cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural relaxation in gel-derived glasses

Abstract Glasses with the same composition and hydroxyl contents were prepared by conventional melting and by hydrolysis of alkoxides. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to compare the kinetics of structural relaxation of the glasses. Detailed examination of the data shows that there is no difference between them after the gel has been sintered near the glass transition temperature. Changing the oxide content of the melted glass causes significant changes in the DSC plots, so it is very important to confirm (as was done in this study) that the gel and melted glasses are identical in composition.
Structural and Physical Characterization of (Nitrato)iron(III) Porphyrinates [Fe(por)(NO3)] — Variable Coordination of Nitrate

Abstract We report the X-ray crystal structures of two different iron(III) porphyrinates: [Fe(OEP)(NO3)] and [Fe(TPP)(NO3)]. The first complex has the nitrate ion coordinated by a single oxygen atom while the second derivative has the nitrate coordinated in a symmetric bidentate fashion. This latter structure is a redetermination that shows some differences from an earlier structure; the difference appears to be the result of an unrecognized nitrate ion disorder in the earlier structure determination. Changes in physical properties of three species [Fe(TPivP)(NO3)], [Fe(OEP)(NO3)], and [Fe-(TPP)-(NO3)] as a function of coordination mode were examined by Mossbauer and EPR spectroscopies; EPR spectra appear to be most sensitive to the change in coordination mode.
Drug–target residence time: critical information for lead optimization

Failure due to poor in vivo efficacy is a primary contributor to attrition during the development of new chemotherapeutics. Lead optimization programs that in their quest for efficacy focus solely on improving the affinity of drug-target binding are flawed, since this approach ignores the fluctuations in drug concentration that occur in vivo. Instead the lifetime of the drug-target complex must also be considered, since drugs only act when they are bound to their targets. Consequently, to improve the correlation between the in vitro and in vivo activity of drugs, measurements of drug-target residence time must be incorporated into the drug discovery process.
The insulator-metal transition in molecular hydrogen and the three-state Potts model

Abstract There have been recent experimental advances in the 55 year old challenge of producing metallic hydrogen at high pressure in the laboratory. These developments, involving a new phase in hydrogen called the hydrogen-A phase, are reviewed. It is shown that some of the observed phenomena can probably be explained in terms of a three-state Potts model.
High contrast modulation of plasmonic signals using nanoscale dual-frequency liquid crystals

We have designed and simulated a dual-frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) based plasmonic signal modulator capable of achieving over 15 dB modulation depth. The voltage-controlled DFLC is combined with a groove and slit configuration and its operation is discussed. Using the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method, simulations were conducted to discover the groove-slit separation distance that enabled a practically useful modulation depth for the two states of the DFLC. Moreover, we have shown that significant improvement in modulation depth can be achieved by addition of a second groove to the design structure. Additionally, a performance analysis indicates a switching energy on the order of femtojoules and a switching speed on the order of 100 microseconds. Results of this investigation can be useful for the future design, simulation, and fabrication of DFLC-based plasmonic signal modulating devices, which have application in electro-optical and all-optical information systems.
Molecular dynamics simulation of erosion and surface evolution of tungsten due to bombardment with deuterium and carbon in Tokamak fusion environments

Abstract The behavior of tungsten as plasma facing material in fusion environment is investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. Tungsten erosion and surface evolution is simulated during irradiation by carbon and deuterium ions. Non-cumulative pure carbon bombardment on crystal tungsten shows that substrate temperature does not affect carbon trapping rate, implantation depth, and tungsten sputtering yield. Carbon induced tungsten physical sputtering yield threshold is predicted to be around ∼25 eV. Cumulative carbon irradiation on crystal tungsten reveals that tungsten erosion is enhanced at high substrate temperatures. Cumulative carbon induced tungsten sputtering yield matches experimental data as well as Monte Carlo results. Carbon pre-irradiated tungsten tends to trap more hydrogen and facilitates gas bubble formation. Simultaneous deuterium and carbon bombardment on crystal tungsten indicates that carbon induced tungsten sputtering yield exhibits a maximum value when carbon ratio is around 20%. Higher carbon ratio reduces both the carbon and deuterium trapping rates.
Psychodrama: A Creative Approach for Addressing Parallel Process in Group Supervision

ABSTRACT This article provides a model for using psychodrama to address issues of parallel process during group supervision. Information on how to utilize the specific concepts and techniques of psychodrama in relation to group supervision is discussed. A case vignette of the model is provided.
Visceral artery aneurysms as seen in a community hospital.

Abstract Background: Visceral artery aneurysm (VAA) is a rare but important form of vascular pathology. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients treated for VAAs from 1980 to 1998 at the Northern California Kaiser Hospitals. Results: Thirty-one patients with VAAs were treated, 11 men and 20 women with an average age of 60 years. The arteries involved were 15 splenic, 8 hepatic, 5 superior mesenteric branch, 1 left gastric, 1 gastroduodenal, and 1 left colic. Seventy-four percent of patients presented with acute abdominal pain and/or shock secondary to aneurysm rupture. Angioembolization was performed in 9, and 25 were treated surgically. There was no morbidity, and 1 death (3.2%). Conclusions: Patients with VAAs often present to the community hospital general surgeon as acute abdominal emergencies. Symptomatic VAAs can be managed successfully by simple ligation in the primary care setting.
Vancomycin use in a university medical center: effect of a vancomycin continuation form

OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of a new policy to ensure appropriate use of vancomycin in a 461-bed tertiary-care hospital. DESIGN We instituted a policy that allowed physicians to prescribe vancomycin but that required them to complete a vancomycin continuation form and document that use conformed to Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) guidelines if they wished to continue the drug beyond 72 hours. Vancomycin was stopped automatically at 72 hours if use was not consistent with guidelines, if an infectious diseases consultant did not approve the drug, or if the form was not completed. A pharmacist and infectious diseases specialist monitored use of vancomycin prospectively and interacted with prescribers when indicated. Educational efforts were limited to printing the HICPAC guidelines on the form and providing information about the policy in a newsletter. Patterns of prescribing and the economic impact of the form were evaluated over a 6-month period. RESULTS Only 29% to 48% of vancomycin orders initially met HICPAC guidelines, but 77% to 96% of use was appropriate after 72 hours when the form was used. Inappropriate surgical prophylaxis, empirical therapy of intensive-care unit and transplant patients, and therapy for inadequately documented coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections remained problems. Vancomycin use fell from a mean of 136 (+/-52) g/1,000 patient days in the 12 months before the form to 78 (+/-22) g/1,000 patient days in the 9 months after institution of the form (P<.05). Net vancomycin acquisition costs and costs of ordering vancomycin serum levels fell by $357 and $19 per 1,000 patient days, respectively (P<.05). This represented annualized saving of approximately $47,000 in drug and monitoring costs. No adverse patient outcomes were seen as a result of the program. CONCLUSIONS A vancomycin continuation form can decrease inappropriate vancomycin use and may save money. Additional educational efforts may be required to increase compliance with HICPAC guidelines during initial prescribing.
Measuring Space: A Minimum-Distance Database and Applications to International Studies:

In this overview of a new database and approach to measuring distance among historical and contemporary independent nation-states, we review the utility of space to theory and empirical research in international studies. We identify weaknesses in existing empirical data on distances and contiguity among nations. Categorical data on distance treat proximity as an either-or issue and do not permit identifying degree of proximity among states. Continuous measures of distances between midpoints, such as capital cities, often overstate the actual distances between state borders and suffer for large states and irregular territories. We outline a new alternative approach, based on measuring the minimum distance for pairs of polities in the international system, which remedies some of these shortcomings. The current implementation of the minimum-distance database includes the minimum distances for all polities within 950 km of each other from 1875 to the present. We demonstrate the enhanced flexibility of the new minimum-distance approach relative to existing alternatives. Moreover, we illustrate how variables constructed from distance measures, combined with spatial statistical techniques, can contribute substantively to international relations and cross-national comparative research. We demonstrate the importance of dependence among geographical neighbors by examining the link between levels of economic wealth and prospects for democracy in the context of regional interdependence among states.
Assessing the Effects of the Drug Court Intervention on Offender Criminal Trajectories: A Research Note

Using a combination of NCIC and local police data from Wyoming, this study focuses on the short-term effects of the drug court intervention on offender criminal trajectories. Wyoming's drug courts ...
Adult Meaning Making In The Undergraduate Classroom

This study explores adult undergraduate beliefs about their construction of knowledge in the class-room and the relationships between such knowledge and their adult roles outside the classroom. Five belief structures, called “knowledge voices,” were delineated from interviews with 90 adult students. These belief structures included the entry voice, the outside voice, the cynical voice, the straddling voice, and the inclusion voice. Each of these five knowledge voices suggests a particular construction of the adult student learning world, perceptions of knowledge, and understandings of relationships between the collegiate classroom and the adult learners’ worlds of work, family, self, and community.
Three-dimensional, massively parallel, optically interconnected silicon computational hardware and architectures for high-speed IR scene generation

High frame rate infrared scene generation depends on high performance digital processors that are tightly coupled to infrared emitter arrays. Massively parallel image generation hardware can realize the type of high throughput, high frame rate processing that will characterize the next generation of scene generators. This work outlines projects in massively parallel, high throughput image generation hardware using thin film optoelectronic devices which are integrated directly onto low cost silicon integrated circuits. For basic scene generation, an array of thin film emitters are placed on top of digital single instruction stream, multiple data stream (SIMD) parallel processors to provide high performance focal plane generation in a monolithic system. For more complex scene generation, low cost stacked silicon integrated circuits, using through-silicon wafer optoelectronic channels for three dimensional interconnections, form an extremely dense, high throughput, three dimensional parallel processing system. Thin film InGaAsP devices, which operate at wavelengths to which silicon is transparent, are integrated on top of standard foundry silicon integrated circuits so that stacked processor chips can communicate vertically. High speed analog interface circuitry on the Si integrated circuits provides a high bandwidth link between the devices and the digital processing circuitry. This processing approach provides tremendous generality for high frame rate image generation applications in a compact system. Issues addressed include system interfacing, power management, manufacturing tolerances, testing and repair, and system cost and effectiveness.
Early androgenization and aggression pheromone in inbred mice

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of early androgenization on the social interactions in mice. Results of Expt 1 indicated that neonatally testosterone propionate (TP) treated females, when mature, were attacked faster, more frequently, and for longer durations by trained fighters than females treated neonatally with oil. Experiment 2 showed that male castrates coated with urine from neonatally TP-treated females were attacked more often and for longer durations than castrates coated with urine from neonatally oil-treated females. The results implicated a urinary pathway of pheromonal output. Experiment 3 was conducted to investigate the relatively long-term social interactions between a naive male and a female treated at birth with TP or between a naive male and a female treated at birth with oil. The androgenized females showed a greater number of wounds after 5 days of pair housing than the control females. Five out of seven androgenized females were killed. Six control females gave birth, and none of the remaining two androgenized females did.
DNA strand breakage, activation of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase, and cellular energy depletion are involved in the cytotoxicity of macrophages and smooth muscle cells exposed to peroxynitrite

Abstract The free radicals nitric oxide and superoxide anion react to form peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a highly toxic oxidant species. In vivo formation of ONOO- has been demonstrated in shock and inflammation. Herein we provide evidence that cytotoxicity in cells exposed to ONOO- is mediated by DNA strand breakage and the subsequent activation of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP ribose) synthetase (PARS). Exposure to ONOO- (100 microM to 1 mM) inhibited mitochondrial respiration in cultured J774 macrophages and in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. The loss of cellular respiration was rapid, peaking 1-3 h after ONOO- exposure, and reversible, with recovery after a period of 6-24 h. The inhibition of mitochondrial respiration was paralleled by a dose-dependent increase in DNA strand breakage, reaching its maximum at 20-30 min after exposure to ONOO-. We observed a dose-dependent increase in the activity of PARS in cells exposed to ONOO-. Inhibitors of PARS such as 3-aminobenzamide (1 mM) prevented the inhibition of cellular respiration in cells exposed to ONOO-. Activation of PARS by ONOO--mediated DNA strand breakage resulted in a significant decrease in intracellular energy stores, as reflected by a decline of intracellular NAD+ and ATP content. 3-Aminobenzamide prevented the loss of NAD+ and ATP in cells exposed to ONOO-. In contrast, impairment of cellular respiration by the addition of the nitric oxide donors S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine or diethyltriamine nitric oxide complex, was not associated with the development of DNA strand breaks, in concentrations up to 1 mM, and was largely refractory to PARS inhibition. Our results suggest that DNA damage and activation of PARS, an energy-consuming futile repair cycle, play a central role in ONOO--mediated cellular injury.
Mission Specification and Control for Unmanned Aerial and Ground Vehicles for Indoor Target Discovery and Tracking

This paper describes ongoing research by Georgia Tech into the challenges of tasking and controlling heterogonous teams of unmanned vehicles in mixed indoor/outdoor reconnaissance scenarios. We outline the tools and techniques necessary for an operator to specify, execute, and monitor such missions. The mission specification framework used for the purposes of intelligence gathering during mission execution are first demonstrated in simulations involving a team of a single autonomous rotorcraft and three ground-based robotic platforms. Preliminary results including robotic hardware in the loop are also provided.
A Note on the General Solution of Schrödinger's Equation and the Uncertainty Principle

It is shown that the general solution of Schr\"odinger's equation in one dimension for a given energy can be written in a form representing two beams travelling in opposite directions with the classical velocity. This permits an interpretation of the uncertainty principle in which an electron in a conservative field, with a definite energy, has also a definite speed, but its direction of motion is indeterminate. In regions in which the classical velocity is imaginary this interpretation becomes indefinite. A brief consideration is given to the generalization to three dimensions.
Superconductor-insulator transition in a parallel magnetic field.

We report the use of a parallel magnetic field to suppress the superconducting gap and intergrain Josephson coupling in granular Al films. The critical field ${H}_{c}\ensuremath{\parallel}$ is spin paramagnetically limited, and the field induced superconductor-insulator (S-I) transition is found to go from second order to first order at 250 mK. In the vicinity of ${H}_{c}\ensuremath{\parallel}$, the field reproduces the quasireentrance and super-resistive behavior seen in the zero-field S-I transition. We show that the super-resistive phase is dominated by Coulomb blockade.
PASS cognitive processing characteristics of normal and ADHD males

Abstract The study compared the performances of 28 males diagnosed as Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (mean age = 120.99 months, SD = 18.75) and 28 males from regular education classrooms (mean age = 121.71 months, SD = 18.37 months) on measures of planning, attention, simultaneous, and successive cognitive processing. The samples differed significantly on measures of planning, attention, and successive processing but evidenced no significant differences on measures of simultaneous processing. The results suggest that the cognitive competence of ADHD subjects is severely impaired by an inability to attend to relevant stimulus information and the significant difficulty they encounter when required to formulate and monitor plans and strategies while inhibiting impulsive responses.
Temperature Fluctuations in Photoionized Nebulae. II. The Effect of Inhomogeneous Abundances

Recent abundance determinations based on recombination lines in several emission-line nebulae yield ionic abundances several times larger than those derived from forbidden lines. These results cast uncer- tainty over all abundance determinations in such objects. One possible explanation for these discrep- ancies frequently cited in the literature is the presence of chemical inhomogeneities. We have run a series of photoionization models to examine what e†ect such inhomogeneities will have on the resulting tem- perature structure of nebulae. We then derive abundances from these models, utilizing PeimbertIs t2 for- malism. Our results suggest that, although chemical inhomogeneities may produce nonnegligible biases in abundance determinations in a small number of objects, it is highly unlikely that they can resolve the observed discrepancy for most nebulae. We also stress the importance of continued high spatial resolution observations in nebulae to clarify the presence or absence of inhomogeneities in gaseous nebulae. Subject headings: ISM: abundances E planetary nebulae: general
Do Gill Parasites Influence the Foraging and Antipredator Behaviour of Rainbow Darters, Etheostoma Caeruleum?

Parasites are known to affect an array of characteristics of their hosts, including morphology, physiology and behaviour. We examined the foraging and antipredator behaviour of rainbow darters, Etheostoma caeruleum, that were parasitized by glochidia larvae of freshwater mussels (Ptychobranchus occidentalis and Venustaconcha pleasii: Unionidae). Glochidia attach to the gills of the host and become encapsulated in host tissue. Over a period of days or weeks the larvae develop into free-living juveniles, which then leave the host. Parasitized darters increased ventilation rates (either early in the infestation or at the height of the infestation), were less active during foraging trials, lost more body size than nonparasitized darters and showed significantly weaker responses to predation risk (signalled by the presence of a chemical alarm cue). Therefore, even for a relatively short-term infection, parasitized darters may pay a cost in terms of decreased growth and decreased probability of survival.
A Microfabricated Wireless RF Pressure Sensor Made Completely of Biodegradable Materials

A wireless RF MEMS pressure sensor made entirely of biodegradable materials is presented. Such biodegradable sensors may be appropriate for short-term, acute medical implantation applications as they potentially eliminate the need for implant extraction when sensing is no longer required. The biodegradable sensors described here require structural materials for pressure sensing, dielectric materials for insulation, and conducting materials for formation of electrical elements and wireless links. Zinc/iron bilayers were used as the sensor conductor material, and known biodegradable polymers poly-L-lactide and polycaprolactone were used as dielectric and structural materials. Zinc, which otherwise degrades very slowly on its own under biological conditions, is galvanically activated when electrically connected to iron in saline, greatly increasing the total degradation rate of the conductors. To avoid contact of the biodegradable materials with the strong chemicals or solvents that are typically used in conventional MEMS fabrication, embossing, multilayer folding, and lamination were combined with traditional techniques during fabrication. The fabricated sensor was wirelessly tested in both air and 0.9% saline and demonstrated a linear frequency response with external applied pressure. A sensitivity of 39 kHz/kPa was measured in the 0-20 kPa pressure range in air and initially in saline. After immersion in saline for 20 h, the sensor stabilized, remaining stable and functional for 86 h with a sensitivity of -54±4 kHz/kPa.
Catastrophic Resurfacing and Episodic Subduction on Venus

Abstract There is clear evidence that a catastrophic resurfacing event occurred on Venus in the relatively recent past. A primary data source for this resurfacing event is the spatial distribution of impact craters. In this paper, we apply the pair-correlation technique to the observed crater distribution and find that the result is identical to that for a random distribution. In order to test the sensitivity of the technique, we also apply it to the spatial distribution of coronae on Venus. For the coronae, we find substantial deviations from a random distribution. One explanation for the catastrophic resurfacing is the episodic subduction hypothesis. We model episodic subduction using a thermal boundary-layer stability analysis. We find that episodic subduction events with intervals of 500 to 700 Myr can transport only 15–25% of the radiogenic heat produced within the planet. We suggest that the remainder of the heat must be lost to the surface during a period of vigorous tectonic activity, following the subduction event but prior to the subsequent stabilization of a global lithosphere.
Analysis of scaled-factorial-moment data

We discuss the two standard constructions used in the search for intermittency, the exclusive and inclusive scaled factorial moments. We propose the use of a new scaled factorial moment that reduces to the exclusive moment in the appropriate limit and is free of undesirable multiplicity correlations that are contained in the inclusive moment. We show that there are some similarities among most of the models that have been proposed to explain factorial-moment data, and that these similarities can be used to increase the efficiency of testing these models. We begin by calculating factorial moments from a simple independent-cluster model that assumes only approximate boost invariance of the cluster rapidity distribution and an approximate relation among the moments of the cluster multiplicity distribution. We find two scaling laws that are essentially model independent. The first scaling law relates the moments to each other with a simple formula, indicating that the different factorial moments are not independent. The second scaling law relates samples with different rapidity densities. We find evidence for much larger clusters in heavy-ion data than in light-ion data, indicating possible {ital spatial} intermittency in the heavy-ion events.
Measuring the Cost of Restricting Access to Cropland for Manure Nutrient Management

manure could be applied without fear of surface runoff of nutrients and other contaminants. Regulators and In the area of animal manure management, an issue of concern is environmentalists favored a 12% slope limit while agrithe slope of cropland to which manure can be applied without fear of surface runoff of nutrients and other environmental contaminants. culturalists favored an 18% limit. Current regulations In Kentucky, regulators and environmentalists favor a 12% slope limit impose the 12% limit, but the General Assembly has while agriculturalists favor a slope limit set at 18%. The purpose of yet to make that requirement law. Hence, controversy this research is to assess the impact on manure management cost of surrounding the slope restriction is not yet settled. an environmental policy that restricts the slope of cropland to which Agriculturalists contend that an 18% restriction is swine (Sus scrofa ) manure can be applied from 18 to 12%. Using a sufficient to avoid manure runoff. Moreover, they argue geographical information system, U.S. Geological Survey land use that a 12% restriction will eliminate large areas otherand land coverage maps and digital elevation maps are scanned to wise suitable for manure management, increasing the identify crop production areas suitable for manure management. Ecotransportation costs associated with managing the manomic impacts are measured by translating changes in area suitable for nure. They also conjecture that, to offset these higher manure applications into distances that manure must be transported. Results indicate that restricting manure application to a slope of12% transportation costs, entrepreneurs will attempt to lois likely to impact a region of significant pork production in Kentucky. cate new facilities in flatter areas of the state, concentratThis more restrictive slope policy increased the manure management ing the industry and possibly exacerbating the impact cost of feeder operations producing 5000 head annually by as much of manure nutrients on surface water and ground water. as $0.35 head 1 (a 7% reduction in net return) across 85% of the The research has two goals: (i) to assess the cost of state’s agricultural area. reducing the maximum permissible slope to which swine manure can be applied from 18 to 12% and (ii) to identify regions in the state where growth of the swine indusW ith increased integration of the livestock indus- try is more likely to occur as a consequence of differtry comes ever larger confined-animal feeding op- ences in production cost. The analysis uses a geographical erations (CAFOs) and associated manure stocks. These information system (GIS) computer software package. manure stocks are a growing concern of both the farm- Although the current study is limited to Kentucky, the ing and nonfarming public, who fear eventual contami- methodology should be applicable to larger regions. nation of surface water and ground water, nutrient and mineral toxicity of soil, and excessive odors. Yet, prop
The Propensity of Lit Cigarettes to Ignite Gasoline Vapors

Fire investigators regularly evaluate available fuels and potential ignition sources to determine the cause of a fire. This work examined the propensity of lit cigarettes to ignite gasoline vapors, expanding on previous work to include a large number of trials and a wide range of test conditions. Experiments were conducted exposing lit cigarettes, both at idle and under draw, to gasoline vapors in various configurations including pools/pans of gasoline, gasoline on textile substrates (clothing), and sprays of gasoline. Five major brands of commercially-manufactured tobacco cigarettes were tested. The experiments conducted for this study consisted of 70 distinct tests involving a total of 723 cigarettes and over 4,500 instances of exposure of a lit cigarette to ignitable concentrations of gasoline vapor in air. There were no instances of the ignition of gasoline vapors from the exposure of those vapors to a lit tobacco cigarette during any of the experiments.
Nanofibers Doped with Dendritic Fluorophores for Protein Detection

We report a solid-state, nanofiber-based optical sensor for detecting proteins with an anionic fluorescent dendrimer (AFD). The AFD was encapsulated in cellulose acetate (CA) electrospun nanofibers, which were deacetylated to cellulose to generate secondary porous structures that are desirable for enhancing molecular interactions, and thus better signaling. The protein sensing properties of the fibers were characterized by monitoring the fluorescence response of cytochrome c (cyt c), hemoglobin (Hgb), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a function of concentration. Effective quenching was observed for the metalloproteins, cyt c and Hgb. The effect was primarily due to energy transfer of the imbedded fluorescent dendrimers to the protein, as both proteins contain heme portions. Electron transfer, caused through the electrostatic effects in the binding of the anionic dendrimer to the positive patches of globular proteins, could be responsible as well. BSA, on the other hand, triggered a “turn-on” response in ...
Sensors that mediate copper-specific activation and repression of gene expression

Copper ion homeostasis in yeast is maintained, in part, through regulated expression of genes involved in copper ion uptake, Cu(I) sequestration and defense against reactive oxygen intermediates. Positive and negative copper ion regulation is observed, and both effects occur at the level of transcription. The mechanism of Cu(I) regulation is distinct for transcriptional activation versus transcriptional inhibition. Cu(I) activation of gene expression occurs through Cu-induced DNA binding by the transcription factors Ace1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Amt1 in Candida glabrata. Cu(I) ion binding within a regulatory domain of each molecule stabilizes a specific tertiary fold capable of high affinity interaction with specific DNA promoter sequences. Cu(I)-activated transcription factors are modular proteins in which the DNA binding domain is distinct from the domain that mediates transcriptional activation through assembly of the preinitiation complex. Cu(I) triggering involves formation of a tetracopper thiolate cluster within a regulatory domain. Formation of the tetracopper cluster occurs in an all-or-nothing fashion. Thus, the concentration of Cu-activated factor is proportional to the Cu(I) concentration, thereby directly coupling the intracellular Cu(I) concentration to transcriptional activation of a subset of genes. Cu-mediated inhibition of gene expression in S. cerevisiae occurs through copper regulation of the Mac1 transcription factor. Genes inhibited in their expression in Cu-treated cells encode proteins involved in Cu ion uptake across the plasma membrane. The activation domain of Mac1 is repressed in Cu-treated cells. The presence of duplicated cysteine-rich sequences within the activation domain is consistent with Cu(I) binding within this domain.
Combination Therapy with Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors and Lithium Chloride: A Novel Treatment for Carcinoid Tumors

In carcinoid cell lines, the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors valproic acid (VPA) and suberoyl bis-hydroxamic acid (SBHA) activate the Notch1 pathway, whereas lithium inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). These compounds limit growth and decrease hormonal secretion in vitro. We hypothesized that lower-dose combination therapy of HDAC inhibitors and lithium chloride could achieve similar growth inhibition to that of the drugs alone. Gastrointestinal and pulmonary carcinoid cells were treated with either VPA or SBHA and lithium chloride for up to 48 hours. Western blot analysis was used to measure the effects on the Notch1 and GSK-3β pathways and the neuroendocrine tumor marker chromogranin A (CgA). Growth was measured by a cellular proliferation assay. With lower-dose combination therapy, a decrease in CgA was observed. The HDAC inhibitors increased the amount of active Notch1 protein, whereas treatment with lithium was associated with inhibition of GSK-3β. Moreover, growth was inhibited with lower-dose combination therapy. Treatment of carcinoid cells with either VPA or SBHA and lithium chloride suppresses the neuroendocrine marker CgA while upregulating Notch1 and inhibiting GSK-3β. This combination effectively reduces growth. Thus, lower-dose combination therapy may be a viable therapeutic approach for carcinoid tumors.
Interfacial Structures of Acidic and Basic Aqueous Solutions

Phase-sensitive sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy was used to study water/vapor interfaces of HCl, HI, and NaOH solutions. The measured imaginary part of the surface spectral responses provided direct characterization of OH stretch vibrations and information about net polar orientations of water species contributing to different regions of the spectrum. We found clear evidence that hydronium ions prefer to emerge at interfaces. Their OH stretches contribute to the “ice-like” band in the spectrum. Their charges create a positive surface field that tends to reorient water molecules more loosely bonded to the topmost water layer with oxygen toward the interface, and thus enhances significantly the “liquid-like” band in the spectrum. Iodine ions in solution also like to appear at the interface and alter the positive surface field by forming a narrow double-charge layer with hydronium ions. In NaOH solution, the observed weak change of the “liquid-like” band and disappearance of the “ice-like” band in the...
Collagen type ii in the otic extracellular matrix effect on inner ear development

Immunocytochemistry was used to demonstrate type II collagen distribution during normal development of the mouse inner ear and in two malformed inner ears. Patterns of inner ear abnormalities and type II collagen distribution were compared between the malformed labyrinth of a mouse mutation (disproportionate micromelia, Dmm) and otic explants exposed to the teratogenic action of an L-proline analog, L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (LACA). The results suggest that type II collagen is an important constituent of the developing inner ear's extracellular matrix. Disruptions of the spatial and temporal pattern of collagen type II can adversely affect morphogenesis of the inner ear. A common mechanism of action is postulated for the causation of both the genetic and teratogen-induced inner ear malformations (i.e. disruption of the secretion of collagens to the otic extracellular matrix).
Simultaneous line center and linewidth measurement using dual frequency modulation spectroscopy

We propose a method to simultaneously measure the center frequency of a spectral feature and the frequency linewidth of the feature. The method relies on dual frequency modulation of a carrier frequency, which probes the spectral feature, and phase sensitive detection of the transmitted signal at the two modulation frequencies. The detected signals provide two servo-stabilization signals for frequency control of the carrier frequency to the resonance line center and one of the modulation frequencies to the resonance linewidth.
Fifty years of superconductivity-and the next fifty too

John Hulm made major contributions to the field of superconductivity as an academic scientist, applied scientist, later as manager at Westinghouse Central Research Laboratory of one of the largest industrial research programs in the field, and finally as a senior statesman of superconductivity. A brief memoir of my interactions as a younger generation scientist is presented. I was particularly impressed by his belief that development of new and better superconductors in practical forms underpins the development of superconducting technology.
Functional Outcome After Repair of Proximal Hamstring Avulsions

Background: Rupture of the proximal origin of the hamstrings leads to pain, weakness, and a debilitating decrease in physical activity. Repair of these injuries should be based on the expectation that these deficits can be addressed. The goal of this study was to objectively evaluate the efficacy of repair of proximal hamstring avulsions. Methods: Thirty-four patients were identified retrospectively to have a complete rupture of the proximal origin of the hamstringsbased onthe presenceof a bowstring sign and the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Patients were contacted for follow-up evaluation to fill out a subjective questionnaire, to undergo functional testing, and to undergo isokinetic testing on a Cybex dynamometer. Twenty-three patients were evaluated. Results: There were nine acute and fourteen chronic repairs, and the average period of follow-up was 43.3 months. Twenty-one of twenty-three patients reported returning to activity at an average of 95% of their pre-injury activity level at an average of 9.8 months. Eighteen patients reported excellent results; four, good results; and one, fair results. Hamstring strength was an average of 93% and 90% of that in the uninvolved limb at 240 per second and 180 per second, respectively. The hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio was 56% for 240 per second and 48% at 180 per second. Hamstring endurance was an average of 81% and 91% of the nonoperative limb at 240 per second and 180 per second, respectively. Postoperative quadriceps strength and endurance were positively correlated with return to pre-injury level of activity (r = 0.6, p < 0.05; and r = 0.6, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with time to return to sport (r = ‐0.5, p < 0.05; and r = ‐0.5, p < 0.05). There was no significant effect associated with age or time from injury. Conclusions: Repair of a symptomatic and displaced ruptured proximal hamstring tendon yields good subjective and objective functional results with minimal complications. Overall, patients are satisfied with surgical repair and experience return of functional activity with minimal postoperative weakness. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The intramolecular migration of a trimethylsilyl group located α to a sulfone in substituted cyclohexyl systems

The intramolecular migration of a trimethylsilyl moiety α to a sulfone group of some modified cylcohexyl ring systems is investigated. The large difference in the relative abundance of this rearrangement ion for similar compounds is related to the stability of the protonated species.
Tel1ATM and Rad3ATR kinases promote Ccq1-Est1 interaction to maintain telomeres in fission yeast

In fission yeast, the DNA damage kinases Tel1 (ATM) and Rad3 (ATR) are required to recruit telomerase to telomere. The relevant target for these kinases is now identified: shelterin subunit Ccq1 is phosphorylated at Thr93 in a Tel1/Rad3-dependent manner, and this modification is essential for Ccq1 to interact with telomerase subunit Est1.
The Mismeasure of Political Man

Recent advances in the philosophy of science and political discourse analysis make possible a critical scrutiny of the most popular instrument in the scientific study of politics, the opinion survey. Despite its utility when put to other uses, this instrument can yield only flawed accounts of human political attributes and capabilities. Its findings should therefore be treated with caution in attempts to theorize about democratic politics. Moreover, widespread use of the instrument unwittingly reinforces an established political order of limited democracy, and obstructs more participatory and discursive alternatives.
Network security using self organized multi agent swarms

Computer network Cyber-security is a very serious concern in many commercial, industrial, and military environments. This paper proposes a new computer network security approach defined by self organized agent swarms (SOMAS) which provides a novel computer network security management framework based upon desired overall system behaviors. The SOMAS structure evolves based upon the partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) formal model and the more complex Interactive-POMDP and Decentralized-POMDP models. Example swarm specific and network based behaviors are formalized and simulated. This paper illustrates through various statistical testing techniques, the significance of this proposed SOMAS architecture.
APHYDS: the Academic Physical Design Skeleton

Physical Design is a complex CAD topic, which is difficult to teach to electrical and computer engineers. I have developed a complete skeleton for teaching basic algorithms such as Fiduccia-Mattheyses partitioning, variable node size sliceable floorplanning, simulated annealing placement, maze router based global routing, and left-edge algorithm channel routing. The Java-based toolset is portable, flexible, and provides a powerful interactive graphics interface.
Poleward-displaced electron precipitation from lightning-generated oblique whistlers

New simulation results show that obliquely-propagating lightning-generated whistlers which fill vast volumes of the magnetosphere readily induce significant energetic electron precipitation over large regions of the ionosphere, depositing appreciable energy flux to the upper atmosphere at locations substantially poleward of the lightning source. These results provide a new interpretation for the observed spatial relationships between lightning discharges and subsequently disturbed ionospheric regions inferred from subionospheric signal perturbations (i.e. Trimpi events) reported in several lightning-induced electron precipitation (LEP) studies.
Preschool Developmental Testing in Prediction of School Problems: Studies of 55 Children in Denver

Sixty-five children from lower income families, first evaluated with the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) and the Stanford-Binet In telligence Scale at age 4 to 6 years, were followed up 3 years later to determine how well preschool test results could predict later school problems. Eighty- eight per cent of children with Abnormal DDSTs, 66 per cent of children with Questionable DDSTs, and 32 per cent of children with Normal DDSTs showed later school problems. Combining DDST and IQ results did not change the total number of children who would be misclassified, but the type of mis classification changed. When developmental screening is used to identify children at risk for developing school problems, children with Questionable findings should be referred for further evaluation along with those with Abnormal findings since a high percentage of Questionables develop school problems despite adequate intelligence.
Exchange of Mercury between the Atmosphere and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Once elemental mercury (Hg) enters the atmosphere, it may be globally distributed because of the fact that this form is relatively inert and recycled between terrestrial and aquatic surfaces. Terrestrial ecosystems may be sources, as well as short- and long-term sinks, for atmospheric Hg. Understanding whether an ecosystem is a source or sink and the magnitude of associated flux is critical for determining the ultimate fate and environmental impacts of anthropogenic releases of this contaminant into the environment. This general overview provides a synthesis of current paradigms explaining terrestrial ecosystem‐atmospheric Hg exchange and is then followed by more detailed discussion and citations for relevant work. The latter, however, is not all inclusive, and apologies to those whose work was not included in this review. Methods applied to measure flux, as well as factors controlling air‐soil, plant and whole ecosystem exchange are considered. Currently, Hg in the atmosphere is measured as three operationally defined forms—gaseous elemental Hg (GEM), gaseous oxidized forms of Hg (GOM), and Hg that is particulate bound (PHg). GEM is predominant in the air (∼95‐99%), with concentrations in the surface boundary layer ranging from 1 to 5 ng/m 3 , while GOM and PHg concentrations are typically two orders of magnitude lower (0‐50 pg/m 3 ) (Valente et al., 2007). GOM is thought to be compounds such as HgCl 2 , HgBr 2 , Hg(OH) 2 (Lin and Pehkonen, 1999); however, the exact identity is unknown. Owing to the low concentrations in air, quantifying air‐surface Hg exchange for most ecosystems entails measurement of small concentration
Evaluation of Furcation Region Response to Periodontal Therapy

Five hundred fifty-eight molars were treated with one of four types of periodontal therapy: coronal scaling (CS); root planing (RP); modified Widman surgery (MW); or flap with osseous resectional surgery (FO). This report presents the probing depth and probing attachment changes in the furcation region following therapy and two years of maintenance follow-up. All types of therapy were effective in reducing probing depths. FO was the most effective in reducing probing depth followed by MW, RP, and CS. Reduction in probing depth was primarily due to gingival recession. FO resulted in a loss of probing attachment in both a vertical and horizontal direction following therapy. Following two years of maintenance care, sites treated with FO continued to exhibit a mean net loss of vertical probing attachment. A mean net loss of horizontal probing attachment was present after two years of maintenance care, regardless of the treatment modality employed. Many more sites were initially removed during osseous resectional surgery to achieve treatment criteria than were initially removed from the other groups. FO treated teeth demonstrated a lesser percentage of furcation sites demonstrating clinically significant breakdown during the two years of maintenance care.
Polynomial Chaos Analysis of MAV's in Turbulence

The use of stochastic representations of systems to the areas of dynamics and control in aerospace applications shows potential to more efficiently analyze the merits of an engineering design. As aerospace systems require greater precision, the ability to account for small disturbances and errors becomes more important. Monte Carlo simulation has been the traditional method for analyzing a design in the presence of uncertainty, but the incredible computational cost of both a Monte Carlo simulation and CFD make it incredibly time-consuming to find the full range of responses of an uncertain system. This paper demonstrates a method for using wind tunnel testing and a statistical description of turbulence characteristics to efficiently analyze the open loopdynamics of a micro air vehicle. Micro air vehicles are of special interest both because their mission effectiveness is more sensitive to turbulence and they experience greater turbulent fluctuations in their flight regime than larger faster vehicles.