cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RNF8-dependent and RNF8-independent Regulation of 53BP1 in Response to DNA Damage

The DNA damage surveillance network orchestrates cellular responses to DNA damage through the recruitment of DNA damage-signaling molecules to DNA damage sites and the concomitant activation of protein phosphorylation cascades controlled by the ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated) and ATR (ATM-Rad3-related) kinases. Activation of ATM/ATR triggers cell cycle checkpoint activation and adaptive responses to DNA damage. Recent studies suggest that protein ubiquitylation or degradation plays an important role in the DNA damage response. In this study, we examined the potential role of the proteasome in checkpoint activation and ATM/ATR signaling in response to UV light-induced DNA damage. HeLa cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 showed delayed phosphorylation of ATM substrates in response to UV light. UV light-induced phosphorylation of 53BP1, as well as its recruitment to DNA damage foci, was strongly suppressed by proteasome inhibition, whereas the recruitment of upstream regulators of 53BP1, including MDC1 and H2AX, was unaffected. The ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase RNF8 was critical for 53BP1 focus targeting and phosphorylation in ionizing radiation-damaged cells, whereas UV light-induced 53BP1 phosphorylation and targeting exhibited partial dependence on RNF8 and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBC13. Suppression of RNF8 or UBC13 also led to subtle defects in UV light-induced G2/M checkpoint activation. These findings are consistent with a model in which RNF8 ubiquitylation pathways are essential for 53BP1 regulation in response to ionizing radiation, whereas RNF8-independent pathways contribute to 53BP1 targeting and phosphorylation in response to UV light and potentially other forms of DNA replication stress.
Unimate: A student information system

Learning management systems and student information systems have been in use for years in a number of universities across America. However, their use is not as widespread in universities in India. The main reasons have been the lack of high-speed Internet availability, reluctance from universities to try new software, and the high cost of commercial products (which are not differently priced for the Indian market). In recent years, Internet penetration has significantly improved and a number of universities even have direct connections to the internet backbone. Social media use has become very widespread, and students and teachers are familiar and comfortable with a number of web-based applications. The goal of this project is to develop a prototype for a low-cost web-based application that provides features of both learning management systems and student information systems, and is customized to the needs of universities in India.
Decisions in Single Group Repeated Measures Analysis: Statistical Tests and Three Computer Packages

Abstract Repeated measures analysis is a widely used tool of applied statisticians. However, its users are confronted with what seems to be a myriad of decisions, even in its simple application. Should a univariate or a multivariate mode be used? Should an adjusted univariate test be used, and if so, which one? Should a pooled or partitioned error term be used? How important is the sphericity test? Given answers to these questions, which of three major statistical packages, and which programs within a package, could be used? These questions are discussed and resolved in this presentation.
A low molecular weight nuclear RNA from HeLa cells inhibits exogenous messenger RNA-dependent protein synthesis.

Abstract A low molecular weight RNA of nuclear origin from adenovirus-infected HeLa cells inhibited rabbit reticulocyte polyribosomal RNA-dependent cell-free protein synthesis by reducing the formation of 80 S ribosome from 40 S-mRNA complex and 60 S subunits. This inhibitor did not hybridize with intact or HindIII-digested fragments of the viral DNA. Therefore it appears to be a 5.5 S RNA of cellular origin, which binds significantly with authentic IF-M2B from rabbit reticulocytes. In all these characteristics the inhibitor appears identical to a similar 5.5 S inhibitor RNA from non-infected HeLa cells.
Chronic actinic dermatitis and sunscreen allergy.

Summary A case of chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) is described to illustrate the natural history of the condition over 30 years and sunscreen allergy as a complicating factor.
Periodic solutions to systems of reaction-diffusion equations

Necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for the existence of temporally periodic 'dissipative structure' solutions in weak diffusion with the reaction rate terms dominant in a generic system of reaction-diffusion differential equations. The enumerator index i of the equations denotes the density or concentration of the ith participating molecular or biological species, and D sub i is the diffusivity constant for the ith species while Q sub i (c), an algebraic function of the n-tuple c, expresses the local rate of production of the ith species due to chemical reactions or biological interactions.
Limiting response time of double-barrier resonant tunneling structures.

The lifetime of the lowest quasibound state localized within the quantum-well region of a double-barrier resonant tunneling structure is calculated. The results are used to estimate the limiting response time for resonant transport in a GaAs/${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$As structure.
Gravitational stresses in anisotropic rock masses

Abstract This paper presents closed-form solutions for the stress field induced by gravity in anisotropic rock masses. These rocks are assumed to be laterally restrained and are modelled as a homogeneous, orthotropic or transversely isotropic, linearly elastic material. The analysis, constrained by the thermodynamic requirement that strain energy be positive definite, gives the following important result: inclusion of anisotropy broadens the range of permissible values of gravity-induced horizontal stresses. In fact, for some ranges of anisotropic rock properties, it is thermodynamically admissible for gravity-induced horizontal stresses to exceed the vertical stress component; this is not possible for the classical isotropic solution. Specific examples are presented to explore the nature of the gravity-induced stress field in anisotropic rocks and its dependence on the type, degree and orientation of anisotropy with respect to the horizontal ground surface.
High temperature and pressure alkaline electrolysis

Abstract This paper describes experimental work involving the direct-current electrolysis of highly concentrated potassium hydroxide solutions at high temperatures (up to 400 °C) and under various pressures. A high-temperature alkaline electrolysis cell resistant to chemical attack from the highly corrosive electrolyte solution and capable of high-pressure operation was designed and tested. The cell was constructed with a Monel® alloy housing and cathode, while various anode materials were compared. The anode materials tested included nickel, Monel alloy, lithiated nickel, and cobalt-plated nickel. The advantages of operating an alkaline electrolysis cell at high temperatures include increasing the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and enhancing the rates of electrochemical reactions at the electrode surfaces. Cell operation with increasing steam partial pressure over the solution is also shown to enhance cell performance. The prudent selection of anode material also impacts the required terminal potential for a given current density, and consequently the cell's electric power efficiency. The best cell performance was achieved using a cobalt-plated nickel anode at a temperature of 400 °C and a steam partial pressure of 8.7 MPa.
Pneumocystis carinii Factor Responsible for Reduced Phagocytic Activity in Alveolar Macrophages

Alveolar macrophages in hosts that are immunosuppressed and infected with Pneumocystis have a greatly reduced phagocytic activity [5]. Incubation of normal alveolar macrophages with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from P. carinii infected rats also leads to a decrease in phagocytosis [3]. The defect in phagocytosis has been linked to a down-regulation in transcription of the GATA-2 transcription factor [5]. Inhibition ofGATA-2 transcription in normal alveolarmacrophages leads to a reduction in phagocytic ability, and expression of GATA-2 in alveolar macrophages from P. carinii infected rats restores their phagocytic activity [5]. It is not known how P. carinii infection leads to down-regulation of GATA-2 or the decrease in phagocytosis. The current study represents the initial effort to identify factors from P. carinii responsible for the decrease in phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages.
Individual, collective and group rights: History, theory, practice and contemporary evolution

This paper discusses the contemporary debate about collective and group rights in the light of actual cases, relevant literature, and emerging international norms. It offers the following submissions: 1. Group rights or collective rights are not incompatible with the intellectual history of human rights. 2. States are at liberty to work out arrangements that recognize rights for groups within the State or for members of the group. 3. The list of group or collective rights explicitly recognized by contemporary international law is still a rather short one. It has so far dealt mainly with the right of self-determination, the rights of minorities and of indigenous populations. 4. Recent statements on the rights of minorities contain explicit affirmations of their right to: existence, identity, participation, to establish associations, to establish and maintain contacts, to culture, to profess and practice their religion, to use their language, to establish schools and to protection. 5. Any recognition of group or collective rights should be complementary to, and not restrictive of, the rights contained in the Universal Declaration and the International Covenants. 6. The international community is competent to scrutinize the way in which claims to group or collective rights are dealt with nationally. 7. The international community should provide avenues, recourse procedures and specialized fora for promoting international cooperation on issues of group and collective rights. 8. It would seem a worthwhile policy objective for a global study to be made about claims and needs for the recognition of group rights.
Excellence Without a Soul: How a Great University Forgot Education

Lewis's book, Excellence Without a Soul: How a Great University Forgot Education, released by Public Affairs Books in 2006 is an account of how America's great universities have abandoned their educational missions. Lewis draws on his experiences as a professor and dean at Harvard University for more than thirty years to illustrate this notion. While Lewis writes about his own personal observations at Harvard, his evaluations of failures and hot button issues is applicable to many other public and private institutions of higher education. One can easily empathize with the struggles outlined in the pages of this book as they are occurring around the country.
Background ion channel activities in Arabidopsis guard cells and review of ion channel regulation by protein phosphorylation events

In this paper, results on background conductances in Arabidopsis guard cells are presented and recent advances pointing to a central role of protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events during stomatal signalling are reviewed. Recently, patch clamp studies of Arabidopsis guard cells were developed to characterize early abscisic acid signalling. It is reported here that whole-cell recordings from Arabidopsis guard cells showed three types of background conductances: two large single channel conductances activated by depolarization and hyperpolarization, respectively, and another instantaneous conductance. The reversal potentials of depolarization-activated single channel currents were in the range of -7 mV and were independent of the CsCl gradient, even at an 86-fold imposed gradient. These data suggest that depolarization-activated single channel currents in Arabidopsis guard cells represent non-selective channels. The instantaneous background currents disappeared when the impermeable anions, acetate or glutamate, were loaded into the cytosol of guard cells via the patch electrode. These data and reversal potentials suggest that the small instantaneous background conductance represents a basal activity of anion currents in guard cells. Possible physiological functions of the single channel currents and background anion conductances are discussed. Furthermore, recently reported guard cell ion channel regulation mechanisms are reviewed in the discussion and brought in context of stomatal movement studies.
On the transient operation of partially depleted SOI NMOSFET's

The transient operation of partially depleted (PD) Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) NMOSFET's is investigated, based on two-dimensional numerical simulations. The studied devices have a gate length of 0.2 /spl mu/m and a floating body. They are designed for a supply voltage of 2 V. In the case of gate transient, we show that the body voltage is more influenced by the capacitive coupling with the gate electrode than the impact ionization current. Further, we demonstrate, for the first time, that the anomalous subthreshold slope, that exists in a DC static transfer I-V curve, does not exist in fast transient mode because the minimum time constant for body charging by impact ionization current is on the order of 3 ns in such devices. >
Numerical comparison of thermal damage threshold from pulsed and scanning laser in a measurement aperture

Optical radiation hazards of scanning light sources are often evaluated using pulsed light source criteria, with the relevant pulse parameter equivalent to the scanning light source determined by the energy delivered through a measurement aperture. This study utilizes a numerical analysis based upon the melanin granule model to compare the thermal effects of scanning and pulsed light sources through a measurement aperture in the pigmented retinal layer. The numerical analysis calculates the thermal contribution of individual melanin granules with varying temporal sequence, and finds that temperature changes and thermal damage thresholds for the two different types of light sources were not equal.
L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia in adult rats with a unilateral 6‐OHDA lesion of dopamine neurons is paralleled by increased c‐fos gene expression in the subthalamic nucleus

Levodopa (L-DOPA), the metabolic precursor of dopamine, is widely used as a pharmacological agent for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, long-term L-DOPA use results in abnormal involuntary movements such as dyskinesias. There is evidence that abnormal cell signaling in the basal ganglia is involved in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) plays a key role in the circuitry of the basal ganglia and in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. However, the contribution of the STN to L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias remains unclear. The objective of this work was to study the effects of acute or chronic systemic administration of L-DOPA to adult rats with a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of dopamine neurons on c-fos expression in the STN and test the hypothesis that these effects correlate with L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. c-fos mRNA expression was measured in the STN by in situ hybridization histochemistry at the single cell level. Our results confirm earlier evidence that the chronic administration of L-DOPA to rats with a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion increases c-fos expression in the STN. We also report that c-fos expression can be increased following an acute injection of L-DOPA to 6-OHDA-lesioned rats but not following a chronic injection of L-DOPA to sham-operated, unlesioned rats. Finally, we provide evidence that the occurrence and severity of dyskinesia is correlated with c-fos mRNA levels in the ipsilateral STN. These results suggest that altered cell signaling in the STN is involved in some of the behavioral effects induced by systemic L-DOPA administration.
Local multiplications on algebras

Abstract A unital algebra A over a commutative unital ring R is SLIP over R if every R -module endomorphism on A that leaves invariant every left ideal of A is left multiplication by an element of A . In this paper we provide characterizations of the SLIP property for classes of rings.
Treatment effects of the light-force chincup.

Introduction The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the light-force chincup appliance in correcting the skeletal and dentoalveolar components of Class III malocclusion compared with an untreated Class III control group. Methods The treatment sample consisted of 26 patients (11 boys, 15 girls) treated with the light-force chincup (125-250 g). The mean age at the start of treatment in the chincup group was 8.5 years, with posttreatment cephalograms taken on average 2.6 years later. The control group consisted of 20 subjects. The mean age at the start of observation for the control group (6 boys, 14 girls) was 7.3 years, and the mean time of observation was 2.4 years. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed with a specific tracing regimen at the 2 time points for both groups. Treatment outcome were determined. The treatment group subsequently was subdivided into those treated simultaneously with a quad-helix appliance and those with the chincup only. Mann-Whitney U tests for independent samples were performed to evaluate the differences between the treated and untreated groups at both time points, the changes between the 2 time points, and the differences between the groups treated with the quad-helix and chincup, and the chincup only. Results The chincup sample showed no significant skeletal changes in the mandible in either the vertical or horizontal direction, except for a slight decrease in SNB angle and an increase in ANB angle. There were significant dentoalveolar changes, particularly uprighting of the mandibular incisors. Significant positive Class III treatment outcomes were recorded in the quad-helix group, including a decrease in mandibular length of 1.9 mm compared with the chincup group. Conclusions Fewer than 50% of the subjects treated with the chincup had favorable clinical outcomes. Correction of the initial Class III malocclusion occurred through significant dentoalveolar changes. The light-force chincup did not produce orthopedic changes in the mandible. Maxillary expansion with a quad-helix might aid in the correction of the Class III malocclusion in conjunction with the chincup.
Explaining Darwin’s Corollary to Haldane’s Rule: The Role of Mitonuclear Interactions in Asymmetric Postzygotic Isolation Among Toads

We examine the basis of Darwin’s corollary to Haldane’s rule, which describes viability and fertility differences between F1 produced from reciprocal crosses. We analyzed asymmetries in hybrid viability from >100 reciprocal crosses involving 36 toad species to test whether relatively high rates of mitochondrial vs. nuclear evolution produce dams with systematically less viable F1 hybrid progeny. We find no such effect, suggesting a predominant role for stochastic accumulation of asymmetric epistatic incompatibilities.
INSERTION REACTIONS OF ELECTROPHILIC IRON CARBENE COMPLEXES WITH ORGANOSILANES : A SYNTHETIC AND MECHANISTIC STUDY

Abstract Cationic iron carbene complexes of the type Cp(L)(CO)Fe = C(H)(R)+(L = PPh3, R = CH3, (L = PEt3, R = Ph3, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3) have been prepared and shown to react with organosilanes to give the products resulting from insertion of the carbene unit into the SiH bond. These reactions occur rapidly at low temperature, but yields are ca. 50% and a counterion-dependent by-product is formed. A mechanism consistent with the experimental observations is proposed. Variable temperature NMR studies are reported which have allowed for the independent observation of several of the intermediates proposed in the mechanistic pathway.
The role of newer monoclonal antibodies in renal transplantation.

BIOLOGIC agents have been used in transplantation in the prophylaxis of rejection, in the induction phase of therapy, and in the reversal of acute rejection, especially steroid-resistant or vascular-type rejection. Historically, two biologic agents have been used: the polyclonal antilymphocyte agents and the murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) anti-CD3, OKT3. Although effective, these agents are associated with many side effects. The newer generation of humanized antibodies (also chimeric) have many advantages over the traditional polyclonal agents and OKT3. These humanized MAbs tend to lack drug-specific side effects, have no immunogenicity, can be used for longer periods of time, and can be reused. They have a prolonged half-life, and the specific epitope target of the MAbs can be readily saturated. The humanized antibodies can be administered anytime perioperatively, and they are easy to infuse in the outpatient setting or even at home. Their prolonged biologic effects may decrease dependence on calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids. The evolving role of the newer MAbs in transplantation is to improve tolerance to the graft in the induction and postinduction periods, to provide effective immunosuppression in delayed graft function, and to reduce dependence on calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids. Several MAbs are either approved for use or are in clinical trials. The anti-interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) MAbs, daclizumab and basiliximab, approved in the late 1990s, are the prototype of the new generation of humanized antibodies. The humanized anti-LFA1 antibody, hu1124, is currently in phase I trial. A number of antibodies that block the co-stimulatory pathway are also currently in clinical trials. The humanized anti-CD40 ligand was in phase I, but its clinical development is currently on hold because of thromboembolic complications. Currently, the combination of anti-B7.1 and B7.2 is in phase I clinical trial, and the second-generation CTL4Ig (BMS-224818) will be entering phase I trials very soon.
Intramural tracheobronchial remnants associated with esophageal atresia: diagnostic aids

A patient with isolated esophageal atresia and congenital esophageal stenosis resulting from intramural tracheobronchial remnants (TBR) in the distal esophagus is presented. The esophagographic appearance and operative findings suggesting the presence of TBR are discussed.
Plane-strain mixed-mode near-tip fields in elastic perfectly plastic solids under small-scale yielding conditions

Within the context of the small-strain approach, plane-strain mixed-mode near-tip fields of a stationary crack in an elastic perfectly plastic Mises solid under small-scale yielding conditions are examined by finite element methods. Steady-state stress fields in the immediate vicinity of the crack tip are obtained as the remote loading of the elastic K-field increases. Asymptotic crack-tip solutions consisting of constant stress sectors, centered fan sectors, and an elastic sector are then constructed accordingly. The asymptotic crack-tip stress solutions agree well with the numerical results for a whole spectrum of mixed-mode loadings. Our mixed-mode near-tip solution with an elastic sector differs from that of Saka et al. by one (plastic) constant stress sector situated between the elastic sector and the neighbouring fan sector. The effect of the existence of the elastic sector on the near-tip fields is discussed in the light of the computational results. The plastic mixity factor of the near-tip field is given as a function of the elastic mixity factor of the prescribed K-field. This function is well bounded by that of the perfectly plastic limit of the corresponding solutions for power-law hardening materials given by Shih. Some issues pertaining to the numerical procedures such as the implementation of the small-scale yielding assumption are also addressed.
Enhanced quantum fluctuations in a chaotic single mode ammonia laser

A detailed study of the effects of quantum fluctuations in a chaotic single mode laser is presented. It has been well established that the linear noise approximation eventually becomes invalid for the case of chaotic dynamics. A more accurate description of the laser is achieved through use of nonlinear Langevin equations. Simple expressions for the time evolution of the phases of the electric field and polarization are derived. These expressions predict that chaotic dynamics will greatly enhance phase diffusion. This prediction is verified through numerical simulations. A quantitative method, for determining the amount of amplification of quantum noise by chaos is discussed. This method makes use of a metric introduced in symbolic dynamics. The fluctuations are shown to have been amplified by over two orders of magnitude, making them macroscopically visible.
Cellular iron metabolism in health and disease.

(1990). Cellular Iron Metabolism in Health and Diseased. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 22, No. 5, pp. 531-579.
Synthesis, spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational studies of rhenium(I) dicarbonyl complexes based on meridionally-coordinated 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine

A homologous series of meridionally-coordinated tridentate 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine Re(I) dicarbonyl complexes have been prepared and investigated. The complexes mer,cis-[Re(tpy-κ3N)(CO)2(L)]n (L = Cl− (1), OSO2CF3− (2), NCCH3 (3), CN− (4), NC5H5 (5), PMe3 (6), PEt3 (7), PPh3 (8), P(OMe)3 (9) and P(OEt)3 (10); n = 0 or +1) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR and infrared spectroscopy. The electrochemistry of these compounds has been studied and compared to that of other known rhenium compounds using an electrochemical parameterization model. Cyclic voltammetry measurements have shown that the first oxidation of the complexes varies systematically in potential as the ligand L is altered. Many of these one-electron oxidations occur at lower potentials compared to more familiar bidentate diimine Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes. A correlation exists between CO, a strong π-acidic ligand, and deviations of the observed reduction potentials from the calculated values. Many of the complexes absorb light throughout a significant portion of the visible spectrum. Two of these complexes, mer,cis-Re(tpy-κ3N)(CO)2Cl (1) and mer,cis-Re(tpy-κ3N)(CO)2CN (4), absorb light throughout the entire visible spectrum. Low temperature emission spectra were obtained for the compounds mer,cis-Re(tpy-κ3N)(CO)2Cl (1) and mer,cis-[Re(tpy-κ3N)(CO)2(P(OEt)3)]+ (10) at 77 K in a 4 : 1 methanol–ethanol glass matrix and give metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3MLCT) luminescence. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the electronic structure are in good agreement with the experimental data.
France, NATO and European Security

It is no secret from even the most cursory reader of the daily press that NATO has of late been undergoing what is commonly referred to as a “crisis”. Four factors seem to me crucial components of the difficult problems with which the fifteen nations are wrestling.
Examination of the Neuroticism-Symptom Reporting Relationship in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

The current study utilized a within-subject, experience sampling methodology (ESM) to examine the relationship between neuroticism (N) and physical symptom reports. Individuals with type 2 diabetes monitored diabetes-related symptoms, rated negative and positive affect (NA and PA), estimated their blood glucose (BG) levels, and tested their actual BG levels with a glucometer four times per day for 7 days. Multilevel modeling analyses indicated that N, NA, and PA were related to reported symptom frequency. Neuroticism moderated the relation between PA and symptom reports: Lower PA was more strongly related to symptom reports among high-N individuals. In addition, there was evidence that symptoms mediated the relationship between N and state NA. Finally, N was related to overestimation of BG, beyond that accounted for by state NA. Results are discussed with respect to potential effects of N on the processing of negative self-relevant information and on self-regulatory behavior in health contexts.
Quality of Working Life among Women and Minorities in the Information Technology Workforce: A Pilot Study

In this paper we present preliminary results of a pilot study aimed at assessing a questionnaire survey on quality of working life and diversity in the Information Technology Workforce.
Recognizing pain as a component of the primary assessment: Adding D for discomfort to the ABCs

Summary Incorporating discomfort as the D in our primary assessment may result in pain management becoming a higher priority in care.
Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Amabiline

The first total synthesis of (+)-amabiline, an unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloid from Cynoglossum amabile, is reported. This convergent, enantioselective synthesis proceeds in 15 steps (10-step longest linear sequence) in 6.2% overall yield and features novel methodology to construct the unsaturated pyrrolizidine or (−)-supinidine core.
Infinity Cancellations in SO(32) Superstring Theory

Abstract Type I superstring theory was previously shown to be anomaly-free if the gauge group is SO(32). Here it is demonstrated that the same group is also singled out by the requirement that infinities can be canceled by combining diagrams.
Nonlinear Vibrations of Beams, Strings, Plates, and Membranes Without Initial Tension

The subject of this paper is nonlinear vibrations of beams, strings (defined as beams with very thin uniform cross sections), plates and membranes (defined as very thin plates) without initial tension. Such problems are of great current interest in minute structures with some dimensions in the range of nanometers (nm) to micrometers (μm). A general discussion of these problems is followed by finite element method (FEM) analyses of beams and square plates with different boundary conditions. It is shown that the common practice of neglecting the bending stiffness of strings and membranes, while permissible in the presence of significant initial tension, is not appropriate in the case of nonlinear vibrations of such objects, with no initial tension, and with moderately large amplitude (of the order of the diameter of a string or the thickness of a plate). Approximate, but accurate analytical expressions are presented in this paper for the ratio of the nonlinear to the linear natural fundamental frequency of beams and plates, as functions of the ratio of amplitude to radius of gyration for beams, or the ratio of amplitude to thickness for square plates, for various boundary conditions. These expressions are independent of system parameters-the Young's modulus, density, length, and radius of gyration for beams; the Young's modulus, density, length of side, and thickness for square plates. (The plate formula exhibits explicit dependence on the Poisson's ratio.) It is expected that these results will prove to be useful for the design of macro as well as micro and nano structures.
Visual stylometry using background selection and wavelet-HMT-based Fisher information distances for attribution and dating of impressionist paintings

The new field of visual stylometry proposes to apply mathematical and statistical tools to high-resolution images of artworks to produce a quantitative description of each work's style, or of stylistic differences between works. Such quantitative evidence regarding artistic style can then assist in addressing open art historical questions, including those of a particular work's authorship or date of creation. In this paper, we develop a new technique for visual stylometry on impressionist and/or post-impressionist paintings. We focus on the background of each painting for our analysis, hypothesizing that only this bears the signature of the artist's hand. We then introduce a new wavelet-Hidden-Markov-Tree-based Fisher information distance as a metric of stylistic similarity between brushwork samples. Tests on two datasets consisting of over 100 impressionist and post-impressionist paintings by Van Gogh and contemporaries show that an unsupervised representation of the paintings according to this new metric tends to cluster the paintings by author and, within an author, by time period. Classifying paintings under leave-one-out cross-validation using coordinates in this unsupervised representation gave accuracies for artist classification of 87.7% and 85.0% for the two datasets and for time period classification of 81.5% and 75.4%, a substantial improvement over previously developed stylistic distance metrics for paintings.
Differentiation Between Anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors Antibody Conjugated and Unconjugated Gold Nanoparticles Using Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) along with UV-Vis was used to distinguish between structural differences between a normal human breast cell line (MCF-12 F) and a cancerous breast cell line (MCF-7) after both being treated with conjugated gold nanoparticles and unconjugated gold nanoparticles. The MCF-7 cell line possessed a small amount of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) on its cell surface whereas the MCF-12 F cell line did not. The anti-EGFR antibodies blocked the binding of epidermal growth factors to this receptor which plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. The infrared (IR) spectra for both cell lines yield several differences between normal biological samples and cancerous samples. As the malignancy of the sample increases, the peak intensity and wavenumber positions decrease. The same conclusion was drawn from thin-layers of conjugated nanoparticles and nonconjugated nanoparticles. The p...
Arsenic Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of the Experimental and Epidemiologic Evidence

Chronic arsenic exposure has been suggested to contribute to diabetes development. We performed a systematic review of the experimental and epidemiologic evidence on the association of arsenic and type 2 diabetes. We identified 19 in vitro studies of arsenic and glucose metabolism. Five studies reported that arsenic interfered with transcription factors involved in insulin-related gene expression: upstream factor 1 in pancreatic beta-cells and peroxisome proliferative-activated receptor gamma in preadipocytes. Other in vitro studies assessed the effect of arsenic on glucose uptake, typically using very high concentrations of arsenite or arsenate. These studies provide limited insight on potential mechanisms. We identified 10 in vivo studies in animals. These studies showed inconsistent effects of arsenic on glucose metabolism. Finally, we identified 19 epidemiologic studies (6 in high-arsenic areas in Taiwan and Bangladesh, 9 in occupational populations, and 4 in other populations). In studies from Taiwan and Bangladesh, the pooled relative risk estimate for diabetes comparing extreme arsenic exposure categories was 2.52 (95% confidence interval, 1.69-3.75), although methodologic problems limit the interpretation of the association. The evidence from occupational studies and from general populations other than Taiwan or Bangladesh was inconsistent. In summary, the current available evidence is inadequate to establish a causal role of arsenic in diabetes. Because arsenic exposure is widespread and diabetes prevalence is reaching epidemic proportions, experimental studies using arsenic concentrations relevant to human exposure and prospective epidemiologic studies measuring arsenic biomarkers and appropriately assessing diabetes should be a research priority.
Matched tandem etalon camera-MATEC-and its application to auroral observations.

The matched tandem etalon camera employs a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FP) in the photographic mode for the spatial resolution over all angles up to 7 deg from normal. An interference filter and an appropriate field lens isolate a single order of 0.1 A resolution, which is recorded simultaneously at all angles in the field of view by array detection. Thus the resolution and luminosity of the MATEC camera are those of the FP. The MATEC pilot model has a ratio of free spectral range to linewidth of 400 and utilizes intensified photographic detection. In a system applied to auroral measurements the MATEC views a semiconical sky mirror to provide a simulatenous dimension of spatial resolution in the N-S meridian combined with the dimension of spectral resolution. Stellar features and cloud and ground reflections are more easily identified than by any scanning photometer.
Polarized absorption spectra of diphenylnitroxide

Abstract A polarization study of the low-lying electronic states of the diphenylnitroxide radical imbedded in a benzophenone single crystal is presented. Assignments are made for the first two electronic excited states: 2 B 2 (n → π ∗ ) at 569 nm and 2 B 1 (π → π ∗ ) at 431 nm. Vibronic coupling is invoked in inducing the n → π ∗ transition. The electronic structure of the nitroxide bears some resemblance to the corresponding carbonyl. The delocalization of the π electrons is also discussed.
Use of compatible polymer blends to fabricate arrays of carbon black-polymer composite vapor detectors

Compatible blends of poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(methyl methacrylate) have been used to produce a series of electrically conducting carbon black composites whose resistance is sensitive to the nature and concentration of an analyte in the vapor phase. The dc electrical resistance response of the composites was found to be a nonlinear function of the mole fraction of poly(vinyl acetate) in the blend. These compatible blend composite detectors provided additional analyte discrimination information relative to a reference detector array that only contained composites formed using the pure polymer phases. The added discrimination power provided by the compatible blend detectors, and thus the added diversity of the enhanced detector array, was quantified through use of a statistical metric to assess the performance of detector arrays in various vapor classification tasks.
Comment on vapor phase homogeneous nucleation of CH3CN and the scaling law for onset supersaturation ratios

We point out that the scaling law for onset vapor phase nucleation, lnSonset ≈ 0.53 [Ω(Tc/T−1)]32, with Ω = 1.77 (from CH3CN surface tension data) predicts the temperature dependence and approximate magnitude of CH3CN supersaturation ratio data, S. This is contrary to the conclusions of Wright, Caldwell and El-Shall who estimate too large a value (2.14) for Ω. We note that Ω, the excess molecular surface entropy/k, is more reliably extracted from the temperature derivative of the surface tension data.
Effects of depth discontinuity on harbor oscillations

Abstract The effects of water depth discontinuity near the harbor mouth on harbor oscillations are examined. Linear long-wave equations are used as the basis of the present study. For simplicity, only the normal incident waves are considered. Assuming that the harbor mouth is small in comparison with wavelength, the method of matched asymptotic expansion is employed to obtain the ocean impedance and the harbor responses. It is found that the incident waves can be trapped over the depth discontinuity which causes large oscillations near the harbor mouth. The radiation damping also decreases because of the appearance of the depth discontinuity, which leads to large amplifications at the lowest mode.
Update on Nuclear Mitochondrial Genes and Neurologic Disorders

The majority of primary mitochondrial disorders are due to nuclear gene mutations, not aberrations within the mitochondrial genome. The nervous system is frequently involved due to its high-energy demands. Many nonspecific neurologic symptoms may be present in mitochondrial disease; however, there are well-recognized red flags that should alert the clinician to the possibility of mitochondrial disease. There is an ever increasing number of nuclear gene mutations discovered that play a role in primary mitochondrial disease and its neurologic symptomatology. Neurologists need to be aware of the wide neurologic presentation, the red-flag symptoms, and the nuclear gene mutations involved in the pathophysiology of mitochondrial disease to diagnose and manage this patient population.
Effective interaction between He atoms on a graphite surface

Evidence is presented to show that the two-dimensional effective interaction between He atoms on graphite is less attractive than the free-space interaction ${V}_{\mathrm{o}}$. The principal origin of the effect is substrate screening of the attraction. A small shift arises also from averaging the adatom motion perpendicular to the surface. The revised potential ${V}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ is shown to yield improved agreement for the specific heat in the low-coverage region where a quantum virial expansion applies.
Breathers or Structural Instability in Solid L-Alanine: a New IR and Inelastic Neutron Scattering Vibrational Spectroscopic Study

Incoherent Inelastic Neutron Scattering data and new infrared spectra were acquired in order to examine both the external and internal vibrations in crystalline L-alanine. For the first time we observe a splitting of the NH3+ torsional band below a temperature of approximately 220 K as well as an overtone of this band. The intensity of both of these bands is strongly dependent on temperature. Birefringence and depolarization measurements performed with single crystals reveal a subtle breaking of symmetry around 220 K perhaps involving the hydrogen bond networks. We show that this instability cannot, however, be the origin of the observed splitting. Instead, the anomalous temperature dependence of the observed intensity and frequency of the torsional mode and its overtone may be explained on the basis of a nonlinear coupling of the NH3+ oscillator with lattice phonons. This leads to localization of vibrational energy, a so-called “breather” or “vibrational polaron”.
Ceramic Composite Liner Material for Gas Turbine Combustors.

Advanced commercial and military gas turbine engines may operate at combustor outlet temperatures in excess of 1920 K (3000 F). At these temperatures combustors liners experience extreme convective and radiative heat fluxes. The ability of a plasma sprayed ceramic coating to reduce liner metal temperature has been recognized. However, the brittleness of the ceramic layer and the difference in thermal expansion with the metal substrate has caused cracking, spalling and some separation of the ceramic coating. Research directed at turbine tip seals (or shrouds) has shown the advantage of applying the ceramic to a compliant metal pad. This paper discusses recent studies of applying ceramics to combustor liners in which yttria stabilized zirconia plasma sprayed on compliant metal substrates which were exposed to near stoichiometric combustion, presents performance and durability results, and describes a conceptual design for an advanced, small gas turbine combustor. Test specimens were convectively cooled or convective-transpiration cooled and were evaluated in a 10 cm square flame tube combustor at inlet air temperatures of 533 K (500 F) and at a pressure of 0.5 MPa (75 psia). The ceramics were exposed to flame temperatures in excess of 2000 K (3320 F). Results appear very promising with all 30 specimens surviving a screening test and one of two specimens surviving a cyclic durability test.
VHF Radar Detects Oceanic Submesoscale Vortex Along Florida Coast

Escalating national interest in the coastal ocean underscores the need for high-quality surface current data that can improve our understanding of surface circulation and its impact on societal and environmental issues related to coastal pollution, beach restoration, oil spill mitigation, and coastal air-sea interaction. Coastal regimes exposed to strong ocean currents,surface waves, and winds during storm conditions may frequently require beach renourishment to restore valuable beaches that are key to local economies. Maintaining water quality is a problem, too, particularly where shipping dominates the traffic in and out of harbors. These environmental issues are increasingly difficult to manage due to evolving oceanic and atmospheric conditions. Inferring evolving spatial patterns of the coastal ocean current fields from single-point measurements such as moorings or drifters that propagate away from divergent flow regimes is difficult at best. The Doppler radar technique is one approach that effectively measures the evolution of surface current fields in near-real time.
Evaluation of Pre-service Teacher Preparation for Achieving the National Standards for Beginning Physical Education Teachers

The aim of this study was to investigate pre-service physical education teachers' self-assessment of their competent levels in achieving the national standards for beginning physical education teachers (National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), 1995). One hundred seventy–three pre-service teachers in 10 physical education teacher education programs completed the Achieving the NASPE Standards Inventory (ANSI) that was developed and validated for the purpose of this study. The results indicated that the ANSI provided reliable and valid information about discerning pre-service teachers' self-assessment of their overall and specific competence in achieving the standards within the continuum from unacceptable to competent levels.
Phantom and in vivo demonstration of swept synthetic aperture imaging

Ultrasound imaging of deep abdominal targets suffers from low lateral resolution due to limited aperture size and low-frequency transmit pulses. We demonstrate phantom and in vivo imaging results using a device that allows a tracked mechanical sweep of a commercially available ultrasound array. The position data and device calibration have sufficient precision to allow coherent combination of the backscattered echoes from array positions separated by up to 56.4 degrees at a radius of 10 cm acquired in a time frame of one second, forming a synthetic aperture significantly larger than the physical footprint of the array. In a wire phantom, an 87.5% reduction in full width at half maximum is achieved using this method compared to a single-position full synthetic aperture acquisition. In addition to increased resolution, a 4.2 dB improvement in contrast and 17.3% improvement in contrast-to-noise ratio were measured in a fetal phantom target. The technique was successfully applied to an in vivo liver study using a 45 degree sweep, improving the visibility of both large anechoic targets and small structures on the order of the resolution cell of a conventional image.
Predictors of Commitment, Job Satisfaction, and Intent to Stay in Teaching: A Comparison of General and Special Educators

The primary purpose of this study was to identify variables that influence teachers' commitment and job satisfaction among both general and special educators. A secondary purpose was to determine the extent to which these commitment and satisfaction variables influence teachers' intent to stay in teaching. A questionnaire using primarily extant measures was sent to a random sample of 558 special educators and 589 general educators in Virginia. Completed questionnaires were received from 83% of both samples. Crossvalidated regression results suggest that workrelated variables, such as leadership support, role conflict, role ambiguity, and stress, are better predictors of commitment and job satisfaction than are demographic variables. Generally, the findings were similar for general and special educators. Implications for educational agencies are addressed.