cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthetic Biology: A Bridge between Artificial and Natural Cells

Artificial cells are simple cell-like entities that possess certain properties of natural cells. In general, artificial cells are constructed using three parts: (1) biological membranes that serve as protective barriers, while allowing communication between the cells and the environment; (2) transcription and translation machinery that synthesize proteins based on genetic sequences; and (3) genetic modules that control the dynamics of the whole cell. Artificial cells are minimal and well-defined systems that can be more easily engineered and controlled when compared to natural cells. Artificial cells can be used as biomimetic systems to study and understand natural dynamics of cells with minimal interference from cellular complexity. However, there remain significant gaps between artificial and natural cells. How much information can we encode into artificial cells? What is the minimal number of factors that are necessary to achieve robust functioning of artificial cells? Can artificial cells communicate with their environments efficiently? Can artificial cells replicate, divide or even evolve? Here, we review synthetic biological methods that could shrink the gaps between artificial and natural cells. The closure of these gaps will lead to advancement in synthetic biology, cellular biology and biomedical applications.
Symmetry characterization of Pimenov's spacetime: A reformulation of causality axioms

In modern physics, many theories are formulated in terms of symmetries; therefore, if we want to incorporate, e.g., space-time physics into modern physics, it is desirable to reformulate space-time physical theories in terms of symmetries. In this paper, we provide such a reformulation for an axiomatic theory of kinematic causality.
The effect of vitamin B12 on the synthesis of phospholipides and sphingosine in the developing chick embryo

Abstract Total phospholipide and the three fractions, lecithin, cephalin, and sphingomyelin, were decreased in the vitamin B12-deficient chick embryo. Although growth of the deficient embryo as measured by dry weight or total nitrogen was significantly retarded at 18 and 21 days of age, the total phospholipide content of the embryo at 21 days was reduced to an even greater extent. The three phospholipide fractions were not decreased proportionately in a B12 deficiency. Lecithin decrease was correlated with growth retardation, whereas both cephalin and sphingomyelin were decreased to a greater extent than was growth. A decrease in the synthesis of sphingosine was noted in the B12-deficient embryo. However, the decreased synthesis was directly proportional to growth retardation, indicating that sphingosine synthesis was not a limiting factor for sphingomyelin formation.
Visual sustained attention: image degradation produces rapid sensitivity decrement over time

Perceptual sensitivity to a visual target presented in a random continuous sequence of targets and nontargets decreased rapidly over time when stimuli were highly degraded visually but not when moderately degraded or undegraded. Large declines in sensitivity, independent of changes in response criterion, were found after only 5 minutes of observation. These rapid decrements of sensitivity to degraded targets seem to result from demands on the limited capacity of visual attention.
The Randomization Technique as a Modeling Tool and Solution Procedure for Transient Markov Processes

We present a randomization procedure for computing transient solutions to discrete state space, continuous time Markov processes. This procedure computes transient state probabilities. It is based on a construction relating a continuous time Markov process to a discrete time Markov chain. Modifications and extensions of the randomization method allow for computation of distributions of first passage times and sojourn times in Markov processes, and also the computation of expected cumulative occupancy times and expected number of events occurring during a time interval. Several implementations of the randomization procedure are discussed. In particular we present an implementation for a general class of Markov processes that can be described in terms of state space S, event set E, rate vectors R, and target vectors T-abbreviated as SERT. This general approach can handle systems whose state spaces are quite large, if they have sparse generators.
Passive sound localization of prey by the pallid bat (Antrozous p. pallidus).

The pallid bat (Antrozous p. pallidus) uses passive sound localization to capture terrestrial prey. This study of captive pallid bats examined the roles of echolocation and passive sound localization in prey capture, and focused on their spectral requirements for accurate passive sound localization.
Wide-band adaptive antenna nulling using tapped delay lines

For some applications it is desirable to have an antenna which can adaptively form antenna pattern "nulls" in the directions of a collection of interference sources. These nulls are generally required to be below some specified level of directive gain over the entire system bandwidth. Typically the nulls are formed by adaptively weighting each output of an N -port antenna, such as an N -element array. For large arrays operating over wide percentage bandwidths, some sort of frequency compensation is required at each output port to accomplish broad-band nulling. One technique commonly used is to employ a "tapped" delay line at each element output, with controllable weights (frequency independent) at the output of each tap. The objective of this paper is to develop some insight into the way in which delay-line compensation leads to improved performance, to develop some quantitative estimates of how performance varies with antenna and delay-line parameters, and to develop some tools useful in the performance evaluation of frequency-dependent weighting. Practical considerations dictate that only a minimum number of taps/ element be utilized. A primary consideration is to minimize the number of taps required for a specific system performance. With this objective in mind, we develop an analytic solution characterizing the two-element array, employing a two-tap delay line with each element. This provides valuable insight into the mechanism of delay-line compensation. Results for this simple case will then be extended to the N -element planar array using N_{t} taps/element. Tap spacing which optimizes the array performance from the viewpoint of providing wide-band nulls on sources incident on the array from locations arbitrarily specified over the antenna field of view is developed and applied to numerous types of array configurations. The composite performance of nine specific array configurations is used to estimate the number of taps and tap spacing which would be required for an arbitrary array configuration, as a function of the array and delay-line parameters \Delta_{\gamma m} = (2_{\pi}D/\lambda) \sin \theta_{m} , FBW, \phi_{0} , and N_{t} where FBW is the fractional bandwidth (100\ast FWB = percentage nulling bandwidth), \theta_{m} is the maximum scan angle off broadside, \phi_{0} is the tap spacing (in degrees, relative to the center-band frequency), D is the maximum aperture dimension, and N_{t} is the number of taps. The implications of using an Applebaum-Howells type of adaptive processor to determine the delay-line output weighting, and the algorithm effects on performance, are also developed.
Osmotic fragility of premammalian erythrocytes

Abstract 1. 1. The degree of hemolysis in graded NaCl solutions (the osmotic fragility) was determined on blood from 35 premammalian vertebrates and from 9 mammals. 2. 2. Amphibian cells were the toughest, that, is the most resistant to hemolysis —lysing only in very dilute saline. 3. 3. Reptilian cells were the next resistant, measurable hemolysis starting between 0·4 and 0·3% saline. 4. 4. In birds and the majority of mammals, erythrocytes lysis started at 0·55% sodium chloride and was complete by 0·35%. 5. 5. Fish and elasmobranch cells were the most fragile being partially lysed even in 1·0% saline. 6. 6. In spite of these wide variations in fragility, the cells from each class were well adapted to their surrounding media as shown by the good correlation between plasma osmolarity and sodium chloride concentration necessary to produce 50 per cent lysis. 7. 7. Osmotic fragility did not correlate with cell size.
Focus of attention in the Hearsay-II speech understanding system

Using the concepts of stimulus and response frames of scheduled Knowledge source instantiations, competition among alternative responses, goals, and the desirability of a knowledge source instantiation, a general attentional control mechanism is developed. This general focusing mechanism facilitates the experimental evaluation of a variety of specific attentional control policies (such as best-first, bottom-up, and top-down search strategies) and allows the modular addition of specialized heuristics for the speech understanding task. Empirical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the focusing principles, and possible directions for future research are considered.
Sports participation of children with or without developmental delay: Prediction from child and family factors

Sports participation is beneficial to health and socioemotional adjustment in youth across development. While there is some evidence indicating lower sports participation for children with developmental delays (DD) as compared with their typically developing (TD) peers, little is known as to the predictors of this differential participation. Given the increased risk of physical and mental health difficulties for children with DD, understanding more about this disparity is important. We examined sports participation in elementary school-aged children with or without DD and examined child and family predictors of three indices of sports participation: number of sports and highest relational sport at ages 6 and 8, and consistent sports from 6 to 8. Children with TD were significantly higher on all three indicators. Mother and child factors related significantly to sports participation indices. The number of sports related positively to mother education and positive perceptions and negatively to mother employment. Relational sports were higher in boys, children with higher social skills, and lower behavior problems. In regression analyses at child age 8 that included these other variables, delay status (DD or TD) did not have a significant effect. Perspectives on varying influences on sports participation and implications for intervention are discussed.
Statistical analysis of Lyapunov exponents from time series: A Jacobian approach

In this paper, we provide a statistical analysis for the Lyapunov exponents estimated from time series. Through the Jacobian estimation approach, the asymptotic distributions of the estimated Lyapunov exponents of discrete-time dynamical systems are studied and characterized based on the time series. Some new results under weak conditions are obtained. The theoretical results presented in the paper are illustrated by numerical simulations.
Gender Biases in Gerontological Education

Abstract We surveyed 25 teaching texts and reference sources, and more than 1200 journal articles, to determine the coverage of older women's issues in the gerontological literature. Despite the fact that most older adults are women and the clear importance of understanding gender differences in aging, little scholarship is currently focused on older women. On average, we found them mentioned in only four percent of the content of textbooks, handbooks, and encyclopedias, and the focus of fewer than four articles annually per journal. Older women's issues, and gender differences in aging, remain fertile and important areas for researchers, authors, and educators.
Correlation between microbial community and granule conductivity in anaerobic bioreactors for brewery wastewater treatment

Prior investigation of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating brewery wastes suggested that direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) significantly contributed to interspecies electron transfer to methanogens. To investigate DIET in granules further, the electrical conductivity and bacterial community composition of granules in fourteen samples from four different UASB reactors treating brewery wastes were investigated. All of the UASB granules were electrically conductive whereas control granules from ANAMMOX (ANaerobic AMMonium OXidation) reactors and microbial granules from an aerobic bioreactor designed for phosphate removal were not. There was a moderate correlation (r=0.67) between the abundance of Geobacter species in the UASB granules and granule conductivity, suggesting that Geobacter contributed to granule conductivity. These results, coupled with previous studies, which have demonstrated that Geobacter species can donate electrons to methanogens that are typically predominant in anaerobic digesters, suggest that DIET may be a widespread phenomenon in UASB reactors treating brewery wastes.
Testicular Regression and Recovery in the Chukar Partridge as Affected by Photoperiod

Abstract Rates of testicular regression and recovery were determined in some 90 chukar partridge males killed after various periods of exposure during a 50-day period of nonstimulatory light (8L:16D); another group was killed during a 50-day period of stimulatory light (16L:8D). Both testes were removed from the birds at time of slaughter, and testicular wt. and lengths were recorded. The left testis from all males was fixed in Bouins solution, and histological sections were later prepared for microscopic examination. After exposure to 12 days of nonstimulatory light, both testes had regressed approximately 81% in wt. and about 49% in length. After 50 days of nonstimulatory light, the average wt. of the two testes was about 0.035 g., representing a total weight reduction of about 97%. When cycled to sexual maturity under stimulatory light (16L:8D), proliferation of the testes was gradual over the first 14 days, but very rapid from the 15th to about the 40th day, at which time near-maximum wt. was attained. Histological evidence indicated that the seminiferous tubules reach full spermatogenesis after about 24 days of exposure to stimulatory light, but that fertilization potential requires at least 38 days of exposure. There was a high positive correlation (r=.972) between the average weight (x) and the length of the left testis (y). The formula y = .000041 X3.412 fits a scatter diagram for the curvilinear regression of length (mm.) on weight (g.). It is proposed that reliable estimates of left testis wt. can be made from measurements of the length of the left testis in laporatomized birds and that these variables can be related to the stage of spermatogenesis.
Sewage Sludge/Metal Sludge/Waste Oil Composites as Catalysts for Desulfurization of Digester Gas

Composite adsorbents based in mixtures of sewage sludge/metal sludge and waste oil were prepared by pyrolysis at 650 and 950 °C. The materials were characterized using adsorption of nitrogen, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively couple plasma (ICP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), pH measurements, and thermal analysis. As-received materials were used as adsorbents of hydrogen sulfide from digester gas. To evaluate the importance of waste oil addition, the results were compared to those obtained on sewage sludge/metal sludge composites. The results clearly showed the importance of the carbonaceous phase from the oil precursor for enhancing the catalytic properties. Besides providing porosity, necessary for a dispersion of inorganic sludge base catalyst, an addition of a carbon phase alters the surface chemistry via providing a more reducing environment during the pyrolysis and via providing the carbon for more efficient formation of such compounds as carbides. The res...
Towards a microstructural description of the superconducting properties

A discussion is provided of the state of our microstructural knowledge about filamentary Nb-Ti and Nb 3 Sn conductors. The situation is believed to be much clearer for Nb-Ti than for Nb 3 Sn, due to recent successes in elucidating the microstructures of Nb-Ti composites by TEM. Considerable changes in some earlier ideas of flux pinning are proposed and some semi-quantitative measures of precipitate flux pinning in Nb-Ti alloys are described. The situation is less advanced for Nb 3 Sn. The J c is controlled by a greater number of variables and it is in general not clear that individual microstructural measurements can be taken to be typical of the whole composite.
How to wring a table dry: entropy compression of relations and querying of compressed relations

We present a method to compress relations close to their entropy while still allowing efficient queries. Column values are encoded into variable length codes to exploit skew in their frequencies. The codes in each tuple are concatenated and the resulting tuplecodes are sorted and delta-coded to exploit the lack of ordering in a relation. Correlation is exploited either by co-coding correlated columns, or by using a sort order that leverages the correlation. We prove that this method leads to near-optimal compression (within 4.3 bits/tuple of entropy), and in practice, we obtain up to a 40 fold compression ratio on vertical partitions tuned for TPC-H queries.We also describe initial investigations into efficient querying over compressed data. We present a novel Huffman coding scheme, called segregated coding, that allows range and equality predicates on compressed data, without accessing the full dictionary. We also exploit the delta coding to speed up scans, by reusing computations performed on nearly identical records. Initial results from a prototype suggest that with these optimizations, we can efficiently scan, tokenize and apply predicates on compressed relations.
Self-assembled coordination cage as a reaction vessel: Triplet sensitized [2+2] photodimerization of acenaphthylene, and [4+4] photodimerization of 9-anthraldehyde

Inner cavity of Pd-nanocage has been used as a reaction vessel for performing triplet sensitized [2+2] photodimerization of acenaphthylene using water soluble xanthene dyes (Eosin Y and Rose Bengal) as sensitizers, and [4+4] photodimerization of 9-anthraldehyde. Although the [4+4] photodimerization of 9-anthraldehyde gave similar results to solution reaction, the xanthene dye sensitized [2+2] triplet state photodimerization of acenaphthylene encapsulated within Pd-nanocage yielded the syn dimer in quantitative yield. The results obtained from the triplet state [2+2] photodimerization of acenaphthylene within Pd-nanocage is remarkable given the fact that the photodimerization reaction when performed in methanol in the presence of Eosin Y and Rose Bengal gave the syn and anti dimers in the ratio 0.5 and 0.6, respectively. Preaggregation of molecules encapsulated inside Pd-nanocage in a syn fashion seems to be the governing factor for such a behavior.
Transitioning from group care to family care: Child welfare worker assessments

Abstract This study explored the perspectives of child welfare workers of 232 youth currently placed in group care. Qualitative comments from workers were coded to identify barriers to placing youth in a family setting. Workers were also asked to assess the youth's readiness to transition to family care. Logistic regression identified several youth and family characteristics significantly associated with being assessed as a good candidate for family care. Worker assessment of good candidacy for family care was also significantly associated with being placed in a family setting six months later. Using discriminant function analysis, other variables were identified that more accurately predicted subsequent family care placement. Recommendations for designing efforts to transition youth from group care to family care are presented.
Infrared optical properties of III–V and II–VI superlattices

The infrared optical properties arising from fundamental and intersubband absorption in III–V and II–VI semiconductor superlattices (SL) are calculated using a superlattice representation formalism. The SL electronic structure at finite wavevector K is obtained from the known K = 0 solutions using SL K· p theory. The theoretical fundamental absorption curves for HgTe/HgCdTe SL are in excellent agreement with recent experimental data. Intersubband absorption between the lowest conduction subbands Cl and C2 is large in both the thick and thin barrier limit, and of potential technological importance.
Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of low attenuation lesions on computed tomography

La tomodensitometrie s'est revelee precieuse dans l'evaluation des tumeurs intracrâniennes. Les lesions de faible attenuation peuvent presenter des difficultes diagnostiques. On rapporte 3 cas dans lesquels l'imagerie de resonance magnetique a permis de differencier des lesions intracrâniennes solides de lesions kystiques
Expression of Anthocyanins in Callus Cultures of Cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait )

Expression of anthocyanins and other flavonoids in callus cultures established from different parts of cranberry plant was investigated and the effect of explant source on the in vitro product was determined. Callus cultures were initiated from different parts of the plant in a modified Gamborg's medium with 5.37 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid, 0.45 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 2.32 μM kinetin in the dark at 25 o C. Callus cultures accumulated anthocyanins only on exposure to light and maximum concentration was observed by day 12. The cultures had lower levels of anthocyanins and only cyanidin 3-galactoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, and cyanidin 3-arabinoside were identified in all cultures regardless of source of explant. Proanthocyanidin accumulation in cultures was independent of light, and levels were higher than in mature fruit. Exposure to light induced accumulation of flavonols and enhanced activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in the cultures
From TDHF to hydrodynamics

Abstract The Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock theory provides a microscopic approach to the scattering of heavy ions. Fundamental in this theory is a mean(one-body) field. The calculation of this field from a two-body effective interaction makes the theory microscopic. Many-body effects are included by the Brueckner definition of this interaction; the reaction-matrix. In excited media it is in general complex allowing for decays. The imaginary part relates directly to the collision-term in a transport equation. We treat this term by the time-relaxation-method. This implies an extension of the TDHF-equation to include two-body collisions. Hydrodynamic equations are derived from this new equation. The solution of the two equations agree quantitatively for short-relaxation-times. Relaxation-times are calculated as a function of temperature.
A constructive debate with the cdc on the empirical case definition of chronic fatigue syndrome

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates of the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have dramatically increased over the past 20 years, from 0.002% to 2.54%. Once considered a rare disorder, CFS is now characterized as a more common chronic health condition, with prevalence numbers suggesting that more than 4 million people in the United States have it. The authors’ research group proposes that selection criteria for CFS cases have broadened and provides data indicating 38% of those with a Major Depressive Disorder were misclassified as having CFS under the new CDC empirical case definition. The authors respond to concerns cited in Reeves, Gurbaxani, Lin, and Unger (2009). Given the importance of standardizing procedures for identifying CFS, more research is needed using different criteria on samples of patients with CFS and other illnesses. The erroneous inclusion of people with primary psychiatric conditions in CFS samples has detrimental consequences for interpreting epid...
Tin distribution in adult rat tissues after exposure to trimethyltin and triethyltin

The time course of distribution of tin in the adult rat was determined in brain, liver, kidneys, heart, and blood following single ip administrations of trimethyltin hydroxide (TMT) and triethyltin bromide (TET). Adult Long-Evans rats were killed 1, 4, 12, and 24 hr, and at 5, 10, or 22 days following injection of TMT and TET (N = 6/time), and tissues were analyzed for total tin by atomic absorbance spectroscopy. TET exposure resulted in higher tin concentrations in brain, liver, and kidney tissues, while the two trialkyltins resulted in approximately equal tin concentrations in the heart and blood. Rates of elimination of tin (expressed as elimination rate constants, Kel) were greater in all tissues following TET exposure than following TMT exposure. The concentration of tin in the brain 12 hr after TMT exposure was 4.4, 8.5, and 12.7 ng tin/mg protein for dosages of 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 mg/kg, respectively. Tin was evenly distributed across the cerebellum, medulla-pons, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and striatum following TMT exposure. These results describe major differences in the disposition and rates of elimination of tin from body tissues after TMT and TET exposure, and demonstrate that the regional disposition of tin is not related to the region-specific pathology reported following TMT exposure.
The optimal timing of referral to an intestinal failure program: the relationship between hyperbilirubinemia and mortality

Abstract Purpose Multidisciplinary treatment of pediatric intestinal failure has shown promising results. However, there are limited data as to the optimal time frame for referral of patients to intestinal failure programs. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of hyperbilirubinemia at referral with patient outcomes in a multidisciplinary program. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of a prospectively collected database from a multidisciplinary intestinal failure program. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age at referral was used to model the association between the conjugated bilirubin at referral and risk of mortality. Median values with range are reported. Results Sixty-two patients were referred from 2005 to 2009. Patients presented at age 6.4 months (0.4-261.4 months) and were followed up for 16.8 (0.3-53.0) months. Nine subjects (14.5%) died, and 12 subjects (19.4%) were listed for combined liver-intestine transplant. A 50% mortality was seen in patients referred with a conjugated bilirubin ≥7.2 mg/dL (n = 12), whereas mortality at referral bilirubin levels P = .001; 95% confidence interval, 2.8-83.4). Conclusion Within a pediatric intestinal failure program, mortality is associated with the degree of hyperbilirubinemia at time of referral. These data strongly suggest that these patients should be referred to a multidisciplinary program early in the evolution of their liver disease.
Bronchoconstriction provoked by exercise in a high-particulate-matter environment is attenuated by montelukast.

AbstractAirborne ultrafine and fine particulate matter (PM1 from fossil-fueled internal combustion engines may cause abnormal airway narrowing. Because of high PM1 exposure from ice resurfacing machines, the ice-rink athlete is especially vulnerable to PM1 toxicity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate protection by a single dose of montelukast in college ice hockey players following PM1 exposure exercise. Nine male ice hockey players (age 19.3 ± 1.22 yr) performed 4 randomized, double-blinded, high-intensity, 6-min cycle ergometer trials in low [PM1] (2260 ± 500 particles/cm3) and high [PM1] (348,600 ± 121,600 particles/cm3) after placebo or montelukast. Pre- and postspirometry showed similar peak FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 s) falls between placebo and montelukast after low [PM1] trials (14.5 ± 18.06 vs. 9.5 ± 11.75% of baseline, respectively). Peak FEV1 falls after high [PM1] trials were greater for placebo than for montelukast (17.3 ± 9.79% vs. 1.7 ± 5.77% of baseline; p < .0001). High [P...
A P60 mutant of Listeria monocytogenes is impaired in its ability to cause infection in intragastrically inoculated mice

A spontaneous P60 mutant of Listeria monocytogenes was less able to cause systemic infection in A/J mice, following intragastric inoculation, than the parental wild type strain (SLCC 5764, serotype 1/2a). Significantly fewer CFU were recovered from internal organs (spleen, liver, gall bladder) and from the cecum of mice inoculated intragastrically with the P60 mutant than mice inoculated with wild type L. monocytogenes. The P60 mutant also exhibited a diminished ability to invade and multiply within Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. These findings indicate that P60 is required for maximal virulence of L. monocytogenes in the gastrointestinal tract of mice.
Control of the transient behaviour of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems

AbstractThe transient behaviour of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system following abrupt changes in the stack current is analysed using a non-linear dynamic, control-oriented computer model. Such changes in the stack current are associated with the abrupt changes in power demanded by a vehicle powered by the fuel cell system. The PEMFC system analysed consists of air and fuel supply subsystems, a perfect air/fuel humidifier, and a fuel cell stack, and is assumed to operate under a constant fuel cell temperature. The model is next used to develop a feedback control scheme to regulate the transient behaviour of the PEMFC system with respect to maintaining the necessary level of the oxygen partial pressure in the cathode following abrupt changes in the stack current demanded by the user. Maintaining the level of oxygen in the cathode is critical to prevent short circuit and membrane damage. The results obtained indicate that the oxygen level in the cathode can be successfully maintained us...
Analysis of subspace-based direction of arrival estimation methods

In this paper, a general framework for the analysis of eigen-based subspace methods is developed. It is shown that a two-step procedure can be effectively used to analyse subspace methods under fairly general conditions. The first step relates the errors in the covariance matrix to errors in the subspaces, and the second step relates error in the subspaces to the errors in the direction of arrival (doa) estimates. Combining these two steps along with the statistics of the data, expressions for the mean squared error in thedoa estimate are derived. The potential of the approach is demonstrated by analysing two subspace methods,music and the minimum-norm method.
Plasma factor XIII: understanding the 99%

In this issue of Blood , Katona et al show that the A and B subunits of plasma factor XIII (pFXIII) bind with substantially tighter affinity than previously thought, and narrow the B subunit residues mediating this interaction to the second sushi domain. 1
Effect of annealing on the conduction mechanism in amorphous silicon

Abstract This paper reports the effect of annealing on conduction mechanisms in amorphous silicon films. High field transport is mainly by the Poole-Frenkel mechanism in unannealed films of amorphous silicon. As they are annealed, the conduction meachnism changes from Poole-Frenkel to space charge conduction. The films are fully annealed at 120°C for 15 h and any more annealing for longer periods does not change the I – V characteristics. From the measured values of threshold voltage at which space charge conduction sets in, the density of localized states around the Fermi level is calculated to be about 10 17 –10 18 /eV · cm 3 which agrees very well with our results from other experimental techniques.
Moral tribes: Emotion, reason, and the gap between us and them

This is an ambitious book. In 400 pages, Joshua Greene attempts both philosophically and scientifically to demonstrate that utilitarianism is an adequate ‘meta-morality’ for adjudicating among the ...
Approximation to a parabolic system modeling the thermoelastic contacts of two rods

In this article, we study a sequence of finite difference approximate solutions to a parabolic system, which models two dissimilar rods that may come into contact as a result of thermoelastic expansion. We construct theapproximatesolutionsbasedonasetoffinitedifferenceschemestothesystem, andwewillprovethatthe approximate solutions converge strongly to the exact solutions. Moreover, we obtain and prove rigorously the error bound, which measures the difference between the exact solutions and approximate solutions in a reasonable norm. c 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 14: 1{25, 1998
Differential games and optimal pursuit-evasion strategies

In this paper it is shown that variational techniques can be applied to solve differential games. Conditions for capture and for optimality are derived for a class of optimal pursuit-evasion problems. Results are used to demonstrate that the well-known proportional navigation law is actually an optimal intercept strategy.
Cumulative effect of repeated impacts on lumbar intervertebral disc mechanics: A diurnal cycle study

High speed boat operators in the U.S. Navy frequently suffer from low back pain and accelerated intervertebral disc degeneration, stemming from the large accelerations experienced while navigating on the open seas. Previous work has shown that these accelerations produce high-magnitude axial loads on the disc, causing the tissue to behave with increased stiffness and lower energy dissipation compared to more physiological quasistatic loading. The aim of this project is to further investigate impact loading events and their cumulative effect on disc mechanical behavior during a 24-hr diurnal (sleep-wake) cycle. Lumbar discs from bovine spines were loaded in compression to 400N for 16 hrs to simulate moderate loading activity; this load was reduced to 50N to represent overnight loading for 8 hrs. Samples were divided into two groups: a control which was tested as previously described, and an impact group, which had one hour of repeated impact events within the 16-hr functional loading period. Results showed disc height lost during the 16-hr period and regained during the 8-hr period was not significantly different between the two groups. Stiffness, energy dissipation, and neutral zone were measured at 0, 16, and 24 hrs; no significant differences were shown in the two groups among these time periods. Future efforts may involve testing throughout several diurnal cycles to see if there is an effect.
Underwater noise and transmission loss from vibratory pile driving

High levels of underwater sound can be produced in vibratory pile driving that can carry regulatory implications. In this presentation, observations of underwater noise from vibratory pile driving made with a vertical line array placed at range 17 m from the source (water depth 7.5 m) are discussed, along with simultaneous measurements made at ranges of order 100 m. It is shown that the dominant spectral features are related to the frequency of the vibratory pile driving hammer (typically 15–35 Hz), producing spectral lines at intervals of this frequency. Homomorphic analysis removes these lines to reveal the underlying variance spectrum. The mean square pressure versus depth is subsequently studied in octave bands in view of the aforementioned spectral line property, with depth variation well modeled by an incoherent sum of sources distributed over the water column. Adiabatic mode theory is used to model the range dependent local bathymetry, including the effect of elastic seabed, and comparisons are made with simultaneous measurements of the mean-square acoustic pressure at ranges 200 and 400 m. This approach makes clear headway into the problem of predicting transmission loss versus range for this method of pile driving.
Kirikou and the animated figure/body

AbstractThis article offers Michel Ocelot's animation in Kirikou et la sorciere/Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998) and Princes et princesses (2000) as a test case for notions of spectatorship and our understanding of the embodied animated character. It also looks back to theorists Etienne Souriau, Edgar Morin and Jean Mitry to apply their concepts of the cinematic character to Ocelot's work as well as Murray Smith's studies of character identification.
A paradigm for the mechanisms and products of spontaneous polymerizations

In spontaneous vinyl and ring-opening copolymer- izations, polar and resonance effects on the intermediates from bond- forming initiation offer a continu- ous spectrum of reactivities and polymer structures. In bond-form- ing initiation, an electron-rich donor monomer forms a bond to an acceptor monomer. The donor monomer may be a vinyl monomer with O, N, or aryl substituent or it may be an aza- or oxacycle. The acceptor monomer may be a vinyl monomer carrying CN, COOR, or SO2R substituent or it may be a cyclic anhydride or maleimide. Beyond this, the donor may have a p-like strained single bond, whereas the acceptor may be an electrophilic quinodimethane. Lewis acids may be used to enhance the electrophi- licity of acceptor monomers. Reac- tion rates and polymer composition are determined by systematically varying the stability of the first intermediate, designated P (for polymethylene). The nature of the intermediate will vary from a highly reactive trans biradical, which initiates chain alternating copolymerization, to a cis/gauche zwitterion, which can initiate chain ionic homopolymerization, to an extremely stabilized zwitterion, which cannot add monomer, but builds up in concentration and ter- minates by combination, forming alternating copolymer. This model embraces the existing literature for a wide variety of monomers and possesses predictive power. V C 2009
Exonuclease Function of Human Mre11 Promotes Deletional Nonhomologous End Joining

DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are lethal if not repaired and are highly mutagenic if misrepaired. Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is one of the major DSB repair pathways and can rejoin the DSB ends either precisely or with mistakes. Recent evidence suggests the existence of two NHEJ subpathways: conservative NHEJ (C-NHEJ), which does not require microhomology and can join ends precisely; and deletional NHEJ (D-NHEJ), which utilizes microhomology to join the ends with small deletions. Little is known about how these NHEJ subpathways are regulated. Mre11 has been implicated in DNA damage response, thus we investigated whether Mre11 function also extended to NHEJ. We utilized an intrachromosomal NHEJ substrate in which DSBs are generated by the I-SceI to address this question. The cohesive ends are fully complementary and were either repaired by C-NHEJ or D-NHEJ with similar efficiency. We found that disruption of Mre11 by RNA interference in human cells led to a 10-fold decrease in the frequency of D-NHEJ compared with cells with functional Mre11. Interestingly, C-NHEJ was not affected by Mre11 status. Expression of wild type but not exonuclease-defective Mre11 mutants was able to rescue D-NHEJ in Mre11-deficient cells. Further mutational analysis suggested that additional mechanisms associated with methylation of Mre11 at the C-terminal glycine–arginine-rich domain contributed to the promotion of D-NHEJ by Mre11. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which Mre11 affects the accuracy of DSB end joining specifically through control of the D-NHEJ subpathway, thus illustrating the complexity of the Mre11 role in maintaining genomic stability.
Development and Application of Linear Programming Planning Methods for Pumped Storage Hydro

A linear programming model for electric generation planning has been extended to provide the options required for pumped storage hydro planning. Pumped storage hydro is defined by installed capacity and capacity factor. The corresponding four options desirable planning purposes are the capability to 1) specify capacity factor and solve for optimal installed capacity or 2) solve for both optimal installed capacity and capacity factor. The model calculates the total electric planning strategy that minimizes present worth cost, or any other objective specified by the planner subject to the input option and data base. The planner can also perform the primary and secondary objective analysis via a sequential objective feature.
Constraints on Pomeron couplings from multiple diffractive dissociation

Abstract Double diffractive dissociation proceeding through single Pomeron exchange is shown to give a contribution to the total cross section growing like ln s , if the triple-Pomeron coupling does not vanish. Similarly, the exchange of N Pomerons would lead to a (ln s ) N growth. This inconsistency of the simple Pomeron pole model of diffractive scattering is somewhat stronger than the ln ln s inconsistency previously obtained and shows: (1) nonvanishing of the triple-Pomeron coupling leads to a violation of the Froissart bound, and (2) Pomeron decouplings cannot be circumvented by Regge trajectories with α ′(0) = ∞. We note that multiple diffraction dissociation processes are strongly constrained by unitary whatever the detailed nature of the Pomeron.
Superplasticity in a nickel silicide alloy-microstructural and mechanical correlations

Abstract The superplastic properties of a nickel silicide based intermetallic alloy have been investigated as a function of strain, strain rate and temperature. The evolution of the microstructure during superplasticity, including grain growth, grain refinement and cavitation, is reviewed. The relationship of the flow stress to strain and to strain rate and the activation energy of the deformation process have been established. Finally, deformation mechanisms for superplasticity in the alloy at intermediate and high strain rates are proposed.
Supraspinal and spinal delta2 opioid receptor-mediated antinociceptive synergy is mediated by spinal alpha2 adrenoceptors

Abstract Concurrent administration of low doses of [D-Ala2,Glu4]deltorphin (DELT) in the spinal cord and rostral ventromedial medulla of the rat produces a synergistic antinociception in the tail-flick test. It was postulated that the synergistic antinociception results from an interaction of the intrathecally-administered DELT with norepinephrine released in the spinal cord as a result of the microinjection of DELT in the rostral ventromedial medulla. Three approaches were taken to test this hypothesis. The first experiment determined that microinjection of DELT in the rostral ventromedial medulla produced an increase in tail-flick latency that was partially attenuated by intrathecal administration of the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine. These data indicated that microinjection of DELT in the medulla causes a release of norepinephrine in the spinal cord. The second experiment determined that intrathecal co-administration of DELT with the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine in a 2:1 fixed dose ratio produced a synergistic antinociception in the tail-flick test. The final experiment determined that the antinociception produced by concurrent medullary and intrathecal administration of DELT was completely antagonized by intrathecal administration of yohimbine. Taken together, these findings support the hypothesis that the synergistic antinociception produced by concurrent activation of medullary and spinal delta2 opioid receptors is mediated, in part, by endogenous norepinephrine release in the spinal cord. The norepinephrine, acting at alpha2-adrenoceptors, interacts in a synergistic manner with intrathecally administered DELT, acting at spinal delta2 opioid receptors, to produce antinociception.
Compatibility of structural materials with fusion reactor coolant and breeder fluids

Abstract Fusion reactors are characterized by a lithium-containing blanket, a heat transfer medium that is integral with the blanket and first wall, and a heat engine that couples to the heat transfer medium. A variety of lithium-containing substances have been identified as potential blanket materials, including molten lithium metal, molten LiF-BeF2, Pb-Li alloys, and solid ceramic compounds such as Li20. Potential heat transfer media include liquid lithium, liquid sodium, molten nitrates, water, and helium. Each of these coolants and blankets requires a particular set of chemical and mechanical properties with respect to the associated reactor and heat engine structural materials. This paper discusses the materials factors that underlie the selection of workable combinations of blankets and coolants. It also addresses the materials compatibility problems generic to those blanket-coolant combinations currently being considered in reactor design studies.
The dependence of permeability on effective stress from flow tests at hot dry rock reservoirs at Rosemanowes (Cornwall) and Fenton Hill (New Mexico)

Effective stress is the primary control on permeability and thus on flow and water loss for two-well hot dry rock systems involving injection and production that have been tested to date. Theoretical relations are derived for the flow between an injector and producer, including the dependence of permeability on effective stress. Four relations for permeability as a function of effective stress are used to match field data for the hot dry rock systems at Rosemanowes, Cornwall, and Fenton Hill, New Mexico. The flow and water loss behavior of these systems are well explained by the influence of effective stress on permeability. All four relations for permeability as a function of effective stress are successful in matching the field data, but some have difficulty in determining unique values for elastic and hydrologic parameters.
Altered acetylcholinesterase associated with organophosphate resistance in Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Col., Bostrichidae) populations from Brazil and the United States

Microplate assay format was used to examine the susceptibility of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) to inhibition by malaoxon and chlorpyrifos-methyl oxon in individual adult insects of an organophosphate susceptible and two resistant populations (Marshall and Uberlândia) of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.). AChE from these resistant populations was significantly less sensitive to inhibition by malaoxon, but not by chlorpyrifos-methyl oxon, suggesting that other resistance mechanisms might also contribute to the overall resistance, at least to chlorpyrifos-methyl. The remaining AChE activities in the presence of 10 -4 M malaoxon were 22.8 and 20.3% in the Marshall and Uberlândia populations, respectively, whereas the remaining activity in the susceptible population was 18.9%. Both resistant populations showed about 27% of remaining activity in the presence of 10 -6 M chlorpyrifos-methyl oxon, whereas the remaining activity in the susceptible population was 26.1%. One cycle of selection of the resistant populations with chlorpyrifos-methyl decreased the sensitivity to chlorpyrifos-methyl oxon (≃3%), but increased their sensitivity to malaoxon (3-7%), suggesting that selection with chlorpyrifos-methyl might result in deselection for resistance to malaoxon in these populations. Such effects on the sensitivity of AChE by different organophosphate selections suggest that different modifications in AChE structure might have occurred in these resistant populations of R. dominica.
Polarization Retaining Single-Mode Fiber With Improved Coil Performance

High birefringence, polarization retaining single-mode optical waveguides have been developed for applications requiring stable performance when the fiber is coiled. Recent designs employing high-expansion aluminum-doped stress rods have demonstrated polarization holding parameters better than 6.0 x 10-6m-1 with little degradation of h-parameter or attenuation down to 2 cm diameter coil configurations.