cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plastic Deformation in Silicon Crystal Induced by Heat-Assisted Laser Shock Peening

The response of solid to shock compression has been an interesting topic for more than a century. The present work is the first attempt to experimentally show that plastic deformation can be generated in brittle materials by a heat-assisted laser shock peening process, using silicon crystal as a sample material. Strong dislocation activity and large compressive residual stress are induced by this process. The dislocation structure is characterized with transmission electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction. The residual stress is measured using Raman scattering. This work presents a fundamental base for the application of laser shock peening in brittle materials to generate large compressive residual stress and plastic deformation for better mechanical properties, such as fatigue life and fracture toughness.
Structural biology: ion pumps made crystal clear.

The function of every cell in our bodies depends on the work of proteins known as ion pumps. Several new crystal structures cast fresh light on how three different pumps deal with their distinct cargoes of ions.
Viscoelasticity determined by measured wave absorption coefficient for modeling waves in soft tissues

Abstract This paper reports the construction of viscoelasticity models for simulation of wave propagation in soft tissues. Aided by the Carson transform, Fung’s model and Iatridis’s model are transformed into the frequency domain with the imaginary part of the transformed relaxation function shown to be related to wave absorption effect. Based on measured wave absorption coefficients, the viscoelasticity models in the time domain are determined. Results show that Fung’s model does not support the frequency-dependent damping effect, but Iatridis’ model does. To validate the approach, numerical simulation of propagating wavelets in a skeletal pig muscle is performed. The constructed relaxation function is discretized by parallelly connected Standard Linear Solid (SLS) models. The hereditary integration is then transformed into a set of partial differential equations by introducing the internal variables. Together, the governing equations include the equation of motion, the constitutive equation, and the equations of internal variables. Velocity, stress, and internal variables are the primary unknowns. The model equations are solved by using the space–time CESE method. The calculated wave absorption effect compares well with the measured data.
Excitation Temperatures and Electron Densities in a Magnetron Rotating Direct-Current Arc Plasma

Excitation temperatures and electron densities are reported for a magnetron rotating direct-current arc plasma with graphite furnace sample introduction. Temperatures obtained from emission line ratios of the Ar support gas are compared with values obtained for two analyte thermometric species, Zn(I) and Cu(I). At the anode surface, the plasma temperature is about 6500 K. The addition of an easily ionized element does not effect the Ar(I) temperature; however, a temperature increase of up to 1000 K was observed for the analyte thermometric species. At the anode surface, the electron density is about 1.0 × 1015 cm−3. The addition of an easily ionized element increases the electron density by about a factor of two. Possible explanations are given for the increases in temperature and electron density.
Gell-Mann dynamic symmetry for N-level quantum systems.

We present the concept of dynamic symmetry of the Gell-Mann type to the dynamical evolution of an arbitrary quantum system of N levels involving generally time-dependent interaction parameters which are of arbitrary strengths and which need not be precisely known. The most important consequence of the dynamic symmetry is the existence of a characteristic set of constants of motion which resembles the existence of a set of quantum numbers of various flavors in high-energy particle physics, and which implies various types of population trapping in the coherent excitation of atoms by lasers in intense-field electrodynamics.
Impaired reductive activation of stromal bisphosphatases in tomato leaves following low-temperature exposure at high light☆

Photosynthesis in domestic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is highly sensitive to low temperature, particularly when accompanied by high light. Since previous studies have established that the inhibited plants retain photosynthetic electron transfer and ATP formation competence, we sought to identify specific steps in the photosynthetic carbon reduction pathway that could account for the lost photosynthetic capacity. Measurements of steady-state photosynthetic metabolite pool sizes showed an accumulation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and sedohepulose 1,7-bisphosphate following chilling in the light. Measurements of in vivo turnover rates of the metabolite pools accompanied by direct determinations of enzymatic activity showed that the capacity of the stromal bisphosphatases was substantially reduced following chilling in the light and was the cause of the bisphosphate accumulation. The time course of the loss of phosphatase activity closely mimicked that of the inhibition of net photosynthesis, further indicating that impaired phosphatase function is the underlying cause of the sensitivity of photosynthesis in tomato to light and chilling. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase extracted from inhibited tomato plants could be fully activated in the presence of dithiothreitol, indicating that chilling in the light disrupts the normal, thioredoxin-dependent, activation pathway of the stromal bisphosphatases. This disruption could involve a change in the redox potential of the functional disulfide on the phosphatases.
Retest imaging of [11C]NOP-1A binding to nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors in the brain of healthy humans.

Abstract [11C]NOP-1A is a novel high-affinity PET ligand for imaging nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors. Here, we report reproducibility and reliability measures of binding parameter estimates for [11C]NOP-1A binding in the brain of healthy humans. After intravenous injection of [11C]NOP-1A, PET scans were conducted twice on eleven healthy volunteers on the same (10/11 subjects) or different (1/11 subjects) days. Subjects underwent serial sampling of radial arterial blood to measure parent radioligand concentrations. Distribution volume (VT; a measure of receptor density) was determined by compartmental (one- and two-tissue) modeling in large regions and by simpler regression methods (graphical Logan and bilinear MA1) in both large regions and voxel data. Retest variability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of VT were determined as measures of reproducibility and reliability respectively. Regional [11C]NOP-1A uptake in the brain was high, with a peak radioactivity concentration of 4–7 SUV (standardized uptake value) and a rank order of putamen > cingulate cortex > cerebellum. Brain time–activity curves fitted well in 10 of 11 subjects by unconstrained two-tissue compartmental model. The retest variability of VT was moderately good across brain regions except cerebellum, and was similar across different modeling methods, averaging 12% for large regions and 14% for voxel-based methods. The retest reliability of VT was also moderately good in most brain regions, except thalamus and cerebellum, and was similar across different modeling methods averaging 0.46 for large regions and 0.48 for voxels having gray matter probability > 20%. The lowest retest variability and highest retest reliability of VT were achieved by compartmental modeling for large regions, and by the parametric Logan method for voxel-based methods. Moderately good reproducibility and reliability measures of VT for [11C]NOP-1A make it a useful PET ligand for comparing NOP receptor binding between different subject groups or under different conditions in the same subject.
Analysis of Interference Fits in Elastic Materials

In this paper we investigate the suitability of the GapSpace assembly analysis method [1] for assemblies in which there is interference between the components. Of particular interest are assemblies in which there are several sets of features that can influence the final location of the parts, once assembled. Our analysis includes using the finite element method to estimate the work required for assembly and the total strain energy in the components after assembly is complete. We then examine how these values can be predicted for different part geometries that can arise for a particular specification of part tolerances. The goal of this work is to provide fast approximations of force/work/energy calculations for designers of assemblies in which interference is required.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Determination of pentamidine transfer in the in vitro perfused human cotyledon with high-performance liquid chromatography.

Pentamidine is used to treat Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The incidence of this infection in pregnancy has paralleled the increasing incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in pregnancy. Using the in vitro bidirectionally perfused human placenta, we studied the transfer of pentamidine across the placenta. Pentamidine was added to the maternal circulation at therapeutic concentrations (2 wg/ml). No transfer of pentamidine was detectable with a newly devised high-performance liquid chromatography method sensitive to 0.05 wg/ml of pentamidine. Increasing the pentamidine concentration tenfold produced a low level of transfer to the fetal circuit. Fetal concentrations were far below maternal perfusate concentrations. Placental tissue levels were higher than media levels. These data are suggestive of minimal drug transfer to the fetus and significant concentration of the drug in placental tissue. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1989;160:759-61.)
Rapid randomized pruning for fast greedy distributed algorithms

We start by defining a pruning process involving sellers on one side and buyers on the other. The goal is to quickly select a subset of the sellers so that the products that these sellers bring to the market has small cost ratio, i.e., the ratio of the total cost of the selected sellers' products to amount that interested buyers are willing to pay. As modeled here, the pruning process can be used to speed up distributed implementations of greedy algorithms (e.g., for minimum dominating set, facility location, etc). We present a randomized instance of the pruning process that, for any positive k, runs in O(k) communication rounds with O(log N)-sized messages, yielding a cost ratio of O(Nc/k). Here N is the product of the number of sellers and number of buyers and c is a small constant. Using this O(k)-round pruning algorithm as the basis, we derive several simple, greedy, O(k)-round distributed approximation algorithms for MDS and facility location (both metric and non-metric versions). Our algorithms achieve optimal approximation ratios in polylogarithmic rounds and shave a "logarithmic factor" off the best, known, approximation factor, typically achieved using LP-rounding techniques.
Total Variation Regularization for Image Denoising, III. Examples.

Let $\mathcal{F}(\mathbb{R}^{2})$ be the family of bounded nonnegative Lebesgue measurable functions on $\mathbb{R}^{2}$. Suppose $s\in\mathcal{F}(\mathbb{R}^{2})$ and $\gamma:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow[0,\infty)$ is zero at zero, positive away from zero, and convex. For $f\in\mathcal{F}(\Omega)$ let $F(f)=\int_\Omega\gamma(f(x)-s(x))\,d\mathcal{L}^{2}x$; here $\mathcal{L}^{2}$ is Lebesgue measure on $\mathbb{R}^2$. In the denoising literature $F$ would be called a fidelity in that it measures how much $f$ differs from $s$ which could be a noisy grayscale image. Suppose $0<\epsilon<\infty$ and let ${\bf m}^{loc}_{\epsilon}(F)$ be the set of those $f\in\mathcal{F}(\mathbb{R}^{2})$ such that ${\bf TV}(f)<\infty$ and $\epsilon{\bf TV}(f)+F(f)\leq\epsilon{\bf TV}(g)+F(g)$ for $g\in{\bf k}(f)$; here ${\bf TV}(f)$ is the total variation of $f$ and ${\bf k}(f)$ is the set of $g\in\mathcal{F}(\mathbb{R}^{2})$ such that $g=f$ off some compact subset of $\mathbb{R}^{2}$. A member of ${\bf m}^{loc}_{\epsilon}(F)$ is called a total variation regularization of $s$ (with smoothing parameter $\epsilon$). Rudin, Osher, and Fatemi in [Phys. D, 60 (1992), pp. 259-268] and Chan and Esedog¯lu in [SIAM J. Appl. Math., 65 (2005), pp. 1817-1837] have studied total variation regularizations of $s$ where $\gamma(y)=y^2/2$ and $\gamma(y)=y$, $y\in\mathbb{R}$, respectively. It turns out that the character of a member of ${\bf m}^{loc}_{\epsilon}(F)$ changes quite a bit as $\gamma$ changes. In [SIAM J. Imaging Sci., 1 (2008), pp. 400-417] the family ${\bf m}^{loc}_{\epsilon}(F)$ was described in complete detail when $s$ is the indicator function of a compact convex subset of $\mathbb{R}^{2}$. Our main purpose in this paper is to describe, in complete detail, ${\bf m}^{loc}_{\epsilon}(F)$ when $s$ is the indicator function of either $S=([0,1]\times[0,-1])\cup([-1,0]\times[0,1])$ or $S=\{x\in\mathbb{R}^{2}:|x-{\bf c}_+|\leq 1\}\cup\{x\in\mathbb{R}^{2}:|x-{\bf c}_-|\leq 1\}$, where, for some $l\in[1,\infty)$, ${\bf c}_\pm=(\pm l,0)$. We believe these examples reveal a great deal about the nature of total variation regularizations. For example, it is said that total variation denoising preserves edges; while this is certainly true in many cases and in comparison with other denoising methods, the examples given in sections 2squares and 2circles provide evidence to the contrary. In addition, one can test computational schemes for total variation regularization against these examples. We will also establish what we believe to be a number of interesting properties of ${\bf m}^{loc}_{\epsilon}(F)$.
Differential serotonin responses in the skeletal muscle microcirculation.

Abstract Closed circuit television microscopy was used to quantitate in vivo responses of small vessels in the rat cremaster muscle to topically applied serotonin. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with a combination of urethane (800 mg/kg) and alpha-chloralose (60 mg/kg). The cremaster muscle with intact circulation and innervation was suspended in a bath which had controlled pH, pCO 2 , and pO 2 . Microvascular diameter of first order arterioles and venules and fourth-order arterioles were measured from the television monitor while serotonin (10 −9 M-10 −4 M) was added to the bath. Fourth-order arterioles (3–11 μm diameter) dilated to a maximum of 267% of their control value with a serotonin concentration of 10 −6 M. Serotonin (10 −4 M) constricted first-order arterioles (78–121 μm) to 61% of their control value. The threshold concentration (10 −8 M) for a serotonin-induced dilation of fourth-order arterioles was 1000 fold less than the threshold concentration (10 −5 M) for serotonin-induced constriction of first-order arterioles. Serotonin (10 −8 M-10 −4 M) did not alter the diameter of first-order venules (115–195 μm) from the control value. The dose-dependent constriction of first-order arterioles and dose-dependent dilation of fourth-order arterioles by serotonin appear to be independent of each other. In addition, the lack of constriction of first-order venules suggests a heterogenous distribution of serotonin receptors and that the predominate control mechanisms are different at different levels of the arteriolar and venous microcirculation of rat skeletal muscle.
XXXIX. The two-staye transformation of magnetite into hematite

It is shown that the ferro-ferric oxide Fe3O4 (magnetite) can be completely oxidized to Fe2O3 at a low temperature of 220°C., so that the maximum permeability may even rise from 2·93 to 3·39, the d...
On the existence, uniqueness and stability of entropy solutions to scalar conservation laws

Abstract We consider one-dimensional scalar conservation laws with and without viscosity where the flux function F ( x , t , u ) is only assumed to be absolutely continuous in x , locally integrable in t and continuous in u . The existence and uniqueness of entropy solutions for the associated initial-value problem are obtained through the vanishing viscosity method and the doubling variables technique. We also prove the stability of entropy solutions in C ( [ 0 , T ] ; L loc 1 ( R ) ) and in C ( [ 0 , T ] ; L 1 ( R ) ) with respect to both initial data and flux functions.
224. Platelet derived growth factors and receptors in the rat ovary contribute towards preantral follicle growth

In this study, the family of platelet derived growth factors (PDGF) and receptors were identified and characterized in the rat ovary and a role in contributing towards growth of preantral follicles was revealed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of mRNA for all platelet derived growth factors (PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGF-C and PDGF-D) and receptors (PDGF-Rα and PDGF-Rβ). In situ hybridization identified oocytes of primordial/primary follicles and cells of the theca layer as a source of PDGF-B, PDGF-C and PDGF-D mRNA. Protein expression was explored through immunohistochemistry. In rats aged days 0 and 4, PDGF-Rα, PDGF-A and PDGF-C immunoreactivity was observed within oocyte clusters, and PDGF-Rβ and PDGF-B immunoreactivity in cells surrounding oocyte clusters. In primordial follicles, PDGF-Rβ and PDGF-C was observed in the oocyte, and PDGF-Rα and A in the either the oocyte or pregranulosa cells. In primary follicles, PDGF-A, PDGF-C, PDGF-Rα and PDGF-Rβ are expressed in the oocyte. PDGF-Rβ is also expressed in cells surrounding primordial and primary follicles, possibly the precursors to theca cells. In secondary and antral follicles, all four PDGF isoforms and both receptors are expressed in either theca or vascular cells of the theca layer, and PDGF-Rα and A are also expressed in some granulosa cells in rats aged day 20 and older. A role in preantral follicle growth was identified by in vitro culture of preantral follicles. Preantral follicles cultured in serum free medium increased in diameter by 11.0 ± 1.57% over 5 days. Addition of PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB or PDGF-BB to the medium resulted in increases in follicle diameter after 5 days of 18.32 ± 2.18%, 17.72 ± 2.3% and 17.6 ± 1.81%, respectively, representing a significant increase over control diameters. In summary, this study has identified and characterized the presence and localization of all members of the family of platelet derived growth factors and receptors in the rat ovary and revealed a role for these growth factors in positively influencing early follicle growth.
Theory of the Corner-Cube Interferometer*

The corner-cube interferometer is analyzed geometrically and analytically. When the prisms are used near their axis, the instrument is found to behave essentially like an interferometer using triple sets of front-surface mirrors. Equations are obtained describing the fringe patterns when one prism is used far off its axis, and also when both are used near their axis. These fringe patterns are discussed and illustrated.
EFFECT OF SUBJECTIVE INTERLETTER SIMILARITY, PERCEIVED WORD SIMILARITY, AND CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES ON THE RECOGNITION OF LETTER SUBSTITUTIONS IN A PROOFREADING TASK

-Measures of interleaer similarity, e.g., template matching, feature analysis, subjective rating, or tachistoscopic confusability, have not yet been used to predict or explain perceptual performance in tasks involving actual reading. The validity of a measure of subjective interletter similariry is investigated by examining the correlational relationship between this index and rhe ability of subjects to detect letter substimrions systematjcally introduced into a prose passage. As expected, recognition of errors appears to depend upon subjective interletter similarity, but this effect seems to be mediated by the perceived similarity between words with and without their typographical errors. Further, these effects seem to depend upon various contextual variables such as letter frequency, word frequency, and word length.
Multiple-wavenumber photoelectron holography of Pt(111)

Abstract A multiple-wavenumber photoelectron holographic study of a Pt(111) surface, based on the 4f 5 2 peak, demonstrates the capability of imaging atomic positions up to three layers above the emitter, with twin images removed by phase-summing over the carefully selected wavenumber range k = 8.8–10.2 A−1. Photoelectron holography based on synchrotron radiation and forward scattering should be directly applicable to surface and near-surface interface systems.
Hydrolysis of Trifluoroethyl Phosphate as Evidence that the Serine and Tyrosine Phosphatase Activities of Calcineurin Share the Same Specificity Determinant

Calcineurin is shown to hydrolyze 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl phosphate. The time course of hydrolysis showed a lag period. The lag was present at all substrate concentrations used and was dependent on substrate concentration. Evaluation of the kinetic constants from the steady state portion of the enzymatic reaction indicated that hydrolysis of this compound fit the Bronsted relationship determined previously for Vmax/Km term for the hydrolysis of aromatic phosphate esters. Moreover, a Bronsted relationship for the Vmax was developed for the substrates containing leaving groups that are more basic than 2,3,4,5-tetrafluorotyrosine. The hydrolysis of 2,3,4,5-tetrafluorotyrosine phosphate did not fit this relationship implying a change in the rate limiting step with this substrate. The significance of these data to the serine and tyrosine phosphatase activities of calcineurin is discussed. A rationale for understanding the determinant of both activities of calcineurin is presented.
600 GHz Imaging Radar with 2 cm Range Resolution

We report the first submillimeter-wave imaging system that has radar ranging capabilities. By frequency-modulating the K-band synthesizers of a single-pixel 630 GHz scanning vector imager and applying a distortion compensation technique in software, we have achieved a range resolution of approximately 2 cm for targets at a range of several meters. Relief images of test objects obtained with our system demonstrate that three-dimensional THz imaging of scanned targets is feasible using a room temperature, all solid-state approach.
Cavitation in Liquids Demonstrated by Ultrashort-Exposure Radiography

Using a field-emission x-ray tube, giving a much shorter pulse of rays than does conventional apparatus, we have demonstrated around a water jet the presence of a toroidal cavity that could not be detected visually. One advantage of this method of demonstrating cavitation is that it may be used with fluids and vessels that are opaque to light.
Pheromonal regulation of male mouse ultrasonic courtship (mus musculus).

Biochemicals from several sites on the body of female house mice (Mus musculus) were found to elicit 70-kHz ultrasonic calls from male mice. Experiment 1 demonstrated that an anaesthetized female wrapped in an odour-impermeable plastic bag elicited ultrasounds from males when either the front or rear of their body was left exposed. In experiment 2 cotton swabs rubbed on the face and cheeks of females but not from males elicited ultrasonic calls from males. The results of experiment 3 suggested that female vaginal odours also elicit calls. Experiments 4 and 5 demonstrated that males will also emit ultrasounds in response to female but not male urine. The source and chemical nature of this 'ultrasound-releasing pheromone' remain to be discovered.
Mechanic Study of Copper Deposition onto Gold Surfaces by Scaling and Spectral Analysis of In Situ Atomic Force Microscopic Images

Copper electrodeposition from three acidic solutions containing (i) no additive, (ii) 100 μM benzotriazole, and (iii) 100 μM thiourea was studied by in situ atomic force microscopy. The electrodeposited surfaces were analyzed on three levels: (i) qualitatively during in situ monitoring of morphology evolution, (ii) quantitatively by scaling analysis of electrodeposited surface roughness during the course of deposition, and (iii) by modeling the spectral power density of the surface shape evolution. Major differences in deposit morphology were found between the three electrolytic solutions. All three levels of analysis gave consistent interpretations of morphology evolution. Deposition from additive‐free solutions leads to rough surface textures due to roughening originating from surface diffusion. Addition of benzotriazole acts to smooth the deposit by diminishing surface diffusion. Deposits grown from thiourea‐containing solutions exhibit formation of three‐dimensional islands atop initially flat plates, reflecting a two‐stage growth mechanism.
The effect of sleep upon the electroencephalogram in patients with brain tumors.

Abstract 1. 1. Electroencephalograms were recorded during the waking and sleeping states in seventy-eight patients, fifty with supratentorial and twenty-eight with infratentorial tumors. 2. 2. Tumors involving the parenchyma of the hemisphere produced focal polymorphic delta activity; tumors of the posterior fossa or those obstructing the third ventricle produced rhythmic slow activity (distant rhythms). 3. 3. Distant rhythms show marked reactivity and generally disappear in deeper levels of sleep although sometimes being “activated” during drowsiness. 4. 4. Polymorphic delta activity shows little reactivity and persists in deeper levels of sleep. Distortion of sleep rhythms, usually in the form of reduced spindle (sigma) rhythms, often occurs in association with polymorphic delta activity and signifies involvement of the cerebral hemisphere. Neither proved to be reliable indicators of whether the tumor was cortical or subcortical in location.
Manipulation and Control of Nucleation and Growth Kinetics with Hydrogen Dilution in Hot-Wire CVD Growth of Poly-Si

We systematically explore the relationship between gas-phase kinetics and film microstructure in the hot-wire CVD technique using diluted silane (1% in He) and additional hydrogen. Using a wire temperature of 2000°C, films were grown on Si (100) at 300°C using 1 mTorr SiH 4 and 99 mTorr He at hydrogen pressures from 0-100 mTorr. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements indicated that continuous microcrystalline films had a columnar grain structure and that grain size increased from 40 nm using SiH 4 /He to 85 nm using SiH 4 /He/H 2 with 20:1 H 2 :SiH 4 ratio due to the etching of silicon by hydrogen. Etching rate measurements using a quartz deposition monitor show that, under the current deposition conditions, a transition from net film growth (0.17 nm/s using only SiH 4 ) to net etching occurs at a H 2 :SiH 4 ration of 80:1. The effect of atomic H on the nucleation density during the initial stages of growth has also been investigated, revealing a sublinear dependence of nucleation density with time and a decrease in nucleation density with increasing H 2 dilution. High deposition rate growth with no H 2 dilution has been achieved on a low-density array of seed nuclei produced using high H 2 dilution.
Some Misconceptions in Studies of Climate Modification

Abstract Greenhouse effect, global climatic means, and the climatic norm are terms that frequently are used in studies of climate modification, but casual reference to them may result in misinterpretation of some basic climatological principles. In the interest of fostering climatic integrity, each of these terms is critically examined.
r-VKORC1 expression in factor IX BHK cells increases the extent of factor IX carboxylation but is limited by saturation of another carboxylation component or by a shift in the rate-limiting step.

Carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent (VKD) proteins is required for their activity and depends upon reduced vitamin K generated by vitamin K oxidoreductase (VKOR) and a redox protein that regenerates VKOR activity. VKD protein carboxylation is inefficient in mammalian cells, and to understand why carboxylation becomes saturated we developed an approach that directly measures intracellular VKD protein carboxylation. Analysis of factor IX (fIX)-expressing BHK cells indicated that slow fIX egress from the endoplasmic reticulum and preferential secretion of the carboxylated form contribute to secreted fIX being more fully-carboxylated. The analysis also revealed the first reported in vivo VKD protein turnover, which was 14-fold faster than occurs in vitro, suggesting facilitation of this process in vivo. r-VKORC1 expression increased the rate of fIX carboxylation and extent of carboxylated fIX ~2-fold, which shows that carboxylation is the rate-limiting step in fIX turnover and which was surprising because turnover in vitro is limited by release of carboxylated fIX. Interestingly, the increases were significantly less than the amount of VKOR overexpression (15-fold). However, when cell extracts were tested in single turnover experiments in vitro, where redox protein is functionally substituted by dithiothreitol, VKOR overexpression increased the fIX carboxylation rate 14-fold, showing r-VKORC1 is functional for supporting fIX carboxylation. These data indicate that the effect of VKOR overexpression is limited in vivo, possibly because a carboxylation component like the redox protein becomes saturated or because another step is now rate-limiting. The studies illustrate the complexity of carboxylation and potential importance of component stoichiometry to overall efficiency.
Electrostatic-gated transport in chemically modified glass nanopore electrodes.

Electrostatic-gated transport in chemically modified glass nanopore electrodes with orifice radii as small as 15 nm is reported. A single conical-shaped nanopore in glass, with a ∼1 μm radius Pt disk located at the pore base, is prepared by etching the exposed surface of a glass-sealed Pt nanodisk. The electrochemical response of the nanopore electrode corresponds to diffusion of redox-active species through the nanopore orifice to the Pt microdisk. Silanization of the exterior glass surface with Cl(Me)2Si(CH2)3CN and the interior pore surface with EtO(Me)2Si(CH2)3NH2 introduces pH-dependent ion selectivity at the pore orifice, a consequence of the electrostatic interactions between the redox ions and protonated surface amines. Nanopore electrodes with very small pore orifice radii ( 6 or when the pore radius is significantly large...
Using fixed-point semantics to prove retiming lemmas

Algorithms designed for VLSI implementation are commonly described by directed graphs, in which the nodes represent functional units and the arcs indicate communication links. We give a denotational semantics for such a graph in terms of the least fixed point of a set of (mutually recursive) function definitions, describing the outputs produced at each node as a function of time. This semantics is consistent with the conventional clocked operational semantics of the system. A retiming is a systematic modification of the internode delays of a design, often used to convert an algorithm design into a systolic form. The utility of such retimings in optimizing the behavior of designs is well known. We use fixed-point semantics to provide simple proofs of the correctness of certain retiming transformations from the literature and to justify other design transformations such as pipelining.
Kernel-based joint fusion/detection of anomalies using hyperspectral and SAR imagery

This paper describes a new nonlinear joint fusion and anomaly detection technique for mine detection applications using two different types of sensor data (synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and Hyperspectral sensor (HS) data). A well-known anomaly detector so called the RX algorithm is first extended to perform fusion and detection simultaneously at the pixel level by appropriately concatenating the information from the two sensors. This approach is then extended to its nonlinear version. The nonlinear fusion-detection approach is based on the statistical kernel learning theory which implicitly exploits the higher order dependencies (nonlinear relationships) between the two sensor data through an appropriate kernel. Experimental results for detecting anomalies (mines) in hyperspectral imagery are presented for linear and nonlinear joint fusion and detection for a co-registered SAR and HS imagery. The result show that the nonlinear techniques outperform linear versions.
Cloning and Functional Expression of a Human Na+and Cl−-dependent Neutral and Cationic Amino Acid Transporter B0+

A Na(+)-dependent neutral and cationic amino acid transport system (B(0+)) plays an important role in many cells and tissues; however, the molecular basis for this transport system is still unknown. To identify new transporters, the expressed sequence tag database was queried, and cDNA fragments with sequence similarity to the Na(+)/Cl(-)-dependent neurotransmitter transporter family were identified. Based on these sequences, rapid amplification of cDNA ends of human mammary gland cDNA was used to obtain a cDNA of 4.5 kilobases (kb). The open reading frame encodes a 642-amino acid protein named amino acid transporter B(0+). Human ATB(0+) (hATB(0+)) is a novel member of the Na(+)/Cl(-)-dependent neurotransmitter transporter family with the highest sequence similarity to the glycine and proline transporters. Northern blot analysis identified transcripts of approximately 4.5 kb and approximately 2 kb in the lung. Another tissue survey suggests expression in the trachea, salivary gland, mammary gland, stomach, and pituitary gland. Electrophysiology and radiolabeled amino acid uptake measurements were used to functionally characterize the transporter expressed in Xenopus oocytes. hATB(0+) was found to transport both neutral and cationic amino acids, with the highest affinity for hydrophobic amino acids and the lowest affinity for proline. Amino acid transport was Na(+) and Cl(-)-dependent and was attenuated in the presence of 2-aminobicyclo-[2.2.1]-heptane-2-carboxylic acid, a system B(0+) inhibitor. These characteristics are consistent with system B(0+) amino acid transport. Thus, hATB(0+) is the first cloned B(0+) amino acid transporter.
Capital Wealth Taxation: Theory and Application

AbstractUsing an ls model analysis, the economic effects of implementing a modest taxation rate on capital wealth (3%) are found to be basically favorable: slightly higher output, lower inequality as measured by various Gini coefficients, and higher social welfare according to the three major social welfare functions—Bentham, Nash and Rawls. Implementing capital wealth taxation enables a compensating reduction in the labor-income taxation rate. The single most important consequence of this change is increased labor output among the wealthiest households, whose labor productivity is highest. Even though labor output is reduced among less-wealthy households, the overall effect on aggregate output is positive.
Chromatin changes on the GSTP1 promoter associated with its inactivation in prostate cancer

Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are metabolic enzymes that help detoxify and eliminate harmful chemicals. In prostate tumors, expression of GST pi (encoded by GSTP1) is frequently lost because of promoter hypermethylation. Here we analyze the native GSTP1 promoter in cancerous and noncancerous human prostate cells to identify structural features associated with its cancer-related transcriptional silencing. We find that in noncancerous prostate cells (RWPE-1 and PWR-1E) GSTP1 is constitutively expressed, not methylated, highly accessible, bound by transcription factors and associated with histones with activating modifications (histone H3 methylated at lysine 4 and acetylated histones H3 and H4). In contrast, in cancerous prostate cells (LNCaP) GSTP1 is not expressed, extensively methylated, inaccessible, lacks bound transcription factors and is not associated with histones with activating modifications. We do not detect significant levels of histones with repressive modifications (histone H3 methylated at lysine 9 or 27) on GSTP1 in any cell line indicating that they are not associated with cancer-related GSTP1 silencing. Treatment of LNCaP cells with 5-azacytidine restores activating histone modifications on GSTP1 and reactivates transcription. We conclude that, in the process of prostate carcinogenesis, activating histone modifications on GSTP1 are lost and the DNA becomes methylated and inaccessible resulting in transcriptional silencing.
Increased delay discounting tracks with a high ethanol-seeking phenotype and subsequent ethanol seeking but not consumption.

Background Increased levels of delay discounting have been associated with alcoholism and problematic levels of drinking. Attempts to assess the directionality of this relationship by studying individuals with a family history of alcoholism as well as rodent lines selectively bred for high home cage alcohol preference have yielded discordant results. One possible reason for this discordance is that increased levels of delay discounting may only track with specific processes that lead to addiction vulnerability. This study investigated this possibility by assessing 3 strains of rats previously identified to exhibit heritable differences in ethanol (EtOH) seeking and consumption. Methods In an adjusting amount delay discounting task, alcohol-preferring (P) rats who display high levels of both EtOH seeking and consumption were compared to high alcohol-drinking (HAD2) rats who only exhibit moderate EtOH seeking despite high levels of consumption, and Long Evans (LE) rats who display moderate seeking and consumption. EtOH-seeking and consumption phenotypes were subsequently confirmed in an operant self-administration task with a procedural separation between EtOH seeking and drinking. Results P rats discounted delayed rewards to a greater extent than both HAD2s and LE who did not show differences in discounting. Moreover, the EtOH-seeking and drinking phenotypes were replicated with P rats displaying greater EtOH seeking compared to both the HAD2s and LE, and both the HAD2s and P rats consuming more EtOH than LEs. Conclusions Only the high-seeking strain, the P rats, exhibited increased levels of delay discounting. This suggests that this measure of behavioral under-control is specifically associated with alcohol-related appetitive, but not consummatory, processes as the moderate seeking/high drinking line did not show increased levels of impulsivity. This finding supports the hypothesis that delay discounting is specifically associated with only certain processes which are sufficient but not necessary to confer addiction vulnerability and therefore also supports increased levels of delay discounting as a predisposing risk factor for alcoholism.
Carbenicillin for Treatment of Bacteroides fragilis Infections: Why Not Penicillin G?

Carbenicillin has been advocated for treatment of infections caused by Bacteroides fragilis and other anaerobic bacteria. Wide-scale use of the drug in this setting could result in a substantial increase in carbenicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an effect that would have serious implications. Thirty-four strains of B. fragilis, one-half from bacteremic infections, were tested in vitro, and penicillin G was found to be twice as active as carbenicillin on an equal weight basis; 94% of the strains were inhibited by 32 microgram of penicillin/ml, a level easily achieved therapeutically. Penicillin killed B. fragilis organisms as rapidly as carbenicillin. In two subjects given equivalent doses (100 mg/kg intravenously) of carbenicillin and aqueous penicillin G, the bactericidal activity of serum against B. fragilis after administration of each drug was the same. Controlled clinical trials of treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections with penicillin G in high dosage, carbenicillin (or closely related ticarcillin), clindamycin, and chloramphenicol should be undertaken. Carbenicillin (and ticarcillin) for the present would seem better reserved for P. aeruginosa infections.
Developing and maintaining an effective assessment program

The increased emphasis on assessment by regional accrediting bodies and the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET has caused institutions of higher education and computer science departments to seriously consider the tools and techniques they are using to evaluate their program's effectiveness. The current shortage of computer science professors at many schools has greatly reduced the time available to develop and maintain an effective assessment program. Successful assessment programs require the development of a variety of carefully chosen and properly timed assessment instruments to be effective and yet avoid overburdening faculty. Successful assessment also requires a process model that carefully builds faculty support for the assessment process.
Differential Spectroscopic Imaging of Particulate Explosives Residue

ABSTRACT We present experimental results showing transmission and reflection imaging of approximately 100 µg quantities of particulate explosives residue using a commercial uncooled microbolometer infrared camera and CO 2 laser differential wavelength illumination. Fine particulates may be generated during bomb-making activities and these particulates can tenaciously adhere to packing material, as well as to the clothing or skin of the bomb maker and could be detectable during transportation. A rapid screening method that detects this residue can serve as a first-line screening method in conjunction with more sensitive, but invasive, approaches. Explosives exhibit absorption features in the mid-infrared molecular fingerprint region that spans 3 to 15 µm, which can be probed with many high-brightness sources such as fixed wavelength and tunable quantum cascade lasers, CO 2 , CO, and OPO lasers. Commercial uncooled microbolometer cameras typically have detection sensitivity from 7.5 to 13 µm, spanning an absorption region for explosives detection with adequate signal-to-noise ratio. By illuminating a target on and off its absorption wavelengths, ratio images of suspected residue can be obtained without any sample preparation or cooperation and contact with the target. Our proof-of-principle experiment employed tunable CO
Smarter computer intrusion detection utilizing decision modeling

Addresses specific problems within the area of performing computer system intrusion detection, and presents the reader with an effective decision model to addressing these problems. Current intrusion detection analysis methods are reluctant to properly evaluate the results of decisions made based on their analysis outcomes. These analysis outcomes influence the decision making process involved in response to an intrusion. Utilizing basic decision modeling methods we can develop a model that is both effective and easy to use. To form this model we must have the following within our environment; standard analysis procedure and the classification of information elements. These will feed into our structured decision model and aid in our final decision outcome.
Comments on “chemical separation of kurchatovium”

(Rece ived 28 July 1971) The Editor has asked for our comments on the paper of Zvara et. al., inasmuch as the work reported seems to bear upon the discovery of element 104. In the present paper this Dubna group now interprets the ephemeral "kurchatovium" activity (which, it should be remembered, originally was characterized with a half life of 0.3 seconds) in terms of an assumed spontaneous-fission branching decay of the nuclide, 259Rf. This isotope of rutherfordium was discovered by our group I and characterized as a 3-second alpha emitter with main alpha particle groups at 8.86 and 8.77 MeV. For the following reasons we cannot agree that the new experiment which they report upon does support their claim to prior discovery of element 104. I. At present we have only set an upper limit of 20% for the SF branching of 259Rf and such a limit does not by itself rule out the possibility that they have observed such a branching. It seems to us, however, that it would be very surprising if the branching is high enough (~ 10%) to account for the fissions observed in the Dubna experiments. Recall that 261Rf, a 65-second alpha emitter discovered by our group, 2 has already been shown to have an SF TI/2 greater than 500 seconds and this isotope has two
Role for calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in coupling muscle activity to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene expression in rat

Neurally evoked muscle electrical activity suppresses nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) gene expression in extrajunctional domains of adult muscle fibers. It has been proposed that this regulation is mediated by calcium influx through voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels but bypasses the sarcoplasmic reticulum in chick and mouse C2C12 cells. Here we report that in rat muscle calcium influx through L-type calcium channels preferentially reduced nAChR ϵ-subunit RNA via a post-transcriptional mechanism. In contrast, calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) suppressed nAChR subunit RNA levels as a result of decreasing nAChR subunit promoter activity. Finally, we show that this decreased promoter activity is mediated through the same DNA sequences that control activity-dependent gene expression. Therefore, we propose that in rat muscle, calcium release from the SR participates in coupling muscle depolarization to nAChR gene expression. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 35: 245–257, 1998
Scholarship and Autobiography

Fussell (1924-2012) was a Rutgers professor of English for 28 years (1955-1983). At first well-known as a scholar of eighteenth century English literature, Fussell went on to be a strong critic of war and social class beginning with perhaps his most influential book, The Great War and Modern Memory (1975), about the romantic myth and reality of war in World War I. In this essay, he argues that all humanistic research involves an element of autobiography in them, but it became more prominent in this book and subsequent works of because of his own experience as a soldier in the World War II. He was almost obsessed by the image of “my strange marble boys,” his fellow dead soldiers on the battle fields in 1944. Through the art of writing scholarship, he was able to objectify these images, purge himself of them, and move on.
A business perspective on the semantic Web

The book Adaptive Information: Improving Business through Semantic Interoperability, Grid Computing, and Enterprise Integration by Jeffrey T. Pollock and Ralph Hodgson is an essential read for all semantic Web practitioners - from CIOs to CTOs and architects to managers. The book also adds a business perspective to semantic technology, which makes it a must-read for upper management. It includes background information, definitions, recommendations, alternative solutions, and product suggestions along with complete case studies. The authors discuss about information solutions leveraging the technical advances in the field over the past decade, using thought-provoking methods to convey the information. The presentation is simple enough for managers, with just enough technical detail for developers or architects to design a semantic system.
Observation of surface-avoiding waves: a new class of extended states in periodic media.

Coherent time-domain optical experiments on GaAs-AlAs superlattices reveal the existence of an unusually long-lived acoustic mode at $\ensuremath{\sim}0.6\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{THz}$ which couples weakly to the environment by evading the sample boundaries. Classical as well as quantum states that steer clear of surfaces are generally shown to occur in the spectrum of periodic structures, for most boundary conditions. These surface-avoiding waves are associated with frequencies outside forbidden gaps and wave vectors in the vicinity of the center and edge of the Brillouin zone. Possible consequences for surface science and resonant-cavity applications are discussed.