cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deep vs. shallow learning-based filters of MS/MS spectra in support of protein search engines

Despite the linear relation between the number of observed spectra and the searching time, the current protein search engines, even the parallel versions, could take several hours to search a large amount of MS/MS spectra, which can be generated in a short time. After a laborious searching process, some (and at times, majority) of the observed spectra are labeled as non-identifiable. We evaluate the role of machine learning in building an efficient MS/MS filter to remove non-identifiable spectra. We compare and evaluate the deep learning algorithm using 9 shallow learning algorithms with different configurations. Using 10 different datasets generated from two different search engines, different instruments, different sizes and from different species, we experimentally show that deep learning models are powerful in filtering MS/MS spectra. We also show that our simple feature list is significant where other shallow learning algorithms showed encouraging results in filtering the MS/MS spectra. Our deep learning model can exclude around 50% of the non-identifiable spectra while losing, on average, only 9% of the identifiable ones. As for shallow learning, algorithms of: Random Forest, Support Vector Machine and Neural Networks showed encouraging results, eliminating, on average, 70% of the non-identifiable spectra while losing around 25% of the identifiable ones. The deep learning algorithm may be especially more useful in instances where the protein(s) of interest are in lower cellular or tissue concentration, while the other algorithms may be more useful for concentrated or more highly expressed proteins.
Mangiferin Accelerates Glycolysis and Enhances Mitochondrial Bioenergetics

One of the main causes of hyperglycemia is inefficient or impaired glucose utilization by skeletal muscle, which can be exacerbated by chronic high caloric intake. Previously, we identified a natural compound, mangiferin (MGF) that improved glucose utilization in high fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistant mice. To further identify the molecular mechanisms of MGF action on glucose metabolism, we conducted targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics studies of glycolyic and mitochondrial bioenergetics pathways in skeletal muscle. These data revealed that MGF increased glycolytic metabolites that were further augmented as glycolysis proceeded from the early to the late steps. Consistent with an MGF-stimulation of glycolytic flux there was a concomitant increase in the expression of enzymes catalyzing glycolysis. MGF also increased important metabolites in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, such as α-ketoglutarate and fumarate. Interestingly however, there was a reduction in succinate, a metabolite that also feeds into the electron transport chain to produce energy. MGF increased succinate clearance by enhancing the expression and activity of succinate dehydrogenase, leading to increased ATP production. At the transcriptional level, MGF induced mRNAs of mitochondrial genes and their transcriptional factors. Together, these data suggest that MGF upregulates mitochondrial oxidative capacity that likely drives the acceleration of glycolysis flux.
Cost projections and benefits for transistor-level 3-D integration with stacked nanowires

To continue scaling beyond 2-D CMOS with 3-D integration, any new 3-D IC technology has to be comparable or better than 2-D CMOS in terms of scalability, enhanced functionality, density, power, performance, cost, and reliability. Transistor-level 3-D integration carries the most potential in this regard. Recently, we proposed a stacked horizontal nanowire based transistor-level 3-D integration approach, called SN3D [1][2][3] that solves scaling challenges and achieves tremendous benefits with respect to 2-D CMOS while keeping manageable thermal profile. In this paper, we present the cost analysis of SN3D and show comparison with 2-D CMOS (2D), conventional TSV based 3-D (T3D) and Monolithic 3-D integrations (M3D). In our cost model, we capture the implications of manufacturing, circuit density, interconnects, bonding and heat in determining die cost, and evaluate how cost scales as transistor count increases. Since SN3D is a new 3-D IC fabric, based on our proposed manufacturing pathway[1] we assumed complexity of fabrication steps as proportionality constants in our cost estimation model. Our analysis revealed 86%, 72% and 74% reduction in area; 55%, 43% and 43% reduction in interconnects distribution and total interconnect length for SN3D, which largely contributed to 70%, 67% and 68% reduction in cost in comparison to 2D, T3D and M3D respectively.
Continuum of Type I Somatic to Type II Dendritic PRCs; Phase Response Properties of a Morphologically Reconstructed Globus Pallidus Neuron Model

A neuron’s phase response curve (PRC) describes how inputs at different times during the spike cycle affect the timing of subsequent spikes, and PRC analysis is a powerful technique for predicting and interpreting the emergence of synchronous modes in coupled networks and neuronal populations. However, neuron models whose PRCs are used to study network dynamics typically consist of a minimal set of dynamic variables and often lack a realistic dendritic structure. In this chapter I describe the phase response properties of a fully reconstructed morphological model of a globus pallidus (GP) neuron during intrinsic pacemaking and during faster spiking driven by somatic current injection. This approach allows investigation of how intrinsic conductances contribute to neuronal responses in a model that preserves the complex staptiotemporal interactions between active properties of the model. I demonstrate that a single neuron can possess both type I and type II PRCs for inputs delivered to different places within the neuronal morphology. Whereas the somatic PRC for the GP model is type I, the distal dendritic PRC is type II as a consequence of the high voltage activated calcium current (CaHVA) and the small conductance calcium-activated potassium current (SK) in distal dendritic segments. The precise shapes of these somatic and dendritic PRCs are highly sensitive to the spike frequency of the model such that during faster spiking the skewness of the primary somatic PRC is reduced, the second-order somatic PRC contains a significant negative lobe, and the negative lobe in the primary dendritic PRC is shifted to the second-order PRC. These results illustrate the complex spatiotemporal interactions of synaptic inputs with intrinsic neuronal mechanisms and highlight the need to consider network connectivity on a scale that distinguishes inputs to different regions of the neuronal morphology.
Taking aim at a challenging target in pre-clinical models of prostate cancer

Obesity has become a major health concern in the United States, leading to well-established increased risks for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Obesity also enhances the risk for several types of cancer (1). Abdominal obesity in particular has been associated with an increased risk for the development of prostate cancer (2), as well as clinically more aggressive disease (2,3). Patients that are obese at the time of diagnosis of multiple different types of cancer, including prostate cancer, demonstrate a higher incidence of chemotherapeutic resistance (1,4). While the majority of cancer therapeutics target the cancer cells, the microenvironment of the tumor has been recognized as a key contributor for cancer progression, metastasis, and development of drug resistance. As such, components of the tumor microenvironment have become an exciting area of investigation to reduce chemotherapy resistance.
Recombinant Factor C

Recombinant proteins are the fundamental product of modern biotechnology. LAL is the purified protein extracted from horseshoe crabs used to test pharmaceutical products for bacterial endotoxins; the use of LAL has ensured the safe supply of medicine for over 30 years. A synthetic recombinant protein Factor C (rFC), the first protein in the LAL cascade, has been commercially available for 15 years, however market uptake has been limited for various reasons. With respect to horseshoe crab conservation and for other species that depend on the horseshoe crab, including the threatened Red Knot shorebird, the use of rFC for the detection of bacterial endotoxins was successfully validated for use with multiple pharmaceutical products. A validation strategy is described herein and an example validation protocol is provided for the convenience of the end-user.
General Sum Markov Games for Strategic Detection of Advanced Persistent Threats Using Moving Target Defense in Cloud Networks

The processing and storage of critical data in large-scale cloud networks necessitate the need for scalable security solutions. It has been shown that deploying all possible detection measures incur a cost on performance by using up valuable computing and networking resources, thereby resulting in Service Level Agreement (SLA) violations promised to the cloud-service users. Thus, there has been a recent interest in developing Moving Target Defense (MTD) mechanisms that helps to optimize the joint objective of maximizing security while ensuring that the impact on performance is minimized. Often, these techniques model the challenge of multi-stage attacks by stealthy adversaries as a single-step attack detection game and use graph connectivity measures as a heuristic to measure performance, thereby (1) losing out on valuable information that is inherently present in multi-stage models designed for large cloud networks, and (2) come up with strategies that have asymmetric impacts on performance, thereby heavily affecting the Quality of Service (QoS) for some cloud users. In this work, we use the attack graph of a cloud network to formulate a general-sum Markov Game and use the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) to come up with meaningful utility values in each state of the game. We then show that, for the threat model in which an adversary has knowledge of a defender’s strategy, the use of Stackelberg equilibrium can provide an optimal strategy for placement of security resources. In cases where this assumption turns out to be too strong, we show that the Stackelberg equilibrium turns out to be a Nash equilibrium of the general-sum Markov Game. We compare the gains obtained using our method(s) to other baseline techniques used in cloud network security. Finally, we highlight how the method was used in a real-world small-scale cloud system.
Highly Reactive CoIII,IV2(μ-O)2 Diamond Core Complex That Cleaves C-H Bonds.

The selective activation of strong sp3 C-H bonds at mild conditions is a key step in many biological and synthetic transformations and an unsolved challenge for synthetic chemists. In nature, soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) is one representative example of nonheme dinuclear iron-dependent enzymes that activate strong sp3 C-H bonds by a high-valent diiron(IV) intermediate Q. To date, synthetic model complexes of sMMO-Q have shown limited abilities to oxidize strong C-H bonds. In this work, we generated a high-valent CoIII,IV2(μ-O)2 complex 3 supported by a tetradentate tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) ligand via one-electron oxidation of its CoIII2(μ-O)2 precursor 2. Characterization of 2 and 3 using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations showed that both species possess a diamond core structure with a short Co···Co distance of 2.78 A. Furthermore, 3 is an EPR active species showing an S = 1/2 signal with clearly observable hyperfine splittings originated from the coupling of the 59Co nuclear spin with the electronic spin. Importantly, 3 is a highly reactive oxidant for sp3 C-H bonds, and an oxygenation reagent. 3 has the highest rate constant (1.5 M-1 s-1 at -60 °C) for oxidizing 9,10-dihydroanthracene (DHA) compared to diamond core complexes of other first-row transition metals including Mn, Fe and Cu reported previously. Specifically, 3 is about 4-5 orders of magnitude more reactive than the diiron analogs FeIII,IV2(μ-O)2 and FeIV2(μ-O)2 supported by TPA and related ligands. These findings shed light on future development of more reactive approaches for C-H bond activation by bioinspired dicobalt complexes.
Rectal Bleeding in Children

This chapter deals with some basic principles of managing a GI bleed. Consideration of the anatomical site in children is vitally important, but rapid transit times in children can lead to upper GI bleeds causing rectal bleeding.
Blood Components for Pediatric Transfusions

1. Bulent Ozgonenel, MD* 2. Tammon A. Nash, MD, MS* 3. Madhvi Rajpurkar, MD* 1. *Wayne State University School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI Blood transfusion plays an important role in the treatment of sick children, just as do pharmaceutical medications, intravenous fluids, and nutritional supplements. Unlike these therapeutic tools, however, blood is not manufactured in a factory but obtained from volunteer donors. Today, donated blood is rarely transfused as whole blood, and individual components are most often transfused to address the specific needs of the recipient. Blood can be obtained first as a whole blood donation with subsequent separation into components via centrifugation, or specific blood components can be directly obtained via apheresis. Blood components undergo leukocyte depletion before storage and further processing, thus arriving at hospital blood banks already leukoreduced, obviating the need to use bedside leukocyte filters. Packed red blood cells (pRBCs), the most commonly transfused blood component, can be obtained directly via apheresis or by centrifugation of whole blood. After leukoreduction, pRBCs can be stored in citrate, phosphate, dextrose, adenine (CPDA) solution to achieve a shelf life of 35 days, or with additive solutions, such as adenine, dextrose, sorbitol, sodium chloride, and mannitol (ADSOL), to achieve a longer shelf life of 42 days. Whereas the hematocrit level of a CPDA unit is 65% to 80%, that of a unit prepared with additive solution is 55% to 65%. This difference in hematocrit value affects the volume calculations for transfusion, as shown in the Table, …
OMA1-An integral membrane protease?

Abstract OMA1 is a mitochondrial protease. Among its substrates are DELE1, a signaling peptide, which can elicit the integrated stress response, as well as the membrane-shaping dynamin-related GTPase OPA1, which can drive mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. OMA1 is dormant under physiological conditions but rapidly activated upon mitochondrial stress, such as loss of membrane potential or excessive reactive oxygen species. Accordingly, OMA1 was found to be activated in a number of disease conditions, including cancer and neurodegeneration. OMA1 has a predicted transmembrane domain and is believed to be tethered to the mitochondrial inner membrane. Yet, its structure has not been resolved and its context-dependent regulation remains obscure. Here, I review the literature with focus on OMA1's biochemistry. I provide a good homology model of OMA1's active site with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.9 A and a DALI Z-score of 19.8. And I build a case for OMA1 actually being an integral membrane protease based on OMA1's role in the generation of small signaling peptides, its functional overlap with PARL, and OMA1's homology with ZMPSTE24. The refined understanding of this important enzyme can help with the design of tool compounds and development of chemical probes in the future.
Impact of Jamming Attacks on Vehicular Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control Systems

Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) is considered as a key enabling technology to automatically regulate the inter-vehicle distances in a vehicle string, and improve the traffic throughput efficiency. In the existing CACC systems, the coupling between wireless communication uncertainty, and system states is not well modeled. In this paper, we integrate the jamming attacks, and wireless channel fading effects into the CACC state space equations such that it effectively captures the coupling impact. Then, we propose a novel time domain approach to analyze the mean string stability (MSS) of such a model. Based on the proposed model, we analyze the impact of the jammer's location on the string stability. We derive a sufficient condition for the packet successful delivery probability which indicates that the jammer has a higher probability to destabilize the string when it is closer to the first vehicle following the lead vehicle. We also propose a methodology to compute the upper, and lower bounds of the inter-vehicle distance trajectories between the lead vehicle, and its follower. Furthermore, string safety is investigated by numerically estimating the collision probability across the string. We conduct comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the stability, and safety of the string in various scenarios. We identify that string stability, and safety are highly influenced by the jamming attacks signal, and jammer's location. We show the consistency between the main results achieved by MSS analysis, and the Monte Carlo simulations.
Distribution of the Very First Population III Stars and Their Relation to Bright z~6 Quasars

We discuss the link between dark matter halos hosting the first Population III stars and the rare, massive halos that are generally considered to host bright quasars at high redshift (z ≈ 6). The main question that we intend to answer is whether the supermassive black holes powering these QSOs grew out from the seeds planted by the first intermediate-mass black holes created in the universe. This question involves a dynamical range of 1013 in mass, and we address it by combining N-body simulations of structure formation to identify the most massive halos at z ≈ 6 with a Monte Carlo method based on linear theory to obtain the location and formation times of the first-light halos within the whole simulation box. We show that the descendants of the first ≈106 M☉ virialized halos do not, on average, end in the most massive halos at z ≈ 6, but rather live in a large variety of environments. The oldest Population III progenitors of the most massive halos at z ≈ 6 form instead from density peaks that are on average 1.5 σ more common than the first Population III star formed in the volume occupied by one bright high-z QSO. The intermediate-mass black hole seeds planted by the very first Population III stars at z 40 can easily grow to masses mBH > 109.5 M☉ by z = 6 assuming Eddington accretion with radiative efficiency 0.1. Quenching of the black hole accretion is therefore crucial to avoid an overabundance of supermassive black holes at lower redshift. This can be obtained if the mass accretion is limited to a fraction η ≈ 6 × 10-3 of the total baryon mass of the halo hosting the black hole. The resulting high-end slope of the black hole mass function at z = 6 is α ≈ -3.7, a value within the 1 σ error bar for the bright-end slope of the observed quasar luminosity function at z = 6.
MARTENSITIC TRANSFORMATION INDUCED BY DEFORMATION AND WORK-HARDENING BEHAVIOR OF HIGH MANGANESE TRIP STEELS

High manganese steels containing 15%—30%(mass fractions) Mn and additions of(2%—4%)Si and(2%—4%)A1 exhibit superior ductility and extraordinary strengthening behavior during plastic deformation,due to extensive twin formation under mechanical load(the so-called TWIP effect-twinning induced plasticity effect) or thee-martensite andα'-martensite transformation(the so- called TRIP effect-transformation induced plasticity effect).In this paper,different heat treatments were carried out for high-manganese TRIP steels of Fe-15Mn-4Si-2Al and Fe-20Mn-4Si-2Al,and the uniaxial tensile tests were performed.The results show that increase of holding time at 1373 K can increase elongation and strength.Through the analysis of stress-strain curves,the relationship between mechanical properties and deformation mechanism was established.The dependence of phase compositions in high manganese TRIP steels on the heat treatment parameters has been studied by metallographic characterization and XRD pattern.The transformation routes ofγ→e→α' andγ→α' were observed by TEM,which dominates the TRIP effects.Microstructural characterization ofe-martensite andα'-martensite indicated thatα'-martensite held the K-S orientation relationship with austenite,and the S-N(Shoji-Nishiyama) orientation relationship was observed between austenite ande-martensite,wherease-martensite andα'-martensite held the Burgers orientation relationship. Deformation behavior of the two kinds of high Mn steels has been clarified through the relationship between work hardening rate of dσ/deand true strain based on the true stress-true stain curves.It has been found that continuous transformation from austenite ore-martensite toα'-martensite can take place during deformation,which increases the work-hardening rate to improve the TRIP effect.
Control Barrier Function Meets Interval Analysis: Safety-Critical Control with Measurement and Actuation Uncertainties.

This paper presents a framework for designing provably safe feedback controllers for sampled-data control affine systems with measurement and actuation uncertainties. Based on the interval Taylor model of nonlinear functions, a sampled-data control barrier function (CBF) condition is proposed which ensures the forward invariance of a safe set for sampled-data systems. Reachable set overapproximation and Lasserre's hierarchy of polynomial optimization are used for finding the margin term in the sampled-data CBF condition. Sufficient conditions for a safe controller in the presence of measurement and actuation uncertainties are proposed, for CBFs with relative degree 1 and higher relative degree individually. The effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by two numerical examples and an experimental example that implements the proposed controller on the Crazyflie quadcopter in real-time.
Potential for Progress in the Therapeutics of Alzheimer’s Disease; Unanswered Questions

Palpable progress has been made in recent years in the therapeutics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The approval of tacrine in a number of countries throughout the world has brought to the clinician, for the first time, a drug with some efficacy in the palliative of treatment of symptoms in AD. Although in many patients these effects are not robust, and the subgroup of responsive patients is not as large as may have been desired, benefit has been established in measures of cognition, activities of daily living, and global performance (Davis et al., 1992; Farlow et al., 1992; Knapp et al., 1994). However, perhaps the most meaningful reflection of the perceived efficacy of the treatment of the symptoms of AD with drugs that increase cholinergic activity are the large number of compounds in development that are poised to compete with tacrine.
Sintering, microstructural, radiographic, and strength characterization of a high-purity Si3N4-based composition

A commercially available high purity alpha-Si3N4 powder (UBE SN-E10) was characterized, milled with additives, and sintered in a high-pressure nitrogen atmosphere at temperatures ranging from 1750 to 2140 C. The composition selected for this study has been previously examined using a different alpha-Si3N4 powder. Densification behavior, microstructure characteristics, X-radiographic appearance, room- and high-temperatures flexural strength, and fracture-initiating flaw sites were determined. The high-temperature flexural strengths significantly exceeded those observed in the earlier studies using an identical composition (different alpha-Si3N4 powder) and similar processing techniques.
Quicksort Again Revisited

We consider the standard Quicksort algorithm that sorts n distinct keys with all possible n! orderings of keys being equally likely. Equivalently, we analyze the total path length Ln in a randomly built binary search tree. Obtaining the limiting distribution of Ln is still an outstanding open problem. In this paper, we establish an integral equation for the probability density of the number of comparisons Ln. Then, we investigate the large deviations of Ln. We shall show that the left tail of the limiting distribution is much "thinner" (i.e., double exponential) than the right tail (which is only exponential). We use formal asymptotic methods of applied mathematics such as the WKB method and matched asymptotics.
Placenta pathology evaluation: are CAP guidelines useful? A preliminary analysis

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) established a revised set of recommendations for placental evaluation in 1997. In review of the literature and anecdotally, there is discrepancy regarding placental submission to pathology. We evaluated adherence to CAP guidelines for placental pathology and clinical utility of the results.
Secondary perineorrhaphy at a subsequent delivery

Abstract In secondary perineorrhaphy performed immediately after a subsequent delivery, the obstetrician has available a procedure, which (1) is technically simple, (2) gives more generally satisfactory results than do similar operations performed some time after the last preceding pregnancy, (3) is economically advantageous for the patient because it avoids a separate hospitalization solely for the repair, and (4) usually does not complicate convalescence nor increase appreciably the duration of postpartum hospitalization. It is, therefore, recommended for consideration by those who are familiar with the surgical principles involved in the repair of perineal lacerations and relaxations.
Note on Absolute Magnitudes in the Red and Infrared of Late M-Type Dwarfs

The importance of red and infrared magnitudes for late dwarf M-type stars is stressed. The absolute magnitudes for the nearest stars with (R — I) ≥ 1.20 is re-assessed.
The Shank family of scaffold proteins

Shank proteins make up a new family of scaffold proteins recently identified through their interaction with a variety of membrane and cytoplasmic proteins. Shank polypeptides contain multiple sites for protein-protein interaction, including ankyrin repeats, an SH3 domain, a PDZ domain, a long proline-rich region, and a SAM domain. Binding partners for most of these domains have been identified: for instance, the PDZ domain of Shank proteins interacts with GKAP (a postsynaptic-density protein) as well as several G-protein-coupled receptors. The specific localization of Shank proteins at postsynaptic sites of brain excitatory synapses suggests a role for this family of proteins in the organization of cytoskeletal/ signaling complexes at specialized cell junctions.
Contributions of a Part-Task Trainer to the Learning and Relearning of a Time-Shared Flight Maneuver

A cockpit procedures trainer is a part-task simulator that has no aerodynamic simulation, and it is used to teach in-flight procedural responses without provision for practising the flight controlling responses that are often time-shared with them in the aircraft. Using a flight simulator as the research device, two experiments were performed to test the importance of time-sharing in original learning and retention. In Experiment I an experimental group originally learned procedures and flight controlling separately without an opportunity to learn their time-sharing, whereas a control group practised the integrated whole task. Experiment II sought the importance of time-sharing in retention over 10 months. An experimental group used a cockpit procedures trainer to reinstate forgotten aircraft procedures, while a control group relearned in the whole task. Both experiments confirmed the time-sharing hypothesis. The cockpit procedures trainer contributed importantly to original learning and relearning, but t...
Time dependence of iprofenin-labeling with technetium Tc 99m

The incubation time required to attain 90% labeling efficiency (90% radiochemical purity) for technetium Tc 99m labeling of iprofenin (PIPIDA, Diagnostic Isotopes, Inc.), was investigated. Thirty iprofenin vials were prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions. Aliquots were withdrawn from 12 vials at times 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after mixing. Aliquots were withdrawn from 18 vials at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 minutes. Free pertechnetate and reduced/hydrolyzed technetium were isolated from aliquots with instant thin-layer chromatography and quantified with a scintillation well counter. Based on the 30 vials, a mean (+/- S.E.M.) of 5.83 +/- 4.32 minutes was required to attain 90% labeling efficiency. Using tolerance limits calculations, the incubation time required to be assured that 95% of vials have achieved 90% labeling is 16.8 minutes. It is concluded that 99mTc iprofenin vials should be incubated 17 minutes to be assured of 90% labeling efficiency.
THE TACT RELATION: AN EXPERIMENT IN VERBAL BEHAVIOR.

(1964). The Tact Relation: An Experiment in Verbal Behavior. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 71, No. 1, pp. 71-78.
Two-scale damage modeling of brittle composites

Abstract This paper is aimed at developing a non-local theory for obtaining a numerical approximation to a boundary-value problem describing damage phenomena in a ceramic composite material. The mathematical homogenization method based on double-scale asymptotic expansion is generalized to account for damage effects in heterogeneous media. A closed-form expression relating local fields to the overall strain and damage is derived. Non-local damage theory is developed by introducing the concept of non-local phase fields (stress, strain, free energy density, damage release rate, etc.). Numerical results of our model were found to be in good agreement with experimental data from 4-point bend tests conducted on composite beams made of Blackglas™/Nextel 5-harness satin weave.
Extraction of Cesium by a Calix[4]arene‐Crown‐6 Ether Bearing a Pendant Amine Group

Abstract The goal of this work was to evaluate the role of the amino group of 5‐aminomethylcalix[4]arene‐[bis‐4‐(2‐ethylhexyl)benzo‐crown‐6] (AMBEHB) in the extraction of cesium from acidic and basic mixtures of sodium nitrate and other concentrated salts. The extraction of cesium from nitrate media was measured as a function of extractant concentration, nitrate concentration, cesium concentration, and pH over the range 1–13. The initial studies showed a moderate decrease in the extraction of cesium in acidic media, which indicated the binding of cesium by the calixarene‐crown was weakened by the protonation of the amine group. The results also indicated that a 1∶1∶1 Cs‐ligand‐nitrate complex is formed in the organic phase. To further evaluate AMBEHB, the empirical data were mathematically modeled to determine the formation constants of the complexes formed in the organic phase. The resulting formation constants showed that the attachment of the amine group to the calixarene‐crown molecule reduced the bin...
Bridging Indigenous and Immigrant Struggles: A Case Study of American Sāmoa

In American Sāmoa, lines are being drawn between immigrants from Western Sāmoa, Tonga and the Philippines, and the indigenous population. A close study of the 2007 Future Political Status report, as well as the responses to the closure of the Chicken of the Sea tuna cannery, demonstrate how anti-immigrant sentiment has grown, along with fears over the stability and survival of the local economy. Such tensions between American Sāmoans and immigrant workers have masked potential synergies in the struggles of both groups. This essay provides preliminary suggestions on how the goals of colonized indigenous groups might be combined with those of exploited working-class immigrants living in the same region. As part of the same U.S. colonial legacy, both groups have a historical basis for joining together and fighting against continued imperialism in the region. Each group could benefit from collaboration to contest colonial structures that constrain their daily lives.
Possible effect of the local terrain on the Australian fifth-force measurement

We believe that the local topography can account for most of the positive evidence for non-Newtonian gravity recently reported by Stacey and co-workers. We show that the Hilton mine site in Queensland, Australia, is effectively in a valley and speculate on how this feature could have been missed in the original analysis.
Slow light in fiber sensors

This paper examines the sensitivity improvements that have been achieved by making use of slow light in a variety of fiber sensors. We show in particular that slow light can have dramatically different impacts depending on its nature (material or structural) and on the parameter that is being sensed. In a fiber optic gyroscope measuring an absolute rotation for example, structural slow light does not enhance the maximum sensitivity achievable for a given loss and sensing area compared to a non-resonant structure such as a Sagnac-based fiber optic gyroscope. However, it does reduce the length of fiber required to achieve this sensitivity. For fiber sensors relying on the measurement of absorption, such as gas detectors, structural slow light improves the sensitivity because it increases the effective path length through the absorber and therefore the level of absorption. Material slow light, on the other hand, has been measured to have no impact on the sensitivity. For many other parameters besides rotation and absorption, the sensitivity is expected to be enhanced by either type of slow light, by orders of magnitude with suitable configurations. We illustrate this enormous potential with two configurations of strain sensors utilizing a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) as the sensing and slow-light medium. In properly designed FBGs supporting light with a group index in the range of 50 to 130, we measured a maximum sensitivity of 1.7-3.14 10 5 strain -1 and a record minimum detectable strain of 820-880 fe/√Hz. This value is ~730 lower than the previous record using conventional light in a passive FBG sensor, in accord with predictions. Further enhancements are expected with straightforward improvements in FBG design.
A blaze-dry spreading procedure for the electron microscopy of chromosomes from acid alcohol-fixed human lymphocytes.

A procedure is described for the blaze-drying of human lymphocyte chromosomes on carbonized Parlodion film. Films are prepared by applying Parlodion solution to sheets of freshly cleaved mica. Damage to the film during blaze-drying is prevented by chilling the mica sheets on dry ice before flaming. After spreading, the film and metaphases are floated free from the mica and transferred to a slide of Formvar-coated electron microscope grids. The resulting preparations yield complete metaphase spreads and banded chromosomes morphologically similar to those observed with the light microscope.
In Vivo Methotrexate Transport in Murine Lewis Lung Tumor

Methotrexate uptake by murine Lewis lung tumor was measured in vivo over a wide dose range. The data were analyzed according to a model previously developed for tissues in which methotrexate uptake is rate limited by transport across the cell membrane. Methotrexate transport in this tumor followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a rate constant for permeability (k/K) of 0.012 min-1. The methotrexate binding capacity of dihydrofolate reductase in the tumor was not exceeded at any dose studied. A low membrane permeability in conjunction with a high dihydrofolate reductase level explains the resistance of this tumor to methotrexate.
Delayed intrapleural migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt

We report a case of delayed intrapleural migration of the peritoneal catheter of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. This is an unusual but life-threatening complication of peritoneal shunting for the treatment of hydrocephalus. A method of treatment and abbreviated review of shunt complications is included.
Hyperfine-axis orientation in rhombic metal complexes from ENDOR-induced EPR and quadrupolar coupling determination

Abstract The ENDOR resonances from ligand nuclei in paramagnetic transition-metal complexes exhibit a shift from the nuclear Larmor frequency because of the dipolar and Fermi contact interactions with the unpaired electron. The dipolar interaction has orientation dependence associated with its magnitude, where the position of the nuclei with respect to the metal atom determines the resonant frequencies and spectral lineshape. In this paper effects of rhombic g and metal hyperfine tensors on the EPR powder pattern and ENDOR spectra are illustrated. The EPR angular selection is modified from that encountered in axial systems and the technique of ENDOR-induced EPR is utilized to elucidate the orientation of magnetic axes with respect to one another. Quadrupole couplings in ENDOR spectra have often been analyzed using an equation from which cross terms have been omitted. The cross terms make important contributions to the spectra in some cases and the effect of these terms has been examined in order to determine when the complete equation for the quadrupole interaction must be utilized to analyze correctly ENDOR spectra.
White wolves can stand the heat.

T. M. Anderson et al. report that wolves of the northwestern forest in North America are dark in comparison to the wolves of the tundra (“Molecular and evolutionary history of melanism in North American gray wolves,” Reports, 6 March, p. [1339][1]). Anderson et al. suggest in passing that the dark coats might better hide preying wolves in the forest. An alternative adaptive explanation is that in the summer, a black tundra wolf could overheat. A study by Finch and Western provides evidence of the temperature-related consequences of coat color among pastoralists' cattle in Kenya ([ 1 ][2]). Finch and Western showed experimentally that black Boran Zebu cattle in the sun became hotter than did white cattle and that across Kenya, as heat stress increased, the proportion of dark cattle in herds decreased. They also found that herders report more dark than light cattle dying during droughts at low altitude. Finch and Western related the variation in color to the social system of the Kenyan herders. Some of them divide themselves into clans according to the preferred color of their cattle, and the preference correlates adaptively with the usual heat stress of the clans' home ranges. 1. [↵][3] 1. V. A. Finch, 2. D. Western , Ecology 58, 1384 (1977). [OpenUrl][4][CrossRef][5][Web of Science][6] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1165448 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [4]: {openurl}?query=rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.2307%252F1935090%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [5]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.2307/1935090&link_type=DOI [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=A1977ES71000015&link_type=ISI
Simultaneous measurement of regional blood flow and glucose extraction in rat brain

A method has been described which allows the measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and solute transport across cerebral capillary wall in the same regional sample of rat brain. An inert diffusible indicator (iodoantipyrine) was used to measure a blood flow, in mixed gray and white matter, of approx. 1.0 ml/min/g. Using3H2O as a reference molecule, the flux of [14C]d-glucose into brain was determined at blood glucose concentration levels between 0.1 and 60 mM. In all discrete areas of brain sampled, a consistentVmax of 1.92 μmol/min/g and aKm of 8.35 mM was found. Glucose extraction by brain was inversely related to CBF, while a direct relationship was noted for glucose clearance.
A Study of the Proteolytic Action of Certain Specific Organisms on Milk Proteins in Milk and Synthetic Butter

Considerable work has already been done by a number of investigators on bacterial metabolism including yeasts and molds, with a view of obtaining a quantitative relation of the action of specific organisms when grown in different media. These investigations were generally limited to pathogenic organisms. However, only in a few instances has milk been used as a media. I t is evident that in milk we have a natural product, composed of proteins, carbohydrate and mineral salts, well adapted for bacterial growth, the study of which is of prime importance to the dairy industry. I t is well known that the composition of the media influences the growth and development of bacteria. For the study of pathogenic organisms the media is usually composed of nitrogenous materials and an adequate supply of mineral salts. I t has been found that when these organisms are grown in a media containing some utilizable carbohydrate, that the chemical changes produced in the media are quite different than when grown in media containing no carbohydrate. Notably, at least in some organisms, no proteolytic enzymes are formed (1) (2) (3). In our investigation we have confined our study of the proteolytic action of certain specific organisms usually found in milk and manufactured dairy products. This involves the study of bacterial metabolism or cellular activity. The protein requirements and the energy requirements must be supplied by the food material in the media. There is sufficient evidence that the
Automatic threshold selection using histogram quantization.

An automatic threshold selection method is proposed for biomedical image analysis based on a histogram coding scheme. The threshold values can be determined based on the well-known Lloyd–Max scalar quantization rule, which is optimal in the sense of achieving minimum mean-square-error distortion. An iterative self-organizing learning rule is derived to determine the threshold levels. The rule does not require any prior information about the histogram, hence is fully automatic. Experimental results show that this new approach is easy to implement yet is highly efficient, robust with respect to noise, and yields reliable estimates of the threshold levels.
Moisture Distribution in Bioreactor Landfills: A Review

Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has been increasing every year in the United States and other parts of the world, as recent studies document. Therefore, landfill design, operations and treatment play an important role in managing MSW. Bioreactor landfills were recently introduced as a mechanism by which to overcome the issue of prolonged waste biodegradation in the conventional landfill. In a bioreactor landfill, the leachate that is generated is collected from the leachate collection removal system and then recirculated into the landfill to increase the moisture content of MSW. That increased moisture content then helps to distribute the microbes and nutrients required for suitable MSW biodegradation. However, the body of knowledge on the effective operation of bioreactor landfill is limited. Few studies have documented the performance of bioreactor landfill in the context of moisture distribution in the MSW. Both improper leachate recirculation and an empirical approach to the design of leachate recirculation systems (LRS) have led to a large variation in the performance of these systems. A detailed literature review on moisture distribution in bioreactor landfills is reported in this paper. The studies reported in the literature review are divided into laboratory studies, field studies, combined laboratory and field studies, and mathematical models. Based on the literature review, it is evident that the LRS design is based on either exceptionally limited information from laboratory and field observations or the insufficient or improper selection of MSW properties. Further, the assumption of that MSW is homogeneous isotropic and ignoring the effect of unsaturated hydraulic properties and effect of temperature can lead to large variation in the actual performance of bioreactor landfill.
The sagittal diameter of the spinal canal in cervical spondylosis

Summary Since the cervical spinal cord has a constant front to back diameter, and since the actual amount of degenerative change present is likely to be the same in a patient with a wide canal as in a patient with a narrow canal, the sagittal width of the canal is of definite diagnostic significance in cervical spondylosis. Three hundred adult cervical spinal canals were measured to establish a range of normal values. The widths of the canals of twenty-four unselected cases of severe proven cervical spondylosis were then measured, and found to be narrower than normal. The reason why two patients who exhibit identical degrees of cervical spondylotic degeneration in plain films may present entirely different clinical pictures depends upon the following two facts:— (1) a varying proportion of the degenerative changes present do not cast a radiographic shadow, and (2) the antero-posterior diameter of the cervical spinal canal varies from patient to patient.
Thermal and Start-Up Characteristics of a Miniature Passive Liquid Feed DMFC System, Including Continuous/Discontinuous Phase Limitations

The thermal and start-up characteristics of a passive direct methanol fuel cell system are simulated using a numerical model. The model captures both the thermal characteristics of the fuel cell and the passive fuel delivery system using a multifluid model approach. Since the fuel cell is run without any active temperature control, the temperature may rise until the convective and evaporative cooling effects balance the heat produced in the chemical reactions. The cell temperature can vary as much as 20°C, and it is vital to model the thermal effects for accurate results. The numerical model also includes continuous and discontinuous phase limitations, as well as a probabilistic spread of the porous properties. These added physical characteristics qualitatively portray the departure of carbon dioxide from the anode side of the fuel cell.
Additivity of statistical moments in the exponentially modified Gaussian model of chromatography

Abstract A homologous series of saturated fatty acids ranging from C10 to C22 was separated by reversed-phase capillary liquid chromatography. The resultant zone profiles were found to be fit best by an exponentially modified Gaussian (EMG) function. To compare the EMG function and statistical moments for the analysis of the experimental zone profiles, a series of simulated profiles was generated by using fixed values for retention time and different values for the symmetrical (σ) and asymmetrical (τ) contributions to the variance. The simulated profiles were modified with respect to the integration limits, the number of points, and the signal-to-noise ratio. After modification, each profile was analyzed by using statistical moments and an iteratively fit EMG equation. These data indicate that the statistical moment method is much more susceptible to error when the degree of asymmetry is large, when the integration limits are inappropriately chosen, when the number of points is small, and when the signal-to-noise ratio is small. The experimental zone profiles were then analyzed by using the statistical moment and EMG methods. Although care was taken to minimize the sources of error discussed above, significant differences were found between the two methods. The differences in the second moment suggest that the symmetrical and asymmetrical contributions to broadening in the experimental zone profiles are not independent. As a consequence, the second moment is not equal to the sum of σ2 and τ2, as is commonly assumed. This observation has important implications for the elucidation of thermodynamic and kinetic information from chromatographic zone profiles.
Raman scattering by plasmon-polaritons in Fibonacci-type superlattices

Abstract We carry out a theoretical calculation of the Raman scattering cross section for plasmonpolaritons in a quasiperiodic superlattice that follows the Fibonacci sequence. The Green functions, necessary to find the Raman cross section, are determined by linear response theory. Numerical predictions of the Raman spectra are compared with recent experimental data, with good agreement.