cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The growing array of innate inflammatory ignition switches in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is a major cause of chronic pain and disability. We currently lack disease-modifying OA medical therapeutics that effectively slow or halt the progression to destruction and failure of articular cartilage. Importantly, OA is a disease of the whole joint, including not only meniscal fibrocartilage and hyaline articular cartilage, but also subchondral bone, periarticular musculature, tendons and ligaments, articular adipose tissue, synovium, and synovial fluid (SF). Clinically, varying degrees of synovitis and joint effusion in OA contribute to signs and symptoms of inflammation (1). Multiple lines of evidence suggest that OA progression is promoted by low-grade innate articular inflammation and by synovitis (1,2). “Conventional” inflammatory cytokines expressed in cartilage and synovium likely play a role, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17 are among the players in synovitis (1,2). The report by Nair et al in this issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism reveals increased levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) in SF to be a biomarker of innate inflammation in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee meniscectomy for treatment of meniscal tears (3). Investigators in this group previously characterized this population as “enriched for patients with preradiographic disease” (4), given the associated symptoms, synovitis, and evidence of articular cartilage damage detected by arthroscopy.
Approaches to modeling natural regeneration in oak-dominated forests

Abstract Oaks are numerous and widespread. Approximately 500 species are distributed across several continents in the north temperate zone and Polynesia. Like the genus itself, the processes within oak-dominated forests are often complex and difficult to comprehend. This complexity arises from processes that produce an almost infinite number of interactions among highly variable biotic and abiotic factors. The challenge for oak silviculturists who work with oak ecosystems is to develop descriptions capable of capturing the essence of those processes. A model can be defined as a tentative description of a system or theory that accounts for all of its known or important properties. Models of systems can be developed along a continuum of complexity from very simple to extremely detailed, and they can be theoretically or empirically based. The more complex computer models may `simulate' real phenomena. Some models like FOREST, SILVAH, TWIGS and JABOWA are general and describe mixed-forest dynamic processes of birth, growth, and death. Others, like ACORn, ADVREGEN, and SIMSEED restrict their description to include only those processes important to the birth and survival of young oak trees. Some models are developed primarily to explain how processes function, while others are constructed to predict outcomes of a process. An ideal model is capable of both. The most prevalent use of predictive oak regeneration models is to assess the consequences of a regeneration process (regeneration potential) prior to overstory disturbance. For the most part, such models are regional in scope, empirically driven and are usually accurate. However, a less well-known model based on a probabilistic approach is illustrated by SIMSEED. This model can be used by silviculturists to evaluate the long-term fluctuations in oak regeneration numbers in different forest ecosystems without explicitly describing cause and effect relationships. Models such as SIMSEED predict patterns rather than specific occurrences of oak regeneration. Three modeling approaches are described by examples.
Bacterial phytochromes: More than meets the light

Phytochromes are environmental sensors, historically thought of as red/far-red photoreceptors in plants. Their photoperception occurs through a covalently linked tetrapyrrole chromophore, which undergoes a light-dependent conformational change propagated through the protein to a variable output domain. The phytochrome composition is modular, typically consisting of a PAS-GAF-PHY architecture for the N-terminal photosensory core. A collection of three-dimensional structures has uncovered key features, including an unusual figure-of-eight knot, an extension reaching from the PHY domain to the chromophore-binding GAF domain, and a centrally located, long α-helix hypothesized to be crucial for intramolecular signaling. Continuing identification of phytochromes in microbial systems has expanded the assigned sensory abilities of this family out of the red and into the yellow, green, blue, and violet portions of the spectrum. Furthermore, phytochromes acting not as photoreceptors but as redox sensors have been recognized. In addition, architectures other than PAS-GAF-PHY are known, thus revealing phytochromes to be a varied group of sensory receptors evolved to utilize their modular design to perceive a signal and respond accordingly. This review focuses on the structures of bacterial phytochromes and implications for signal transmission. We also discuss the small but growing set of bacterial phytochromes for which a physiological function has been ascertained.
Gallium concentration effects on magnetic bubble films of EuTm2(Fe,Ga)5O112 garnet grown by liquid phase epitaxy

By varying the Ga concentrations x of EuTm2Fe5−xGaxO12 from x = 0 to about 0.8, thin magnetic films supporting stable bubbles with diameters from 0.5 to about 8μm, respectively, are deposited epitaxially onto gadolinium gallium garnet substrates oriented (111). For low values of x, the Ga segregation coefficient is about 2 and it decreases slightly as x increases. Thus, films contain roughly twice as much Ga as the LPE fluxed melts in which they grow. Both the characteristic length and magnetic bubble stability factor (Q) increase rapidly with x and, to a lesser degree, so does the uniaxial anisotropy field HA while both 4πM and the uniaxial anisotropy Ku decrease.
Evolution of Photonic Band-gap and Lasing from Polycrystalline to Amorphous Photonic Structures

We map out a transition in the gap of photonic density of states from polycrystalline to amorphous structures. Lasing has been realized in both polycrystalline and amorphous photonic structures with distinct characteristic.
VIROLOGIC STUDIES IN CHILDHOOD CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES (CTD)

Evidence exists in man and animals that chronic virus infection causes immunologic disease. High virus antibody in a CTD, as found by others for rubella in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), might causally implicate a virus. We compared virus antibodies in childhood CTD (88 JRA, 21 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 21 other CTD) and 130 age, sex and race-matched controls with unrelated diseases. Sera wure coded before measuring IgG, rubella, measles, parainfluenza type 1 (Para-1) and Epstein-Barr (EB) virus antibodies. Results and clinical data were computer-analyzed. Virus antibody incidence was similar in each CTD group vs controls, as were mean antibody liters except for high Para-1 (log2 6.1 vs 5.6, p<.005) and EB (8.6 vs 7.7, p<.005) in JRA, and high measles (8.1 vs 6.1, p < .005) and Para-1 (6.2 vs 5.7, p<.05) in SLE. The EB and measles elevations were partially explained by significant correlations with IgG, which was higher in CTD, 15.8 mg/ml vs 11.9, p<.001. Lack of higher rubella in JRA was not explained by differing natural disease or immunization history. Factors not explaining the elevations were age, race, sex, disease duration and activity, type of JRA, corticosteroid treatment, ESR, latex fixation and ANA tests. Similar virus antibody elevations in adult CTD are also associated with hypergammaglobulinemia and do not necessarily implicate the viruses etiologically.
Group B β-hemolytic streptococcal arthritis and osteomyelitis of the wrist

A case of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis of the wrist with group B β-hemolytic streptococci in an adult is reported. Neonatal septic arthritis and osteomyelitis caused by this organism have been previously reported. While rare in the adult, sporadic cases of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis have been seen. The elderly patient with diabetes seems to be a high-risk patient. Underlying chronic arthritis may confuse or delay the diagnosis.
Sclerotic rib metastases detection on routine CT images

This work presents a computer-aided detection (CAD) system to aid radiologists in finding sclerotic bone metastases in the ribs on routine body imaging CT protocols with 5mm chest/abdomen CT images. First, the spine is segmented to locate the ribs using thresholding, region growing and a vertebra template. The centerlines of ribs are then traced by a progressive algorithm based on maximizing the cross-section overlap. The profile of the ribs along the centerline is analyzed to generate the initial detections. A set of quantitative features is then extracted and sent to a support vector machine for classification. Novel visualization techniques are also developed to display all ribs and the distribution of bone lesions in one single view. The system was tested on 10 data sets with 185 sclerotic lesions identified by an expert. A leave-one-out cross-validation results in 75.4% sensitivity at an average of 5.6 false positives per case.
Origin and evolution of the chloroplast division machinery

Chloroplasts were originally established in eukaryotes by the endosymbiosis of a cyanobacterium; they then spread through diversification of the eukaryotic hosts and subsequent engulfment of eukaryotic algae by previously nonphotosynthetic eukaryotes. The continuity of chloroplasts is maintained by division of preexisting chloroplasts. Like their ancestors, chloroplasts use a bacterial division system based on the FtsZ ring and some associated factors, all of which are now encoded in the host nuclear genome. The majority of bacterial division factors are absent from chloroplasts and several new factors have been added by the eukaryotic host. For example, the ftsZ gene has been duplicated and modified, plastid-dividing (PD) rings were most likely added by the eukaryotic host, and a member of the dynamin family of proteins evolved to regulate chloroplast division. The identification of several additional proteins involved in the division process, along with data from diverse lineages of organisms, our current knowledge of mitochondrial division, and the mining of genomic sequence data have enabled us to begin to understand the universality and evolution of the division system. The principal features of the chloroplast division system thus far identified are conserved across several lineages, including those with secondary chloroplasts, and may reflect primeval features of mitochondrial division.
On automorphisms of A-groups

Let G be an A-group (i.e. a group in which xxα = xαx for all \(x \in G, \alpha \in {\rm Aut}(G))\) and let \(A_\mathcal{C}(G)\) denote the subgroup of Aut(G) consisting of all automorphisms that leave invariant the centralizer of each element of G. The quotient \({\rm Aut}(G)/A_\mathcal{C}(G)\) is an elementary abelian 2-group and natural analogies exist to suggest that it might always be trivial. It is shown that, in fact, for any odd prime p and any positive integer r, there exist infinitely many finite pA-groups G for which \({\rm Aut}(G)/A_\mathcal {C}(G)\) has rank r.
Zonula occludens-1 and E-cadherin are coordinately expressed in the mouse uterus with the initiation of implantation and decidualization.

Two-way interactions between the blastocyst trophectoderm and the uterine luminal epithelium are essential for implantation. The key events of this process are cell-cell contact of trophectoderm cells with uterine luminal epithelial cells, controlled invasion of trophoblast cells through the luminal epithelium and the basement membrane, transformation of uterine stromal cells surrounding the blastocyst into decidual cells, and protection of the "semiallogenic" embryo from the mother's immunological responses. Because cell-cell contact between the trophectoderm epithelium and the luminal epithelium is essential for implantation, we investigated the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and E-cadherin, two molecules associated with epithelial cell junctions, in the mouse uterus during the periimplantation period. Preimplantation uterine epithelial cells express both ZO-1 and E-cadherin. With the initiation and progression of implantation, ZO-1 and E-cadherin are expressed in stromal cells of the primary decidual zone (PDZ). As trophoblast invasion progresses, these two molecules are expressed in stroma in advance of the invading trophoblast cells. These results suggest that expression of these adherence and tight junctions molecules in the PDZ serves to function as a permeability barrier to regulate access of immunologically competent maternal cells and/or molecules to the embryo and provide homotypic guidance of trophoblast cells in the endometrium.
Paradox, programming, and learning probability: A case study in a connected mathematics framework

Abstract Formal methods abound in the teaching of probability and statistics. In the Connected Probability project, we explore ways for learners to develop their intuitive conceptions of core probabilistic concepts. This article presents a case study of a learner engaged with a probability paradox. Through engaging with this paradoxical problem, she develops stronger intuitions about notions of randomness and distribution and the connections between them. The case illustrates a Connected Mathematics approach: that primary obstacles to learning probability are conceptual and epistemological; that engagement with paradox can be a powerful means of motivating learners to overcome these obstacles; that overcoming these obstacles involves learners making mathematics—not learning a “received” mathematics and that, through programming computational models, learners can more powerfully express and refine their mathematical understandings.
Analytical dynamic impact study based on correlated road roughness

The dynamic behavior of multigirder bridges under heavy trucks is investigated based on correlated road surface roughness. Four prestressed concrete bridges with span lengths ranging from 9.14 to 42.67 m (30 to 140 ft) are modeled as grillage beam systems. 3D nonlinear mathematical models for typical trucks are developed based on weigh-in-motion measurement data. These data were collected at two stations located on interstate highway 75 and 95, respectively, for a period of one week. There are a total number of truck counts of 21,444 processed in this study. The longitudinal road surface roughness is generated as correlated random processes along the deck transverse direction. Based on the results from field measurements, the spatial coherence function of these roughness profiles is approximately taken as a constant. Analytical results indicate that (1) the mean values of dynamic impact factors induced by heavy trucks are generally less than the values specified by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Specifications; and (2) the impact factors generally increase with the coefficient of correlation of road surface roughness.
Qualitative echocardiographic assessment of aortic valve regurgitation with quantitative cardiac magnetic resonance: a comparative study

This study examined the correlation of echocardiography (ECHO) and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) in the assessment of aortic valve regurgitation (AR) in children and young adults with congenital heart disease. We hypothesized that qualitative ECHO assessment correlates insufficiently with quantitative CMR data and compared subjective ECHO evaluations with objective measurement of regurgitant fractions (RF) by CMR. Patients who had both ECHO and CMR assessments of AR within 60 days of each other were included. The qualitative ECHO assessment (mild, moderate, severe) of AR and left ventricular dimension at end diastole were recorded. RF was quantified by CMR using phase-contrast velocity mapping. Repeat ECHO review and grading of AR was performed by a blinded single reader in a randomly chosen subgroup of patients. In 43 patients studied, statistical significance was observed in the CMR-RF between mild and moderate, and between mild and severe ECHO grades. There was significant overlap of objective RF between subjective grades. Mild ECHO AR corresponded to an RF (%) of 0-29, moderate 1-40, and severe 5-58. Overlap was more significant at moderate and severe grades. Results were similar in the group in whom a single reader interpreted the ECHO assessment. In conclusion, results derived from a real-life multiple-reader ECHO laboratory showed inconsistencies in ECHO grading of AR, with a wide range of objectively measured RF within a given ECHO grade. ECHO is less reliable in identifying more severe AR, often overestimating severity. Quantitative CMR is a potentially useful supplement to ECHO for management decisions and assessments of medical and surgical therapies in children and young adults with AR.
Parity violation in reactor neutron transmission experiments

Abstract Reactor neutron transmission experiments have revealed several examples of greatly enhanced parity violation in neutron-nucleus scattering. A model for the enhancement that involves the mixing of compound s and p-wave resonances has been developed that is in good agreement with the measurements. Additional neutron transmission measurements to study the bare neutron-proton weak interaction, to search for time reversal symmetry violation, and to learn more about the compound resonance mixing will be discussed.
Deflection-voltage performance of asymmetrically activated piezoelectric C-block actuators

As the field of smart materials and structures emerges, there is an increasing need for high- force, high-displacement actuators. An actuator architecture that shows potential in meeting this need is the C-block. C-blocks are curved piezoelectric laminated beams, poled in the radial direction, that flex when voltage is applied. One of the main advantages of C-blocks is they can be combined into distributed arrays to generate more force and/or deflection. The original C-block design was a polymeric bimorph and required the piezoelectric layers to experience both tension and compression. Unfortunately, ceramic versions of the actuator would fail as a result of the tensile stress. Therefore, the C-block design has been modified to an asymmetrically loaded unimorph. This paper introduces a ceramic C-block actuator design along with a simple model for deflection-voltage performance. To verify the model, piezoelectric polymeric and ceramic C-block prototypes were fabricated and deflection-voltage experiments were performed. These experiments demonstrate that the model predicts well the performance of asymmetric C-blocks. The model may be used to design a variety of C-block actuators, potentially including a high-force, high displacement actuator for smart structures applications.
Effect of some organic solvents and acids on the laser-induced atomic fluorescence of tin in air-hydrogen flames

The effects of some organic solvents and acids on the atomic fluorescence of tin in air-hydrogen flames have been examined. Ketones and alcohols greatly reduced the florescence sensitivity in fuel rich air-hydrogen flame whereas organic acids generally enhanced the fluorescence signal. The depressive effect of organic solvents was found to be highly dependent on the fuel to oxidant ratio in the flame. An attempt has been made to explain these effects, on the basis of possible reactions occurring in the flame.
Radiation curing of pigment prints on textiles

Abstract Printing fabrics with mixtures of pigment, difunctional oligomers, and monomers and curing with ultraviolet or electron beam radiation saves between 3000 and 5000 BTU's per pound of fabric compared to conventional techniques using pigments, latex binders and aqueous acrylic or solvent emulsion thickeners. Elimination of the energy needed to evaporate the water and solvents and cure the binder accounts for the savings, but the subsequent reduction in print paste volume causes problems in application. Adjustments in paste rheology, reductions in application roller engraving depth, and increasing paste volume by foaming help to solve this problem. Paste formulation changes affect radiation curability, fabric stiffness, print quality and color fastness. Interactions between all these parameters is discussed.
Different Ligand Affinities of the Two Human Insulin Receptor Splice Variants Are Reflected in Parallel Changes in Sensitivity for Insulin Action

The human insulin receptor (hIR) is expressed in two variant forms that are generated by tissue-specific alternative splicing of the 11th exon of the IR gene. This leads to receptors that differ in their affinities for insulin based on the absence (hIR-A) or presence (hIR-B) of a 12-amino acid insert near the C-terminus of the alpha-subunit. To explore further the functional significance of the difference in these receptor subtypes, the properties of hIR-A(exon 11-) and hIR-B(exon 11+) receptors have been compared in parallel. Despite their different affinities for insulin, the receptor variants retain equivalent acid sensitivity for insulin binding and bind proinsulin with the same relative affinity. Both hIR-A and hIR-B are able to signal a variety of insulin's actions, but the insulin dose-response curves for receptor autophosphorylation and for mitogenesis and glycogen synthase stimulation in cells are shifted to the right for hIR-B receptors compared to hIR-A receptors. The magnitude of these rightward shifts, 1.5- to 3-fold in the assays listed above, are similar to and presumably accounted for by the 2-fold difference in insulin affinity exhibited by the receptor variants. Occupied hIR-A and hIR-B receptors undergo indistinguishable endocytotic itineraries after insulin binding. Both lead to insulin degradation that is quantitatively and kinetically similar, and both down-regulate when exposed to saturating insulin for 24 h. Thus, the functional consequences of the alternative splicing of IRs are limited to those related to the variants' differing affinities for insulin.
Stocking Density Effect on Weight Gain of Yearling Holstein Heifers in Freestall and Loose Housing

Stocking densities of replacement yearling Holstein heifers were studied under freestall conditions (1.0, .71, and .63 freestall/head) and loose housing conditions (4.5, 3.2, and 2.8 m2/head under roof) in two 180-day growth trials. Heifers gained .69, .69, and .66 kg/day under freestall conditions and .63, .56, and .71 kg/day under loose housing conditions for the stocking densities. Stocking densities of replacement herd heifers may be increased to .63 freestall/head under freestall conditions or to 2.8 m2/head under loose housing conditions without expanding existing facilities.
Do solar variations change climate

Most specialists now agree that the average temperature at the Earth's surface has increased by about half a degree Celsius since the beginning of the 20th century. The cause of this global warming, however, is a matter for intense debate and controversy, ranging from one extreme attributing it all to the increasing greenhouse effect brought about by human activities, to the opposite position attributing the warming to natural climate variability. Some model calculations have shown that the greenhouse effect can account for the size of the observed temperature increase, but the models are still relatively crude and cannot account for the shape of the increase. As a result, most researchers now think that some combination of natural and anthropogenic causes is at work.
Ex Vivo Activation of CD56+ Immune Cells That Eradicate Neuroblastoma

Despite the use of intensive contemporary multimodal therapy, the overall survival of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma is still less than 50%. Therefore, immunotherapy without cross-resistance and overlapping toxicity has been proposed. In this study, we report the development of a novel strategy to specifically activate and expand human CD56(+) (NCAM1) natural killer (NK) immune cells from normal donors and patients with neuroblastoma. Enriched CD56(+) cells from peripheral blood were mixed with CD56(-) fraction at 1:1 ratio and cultured in the presence of OKT3, interleukin (IL)-2, and -15 for five days and then without OKT3 for 16 more days. The final products contained more than 90% CD56(+) cells and could kill neuroblastoma cells effectively that were originally highly resistant to nonprocessed NK cells. Mechanistically, cytolysis of neuroblastoma was mediated through natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR), DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1; CD226), perforin, and granzyme B. Successful clinical scale-up in a good manufacturing practices (GMP)-compliant bioreactor yielded effector cells that in a neuroblastoma xenograft model slowed tumor growth and extended survival without GVHD. Investigation of CD56(+) cells from patients with neuroblastoma revealed a similar postactivation phenotype and lytic activity. Our findings establish a novel and clinically expedient strategy to generate allogeneic or autologous CD56(+) cells that are highly cytotoxic against neuroblastoma with minimal risk of GVHD.
Three Models of Clergy Systems: Analysis of Couple Processes and Spiritual Meaning

This study explores how parts of the clergy system interact in response to congregational and familial demands. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with twenty-four clergy and their spouses identified three clergy system models based on the spiritual meaning and relational dynamics between the clergy, their spouses, and the congregations: The living sacrifice model emphasizes service to the congregation at the expense of personal and familial needs; the faithful spouse and parent model focuses on family needs over the congregation and practices several disciplines to maintain such a focus; and the peacemaker model seeks as much as possible to satisfy their congregation and their family by intentionally juggling their demands. Results illustrate how relational processes and spiritual meaning contribute to how clergy systems respond to systemic demands and pressures.
On-the-fly free energy parameterization via temperature accelerated molecular dynamics

We discuss a method for parametric calculation of free energy functions in arbitrary collective variables using molecular simulations. The method uses a variant of temperature accelerated molecular dynamics to evolve on-the-fly the parameters of the free energy function to their optimum values by minimization of a cumulative gradient error. We illustrate how the method performs using simple examples and discuss its application in the derivation of effective pairwise potentials for multiscale molecular simulations.
Biotransformation of tributyltin to tin in freshwater river-bed sediments contaminated by an organotin release.

The largest documented release of organotin compounds to a freshwater river system in the United States occurred in early 2000 in central South Carolina. The release consisted of an unknown volume ...
Disparity in pathologic and clinical lymph node staging in oral tongue carcinoma: Implications for therapeutic decision making

BACKGROUND Regional lymph node metastasis is the most reliable predictor of treatment outcomes for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue (SCCOT). A recent American Joint Committee on Cancer staging update of malignant melanoma has incorporated pathologic lymph node staging. The authors hypothesized that pathologic lymph node staging (pN) would be a more reliable predictor of treatment outcomes than clinical lymph node staging (cN). METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed 266 patients who received primary surgical treatment for SCCOT, including a neck dissection, from January 1980 to December 1995. Overall and disease-specific survival and disease-free interval were compared with respect to clinical and pathologic lymph node stages. RESULTS Statistically significant survival differences were identified for both clinical (cN0–cN2) and pathologic lymph node stages (pN0–pN2). However, survival and disease-free interval differences for pathologic lymph node staging reached higher statistical significance (P < 0.0001) than for clinical lymph node staging (P < 0.002). This disparity can be explained by stage migration (i.e., patients with cN0–1 disease have a more advanced lymph node stage at the time of pathologic review compared with patients without cN0–1 disease). The authors found a 34% rate of occult lymph node disease in the cN0 group (19% of occult lymph nodes had extracapsular spread [ECS]). Similarly, 43% of cN1 patients had a higher stage than pN2b disease and 50% had ECS. CONCLUSIONS Pathologic lymph node staging, based on a staging or therapeutic neck dissection, should be considered for patients treated for SCCOT to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from additional adjuvant therapy. Prospective studies are essential to validate these findings before pathologic lymph node staging is included in standard staging criteria. Cancer 2003;98:508–15. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11526
Epoxide derivatives of pipecolic acid and proline are inhibitors of pipecolate oxidase

Abstract The cis-4,5-epoxide derivative of l -pipecolic acid (2S,4S,5R-epoxypipecolic acid, cis- 3 ) was synthesized and found to serve as an excellent substrate for l -pipecolate oxidase ( l -PO) and also to cause time-dependent, irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. Data are presented showing this compound is a mechanism-based inhibitor of l -PO, whereas 2S,3R,4S-epoxyproline acts as a reversible inhibitor.
Cryogenic high-frequency operation of tunnelling hot-electron transfer amplifiers

The authors report the DC and high-frequency characteristics of tunnelling hot-electron transfer amplifiers (THETA) up to 18 K and with a varying composition of indium in the base. Optimum performance has been observed for the devices with 57% of indium in the In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As base. Small-signal model intrinsic elements are extracted from the S-parameter data.
An Analytical Electrostatic Model for Salt Screened Interactions between Multiple Proteins.

We present a new general analytical solution for computing the screened electrostatic interaction between multiple macromolecules of arbitrarily complex charge distributions, assuming they are well described by spherical low dielectric cavities in a higher dielectric medium in the presence of a Debye-Huckel treatment of salt. The benefits to this approach are 3-fold. First, by exploiting multipole expansion theory for the screened Coulomb potential, we can describe direct charge-charge interactions and all significant higher-order cavity polarization effects between low dielectric spherical cavities containing their charges, while treating these higher order terms correctly at all separation distances. Second, our analytical solution is general to arbitrary numbers of macromolecules, is efficient to compute, and can therefore simultaneously provide on-the-fly updates to changes in charge distributions due to protein conformational changes. Third, we can change spatial resolutions of charge description as a function of separation distance without compromising the desired accuracy. While the current formulation describes solutions based on simple spherical geometries, it appears possible to reformulate these electrostatic expressions to smoothly increase spatial resolution back to greater molecular detail of the dielectric boundaries.
New Solenoid Mechanism for Magne-Blast Breaker

The existence of relatively high electromagnetic forces in circuit breakers when subjected to fault currents of appreciable magnitude has long been recognized. One of the problems in the design of a cir-cuit-breaker operating mechanism is to pro-vide smooth and effective closing perform-ance, even though the breaker be closed against a short circuit and is thereby sub-jected to these high electromagnetic retarding forces during the final portion of the closing stroke. The greater the magnitude of the short-circuit current, the higher these electromagnetic retarding forces become and the more serious the effects of any tendency to ``stall'' or, worse, to reverse momentarily the closing motion of the contacts. This paper describes a solenoid mechanism with novel design features developed to operate a new Magne-Blast circuit breaker of high interrupting rating and capable of closing that breaker against fault currents as high as 80,000 amperes rms.
248 nm photolithography compatibility on low-k dielectrics in BEOL interconnects

Printing small geometries using wavelength of 248 nm on low- k materials is not a plug-in photolithography process from one technology to other technology node. In this paper, a method of film characterization of low-k dielectric materials will be discussed. For a characterization of chemical vapor deposited low-k dielectric materials, a positive tone deep UV (DUV) chemically amplified photoresist (CAR) was used as a poisoning gauge. In early development state of low-k dielectrics and copper dual damascene interconnects in back-end-of-line processes, unstable patterning behaviors were observed in spite of using an organic bottom antireflective coating layers on low-k substrates. The initial work was focused on finding the source of lot-to-lot critical dimension (CD) variations and understanding what causes this problem as well. Study indicated a strong correlation that photo CD depended on time interval between photolithography process and previous process step. Significant photo CD shift was introduced by short cycle time from thin film deposition to photolithography process and post via etch clean process to trench photolithography process. To minimize photo CD variations, the process optimizations were necessary in low- k dielectric film deposition, rework, via etch process, and post via etch clean process. As parallel efforts to improve lot-to-lot CD control, various photoresist system, different ambient annealing conditions, various surface organic and inorganic capping techniques were tested. In this experiments, time interval between processes was tightly controlled and maximized the worst case of scenario. Fresh and aged low-k dielectric films were analyzed using time-of- flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. This work suggested that N2 containing in the film or introducing N2 into low-k dielectric film caused lot-ot-lot photo CD variations.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis and Hodgkin's disease.

Three patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and Hodgkin's disease, a previously unrecognized association, are reported. All three patients were men, and one patient had Crohn's disease of the colon. Primary sclerosing cholangitis was diagnosed 2, 11 and 17 yr before diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease in the three patients, and all three had advanced biliary cirrhosis prompting referral for liver transplantation. The symptoms of Hodgkin's disease were often masked by similar manifestations of primary sclerosing cholangitis, particularly symptoms of recurrent biliary sepsis. Hodgkin's disease is another disorder that may occur in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, particularly in the setting of advanced disease, and may be masked by the underlying hepatobiliary disease. (HEPATOLOGY 1993;18:1127-1131).
New Trans-Arctic shipping routes navigable by midcentury

Recent historic observed lows in Arctic sea ice extent, together with climate model projections of additional ice reductions in the future, have fueled speculations of potential new trans-Arctic shipping routes linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, numerical studies of how projected geophysical changes in sea ice will realistically impact ship navigation are lacking. To address this deficiency, we analyze seven climate model projections of sea ice properties, assuming two different climate change scenarios [representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5] and two vessel classes, to assess future changes in peak season (September) Arctic shipping potential. By midcentury, changing sea ice conditions enable expanded September navigability for common open-water ships crossing the Arctic along the Northern Sea Route over the Russian Federation, robust new routes for moderately ice-strengthened (Polar Class 6) ships over the North Pole, and new routes through the Northwest Passage for both vessel classes. Although numerous other nonclimatic factors also limit Arctic shipping potential, these findings have important economic, strategic, environmental, and governance implications for the region.
Geometry of subducted plates and island arcs viewed as a buckling problem

During subduction, a plate9s leading edge is forced to squeeze into a smaller total width than it occupied at the surface, yet the plate resists change of dimension in its own plane. A possible outcome is that the plate buckles as it descends: at a depth of 500 km, the amplitude of buckling could be as much as one-tenth the wavelength, and dip angles for a plate descending at 45° on average could range from 35° to 55°. Observed plate geometries, though not ideally regular, are compatible with these suggestions. Before being subducted a lithosphere plate is convex upward at all points, whereas, to buckle, it must become convex downward in a series of plunging synclines. The “pop-through” is most likely to occur after the leading edge has descended about 100 km. At the moment of pop-through, the subduction hinge line changes from being smooth to being a series of arcs and cusps; back-arc spreading associated with the change can be 150 km or more in the arc embayments but should be zero opposite the cusps, where a compressive regime is sustained. In the pop-through event, elastic strain energy is released, and the associated back-arc spreading should be a comparatively sudden event, on a geologic time scale.
Regional Integration, Validation, and Application of SEASAT-A Satellite Scatterometer (SASS) Data

Seasat-A is scheduled for launch during the summer of 1978. Several experiments are planned for verification of the expected data. An accurate account of these experiments is premature as this conference digest goes to press; therefore only a very brief overview will be given here. It is expected that some preliminary results will be available at the conference.
Removal of dissolved organic contaminants by ozonation

This article focuses on the use of ozone for the elimination of dissolved organic pollutants from water and wastewaters. The physical and chemical phenomena prevailing during the contact of a polluted liquid stream with gaseous ozone-air or ozone-oxygen mixture in empty or packed columns is represented mathematically. The simulation procedure is based on defining the concentration profiles of ozone and the organic solutes in both liquid and gas phases by means of differential mass balances. Methods for the determination of necessary model parameters is outlined and the model is analyzed for its sensitivity to various process variables.
Solar modulation of atmospheric electrification and possible implications for the Sun–weather relationship

Atmospheric electrical processes may help explain statistical findings indicating that variable solar activity, such as solar flares or the Earth's position in the extended solar magnetic field, affects the weather. An atmospheric electrical mechanism bypasses difficulties associated with solar heating mechanisms. Understanding Sun–weather relationships offers a basis for long range weather forecasting.
Tridimensional personality questionnaire and treatment response in major depressive disorder: a negative study.

Abstract Background : Recent studies have found that the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire can be used to help predict antidepressant treatment response in depressed outpatients. As this finding could be of great clinical importance, we attempted to replicate these findings. Methods : Our study included 199 outpatients with major depressive disorder in an 8-week open trial with fluoxetine 20 mg/day. The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) was administered to all patients before treatment. Results : There was a significant correlation between pre-treatment scores on the TPQ subscale of harm avoidance and severity of depression at baseline as determined by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAM-D-17) scores. There was no correlation of harm avoidance scores and percent improvement of HAM-D-17 after treatment with fluoxetine. There was also no correlation of baseline HAM-D-17 scores or percent improvement with the subscales of reward dependence and novelty seeking. Limitations : Our study’s limitations include a possible selection bias, lack of controls and fixed dosing of fluoxetine. Conclusions : In contrast to previous studies, we failed to find a relationship between temperament type as defined by the TPQ and antidepressant response. Our failure to replicate the findings of other studies may in large part be related to the use of different classes of antidepressants. Further studies using similar antidepressants may be helpful to clarify this discrepancy.
Arginine Vasotocin Interacts with the Social Environment to Regulate Advertisement Calling in the Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)

Arginine vasotocin (AVT) has different effects on social behaviors across species with different social systems. However, less attention has been directed towards the way environmental stimuli interact with AVT to affect social behaviors. Previous work found that AVT affects the production of advertisement calls and the outcome of competitive interactions between male gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor). We conducted a field study to investigate how the presence of other males in a chorus influenced the production of advertisement calls in males treated with AVT or saline. After hormone treatment we placed individuals in call sites either within 50 cm of another calling male (proximate), or more than 2 m away from any calling male (distant). Males treated with AVT produced significantly longer calls with more pulses when placed at proximate call sites, but not distant call sites. Nonsignificant trends indicated that these increases in call length coincided with a decrease in call rate. There was no effect of call site distance on advertisement calls when males were treated with saline. These results indicate that the social environment can modulate the action of AVT on an important reproductive behavior, and that AVT does not influence call duration and pulse number unless another male is nearby. Understanding how social stimuli regulate the action of AVT on behavior could provide insight on the diversity of AVT function across species.
Eukaryotic gene expression: Very short repeats and coordinate induction of genes

The proposition that a set of unlinked genes could be coordinately induced by means of cis interactions with a common regulatory molecule retains an attractive simplicity. The idea requires that some form of homologous sequence exists in the vicinity of genes that are functionally related and are induced in concert. As primary sequence data for sets of such genes have become available, several interesting homologies have indeed turned up. Though the shared sequence elements are quite short, the statistical probability of their chance occurrence in similar positions with respect to each of the several coordinately induced genes is extremely low. Furthermore, in two such cases, direct evidence has been obtained by DNA transformation that the short repeated sequence elements shared among the 5'-flanking regions of the inducible genes are required for regulation.
Electrochemistry of Corrosion

Abstract Principles involved in analyzing a corrosion situation according to electrochemical methods are described. The basic formulas of reactions are given, together with an explanation of their implications and use. The commonly accepted theories of inhibition and passivation are discussed in electrochemical terms.
FUNDAMENTAL QUANTUM LIMIT IN PRECISION PHASE MEASUREMENT

We show through a series of arguments that, given a total average photon number 〈N〉, the fundamental limit in the precision phase measurement is set by quantum mechanics to be the so-called Heisenberg limit, i.e., 1/〈N〉. Some specific types of phase measurement are considered in the discussion. However, the proof based on the general principle of complementarity of quantum mechanics applies to any scheme of phase measurement. From the general argument by the complementarity principle, we are able to find a necessary condition for those states that can achieve the Heisenberg limit if they are employed for precision phase measurement. A general guideline is given for the search of the measurement schemes in which the Heisenberg limit is achieved. We demonstrate the procedure by applying it to a few specific examples.
The immunogenicity of injectable collagen. I. A 1-year prospective study

With the growing use of collagen-based biomaterials, questions have been raised regarding the immunogenicity of this protein in humans. Currently a bovine collagen implant is in widespread use for the correction of dermal contour deficiencies ( Zyderm Collagen Implant (hereafter referred to as "the implant"); Collagen Corporation, Palo Alto, CA). To investigate potential immunologic consequences of this material, sixty-one subjects were evaluated in a 1-year prospective study. Two of the sixty-one subjects (3%) experienced localized, self-limiting inflammatory responses to the implant material; only in these two subjects could elevated levels of anti-implant collagen antibodies be measured by radioimmunoassay. These antibodies did not cross-react with human dermal collagen nor did they result in elevated levels of circulating immune complexes. Routine blood and urine testing failed to reveal any results of clinical significance. Thus, this protein displayed only weak antigenic activity in this study population.
A Candle in the Wind

In this Classroom Activity, students follow in the footsteps of Michael Faraday and investigate the factors, fuel, air, and heat, that enable a candle flame to burn. The results are used to understand what happens when you blow a candle out. Included are activities that illustrate what is burning (the jumping flame trick), where the heat is generated (the scorched card), and what the wick does. The activity involves students working with matches and lit candles and therefore requires careful supervision.
Characterization of an islet carboxypeptidase B involved in prohormone processing.

An islet carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme (CP B) has been identified and characterized in secretory granules of anglerfish islets. By employing several different column chromatography methods (gel filtration, ion exchange, and hydroxylapatite), it was determined that the islet secretory granules contained only one detectable CP B. This enzyme is present in both secretory granule- and microsome-enriched subcellular fractions and is membrane associated at pH 5.2. The specific activity of the islet CP B was approximately 4-fold higher in the secretory granule- and microsome-enriched subcellular fractions than in the lysosome-enriched fraction. It is a metallo-enzyme that is stimulated by Co++, and has a pH optimum in the range of 5.2–6.2. The isoelectric point of the islet CP B is at pH 4.9. The enzyme is a glycoprotein and has an approximate molecular size of Mr 30,000 by gel filtration. The substrate analogs guanidinoethylmercaptosuccinic acid, guanidinopropylsuccinic acid, and aminopropylmercaptosuccinic ac...