cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using an LU recombination method to improve the performance of the boundary element method at very low frequencies

Many numerical electromagnetic modeling techniques that work very well at high frequencies do not work well at lower frequencies. This is directly or indirectly due to the weak coupling between the electric and magnetic fields at low frequencies. One technique for improving the performance of boundary element techniques at low frequencies is through the use of loop-tree basis functions, which decouple the contributions from the vector and scalar electric potential. However, loop-tree basis functions can be difficult to define for large, complex geometries. This paper describes a new method for improving the low-frequency performance of boundary element techniques. The proposed method does not require special basis functions and is relatively easy to implement. Numerical errors introduced by the great difference in scale between the vector and scalar electric potential are corrected automatically during the LU decomposition of the impedance matrix.
Omnidirectional rule-based free gait utilizing restrictedness

Adaptable gaits are pivotal for allowing legged robots to navigate difficult terrain. One of the best gait styles to accomplish this goal is the rule-based free gait. First the forward and inverse kinematic solutions are solved for TigerBug, a circular hexapod. Then a rule based free gait is implemented on the circular hexapod in order to provide a platform for future rough terrain navigation.
Prokineticins: New Pair of Regulatory Peptides

Prokineticins are newly discovered regulatory proteins that contain five disulfide bonds. Prokineticins activate a pair of closely related G protein-coupled receptors. In the last five years, multiple biological functions have been identified for prokineticins. These include functions in peripheral organs such as gastrointestinal motility, pain perception, angiogenesis and hematopoiesis and brain functions such as circadian rhythms and neurogenesis. This chapter gives an overview on the short history of prokineticins, their receptors, followed by discussions of the currently known biological functions of prokineticins. Keywords: prokineticin; GPCR; G protein-coupled receptor; circadian rhythms; neurogenesis; pain; angiogenesis; reproduction; hematopoiesis
A novel protocol allowing oral delivery of a protein complement inhibitor that subsequently targets to inflamed colon mucosa and ameliorates murine colitis

While there is evidence of a pathogenic role for complement in inflammatory bowel disease, there is also evidence for a protective role that relates to host defence and protection from endotoxaemia. There is thus concern regarding the use of systemic complement inhibition as a therapeutic strategy. Local delivery of a complement inhibitor to the colon by oral administration would ameliorate such concerns, but while formulations exist for oral delivery of low molecular weight drugs to the colon, they have not been used successfully for oral delivery of proteins. We describe a novel pellet formulation consisting of cross-linked dextran coated with an acrylic co-polymer that protects the complement inhibitor CR2-Crry from destruction in the gastrointestinal tract. CR2-Crry containing pellets administered by gavage, were characterized using a therapeutic protocol in a mouse model of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Oral treatment of established colitis over a 5-day period significantly reduced mucosal inflammation and injury, with similar therapeutic benefit whether or not the proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole, was co-administered. Reduction in injury was associated with the targeting of CR2-Crry to the mucosal surface and reduced local complement activation. Treatment had no effect on systemic complement activity. This novel method for oral delivery of a targeted protein complement inhibitor will reduce systemic effects, thereby decreasing the risk of opportunistic infection, as well as lowering the required dose and treatment cost and improving patient compliance. Furthermore, the novel delivery system described here may provide similar benefits for administration of other protein-based drugs, such as anti-tumour necrosis factor-α antibodies.
Do Better Urban Design Qualities Lead to More Walking in Salt Lake City, Utah?

Urban designers recognize the importance of perceptual qualities to an active street life but have had little empirical evidence to support the claim. Recent research has developed measurement protocols for urban design qualities related to walkability. A subsequent study conducted in New York City confirmed the explanatory powers of the measures. However, New York City is exceptionally walkable. This study seeks to validate urban design qualities in terms of walkability in Salt Lake City, Utah. This research validates specific micro-urban design measures of walkability while controlling for spatial autocorrelation, finding that imageability, in addition to transparency, adds significantly to walkability.
Phorbol ester-induced loss of membrane sialic acid: implications for tumor cytolysis by natural killer cells

Freeze-fracture analysis has shown that treatment of cells with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) results in a loss of intramembranous particles (IMP) associated with the external leaflet of their plasma membranes. It has also been demonstrated that phorbol esters markedly enhance the sensitivity of tumor targets to natural killer (NK) cells, although the mechanism underlying this phenomenon has remained unexplained. Since the ability of NK cells to recognize neoplasms appears to be inversely related to the concentration of sialic acid on the target cell surface, it seemed possible that phorbols affect membrane glycoproteins which have terminal carbohydrates bearing sialic acid residues. To investigate whether phorbol treatment could be responsible for the loss of sialic acid, four tumor cell lines were examined before and after exposure to PMA. A reduction in surface sialic acid was established by four different methods: 1) standard thiobarbituric acid analysis of cell hydrolysates, 2) metabolic labelling of cells with [3H]-mannosamine followed by treatment with neuraminidase, 3) chromatography of membrane extracts, and 4) freeze-fracture analysis of lectin-labelled intact cells. These observations suggest a mechanism whereby phorbols may facilitate NK-cell-mediated cytolysis. In addition, an entirely novel effect of these tumor-producing agents may have been uncovered.
The Nature and Ethics of Blame

Blame is usually discussed in the context of the free will problem, but recently moral philosophers have begun to examine it on its own terms. If, as many suppose, free will is to be understood as the control relevant to moral responsibility, and moral responsibility is to be understood in terms of whether blame is appropriate, then an independent inquiry into the nature and ethics of blame will be essential to solving (and, perhaps, even fully understanding) the free will problem. In this article we first survey and categorize recent accounts of the nature of blame ‐ is it action, belief, emotion, desire, or something else? ‐ and then we look at several proposed requirements on appropriate blame that look beyond the transgressor himself, considerations that will form part of a full account of the ethics of blame.
Accelerating the acquisition of knowledge structure to improve performance in internal control reviews

Abstract We demonstrated that knowledge structure training is effective in imparting transaction flow and control objective knowledge structures and that knowledge structure mediates the relationship between structure training and performance in internal control reviews. A performance degradation associated with participant-task structure incompatibility arose at the point of situation model building rather than during application of knowledge structure in the judgment task. Higher-knowledge structure participants, but not lower-knowledge structure participants, performed better when their knowledge structures and case structures were compatible.
Colloid-facilitated Cs transport through water-saturated Hanford sediment and Ottawa sand.

In this study, a series of saturated column experiments were conducted to investigate effects of colloids on Cs transport in two types of porous media (Hanford sediment characteristic of 2:1 clay minerals and silica Ottawa sand). The colloids used were obtained by reacting Hanford sediment with simulated tank waste solutions. Because of the highly nonlinear nature of Cs sorption found in batch experiments, we used two different concentrations of Cs (7.5 × 10-5 M and 1.4 × 10-8 M) for the transport experiments. The presence of colloids facilitated the transport of Cs through both Hanford sediment and Ottawa sand via association of Cs with mobile colloidal particles. Due to the nonlinearity of the Cs sorption, the colloid-facilitated Cs transport was more pronounced at the low Cs concentration (1.4 × 10-8 M) than at the high concentration (7.5 × 10-5 M) when expressed relative to the inflow Cs concentration. In the absence of colloids, no Cs moved through the 10-cm long columns during the experiment within ...
Capture zone between two streams

Summary We have investigated stream–aquifer interaction with a single pumping well in an aquifer bounded by two parallel nearby streams. This study presents steady-state semi-analytical solutions to calculate the fraction of water withdrawal from two streams. Potential theory is used to describe the capture zone between two streams when low-permeability streambeds are not present. Steady-state flow equations in the aquifer and two streambeds are solved following rigorous mass balance requirements if low-permeability streambeds are present. When the low-permeability streambeds are not present and the regional flow exists between two streams, this study finds that the maximal capture size without extracting water from the down-gradient stream decreases with the normalized well location in an approximately linear fashion. Furthermore, the normalized flux from the up-gradient stream decreases with the normalized well location faster than the linear fashion. When the low-permeability streambeds exist and the regional flow is neglected, the normalized flux across either streambed varies with the normalized well location in a linear function. Furthermore, the magnitude of the slope of that function is nearly unity when the hydraulic conductance ratio of the two streambeds is one and is less than unity when the hydraulic conductance ratio of the two streambeds is either greater or smaller than one. When the normalized well location with equal fluxes from two streams versus the hydraulic conductance ratio of the two streambeds are plotted semi-logarithmically, we observed a segmented curve including a steep segment at the beginning, followed by a flat segment, and a final steep segment.
Utility of three-dimensional reconstruction of coronary angiography to guide percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine whether three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of traditional coronary angiography could optimize the choice of drug-eluting stent (DES) length and number during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background: Coronary angiography is subject to significant foreshortening artifact that limits the ability of the operator to accurately determine lesion length. Methods: The angiographic images of the target vessels of consecutive PCI procedures were postprocessed using a 3D reconstruction algorithm. The appropriate length and optimal number of DES to span each target lesion were calculated and compared with the number and length of DES actually chosen by the operator. Results: A total of 42 target vessels were analyzed, and 3D reconstruction was successful in 38/42 (90.5%) of cases. The results of 3D analysis would have changed operator decision making in six cases (16%): in four cases, the stent chosen by the operator was too short requiring an additional DES; in two cases, the chosen DES was too long and exchanged for a shorter one. In each of these six cases, 3D analysis would have determined the correct stent length prior to stent selection. The optimal stent number derived by 3D reconstruction was significantly less than the actual number of stents per lesion used by the operator (1.31 6 0.47 versus 1.54 6 0.68, P = 0.01), and the optimal stent length trended less than the actual stented length (27.5 6 12.8 mm versus 28.7 6 14.7 mm, P = 0.23). Conclusions: 3D reconstruction algorithm of standard coronary angiography is a promising technique to improve DES utilization during PCI. ' 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Genetic variation within and among 22 accessions of three tall larkspur species (Delphinium spp.) based on RAPD markers

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic diversity in three species of toxic larkspurs (Delphinium spp). A total of 184 plants from 22 accessions in five western states were analyzed by 23 RAPD primers that amplified 188 reproducible bands. There were 144 polymorphic bands; 10 shared by Delphinium glaucum and Delphinium occidentale, eight shared by Delphinium barbeyi and D. glaucum, and 18 shared by D. occidentale and D. barbeyi. Thirteen bands were specific for D. occidentale, 18 for D. glaucum and 19 for D. barbeyi. There were 58 bands that were specific for individual accessions and 44 bands that were common to all three species. Some of the species-specific bands were cloned and tested in Southern hybridization. Based on the presence or absence of the 144 polymorhpic RAPD bands in individuals, a dendrogram was generated to assess the genetic similarity among the samples. The cophenetic values were 0.64 between D. occidentale and D. barbeyi, and 0.55 between the cluster of these two species and D. glaucum. These relationships are congruent with those based on morphological characters and support the contention that these are separate species. Understanding the genetic relationships among these three tall larkspur species will provide basic knowledge useful in developing strategies to reduce livestock losses by these poisonous plants.
Fine-line interactions in Al/Hf/Al thin films

Etude des reactions dans les raies fines de Al et Hf et des modifications de ces reactions introduites par des additions de cuivre soluble a Al. On identifie le compose HfAl 3 . Sa croissance est controlee par la diffusion. La dependance de la constante de vitesse de la croissance de HfAl 3 a partir des films Al/Hf/Al, vis-a-vis de la temperature, suit une loi d'Arrhenius de l'ambiante jusqu'a 550 o C
A Visual Study of Phase Change Heat Transfer in Horizontal Bottom Heating Beads Packed Porous Structures

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the influence of the sphere material and size on the bubble generation, growth, and detachment on nucleate pool boiling heat transfer in two different sphere-packed porous media, copper sphere and glass sphere at the same size of 3 mm diameter, respectively. By measuring the heating surface temperatures and visualizing the bubble dynamics over a wide range of heat flux, an effort was made to find the relationship between the normalized bubble dynamics process and the factors of sphere material and size. By comparing the experimental results of two different sphere material porous media, the interfacial heat and mass transport will be analyzed to provide the information how the bubble generation, growth, detachment and the liquid replenished process were influence by the liquid/copper and liquid/glass interfaces in different size porous media.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Predictors of developmentally appropriate classroom practices in kindergarten through third grade

Abstract This study was designed to (a) test the psychometric properties of a new observation measure of developmentally appropriate classroom practices in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms, and (b) determine how well classroom and teacher characteristics predict developmentally appropriate classroom practices. Teacher-reported and observational data from 69 classrooms provided support for construct validity, internal consistency, and interrater agreement of the Assessment of Practices in Early Elementary Classrooms (APEEC) measure. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that classroom characteristics (grade, class size, number of children with disabilities), teacher characteristics (education level, years of experience) and teacher beliefs (developmentally appropriate beliefs and developmentally inappropriate beliefs) accounted for 42% of the variance in observed classroom practices. With all variables in the model, teacher education, grade, and beliefs in developmentally appropriate and inappropriate practice accounted for most of the variance in observed classroom practices.
Satellite Attitude Determination Using Linear Combination of Models

In satellite analysis, it is often necessary to determine the attitude of a satellite from a two- dimensional image of the satellite. This paper describes work performed to determine the attitude of a satellite relative to a reference position. The attitude is described in terms of the scaling, rotation and translation of the reference that will result in a pose that can be projected to form the image of interest. The techniques used are based on finding coefficients for the linear combination of basis images and decomposition of a composite transformation matrix. A special representation of the basis images allows the extraction of the linear combination coefficients and the translation parameters in a single matrix multiplication using only three basis images. The methods were initially modeled using a high level mathematics package and applied to simple objects, then implemented on a silicon graphics workstation and applied to a model of an actual satellite. An analysis was performed to determine the sensitivity of the attitude estimation system to input errors and convergence tolerance. The satellite model used and the software tools are available via anonymous FTP.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Describing and Comparing Archaeological Spatial Structures

Quantitative archaeological spatial analysis today is radically different from that introduced more than 20 years ago. Today spatial analysis is couched in more general formational terms that include earlier functional pursuits. Today spatial analysts (1) focus on individual formationally sensitive artifact or element attributes, rather than on types; (2) use distributional rather than partitive methods and techniques; (3) consider a suite of such attributes to construct the formational history of archaeological deposits; and, least commonly, (4) undertake comparative spatial analysis. An elaboration of the latter tactic is proposed here, that of characterizing spatial structure in terms of structural elements (or “grid cells”) and relationships among those elements. This proposal is illustrated through the analysis of five well-known ethnoarchaeological sites with different formational histories. The illustration focuses on the formational process of site maintenance and relies on the relative frequencies of small and large artifacts to monitor the operation of that process. Structural descriptors describe the configuration of grid cells with different artifact size profiles in formationally meaningful terms. Importantly, these descriptors enable the rigorous comparison of spatial structure among and between ethnoarchaeological and archaeological deposits.
Mesoscale vegetation‐atmosphere feedbacks in Amazonia

[1] This paper investigates vegetation-climate interactions in disturbed rain forests of Amazonia. The scientific objective of this paper is twofold. The first goal is to reconcile the discrepancy between the decrease in precipitation predicted by general circulation models and the observed increase in precipitation due to deforestation in Rondonia. Numerical experiments with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) show that sharp gradients in land cover due to fishbone deforestation trigger organized mesoscale circulations, leading to more clouds and rain over the deforested patches. The second goal is to develop and implement a modeling framework to identify and explore the fundamental pathways involved in deforestation-climate feedback over seasonal timescales. For this purpose, RAMS model outputs are combined with tower observations to develop a synthetic meteorological data set representing the impacts of deforestation on local hydrometeorology. A vegetation model forced by these data shows that extra rain promotes plant growth in the deforested patches during the water-limited dry season. This phenomenon constitutes a seasonal-scale “negative feedback” because accelerated vegetation recovery compensates for the effects of deforestation. This paper suggests that the regional climate observation infrastructure must be upgraded to resolve mesoscale feedbacks to accurately estimate the impact of deforestation in Amazonia. Moreover, these findings can significantly improve our understanding of ecosystem resiliency in disturbed tropical forests.
Magnetohydrodynamic effects of a first-order cosmological phase transition

The author analyzes the spectrum, amplitude, and evolution of a tangled primeval magnetic field generated by macroscopic dynamo activity arising during a first-order phase transition in the early universe. The effects of the field on the matter distribution at late times could be much larger than that of the adiabatic or isothermal density fluctuations generated by the transition. With optimistic assumptions, magnetic fields generated during a transition at $T\ensuremath{\sim}0.2$ GeV could lead to the collapse of gas clouds of $\ensuremath{\simeq}{10}^{1\ensuremath{-}5}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ after recombination, and to the formation of pregalactic stars or quasars.
Microarcs as a termination mechanism of optical pulses in electric-discharge-excited KrF excimer lasers

A theoretical investigation is conducted of both macroscopic ( 10's-100 mu m) due to the higher pressure gradient afforded by their small size. Large-scale inhomogeneities, though, are ultimately more detrimental to the performance of the laser. >
Differentiation of Malignant B-Lymphoma Cells from Normal and Activated T-Cell Populations by Their Intrinsic Autofluorescence

Patients with active posterior and intermediate uveitis have inflammatory cells in their vitreous; those with primary intraocular lymphoma have malignant B-lymphoma cells concomitantly. These cell types cannot be distinguished clinically. The goal of this study was to investigate intrinsic autofluorescence as a noninvasive way of differentiating immune and lymphomatous cell populations. Human primary T cells were stimulated with or without anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 stimulation. B-lymphoma cells (CA46) were cultured separately. Five experimental groups were prepared: unstimulated T cells, stimulated T cells, CA46 cells, and stimulated T cells mixed with CA46 cells at a ratio of 1:3 or mixed at a ratio of 3:1. Samples were excited with three wavelengths and imaged with a confocal microscope. For each condition, the autofluorescent emissions from the sample were measured. In separate experiments, T cells or CA46 cells were injected into the anterior chamber of a BALB/c mouse eye and autofluorescence was measured. Pure T-cell and lymphoma populations were clearly distinguishable based on autofluorescence intensity spectra. CA46 cells were the least fluorescent when excited with 351-nm light, but most fluorescent when excited with longer wavelengths like 488 nm. Mixed populations of T cells and CA46 cells had emission intensities that fell predictably in between those of the pure populations. An ex vivo study showed that CA46 cells could be detected based on their intrinsic autofluorescence. Our studies showed that normal activated and malignant lymphocyte populations can be distinguished based on their intrinsic autofluorescent properties. Future work with in vivo models may prove useful in facilitating the diagnosis of uveitis and other ocular diseases.
Glass homogeneity measurement using Shelyubskii technique

Abstract Shelyubskii wavelength scan technique to measure glass homogeneity is described. The Raman-Shelyubskii theory, which is based upon interference optics and which, hitherto, was believed to be the underlying mechanism, is discarded. A computer simulation of light scattering based on geometric optics principles fits the observed transmission vs wavelength curves very well.
Wide variation and rising utilization of stroke magnetic resonance imaging: Data from 11 States

Objective: Neuroimaging is an essential component of the acute stroke evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more accurate than computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of stroke, but is more costly and timeconsuming. We sought to describe changes in MRI utilization from 1999 to 2008. Methods: We performed a serial cross-sectional study with time trends of neuroimaging in patients with a primary International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification discharge diagnosis of stroke admitted through the emergency department in the State Inpatient Databases from 10 states. MRI utilization was measured by Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project criteria. Data were included for states from 1999 to 2008 where MRI utilization could be identified. Results: A total of 624,842 patients were hospitalized for stroke in the period of interest. MRI utilization increased in all states. Overall, MRI absolute utilization increased 38%, and relative utilization increased 235% (28% of strokes in 1999 to 66% in 2008). Over the same interval, CT utilization changed little (92% in 1999 to 95% in 2008). MRI use varied widely by state. In 2008, MRI utilization ranged from a low of 55% of strokes in Oregon to a high of 79% in Arizona. Diagnostic imaging was the fastest growing component of total hospital costs (213% increase from 1999 to 2007). Interpretation: MRI utilization during stroke hospitalization increased substantially, with wide geographic variation. Rather than replacing CT, MRI is supplementing it. Consequently, neuroimaging has been the fastest growing component of hospitalization cost in stroke. Recent neuroimaging practices in stroke are not standardized and may represent an opportunity to improve the efficiency of stroke care. ANN NEUROL 2012;71:179–185
THE FIREBALL OF 1954 MAY 15

Orbital elements of the fireball of 1954 May 15 indicate that the meteorite that caused it was moving in a direct orbit of low inclination and moderate semi-major axis but of high eccentricity. The intrinsic luminosity is estimated to have been 70 billion candlepower! The color of the meteor changed progressively along the visible path from blue-green to red.
Comparative distribution and habitat preferences of two species of stichaeoid fishes in yaquina bay, oregon

Abstract The intertidal distribution of two species of estuarine stichaeoid fishes, Anoplarchus purpurescens purpurescens (Gill) and Pholis ornata (Girard), was assessed in order to determine the extent of partitioning of microhabitat. Pholis ornata was abundant both in rocky intertidal areas and in seasonal plant cover of mudflats while Anoplarchus purpurescens was restricted to rocky substrata. Differences in relative abundance were observed at different sites in the estuary. While Anoplarchus purpurescens predominated at the mouth of the estuary closest to oceanic influence, Pholis ornata was the only species found at upper bay sites closest to freshwater influence. Two seasonal patterns in the distribution and abundance of P. ornata were also recorded: (1) intertidal vertical range decreased in the summer months, (2) density increased in late winter-early spring with the onset of post larval settling in rocky intertidal areas.
Renal clearance of phosphate and clacium in the fresh-water turtle: Effects of parathyroid hormone

The renal clearances of phosphate and calcium were studied in fresh-water turtles,Chrysemys picta andC. scripta elegans, at various times after either parathyroidectomy (PTX) or parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration. The relative clearance of phosphate $${{C_{PO_4 } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{C_{PO_4 } } {C_{In} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {C_{In} }}$$ fell from a mean value greater than one, to values near zero following PTX. This effect occurred over a period of 5–7 days, and was accompanied by increased values of net tubular phosphate reabsorption (TxPO4/ml GFR). There were no consistent changes in the relative clearance or tubular transport rates of calcium after PTX. Administration of mammalian PTH to chronic PTX animals had no effect for up to 2 h on any of the measured variables. However, beginning one day after a single intramuscular injection of 100 units of PTH, $${{C_{PO_4 } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{C_{PO_4 } } {C_{In} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {C_{In} }}$$ increased significantly over vehicle-injected controls. This phosphaturic effect reached a maximal level at 3 days after the hormone injection. PTH administration caused a slight, but not significant increase in the relative clearance of calcium at 5 and 7 days. It was concluded that the fresh-water turtle maintains a bidirectional renal phosphate transport system, which is under the control of the level of circulating parathyroid hormone. These species do not appear to possess a PTH-sensitive renal calcium conserving mechanism, such as is found in mammals.
European Strategies for Energy Security in the Natural Gas Market

This article examines the European Union's (EU) approach to energy security on the example of its natural gas imports from Russia, the largest supplier of gas to European markets. Two major projects, Nord Stream in the Northern and Western part of the EU, and Nabucco in SouthCentral Europe, demonstrate opposing energy security strategies, seemingly at odds with the EU objective of achieving energy independence from Russia. The question arises: Are these strategies sustainable? How can they be reconciled and pursued under a common policy? The main argument is that such conflicting sub-regional policy initiatives are amenable to progressive realignment and serve common security objectives. The article examines the Nord Stream and Nabucco pipelines in the context of the Third Energy Package, a set of policy instruments for the creation of an EU-wide internal energy market. It demonstrates that the energy security strategies pursued through Nord Stream and Nabucco fit well with the logic of the internal market reflected in premises of flexibility and efficiency. The article concludes that the security of the EU's energy market may be pursued in practice by applying different formulas relying on a variable mix of networks, partnerships, and market integration with nonmembers. This article is available in Journal of Strategic Security: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol5/iss3/7 Journal of Strategic Security Volume 5 Issue 3 2012, pp. 51-68 DOI: 10.5038/1944-0472.5.3.4 Journal of Strategic Security (c) 2012 ISSN: 1944-0464 eISSN: 1944-0472 51 European Strategies for Energy Security in the Natural Gas Market Boyka Stefanova University of Texas, San Antonio
ISABELA-QA: query-driven analytics with ISABELA-compressed extreme-scale scientific data

Efficient analytics of scientific data from extreme-scale simulations is quickly becoming a top-notch priority. The increasing simulation output data sizes demand for a paradigm shift in how analytics is conducted. In this paper, we argue that query-driven analytics over compressed — rather than original, full-size — data is a promising strategy in order to meet storage-and-I/O-bound application challenges. As a proof-of-principle, we propose a parallel query processing engine, called ISABELA-QA that is designed and optimized for knowledge priors driven analytical processing of spatio-temporal, multivariate scientific data that is initially compressed, in situ, by our ISABELA technology. With ISABELA-QA, the total data storage requirement is less than 23%–30% of the original data, which is upto eight-fold less than what the existing state-of-the-art data management technologies that require storing both the original data and the index could offer. Since ISABELA-QA operates on the metadata generated by our compression technology, its underlying indexing technology for efficient query processing is light-weight; it requires less than 3% of the original data, unlike existing database indexing approaches that require 30%–300% of the original data. Moreover, ISABELA-QA is specifically optimized to retrieve the actual values rather than spatial regions for the variables that satisfy user-specified range queries — a functionality that is critical for high-accuracy data analytics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first techology that enables query-driven analytics over the compressed spatio-temporal floating-point double-or single-precision data, while offering a light-weight memory and disk storage footprint solution with parallel, scalable, multi-node, multi-core, GPU-based query processing.
Neural tube development requires the cooperation of p53- and Gadd45a-associated pathways.

BACKGROUND Numerous genetically engineered mouse models for neural tube defects (NTDs) exist, and some of the implicated proteins are functionally related. For example, the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein Gadd45a and tumor suppressor p53 are functionally similar, and both are involved in neural tube development (Gadd45a- and Trp53-null embryos show low levels of exencephaly). To assess their roles in neural tube development, we generated double-null mice from Gadd45a- and Trp53-null mice, as well as from cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (Cdkn1a) (p21)-null and xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC)-null mice that do not show spontaneous exencephaly. METHODS Gadd45a-, Trp53-, Cdkn1a-, and XPC-null mice were crossed to generate several double-null mouse models. Embryos (embryonic day [ED] 16–18) from the single- and double-null crosses were scored for NTDs. RESULTS Deletion of both Gadd45a and Trp53 in mice increased exencephaly frequencies compared to the deletion of either single gene (34.0% in Gadd45a/Trp53-null compared to 8.4% and 9.1% in the Gadd45a- and Trp53-null embryos, respectively). Furthermore, although deletion of another p53-regulated gene, Cdkn1a, is not associated with exencephaly, in conjunction with Gadd45a deletion, the exencephaly frequencies are increased (30.5% in the Gadd45a/Cdkn1a-null embryos) and are similar to those in the Gadd45a/Trp53-null embryos. Although XPC deletion increased exencephaly frequencies in Trp53-null embryos, XPC deletion did not increase the exencephaly frequencies in Gadd45a-null embryos. CONCLUSIONS The increased genetic liability to exencephaly in the Gadd45a/Trp53- and Gadd45a/Cdkn1a-null embryos may be related to the disruption of multiple cellular pathways associated with Gadd45a and p53. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The microsomal cardiolipin remodeling enzyme acyl-CoA lysocardiolipin acyltransferase is an acyltransferase of multiple anionic lysophospholipids

Phospholipids are subjected to remodeling through the Lands cycle to attain appropriate FA compositions. In recent years, at least two families of lysophospholipid acyltransferases have been identified. Acyl-CoA lysocardiolipin acyltransferase 1 (ALCAT1) was initially identified as a microsomal lysocardiolipin acyltransferase. However, the physiological relevance of how this enzyme is involved in cardiolipin remodeling has not been elucidated. We report in this study that ALCAT1 possesses acyltransferase activities toward lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) and lysophosphatidylglycerol (LPG). Membrane preparations from human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells overexpressing human ALCAT1 demonstrated significant increases in LPI acyltransferase (LPIAT) and LPG acyltransferase (LPGAT) activities using a variety of fatty acyl-CoAs. The enzyme affinities toward LPI and LPG were determined through kinetic studies suggesting that the LPI binding affinity to ALCAT1 depends on fatty acyl-CoA. Reduced expression of ALCAT1 in Hela cells resulted in significant reductions of LPIAT and LPGAT activities, but not ALCAT activity. Through structural and functional studies, we have identified critical amino acids D168 and L169 within ALCAT1 that are potentially involved in lysophospholipid substrate binding. Our studies provide the molecular basis for future investigations of the physiological function of ALCAT1 and offer evidence of critical amino acids involved in substrate binding for the family of glycerolipid acyltransferases.
Acceleration of blood coagulation in acute myocardial infarction as demonstrated by the heparin clotting time; effect of dicumarol therapy.

A study of blood coagulation was made on cardiac patients with and without acute myocardial infarction, prior to anticoagulant therapy. The heparin clotting time, an in vitro modification of the heparin tolerance test, was accelerated in 74 per cent (14 out of 19) of the patients with acute myocardial infarction studied within three weeks after the attack. One out of 14 patients without acute myocardial infarction had an accelerated heparin clotting time below 20 minutes, the lower limit of the "normal" range established on the basis of study of over 100 control subjects. The clotting time and platelet count revealed no significant variations. Serial coagulation studies, performed on patients receiving Dicumarol therapy, revealed that the heparin clotting time, which provides a sensitive measure of over-all coagulability, is prolonged as the prothrombin concentration is diminished. The significance of these findings in relation to thromboembolic complications of acute myocardial infarction and anticoagula...
Comparing velocity and fluid shear stress in a stenotic phantom with steady flow: phase-contrast MRI, particle image velocimetry and computational fluid dynamics.

This study aims to validate phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) measurements of a steady flow through a severe stenotic phantom using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The study was performed in an axisymmetric 87 % area stenosis model using an inlet Reynolds number (Re) of 160, corresponding to a jet Re of 444. Velocity patterns and estimated fluid shear stresses from three modalities were analyzed and compared qualitatively and quantitatively. Visual analysis via contour subtraction and Bland–Altman plots showed good agreement for flow velocities and less agreement for maximum shear stress (MSS). The Pearson’s coefficients of correlation between PC-MRI and PIV were 0.97 for the velocity field and 0.82 for the MSS. The corresponding parameters between PC-MRI and CFD were 0.96 and 0.84, respectively. Findings indicate that PC-MRI can be implemented to estimate velocity flow fields and MSS; however, this method is not sufficiently accurate to quantify the MSS at regions of high shear rate.
Constraints on Pathogens Attacking Plants

Abstract Infection of plants by microorganisms is a rare event. It is even more rare for a microorganism to be a plant pathogen. Regardless of the uniqueness of this infection, from an anthropocentric perspective, no plant disease is tolerable. Although we have some information about plant disease resistance because we are continually striving for absolute resistance [immunity], we know relatively little about plant disease. We explore the constraints on plant pathogens in this paper, to familiarize the reader with the many difficulties plant pathogens have “in making a living.” In this way, we may better understand how plants get diseases, and use this information to manage plant diseases more intelligently.
Matching preclusion and conditional matching preclusion problems for tori and related Cartesian products

The matching preclusion number of an even graph is the minimum number of edges whose deletion results in a graph that has no perfect matchings. For many interconnection networks, the optimal sets are precisely those induced by a single vertex. The conditional matching preclusion number of an even graph was introduced to look for obstruction sets beyond those induced by a single vertex. It is defined to be the minimum number of edges whose deletion results in a graph with no isolated vertices and no perfect matchings. In this paper we study this problem for the tori by proving matching preclusion and conditional matching preclusion results of the Cartesian products of graphs involving cycles. Our results generalize the one given for k-ary n-cube by Wang et al. (2010) [10] as well as provide classification for optimal conditional matching preclusion sets for these graphs.
Effects of Confinement on Oxygen Adsorbed between Pt(111) Surfaces

Density functional theory is used to investigate the interaction between Pt (111) surfaces, clean and in the presence of atomic and molecular oxygen, as a function of the distance between the two s...
Cellular and Molecular Engineering in Transition

Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) is now entering its sixth year of publication. Under the leadership of its Co-Editors-in-Chief (EICs), Ed Guo and David Odde, it has achieved an excellent record in its short history. Providing expertise from the engineering and biological sectors, Drs. Guo and Odde drew from these communities to publish important reports of exciting multidisciplinary work occurring at the interface of life sciences, engineering and medicine. To assist and support the undertaking of this new journal in a rapidly growing field in biomedical engineering, an Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) was formed and chaired by Dr. Van Mow. The EAB served a key role in promoting the journal and raising the level of interest in potential authors and readers. Working in concert with the Co-EICs and the EAB, an international group of experts in CMBE comprised the Board of Associate Editors. The overarching aim of CMBE remains the same as
Under Bump Metallization Development for Eutectic Pb-Sn Solders

Due to its advantage in number of I/Os over other interconnection method, flip chip interconnection technology plays a key role in today’s electronics packaging. Good understanding of interfacial reactions between the solder balls and under bump metallizations (UBM) is crucial in producing sound and reliable solder joints. In the present paper, several new under bump metallization (UBM) schemes using Ni or CuNi alloys as solderable layer are investigated. Cr or Ti is used as the adhesion layer. Test joint are made by reflowing eutectic Pb-Sn solder balls on UBMs and through the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micromechanical shear testing, the reliability of the UBM scheme is determined. Experimental result shows that some of the new schemes, featuring CuNi wettable layer with Cr or Ti adhesion layer produce reliable joints.
"Maloca": la casa sin divisiones. Aprendiendo junto al pueblo indígena Zoró la vivencia de la solidaridad y la promoción de los derechos de los pueblos

Este trabajo es parte de la sistematizacion de la experiencia de la autora junto al pueblo indigena Zoro, ubicado en la region amazonica brasilena. Ademas de compartir los aprendizajes de esta experiencia, desde este trabajo se busca construir una teoria sobre la solidaridad y los derechos humanos. Para esto se discute la teoria de Levinas y Rorty acerca de la nocion de solidaridad. El tema de los derechos humanos y de los pueblos, sera fundamentado con la teoria de Gallardo, confrontada con la experiencia vivencial junto al pueblo Zoro. El aprendizaje expresado en este documento parte principalmente de experiencias de vida, estructuradas en la teoria y el rigor academico.
Feedback regulation of testicular function in Japanese quail: testosterone implants in the hypothalamus and adenohypophysis.

Abstract A possible inhibitory feedback control, by testicular sterooids, of gonadotropin release from the adenohypophysis was tested in adult breeding Japanese quail. Implantation of small pellets of testosterone propionate:charcoal (1:1) into medial or paramedial position in the ventral hypothalamus or adenohypophysis results in (a) testicular regression, (b) regression of the cloacal gland, and (c) a very low level of assayable pituitary gonadotropins. Implants located more anteriorly in the ventral hypothalamus in general result in a greater reduction of testicular weight and diameter of the seminiferous tubules than implants located in more posterior regions of the ventral hypothalamus; implants in both regions are equally effective in causing regression of the cloacal gland. That these effects are specific actions of testosterone, not indirect effects of a physical lesion in the ventral hypothalamus is supported by the findings that (a) implants of cholesterol:charcoal (1:1) in similar locations in the ventral infundibular region have no demonstrable effect on the testes or the cloacal gland, and (b) implants of testosterone propionate:charcoal or glass capillaries filled with crystalline testosterone propionate have only a temporary inhibitory effect on testicular and cloacal gland function; the activities of both these organs return (within 34 days) to near-normal levels despite the persistence of the implant in the brain. Implants in more dorsal regions of the infundibular nuclear complex, in the preoptic and/or supraoptic regions of the hypothalamus, in other regions of the hypothalamus, in the epithalamus and in the forebrain have no effect on testicular weight or functional activity of the cloacal gland; implants of testosterone cause in every bird, a slight reduction in diameter of the seminiferous tubules and in assayable pituitary gonadotropins.
Beta decay of N 18 to alpha particle emitting states in O 18 and a proposed search for parity violation in O 18

The beta-delayed alpha-particle emission from $^{18}\mathrm{N}$ has been studied and the absolute beta decay branching ratios of $^{18}\mathrm{N}$ to the ${1}_{3}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and ${1}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ states in $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ measured. The $^{18}\mathrm{N}$ nuclei were produced using a 35-MeV/nucleon $^{22}\mathrm{Ne}$ beam and a thick Ta target. Reaction products were separated (from the beam) using a reaction products mass separator. A silicon telescope including five detectors and a two-dimensional, position-sensitive, gas counter was used in the focal plane of the mass separator. We obtain beta decay branching ratios of 6.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5% and 1.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 % to the ${1}_{3}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and ${1}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ states, respectively, assuming 100% alpha-particle decay branching ratios for these states. Shell-model predictions are compared with these experimental results. The relevance of these data to a new proposed search for parity violation in $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ is discussed.