cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Logistical Storage Resources for the Grid

It is commonly observed that the continued exponential growth in the capacity of fundamental computing resources — processing power, communication bandwidth, and storage — is working a revolution in the capabilities and practices of the research community. It has become increasingly evident that the most revolutionary applications of this superabundance use resource sharing to enable new possibilities for collaboration and mutual benefit. Over the past 30 years, two basic models of resource sharing with different design goals have emerged. The differences between these two approaches, which we distinguish as the Computer Center and the Internet models, tend to generate divergent opportunity spaces, and it therefore becomes important to explore the alternative choices they present as we plan for and develop an information infrastructure for the scientific community in the next decade.
The Goddess, Syncretism, and Patriarchy: Evolution and Extinction of the Goddess during the Creation of Patriarchy in Ancient Israel

Archaeological evidence has established that an alternative religious culture existed before the establishment of Yahwism and that this culture was indeed polytheistic. In this paper it is argued that a goddess culture reigned from the period of pre-Israelite culture until the early years of the postexilic period (early Judaism). The shift from a goddess-based religion to Yahwism may have had serious implications for the eventual development of Judaism. Several unanswered questions remain concerning this religious culture. This study queries the existence and the ramifications of this religious culture on the foundations of ancient Israelite religion and ultimately Judaism. Finally, it seeks to shed light upon what caused the demise of the goddess tradition.
The 80 Years’ Question: The Dutch Revolt in Historical Perspective

Once heralded as the ‘leading event of modern times’, the Dutch Revolt took place over a period of eighty years (1568–1648) and historians have worked to interpret it for even longer. This historiographical article outlines the major points of contention and schools of thought surrounding interpretations of the deeper meaning of the Dutch bid for independence from Spanish rule. While the intellectual milieus of late nineteenth- and twentieth-century Europe certainly left their mark on historical interpretations of this event, this article argues that writings about the Revolt distinctively trace changing perceptions of the role played by small countries in the history of Western Civilization. As is true in most contemporary historical scholarship, there are no more grand narratives for encompassing the Dutch Revolt in its entirety, but the article points to future directions for understanding the Revolt in its wider contexts, whether European or global. History Compass third PODCAST is now available This free podcast offers a discussion between Professor Ron Schechter, retired early modern Europe editor for History Compass, and Dr. Laura Cruz, a History Compass author. Examining Dr Cruz’s published essay, ‘The 80 Years’ Question: The Dutch Revolt in Historical Perspective’, they discuss the field of Dutch history, how it is being affected by new global and transnational histories, the need for further theoretical development in light of the cultural and linguistic turn, and the ways this article could be used in teaching. Click here to download the podcast: http://wiley.cdn.palmerhargreaves.com/podcast/hic3/hic3-03.mp3 (12.1 MB, 16 minutes 59 seconds).
A positive affective neuroendocrinology approach to reward and behavioral dysregulation

Emerging lines of research suggest that both testosterone and maladaptive reward processing can modulate behavioral dysregulation. Yet, to date, no integrative account has been provided that systematically explains neuroendocrine function, dysregulation of reward, and behavioral dysregulation in a unified perspective. This is particularly important given specific neuroendocrine systems are potential mechanisms underlying and giving rise to reward-relevant behaviors. In this review, we propose a forward-thinking approach to study the mechanisms of reward and behavioral dysregulation from a positive affective neuroendocrinology (PANE) perspective. This approach holds that testosterone increases reward processing and motivation, which increase the likelihood of behavioral dysregulation. Additionally, the PANE framework holds that reward processing mediates the effects of testosterone on behavioral dysregulation. We also explore sources of potential sex differences and the roles of age, cortisol, and individual differences within the PANE framework. Finally, we discuss future prospects for research questions and methodology in the emerging field of affective neuroendocrinology.
Control Lyapunov-Razumikhin functions for time delay systems

Motivated by control Lyapunov functions and Razumikhin theorems on stability of time delay systems, we introduce the concept of control Lyapunov-Razumikhin functions (CLRF). The main reason for considering CLRFs is construction of stabilizing control laws for time delay systems. Most existing formulas that apply to CLFs, are not applicable to CLRFs. However, it turns out that the domination redesign control law applies, achieving global practical stability and, under an additional assumption, global asymptotic stability. This additional assumption is satisfied in the practically important case when the quadratic part of a CLRF is itself a CLRF for the Jacobian linearization of the system.
Possible insertion sequences in a mosaic genome organization upstream of the exotoxin A gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract Nucleotide sequence and Southern hybridization data revealed a mosaic genome organization in a region that extends several thousand base pairs upstream of the exotoxin A (toxA) gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An interstrain comparison of DNA in this region showed a pattern of alternating segments of homologous and nonhomologous sequences. Two nonhomologous elements, approximately 1 kilobase pair upstream of the gene in strains PA103 and Ps388, were characterized in more detail. The sequence elements, denoted IS-PA-1 and IS-PA-2 for the different strains, are about 1,000 and 785 base pairs long, respectively, and have 5-base-pair direct repeats at their boundaries, consistent with their being DNA insertion sequences. The distribution of these elements in 34 different strains was determined. IS-PA-1 was found in a single copy upstream of toxA in half of the strains and was found in two copies in four of the strains. Some strains contained neither element, and one strain carried both. The genome of another strain, WR5, which lacks toxA, was shown to contain a 350-base-pair region that was highly homologous to DNA sequences located just upstream of toxA in other strains. The WR5 genome lacked several kilobase pairs of DNA that was found both upstream and downstream of this homologous region in the other strains.
Rubicon controls endosome maturation as a Rab7 effector

The activation and recruitment of the small GTPase Rab7 to early endosome is a critical step for early to late endosome maturation, a process that requires the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3KC3) and GTPase regulators. However, the molecular mechanism underlying Rab7 activation and endosome maturation is still poorly defined. Here we report that Rubicon, a component of the PI3KC3 complex, prevents endosome maturation through differential interactions with Rab7 and UVRAG. UVRAG activates PI3KC3 and C-VPS/HOPS, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that catalyzes the exchange of GDP for GTP on Rab7. We demonstrate that Rubicon sequesters UVRAG from C-VPS/HOPS. Active GTP-bound Rab7 competes for Rubicon binding and releases UVRAG to associate with C-VPS/HOPS, which in turn promotes further loading of Rab7 with GTP. This feed-forward loop ensures rapid amplification of GTP-bound Rab7 and consequent stimulation of endosome maturation. Hence, Rubicon serves as a previously unknown Rab7 effector to ensure the proper progression of the endocytic pathway.
Parenteral nutrition is associated with intestinal morphologic and functional changes in humans.

Background: Numerous animal studies have demonstrated intestinal villus atrophy occurs when luminal nutrition is withheld and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is provided. Intestinal morphologic and functional changes have not been well studied in humans during TPN. Methods: Eight normal volunteers were hospitalized in the Clinical Research Center for 3 weeks. The subjects received TPN as an exclusive means of nutritional support for 14 days followed by 5 days of enteral refeeding with either a standard or a glutamine and arginine-supplemented formula. Endoscopic jejunal biopsies were taken before and after TPN and after enteral refeeding. Intestinal morphology was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Mucosa DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations were measured. Lactose breath hydrogen and intestinal permeability testing (urinary lactulose and mannitol excretion after an oral dose) were performed before and after TPN and after enteral refeeding. Results: Total mucosal thickness decreased a...
125I liquid in an intracranial balloon: TG-43 formalism for an extended source

Abstract Purpose To present a calculation formalism for spherical homogeneous liquid brachytherapy sources and to analyze the difficulties encountered in numerical integration over non-spherical source volumes. Methods and Materials TG-43 formalism provides a general definition of the geometric factor for distributed source distributions. Here the geometric factor and dose for a spherical source are computed for an 125 I balloon. The errors in numerical summation of dose from point sources are assessed by computing ratios of the geometric factors of point-source and extended-source voxel volumes. Results This sphere calculation agrees well with measured dose values, showing maximum and average differences of 4.8% and 0.5% at the balloon surface. Numerical integration gives errors greater than 1% within five voxel radii of a voxel source. Conclusions A new spherical dose calculation technique is proposed for brachytherapy treatment planning systems. Numerical integration over point source voxels is not accurate near the balloon surface.
Longitudinal trends in resource use in an incident cohort of open-angle glaucoma patients: resource use in open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose To characterize the costs of caring for patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in the United States over time and to identify factors that influence these costs. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Methods Claims data from 19 927 newly diagnosed OAG patients enrolled in a large United States managed care network were reviewed to identify glaucoma-related charges for all incident OAG patients from 2001 through 2009. Average glaucoma-related charges for enrollees with OAG were characterized in 6-month blocks from the date of initial OAG diagnosis through the ensuing 5 years. Factors associated with being an enrollee in the costliest 5% for glaucoma-related charges (accruing $5810 or more in charges in the first 2 years) were identified using logistic regression. Results The costliest 5% of enrollees were responsible for $10 202 871 (24%) of all glaucoma-related charges. By comparison, those whose costs fell within the lower 50% of the cost distribution collectively amassed only $7 986 582 (19%) of all glaucoma-related charges. A spike in glaucoma-related charges occurred in the 6-month period around the time of OAG diagnosis, stabilized by 1 year after diagnosis, and remained relatively constant over time. Risk factors associated with being in the costliest 5% for glaucoma-related care included younger age, Northeastern United States state residence, undergoing cataract surgery, and possessing ocular comorbidities ( P Conclusions A small subset of enrollees account for a large proportion of all glaucoma-related charges. Understanding the characteristics of these individuals and finding ways to reduce disease burden and costs associated with their care can result in substantial cost savings.
Phase II trial of high‐dose dexamethasone for previously treated immunoglobulin light‐chain amyloidosis

Immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is a rare disorder characterized by production of a monoclonal light chain. This insoluble light chain, or a fragment thereof, deposits in tissues as amyloid and results in disruption of organ function and, ultimately, in death. Although melphalan and prednisone are beneficial in approximately 30% of patients with the disease, many patients fail to respond, and the median survival with this disease remains < 2 years. There is a need for new agents for those patients who fail to respond to melphalan-based chemotherapy. A study was undertaken of high-dose dexamethasone in the treatment of 19 patients with AL because of reports of its benefits in previously untreated patients with amyloidosis and its known activity in the management of multiple myeloma, which has many characteristics in common with AL. In this cohort, 3 of 19 patients showed an objective organ response of the disease. The median survival of the entire group was 11.2 months. We conclude that high-dose dexamethasone therapy is of occasional benefit in patients previously treated for amyloidosis. Combining dexamethasone with other therapies may increase the response rate.
Autocatalytic cyclization of an excised intervening sequence RNA is a cleavage–ligation reaction

The intervening sequence (IVS) of the Tetrahymena ribosomal RNA precursor is excised as a linear RNA molecule which subsequently cyclizes itself in a protein-independent reaction. Cyclization involves cleavage of the linear IVS RNA 15 nucleotides from its 5' end and formation of a phosphodiester bond between the new 5' phosphate and the original 3'-hydroxyl terminus of the IVS. This recombination mechanism is analogous to that by which splicing of the precursor RNA is achieved. The circular molecules appear to have no direct function in RNA splicing, and we propose the cyclization serves to prevent unwanted RNA from driving the splicing reactions backwards.
A dual exact penalty formulation for the linear complementarity problem

We consider a dual exact penalty formulation for the monotone linear complementarity problem. Tihonov regularization is then used to reduce the solution of the problem to the solution of a sequence of positive-definite, symmetric quadratic programs. A modified form of an SOR method due to Mangasarian is proposed to solve these quadratic programs. We also indicate how to obtain approximate solutions to predefined tolerance by solving a single quadratic program, in special cases.
Degenerate four-wave mixing as a source for spatially-broadband squeezed light

Abstract It is shown that spatially-broadband squeezed light is generated at the output of a four-wave mixer that is configured in either the backward or the forward geometry. It follows from estimations that the bandwidth of spatial squeezing is much larger in the backward four-wave mixing configuration than in the forward one. Such spatially-broadband squeezed light can be used for imaging faint objects with sensitivity that is better than the shot-noise limit.
Pulmonary sequestration: an aberrant systemic blood supply demonstrated by computed tomographic angiography with 3-dimensional reconstruction.

2 F 2-day-old, full-term neonate diagnosed with a cystic lesion of the left lung during antenatal ultrasound ith subsequent magnetic resonance imaging for charcterization was referred for surgical consultation. The renatal magnetic resonance image scan was remarkable or abnormal increased T2 signal of the left upper lobe arrow, Fig 1) as compared with the remainder of the ungs. The differential diagnosis included bronchopulonary sequestration versus cystic adenomatoid malforation. The neonate underwent a 16-slice multi-detector omputed tomographic angiogram with volume renered imaging (Fig 2) that revealed a hypervascular mass 3.7 2.6 2.1 cm) in the anterior aspect of the left lung ase with the appearance of normal lung parenchyma. oth the arterial supply, arising from the left subclavian rtery immediately proximal to the origin of a dilated left nternal mammary artery, and venous drainage exiting he left innominate vein were prominent vessels running arallel to each other (arrow, Fig 2). Findings in the left ung base were compatible with an extralobar sequestraion. The patient underwent a muscle-sparing left thoraotomy. Intraoperative findings included the aforemenioned sequestered lung segment, adjacent to the inferior ingular segment, which was attached by a solitary vasular pedicle to the chest wall. Division of this attachent allowed for subsequent excision. Pulmonary sequestration is an uncommon mass comrising 6% of all congenital pulmonary malformations.
Exciton fusion and charge-carrier generation in poly(di-n-hexylsilane)

Abstract We have observed charge-carrier generation in the long-wavelength tail of the first electronic transition in poly(di-n-hexylsilane), which varies as the square of the intensity of the incident light and as the absorption coefficient raised to a power somewhat greater than two. We discuss two mechanisms involving exciton fusion for generating carriers.
Synchronization of coupled harmonic oscillators with local interaction

This paper studies synchronization of coupled second-order linear harmonic oscillators with local interaction. We analyze convergence conditions over, respectively, directed fixed and switching network topologies by using tools from algebraic graph theory, matrix theory, and nonsmooth analysis. It is shown that the coupled harmonic oscillators can be synchronized under mild network connectivity conditions. Examples are given to validate the convergence conditions. The theoretical result is also applied to synchronized motion coordination of multi-agent systems as a proof of concept.
The Rationale for a Specialty of Adolescent Medicine

HISTORICALLY, THE FIRST MEDICAL CLINIC for adolescents was developed at Boston's Children's Hospital in 1951, when Dr. J. Roswell Gallagher was appointed as its first head and I was his first trainee. Since 1950 I have personally been involved in the adolescent medicine movement. It is quite successful and has caught the fancy of a variety of people in and out of medicine. As of now, there are about 65 formal adolescent clinics in medical centers in the United States. In addition to the formal adolescent clinics, all of the medical centers that I have visited are planning facilities or are revamping old facilities to include in their inpatient division a ward for adolescents. For example, at the University of Nebraska they have just finished revamping the University Hospital and now have a magnificent floor for adolescents. In addition to the University Hospital there will be a 26-bed adolescent inpatient unit for all adolescent disorders. In addition, there are ample ambulatory facilities adjacent to the inpatient facilities. Most of the pediatric departments in the country now recognize the need for some kind of program within the pediatric department for the adolescent. The only real holdup is in the lack of well-trained people to run such programs.
Architecture of a Process Broker for Interoperable Geospatial Modeling on the Web

The identification of appropriate mechanisms for process sharing and reuse by means of composition is considered a key enabler for the effective uptake of a global Earth Observation infrastructure, currently pursued by the international geospatial research community. Modelers in need of running complex workflows may benefit from outsourcing process composition to a dedicated external service, according to the brokering approach. This work introduces our architecture of a process broker, as a distributed information system for creating, validating, editing, storing, publishing and executing geospatial-modeling workflows. The broker provides a service framework for adaptation, reuse and complementation of existing processing resources (including models and geospatial services in general) in the form of interoperable, executable workflows. The described solution has been experimentally applied in several use scenarios in the context of EU-funded projects and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
Estimation of Corrective Changes in Muscle Activation Patterns for Stroke Patients During FES Intervention

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been used in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. It is important to know how to stimulate the muscles when using FES. Many control methods have been used to derive the required electrical stimulation patterns. However, these models were not developed based on biomechanical model of human neuromuscular system, thus can not account for sophisticated neurological control strategies during human movements. Based on our developed electromyography (EMG) driven model, we have created a biomechanical model to estimate the corrective increases in muscle activation patterns needed for a person following stroke to walk with an improved normal gait.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The Complexities of Prior Record, Race, Ethnicity, and Policy: Interactive Effects in Sentencing

Using sentencing data from 1994 to 2002, spanning two different sentencing policies, this study examines the complex relationship between felony offenders' prior record, race/ethnicity, current off...
Acne in Klinefelter's Syndrome—XXY Mosaicism

SUMMARY The unusual combination of acne and Klinefelter's syndrome was inves-tigated. The plasma and urine testosterone and the 17-ketosteroid levels were low. A possible explanation for the rarity of acne in Klinefelter's syndrome is presented.
Hydrogen reflection in low-energy collisions with amorphous carbon

Reflection and sticking of hydrogen atoms at amorphous carbon surfaces is studied at impact energies ranging from 0.1 to 50 eV using molecular dynamics simulations. We show that the reflection coefficient at the lowest energies is large and is very sensitive to both the many-body potential used in the simulations and the degree of hydrogen enrichment of the surfaces.
Progesterone signals through membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) in MDA-MB-468 and mPR-transfected MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells which lack full-length and N-terminally truncated isoforms of the nuclear progesterone receptor

The functional characteristics of membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) have been investigated using recombinant mPR proteins over-expressed in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Although these cells do not express the full-length progesterone receptor (PR), it is not known whether they express N-terminally truncated PR isoforms which could possibly account for some progesterone receptor functions attributed to mPRs. In the present study, the presence of N-terminally truncated PR isoforms was investigated in untransfected and mPR-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells, and in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. PCR products were detected in PR-positive T47D Yb breast cancer cells using two sets of C-terminus PR primers, but not in untransfected and mPR-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells, nor in MDA-MB-468 cells. Western blot analysis using a C-terminal PR antibody, 2C11F1, showed the same distribution pattern for PR in these cell lines. Another C-terminal PR antibody, C-19, detected immunoreactive bands in all the cell lines, but also recognized α-actinin, indicating that the antibody is not specific for PR. High affinity progesterone receptor binding was identified on plasma membranes of MDA-MB-468 cells which was significantly decreased after treatment with siRNAs for mPRα and mPRβ. Plasma membranes of MDA-MB-468 cells showed very low binding affinity for the PR agonist, R5020, ≤1% that of progesterone, which is characteristic of mPRs. Progesterone treatment caused G protein activation and decreased production of cAMP in MDA-MB-468 cells, which is also characteristic of mPRs. The results indicate that the progestin receptor functions in these cell lines are mediated through mPRs and do not involve any N-terminally truncated PR isoforms.
Distribution of partial melt in a felsic system: the importance of surface energy

The texture, distribution, and infiltration tendency of a quartz-albite melt in equilibrium with a synthetic, texturally-equilibrated quartzite was examined in a series of distribution and infiltration experiments at 1,250° C and 8 kbar hydrostatic pressure. Wetting angle measurements from melt distribution experiments show a dihedral angle (θ) of 60 degrees, implying a quartz/quartz interfacial energy approximately 1.7 times the quartz/melt value. Because of this specific relationship between interfacial energies, the system can achieve its lowest surface free energy state with the melt either in pools or along grain edge intersections, possibly forming some interconnected channels. Stability of melt in pockets and along grain edge intersections was observed in a fourteen-day, dispersed-melt experiment, yet melt pools failed to disperse into the quartzite during infiltration experiments. Comparison of the observed dihedral angle with previously measured surface energy values for the melt and quartz shows excellent agreement, and also demonstrates that an aggregate of randomly orientated anisotropic grains acts approximately isotropically.
Effects of lysophosphatidic acid on calpain-mediated proteolysis of focal adhesion kinase in human prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND Calcium-mediated proteolysis plays an important role in cell migration. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid mediator present in serum, enhances migration of carcinoma cells. The effects of LPA on calpain-mediated proteolysis were, therefore, examined in PC-3, a human prostate cancer cell line. METHODS Cultured PC-3 cells were used in studies utilizing pharmacologic interventions, immunoblotting, and confocal immunolocalization. RESULTS Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a tyrosine kinase involved in cell adhesion, is rapidly proteolyzed in serum-starved PC-3 cells exposed to the calcium ionophore, ionomycin; Nck, p130CAS, PKCα, and Ras-GAP are also degraded. Thapsigargin, which causes more moderate increases in intracellular calcium, induces partial proteolysis of these proteins. Calpain inhibitors block the proteolytic responses to ionomycin and thapsigargin. Ionomycin does not induce proteolysis in cells maintained in serum, suggesting a protective role for growth factors contained in serum. LPA causes minor FAK proteolysis when added alone, but protects against ionomycin-induced proteolysis in a time-dependent manner. LPA also protects against the cell detachment that eventually follows ionomycin treatment. The response to LPA is blocked by an LPA receptor antagonist. A similar effect of LPA is observed in ionomycin-treated Rat-1 fibroblasts. In PC-3 cells, the protective effects of LPA and serum are correlated with phosphorylation and redistribution of paxillin, suggesting roles for phosphorylation-mediated protein–protein interactions. CONCLUSIONS The complex effects of LPA on calpain-mediated proteolysis of FAK and other adhesion proteins are likely to play a role in the ability of LPA to promote attachment, migration, and survival of prostate cancer cells. Prostate 72:1595–1610, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conformational origin of the aggregation of recombinant human factor VIII.

Aggregation of proteins is a major problem in their use as drugs and is also involved in a variety of pathological diseases. In this study, biophysical techniques were employed to investigate aggregate formation in the pharmaceutically important protein, recombinant human factor VIII (rhFVIII). Recombinant human factor VIII incubated in solution at 37 °C formed soluble aggregates as detected by molecular sieve chromatography and dynamic light scattering. This resulted in a corresponding loss of biological activity. Fluorescence and CD spectra of the thermally stressed rhFVIII samples did not, however, suggest significant differences in protein conformation. To identify conformational changes in rhFVIII that may be involved in rhFVIII aggregation, temperature and solutes were used to perturb the native structure of rhFVIII. Far-UV CD and FTIR studies of rhFVIII as a function of temperature revealed conformational changes corresponding to an increase in intermolecular β-sheet content beginning at approximat...
Cross-Entropy-Based Adaptive Importance Sampling Using Gaussian Mixture

Abstract Structural reliability analysis frequently requires the use of sampling-based methods, particularly for the situation where the failure domain in the random variable space is complex. One of the most efficient and widely utilized methods to use in such a situation is importance sampling. Recently, an adaptive importance sampling method was proposed to find a near-optimal importance sampling density by minimizing Kullback–Leibler cross entropy, i.e. a measure of the difference between the absolute best sampling density and the one being used for the importance sampling. In this paper, the adaptive importance sampling approach is further developed by incorporating a nonparametric multimodal probability density function model called the Gaussian mixture as the importance sampling density. This model is used to fit the complex shape of the absolute best sampling density functions including those with multiple important regions. An efficient procedure is developed to update the Gaussian mixture model toward a near-optimal density using a small size of pre-samples. The proposed method needs only a few steps to achieve a near-optimal sampling density, and shows significant improvement in efficiency and accuracy for a variety of component and system reliability problems. The method requires far less samples than both crude Monte Carlo simulation and the cross-entropy-based adaptive importance sampling method employing a unimodal density function; thus achieving relatively small values of the coefficient of variation efficiently. The computational efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method are not hampered by the probability level, dimension of random variable space, and curvatures of limit-state function. Moreover, the distribution model parameters of the Gaussian densities in the obtained near-optimal density help identify important areas in the random variable space and their relative importance.
Response and Damage Tolerance of Composite Sandwich Structures under Low Velocity Impact

The deformation and failure response of composite sandwich beams and panels under low velocity impact was reviewed and discussed. Sandwich facesheet materials discussed are unidirectional and woven carbon/epoxy, and woven glass/vinylester composite laminates; sandwich core materials investigated include four types of closed cell PVC foams of various densities, and balsa wood. Sandwich beams were tested in an instrumented drop tower system under various energy levels, where load and strain histories and failure modes were recorded for the various types of beams. Peak loads predicted by spring-mass and energy balance models were in satisfactory agreement with experimental measurements. Failure patterns depend strongly on the impact energy levels and core properties. Failure modes observed include core indentation/cracking, facesheet buckling, delamination within the facesheet, and debonding between the facesheet and core. In the case of sandwich panels, it was shown that static and impact loads of the same magnitude produce very similar far-field deformations. The induced damage is localized and is lower for impact loading than for an equivalent static loading. The load history, predicted by a model based on the sinusoidal shape of the impact load pulse, was in agreement with experimental results. A finite element model was implemented to capture the full response of the panel indentation. The investigation of post impact behavior of sandwich structures shows that, although impact damage may not be readily visible, its effects on the residual mechanical properties of the structure can be quite detrimental.
Generation of new mutants of nmr, the negative-acting nitrogen regulatory gene of Neurospora crassa, by repeat induced mutation.

The repeat induced point mutation (RIP) phenomenon has been used to generate new mutants of nmr, the negative nitrogen regulatory gene in Neurospora crassa. The wild-type nmr gene was cotransformed along with the hygromycin B resistance gene into wild-type cells by selecting for hygromycin B resistance. Following purification of primary transformants using microconidia, crosses to wild-type. Detailed analyses of some of the progeny revealed that we had generated authentic nmr mutants at high frequency. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify and clone a fragment of a mutagenized nmr copy from one of the mutants. The nucleotide sequence analysis showed that 14% of the guanine residues have been converted into adenines, resulting in numerous missense and nonsense mutations. The newly created nmr mutants were found suitable for use as host strains in transformation experiments.
Development of the coronary arteries in the embryonic human heart.

It is not known why the coronary arteries almost always originate only from the right and left aortic sinuses of Valsalva, since the structure and conditions appear to be the same for all six sinuses of the embryonic great arteries. We sought a possible mechanical explanation for the phenomenon by studying the development of the coronary vasculature in 351 staged, serially sectioned human embryos of Carnegie stages 9 through 23 from the Carnegie Embryological Collection. A plexus of blind epicardial capillaries appears on the heart in Carnegie stage 14 or 15 and acquires a coronary sinus connection in stage 15, 16, or 17. The connection of the proximal coronary arteries to the aorta does not appear until stage 18. We found no histologic features of the cardiac nerves or any other component of the tissues to account for the consistent origin of coronary arteries from the right and left aortic sinuses of Valsalva. However, serial section reconstructions showed that the two sinuses where coronary arteries develop acquire a positive transverse curvature and a negative longitudinal curvature, i.e., a catenoidal or saddle-shaped configuration, before the appearance of the coronary arteries. The four noncoronary sinuses also have a positive transverse curvature, but longitudinally, in contrast, they have a positive curvature or are straight. The results suggest that the coronary arteries originate from those sinuses of Valsalva where wall tension is increased by a catenoidal configuration.
Mechanisms and therapeutic applications of immune stimulatory cpG DNA.

Abstract Aside from its function as the “blueprint of life” that encodes genetic information, DNA can have direct immune activities. The immune system has evolved a defense mechanism that is able to distinguish microbial DNA from our own because of differences in the frequency and methylation of CpG dinucleotides in particular base contexts. Within minutes of detecting such “CpG-S DNA,” cells of the innate immune system become activated and produce cytokines that promote the generation of antigen specific T-helper-1-like immune responses. Animal studies indicate therapeutic utility for CpG-S DNA as a vaccine adjuvant and for the immunotherapy of cancer and infectious and allergic diseases. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
Fusion neutron test facility requirements for interactive effects in structural and high-heat-flux components

A relevant design data base is needed for structural components in near-term and commercial fusion devices. A high-flux, high-fluence fusion neutron test facility is required for testing the failure mechanisms and lifetime-limiting features for first wall, blanket, and high-heat-flux components. We describe here the key aspects of the fusion environment which influence the response of structural and high-heat-flux components. In addition to test capabilities for fundamental radiation-effects phenomena, e.g., swelling, creep, embrittlement, and hardening, it is shown that the facility must provide an adequate range of conditions for accelerated tests to study the limitations on component lifetime due to the interaction between such fundamental phenomena. In high-heat-flux components, testing of the failure mechanisms of duplex structures is shown to require maintenance of an appropriate temperature gradient in the 14-MeV neutron field. Thermal stresses are shown to result in component failure, particularly when the degradation in the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties by irradiation are considered. Several factors are discussed for assessment of the failure modes of the first wall and blanket structures. These are displacement-damage dose and dose rate, the amount of helium gas generated, the magnitude of irradiation and thermal creep, prototypical temperature and temperature-gradient distributions, module geometry, and external mechanical constraints.
Reactivation of cell surface transport in Reticulomyxa

Granuloreticulosean protists transport particles (e.g., bacteria, algae, and sand grains) along the outer surfaces of their pseudopodia. This cell surface transport plays a vital role in feeding, reproduction, shell construction, and locomotion and can be visualized by the movements of extracellularly adherent polystyrene microspheres (i.e., latex beads). Our videomicroscopic analyses of transport associated with the pseudopodia of Reticulomyxa filosa revealed two distinct types of both intracellular and cell surface transport: (1) saltatory, bidirectional transport of individual or clustered organelles and/or surface-attached particles, and (2) continuous, unidirectional bulk or “resolute” motion of aggregated organelles and/or surface-bound particles. Organelles and surface-attached polystyrene microspheres remained firmly attached to the microtubule cytoskeletons of detergent-extracted pseudopodia. Both saltatory and resolute organelle and surface transport reactivated upon the addition of 0.01–1.0 mM ATP. At 1 mM ATP, the velocities of reactivated saltatory transport were indistinguishable from those observed in vivo. The reactivated transport was microtubule-dependent and was not inhibited by incubation with Ca2+-gelsolin under conditions that abolish rhodamine-phalloidin detection of actin filaments. These findings provide further support that both intracellular organelle and membrane surface transport are mediated by a common mechanism, and establish Reticulomyxa as a unique model system to further study the mechanochemistry of cell surface transport in vitro. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 37:139–148, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.
Vitamin requirements in adolescence.

Summary A review of vitamin requirements in adolescence is presented. Although a planned low cost diet can provide accessory food factors in adequate quantity with the exception of vitamin D, nutrition surveys have revealed the existence of many mild single or multiple vitamin deficiency states. The increased metabolic requirements and the rapid growth spurt characteristic of this age period indicate that an attempt should be made to provide an optimal vitamin intake in the diet or by supplementation. Supplementation of the diet of every adolescent to include 1,000 units of vitamin D daily is specifically suggested.
Are the phytochromes protein kinases

The biochemical mechanism of phytochrome action is unknown. We have examined the proposal, based on sequence similarities to the sensor histidine kinase components of bacterial two-component signaling systems, that the phytochromes may be functional homologs of these kinases. Four amino acids, three highly conserved between the phytochrome and bacterial kinase molecules and the other, the histidine residue putatively the target of autophosphorylation, were changed singly in the oat phytochrome A sequence by in vitro site-directed mutagenesis, and the resultant mutant photo-receptor molecules were assayed for activity by overexpression in transgenic Arabidopsis. Three of the four mutant molecules retained activity equivalent to that of the unmutagenized parent sequence, whereas the fourth mutant could not be evaluated because of low expression. The data show that the former three mutagenized residues are not essential for phytochrome A function in transgenic Arabidopsis, but, because of the negative nature of the results, the possibility cannot be precluded that the photoreceptor functions as a protein kinase independent of these residues.
The lowest-loss of 0.35 dB/km in an aluminum-doped SM optical fiber

We report the lowest attenuation of 0.35 dB/km @ 1550 nm achieved in the aluminum-doped, SMF-28/spl reg/-like, SM optical fiber. Additional features such as lower n/sub 2/, dispersion, and dispersion-slope, higher SBS threshold and better profiling stability have also been demonstrated.
Endovascular embolization of head and neck tumors

Endovascular tumor embolization as adjunctive therapy for head and neck cancers is evolving and has become an important part of the tools available for their treatment. Careful study of tumor vascular anatomy and adhering to general principles of intra-arterial therapy can prove this approach to be effective and safe. Various embolic materials are available and can be suited for a given tumor and its vascular supply. This article aims to summarize current methods and agents used in endovascular head and neck tumor embolization and discuss important angiographic and treatment characteristics of selected common head and neck tumors.
Extraversion–Emotional Stability Circumplex Traits and Subjective Well-Being

Drawing upon arguments for the interaction of extraversion and emotional stability in predicting subjective well-being (SWB), we examined the relationship between the extraversion–emotional stability International Personality Item Pool Abridged Big Five Circumplex (AB5C) traits and SWB (NA, PA, and life satisfaction). This AB5C circumplex measures emotional stability and extraversion as well as two positive blends and two negative blends of these traits. Results indicated that the positive blends of extraversion and emotional stability, happiness and poise, were not only correlated with SWB but also explained incremental validity over their Big Five factors. The negative blends of extraversion and emotional stability, talkativeness and impulse control, did not show the same pattern as the positive blends but did display some curvilinear relationships with SWB. While still fitting into the Big Five model, these circumplex traits offer a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between personality and SWB.
Soil and Rock Properties in a Young Volcanic Deposit on the Island of Hawaii

Deeply weathered lava flows of oceanic basalt reflect the mode and sequence of volcanic deposition, parent mineralogy, and postdepositional erosional and weathering processes. In turn, these are controlled by geology, geography, and climate. One particular site on the Island of Hawaii has been the focus of study to gain a better understanding of complex residual soil deposits, particularly in connection with a need to characterize seismic strong-motion propagation through decomposed surface soil and rock sequences. Materials at the site range from fully weathered volcanic soils, sometimes with unusual mineralogy and plasticity properties, to saprolite, weathered rock, vesicular basalt, and hard rock. Seismic surveys were conducted to investigate the distribution of these materials at the study site. Laboratory tests focused on saprolite and vesicular rock as two materials that are seldom reported on and that remain poorly characterized, at least with regard to conditions found in Hawaii.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura : Diagnosis and management

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP, also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura) in adults is principally a disease of young women. Although in some patients the onset is acute and complete resolution occurs, in most patients, the onset is insidious and the course is chronic. In spite of the relative frequency of ITP, there are important unresolved issues in its diagnosis and management. For this reason, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) chose ITP as the disease topic for its initial sponsored practice guideline in 1993. A major conclusion of the published guideline was the lack of firm evidence on which to base diagnostic procedures and management strategies. This review describes the clinical features of ITP in adults, emphasizes the principal unresolved issues in diagnosis and management, and outlines the critical areas for future research.
The whys and why nots of consumer participation.

This paper takes another look at the role of the consumer in the planning and delivery of services, including mental health services. It raises the issue of consumer representation, explores the antecedents of national legislation requiring consumer participation, indicates problems related to participation and details some solutions. In particular, the paper questions the effect of such participation on the delivery of mental health services and challenges Nader's Raiders who question the representation on boards of “Charity minded housewives, businessmen, lawyers, ministers, judges, and professional persons...”
A REMARKABLE FAMILY OF RHODIUM ACETONITRILE COMPOUNDS SPANNING THREE OXIDATION STATES AND WITH NUCLEARITIES RANGING FROM MONONUCLEAR AND DINUCLEAR TO ONE-DIMENSIONAL CHAINS

A series of homoleptic cations of Rh(I,II), Rh(II), and Rh(III) have been synthesized and characterized in the solid-state and in solution. Three new dinuclear compounds of dirhodium(II,II) were prepared by treatment of Rh2(O2CCH3)4(L)2 with Et3OBF4 or Me3Si(CF3SO3) in acetonitrile or propionitrile. The cations in (Rh 2 II,II -
Can charge-density waves occur in finite nuclei?

Recent observations by Cooper et al. of the charge distributions in /sup 166/Er and /sup 176/Yb bring to mind an old idea that the ground state of finite nuclear matter may exhibit spatially periodic mass-density and charge-density modulation. A feasible experiment employing a polarized /sup 165/Ho target is proposed. A spatially periodic charge modulation could most easily be detected by Bragg scattering of high-energy electrons.
Rydberg Wavepacket Metrology and Dynamics

Summary form only given. The ability to characterize and manipulate Rydberg electron wavepackets is a key capability for exploiting their exaggerated properties to investigate a variety of problems, from time-dependent electron-electron correlation in atoms to quantum decoherence suppression.
Novel PI(4)P 5-kinase homologue, Fab1p, essential for normal vacuole function and morphology in yeast.

The FAB1 gene of budding yeast is predicted to encode a protein of 257 kDa that exhibits significant sequence homology to a human type II PI(4)P 5-kinase (PIP5K-II). The recently cloned human PIP5K...