cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of water on CO2 capture by amino acid ionic liquids

The reversible capture of CO2 from fossil-fueled industries and the absorption of CO2 for natural-gas-sweetening purposes are industrial issues closely related to very important environmental, economical, and technological concerns. Biological amino acids can be used for task-specific ionic liquids for reversible CO2 capture. Several groups have reported efficient and reversible CO2 capture by such ionic liquids under rigorously dry conditions. However, we have observed that CO2 capture by amino acid ionic liquids is hugely impacted by the presence of water. In addition, the amino acid anions appear to play only a transitory role in the CO2 capture in the first minutes of exposure to a wet CO2 stream. Here, we studied the interaction of two ionic liquids—tetramethylammonium glycinate ([N1111][Gly]) and tetraethylammonium prolinate ([N2222][Pro])—with CO2 under wet conditions, by 13C-NMR. Results show that CO2 is initially captured in a carbamate form by the amine-functionalized anions of these salts. This capture mode is unambiguously confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray study of the CO2-ionic liquid complex. However, in solution, as additional CO2 is added, the carbamate releases the covalently bound CO2, and the CO2 remaining in solution shifts in form to an equilibrium mixture of carbonate and bicarbonate. Indeed, when the amount of CO2 present in the system exceeds about one-half mole per mole of ionic liquid present, the ionic liquid–carbamate complex is detected in only trace amounts, and the neutralized amino acids are readily identifiable by NMR.
The Use of Hydrogen-Depleted Coal Syngas in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract Electrolyte-supported solid oxide fuel cells were operated using hydrogen, simulated coal syngas, and a hydrogen-depleted syngas as fuel. Open circuit voltages closely matched theoretical predictions, and carbon deposition was completely avoided. When 50% of the hydrogen flow rate was removed from the syngas mixture while increasing the overall flow rate to maintain the same fuel utilization, the drop in power density of the cell was less than 8%. Switching from syngas to hydrogen-depleted syngas caused an average increase in the area-specific resistance of 0.027 Ω cm 2 , or 4%. The results of this study suggest that solid oxide fuel cells could operate successfully using syngas that has been partially stripped of hydrogen for other purposes.
Boundary representation techniques for object-based image compression

As digital image and video compression technology evolves, it appears that transform based coding or compression techinques will reach asymptotic rate-distortion performance, especially with respect to linear transforms. Although nonlinear compression techniques (for example, based on Markov models) are being developed, progress has been relatively slow due to challenges in theory development. Alternatively, several research teams have produced algorithms for object-based compression (OBC), whereby an image is segmented into areas of similar color or spatial variance. Each segmented region can then be represented in terms of a small region descriptor and somewhat less compact set of boundary descriptors. This paper examines boundary representations and complexity measures for OBC - a previous publication, also related to OBC, overviewed region segmentation techniques. Of particular interest to OBC is the evolution of boundary representations from early approaches such as chain coding or simplical complexes to transform coded descriptors such as Fourier or wavelet-based representations. These techniques precede more modern methods such as hierarchical transforms (e.g., wavelets) and direct compression of Boolean boundary representations. In this paper, the authors develop boundary compression algorithms based on concepts derived from statistical image compression theory and hierarchical codebook representations. The resulting boundary encoding technique is suitable for a wide range of compression applications, in particular, OBC. Performance criteria include computational complexity of the encoding process, as well as space complexity of intermediate and final boundary representations.
Research of HTTP Hyperlinks Reconstruction and Hot Topic Auto-Discovery

Internet security is facing a growing challenge, and many security monitoring systems based on packet inspection have been unable to fully meet the requirements of high-level security monitoring. In this paper, based on full web hyperlinks reconstruction and the hot topic of automatic discovery mechanism, a network security monitoring system is proposed, which is able to achieve the real-time monitoring, to reproduce the complete content of the WEB browser, to cluster and discovery the hot topic automatically, and to monitor web content intelligently.
When is Too Few Too Bad: How Many Participants Should a User Study Have?

Evaluating a system with users is an important part of interactive applications research and development. However, there are many challenges to conducting an effective evaluation. One such challenge is involving an appropriate number of participants in a study. Although the number of participants involved has varied in previously published studies of interactive systems, it does not mean that any value can be used. When too few participants are involved, those studies are often regarded as weak, incomplete, or otherwise invalid.
A lumped-parameter electro-thermal model for cylindrical batteries

Abstract Combining several existing lumped-parameter models, this paper presents an electro-thermal model for cylindrical batteries. The model consists of two sub-models, an equivalent-circuit electrical model and a two-state thermal model which are coupled through heat generation and temperature dependence of the electrical parameters. The computationally efficient 5-state model captures the state of charge (SOC), terminal voltage, surface temperature and the often neglected core temperature of a battery for wide range of operating conditions. The proposed parameterization scheme allows separate identification of the electric and thermal sub-models, greatly reducing the complexity of the parameterization process. The methodology is applied to a LiFePO 4 /graphite battery. Comparison with the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data clarifies the frequency range of the model fidelity. The model is further validated with two drive-cycle tests, covering SOC range 25%–100%, temperature 5 °C–38 °C, and maximum C-rate of 22 C .
Controlled Evolution of Morphology and Microstructure in Laser Interference-Structured Zirconia

Tape-cast pseudo-cubic zirconia pellets were surface irradiated by two coherent interfering high-power short-pulse Nd:YAG laser beams. The interfering beams of the third harmonic with a wavelength of 355 nm of a 2.5-ns Q-switched laser produced a line-like intensity distribution with a periodic distance of 3.3 m due to the selected angle between the beams. The resulting nonuniform surface heating produced a microstructure consisting of ultrafine-grained zirconia with a grain size of about 10 nm within the top 100 200 nm depth of the treated surface region due to the high cooling rates during short-pulse laser processing (up to 10^10 K/s). The surface morphology closely followed the microperiodic heat treatment provided by the interfering laser beams. The pore size distribution within the periodic surface morphology ranged from a few nanometers to a maximum of half of the periodic line distances.
Impact of linker length on the activity of PROTACs

Conventional genetic approaches have provided a powerful tool in the study of proteins. However, these techniques often preclude selective manipulation of temporal and spatial protein functions, which is crucial for the investigation of dynamic cellular processes. To overcome these limitations, a small molecule-based novel technology termed “PROteolysis TArgeting ChimeraS (PROTACs)” has been developed, targeting proteins for degradation at the post-translational level. Despite the promising potential of PROTACs to serve as molecular probes of complex signaling pathways, their design has not been generalized for broad application. Here, we present the first generalized approach for PROTAC design by fine-tuning the distance between the two participating partner proteins, the E3 ubiquitin ligase and the target protein. As such, we took a chemical approach to create estrogen receptor (ER)-α targeting PROTACs with varying linker lengths and the loss of the ER in cultured cells was monitored via western blot and fluorometric analyses. We found a significant effect of chain length on PROTAC efficacy, and, in this case, the optimum distance between the E3 recognition motif and the ligand was a 16 atom chain length. The information gathered from this experiment may offer a generalizable PROTAC design strategy to further the expansion of the PROTAC toolbox, opening new possibilities for the broad application of the PROTAC strategy in the study of multiple signaling pathways.
Tumor suppressor menin: the essential role of nuclear localization signal domains in coordinating gene expression

Menin is encoded by the tumor suppressor gene MEN1 that is mutated in patients with an inherited tumor syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Although menin is a nuclear protein and directly binds to DNA through its nuclear localization signals (NLSs), the precise role for each of the NLSs in nuclear translocation and gene expression remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that point mutations in three individual NLSs, NLS1, NLS2, and a novel accessory NLS, NLSa, do not block nuclear translocation, but compromise the ability of menin to repress expression of the endogenous insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) gene. This repression is not released by an inhibitor of histone deacetylases. Although subtle mutations in menin NLSs do not affect menin association with chromatin, they abolish menin binding to the IGFBP-2 promoter in vivo. Furthermore, each of the NLSs is also crucial for menin-mediated induction of caspase 8 expression. Together, these results suggest that menin may act as a scaffold protein in coordinating activation and repression of gene transcription and that its NLSs play a more important role in controlling gene transcription than merely targeting menin into the nucleus.
Ultrasonic detection of pericardial effusions adjacent to the right atrium during routine examination of the upper abdomen.

Pericardial effusions are usually detected on ultrasound by examining the heart with time—motion (T/M) or real-time equipment through a left chest intercostal space. Since fluid within the pericardium also accumulates around the right atrium, effusions can also be diagnosed by observing fluid separating the right atrium from hemidiaphragm on parasagittal scans of the right upper abdomen. In order to be certain that this space represents pericardial rather than pleural fluid, the inferior vena cava must be identified along the lower margin of the fluid space as a tubular structure traversing from the diaphragm into the right atrium. Our procedure is proposed as an ancillary approach for detecting clinically unsuspected effusions during the routine examination of the upper abdomen rather than as a replacement for the usual method of visualising pericardial effusions.
Postmenopausal estrogen and heart disease

A protective effect of estrogen is the most obvious reason for the substantial and consistent favored status of women vs. men with regard to coronary heart disease (CHD). This paper briefly reviews the history of studies of the estrogen-heart disease hypothesis, the reason why clinical trials of postmenopausal estrogen are necessary (despite the strength, consistency, and plausibility of the 'protection' seen in observational studies), and the status of the 'Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions' (PEPI) trial results and ongoing trials. The potential for nonhormonal primary prevention is emphasized.
The Second Student-Run Homeless Shelter

AbstractFrom 1983-2011, the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter (HSHS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was the only student-run homeless shelter in the United States. However, college students at Villanova, Temple, Drexel, the University of Pennsylvania, and Swarthmore drew upon the HSHS model to open their own student-run homeless shelter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in January 2012. This article describes the process by which the Student-Run Emergency Housing Unit of Philadelphia opened its doors, as well as the successes and challenges encountered in its first year of operation. The feasibility of this student-run model expanding to other American cities is also considered.
Photoelectrochemistry of a Substituted-Ru(bpy)32+-Labeled Polyimide and Nanocrystalline SnO2 Composite Formulated as a Thin-Film Electrode

Composite nanocrystalline SnO2 thin films layered with a polyimide sensitizer to which is attached a Ru(bpy)32+ derivative were prepared by spin-coating. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of such composite films, when formulated as polymer-modified electrodes, are described. Excitation spectra of both composite films and of the dissolved polymer indicate substantial ground-state aggregation of the pendent ruthenium(II) complexes. Because of high loading of the pendent ruthenium(II) complex in the composite, high adsorptivity by the dye is attained. A maximum incident photon-to-photocurrent conversion efficiency (IPCE%) of 16% was observed upon monochromatic photosensitization at 460 nm.
An application of the life-cycle linear expenditure system to the South Korean household sector, 1962–1976

Abstract This paper investigates the roles of relative prices, real interest rates and bequests in the determination of consumer expeditures for four composite ‘goods’ in South Korea. The framework employed is a life-cycle extension of the Extended Linear Expenditure System. The results provide strong empirical support for the expenditure system employed and suggest a significant role for relative prices and bequests in shaping saving decisions. We also find that the real consumer discount rate is only marginally influenced by observed real interest rates, suggesting a very small (perhaps zero) interest elasticity of saving. Our model also provides an explicit estimate of the consumer ‘planning horizon’, defined in the sense of Friedman.
A Review of Ionic Liquids for Green Molecular Lubrication in Nanotechnology

Common industrial lubricants include natural and synthetic hydrocarbons and perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs), where the latter is widely used in commercial applications requiring extreme operating conditions due to their high temperature stability and extremely low vapor pressure. However, PFPEs exhibit low electrical conductivity, making them undesirable in some nanotechnology applications. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been explored as lubricants for various device applications due to their excellent electrical conductivity as well as good thermal conductivity, where the latter allows frictional heating dissipation. Since they do not emit volatile organic compounds, they are regarded as “green” lubricants. In this article, we review the different types of ILs and their physical properties responsible for lubrication. We also discuss their suitability as lubricants, since the long-term performance of ILs as lubricants may be affected by issues such as corrosion, oxidation, tribochemical reactions, and toxicity. We present nanotribological, electrical, and spectroscopic studies of IL films along with conventional tribological investigations, recognizing that understanding the tribological performance at various length scales is a crucial step in selecting and designing effective lubricants.
Preterm infants born to women who had an elevated prepregnancy body mass index appear to be at increased risk of germinal matrix hemorrhage.

In a sample of 449 infants of birthweight ≤ 1.5 kg, the risk of germinal matrix hemorrhage increased monotonically with increases in maternal body mass index (BMI, wt/ht2 ). This relationship was repeated in many strata of the sample, including those defined by the occurrence of labor, maternal preeclampsia, route of delivery, intubation of the baby and acidosis, as well as strata defined by birthweight and gestational age. Even though the dose-response relationship is prominent, caution is advised in drawing inferences from these findings until confirmation is provided that preterm infants born to mothers of high BMI are at increased risk of germinal matrix hemorrhage. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bureaucratic Strategies of Exclusion: Land Use Ideology and Images of Mexican Farmworkers in Housing Policy

This article examines how land use ideology and popular images of farmworkers contribute to the housing crisis for Mexican farmworkers in Fresno County, California. Despite the desperate need for affordable housing in the rural areas of Fresno County, local policy makers either have failed to aid or have actively discouraged attempts to increase the stock of affordable housing. Through an ethnographic examination of public policy decision making about residential construction on the west side of Fresno County, I document how public officials make policy decisions based on both a land use ideology that rationalizes governmental failure to serve Mexicans working in the agriculture industry and portraits of farmworkers and farmworker families that reflect stereotypes and nationally relevant population characteristics rather than regionally specific realities. This ideology and these stereotypical profiles operate to render invisible portions of the Mexican farmworker population who have been working in the area for decades and diminish affordable housing opportunities.
Ectatic Disorders Associated With a Claw-shaped Pattern on Corneal Topography

Purpose To identify clinical findings associated with claw-shaped patterns on corneal topography. Design Retrospective, observational case series. Methods Forty eyes (26 patients) with classic claw-shaped patterns on corneal topography were identified from 3,993 Orbscan II records. They were subclassified into three groups: Group 1 (pellucid marginal degeneration [PMD] or PMD suspect); group 2 (keratoconus or keratoconus suspect); and group 3 (ectasia). The refractive and topographic indices of groups 1 and 2 were compared. Results There were nine eyes (six patients) in group 1, 27 eyes (18 patients) in group 2, and four eyes (two patients) in group 3. The mean radii of maximal anterior (2.96 mm) and posterior (3.06 mm) elevation in group 1 were significantly greater than those of group 2 (1.89 mm; P = .018 and 1.72 mm; P = .022, respectively). Conclusions The claw-shaped pattern on corneal topography is not diagnostic of PMD; it is also seen in keratoconus.
Persistence of egg pocket architecture in redds of chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta

Analysis of frozen cores of gravel surrounding the egg pockets of chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, collected in the fall revealed that spawning activity by females purged about 75 % of the fine sediments from the stream bed. The egg pocket was one of four distinct vertical strata detected in the cores. There was an undisturbed layer below the egg pocket, and separate bridge and cover strata above the egg pocket, all defined by different particle size distributions. However, by spring most of the egg pockets had been infiltrated with fine sediment and the particle size distribution approached background levels. The most likely physical factors responsible for these results were: (1) intrusion of fine sediments through the cleaned surface gravel, (2) lateral subsurface migration of fine sediment into interstitial voids, (3) scour of the surface gravel and subsequent deposition of a sand rich bedload, and (4) superimposed spawning activity of other fish, causing disturbance of the cleaned surface gravel and exposing the egg pocket to intrusion of fine particles. We conclude that, while female salmon substantially affect the physical environment of their embryos, subsequent sediment transport processes and fine bedload flux tend to return this environment to pre-spawning conditions.
Effect of Aspergillus oryzae Extract Alone or in Combination with Antimicrobial Compounds on Ruminal Bacteria

The effect of an Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on the growth rates of pure cultures of ruminal bacteria was determined. Bacteria were grown in an anaerobic ruminal fluid and carbohydrate medium. A sterile filtrate made with 10% A. oryzae was added to the medium at 2 or 5% (vol/vol) to provide a final A. oryzae concentration of 2 or 5 mg/ml, respectively. The filtrate had no effect on the growth rates of 10 of the 19 ruminal bacteria tested; however, the filtrate increased the growth rates of the bacteria that digest fiber, Ruminococcus albus and Fibrobacter succinogenes, and the bacteria that utilize lactate, Megasphaera elsdenii, Selenomonas lactilytica, and Selenomonas ruminantium. No differences in growth rate were detected between the two concentrations of A. oryzae filtrate. We also investigated the interactions between A. oryzae and antimicrobial compounds on the growth rates of six species of ruminal bacteria that had shown positive responses or no response to the filtrate. The addition of A. oryzae filtrate to medium containing chlortetracycline or neomycin tended to diminish the negative effects of those compounds on the growth rates of some ruminal bacteria, although the bacteria had no positive growth response to the filtrate alone. In contrast, the combination of A. oryzae filtrate and tylosin decreased the growth rate of Sel. ruminantium D. These results indicated that A. oryzae stimulates growth of some bacteria that digest fiber and ferment lactate in the rumen and interacts positively or negatively with certain antimicrobial feed additives.
Characterization of diamond amorphized by ion implantation

Single crystal diamond has been implanted at 1 MeV with 2 [times] 10[sup 20] Ar/m[sup 2]. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in a channeled geometry revealed a broad amorphized region underlying a thin, partially crystalline layer. Raman spectroscopy disclosed modifications in the bonding characteristic of the appearance of non-diamond carbon. The complementary nature of the two analysis techniques is demonstrated. The Knoop hardness of the implanted diamond was reduced by implantation.
Quasi-phase matching in SOI and SOS based parametric wavelength converters

In this study, we demonstrate method for quasi phase matched silicon-on-sapphire waveguides suitable for MWIR wavelength conversion to achieve higher conversion efficiency than that can be achieved in uniform waveguide geometries. In particular we show that periodic change in waveguide width by 0.5μm and hence periodic change in waveguide dispersion can to reset phase accumulation and provide ever-increasing gain profile. With the fabrication flexibility of large cross-section of MWIR waveguides, the possibility of using quasi-phase-matching can provide >30dB conversion efficiency enhancement and increase the conversion bandwidth by 2 times. Such improvement may facilitate the fabrication of parametric oscillators that can improve the conversion efficiency by 50dB.
Shear-Relative Asymmetries in Tropical Cyclone Eyewall Slope

AbstractRecent studies have analyzed the azimuthal mean slope of the tropical cyclone (TC) eyewall. This study looks at the shear-relative azimuthal variability of different metrics of eyewall slope: the 20-dBZ surface, the radius of maximum wind (RMW), and an angular momentum (M) surface passing through the RMW. The data used are Doppler radar composites from the NOAA Hurricane Research Division (HRD). This study examines 34 TCs, with intensities ranging from 3 to 75 m s−1 and shear magnitudes ranging from 0 to 10 m s−1. Calculation of the mean slope in each quadrant for all cases shows that RMW slope has the strongest asymmetry, with downshear slope larger than upshear in 62% of cases. Slopes of momentum surfaces and dBZ surfaces are also greater downshear in some cases (65% for M and 47% for dBZ), but there is more variance than in the RMW slope. The azimuthal phase of maximum slope occurs most often downshear, particularly downshear left, consistent with the depiction of a mean vortex tilt approximate...
Quality Improvement of Medical Wire Manufacturing Process

This article presents a case study of a Six Sigma–based quality improvement framework for a wire drawing process at a U.S.-based medical wire manufacturing company.
Molecular mechanisms of nickel carcinogenesis: gene silencing by nickel delivery to the nucleus and gene activation/inactivation by nickel-induced cell signaling

We have summarized the molecular and cellular events involved in nickel (Ni) compound induced carcinogenesis. The major hypothesis for nickel carcinogenic action has involved the ability of the Ni compound to deliver high concentrations of Ni intracellularly, enter the nucleus and interact with chromatin. Ni has been found to selectively damage heterochromatin, and a major action of Ni is its ability to silence the expression of genes located near heterochromatin by inducing a loss of histone H4 and H3 acetylation and DNA hypermethylation. When Ni silences critical genes, such as tumor suppressor genes, the cell is altered to a greater state of neoplastic transformation. The carcinogenic hazard of Ni compounds has been directly related to the ability of that Ni compound to raise the intracellular Ni ions. The mechanisms of Ni-induced gene silencing will be discussed. However, recently it has been found that soluble Ni ions can interact with the cell surface receptors and activate cell signaling resulting in the induction of a variety of cellular genes. In particular, the Ca and hypoxia inducible factor pathway is activated in all cells exposed to soluble Ni ions. In the case of HIF-1 induction, a cell is now equipped with the expression of a variety of genes that will allow the cell to survive the lack of oxygen and thus should enable a previously initiated cancer cell to progress into a full malignant state and metastasize. These new findings support the view that soluble Ni ions exhibit carcinogenic potential by activating cell promotion and lend strength to the epidemiological data showing soluble Ni to be associated with cancer risk in Ni refinery workers.
Polarization-ratio reflectance measurements in the extreme ultraviolet

We demonstrate a technique for determining optical constants of materials in the extreme UV from the ratio of p-polarized to s-polarized reflectance. The measurements are based on laser-generated high-order harmonics, which have easily rotatable linear polarization but that are prone to brightness fluctuations and systematic drifts during measurement. Rather than measure the absolute reflectance, we extract the optical constants of a material from the ratio of p-polarized to s-polarized reflectance at multiple incident angles. This has the advantage of dividing out long-term fluctuations and possible systematic errors. We show that the reflectance ratio is as sensitive as the absolute reflectance to material optical properties.
Myths about the proton. The nature of H+ in condensed media.

Recent research has taught us that most protonated species are decidedly not well represented by a simple proton addition. What is the actual nature of the hydrogen ion (the “proton”) when H+, HA, H2A+, and so forth are written in formulas, chemical equations, and acid catalyzed reactions? In condensed media, H+ must be solvated and is nearly always dicoordinate, as illustrated by isolable bisdiethyletherate salts having H(OEt2)2+ cations and weakly coordinating anions. Even carbocations such as protonated alkenes have significant C–H···anion hydrogen bonding that gives the active protons two-coordinate character.Hydrogen bonding is everywhere, particularly when acids are involved. In contrast to the normal, asymmetric O–H···O hydrogen bonding found in water, ice, and proteins, short, strong, low-barrier (SSLB) H-bonding commonly appears when strong acids are present. Unusually low frequency IR νOHO bands are a good indicator of SSLB H-bonds, and curiously, bands associated with group vibrations near H+ i...
Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity was studied in 24 patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and in 18 age- and sex-matched controls studied concomitantly. Percent cytotoxicity was determined by 4-h 51 Cr release assay using K562 targets at effector to target ratios of 100:1, 50:1, and 25:1. Mean percent cytotoxicity was significantly lower in patients than in controls at an effector to target cell ratio of 100:1. Likewise, decreased cytotoxicity was found at effector to target ratios of 50:1 and 25:1, although this difference was not significant. When natural killer activity was analyzed separately for males and females, cytotoxicity was lower in both, although the decrease was significant only for male patients. Impairment of natural killer activity did not correlate with blood zinc levels, but appeared to correlate with stage of disease.
A mobile platform for studying sea-surface films

Abstract A catamaran-type platform was specifically constructed to obtain sea-surface film samples by various techniques and to use apparatus designed to measure in situ film properties and film-formation rates (including film pressure, film potential, and surface tension). Associated film-containment and concentration devices are described.
Estimation-Based Mitigation of Dynamic Optical Turbulence : An Experimental Study

Laser beam propagating through the atmosphere encounters dynamic turbulence, which creates spatial and temporal fields of the refractive index. The resulting wavefront distortions lead to severe performance degradation in the form of reduced signal power and increased BER, even for short-range links. To alleviate this problem, an electrically addressed liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM) can be used to correct the wavefront by dynamically changing the optical path delays. Application of Zernike Formalism reduces the complexity of calculation of the SLM control signals by approximating the required phase profile. A real-time wavefront correction procedure utilizing Simplex optimization by Nelder and Mead was previously demonstrated. The performance of such procedure could be improved by proper re-initialization to avoid sub-optimum solutions. Interference-based phase estimation is proposed for this task and its potential was demonstrated in a proof-of-concept theoretical study. This paper presents the modification in the previously developed system and the corresponding experimental results, which show dynamic correction of the phase distortions.
On symmetric solutions of the relativistic Vlasov-Poisson system

Spherically symmetric solutions to the Cauchy problem for the relativistic Vlasov-Poisson system are studied in three space dimensions. If the energy is positive definite (the plasma physics case), global classical solutions exist. In the case of indefinite energy, “small” radial solutions exist in the large, but “large” data solutions (those with negative energy) will blow-up in finite time.
Effects of preferential transport and strain in bluff body stabilized lean and rich premixed CH4/air flames

Abstract The effects of preferential transport and strain on the scalar structure of turbulent premixed bluff body stabilized flames are examined using Raman–Rayleigh–LIF diagnostics. Bulk flowrate and equivalence ratio are varied parametrically. Comparisons with laminar flame calculations are used both to validate the quality of the experimental measurements and to facilitate interpretation of the measured response of the bluff body flames to changes in equivalence ratio and flow conditions. Strong effects of preferential species transport on the internal flame structure and the product composition of the recirculation zone are observed in lean, stoichiometric, and rich flames. Contrary to the standard view of differential diffusion effects in turbulent flow becoming negligible at sufficiently high Reynolds number, the preferential diffusion effects in the premixed bluff body flames reported here initially increase with the Reynolds number then saturate and persist at higher Reynolds numbers. Measurements in a rich bluff body flame are suggestive of high strain, but instantaneous profiles in the turbulent flame for this shear-flow geometry are thicker than calculated for an unstrained laminar flame.
Gel Filtration Radioimmunoassay to distinguish Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin from Luteinizing Hormone

EXISTING immuno- and bio-assays are incapable of readily distinguishing human luteinizing hormone (LH) from human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). A procedure capable of making this distinction should make it possible to solve a variety of problems, including whether the high levels of luteinizing activity associated with seminoma are due to HCG or LH, whether the blood of newborn infants contains HCG or LH, and whether or not moderately high levels of “LH” found by radioimmunoassay in patients thought to be cured of choriocarcinoma represent a recurrence of the neoplasm. The present communication describes a means for making this distinction. Advantage was taken of the different gel filtration properties of these two hormones to effect their separation, and the resulting elution peaks were then located by radioimmunoassay.
Dynamics and control of coherent structure in turbulent jets

Current understanding of coherent structure dynamics in incompressible turbulent jets as explained by the nonlinear stability theory is reviewed, focusing on nonswirling turbulent jets. Topics addressed include hydrodynamic stability theory and coherent structures; dynamics of energy transfers among different scales of motion; nonlinear development of amplitude; development of single-frequency coherent mode; fundamental-subharmonic interaction and vortex pairing; and reversal of Reynolds stresses. Attention is also given to the effect of initial phase-difference angle between fundamental and subharmonic, conditions for resonance interaction, modulation of spreading rate by controlling coherent structure, turbulence enhancement or suppression due to excitation, 3D effects, jet noise, and swirling jets.
Clarifying the Role of Thermodynamics in Self-gravitating Dark Matter Systems

Astrophysicists currently favor the idea that the vast majority of mass in the uni- verse exists in a collisionless form that interacts only through gravity. This paradigm has been successful in allowing computer simulations of cosmological volumes to re- produce structures similar to those observed. Our work aims to better understand the physics at work in collisionless systems, in general. Specifically, we investigate how well thermodynamics-based approaches to understanding equilibrium structures agree with results of computer simulations. Using a suite of N -body simulations with differ- ing initial conditions, we examine the density and velocity profiles of self-gravitating collisionless systems. Statistical comparisons between simulated equilibrium struc- tures and two thermodynamics-based models indicate the relative appropriateness of the models. We find that no single model can describe systems resulting from the entire range of initial conditions investigated here. Our major result is that these thermodynamics-based models can successfully reproduce equilibria that arise in gen- tly evolving systems. However, the failure of thermodynamics-based models to de- scribe the equilibria of more violent evolutions suggests that they must retain some memory of their initial conditions.
High Magnetic Field Behavior of Iron Impurities in Chromium

Mossbauer measurements in 57Fe in dilute FeCr alloys in external magnetic fields up to 140 kOe are presented. The magnetic hyperfine interactions are compared with results obtained by Herbert, Clark and Wilson and are discussed in terms of a model due to Housley and Dash.
Platelet Adherence to Collagen: Role of Prostaglandin—Thromboxane Synthesis

The effect of aspirin and indomethacin on adherence of human platelets to collagen was assessed by affinity chromatography on collagen/Sepharose. Studies were done using platelets from normal subjects and subjects ingesting aspirin. Blood was anticoagulated with EDTA, EGTA or citrate, and platelets were suspended in plasma or buffer after separation by centrifugation or gel filtration. The adherence to collagen of platelets from subjects ingesting 1200 mg aspirin per day decreased significantly (P less than 0.05 or below). A significant reduction in adherence also occurred after exposure to aspirin and indomethacin in vitro. The reduction in adherence was associated with inhibition of malondialdehyde (MDA) production and was unaffected by the presence of CP/CPK. Exposure of platelets to aspirin at 24 degrees C caused no impairment of adherence. The addition of 1.0 mM Ca++, 0.5 or 1.0 mM Mg++, or 1 mM arachidonic acid significantly diminished the inhibition of adherence by aspirin. Imidiazole had an effect on adherence opposite to that of aspirin. Changes in release of 14C-serotonin in general paralleled changes in adherence. The data suggest that aspirin and indomethacin impair but do not fully inhibit platelet adherence to collagen. Factors affecting this inhibitory activity in our system are the presence of plasma and availability of divalent cation. Platelet-collagen adhesion appears partly dependent upon prostaglandin-thromboxane synthesis and may be promoted by a different pathway that is stimulated by divalent cations and unaffected by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.
Textural properties of baked tortilla chips

Textural properties of baked tortilla chips were evaluated using instrumental methods. Tortilla chips were baked at different temperatures (505, 533, 561, 588 K) for different durations. Fracture force and work values were determined using a texture analyzer. Results showed that the formation of air cells and cracks during baking played an important role for the textural attributes of samples. Fracture force and work values increased with time and reached a maximum value at a certain time and then they decreased. The only exception was observed for the chips baked at 505 K for which the maximum textural attributes were reached at the longest baking time. The force required to break the sample was higher for samples with higher work values.
Infection ofArabidopsis thaliana ecotype columbia by tomato spotted wilt virus

Mechanical inoculation ofArabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia with tomato spotted wilt virus led to viral replication and spread as determined by dot blot and ELISA analysis. Severe symptoms were observed three to four weeks post-inoculation. Early symptoms were manifested as chlorotic spots on uninoculated leaves. Later in the infection process, some plants showed complete chlorosis and wilting prior to bolting. Bolts that were developed by infected plants were chlorotic and deformed. These preliminary results suggest thatA. thaliana could become a model system for the genetic analysis of host factors required for the replication of viruses in the family Bunyaviridae, which includes viruses that cause important diseases of both plants and animals.
Characterization of the departure process in a closed fork–join synchronization network

Abstract In this article we consider a closed fork–join synchronization Markovian network, where a queueing model consisting of two finite input buffers, B 1 and B 2 , fed by arrivals from two finite populations of sizes K 1 and K 2 is investigated. The first population feeds the first buffer and the second population feeds the second buffer. As soon as there is one part in each buffer, two parts one from each buffer are joined and exit immediately. We provide model analysis and characterization of the departure process; in particular we provide the marginal distribution of inter-departure times.
A note on Ramsey multiplicity

If G"1 and G"2 are graphs and the Ramsey number r(G"1, G"2) = p, then the fewest number of G"1 in G and G"2 in G@? (G complement) that occur in a graph G on p points is called the Ramsey multiplicity and denoted R(G"1, G"2). In [2, 3] the diagonal (i.e. G"1 = G"2) Ramsey multiplicities are derived for graphs on 3 and 4 points, with the exception of K"4. In this note an upper bound is established for R(K"s, K"1). Specifically, we show that R(K"4, K"4) =< 12.
Organ scaling in mammals: The kidneys

Values of kidney weight in adult male and female mammals, both terrestrial and aquatic, as well as values for renal blood flow and glomerular number and diameter, were submitted to linear (log-log) regression analysis. The slope of the regression line for kidney weight in 63 species of adult terrestrial mammals was 0.85 %/- 0.01. No statistically significant difference was found between the slopes of the regression lines for male and female terrestrial mammals. The slope of regression line for kidney weight in eight species of adult aquatic mammals was 0.92 +/- 0.01. Again, no statistically significant difference was found between the slopes for males and females. However, the slope (0.92) of the regression line for aquatic mammals was significantly different from the slope (0.85) for terrestrial mammals (P much less than 0.001). The slope of the regression of renal blood flow on body weight was 0.82 +/- 0.01. This value is consistent with the hypothesis that renal blood flow represents a constant fraction of cardiac output (over about 3.4 orders of magnitude in body weight). The slopes of the regression lines for glomerular number (per kidney) and mean glomerular diameter were 0.59 +/- 0.02 and 0.11 +/- 0.01, respectively. A schematic model representing the scaling of energy-partitioning in mammals is introduced.
Nitric oxide synthase inhibition decreases pontine acetylcholine release.

This study tested the hypothesis that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) would cause decreased acetylcholine (ACh) release. Microdialysis of cat mPRF permitted measurement of ACh during states of wakefulness, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. ACh release during microdialysis with Ringers (control) was compared to ACh release during microdialysis with 10 mM N G -nitro-L-arginine (NLA). The NOS inhibitor NLA caused a significant reduction in ACh released from the mPRF during wakefulness, NREM sleep, and REM sleep. This reduction in mPRF ACh release elicited by NLA suggests that nitric oxide (NO) contributes to cholinergic neurotransmission in the pontine reticular formation.
Embracing Ambiguity: Facing the Challenge of Measurement

Assigning numbers to variations in the behaviors, experiences, or beliefs of individuals and groups is a firmly established tradition in Western culture. In many areas of occupational therapy practice, quantitative measures are required to document need for services and, increasingly, quantitative measures are required to document the value of these services in terms of the outcomes achieved. In order to meet these expectations, occupational therapy frequently has adopted both methods and instruments from other disciplines including psychology, medicine, and education. However, the assumptions and modes of thinking about people that accompany these methods are not always compatible with the values and practice.of occupational therapy. This paper explores tensions inherent in the assessment process in a profession that is holistic and humanistic in its orientation. I propose that in order for assessment to serve our goal of supporting health and participation through engagement in occupation we must accept the uncertainty and be vigilant about the biases in thinking that are inherent in our measures.
Come and See (1985): Klimov's Intimate Epic

Two decades after its release in the west, Elem Klimov's Come and See remains, along with Tengiz Abuladze's Repentance (1987), a landmark of epic filmmaking during the last years of the Soviet Unio...
The spectrum of subtidal variability in Chesapeake Bay circulation

Abstract The advent of long, continuous time series records of circulation in Chesapeake Bay has revealed the existence of large amplitude fluctuations within the subtidal range 0·03–0·6 cycles day −1 . These fluctuations represent direct and indirect response of the estuary to variations in wind stress, fresh water inflow, and coastal sea level. The fluctuations in circulation are accompanied by synchronous fluctuations in transportable properties such as salinity and temperature. A quantitative model is presented to explain this variability within the main stem of Chesapeake Bay in terms of a linear reponse to irregular, time-varying meteorological forcing. The model calculates transfer functions and energy spectra of laterally averaged transport, surface elevation, and salinity in two layers separated by a halocline, over the frequency band 0·03–0·6 cycles day −1 . Transfer functions between volume transport and wind stress obtained from one-month-long field experiments at three different cross sections in Chesapeake Bay are used to constrain model friction parameters. Using existing estimates for wind stress and coastal sea level energy spectra, energy spectra for volume transport and surface elevation are calculated as a function of longitudinal position. It is found that the observed volume transport spectrum at the mouth of the Bay can be explained quantitatively as the combined response to statistically indepentdent wind stress and sea level fluctuations. Variations in sea level account for 90% of the volume transport variance at the Bay mouth and dominate the volume transport spectrum below 0·375 cycles day −1 . In the upper Bay, longitudinal wind stress accounts for most of the variance. A maximum in the volume transport spectrum at 0·4 cycles day −1 , caused by a local maximum in the wind spectrum, is found at all upper Bay cross sections.
Diversity versus disparity and the radiation of modern cetaceans

Modern whales are frequently described as an adaptive radiation spurred by either the evolution of various key innovations (such as baleen or echolocation) or ecological opportunity following the demise of archaic whales. Recent analyses of diversification rate shifts on molecular phylogenies raise doubts about this interpretation since they find no evidence of increased speciation rates during the early evolution of modern taxa. However, one of the central predictions of ecological adaptive radiation is rapid phenotypic diversification, and the tempo of phenotypic evolution has yet to be quantified in cetaceans. Using a time-calibrated molecular phylogeny of extant cetaceans and a morphological dataset on size, we find evidence that cetacean lineages partitioned size niches early in the evolutionary history of neocetes and that changes in cetacean size are consistent with shifts in dietary strategy. We conclude that the signature of adaptive radiations may be retained within morphological traits even after equilibrium diversity has been reached and high extinction or fluctuations in net diversification have erased any signature of an early burst of diversification in the structure of the phylogeny.