cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total cable EM environmental protection using an internally protected universal ground adapter (IPUGA)

Today's "noisy" commercial electromagnetic environment (EME) sometimes approaches the higher level and potentially hostile environments traditionally encountered by some military equipment. The need to operate either commercial or military electronic equipment's in the vicinity of these high level environments provides an incentive to develop an internally protected universal ground adapter that will provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection for both cable shields, shield conduits and all of its internal conductors. >
The spotlight of attention illuminates failed feature-based expectancies

A well-replicated finding is that visual stimuli presented at an attended location are afforded a processing benefit in the form of speeded reaction times and increased accuracy (Mangun, ; Posner,). This effect has been described using a spotlight metaphor, in which all stimuli within the focus of spatial attention receive facilitated processing, irrespective of other stimulus parameters. However, the spotlight metaphor has been brought into question by a series of combined expectancy studies that demonstrated that the behavioral benefits of spatial attention are contingent on secondary feature-based expectancies (Kingstone,). The present work used an event-related potential (ERP) approach to reveal that the early neural signature of the spotlight of spatial attention is not sensitive to the validity of secondary feature-based expectancies.
Time variation in igneous volume flux of the Hawaii-Emperor hot spot seamount chain

[1] Satellite gravity, ship track bathymetry, sediment thickness, and crustal magnetic age data were combined to calculate the residual bathymetry and residual mantle Bouguer gravity anomaly (RMBA) for the northwest Pacific Ocean. The Hawaii-Emperor hot spot track appears on the RMBA map as a chain of negative anomalies, implying thickened crust or less dense mantle. The hot spot swell is clearly visible in a broad band of half-width ∼500 km for about 2000 km downstream from the current hot spot location, corresponding to hot spot ages of 0–25 Ma. A much narrower expression of the hot spot is visible for the rest of the chain at hot spot ages of 25–80 Ma. Comparison of the observed RMBA with various compensation models reveals that the relatively narrow features of the Hawaii-Emperor seamounts are best explained as being supported by plate flexure, while the Shatsky Rise, Hess Rise, and Mid-Pacific Mountains oceanic plateaus are best fit by Airy isostasy with a thickened crustal root. Amplitude comparisons between the RMBA predictions of various compensation models and the observed RMBA for the Hawaiian swell are ambiguous. However, on the basis of the shape of the predicted anomalies, we favor a model of flexure in response to a buried load at 120 km depth. We further calculate igneous (i.e., crustal) volume flux along the axis of the Hawaii-Emperor hot spot by integrating cross-sectional areas of gravity-derived excess crustal thickness and seafloor elevation, respectively, with respect to the normal oceanic crust. The highest values of the calculated igneous volume flux along the Hawaiian and Emperor ridges (∼8 m3/s) occur at present and at about 20 Ma. The flux was reduced to only 50% of this maximum (∼4 m3/s) at 10 Ma. The calculated igneous volume flux is systematically smaller (maximum values of ∼4 m3/s) along the Emperor ridge. Overall, the Hawaiian and Emperor ridges appear to have experienced quasi-periodic variations in fluxes on timescales of 6–30 Ma. Furthermore, during the low-flux periods at 25–48, 57, and 75 Ma the height and size of individual hot spot seamounts appear to be noticeably less than those of the high-flux periods. We hypothesize that the variations in the fluxes of the Hawaiian ridge might be controlled by the thickness of the overlying lithosphere at the time of hot spot emplacement, while the variations along the Emperor ridge may be influenced by the dynamics of the slow absolute motion of the hot spot at the time.
Modeling issues for advanced bipolar device/circuit simulation

Physical mechanisms that govern the operation of advanced bipolar transistors (BJTs), but are not represented well in compact circuit (e.g. SPICE) models, are overviewed. Conventional circuit models for BJTs are reviewed to reveal their deficiencies. Then it is shown how the important mechanisms in the advanced BJT can be properly accounted for by seminumerical physical models, based on multilevel Newton-like iterative methods of solving carrier transport, written into the circuit-simulator source code. >
The AFIT VHDL environment

An overview is presented of the research into a UNIX-based very high-speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL) toolset at the Air Force Institute of Technology. The toolset supports the new IEEE Standard VHDL (IEEE Std 1076-1987), utilizes standard UNIX utilities, and consists of an analyzer and simulator. A graphical front-end has been designed to run on personal computers. Graphical VHDL User Interface (GVUI) appears to its users as a typical schematic editor. However, logic devices are not labeled with device and pin numbers, but rather with entity names and port labels. This simple labeling transformation repetitively exposes the engineer who is unfamiliar with VHDL to conventional and familiar layout symbology encompassing VHDL terminology and concepts. The GVUI maps what is new-VHDL-to what is already known-schematic layout. >
Sub-electron noise charge-coupled devices

A charge coupled device designed for celestial spectroscopy has achieved readout noise as low as 0.6 electrons rms. A nondestructive output circuit was operated in a special manner to read a single pixel multiple times. Off-chip electronics averaged the multiple values, reducing the random noise by the square root of the number of readouts. Charge capacity was measured to be 500,000 electrons. The device format is 1600 pixels horizontal by 64 pixels vertical. Pixel size is 28 microns square. Two output circuits are located at opposite ends of the 1600 bit CCD register. The device was thinned and operated backside illuminated at -110 degrees C. Output circuit design, layout, and operation are described. Presented data includes the photon transfer curve, noise histograms, and bar-target images down to 3 electrons signal. The test electronics are described, and future improvements are discussed.
A note on solitary and cnoidal waves with surface tension

The influence of surface tension on solitary and cnoidal waves is considered. A first order perturbation solution is presented.
Consenting to the Consent Form What Are the Fixed and Fluid Understandings Between the Researcher and the Researched

Grounded in the author's dissertation study, this article presents the negotiations of the formal and informal expectations arising out of interpretations of the consent form. These negotiations di...
Directed Mutations Affecting the Putative Bacteriochlorophyll‐Binding Sites in the Light‐Harvesting I Antenna of Rhodobacter capsulatus

Oligonucleotide-mediated mutagenesis of the light-harvesting I (LHI; B880 complex) antenna genes from Rhodobacter capsulatus has been used to study the bacteriochlorophyll-peptide interactions in this photosynthetic membrane complex. A system of deletion strains and complementing plasmids has been used to assay the effects of changing single amino acid residues in the a structural polypeptide of LHI. Fourteen mutations have been introduced in the putative bacteriochlorophyll-binding site: Ala-X-X-X-His. Residues with side chains smaller than valine can substitute for alanine, but the LHI complex is lost from the membrane if alanine is replaced by residues larger than valine, or if histidine is replaced by arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine, proline, or threonine. The block in biogenesis is not transcriptional, since the associated reaction center, whose genes are known to be downstream from the LHI genes, continues to be inserted into the membrane. The membrane-bound reaction center is photochemically active in these LHI-depleted strains. Such strains may be useful for directly observing electron transfer properties of the reaction center in the membrane. This system is a model for studying the assembly of integral membrane proteins, since easily assigned optical transitions of the prosthetic groups signal proper assembly.
Effects of Carbon Nanotubes on Photoluminescence Properties of Quantum Dots

The effects of carbon nanotubes (CNT) with different surface groups on the luminescence properties of mercaptoacetic acid-capped CdSe quantum dots (QD) are reported. Carboxyl-, hydroxyl-, and amine-modified CNTs are used to interact with water-soluble luminescent mercaptoacetic acid-capped CdSe QDs. TEM and ζ-potential analysis results show that CNT and QDs can be assembled into complex nanostructure by electrostatic interaction. The photoluminescence (PL) quenching of QDs caused by CNTs can be described by a Stern−Volmer-type equation as well as by a double-logarithmic equation. Significant differences in the values of binding constants KSV and Kb were found in these experiments. The binding constant for amine-terminated CNT is much higher compared to that of carboxyl- and hydroxyl-terminated CNTs. Dynamic quenching and photoluminescence resonance energy transfer between QDs and CNTs should be responsible for the quenching of photoluminescence emissions of QDs caused by CNTs with different groups. The st...
The Thermal Accommodation Coefficient: A Critical Survey

Abstract : Accommodation coefficient (alpha) values which can be confidently applied to a solution of satellite-drag and heat-transfer problems must be obtained from experiments with gas molecules whose velocities match those of satellites. The problem of generating in the laboratory a nearly monoenergetic beam of molecules in the range 1 - 10 eV with adequate flux has not been solved. Experimental facilities such as shock and arc tunnels which may produce molecular flows of nearly adequate velocities are not readily adaptable to alpha measurements. For these measurements the transient flow obtained in a shock tunnel is extremely inconvenient, while the composition and energy distribution of the gas obtained in an arc tunnel is not known with sufficient accuracy. The composition of a satellite surface in orbit, and hence the accommodation coefficient, will most probably differ appreciably from that of an untreated surface of the same material exposed to a laboratory vacuum of, say only, 10 to the -7th power mm of Hg. Furthermore, in orbit, satellite surface composition may change with changing surface temperature and ambient gas pressure, resulting in corresponding changes in alpha.
Polaron action for multimode dispersive phonon systems

The path-integral approach to the tight-binding polaron is extended to multiple optical phonon modes of arbitrary dispersion and polarization. The nonlinear lattice effects are neglected. Only one electron band is considered. The electron-phonon interaction is of the density-displacement type, but can be of arbitrary spatial range and shape. Feynman's analytical integration of ion trajectories is performed by transforming the electron-ion forces to the basis in which the phonon dynamical matrix is diagonal. The resulting polaron action is derived for the periodic and shifted boundary conditions in imaginary time. The former can be used for calculating polaron thermodynamics while the latter for the polaron mass and spectrum. The developed formalism is the analytical basis for numerical analysis of such models by path-integral Monte Carlo methods.
Plasma-Sprayed Aluminum and Titanium Adherends: I. Characterization of Coatings

Abstract The morphological and surface chemical properties of plasma-sprayed coatings on metals have been investigated using surface characterization techniques. Organic polymeric and inorganic powders were plasma-sprayed on aluminum and titanium. Organic-polymeric coatings were prepared using epoxy, polyester, polyimide, and cyanate ester components. Inorganic coatings were obtained by plasma-spraying Al2O3, AlPO4, MgO, and SiO2 on aluminum adherends, and TiO2, TiSi2, MgO, and SiO2 on titanium adherends. The organic-polymeric coatings were prepared at one thickness while the inorganic coatings were sprayed to obtain two different thicknesses. SEM photographs reveal various morphological differences in the sprayed specimens. The surface morphology ranged from smooth to nodular among the plasma-sprayed specimens. Surface chemical analysis of the plasma-sprayed coatings indicated that little or no chemical degradation of the components occurred as a result of plasma-spraying. However, plasma-sprayed TiSi2 a...
Elastic Scattering from Atomic Oxygen and Photodetachment from O

A method developed by Temkin to allow for polarization effects in low-energy scattering of electrons from atoms has been extended to include all direct contributions from the polarized orbitals and the exchange contribution from the most important type of polarized orbital. The analysis has been applied to atoms with configurations $1{s}^{2}2{s}^{2}2{p}^{q}$. Cross sections for the elastic scattering of slow electrons by atomic oxygen are given for energies 6.5 eV. The additional direct polarization terms are found to be important in calculating $s$-wave elastic cross sections for O, as they decrease the cross section by a factor of 2 near threshold; but the exchange $d$ orbitals of the oxygen atom are relatively unimportant in relation to all direct polarization terms. Photodetachment cross sections for ${\mathrm{O}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ are given for photon energies in the range 1.47 to 5.5 eV, and are found to be in good agreement with experiment when polarization terms are included and the dipole velocity approximation is used.
New directions in neuroregeneration

Neurons in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) do not spontaneously regenerate their axons after injury. Despite significant progress in the field of axonal regeneration, effective therapeutic strategies to promote functional recovery after injury are not available. The development of novel therapeutics will require further insights into the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that restrict regeneration in the adult CNS. It is equally important that the mechanisms mediating the restoration of axonal connectivity must be determined. This review summarises the known molecular mechanisms of neurite outgrowth inhibition after CNS injury and provides new insights into the potential future direction of neuroregeneration research.
Interferon-gamma and host antimicrobial defense: Current and future clinical applications☆

In the 1980s, substantive experimental data and emerging clinical results suggested that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a T-cell-derived lymphokine with broad macrophage-activating effects, had considerable potential in the treatment of nonviral infections as a host defense-enhancing antimicrobial agent. During the past 6 years, the breadth of the experimental activity with IFN-gamma against nonviral pathogens has been expanded still further, and pilot studies and formal clinical trials using IFN-gamma have been undertaken in the treatment of patients both at risk for and with active infections. Thus far, IFN-gamma has been approved for use as prophylaxis in patients with chronic granulomatous disease. However, IFN-gamma also appears effective as adjunctive therapy for at least one disseminated intracellular infection (visceral leishmaniasis), and in conjunction with conventional therapy, may benefit patients with certain forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis, disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection, and lepromatous leprosy. Despite a rationale for its use, IFN-gamma has not yet been tested in tuberculosis or fungal or common bacterial infections nor sufficiently examined in the prevention and/or treatment of the opportunistic infections related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. IFN-gamma remains a promising host defense-enhancing cytokine with still unexplored clinical potential.
Eckhaus instability for traveling waves

The mechanism by which a one-dimensional pattern of traveling waves changes wavelength (i.e., the Eckhaus instability) is studied in a binary fluid mixture. Long-lived transient phase modulations connect states of uniform wave number. The dynamics of wave-number increases and wave-number decreases are found to be qualitatively different due to a strong dependence of the group velocity on wave number. Relevant theoretical models are discussed.
Brazing of Si3N4 ceramic to copper

Abstract Silicon nitride is one of the most promising structural ceramics for high temperature applications. There is an increasing demand for joining this ceramic to metal structures. Direct brazing using an active filler metal has been found to be a reliable and simple technique, capable of producing strong and reliable joints. Several factors affecting the strength of such joints have been investigated and are reported in the literature. This preliminary study is directed mainly towards investigating the effect of the surface preparation of the base metal and of the load applied to the joint during brazing on the strength of brazed joints. Experiments were conducted for brazing silicon nitride to copper using a commercial Ag–Cu–Ti active filler metal with and without applied load. The Si3N4/Cu joint shear strength and shear energy were determined for various brazing conditions. The initiation of the fracture was detected using acoustic emission sensing. The mechanism of bond formation is described, with emphasis placed on the active metal reaction with the joint materials. Both the interfacial adhesion and the microstructure were investigated. It was found that the smoother the surface finish of the copper base metal, the higher the joint shear strength attained. The shear energy of the joints increased substantially as a result of applying a light load on the joints during brazing.
Self-stabilizing Power-law Networks

Power-law graphs model the interconnections in various types of large-scale networks ranging from physical and biological systems to man-made social networks and web graphs. In these graphs, the degree distribution of the nodes obeys the power-law property: the fraction of nodes P(k) having a degree k closely follows the rule P(k) ∞ k−-γ. In the domain of man-made systems, if the topology of a power-law network gets altered due to failures or adversarial attacks, then remedial actions to restore the power-law property are very important. This paper presents self-stabilizing algorithms for maintaining the power-law property in a network of processes. These algorithms allow spontaneous restoration of the power-law property from any initial connected configuration. The algorithms consist of three modular components: a detection component to detect the violation of the power-law property, an interim topology creation component, and a repair component to build the final graph. We propose two different interim topologies, a clique and a linear graph. We then present two different techniques for rebuilding the power-law topology -- a probabilistic approach based on the preferential attachment model, which stabilizes in O(log n) communication rounds with a link complexity of O(n) per process, and a deterministic approach that introduces the novel data structure Bridge Tree and stabilizes in O(n) communication rounds with a much lower link complexity.
Sensitization and Tolerance in Psychostimulant Self-Administration

Under some conditions, stimulant preexposure sensitizes rats to the reinforcing effects of cocaine and other stimulants, whereas under other conditions exposure decreases the reinforcing efficacy of cocaine. This paper reviews the literature on the effects of stimulant preexposure on self-administration, focusing on methodological and interpretative issues. It is concluded that both sensitization and tolerance occur following stimulant preexposure but that these two effects can be dissociated temporally, with sensitization occurring during the development of drug self-administration and tolerance occurring in response to high doses of stimulants administered to experienced self-administering rats. The relative contribution of both of these effects to compulsive drug-taking is discussed, with emphasis on the development of cocaine as a reinforcer, maintenance of self-administration, and relapse to drug-taking.
Genomic modulation of diabetes (db/db) and obese (ob/ob) mutation-induced hypercytolipidemia: cytochemical basis of female reproductive tract involution

Infertility and hypercytolipidemic utero-ovarian involution are recognized consequences of the diabetes-obesity syndrome (DOS) in C57BL mice with either obese (ob/ob) or diabetes (db/db) single gene mutations. We have evaluated the interdependent deleterious influences of both mutation types and differences in the genomic background on utero-ovarian dysfunction in C57BL mice. Control (+/?) C57BL mice were matched with littermate ob/ob and db/db mutants expressed on either the /KsJ or /6 background. Both ob/ob and db/db mutations increased body weights of /KsJ and /6 background strains relative to +/? groups. In contrast, uterine and ovarian weights were depressed by ob/ob and db/db mutations relative to +/?, regardless of the background strain, but especially when expressed on the /KsJ background. Functionally, both ob/ob and db/db mutations induced hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic states coupled with depressed serum estradiol-17-β and progesterone concentrations when expressed on a /KsJ background. Microscopic analysis of utero-ovarian tissue samples revealed marked hypercytolipidemia in the follicular granulosa and endometrial epithelial tissue layers of both ob/ob and db/db mutant groups relative to normal +/? cytoarchitecture. The db/db mutation consistently promoted more severe hypercytolipidemic profiles than the ob/ob mutation, regardless of background strain. Thus, the severity of utero-ovarian hypercytolipidemia following the expression of ob/ob and db/db mutations in C57BL mice is influenced, or moderated, by the genomic background on which the mutation is expressed.
Inhibition of the growth of mammalian cells in culture by amino acids and the isolation and characterization of L -phenylalanine-resistant mutants modifying L -phenylalanine transport

Raising the concentration of phenylalanine and other amino acids in MEM leads to the inhibition of growth and in some cases to death of A9, Balb 3T3, SV40 Balb 3T3 (SVT2), CHO, and WI38. All cells tested exhibited some similar sensitivities to certain of the amino acids, but there were some unique differences. Phenylalanine-resistant mutants (Phe r )of A9 were isolated that had modified phenylalanine-transport properties. These mutants can be isolated by a single-step selection procedure. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of initial rates of phenylalanine uptake by A9 and mutants showed a biphasic curve suggesting two transport systems. The Phe r mutants had altered properties of both systems. It is suggested that the selection of clones resistant to high concentrations of several of the natural amino acid may be used as a general method for the isolation of mutants affecting the various amino acid transport systems in mammalian cells.
Radioactivity in Some Aquatic Plants

A study was made of total BETA -radioactivity of 196 samples of aquatic plants obtained from fresh water lakes and the sea between July and November 1962. The samples included many kinds of phytoplankton, 20 genera of marine algae, and 14 genera of aquatic flowering plants collected from the New England coast, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, Results indicate that radionuclides are accumulated by diverse kinds of aquatic plants. (C.H.)
Modified Sternheimer equation for polarizability

The Sternheimer equation for atomic polarizability is modified to account for the self-consistent field. The equations are quite simple for closed-shell ions. Numerical results are presented.
Student perceptions of exercise role modelling by secondary health educators

Objective To examine secondary student perceptions, as well as health educator perceptions, as they relate to health educator role modelling of exercise. Additionally, self-reported exercise behaviours of health educators and their students were reported. For the purposes of this study, role modelling is defined as the influence health educators have regarding the exercise behaviours of their students.Design A teacher questionnaire and similar student questionnaire were developed and designed to self-report current exercise behaviours and role modelling perceptions of secondary health educators and their students. Questions included items regarding exercise participation, frequency, duration, type of exercise, self-perceived level of physical fitness, importance of being physically fit, and health educator role modelling information.Setting Questionnaires were administered to health educators and their ninth grade students during health education classes.Method Teacher questionnaires, administered to seco...
Tropical Cold Point Tropopause Characteristics Derived from ECMWF Reanalyses and Soundings

Abstract Tropical cold point tropopause (CPT) characteristics have been calculated using ECMWF reanalyses and high resolution radiosonde soundings obtained in TOGA COARE as well as operational sounding data. It is found that ECMWF reanalyses are suitable for investigating the morphology of the tropical CPT and the variabilities of the tropopause over the entire Tropics, despite an almost constant one-side warm bias. The daily locations of the tropical coldest CPT are clustered over the western Pacific warm pool region in January and spread out longitudinally as the year progresses. During the Indian summer monsoon, the locations of the coldest CPT are deflected northward. The influences of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the tropical CPT have been separated using bivariate regression. The stratospheric zonal wind shear at 50 mb leads the variation in the tropical CPT temperatures by about 6 months. The QBO signature in the tropical CPT is mainly zonally ...
Calcium inhibits urinary acidification: Effect of the ionophore A23187 on the turtle bladder

The role of intracellular calcium in urinary acidification was studied in the turtle bladder with the use of the ionophore A23187. In the presence of calcium acidification was significantly inhibited in the hemibladders treated with the ionophore as compared to control hemibladders treated with dimethylsulfoxide (the vehicle used to dissolve the inophore). In the absence of calcium both the ionophore and dimethylsulfoxide failed to cause any change in acidification. The apparent proton motive force and active conductance of H+ were unchanged in dimethylsulfoxide treated hemibladders. In the presence of the ionophore and calcium, the proton motive force and the conductance were significantly decreased when the H+ current was low (less than 30% of control values); when the H+ current was decreased, but not less than 30%, the proton motive force was unchanged. These data provide evidence for an important role of intracellular calcium in the regulation of urinary acidification.
Effects of TBT and 3-MC co-exposure on cytochrome P450 expression and activity in marine organisms

Abstract Tributyltin (TBT) is an organotin compound used as a chemical anti-fouling agent. This compound is most often found absorbed to the sediments in marinas and harbors where other contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are present. This study looked at the effects of TBT and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) co-exposure on cytochrome P450 expression and enzymatic activity in the southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) and the mud snail (Ilyanassa obsoleta). Fish and snails were treated with TBT, 3-MC or TBT plus 3-MC at various concentrations. Hepatic microsomes were analyzed for protein content, cytochrome P450 expression, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, testosterone hydroxylase activity (flounder) or the development of imposex and reproductive effects (mud snail). The results indicate that co-exposure of 3-MC with TBT overcomes the effects of TBT exposure alone. No significant difference was observed in EROD activity between the 3-MC and the TBT plus 3-MC exposure groups. Interestingly, 3-MC co-exposure appeared to mediate the endocrine-disrupting effects of TBT exposure by reducing the penis size in imposex female snails and restoring their capacity to lay eggs.
Negra d'America Remond and Her Journeys

In her article "negra d'America Remond and Her Journeys" Sirpa A. Salenius analyzes Sarah P. Remond's travels to Europe. Remond, an African American born free in Salem, Massachusetts in 1826 into an abolitionist family, was a successful lecturer on abolitionism in the United States before traveling to England in 1859. During her anti-slavery lecture tour there, she also became involved in promoting women's rights thus enlarging the scope of her social and political agenda to embrace both racial and gender oppression. Subsequently, she studied in London, graduating as a nurse from London University College before moving to Italy where she graduated as a physician and practiced medicine. Remond's life and activities are exceptional because she crossed the boundaries of her time — physical, geographical, social, and political — in both the U.S. and Europe. Sirpa A. Salenius, "negra d'America Remond and Her Journeys" page 2 of 10 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 14.5 (2012): Special issue New Work about the Journey and Its Portrayals. Ed. I-Chun Wang
Mechanisms Underlying Input-Specific Expression of Endocannabinoid-Mediated Synaptic Plasticity in the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus

A hallmark of brain organization is the integration of primary and modulatory pathways by principal neurons. Primary sensory inputs are usually not plastic, while modulatory inputs converging to the same principal neuron can be plastic. However, the mechanisms determining this input-specific expression of synaptic plasticity remain unknown. We investigated this problem in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), where principal cells integrate primary auditory nerve input with plastic, parallel fiber input. Our previous DCN studies have shown that parallel fiber inputs exhibit short- and long-term plasticities mediated by endocannabinoid signaling. Here we show that auditory nerve inputs to principal cells do not show short- or long-term endocannabinoid-mediated synaptic plasticity. Electrophysiological and electron microscopy studies indicate that input specificity arises from selective expression of presynaptic cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in parallel fiber terminals, but not in auditory nerve terminals. However, pairing of parallel fiber activity with auditory nerve activity elicits plasticity in parallel fiber inputs, thus suggesting a role for synaptic plasticity in multisensory integration.
Methods for concentrating viruses from large volumes of estuarine water on pleated membranes

Abstract The efficiency of cartridge filters with pleated membranes was determined for the recovery of poliovirus from large volumes of seawater. Flow rates of about 6 gal min−1 were obtained when a combination of a 3- and a 0.45-μm pleated filter were incorporated into the Wallis—Melnick virus concentrator. The filters adsorbed poliovirus when water was acidified at pH 3.5 and aluminum chloride added at a final concentration of 0.0015 m . The filters retained their capacity to adsorb virus particles, even after 600 gal (22681.) of very turbid estuarine water had been filtered. Viruses were eluted from the pleated filters with pH 11.5 glycine buffer and reconcentrated by precipitation with ferric chloride or aluminum chloride. Virus from 100-gal samples was concentrated into a final eluate volume of 20–100 ml, with virus recovery of about 50% being achieved in the material that had been concentrated 20,000–100,000 times.
Mechanical Strain Controls Endothelial Patterning During Angiogenic Sprouting

Cyclic strain is known to affect endothelial cell phenotype, but its effects on neovascular pattern formation remain poorly understood. To examine how cyclic strain affects angiogenesis, we designed a stretchable, polydimethylsiloxane-based multi-well system that supports a 3D cell culture model of angiogenesis, consisting of endothelial cells coated onto microcarrier beads embedded in a fibrin gel with a supporting monolayer of smooth muscle cells atop the gel. Calibration of the integrated system showed a linear relationship between applied strain and strain within the fibrin gel. Capillaries formed in unstrained conditions grew radially outward, while 3D constructs subjected to 10% cyclic strain at 0.7 Hz sprouted in a direction parallel to the applied strain. Removal of the tissue from the strain stimulus eliminated directional sprouting. To better understand this directional biasing, the strain field surrounding a microcarrier bead was modeled computationally, showing local strain anisotropy surrounding a microcarrier. Confocal reflection microscopy revealed only modest fiber alignment in regions of the gel close to microcarriers, with no evidence of alignment further away. Together, these data showed that externally applied cyclic strain can spatially pattern capillaries in a 3D culture, and suggests a means to control pattern formation in engineered tissues.
A multiplex immunoassay demonstrates reductions in gingival crevicular fluid cytokines following initial periodontal therapy

Thunell DH, Tymkiw KD, Johnson GK, Joly S, Burnell KK, Cavanaugh JE, Brogden KA, Guthmiller JM. A multiplex immunoassay demonstrates reductions in gingival crevicular fluid cytokines following initial periodontal therapy. J Periodont Res 2009; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.2009.01204.x. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: Cytokines and chemokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess the effect of initial periodontal therapy on gingival crevicular fluid levels of a comprehensive panel of cytokines and chemokines, including several less extensively studied mediators. Material and Methods: Clinical examinations were performed and gingival crevicular fluid samples obtained from six subjects with generalized severe chronic periodontitis prior to initial periodontal therapy and at re-evaluation (6–8 weeks). Four diseased and two healthy sites were sampled in each subject. Twenty-two gingival crevicular fluid mediators were examined using a multiplex antibody capture and detection platform. Statistical analyses were performed by fitting mixed effects linear models to log-transformed gingival crevicular fluid values. Results: Gingival crevicular fluid interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1β were the only cytokines to differ in initially diseased vs. initially healthy sites. Following initial therapy, 13 of the 16 detectable cytokines and chemokines decreased significantly in diseased sites, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-12 (p40), CCL5/regulated on activation, normally T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), eotaxin, macrophage chemotactic protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α and interferon-γ. At healthy sites, only three of the 16 mediators were significantly altered following therapy. Conclusion: This is the first study, to our knowledge, to evaluate such an extensive panel of gingival crevicular fluid mediators within the same sample prior to and following initial therapy. The results confirm that periodontal therapy effectively reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including less well-described mediators that may be important in initiation and progression of periodontitis. The multiplex assay will prove useful for future gingival crevicular fluid studies.
Overview of Cardiac Markers in Heart Disease

Cardiac troponins I and T have been the cornerstone of diagnostics of acute coronary syndrome for almost 20 years. Natriuretic peptides have established themselves in heart failure during the last decade. These and additional promising biomarkers, such as ST-2, galectin-3, GDF-15, copeptin, midregional proadrenomedullin, and the markers of glomerular filtration rate and kidney injury, are reviewed in groups corresponding to the pathophysiological processes they probe--cardiomyocyte injury, myocyte stress, inflammation, oxidative stress, plaque instability, extracellular-matrix remodeling, or those markers grouped in the neurohormone category. Biomarkers linking the renal and cardiac functions and microRNAs and metabolomic markers are addressed as well.
Convex partitions of polyhedra: a lower bound and worst-case optimal algorithm

The problem of partitioning a polyhedron into a minimum number of convex pieces is known to be NP-hard. We establish here a quadratic lower bound on the complexity of this problem, and we describe an algorithm that produces a number of convex parts within a constant factor of optimal in the worst case. The algorithm is linear in the size of the polyhedron and cubic in the number of reflex angles. Since in most applications areas, the former quantity greatly exceeds the latter, the algorithm is viable in practice.
Effects of Sexual Selection Upon Sperm Morphology and Sexual Skin Morphology in Primates

We review possible effects of sexual selection upon sperm morphology, and sexual skin morphology, in primates. Comparative morphometric studies, involving 31 species representing 21 primate genera, revealed a positive relationship between volume of the sperm midpiece, occurrences of multiple partner matings by females, and large relative testes sizes, which indicate sperm competition. The midpiece houses the mitochondria required to power sperm motility. Hence, sperm competition may have influenced the evolution of increased mitochondrial loading in species where females mate with multiple partners during the fertile period. Females of some Old World monkey species and female chimpanzees exhibit large estrogen-dependent sexual skin swellings during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Studies of mandrills support the conclusion that swellings act primarily as sexually attractive, graded signals and that swelling size may indicate current reproductive quality. Measurements of the genitalia in chimpanzees indicate a secondary function for female swellings. The swelling increases the operating depth of the female's vagina by ≤50% during the fertile phase of her cycle. Males have evolved long, filiform penes capable of placing sperm close to the os cervix during competitive multipartner matings. This may exemplify how morphologic specializations in females can influence the coevolution of advantageous genitalic specializations in males: the phenomenon that Eberhard (1985) dubbed cryptic female choice.
Rapid regulation of blood parameters under acute hypoxia in the Amazonian fish Prochilodus nigricans.

Abstract Prochilodus nigricans , locally known as curimata, is an Amazonian commercial fish that endures adverse environmental conditions, in particular low dissolved oxygen, during its migration. Poorer environmental conditions are expected in the near future. Prochilodus nigricans overcomes current seasonal and diurnal changes in dissolved oxygen by adjusting erythrocytic levels of ATP and GTP, modulators of Hb-O 2 affinity. Will this fish species be endangered under more extreme environmental conditions as hypoxia and acidification tend to occur in a shorter period of time? As P. nigricans does not exhibit any apparent morphological alterations to exploit the air–water interface, it must rely on fast adjustments of blood properties. To investigate this aspect, basic hematology indices, pHe, pHi, plasma lactate, erythrocytic levels of ATP and GTP and functional properties of the hemolysate of P. nigricans were analyzed over a period of 6 h in hypoxia and subsequent recovery in normoxia. The levels of erythrocytic GTP were four times higher than ATP and were reduced to ¼ of the original level after 3 h under hypoxia. Erythrocytic levels of ATP were unaffected over the experimental period. All other analyzed blood parameters exhibited a time-course change in animals under hypoxia and returned to normoxic levels. Considering the hemolysate functional properties and the ability to regulate the above mentioned blood characteristics, P. nigricans is able to endure short-term changes in dissolved oxygen.
Enzymatic semisynthesis of porcine despentapeptide (B26–30) insulin using unprotected desoctapeptide (B23–30) insulin as a substrate: Model studies

Unprotected porcine desoctapeptide(B23-30) insulin (DOPI) and the synthetic Gly-Phe-Phe were used as substrates for the trypsin-catalyzed synthesis of despentapeptide(B26-30) insulin (DPPI). The DPPI synthesis was accompanied by a moderate oligomerization and by the formation of a side produce which was identified as a DOPI derivative having an extra peptide bond between the Gly(A1) and Arg(B22) and which was named des(23-63) proinsulin (1). Despite side reactions, the conditions were found where the overall DPPI yields were comparable to those obtained via di-Boc DOPI, and these procedures were faster and simpler since the Boc protection and deprotection steps were omitted. The reaction progress was directly monitored by HPLC.
Enhancement of metabolism of jeopardized myocardium by nifedipine

Abstract To define effects of nifedipine on regional metabolism in jeopardized myocardium we quantified accummulation of carbon-11 labeled palmitate ([ 11 C]palmitate) in patients with acute myocardial infarction by positron emission tomography in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. Tomographic studies were performed prior to treatment as soon as possible after hospital admission. Subsequent studies were performed seven days later. Twenty-two patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to treatment with nifedipine ( n = 13) or placebo ( n = 9). The dosage of active medication was guided by a "third party observer" to avoid iatrogenic hypotension. Treatment was initiated within 9.6 ± 1 hours after the onset of symptoms of infarction. The extent of the zone of abnormal accumulation of [ 11 C]palmitate was similar in pre-treatment positron emission tomograms from patients subsequently given nifedipine compared with those given placebo. In subsequent positron emission tomography studies, patients treated with nifedipine exhibited improved metabolism of [ 11 C]palmitate (by 16 ± 10%, SE, P 11 C]palmitate had a high incidence of chest pain and recurrent infarction compared with those given placebo in whom no improvement was evident. These observations suggest that some regions of myocardium were benefited transiently by nifedipine but that they remained at high risk for recurrent injury. Thus, patients benefited transiently by drugs early after the onset of infarction may require aggressive intervention such as angioplasty or early coronary bypass surgery. Accordingly, they should be evaluated angiographically early for identification of lesions with unusually high risk.
Longevity of Sm-p80-specific antibody responses following vaccination with Sm-p80 vaccine in mice and baboons and transplacental transfer of Sm-p80-specific antibodies in a baboon

Based on data obtained using vaccine efficacy studies in mice, hamsters, and baboons, the credentials of Sm-p80 as a first tier vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis have been well established. Sm-p80-based vaccine formulation(s) have consistently exhibited potent prophylactic efficacy in reducing adult worm burden following cercarial challenge and induce killing of established adult worms in chronic infection. This vaccine is protective against both intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis. In this study, the longevity of Sm-p80-specific antibody responses was studied in mice and in baboons. Robust antibody titers were detected in mice for up to 60 weeks following vaccination with Sm-p80 recombinant vaccine (Sm-p80 + GLA-SE). In the follow-up experiments to our published studies, Sm-p80-specific IgG was also detected in baboons 5–8 years following the initial vaccination with an Sm-p80 DNA vaccine. In one baboon, transfer of Sm-p80-specific antibody was detected in umbilical cord blood and in the baby. These long-lasting humoral immune response data coupled with the vaccine efficacy data in rodents and nonhuman primates further strengthens the case for Sm-p80 to be moved forward through development leading to human clinical trials.
THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF A MICROSTRIP RADIATOR WITH MULTIPLE LUMPED LINEAR LOADS

ABSTRACT A simple theory is developed for the analysis of microstrip patch elements which are loaded at one or more points with lumped linear load impedances. The analysis is based on a cavity model in which the shape of the field distribution between the patch and ground plane is assumed to be well approximated by that of the resonant modes of a corresponding magnetic- and electric-walled cavity. The resonant mode of the loaded cavity is represented as an appropriate superposition of the modes of the corresponding unloaded cavity. The characteristic equation for the resonant frequencies of the loaded cavity is obtained in terms of the load impedances and the unloaded cavity multiport open-circuit parameters. An analysis of the input impedance of a rectangular microstrip element shorted at an arbitrary point has been implemented and the results show good agreement with experiment. An ancilliary result showing the equivalence between a thin strip and a circular cylinder model of a feed current distribution...
Modeling restricted bivariate censored lowflow data

Environmental studies often result in censored data. In this article, the lowflow quantiles Q*7,2 and Q*7,10 below a limit are treated as censored data. These streamflow quantiles are important for water resources planning and management. Our partial all-subsets censored regression procedure identifies a few important explanatory variables, such as drainage area, basin slope, soil-infiltration index, rainfall index, and some combinations of them. The proposed maximum likelihood estimation method incorporates the restriction Q*7,2≥Q*7,10 and the bivariate probability distribution of the quantiles to improve model quality. Analyses of the lowflow quantiles obtained from streams in West-Central Florida show that our procedure is more appropriate than the commonly used univariate main-effects models in predicting quantiles. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Earthquake response of slender planar concrete walls with modern detailing

Abstract Reinforced concrete structural walls are used commonly as the primary lateral-load resisting system in buildings. The research presented here represents the results of the first phase of a multi-year research effort aimed at developing tools to enable performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) of structural walls. The first phase of the research effort focused on the seismic behavior and analysis of slender planar walls and included laboratory testing of four planar wall sub-assemblages. The walls simulated the bottom three stories of a 10-story prototype building; loading apparatus available at the University of Illinois, Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation laboratory were used to simulate the load demands, permitting maximum test-specimen scale and realistic demand patterns. The walls were detailed to modern code requirements and standard practice and included heavily reinforced boundary elements. The test matrix studied the effects of reinforcement layout, shear demand, and lap splices at the base of the wall. All of the walls exhibited damage in the compression region, even at relatively low drifts. The splice affected the location of the damage. Walls without splices sustained damage at the base of the wall; walls with splices sustained damage at both the top of the splice and the base of the wall, with the critical region depending on the shear demand. Shear demand also affected response; a moderate increase in shear demand resulted in the failure mechanism changing from bar fracture to flexure–compression failure of the boundary elements.