cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-Point-of-Failure Mitigation: Prove-Out of a Green Light–Emitting Illuminant Composition in the Handheld Signal Cluster and 40-mm Parachute Configurations

The development of handheld signal cluster and 40-mm parachute green light–emitting pyrotechnic compositions is described. Of the new compositions evaluated, one was found to exceed the military requirements in burn time, luminous intensity, dominant wavelength, and spectral purity in both the cluster and parachute configurations. The new illuminant composition is not plagued by single-point-of-failure concerns, as the Laminac 4116/Lupersol binder system has been replaced by the widely available Epon 813/Versamid 140 binder system. In addition, the new illuminant composition was found to be insensitive toward impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge and had a high thermal onset temperature.
The interaction of rotons in HeII

We have investigated the scattering of rotons as motivated by recent experiments with crossed roton beams. We assumed an excitation mediated interaction between rotons and used 2nd order perturbation theory to calculate scattering cross-sections as a function of total roton momentum. Comparison of experiment to quantum mechanical and classical theories is presented.
Survivable, Interoperable and Affordable Open Systems Networking for Distributed Processing

The ability to communicate and process information during crisis situations is essential to sustaining an effective command and control capability. Physical and logical distribution, replication, and interoperability of the underlying information processing and communications resources are deemed necessary approaches for a survivable capability. These goals and systems attributes are attainable through the adoption and implementation of open, standardized, and mass produced multi-vendor networking equipment, based on Open Systems Interconnection (OSI).
Candida utilis NAD+ kinase: kinetic and inhibition studies with ADP.

Abstract 1. 1. Initial velocity and product inhibition studies using ADP were carried out on cytoplasmic NAD+ kinase (ATP:NAD 2′ phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.23) purified from Candida utilis. Initial velocity studies were also carried out on a sample of chicken liver NAD+, kinase. 2. 2. The data indicate both enzymes followed a sequential mechanism of reactant binding. 3. 3. Product inhibition studies on C. utilis NAD+ kinase suggest the mechanism of NAD+, ATP addition is best described as rapid equilibrium random with multiple binding of ADP to the free enzyme and the E·ATP and E·NAD+ complexes. 4. 4. The characteristics of this enzyme, prepared from several sources, are briefly summarized.
PIXE-STIM microtomography: Zinc and manganese concentrations in a scorpion stinger

Abstract Microtomography using PIXE (proton induced X-ray emission) is developed and applied. Iterative algorithms for emission tomography (Donner algorithms) are modified for this purpose. STIM (scanning transmission ion microscopy) microtomography provides the required local X-ray attenuation factors and X-ray production cross sections (σ x 's). The variation in σ x is treated along with X-ray attenuation in an effective attenuation factor. Several criteria for the optimal number of iterations are discussed. Element density values obtained from PIXE tomography are normalized with density values from STIM tomography to provide local concentration values. Three transverse sections of the sting of a scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis , are reconstructed tomographically. Local zinc concentrations reaching as high as 25(± 3)% of dry mass are found. Manganese concentrations reaching 3.8(± 0.5)% of dry mass are also found. In the section manifesting high concentrations of both manganese and zinc, the zinc is found mainly in a band beneath the manganese-rich surface layer. Specimen damage during PIXE is found not to have significantly affected the results.
Application of life table method to naturalistic designs--a comparison of efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines in ambulatory depressives.

Abstract Anyclinician who follows patients under naturalistic clinic conditions accumulates a wealth of observations about their responses to various treatments. Without random assignment to treatment or other features of the controlled experimental design, information on treatment efficacy obtained from these naturally occurring situations is limited. However, through the use of appropriate statistical techniques such as life table method, considerably more information may be extracted. Although there is no substitute for experimental control, the exploitation of naturalistic data can be of value. Information on large samples collected at a relatively low cost can be utilized, and hypotheses based on ongoing clinical practice may be generated and subsequently tested in controlled randomized trials. The life table method, also called the actuarial method, is uniquely suited to the analysis of longitudinal data and, when applied appropriately, is a sophisticated way of using naturalistically collected data to their maximal extent. 1 This article will discuss the utility of life table method for analysis of longitudinal data collected under naturalistic designs and will illustrate its usefulness in approximating quasiexperimental conditions. Its application will be illustrated in an analysis of relapse rates and of recovery rates in depressed outpatients who are receiving either tricyclic antidepressants or minor tranquilizers.
Event-related brain potentials during initial encoding and recognition memory of congruous and incongruous words

Abstract Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects read statements followed by words that were either semantically congruous or incongruous with the preceding phrase, and during a subsequent recognition test. Congruous words yielded smaller N400s and better memory than did incongruous statements. In addition, the ERPs to correctly recognized old words were characterized by an enhanced late positivity (P650) relative to those elicited by correctly identified new words. A second experiment essentially replicated the results of the first. In addition, the amplitude of the late positive component (P650) elicited by final words on initial exposure was predictive of subsequent recognition; words that would be later recognized were associated with a larger P650 (whether they were incongruous or not) than were words that would not be recognized. These ERP data provide evidence that within 250 ms of the presentation of a congruous word and within 450 ms of an incongruous word, a significant portion of the brain processes which determine whether a word will or will not be recognized some time in the future have taken place.
Do adults with mental retardation show pictorial superiority effects in recall and recognition

We examined memory for pictures and words in adults with mental retardation and a control group of adults of normal intelligence. During acquisition, sets of simple line drawings and matching words were presented for study using an intentional learning procedure. The principle dependent measures were free recall and recognition. Measures of working memory span were also administered. Pictorial superiority effects occurred in free recall and recognition for both intelligence-level groups. Correlational analyses indicated that working memory span was primarily related to recall performance, irrespective of stimulus format. These data strongly suggest that persons with mental retardation can utilize nonverbal memory codes to support long-term retention as effectively as do adults of normal intelligence.
Predicting the academic achievement of Puerto Rican and Mexican-American ninth-grade students

The study examines the predictive value of several variabls on ninth-grade grade point average for Mexican-American and Puerto Rican high school students. English and Spanish proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding the language as well as the use of Spanish or English in the home represented the language variables. The students' immigration status, gender, place of geographic residence, and mother's education were also included. Gender andimmigration status significantly predicted GPA. English proficiency was significantly different for the two groups, and the more English-proficient Mexican-Americans did more poorly in high school. No other language variables were significant predictors of the students' GPA in the study.
Testing the Topological Nature of the Fractional Quantum Hall Edge

We carry out numerical diagonalization for much larger systems than before by restricting the fractional quantum Hall (FQH) edge excitations to a basis that is exact for a short-range interaction and very accurate for the Coulomb interaction. This enables us to perform substantial tests of the predicted universality of the edge physics. Our results suggest the possibility that the behavior of the FQH edge is intrinsically nonuniversal, even in the absence of edge reconstruction, and therefore may not bear a sharp and unique relation to the nature of the bulk FQH state.
The metabolism of progesterone-4-14C by adrenal homogenates from rats with adrenal-regeneration hypertension(1)

Abstract Progesterone-4- 14 C has been incubated with homogenates prepared from intact and regenerating rat adrenals. While corticosterone- 14 C was the major metabolite from incubations with intact adrenals, both corticosterone- 14 C and 11-deoxy-corticosterone- 14 C were identified as major metabolites from incubations of regenerating adrenals. 11-Deoxycorticosterone secretion by regenerating adrenals might explain the development of adrenal-regeneration hypertension.
Estimation of flexural rigidity in a Kirchhoff plate model

In this paper the flexural rigidity for a Kirchhoff plate model with pure bending only is estimated using a regularized output least squares technique. The regularity properties possessed by the optimal estimators are obtained. Using these properties, an approximation theory is developed. Numerical examples are presented.
Convergence rates for uniform B-spline density estimators on bounded and semi-infinite domains

Convergence rates for B-spline nonparametric density estimators on bounded and semi-infinite domains are discussed. We show how B-spline estimators can be adjusted to account for edge effects and then determine the mean integrated squared error for the adjusted estimator and its derivatives.
Classifying dialogue in high-dimensional space

The richness of multimodal dialogue makes the space of possible features required to describe it very large relative to the amount of training data. However, conventional classifier learners require large amounts of data to avoid overfitting, or do not generalize well to unseen examples. To learn dialogue classifiers using a rich feature set and fewer data points than features, we apply a recent technique, e1-regularized logistic regression. We demonstrate this approach empirically on real data from Project LISTEN's Reading Tutor, which displays a story on a computer screen and listens to a child read aloud. We train a classifier to predict task completion (i.e., whether the student will finish reading the story) with 71p accuracy on a balanced, unseen test set. To characterize differences in the behavior of children when they choose the story they read, we likewise train and test a classifier that with 73.6p accuracy infers who chose the story based on the ensuing dialogue. Both classifiers significantly outperform baselines and reveal relevant features of the dialogue.
Completeness of fair ASM refinement

ASM refinements are verified using generalized forward simulations which allow us to refine m abstract operations to n concrete operations with arbitrary m and n. One main difference from data refinement is that ASM refinement considers infinite runs and termination. Since backward simulation does not preserve termination in general, the standard technique of adding history information to the concrete level is not applicable to get a completeness proof. The power set construction also adds infinite runs and is therefore not applicable either. This paper shows that a completeness proof is nevertheless possible by adding infinite prophecy information, effectively moving nondeterminism to the initial state. Adding such prophecy information can be done not only on the semantic level, but also by a simple syntactic transformation that removes the choose construct of ASMs. The completeness proof is also translated to a completeness proof for IO automata. Finally, the proof is extended to deal with supplementary predicates, that specify fairness and liveness assumptions, by transferring a related result of Wim Hesselink for refinements that use the Abadi-Lamport setting.
Molecular Geomicrobiology. J. F. Banfield, J. Cervinisilva, and K. M. Nealson, Editors. 294 Pp. Mineralogical Society of America, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry. Volume 59. 2005. ISBN: 093995071-5. US$40.00.

The field of geomicrobiology is rapidly expanding as both geoscientists and biologists have come to recognize the importance of both disciplines for understanding nature’s complexities. Bacteria and other microorganisms are extremely important in their direct and indirect effects on geochemical cycling of metals and organic matter throughout Earth history. Indeed, classically trained microbiologists are currently being hired by geoscience departments, which will ensure future beneficial collaborations in the field of geomicrobiology. Southam and Saunders (2005) reviewed much of the recent geomicrobiology literature in Economic Geology , trying to highlight important advances that might impact ore-forming processes and, perhaps, even geochemical prospecting techniques. No doubt, bacteria are directly responsible for forming a number of types of low-temperature ore deposits such as roll-front uranium deposits and Superior-type iron formations. In addition, bacteria have produced reduced sulfur for some types of higher-temperature deposits such as sediment-hosted Zn-Pb deposits. Bacteria have even been found as fossils in sulfide minerals. Thus, there are many aspects of bacterial metabolism that warrant understanding by economic geologists. Furthermore, as we explore for more deeply buried mineral deposits below the water table, exploration geochemists are going to have to factor in the effects of microbial processes in controlling dispersion of metals away from ores …
Lipolytic sites in crayfish hepatopancreas and correlation with fine structure

Abstract 1. 1. Tween 60-esterase activity was localized in crayfish hepatopancreas, primarily in tubule lumina, F-cell Fe-granules, B-cell vacuoles and R-cell striated borders. 2. 2. All sites exhibited maximal activity at pH 7·1–7·3 and 8·1–8·4. 3. 3. Na-taurocholate inhibited activity at all sites. 4. 4. NaF slightly activated striated border activity; quinine had no effect. 5. 5.NaF had no effect on luminal and B-cell activities; quinine inhibited both. 6. 6. Extent of the surface enteric coat (fuzz layer) on various cell types correlated with intensity of enzyme reaction. 7. 7. The results indicate the presence of at least two hepatopancreatic Tween 60-esterases and that B-cells secrete one of these into the lumen.
Powerful and powerless styles of talk: A theoretical analysis of language and impression formation

(1989). Powerful and powerless styles of talk: A theoretical analysis of language and impression formation. Research on Language and Social Interaction: Vol. 23, No. 1-4, pp. 195-241.
Augustine on evil: The dilemma of the philosophers

Hannah Arendt once remarked that Augustine, in addition to being the first Christian philosopher and the only Roman philosopher worthy of the name, was the first man of thought to turn to religion because of philosophical perplexity.1 Clearly, what first brought Augustine to philosophy, and what subsequently led him to turn from his involvement with Manicheaism and Neo-Platonism was his preoccupation with the phenomenon or problem of evil.2 There can be no doubt that in turning to Christianity Augustine preserved his philosophical outlook and interest. What is perhaps not so immediately obvious is that he remained true to philosophical criteria of judgement and philosophical motivations. The general aim of this paper is to explicate, develop and defend this latter claim, the idea that Augustine's involvement with Christianity is deeply and genuinely philosophical in character. More specifically, I shall argue that Augustine's rejection of Neo-Platonism and Manicheaism was rooted in a perception of certain philosophical inadequacies in these world views and that his turn to Christianity can be seen as arising from a desire to provide, through a Christian philosophy, a more adequate philosophical treatment of these inadequacies. Such that, in speaking of Augustine as a Christian philosopher, we ought to place as much stress on the latter as on the former term. In addition, and by way of explicating what I see as the fundamentally philosophical character of Augustine's religious thought, I shall argue that the problem of evil as he addresses and deals with it can be seen philosophically as related to and as an integral aspect of a broader philosophical problem. I regard this philosophical problem, the one in which I want to locate Augustine's treatment of evil, as one which emerges out of the legacy of Parmenides' super-rational ontology and as a problem which was and is dealt with in different ways by different philosophers from throughout the history of philosophy. First of all, what is this larger and deeper philosophical problem which sets the context for Augustine's treatment of evil? Looked at philosophically, the problem of accounting for evil can be regarded as one feature of a more extensive difficulty or dilemma which philosophers must confront once they accept what I shall call the philosophical commitment to reason or logos. This commitment is partially definitive of philosophical thinking and it gives rise to a demand which can be
ISDL: an instruction set description language for retargetability

We present the Instruction Set Description Language,ISDL, a machine description language used to describetarget architectures to a retargetable compiler. The featuresand flexibility of ISDL enable the description of vastly differentarchitectures, in particular VLIW architectures. ISDL explicitlysupports constraints that define valid operation groupingswithin an instruction, increasing the range of specifiable architectures.We have written a tool that, given an ISDL descriptionof a processor, automatically generates an assembler forit. Ongoing work includes the development of an automaticcode-generator generator.
On decision support for distributed systems protection: A perspective based on the human immune response system and epidemiology

Information system availability is contingent on a robust security infrastructure that provides protection via preventive, detective, and corrective mechanisms. In this paper, we provide architecture inspired by biological metaphors from immunology and epidemiology for the security infrastructure of distributed information systems. The proposed architecture consists of an immunological model at the micro-level to detect and identify computer pathogens (e.g. viruses and worms), and an epidemiological model at the macro-level to identify distributed attacks.
Probe based MMW antenna measurement setup

A MMW setup is presented for measuring complex impedance and radiation patterns in an anechoic chamber while contacting the antenna with a coplanar probe. Measurement and simulation results of a 60 GHz Vivaldi antenna are shown to demonstrate the setup performance.
Dust acoustic waves in strongly coupled dusty plasmas

Dust grains, or solid particles of \ensuremath{\mu}m to sub-\ensuremath{\mu}m sizes, are observed in various low-temperature laboratory plasmas such as process plasmas and dust plasma crystals. The massive dust grains are generally highly charged, and it has been shown within the context of standard plasma theory that their presence can lead to new low-frequency modes such as dust acoustic waves. In certain laboratory plasmas, however, the dust may be strongly coupled, as characterized by the condition ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{d}{=Q}_{d}^{2}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}d/{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{D}{)/dT}_{d}g~1,$ where ${Q}_{d}$ is the dust charge, $d$ is the intergrain spacing, ${T}_{d}$ is the dust thermal energy, and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{D}$ is the plasma screening length. This paper investigates the dispersion relation for dust acoustic waves in a strongly coupled dusty plasma comprised of strongly coupled negatively charged dust grains, and weakly correlated classical ions and electrons. The dust grains are assumed to interact via a (screened Coulomb) Yukawa potential. The strongly coupled gas phase (liquid phase) is considered, and a quasilocalized charge approximation scheme is used, generalized to take into account electron and/or ion screening of the dust grains. The scheme relates the small-$k$ dispersion to the total correlation energy of the system, which is obtained from the results of published numerical simulations. Some effects of collisions of charged particles with neutrals are taken into account. Applications to laboratory dusty plasmas are discussed.
Distinct roles for bFGF and NT-3 in the regulation of cortical neurogenesis

To identify molecules that regulate the transition of dividing neuroblasts to terminally differentiated neurons in the CNS, conditions have been developed that allow the neuronal differentiation of cortical precursor cells to be examined in vitro. In these cultures, the proliferation of undifferentiated precursor cells is controlled by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The proliferative effects of bFGF do not preclude the action of signals that promote differentiation, since addition of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) antagonizes the proliferative effects of bFGF and enhances neuronal differentiation. In addition, blocking NT-3 function with neutralizing antibodies leads to a marked decrease in the number of differentiated neurons, without affecting the proliferation of cortical precursors or the survival of postmitotic cortical neurons. These observations suggest that bFGF and NT-3, by their distinct effects on cell proliferation and differentiation, are key regulators of neurogenesis in the CNS.
Congestive heart failure: understanding the pathophysiology and management.

Purpose To explain key concepts involved in the development and management of congestive heart failure (CHF). An overview of medications commonly used in the treatment of CHF is also presented. Data Sources Selected clinical articles, major research studies, and clinical guidelines. Conclusions The prevalence of CHF continues to increase and in the United States alone accounts for more than two million outpatient clinic visits per year at a cost of more than $10 billion annually. With the growing number of people over age 65, coupled with the advances in medical technology, primary care providers are treating many more patients with CHF. Implications for Practice A thorough understanding of the pathophysiology, especially the compensatory neurohormonal systems and ventricular remodeling that are the hallmarks of CHF, is essential for consistent application of the principles of management of this complex condition. Multidisciplinary approaches led by advanced practice nurses have excellent outcomes and improve the quality of life of patients with CHF.
Binary superposed quantum decision diagrams

Binary superposed decision diagrams (BSQDDs) are a new type of quantum decision diagram that can be used for representing arbitrary quantum superpositions. One major advantage of BSQDDs is that they are dependent on the types of gates used in synthesis and a BSQDD can be used to efficiently generate a quantum array that will initialize the quantum superposition that the BSQDD represents. Transformation rules for BSQDDs allow BSQDDs to be reduced into simpler BSQDDs that represent the same quantum superposition. Canonical forms exist for a broad class of BSQDDs. This allows BSQDDs to be used for synthesizing quantum arrays that are capable of initializing arbitrary quantum superpositions.
Reactions of hypervalent iodine reagents with palladium: mechanisms and applications in organic synthesis.

The unique reactivity of hypervalent iodine reagents with Pd0 and PdII complexes has been exploited for a variety of synthetically useful organic transformations. For example, IIII reagents have been used in place of aryl halides for diverse Pd-catalyzed C−C and C−heteroatom bond-forming cross-coupling reactions. In addition, these reagents have found application in Pd-catalyzed oxidation reactions, including the oxidative functionalization of C−H bonds and the 1,2-aminooxygenation of olefinic substrates. This review discusses both the synthetic utility and the interesting mechanistic features of these transformations.
Complete phase diagram for coherent vortex formation in a two-dimensional inviscid fluid in an annulus

By calculating the two-dimensional solutions and the second-order bifurcation analysis of the mean field equations of a two-dimensional ideal fluid, we are able to complete the phase diagram of coherent vortex formation in an annulus, which we have partially calculated in a previous paper [Phys. Rev. E 50, 2022 (1994)]. The complete phase diagram demonstrates the advantage of the statistical mechanics approach to determine the final equilibrium directly from the initial condition.
Point sampling in areal-fraction analysis

Areal-fraction analysis of two-dimensional structures has been studied over the years through areal, lineal, and point sampling. Unbiased estimators of the areal fractions are veil known. Random point sampling has produced the standard variance approximation used in the literature, but systematic point sam-pling requires a different variance approximation due ta the established dependency from point to point. The adjusted vari- ance is derived under the assumption of a general cell model for the construction of the structure under study. In addition, more specific model assumptions result In the joint asymptotic normal-ity of the estimators which also generates an alternative vari-ance approximation. These variance approximations make use of the available sampling information, so that the usual inferential techniques of interval estimation and hypothesis testing can be employed. Section 9 gives some numerical examples.
Suffering and theory: Max Horkheimer’s early essays and contemporary moral philosophy

Max Horkheimer does not generally receive the scholarly attention given to other ‘Frankfurt School’ figures. This is in part because his early work seems contradictory, or unphilosophical. For example, Horkheimer seems, at various points (to use contemporary metaethical terms), like a constructivist, a moral realist, or a moral skeptic, and it is not clear how these views cohere. The goal of this article is to show that the contradictions regarding moral theory exist largely on the surface, and that one can go below the surface to reconstruct a coherent position. Part I will examine Horkheimer’s skeptical critique of morality, and show that it leads to the realist position discussed in part II. Part III then shows that such realism can only be understood within a larger constructivist project, which elaborates on a minimal normativity present in human experience. This reconstruction should make sense of Horkheimer’s work, and show its contemporary relevance.
Response of lactic acid bacteria to amino acid derivatives. II. Glycine.

Abstract The response of five lactobacilli (for which glycine is an essential nutrient) to two tripeptides, five dipeptides, and seventeen other glycine derivatives has been tested over a range of concentrations and at four or five incubation times from 18 to 229 hours. In general the activities decreased with increasing concentrations and incubation times although in some cases they remained nearly constant, increased, or increased and then decreased. Hippuric acid, all of the dipeptides, and the tripeptide, l -leucylglycylglycine, exhibited greater activity than glycine for one or more of the organisms. These results may be interpreted to signify that ( a ) the apparent decrease in apparent glycine in hydrolyzed urines may be accounted for in part by the higher activity of hippuric acid in unhydrolyzed urines, and ( b ) some peptides may be utilized directly by lactic acid bacteria under some conditions.
Adaptive Parameter Identification of an Accurate Nonlinear Dynamical Model for Marine Thrusters

Recently reported finite-dimensional nonlinear thruster models employing empirically determined lift-drag curves have been shown to accurately model both the transient and steady state response of marine thrusters. These reports have employed the standard off-line paradigm for model parameter identification: First, real-time sensor data (force, torque, fluid velocity) is logged in laboratory experiments. Second, the experimental data is analyzed with a least-square regression technique to complete a best fit for the model parameters. This paper reports an on-line technique for adaptive identification of model parameters for marine thrusters. The stability of the proposed technique is shown analytically. The performance of the on-line adaptive identification technique, evaluated with respect to an experimentally validated plant model, is shown to compare favorably to its off-line counterpart, but does not require the thrust and torque instrumentation required by conventional off-line least-squares parameter identification techniques.
Exogenous calmodulin increases Ca2+ sensitivity of isometric tension activation and myosin phosphorylation in skinned smooth muscle.

We have investigated the effect of exogenous calmodulin on chicken gizzard or rabbit ileum smooth muscle functionally skinned by mechanical grinding or exposure to Triton X-100 detergent. We found that a specific protein inhibitor, modulator binding protein, caused a loss of Ca2+-activated tension which was restored by subsequent treatment with calmodulin. Calmodulin at 5 μM increased 10-fold the speed of development of isometric tension while it had no significant effect on the rate of relaxation or on maximum tension at high Ca2+ concentrations. The Ca2+ sensitivity of steady state tension and LC20 phosphorylation were also increased by 5 μM calmodulin. These results are consistent with a calmodulin-regulated light chain kinase/phosphatase system being responsible for activation of tension in smooth muscle.
A high power microwave zoom antenna with metal plate lenses

Metal plate lens antennas were designed and constructed for a high power microwave zoom antenna concept comprising a horn feed antenna and two metal plate lenses. Good agreement was found between experiment and simulation. This antenna provides true zoom capability in the TEM mode with continuously variable diameter pencil beam output and approximately 10% bandwidth.
Team science and the NIBIB.

I would like to explore issues relating to the funding of biomedical engineering and imaging at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) that are raised in an article on the Whitaker Foundation (“Spending itself out of existence, Whitaker brings a field to life,” D
Quantitative Comparison Of Different Microchannel Plate Image Intensifier Tubes As Nanosecond Light Shutters In Coupled Video Systems

A comparison of different manufacturers' microchannel plate image intensifier tubes (MCPTs) in coupled video systems is presented. Comparative performances in the areas of optical gating speed, resolution, gain, and phosphor efficiency are discussed. Relative sensitivities for various combinations of coupled MCPT/TV imager systems including P-20 and P-20R phosphors cascaded to FPS (focus projection and scan) electrostatic vidicons with silicon or Sb2S3 targets and CID (charge injection devices) solid state imagers are included.
GRNN Ensemble Classifier for Lung Cancer Prognosis Using Only Demographic and TNM features

Abstract Predicting the recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer remains a clinical challenge. The current best practice employs heuristic decisions based on the TNM classification scheme that many believe can be improved upon. Much research has recently been devoted to searching for gene signatures derived from gene expression microarrays for this challenge, but a consensus signature is still elusive. We present an approach to first create a benchmark for recurrence prediction based only upon gender, age and TNM features that uses several learning classifier induction methods and combines them into an ensemble using a recent extension of the general regression neural network. Using this approach on a pooled sample of 422 patients from two previously published studies (Shedden and Raponi), we demonstrate error rates in the low 20% for both false positives and negatives. Future work will focus on discovering if gene signatures can be discovered that can improve this performance.
A Conservative Adaptive Projection Method for the Variable Density Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations

In this paper we present a method for solving the equations governing time-dependent, variable density incompressible flow in two or three dimensions on an adaptive hierarchy of grids. The method is based on a projection formulation in which we first solve advection?diffusion equations to predict intermediate velocities, and then project these velocities onto a space of approximately divergence-free vector fields. Our treatment of the first step uses a specialized second-order upwind method for differencing the nonlinear convection terms that provides a robust treatment of these terms suitable for inviscid and high Reynolds number flow. Density and other scalars are advected in such a way as to maintain conservation, if appropriate, and free-stream preservation. Our approach to adaptive refinement uses a nested hierarchy of logically-rectangular girds with simultaneous refinement of the girds in both space and time. The integration algorithm on the grid hierarchy is a recursive procedure in which coarse grids are advanced in time, fine grids are advanced multiple steps to reach the same time as the coarse grids and the data at different levels are then synchronized. The single grid algorithm is described briefly, but the emphasis here is on the time-stepping procedure for the adaptive hierarchy. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the algorithms's accuracy and convergence properties, and illustrate the behavior of the method. An additional example demonstrates the performance of the method on a more realistic problem, namely, a three-dimensional variable density shear layer.
Glutathione transferase protects neuronal cultures against four hydroxynonenal toxicity

Peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly arachidonic acid, leads to the generation of reactive aldehydes, including 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Recent studies have demonstrated an increase in lipid peroxidation, a decline in PUFA, as well as an increase in HNE, and a decrease in glutathione transferase (GST) in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. Four-hydroxynonenal is toxic to cultured neurons and to the brain of experimental animals. Although glutathione (GSH) has been shown to offer protection against HNE, no enzymatic system has been described which serves to detoxify these reactive species in neuronal cultures. Here, we describe the use of GST in the protection of neuronal cultures against HNE toxicity. Glutathione transferases are a superfamily of enzymes functioning to catalyze the nucleophilic attack of GSH on electrophilic groups on a second substrate. These enzymes function efficiently with 4-hydroxyalkenals, particularly HNE, as substrates. To investigate the protective effects of GST against HNE, primary hippocampal cultures were pretreated with GST before exposure to toxic doses of HNE which led to a statistically significant enhancement in cell survival. Pretreatment of cultures with equivalent levels of heat inactivated GST or antibody against GST did not offer protection against HNE. Control cultures pretreated with GST also demonstrated enhanced survival compared with control cells receiving no pretreatment. These data suggest that GST may be an important source of protection against the toxic effects of HNE.
CD301b+ Dermal Dendritic Cells Drive T Helper 2 Cell-Mediated Immunity

Unlike other types of T helper (Th) responses, whether the development of Th2 cells requires instruction from particular subset of dendritic cells (DCs) remains unclear. By using an in vivo depletion approach, we have shown that DCs expressing CD301b were required for the generation of Th2 cells after subcutaneous immunization with ovalbumin (OVA) along with papain or alum. CD301b⁺ DCs are distinct from epidermal or CD207⁺ dermal DCs (DDCs) and were responsible for transporting antigen injected subcutaneously with Th2-type adjuvants. Transient depletion of CD301b⁺ DCs resulted in less effective accumulation and decreased expression of CD69 by polyclonal CD4⁺ T cells in the lymph node. Moreover, despite intact cell division and interferon-γ production, CD301b⁺ DC depletion led to blunted interleukin-4 production by OVA-specific OT-II transgenic CD4⁺ T cells and significantly impaired Th2 cell development upon infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. These results reveal CD301b⁺ DDCs as the key mediators of Th2 immunity.
Update in Pituitary Disease

The pituitary gland secretes vital trophic hormones that maintain homeostatic regulation of the metabolic milieu. Not surprisingly, several thousand papers relevant to the pituitary gland were published this past year, including publication of important transforming advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of pituitary disorders. In an attempt to focus on outstanding key articles reporting highlights of the year, quality inclusion criteria were applied. High-quality articles were selected for their translational impact, scientific advances, enrichment of new knowledge, influence on how we understand pituitary disorders, transformation of therapeutic principles, and opening up new research vistas. Using these selection criteria, highlighted papers within the following categorical topics were further selected for analysis and review: advances in understanding subcellular mechanisms subserving the pathogenesis of pituitary disorders including pituitary tumors and pituitary failure; new challenges facing the physician treating patients harboring prolactinomas with dopamine agonists; and the appearance of new publications reporting the efficacy of long-term prospective medical treatment of acromegaly that now provide more rigorous patient outcome information. Selected papers categorized by these topics all serve to significantly impact how the endocrinologist views disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes of patients with pituitary disease in 2007. The results of these publications have transformed our understanding of important principles underlying normal and abnormal pituitary function, as well as our approach to the management of pituitary disorders. Notably, they open up new vistas for creative scholarship in unraveling the challenges of pituitary medicine.
Anion exchange of metal complexes—I. Anion resin invasion: Dowex 1 × 8 and thiocyanate salts

Abstract Essential agreement has been found between a direct and an indirect method of evaluating resin invasion using KSCN as non-exchange electrolyte. The indirect method has been further applied to lithium, sodium and ammonium thiocyanates as non-exchange electrolytes. Results obtained in all cases are similar, with the effects being in the order of apparent ionic size: Na+ > NH4+ > Li+ > K+. Mean activity coefficients in the resin phase have been determined for KSCN from the direct method measurements.
Regression of Barrett's esophagus by laser ablation in an anacid environment

Consistent regression of intestinal metaplasia in Barrett's esophagus has not been achieved with medical or surgical interventions. In this case report, a patient with Barrett's esophagus of stable length had half the circumference of the Barrett's epithelium ablated with laser therapy while on a high-dose proton-pump inhibitor. In the absence of esophageal acid exposure and after laser ablation, the intestinal metaplasia was documented to reepithelialize with normal squamous mucosa, which has persisted.
Macroscopic equations for bacterial chemotaxis: integration of detailed biochemistry of cell signaling

Chemotaxis of single cells has been extensively studied and a great deal on intracellular signaling and cell movement is known. However, systematic methods to embed such information into continuum PDE models for cell population dynamics are still in their infancy. In this paper, we consider chemotaxis of run-and-tumble bacteria and derive continuum models that take into account of the detailed biochemistry of intracellular signaling. We analytically show that the macroscopic bacterial density can be approximated by the Patlak–Keller–Segel equation in response to signals that change slowly in space and time. We derive, for the first time, general formulas that represent the chemotactic sensitivity in terms of detailed descriptions of single-cell signaling dynamics in arbitrary space dimensions. These general formulas are useful in explaining relations of single cell behavior and population dynamics. As an example, we apply the theory to chemotaxis of bacterium Escherichia coli and show how the structure and kinetics of the intracellular signaling network determine the sensing properties of E. coli populations. Numerical comparison of the derived PDEs and the underlying cell-based models show quantitative agreements for signals that change slowly, and qualitative agreements for signals that change extremely fast. The general theory we develop here is readily applicable to chemotaxis of other run-and-tumble bacteria, or collective behavior of other individuals that move using a similar strategy.
Sertraline as a first-line treatment for cholestatic pruritus†

Pruritus is frequently the most debilitating symptom of cholestatic liver diseases. Moreover, existing therapies are often ineffective. Recent small, retrospective case series reports suggest that serotonin reuptake inhibitors can improve pruritus. This study was undertaken to establish the dose of sertraline and to evaluate its efficacy for cholestatic pruritus. Twenty one subjects with chronic pruritus due to liver disease (including primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic hepatitis C, and postnecrotic cirrhosis) initially underwent an open-label, dose escalation to determine the dose with optimal efficacy and tolerability. After a washout period, 12 of the subjects entered a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants quantified their pruritus using a 0-10 visual analog scale, and pruritus was assessed for distribution, timing, degree of disability, and physical evidence of scratching. The optimum sertraline dose (75-100 mg/day) was well tolerated. In the controlled portion of the study, itch scores improved in patients taking sertraline, but worsened in patients taking placebo (P = 0.009). Changes in itch distribution, duration, direction, and physical evidence of scratching paralleled changes in the visual analog pruritus score. Conclusion: Sertraline seems to be an effective, well-tolerated treatment for pruritus due to chronic liver disease. These results suggest that serotonergic pathways are important in the perception of itch. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:666–674.)
Antecedents and consequences of relational components of the new psychological contract

The literature regarding the new psychological contract suggests that the traditional paternalistic employer–employee relationship in U.S. companies has eroded. We investigated the relationship between relational components of the new psychological contract (personal responsibility for career development, commitment to type of work, and expectations of job insecurity), work experiences (involuntary job loss, organizational change, voluntary job change, and violation of obligations), and work outcomes (job satisfaction, participation in development activities, and intention to remain with the employer). We hypothesized that managerial and professional employees' level of agreement with relational components of the new psychological contract would mediate the relationship between their work experiences and work outcomes. In partial support of the model, we found that level of agreement with relational components of the new psychological contract mediated the relationship between work experiences and intention to remain with the employer and job satisfaction. Contrary to the model, no relationship was found among work experiences, level of agreement with relational components of the new psychological contract, and participation in development activities. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lying in weightlessness

Huge voids in space where gravity disappears could harbour a dangerous secret. Stuart Clark investigates
Rapid identification of drug metabolites with tandem mass spectrometry

A method which involves the use of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the identification of drug metabolites has been demonstrated with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The method is based on the fact that metabolites usually retain various substructures of the original drug molecule. MS/MS is capable of rapidly identifying molecules with characteristic substructures without prior separation. It is shown that this method makes it possible to postulate possible drug metabolite structures rapidly and systematically without the use of standards. The MS/MS method, as it was applied to the identification of the metabolites of a new antiepileptic drug, zonisamide, is discussed. In this case it was possible to identify isomeric metabolites due to their differences in vaporization times off the probe and their different daughter spectra. The complementary uses of the neutral loss and parent scans for the determination of the site of metabolism is demonstrated. A new figure of merit, the limit of identification, is introduced. The amount of the epoxide metabolite of carbamazepine necessary for its reliable identification in urine was shown to be 0.4 ng/microliter. The application of various techniques to confirm preliminary findings with this MS/MS method are described.
Shielding of surfaces in couette flow against radiation by transpiration of an absorbing-emitting gas

Abstract The laminar Couette flow has been analysed to show the effects of the injection of a radiation absorbing-emitting gas on the interaction of convection with radiation, on temperature profiles, and on heat transfer to the stationary surface. Both a constant and a variable physical property cases are considered. Heat-transfer results are presented and it shown that the reduction in radiation heat-transfer rate at the surface by injection of a radiating gas is accompanied by an increase in convective heat-transfer rate. It is found that the effectiveness of the radiating gas in shielding the surface from an incident radiation flux diminishes with decreasing emissivity. The emissivity condition between the black and perfectly reflecting surface extremes above which it is advantageous to inject an absorbing gas is determined.