cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Murine models of Alzheimer's disease and their use in developing immunotherapies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the categories of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by a conformational change of a normal protein into a pathological conformer with a high β-sheet content that renders it resistant to degradation and neurotoxic. In AD, the normal soluble amyloid β (sAβ) peptide is converted into oligomeric/fibrillar Aβ. The oligomeric forms of Aβ are thought to be the most toxic, while fibrillar Aβ becomes deposited as amyloid plaques and congophilic angiopathy, which both serve as neuropathological markers of the disease. An additional important feature of AD is the accumulation of abnormally phosphorylated tau as soluble toxic oligomers and as neurofibrillary tangles. Many therapeutic interventions are under investigation to prevent and treat AD. The testing of these diverse approaches to ameliorate AD pathology has been made possible by the existence of numerous transgenic mouse models which each mirror specific aspects of AD pathology. None of the current murine models is a perfect match of the human disease. Perhaps the most exciting of the therapeutic approaches being developed is immunomodulation targeting the aggregating proteins, Aβ and tau. This type of AD therapy is currently being assessed in many transgenic mouse models, and promising findings have led to clinical trials. However, there is a discrepancy between results in murine models and ongoing clinical trials, which highlight the limitations of these models and also of our understanding of the underlying etiology and pathogenesis of AD. Because of these uncertainties, Tg models for AD are continuously being refined with the aim to better understand the disease and to enhance the predictive validity of potential treatments such as immunotherapies.
Molecular properties of pyruvate bound to lactate dehydrogenase: a Raman spectroscopic study

Abstract Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27) catalyzes the addition of pyruvate to the four position of the nicotinamide ring of bound NAD+; this NAD-pyruvate adduct is bound tightly to the enzyme. We have used the adduct as a model for pyruvate in a competent ternary complex by comparing the Raman spectrum of the bound adduct with that for unliganded pyruvate. To understand the observed normal modes of pyruvate both as the bound adduct and in water, we have taken the Raman spectra of a series of 13C- and 18O-labeled pyruvates. We find that the carboxylate COO- moiety of pyruvate remains unprotonated at LDH's active site and forms an ion pair complex. The frequency of pyruvate's carbonyl C = O moiety shifts from 1710 cm-1 in water downward 34 cm-1 when pyruvate binds to LDH. This frequency shift corresponds to a ca. 34% polarization of the carbonyl bond, indicates a substantial interaction between the C = O group and enzyme, and is direct evidence for and is a measure of enzyme-induced electronic perturbation of the substrate needed for catalysis. This bond polarization is likely brought about by electrostatic interactions between the carbonyl moiety and the protonated imidazole group of His-195 and the guanidino group from Arg-109. We discuss how the data bear on the enzymatic chemistry of LDH.
NMR observation of steps in the magnetization of 3He in thin 3He-4He mixture films.

Nuclear-magnetic-resonance measurements of the magnetization of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ on thin $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He mixture films show discrete structure as a function of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ coverage over the range 0.0055\ensuremath{\le}${d}_{3}$\ensuremath{\le}4 layers at a $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ coverage of 44 \ensuremath{\mu}mol/${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ for 30\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\le}250 mK in a weakly polarizing 2-T field. A steplike doubling of the magnetization at ${d}_{3}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}0.8 layers and a second less pronounced step at ${d}_{3}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}1.5 layers are ascribed to the population of higher energy levels which evolve as the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ thickens. The magnetization as a function of temperature near the first step is fit by a two-level model with an energy gap ${e}_{12}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}1.8 K at the step.
Nitrate reductase: A model system for the investigation of enzyme induction in eukaryotes

Plant nitrate reductase is an easily studied enzyme whose induction by various signals can be explored in inquiry-based undergraduate laboratories. Barley, mustard, and radish seedlings are grown for 3–7 days with different light conditions and nitrogen nutrition. The enzyme activity of crude extracts is assayed in a colorimetric procedure. The protocols can be used in student independent research projects.
SIMULTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL POLIO VACCINE AND GLOBULIN-MODIFIED ATTENUATED MEASLES-VIRUS VACCINE.

Children aged 9 months to 6 years were vaccinated with oral poliovirus vaccine and globulin-modified attenuated measles-virus vaccine simultaneously. An immunization effectiveness of 95 per cent for polio types I and II and 95 per cent for measles was found.
Tectonics of the colorado plateau and new interpretation of its eastern boundary

Abstract The Colorado Plateau is a roughly circular microplate of the North American Cordillera. Reexamination of the eastern boundary of the plateau leads to the conclusion that high plateaus and uplifts which have been previously considered to be part of the Eastern Rockies should be part of the Colorado Plateau. The principal result of this change is the recognition of a significant tectonic junction between the plateau and the thrusted and shortened Eastern Rockies belt at the western bases of the Park to Sangre de Cristo uplifts. This new straighter eastern tectonic boundary then becomes an attractive determinant for the location of the Rio Grande rift. The western side of the Colorado Plateau has a similar foundered junction in the Wasatch trench or rift.
Comparison of women students in occupational therapy and in nursing.

(1951). Comparison of Women Students in Occupational Therapy and in Nursing. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 161-174.
Surface-Coupled Microsphere Resonators

A novel micro-optical amplifier is evaluated experimentally and theoretically. Comprising a microsphere (onto which a gain medium is tethered) and a plasmonic surface, this micro-optical system is capable of amplifying Raman emission generated internally to the microsphere.
Text and countertext in Toni Morrison's the bluest eye

(1989). Text and countertext in Toni Morrison's the bluest eye. Lit: Literature Interpretation Theory: Vol. 1, No. 1-2, pp. 19-32.
Methotrexate resistance in NIH3T3 cells expressing polyoma virus oncogenes

NIH3T3 cell lines expressing different polyoma virus oncogenes were found to differ by almost three orders of magnitude in frequencies of methotrexate-resistant (MTXr) cells in single-step selections. Cells expressing the polyoma small T antigen showed the highest frequencies of MTX resistance, whereas cells expressing the polyoma middle T antigen showed the lowest frequencies of MTX resistance. Amplification of the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene was not a mechanism of MTX resistance in these cell lines. Cells expressing large T antigen also showed a high frequency of MTXr colonies with only two of 20 such colonies showing evidence of marginal (less than threefold) dhfr gene amplification. Cells carrying the cloning vector without an oncogene showed intermediate frequencies of MTX resistance, and in contrast to the oncogene expressing lines, two-thirds of these MTXr colonies showed marked dhfr gene amplification. The results suggest that the plasticity of the genome as measured by frequency or extent of dhfr gene amplification is not increased by expression of either immortalizing or transforming polyoma oncogenes. These oncogenes may, however, influence MTX resistance through epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, there appears to be no relationship between frequency of methotrexate resistance and frequency of dhfr gene amplification. It is clear that mechanisms of resistance other than dhfr gene amplification can be exclusively associated with either very high or very low frequencies of resistance.
The malleability of men's gender self-concept.

The present study tested the influence of social status and gender salience on the malleability of men's gender self-concepts at an automatic versus controlled level. Male participants were placed in a superior or subordinate role relative to a male or female confederate for a joint task; subsequently their automatic and controlled beliefs about themselves were measured. We predicted first, that men placed in a subordinate role would protect against the threat to their self-concept by automatically self-stereotyping more than men placed in a superior role. As a secondary hypothesis, we predicted that the presence of a female interaction partner would increase the situational salience of gender, which in turn would evoke gender stereotypic self-descriptions. Results confirmed these hypotheses. These data suggest that men's gender self-concepts are malleable and that situational cues differentially affect self-conceptions at an automatic and controlled level.
Analysis of FOXF1 and the FOX gene cluster in patients with VACTERL association.

Abstract VACTERL association, a relatively common condition with an incidence of approximately 1 in 20,000 –35,000 births, is a non-random association of birth defects that includes vertebral defects (V), anal atresia (A), cardiac defects (C), tracheo-esophageal fistula (TE), renal anomalies (R) and limb malformations (L). Although the etiology is unknown in the majority of patients, there is evidence that it is causally heterogeneous. Several studies have shown evidence for inheritance in VACTERL, implying a role for genetic loci. Recently, patients with component features of VACTERL and a lethal developmental pulmonary disorder, alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV), were found to harbor deletions or mutations affecting FOXF1 and the FOX gene cluster on chromosome 16q24. We investigated this gene through direct sequencing and high-density SNP microarray in 12 patients with VACTERL association but without ACD/MPV. Our mutational analysis of FOXF1 showed normal sequences and no genomic imbalances affecting the FOX gene cluster on chromosome 16q24 in the studied patients. Possible explanations for these results include the etiologic and clinical heterogeneity of VACTERL association, the possibility that mutations affecting this gene may occur only in more severely affected individuals, and insufficient study sample size.
Localization of [3H]octylphosphonyl-labeled neuropathy target esterase by chicken nervous tissue autoradiography

Abstract Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) undergoes phosphorylation and aging as the initial steps in organophosphorus (OP)-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). Localization of NTE is an important step in characterizing the mechanism of OPIDN. Earlier histochemical immunoreactivity or esterase assays localized NTE in areas of the brain and spinal cord rich in neuronal cell bodies and in the dorsal root ganglion. We use a more direct and quantitative autoradiographic approach of forming phosphorylated and aged [3H]octylphosphonyl-NTE on treatment with the highly potent [octyl–3H]octyl-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin 2-oxide to determine NTE as the labeling site resistant to the non-neuropathic paraoxon and sensitive to the neuropathic mipafox. NTE is observed in the cerebral cortical layer, some layers of the optic tectum, the gray matter of the spinal cord and the sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion to a higher extent than in adjacent areas.
Dividing Social Citizenship by Gender: The Implementation of Unemployment Insurance and Aid to Dependent Children, 1935–1950

The Social Security Act of 1935 is widely considered to have established an American welfare state that is “two-tiered” or “two-track” in character, and which divided American social citizenship by gender.This depiction is commonplace; for a recent example of its use, see Dia ne Sainsbury, Gender Equality and Welfare States (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 28–29. It seems to have originated in Nancy Fraser, Unruly Practices: Power, Discourse, and Gender in Contemporary Social Theory (Minne apolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1989), 144–60 and Barbara J. Nelson, “The Origins of the Two-Channel Welfare State: Workmen's Compensation and Mothers' Aid,” in Women, the State, and Welfare, ed. Linda Gordon (M adison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1990), 123–51. Scholars have generally assumed that to the extent such “gender bias” emerged in public policy, it must have been manifest in the law from the outset, inscribed in the differ ences between the work-related, contributory plans in the legislation versus the need-based, grant-in-aid public assistance programs.For example, see Linda Gordon, Pitied But Not Entitled: Single Mothers and the History of Welfare, 1890–1935 (New York: Free Press, 1994), 253–85; also Fraser, Unruly Practices, 149–53. Yet, although the two major social programs for non-elderly American in the Social Security Act differed in such re gards, they emerged from the policymaking process in 1935 on fairly equal ground, with seemingly similar prospects for success or failure.
High-frequency data and the effectiveness of the spot exchange rate EUR/USD

The boom of information technology in recent years significantly influenced the development of the financial markets. Financial markets have become accessible to the public, and increased demand for financial instruments is inevitably reflected in the advanced menu of securities dealers who currently offer a wide variety of investment in the underlying assets and through financial leverage allows investors to profit from tiny price changes of the underlying asset. Shortening of trading period and increasing the frequency of the trades clearly contributes to the growth of profits of securities dealers. The question remains whether this trading method offers the advantage to the investor himself, and whether the investor is able to take advantage of potential market inefficiencies to achieve above-average profits in the short term period. Therefore, this paper analyzes the behaviour of the spot exchange rate EUR/USD within a day, and through statistical tests examining the validity of the random walk hypothesis for the 5-minute, hourly, 4-hourly and daily changes in the spot exchange rate of the currency pair EUR/USD.
IDA: An Intelligent Document Analysis System for Evaluating Corporate Governance Practices Based on SEC Required Filings

This article presents an intelligent corporate governance analysis and rating system, called IDA System, capable of retrieving SEC required documents of public companies and performing analysis and rating in terms of recommended corporate governance practices. With the techniques of analogical learning, local knowledge bases, databases, and question-dependent semantic networks, the IDA system is able to automatically evaluate the strengths, deficiencies, and risks of a company's corporate governance practices based on the documents stored in the "SEC EDGAR database by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 2013". A produced score reduces a complex corporate governance process and related policies into a single number which enables concerned government agencies, investors and legislators to assess the governance characteristics of individual companies.
Discovering Roots: Ancient, Medieval, and Serendipitous.

(2005). Discovering Roots: Ancient, Medieval, and Serendipitous. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 35-43.
Geochemistry of the Archean Bulawayan Group, Midlands greenstone belt, Rhodesia

Abstract The Bulawayan Group in the Midlands greenstone belt can be divided into three formations. The Mafic Formation is composed principally of pillowed, low-K tholeiites and minor bedded chert. The Maliyami Formation and conformably overlying Felsic Formation are composed of calc-alkaline tholeiites, andesites, and dacites with andesites dominating in the Felsic Formation. Minor rhyolite quartz porphyries and ultramafic bodies also occur in the section. The Bulawayan Group near Que Que is perhaps the least altered and metamorphosed Archean greenstone succession known. The absence of andesite and related rocks, the association of bedded chert, and the consistently low K 2 O, Rb, and Sr contents of Mafic Formation tholeiites suggest that they represent Archean oceanic rise tholeiites. The compositions of tholeiites and andesites of the Maliyami Formation, however, suggest that they represent an emerging arc system. The Felsic Formation is interpreted as a more advanced stage in the evolution of this arc system. Trace-element model calculations favor an origin for Mafic Formation tholeiites involving about 30% partial melting of a lherzolite source. Similar calculations are consistent with an origin for Maliyami Formation tholeiites, Maliyami and Felsic Formation andesites, and Midlands rhyolites involving, respectively, 50, 20–30, and 10% equilibrium melting of eclogite or garnet amphibolite (of Mafic Formation tholeiite composition). The low K 2 O, Rb, and Sr contents of Mafic Formation tholeiites suggest that they were derived from an upper mantle source as depleted in these elements as the oceanic upper mantle is today. A plate tectonic model is proposed for the Bulawayan Group in which the Mafic Formation is derived from a depleted lherzolite source beneath a spreading center in a marginalsea basin and the Maliyami and Felsic Formations and associated rhyolites are produced by partial melting of eclogite in a descending slab located west of the basin.
Kinetic intermediate in the folding of human prion protein.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are associated with the conversion of cellular prion protein, PrPC, into a misfolded oligomeric form, PrPSc. Here we have examined the kinetics of folding and unfolding reactions for the recombinant human prion protein C-terminal fragment 90–231 at pH 4.8 and 7.0. The stopped-flow data provide clear evidence for the population of an intermediate on the refolding pathway of the prion protein as indicated by a pronounced curvature in chevron plots and the presence of significant burst phase amplitude in the refolding kinetics. In addition to its role in the normal prion protein folding, this intermediate likely represents a crucial monomeric precursor of the pathogenic PrPSc isoform.
Montage Serial Sectioning: Some Finer Aspects of Practice

Serial sectioning as a probe of topological properties of solids has become increasingly important for quantitative materials characterization and provides accurate inputs for microstructure simulations. In recent years, large-area montage serial sectioning has gained traction, due to the high resolution of micrographs it produces and the large volumes it samples. But some finer aspects of the practice dealing with error detection and correction—necessary for accurate reconstruction of a microstructural volume—have not received much attention. This article describes the tools and techniques we developed to (1) correct shading in tiles that make up a montage and (2) detect metallographic errors in serial sectioning. These tools help reconstruct the most accurate three-dimensional microstructures for use in investigating the micromechanics of materials under a variety of conditions. They also help ensure accuracy in stereological measurements, in reconstruction of constituent morphologies for characterization or simulation, and in other applications of montage serial sectioning.
Photic responses in optic nerve of Helicacea.

Abstract The camera eye of the common Moroccan land snailOtala Lactea, tribe Helicacea, has a spherical crystalline lens and a simple monolayer retina. The optic nerve, comprised of axones of the first-order sensory cells, is directly accessible to electrical recording. Macroelectrode recording from exposed optic nerve using long pulses of white light as stimulus revealed: (1) brisk response to stimulus onset (2) sustained activity during steady state d.c. illumination. Latency of response was approximately proportional to logarithm of stimulus amplitude. No off response was noted. Response dynamics were consistent with a pattern detecting eye.
Submicron-Sized Gamma-HMX: 1. Preparation and Initial Characterization

As part of our ongoing nanotechnology research effort, we have developed a novel method for the preparation of submicron-sized HMX (sm-HMX) by a simple fast-cooling technique. Surface structure analysis of the sm-HMX by field emission scanning electron microscopy reveals particles that are oblong in shape with average width of ∼ 300 nm and length of ∼ 1–2 µm. Raman spectroscopic features in the 200–2000 cm−1 range and high-intensity powder neutron diffraction were used to determine the crystallographic polymorph of the sm-HMX. Comparison of the Raman spectrum and the neutron powder diffraction pattern of sm-HMX to literature data show that sm-HMX is the gamma polymorph. The Raman data also illustrate that the polymorphic purity of the gamma sm-HMX produced by our method is greater than 99%.
High affinity DNA-microtubule interactions: evidence for a conserved DNA-MAP interaction involving unusual high CsCl density repetitious DNA families.

We have examined high affinity interactions of chick brain microtubule proteins with 35S labelled tracer DNAs from chick, mouse and D. melanogaster under equilibrium conditions by the nitrocellulose filter binding technique. Ternary reaction mixtures of the above two components and a third component, an excess of unlabelled competitor DNA from either E. coli., mouse, D. melanogaster or chick, were used to measure small fractions of DNA in each case (1–4%) bound to microtubule protein under high stringency- large competitor DNA concentration and 0.5 M NaCl. As seen in part previously (Marx, K.A. and Denial, T. (1985) in The Molecular Basis of Cancer, 172B, 65–75 (Rein, ed), A. Liss, N.Y.) the measured order of competitor DNA strengths was identical for all three tracer DNAs. That is: chick > mouse > D. melanogaster > E. coli competitor DNA. Since the homologous interaction, chick competitor DNA with chick brain microtubule protein, is always the strongest interaction measured, we interpret this as evidence for a conserved protein-DNA sequence interaction. 35S chick DNA tracer sequences, isolated from nitrocellulose filters following the stringent binding in the presence of 0.9 mM−1 E. coli. competitor DNA, was used in driven reassociation reactions with total chick driver DNA. This fraction was found to be significantly enriched in repetitive chick DNA sequences. Since we have observed a similar phenomenon in mouse, we then compared the stringent binding mouse sequences and showed that the bulk of these sequences did not cross-hybridize with total chick DNA. Finally, all three 35S tracer DNAs binding to nitrocellulose were isolated and sedimented to equilibrium on CsCl density gradients. The CsCl density distributions from all three DNAs showed significant (100-fold) enrichment in classical satellite DNAs as well as higher enrichment in two very unusual high CsCl density families of DNA (1.720–1.740 g/cm3; 1.750–1.765 g/cm3). These families are never observed as distinct bands in total DNA CsCl gradients, nor could we isolate them in purified tubulin control binding experiments. This apparently general phenomena may be identifying some of the sequence families involved in the high affinity microtubule interaction, which appears to be conserved in evolution.
Uptake by cells of nucleic acids promoted by compounds sharing the pleiotropic effects of poly(ethylene glycol)

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a member of a group of membrane active compounds that have pleiotropic effects on cells, eg, promotion of cell fusion, induction of erythroleukemia cell differentiation, and protection of cells from freezing damage. Since PEG has recently been shown to be an efficient promoter of genetic transformation in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells, studies were carried out to determine whether other PEG-related compounds could also promote genetic transformation. In this study, 24 compounds, which behave like PEG in other biological systems, are shown to promote transfection of human cells with isolated poliovirus RNA. That PEG and other commercially important compounds promote transfection indicates that such compounds may represent a biohazard to man.
SU-EE-A3-01: 4D Locally Adaptive Radiation Delivery Using Integrated In-Room MRI and DMLC Tracking

Purpose: The ideal IGRT‐based delivery to manage intrafraction motion has two requirements: complete spatio‐temporal knowledge of the anatomy, and real‐time beam adaptation corresponding to motion‐induced anatomical changes. Toward this goal, we investigate an integrated strategy combining two powerful techniques — online image‐guidance using fast cine‐MR imaging (4D‐MRI) and real‐time, locally adaptive delivery using dynamic multileaf collimator (DMLC)‐based tracking. Method and Materials:ImageSNR and, therefore, field strength (Bo) requirements for an integrated MRI+Linac for the task of radiotherapy guidance were investigated. Using multisection, multiphase steady‐state free precession (SSFP) and spoiled gradient recall (SPGR) sequences, 3D volumes (1.4s/volume) and 2D coronal slices (0.5s/slice) of a volunteer's thoracic region were acquired with a 1.5T MRI. For each set, a region of interest encompassing the diaphragm was segmented and trajectories of superior‐inferior and left‐right motion were computed for voxels within. In order to simulate real‐time imaging with lower field strength MRI+Linacs, the SNR for each set was progressively degraded and corresponding motion trajectories recalculated. 4D locally‐adaptive IMRT was implemented using a DMLC tracking algorithm which adapts the beam aperture(s) in real‐time using 3D position information from an independent monitoring system. The aforementioned trajectories were programmed into a high‐resolution 3D‐programmable motion platform and geometric accuracy of DMLC tracking was measured. Results: The SSFP‐acquired 2D and 3D images yielded adequate SNR for registration, while the SPGR sequence yielded faster acquisition but poorer SNR. For SSFP images, even with a factor‐of‐six SNR reduction (corresponding to Bo ∼0.2T), no significant changes were observed in estimated motion trajectories. Finally, sub‐millimeter tracking accuracy was observed for these traces for simultaneous target motion in the S‐I and left‐right directions. Conclusion: These initial studies provide valuable insights into design requirements of integrated MRI+Linac systems and indicate that 4D‐MRI combined with DMLC tracking represents a highly promising approach for intrafraction motion management.
A Study of Events with Large Total Transverse Energy Produced in Proton-Antiproton Collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.8 Tev

Properties of events originating from proton--antiproton interactions in which the total transverse energy of the event exceeded 400 GeV are presented. Based on a data sample of 5.45 pb-1, the topology of these hard scattering events as well as preliminary results for the cross--section versus total transverse energy are presented and discussed.
Glycine-extended anglerfish peptide YG (aPY) a neuropeptide Y (NPY) homologue may be a precursor of a biologically active peptide.

Abstract The 37 residue peptide YG (aPY), isolated from anglerfish endocrine pancreas, bears distinct sequence homology to the pancreatic polypeptide family of hormones. However, instead of a carboxyl-terminal tyrosine-amide, aPY has a free carboxyl-terminus ending with glycine. Towards studying the structure-activity relationship of this hormone, we have synthesized aPY by solid phase methodology using Boc-amino acid derivatives and phenylacetamidomethyl resin. The crude peptide was purified to homogeneity in 20% yield by reversed phase chromatography. The purified peptide had the expected amino acid composition and sequence, and was found to be identical with the natural aPY by analytical HPLC and peptide mapping of proteolytic digests. Neither the synthetic nor the natural aPY exhibited the characteristic vasoconstrictor activity of the related pancreatic polypeptide family of hormones. However, [Des37-Gly]-aPY, isolated from the anglerfish pancreas, caused vasoconstriction in rats. Based on these results and by analogy to the glycine-extended gastrin peptides, it may be suggested that aPY is a precursor of a biologically active peptide, namely [Des37-Gly]-aPY-amide.
Optical gain of strained wurtzite GaN quantum-well lasers

A theory for the electronic band structure and the free-carrier optical gain of wurtzite-strained quantum-well lasers is presented. We take into account the strain-induced band-edge shifts and the realistic band structures of the GaN wurtzite crystals. The effective-mass Hamiltonian, the basis functions, the valence band structures, the interband momentum matrix elements, and the optical gain are presented with analytical expressions and numerical results for GaN-AlGaN strained quantum-well lasers. This theoretical model provides a foundation for investigating the electronic and optical properties of wurtzite-strained quantum-well lasers.
Decomposition and thermodynamic property of metastable Fe–Zn solid solutions produced by mechanical alloying

Thermal decomposition of supersaturated single-phase body-centered cubic (bcc) Fe100−xZnx (5≤ x ≤65 at.%) solid solutions, processed via mechanical alloying of high-purity metal powders, was investigated using x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). At elevated temperatures the metastable solid solution decomposed into a stable equilibrium aggregate consisting of the pure bcc Fe phase and an intermetallic compound Fe4Zn9. The decomposition temperature decreased with increasing Zn concentration. The enthalpy of decomposition for various Fe-Zn solid solutions measured by the DSC was in the range of 1.2–3.5 kJ/mol. The enthalpy of mixing of the as-milled solid solutions from elemental Fe and Zn powders was estimated to be 0.5–1.7 kJ/mol. In addition, the activation energies of decomposition for these solid solutions were determined on the basis of the Kissinger analysis, and their values appeared to be independent of the Zn concentration in the alloy, with an average of 147 ± 17 kJ/mol.
Neonatal repair of tetralogy of Fallot results in improved pulmonary artery development without increased need for reintervention

Objective: Despite a continuous improvement in operative outcome the optimal timing for the repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results following neonatal repair of TOF and the need for reintervention associated with this strategy. Methods: Retrospective review of 66 consecutive patients with TOF and confluent pulmonary arteries, who underwent repair immediately after diagnosis. Group I (nZ46) had a median age of 5 days (1‐29) and Group II (nZ20) had a median age of 56 days (32‐270). A transventricular approach was used in all cases, and 58/66 (88%) patients received a transannular patch. The median follow-up interval was 35 months (1‐79). Results: There were three early deaths (4.5%) and no late deaths for an actuarial survival rate of 95.4% at 1 and 5 years. Univariate analysis of patient and procedural variables demonstrated that early mortality was only influenced by associated non-cardiac conditions (PZ0.04). At median interval of 9.8 months (3‐41), 12 patients required additional intervention. During the follow-up period, a significant increase in Nakata index was observed only among neonates. Freedom from reintervention at 1 month, 1 and 5 years was: 100, 84.2 and 81% in group I and 100, 84, 78.9% in group II. Surgical weight below 2.5 kg (P!0.001), low arterial saturation in the early postoperative period (PZ0.04) and small preoperative branch pulmonary artery size (!0.01) were associated with need for reintervention during follow-up. Conclusions: Elective repair of TOF in neonates with confluent central pulmonary arteries has excellent results in the absence of significant associated non-cardiac conditions. While enhancing the development and growth of the pulmonary arteries, neonatal repair affords a freedom from reintervention no different from patients repaired during infancy. Preoperative weight !2.5 kg and small left pulmonary artery size are associated with higher incidence reintervention during follow-up. Q 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Signal detection and extraction by cepstrum techniques

A technique for decomposing a composite signal of unknown multiple wavelets overlapping in time is described. The computation algorithm incorporates the power cepstrum and complex cepstrum techniques. It has been found that the power cepstrum is most efficient in recognizing wavelet arrival times and amplitudes while the complex cepstrum is invaluable in estimating the form of the basic wavelet and its echoes, even if the latter are distorted. Digital data-processing problems such as the detection of multiple echoes, various methods of linear filtering the complex cepstrum, the picket-fence phenomenon, minimum-maximum phase situations, and amplitude- versus phase-smoothing for the additive-noise case are examined empirically and where possible theoretically, and are discussed. A similar investigation is performed for some of the preceding problems when the echo or echoes are distorted versions of the wavelet, thereby giving some insight into the complex problem of separating a composite signal composed of several additive stochastic processes. The threshold results are still empirical and the results should be extended to multi-dimensional data. Applications are the decomposition or resolution of signals (e.g., echoes) in radar and sonar, seismology, speech, brain waves, and neuroelectric spike data. Examples of results are presented for decomposition in the absence and presence of noise for specified signals. Results are tendered for the decomposition of pulse-type data appropriate to many systems and for the decomposition of brain waves evoked by visual stimulation.
Surprise-Based Learning for Developmental Robotics

This paper presents a learning algorithm called surprise-based learning (SBL) capable of providing a physical robot the ability to autonomously learn and plan in an unknown environment without any prior knowledge of its actions or their impact on the environment. This is achieved by creating a model of the environment using prediction rules. A prediction rule describes the observations of the environment prior to the execution of an action and the forecasted or predicted observation of the environment after the action. The algorithm learns by investigating "surprises", which are inconsistencies between the predictions and observed outcome. SBL has been successfully demonstrated on a modular robot learning and navigating in a small static environment.
Development of a Vietnamese Language Outbreak Mapping and Surveillance System

Vietnam's location in South East Asia (where there is a marked risk for emerging diseases) and its history with recurrent zoonotic disease outbreaks, makes it a critical location for monitoring infectious disease events. HealthMap, a global disease surveillance and mapping system, has developed a system which utilizes freely available, online Vietnamese news media, to detect, categorize and map disease events occurring in Vietnam. The resulting feed provides rich data on disease outbreaks with precise location mapping and substantive case counts which is more timely and comprehensive than traditional English language media sources.
Suitability of Various Artificial Pupation Chambers for use by Koinobiont Parasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

ABSTRACT Although koinobiont parasitoids depend on their hosts for nutrition, they often exploit them in other ways during pupation. The solitary endoparasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) spins its cocoon in a chamber formed by its host Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctudidae). The parasitoid prepupae depend on this host-formed pupation chamber; if left on an open surface, T. nigriceps larvae are unable to form a cocoon. To determine whether T. nigriceps larvae can form cocoons in artificial pupation chambers, common laboratory materials were tested for suitability. Test chambers included cotton balls, upright test tubes, gelatin capsules, and the wells of microtube racks. The proportion of parasitoids that formed cocoons in each chamber, as well as the proportion that survived to adulthood, were recorded and compared with each other and to those placed in host-formed chambers, as well as to those placed in petri dishes, a flat surface. Parasitoid larvae were able to ...
Architectures for long-distance quantum teleportation

A system architecture for achieving long-distance, high-fidelity teleportation and long-duration quantum storage is proposed. It uses polarization-entangled photons and trapped-atom quantum memories and is compatible with transmission over standard telecommunication fibre. An extension of this architecture permits long-distance transmission and storage of Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states.
Use of Remote Sensing Applications and its Implications to the Society

Remote sensing, i.e. the technology that allows measuring object's properties from a distance, is currently undergoing tremendous advances in both precision and areas of applicability. Our study provides an overview of the recent developments in RS applications and their implications to the society. This was approached from three distinct directions, all with significant influence on the human's perception of the technology. First, we discuss how disaster prevention, reaction, and recovery can be supported by remote sensing. Next, we look at the popular view of remote sensing, as illustrated by media and commercial applications. Finally, we discuss legal implication of sensing technologies especially in the context of law enforcement, surveillance and security.
An analog front-end bipolar-transistor integrated circuit for the SDC silicon tracker

A low-noise, low-power, high-bandwidth, radiation hard, silicon bipolar-transistor full-custom integrated circuit (IC) containing 64 channels of analog signal processing has been developed for the SDC silicon tracker The IC was designed and tested at LBL and was fabricated using AT&T's CBIC-U2, 4 GHz f/sub /spl tau// complementary bipolar technology. Each channel contains the following functions: low-noise preamplification, pulse shaping and threshold discrimination. This is the first iteration of the production analog IC for the SDC silicon tracker. The IC is laid out to directly match the 50 /spl mu/m pitch double-sided silicon strip detector. The chip measures 6.8 mm/spl times/3.1 mm and contains 3,600 transistors. Three stages of amplification provide 180 mV/fC of gain with a 35 nsec peaking time at the comparator input. For a 14 pF detector capacitance, the equivalent noise charge is 1300 el. RMS at a power consumption of 1 mW/channel from a single 3.5 V supply. With the discriminator threshold set to 4 times the noise level, a 16 nsec time-walk for 1.25 to 10 fC signals is achieved using a time-walk compensation network. Irradiation tests at TRIUMF to a /spl Phi/=10/sup 14/ protons/cm/sup 2/ have been performed on the IC, demonstrating the radiation hardness of the complementary bipolar process. >
Air quality interventions and spatial dynamics of air pollution in Delhi and its surroundings

The paper examines the spatial distribution of air pollution in response to recent air quality regulations in Delhi, India. Air pollution was monitored at 113 sites spread across Delhi and its surrounding areas from July-December 2003. From the analysis of these data three important findings emerge. First, air pollution levels in Delhi and its surroundings were significantly higher than that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Second, air quality regulations in the city adversely affected the air quality of the areas surrounding Delhi. Third, industries and trucks were identified as the major contributors of both fine and coarse particles.
Precision stabilization of femtosecond lasers to high-finesse optical cavities

We report on direct stabilization of a femtosecond laser by a high-finesse passive optical cavity. Detailed comparison of two distinct stabilization schemes leads to new understanding of the optimum conditions for cavity stabilization and limitations on the ability to transfer the frequency stability of the cavity to the microwave domain. The stability of the frequency comb is explored in both the optical and the radio frequency domain. With an independent, stable cw laser, we verify that the linewidth and stability of the optical comb components, respectively, reach below 300 Hz and 53 10 ˛14 at 1 s averaging time, both limited by the
Digital computer control of a 30 cm mercury ion thruster

The major objective was to define the exact role of an onboard spacecraft computer in the control of ion thrusters. An initial computer control system with accurate high speed capability was designed, programmed, and tested with the computer as the sole control element for an operating ion thruster. The command functions and a code format for a spacecraft digital control system were established. A second computer control system was constructed to operate with these functions and format. A throttle program sequence was established and tested. A two thruster array was tested with these computer control systems and the results reported.
Unified Analysis of Compressive Packed Beds, Filter Cakes, and Thickeners

Abstract Fluid—particle systems are widely used throughout industry. Using an ad hoc approach to model a particular fluid—solid process lacks generality. A unified approach using continuum theory for multiphase systems is applied here to evaluate a packed bed, filter cake, and continuous gravity thickener. The unified approach has the advantage that the governing equations are obtained by simplifying the generalized continuum equations. The simplifying assumptions are obvious from the equations and do not require intuitive understanding as does the ad hoc approach. Also, for similar localized conditions the same constitutive relations can be applied when the same material is used in several processes. In the packed bed, filter cake, and thickener modeled here, a compressible solid matrix behavior is represented by a truncated Taylor series expansion for the solid phase stress. The packed bed and filter cake behaviors are evaluated for a range of pump powers and bed masses or cake heights. The thickener be...
MAKING THE MOST OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES ON THE ROAD AHEAD

In this article the authors explore the educational, economic, and social dynamics that position the community college as a key player on the national and international scene. Making the most of community colleges in the face of these dynamics, however, will mean grappling with and planning for key trends. To take a big picture look at these trends, the authors detail the results of the third study in a series of League for Innovation in the Community College road-ahead studies. The 2003 study included reviews of research, a national survey of CEOs, and a series of focus groups. The results point to seven key cluster areas surrounding issues of (1) learning swirl, (2) partnership programs, (3) funding agony and opportunity, (4) teaching, reaching, and leadership transitions, (5) learning dialogues and documentation, (6) high tech and high touch creativity and connection, and (7) courageous catalysts.
Integrated modeling for wireless sensor networks reliability and security

This paper considers the reliability and security modeling of wireless sensor networks (WSN) in an integrated manner. WSN are usually designed with fault-tolerant and intrusion-tolerant capabilities, which enable the system to fulfill the reliability and security requirements, respectively. Our approach unifies the attributes of fault-tolerance and intrusion-tolerance through the development of a WSN three universe model (WSN-TUM). Our modeling technique differentiates two types of WSN failures: security failures due to the occurrence of malicious intrusions which are represented in a dynamic fault tree (DFT); and traditional failures due to the malfunctions of the system's constituent components which are represented in a combination of probabilistic graph model and DFT model. Two practical issues, modular imperfect coverage and dependent common-cause failures, are also considered and represented in a DFT through a proposed probabilistic functional dependency gate and a proposed common-cause failure gate modeled after the existing FDEP gate. The resulting solution technique is applicable to Markov analyses and combinatorial methods such as binary decision diagrams for the analysis of both reliability and security
Hyperosmotic Stress Induces the Rapid Phosphorylation of a Soybean Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Protein Homolog through Activation of the Protein Kinases SPK1 and SPK2

Although phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) are known to serve critical functions in regulating a varied array of signal transduction processes in animals and yeast, the discovery of a similar class of proteins in plants occurred only recently. Here, we report the participation of Ssh1p, a soybean PITP-like protein, in the early events of osmosensory signal transduction in plants, a function not attributed previously to animal or yeast PITPs. Exposure of plant tissues to hyperosmotic stress led to the rapid phosphorylation of Ssh1p, a modification that decreased its ability to associate with membranes. An osmotic stress-activated Ssh1p kinase activity was detected in several plant species by presenting recombinant Ssh1p as a substrate in in-gel kinase assays. Elements of a similar osmosensory signaling pathway also were conserved in yeast, an observation that facilitated the identification of soybean protein kinases SPK1 and SPK2 as stress-activated Ssh1p kinases. This study reveals the activation of SPK1 and/or SPK2 and the subsequent phosphorylation of Ssh1p as two early successive events in a hyperosmotic stress-induced signaling cascade in plants. Furthermore, Ssh1p is shown to enhance the activities of a plant phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase, an observation that suggests that the ultimate function of Ssh1p in cellular signaling is to alter the plant's capacity to synthesize phosphoinositides during periods of hyperosmotic stress.
Association of ethnicity, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy, and myocardial infarction risk in patients with psoriasis.

Results: Of 8845 patients included, 1673 received a TNF inhibitor for at least 2 months (TNF inhibitor cohort), 2097 were TNF inhibitor naive and received other systemic agents or phototherapy (oral/phototherapy cohort), and 5075 were not treated with TNF inhibitors, other systemic therapies, or phototherapy (topical cohort). The median duration of follow-up was 4.3 years (interquartile range, 2.9, 5.5 years), and the median duration of TNF inhibitor therapy was 685 days (interquartile range, 215, 1312 days). After adjusting for MI risk factors, the TNF inhibitor cohort had a significantly lower hazard of MI compared with the topical cohort (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32-0.79). The incidence of MI in the TNF inhibitor, oral/phototherapy, and topical cohorts were 3.05, 3.85, and 6.73 per 1000 patientyears, respectively.