar flow. Also measured were the downstream transport of tungsten-oxide condensation aerosols and their region of deposition, including plateout in the superheated flow tube, rainout in the condenser, and ambient discharge that was collected on an array of sub-micron aerosol filters. The nominal conditions of the tests, with the exception of the first two tests, were tungsten temperatures of 1000 °C, gas mixture temperatures of 200 °C, and boundary temperatures of 150–200 °C. It was observed that the tungsten oxidation rates were greatest in all air and least in all steam, and generally decreased non-linearly as the steam mole fraction increased. The tungsten oxidation rates in all air were more than five times greater than the tungsten oxidation rates in all steam. The tungsten vaporization rate was zero in all air, and increased with increasing steam mole fraction. The vaporization rate became maximum at a steam mole fraction of 0.85 and decreased thereafter as the steam mole fraction was increased to unity. The tungsten-oxide was transported downstream as condensation aerosols, initially flowing upwards from the tungsten rod through an 18-in. long, 1-in. OD quartz tube, around a 90° bend with a 3.5-in. radius, and laterally through a 24-in. horizontal run. The entire length of the quartz glass flow path was heated by electrical resistance clamshell heaters whose temperatures were individually controlled and monitored. The tungsten-oxide plateout in the quartz tube was collected, nearly all of which was deposited at the end of the heated zone near the entrance to the steam condenser that was cold. The tungsten-oxide that rained out in the condenser as the steam condensed was collected with the condensate and weighed after being dried. The aerosol smoke that escaped the condenser was collected on the sub-micron filter assemblies. There was no aerosol generation for the case of all air, so the plateout, condensate, and smoke were all zero. For the case of all steam, there was very little plateout in the superheated regions; almost all of the aerosol was collected in the condensate from the condenser and there was no smoke discharge into the filters. For the experiments with intermediate air/steam fractions, there was some aerosol plateout, considerable aerosol in the condensate, and aerosol smoke discharged from the condenser with the escaping air.
RE-UTILIZATION OF THYMIDINE DURING DEATH OF A CELL.

THE death of cells offers a situation by which salvage pathways can be studied. Thus, following large doses of X-irradiation, death of a murine ascites lymphoma cell occurs by a rapid intermitotic mechanism1. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of these cells was labelled with tritiated thymidine, the cells killed by X-irradiation, and injected intravenously into recipient mice with growing ascites tumours. Label appeared in the DNA of the tumour and bone marrow cells of the recipient mice, with all µthe radioactivity being present as thymine. This indicates a salvage and conservation mechanism for these molecules.
Peirce's place in mathematics

Abstract This article compares treatments of the infinite, of continuity and definitions of real numbers produced by the German mathematician Georg Cantor and Richard Dedekind in the late 19th century with similar interests developed at virtually the same time by the American mathematician/philosopher C. S. Peirce. Peirce was led, not by the internal concerns of mathematics which had motivated Cantor and Dedekind, but by research he undertook in logic, to investigate orders of infinite sets (multitudes, in his terminology), and to introduce the related concept of infinitesimals. His arguments in support of the mathematical and logical validity of infinitesimals (which were rejected by such eminent mathematicians as Cantor, Peano, and Russell at the turn of the century) are considered. Attention is also given to the connections between Peirce's mathematics, his philosophy, and especially his interest in continuity as it was related to his Pragmatism.
Functional anatomy of limbic seizures: focal discharges from medial entorhinal cortex in rat.

Focal seizure discharges were induced in the ventral aspect of the medial entorhinal cortex of awake, freely moving rats, either with cannula injections of penicillin or picrotoxin (0.02 μl every 10–15 min) or by repetitive tetanic electrical stimulation.[14C]Deoxyglucose autoradiography (DG) was performed when animals were in a ‘steady-state’ with respect to electrographic discharges and/or behavioral changes. During simple interictal spikes behavior remained normal and DG labeling was increased only in the entorhinal focus and stratum moleculare of the ventral dentate gyrus. With complex spikes and short seizures animals exhibited staring, decreased responsiveness, and occasional wer dog shakes. DG labeling was inceased in all layers of the dentate gyrus, Ammon's horn (ipsilateral > contralateral) and, to a lesser degree, in ipsilateral anygdala, and the accumbens-ventral pallidum area. During stong seizures rearing and forelimb clonus occured and metabolism was strongly activated bilaterally in the hippocampal formation, amygdala, accumbens, substantia nigra, and the anterior and periventricular thalamic nuclei. These studies indicate that the dentate gyrus initially restricts the entry of seizures from entorhinal cortex into the rest of hippocampus. As this is overcome there is rapid bilateral spread through the hippocampal formation with passive interruption of normal behavior. With prolonged seizure discharges there is further capture of amygdala and subcortical extrapyramidal and thalamic nuclei associated with behavioral convulsions.
Age differences in the development of the conditioned emotional response

Rats aged 25, 50, or 120 days were tested for suppression of drinking behavior during the presentation of a fear-producing CS. The youngest group did not show any evidence of drinking suppression when compared to more mature rats or to a pseudoconditioning control group of the same age. These results are discussed in terms of fear conditioning and the ability of young rats to inhibit consummatory responses.
Alternative Splicing of GAD67 Results in the Synthesis of a Third Form of Glutamic-acid Decarboxylase in Human Islets and Other Non-neural Tissues

Two forms of glutamic-acid decarboxylase (GAD) have been identified in mammalian tissues: a 65-kDa form (GAD65) and a 67-kDa form (GAD67). Alternate splicing produces one or two smaller variants of GAD67 in the brain of embryonic mice and rats. Additionally, a short, heretofore unidentified transcript homologous to GAD67 has been detected in human testis RNA. Because GAD, the enzyme responsible for γ-aminobutyric acid production and a key autoantigen in type I diabetes, has unclear function in non-neural tissue, it is important to understand its pattern of expression. Unlike GAD65, GAD67 is not produced in human pancreatic islets. Here, we describe a novel splice variant of GAD67 that is produced in human islets, testis, adrenal cortex, and perhaps other endocrine tissues, but not in brain. This transcript directs the synthesis of a protein without GAD enzymatic activity: GAD25. A unique peptide sequence at the carboxyl terminus of GAD25 is highly conserved between mice, rats, and humans. We conclude that humans produce a third form of GAD in non-neural tissues and that human islets, although they do not synthesize full-length GAD67, do express this shortened variant.
Cascading lung injury in allogeneic SCT

Comment on Hildebrandt et al, page [2249][1] IPS is a frequently fatal noninfectious pulmonary process seen in up to a quarter of the recipients of myeloablative stem cell transplants. Treatment, high-dose steroids, antimicrobials, and supportive care are usually ineffective. The pathophysiology
A new synthesis: Resituating approaches to the evolution of human behaviour

Most anthropologists would agree that humans are simultaneously historical, biological, behavioral, and social. However, many researchers retain a relatively dualistic paradigm dividing anthropological questions into biological and/or social aspects. Many practitioners of Neo-Darwinian perspectives prioritize natural selection in all explanations of human evolution. Many other anthropologists refuse to acknowledge a significant role for biological features and biological histories in human action, sensation, and engagement. Both perspectives are misplaced. Incorporating emerging perspectives in evolutionary theory into the broader anthropological discourse may help discard simplistic dualisms and resituate our assessments of the evolution of human behavior. In this essay I review three major emergent themes in evolutionary theory; Multi-Inheritance Systems Theory, Developmental Systems Theory, and Niche Construction. I suggest, with one brief example, that placing these elements in transaction with other perspectives in anthropology might enhance the possibilities of assessing human evolution and behavior.
Interpretation of Abstract Conditional Sentences in Deductive Reasoning.

Sentences of the form if p then q have been defined in logic to have a fixed and singular meaning expressed by a conditional truth function. For naive subjects, however, this is only one of its possible meanings. Sometimes an abstract sentence of this form is interpreted in this way, but on other occasions it has a biconditional truth-functional meaning, while on still other occasions it has a meaning not found in the propositional calculus at all because part of the truth table is irrelevant. In the present study it is suggested that these various meanings are due in part to different inferences by the subject about how the sentence is supposed to be used in the experimental task, brought about by relatively small differences in the procedure employed. It is argued that such inferences are important for any theory of the interpretation of sentences and provide further evidence to indicate that the meaning of a sentence is not solely a function of the intrinsic properties of the sentence itself but is also dependent upon context as well.
Urinary Tract Infections in Children: Recommendations for Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Evaluation. An Evidence-Based Approach

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children, but the routine work-up and treatment recommendations are still controversial. Long-term complications, including renal scarring, hypertension, and renal failure, have been the main concern and the reason for use of antibiotic prophylaxis and invasive imaging techniques. In the past several years, numerous studies have been published comparing different imaging protocols and questioning the use of antibiotic prophylaxis. The latest guidelines from the United Kingdom, published in 2007, recommend more selective approach based on evidence. In this review, we critically appraise the literature published in the past 5 years. The risk of developing long-term complications after a UTI is extremely low, and the evidence suggests selective imaging to a select group of children at risk. Finding those at risk for long-term complications is yet to be determined.
Phosphorylation-dependent Functional Coupling of hSlo Calcium-dependent Potassium Channel and Its hβ4 Subunit

Abstract The auxiliary β4 subunit of the humanslowpoke calciumdependent potassium (slo) channel is expressed predominantly in the brain. Co-expression of β4 subunit with the slo channel α subunit in HEK293 and Chinese hamster ovary cells slows channel activation and deactivation and also shifts the voltage dependence of the channel to more depolarized potentials. We show here that the functional interaction between the hβ4 subunit and theslo channel is influenced by the phosphorylation state of hβ4. Treatment of cells with okadaic acid (OA) reduces the effect of hβ4 on slo channel activation kinetics and voltage dependence but not on slo channel deactivation kinetics. The effect of OA can be blocked by mutating three putative serine/threonine phosphorylation sites in hβ4 (Thr-11/Ser-17/Ser-210) to alanines, suggesting that OA potentiates phosphorylation of hβ4 and thereby suppresses its functional coupling to the slochannel. Mutation of Ser-17 alone to a negatively charged residue (S17E) can mimic the effect of OA. Mutating all three phosphorylation sites in hβ4 to negatively charged residues (T11D/S17E/S210E) not only suppresses the effect of hβ4 on slo channel activation kinetics and voltage dependence, it also suppresses its effect on slo channel deactivation kinetics. Co-immunoprecipitation/Western blot experiments indicate that all of these hβ4 mutants, as well as the wild-type hβ4, bind to theslo channel. Taken together, these data suggest that phosphorylation of the β4 subunit dynamically regulates the functional coupling between the β4 subunit and the pore-forming α subunit of the slo channel. In addition, phosphorylation of different residues in hβ4 differentially influences its effects onslo channel activation kinetics, deactivation kinetics, and voltage dependence.
The Space-like Kaon Electromagnetic Form Factor

Abstract The electroproduction of kaons can potentially provide information about their space-like electromagnetic form factor at large momentum transfers. The aim of the revently completed Experiment E93-018 at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility was to measure the elementary amplitudes in the associated production mechanism. Then, in principle, it should be possible to extract the kaon form factor at Q 2 = 1.0 GeV 2 /c 2 . This momentum transfer is more than an order of magnitude higher than previously acheived in kaon form factor measurements.
On the Behaviour of Three-Dimensional Wave Packets in Viscously Spreading Mixing Layers

We consider analytically the evolution of a three-dimensional wave packet generated by an impulsive source in a mixing layer. The base flow is assumed to be spreading due to viscous diffusion. The analysis is restricted to small disturbances (linearized theory). A suitable high-frequency ansatz is used to describe the packet; the key ele­ments of this description are a complex phase and a wave action density. It is found that the product of this density and an infinitesimal material volume convecting at the local group velocity is not conserved: there is a cohtinuous interaction be­tween the base flow and the wave action. This interaction is determined by suitable mode-weighted averages of the second and fourth derivatives of the base-flow veloc­ity profile. Although there is some tendency for the dominant wavenumber in the packet to shift from the most unstable value towards the neutral value, this shift is quite moderate. In practice, wave packets do not become locally neutral in a diverg­ing base flow (as do instability modes), therefore, they are expected to grow more suddenly than pure instability modes and do not develop critical layers. The group velocity is complex; the full significance of this is realized by analytically continuing the equations for the phase and wave action into a complex domain. The implications of this analytic continuation are discussed vis-a-vis the secondary instabilities of the packet: very small-scale perturbations on the phase can grow very rapidly initially, but saturate later because most of the energy in these perturbations is convected away by the group velocity. This remark, as well as the one regarding critical layers, has consequences for nonlinear theories.
Genetic Connectivity in Scleractinian Corals across the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Oil/Gas Platforms, and Relationship to the Flower Garden Banks

The 3,000 oil/gas structures currently deployed in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) provide hard substratum for marine organisms in a region where such has been rare since the Holocene. The major exception to this are the Flower Garden Banks (FGB). Corals are known to have colonized oil/gas platforms around the FGB, facilitating biogeographic expansion. We ask the question, what are the patterns of genetic affinity in these coral populations. We sampled coral tissue from populations of two species occurring on oil and gas platforms: Madracis decactis (hermatype) and Tubastraea coccinea (invasive ahermatype). We sampled 28 platforms along four transects from 20 km offshore to the continental shelf edge off 1) Matagorda Island, TX; 2) Lake Sabine, TX; 3) Terrebonne Bay, LA; and 4) Mobile, AL. The entire population of M. decactis was sampled between depths of 5 m and 37 m. T. coccinea populations were sub-sampled. Genetic variation was assessed using the PCR-based Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs). Data were analyzed via AFLPOP and STRUCTURE. Genetic connectivity among M. decactis platform populations was highest near the FGB and decreased to the east. Connectivity increased again in the eastern sector, indicating isolation between the populations from different sides of the Mississippi River (Transects 3 and 4). A point-drop in genetic affinity (relatedness) at the shelf edge south of Terrebonne Bay, LA indicated a population differing from all others in the northern GOM. Genetic affinities among T. coccinea were highest in the west and decreased to the east. Very low genetic affinities off Mobile, AL indicated a dramatic difference between those populations and those west of the Mississippi River, apparently a formidable barrier to larval dispersal.
Perceived stress predicts allergy flares

Abstract Background A relation between stress and symptoms of rhinitis has not been established. Objective: To determine if participants' reporting of allergy flares correlated with perceived emotional stress, depression, mood, and a biomarker of stress (cortisol). Methods This study was a secondary analysis of 179 university employees who participated in a study evaluating the influence of several lifestyle interventions on health symptoms and inflammation. Perceived stress and depressive symptom questionnaires were obtained before each 2-week study period. Online diary entries documenting same-day allergy flares, stressful events, perceived stress, mood, and salivary cortisol levels were collected daily during 2 14-day blocks. Results Thirty-nine percent of subjects (n = 69) self-reported allergy symptoms. This allergy flare group had higher perceived stress scores than the group without allergy symptoms. Perceived stress, but not depressive symptoms, positively correlated with allergy flares evaluated during 2 independent 14-day periods. There also was a positive relation between negative mood scores and allergy flares over the course of the study. Cortisol had no association with allergy symptom flares. Conclusion These findings suggest that individuals with persistent emotional stress have more frequent allergy flares. Furthermore, those with more flares have greater negative mood.
Iris Marion Young: Legacies for Feminist Theory

Iris Marion Young was a fighter for justice and against oppression. A strong commitment, a commitment there as long as any of us had known her, fueled her writing and her activism. Her feminism was part of that commitment to justice. Her attention and sensitivity to the oppression of others was informed by an acute eye to the ways she herself—and all women—have to face the threats of economic exploitation, social marginalization, powerlessness, cultural hegemony, and systematic violence.
ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a tool to probe surface adsorption on nanoparticles at the liquid–solid interface in environmentally and biologically relevant media

Given the importance of nanoparticle surface composition in nanotoxicology, analytical tools that can probe nanoparticle surfaces in aqueous media are crucial but remain limited. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy is a technique capable of in situ characterization of the liquid–solid interface to probe surface adsorption on nanoparticle surfaces in environmentally and biologically relevant media. Furthermore, given that the interfacial region in these media is dynamic, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy facilitates monitoring these dynamics by interrogating a layer of immobilized nanoparticles coated on the ATR element while changing the overlying aqueous phase. The molecular information acquired from this technique allows for the determination of the adsorption mode, including conformational and structural changes of the coordinating ligand, and can directly measure ligand displacement reactions. Furthermore, in some cases, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy can be used as a quantitative surface analytical tool. In this article, we briefly review the fundamentals of the technique and then provide several examples of using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to probe nanoparticle surfaces in general with respect to: (i) the adsorption of different environmentally and biologically relevant coordinating ligands; (ii) competitive ligand adsorption and; (iii) the determination of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. We have also investigated surface adsorption of TiO2 nanoparticles in different biological media typically used for toxicity studies and show that the surface composition of TiO2 nanoparticles depends to a large extent on the composition of the medium due to surface adsorption. This result has important implications for the interpretation of toxicity data as well as inter-comparisons between toxicity studies.
High frequency performance, measurement and modelling of simple mechanical ground contacts used in mobile phones

In this paper a test method is proposed to assess the performance, characterise, measure and then model the high frequency impedance of simple mechanical ground contacts that are used within mobile phones. A simple test fixture is defined that allows the ground contact attenuation performance between 2 ports to be measured over a wide frequency range. A simulation model for the test fixture and ground contact is modelled using a 3D EM simulation solver. The 3D model for the ground contact contains variable parameters that can be adjusted for each type of ground contact used within the test fixture. A comparison and good correlation between the 3D EM solver results and the actual test fixture results is completed. The test fixture allows varying mechanical ground contacts [design, material etc] to be evaluated and the simulation allows a 3D model of the mechanical ground contact to be modelled which can then be utilised in full phone 3D EM simulations.
Performance analysis of GPS receivers in impulsive noise

The use of GPS has broadened to include mounting on or inside manned or autonomous vehicles which makes it subject to interference generated from motor emissions. Many sources of interference are typically modeled as impulsive noise whose characteristics may vary in terms of power, pulse width, and pulse occurrences. In this paper, we examine the effect of impulsive noise on GPS delay lock loops (DLL). We consider the DLL for the GPS Coarse Acquisition code (C/A), which is used in civilian applications, but also needed in military GPS receivers to perform signal acquisition and tracking. We focus on the statistics of the noise components of the early, late, punctual correlators, which contribute to the discriminator error. The discriminator noise components are produced from the correlation between the impulsive noise and the early, late and punctual reference C/A code. Due to long time averaging, these components assume Gaussian distributions. The discriminator error variance is derived, incorporating the front-end precorrelation filter. It is shown that the synchronization error variance is significantly affected by the power of the received impulsive noise, the precorrelation filter, and the sample rate.
Multiplicative processes-II

Abstract This paper continues the study of the asymptotic properties of a unified class of biological models which are represented by positive homogeneous operators on ordered Banach spaces. Ergodic properties of these models are analyzed in terms of the spectral properties of the operators.
Accountability incentives and academic achievement: Distributional impacts of accountability when standards are set low

This paper examines the effects of a compositional shift in a school’s testing population brought about by the elimination of special education testing exemptions. The policy change forced schools to add varying levels of generally low-achieving students to their testing pools, altering accountability incentives. I provide evidence that the elimination of exemptions caused significant test score increases for initially low-achieving students and narrowed the black-white test gap. I show that the measured effects were not caused by changes in classroom composition. Rather, benefits flowed to low-achieving students because Texas’ accountability standard was low relative to the skills of its students.
Proactive changes in level of activity as a function of footshock and electroconvulsive shock treatments

The effects of electroconvulsive shock (ECS), footshock (FS), FS-ECS with zero delay, FS-ECS with 30-sec delay, or no FS and no ECS (control) treatment upon 24-h activity levels were observed. All ECS-treated groups exhibited a marked decrease in level of activity on the first posttreatment day. The FS-ECS with zero delay group recovered completely on the second posttreatment day, while the ECS and FS-ECS with 30-sec delay group recovered more slowly.
Mechanical testing of small fracture implants for comparison of insertion and failure torques.

Small fracture screws are among the most commonly used implants in the field of orthopedic surgery. The goal of this study was to compare the insertion and failure torques of three screw types: cortical, partially threaded cancellous, and fully threaded cancellous from three manufacturers: Zimmer, Richards, and Synthes. Each type of screw was subjected to biomechanical tests to determine the insertion (n=6/group) and failure (n=10/group) torques. Two-factor ANOVA tests were run to determine whether the insertion or failure torques were different for the different screw types and manufacturers. In the case of insertion torques, neither the screw nor the manufacturer had any significant effect. In the case of failure torque, significant differences were found based on both the screw type and the manufacturer, with the cortical screws manufactured by Zimmer being the strongest. Although there were strength differences, the most important comparison clinically is between the failure torque and the insertion torque of each screw. In all cases, the failure torques were approximately 20 times larger than the insertion torques, and therefore no failures should occur if only torsional loads are applied during insertion. This comparison shows that factors other than screw strength and manufacturing processes may be involved in cases of screw failure during insertion. All three screw types from all three manufacturers appear to be mechanically reliable, with the proper insertion to failure torque ratio. The surgeon's choice of implant should be based on other considerations.
Analysis of a SAE AS5643 Mil-1394b Based High-Speed Avionics Network Architecture for Space and Defense Applications

To satisfy the increasing needs of more information transmission among subsystems, and to minimize the latency of data transmission between high-speed processors, the avionics interconnection in future aerospace vehicles is required to provide high bandwidth data path. IEEE 1394 was designed as a high speed (up to 3.2 Gbps) data bus for consumer electronics. The Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program was the first significant implementation of IEEE 1394b for aerospace vehicles. Its approach has been standardized by SAE AS5643. This article is to explain the standard in details and provide insights into it, using failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) tools. The analysis results and recommendations could be used for ongoing and future aerospace vehicle programs such as NASA Orion crew exploration vehicle.
Electrochemical and surface characterization of platinum silicide electrodes and their use as stable platforms for electrogenerated chemiluminescence assays

Abstract Electrochemical methods, including cyclic voltammetry and scanning electrochemical microscopy, as well as surface techniques, including conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were utilized to evaluate and characterize the extent of an oxide layer on platinum silicide (PtSi) surfaces that were pretreated by a variety of approaches; piranha solution (1:4 H2O2+H2SO4), hydrofluoric acid (HF), chemical reduction in NaBH4 and after mechanically polishing the surface. Electrochemical methods showed that in the presence of an oxide layer, the rate of electron transfer depended upon the charge of the redox couple: the more negative the charge, the slower is the rate of electron transfer. Additionally, the current levels observed in the presence of an extensive oxide layer were considerably lower than those observed after the oxide layer was removed either with HF acid or by mechanically polishing. Surface analysis and depth profiles obtained using Auger electron spectroscopy demonstrated that PtSi surfaces pretreated with piranha contained the largest amounts of surface oxides. AFM topographic scans along with localized surface conductivity showed that in the presence of this oxide layer, electron transfer occurred at nanoscale domains located between the PtSi grains with the rest of the surface, which most likely contains an oxide layer, being non-conductive. The surface oxide layer was used to attach the electrogenerated chemiluminescent (ECL) label, Ru(bpy)32+ covalently, either directly or via single-stranded DNA. Emission during oxidation in the presence of the co-reactant tri-n-propylamine was observed, illustrating the possible use of PtSi as a platform for ECL-based bioassays.
The third member of the transforming acidic coiled coil-containing gene family, TACC3, maps in 4p16, close to translocation breakpoints in multiple myeloma, and is upregulated in various cancer cell lines.

We have recently identified a novel gene, TACC1 (transforming acidic coiled coil-containing gene 1), which is located close to FGFR1 within a region amplified in breast cancer on human chromosome 8p11. The coiled coil domain of this gene identified a series of cDNAs in the expressed sequence tag database, which suggested the existence of a family of TACC genes comprising at least three family members. We have now characterized the human and mouse TACC3 cDNAs, and demonstrate that this gene is upregulated in various cancer cell lines, and at Embryonic Day 15 in mice, suggesting that the TACC3 protein is involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation. The TACC3 gene maps telomeric to the FGFR3 gene in 4p16.3, close to a region disrupted by translocation breakpoints associated with multiple myeloma. Thus, TACC1, TACC2, and TACC3 map close to the corresponding FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR3 genes. The phylogenetic relationship among the three TACC genes is similar to that of the three FGFR family members. These relationships suggest that the FGFR and TACC genes arose from a physically linked ancestral gene pair. Subsequently, this gene pair has undergone two successive rounds of gene duplication to give rise to the three FGFR/TACC gene pairs on chromosomes 4, 8, and 10.
Studies on requirements for amino acids in infants with disorders of amino acid metabolism. I. Effect of alanine.

ABSTRACT: Two infants with disorders of propionate metabolism were studied at 7 months of age to determine optimum levels of intake of protein and calories to meet the requirements for essential amino acid for growth in infancy, and at the same time minimize the accumulation of toxic intermediates. An effect of alanine was found that permitted growth at otherwise limiting levels of protein intake. This was not simply an effect of nonessential nitrogen as neither glycine nor glutamic acid could substitute for alanine in this protein-sparing effect. This appears to represent further evidence of the relationship between alanine and the branched-chain amino acids and of the importance of the alanine-glucose cycle in human physiology.
Cathepsins and compartmentalization in antigen presentation.

Abstract Intracellular trafficking and cell surface expression of MHC class II molecules is a tightly regulated process and is to a large extent, determined by the fate of the class II chaperone, the invariant chain. Inhibition of endosomal proteases critical to invariant chain proteolysis reveals marked shunting of class II complexes to lysosomal compartments. Regulation of endosomal protease activity by expression of cystatin C directs class II cell surface expression during maturation of dendritic cells. These studies highlight the taut interactions between class-II–invariant-chain complexes and endosomal proteases during MHC class II maturation.
Response of two strains of large white male turkeys to amino acid levels when diets are changed at three- or four-week intervals

A study was conducted to evaluate the amino acid recommendations of the NRC (1994) when diets were changed at 3- or 4-wk intervals. Diets formulated to provide from 90 to 115% of recommended amino acid levels were fed to Nicholas (NIC) and British United Turkey (BUT) Large White males from day-old to 24 wk of age; samples of turkeys were processed at 18 and 24 wk. Results indicated that the amino acid levels suggested by NRC are adequate to support maximum body weight gain, feed conversion, and dressing percentage of Large White males grown to 18 or 24 wk when fed on 4-wk intervals. An approximately 5% higher level of amino acids was required to maximize breast yield. When feeds were changed at 3-wk intervals, higher levels of amino acids were required to maximize performance; however, there did not seem to be any difference in the response of the two strains of turkeys to different levels of amino acids in this study.
Balloon cell malignant melanoma.

A patient was seen with a pigmented plaque of malignant melanoma and multiple surrounding skin-colored dermal and subcutaneous nodules. Histologic examination showed that the pigmented lesion represented the balloon cell variant of malignant melanoma and that the adjacent nodules were local metastasic lesions. This case, along with a review of the literature, illustrates that many balloon cell melanomas show only mild cellular atypia and minimal mitotic figures, although the tumor has a malignant course, with local or distant metastasis. A careful examination of all the sections of the balloon cell tumor is important.
New millisecond pulsar in a binary system

Recent observations1,2 at the Arecibo Observatory have resulted in the discovery of PSR1855+09, a pulsar with period P=5.362 ms, moving in a nearly circular orbit of period 12.3 days. The pulsar is only the third one known with P < 10 ms, and the sixth known radio pulsar in a binary system. (Discovery of a seventh binary pulsar is announced in an accompanying paper3.) Three of the seven binaries are among the fastest five of more than 400 pulsars—a fact that provides strong support for the conclusion that fast pulsars are ‘recycled’ neutron stars, spun up during a phase of mass accretion from an evolving companion star. The pulsar has a small dispersion measure (13.3 cm−3 pc), suggesting a distance of only ∼350 pc. The proximity of this pulsar and its location within 25 pc of the galactic plane argue that millisecond pulsars form a significant fraction (∼10%) of the pulsar population, leaving many detectable ones undiscovered4,5. Its signal is strong enough to permit pulse-arrival-time measurements with single-day uncertainties of <3µs. Timing observations already suggest that PSR1855+09, like the 1.5-ms pulsar PS R1937+21, will prove to be a natural clock of extremely high stability6. The existence of a second pulsar with extremely small timing uncertainties will greatly aid the search for background gravitational waves using millisecond pulsars as detectors.
Ion detection limitations to mass resolution in matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The ion detection process in a discrete-dynode electron multiplier can result in significant mass resolution losses in time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) for higher mass-to-charge (m/z) ion species. This resolution loss is attributed to propagation time delays and signal broadening in the ion detector. This is presumed to be due to the generation of a distribution of secondary ion species produced initially upon impact of a primary ion with the first dynode surface of the ion detector. Comparisons are made between the signals produced by a standard discrete dynode ion detector (which amplifies the negatively charged species produced by impact of a primary ion) and a detector modified to respond to only the positively charged secondary ion species produced by a primary ion impact. Ion signals for higher m/z ions with the standard detector geometry are seen to be due to a narrow signal component, most likely due to the generation of secondary electrons and/or very low mass secondary ions (H-), and a broad signal component, apparently due to secondary ions which take significant amounts of time to traverse the low potential fields between the first and second detector dynode. This results in ion signal tailing for higher m/z ion species. Numerical subtraction of the ion signal obtained with the standard and modified detector geometries (singly protonated molecular ion species of equine myoglobin) results in an improvement in mass resolution, such that a new adduct ion species (from trifluoroacetic acid) can be resolved.
Ligand Escape Pathways and (Un)Binding Free Energy Calculations for the Hexameric Insulin-Phenol Complex

Cooperative binding of phenolic species to insulin hexamers is known to stabilize pharmaceutical preparations of the hormone. Phenol dissociation is rapid on hexamer dissolution timescales, and phenol unbinding upon dilution is likely the first step in the conversion of (pharmaceutical) hexameric insulin to the active monomeric form upon injection. However, a clear understanding of the determinants of the rates of phenol unbinding remains obscure, chiefly because residues implicated in phenol exchange as determined by NMR are not all associated with likely unbinding routes suggested by the best-resolved hexamer structures. We apply random acceleration molecular dynamics simulation to identify potential escape routes of phenol from hydrophobic cavities in the hexameric insulin-phenol complex. We find three major pathways, which provide new insights into (un)binding mechanisms for phenol. We identify several residues directly participating in escape events that serve to resolve ambiguities from recent NMR experiments. Reaction coordinates for dissociation of phenol are developed based on these exit pathways. Potentials of mean force along the reaction coordinate for each pathway are resolved using multiple independent steered molecular dynamics simulations with second-order cumulant expansion of Jarzynski's equality. Our results for ΔF agree reasonably well within the range of known experimental and previous simulation magnitudes of this quantity. Based on structural analysis and energetic barriers for each pathway, we suggest a plausible preferred mechanism of phenolic exchange that differs from previous mechanisms. Several weakly-bound metastable states are also observed for the first time in the phenol dissociation reaction.
Comparison of FT4 with log TSH on the Abbott Architect ci8200: Pediatric reference intervals for free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Background We evaluated the clinical validity of serum FT4 measurements by assessing its correlation with log TSH. To provide pediatric reference intervals (representative ranges) for FT4, and TSH on the Architect ci8200 integrated system.
Analog circuitry for the van der Pol and FitzHugh-Nagumo equations

An analog circuit for the FitzHugh-Nagumo equations is given that uses readily available integrated circuitry. The mathematical model for this circuit is derived, and simple analysis is given, to show how the circuit works. Specifications for a reliable and easily built analog neuron are given with components that cost only a few dollars. The circuit is useful as a research and educational device.
Neurologic complications of antitumor antibody therapies.

Antibody-based therapy is being explored across a variety of disease types. Several successes in oncology have become part of standard care for diseases such as colorectal cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents have had significant dose-limiting neurologic toxicities associated with their use. Although there are rare incidences of significant neurologic complications of antibody cancer therapy, these treatments are generally very well tolerated. Because most antibody therapy is adjunctive to other treatments, attribution to the immunologic component is often difficult to discern.
A copper-catalyzed C-N bond formation involving sp-hybridized carbons. A direct entry to chiral ynamides via N-alkynylation of amides.

A copper-catalyzed new C−N bond formation involving a sp-hybridized carbon is described here leading to a facile entry for syntheses of chiral ynamides. This direct N-alkynylation of amides should have a significant impact on the future development of synthetic methodologies employing ynamides.
Effect of dietary selenium on boar sperm quality.

The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of long-term dietary selenium supplementation of commercial swine diets on semen production and sperm quality. The dietary treatments were a non-supplemented basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 0.3ppm selenium in either an organic or inorganic form. A secondary objective was to determine if there were any beneficial effects of dietary selenium supplementation on changes in sperm quality during storage of semen post collection. Boars were fed dietary treatments from weaning at 20.97±0.18 d of age until the study was terminated when they were 382.97±0.18 d of age. Boars (n=6 per treatment) were maintained on a 1 time per week collection frequency for 5 months. Immediately after this, boars were collected six times over a 4 day period. Ejaculates were extended in a commercially available, 5-day semen extender and evaluated on day 1 and 6 of storage post-collection. Boars fed the organic selenium had higher (P 0.2) volume, concentration, total sperm in the ejaculate, sperm motility, progressive motility, morphology, lipid peroxidation, or glutathione peroxidase activity. These results indicate that supplementing a basal diet with organic or inorganic selenium did not affect semen quantity or sperm quality in fresh ejaculates nor did it appear to have any beneficial latent effects in extended semen stored post collection.