cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Location of the phage λ gene responsible for turning off λ-exonuclease synthesis

Abstract A phage lambda gene, called tof , responsible for the turnoff of λ-exonuclease synthesis during the lytic cycle has been located in the region of the lambda genome which is nonhomologous with the λi 434 genome. The corresponding region of the λi 434 genome also contains a tof gene whose product turns off the synthesis of λ-exonuclease during the lytic cycle of phage λi 434 . The site of action of both tof gene products is also located in the region of nonhomology between the two phage genomes.
Molecular dynamics of bacteriorhodopsin

A model of bacteriorhodopsin (bR), with a retinal chromophore attached, has been derived for a molecular dynamics simulation. A method for determining atomic coordinates of several ill-defined strands was developed using a structure prediction algorithm based on a sequential Kalman filter technique. The completed structure was minimized using the GROMOS force field. The structure was then heated to 293 K and run for 500 ps at constant temperature. A comparison with the energy-minimized structure showed a slow increase in the all-atom RMS deviation over the first 200 ps, leveling off to approximately 2.4 A relative to the starting structure. The final structure yielded a backbone-atom RMS deviation from the crystallographic structure of 2.8 A. The residue neighbors of the chromophore atoms were followed as a function of time. The set of persistent near-residue neighbors supports the theory that differences in pKa values control access to the Schiff base proton, rather than formation of a counterion complex.
Cyclic poly(dimethylsiloxane) from kinetically controlled cyclodepolymerization of linear precursors in dilute solution

Abstract Cyclic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), [(CH 3 ) 2 SiO] x or D x , was prepared in high yield (>70% for x > 12) from commercially available linear α,ω-dihydroxy-PDMS by base-catalyzed unimolecular ring closure in dilute solution. Cyclization, which occurs with formation of charged linear byproducts, was confirmed by GPC, FTIR, MALDI-ToF and NMR spectroscopy. Product mixtures were analyzed with a newly developed dual-detector GPC method in which the linear byproducts were end-labeled with a UV-absorbing group and separately detectable with a UV detector. Alternatively, charged linear byproducts were removed with anion-exchange resin. Yields and molecular weight distributions of the cyclic products are consistent with Monte Carlo simulations of kinetically controlled cyclodepolymerization. Large cycles from this cyclodepolymerization route are obtained in much higher yields (>70% for x > 12) than those reported for the traditional base-catalyzed ring-chain equilibration of D 4 and D 5 (∼13% for x > 6) [1] .
So, You Want to Start a Software Company?

Bringing that new app to market sounds exciting, but doing so without addressing common start-up issues will make the process more difficult than it needs to be. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/OlZ1pKcW8d4 is an audio recording from the Computing and the Law column, in which the authors discuss how bringing that new app to market sounds exciting, but doing so without addressing common start-up issues will make the process more difficult than it needs to be.
Sex Bias in Career Information: Effects of Language on Attitudes.

Abstract Results of recent descriptive studies have revealed a great deal of sex bias in occupational information; however, there has been no experimental exploration of how effective changes in information might be in altering sex stereotypes of occupations. Ninety college student subjects rated 20 occupations on 10 bipolar scales including appropriateness of the occupation for men versus women. Subjects then received one of three types of brief career information about six of the occupations: (1) sex-biased, (2) non-sex-biased/implicit, and (3) non-sex-biased/ explicit information. Subjects rated all 20 occupations again after information exposure. Results showed that: (a) subjects initially rated most occupations in a stereotypic direction; (b) on traditionally masculine occupations, biased information tended to increase bias; (c) subjects were less amenable to attitude change about the appropriateness of “feminine” occupations for men than about “masculine” occupations for women; (d) the explicitness of nonbiased material made no difference in subjects' attitudes.
Phase height measurements of E-layer motions

Abstract Variations in the phase height of the E -layer, as measured at spaced receivers and recorded between 1968 and 1971 at Washington State University, were used to determine E -layer motions in the horizontal plane. By cross correlating these measurements, time shifts between correlated variations were determined. The speeds thus calculated from twenty-three samples ranged from 80 to 280 m/sec and the directions varied throughout 360 degrees of azimuth. The motions were predominantly towards the northwest during the summer months and towards the southeast during the winter months.
Early age of first sex: a risk factor for HIV infection among women in Zimbabwe.

Objective: To explore the relationship between early age of coital debut (15 years of age or younger) and risk for HIV infection among sexually active urbanized Zimbabwean women. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of screening data from a cohort study. Methods: Sexually active women aged 18-35 years were recruited from public sector family planning clinics in and around Harare, Zimbabwe between November 1999 and September 2002. They received a brief behavioral interview and HIV testing. Of the 4675 women screened, 4393 (94%) had complete data on sexual behaviors and HIV serostatus, and were included in this analysis. Results: HIV prevalence in this sample was 40.1%. The median age of coital debut was 18 years and 11.8% of women reporting having experienced coital debut at age 15 or younger. Women with early coital debut had a significantly higher risk profile, including multiple lifetime partners and not completing high school. In binary generalized linear regression models HIV risk was increased for women reporting early age of coital debut (relative hazard, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.50), controlling for duration of sexual activity and current age; this effect was attenuated somewhat after controlling for other factors such as number of sexual partners. Conclusions: Our results show that early coital debut is a significant predictor of prevalent HIV infection independent of other identified factors in this population. HIV prevention strategies should include delaying the age of first coitus and should address the barriers that may prevent young women from so doing.
Cold floor effects on homicide

The cold floor pattern (a lack of homicides on days with extremely cold temperatures that was found by Cheatwood in Baltimore) is to be expected by chance. Under a model in which the number of homicides and the maximum temperature are independent, the probability that a day will fall below the cold floor is small. The Baltimore data do not support a model in which extremely cold weather suppresses human aggression.
ANG II-induced neointimal growth is mediated via cPLA2- and PLD2-activated Akt in balloon-injured rat carotid artery.

Angiotensin II (ANG II) promotes neointimal growth in the balloon-injured rat carotid artery. However, the mechanism by which ANG II stimulates neointimal growth during vascular injury is not known...
Segmental in vivo vertebral motion during functional human lumbar spine activities

Quantitative data on the range of in vivo vertebral motion is critical to enhance our understanding of spinal pathology and to improve the current surgical treatment methods for spinal diseases. Little data have been reported on the range of lumbar vertebral motion during functional body activities. In this study, we measured in vivo 6 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) vertebral motion during unrestricted weightbearing functional body activities using a combined MR and dual fluoroscopic imaging technique. Eight asymptomatic living subjects were recruited and underwent MRI scans in order to create 3D vertebral models from L2 to L5 for each subject. The lumbar spine was then imaged using two fluoroscopes while the subject performed primary flexion-extension, left-right bending, and left-right twisting. The range of vertebral motion during each activity was determined through a previously described imaging-model matching technique at L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5 levels. Our data revealed that the upper vertebrae had a higher range of flexion than the lower vertebrae during flexion-extension of the body (L2-3, 5.4 ± 3.8°; L3-4, 4.3 ± 3.4°; L4-5, 1.9 ± 1.1°, respectively). During bending activity, the L4-5 had a higher (but not significant) range of left-right bending motion (4.7 ± 2.4°) than both L2-3 (2.9 ± 2.4°) and L3-4 (3.4 ± 2.1°), while no statistical difference was observed in left-right twisting among the three vertebral levels (L2-3, 2.5 ± 2.3°; L3-4, 2.4 ± 2.6°; and L4-5, 2.9 ± 2.1°, respectively). Besides the primary rotations reported, coupled motions were quantified in all DOFs. The coupled translation in left-right and anterior-posterior directions, on average, reached greater than 1 mm, while in the proximal-distal direction this was less than 1 mm. Overall, each vertebral level responds differently to flexion-extension and left-right bending, but similarly to the left-right twisting. This data may provide new insight into the in vivo function of human spines and can be used as baseline data for investigation of pathological spine kinematics.
Laser-induced fluorescent of rare earth elements in the inductively coupled plasma

Abstract Laser-induced fluorescence measurements of five lanthanide rare earth elements (Ce, Dy, Er, Gd and Sm) have been performed in the inductively coupled plasma. Analytical limits of detection are reported for comparison with other standard methods of elemental analysis. In addition, a preliminary study of a typical spectral interference of two rare earth elements (Dy and Gd) indicates that the usually high spectral selectivity of one-step laser-induced fluorescence can be degraded at high laser intensities.
Integrating Spreadsheet Engineering in a Management Science Course: A Hierarchical Approach

Business students who rely on spreadsheets can use management science only to the extent that they can build a spreadsheet model of an unstructured business situation. Spreadsheets are the primary vehicle for analytical work in business, are advantageous for modeling and model representation, and are used by management science practitioners as well as end-user modelers. There is a common misperception that spreadsheets are somehow “easy” to use. However, the spreadsheet is a powerful rapid development computer programming language that requires software engineering for serious work. People struggle to efficiently build effective, transferable spreadsheet models. Students need certain spreadsheet engineering principles that they do not know, but value highly when they learn them. Spreadsheet engineering can be taught using a hierarchical “Skills, Capabilities and Practices Model.” Low-level “Skills” need to be evaluated and fixed early in a spreadsheetoriented management science course. High-level “Capabilities” and “Practices” should be integrated throughout the course. Embracing spreadsheet engineering provides a magnificent opportunity for management science instructors to increase relevance and student satisfaction while increasing the likelihood of management science application by our graduates.
Comparative study of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy in patients with neoplastic disease.

The specific application of aspiration and biopsy are evaluated by a comparative study since both are uncomplicated procedures and may be performed simultaneously through a single skin incision. Following aspiration, biopsy was performed at the same site with the Westerman-Jensen modified Silverman needle. During the period of study (1961 to 1965) 239 conjoint aspirations and biopsies were obtained from 225 cases at Memorial Hospital. The results of aspiration and biopsy were complementary in patients with carcinoma and malignant lymphoma. The 2 techniques were of equal value in cases of leukemia but biopsy alone was of value in diagnosing Hodgkin's disease and myelofibrosis. Neither method was very helpful in patients with reticulum cell sarcoma. An additional study showed that the observers could not predict marrow cellularity from aspirated material. The authors conclude that aspiration is the most effective method for studying cellular morphology. Biopsy, on the other hand, should be used to assess marrow cellularity and to diagnose cases of aplastic anemia metabolic bone disease, myelofibrosis and granulomatous involvement such as Hodgkin's disease. The 2 techniques should be combined in patients with suspected carcinoma or malignant lymphoma.
CATHOLICISM AND MODERNITY

Reinhold Niebuhr records in his notebook for 1927 the experience of being present as a young minister at an open forum which met in a high school in Detroit. One man asked him when he thought the Lord would come again; another tried to get him to agree that all religion is fantasy. Reflecting on these two widely divergent positions, Niebuhr wrote: "How can an age which is so devoid of poetic imagination as ours be truly religious?"' A year earlier, Paul Claudel, reflecting on the situation in eighteenth and nineteenth century Catholicism, had written: "The crisis ... was not primarily an intellectual crisis ... I would prefer to say it was the tragedy of a starved imagination".2 In these two reflections we have an indication of a frequently neglected area of encounter between Christianity and modernity, namely, the imagination. Facing modernity, as Catholics have had to do during the last quarter century, has meant severe institutional, intellectual, and spiritual stresses and strains. In the course of this paper I shall be considering some of these stresses and strains; but I hope that I can manage to convey, however indirectly and impressionistically, my conviction that the remedy lies at least as much in the realm of imagination as in the realms of institution, doctrine, or moral practice. I shall begin with some reflections on the institutional background, not because I think that the institution holds the key to the rest, or because I attach importance to ecclesiastical power-play, but because, as a matter of historical fact, aggiornamento in the Catholic Church originated at an institutional level and only later developed an impetus of its own. The Second Vatican Council, convoked by John
PLAYMAKER: a knowledge-based approach to characterizing hydrocarbon plays

This paper discusses the design and implementation of PLAYMAKER: a knowledge base system for characterizing hydrocarbon plays. PLAYMAKER is a component of XX (eXpert eXplorer), a workstation-based tool that aids exploration geologists in a number of different tasks: sediment and carbonates simulation, play and field characterization, retrieval and storage of information in a geological database, comparison of play or field under study with other fields in the database, and report generation. PLAYMAKER is implemented using MIDST (Mixed Inferencing Dempster Shafer Tool), a rule-based expert system shell that incorporates mixed-iniative reasoning and inexact reasoning based on the Dempster-Shafer evidence combination scheme. This paper discusses the effectiveness of a two-level knowledge base structure adopted for the design and implementation of PLAYMAKER.
Solute clustering in Al–Mg binary alloys

Clustering of Mg in Al–Mg binary alloys is studied by means of atomistic simulations. The phenomenon is analysed in the undistorted Al lattice, as well as in the presence of dislocations. In the undistorted lattice, Mg has a tendency to cluster in a coherent phase. The binding energy of this structure is rather low and it dissolves at room temperature, and only dynamic associations of doublets or triples of solute atoms are observed. Increasing the temperature above 100°C inhibits the formation of any solute short range order. The application of a homogeneous hydrostatic strain has no effect on clustering. In the presence of dislocations and at room temperature, Mg clusters at cores forming the coherent phase observed in the undistorted lattice at low temperatures. Clustering at the cores of all types of dislocations is discussed. It is shown that the size, shape and structure of the cluster cannot be predicted using elementary calculations based on the pressure field generated by the unclustered dislocation. Furthermore, the field of the clustered dislocation is observed to differ from that of the unclustered defect, even at distances as large as 20 Burgers vectors from the core. The variation of the stacking fault due to clustering is determined by simply monitoring the distance between partials, which is observed to decrease upon clustering.
Social capital and student learning: Empirical results from Latin American primary schools

Abstract This paper presents an empirical analysis of the relationship between social capital and student math and language achievement and the probability of promotion, using data gathered from fourth grade classrooms in public schools in four Latin American cities. The results suggest that social capital among teachers in a school, between teacher and students, and among the students in a classroom contribute significantly to learning achievement and the probability of promotion. Furthermore, social capital between the students matters at least as much as the teacher's social capital. Children learn from each other and the networks allowing that to happen can be very important. The current pressure on teachers to achieve results on reading and math scores has tended to push teachers to “teach to the test”. Ironically, this study's results indicate that spending time in creating social capital within the classroom environment is associated with higher language and math test scores.
The role of solution in the formation of boudinage and transverse veins in carbonate rocks at Rheems, Pennsylvania

The interaction of pressure solution with extensional strain is the most important factor influencing boudinage and vein structures in a mesoscopically folded sequence of subgreenschist-grade carbonate rocks from the overturned limb of the Lebanon Valley fold nappe at Rheems, Pennsylvania. The formation of stylolites and slickolites in association with boudins and veins indicates that extreme bed-normal contraction is intimately connected with bed-parallel extension. A variety of boudin shapes in dolomitic beds, from rectilinear to pinch-and-swell and fish-mouth structures, are formed by a combination of cataclastic flow and heterogeneous pressure solution. Many veins record catastrophic failure and collapse of wallrock prior to or during crystallization of the vein-fill. At the earliest stage of boudinage, veins in boudin necks are straight and perpendicular to bedding. With continued extension, they adopt a bow-tie form in cross section as a result of inward flow of the surrounding matrix and pressure solution of the fragment corners and vein margins. With continued stylolitization and separation of boudins, bow-tie veins are converted into transverse veins of extraordinary dimension. Failure to recognize the role of pressure solution in the formation of boudinage structure may result in inaccurate estimates of extension, erroneous assumptions regarding volume change, and incorrect interpretations of the changes in stress regime with time.
Financial challenges in remarriage

Remarried couples, especially those with children from a previous marriage, face financial complexities unknown to couples in their first marriages. The few empirical investigations which have explored this feature of stepfamily life have revealed that couples often have a difficult time with the financial functioning aspect of their remarriage. While further research is needed to examine the dynamics of the financial aspects of remarriage, educators and counselors need to begin to help remarried couples to develop management strategies for coping with their unique situations. Recommendations for a workshop are made and resources are listed.
Moderating Effects of Aggression on the Associations between Social Withdrawal Subtypes and Peer Difficulties during Early Adolescence.

Recent research has revealed significant heterogeneity in the peer difficulties associated with social withdrawal subtypes during early adolescence, but little is known about possible sources of that heterogeneity. This study of 194 Indian young adolescents (48% female; 90% Hindu; M age = 13.35 years) evaluated whether the peer adversity related to self-reported social withdrawal subtypes (shyness, unsociability, avoidance) varied as a function of peer-nominated overt and relational aggression, and gender. Regression analyses revealed that overt aggression and gender moderated the pathways between shyness and peer exclusion and peer victimization such that the associations were significant and positive only for boys who were high and girls who were low in overt aggression. Several additional moderator effects were found, including results revealing that relational aggression (in certain cases, in conjunction with gender) moderated the association between: (1) avoidance and peer exclusion and peer rejection, (2) shyness and peer rejection, and (3) unsociability and peer victimization. For adolescents who were average and low in relational aggression, avoidance was positively related to peer rejection, and unsociability was positively related to peer victimization. However, only for boys who were high in relational aggression, avoidance was found to be positively related to peer exclusion, and shyness was positively related to peer rejection. The findings highlight the importance of considering additional individual risk factors in studies of social withdrawal subtypes and point to important differences for young adolescent withdrawn boys and girls.
Carbon dioxide emission tallies for 210 U.S. coal-fired power plants: A comparison of two accounting methods

Annual CO2 emission tallies for 210 coal-fired power plants during 2009 were more accurately calculated from fuel consumption records reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) than measurements from Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Results from these accounting methods for individual plants vary by ± 10.8%. Although the differences systematically vary with the method used to certify flue-gas flow instruments in CEMS, additional sources of CEMS measurement error remain to be identified. Limitations of the EIA fuel consumption data are also discussed. Consideration of weighing, sample collection, laboratory analysis, emission factor, and stock adjustment errors showed that the minimum error for CO2 emissions calculated from the fuel consumption data ranged from ± 1.3% to ± 7.2% with a plant average of ± 1.6%. This error might be reduced by 50% if the carbon content of coal delivered to U.S. power plants were reported. Imp...
Kinetics of acetyl-CoA synthetase—II. Product inhibition studies☆

Abstract Product inhibition studies with bovine heart mitochondrial acetyl-CoA synthetase yielded the following results: 1. 1. Uncompetitive inhibition by AMP, and noncompetitive inhibition by acetyl-CoA as product inhibitors, both with CoA as the variable substrate. 2. 2. Competitive inhibition by both AMP and acetyl-CoA as product inhibitors with either acetate or MgATP as the variable substrate. The uncompetitive inhibition by AMP with CoA as the variable substrate, and the competitive inhibitions by AMP and acetyl-CoA with either MgATP or acetate as variable substrate can perhaps be reconciled by a model in which AMP induces randomness in the addition of MgATP and acetate, but not the release of acetyl-CoA and AMP, while acetyl-CoA induces randomness in both the addition and release of these substrates and products.
Response surface of daily thyroid hormone rhythms in young chickens exposed to constant ambient temperature

Abstract Response surface models were developed by multiple regression techniques to describe daily rhythms of plasma thyroid hormones in young chickens during acclimation to a wide range of ambient temperatures (Ta). Seventy-two Leghorn cockerels were raised in six environmental chambers under a 12L:12D light/dark cycle. Beginning at 21 days of age, two replicate chambers provided Ta treatments of 10, 24, or 38°. During Day 6 of acclimation, blood samples were obtained at 0800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2400, and 0400 hr for thyroid hormone analyses. Plasma triiodothyronine (T3) levels showed a convex response to the experimental region (10 to 38°, and 0800 to 0400 hr under a 12L:12D light/dark cycle), whereas the plasma thyroxine (T4) response surface was concave. In particular, heat exposure (38°) depressed (P T 3 T 4 levels. The average daily T 3 T 4 molar ratio for heat-exposed birds was 0.16 while the average T 3 T 4 ratio was higher (P
Analytic inversion of Fisher's information matrix for delay, delay rate, and higher derivatives

Fisher's information matrix for delay (which corresponds to range), Doppler (range rate), and higher derivatives was recently presented by Schultheiss and Weinstein [1], [2]. Its inverse, which provides a lower bound on the error covariance matrix, was obtained numerically by them. An analytic inversion is presented here. It applies to the case of one reference signal (single-frequency) and one received signal, delayed and contaminated by white noise. The analytic inversion provides an insight on the increases in the variances of delay and Doppler estimations in the presence of higher derivatives. Asymptotically, the delay variance increases linearly with the highest derivative order, and the Doppler variance increases cubically.
Enhanced corrosion resistance of AA 2024-T3 and hot-dip galvanized steel using a mixture of bis-[triethoxysilylpropyl]tetrasulfide and bis-[trimethoxysilylpropyl]amine

Abstract The corrosion resistance of AA 2024-T3 and hot-dip galvanized steel (HDG) was studied after treatment with bis-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide (bis-sulfur silane), bis-[trimethoxysilylpropyl]amine (bis-amino silane), and their mixture. Electrochemical tests in neutral 0.6 M NaCl as well as scanning electronic microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were performed. The results showed that: (1) hydrophilic bis-amino silane did not offer good corrosion protection on either of the metals. This is probably because the bis-amino silane film tends to be positively charged. This promotes ingress of anions like Cl − ions as well as water into the film by electrostatic attraction. As a result, corrosion readily proceeds at the interface. (2) Hydrophobic bis-sulfur silane performed very well on AA 2024-T3, but failed on HDG. The failure here stems from non-uniform film coverage on HDG owing to an insufficient wetting of bis-sulfur silane solution on the Zn oxide on HDG. Local corrosion initiates at defective sites which are poorly covered by the silane film. (3) A bis-sulfur/bis-amino mixture at the ratio of 3/1 greatly enhanced the corrosion resistance of both AA 2024-T3 and HDG. This substantial improvement is achieved by selectively overcoming the major shortcomings of the individual silanes.
On Solitary Rossby Waves

Abstract A variational principle and an associated integral invariant are constructed for two-dimensional (non-divergent) waves of permanent form in a Rossby β-plane. A solitary-wave solution is obtained, and it is shown that the effects of cubic nonlinearity may be comparable with those of quadratic nonlinearity and may limit the amplitude of the wave.
Peritoneal eosinophils during intermittent peritoneal dialysis.

Peritoneal eosinophil counts were investigated in 61 intermittent dialysis patients over the course of 1 year. The peritoneal eosinophil percentage fell from 18 ± 2% (mean ± SEM) in the first 2 months
Cloth femoral-popliteal bypass grafts in 29 diabetic patients.

Cloth femoral-popliteal bypass grafts were inserted in 29 diabetic patients, in 28 of whom the saphenous vein was unavailable. Fourteen of 29 grafts were open longer than one year, and only two of the 14 subsequently closed. Four grafts were open more than four years. However, seven patients had spontaneous graft closure during the first year. The accumulated five-year patency rate was 59%. A walking foot was preserved for a significant period for 19 of the patients. All but one of the nine patients whose graft closed required a major amputation, while one of the sixteen patients with open grafts came to a major amputation. The relationship of the popliteal anastomosis to the knee joint did not affect late closure rate.
Video compression with 1-D directional transforms in H.264/AVC

Typically the same transforms, such as the 2-D Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), are used to compress both images in image compression and prediction residuals in video compression. However, these two signals have different spatial characteristics. In [1], we analyzed the difference between these two signals and proposed 1-D directional transforms for prediction residuals. In this paper, we provide further experimental results using these transforms in the H.264/AVC codec and present other related information which can provide insights in understanding the use of these transforms in video coding applications.
An Inert Gas Tracer System for Monitoring the Real-Time History of a Diffusing Plume or Puff.

Abstract A brief description is given of the Hanford inert gas tracer system employed in atmospheric diffusion studies. Among the advantages of the system are the detailed histories of concentration generated simultaneously at 64 field positions, and the ability to disperse instantaneous point sources (puffs) as well as longer duration releases (plumes). Concentration measurements are made to a distance of 800 m from the source. Sample data resulting from a puff and a plume release are given. A minor amount of data analysis follows. Mean effective transport height resulting from the ground-level puff release are found to increase from 0.9 m at 200 m from the source to 1.7 m at a distance of 800 m. For the continuous plume, corresponding effective transport heights from a release 1 m above the surface were found to be 1.2 m and 1.6 m. For the puff, the ratio of σz to σv was found to be 3.9 at 200 m from the source, and 4.2 at 800 m.
On the TRAIL of a new therapy for leukemia

The cytokine TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) as well as agonistic antibodies that bind to the TRAIL receptors, death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5, are undergoing preclinical and early clinical evaluation as potential therapeutic agents for a variety of hematological and nonhematological malignancies. Here, we briefly review the normal biological function of TRAIL, the mechanism of cytotoxicity of TRAIL receptor ligands, and their effects on normal myeloid progenitors, myelodysplastic marrow and leukemic cells, including acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in vitro. Recent observations suggesting that DR4 is the predominant receptor for the cytotoxic effects of TRAIL in CLL and that histone deacetylase inhibitors synergize with TRAIL in CLL in vitro are described and discussed. Collectively, the reviewed studies not only illustrate the potential therapeutic usefulness of TRAIL and the agonistic antibodies, but also highlight the need for additional preclinical evaluation of these agents.
Notice of Violation of IEEE Publication Principles Software components adaptive integration

The key to integration is determining the relationship between what components are potentially reusable and how they can be properly adapted. This paper addresses how the results of specification matching can be used to guide the selection and application of adaptation tactics and automate component adaptation and system integration based on type, interface, and behavior adaptation.
Infrared Spectral Detectivity of Cr-doped GaAs

The room‐temperature spectral detectivity of Cr‐doped GaAs has been examined in the impurity excitation region out to 1.7 μ, a range which includes the wavelengths of several important lasers as well as low‐loss optical fibers. The results include values of D* greater than 1011 cm Hz1/2/W in the photoconductive mode, and 1010 cm Hz1/2/W in the photomagnetoelectric mode. Small carrier lifetimes, ∼10−8 sec, offer the potential of high‐speed operation; however, the measured response times are much larger, ∼10−3–10−2 sec, because of very high input impedances. Formulas are presented to show the variation of D* with relevant parameters, and means of improving the performance are discussed.
Perinatal (fetal and neonatal) germ cell tumors

Abstract Background/Purpose Germ cell tumors are relatively common in the fetus and neonate and are the leading neoplasms in some perinatal reviews. The purpose of this study is to focus on the fetus and neonate in an attempt to determine the various ways germ cell tumors differ clinically and morphologically from those occurring in the older child and adult and to show that certain types of tumors have a better prognosis than others. Methods The author conducted a retrospective review of perinatal teratomas and other germ cell tumors reported in the literature and of patients treated and followed up at Children's Hospital San Diego and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Only fetuses and infants less than 2 months of age with adequate clinical and pathologic data were accepted for review. Results Five hundred thirty-four fetuses and neonates presented with teratomas diagnosed prenatally (n = 226) and at birth (n = 309). The most common initial finding was a mass, noted either by antenatal sonography or by physical examination during the neonatal period, with signs and symtoms referable to the site of origin. Overall polyhydramnios was next followed by respiratory distress and stillbirth. The number of mature and immature teratomas was approximately the same. The incidence of teratoma with yolk sac tumor either at presentation or at recurrence was 5.8%, and the survival rate was 39%. Sacroccoccygeal teratomas had the highest incidence of yolk sac tumor at 10%. Recurrent disease in the form of either teratoma or yolk sac tumor developed in 5% of patients. All individuals with teratomas who survived received surgical resection. Conclusions Some germ cell tumors of the fetus and neonate have a better prognosis than others. Neonates with gastric teratomas have the best survival rates, and those with intracranial germ cell tumors the worst. Fetuses with teratomas detected antenatally have 3 times the mortality rate compared with postnatally diagnosed neonates. Although perinatal teratomas have a relatively low recurrence rate of 5%, close follow-up with imaging studies and serum α-fetoprotein determinationsis is strongly recommended. Surgical resection alone may be adequate therapy for teratomas with nonmetastatic, microscopic foci of yolk sac tumor. In the nonteratoma group, patients with pure yolk sac tumor and gonadoblastoma have a much better outcome than those with choriocarcinoma, which has a very low survival of rate of 12%. Currently, the use of platinum-based combination chemotherapy has significantly improved the survival rate of infants with advanced malignant germ cell tumor disease.
Optimization in a vintage capital model with piecewise linear cost function

Abstract The paper investigates a nonlinear optimal control problem for the Volterra integral equations with an unknown function in the lower limit of integration. The applied interpretation of the problem consists of the optimal renovation of vintage capital under the embodied technological change. An explicit solution is constructed and its properties are analyzed in the case of a nonlinear revenue dependence on product output.
Performance evaluation of programs for the error and complementary error functions

This paper presents methods for performance evaluation of computer programs for the functions erf(x), erfc(x), and ex2 erfc(x). Accuracy estimates are based on comparisons using power series expansions and an expansion in the repeated integrals of erfc(x). Some suggestions for checking robustness are also given. Details of a specific implementation of a test program are included.
Elastic modeling of bone at nanostructural level

Abstract Bone is a connective tissue which gives body its support and stability. In mechanical terms, bone is a nanocomposite material with a complex hierarchical structure which contributes to bone's excellent mechanical properties, including high stiffness, strength and fracture toughness, and light weight. At nanoscale, cross-linked collagen molecules, hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals, water, and a small amount of non-collagenous proteins (NCPs) form mineralized collagen fibrils (MCF). The MCF serves as the primary building block of bone, and, thus, its physical and mechanical characterization is critical for finding structure–property relations in bone and understanding bone's overall behavior. In this paper, we review the composition and structure of the MCF and summarize the existing models proposed in literature to predict its effective elastic response. These models can be classified into the following four categories: I. Models based on strength of materials approach which are mainly variants of Voigt and Reuss bounds. Most of such models were originally proposed for characterization of composite materials; however, they are also applicable to model a MCF as a collagen–HA composite. II. Models based on micromechanics theories. III. Computational models, involving mostly a finite element method (FEM). IV. Atomistic simulations using molecular dynamics (MD). Each of these types of models has some advantages and disadvantages. The strength of materials models are simpler mathematically but they involve approximate solutions, while the micromechanics approaches usually involve simpler geometrical models which are solved more rigorously. Computational models, based mainly on the finite element method, can account more precisely for the structural features of bone including collagen–HA arrangement, collagen cross-links, and collagen–HA interphase. MD simulations, conducted at the atomic level and over very small regions, provide insights into properties of collagen molecules and fibrils, the effect of collagen cross-linking, and collagen–HA interphase, and can serve as inputs for continuum-based models. In this paper, we outline some representative models of bone at nanoscale (mineralized collagen fibril) and discuss the assumptions, limitations, and drawbacks of these models, present their comparison, and offer recommendations on the future work in this area. Such discussion will help to develop more complete models of MCF addressing physical, mechanical, and biological aspects of bone's behavior at the nanoscale. Furthermore, it will shed light on designs of collagen–HA nanocomposites with desired mechanical properties which can be used as biomaterials for orthopedic applications such as surface coatings for implant materials, as bone substitutes, and as scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration.
High-Frequency and -Field EPR Spectroscopy of Tris(2,4-pentanedionato)manganese(III): Investigation of Solid-State versus Solution Jahn−Teller Effects

High-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy of a classical coordination complex, Mn(acac)3 (Hacac = 2,4-pentanedione), has been performed on both solid powder and frozen solution (in CH2Cl2/toluene, 3:2 v/v) samples. Parallel mode detection X-band EPR spectra exhibiting resolved 55Mn hyperfine coupling were additionally obtained for frozen solutions. Magnetic susceptibility and field-dependent magnetization measurements were also made on powder samples. Analysis of the entire EPR data set for the frozen solution allowed extraction of the relevant spin Hamiltonian parameters: D = −4.52(2); |E| = 0.25(2) cm-1; giso = 1.99(1). The somewhat lower quality solid-state HFEPR data and the magnetic measurements confirmed these parameters. These parameters are compared to those for other complexes of Mn(III) and to previous studies on Mn(acac)3 using X-ray crystallography, solution electronic absorption spectroscopy, and powder magnetic susceptibility. Crystal structures have bee...
Control of Thermo-Acoustics Instabilities: The Multi-Scale Extended Kalman Approach

"Multi-Scale Extended Kalman" (MSEK) is a novel model-based control approach recently found to be effective for suppressing combustion instabilities in gas turbines. A control law formulated in this approach for fuel modulation demonstrated steady suppression of a high-frequency combustion instability (less than 500Hz) in a liquid-fuel combustion test rig under engine-realistic conditions. To make-up for severe transport-delays on control effect, the MSEK controller combines a wavelet -like Multi-Scale analysis and an Extended Kalman Observer to predict the thermo-acoustic states of combustion pressure perturbations. The commanded fuel modulation is composed of a damper action based on the predicted states, and a tones suppression action based on the Multi-Scale estimation of thermal excitations and other transient disturbances. The controller performs automatic adjustments of the gain and phase of these actions to minimize the Time-Scale Averaged Variances of the pressures inside the combustion zone and upstream of the injector. The successful demonstration of Active Combustion Control with this MSEK controller completed an important NASA milestone for the current research in advanced combustion technologies.
Representation of dielectric function of magnetized plasma

A representation of the dielectric function of a uniform magnetized plasma with bi‐Maxwellian or model loss‐cone distribution functions, which is convenient for computational purposes in the case of large temperature anisotropy or propagation at large angles with the magnetic field, is presented.
Purification and characterization of an oat fructan exohydrolase that preferentially hydrolyzes beta-2,6-fructans.

Oat (Avena sativa cv Fulghum) fructan hydrolase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size-exclusion chromatography. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity as determined by the presence of a single band (43 kD) on a silver-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. A mixture of [beta]-2,6-linked fructan (neokestin) isolated from oat was used as the substrate to purify fructan hydrolase. Neokestin and small degree of polymerization fructan isomers were used to characterize the substrate specificity of the purified enzyme. The purified fructan hydrolase catalyzed hydrolysis of the terminal [beta]-2,6 linkage of 6G,6-kestotetraose 3.5 times more rapidly than it hydrolyzed the terminal [beta]-2,6 linkage of 6G-kestotriose and approximately 10 times faster than it hydrolyzed the terminal [beta]-2,1 linkage of chicory inulin. Sucrose and 1-kestose were not substrates. The Km for neokestin ([beta]-2,6-linked fructans with a degree of polymerization of 7–14) hydrolysis was 2.8% (w/v), and the Vmax was 0.041 [mu]mol min-1 mL-1. The Km for hydrolysis of 6G,6-kestotetraose was 5.6% (w/v), and the Vmax was 0.138 [mu]mol min-1 mL-1. Catalysis was exolytic and by multiple chain attack. Hydrolysis of neokestin was maximal at pH 4.5 to 5.0.
An Information Potential Approach to Integrated Sensor Path Planning and Control

This paper presents an information potential method for integrated path planning and control. The method is applicable to unicycle robotic sensors deployed to classify multiple targets in an obstacle-populated environment. A new navigation function, referred to as information potential, is generated from the target conditional mutual information, and used to design a closed-loop stable switched control law. The information potential is shown to obey the properties of potential navigation functions and to enable measurements that maximize the information value over time. The information potential is also used to construct a local roadmap for escaping local minima. The properties and computational complexity of the local roadmap algorithm are analyzed. Numerical simulation results show that the method outperforms other strategies, such as rapidly exploring random trees and classical potential field methods.
An Automated Photometric Telescope

A photometric system providing automated telescope control and data gathering recently has been completed at Michigan State University. At present it is possible to do sequential 3-, 4-, or 5-color photometry.
A developmental model for generating frequency maps in the reptilian and avian cochleas

Hair cells in the turtle cochlea are frequency-tuned by a mechanism involving the combined activation of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and Ca(2+)-activated K+ (KCa) channels. The main determinants of a hair cell's characteristic frequency (Fo) are the KCa channels' density and kinetics, both of which change systematically with location in the cochlea in conjunction with the observed frequency map. We have developed a model based on the differential expression of two KCa channel subunits, which when accompanied by concurrent changes in other properties (e.g., density of Ca2+ channels and inwardly rectifying K+ channels), will generate sharp tuning at frequencies from 40 to 600 Hz. The kinetic properties of the two subunits were derived from previous single-channel analysis, and it was assumed that the subunits (A and B) combine to form five species of tetrameric channel (A4, A3B, A2B2, AB3, and B4) with intermediate kinetics and overlapping distribution. Expression of KCa and other channels was assumed to be regulated by diffusional gradients in either one or two chemicals. The results are consistent with both current- and voltage-clamp data on turtle hair cells, and they show that five channel species are sufficient to produce smooth changes in both Fo and kinetics of the macroscopic KCa current. Other schemes for varying KCa channel kinetics are examined, including one that allows extension of the model to the chick cochlea to produce hair cells with Fo's from 130 to 4000 Hz. A necessary assumption in all models is a gradient in the values of the parameters identified with the cell's cytoplasmic Ca2+ buffer.
Effect of direct vasodilation with hydralazine versus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with captopril on mortality in advanced heart failure: the Hy-C trial.

To compare the benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and direct vasodilation on the prognosis of advanced heart failure, 117 patients evaluated for cardiac transplantation who had severe symptoms and abnormal hemodynamic status at rest were randomized to treatment with either captopril or hydralazine plus isosorbide dinitrate (Hy-C Trial). Comparable hemodynamic effects of the two regimens were sought by titrating vasodilator doses to match the hemodynamic status achieved with nitroprusside and diuretic agents, attempting to achieve a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 15 mm Hg and a systemic vascular resistance of 1,200 dynes.s.cm-5. Treatment with the alternate vasodilator was started because of poor hemodynamic response or side effects (40% of patients in the captopril group and 22% in the hydralazine group). Adequate hemodynamic response in patients with a serum sodium level less than 135 mg/dl was more likely with hydralazine than with captopril (71% vs. 33%, p = 0.04). Isosorbide dinitrate was prescribed in 88% of the hydralazine-treated patients and 84% of the captopril-treated patients. The hemodynamic improvements from each regimen were equivalent. After 8 +/- 7 months of follow-up, the actuarial 1-year survival rate was 81% in the captopril-treated patients and 51% in the hydralazine-treated patients (p = 0.05). The improved survival with captopril resulted from a lower rate of sudden death, which occurred in only 3 of 44 captopril-treated patients compared with 17 of 60 hydralazine-treated patients (p = 0.01). In the subset of patients who continued treatment with the initial vasodilator, results were similar to those for the entire treatment group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)