cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bubble size distribution in a bubble column applied to aquaculture systems

Abstract Bubble size distribution affects the gas-liquid mass transfer rates during aeration and foam fractionation processes employed in recirculating aquacultural systems. The effects of air flow rate, protein concentration and air stone pore size on bubble characterization were investigated. Bubble size was measured photographically in conjunction with image-processing techniques. The study indicated that bubble size increased with air flow rate and air stone pore size, but decreased with protein concentration. Within the tested range of these variables, the geometric diameters of the majority of the bubbles (90%) were within the range of 0·5–3·0 mm, and the bubble sizes followed a normal distribution.
River turbidity and sediment loads during dam removal

Dam decommissioning has become an important means for removing unsafe or obsolete dams and for restoring natural fluvial processes, including discharge regimes, sediment transport, and ecosystem connectivity [Doyle et al., 2003]. The largest dam-removal project in history began in September 2011 on the Elwha River of Washington State (Figure 1a). The project, which aims to restore the river ecosystem and increase imperiled salmon populations that once thrived there, provides a unique opportunity to better understand the implications of large-scale river restoration.
Beyond hyperinvariance for compact operators

We introduce a new class of operator algebras on Hilbert space. To each bounded linear operator a spectral algebra is associated. These algebras are quite substantial, each containing the commutant of the associated operator, frequently as a proper subalgebra. We establish several sufficient conditions for a spectral algebra to have a nontrivial invariant subspace. When the associated operator is compact this leads to a generalization of Lomonosov's theorem.
A Novel Bioreactor for the Flexural Stimulation of Tissue Engineered Heart Valve Biomaterials

A novel bioreactor was developed for the purpose of studying the effect of dynamic flexural stimulation on the properties of tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV) scaffolds and constructs. While pulse duplicator and flow loop bioreactors have shown promise in the development of functional tissue engineered cardiovascular constructs [1–3], these devices present several drawbacks when applied to the study of fundamental biomechanical phenomena, including: small sample capacity, anatomical sample geometry, and coupled mechanical stimuli. In contrast, our bioreactor was designed to provide a simple, user-controllable mode of mechanical stimulation; cyclic three-point bending; offer a sufficient sample capacity for statistically significant comparisons at multiple time points, and accommodate a simple sample geometry amenable to mechanical testing. The bioreactor has the capacity to dynamically flex twelve rectangular samples (2.5 × 0.75 × 0.2 cm) under sterile conditions in a humidified cell culture incubator operating at 37 °C and 5% CO2 (Figure 1).Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Effective and efficient implementation of an information flow control protocol for service composition

Due to the potential of composing web services from multiple domains under diverse security administrations, ensuring the security in service composition can be a very challenging task. A major problem is the potential of information leakage between the interacting services. Most existing web service security models consider the access to a single web service and do not consider the control of such information flows. In our previous work, we proposed a novel access control model, SCIFC, that empowers the services to effectively control the flow of their sensitive information. In this paper, we consider additional mechanisms to further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the SCIFC protocols, including a carry-along policy propagation mechanism to minimize the message sizes for policy exchanges and a transformation factor analysis scheme based on symbolic execution to assist with transformation factor assignments. Based on these enhancements, we implement the SCIFC protocol and study its performance. We develop an extensive web service simulation framework to simulate a diverse range of web services. The performance study of the SCIFC protocol is conducted on top of this simulation framework. Finally, we develop a case study system to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the SCIFC protocols.
Pediatric spinal cord injuries: a case presentation.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in the pediatric population present a unique challenge to the caregiver in that both the physical injury and the growth and development issues need to be addressed simultaneously. Different types of injuries are anticipated than those seen in adults because of the developmental phases of the pediatric spinal cord. This article will review the differences between the pediatric and adult spinal cords, growth and development, and the types of injuries incurred by this population, followed by a case presentation. Language: en
Erratum to A statistical method to detect chromosomal regions with DNA copy number alterations using SNP-array-based CGH data

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays were used to detect chromosomal regions with DNA copy number alterations. Current statistical methods for microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analysis generally assume certain relationships among adjacent markers on the same chromosome, and these assumptions may be questionable. For an SNP-array-based CGH study, multiple normal reference SNP arrays were collected. In order to utilize these normal reference SNP arrays, we derived an empirical distribution of signal ratios for each SNP marker. With an assumed threshold value for the overall error rate control and the defined signal ratio ranges for chromosomal amplification and deletion, we proposed a procedure to identify chromosomal alteration regions based on several bootstrapped one-sample t-tests and the false discovery rate control. When we have multiple arrays for different individuals with the same disease, our method can also be used to detect SNP markers for chromosomal alteration regions that are common among these individuals. We applied our method to a published SNP array data set for breast carcinoma cell lines. For an individual with breast cancer, numerous chromosomal alteration regions were identified. Compared to results of previous studies, our method identified more chromosomal alteration regions, with some being implicated in the literature to harbor genes associated with breast cancer. For multiple cancer arrays, our results suggested the existence of common chromosomal alteration regions. However, a high proportion of false positives also indicated that genetic variations among different individuals with breast cancer can be present.
Bio‐Based Nanocomposites from Corn Oil and Functionalized Organoclay Prepared by Cationic Polymerization

A reactive organic montmorillonite clay (VMMT), modified with (4-vinylbenzyl) triethylammonium cations, has been prepared and used as a nanofiller to reinforce a corn-oil-based polymer resin. The polymer resin was prepared by the cationic polymerization of conjugated corn oil, styrene and divinylbenzene, using boron trifluoride diethyl etherate modified with Norway fish oil as the initiator. The results indicate that the VMMT is intercalated in the corn-oil-based polymer resins. When compared with the pure polymers, these novel nanocomposites reinforced with 2 to 3 wt.-% VMMT exhibit significant improvements in modulus, strength, strain and toughness. Furthermore, incorporating VMMT into the corn-oil-based polymer matrix also leads to improved thermal stability of the nanocomposites over the pure resins of up to 400 °C.
Physical activity, motor function, and white matter hyperintensity burden in healthy older adults

Objective: To test the hypothesis that physical activity modifies the association between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden and motor function in healthy older persons without dementia. Methods: Total daily activity (exercise and nonexercise physical activity) was measured for up to 11 days with actigraphy (Actical; Philips Respironics, Bend, OR) in 167 older adults without dementia participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Eleven motor performances were summarized into a previously described global motor score. WMH volume was expressed as percent of intracranial volume. Linear regression models, adjusted for age, education, and sex, were performed with total WMH volume as the predictor and global motor score as the outcome. Terms for total daily physical activity and its interaction with WMH volume were then added to the model. Results: Higher WMH burden was associated with lower motor function ( p = 0.006), and total daily activity was positively associated with motor function ( p = 0.002). Total daily activity modified the association between WMH and motor function ( p = 0.007). WMH burden was not associated with motor function in persons with high activity (90th percentile). By contrast, higher WMH burden remained associated with lower motor function in persons with average (50th percentile; estimate = −0.304, slope = −0.133) and low (10th percentile; estimate = −1.793, slope = −0.241) activity. Conclusions: Higher levels of physical activity may reduce the effect of WMH burden on motor function in healthy older adults.
LONG-TERM IMPACT OF A MINIATURE METRONOME ON STUTTERING: AN INTERIM REPORT

of the metronome beat. The reduction in stuttering at the end of the period when I paced my speech with the mecronome under "laboratory" conditions was essentially the same as it was at the beginning. The factors which did appear to be responsible were ( 1) a reduction in the extent to which I attended to the metronome beat and (2) a reduction in my expectation of fluency when I used the device. During the three-year period I found myself attending less and less to the metronome beat while I spoke and becoming less and less certain that using the device would have a significant impact on the severity of my stuttering. Either or both of these factors based on anticipatory-struggle theory (Bloodstein, 1975) could account for the observed reduction in the impact of the device. I plan to continue wearing the device in order to refine and test the above hypotheses regarding factors which reduce its impact on stuttering.
Selection of regulatory T cells in the thymus

How are regulatory T (TReg) cells selected in the thymus? What is the role of T cell receptor specificity in the generation of self antigen-specific TReg cells? What is the involvement of thymic antigen-presenting cells in TReg cell differentiation and how is FOXP3 expression induced in developing thymocytes? Here, the authors summarize the latest findings in the field of TReg cells to provide answers to these long-standing questions.
The impact of lymph node station on survival in 348 patients with surgically resected malignant pleural mesothelioma: Implications for revision of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system

Objectives The propensity of malignant pleural mesothelioma to metastasize to N1 or N2 nodes and their corresponding prognostic value is unclear. The American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system groups N1 and N2 disease together as stage III. The goal of this study was to define the prognostic value of specific nodal stations. Methods Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent resection were identified from an institutional database. Nodal stations were defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer lung cancer node map classification. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results From 1990 to 2006, 348 patients were identified: 279 men and 69 women with a median age of 67 years (range 26–85 years). Extrapleural pneumonectomy was performed in 223 cases, and pleurectomy/decortication was performed in 125 cases. Survival differences ( P P P P P P = .4), and male gender (hazard ratio 1.4, P Conclusion This study confirms a preferential pattern of drainage of malignant pleural mesothelioma to N2 rather than N1 lymph nodes, but suggests that N1 only nodal involvement should be classified as lower stage disease. Multiple N2 nodal site involvement could potentially be classified as higher stage disease than single station N2. Our results emphasize the need for larger, confirmatory multicenter studies that could lead to revision of the current staging system.
Theorems and implications of a model-independent elimination/distribution function decomposition of linear and some nonlinear drug dispositions. IV. Exact relationship between the terminal log-linear slope parameter beta and drug clearance.

An exact formula relating the terminal log-linear beta parameter and the drug clearance is derived. The expression is valid for drugs with a linear, polyexponential disposition kinetics. The formula is useful for calculating the clearance when the clearance has changed between drug administrations and requires only drug level data from the terminal, log-linear elimination phase in addition to data from a single separate i.v. administration in the same subject. Data from an i. v. administration are necessary in order to apply the disposition decomposition technique to isolate and uniquely define the distribution kinetics in terms of the distribution function h(t).The different clearances can then be calculated from the beta values of the log-linear terminal drug level data and the parameters of h(t).The theoretical basis of the method and its assumptions and limitations are discussed and various pertinent theorems are presented. A computer program enabling an easy implementation of the proposed method is also presented. The mathematical and computational procedures of the method are demonstrated using kinetic data from i.v. and oral administrations of cimetidine, diazepam, and pentobarbital in human subjects. The classical V. beta method of approximating the clearance as the product of volume of distribution and beta is considered for comparison. For the three drugs considered the V. beta method which assumes a single exponential disposition kinetics leads to excessive errors when applied in absolute clearance comparisons. However, when applied in relative comparisons in the form of the “beta correction” the errors cancel out to some extent depending on the magnitude of the distribution kinetic effect. Whenever possible it is advisable to apply the proposed method to avoid such errors.
A parallel computational model for the finite element method on a memory-sharing multiprocessor computer

Abstract This paper describes a new computing model for finite element analysis in a multiprocessor environment. The model is based upon the application of successive projections of the finite element space onto its supspaces. A problem is effectively decomposed into a collection of related subproblems which can be distributed asynchronously among any number of multiprocessors. Critical issues of parallel generation of coefficients, storage allocation, memory interference, interprocess communication and load balancing are dealt with and optimized in the context of shared memory multiprocessor computers. When implemented on test problems with 10 4 or more elements, the algorithms provide almost perfect speedup using from 2 to 24 processors at a time.
Outsourcing the sales process: Hiring a mercenary sales force

In today's highly competitive environment, many firms make the decision to outsource a business process on the well-established idea that it is better to contract for services that are not within the scope of a company's core set of competencies. While outsourcing was once limited to peripheral firm activities such as advertising, firms are expanding the types of functions they outsource. For instance, many firms have begun to outsource their sales force, or at a minimum, have begun to consider ‘renting’ a sales force rather than ‘owning’ their own sales force. Being a recent trend, very little is known about what prompts firms to outsource their sales forces, nor the consequences of doing so. As such, this research explores the factors associated with determining whether a firm should outsource their sales force as well as the value to be had by engaging in such a decision. Most importantly, we offer that beyond the standard cost-based analysis, there are numerous issues that deserve consideration and examination before a firm elects to outsource its sales force.
The Effects of Birth Weight and Maternal Care on Survival of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus)

Steller sea lions were listed as endangered following a collapse of the western distinct population beginning in the late 1970s. Low juvenile survival has been implicated as a factor in the decline. I conducted a multistate mark-recapture analysis to estimate juvenile survival in an area of the western population where sea lions are showing signs of recovery. Survival for males and females was 80% between 3 weeks and 1 year of age. Approximately 20% of juveniles continued to be nursed by their mothers between ages 1 and 2 and 10% between ages 2 and 3. Survival for juveniles that suckled beyond 1 year was 88.2% and 89.9% to ages 2 and 3, respectively. In contrast, survival for individuals weaned by age 1 was 40.6% for males and 64.2% for females between ages 1 and 2. Birth mass positively influenced survival for juveniles weaned at age 1 but had little effect on individuals continuing to suckle. Cumulative survival to age 4 was double that estimated during the population decline in this region. Evidence suggests that western Steller sea lions utilize a somewhat different maternal strategy than those in the eastern distinct population. Western adult females generally invest more in their pups during the first year but wean offspring by age 1 more often. This results in better survival to age 1, but greater mortality between ages 1 and 3 compared to the eastern population. Different maternal strategies may reflect density dependent pressures of populations at opposite levels of abundance.
A chemical genetic approach reveals distinct EphB signaling mechanisms during brain development

EphB receptor tyrosine kinases control multiple steps in nervous system development. However, it remains unclear whether EphBs regulate these different developmental processes directly or indirectly. In addition, given that EphBs signal through multiple mechanisms, it has been challenging to define which signaling functions of EphBs regulate particular developmental events. To address these issues, we engineered triple knock-in mice in which the kinase activity of three neuronally expressed EphBs can be rapidly, reversibly and specifically blocked. We found that the tyrosine kinase activity of EphBs was required for axon guidance in vivo. In contrast, EphB-mediated synaptogenesis occurred normally when the kinase activity of EphBs was inhibited, suggesting that EphBs mediate synapse development by an EphB tyrosine kinase-independent mechanism. Taken together, our data indicate that EphBs control axon guidance and synaptogenesis by distinct mechanisms and provide a new mouse model for dissecting EphB function in development and disease.
Overcoming Original (Antigenic) Sin

Original antigenic sin describes a phenomenon in which the antibody response elicited in an individual after a secondary viral infection reacts more strongly to the viral variant that originally infected the individual. As T helper cells play critical roles in promoting antibody responses, a similar phenomenon may hold true for T helper cell responses. This concept is particularly relevant to the development of vaccines against viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus, in which myriad viral variants are present throughout the human population. We have compared the effects of priming the immune system with a single peptide epitope or with a cocktail of related peptides based on the epitope. Our data demonstrate that immunization with multiple peptide variants expands a more broadly reactive and durable T helper cell response than does immunization with a single peptide. This vaccine strategy may circumvent original antigenic sin.
Autoxidation of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols. II. Trilinolenoylglycerol

The hydroperoxides and secondary products formed from trilinoleoylglycerol autoxidized at 40°C were isolated and characterized to clarify their contribution to oxidative deterioration of vegetable oils. The products were purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified, as intact triacylglycerols, by ultraviolet, infrared,1H NMR and13C NMR analyses, and after derivatization by lipolysis, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main, primary products included mono-,bis- and tris-9-hydroperoxy-trans-10,cit-12-; 9-hydroperoxy-trans-10,trans-12; 13-hydroperoxy-cis-9,trans-11; and 13-hydroperoxy-trans-9,trans-11-linolenoyl glycerols. The structures of the minor secondary products analyzed after derivatization were consistent with known oxidative degradation products of linoleate hydroperoxides. HPLC analyses showed that thebis- and tris-hydroperoxides were formed from the mono-hydroperoxides during autoxidation at peroxide values above 18 and 28 meq/kg. Studies on the further oxidation of the mono-hydroperoxides support a mechanism for the consucutive formation ofbis- and tris-hydroperoxides from the monohydroperoxides. HPLC analyses showed that no preferential oxidation occurred between the 1(3)- and 2-triglyceride positions. Hydroperoxides of linoleate triacylglycerols may be important precursors of volatile compounds contributing to off-flavors of vegetable oils.
First Spectroscopic Observation of the C Π u 2 Excited State of H 2

The translational-energy spectroscopy is used to search for the first transitions from the $X^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{\mathrm{g}}$ ground state of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ to bound excited electronic states. Electron impact is used to create the ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ ions from C${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$. It is known that electron impact on C${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$ creates ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ ions highly rwotationally excited. A transition is observed centered at 10.2 eV. The observed peak is assigned to the optically allowed transitions $X^{2}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{\mathrm{g}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}C^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{\mathrm{u}}$.
A Sensitive High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography/Particle Beam/Mass Spectrometry Assay for the Determination of all-trans-Retinoic Acid and 13-cis-Retinoic Acid in Human Plasma

A highly sensitive assay for the measurement of all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) has been developed. Collected plasma samples were protein precipitated with 2-propanol followed by solid phase extraction. The retinoic acids were subsequently derivatized to their pentafluorobenzyl esters followed by separation and isolation by reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The HPLC eluate was directed to a mass spectrometer via a particle beam interface. Selected ion monitoring (299 m/z) for the retinoic acid's carboxylate anion produced by negative chemical ionization using methane reagent gas achieved minimum detection limits of 25 pg injected. Endogenous blood levels in 19 male and 9 female subjects were measured. It was found that females have significantly more all-trans-retinoic acid than males and that both sexes demonstrate significantly more all-trans-retinoic acid then 13-cis-retinoic acid.
Bias, underestimation of risk, and loss of statistical power in patient-level analyses of lesion detection

Purpose Sensitivity and the false positive rate are usually defined with the patient as the unit of observation, i.e., the diagnostic test detects or does not detect disease in a patient. For tests designed to find and diagnose lesions, e.g., lung nodules, the usual definitions of sensitivity and specificity may be misleading. In this paper we describe and compare five measures of accuracy of lesion detection.
Bifurcations via singular value decompositions

We study the relation between bifurcation theory and singular value decomposition in numerical analysis. Given a nonlinear equation, we give a local analysis in a neighborhood of a solution via the Liapunov-Schmidt method and the singular value decomposition. The theorem is applicable to regular, turning, or bifurcation points. A numerical method for global bifurcation problems based on the above analysis is presented.
Death, Disability, Displaced Persons and Development: The Case of Landmines in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Summary. Humanitarian demining is increasingly being justified on economic development grounds. Although Bosnia’s war ended long ago, an estimated one million landmines remain. This paper takes a critical look at how landmines are affecting development prospects for Bosnia and Herzegovina. It considers the ongoing costs of mine accidents, population displacement and loss of use of land caused by landmines, and concludes that landmines are not among the most serious impediments to national economic development. Simply put, this economy faces other, more pressing problems. Donors should not see demining as the answer to a country’s development problems.
Bulk heating of transparent materials using a high-repetition-rate femtosecond laser

Femtosecond laser pulses can locally induce structural and chemical changes in the bulk of transparent materials, opening the door to the three-dimensional fabrication of optical devices. We review the laser and focusing parameters that have been applied to induce these changes and discuss the different physical mechanisms that play a role in forming them. We then describe a new technique for inducing refractive-index changes in bulk material using a high-repetition-rate femtosecond oscillator. The changes are caused by a localized melting of the material, which results from an accumulation of thermal energy due to nonlinear absorption of the high-repetition-rate train of laser pulses.
Satellite observations of environmental changes from the Tonga volcano eruption in the southern tropical Pacific

Satellite measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS on Aqua were used to study changes of the ocean and atmosphere following the eruption of a submarine volcano in March 2009 in the southern tropical Pacific. Significant increase of water turbidity was observed in an area of ∼368 km2 near the location of the eruption due to the deposition of volcanic ash. In the ocean region close to the volcanic eruption, the diffuse attenuation coefficient at a wavelength of 490 nm, Kd490, increased from ∼0.025 to 0.16 m−1 before and after the volcanic eruption. Within two weeks of the event, the coverage of the ash-laden waters decreased to ∼30 km2, and after four weeks the satellite-measured marine environment parameters returned back to the pre-eruption condition. The normalized water-leaving reflectance spectra, derived from the combined near-infrared NIR and shortwave infrared SWIR atmospheric correction algorithm for the ash-laden water, show some unique optical features, different from those of the sediment-dominated turbid waters, river plume waters or other productive waters. No significant sea surface temperature SST change was detected from satellite measurements near the eruption site. Volcanic ash plumes in the atmosphere were observed moving north-eastward following the ocean winds on 18 March 2009. The aerosol optical thickness increased from 0.06 on the previous day to 0.25 at a location ∼60 km north-east of the volcanic eruption site.
Biological control of rhizoctonia and pythium damping-off of cucumber: An integrated approach

Abstract Binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. were evaluated singly and in combination with seed treated with selected biocontrol bacteria, fungicides, or osmopriming agents in the greenhouse and field for control of Rhizoctonia and Pythium damping-off of cucumber. In the greenhouse, in a pasteurized soil mix, treatments with 8 of 19 isolates of binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. yielded decreased (P = 0.05) levels of preemergence damping-off caused by R. solani. Osmopriming cucumber seed with KNO3, NaCl, or polyethylene glycol (PEG 8000) did not protect cucumber from Rhizoctonia and Pythium damping-off in naturally infested soil in the greenhouse. Treating cucumber seed with strain E6, ECH, and ECT of Enterobacter cloacae and sowing in soil alone or in soil amended with isolate 232-CG of binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. resulted in decreased (P = 0.05) levels of Rhizoctonia and Pythium preemergence damping-off in naturally infested soil in the greenhouse but not in the field. Amendment of isolate 232-CG to soil and combining it with seed treatment or soil application of metalaxyl produced decreased (P = 0.05) levels of Rhizoctonia and Pythium preemergence damping-off in 12 naturally infested fields at three geographic locations when compared with nontreated seed sown in soil alone or in soil amended with isolate 232-CG alone. Seed treated with metalaxyl and sown in soil amended with isolate 232-CG developed decreased (P = 0.05) levels of Rhizoctonia and Pythium preemergence damping-off at 20 and 30% of the field sites compared to seed treated with captan and metalaxyl, respectively. However, seed treated with metalaxyl or captan had higher (P = 0.05) disease incidence of Rhizoctonia at 20 and 60% of the field sites, respectively, when compared to seed treated with metalaxyl and sown in soil amended with isolate 232-CG. Control of cucumber damping-off caused by R. solani and Pythium spp. requires an integrated approach and can be achieved using the binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. isolate 232-CG combined with the fungicide metalaxyl. This treatment protected cucumber from Rhizoctonia and Pythium damping-off as effectively as the recommended fungicide captan.
SNA distribution services

This paper describes the IBM SNA Distribution Services (SNADS). Heretofore, SNA has focused on synchronous data distribution. Along with the advent of office systems and other distributed applications has come the requirement to provide a common architecture for interchanging data asynchronously among diverse systems and products. SNA Distribution Services provides a general asynchronous (delayed delivery) data distribution facility for SNA applications. The initial implementations are for office systems applications. Discussed are objectives for an asynchronous data distribution service, key architectural concepts, the relationship between SNADS and the SNA synchronous communication architecture, and the interface between the distribution service and application transaction programs.
Advanced photonic integration and high-index-contrast circuit

We highlight recent advances in advanced photonic integration of reliable densely integrated photonic integrated circuits (PIC) and high-index-contrast photonic lightwave circuits (PLC). The applications and benefits of these devices will be presented.
The Change-of-Variables Formula Using Matrix Volume

The matrix volume is a generalization, to rectangular matrices, of the absolute value of the determinant. In particular, the matrix volume can be used in change-of-variables formulae, instead of the determinant (if the Jacobi matrix of the underlying transformation is rectangular). This result is applicable to integration on surfaces, illustrated here by several examples.
Full-System Testing in Laboratory Conditions of an L-Band Snow Sensor System for In Situ Monitoring of Snow-Water Content

An L-band transmitter-receiver system wireless sensor to monitor snow accumulation and snow wetness was designed, fabricated, and tested under laboratory conditions. The sensor was designed to operate at 39 discrete frequencies (39 channels) in the 1.00-1.76-GHz frequency range (0.02-GHz increments). Full-system testing of the first-generation system was conducted using commercial attenuators up to 20.0 dB to test the prototypes against design specifications. It was determined that performance was nearly optimal in the 1-1.2-GHz range. Next, snow layers of varying snow wetness were physically modeled under controlled laboratory conditions. This was achieved by adding varying amounts of water to a layer of fixed porosity foam inside a rectangular tank placed above the transmitter. The attenuation and relative phase shift of the RF signal propagating through the experimental “snowpack” and through the laboratory “atmosphere” were subsequently analyzed as a function of volumetric water content equivalent to snow wetness. Under the space and geometry limitations of the laboratory setup, the data show that the single-frequency measurements exhibit high sensitivity for wetness values up to 24%, whereas multifrequency retrieval is necessary for higher liquid water contents. Measurements from a field deployment during snowfall in January 2009 are also presented. The results suggest that there is potential for using the RF sensor to measure cumulative snowfall for short-duration events.
Dynamic studies of the unwinding of a DNA-like strand.

Following Simon and Zimm's recent work, both molecular dynamic and Monte Carlo methods are used to simulate on a computer the unwinding of a DNA-like (N + 1)-unit helical strand. The strand unwinding is assumed to obey (N + 1)-coupled Langevin equations of motion (N = 10–50). The present computer “experiment” was done to elaborate dependence of unwinding behavior of the helix upon (i) configurations of its complementary strand [represented here by a square cylinder (Simon-Zimm model), a circular cylinder, and a fixed helix (double-helical model)]; (ii) interstrand potentials (a hard-cylinder potential, an inverse twelfth-power soft repulsion with or without an inverse third-power attractive tail); (iii) amplitudes of the Brownian motions, and (iv) the molecular weights of the unwinding strand. We found that (i) the Brownian motions strongly couple with the interstrand potentials to produce a shorter “unwinding time” (τ0) (which characterizes an expotential decay of the unwinding) for a longer renged repulsive potential (without the Brownian motions, no such effect was present); (ii) addition of an attractive tail to the repulsive potentials further reinforces the unwinding, thereby giving a reduced value of τ0; (iii) τ0 can be expressed as a product of two factors–unwinding time for a one-dimensional spring-bead model, which mostly accounts for the N2-dependence in τ0, and a factor which depends on the Brownian motions and the interstrand potentials; (iv) among the three models described above, under similar situations, the three-dimensional double-helical model has the smallest τ0; and (v) unless the maximum Brownian displacement exceeds a certain value, the unwinding around a square cylinder takes place in a (unrealistic) stair-step manner whose τ0decreases with increase in the Brownian displacements. The N2-dependence of τ0 agrees with the Simon and Zimm's machine results as well as Crother's experimental data on T2 DNA; however, it contradicts experimental data of Massie and Zimm, and others. Further possible improvements in connection with the computer simulation are suggested.
Dynamics of earth-orbiting flexible satellites with multibody components

A novel approach to the dynamics of satellites with flexible multibody components is proposed. The property of invariance under superposed rigid-body motions of geometrically-exact structural theories is employed to refer the dynamics of motion directly to the inertial frame. To avoid numerical ill conditioning, the dynamics of the far field and the near field are treated separately by introducing a rotationally-fixed floating frame, which is a parallel translate of the inertial frame. Constraint conditions to determine the orientation of floating frames proposed in the past are thus entirely bypassed. The proposed formulation can accommodate an unrestricted class of maneuvers under the action of follower forces and gravitational force, and is particularly suited for the dynamics of flexible multibody systems undergoing a broad range of deformations.
Early development of implicit methods for Computational Fluid Dynamics at NASA Ames

The development of implicit finite-difference methods at the Computational Fluid Dynamics Branch (NASA Ames Research Center) in the 1970 to early 1980s timeframe is presented. The seminal work of Drs. Robert F. Warming and Richard M. Beam is highlighted. Their contribution (along with that of others in the Ames CFD Branch) paved the way for modern large scale application codes. The focus will be on a few of the significant developments (e.g., approximate factorization) and results from those early pioneering days.
Characterizing uncertainty in species distribution models derived from interpolated weather station data

Species distribution models (SDMs) are used to generate hypotheses regarding the potential distributions of species under different environmental conditions, such as forecasts of species range shifts in response to climate change and predictions of invasive species range expansions. However, an accurate description of species' geographic ranges as a function of the environment requires that species observations and climatic variables are measured at the same spatial and temporal resolution, which is usually not the case. Weather station data are interpolated and these resulting continuous data layers are incorporated into SDMs, often without any uncertainty assessment. Here we quantify the effects of three unrelated but complementary aspects of uncertainty in weather station interpolations on SDM performance using MaxEnt. We examine the influence of topographic heterogeneity, interannual variability, and distance to station on the over- and under-prediction of modeled North American bird distributions. Our species observations are derived from presence-absence information for 20 bird species with well-known distributions. These three metrics of uncertainty in interpolated weather station data have varying contributions to over- and under-prediction errors in SDMs. Topographic heterogeneity had the highest contribution to omission errors; the lowest contribution to commission errors was from Euclidean distance to station. The results confirm the importance of establishing an appropriate relational basis in time and space between species and climatic layers, providing key operational criteria for selection of species observations fed into SDMs. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying weather stations locations used in interpolated products, which will allow a characterization of some aspects of uncertainty and identification of regions where users need to be particularly careful when making a decision based on a SDM.
Memory phenotype CD4 T cells undergoing rapid, nonburst-like, cytokine-driven proliferation can be distinguished from antigen-experienced memory cells.

Memory phenotype (CD44bright, CD25negative) CD4 spleen and lymph node T cells (MP cells) proliferate rapidly in normal or germ-free donors, with BrdU uptake rates of 6% to 10% per day and Ki-67 positivity of 18% to 35%. The rapid proliferation of MP cells stands in contrast to the much slower proliferation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-specific memory cells that divide at rates ranging from <1% to 2% per day over the period from 15 to 60 days after LCMV infection. Anti-MHC class II antibodies fail to inhibit the in situ proliferation of MP cells, implying a non–T-cell receptor (TCR)-driven proliferation. Such proliferation is partially inhibited by anti–IL-7Rα antibody. The sequence diversity of TCRβ CDR3 gene segments is comparable among the proliferating and quiescent MP cells from conventional and germ-free mice, implying that the majority of proliferating MP cells have not recently derived from a small cohort of cells that expand through multiple continuous rounds of cell division. We propose that MP cells constitute a diverse cell population, containing a subpopulation of slowly dividing authentic antigen-primed memory cells and a majority population of rapidly proliferating cells that did not arise from naive cells through conventional antigen-driven clonal expansion.
Orchidectomy Unleashes Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in the Rat

We charted the development of pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion as a function of the time elapsed after removal of the testes. On seven occasions between the moment of castration and 80 days afterwards, we obtained consecutive blood samples at frequent (2.5- to 5-min) intervals from cannulated male rats. Orchidectomy increased both the amplitude and frequency of LH release within 1 day after surgery. Amplitude: From 19 h through 80 days postcastration, peak LH levels rose steadily, and LH pulses grew progressively more pronounced in nadir-to-peak amplitude. Frequency: Our findings offer new evidence establishing an increase in LH pulse frequency from less than 1 per h to 2-3 per h within 1 day after orchidectomy. Once deprived of testicular influences, the frequency of pulsatile LH discharges remained static through 80 days. The sudden onset (less than 1 day after castration) and temporal uniformity of high-frequency LH pulses demonstrate that LH release is governed by an intrinsic, 20- to 30-min neural periodicity in castrate rats. Most important, these findings imply that the testes mask or modulate the expression of an intrinsic, 20- to 30-min neural generator directing the periodic discharge of LH in the intact male rat.
Learn About Science Policy at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting

The 2013 AGU Fall Meeting offers many opportunities to explore current science policy issues. Sequestration and the recent government shutdown showed us the connection between science and policy and the impact that policy can have on researchers' work. This year's Fall Meeting Public Affairs events will give members the tools to communicate with Congress, respond to legal pressure about their science, and work with policy makers in Washington, D. C., as an AGU Congressional Science Fellow.
Associations between purine metabolites and monoamine neurotransmitters in first-episode psychosis

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a biochemically complex disorder characterized by widespread defects in multiple metabolic pathways whose dynamic interactions, until recently, have been difficult to examine. Rather, evidence for these alterations has been collected piecemeal, limiting the potential to inform our understanding of the interactions amongst relevant biochemical pathways. We herein review perturbations in purine and neurotransmitter metabolism observed in early SZ using a metabolomic approach. Purine catabolism is an underappreciated, but important component of the homeostatic response of mitochondria to oxidant stress. We have observed a homeostatic imbalance of purine catabolism in first-episode neuroleptic-naive patients with SZ (FENNS). Precursor and product relationships within purine pathways are tightly correlated. Although some of these correlations persist across disease or medication status, others appear to be lost among FENNS suggesting that steady formation of the antioxidant uric acid (UA) via purine catabolism is altered early in the course of illness. As is the case for within-pathway correlations, there are also significant cross-pathway correlations between respective purine and tryptophan (TRP) pathway metabolites. By contrast, purine metabolites show significant cross-pathway correlation only with tyrosine, and not with its metabolites. Furthermore, several purine metabolites (UA, guanosine, or xanthine) are each significantly correlated with 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in healthy controls, but not in FENNS at baseline or 4-week after antipsychotic treatment. Taken together, the above findings suggest that purine catabolism strongly associates with the TRP pathways leading to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and kynurenine metabolites. The lack of a significant correlation between purine metabolites and 5-HIAA, suggests alterations in key 5-HT pathways that may both be modified by and contribute to oxidative stress via purine catabolism in FENNS.
Text of address given by Dr. Frank E. Young, Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, Washington, D.C., March 1987.

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Multinode broadcast in hypercubes and rings with randomly distributed length of packets

Multinode broadcast (MNB) in a hypercube and in a ring network of processors is considered. It is assumed that the lengths of the packets that are broadcast are not fixed, but are distributed according to some probabilistic rule, and the optimal times required to execute the MNB are compared for variable and for fixed packet lengths. For large hypercubes, it is shown, under very general probabilistic assumptions on the packet lengths, that the MNB is completed in essentially the same time as when the packet lengths are fixed. In particular, the MNB is completed by time (1+ delta )T/sub s/ with probability at least 1- epsilon , for any positive epsilon and delta , where T/sub s /is the optimal time required to execute the MNB when the packet lengths are fixed at their mean, provided that the size of the hypercube is large enough. In the case of the ring, it is proved that the average time required to execute a MNB when the packet lengths are exponentially distributed exceeds by a factor of ln n the corresponding time for the case there the packet lengths are fixed at their mean, where n is the number of nodes of the ring. >
A Study of the Relationship Between Dye Absorption and Cotton Fiber Properties at Equilibrium

The relation between cotton fiber properties and dye absorption at equilibrium has been studied for nine cotton samples representing a large range of fiber properties. The absorption was studied both for mercerized and unmercerized cotton samples. A relationship was found to exist between dye absorption at equilibrium and the Micronaire and maturity of American Upland type cotton. A linear relationship was found to exist between maturity and dye absorption at equilibrium.The barium hydroxide absorption also was determined ; similar results were obtained.