cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experiments and simulations of femtosecond laser micromachined features for correcting thin silicon mirror segments of X-ray telescopes

The fabrication of a large number of high-resolution, grazing-incidence, thin-shell mirror segments for space X-ray telescopes is still challenging. We have developed an X-ray mirror correction method, using a femtosecond laser to remove selective regions of a stressed film on the mirror back surface to modify the stress states. Our recent experiments have created both isotropic and anisotropic stress states on thin flat silicon mirrors with thermal oxide films using a green light femtosecond laser. An Abaqus finite element model has achieved good comparison between simulations and experiments in the bending of thin-shell mirrors under different stressed film patterns.
Sparse canonical correlation to identify breast cancer related genes regulated by copy number aberrations

Abstract Background Copy number aberrations (CNA) have proved to be of clinical and therapeutic significance for many diseases including breast cancer, since they drive numerous key underlying biological processes, by regulating molecular phenotypes like gene expression and others. To comprehensively assess the effect of CNAs, it is not sufficient to only identify significant CNA-gene expression pairs, but also to identify the overall gene networks and regulatory structures that are influenced by CNAs, subsequently producing change in outcomes. Methods In this article, we adopt a two-step analysis approach to identify CNA regulated genes whose expression levels affect breast cancer related outcomes: (1) we identify gene modules that are regulated by CNAs through sparse canonical correlation analysis (sCCA) which selects a set of closely located CNAs that regulates the expression levels of selected genes. (2) then, we use a using generalized linear model, to identify which genes within the gene modules are associated with breast cancer related outcomes. Results Analyzing clinical and genomic data on 1904 breast cancer patients from the METABRIC study, we found 14 gene modules to be regulated by groups of proximally located CNA sites. The identification of gene modules was further validated using independent data on individuals in a study of breast invasive carcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Association analysis on 7 different breast cancer related outcomes identified several novel and interpretable regulatory associations which highlights how CNA can impact key biological pathways and process in context of breast cancer. Through downstream analysis of two example outcomes: estrogen receptor status and overall survival, we show that the identified genes were enriched in relevant biological pathways and the key advantage of our method is that we additionally identify the CNA that regulate these genes. Due to the availability of multiple types of outcomes, we further meta-analyzed the results to identify genes that had potentially associations with multiple outcomes. Conclusions Overall we present a generalizable analysis approach to identify genes associated to different outcomes that are regulated by sets of CNA and can further be used to combine results across various types of outcomes. The results show that our method can identify novel and interpretable associations, by providing mechanistic insights on how the effects of CNA are cascaded via gene expression to impact breast cancer and related outcomes.
How Judicial Identity Changes the Text of Legal Rulings

In the common-law tradition, word-usage in legal documents matters because of the principle of stare decisis, the doctrine that requires judges to read and interpret previous rulings relevant to the case at hand. Yet we understand very little of how legal authorities actually write legal texts. We analyze 22,773 cases from the United States Courts of Appeals, and we show how judicial identity affects the text of the written case rulings. We demonstrate that the random assignment of a female judge or of a non-white judge to U.S. Appellate Court panels causes systematic changes in the frequencies with which specific, legally-important words appear in the final ruling, along with the rates at which constitutional amendments and landmark Supreme Court cases are cited. Panels present different arguments — and thus leave a different legacy for future jurists to interpret — depending on the identity of the judges chosen by lot to preside over the case at hand.
Residential energy conservation: Analysis of US federal programmes☆

Abstract The authors examine three residential energy conservation programmes under study and development by the US government. These programmes include setting appliance efficiency targets, developing new thermal standards for housing, retrofitting existing houses to improve thermal performance and a stronger energy conservation programme. The programmes are compared using a model developed for the FEA and ERDA which projects consumption up to the year 2000. The major conclusion is that the programmes can save both energy for the USA and money for individual households.
Q&AThe networker

Jon Kleinberg talks about algorithms, information flow, and the connections between Web search and social networks.
Deriving orientation cues from stereo images

In this paper, we investigate algorithms for evaluating surface orientation from pairs of stereo images using limited calibration information, and without reconstructing an explicit metric representation of the observed scene.
Characterization of equine infectious anemia virus dUTPase : growth properties of a dUTPase-deficient mutant

The putative dUTPase domain was deleted from the polymerase (pol) gene of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) to produce a recombinant delta DUpol Escherichia coli expression cassette and a delta DU proviral clone. Expression of the recombinant delta DUpol polyprotein yielded a properly processed and enzymatically active reverse transcriptase, as determined by immunoblot analysis and DNA polymerase activity gels. Transfection of delta DU provirus into feline (FEA) cells resulted in production of virus that replicated to wild-type levels in both FEA cells and fetal equine kidney cells. In contrast, the delta DU virus replicated poorly (less than 1% of wild-type levels) in primary equine macrophage cultures, as measured by reverse transcriptase assays. Preparations of delta DU virus contained negligible dUTPase activity, which confirms that virion-associated dUTPase is encoded in the pol gene region between the RNase H domain and integrase, as has been demonstrated previously for feline immunodeficiency virus (J. H. Elder, D. L. Lerner, C. S. Hasselkus-Light, D. J. Fontenot, E. Hunter, P. A. Luciw, R. C. Montelaro, and T. R. Phillips, J. Virol. 66:1791-1794, 1992). Our results suggest that virus-encoded dUTPase is dispensable for virus replication in dividing cells in vitro but may be required for efficient replication of EIAV in nondividing equine macrophages, the natural host cells for this virus.
Electron microscopy of the placenta and related structures of the marmoset.

Abstract The marmoset has recently become an important animal in oncologic research, especially with respect to herpes deoxyribonucleic acid viral tumors. As a prototype of the primitive New World monkey, it is also valuable for the study of primate evolution. For these reasons this ultrastructural description of its placenta is presented, including the first electron micrographs of the basal plate and amnion. The main placental mass is pseudolabyrinthine, or trabecular. The ultrastructural features of the cellular and syncytial trophoblast and endothelium closely resemble those of higher primates. The junctional region shows numerous clumps of moderately well-differentiated trophoblast, an acellular junctional zone, and a poorly developed decidual reaction. Trabecular connective tissue is sparser and transitional trophoblastic elements are less prominent than those in the human placenta. The amnion is ultrastructurally indistinguishable from that of the higher primates. Although the marmoset's placenta retains certain primitive gross and histologic features, such as the large persistent yolk sac and the trabecular condition, it is ultrastructurally quite similar to that of man.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of adrenal gland size compared to body weight in normal dogs.

The accepted cut-off value for adrenal gland maximum diameter of 0.74 cm to distinguish adrenal gland enlargement in dogs regardless of body weight may not be appropriate for small to medium breed dogs. The purpose of the current retrospective study was to examine adrenal gland dimensions as a function of body weight in healthy dogs in three weight categories ( 30 kg) representing small, medium, and large breeds, respectively, to establish greater confidence in determining if adrenal gland size is abnormal. The measurements of length (sagittal plane), cranial and caudal pole thickness (sagittal and transverse planes), and caudal pole width (transverse plane) of both adrenal glands were obtained ultrasonographically in clinically healthy dogs (n = 45) with 15 dogs in each weight group. Findings support our hypothesis that adrenal gland size correlates with body weight in normal dogs, and more precise reference intervals should be created for adrenal gland size by categorizing dogs as small, medium, or large breed. The caudal pole thickness of either adrenal gland in a sagittal plane was the best dimension for evaluating adrenal gland size based on low variability, ease, and reliability in measurement.
Approaches to gender and spoken classroom discourse

Often, I find myself disappointed after reading a book with the word ‘gender’ in its title, as the term rarely expands beyond the traditional binary of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ and usually conflates biolo...
RNA interference as a gene knockdown technique

Not many scientific breakthroughs bring significant advances simultaneously in both basic research and translational applications like the discovery of RNA interference. Along with the elucidation of the RNA interference pathway and the discovery of its participation in crucial biological events, a branch of science has grown to utilize the RNA interference pathway as a biotechnology for both basic and applied research. Small interference RNA, plasmid-, and virus-encoded short-hairpin RNA are now regular reagents in the tool box of biologists to knockdown the expression of specific genes posttranscriptionally. Efforts have also been made to develop RNA interference based therapeutics into reality. Many concerns about the RNA interference technique have now been answered through research and development, although hurdles are still present. In this review, the RNA interference/microRNA pathway is briefly introduced followed with a detailed summary about the design and application of the RNA interference experiments, along with examples of the utilization of the RNA interference technology in animal cells and model organisms. Recent progresses and current concerns are also highlighted. Two techniques, namely morpholino and external guide sequence, are discussed as complementary gene knockdown technology. RNA interference technology, along with several other alternative gene knockdown techniques, is now indispensable to modern biological and medical research.
The mitogen-activated protein kinome from Anopheles gambiae: identification, phylogeny and functional characterization of the ERK, JNK and p38 MAP kinases

Anopheles gambiae is the primary mosquito vector of human malaria parasites in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, three innate immune signaling pathways, including the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB-dependent Toll and immune deficient (IMD) pathways and the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak-STAT) pathway, have been extensively characterized in An. gambiae. However, in addition to NF-kappaB-dependent signaling, three mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways regulated by JNK, ERK and p38 MAPK are critical mediators of innate immunity in other invertebrates and in mammals. Our understanding of the roles of the MAPK signaling cascades in anopheline innate immunity is limited, so identification of the encoded complement of these proteins, their upstream activators, and phosphorylation profiles in response to relevant immune signals was warranted. In this study, we present the orthologs and phylogeny of 17 An. gambiae MAPKs, two of which were previously unknown and two others that were incompletely annotated. We also provide detailed temporal activation profiles for ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK in An. gambiae cells in vitro to immune signals that are relevant to malaria parasite infection (human insulin, human transforming growth factor-beta1, hydrogen peroxide) and to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. These activation profiles and possible upstream regulatory pathways are interpreted in light of known MAPK signaling cascades. The establishment of a MAPK "road map" based on the most advanced mosquito genome annotation can accelerate our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and broader physiology of An. gambiae and other mosquito species. Further, future efforts to develop predictive models of anopheline cell signaling responses, based on iterative construction and refinement of data-based and literature-based knowledge of the MAP kinase cascades and other networked pathways will facilitate identification of the "master signaling regulators" in biomedically important mosquito species.
Instantaneous Io flux tube as the source of Jovian DAM: Possible second harmonic emissions

To determine if the source of the Jovian Io-dependent DAM (decametric) emission is along the instantaneous Io flux tube (IIFT), the results of ray-tracing calculations are compared with radio emission data obtained by the Planetary Radio Astronomy instruments on Voyager 1 and 2. RX mode gyroemission at frequencies near the local gyrofrequency and sources along field lines within the active sector between 150 and 270 deg longitude are assumed. The results indicate good agreement with the observations if the source is within 20 deg of the IIFT, but the maximum gyrofrequency of the model magnetic field is smaller than the observed maximum frequency of the DAM for the assumed active field line. While errors in the magnetic-field model coupled with emission at large Doppler shift might explain this discrepancy, a more natural explanation is that the higher-frequency component of the DAM is due to second-harmonic gyroemission.
Vibration of a Spinning Rotationally Periodic Rotor

This paper studies the vibrations of a spinning, rotationally periodic (also known as cyclic symmetric) rotor through theoretical analysis and experimental studies. The theoretical analysis consists of two parts. The first part is Fourier analysis of mode shapes of a stationary rotor with periodicity N. A periodic mapping of the n-th mode shape shows that its k-th Fourier coefficient is generally zero, except when k ± n is an integer multiple of N. The second part is to apply the derived mode shapes through a unified algorithm developed by Shen and Kim [1] to predict primary and secondary resonances of spinning, rotationally periodic rotors. The experimental study focuses on vibration measurements of a spinning disk carrying 4 pairs of evenly spaced brackets mounted on a high-speed air-bearing spindle. Initially, experimentally measured waterfall plots do not agree well with those from theoretical predictions. Further numerical studies show that mistune of rotationally periodic rotors could substantially change their waterfall plots. After the mistune is modeled, experimental and theoretical results agree very well with a difference of only 0.8% in natural frequencies observed in the ground-based coordinates.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Estimator for Dynamic System Using Operating Records

L'estimation a variable instrumentale permet de calculer l'ordre du systeme le vecteur de bruit additif, les etats final et initial, la composante de bruit due aux sorties mesurees, les valeurs des poles et residus dans le plan en z inverse, le plan en z et le plan en s, ainsi que la reponse impulsionnelle du systeme controle
Herpes simplex virus type 1 recombinants without the oriL sequence replicate DNA with increased fidelity.

Abstract Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) contains three DNA replication origins ( ori ) of two types. The ori L is located in the center of the unique long sequences, whereas two copies of ori S , which are structurally different from ori L , are within the reiterated sequences flanking the unique short sequences. Recombinant viruses were constructed from ts+7, which contains a deletion of ori L sequences, to have either the β-galactosidase gene or the supF amplicon integrated into the thymidine kinase locus. Rescue recombinants also were constructed from the supF -containing recombinant to restore the deleted ori L to the wild type sequences. These recombinants were subjected to mutagenesis assays. Results demonstrated that ts+7 viruses with the deletion in ori L sequences replicated both target genes with higher fidelity compared to those derived from the parental strain KOS. Possible mechanisms leading to the high fidelity of DNA replication mediated by viruses without intact ori L sequences are discussed.
The Impact of Environment on Information Infrastructure Enhancement: A Comparative Study of Singapore, France, and the United States

An enhanced information infrastructure enables a wide range of communication services. Predictions differ regarding the impacts of these services on business practices and individual rights. This paper introduces a technology-environmental fit (TEF) model that proposes that characteristics of an emerging technology are modified by the political, economic, and cultural environment where they become available. The TEF model is applied to infrastructure development and use in Singapore, France and the United States. The influence of these nationsâ€™ industrial policies on infrastructure capacity and range and the influence of their degree of individualism on the services made available are examined. Nations whose industrial policies are characterized by strong government intervention create a more conducive environment for infrastructure enhancement. Individualistic cultures are more likely to use the infrastructure to support N:M communication patterns, collectivist cultures are more likely to use the infrastructure to support 1:N communication patterns.
Millimeter Wave Polarimetric Background Measurements

Millimeter wave sensor research over the past years has been directed toward the development of a feature space for targets and background that is disjoint over a broad range of parameters. The results have been mixed at best. The BRL program is directed toward the investigation of the polarization and frequency characteristics of various types of background. The data would be collected so as to provide both systems engineers and systems analysts a useful and general set of millimeter wave background maps for development of performance estimates of current and proposed weapon systems. This paper highlights some of the key features of the instrumentation and measurement parameters which the authors believe to be important in establishing the polarization and frequency characteristics of both benign and hostile terrain backgrounds.
Simultaneous quantitation of zidovudine and zidovudine monophosphate from plasma, amniotic fluid and tissues by micellar capillary electrophoresis.

Zidovudine (AZT) therapy given during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the vertical transmission of the human immunodeﬁciency virus (HIV) from mother to fetus. In order to investigate the efﬁcacy of AZT, it is important to know the concentration of its active phosphorylated metabolites. We have developed the ﬁrst CE method for the simultaneous quantitation of AZT and zidovudine monophosphate (AZT-MP) from rat plasma, amniotic ﬂuid and fetal tissues. Sample extractions were performed by protein precipitation using acetonitrile for the plasma and amniotic ﬂuids, while in fetal tissues solid phase extraction using Waters Oasis™ HLB extraction cartridges was used. Recoveries ranged from 78 to 92% for AZT, AZT-MP and 3′-azidouridine (internal standard, AZDU), in the three matrices. The optimum separation conditions were achieved using a 40 mm sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in 50 mm phosphate buffer (pH 7) with a run voltage of 15 kV. The CE system consists of a 75 µm i.d., 50 cm effective length uncoated fused silica capillary. The method was validated over the range 0.5–100 µg/ml (µg/g for tissues). Intra-day precision (RSD) and accuracy (%error) for AZT ranged from 0.13 to 11 and 0.68 to 11.1%, respectively, while for AZT-MP it ranged from 2.05 to 11.1 and 4.22 to 11.7%. Inter-day precision and accuracy for AZT ranged from 3.82 to 11.2 and 3.14 to 9.01%, while for AZT-MP it ranged from 3.9 to 9.32 and 3.44 to 9.37%, respectively. We also report the enzymatic dephosphorylation of AZT-MP in the placental tissue of rats. This new enzymatic pathway provides increased understanding of the mechanism of anti-viral transport in the rat during pregnancy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
T cell development: bottoms-up.

An important but laborious approach to understanding the concepts underlying T cell lineage commitment is to characterize the cis-acting control elements governing the expression of CD4 and CD8. Previous studies on the CD4 gene have shown that lineage commitment information is directed by the intronic silencer; however, a similarly simple mechanism for controlling CD8 gene expression has not been uncovered. In this issue of Immunity, two groups have investigated the role of putative enhancers in the CD8 locus. The deletion of three different elements in the intergeneic region between CD8β and CD8α provides evidence for control at the level of chromatin accessibility.
The Evolution of Boundary Pressure in Ocean Basins

Abstract The boundary pressure adjustment process on an ocean basin scale is elucidated in two sets of numerical experiments. First, an initial-value problem is posed in a primitive equation shallow-water model that leads to significant changes in the pressure averaged along the boundary in a closed rectangular ocean basin. These results are compared with the analogous problem in a shallow-water quasigeostrophic model where the boundary pressure adjustment is parameterized by a consistency constraint that closes the mass, circulation, and energy balances in quasigeostrophy. There is very good agreement in the evolution of the boundary-average pressure and qualitative agreement in the evolution of the balanced motions in the interior. Second, idealized Kelvin wave experiments are posed in the primitive equation system on an f plane, a β plane, and a β plane in a domain of doubled dimensions. For β≠0, a scattering process is evident as the initial Kelvin wave transits the first meridional boundary it encoun...
On the connectivity of the De Bruijn graph

We show that the connectivity of the d-ary De Bruijn graph is at least d − 1. This bound is tight since the outdegree of this graph with self-loops deleted is d − 1. Our method uses known results about periods in strings.
Software development around a millisecond

The author considers software development methodologies, emphasizing those relevant to large-scale scientific computing. Many projects aim to improve the scientific computing environment, including scientific code preparation, execution, and debugging. But a scientific programming environment must address some of the key features that differentiate it from commodity or business computing for which many good tools exist. These special features include: floating-point arithmetic; performance and support for scalable parallel implementations; specific scientific data structures and utilities (such as mesh generation); and integrating simulations with distributed data. This last area is focused upon, discussing technologies needed for software integration, which is part of the overall struggle to develop self-contained modules that link together to create larger applications. Subroutines, methods, libraries, objects, components, distributed objects, and services are different ways of packaging software for greater reusability. We look at the service model for software modules.
Coiled hollow waveguides for gas sensing

Coiled hollow waveguide gas absorption cells were designed and fabricated using polymer and glass tubing. These coiled waveguides were found to be acceptable for the detection of gases in the IR region of the spectrum. Through the in-depth investigation of straight and bent losses in hollow waveguides, an equation was developed to calculate the loss of the coiled system. By setting the straight loss to zero, it was found that additional loss on bending was approximately 1 dB per turn, independent of the bore size or bending radius.
The Impact of Age on Electronic Commerce Participation: An Exploratory Model

This exploratory study examined the impact of age on e-commerce participation and its antecedents: usefulness, ease of information access, and trust. The three age groups considered were the "young" who were 18 to 25, the "mature" who were 50 to 69, and the "elderly" who were 70 and older. Of the three age groups, mature consumers had the highest perception of the usefulness of e-commerce but the lowest perceptions of trust. The elderly perceived less ease of information access and were less likely to participate in electronic commerce than the other age groups. Greater perceptions of usefulness and trust were found to be positively related to participation. In addition, trust had positive impacts on ease of information access and usefulness. While ease of information access had a positive impact on usefulness, it had no direct impact on e-commerce participation.
Distal metaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy: technique, pearls, and outcomes.

Background Ulnar sided wrist pain is a commonly encountered complaint of the hand surgeon, and ulnar impaction is a common cause. Surgical treatment aims to reduce the force transmitted through the ulna and traditionally includes diaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy and the "wafer" procedure. These procedures have known shortcomings. We describe an alternative option known as the distal metaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy (DMUSO). Materials and Methods Retrospective review of eight procedures was undertaken to assess radiographic healing, objective measurements of wrist and forearm motion, grip and pinch strength, and subjective measures of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), and Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) at a minimum of 12 months following surgery. Description of Technique A wedge osteotomy is made in the osteochondral region of the distal metaphysis of the ulna, and a headless compression screw is used for fixation. Results Five women and three men underwent DMUSO with average follow up at 13 months; the dominant wrist was affected in 7 of 8 patients. The affected wrist had less motion in all planes, and grip and pinch strength was also less in the affected wrist, but only wrist extension was significantly different from the contralateral side. These findings likely did not have an effect on the clinical outcome. Subjective outcomes included average DASH score of 13 (0-35), PRWE 19 (40-11), and MHQ score of 88 (85-100). Conclusions DMUSO is a viable option for patients with ulnar impaction syndrome. It requires intra-articular exposure of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) but is less invasive then diaphyseal shortening. It permits early and reliable return of joint motion and function while avoiding the potential need for hardware removal by using a buried screw.
Political exchange and the voting franchise: universal democracy as an emergent process

The expansion of democracy presents a puzzle for a rational choice theory of politics: why would those in power choose to dilute their power by expanding the voting franchise? In this article I introduce a new path of democratization, through mutually-beneficial political exchange aimed at securing collective-consumption goods. This political exchange path will produce a more constrained state than other paths to democracy, due to the subjective preferences of the two groups and the possibility of revoking the franchise. I briefly apply the democratization framework to the United State prior to the Civil War.
Adverse events in the long-term follow-up of patients treated with samarium Sm 153 lexidronam for osseous metastases.

Purpose To investigate adverse events after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam and the effect of pre– and post–samarium Sm 153 lexidronam external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and/or chemotherapy on myelosuppression in patients who received samarium Sm 153 lexidronam for osseous metastases. Methods and Materials We performed a single-institution retrospective review of 139 patients treated with samarium Sm 153 lexidronam between November 1997 and February 2008. New-onset adverse events after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam were reported. The effect of samarium Sm 153 lexidronam on platelet and peripheral white blood cell counts and the duration of myelosuppression after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam plus EBRT and/or chemotherapy were calculated. Differences in the prevalence of adverse events among patients with varying treatment histories were evaluated with the Pearson chi-square test. Results Hematologic follow-up was available for 103 patients. Chemotherapy and/or EBRT had no effect on the magnitude or duration of myelosuppression. The most common nonhematologic adverse events were acute lower extremity edema ( n = 27) and acute and transient neuropathy ( n = 29). Patients treated with chemotherapy after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam had a higher prevalence of lower extremity edema (9 of 18 [50%]) than those who were not treated with chemotherapy after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam (18 of 85 [21.2%]) ( p = 0.01, chi-square test). No adverse events were correlated with EBRT. Conclusions Our observation of new-onset, acute and transient edema and neuropathy after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam and of a relationship between edema and post–samarium Sm 153 lexidronam chemotherapy suggests the need for re-examination of patients in past series or for a prospective investigation with nonhematologic adverse events as a primary endpoint.
The dynamics of effective performance evaluation systems in education: Conceptual, human relations, and technical domains

High-quality performance evaluation systems in education are fundamental to both individual improvement and organizational effectiveness. The design and implementation of such systems require far more than a casual effort on the part of the decision makers within the organization. If worthwhile performance evaluation systems are to be effectuated, particular attention must be paid to the conceptual, human relations, and technical domains. Indeed, systems that incorporate the relevant issues found in this triad address a fundamental rule of performance evaluation: if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.
A Structural Design Approach for Controlling Welding Distortion at the Upper Deck of a Hull Structure in the Erection Stage

An effective design method for controlling the transitional welding distortion at the aft upper deck occurring in the erection stage of the hull structure has been established using FEA and measured distortion database. Variation of distortion at the aft upper deck was measured according to the progress of the manufacturing process. This was done in order to clarify the 2nd distortion of the upper deck, defined as the increment of welding distortion developed after the assembly stage, The amount and distribution of the 2nd load causing the 2nd distortion were identified with a non-linear buckling FEA. The distribution of the welding distortion and the residual stress were assumed to be initial imperfections, which were identified with STEM (simplified thermoelastic method) based on inherent strain. Based on these results, the modification of structural design parameters such as plate thickness and the attachment of carling were made, in order to prevent the excessive 2nd distortion which requires costly flame correction work in the erection stage.
Suppression of Spontaneous Chromosomal Rearrangements by S Phase Checkpoint Functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cancer cells show increased genome rearrangements, although it is unclear what defects cause these rearrangements. Mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae RFC5, DPB11, MEC1, DDC2 MEC3, RAD53, CHK1, PDS1, and DUN1 increased the rate of genome rearrangements up to 200-fold whereas mutations in RAD9, RAD17, RAD24, BUB3, and MAD3 had little effect. The rearrangements were primarily deletion of a portion of a chromosome arm along with TEL1-dependent addition of a new telomere. tel1 mutations increased the proportion of translocations observed, and in some cases showed synergistic interactions when combined with mutations that increased the genome rearrangement rate. These data suggest that one role of S phase checkpoint functions in normal cells is to suppress spontaneous genome rearrangements resulting from DNA replication errors.
Aerothermoelastic topology optimization with flutter and buckling metrics

This work develops a framework for SIMP-based topology optimization of a metallic panel structure subjected to design-dependent aerodynamic, inertial, elastic, and thermal loads. Multi-physics eigenvalue-based design metrics such as thermal buckling and dynamic flutter are derived, along with their adjoint-based design derivatives. Locating the flutter point (Hopf-bifurcation) in a precise and efficient manner is a particular challenge, as is outfitting the optimization problem with sufficient constraints such that the critical flutter mode does not switch during the design process. Results are presented for flutter-optimal topologies of an unheated panel, thermal buckling-optimal topologies, and flutter-optimality of a heated panel (where the latter case presents a topological compromise between the former two). The effect of various constraint boundaries, temperature gradients, and (for the flutter of the heated panel) thermal load magnitude are assessed. Off-design flutter and thermal buckling boundaries are given as well.
Storage-efficient representation of decimal data

Usually n decimal digits are represented by 4n bits in computers. Actually, two BCD digits can be compressed optimally and reversibly into 7 bits, and three digits into 10 bits, by a very simple algorithm based on the fixed-length combination of two variable field-length encodings. In over half of the cases the compressed code results from the conventional BCD code by simple removal of redundant 0 bits. A long decimal message can be subdivided into three-digit blocks, and separately compressed; the result differs from the asymptotic minimum length by only 0.34 percent. The hardware requirement is small, and the mappings can be done manually.
GSTP1 CpG island DNA hypermethylation in hepatocellular carcinomas

Glutathione S-transferases, enzymes that defend cells against damage mediated by oxidant and electrophilic carcinogens, may be critical determinants of cancer pathogenesis. We report here that the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common cancers in the world, frequently involves an accumulation of somatic DNA methylation changes at GSTP1, the gene encoding the pi-class glutathione S-transferase. For our study, Hep3B HCC cells and a cohort of 20 HCC tissue specimens were subjected to analysis for GSTP1 expression and for somatic GSTP1 alterations. GSTP1 DNA hypermethylation in HCC DNA was assessed by Southern blot analysis, via a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and by using a genomic sequencing approach. Hep3B HCC cells failed to express GSTP1 mRNA or GSTP1 polypeptides. Similarly, HCC cells in 19 of 20 HCC cases were devoid of GSTP1 polypeptides. By Southern blot analysis, DNA from Hep3B HCC cells displayed abnormal GSTP1 hypermethylation. Treatment of Hep3B HCC cells in vitro with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-deoxycytidine both reversed GSTP1 DNA hypermethylation and restored GSTP1 expression. Using a PCR assay, somatic GSTP1 DNA hypermethylation was also detected in HCC DNA from 17 of 20 HCC cases. Genomic sequencing analyses, undertaken to map 5-methyldeoxycytidine nucleotides located at the GSTP1 transcriptional regulatory region, frequently detected somatic DNA hypermethylation near the gene promoter in HCC DNA. The data indicate that GSTP1 DNA hypermethylation changes appear frequently in human HCC. In addition, the data raise the possibility that somatic GSTP1 inactivation, via hypermethylation, may contribute to the pathogenesis of HCC.
Modeling skull electrical properties

Accurate representations and measurements of skull electrical conductivity are essential in developing appropriate forward models for applications such as inverse EEG or Electrical Impedance Tomography of the head. Because of its layered structure, it is often assumed that skull is anisotropic, with an anisotropy ratio around 10. However, no detailed investigation of skull anisotropy has been performed. In this paper we investigate four-electrode measurements of conductivities and their relation to tissue anisotropy ratio (ratio of tangential to radial conductivity) in layered or anisotropic biological samples similar to bone. It is shown here that typical values for the thicknesses and radial conductivities of individual skull layers produce tissue with much smaller anisotropy ratios than 10. Moreover, we show that there are very significant differences between the field patterns formed in a three-layered isotropic structure plausible for bone, and those formed assuming that bone is homogeneous and anisotropic. We performed a measurement of conductivity using an electrode configuration sensitive to the distinction between three-layered and homogeneous anisotropic composition and found results consistent with the sample being three-layered. We recommend that the skull be more appropriately represented as three isotropic layers than as homogeneous and anisotropic.
The Role of Zirconium Additions in Recrystallization of Aluminum Alloys

Control of grain size during recrystallization of aluminum alloys is critical when tailoring material properties for structural applications. Most commonly the grain size is controlled by adding alloying elements which form second phases during homogenization heat treatments small enough to impose a Zener drag on the grain boundary mobility. These phases are known as dispersoids and are in the 10 to 200 nm in diameter range. In Al-Zn alloys, zirconium has been successfully used in controlling the degree of recrystallization after solution heat treatments. It is commonly understood that the Al3Zr dispersoids of about 20 nm in diameter present in the microstructure are the key features affecting grain boundary mobility. With the success of controlling recrystallization in Al- Zn alloys, zirconium has been added to other alloy systems, such as Al-Cu-Mn, and a similar retarding effect in recrystallization kinetics has been observed as seen in the Al-Zn systems. However, in Al-Cu-Mn alloys, zirconium bearing dispersoids are not observable in the microstructure. Consequently, additional microstructural effects such as solute drag need to be considered to explain the experimental observations. In this paper, the role of zirconium additions in aluminum alloys will be summarized.
Preliminary report on the serial EEGs fo pulmonary tuberculous patients treated with isoniazid

Abstract Serial electroencephalograms were obtained on 52 cases of tuberculosis treated with isoniazid in combination with other antimicrobial therapy. There were no observable changes in the 166 electroencephalograms as compared with the normal or abnormal records prior to therapy. No signs of symptoms developed which could be attributed to brain involvement.
Time-frequency feature detection for time-course microarray data

Gene clustering based on microarray data provides useful functional information to the working biologists. Many current gene-clustering algorithms rely on Euclidean-based distance metrics and fail to capture the time-dependent features of the data, usually corrupted by high levels of experimental noise. Here we propose an algorithm capable of dealing with the noise through a time-frequency approach and related measure of correlation between time-course expressions of different genes (trajectories). The approach makes use of fast multi-resolution feature classification algorithms and allows for the desired functional characteristics (such as phase delay, activation/repression etc.) to be enhanced and detected.We have applied our algorithm to time-course microarray data of Drosophila melanogaster (Arbeitman et al., Science, Sep 27, 2002, page 2270--2275). We examined various relations among homeodomain genes (referred to as group H) and regulators of homeodomain genes (group RH) as follows: After normalization, the trajectories were projected on to CosBell wavelet basis. The four genes in group RH form two clusters: three of them stayed close to each other, and the last one, CG8651 (trithorax), was singled out. The group H genes, forming four clusters, showed functional features that are more similar to trithorax than the other three. We further analyzed ten homeodomain genes that have good correlations with trithorax in the wavelet basis. Literature search showed that there are five genes thought to be in the downstream pathway of trithorax. Although only two of these five genes were in the dataset available to the algorithm, it was able to identify both of these. Our study suggests that timefrequency analysis provides a powerful tool for discovering the underlying regulatory networks when applied to time-course microarray data.
Finite element solution of the transient exterior structural acoustics problem based on the use of radially asymptotic boundary operators

Considerable progress has been made in the development of numerical methods for the time-harmonic exterior structural acoustics problem involving solution of the coupled Helmholtz equation. In contrast, numerical solution procedures for the transient case have not been studied so extensively. In this paper we propose a finite element formulation for solution of the time-dependent coupled wave equation over an infinite fluid domain. The formulation is based on a finite computational fluid domain surrounding the structure and incorporates a sequence of boundary operators on the fluid truncation boundary. These operators are designed to minimize reflection of outgoing waves and are based on an asymptotic expansion of the exact solution for the time-dependent problem. In the fluid domain, a mixed two-field finite element approximation is proposed and employs pressure and displacement potential as independent fields. The variational statement of the interaction problem is developed from a Hamiltonian approach, thus allowing specialization to different alternative formulations. Since radiation dissipation renders the coupled system nonconservative, a variational formalism based on the Morse and Feshbach concept of a ‘mirror image’ adjoint system is used. The variational formalism also accommodates viscoelastic dissipation in the structure or its coatings and this is considered in the paper. Accurate results for model problems involving a single layer of fluid elements have been obtained and are discussed in detail.
Classifying Products Strategically

This article proposes an integrated product classification scheme. It is argued that, in view of the 1985 definition of marketing, one classification for all products—goods, services, and ideas—is ...
Potential Health Effects of Man-Made Actinides Compared with Natural Radionuclides

Alpha emitters within the body are known to produce both bronchogenic carcinoma (lung cancer) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The alpha dose from naturally occurring radionuclides to these critical sites is compared with that which might be expected from the alpha emitters produced in nuclear power reactors (plutonium, americium and curium). A background dose rate of about 9500 mrad to cells in bronchial epithelium and 100 mrad to cells on bone surfaces for a 50 year exposure is estimated for the total of all the natural radionuclides. About 0.25 and 2 mrad respectively are estimated for a 50 year exposure to the man-made actinides when soil is contaminated to the same level as is found for the natural actinides uranium and thorium (about 1 pCi/g). Since the potential for cancer induction ought to be related to alpha dose, contamination of the environment with man-made alpha-emitting actinides can be evaluated on this basis.
Mold Fill Time and Void Reduction in Resin Transfer Molding Achieved by Articulated Tooling

Tool articulation is proposed as a means to improve mold fill time and to reduce void generation in resin transfer molding (RTM). Following a brief review of conventional RTM and a discussion of the limitations on the factors that control fluid flow through porous media, the articulated tool concept is described. The sequence of motion of an articulated segmented mold necessary for consolidation, void removal and accelerated fluid flow through a fibrous preform is described. An analysis of the process using a fiber preform with orthotropic permeability is outlined from which mold fill time is obtained. This is compared with conventional RTM mold fill times using typical resin properties and fiber volume fractions. In addition, void reduction in the articulated process relative to conventional RTM is investigated. For the conservative assumptions used in the analysis, the articulated process demonstrates an improvement by a factor of at least five in mold fill time compared with conventional RTM, accompani...
Regioregular Poly(3-hexylthiophene) in a Novel Conducting Amphiphilic Block Copolymer.

Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) has been successfully incorporated into a novel amphiphilic block copolymer. The amphiphilic nature of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(acrylic acid) has been investigated using spectroscopic methods and has yielded solvatochromic behavior in several solvents of varying polarity. Evidence suggests that a supramolecular, long range ordering of block copolymer occurs in polar solvents, resulting in the formation of aggregates. Despite relatively large amounts of non-conductive blocks, the poly(3-hexylthiophene) diblock copolymer yields a high conductivity of 1 S · cm(-1) , and atomic force microscopy shows the formation of a highly organized nanofibrilar morphology in the solid state.
Alternative programs in public elementary schools

There is considerable interest today in an idea that is new on the educational scene-the offering of alternative programs in public school systems at the elementary level. Only a few school systems currently have such plans in operation. Many, however, are considering the possibility. There are a number of reasons for viewing the idea favorably. What is meant by alternative programs? To understand the concept, consider the way elementary schools are typically organized. One feature is obvious, namely, one program for all children. Many persons are now asking, why should this be so? Should not parents, children, and teachers have a choice of programs? One choice could be the conventional school program; another might feature a more informal, child-centered approach to learning. Other possibilities include a focus on careers, the arts, or a more structured environment in which basics are stressed.