cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanoscale investigation and control of photothermal action of gold nanostructure-coated surfaces

The combination of biological variation and nanomaterial heterogeneity makes elucidating the mechanisms of interactions between cells and nanoparticles extremely complicated. Accurate nanoparticle quantification can be extremely challenging, and cellular response can change based on the location of the nanoparticle and the cell type under investigation. These complications are only amplified by the addition of external stimuli. These limitations have yielded a wide range of studies that show effects, but often provide little mechanistic insight. Gold (Au) nanomaterials were stably immobilized onto glass coverslips treated with mercaptosilane to control both the average number of nanoparticles that interact with cells and their spatial orientation relative to the cell membrane. Surfaces were characterized optically and by electron microscopy to confirm their surface density and uniformity. The thermal response of Au nanocage-coated surfaces to near infrared laser irradiation was measured in cell culture medium and modeled computationally. The modeling showed a vastly higher thermal dose than would be predicted by bulk temperature measurements. Adherent or non-adherent cell lines were cultured directly on the nanocage-coated surface or in the medium, respectively, in culture wells and laser irradiation was applied. Survival of cells growing in suspension correlated with the bulk temperature increase in the culture medium, as measured by viability assay. Conversely, adherent cells exhibited a much greater susceptibility than expected from the bulk temperature measurement, which is ostensibly related to the close interaction with the nanoparticles on their growth substrate and induction of substantially greater thermal dose upon laser exposure. This platform is designed to be a new tool to determine how many particles need to be in contact with a cell to induce desired physical or biological effects. Here we demonstrate the delivery of precise thermal doses following laser irradiation. The anticipated biological effects based on bulk measurements vastly underestimated the effects that were observed, which is ascribed to the proximity of the nanoparticle to the cell and the extraordinary high surface temperature of the particle. This platform could be expanded to a variety of nanoparticles, external stimuli, and cell types to enable more deliberate and optimized application of nanomedicine.
The “Three Electrode Circuit Element Utilizing Semiconductor Material”

The American Physical Society organized a “Symposium on the Solid State” in January 1945. Shockley discussed the conclusions of the symposium with the Director of Research at Bell Laboratories, Mervin J. Kelly, and his colleagues R. Bown and J. Fisk. Shockley said: “I think semiconductor physics is the area to explore” and argued that advances in solid-state physics and improved methods of producing semiconductor materials offered an opportunity for Bell Laboratories.
Entropic Control of HD Exchange Rates over Dilute Pd-in-Au Alloy Nanoparticle Catalysts

Author(s): van der Hoeven, Jessi ES; Ngan, Hio Tong; Taylor, Austin; Eagan, Nathaniel M; Aizenberg, Joanna; Sautet, Philippe; Madix, Robert J; Friend, Cynthia M
Determining Opportunities for U.S. Exports of Consumer-Oriented Foods to African Regional Markets

This study examines the level of trade between the U.S. and Africa for consumer-oriented agricultural products during the 1990s. To achieve this objective, we propose six congruent regional African...
Assessing the impact of low level chemicals on development: behavioral and latent effects.

There is growing evidence that nervous tissue, especially the brain, is more sensitive to many foreign chemical substances than has previously been suspected, and that toxic effects may be manifested as subtle disturbances of behavior long before any classical symptoms of poisoning become apparent. Early detection of an insidious toxic process (behavioral toxicology) may enable the prevention or attenuation of harm to humans and other organisms. Adding to both the sensitivity and complexity of behavioral toxicologic testing is the increasing evidence that individuals are more vulnerable to adverse factors during the period of development (conception → puberty) than at any other time in life. Subtle functional disturbances in organisms exposed while immature (behavioral teratology) may be one of the most sensitive indicators of chemical toxicity. Furthermore, defects in a developmental process may have only delayed effects. A morphological or biochemical lesion can be dormant and not manifest itself until later in life as a behavioral disorder, mental deficiency, or overt functional impairment. Longitudinal evaluation is required to detect long-term or delayed effects of a particular developmental influence on biological and behavioral functions. Examples from research on the subtle and latent consequences of prenatal and early postnatal exposure to methylmercury that illustrate the above principles are presented. It is concluded that behavioral and long-term evaluation of organisms exposed during development are essential for a thorough assessment of the impact of certain low level chemicals on human health.— SPYKER, J. M. Assessing the impact of low level chemicals on development: behavioral and latent effects. Federation Proc. 34: 1835-1844, 1975.
Theoretical Analysis of Molecular Transport Across Membrane Channels and Nanopores

A successful functioning of cellular systems requires that some molecules and ions be transferred out of the cell while other particles should be taken in. The bidirectional flux is accomplished with the help of a complex system of membrane protein channels and pores [1, 2]. It is known that molecular transport across cellular membranes is fast, efficient, selective, and that the functioning of channels is robust with respect to strong nonequilibrium fluctuations in the cellular environment [2]. These observations are especially surprising because in many cases molecular translocation does not involve the use of metabolic energy or significant conformational changes [4]. Although in recent years significant advances in studying molecular transport in biological systems have been achieved, the mechanisms of translocation phenomena are still not well understood.
Inhibition of Microbial Lipases by Fatty Acids

Addition of lard or sodium oleate to the medium used for lipase production by Pseudomonas fragi resulted in a decreased accumulation of lipase in the culture supernatant fluid without affecting cell growth. The production and activity of lipase was inhibited by lard, sodium oleate, and the salts of other unsaturated fatty acids. Some divalent cations, Tweens, lecithin, and bovine serum prevented oleate inhibition, but did not reverse it. Similar inhibitory actions were observed with Geotrichum candidum lipase, but not with a staphylococcal lipase or pancreatic lipase. A protective effect by protein in crude enzyme preparations is indicated. The ability of oleate to lower surface tension does not appear to be related to its ability to inhibit lipase.
Formation and Ultrastructure of Extra Membranes in Escherichia coli

A temperature-sensitive strain of Escherichia coli (strain 0111a(1)) was shown to accumulate membranous structures at 40 C. These "extra membranes" appeared as vesicles or whorls (or both), depending on the time of growth at 40 C. After 2 hr of growth at 40 C, only vesicles were observed in E. coli 0111a(1) cells; both vesicles and whorls were apparent after 6 hr. The number of cells which contained both types of extra membrane reached a maximum value (75%) after 10 hr of growth at 40 C. Extra membrane production was also studied by using temperature shifts. In shift-up experiments, cells grown at 30 C into early stationary phase accumulated extra membrane after a shift to 40 C. The percentage of E. coli 0111a(1) cells containing extra membrane decreased significantly after a shift from 40 to 30 C. Phase- and electron-microscopic observations indicated that E. coli 0111a(1) cells grown at 40 C were larger than E. coli 0111: B(4) cells grown at either temperature. The ratio of optical density per cell and cell measurements obtained from quantitative electron microscopy confirmed that E. coli 0111a(1) cells grown at 40 C were about twice as large. Microdensitometer traces indicated that the dimension of a single membrane of either whorls or vesicles was 5.4 nm in peak-to-peak distance (8.8 nm total thickness).
Early Prediction of Student Dropout and Performance in MOOCs using Higher Granularity Temporal Information

Our project is motivated by the early drop out and low completion rate problem in MOOCs. We have extended traditional features for MOOC analysis with richer granularity information to make more accurate predictions of dropout and performance. The results show that adding final-grained temporal or non-temporal information into behaviour features provides more predictive power in the early phases of a POSA MOOC. As a next step, we plan to determine if we could use these features to better profile students with unsupervised learning methods.
Immunomodulatory treatment for dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis and polymyositis are classified as members of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. It has recently become evident that the pathogenesis of the muscle disease for these two entities is likely not the same. Despite this observation, therapies directed at the muscle disease are similar, although therapy for the skin differs slightly. Corticosteroids remain the initial approach to management. The systemic dose of corticosteroids needed to control the disease, particularly the skin disease, is quite high; therefore, most authorities add a corticosteroid-sparing agent early. Some patients will naturally “burn out” the inflammatory component of their disease, but many have continuing disease activity that requires maintenance therapy. In this article, we briefly define the disease state of dermatomyositis, discuss the associated systemic manifestations, and update the selection and evaluation of immunomodulatory, corticosteroid-sparing agents.
Is there something special about memory for internally generated information

In two experiments, the number of times subjects saw and generated words was varied, and then half the subjects were asked to judge presentation frequency and half were asked to judge generation frequency. People were more sensitive to the relative frequency of internally generated, compared with externally generated, events. Also, judgments of internal events were less affected by whether or not the subjects were given a restricted range of numbers for their judgments, and internally generated events produced more confusion in estimating external event frequency than vice versa. The results are discussed in terms of potential differences in the characteristics of memory representations originating in external, compared with internal, events and the way these might interact with the judgment process.
Saving Strawson: Evil and Strawsonian Accounts of Moral Responsibility

Almost everyone allows that conditions can obtain that exempt agents from moral responsibility—that someone is not a morally responsible agent if certain conditions obtain. In his seminal “Freedom and Resentment,” Peter Strawson denies that the truth of determinism globally exempts agents from moral responsibility. As has been noted elsewhere, Strawson appears committed to the surprising thesis that being an evil person is an exempting condition. Less often noted is the fact that various Strawsonians—philosophers sympathetic with Strawson’s account of moral responsibility—at least appear to have difficulty incorporating evil persons into their accounts of moral responsibility. In what follows, I argue that Strawson is not committed to supposing that being evil is an exempting condition—at least, that he can allow that evil persons are morally responsible agents.
Evaluation of the gel system for ABO grouping and D typing.

Background The gel agglutination assay has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an alternative to the tube assay for the detection of red cell antibodies. It has also been approved recently by the Food and Drug Administration for ABO blood grouping and D typing. Study design and methods Tube and gel agglutination assays were compared for ABO grouping and D typing of 100 donor and 100 patient specimens. ABO grouping of 14 specimens of known ABO groups and D typing of 10 specimens with weak D were also compared. When antigen typing or isohemagglutinin results differed, gel testing was repeated by the use of modified incubation times, reagent or specimen volumes, and red cell concentrations. Results ABO grouping and D typing in all patient and donor specimens concurred. B isohemagglutinins were not detected in seven group A specimens. Six of seven discrepancies were resolved when gel tests were incubated at room temperature with increased serum or plasma volume. Weak D was detected in all 10 specimens tested by both assays. When weak A and/or B were tested with monoclonal antibody reagents, the correct phenotypes were identified in 9 specimens by gel assay and in 10 by tube assay. Using human antisera, 6 specimens were correctly phenotyped by gel assay and 7 by tube assay. Conclusion The gel assay performed as well as the tube assay in detection of A, B, and D, but the tube assay was slightly better at detecting B isohemagglutinins. The gel assay can be used in place of the tube assay for ABO blood grouping and D typing.
Coilin levels modulate cell cycle progression and γH2AX levels in etoposide treated U2OS cells

Coilin is considered the Cajal body (CB) marker protein. In this report, we investigated the role of coilin in the DNA damage response and found that coilin reduction correlated with significantly increased levels of soluble γH2AX in etoposide treated U2OS cells. Additionally, coilin levels influenced the proliferation rate and cell cycle distribution of cells exposed to etoposide. Moreover, coilin overexpression inhibited nucleolar localization of endogenous coilin in etoposide treated U2OS cells. Collectively, these data provide additional evidence for coilin and CBs in the DNA damage response.
IL18 does not reduce choroidal neovascularization and causes retinal dysfunction in mice

Purpose It was reported that intravitreous administration anti-mouse IL18 antibody increases the size of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesions in mice (Doyle et al. Nat Med 2012). IL-18 administration was therefore proposed as a potential therapeutic for CNV, although this hypothesis was never directly tested. Here, we determined the effect of IL-18 injection on laser CNV in mice, and also show for the first time that IL-18 is toxic to retinal function. Methods Laser photocoagulations were performed to perforate Bruch’s membrane followed by intravitreous injections of recombinant IL-18 (rIL-18) or PBS, and the eyes were collected and analyzed on the day 7 after laser treatment. Laser-induced CNV lesions stained with isolectin B4 were imaged by a confocal microscope system (Leica). Mice receiving rIL-18 or PBS were subjected to electroretinography 7 days after sub-retinal injection. RPE flat mounts of rIL-18 or PBS treated wild type, Fas-/-, and FasL-/- mice were stained for intercellular junctions. Results Average CNV volume was not different in eyes treated with recombinant IL-18 compared to vehicle treated. Wild-type mice receiving rIL-18 had RPE degeneration, but the degeneration did not occur in Fas or FasL knockout mice. We also injected plasmids coding pro-IL-18 and mature IL-18, and found mature IL-18 didn't change CNV volume but caused degeneration. Wild type mice receiving rIL-18 injections showed lower amplitude in electroretinography compared to vehicle injected eyes. Conclusion IL-18 injections did not reduce CNV. Also, IL-18 administration induced RPE degeneration via a Fas/Fas ligand-dependent pathway.
Amino Acid Pharmacokinetics and Safety Assessment

Tracer kinetic studies of amino acid metabolism during periods of high amino acid intake should allow insights into adaptive or maladaptive regulatory mechanisms controlling amino acid catabolic or disposal events before clinically evident effects. The principles of amino acid tracer kinetics have been well defined, but their application to establishing upper safe intake levels has been essentially nonexistent. Similarly, the pharmacology field has well-established disciplines of toxicokinetics (the relationship of toxicant dose and delivery to its site of action) and toxicodynamics (the relationship of toxicant at its site of action and downstream functional consequences), but these principles have not been transferred to the field of amino acid metabolism. In this context, a theoretical framework is presented for tracer kinetic experiments to help establish upper tolerable levels of amino acid infusion and/or ingestion. In addition, experiments to couple specific amino acid intake levels with their consequent physiological dynamic effects are suggested to lead to the construction of benefit-risk curves that may permit definition of safe amino acid intake ranges for the population.
Field theory of the inverse cascade in two-dimensional turbulence.

A two-dimensional fluid, stirred at high wave numbers and damped by both viscosity and linear friction, is modeled by a statistical field theory. The fluid's long-distance behavior is studied using renormalization-group (RG) methods, as begun by Forster, Nelson, and Stephen [Phys. Rev. A 16, 732 (1977)]. With friction, which dissipates energy at low wave numbers, one expects a stationary inverse energy cascade for strong enough stirring. While such developed turbulence is beyond the quantitative reach of perturbation theory, a combination of exact and perturbative results suggests a coherent picture of the inverse cascade. The zero-friction fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT) is derived from a generalized time-reversal symmetry and implies zero anomalous dimension for the velocity even when friction is present. Thus the Kolmogorov scaling of the inverse cascade cannot be explained by any RG fixed point. The beta function for the dimensionless coupling ĝ is computed through two loops; the ĝ3 term is positive, as already known, but the ĝ5 term is negative. An ideal cascade requires a linear beta function for large ĝ, consistent with a Pade approximant to the Borel transform. The conjecture that the Kolmogorov spectrum arises from an RG flow through large ĝ is compatible with other results, but the accurate k(-5/3) scaling is not explained and the Kolmogorov constant is not estimated. The lack of scale invariance should produce intermittency in high-order structure functions, as observed in some but not all numerical simulations of the inverse cascade. When analogous RG methods are applied to the one-dimensional Burgers equation using an FDT-preserving dimensional continuation, equipartition is obtained instead of a cascade--in agreement with simulations.
Using high-temperature electrical resistivity measurements to determine the quality of diamond films

The electrical resistivity of undoped diamond films has been measured between room temperature and 1200 C.
The Postpartum Period

There is frequently a cataclysmic effect on the personality of the mother during the postpartum period as she adjusts to her infant and the now enlarged family unit. The new mother is experiencing significant hormonal shifts and physiological changes, including some subtle rebound effects (that is, certain mechanisms were turned off during pregnancy and afterward get turned on again and overshoot the mark). The mother is in the midst of forming a very close bond with her baby, referred to as “primary maternal preoccupation” (Winnicott, 1956). If she is nursing, another complex set of hormones is being released.
The influence of reflection artifacts on apparent phase velocity measurements in the trachea.

Models of the pulmonary airway network were analyzed to determine the effect of reflections on apparent phase velocity measurements in the trachea of dogs. A stiffly constrained elastic tube filled with a viscous fluid was used to model each airway segment, and a series resistance-capacitance combination served as a terminal element for each pathway. Reflection, transmission and attenuation coefficients at each branching site and reflection coefficients at each termination were computed. Composite sinusoidal pressure waves at two sites in the trachea where computed for frequencies from 5 to 150 Hz, and crosscorrelograms were used to determine apparent phase velocities. In an asymmetrical model, the randomness of the airway diameters caused phase shifts in the reflection coefficients to vary between approximately 0° and 180° resulting in significant destructive interference between the reflected waves. Calculated apparent phase velocities agreed with the assumed values within 40% at frequencies of 70 Hz and below and within 20% at higher frequencies in this model.
SELF‐INTEREST, CREDIBILITY, AND MESSAGE SELECTION IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION: A RESEARCH NOTE

This paper reports the findings of a recent survey to determine the effectiveness of efforts by the Library of Congress to communicate with its employees about the Library's Affirmative Action program. Results indicated relatively low levels of employee information about the program. While the perceived credibility of the source was positively correlated with the amount of information absorbed, perceived self-interest in the Affirmative Action program was not.
Photoluminescence of spark-processed metals

The photoluminescence (PL) properties of spark-processed (sp) metals were systematically investigated. It was found that spark-processing of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, and Mn essentially yielded no PL at room temperature in the visible spectral range. In contrast, sp-Ti, Ta, Al, Ni, Mo, and Zn showed strong PL, which is in many respects comparable to sp-Si. It was further found that the PL intensity of the sp metals depends exponentially on the nitrogen concentration, which is contained in the spark-processing ambient (along with oxygen). This behavior was also found for sp-Si. In contrast, the PL intensities for native oxides (containing essentially no nitrogen) is several orders of magnitude smaller than those for sp-metals and the respective PL peaks are situated at higher energies. The results are discussed in the light of the self-trapped exciton model.
Assembly sequences for polyhedra

The problem of finding sequences of motions for the assembly of a given object consisting of polyhedral parts arises in assembly planning. We describe an algorithm to compute the set of all translations separating two polyhedra withn vertices inO(n4) steps and show that this is optimal. Given an assembly ofk polyhedra with a total ofn vertices, an extension of this algorithm identifies a valid translation and removable subassembly inO(k2n4) steps if one exists. Based on the second algorithm, a polynomial-time method for finding a complete assembly sequence consisting of single translations is derived. An implementation incorporates several changes to achieve better average-case performance; experimental results obtained for simple assemblies are described.
Wave-Coherent Fields in Air Flow over Ocean Waves: Identification of Cooperative Behavior Buried in Turbulence

We present a method to study the coupling and synchronization of two chaotic systems---the surface gravity waves in the open ocean and the turbulent air flow above. Our approach employs an eikonal-like representation of the wave field based on the concept of an analytic signal and the Hilbert transform. We identify a wave-coherent component in the air flow which is phase locked with the waves and deeply buried in turbulence. That component contributes most of the wind-wave energy and momentum exchange, so its identification from actual data is of primary interest. We define and obtain the phase shifts of the wave-coherent fields and discuss their roles in the wind wave exchange.
The ocean thermal resource and the Pacific

Abstract A generic view of solar energy schemes demonstrates that ocean thermal energy represents an optimum integration of solar energy. It is shown that experimental results for both energy and aquaculture have equaled or exceeded the optimistic estimates of protagonists. Resistence to the development of ocean thermal energy is identified as political and not economic. It is concluded that an economic form of OTEC must be demonstrated in the near future if the realization of this major form of energy is not to be deferred.
Monooxygenase activity of tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens F.) larvae: tissue distribution and optimal assay conditions for the gut activity

Abstract 1. 1. The highest monooxygenase ( p- nitroanisole O- demethylase ) activity per insect equivalent of tissue in last instar tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens F.) larvae was found in gut homogenates. Relative activities of homogenates of other tissues or body regions ( gut = 1.0 ) were: fat body, 0.54; Malpighian tubule, 0.04; silk gland, 0.02; integument (including remaining interal tissues),0.04; and head capsule, 0.03. 2. 2. Gut monooxygenases were maximally active at pH 7.8 and 25°C. Activity was linear with respect to time for up to 20 min and with respect to enzyme level for up to 2.5 tissue equivalents/incubation. 3. 3. Most (94%) of the activity of whole gut homogenates was recovered in a 750 g supernatant; recoveries in 10,000 g supernatant and 100,000 g pellet fractions were 56 and 29%, respectively, of the initial activity. 4. 4. These results identify appropriate conditions for measuring the monooxygenase activity of tobacco budworm larval gut tissue.
Nonlinear character dependent models with constant time delay in population dynamics

Abstract A nonlinear character dependent model with constant time delay that extends the linear model of W. S. C. Gurney and R. M. Nisbet is introduced as a result of making the birth and death moduli dependent upon the total population. We reduce this model—an initial boundary value problem—to the solution of a pair of coupled nonlinear functional equations. Under suitable conditions, we establish the local existence, uniqueness, and continuation of solutions for all positive time. We also establish necessary and sufficient conditions for the local stability of time independent solutions in the form of a Lotka type characteristic equation similar to M. E. Gurtin and R. C. MacCamy's charateristic equation arising from their nonlinear extension of the age dependent MacKendrick-Von Foerster model.
Some effects of trinitrocresolate and valinomycin on Na and K transport across thin lipid bilayer membranes: A steady-state analysis with simultaneous tracer and electrical measurements

This paper describes the effect of trinitrocresolate anions (TNC−) on the electrical conductance (G m ), and tracer-measured unidirectional Na and K fluxes (M Na andM K) across bilayers formed from sheep red cell lipids dissolved in decane. In the absence of TNC−, typical low conductances were observed, while the cation fluxes were too low to measure by our techniques (<10−12 moles cm−2 sec−1). In the presence of TNC− (10−2 m),G m increased and TNC− was the main charge carrier in the system. The cationic fluxes were also much increased, but the membranes showed no significant selectivity between K and Na. Furthermore, the Na and K fluxes were at least two orders of magnitude larger than the ionic fluxes calculated fromG m . Thus, almost all of the K and Na transport across the membrane in the presence of TNC− is electrically silent and is probably carried out as KTNC and NaTNC ion pairs. In the presence of valinomycin (10−6 m) and no TNC−, both the ion fluxes andG m were 103 times larger in KCl than in NaCl, thus exhibiting the characteristic high selectivity of valinomycin for K over Na. In the presence of both valinomycin (10−6 m) and TNC− (10−2 m), this selectivity disappeared in that bothG m andM Na in the NaCl system were similar to the respective values in the KCl system. Even under these conditions, most of the Na is still transported by a process which does not carry charge. BothG m andM x increased alike and monotonically with increasing temperature over the range 7 to 30°C. In the absence of TNC− the enthalpies of activation were invariably higher in KCl than in NaCl. Addition of TNC− produced equal enthalpies of activation for both Na and K containing systems suggesting a common, temperature-dependent, ratedetermining step in charge transfer and the electrically silent cation fluxes.
The differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Thyroid carcinomas comprise 1.5% of malignancies worldwide and are the most common endocrine cancer. It was projected that 23,600 patients would be given a diagnosis of thyroid cancer in theUnited States in 2004, which is an estimated 3% annual increase in incidence. A much greater portion of the US population, almost 7%, develops a clinically significant thyroid nodule, the vast majority of which are benign. Given the different treatment strategies for benign andmalignant nodules, as well as the inherent morbidity associatedwith surgery, better preoperative determination of benign versus malignant nodules has been a lofty but elusive goal. The development and implementation of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) 30 years ago substantially decreased the need for operative intervention by improving preoperative diagnostics. However, only one quarter of operative specimens are currently determined to be malignant, mainly as a result of our continued inability to definitively classify “indeterminate” aspirates seen in up to one fifth of FNA specimens. The differentiation of follicular adenomas, follicular carcinomas, and the follicular variant of papillary carcinomas remains the subject of intense research. In addition, FNA is not ca-
Dynamic ruptures in recent models of earthquake faults

Abstract We discuss several problems of dynamic rupture relevant to mechanics of earthquake faults, material sciences, and physics of spatially extended dissipative systems. The problems include dynamic rupture along an interface separating different elastic solids, dynamic rupture on a planar surface governed by strongly velocity-weakening friction, and elastodynamic calculations of long deformation history on a smooth fault in an elastic continuum. These separate problems share a number of methodological and conceptual issues that form recurring themes in the paper. An important methodological issue for computational schemes is dependency of numerical results on the used grid size. This arises inevitably in computer simulations when the assumed constitutive laws do not include a length scale (e.g., of shear or extensional displacement) over which material properties evolve. Such simulations do not have a stable underlying solution, to which they may converge with sufficient grid refinement. However, they may provide rough approximations—lacking at present a rigorous foundation—to the behavior of systems containing elements of discreteness (associated with abrupt fluctuations) at scales relevant to observations of interest. Related important conceptual issues are connections between, or when appropriate separation of, small scale phenomena (e.g., nucleation of rupture, processes at rupture front) and large scale features of the response (e.g., overall space–time dimensions of rupture, statistics of many events). Additional recurring conceptual topics are crack vs. pulse modes of dynamic rupture, the stress under which earthquake faults slip, and the origin of spatio-temporal complexities of earthquakes. These seemingly different issues probably have one or more common origins. Dynamic rupture on an interface between different solids, strongly velocity-weakening friction on a homogeneous fault, and strong fault zone heterogeneities can all produce narrow self-healing slip pulses with low dynamic stress (and low associated frictional heat) during the active part of slip. Strong fault heterogeneities probably play the dominant role in producing the observed earthquake complexities. Improved understanding of the discussed problems will require establishing connections between discrete and continuum descriptions of mechanical failure processes, generalization of current models to realistic three-dimensional dynamic models, and high-resolution laboratory and in-situ observations over broad scales of space and time. These challenging problems provide by their subject matter and involved great difficulties important targets for multi-disciplinary research by engineers, earth scientists, and physicists.
Nanodiamond lateral field emission vacuum logic OR gate

Reported are fabrication and characterisation of a novel vacuum logic OR gate using two identical nanodiamond lateral field emission diodes fabricated on silicon-on-insulator wafers. Each diode consists of 9000 finger-like emitters with 4 µm interelectrode spacing. High and stable emission current with low turn-on field have been observed and verified by a Fowler-Nordheim plot for each structure. Diode-resistor logic is used to realise the logic OR function. This nanodiamond vacuum logic gate is very promising for application in harsh environments.
A utility proportional fairness approach for resource allocation in 4G-LTE

In this paper, we introduce an approach for resource allocation of elastic and inelastic adaptive real-time traffic in fourth generation long term evolution (4G-LTE) system. In our model, we use logarithmic and sigmoidal-like utility functions to represent the users applications running on different user equipments (UE)s. We present a resource allocation optimization problem with utility proportional fairness policy, where the fairness among users is in utility percentage (i.e user satisfaction with the service) of the corresponding applications. Our objective is to allocate the resources to the users with priority given to the adaptive real-time application users. In addition, a minimum resource allocation for users with elastic and inelastic traffic should be guaranteed. Our goal is that every user subscribing for the mobile service should have a minimum quality-of-service (QoS) with a priority criterion. We prove that our resource allocation optimization problem is convex and therefore the optimal solution is tractable. We present a distributed algorithm to allocate evolved NodeB (eNodeB) resources optimally with a priority criterion. Finally, we present simulation results for the performance of our rate allocation algorithm.
Use of Symmetry in the Determination of Magnetic Structures

General symmetry considerations are used to determine what restrictions can be placed on the structure of the magnetic state in crystals. From the work of Landau and Lifshitz it is found that the following restrictions apply to those magnetic structures which can arise when a crystal undergoes a single second-order phase transition from the paramagnetic state to the magnetic state in question. In the immediate vicinity of the transition point the spin density of the magnetic state transforms as a basis function for a single irreducible representation of the symmetry group of the paramagnetic phase. At lower temperatures the spin density may change through the introduction of basis functions corresponding to odd order "harmonics" of the "fundamental" representation. This takes place in such a way that the symmetry of the spin density does not change. Other components may also be introduced in the spin density through other phase transitions at lower temperatures. It is further found that no such restrictions can be placed, in general, on the possible configurations of the magnetic ground state, and that definite information concerning the classical ground state cannot, therefore, be obtained by symmetry arguments alone. It is concluded that the use of symmetry in the determination of magnetic structures is restricted, in most cases, to the highest temperature magnetically ordered state exhibited by the crystal. The results are illustrated by a few examples.
Conversion of non-functional to functional iron following reconstitution of hemerythrin.

A recent report from this laboratory (Zhang, J.-H., Kurtz, D.M. Jr., Xia, Y.-M. and Debrunner, P.G. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 583–589) described a procedure for reconstitution of a functional di-iron site in the octameric, non-heme iron O 2 -carrying protein, hemerythrin by addition of ferrous salts to apoprotein, followed by slow dilution of the denatturant. Although the resulting protein contained its full complement of iron, i.e., 2 Fe per subunit about 30% of the iron was found to remain ferrous under ambient O 2 , i.e., this iron was incapblle of forming an O 2 adduct. In this report a method is described for obtaining essentially fully functional hemerythrin by passage of the freshly reconstructed protein through an [oxy/30% non-functional → met → deoxy → oxy redox cycle. UV/vis absorption and 57 Fe Mossbauer spectroscopies show that little or no non-functional iron remains in the reconstituted oxyhemerythrin after the redox cycle. Quantitations of protein and diiron sites show that, during the first step of the redox cycle, the non-functional iron is converted to a form that is spectroscopically indistinguishable from that of native methemerythrin. Far-UV circular dichroism shows that the secondary structure of this reconstituted methemerythrin is essentially identical to that of native protein. Non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows that the size and charge of the native and reconstituted proteins before and after redox cycling are essentially identical. These results indicate that the non-functional iron is converted to a functional form by the redox cycling, and that the key in this conversiion is the [oxy/30% non-functional → met transformation.
Parvalbumin characterization from the euryhaline stingray Dasyatis sabina.

Abstract The Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina ¸ found along the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Atlantic coasts, is a euryhaline species of elasmobranch. This species is able to osmotically compensate for changing environmental salinity by altering plasma and intracellular solutes, including urea and counteracting methylamines (betaine and TMAO). Parvalbumin (PV) is an intracellular protein that facilitates muscle relaxation by sequestering calcium. Determining the effects that in situ concentrations of urea (146 mM), betaine (62 mM), and TMAO (11 mM) have on PV function in marine and freshwater adapted populations of D. sabina could provide insight into intracellular correlates of euryhaline tolerance for this species. PV from marine and freshwater populations of D. sabina was identified and purified by SDS-PAGE, western blot analysis, and full amino acid sequence analysis. Both populations exhibited two PV isoforms, PV I (~ 12.18 kDa mw) and PV II (11.96 kDa mw). PV dissociation constants ( K D ) were determined in the presence and absence of physiological concentrations of urea, betaine, and TMAO by fluorescence spectroscopy using the fluorescent Ca 2+ indicator fluo-3 which competes with PV for Ca 2+ . Functional studies revealed PV I showed no significant changes in calcium binding from in situ muscle conditions, except in the presence of betaine. In contrast, PV II's ability to bind calcium was increased relative to physiological conditions in the presence of each osmolyte independently. Thus, it appears that organic osmolytes have isoform specific effects on PV function.
Copper uptake by two sympatric species of Killifish Fundulus heteroclitus (L.) and F. majalis (Walbaum)

Differential copper uptake within brain, visceral, gill, somatic and residual tissue was examined in the two sympatric species of killifishes Fundulus heteroclitus and F. majalis. Various salinities and copper concentrations were tested on both juvenile and adult stages to examine their effects on copper uptake. Salinity played a significant role in copper uptake in both species of killifishes. However, the effect of salinity was specific for each species and life history stage. Copper content of various tissues was directly related to the uptake pattern exhibited by whole adult fishes. Fundulus majalis brain tissue and F. heteroclitus muscle tissue were exceptions. Severe body lesions and subcutaneous haemorrhaging were observed after 2–3 day exposure to both 2 and 8 ppm copper.
Characterization of the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated regulation of IL2 production by T cells and Jurkat cells

The effect of cyclic AMP-elevating agents on mitogen-stimulated IL2 production was examined. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibited IL2 production by human peripheral blood T cells stimulated with PHA. In contrast, PGE2 did not inhibit PHA-stimulated IL2 production by the human leukemic T cell line. Jurkat, and often slightly enhanced IL2 production by those cells. Other cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) elevating agents (forskolin, isoproterenol, and the cAMP analogue, dibutyryl cAMP) also inhibited lectin-stimulated IL2 production by T cells, but could not inhibit IL2 production by Jurkat cells. Of the cAMP-elevating agents examined, only cholera toxin (CT) inhibited IL2 production by both Jurkat cells and peripheral blood T cells. Although phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) greatly enhanced PHA-stimulated IL2 production by Jurkat cells. CT remained markedly inhibitory. The combination of PMA and the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, also induced IL2 production by Jurkat cells, and this was similarly suppressed by CT, suggesting that a step after initial second messenger generation was inhibited. A prolonged increase in intracellular cAMP levels was induced by CT in both T cells and Jurkat cells, but the maximal level and the length of elevation achieved in T cells were much less than those observed in Jurkat cells. In contrast, PGE2 caused only a modest and transient increase in intracellular cAMP levels in Jurkat cells compared to that noted with T cells. PGE2 induced a more marked and sustained increase in cAMP levels in Jurkat cells treated with isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Moreover, in the presence of IBMX, PGE2 caused a marked inhibition of IL2 production by PHA-stimulated Jurkat cells. Differences in the capacity of PGE2 to induce cAMP could not be explained by disparities in the level of cAMP phosphodiesterase activity as this was comparable in Jurkat cells and in T cells. Thus, these observations indicate that IL2 production by both peripheral T cells and Jurkat cells can be modulated by cAMP-elevating agents. The data suggest that the diminished capacity of PGE2 to inhibit IL2 production by Jurkat cells reflects both a diminished capacity of PGE2 to induce increases in cAMP levels in these cells and an increase in the threshold of cAMP required to inhibit Jurkat cells.
Characteristics of Fallers Who Fracture at the Foot, Distal Forearm, Proximal Humerus, Pelvis, and Shaft of the Tibia/Fibula Compared with Fallers Who Do Not Fracture

This case-control study examined the relation of circumstances of falls and characteristics of fallers with risk of fractures at five sites among persons 45 years of age or older from five Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Northern California from 1996 to 2001. Included were distal forearm (n = 1,016), foot (n = 574), proximal humerus (n = 467), pelvis (n = 150), and shaft of the tibia/fibula (n = 141) cases who fell at the time of their fracture, and controls (n = 512) who reported falling in the year before the interview but did not fracture. Interviewers collected information by using a standardized questionnaire. Medium-/high-heeled shoes and shoes with a narrow heel increased the risk of all fractures, and slip-on shoes (adjusted odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 4.0) and sandals (adjusted odds ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.5, 6.3) increased the risk of foot fractures. Falling from more than a standing height increased the risk of all fractures by two- to fivefold, while breaking the fall was associated with lower risks of all fractures except the distal forearm. Physical activity and hormone therapy were associated with lower risks of most fractures. These results suggest ways in which risks of fractures in older persons can be reduced.
E1-L2 activates both ubiquitin and FAT10.

Summary Ubiquitination is catalyzed by a cascade of enzymes consisting of E1, E2, and E3. We report here the identification of an E1-like protein, termed E1-L2, that activates both ubiquitin and another ubiquitin-like protein, FAT10. Interestingly, E1-L2 can transfer ubiquitin to Ubc5 and Ubc13, but not Ubc3 and E2-25K, suggesting that E1-L2 may be specialized in a subset of ubiquitination reactions. E1-L2 forms a thioester with FAT10 in vitro, and this reaction requires the active-site cysteine of E1-L2 and the C-terminal diglycine motif of FAT10. Furthermore, endogenous FAT10 forms a thioester with E1-L2 in cells stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ), which induce FAT10 expression. Silencing of E1-L2 expression by RNAi blocks the formation of FAT10 conjugates in cells. Deletion of E1-L2 in mice caused embryonic lethality, suggesting that E1-L2 plays an important role in embryogenesis.
Drug-induced Pulmonary Edema in a Patient Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Adverse reactions to drugs are common in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In these patients pulmonary reactions to drugs may be difficult to differentiate from opportunistic pulmonary infections. We report a HIV-infected patient who on two occasions developed acute pulmonary edema related to the administration of ibuprofen.
Detection of Changes of Multiple Poisson Processes Monitored at Discrete Time Points Where the Arrival Rates are Unknown

Abstract We observe a Poisson process in several categories where the arrival rates in each category change at some unknown integer. For some of these categories the arrival rates increase, whereas in other categores the arrival rates decrease. The point at which the process changes may be different for each category. We assume that both the arrival rates for each category as well as the change-point are unknown. We develop procedures for detecting when a change has occurred in at least one of these categories. We provide some numerical results to illustrate the effectiveness of the detection procedures.
Antiproton-proton annihilation interactions at 2.7 GeV/c producing eight or more pions

Abstract We have studied eight-and ten-pronged events from 2.7 GeV/c p p interactions. We have measured multipion cross sections, invariant-mass distributions and angular distributions. With the exception of pion-pion angular correlations, all of our data are consistent with the simple statistical model (Lorentz-invariant phase space). The pion-pion angular correlations are significantly different from phase space for different dipion charge combinations. Pions having like charges tend to have the same direction. One might expect that Bose-Einstein statistics is responsible for the angular correlation but the lack of significant correlation between the pion momenta and the opening angle puts it in doubt.
Web Services Architecture

The underlying need for Web Services has been demonstrated by their early adoption and rapid evolution during the last few years. This evolution has resulted in a number of specifications being proposed that at first glance seem independent of one another. The current immaturity of the base technology and the growing number and diversity of specifications related to Web Services is sometimes seen as a barrier to developers attempting to combine them to create a working piece of software. For some, the apparent lack of stability and coherence in the specifications even raises the question of the real long-term viability and value of the technology. This document puts those specifications into perspective by describing the set of interoperable XML protocols that are the foundation of building interoperable systems, middleware, and applications.