cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in Specific Dexamethasone Binding during Aging in WI-38 Cells*

Normal human diploid cell line WI-38, which shows enhanced proliferation in the presence of glucocorticoids, was found to contain high affinity binding sites for dexamethasone (DEX) and hydrocortisone. Hormone binding studies carried out in intact cell monolayers showed rapid uptake and binding of the [3H]DEX, which was independent of cell density at 37 C. The number of binding sites per cell decreased with increased age in vitro. Competition studies with several unlabeled steroids demonstrated high molecular specificity and a strong correlation between the ability of a steroid to compete for specific DEX binding sites and its ability to stimulate cell proliferation. Our observation that the number of specific glucocorticoid binding sites per cell decreased 40% without any significant change in affinity is similar to observations made in target tissues in aged animals. This finding may explain the previously reported decrease in responsiveness to these glucocorticoids in aging WI-38 cells.
Nutrition knowledge predicts eating behavior of all food groups except fruits and vegetables among adults in the Paso del Norte region: Qué Sabrosa Vida.

Abstract Objective To examine the association between nutrition knowledge and eating behavior in a predominantly Mexican American population on the Texas-Mexico border. Design Cross-sectional using data from the baseline survey of the Que Sabrosa Vida community nutrition initiative. Setting El Paso and surrounding counties in Texas. Participants Data gathered in 2000 using random-digit dialing telephone survey. Response rate was 42.6% and final sample size was 963. Main Outcome Measures Knowledge of recommended servings of food items was the independent variable and number of servings of food items consumed was the dependent variable. Data analysis Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between nutrition knowledge and eating behavior. Results 74% of the population was Mexican American. Nutrition knowledge was a significant predictor of eating behavior for grains (odds ratio [OR] = 6.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4, 17.1), dairy (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.5, 3.4), meats (OR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.5, 2.8), beans (OR = 8.18; 95% CI: 5.1, 13.0), water (OR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.7, 3.6), but not for fruits and (nonstarchy) vegetables (OR = 1.69; 95% CI: 0.89, 3.2). Conclusions and Implications Nutrition knowledge predicts eating behavior for all food groups except fruits and vegetables. The role of cultural factors in eating behavior should be investigated to elucidate this finding. Results have implications for developing nutrition education programs for Mexican Americans.
Quasi-Optimum Digital Phase-Locked Loops

Quasi-optimum digital phase-locked loops (DPLL) are derived utilizing nonlinear estimation theory. Nonlinear approximations are employed to yield realizable loop structures. Baseband equivalent loop gains are derived, which, under high signal-to-noise ratio conditions may be calculated off line. Additional simplifications are made that permit the application of the Kalman filter algorithms to determine the minimum mean-square error (MSE) loop filter. Consideration is given to sampling rate and implementation requirements. Performance is evaluated by a theoretical analysis and by simulation. Theoretical and simulated results are discussed and a comparison to analog results is made.
Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of oleic acid adsorption on silicic acid

Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to observe adsorption complexes of oleic acid and isopropanol (IPA) on silicic acid in hexane. The spectra provide definite evidence of the molecular nature of the surface interaction. In addition, the effect on oleic acid adsorption of modifying the solvent with IPA, which competes for adsorption sites and modifies the solvent polarity, was studied. Oleic acid adsorption was reduced in the presence of an equimolar IPA concentration in hexane, relative to that from hexane alone. This could be explained by a combination of competitive adsorption of IPA and IPA interacting with oleic acid in solution. IPA, in solution, and silica are probably competing for the lipid. This is additional evidence that suggests that lipid adsorption onto silicic acid is influenced by competitive adsorption. The adsorption of oleic acid and IPA, from a mixture of the two in hexane, was controlled by (i) the equilibrium between surface-bound species and molecules in solution and (ii) the polar interaction between oleic acid and IPA in solution. Thus, washing pre-bound oleic acid with hexane removed only a small amount of oleic acid, while washing with a solution of IPA in hexane removed most of the pre-bound oleic acid.
Influence of the electric double layer on glass leaching

Abstract When a glass comes into contact with water, an electric double layer forms at the glass-water interface. An analytical model that calculates the electric field and the resulting velocity of univalent alkali ions migrating in the glass matrix is developed. The ion migration velocity is calculated for an 85% SiO2–15% Na2O glass and for more complex glasses. The calculations indicate that the process of ion migration leads to normalized leach rates which are small compared to glass network dissolution rates.
Long Duration, Single-Molecule Monitoring of Lysozyme Kinetics

Tethering a single molecule of T4 lysoyzme to a carbon nanotube field effect transistor resulted in a novel technique for monitoring single-molecule enzymatic activity. Continuous electronic monitoring readily resolved lysozyme as a processive enzyme, since substrate release was clearly distinguished from serial hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds. On average, we observed hydrolysis of 100 consecutive bonds at 15 Hz rates when lysozyme processed natural peptidoglycan. Furthermore, long duration measurements allowed statistically-meaningful analysis of thousands of chemical events by the same molecule, uncovering seven independent timescales governing lysozyme's activity, including minute-by-minute dynamic disorder. Stability of the lysozyme-transistor method allowed these timescales to be studied as a function of environmental conditions such as substrate, pH, or temperature, in order to produce a detailed map of factors that affect single molecule processivity. For example, variations in pH do not change any of the rate constants of lysozyme's motions, but rather decrease enzyme activity by increasing the proportion of time stuck in an inactive, closed conformation. As another example, we found that peptidoglycan cross-links are directly responsible for a 50% drop in effective activity. Using a synthetic, linear substrate without cross-links, we observed long, uninterrupted processing runs to the end of individual substrate molecules. By comparison, lysozyme spends approximately half its time traversing the cross-links present in wild-type substrate. Rather than releasing substrate at a cross-link, however, lysozyme instead changes to an alternate, non-processive motion with which it can sidestep the cross-link. The combination of processive and non-processive motions allow lysozyme to remain effective and zigzag through wild-type substrate.
Characterization of rat mast cell granule proteins.

Abstract Mast cell granules free of membranes were isolated by differential centrifugation of water-lysed cells. The granules were extracted sequentially with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 m KCl. The 0.5 m fraction contained 95% of the N -acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity; this enzyme probably accounts for no more than 1% of the total granule protein. The 1.0 m fraction contained more than 80% of the granule chymotrypsin-like activity; the chymotrypsin-like enzyme was calculated to represent at least 15% of total granule protein. Heparin was found largely in the 1.0 m extract and in the residue after 2.0 m extraction. The heparin in both fractions had a molecular weight by gel exclusion chromatography considerably in excess of commercial porcine heparin. Acrylamide-gel electrophoresis of granules dissolved in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate and reduced with dithiothreitol demonstrated four major protein bands. The 1.0 m fraction contained the most prominent, rapidly migrating band. The more slowly migrating, higher molecular weight bands appeared in greater proportion in the 2.0 m and residue fractions. Autodigestion of the 1.0 m extract permitted purification of the mast cell chymotrypsin-like enzyme to specific activities as high as that of crystallized bovine pancreatic α-chymotrypsin. The mast cell chymotrypsin-like enzyme purified in this way migrated on dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis as a single major band with an estimated molecular weight of 29,000.
Bounds on Inclusive Cross Sections

On the basis only of unitarity and certain limited analyticity assumptions inequalities are derived connecting single-particle inclusive data with elastic-scattering quantities. The high-energy behavior implied by these inequalities comes close to being saturated, on present evidence, to within logarithmic factors in energy.
Decision criteria do not shift: Reply to Treisman

Recently, we argued that the detection criterion representation of decision-making biases, embedded within the theory of signal detection, is empirically testable and has, in fact, been falsified by empirical results from visual discrimination experiments. Treisman (2002) attempts to show that there is an alternative interpretation of our results that could explain them without dropping the detection criterion construct. In lieu of attempting to fit the data with a model, however, he gives two kinds of theoretical examples, both involving manipulations of the spacing of criteria on a decision axis. The first example correctly predicts that the bias estimate we developed will be zero but does so by assuming zero spacing between some criteria (some rating responses are never used). We did not observe zero spacing between any criteria and did not perform any analyses on responses that never occurred. Moreover, this example does not explain why the upper-bound bias estimates that we obtained by combining results from two criteria placements were also trivially small. His second example predicts that the bias should have been detectable with sufficiently large sample sizes. In our experiments, the sample sizes were, in fact, quite large, large enough for the results to be consistent in 18 different experimental conditions. Finally, all of Treisman’s criteria placement examples also fail to explain the pronounced effects of base rates on the shapes of the rating ROC curves, and his suggestion that there are problems of logical interpretation with our proposed distribution model ignores the predictions of large classes of alternatives to detection theory, including the dynamic models of perception.
16-QAM Signal Design and Detection in Presence of Nonlinear Phase Noise

Constellation design and coherent detection of 16-QAM signals in the presence of nonlinear phase noise are studied. Various decision strategies and phase-noise mitigation techniques are compared in terms of symbol-error rate performance.
An unstable shoe with a rocker bottom redistributes external work

The purpose of this study was to examine the external work performed by individuals wearing a rocker bottom shoe compared to a standard shoe. It was hypothesized that individuals wearing a rocker bottom shoe would have changes in the amount of work over the course of contact with the ground. External work on the body's centre of mass (BCOM) was calculated for individuals in both conditions. Comparisons for external work were done for positive and negative work for the entire stance phase as well as the initial double support, single support and terminal double support periods. The results revealed that while wearing the rocker bottom shoes, individuals performed an increased amount of negative work and decreased positive work in the initial double support followed by increased positive work in single support compared to a standard sole shoe. Individuals also performed a decreased amount of positive and negative work in terminal double support when wearing the rocker bottom shoes. There were no differences...
Distributed State Estimation and Energy Management in Smart Grids: A Consensus ${+}$ Innovations Approach

This paper reviews signal processing research for applications in the future electric power grid, commonly referred to as smart grid. Generally, it is expected that the grid of the future would differ from the current system by the increased integration of distributed generation, distributed storage, demand response, power electronics, and communications and sensing technologies. The consequence is that the physical structure of the system becomes significantly more distributed. The existing centralized control structure is not suitable any more to operate such a highly distributed system. Hence, in this paper, we overview distributed approaches, all based on consensus ${+}$ innovations, for three common energy management functions: state estimation, economic dispatch, and optimal power flow. We survey the pertinent literature and summarize our work. Simulation results illustrate tradeoffs and the performance of consensus ${+}$ innovations for these three applications.
Manipulating marine stratocumulus cloud amount and albedo: a process-modelling study of aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions in response to injection of cloud condensation nuclei

Abstract. We use a cloud-system-resolving model to study marine-cloud brightening. We examine how injected aerosol particles that act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are transported within the marine boundary layer and how the additional particles in clouds impact cloud microphysical processes, and feedback on dynamics. Results show that the effectiveness of cloud brightening depends strongly on meteorological and background aerosol conditions. Cloud albedo enhancement is very effective in a weakly precipitating boundary layer and in CCN-limited conditions preceded by heavy and/or persistent precipitation. The additional CCN help sustain cloud water by weakening the precipitation substantially in the former case and preventing the boundary layer from collapse in the latter. For a given amount of injected CCN, the injection method (i.e., number and distribution of sprayers) is critical to the spatial distribution of these CCN. Both the areal coverage and the number concentration of injected particles are key players but neither one always emerges as more important than the other. The same amount of injected material is much less effective in either strongly precipitating clouds or polluted clouds, and it is ineffective in a relatively dry boundary layer that supports clouds of low liquid water path. In the polluted case and "dry" case, the CCN injection increases drop number concentration but lowers supersaturation and liquid water path. As a result, the cloud experiences very weak albedo enhancement, regardless of the injection method.
Spatial variations of surface moisture flux from aircraft data

Abstract This study surveys the existing conceptual views of the influence of surface heterogeneity on spatial variability of fluxes into the atmosphere, and constructs an approach for using low-level aircraft to measure spatial variations of the surface moisture flux. This approach is applied to Canadian Twin Otter aircraft data collected during the Southern Great Plains Experiment. The response of turbulent moisture fluxes to surface heterogeneity is reduced by horizontal mixing by the turbulent eddies. During the evolution of the daytime convective boundary layer, the eddy size increases and the spatial variation of the moisture flux into the atmosphere is confined to larger horizontal scales. The influence of the surface heterogeneity on moisture fluxes into the atmosphere is framed here in terms of a horizontal blending scale, which can be used as guidance for partitioning the aircraft track. Problems with the estimation of the spatial variability of surface moisture fluxes from aircraft eddy correlation data are examined. Obtaining an adequate sample size of the moisture fluxes over heterogeneous surfaces is considerably more difficult than over homogeneous surfaces. Sampling requirements determine the maximum spatial resolution of the measured surface fluxes. The time-dependence of the spatial variation of the surface moisture flux is even more difficult to estimate since simple compositing of different aircraft passes would eliminate the time-dependence. A new scheme for estimating the time–space dependence of surface fluxes is developed. As an application example, this method is used to show that the evaporative fraction varies only slowly from morning to afternoon for the surface types examined here.
WE-E-141-09: FMEA and Fault Tree Ananlysis Applied to Vendor Customer Technical Bulletins

Purpose: Over the past 3 years our institution has received 44 Customer Technical Bulletins (CTBs) from vendors that supply us with hardware of software used for patient care. We have ranked the failure modes presented to our institution in these CTBs using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) tools as described in the AAPM report TG‐100. Methods: FMEA applied to the failure modes comes up with a Risk Probability Number based on the severity, probability of occurrence and probability it will go undetected. In addition to FMEA, the adverse effects on our patient population are examined by looking at the number of people affected. For example, CTBs applying to dose calculations would affect 100% of our patients while CTBs applying to IMRT calculations will affect approximately 50% or our patient population. Results: Of the 44 CTBs received from vendors we identified nineteen with Risk Priority Numbers (RPN) greater than 200 and four of those had RPN greater than 300. Of the four with RPN greater than 300, two dealt with incorrect dose calculations due to incorrect commissioning of the treatment planning system, one with the CT datasets getting flipped and the last with isocenter being transferred incorrectly. Each of these failure pathways would have resulted in a systematic error that would have affected a large population of patients. For the failure modes with RPN greater than 200 the average RPN was reduced from 275 to 70 after modifying policy, checklists and improving clinical flow. Conclusion: Analysis of vendor CTBs and review by a departments QA committee is an essential part of any QA program. By applying FMEA and analyzing the fault trees discussed in these bulletins, we were able to reduce the RPN from an average of 275 to 70.
Automatic identification and storage of significant points in a computer‐based presentation

We describe an automatic classroom capture system that detects and records significant (stable) points in lectures by sampling and analyzing a sequence of screen capture frames from a PC used for presentations, application demonstrations, etc. The system uses visual inspection techniques to scan the screen capture stream to identify points to store. Unlike systems that only detect and store slide presentation transitions, this system detects and stores significant frames in any style of computer‐based lecture using any program. The system is transparent to the lecturer and requires no software or training. It has been tested extensively on lectures with multiple applications and pen‐based annotations and has successfully identified “significant” frames (frames that represent stable events such as a new slide, bullet, figure, inked comment, drawing, code entry, application entry etc.). The system can analyze over 20000 frames and typically identifies and stores about 100 significant frames within minutes of the end of a lecture. A time stamp for each saved frame is recorded and will in the future be used to compile these frames into a jMANIC multimedia record of the class.
Crystalline Thymidylate Synthetase From Dichloromethotrexate Resistant Lactobacillus Case I

Abstract A procedure is described for the isolation and crystallization of thymidylate synthetase from a dichloromethotrexate resistant strain of Lactobacillus casei. The recrystallized enzyme shows one band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific activity of the recrystallized enzyme is 216 μmoles of thymidylate formed per hour per mg. at30°C.
A mean-value performance analysis of a new multiprocessor architecture

This paper presents a preliminary performance analysis of a new large-scale multiprocessor: the Wisconsin Multicube. A key characteristic of the machine is that it is based on shared buses and a snooping cache coherence protocol. The organization of the shared buses and shared memory is unique and non-hierarchical. The two-dimensional version of the architecture is envisioned as scaling to 1024 processors.We develop an approximate mean-value analysis of bus interference for the proposed cache coherence protocol. The model includes FCFS scheduling at the bus queues with deterministic bus access times, and asynchronous memory write-backs and invalidation requests.We use our model to investigate the feasibility of the multiprocessor, and to study some initial system design issues. Our results indicate that a 1024-processor system can operate at 75 - 95% of its peak processing power, if the mean time between cache misses is larger than 1000 bus cycles (i.e. 50 microseconds for 20 MHz buses; 25 microseconds for 40 MHz buses). This miss rate is not unreasonable for the cache sizes specified in the design, which are comparable to main memory sizes in existing multiprocessors. We also present results which address the issues of optimal cache block size, optimal size of the two-dimensional Multicube, the effect of broadcast invalidations on system performance, and the viability of several hardware techniques for reducing the latency for remote memory requests.
B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders in solid-organ transplant patients: Detection of Epstein-Barr virus by in situ hybridization

B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (BLPDs) occur in approximately 2% of transplant recipients and are frequently fatal. Indirect serologic evidence has implicated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as an etiologic factor in these lesions. Direct evidence of the presence of EBV in these lesions has been obtained in relatively few cases. We used in situ hybridization (ISH) with a probe for the BamHI-W region of the EBV genome to study 52 tissue specimens from 28 solid-organ transplant patients who had BLPD. Epstein-Barr virus-infected lymphoid cells were identified in 26 of these 28 patients. The two patients without ISH evidence of EBV infection showed no distinctive clinical, morphologic, or serologic features. Previous filter-hybridization studies of these two patients had demonstrated evidence of EBV infection. Seven additional transplant patients without evidence of BLPD were studied as controls and showed no evidence of EBV in their lymphoid cells by ISH. These data provide further support for the etiologic role of EBV in the pathogenesis of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders.
Immature ovaries and polycystic kidneys in the congenital polycystic kidney mouse may be due to abnormal sex steroid metabolism

Abstract Ke 6 is a 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD) that is expressed in the kidneys and gonads. The expression of this gene is markedly reduced in three murine models of recessive polycystic kidney disease, a developmental disorder, where some nephrons within the affected kidneys develop into huge fluid-filled cysts while the non-cystic nephrons atrophies by apoptosis. Here, we show that in the cpk/cpk mouse, which have polycystic kidneys, the female reproductive organs also fail to mature properly and remain arrested at an early stage of development. Direct measurement of 17βHSD activity showed a severe reduction in estrogen and androgen metabolism within gonadal and non-gonadal tissues of the cpk/cpk mouse. Using immunofluorescent staining we localized the expression of the Ke 6 protein within the female mouse reproductive organs. Our findings suggest that estrogen/androgen metabolism may play an important role in the development of the urogenital systems.
Phosphatidylethanolamine turnover is an early event in the response of NB2 lymphoma cells to prolactin.

Abstract The effect of prolactin on phospholipid metabolism in the prolactin-dependent rat lymphoma cell line Nb2 was investigated in cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid or [3H]ethanolamine. Prolactin (20 ng/ml) caused (a) a 20–60% loss of radiolabeled phosphatidylethanolamine within 0.5 to 2 min, (b) a loss of [3H]ethanolamine-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine from crude membranes, (c) a rapid accumulation of [3H]phosphoethanolamine and [3H]ethanolamine, and (d) a transient increase (15 s to 2 min) in prostaglandin F2α and E2. Arachidonic acid (1–2 μg/ml) induced Nb2 cell growth but prostaglandin F2α, E2, ethanolamine, and phosphoethanolamine did not. Prostaglandin E2 inhibited while prostaglandin F2α enhanced growth in the presence of prolactin or arachidonic acid. These results suggest that stimulation of Nb2 cell growth by prolactin is linked to activation of a phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase C. Arachidonic acid and prostaglandin F2α may participate in regulating the mitogenic action of prolactin.
Intersexual dynamics mediate the expression of satellite mating tactics: unattractive males and parallel preferences

Male green treefrogs, Hyla cinerea, attract both potential mates and satellite males with their advertisement calls. Males using the satellite mating tactic position themselves silently near a calling male and attempt to intercept females attracted to the caller. Although use of conditional mating strategies may result from competition among males, few studies have considered the importance of female mate-choice preferences on the adoption and expression of alternative mate-acquisition behaviours. In this study, I tested two hypotheses. First, satellite males produce relatively unattractive advertisement signals and hence are at a competitive disadvantage when using the primary tactic. Second, satellite males associate with males producing the most attractive advertisement calls and hence increase the chance that they will intercept a female. Satellite males recorded in the field produced advertisement calls higher in frequency and shorter in duration than those produced by callers. Females consistently preferred the lower-frequency call alternative presented in two-speaker choice experiments, although they showed no preference in regard to call duration. In a second set of two-speaker choice experiments, noncalling males showed phonotactic behaviour similar to that of females, and their acoustic preferences roughly paralleled those of females. This phonotactic response may enable males producing unattractive calls to use the satellite mating tactic in a manner that maximizes potential reproductive fitness.
Diagnosing Conduct Problems of Children and Adolescents in Residential Treatment

This naturalistic study of diagnostic practice in residential treatment agencies for children investigated the use of the DSM-IVconduct disorder diagnosis and its association with residents’ externalizing behaviors. The conduct disorder (CD) diagnosis was a poor predictor of participants’ externalizing behaviors during their first few months in residence. Additionally, the assignment of the diagnosis was associated with the gender and race of study participants. Decisions of admissions personnel and practitioners in residential treatment facilities regarding their externalizing clients may not be well-served by use of DSM diagnoses. Assessments of caregivers may prove a useful adjunct to DSM diagnoses.
On the n—nilpotency

In this paper we prove that, for every integer n ≥ 1, d ≥ m ≥ 2, the sum of m n- nilpotent ideals of an algebra may not be d- nilpotent. This leads to a similar result in group theory; the product of m n- nilpotent normal subgroups may not be d- nilpotent. We apply these results to solve Rozhkov’s question by constructing some n- finite, infinite p- groups generated by n + 1 conjugates.
Tumor evasion of the immune system: Inhibiting p38 MAPK signaling restores the function of dendritic cells in multiple myeloma

Dendritic cells (DCs) from patients with cancer are functionally defective, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these defects are poorly understood. In this study, we used the murine 5TGM1 myeloma model to examine the effects and mechanisms of tumor-derived factors on the differentiation and function of DCs. Myeloma cells or tumor culture conditioning medium (TCCM) were shown to inhibit the differentiation and function of BM-derived DCs (BMDCs), as evidenced by the down-regulated expression of DC-related surface molecules, decreased IL-12, and compromised capacity of the cells to activate allospecific T cells. Moreover, TCCM-treated BMDCs were inferior to normal BMDCs at priming tumor-specific immune responses in vivo. Neutralizing antibodies against IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β partially abrogated the effects. TCCM treatment activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Janus kinase (JNK) but inhibited extracellular regulated kinase (ERK). Inhibiting p38 MAPK restored the phenotype, cytokine secretion, and function of TCCM-treated BMDCs. BMDCs from cultures with TCCM and p38 inhibitor was as efficacious as normal BMDCs at inducing tumor-specific antibody, type 1 T cell, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses and at prolonging mouse survival. Thus, our results suggested that tumor-induced p38 MAPK activation and ERK inhibition in DCs may be a new mechanism for tumor evasion and that regulating these pathways during DC differentiation provides new strategies for generating potent DC vaccines for immunotherapy in patients with cancer. (Blood. 2006;107:2432-2439)
Contributions of CCLM to advances in quality control.

Abstract Abstract The discipline of laboratory medicine is relatively young when considered in the context of the history of medicine itself. The history of quality control, within the context of laboratory medicine, also enjoys a relatively brief, but rich history. Laboratory quality control continues to evolve along with advances in automation, measurement techniques and information technology. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) has played a key role in helping disseminate information about the proper use and utility of quality control. Publication of important advances in quality control techniques and dissemination of guidelines concerned with laboratory quality control has undoubtedly helped readers of this journal keep up to date on the most recent developments in this field.
Viscoelastic properties of a gum vulcanizate at large static deformations

The loss tangent corresponding to small sinusoidal oscillations superposed on a large static deformation is found to decrease with increasing static deformation ratio for a natural rubber gum vulcanizate. Further, the response functions of the stress–relaxation and the incremental stress–relaxation vs. time and the storage modulus vs. frequency are found not to be separable functions of time and strain effects. These findings are shown to indicate that the elastic contribution to the viscoelastic response of this elastomer increases more rapidly with the static deformation than does the relaxation contribution. The loss modulus, however, is found to be a separable function of time and strain effects. Hence, only one relaxation function is needed in the viscoelastic constitutive theory applied to this elastomer. The finite linear viscoelasticity theory as modified by Morman has a form which can account for these results. Predictions of the incremental stress–relaxation function from dynamic data are within 1% of experimental values.
Energy efficient designs with wide dynamic range

We must span a wide range of power/performance across diverse computing engines and workloads with the fewest distinct designs while providing maximum energy efficiency through aggressive voltage scalability. The designs must achieve near-threshold-voltage (NTV) operation while supporting a wide voltage-frequency operating range with minimal die area impact, while overcoming challenges posed by process scaling. The talk will present some solutions and research results from proof of concept prototypes
Global optimization: a naive approach

A unified approach is proposed for finding the global optimum of a continuously differentiable function phi :R/sup n/ to R of n real variables x=(x/sub 1/, x/sub 2/, . . ., x/sub n/) in R/sup n/, for both constrained and unconstrained problems. This approach can be implemented either numerically or in real time via an associated nonlinear programming circuit which is described. >
Prediction of11B Quadrupole Coupling Constants in Molecules

Abstract The B3LYP/6-31G(df,p) model is shown to be a viable alternative to the computationally demanding MP2/6-311G(3df, 3pd) model for the prediction of11B nuclear quadrupole coupling constants in molecules. UsingeQ/has a best fit parameter, coupling constants calculated with the B3LYP model show a root mean square (rms) deviation of 0.059 MHz from the experimental values for 11 molecules; those calculated with the MP2 model, 0.049 MHz. Comparison of coupling constants predicted by the two models for a sample size increased to 25 molecules yields a rms difference between models of 0.036 MHz.
Compartmentalization of cyclic nucleotide signaling: A question of when, where, and why?

Preciseness of cellular behavior depends upon how an extracellular cue mobilizes a correct orchestra of cellular messengers and effector proteins spatially and temporally. This concept, termed compartmentalization of cellular signaling, is now known to form the molecular basis of many aspects of cellular behavior in health and disease. The cyclic nucleotides cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate are ubiquitous cellular messengers that can be compartmentalized in three ways: first, by their physical containment; second, by formation of multiple protein signaling complexes; and third, by their selective depletion. Compartmentalized cyclic nucleotide signaling is a very prevalent response among all cell types. In order to understand how it becomes relevant to cellular behavior, it is important to know how it is executed in cells to regulate physiological responses and, also, how its execution or dysregulation can lead to a pathophysiological condition, which forms the scope of the presented review.
Survey and analysis of roentgen exposure of dentists: preliminary report

A survey was made of the radiation received by dentists in 113 Chicago dental offices with 122 x-ray machines. Although the average dentist surveyed is operating his x-ray equipment under safe conditions, individual dentists can establish a more acceptable level of personal safety by: (1) establishment of correct collimation and filtration in each x-ray machine, (2) utilization of high-speed film to reduce exposure, and (3) use of a timer cord with a minimum length of eight feet. The use of filtration reduced the machine’s roentgen output by 18 per cent, and reduced the dosage to the operator by 43.4 per cent.
High temperature metal matrix composites for future aerospace systems

Research was conducted on metal matrix composites and intermetallic matrix composites to understand their behavior under anticipated future operating conditions envisioned for aerospace power and propulsion systems of the 21st century. Extremes in environmental conditions, high temperature, long operating lives, and cyclic conditions dictate that the test evaluations not only include laboratory testing, but simulated flight conditions. The various processing techniques employed to fabricate composites are discussed along with the basic research underway to understand the behavior of high temperature composites, and the relationship of this research to future aerospace systems.
Matrix and Interface Stresses in a Discontinuous Fiber Composite Model

The method of finite element analysis is applied to an axially symmetrical model of a single filament glass-resin composite under tension. Fiber end geometries are varied by considering ellipsoids ...
On the design of pipe-bends☆

Abstract A comprehensive review of literature on mitred pipe-bends is presented with the object of giving to industrial design engineers a synthesised picture of the current information available on the behaviour of mitred pipe-bends when subjected to various loadings. Areas in which more research effort is required are pointed out.
Nerve growth factor influences sodium ion extrusion from chick embryonic dorsal root ganglionic neurons.

Abstract Cell dissociates from embryonic chick spinal ganglia, incubated for several hours with sodium-22, accumulated six times more radioactivity in the absence than in the presence of nerve growth factor. Cells incubated without nerve growth factor and sodium-22 for six hours, and then presented with sodium-22 also accumulated radioactivity more readily. Delayed presentation of nerve growth factor to sodium-22 preloaded cells caused a rapid extrusion of radioactivity. Intact spinal and sympathetic ganglia from chick embryo showed similar qualitative behaviors. Thus, a critical action of nerve growth factor may be to enhance a sodium-extrusion mechanism in its target neurons.
LOCALIZATION OF HEAVY PARTICLES IN METALS : REEXAMINED

It has been conjectured [F. Sols and F. Guinea, Phys. Rev. B 36, 7775 (1987); K. Yamada, A. Sakurai, and M. Takeshiga, Prog. Theor. Phys. 70, 73 (1983)] that an impurity with charge Z\ensuremath{\ge}2 can be localized due to its interaction with electrons in a metal. The simplest case is an impurity free to move between only two sites, which interacts locally with s-wave electrons. For Z\ensuremath{\ge}2 the hopping of the impurity is formally irrelevant and this has been argued to lead to localization. In this paper it is shown that other processes, in particular, joint hopping of the impurity and one or more electrons between the sites, play an important role and have not been treated properly in the literature. Being relevant in a renormalization group sense, even when Z\ensuremath{\ge}2, these terms lead to delocalization of the impurity. Using bosonization, it is shown how these processes are generated from marginal operators that are usually neglected and the dangers of ignoring marginal or irrelevant operators are discussed in detail. Questions about implications for the more general situation of many sites to which the impurity can hop, are also considered.
An equilibrium model of advertising and natural vacancies in a spatially differentiated housing market

We examine the optimal advertising strategy of landlords and the optimal search strategy of tenants in a spatially differentiated rental housing market. We find that landlords choose a level of advertising that does not minimize market vacancy costs. Locational preferences further “thin” the rental market and induce additional matching delays that translate into a higher vacancy rate.
Personal, moral, and structural commitment to marriage: Gender and the effects of family life cycle stage

Abstract This paper is an analytic test of Johnson's commitment framework. Johnson's conceptualization of commitment is grounded in the assumption that people experience three different types of commitment (personal, moral, and structural), and that these types of commitment have different causes and consequences. Using data from a 1980 national random sample of married respondents, we find that personal, moral, and structural commitments are related to the presence and ages of children in the family and that these relationships differ for men and women.
Constraining the QCD Coupling from the Superstring Hidden Sector

Superstrings are presently the main (only) hope of a mathematical underpinning for both quantum gravity and its unification with particle theory.
Education and Health Care in Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is one of the richest and smallest countries in Africa, but little information is available regarding the country’s education and health care systems. It is therefore difficult to target development projects or measure the success of interventions being administered in Equatoguinean communities. The objective of this study was to summarize known information regarding education and health care systems in Equatorial Guinea, using a systematic review procedure. Of the 190 articles surveyed, 33.6% focused on health, 19.4% focused on general development issues, 19.4% focused on education, and 12.6% focused on the oil industry. The literature search revealed a general paucity of health care and education data, and most available data focused on Bioko Island. Health care projects tended to focus on urban areas and incidence rates of most diseases are mostly unknown or outdated. More data are needed to confirm community needs and it is unclear whether all groups are being given equal access to health care and education services. The results of our study show that needs assessments, and the dissemination of their results, are desperately needed in Equatoguinean communities.
Estimation of indoor infrared channel parameters using neural networks

The indoor infrared channel is modeled as a linear baseband channel. The parameters of this channel are used for the design of communication systems using infrared light as the carrier of information for indoor wireless communications. For many applications, we need to know the spatial distribution of channel parameters such as the received optical power and the delay spread. The simulation process that yields those results is a very time consuming process. We propose using the simulation software to train a neural network using a fraction of the required points and then use the neural network to generate the desired parameters. The results presented show the excellent capability of the neural networks to mimic the simulation software for the purpose of generating the desired set of parameters for an indoor infrared channel. The process is much faster than the simulation software and proper use of sampling set selection yields highly accurate results from the neural network.
Radiofrequency ablation of tumors

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of hepatic tumors is investigated. Modeling efforts show that it is possible to determine the temperature variation in the tissue depending on the level of RF energy input. Surgeons and radiologists who are performing such procedures may find it useful to view the temperature-time history of the tissue before the actual ablation process.
Assembly of Drosophila Centromeric Nucleosomes Requires CID Dimerization

Summary Centromeres are essential chromosomal regions required for kinetochore assembly and chromosome segregation. The composition and organization of centromeric nucleosomes containing the essential histone H3 variant CENP-A (CID in Drosophila ) is a fundamental, unresolved issue. Using immunoprecipitation of CID mononucleosomes and cysteine crosslinking, we demonstrate that centromeric nucleosomes contain CID dimers in vivo. Furthermore, CID dimerization and centromeric targeting require a residue implicated in formation of the four-helix bundle, which mediates intranucleosomal H3 dimerization and nucleosome integrity. Taken together, our findings suggest that CID nucleosomes are octameric in vivo and that CID dimerization is essential for correct centromere assembly.
Estimates of the resistance to chemical transport posed by the deep-sea boundary layer1,2

A strategy has been developed to permit the in situ calibration of measurements made with benthic chambers of chemical fluxes across the sediment-water interface. The resistance to chemical transport posed by the boundary layer is estimated using chemical transport techniques in benthic flux chamber mock-ups and on the sea floor. Dissolution from gypsum (alabaster) plates is measured both inside and outside the flux chambers. CaCOo dissolution and radioisotope uptake techniques are suitable for laboratory and deep-sea calibration of benthic fluxes. Broadly concordant resistance estimates have been achieved within flux chambers with these three quite different approaches. An estimate of 470 p for the equivalent stagnant boundary film thickness has been made by the alabaster method on the sea floor at MANOP site H in the eastern Pacific. The transport of Mn2’ from the bottom waters to site H nodules, if controlled by diffusion through a film of this thickness, would be sufficient to explain their growth rates.
Annual temperature and radiobrightness signatures for bare soils

The authors have developed physically based, diurnal, and annual models for freezing/thawing moist soils subject to annual insolation, radiant heating, and cooling, and sensible and latent heat exchanges with the atmosphere. Both models have the same weather forcing, numerical scheme, and soil constitutive properties. The authors find that surface temperature differences over a diurnal cycle between the annual and diurnal models are as much as -5 K in March, -7 K in June, -4 K in September, and 5 K in December for 38% (by volume fraction) moist soil. This difference occurs because the annual model includes the history of energy fluxes at the surface of the soil. The annual model is linked to microwave emission models for predictions of temporal radiobrightness signatures. The model predicts a relatively weak decrease in diurnal differences in soil temperature with increased moisture content, but a significant decrease in diurnal differences in radiobrightness. It also exhibits notable perturbations in radiobrightness when soils freeze and thaw. The moisture dependent, day-to-night radiobrightness difference is enhanced by as much as -42 K at 19.35 GHz horizontal polarization for frozen soil if daytime thawing occurs.
Evaluation of Alternative Urine Pre-Treatment Strategies

The goal of urine pre-treatment for space missions is to prevent ammonia formation, other off-gas formation, microbial growth and uric acid precipitation. Additionally, urine pre-treatment can reduce biological activity to prevent bio-fouling of systems. While current treatment methods are adequate to prevent volatilization and most scaling and growth issues, they are generally not compatible or adversely affect potential water processing applications. Significant advantages may be obtainable by developing new pre-treatment strategies designed to both stabilize urine for storage but also optimize its stabilization to promote ease of treatment in potential physio/chemical processes. The specific aim of the work was to explore alternative urine pre-treatment alternatives to oxone that may be used synergistically with proposed technologies for urine recycling while still meeting stabilization requirements. Advanced oxidation technologies, such as ozone and UV may be used to pretreat urine. Both technologies can be operated on demand and have a significant advantage over consumable technologies and they have the potential to meet the minimum requirements of urine stabilization including inactivation of urease enzyme, disinfection, and oxidation of noxious odors. The other urine pre-treatment strategy considered was struvite (MgNH4PO4 •6H2O) formation. Struvite reactions have the ability to remove ammonia which reduces the potential for ammonia off-gas formation.