cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Facilitative Actions of the Protein Kinase-C Effector System on Hormonally Stimulated Adenosine 3',5'- Monophosphate Production by Swine Luteal Cells*

The exact nature of the interaction(s) between cAMP and calcium-sensitive phospholipid-dependent protein kinase-C effector pathways is not well understood in many tissues, including the ovary. In the present work we have evaluated the ability of protein kinase-C to modulate receptor-and nonreceptor-mediated cAMP generation in acute suspension cultures of swine luteal cells. Cells were exposed to LH (1 micrograms/ml), forskolin (100 microM), cholera toxin (1 microgram/ml), pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml), and/or phorbol ester [12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)] for 0-90 min. TPA had no effect on basal cAMP accumulation, but increased (P less than 0.05) LH-, forskolin-, and cholera toxin-activated cAMP formation, with maximal facilitation at 30, 45, and 60 min, respectively. This facilitative effect was robust, as it could be demonstrated in both the presence and absence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.5 mM). TPA increased dose-dependent LH (0.1-1 microgram/ml)-, forskolin (3-300 microM-, and cholera toxin (0.3-10 microgram/ml)-stimulated cAMP accumulation. TPA induced a dose-dependent (0.3-30 ng/ml) increase in cAMP accumulation when incubated with the half-maximally effective (ED50) and maximally effective doses of LH (0.8 and 1 microgram/ml, respectively), forskolin (10 and 300 microM), and cholera toxin (0.2 and 3 micrograms/ml). TPA had an ED50 for this functional activation of 6.1 (67% confidence interval, 4.4-9.7) nM. The stimulatory effect of TPA could be mimicked by two synthetic diacylglycerols, 1,2-Dioctanoylglycerol and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, but not by inactive phorbol esters. In addition, TPA augmented the stimulatory effect of pertussis toxin when combined with maximally effective doses of LH, forskolin, and cholera toxin. The stimulatory action of TPA on cAMP production was limited to endogenous cellular adenylyl cyclase. Bacterially derived adenylyl cyclase toxin isolated from Bordetella pertussis resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cAMP formation over 60 min, which was not facilitated by phorbol ester. We conclude that stimulatory coupling exists between the calcium-dependent protein kinase-C and cAMP-generating systems in swine luteal cells. This stimulatory coupling is enacted in part at the levels of both the guanine binding and the catalytic subunits of adenylyl cyclase.
The absence of caffeine inhibition of post-replication repair in excision deficient strains of Escherichia coli B and K12☆

Abstract The effect of caffeine on postreplication repair, as seen in alkaline sucrose gradients, conjugation, and ultraviolet light (UV) survival, was studied in excision deficient strains of Escherichia coli K12 and B. A caffeine concentration of 2 mg/ml was chosen for the study which did not inhibit colony formation. Both E. coli K12 AB2500 and E. coli B WWP2 were more sensitive to UV when plated on caffeine plates. Conjugation was not inhibited in the E. coli K12 strain; however, the same procedure confirmed caffeine inhibition in the E. coli K2 B strain [17]. Caffeine did not inhibit postreplication repair in either strain, as determined by sedimentation profile studies of DNA on alkaline sucrose gradients. No strand breakage or degradation was observed in parental or post-UV replicated DNA for as long as 50 min incubation in caffeine. Thus caffeine concentrations that inhibited two recA gene product related phenomena did not cause immediate changes in size of DNA or inhibit the rate of a DNA gap generating postreplication type of DNA repair.
Augmented Insulin Responses to Glucose after Secretin Priming in Diabetic Subjects

ABSTRACT Previous studies have indicated that in normal man secretin directly stimulated rapid insulin responses and also augmented insulin responses (2-fold) to subsequent 5-g glucose pulses. To determine whether this phenomenon is observed in adult onset diabetes, patients with diminished (group A; n = 6) or absent (group B; n = 8) insulin responses to glucose were evaluated. Group A diabetics had decreased (P < 0.005) early responses to glucose pulses before (P1) and after (P2) secretin priming [P1, 54 ± 35% (mean ± SD), percent response above basal within 5 min; P2, 115 ± 60%] compared to normals (PI, 274 ± 144%; P2, 580 ± 470%). However, they had augmented insulin output to P2 (P < 0.01) and exhibited an identical degree of improvement (group A, 2.5-fold; normals, 2-fold). Faster (P < 0.05) glucose disappearance rates paralleled the increased output. Group B diabetics had absent acute insulin responses to both P1 and P2. However, the total insulin output over 60 min was increased (P < 0.05) after P2,...
Identification, characterization and functional expression of a tyrosine ammonia-lyase and its mutants from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides

A tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) enzyme from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsTAL) was identified, cloned and functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, where conversion of tyrosine to p-hydroxycinnamic acid (pHCA) was demonstrated. The RsTAL enzyme is implicated in production of pHCA, which serves as the cofactor for synthesis of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP) in photosynthetic bacteria. The wild type RsTAL enzyme, while accepting both tyrosine and phenylalanine as substrate, prefers tyrosine, but a serendipitous RsTAL mutant identified during PCR amplification of the RsTAL gene, demonstrates much higher preference for phenylalanine as substrate and deaminates it to produces cinnamic acid. Sequence analysis showed the presence of three mutations: Met4 → Ile, Ile325 → Val and Val409 → Met in this mutant. Sequence comparison with Rhodobacter capsulatus TAL (RcTAL) shows that Val409 is conserved between RcTAL and RsTAL. Two single mutants of RsTAL, Val409 → Met and Val 409 → Ile, generated by site-directed mutagenesis, demonstrate greater preference for phenylalanine compared to the wild type enzyme. Our studies illustrate that relatively minor changes in the primary structure of an ammonia-lyase enzyme can significantly affect its substrate specificity.
Calcium Segregation to a Magnesium Oxide (100) Surface

The segregation of calcium to a (100) cleavage surface of an MgO crystal, with bulk calcium concentration of 200 ppm was measured in situ at T=900° to 1450°C in ultrahigh vacuum, using Auger and low-energy ion-scattering spectroscopies. A measured heat of segregation of approximately -50.3 kJ/mol (-12 kcal/mol) is in favorable agreement with a value of -58.7 kJ/mol (-14 kcal/mol) determined using solute strain energy and surface free energy criteria. The equilibrium value for the calcium segregation between 950° and 1000°C is estimated to correspond to a 20% occupation of the surface cation sites.
Rogue Access Point Detection by Analyzing Network Traffic Characteristics

One of the most challenging network security concerns for network administrators is the presence of rogue access points. Rogue access points, if undetected, can be an open door to sensitive information on the network. Many data raiders have taken advantage of the undetected rogue access points in enterprises to not only get free Internet access, but also to view confidential information. Most of the current solutions to detect rouge access points are not automated and are dependent on a specific wireless technology. In this paper, we present a rogue access point detection approach. The approach is an automated solution which can be installed on any router at the edge of a network. The main premise of our approach is to distinguish authorized WLAN hosts from unauthorized WLAN hosts connected to rogue access points by analyzing traffic characteristics at the edge of a network. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of our approach in detecting rogue access points in a heterogeneous network comprised of wireless and wired subnets.
Onchocerca volvulus heat shock protein 70 is a major immunogen in amicrofilaremic individuals from a filariasis-endemic area.

Infestation with organisms causing lymphatic filariasis (i.e. Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi) results in a variety of clinical presentations. It is possible that some of the variation is due to differences in host response to parasite. To determine whether individuals who live in an endemic area but differ in their clinical manifestations respond to different filarial antigens, we screened Onchocerca volvulus expression libraries with sera from a number of individuals belonging to different clinical groups. The results of the study demonstrate that there are indeed differences in the recognition of three cloned filarial antigens and that this differential recognition is related to clinical symptomatology. The most striking finding is that an Onchocerca volvulus protein homologous to the 70 kDa Xenopus laevis heat shock protein is primarily recognized by individuals who are amicrofilaremic. Further analysis is required to determine whether these antigens play any role in the pathogenesis of filarial infection or have any potential value in protective immunity.
Women and Political Knowledge During the 2000 Primaries

Prior research on political knowledge has found repeatedly that women do not perform as well as men on political affairs questions. The present study analyzed survey responses collected between 14 December 1999 and 8 March 2000 on political knowledge items about the issue positions and backgrounds of candidates Bradley, Gore, and McCain. Even when several sociodemographic variables were controlled for, gender was a significant predictor of political knowledge. Not only were women more likely than men to say they did not know the answer to a question, but they were also more likely to answer incorrectly when giving a substantive response.
Correlated theoretical uncertainties for the one-jet inclusive cross section

We discuss the correlated systematic theoretical uncertainties that may be ascribed to the next-to-leading order QCD theory used to predict the one-jet inclusive cross section in hadron collisions. We estimate the magnitude of these errors as functions of the jet transverse momentum and rapidity. The total theoretical error is decomposed into a set of functions of transverse momentum and rapidity that give a model for statistically independent contributions to the error. This representation can be used to include the systematic theoretical errors in fits to the experimental data.
Flight-critical distributed systems - design considerations

With the proliferation of so-called "smart" components and the availability of small, low-cost, and high-speed data networks, avionics that have traditionally been centralized are becoming distributed. A distributed approach offers many potential benefits and can reduce the risk associated with design errors by splitting complex hardware and software into more manageable components. However, distributed systems also introduce new challenges in meeting real-time deadlines and providing fault tolerance. The automotive industry is addressing the challenges with the development of distributed, drive-by-wire systems, and the adaptation of these to avionic applications looks promising. In developing these new distributed systems, there are many fundamental system design considerations including: time or event-triggered data communication, distributed or centralized data network control, need and method for time-synchronization of distributed components, topology and amount of redundancy to provide fault tolerance. This paper examines these design considerations and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Societal benefits and costs of serious energy conservation

At the time of the 1973 oil embargo, the idea of conserving energy had barely entered the national consciousness of Americans. With a few exceptions (e.g. Office of Emergency Preparedness, 1972), this was not a topic of serious policy discussion. And the federal government had no kind of national energy-conservation policy. The first steps toward formulating such a policy consisted of a set of studies conducted in 1974-1975 under the Energy Policy Project of the Ford Foundation (e.g. Brannon, 1975; Newman and Day, 1975). The summary report of that project, titled A Time to Choose (Energy Policy Project, 1974), outlined three alternative energy scenarios for the U.S. during the next 25 years :
Paid search [search engines]

With paid search, the content provider, search engine, and user have mutually supporting goals. With paid or sponsored search, content providers pay Web search engines to display sponsored links in response to user queries alongside the algorithmic links, also known as organic or nonsponsored links
Josephson LSI circuits

Josephson devices combine high speed and low power dissipation which are desirable assets necessary but not sufficient to guarantee the realization of high performance computers. Adequate gain, margins and other engineering considerations also must be achieved in circuit and system designs. The evolution of random logic circuits is an example used to illustrate how this has been done, and two new DC powered logic approaches are introduced.
8% Efficient Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Solar Cells from Redox Equilibrated Simple Precursors in DMSO

selenization temperature to obtain a 900 nm CZTSSe fi lm with larger grain size. Upon full device processing on this fi lm, a solar cell with an active area power conversion effi ciency of 8.3% was achieved without an antirefl ection coating on a cell with an area of 0.43 cm 2 . These early experiments show the importance of redox reaction in solution as well as the optimization of device fabrication conditions. The improved precursor solutions were made by adding the precursors into the solvent step-by-step as shown in Figure 1 b. First, 4 mL DMSO was added to a vial containing 4 mM Cu(OAc) 2 ·H 2 O, resulting in a deep blue suspension due to very limited solubility of Cu(OAc) 2 ·H 2 O in DMSO. Second, precursor SnCl 2 ·2H 2 O (2.75 mM) was added into the vial, and the deep blue suspension gradually changed to clear light green solution after overnight stirring. Adding the third precursor ZnCl 2 (2.80 mM) into the solution resulted in further color change from light green to lighter green, with a yellow tint. Finally, 13.2 mM thiourea was added, and a transparent and colorless solution was obtained after thiourea completely dissolved. The change from deep blue suspension to a very light green-yellow clear solution after the fi rst two steps indicates reduction of Cu 2+ to Cu + (Equation (1)) accompanied by solvation/stabilization of metal ions by DMSO and/or chloride anions. The fi nal colorless solution indicates that little Cu 2+
Antiatherosclerotic and vasculoprotective actions of calcium antagonists

Abstract Treatment of hypertension may prevent many of the complications attributable to blood pressure elevation, particularly those that are “pressure-related”, such as stroke. However, the atherosclerotic complications of hypertension, e.g., coronary artery disease manifested as coronary morbidity and mortality, have not been reduced significantly with antihypertensive therapy. This disappointing outcome may reflect the adverse metabolic effects of the traditional therapies, diuretics and β blockers, and their lack of specific vasoprotective properties. Increasing attention is thus being paid to the newer antihypertensive agents, which typically have fewer adverse effects and perhaps more physiologic mechanisms of antihypertensive action. Since calcium plays a key role in the genesis of atherosclerosis, calcium antagonists may positively affect the course of vascular disease. Investigators have observed that calcium antagonists display clear antiatheroscierotic properties in experimental as well as clinical studies. In one recently published clinical study, coronary artery disease was shown to develop more slowly, with a slower progression of individual stenoses, higher regression rate and less frequent occurrence of new lesions in patients treated chronically with verapamil compared to those receiving conventional therapies. Other similar investigations are currently under way to evaluate the antiatherogenic properties of calcium anatgonists, including the Frankfurt Isoptin Progression Study (FIPS), the Multicenter Isradipine Diuretic Atherosclerosis Study (MIDAS), the International Nifedipine Trial on Atherosclerosis Coronary Therapy (INTACT), and the large-scale Montreal Heart Institute Study. Results of these studies, which use precise end points such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and peripheral vascular disease, may revolutionize the treatment of hypertension by identifying therapeutic approaches that control both the pressure-related and atherosclerotic complications of the disease.
Washing oiled sea otters

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill resulted in the death of 3,000–6,000 sea otters (Enhydra lutris) from exposure to Alaska North Slope crude oil, and the cleaning and rehabilitation of hundreds. The washing and care methods developed during that experience provided standard protocols for treatment of oiled sea otters, largely still in use 20 years later. From 2004 to 2008 at the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center (Santa Cruz, CA, USA), we experimentally manipulated water type (salt–fresh) and temperature, and we monitored otter physiology, behavior, and thermal properties to evaluate recovery from washing in the absence of oil. We also dipped otters in canola oil, and were able to wash one otter naturally oiled with Monterey formation crude oil, using the same methods. Providing soft freshwater in recovery pools reduced recovery time substantially. Warming the freshwater appeared to offer additional benefits in some cases. Infrared thermography and subcutaneous temperature-sensitive passive integrated transponder tags were 2 new technologies that enhanced this research. The improved washing and care methods developed have the potential to reduce the time required for recovery of water repellency of sea otter pelage. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
A remark on the multi-domain hybrid method for calculating the power-law decay of the gravitational radiation waveforms with analytic radiation boundary conditions

A hybrid method based on the multi-domain spectral and finite difference methods is considered for computing the power-law decay of gravitational radiation waveforms. For the radiation boundary condition, we adopt the analytic radiation boundary condition based on the Laplace transformation of kernel functions developed by Lau (2005). In this note, we present several numerical results for the orbital index l = 2 with the hybrid and Lau’s method. The Lau’s method enables the hybrid method to obtain the power-law decay even when the computational domain is small, but the numerical results show that the proper power-law decay rate, p = 7 is not obtained. Instead, we obtained p ~ 4, which corresponds to the power-law decay rate extracted when the outer domain goes to ∞. We remark that the system of equations or high order method with high precision is necessary for obtaining the proper decay rate.
Stability of PreservCyt for Hybrid Capture (HC II) HPV test.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Hybrid Capture® II (HC II) assay to test for the presence of high-risk types of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA using specimens in PreservCyt® fixative for up to 21 days after collection. The ability of HC II to determine the presence of HPV DNA in actual patient samples after longer periods of storage has not been shown. To determine if specimens older than 21 days can yield useful results, 207 patient specimens that had been tested for HPV DNA by HC II (primary test) were tested again after a significant period of storage ranging from approximately 2.5 to 13.5 mo (retest). The results of the primary test and the retest agreed in 86% of the cases. The high level of agreement in the results suggests that the presence of high-risk types of HPV DNA can be determined from actual cervical cytology material in PreservCyt® with the HC II assay for at least 3 mo after specimen collection. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;32:260–263. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Quantifying the Effect of Transportation Practices in Military Supply Chains

Traditional multi-echelon inventory and readiness-based models have not fully examined the ability of effective transportation utilization to reduce cost, delay times, and improve readiness in the overall military logistics network. In this paper, we develop a simulation-based methodology for quantifying the effect of transportation options (i.e., truckload shipping, less-than-truckload shipping, transshipments, and express air shipping) on shipping costs, customer wait times, abort rates, and operational availability. Simulation was used to develop a multi-echelon (depots, bases) model of regional supply chain support for aircraft spare part maintenance activities. The resulting model was used for experimentation and to develop response surface equations for the behavior of the system. The logistics implications of the results are discussed as well as managerial insights into the behavior of such systems. Our analysis indicates that focusing more on local inventory and local repair can have a significant impact on the operational availability of the system. This shift should be looked at in terms of the cost of local repair resources compared to transportation costs.
THE PROPAGATION OF UNCERTAINTIES IN STELLAR POPULATION SYNTHESIS MODELING. I. THE RELEVANCE OF UNCERTAIN ASPECTS OF STELLAR EVOLUTION AND THE INITIAL MASS FUNCTION TO THE DERIVED PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GALAXIES

The stellar masses, mean ages, metallicities, and star formation histories of galaxies are now commonly estimated via stellar population synthesis (SPS) techniques. SPS relies on stellar evolution calculations from the main sequence to stellar death, stellar spectral libraries, phenomenological dust models, and stellar initial mass functions (IMFs) to translate the evolution of a multimetallicity, multi-age set of stars into a prediction for the time-evolution of the integrated light from that set of stars. Each of these necessary inputs carries significant uncertainties that have until now received little systematic attention. The present work is the first in a series that explores the impact of uncertainties in key phases of stellar evolution and the IMF on the derived physical properties of galaxies and the expected luminosity evolution for a passively evolving set of stars. A Monte Carlo Markov Chain approach is taken to fit near-UV through near-IR photometry of a representative sample of low- and high-redshift galaxies with this new SPS model. Significant results include the following. (1) Including uncertainties in stellar evolution, stellar masses at z ~ 0 carry errors of ~0.3 dex at 95% CL with little dependence on luminosity or color, while at z ~ 2, the masses of bright red galaxies are uncertain at the ~0.6 dex level. (2) Either current stellar evolution models, current observational stellar libraries, or both, do not adequately characterize the metallicity-dependence of the thermally pulsating AGB phase. (3) Conservative estimates on the uncertainty of the slope of the IMF in the solar neighborhood imply that luminosity evolution per unit redshift is uncertain at the ~0.4 mag level in the K band, which is a substantial source of uncertainty for interpreting the evolution of galaxy populations across time. Any possible evolution in the IMF, as suggested by several independent lines of evidence, will only exacerbate this problem. (4) Assuming a distribution of stellar metallicities within a galaxy, rather than a fixed value as is usually assumed, can yield important differences when considering bands blueward of V, but is not a concern for redder bands. Spectroscopic information may alleviate some of these concerns, though uncertainties in the stellar spectral libraries and the importance of nonsolar abundance ratios have not yet been systematically investigated in the SPS context.
Modeling, control and stability analysis of a PEBB based DC DPS

The Power Electronic Building Block (PEBB) concept is to provide generic building blocks for power conversion, regulation and distribution with control intelligence and autonomy. A comprehensive modeling and analysis of a PEBB based DC distribution power system (DPS), comprising of a front end power factor correction (PFC) boost rectifier, a DC-DC converter and a three phase four leg inverter, is performed. All the subsystems of the DC DPS are modeled and analyzed for stability and good transient performance. The effect of impedance overlap on the system and individual subsystems is examined. Ability of a PEBB based converter to stabilize the integrated system by actively changing the system bandwidth is presented.
Association of Urinary Injury Biomarkers with Mortality and Cardiovascular Events

Kidney damage is a common sequela of several chronic pathologic conditions. Whether biomarkers of kidney damage are prognostic for more severe outcomes is unknown. We measured three urinary biomarkers (kidney injury molecule-1 [KIM-1], IL-18, and albumin) in 3010 individuals enrolled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study and used Cox proportional hazards models to investigate the associations of urinary KIM-1/creatinine (cr), IL-18/cr, and albumin/cr (ACR) with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Multivariable models adjusted for demographics, traditional CVD risk factors, and eGFR. Mean age of participants was 74 years, 49% of participants were men, and 41% of participants were black. During the median 12.4 years of follow-up, 1450 deaths and 797 CVD outcomes occurred. Compared with the lowest quartile, successive quartiles had the following adjusted hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals [95% CIs]) for mortality: KIM-1/cr: (1.21; 1.03 to 1.41), (1.13; 0.96 to 1.34), and (1.28; 1.08 to 1.52); IL-18/cr: (1.02; 0.88 to 1.19), (1.16; 0.99 to 1.35), and (1.06; 0.90 to 1.25); ACR: (1.08; 0.91 to 1.27), (1.24; 1.06 to 1.46), and (1.63; 1.39 to 1.91). In similar analyses, only ACR quartiles associated with CVD: (1.19; 0.95 to 1.48), (1.35; 1.08 to 1.67), and (1.54; 1.24 to 1.91). Urinary KIM-1 had a modest association with all-cause mortality but did not associate with CVD, and urinary IL-18 did not associate with either outcome. In contrast, albuminuria strongly associated with all-cause mortality and CVD. Future studies should evaluate reasons for these differences in the prognostic importance of individual kidney injury markers.
Economic fluctuations and statistical physics: Quantifying extremely rare and less rare events in finance

One challenge of economics is that the systems treated by these sciences have no perfect metronome in time and no perfect spatial architecture—crystalline or otherwise. Nonetheless, as if by magic, out of nothing but randomness one finds remarkably fine-tuned processes in time. We present an overview of recent research joining practitioners of economic theory and statistical physics to try to better understand puzzles regarding economic fluctuations. One of these puzzles is how to describe outliers, phenomena that lie outside of patterns of statistical regularity. We review evidence consistent with the possibility that such outliers may not exist. This possibility is supported by recent analysis of databases containing information about each trade of every stock. r 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Enhancing Students' Interest in Science and Technology through Cross-disciplinary Collaboration and Active Learning Techniques

Twenty-nine rising high school 12 th grade students participated in a 4-week summer program designed to increase their interest in science and technology. The program was a blend of hands-on biology, chemistry, and technology modules that addressed the global issue of obesity. Student groups developed websites to address obesity in one of five countries – Egypt, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, and the United Kingdom. Three university professors, two from Computer Information Systems (CIS) and one from Biology, formed a partnership to inspire high school students to embrace technology that conveyed scientific concepts about obesity. Survey results showed an increased interest and aptitude in science and technology. After our program, 68% of the students indicated that they plan to pursue a major in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (also referred to as STEM majors). Of those students who indicated an interest in STEM disciplines, the largest numbers noted their interest in the following majors: biology, engineering, computer science, computer information systems, and chemistry. At the end of the summer, 85% of the students agreed that the summer program activities helped them to better understand how the science and technology modules from the FUTURES/T.A.G.S. summer program were connected to obesity.
Optical Reflectance Studies of Stage 1–6 Graphite-FeCℓ3 Intercalation Compounds

Results of Optical Reflectance measurements on stage 1-6 graphite-FeCl3 intercalation compounds are reported. The frequency dependences of the dielectric constants(∊1, ∊2) are determined. The contributions from free carrier and interband absorption are separated to determine important material parameters.
Fluid-Thermal-Structural Interaction Effects in Preliminary Design of High Speed Vehicles

Fluid-thermal-structural interactions can create significant uncertainty in the performance of high speed vehicles. A new toolset presented in this paper enables assessment of flexible effects at the preliminary design level which complements and augments the Preliminary Aerothermal Structural Simulation (PASS) tool suite for Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Optimization of high-speed vehicles. The toolset allows calculation of structural deflections due to loads using Abaqus finite element software, mode shapes for use in modal superposition analysis and generation of aerodynamic databases which include flexible effects. Missile DATCOM (MDC) provides aerodynamic data for rigid and axisymmetric vehicles flexible in bending and Cart3D provides aerodynamic data for general vehicles in all flexible modes. PASS provides a structural design and temperature maps from the Mass Estimator for Monocoque Aero Structures (MEMAS) and Aerothermal Targets Analysis Program (ATAP) modules.
Kirk's Life Records of Thomas Chaucer

As all Chaucer scholars know, it was the intention of the Chaucer Society to follow the Life Records of Chaucer with a similar volume on Thomas Chaucer. This intention was referred to as early as 1901, at the close of R.E.G. Kirk's Forewords to the former compilation; and for many years the work was announced in the list of future volumes to be published by the Society. As the years passed and the expected work failed to appear, it was naturally assumed that the project had been abandoned, perhaps after Kirk's death in 1908. So that when Professor Ruud published his monograph a few years ago he voiced the common sentiment when he said “we cannot now expect from the Chaucer Society the volume, long promised, of the life records of Thomas Chaucer.”
The smallest inert prime in a cyclic number field of prime degree

Fix an odd prime `. For each cyclic extension K/Q of degree `, let nK denote the least rational prime which is inert in K, and let rK be the least rational prime which splits completely in K. We show that nK possesses a finite mean value, where the average is taken over all such K ordered by conductor. As an example (` = 3), the average least inert prime in a cyclic cubic field is approximately 2.870. We conjecture that rK also has a finite mean value, and we prove this assuming the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis. For the case ` = 3, we give an unconditional proof that the average of rK exists and is about 6.862.
A Student Vision of the Future of U.S. Space Exploration

As NASA and others in the U.S. space industry re-orient themselves to meet the demands of changing space policy, current college students have a large stake in shaping the policy since they will be at the forefront of implement these goals. This paper conveys the vision of a group of such students and what they hope to see from the U.S. space policy of the future. These goals include having a science portfolio that can adapt to the changing budgetary conditions without giving up on real scientific achievement and a sustained technology development program that can meet the needs for both science and exploration focused missions. Moreover, in an era of stagnant agency budgets, increased international collaboration in space exploration can help to fulfill ambitious planetary missions while continuing the growth of the commercial space sector that has developed in the recent years. Although this paper does not present a set of new guidelines for space policy, it outlines a vision of future U.S. space activities that the authors, who are stakeholders in the future of U.S. space policy, see as necessary to continue the shining record of success of American space exploration.
Towards faster convergence of evolutionary multi-criterion optimization algorithms using Karush Kuhn Tucker optimality based local search

Evolutionary multi-criterion optimization (EMO) algorithms emphasize non-dominated and less crowded solutions in a population iteratively until the population converges close to the Pareto optimal set. During the search process, non-dominated solutions are differentiated only by their local crowding or contribution to hypervolume or using a similar other metric. Thus, during evolution and even at the final iteration, the true convergence behavior of each non-dominated solutions from the Pareto optimal set is unknown. Recent studies have used Karush Kuhn Tucker (KKT) optimality conditions to develop a KKT Proximity Measure (KKTPM) for estimating proximity of a solution from Pareto optimal set for a multi-objective optimization problem. In this paper, we integrate KKTPM with a recently proposed EMO algorithm to enhance its convergence properties towards the true Pareto optimal front. Specifically, we use KKTPM to identify poorly converged non-dominated solutions in every generation and apply an achievement scalarizing function based local search procedure to improve their convergence. Assisted by the KKTPM, the modified algorithm is designed in a way that maintains the total number of function evaluations as low as possible while making use of local search where it is most needed. Simulations on both constrained and unconstrained multi- and many objectives optimization problems demonstrate that the hybrid algorithm significantly improves the overall convergence properties. This study brings evolutionary optimization closer to mainstream optimization field and should motivate researchers to utilize KKTPM measure further within EMO and other numerical optimization algorithms. Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted HighlightsUtilization of the recently proposed KKTPM to identify poorly converged solutions in multiobjective optimization problems.Scalarizing the multiobjective problem using an Augmented Scalarization Function (ASF), and applying local search on the identified points to enhance overall convergence.Proposing VarDens, a new bi-objective optimization problem with arbitrary number of variables. VarDens represents a category of problems where the Pareto front is disjoint and some sections are easier to attain that others.Weaving KKTPM, NSGA-III and local search into one algorithm that outperforms the original NSGA-III in terms of convergence.
Analysis on pathogenic characters of hand-foot-mouth disease in Guangzhou,2011

Objective To learn the pathogenic characters of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) in Guangzhou,2011.Methods Stool samples from patients diagnosed as HFMD were collected to detect pan-enterovirus,Cox A16 and EV 71 by using Real-time PCR.Results A total 1 837 samples were collected,1172(63.80%) pan-enterovirus positive samples were detected during 2011.Among them,412(35.67%) were CoxA16,357(30.46%) were EV71,11(0.94%) were CoxA16 and EV71 co-infection,and 386(32.94%) were the other enterovirus.The positive rate of male was 66.70%(715/1072),the positive rate of female was 58.74%(457/765).Enterovirus infection peaked in May to July and September to November.A peak age distribution of enterovirus infection was 0 to 5 years old(96.84%).Conclusion CoxA 16 and EV71 was the main pathogen of HFMD in Guangzhou in 2011,CoxA 16 was the most important pathogen,and the other enterovirus infection was also very common.The positive rate of enterovirus infection of male was higher than the female.The peak season distribution was in May to July and September to November and a peak age distribution of enterovirus infection was 0 to 5 years old.
AGAR GEL ELECTROPHORESIS OF ANTEMORTEM AND POSTMORTEM SERUM PROTEINS.

The recognition of serum protein alterations in disease has firmly established the value of electrophoresis in laboratory diagnosis during life. The diagnostic role of postmortem serum protein electrophoresis has not become so readily established because of the lack of definitive data pertaining to the limits of serum protein change which occur following death and the difficulties inherent in obtaining such data.
Global Learning Through Difference Considerations for Teaching, Learning, and the Internationalization of Higher Education

By clarifying what global learning is and how it is essential to higher education, this article considers what global learning provides for teaching, learning, and internationalization in higher ed...
Influence of laboratory test volume and geographic location on maternal α-fetoprotein results : information from the College of American Pathologists Maternal α-fetoprotein survey

Using 1989 College of American Pathologists Maternal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Survey data, we found virtually no association between a laboratory's AFP test volume and the reliability of reported multiples of the median uncorrected for maternal weight, race, or diabetes. We also found no differences in AFP gestational age-specific medians across geographic regions of the United States. We did find that clinically important adjustments for maternal weight, race, and diabetes were made more frequently by laboratories with higher clinical AFP test volumes. Consequently, we believe that a minimum AFP test volume for satisfactory performance of AFP testing, as proposed by several professional organizations, cannot be justified on inability of laboratories with low AFP test volumes to quantify AFP in clinical specimens or calculated uncorrected multiples of the medians accurately. However, high-volume laboratories enhance clinical utility of the reported AFP results by making clinically important adjustments of their reported multiples of the medians, and they tend to provide more accurate clinical interpretations. Therefore, we recommend that efforts to improve the quality of AFP testing nationally should focus on improving the ability of laboratories to provide appropriate adjustments to and clinical interpretation of their AFP results, in addition to more traditional efforts directed toward quality control of the analytical aspects of the AFP assay.
Isolated vitamin E deficiency in the absence of fat malabsorption-familial and sporadic cases: Characterization and investigation of causes

We observed four young adults, including three siblings, with a progressive neurologic disorder that developed over the first two decades. Electrophysiologic studies revealed mildly delayed nerve conduction, decreased amplitudes of sensory action potentials, and sensory delay in the posterior columns. Known causes of similar neurologic disorders were excluded. Although vitamin E deficiency was well documented, intestinal absorption and plasma lipoprotein transport of vitamin E were normal. Incubation studies in vitro failed to identify a plasma factor causing destruction of circulating vitamin E. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of steatorrhea caused by gastrointestinal, hepatic, or pancreatic disease. Plasma lipoproteins, apolipoprotein B, and adipose tissue fatty acid composition were normal. Oral vitamin E therapy restored serum levels to normal and caused neurologic improvement in two patients. We postulate that an inherited defect in hepatocyte secretion of vitamin E into lipoproteins may account for this disorder, which occurs in sporadic cases as well as in siblings.
Case 42: An Inconclusive Result (Negative Result): What to Do

You have just completed a clinical study in volunteers. The study attempted to evaluate the respiratory depression of two drugs by using the CO2 response curve. One group received morphine and the other group diazepam, given in two different doses intravenously. You are surprised to see that the study shows no difference between the two groups of volunteers.
"At times avuncular and cantankerous, with the reflexes of a mongoose": Understanding Self-Expression through Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that causes individuals to lose their ability to control their muscles, eventually leaving them unable to speak or write. People with ALS often transition to using an augmentative and alternative communication device (AAC), which requires both the AAC user and their conversation partners to adjust to new and different communication patterns. We conducted interviews with seven individuals with ALS and their partners, focusing on how AAC use has impacted their communication and personal expression. Our participants experienced a range of communication difficulties, including conversational pacing, personality expression, and interacting with unfamiliar conversational partners. Participants worked to adapt their communication behaviors to the AAC device, but still experienced challenges in expressing themselves, and sometimes felt compelled to withdraw from social interaction. By improving our understanding of how people transition to using AAC, we may inform improved designs for future AAC devices.
A Distributed Intelligent Agent Approach to Context in Information Retrieval

Information retrieval across disadvantaged networks requires intelligent agents that can make decisions about what to transmit in such a way as to minimize network performance impact while maximizing utility and quality of information (QOI). Specialized agents at the source need to process unstructured, ad-hoc queries, identifying both the context and the intent to determine the implied task. Knowing the task will allow the distributed agents that service the requests to filter, summarize, or transcode data prior to responding, lessening the network impact. This paper describes an approach that uses natural language processing (NLP) techniques, multi-valued logic based inferencing, distributed intelligent agents, and task-relevant metrics for information retrieval.
Oxidation of KCNB1 Potassium Channels Causes Neurotoxicity and Cognitive Impairment in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.

The delayed rectifier potassium (K + ) channel KCNB1 (Kv2.1), which conducts a major somatodendritic current in cortex and hippocampus, is known to undergo oxidation in the brain, but whether this can cause neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment is not known. Here, we used transgenic mice harboring human KCNB1 wild-type (Tg-WT) or a nonoxidable C73A mutant (Tg-C73A) in cortex and hippocampus to determine whether oxidized KCNB1 channels affect brain function. Animals were subjected to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI), a condition characterized by extensive oxidative stress. Dasatinib, a Food and Drug Administration–approved inhibitor of Src tyrosine kinases, was used to impinge on the proapoptotic signaling pathway activated by oxidized KCNB1 channels. Thus, typical lesions of brain injury, namely, inflammation (astrocytosis), neurodegeneration, and cell death, were markedly reduced in Tg-C73A and dasatinib-treated non-Tg animals. Accordingly, Tg-C73A mice and non-Tg mice treated with dasatinib exhibited improved behavioral outcomes in motor (rotarod) and cognitive (Morris water maze) assays compared to controls. Moreover, the activity of Src kinases, along with oxidative stress, were significantly diminished in Tg-C73A brains. Together, these data demonstrate that oxidation of KCNB1 channels is a contributing mechanism to cellular and behavioral deficits in vertebrates and suggest a new therapeutic approach to TBI. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study provides the first experimental evidence that oxidation of a K + channel constitutes a mechanism of neuronal and cognitive impairment in vertebrates. Specifically, the interaction of KCNB1 channels with reactive oxygen species plays a major role in the etiology of mouse model of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a condition associated with extensive oxidative stress. In addition, a Food and Drug Administration–approved drug ameliorates the outcome of TBI in mouse, by directly impinging on the toxic pathway activated in response to oxidation of the KCNB1 channel. These findings elucidate a basic mechanism of neurotoxicity in vertebrates and might lead to a new therapeutic approach to TBI in humans, which, despite significant efforts, is a condition that remains without effective pharmacological treatments.
Targeting genomic rearrangements in tumor cells through Cas9-mediated insertion of a suicide gene

Specifically targeting genomic rearrangements and mutations in tumor cells remains an elusive goal in cancer therapy. Here, we used Cas9-based genome editing to introduce the gene encoding the prodrug-converting enzyme herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) into the genomes of cancer cells carrying unique sequences resulting from genome rearrangements. Specifically, we targeted the breakpoints of TMEM135-CCDC67 and MAN2A1-FER fusions in human prostate cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in mouse xenografts. We designed one adenovirus to deliver the nickase Cas9D10A and guide RNAs targeting the breakpoint sequences, and another to deliver an EGFP-HSV1-tk construct flanked by sequences homologous to those surrounding the breakpoint. Infection with both viruses resulted in breakpoint-dependent expression of EGFP-tk and ganciclovir-mediated apoptosis. When mouse xenografts were treated with adenoviruses and ganciclovir, all animals showed decreased tumor burden and no mortality during the study. Thus, Cas9-mediated suicide-gene insertion may be a viable genotype-specific cancer therapy.