cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sound Cells: Rendering Visual and Braille Music in the Browser

Many blind musicians and composers read and write music using braille. Yet, braille music is not as widely available as print (visual) music, sighted collaborators and educators do not read braille music, and workflows and toolchains for converting between print and braille music are complex. In this research, we present Sound Cells, a music notation system that simultaneously outputs visual and braille notation, and provides audio feedback as a user writes music with text. We share findings from a Design Probe in which two experienced blind musicians notated music using Sound Cells and reflected on it in the context of their current notation practices. Finally, we highlight music navigation and outputted score customization as opportunities for further study.
A Data-Driven Approach for Grid Synchronization Based on Deep Learning

Synchronization is a complex problem, mainly due to its nonlinearity and stochastic nature of the grid. The Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) has been the standard scheme for the synchronization and P/Q decoupling in grid-following inverters. Nonetheless, during transients, the PLL response is not ideal and causes oscillations or overshoots. Moreover, in adverse grid conditions, the PLL performance degrades significantly and loss of synchronism might occur. This paper introduces a structurally new scheme based on deep neural networks for synchronization, called DeepSynch. The method is capable of extracting the voltage phase fast and in a stable manner, even in a harmonic-polluted environment. The simulation results verify the performance of the proposed scheme.
Interleukin-23 Increases Intestinal Epithelial Cell Permeability In Vitro.

Background Breast milk has a heterogeneous composition that differs between mothers and changes throughout the first weeks after birth. The proinflammatory cytokine IL-23 has a highly variable expression in human breast milk. We hypothesize that IL-23 found in human breast milk is biologically active and promotes epithelial barrier dysfunction. Methods The immature rat small intestinal epithelial cell line, IEC-18, was grown on cell inserts or standard cell culture plates. Confluent cultures were exposed to human breast milk with high or low levels of IL-23 and barrier function was measured using a flux of fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran (FD-70). In addition, protein and mRNA expression of occludin and ZO-1 were measured and immunofluorescence used to stain occludin and ZO-1. Results Exposure to breast milk with high levels of IL-23 caused an increase flux of FD-70 compared with both controls and breast milk with low levels of IL-23. The protein expression of ZO-1 but not occludin was decreased by exposure to high levels of IL-23. These results correlate with immunofluorescent staining of ZO-1 and occludin which show decreased staining of occludin in both the groups exposed to breast milk with high and low IL-23. Conversely, cells exposed to high IL-23 breast milk had little peripheral staining of ZO-1 compared with controls and low IL-23 breast milk. Conclusion IL-23 in human breast milk is biologically active and negatively affects the barrier function of intestinal epithelial cells through the degradation of tight junction proteins.
Sandcone Model of Improvement

The sandcone model of improvement is an analogy that seeks to explain how assigning priorities to Operations Objectives may result in lasting improvements in performance. Keywords: sandcone model of improvement
The Norbert Wiener Memorial Gold Medal address: Norbert Wiener and the idea of contingence

The Norbert Wiener Memorial Gold Medal address delivered by the Nobel Laureate recipient. Considers Norbert Wiener and the idea of contingence. Refers to Wiener’s book The Human Use of Human Beings and in particular to the preface entitled “The idea of a contingent universe” and to the epilogue of the book by Rosenblith. This raises the question faced by Wiener: how to reconcile a deterministic world a la Newton with the intrinsically probabilistic universe of Gibbs, the relativistic universe of Einstein and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle? Notes the parallelism among the questions Wiener is asking with the ones to which the Gold Medallist has devoted most of his scientific life. Presents a different point of view, as a tribute to the visionary ideas developed by Wiener. Discusses the “new physics” and the problems facing physics today, at the end of the twentieth century.
Transforming growth factor beta inhibits endomitosis in the Dami human megakaryocytic cell line

Megakaryocyte development is a carefully controlled process that is at least partially regulated by cytokines. Previous investigations of megakaryocyte development have focused primarily on defining growth factors that induce or enhance differentiation. In this study we demonstrate that a specific cytokine, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1), inhibits the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of the Dami human megakaryocytic cell line. The addition of purified platelet TGF beta 1 inhibits PMA-induced endomitosis in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of endomitosis occurs with as little as 0.4 pmol/L TGF beta 1, is half-maximal at 6.4 pmol/L, and is maximal between 40 and 200 pmol/L TGF beta 1. Inhibition does not require other growth factors or nonmegakaryocytic cells. Removal of TGF beta 1 from the cultures decreases inhibition, suggesting that the continuous presence of TGF beta 1 is required and that its effects are reversible. This effect occurs even though the Dami cells constitutively express TGF beta 1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and the TGF beta 1 mRNA levels are increased by PMA. TGF beta 1 also has been shown to inhibit endomitosis during short-term culture of primary human megakaryocytes. These results suggest a model in which negative as well as positive regulatory factors modulate a critical stage of megakaryocyte development.
Appetite and Eating Behavior in Children

The authors propose that individual differences among children in the controls of food intake can be viewed in terms of differences in balance of power in feeding. They also argue that the individual differences in styles of intake control that emerge by adolescence and adulthood, including chronic dieting, eating disorders, and out-of-control eating, begin in the early balance of control in the feeding context. Limited evidence suggests that the course of development of shared control differs for intermeal interval, food selection, and meal size.
Knowledge, Credit, and Cognitive Agency

According to credit theories of knowledge, S knows that p only if S deserves credit for truly believing that p. This article argues that any adequate credit theory has to explain the conditions under which beliefs are attributable to subjects. It then presents a general account of these conditions and defends two models of cognitive agency. Finally, the article explains how an agent-based approach rescues the credit theory from an apparent counterexample. The article's defense of the credit theory is qualified, however, for one lesson that emerges is that credit theories are theories of subjective justification, not theories of knowledge.
Reproducibility in rehydroxylation of ceramic artifacts

Since its introduction in 2009, application of the rehydroxylation (RHX) technique for dating fired-clay ceramics has been controversial, with very few satisfactory dating results collected in the interim. The stability and efficiency of this technique has been called into question by several investigators in the last few years, who have struggled to reproduce and validate this new dating method. Based on our new mass gain measurements for ca. 2000–7000 yrs old ceramic artifacts, the reproducibility in the RHX process rate is analyzed and discussed. Timespan analysis was performed, and age uncertainty related to RHX dating technique was evaluated by considering the error propagation. The results show poor reproducibility of the RHX process in the samples of the same origins, which give new evidence for a revision of the RHX protocols.
Imaging of pineal apoplexy.

The authors present 2 unusual cases of hemorrhagic pineal cysts. CT/MR imaging characteristics are shown.
Auxotrophic vaccines for tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is responsible for the deaths of more people each year than any other single infectious disease, with greater than 7 million new cases and 2 million deaths annually1. It remains the largest attributable cause of death in HIV–infected individuals, responsible for 32% of deaths of HIV–infected individuals in Africa2. The only currently available vaccine for tuberculosis, bacille Calmette–Guerin (BCG) is the most widely used vaccine in the world, being administered to approximately 100 million children each year. Although untoward effects were not seen in several studies of HIV–seropositive children3, the safety of live attenuated BCG vaccine in HIV–positive adults remains unknown and a matter of some concern. To obviate potential adverse affects of BCG vaccines in immunodeficient individuals, we have studied five auxotrophic strains of BCG produced by insertional mutagenesis for safety in administration to mice with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), and for protection in a susceptible strain of mice. The results indicate that viable BCG could no longer be detected in mice receiving the auxotrophs after 16–32 weeks, and that infected SCID mice survived for at least 230 days. In contrast, all SCID mice succumbed within eight weeks to conventional BCG vaccine. When susceptible BALB/c mice were immunized with auxotrophs and subsequently challenged with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, several of the auxotrophs produced comparable protection against intravenous and intratracheal challenge with M. tuberculosis relative to conventional BCG. These results suggest that auxotrophic strains of BCG represent a potentially safe and useful vaccine against tuberculosis for populations at risk for HIV.
A simple and efficient method to prepare thioesters in aqueous solutions

A simple method is described for the efficient synthesis of biologically-active thioesters in aqueous solutions. The method utilizes imidazole as a catalyst and easily synthesized acyl or aminoacyl adenylates to synthesize a variety of thioesters, from small molecules to macromolecules. Yields in excess of 90% can be achieved in less than 10 min at room temperature. Specifically, functional derivatization of RNA with biotin via thioester linkage is demonstrated.
Building a Transporter: Toward the Chemical Semisynthesis of Integral Membrane Protein Transporters

Recent years have seen remarkable progress in the elucidation of crystal structures of a number of transporters. Notable examples include 1) GltPh, an archebacterial orthologue of the aspartate/glutamate and neutral amino acid family 2) LeuT, a eubacterial orthologue of the glycine/GABA and biogenic amine family, and 3) LacY, an E. coli permease of the major facilitator superfamily. Information gleaned from these structures raises a number of questions concerning the mechanism of substrate recognition, ion selectivity and the coupling of ionic gradients to substrate uptake. Addressing these questions requires the ability to precisely modify the proteins. Chemical synthesis is a very powerful method for protein modification as it enables the incorporation of a wide range of unnatural amino acids and protein backbone modifications. For the chemical synthesis of these transporters, we are developing a synthetic approach in which regions of interest, such as the ion binding sites or the substrate binding pocket, are obtained by peptide synthesis while the rest of the protein is obtained by recombinant means. We are utilizing GltPh as a model transporter for the development of our approach and progress towards the synthesis of the GltPh transporter will be presented.
Increases in Flood Magnitudes in California Under Warming Climates

summary Downscaled and hydrologically modeled projections from an ensemble of 16 Global Climate Models suggest that flooding may become more intense on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the primary source for California’s managed water system. By the end of the 21st century, all 16 climate projections for the high greenhouse-gas emission SRES A2 scenario yield larger floods with return periods ranging 2–50 years for both the Northern Sierra Nevada and Southern Sierra Nevada, regardless of the direction of change in mean precipitation. By end of century, discharges from the Northern Sierra Nevada with 50-year return periods increase by 30–90% depending on climate model, compared to historical values. Corresponding flood flows from the Southern Sierra increase by 50–100%. The increases in simulated 50 year flood flows are larger (at 95% confidence level) than would be expected due to natural variability by as early as 2035 for the SRES A2 scenario.
A discussion on security typing and measurement for SOA

In a service oriented environment, using SOA technologies, different business entities and services are combined together. Such an environment introduces various security vulnerabilities. This paper proposes an innovative approach to address SOA application security through security typing. We first define security typing concepts, its declaration and definition, with a simple security type, SST, as an example. We then explore various operations under this concept including type equivalence, type compatibility, and type inference. We show, through unary and binary operational examples, that measuring security characteristics requires a clear understanding of the metric scale level and that often times extending an ordinal scale metric to ratio level can be misleading. Our idea and approach to SST may be generalized in the future to more sophisticated security typing.
Increased hydraulic conductance of human articular cartilage and subchondral bone plate with progression of osteoarthritis

Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive degeneration of articular cartilage and remodeling of the subchondral bone plate, comprising calcified cartilage and underlying subchondral bone. Calcified cartilage remodeling due to upward invasion by vascular canals or to calcified cartilage erosion may contribute to biomechanical alteration of the osteochondral tissue and its subchondral bone plate component. The study hypothesis was that hydraulic conductance of osteochondral tissue and subchondral bone plate increases with structural changes indicative of increasing stages of OA. Methods Osteochondral cores were harvested from the knees of cadaveric tissue donors and from discarded fragments from patients with OA undergoing knee surgery. The osteochondral cores from tissue donors were macroscopically normal, and the cores from patients with OA had partial-thickness or full-thickness erosion to bone. The cores were perfusion-tested to determine the hydraulic conductance, or ease of fluid flow, in their native state and after enzymatic removal of cartilage. Adjacent portions were analyzed by 3-dimensional histology for calcified cartilage, subchondral bone, and subchondral bone plate thickness and vascular canal density. Results Hydraulic conductance of native osteochondral tissue and subchondral bone plate was higher (2,700-fold and 3-fold, respectively) in fully eroded samples than in normal samples. The calcified cartilage layer was thicker (1.5-fold) in partially eroded samples than in normal samples but thinner and incomplete in fully eroded samples. Subchondral bone plate vascularity was altered with increasing stages of OA. Conclusion During joint loading, increased hydraulic conductance of the osteochondral tissue and subchondral bone plate could have deleterious biomechanical consequences for cartilage. Increased fluid exudation from overlying and opposing cartilage, increased fluid depressurization, and increased cartilage tissue strains could lead to chondrocyte death and cartilage damage.
The computer imperative

Abstract “The Computer Imperative” has been defined as the necessity for the administrator to specify his goals, objectives, criteria, standards, rules, etc ., in very explicit and operational terms as he seeks to devise a better management system, especially if computers will be used to implement portions of the system. It is essential that educational leaders be able to tell system designers and computer technologists what they want, and to do this they must know at least the rudiments of what is technically possible. Otherwise, the administrator in some sense is at the mercy of the technologist. Studying an administrative system as essentially an information system provides a useful model. To define who originates, processes, uses, or needs information is to describe much of the actual operation of administration. In a manual system, many rules and procedures can be left undefined, and intuition and experience can substitute effectively for logical precision. As computers are programed to assume certain basic transactional functions, the administrator must bear in mind that computers do only what they are told. It is therefore critically important to be able to describe what we want. Much of the “threat” of automation can be attributed to uneasy or uncomfortable recognition of this “imperative”.
In vivo angiogenesis induced by recombinant adenovirus vectors coding either for secreted or nonsecreted forms of acidic fibroblast growth factor.

In vivo gene transfer of angiogenic growth factors represents a potential approach to the treatment of ischemic diseases. The present study examined the in vitro and in vivo effects of two replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vectors coding for human acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF1-154). One vector codes for the nonsecreted form of the peptide (AdCMV.aFGF1-154), and the other vector codes for a recombinant, secreted form (AdCMV.sp+aFGF1-154). AdCMV.NLS beta gal, an adenovirus vector coding for beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal), was used as a control. Assessment of proliferation of starved human umbilical vein endothelial cells infected with AdCMV.aFGF1-154 and AdCMV.sp+aFGF1-154 (20 pfu/cell) showed approximately 6- and 10-fold increase in cell number over control, respectively. Infection with AdCMV.sp+aFGF1-154 and with AdCMV.aFGF1-154 enhanced endothelial cell differentiation into capillary-like structures in vitro. However, this effect was significantly more pronounced with AdCMV.sp+aFGF1-154 than with AdCMV.aFGF1-154. Angiogenesis in vivo was assessed by injecting subcutaneously into mice 750 microliters of reconstituted basement membrane proteins (Matrigel) and the Ad vectors (2 x 10(8) pfu). After 14 days, there was histologic evidence of neovascularization in the animal's tissue surrounding the Matrigel plugs with AdCMV.aFGF1-154 and AdCMV.sp+aFGF1-154. Further, the hemoglobin content of the Matrigel plugs with AdCMV.aFGF1-154 and with AdCMV.sp+aFGF1-154 was, respectively, 2.3- and 2.6-fold higher than with AdCMV.NLS beta gal. Together, these observations support the concept that adenovirus vectors coding for various forms of acidic FGF1-154 may be used to induce angiogenesis in vivo and may provide a new therapeutic approach to ischemic diseases.
Metal halide lamps with rare earth additives

The construction and characteristics of one particular range of high pressure mercury lamps incorporating halide additives of the rare earths dysprosium and holmium are discussed in the broad context of other halide and high pressure discharge sources. Metal halide lamps with these rare earth additives have high luminous efficacies and excellent colour-rendering properties, making them particularly suitable for applications such as lighting for outdoor colour television where it may be necessary to supplement daylight. After reviewing the principles of operation, the construction and performance of ellipsoidal and linear forms of lamps used for general lighting, high pressure compact source types, and lamps designed for immediate restarting while hot are described, Dimensions and performance data are given.
Modeling the effect of layered volcanic material on magma reservoir failure and associated deformation, with application to Long Valley caldera, California

Abstract Elastic, gravitationally loaded finite element models of an ellipsoidal magma reservoir in mechanically layered host rock yield new insight into the effect of layer stiffness, thickness, and spatial configuration on the resulting surface displacement curve and tensile rupture of the reservoir wall. Decreasing layer stiffness enhances surface and subsurface deformation, focusing pressure across a narrow area, and generally decreases the likelihood of vertical magma intrusion and surface eruption. In contrast, increasing layer stiffness impedes uplift and distributes strain across a broad area, enhancing the likelihood of vertical magma intrusion. Application of the model to deformation that occurred between 1985 and 1999 at the Long Valley caldera, California shows that the predicted reservoir radius and depth change by 16% and 12% respectively when mechanical layers inferred to be present are included in the model, highlighting the importance of explicitly incorporating mechanical layering. Analysis of rupture conditions for the reservoirs modeled in the present paper indicates that vertical intrusions are likely. In addition, analysis of rupture conditions for Long Valley magma reservoirs recently inferred from surface displacement inversions indicates that they will fail before achieving sufficient pressure to reproduce measured surface displacement.
Effect of Coulomb scattering on low-pressure high-density electronegative discharges

For electronegative plasmas with low gas pressure and high ion densities, we expect Coulomb collisions between positive and negative ions to dominate over collisions between ions and neutrals. We incorporated Nanbu's cumulative small-angle collision method [K. Nanbu, Phys. Rev. E, 55, 4642 (1997)] into our one-dimensional three-velocity-component particle-in-cell code PDP1 in order to study the effect of Coulomb collisions on low pressure high density electronegative discharges. Nanbu's method treats a succession of small-angle binary collisions as a single binary collision with a large scattering angle, which is far faster than treating each individual small-angle collision. We find that Coulomb collisions between positive and negative ions in low-pressure high-density electronegative discharges significantly modify the negative ion flux, density, and kinetic energy profiles.
Advances in polymer optical interconnects

Electrical interconnects are reaching their fundamental limits and are becoming the speed bottleneck in data communications. Polymer waveguides with propagation losses below 0.01 dB/cm at 800-900 nm are available, and are enabling practical optical circuit boards. We report on advances in the field of polymer optical interconnects
Transition metal complexes with macrocyclic oxathiaethers

Abstract Complexation studies with Ni(II), Co(III), Co(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II) for the two mixed oxathia crown ligands 1-oxa-4,7-dithiacyclononane (9S2O) and 1,10-dioxa-4,7,13,16-tetrathiacyclooctadecane (18S4O2) are reported. These ten complexes have been characterized by a variety of means including electronic spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Furthermore, the complexes [Ni(18S4O2](BF4)2, [Cu(9S2O)2](BF4)2 and [Ni(9S2O)2](ClO4)2, have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. For the complex [Ni(18S4O2](BF4)2 the diastereoisomer obtained is the one which contains the two oxygen atoms trans to each other and a meridional positioning of the diethylene SOS moiety. Selectivity for this particular stereoisomer is also supported by NMR data for the Cd(II) and Co(III) complexes, and this selectivity arises from the conformational preferences of the individual CO and CS bonds in the macrocycle. Both the nickelsulfur and nickeloxygen bonds in the complex are highly compressed due to the rigid macrocyclic structure and are among the shortest of these types of bonds found in any crown Ni(II) complex. The copper(II) complex, [Cu(9S2O)2](BF4)2, shows an interesting Jahn–Teller distortion from an octahedral geometry resulting in coordinate bonds which are all remarkably similar in length (CuS(4) 2.3293(6); CuS(7) 2.3336(6); and CuO(1) 2.355(2) A). The oxygen atoms are found in a trans position around the copper(II) center, and the axial CuO bonds are elongated due to the Jahn–Teller distortion. In all of these complexes, the two oxathiaether ligands function as much weaker field ligands than do their crown thioether analogs. Also, cyclic voltammetric experiments reveal that the oxathia crowns do not have the ability to stabilize less common metal oxidation states, a common property of many crown thioether ligands.
Progesterone as an autocrine/paracrine regulator of human granulosa cell proliferation.

The present study examined the role of progesterone in regulating human granulosa cell proliferation. Human granulosa and luteal cells were obtained from follicular aspirates of women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Cells were plated at 5, 10, or 50 x 10(3) cells/mL and cultured for up to 6 days. At specific times, cells were harvested and assessed for cell number and morphology. The medium was assayed for progesterone. Cells plated at 50 x 10(3) cells/mL did not increase in number after 3 or 6 days of culture, but rapidly differentiated, secreting high amounts of progesterone (> or = 320 nmol/L). Conversely, cells plated at 5 x 10(3) or 10 x 10(3) cells/mL doubled in number over the first 3 days of culture and subsequently differentiated. The addition of 100 ng/mL progesterone or more to the medium inhibited proliferation. Aminoglutethamide blocked progesterone secretion and increased the number of cells present after 3 days of culture. The antiproliferative effects of progesterone were not mimicked b...
Expression of Toll-like receptors and antimicrobial peptides during Eimeria praecox infection in chickens

Abstract Intestinal colonization of avian species by Eimeria parasites results in the enteric disease, coccidiosis. A study was carried out to assess the immunologic effects of Eimeria praecox infection on the gut of infected chickens. In Experiment 1, birds were orally gavaged with 50,000 E . praecox oocysts; in Experiment 2, an infection dosage of 500,000 E. praecox oocysts was used. Duodenal and jejunal intestinal sections were sampled consecutively on days 1–7 post-infection. Intestinal expression of innate immune gene transcripts was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Analysis of relative gene expression in Experiment 1 revealed an increase ( P P P P
Non-symmetrical coupled lines in an inhomogeneous dielectric medium†

The four-part ABCD parameters are derived for a pair of non-symmetrical coupled transmission lines in an inhomogeneous dielectric medium (e.g. mierostrip or broadside-coupled strips in a layered medium) using the odd-mode current wave, even-mode voltage wave combination introduced for homogeneous lines by Ekinge (1971). Effects of unequal mode velocities are included. Two-port networks composed of non-symmetrical coupled lines with unequal mode velocities are also investigated. These networks are useful in filter, impedance transformer and power divider applications.
The Changing Democratic Functions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) face the same financial pressures as traditionally white institutions, and face unique challenges that stem from historical racial disparities in funding, their historical missions and student bodies. HBCUs have served diverse democratic functions over time, but today critics on the right and left question their continued relevance. Here we review the changing democratic functions of HBCUs and argue that in an era of retreat from affirmative action HBCUs remain important to the educational opportunities of African Americans and others. We suggest some additional democratic functions that HBCUs might play in the twenty-first century.
An empirical comparison of improvement heuristics for the mixed-model U-line balancing problem

Mixed-model assembly lines often create model imbalance due to differences in task times for the different product models. Smoothing algorithms guided by meta-heuristics that can escape local optimums can be used to reduce model imbalance. In this research, we utilise the meta-heuristics tabu search (TS), the great deluge algorithm (GDA) and record-to-record travel (RTR) to reduce three objective functions: the absolute deviation from cycle time, the maximum deviation from cycle time, and the sum of the cycle time violations. We found that the GDA was significantly superior to the RTR and TS algorithms across all problem sizes and objective functions. For the 19 task problems, RTR performed significantly better than TS for all three objective functions. On the other hand, for the 61 and 111 task problems TS performed significantly better than RTR for all three objective functions.
Dynamic magnetoelectric effects in bulk and layered composites of cobalt zinc ferrite and lead zirconate titanate

Low-frequency magnetoelectric (ME) coupling is investigated in bulk samples and multilayers of cobalt zinc ferrite, Co1-xZnxFe2O4 (x=0–0.6), and lead zirconate titanate. In bulk samples, the transverse and longitudinal couplings are weak and of equal magnitude. A substantial strengthening of ME interactions is evident in layered structures, with the ME voltage coefficient a factor of 10–30 higher than in bulk samples. Important findings of our studies of layered composites are as follows. (i) The transverse coupling is stronger than the longitudinal coupling. (ii) The strength of ME interactions is dependent on Zn substitution, with a maximum for x=0.4. (iii) A weak coupling exists at the ferromagnetic-piezoelectric interface, as revealed by an analysis of the volume and static magnetic field dependence of ME voltage coefficients. (iv) The interface coupling k increases with Zn substitution and the k versus x profile shows a maximum centered at x=0.4. (v) The Zn-assisted enhancement can be attributed to efficient magneto-mechanical coupling in the ferrite.
The role of prostacyclin and thromboxane in rat burn and freeze injuries.

Abstract Deep dermal injuries elicit discrete reaction patterns dependent on the type of injury sustained. Full thickness burn injuries produce an avascular focus of dead and dying tissue surrounded by a peripheral zone of secondary vascular dilation. In contrast, equivalent freeze injuries demonstrate vascular patency both centrally and peripherally. The basis for these differences are unknown. Because of their potent vasoactive and hematologic properties, the presence of two endogenously generated eicosanoids, thromboxane A2 (Tx A2) and prostacyclin (PGI2), were examined in this process. Implanted stainless steel mesh chambers served as an in vivo interstitial collecting reservoir permitting repeated sampling of the wound fluid without tissue disruption. Standard burn and freeze injuries were administered to the skin covering the implanted chambers. The major metabolites of these eicosanoids: 6-keto PGF1α and TxB2 were measured in wound fluid during the first 24 hr following injury. Although both TxB2 and 6-keto PGF1α increased significantly following either injury, treatment with indomethacin did not alter the vascular sequelae despite evident cyclooxygenase inhibition. Latex infusion of whole rats confirmed the considerable difference between these two types of injury, with or without indomethacin. Thus, little evidence was found to support the importance of either TxA2 or PGI2 in the vascular alterations which follow burn or freeze injury.
RecR-mediated Modulation of RecF Dimer Specificity for Single- and Double-stranded DNA

RecF pathway proteins play an important role in the restart of stalled replication and DNA repair in prokaryotes. Following DNA damage, RecF, RecR, and RecO initiate homologous recombination (HR) by loading of the RecA recombinase on single-stranded (ss) DNA, protected by ssDNA-binding protein. The specific role of RecF in this process is not well understood. Previous studies have proposed that RecF directs the RecOR complex to boundaries of damaged DNA regions by recognizing single-stranded/double-stranded (ss/ds) DNA junctions. RecF belongs to ABC-type ATPases, which function through an ATP-dependent dimerization. Here, we demonstrate that the RecF of Deinococcus radiodurans interacts with DNA as an ATP-dependent dimer, and that the DNA binding and ATPase activity of RecF depend on both the structure of DNA substrate, and the presence of RecR. We found that RecR interacts as a tetramer with the RecF dimer. RecR increases the RecF affinity to dsDNA without stimulating ATP hydrolysis but destabilizes RecF binding to ssDNA and dimerization, likely due to increasing the ATPase rate. The DNA-dependent binding of RecR to the RecF-DNA complex occurs through specific protein-protein interactions without significant contributions from RecR-DNA interactions. Finally, RecF neither alone nor in complex with RecR preferentially binds to the ss/dsDNA junction. Our data suggest that the specificity of the RecFOR complex toward the boundaries of DNA damaged regions may result from a network of protein-protein and DNA-protein interactions, rather than a simple recognition of the ss/dsDNA junction by RecF.
Vinyl orthoformates and vinyl acetals. Part iii: The reactions of alkenyl acetals and l‐alkenyloxyalkyl carboxylates with carboxylic acids

Treatment of alkenyl acetals IV with one equivalent of a carboxylic acid leads to the formation of either addition products, l-acyloxyalkyl alkenyl acetals VI, or substitution products, l-alkenyloxyalkyl carboxylates V, dependent upon the structure of the starting compounds. In a similar way the l-alkenyloxyalkyl carboxylates V give 1,1′-diacyloxy ethers X, or acylals XI, with a second equivalent of a carboxylic acid. Synthetic applications and tentative reaction schemes of these conversions are given.
A simple approach to the sciatic nerve that does not require geometric calculations or multiple landmarks

BACKGROUND Blockade of the sciatic nerve is necessary for complete analgesia of the lower extremity using peripheral nerve blocks. We identified the sciatic nerve in relation to the ischial tuberosity in fresh cadaver dissections as well as in patients to compare sciatic nerve blockade using the conventional approach versus our experimental approach. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that in patients in the prone position, our novel approach (changing the point of needle insertion to 3 cm lateral from the ischial tuberosity) requires fewer needle passes and less time. METHODS The location of the sciatic nerve in relation to the ischial tuberosity was identified in 20 cadavers; this information was used to devise an alternative approach to the sciatic nerve. In a randomized, controlled, crossover patient study, we compared a prone subgluteal approach (conventional approach, n = 19) with an experimental approach with the insertion point 3 cm lateral to the midpoint of ischial tuberosity with patients in prone position (n = 20). We recorded the number of passes and the time taken to obtain an initial sciatic nerve twitch at a current of 1.5 mA and a twitch at <0.5 mA. RESULTS The sciatic nerve averaged 2.8 +/- 0.4 cm from the midpoint of ischial tuberosity in cadavers in prone position. When needles were inserted from surface landmarks, those inserted through the experimental insertion point consistently transected the sciatic nerve. In contrast, needles inserted through the conventional approach were 2.27 +/- 0.47 cm lateral to the sciatic nerve. Clinically, our experimental approach required fewer passes to obtain a sciatic nerve twitch than the conventional approach. We were unable to obtain a twitch in 55% of patients with the conventional approach and converted them to the experimental approach. In patients originally assigned to the experimental approach and those switched to the experimental approach after failure with the conventional approach, we obtained the first sciatic nerve twitch in 1 pass in 45% of the patients and in 3 passes in 85%. CONCLUSIONS We describe a landmark that is more effective for identifying the location of the sciatic nerve than that used for the prone subgluteal approach.
In-line phase shift tomosynthesis.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to (1) demonstrate laboratory measurements of phase shift images derived from in-line phase-contrast radiographs using the attenuation-partition based algorithm (APBA) ofYan et al. [Opt. Express18(15), 16074–16089 (Year: 2010)]10.1364/OE.18.016074, (2) verify that the APBA reconstructed images obey the linearity principle, and (3) reconstruct tomosynthesis phase shift images from a collection of angularly sampled planar phase shift images. Methods: An unmodified, commercially available cabinet x-ray system (Faxitron LX-60) was used in this experiment. This system contains a tungsten anode x-ray tube with a nominal focal spot size of 10μm. The digital detector uses CsI/CMOS with a pixel size of 50 × 50 μm. The phantoms used consisted of one acrylic plate, two polystyrene plates, and a habanero pepper. Tomosynthesis images were reconstructed from 51 images acquired over a ±25° arc. All phase shift images were reconstructed using the APBA. Results: Image contrast derived from the planar phase shift image of an acrylic plate of uniform thickness exceeded the contrast of the traditional attenuation image by an approximate factor of two. Comparison of the planar phase shift images from a single, uniform thickness polystyrene plate with two polystyrene plates demonstrated an approximate linearity of the estimated phase shift with plate thickness (−1600 rad vs −2970 rad). Tomographic phase shift images of the habanero pepper exhibited acceptable spatial resolution and contrast comparable to the corresponding attenuation image. Conclusions: This work demonstrated the feasibility of laboratory-based phase shift tomosynthesis and suggests that phase shift imaging could potentially provide a new imaging biomarker. Further investigation will be needed to determine if phase shift contrast will be able to provide new tissue contrast information or improved clinical performance.
Symmetrizability of asymmetric systems

Abstract In this paper, linear second-order systems with asymmetric coefficient matrices are considered. Conditions for symmetrizability of these systems are presented. When a system can be transformed into one with symmetric coefficients matrices, an effective procedure is given to realize the transformation.
Contribution of soil moisture retrievals to land data assimilation products

[1] Satellite measurements (retrievals) of surface soil moisture are subject to errors and cannot provide complete space-time coverage. Data assimilation systems merge available retrievals with information from land surface models and antecedent meteorological data, information that is spatio-temporally complete but likewise uncertain. For the design of new satellite missions it is critical to understand just how uncertain retrievals can be and still be useful. Here, we present a synthetic data assimilation experiment that determines the contribution of retrievals to the skill of land assimilation products (soil moisture and evapotranspiration) as a function of retrieval and land model skill. As expected, the skill of the assimilation products increases with the skill of the model and that of the retrievals. The skill of the soil moisture assimilation products always exceeds that of the model acting alone; even retrievals of low quality contribute information to the assimilation product, particularly if model skill is modest.
Theory of Magnetic Field Effects and Biaxial Order in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Abstract A molecular field theory capable of treating cholesterics with spatially varying order is developed. Results for the biaxial order of a cholesteric distorted by a magnetic field are presented.
Introduction to Geostatistics: Applications in Hydrogeology

Engineers and applied geophysicists routinely encounter interpolation and estimation problems when analysing data from field observations. Introduction to Geostatistics presents practical techniques for the estimation of spatial functions from sparse data. The author's unique approach is a synthesis of classic and geostatistical methods with a focus on the most practical linear minimum-variance estimation methods, and includes suggestions on how to test and extend the applicability of such methods. The author includes many useful methods (often not covered in other geostatistics books) such as estimating variogram parameters, evaluating the need for a variable mean, parameter estimation and model testing in complex cases (e.g. anisotropy, variable mean, and multiple variables), and using information from deterministic mathematical models. Well illustrated with exercises and worked examples taken from hydrogeology, Introduction to Geostatistics assumes no background in statistics and is suitable for graduate-level courses in earth sciences, hydrology, and environmental engineering, and also for self-study.
Probing Transient Copper Chaperone-Wilson Disease Protein Interactions at the Single-Molecule Level with Nanovesicle Trapping

Transient metallochaperone−target protein interactions are essential for intracellular metal trafficking but challenging to study at both the ensemble and the single-molecule level. Here we report using nanovesicle trapping to enable single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) studies of transient interactions between the copper chaperone Hah1 and the fourth metal-binding domain of its target protein, the Wilson disease protein (WDP). We were able to monitor their interactions in real time one event at a time, capture distinct protein interaction intermediates, resolve intermediate interconversion dynamics, and quantify both the interaction kinetics and thermodynamics in the absence of copper. The study exemplifies the ability of nanovesicle trapping in combination with smFRET for studying weak protein interactions and provides insight into how Hah1 and WDP may collaborate to mediate copper transfer inside cells.
The effects of folic or folinic acid on the toxicity of 4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyloxy)-1,3,5-triazine hydrochloride, an antifolate, in dogs.

Abstract Oral doses of 5 mg/kg/day of 4,6 diamino-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyloxy)-1,3,5-triazine hydrochloride (TAD) for 28 consecutive days were tolerated by beagle dogs. Repeated doses of 15 or 42.5–45 mg/kg/day produced emesis, hemorrhagic diarrhea, anorexia, and severe weight loss, a pattern of toxicity resembling that of antifolates. Reticulocytopenia associated with erythroid depression of bone marrow, neutrophilia, and lymphopenia occurred. Histopathologic changes included atrophy, depletion and/or necrosis of the lymphoid tissue, degenerative, inflammatory, and atrophic changes of the gastrointestinal tract, and depression of the bone marrow. Simultaneous im administration of folinic acid (0.3 mg/kg/day) with TAD, but not oral folic acid (7.5 mg/kg/day), protected beagles against TAD toxicity. The demonstration of folate and antifolate toxic antagonism suggests toxic doses of TAD inhibit the reduction of folic acid to a tetrahydro derivative and thus interfere with the transfer and utilization of the single carbon moiety which is essential for a number of metabolic pathways.
LSST Camera Optics

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is a unique, three-mirror, modified Paul-Baker design with an 8.4m primary, a 3.4m secondary, and a 5.0m tertiary feeding a camera system that includes corrector optics to produce a 3.5 degree field of view with excellent image quality (<0.3 arcsecond 80% encircled diffracted energy) over the entire field from blue to near infra-red wavelengths. We describe the design of the LSST camera optics, consisting of three refractive lenses with diameters of 1.6m, 1.0m and 0.7m, along with a set of interchangeable, broad-band, interference filters with diameters of 0.75m. We also describe current plans for fabricating, coating, mounting and testing these lenses and filters.
Effect of reaction temperature on the performance of thermal swing sorption enhanced reaction process for simultaneous production of fuel cell grade H2 and compressed CO2 from synthesis gas

A novel cyclic thermal swing sorption-enhanced reaction (TSSER) process concept was recently proposed for the simultaneous production of fuel-cell-grade H2 and compressed CO2 from synthesis gas containing CO and H2O. The process carried out the catalytic water−gas shift (WGS) reaction (CO + H2O ↔ CO2 + H2) with simultaneous removal of CO2 from the reaction zone by a reversible, water-tolerant, CO2-selective chemisorbent in order to circumvent the thermodynamic limitation of the WGS reaction and enhance the rate of the forward reaction. The chemisorbent was periodically regenerated using the principles of thermal swing adsorption by purging the sorber−reactor with superheated steam at different pressures and temperatures. Several intermediate process steps were employed to produce a pure and compressed CO2 byproduct during the thermal desorption process. The present work reports (a) new experimental data demonstrating the concept of the sorption-enhanced WGS reaction at different temperatures using a comme...
The roles of associative strength and source memorability in the contextualization of false memory

We tested the impact of associative strength and retrieval heuristics in false source memory. We arranged 12-item associative lists in descending order of backward associative strength to a critical non-presented item and then split them into 6-item sub-lists at the median. High- and low-strength sub-lists were correlated with presentation source. Source claims for falsely remembered critical items were more often to the presentation source of high-strength items, which we have labeled the source-strength effect. With only two exceptions in Experiment 2, the source-strength effect was produced even when differences in source memorability led participants to infer generally that items lacking source evidence were presented in the low-strength source. Indeed, the influence of associative strength on source attributions was shown to be completely independent of this inference strategy in a third experiment. This study demonstrates that source details of concepts most highly related to critical items are retrieved with false memories.
In silico Identification of Genes Involved in Selenium Metabolism: Evidence for a Third Selenium Utilization Trait

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that occurs in proteins in the form of selenocysteine (Sec) and in tRNAs in the form of selenouridine (SeU). Selenophosphate synthetase (SelD) is required for both utilization traits. However, previous research also revealed SelDs in two organisms lacking Sec and SeU, suggesting a possible additional use of Se that is dependent on SelD. In this study, we conducted comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses to characterize genes involved in Se utilization. Candidate genes identified included SelA/SelB and YbbB that define Sec and SeU pathways, respectively, and NADH oxidoreductase that is predicted to generate a SelD substrate. In addition, among 227 organisms containing SelD, 10 prokaryotes were identified that lacked SelA/SelB and YbbB. Investigation of selD neighboring genes in these organisms revealed a SirA-like protein and two hypothetical proteins HP1 and HP2 that were strongly linked to a novel Se utilization. With these new signature proteins, 32 bacteria and archaea were found that utilized these proteins, likely as part of the new Se utilization trait. Metabolic labeling of one organism containing an orphan SelD, Enterococcus faecalis, with 75Se revealed a protein containing labile Se species that could be released by treatment with reducing agents, suggesting non-Sec utilization of Se in this organism. These studies suggest the occurrence of a third Se utilization trait in bacteria and archaea.