cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MIMO Cellular Networks Performance Under User-Assisted Relaying

We design user-assisted relaying strategies and analyze their performance in a multiple-input-multiple-output uplink cellular network. In user-assisted relaying, the base station serves an active user equipment (UE) using a transmission scheme adaptive between direct transmission and relaying via another UE according to a cooperation strategy. Modeling the network based on stochastic geometry and Poisson point processes, we propose a practical, geometric-based cooperation strategy determining how to select the relaying UE and when to perform relaying transmission. The proposed relaying transmission employs a simple transmit beamforming and one of two optimized receive combining schemes depending on interference awareness. The extra interference generated by relaying UEs is captured in an interference model that accounts for the adaptive transmission and random locations of these UEs. Integrating the proposed cooperation strategy, transmit and receive beamforming design, and interference model, we analyze the network outage rate performance. Provided sufficient density of potential relay UEs, results demonstrate user-assisted relaying to be most beneficial for cell edge UEs when the relaying UEs are equipped with multiple antenna elements and their signals propagate in relatively high shadowing environments.
Upper Extremity Nerve Injuries

Nerve injuries in sports are relatively uncommon and may present in a delayed fashion in young athletes. These injuries include both sudden, traumatic injuries such as burners, scapular winging, and lacerations, as well as chronic compressive conditions including cubital tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome. Young people often have difficulty describing numbness, and examining a child with a nerve injury can be difficult. Although electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS) are the gold standard for diagnosis of many neuropathies, newer modalities such as ultrasound and MRI can often evaluate these injuries in a noninvasive and less painful way. Treatment for nerve injuries ranges from rest to physical therapy to surgery. Return to play following these injuries can be lengthy, with significant rehabilitation required.
Sustainable water supply systems for the islands: The integration with the energy problem

Abstract Water resources availability, in terms of both quality and quantity, is a very crucial issue in many areas of the world, with small islands being amongst those facing the greatest challenges. In parallel, energy is also a focal point for water supply, since, in many places, it is amongst the main limiting factors for adopting alternative water supply methods. As an example, mature desalination methods with competitive water production costs are not yet widely introduced to Greek islands. This is due to certain characteristics of local electricity grids, such as the very small power reserve margins or the large production cost variation of the available thermal engines, which require additional expenditures for upgrading the energy infrastructure. In this context, it has become obvious that water supply chain problems are inherently linked to the energy quality and availability of an area, leading to the so-called water-energy nexus (WEN) considerations. In that respect, the integrated approach for the solution of water and energy problems has become a topic of increasing attention for the scientific community and for practitioners in the field. With special emphasis on Aegean Sea Islands, i.e. an island region with significant water and energy shortages that jeopardize the local economy development, the present work introduces a framework for applying efficient solutions that integrate water supply with clean energy supply. To that end, the desired island characteristics and critical factors necessary for the successful implementation of the suggested solutions are identified and discussed, while the proposed framework is demonstrated using as case study the small island of Anafi. In more detail, a Linear Programming (LP) model is developed and applied in Anafi island, with results obtained showing that reliable and renewable-based energy and water supply are achievable at feasible cost, contributing at the same time to the considerable reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). Τhe theoretical modeling framework introduced aims at explaining the path of the research of the integrated water and energy supply for islands from a high-level decision-making perspective; thus not qualifying solutions into the detailed level of implementation (i.e. siting issues and local infrastructure characteristics are not taken into account).
So many roads traveled: A career in science and administration

I have traveled many roads during my career. After spending my first 19 years in Los Angeles, I became somewhat of an academic nomad, studying and/or working in six universities in the United States and three in Sweden. In chronological order, I have a B.A. in Scandinavian languages and literature from UCLA, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Uppsala University, and an M.S. in toxicology from the Karolinska Institute. I have been in schools of natural science, pharmacy, and medicine and have worked in multiple basic science departments and one clinical department. I have served as a research-track and tenured faculty member, department chair, associate dean, and dean. My research has spanned toxinology, biochemistry, toxicology, and pharmacology. Through all the moves, I have gained much and lost some. For the past 40 years, my interest has been cytochrome P450 structure-function and structure-activity relationships. My lab has focused on CYP2B enzymes using X-ray crystallography, site-directed mutagenesis, deuterium-exchange MS, isothermal titration calorimetry, and computational methods in conjunction with a variety of functional assays. This comprehensive approach has enabled detailed understanding of the structural basis of the remarkable substrate promiscuity of CYP2B enzymes. We also have investigated the mechanisms of CYP3A4 allostery using biophysical and advanced spectroscopic techniques, and discovered a pivotal role of P450-P450 interactions and of multiple-ligand binding. A major goal of this article is to provide lessons that may be useful to scientists in the early and middle stages of their careers and those more senior scientists contemplating an administrative move.
DOES HEMODIALYSIS IMPACT ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME MANAGEMENT IN END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS: A 5 YEAR NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality among patients with non-dialytic end stage renal disease, also known as CKD Stage V (CKD V), and end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis (ESRD) and should be managed aggressively. Prior studies highlighted treatment disparities for
Inflammatory cytokines in horses with cervical articular process joint osteoarthritis on standing cone beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND Standing cone beam computed tomography (CT) provides cross-sectional imaging of the caudal cervical articular process joints (CAPJs) in the sedated horse, though the clinical implications of osteoarthritis (OA) identified on CT in this location are unknown. Increases in concentrations of intra-synovial cytokines could lend support to the clinical significance of CAPJ OA identified on this imaging modality. OBJECTIVES Investigate the presence and concentration of intra-synovial inflammatory cytokines in CAPJs with and without standing cone beam CT evidence of OA using an equine specific multiplex assay. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical study. METHODS Standing cone beam CT of C5-6 and C6-7 was performed on horses with CAPJ OA and control horses. Synovial fluid samples of the CAPJs of C5-6 and C6-7 were obtained bilaterally using ultrasound guidance and analysed for concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and TNFα with the Milliplex® multi-analyte profiling kit. CT Images were retrospectively graded using a novel grading scheme. Significant differences between concentrations of inflammatory cytokines between joints with different categories of osteoarthritis severity were explored using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test or Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS Concentrations of intra-synovial cytokines were higher in joints with moderate to severe OA when compared to joints with no or mild OA, with differences in concentrations of IL-17 reaching statistical significance (P = .007). MAIN LIMITATIONS Limitations include discrepancy in number, age, and breed between control and OA populations, use of a novel grading scheme, and lack of a histologic gold-standard to confirm the presence and severity of CAPJ OA. CONCLUSIONS Differences in inflammatory cytokines between caudal CAPJs with and without evidence of moderate to severe osteoarthritis on standing cone beam CT exist. This finding lends support to the clinical relevance of a diagnosis of moderate to severe CAPJ OA in the caudal cervical vertebral column as identified with this imaging modality.
The National Ecological Observatory Network’s soil metagenomes: assembly and basic analysis

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) annually performs shotgun metagenomic sequencing to sample genes within soils at 47 sites across the United States. NEON serves as a valuable educational resource, thanks to its open data policies and programming tutorials, but there is currently no introductory tutorial for performing analyses with the soil shotgun metagenomic dataset. Here, we describe a workflow for processing raw soil metagenome sequencing reads using the Sunbeam bioinformatics pipeline. The workflow includes cleaning and processing raw reads, taxonomic classification, assembly into contigs, annotation of predicted genes using custom protein databases, and exporting assemblies to the KBase platform for downstream analysis. This workflow is designed to be robust to annual data releases from NEON, and the underlying Snakemake framework can manage complex software dependencies. The workflow presented here aims to increase the accessibility of NEON’s shotgun metagenome data, which can provide important clues about soil microbial communities and their ecological roles.
Templated α-Synuclein Inclusion Formation Is Independent of Endogenous Tau.

Synucleinopathies including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are characterized by neuronal intracellular inclusions of α-synuclein (α-synuclein). Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) and DLB are collectively the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia. In addition to associated inclusions, Lewy body diseases have dopaminergic neurodegeneration, motor defects and cognitive changes. The microtubule-associated protein tau has been implicated in LBDs, but the exact role of the protein and how it influences formation of α-synuclein inclusions is unknown. Reducing endogenous tau levels is protective in multiple models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), tauopathies, and in some transgenic synucleinopathy mouse models. Recombinant α-synuclein and tau proteins interact in vitro. Here, we show tau and α-synuclein colocalize at excitatory presynaptic terminals. However, tau heterozygous and tau knockout mice do not show a reduction in fibril-induced α-synuclein inclusions formation in primary cortical neurons, or after intrastriatal injections of fibrils at 1.5 month or 6 months later. At 6 months following intrastriatal injections, wild type, tau heterozygous and tau knockout mice showed a 50% reduction in dopamine neurons in the SNc compared to mice injected with α-synuclein monomer, but there were no statistically significant differences across genotypes. These data suggest the role of tau in the pathogenesis of LBDs is distinct from AD, and Lewy pathology formation may be independent of endogenous tau. Significance Statement Variations in the MAPT H1 haplotype are associated with PD, but it is possible that other genes within the H1 haplotype play a role in PD etiology. In vitro studies show α-synuclein and tau interact, leading to synergistic fibrillization. α-Synuclein and tau can co-exist in Lewy bodies. Tau reduction is protective in models of AD and tauopathies and has been suggested as a therapeutic strategy for PD. Here, we show reduction of endogenous tau does not influence formation of templated α-synuclein inclusion formation or loss of dopamine neurons, suggesting that therapeutics directed to tau for PD may be more complicated than tau reduction.
Tangled up in blue (with apologies to Bob Dylan).

To the Editor We read with interest the study of Maikong et al .[1][1] They injected 0.1% methylene blue to obtain the maximum effective volume in 90% of cases required to stain the suprascapular nerve while sparing the phrenic nerve during an anterior subomohyoid suprascapular nerve block. However
Translational physiology: from molecules to public health.

The term ‘translational research’ was coined 20 years ago and has become a guiding influence in biomedical research. It refers to a process by which the findings of basic research are extended to the clinical research setting (bench to bedside) and then to clinical practice and eventually health policy (bedside to community). It is a dynamic, multidisciplinary research approach. The concept of translational physiology applies the translational research model to the physiological sciences. It differs from the traditional areas of integrative and clinical physiology by its broad investigative scope of basic research to community health. Translational physiology offers exciting opportunities, but presently is under-developed and -utilized. A key challenge will be to expand physiological research by extending investigations to communities of patients and healthy (or at risk) individuals. This will allow bidirectional physiological investigation throughout the translational continuum: basic research observations can be studied up to the population level, and mechanisms can be assessed by ‘reverse translation’ in clinical research settings and preclinical models based on initial observations made in populations. Examples of translational physiology questions, experimental approaches, roadblocks and strategies for promotion are discussed. Translational physiology provides a novel framework for physiology programs and an investigational platform for physiologists to study function from molecular events to public health. It holds promise for enhancing the completeness and societal impact of our work, while further solidifying the critical role of physiology in the biomedical research enterprise.
Price Dispersion and Price Discrimination: Empirical Evidence from a Spot Market for Water

This note shows the existence of price dispersion and pricediscrimination in a spot market for water.Several behaviors contributing to this dispersion/discrimination arefound for both the seller and buyer in this relatively competitive market,and examples are given of each. Using some previous theoretical work,the common thread linking the differing behaviors is shown to bediffering levels of information and search costs.
Evaluating a Simulated Student Using Real Students Data for Training and Testing

SimStudent is a machine-learning agent that learns cognitive skills by demonstration. It was originally developed as a building block of the Cognitive Tutor Authoring Tools (CTAT), so that the authors do not have to build a cognitive model by hand, but instead simply demonstrate solutions for SimStudent to automatically generate a cognitive model. The SimStudent technology could then be used to model human students' performance as well. To evaluate the applicability of SimStudent as a tool for modeling real students, we applied SimStudent to a genuine learning log gathered from classroom experiments with the Algebra I Cognitive Tutor. Such data can be seen as the human students' "demonstrations" of how to solve problems. The results from an empirical study show that SimStudent can indeed model human students' performance. After training on 20 problems solved by a group of human students, a cognitive model generated by SimStudent explained 82% of the problem-solving steps performed correctly by another group of human students.
The Design of Spherical 4R Linkages for Four Specified Orientations

This chapter describes a computer-aided design software system for spherical four-bar linkages that is based on Burmester’s planar theory. The designer identifies a task in the form of four goal orientations for the floating link and the software generates an array of available linkages known as the Type Map. The equation of a spherical triangle provides a direct connection to the graphical techniques of Burmester. This paper further develops the linkage type characterization required for an assessment of the resulting designs.
Immunoprint analysis of Calvatia cyathiformis allergens: I. Reactivity with individual sera

Basidiomycete allergens have received scant attention to date, compared to allergens from deuteromycetes. This is true even though in previous studies, 32% of atopic patients with respiratory allergies were skin test reactive to basidiospore extracts. Since sufficient quantities of Calvatia cyathiformis spores were available, their allergens were sequentially fractionated by gel filtration (GF) and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). Unfractionated extract (crude), GF, and HIC fractions were electrofocused in polyacrylamide gel (pH 3.5 to 9.5) and immunoprinted onto CNBr-activated nitrocellulose (0.2 microns) filters. Sera from 19 skin prick test positive and 10 negative subjects, with comparable total IgE levels, were used to screen individual strips of each blot. Blots were reacted with 125I-labeled anti-IgE and analyzed by autoradiography. IgE from 79%, 89%, and 89% of the positive sera bound to crude extract, GF, and HIC, respectively; IgE from none of the negative sera bound to crude extract. A series of bands (pH 3.6 to 4.6) reacted with 63%, one band (pH 6.6) reacted with 68%, and one band (pH 9.3) reacted with 63% of the sera tested. These studies demonstrate at least three important groups of allergens in C. cyathiformis spores. This characterization allows assignment of initial C. cyathiformis allergen designations and development of a purification protocol.
The emergence of workstation clusters: Should we continue to build mpps? [panel session]

Summary form only given, as follows. Workstation clusters with modern interconnection technologies (such as Myrinet, Fast Ethernet, ATM, Fibre Channel) have gained popularity as a platform for cost-effective parallel processing. As this trend continues to march ahead successfully, more and more architects, system designers, and application developers are migrating towards workstation clusters. This leads to the following questions for the parallel processing community. Will the demand for MPP systems continue to decline? Are there special classes of applications which will need MPP systems in spite of the availability of high-performance workstation clusters? Are there special QoS issues which will continue to keep the market alive for MPPs? Will the MPP systems become obsolete soon? Should we target our future research towards MPPs, Workstation Clusters, or both? At the conference the panelists provided their view points and debate on the above questions.
Emerging Roles for RIPK1 and RIPK3 in Pathogen-Induced Cell Death and Host Immunity

Receptor-interacting protein kinases 1 and 3 (RIPK1 and RIPK3 ) are homologous serine-threonine kinases that were recognized for their roles in directing programmed necrotic cell death or necroptosis under a broad range of pathologic settings. Emerging evidence suggests new physiologic roles for RIPK1 and RIPK3 in mediating cell death of innate immune responses. Our review discusses current evidence on the mechanisms and the impact of RIPK1- and/or RIPK3-dependent cell death in responses to a variety of viral and bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, the discussion also summarizes emerging roles for RIPK1 and RIPK3 in other facets of host immunity, including the maintenance of epithelial barrier function and pro-inflammatory processes that may, in some cases, manifest independent of cell death. Finally, we briefly consider the therapeutic opportunities in targeting RIPK1- and RIPK3-dependent processes in infection and immunity.
A Data-Driven Evolutionary Algorithm for Mapping Multibasin Protein Energy Landscapes.

Abstract Evidence is emerging that many proteins involved in proteinopathies are dynamic molecules switching between stable and semistable structures to modulate their function. A detailed understanding of the relationship between structure and function in such molecules demands a comprehensive characterization of their conformation space. Currently, only stochastic optimization methods are capable of exploring conformation spaces to obtain sample-based representations of associated energy surfaces. These methods have to address the fundamental but challenging issue of balancing computational resources between exploration (obtaining a broad view of the space) and exploitation (going deep in the energy surface). We propose a novel algorithm that strikes an effective balance by employing concepts from evolutionary computation. The algorithm leverages deposited crystal structures of wildtype and variant sequences of a protein to define a reduced, low-dimensional search space from where to rapidly draw sample...
Different kinetics govern dopaminergic transmission in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and striatum: an in vivo voltammetric study

The regulation of extracellular dopamine (DA) concentrations was examined and compared in vivo in four projection fields of mesotelencephalic dopaminergic neurons with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes. Transient electrical stimulation of ascending DA fibers in a near physiological range of frequencies (10-20 Hz) elicited similar levels of extracellular DA in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), basal lateral amygdaloid nucleus (BAN), caudate-putamen (CP), and nucleus accumbens (NAc) despite the documented 90-fold disparity in DA tissue levels and terminal density. However, marked differences were observed in the dynamics and overall frequency dependence of the evoked synaptic overflow of DA. These differences are due to the significantly different rates of release and uptake found in each of the four regions. For example, rate constants for the release of the four regions. For example, rate constants for the release and uptake of DA were similar in the MPFC and BAN but approximately 8 and 50 times less, respectively, than that in the CP and NAc. When the parameters were normalized to endogenous DA tissue content, a unique picture emerged: compared to all other regions, relative release was 10-fold greater in the MPFC while relative uptake was at least 10 times less in the BAN. The results further differentiate the functional characteristics of mesotelencephalic dopaminergic systems and demonstrate the regiospecific nature of DA neural transmission in the brain. In addition, the regulation of extracellular DA levels in the MPFC and BAN is suitable for the "long-range" transfer of chemical information in the brain and is consistent with a hypothesis of extrasynaptic neurotransmission.
A new directionality tool for assessing microtubule pattern alterations

The cytoskeleton (microtubules, actin and intermediate filaments) has a cell type-specific spatial organization that is essential and reflects cell health. We are interested in understanding how changes in the organization of microtubules contribute to muscle diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The grid-like immunofluorescence microtubule pattern of fast-twitch muscle fibers lends itself well to visual assessment. The more complicated pattern of other fibers does not. Furthermore, visual assessment is not quantitative. Therefore we have developed a robust software program for detecting and quantitating microtubule directionality. Such a tool was necessary because existing methods focus mainly on local image features and are not well suited for microtubules. Our tool, texture detection technique (TeDT), is based on the Haralick texture method and takes into account both local and global features with more weight on the latter. The results are expressed in a graphic form responsive to subtle variations in microtubule distribution, while a numerical score allows quantitation of directionality. Furthermore, the results are not affected by imaging conditions or post-imaging procedures. TeDT successfully assesses test images and microtubules in fast-twitch fibers of wild-type and mdx mice (a model for DMD); TeDT also identifies and quantitates microtubule directionality in slow-twitch fibers, in the fibers of young animals, and in other mouse models which could not be assessed visually. TeDT might also contribute to directionality assessments of other cytoskeletal components. Published 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Asymmetric Signal Transduction through Paralogs That Comprise a Genetic Switch for Sugar Sensing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Efficient uptake of glucose is especially critical to Saccharomyces cerevisiae because its preference to ferment this carbon source demands high flux through glycolysis. Glucose induces expression of HXT genes encoding hexose transporters through a signal generated by the Snf3 and Rgt2 glucose sensors that leads to depletion of the transcriptional regulators Mth1 and Std1. These paralogous proteins bind to Rgt1 and enable it to repress expression of HXT genes. Here we show that Mth1 and Std1 can substitute for one another and provide nearly normal regulation of their targets. However, their roles in the glucose signal transduction cascade have diverged significantly. Mth1 is the prominent effector of Rgt1 function because it is the more abundant of the two paralogs under conditions in which both are active (in the absence of glucose). Moreover, the cellular level of Mth1 is quite sensitive to the amount of available glucose. The abundance of Std1 protein, on the other hand, remains essentially constant over a similar range of glucose concentrations. The signal generated by low levels of glucose is amplified by rapid depletion of Mth1; the velocity of this depletion is dependent on both its rate of degradation and swift repression of MTH1 transcription by the Snf1-Mig1 glucose repression pathway. Quantitation of the contributions of Mth1 and Std1 to regulation of HXT expression reveals the unique roles played by each paralog in integrating nutrient availability with metabolic capacity: Mth1 is the primary regulator; Std1 serves to buffer the response to glucose.
Border crossing for hospital care and its implications for the use of statewide data.

Abstract A major concern of researchers using state data sets for population-based analyses and market share studies in the health care sector is the potential bias caused by ‘border crossing’—patients receiving care out of state. By using the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) discharge abstract files for 1987 and 1988, we found that ‘border crossing’ is not a serious problem for the two large states we examined. Only 4.4% of New York patients and 2.15% of California patients received care out of state. At the county and zip code level, ‘border crossing’ is more frequent but tends to be concentrated in areas adjacent to other states. Even excluding all zips with more than 10% of patients crossing the ‘border’ results in a small loss of patients (2.2% for New York and 1.0% for California).
Dynamics of oscillating viscous droplets immersed in viscous media

Damped oscillations of a viscous droplet immersed in a viscous medium are considered in detail. The characteristic equation is solved numerically for arbitrary, finite fluid properties. The cylinder functions in the characteristic equation are solved using an accurate continued fraction algorithm, and the complex decay factor is searched using a minimization scheme. Oscillation frequency and damping rate results are presented for the fundamental mode, for various cases of practical interest (liquid-gas, and liquid-liquid systems), and the effect of the external medium properties are discussed. Results are compared to exact solutions for limiting cases, and to existing experimental data for both the fundamental and higher order modes. It is shown that the theoretical frequency prediction matches well with the experimental observation. Damping rate predictions, however, underestimate experimental observation in some cases, and this is thought to be due to surface impurities. The application of these results to the measurement of surface tension and viscosity of liquid droplets from single-droplet levitation experiments is also discussed.
Left ventricular hamartoma associated with ventricular tachycardia

Cardiac hamartomas are a rare type of benign tumor affecting the heart. We describe a 33-year-old patient who presented with a wide complex tachycardia. Diagnostic imaging revealed a mass in the patient's left ventricular wall, near the apex of the heart. The mass was surgically resected and appeared benign. Its pathology was that of a hamartoma of mature cardiac myocytes. Postoperative electrophysiology evaluation showed no inducible focus and the patient remains alive and asymptomatic after 2 years of follow-up.
Critical conductivity for semiconductor–metal alloys

Abstract Classical ionized impurity scattering is employed to calculate the conductivity at and near the critical point. The result σ(x=x c , T)=A√T is nearly universal, A is weakly dependent on the form of the density-of-states above the mobility edge, and can explain the √T term observed for amorphous semiconductor–metal alloys. The result is compared with the Altshuler–Aronov correction δ σ D =m(n)√T resulting from electron–electron interactions. σ(x>x c , T) can also explain the linear scaling behavior σ(x, T)−A√T=σ 0 (x/x c −1) .
Platelet-activating factor and prostaglandin E2 impair esophageal ACh release in experimental esophagitis.

ACh is a neurotransmitter in cat esophageal circular muscle, as atropine nearly abolishes contraction of in vitro circular muscle strips in response to electric field stimulation (EFS) (5, 12). Exp...
Microfabrication of high aspect ratio Bi–Te alloy microposts and applications in micro-sized cooling probes

High aspect ratio microposts of bismuth telluride alloy with heights of up to 500 μm and a diameter of 150 μm have been fabricated with the LIGA technique. This work is part of an on-going research effort to develop a microprobe based on the Peltier effect for highly localized temperature manipulation on the microscale. Bismuth telluride alloys were electrodeposited galvanostatically into microfeatures on a titanium substrate using an acidic solution containing Bi3+and HTeO- 2 ions in 1 mol/dm3 nitric acid (pH∼0). The Bi–Te alloy microposts were monophasic, had a polycrystalline structure, demonstrated excellent adhesion to the substrate, and good mechanical strength. The chemical composition of the microposts was dependent on the electrolyte composition of the deposition bath and the current density used in electroplating; by controlling these two factors either p- or n-type Bi–Te alloy microposts may be produced. This research demonstrates that the microfabrication of Peltier effect probes is feasible.
Efficient vibrational Raman conversion in O2 and N2 cells by use of superfluorescence seeding.

We report first-Stokes vibrational conversion efficiency of 21 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in high-pressure O2- and N2-stimulated Raman cells. Broadband superfluorescence is employed to seed these Raman cells, significantly increasing the conversion efficiences with no measured effect on the Raman spectrum. The addition of helium buffer gas reduces competition from stimulated Brillouin scattering and improves the pulse-to-pulse stability and spatial mode quality by increasing the thermal conductivity. Further improvement of the spatial mode quality is achieved by use of gentle heating on the bottom of the cell to induce convection.
Observations of Diffuse Extreme-Ultraviolet Emission with the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS)

The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS) was designed to study diffuse emission from hot gas in the local interstellar cavity in the wavelength range 90-265 A. Between launch in 2003 January and early 2004, the instrument was operated in narrow-slit mode, achieving a peak spectral resolution of about 1.4 A FWHM. Observations were carried out preferentially at high Galactic latitudes; weighted by observing time, the mean absolute value of the Galactic latitude for all narrow-slit observations combined is about 45°. The total integration time is about 13.2 Ms (74% day, 26% night). In the context of a standard collisional ionization equilibrium plasma model, the CHIPS data set tight constraints on the emission measure at temperatures between 105.55 and 106.4 K. At 106.0 K, the 95% upper limit on the emission measure is about 0.0004 cm-6 pc for solar-abundance plasma with a foreground neutral hydrogen column of 2 × 1018 cm-2. This constraint, derived primarily from limits on the extreme ultraviolet emission lines of highly ionized iron, is well below the range for the local hot bubble estimated previously from soft X-ray studies. If the pattern of elemental depletion in the hot gas follows that observed in much denser interstellar clouds, the gas-phase abundance of iron, relative to other heavy elements that contribute more to the soft X-ray emission, might be much lower than solar. However, to support the emission measures inferred previously from X-ray data would require depletions much higher than the moderate values reported previously for hot gas. Excluding the He II Lyman lines, which are known to be primarily terrestrial in origin, the brightest feature we find in the integrated spectrum is an Fe IX line at 171.1 A. The sky-averaged flux of the feature is about 6 photons cm-2 s-1 sr-1, a flux that exceeds the 1 σ shot noise significantly but is comparable to the systematic uncertainty. We find bright 171.1 A emission (flux greater than 10 photons cm-2 s-1 sr-1 and S/N >2) in about 10% of the observing time. However, these bright observations overwhelmingly select for daytime (96% of 1.3 Ms). Thus, a local rather than interstellar origin for much of the 171.1 A emission seems likely.
A general method for determining the replicative age of normal animal cell cultures

Abstract The percentage of cells capable of forming colonies of at least a given size has been found to provide a reliable estimate of the remaining doubling potential of several human diploid fibroblast cell lines and for chick embryo fibroblasts. In five independently derived cell lines of human diploid fibroblasts we have found the same linear relationship between population doublings remaining and the percentage of cells able to form colonies of at least 16 cells. For chick embryo fibroblasts there is a linear relationship between the percentage of cells forming colonies of 64 or more cells and remaining proliferative potential. When human diploid fibroblasts were grown in medium containing hydrocortisone at 5 μg/ml the increased in vitro lifespan was reflected in the colony size distribution long before the end of the in vitro lifespan.
Contributions of Materials Technology to Semiconductor Devices

Two basic disciplines underlying the design and development of solid-state electronic devices are: 1) the design and analysis of the device from the electron physics standpoint, and 2) the materials technology by which suitable structures in solids are prepared to fulfill the conditions specified in the device design. This article considers the second discipline, and reviews the basic steps of purification of materials, crystal growth, and processes such as diffusion and alloying for fabricating structures. Germanium, silicon, and compound semiconductors are discussed. An historical review is given, and directions of future developments are indicated.
Ambushing the ambush hypothesis: predicting and evaluating off-frame codon frequencies in Prokaryotic Genomes

Background In this paper, we address the evidence for the Ambush Hypothesis. Proposed by Seligmann and Pollock, this hypothesis posits that there exists a selection for off-frame stop codons (OSCs) to counteract the possible deleterious effects of translational frameshifts, including the waste of resources and potential cytotoxicity. Two main types of study have been used to support the hypothesis. Some studies analyzed codon usage and showed that codons with more potential to create OSCs seem to be favored over codons with lower potential; they used this finding to support the Ambush Hypothesis. Another study used 342 bacterial genomes to evaluate the hypothesis directly, finding significant excesses of OSCs in these genomes.
A new river sediment standard reference material

The collection, processing and certification of a new sediment Standard Reference Material (SRM), SRM 2704, is described. Collected from the bottom of the Buffalo River in New York State during the fall of 1986, SRM 2704 is certified for 25 elements with information provided on another 22 elements. Improvements in analytical methods as well as the application of well-defined quality-control procedures for collection, processing and analysis have resulted in a reference material that is more completely characterized than previous NIST sediment reference materials.
Sensor validation and fusion for gas turbine vibration monitoring

Vibration monitoring is an important practice throughout regular operation of gas turbine power systems and, even more so, during characterization tests. Vibration monitoring relies on accurate and reliable sensor readings. To obtain accurate readings, sensors are placed such that the signal is maximized. In the case of characterization tests, strain gauges are placed at the location of vibration modes on blades inside the gas turbine. Due to the prevailing harsh environment, these sensors have a limited life and decaying accuracy, both of which impair vibration assessment. At the same time bandwidth limitations may restrict data transmission, which in turn limits the number of sensors that can be used for assessment. Knowing the sensor status (normal or faulty), and more importantly, knowing the true vibration level of the system all the time is essential for successful gas turbine vibration monitoring. This paper investigates a dynamic sensor validation and system health reasoning scheme that addresses the issues outlined above by considering only the information required to reliably assess system health status. In particular, if abnormal system health is suspected or if the primary sensor is determined to be faulted, information from available "sibling" sensors is dynamically integrated. A confidence expresses the complex interactions of sensor health and system health, their reliabilities, conflicting information, and what the health assessment is. Effectiveness of the scheme in achieving accurate and reliable vibration evaluation is then demonstrated using a combination of simulated data and a small sample of a real-world application data where the vibration of compressor blades during a real time characterization test of a new gas turbine power system is monitored.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Conducting Polymetallorotaxanes: Metal Ion Mediated Enhancements in Conductivity and Charge Localization

In this paper we describe polymers of two metallorotaxane systems, Rot(1,M) and Rot(2,M) (M = Zn2+ or Cu1+), which are formed by complexing a macrocyclic phenanthroline, a 5,5‘-bis([2,2‘-bithiophen]-5-yl)-2,2‘-bipyridine (ligand 1) or 5,5‘-bis(3,4:3‘,4‘-bis(ethylenedioxy)[2,2‘-bithiophen]-5-yl)-2,2‘-bipyridine (ligand 2), and Zn2+ or Cu1+ ions. The corresponding polymetallorotaxanes, PolyRot(1,M) and PolyRot(2,M), are produced by oxidative polymerization of Rot(1,M) and Rot(2,M). The investigations of the electrochemical, conducting, and optical properties of the metallorotaxanes and polymetallorotaxanes as well as related nonrotaxane polymers Poly(1) and Poly(2) are reported. The combined electrochemical and conductivity studies of PolyRot(1,M) and PolyRot(2,M) indicated that the polymetallorotaxane's redox and conducting properties were dramatically affected by the Lewis acidic and redox properties of the coordinated metal ions. The Lewis acidity produces charge localization and a redox conduction proce...
Cellular localization and characterization of cytosolic binding partners for Gla domain-containing proteins PRRG4 and PRRG2.

The genes encoding a family of proteins termed proline-rich γ-carboxyglutamic acid (PRRG) proteins were identified and characterized more than a decade ago, but their functions remain unknown. These novel membrane proteins have an extracellular γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) protein domain and cytosolic WW binding motifs. We screened WW domain arrays for cytosolic binding partners for PRRG4 and identified novel protein-protein interactions for the protein. We also uncovered a new WW binding motif in PRRG4 that is essential for these newly found protein-protein interactions. Several of the PRRG-interacting proteins we identified are essential for a variety of physiologic processes. Our findings indicate possible novel and previously unidentified functions for PRRG proteins. Background: PRRG proteins were cloned more than a decade ago, but their function is still not known. Results: Several novel protein-protein interactions for PRRG are identified by array screening and pulldown analysis. Conclusion: PRRG-initiated signaling events most likely depend on proteins with WW domains. Significance: The protein-protein interactions identified here may help to elucidate the roles of PRRG proteins in different physiological settings.
The effect of humor in advertising: An individual‐difference perspective

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of individual differences in need for cognition on humor's influence on persuasion in advertising. Results indicate that the effect of humor in advertising is moderated by levels of audience members' need for cognition. Advertising humor is more effective in influencing audience members' responses to an advertisement when audience members' need for cognition is low rather than high. Results also suggest that the effect of humor on attitude toward the brand can be mediated by attitude toward the ad. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Atmospheric pollutants and pathogenesis of viral respiratory infection. I. Evaluation of murine influenza as an infectious disease model.

Aerosol-induced murine influenza was evaluated as a model through which effects of environmental stresses on the pathogenesis of viral respiratory infection can be studied. Infection rate and amount of pneumonia produced in mice in response to small-particle aerosol exposure to either A2/J305/57 or A/PR8/34 influenza virus are quantitative phenomena closely related to vital exposure dose. Mice are highly susceptible to aerosol-induced influenza infection, ie, one mouse infectious dose (MID50) was equivalent to approximately two to three egg infectious doses. The amount of pneumonia which developed in response to infection and its timecourse was also related to viral exposure dose. Between the dose range of 1 to 100 MID50 the amount of lung consolidation ranged between 25% to 60% The results from exposure to the A2 and PR8 influenza viral subtypes were similar.
Status report on 126° isotope separator construction

Abstract Two new isotope separators are being constructed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Isotope and Nuclear Chemistry Divsion. The system design was a joint effort between Laboratoire Rene Bernas and LANL. Design goals included constant dispersion capability with M/M + 1 separation of 18 mm at M = 250 amu. The separator magnets have the following parameters: ρ = 1460 mm, φ = 126°, 0.42 ⩽ n ⩽ 0.585, gap = 137 mm.
The effect of temperature control on biological wastewater treatment processes

Abstract A model has been developed to simulate the effect of temperature control on the performance of a completely mixed activated sludge wastewater treatment system. From calculations based on the model it is demonstrated that effluent quality is significantly improved for any increase in temperature from 10° to 30°C, irrespective of solids retention time (SRT) and sludge settling characteristics. A trade-off exists concerning the effects of temperature on the sludge disposal and oxygen requirements of the system. Although any increase in temperature above 20°C will significantly reduce the sludge production rate, it will also contribute to increased air flow power requirements. The results suggest that a suitable compromise may be reached with a temperature between 23 and 27°C and an SRT between 8 and 14 days.
If the Good were God: Platonic Meditations on Theism

The usual way to relate to Platonism to theism is to contrast an impersonal conception of the Good with a God of absolutely benevolent will. I call into the question the usefulness of that contrast and argue for a reading of Plato that takes centrally into account Socratic service to the god. My overall aim is to suggest that a genuinely philosophical faith tends to defy the distinction between an ethics of will and an ethics of vision.
Management of neurogenic bladder in infancy and childhood

Sixty-two patients, age twelve years and under, were treated for incontinence due to neurogenic bladder secondary to spina bifida (58) or trauma (4) with a follow-up period of three to thirty-two months (mean, ten months). In early life, patients were managed with the Crede maneuver (18 patients). Older children were managed with intermittent clean catheterization (44 patients) with or without pharmacologic agents. Continence was achieved with intermittent clean catheterization in 77 per cent, thus enabling these children to be more acceptable to their peers and in many cases attend schools from which they had previously been excluded because of urinary incontinence. With the Crede maneuver, renal deterioration was noted in 11 per cent on follow-up IVP, and in 2 per cent of the patients on intermittent clean catheterization. Recurrent asymptomatic bacteriuria occurred in 33 per cent of those with the Crede maneuver and in 55 per cent of the patients using intermittent clean catheterization. The use of antibiotic bladder irrigations reduced this incidence to 5 per cent. All patients with renal deterioration except one responded to intermittent clean catheterization; this patient was treated with cutaneous vesicostomy. Urodynamic assessment was performed in 15 patients, and this diagnostic tool assisted in the therapeutic management of these children.
Optimal sizes of ion channel clusters

Voltage-dependent conductance of ion channels is key for the generation of action potentials. Ion channels are opening and closing stochastically due to thermal noise and introduce internal noise into the membrane potential of the cell. The noise power depends on the size of the ion channel cluster that generates the action potential (the hillock). We show that the encoding of small sinusoidal signals in terms of spikes can be enhanced by channel noise if the cluster size is in a certain range.
Hepatitis C: Progress and challenges

Abstract Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality both in the United States and abroad. Current drug treatment is expensive, takes more than 6 months to complete, has only a ∼50% success rate, and induces severe side effects, which many patients cannot tolerate. Patients who do not respond or cannot endure drug treatment are likely to suffer from cirrhosis and may enter liver failure or develop primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Traditional liver transplant can extend lives in some cases, but does not cure the infection. This grim picture is in the process of being improved by antiviral drug research, new liver transplant techniques, and the first steps toward an HCV vaccine. While the new drugs and vaccines are still in the early trial stages, considerable resources are being devoted to their development.