cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FMCW Radar Network: Multiple Access and Interference Mitigation

With the increasing proliferation of radars on vehicles, interference among vehicular radars is becoming a serious issue. In this work, we consider a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar network with coherent radar interference where all radars adopt the same chirp slopes. Four asynchronous non-cooperative media access control (MAC) protocols are used for mutual radar interference mitigation. We propose two cross-layer performance metrics - multiple access capacity and probability of target misdetection to quantify the network performance under each MAC protocol. Based on our analysis and extensive simulations, we find the pure random access achieves a very poor trade-off between multiple access capacity and probability of target misdetection. However, such a trade-off can be significantly improved by frequency hopping and phase coding. This shows that proper MAC protocols can achieve very good performance even without synchronization and coordination. We describe new insights behind such gains that can be valuable for FMCW radar MAC design.
Passive Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging from Non-Contiguous Frequency Bands *

Passive radar systems use signals of opportunity to illuminate targets instead of dedicated radar transmitters. The signals of opportunity have lower bandwidth than dedicated active radar systems, leading to poor downrange resolution. Multiple signals of opportunity can be used to increase the overall bandwidth of the system. These signals are usually separated in the frequency domain (non-contiguous), which causes large unwanted grating lobe artifacts in the image when using a back-projection algorithm. This paper uses a compressive sensing algorithm as a method to create an inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image from the separated signals that does not contain the unwanted artifacts. The back-projection and compressive sensing algorithm performance is compared using simulated data of a Boeing 737. It is shown that compressive sensing can create very clean low sidelobe images from a sparse representation of the measured data, without frequency interpolation or extrapolation.
Properties of orthorhombic Ga2O3 alloyed with In2O3 and Al2O3

Ga2O3 is a promising wide-bandgap material for electronic applications. The metastable orthorhombic κ phase is of particular interest due to its large predicted spontaneous electrical polarization. Here, we investigate how the properties of the orthorhombic phase can be tuned by alloying with In2O3. In particular, we determine how the lattice constants, bandgap, and band offsets change over the full range of possible alloy compositions. For completeness, we also compare to alloys with Al2O3. Lattice constants decrease linearly with Al content, while the bandgaps and conduction-band offsets increase non-linearly, with a bowing of 1.41 eV. Alloying with In2O3 allows to increase the lattice constants linearly and to decrease the bandgaps and conduction-band offsets non-linearly, with a bowing of 0.31 eV. Alloying, therefore, allows for the modification of the structural and electronic properties over a wide range, opening the possibility to tailor the alloy properties to specific applications.
What does ‘toughness’ look like? An examination of the breakdown of young and mature leaves under cyclical loading

The material property of leaf toughness is considered the crucial mechanical challenge facing folivorous primates. Mature leaves have higher recorded toughness values than young leaves on average, ...
A study protocol to prepare an RBD protein for vaccine against COVID-19

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a global threat to humans and the world’s economy. Effective and safe vaccines against this virus are essential to control and eradicate the pandemic. The currently applied vaccines carry SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein mRNA/cDNA. These vaccines go through several cellular processes in the recipients for producing antigens. On the contrary, the SARS-CoV-2 RBD (receptor binding domain)-protein is an antigen. It will directly stimulate antibody production against SARS-CoV-2. Hence, we propose to produce SARS-CoV-2 RBD-protein as a fast acting, effective and safe vaccine. Methods: We propose to reconstruct a plasmid carrying three types of DNA sequences: RBD cDNA, FP (fusion peptide) DNA and sfGFP(superfolder green fluorescent protein), cDNA creating the RBD-FP-sfGFP DNA within an orf (open reading frame). Escherichia coli, C2566H, transformed with the reconstructed plasmid will express RBD-FP-sfGFP fusion protein producing green fluorescent cfu (colony forming unit). The RBD-protein will be separated from the sfGFP using an FP specific enterokinase, and eluted by HIC ( hydrophobic interaction chromatography ), detected with a BioVision Elisa kit, and quantified by spectrophotometry at UV280 nm . Results: The plasmid reconstruct will carry amp r (ampicillin-resistant) gene as a selective marker and a T7 promoter controlling the expression of RBD-FP-sfGFP fusion protein. The transformed Escherichia coli will efficiently express the RBD-FP-sfGFP fusion protein. The highly efficient sfGFP fused within the RBD-FP-sfGFP will produce green fluorescent cfu . The RBD-FP-sfGFP protein extract from the green cfu, digested by enterokinase and separated by the HIC will produce pure RBD protein. Conclusion: A positive BioVision ELISA test detects <10 pg RBD protein/ml of the sample. A larger sample of the purified RBD protein can be used as a vaccine following a standard formulation and safety protocols. Once administered, the RBD protein will stimulate antibody production against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The RBD protein has no potential to recombine with human genome.
Tailoring Nonlinear Interactions in Metamaterials

Recent progress in the field of metamaterials is likely to revolutionize both of the linear and nonlinear optics. The unique properties of metamaterials, including negative index of refraction, magnetism at optical frequencies, and anti-parallel phase and energy velocities were shown to fundamentally change many nonlinear light-matter interactions. In this chapter we discuss a number of unique nonlinear optical properties and novel applications such as backward phase-matched second-harmonic generation and four-wave mixing, entirely new classes of solitons such as plasmon polariton solitons and knotted solitons, reconfigurable nonlinear structures, including nonlinear cloaking devices, light concentrators, and light-tunable metamateria-based lenses, reflectors and beam-shapers.
MYC Analysis by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry in Primary Adrenal Angiosarcoma (PAA): a Series of Four Cases

Primary adrenal angiosarcomas (PAA) are rare with 36 cases reported in the English literature. MYC protein expression and gene amplification have been detected in secondary angiosarcoma (AS), and a subset of primary AS. The aim of this study was to report the clinicopathologic features of PAA and examine these tumors for MYC amplification and protein expression in a small series of four cases (resection, n = 4). Three had available material for ancillary studies and were investigated for MYC gene abnormalities and protein expression using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Tumors occurred in three females and one male with a mean age of 69 (53–75) years. The sizes ranged from 8.5 to 15 (mean 11.5) cm and were epithelioid in morphology. All tumors had prominent necrosis, and the mitotic count ranged from 4 to 41/10 high-power fields (HPFs) (mean 20/10 HPFs, ×400). Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for CD31 in 4/4 cases, CD34 in 1/4 cases, and cytokeratin in 4/4 cases. The mean follow-up period was 10.8 (3–19) months, of which three patients died of disease with distant metastases, and one patient was alive with disease. MYC nuclear staining was identified in the three cases tested. Two cases showed polysomy of chromosome 8 without MYC amplification or rearrangement. Two MYC-positive cases by IHC demonstrated copy number gain in chromosome 8, and one MYC-positive case was not associated with a chromosome 8/MYC gene abnormality. In the context of new targeted therapies, MYC positivity in PAA may be clinically valuable in treating patients with these aggressive neoplasms.
An Einstein Equation for Discrete Quantum Gravity

The basic framework for this article is the causal set approach to discrete quantum gravity (DQG). Let $Q_n$ be the collection of causal sets with cardinality not greater than $n$ and let $K_n$ be the standard Hilbert space of complex-valued functions on $Q_n$. The formalism of DQG presents us with a decoherence matrix $D_n(x,y)$, $x,y\in Q_n$. There is a growth order in $Q_n$ and a path in $Q_n$ is a maximal chain relative to this order. We denote the set of paths in $Q_n$ by $\Omega_n$. For $\omega, \omega '\in\Omega_n$ we define a bidifference operator $\varbigtriangledown_{\omega, \omega '}^n$ on $K_n\otimes K_n$ that is covariant in the sense that $\varbigtriangledown_{\omega, \omega '}^n$ leaves $D_n$ stationary. We then define the curvature operator $\rscript_{\omega, \omega'}^n=\varbigtriangledown_{\omega, \omega '}^n-\varbigtriangledown_{\omega ', \omega}^n$. It turns out that $\rscript_{\omega, \omega '}^n$ naturally decomposes into two parts $\rscript_{\omega, \omega '}^n=\dscript_{\omega, \omega '}^n+\tscript_{\omega, \omega '}^n$ where $\dscript_{\omega, \omega '}^n$ is closely associated with $D_n$ and is called the metric operator while $\tscript_{\omega, \omega '}^n$ is called the mass-energy operator. This decomposition is a discrete analogue of Einstein's equation of general relativity. Our analogue may be useful in determining whether general relativity theory is a close approximation to DQG.
Generation and detection of pulsed microwave signals by THz optoelectronics

A novel electro-optic detection system has be used to characterize the temporal and spatial distribution of free-space broadband, pulsed electromagnetic radiation (MHz/THz beams). We report recent progress in ultrafast optoelectronics in E-field detection application. Basic concepts and preliminary results in the generation, detection, and imaging of pulsed electromagnetic radiation with electro-optic crystals are discussed.
Metabolism of Trimethylamine, Choline, and Glycine Betaine by Sulfate-Reducing and Methanogenic Bacteria in Marine Sediments

The response of methanogenesis and sulfate reduction to trimethylamine, choline, and glycine betaine was examined in surface sediments from the intertidal region of Lowes Cove, Maine. Addition of these substrates markedly stimulated methanogenesis in the presence of active sulfate reduction, whereas addition of other substrates, including glucose, acetate, and glycine, had no effect on methane production. Sulfate reduction was stimulated simultaneously with methanogenesis by the various quaternary amines and all other substrates examined. Incubation of exogenous trimethylamine, choline, or glycine betaine with either bromoethane sulfonic acid or sodium molybdate was used to establish pathways of degradation of the substrates. Methanogenesis dominated the metabolism of trimethylamine, although limited nonmethanogenic activity, perhaps by sulfate-reducing bacteria, was observed. Acetate was oxidized primarily by sulfate reducers. Both choline and glycine betaine were fermented stoichiometrically to acetate and trimethylamine; apparently, neither substrate could be utilized directly by methanogens or sulfate reducers, and the activities of fermenters, methanogens, and sulfate reducers were all required to effect complete mineralization. These observations support the hypothesis that the presence of quaternary amines can mediate the coexistence of sulfate reduction and methanogenesis in marine surface sediments; they also implicate methanogens in the nitrogen cycle of marine sediments containing quaternary amines.
On Construction of the Smallest One-sided Confidence Intervals and Its Application in Identifying the Minimum Effective Dose

The smallest confidence interval for a given class of intervals is defined to be the intersection of all intervals in the class. If it belongs to the given class, we say the smallest interval exists in the class, and this interval is simply the best in that class. In this paper, we introduce a general method by Wang (2009a) to construct the smallest one-sided 1 − α confidence interval when there exist nuisance parameters. As an example, we describe the smallest one-sided 1−α intervals for the difference of two independent proportions p1 − p0 (Wang 2008b) and its application on identifying the minimum effective dose, an important issue in the dose-response study.
Psychometric Assessment of the Burgess-Partner Abuse Scale for Teens (B-PAST)

Purpose . The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Burgess-Partner Abuse Scale for Teens (B-PAST) by examining internal consistency and construct validity. Methods . A convenience sample of 239 teen girls ages 13 to 19 years old that were seen in three private primary health care practices agreed to participate. Subjects were administered two measures of interpersonal violence, two measures of psychosocial well-being, and a demographic questionnaire. Construct validity was assessed by 1) conducting exploratory factor analysis with a priori decision to retain two factors, and 2) measuring differential correlates of interpersonal violence and psychosocial well-being using Pearson correlation. In order to determine the instrument's ability to discriminate between teen girls who reported partner abuse and those who did not report partner abuse, differences in contrasted group means (abused vs. non-abused) were examined. One-way ANOVA was used to determine differences in interpersonal violence and psychosocial wellbeing. The internal consistency of the B-PAST was examined by setting a criterion for the alpha coefficient above .70. Results . The results showed that 70.9% of the variance was explained by the B-PAST. Factor analysis demonstrated a 22-item scale with two distinct subscales. The B-PAST correlated with one measure of interpersonal peer violence (r = .39) and two measures of poor psychosocial well-being, low level of hope and increased depression (r = -.42, r = .46). Differences in contrasted means showed that teen girls who were abused by a partner reported higher scores for interpersonal violence. One-way ANOVA showed that abused teen girls scored higher for interpersonal violence and depression but lower in hope. The internal consistency for the final total scale was .97 and .95 for physical/sexual abuse and .91 for the social/emotional abuse subscales. Conclusions . Results provide support for reliability and validity for the BPAST as a measure of partner abuse in teen girls ages 13 to 19.
A comparison between the sum-product and the min-sum iterative detection algorithms based on density evolution

Recently, density evolution techniques have been used to predict the performance of iterative decoders utilizing the sum-product belief propagation algorithm. We extend this analysis to the min-sum algorithm for binary codes. Using two representative applications, i.e., low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and repeat accumulate (RA) codes, the sum-product and min-sum algorithms are compared. The results demonstrate a performance degradation of 0.27-1.03 dB for the min-sum algorithm, which confirms earlier simulation results. However, it is shown that a small modification to the min-sum algorithm results in an approximate sum-product algorithm, which performs at least as well as the original sum-product algorithm when finite message precision is considered.
Implantation of Autologous Adipose Tissue–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Foot Fat Pad in Rats

Background:The foot fat pad (FFP) bears body weight and may become a source of foot pain during aging. This study investigated the regenerative effects of autologous adipose tissue–derived mesenchy...
A model for signal transmission in an ear having hair cells with free-standing stereocilia. II. Macromechanical stage.

A model of the signal-processing properties of the macromechanical system of the alligator-lizard middle and inner ear is developed. The model is based on measurements (as a function of tone frequency) of ossicular and basilar-membrane motion and of acoustic input-admittance at the tympanic membrane before and after alterations of middle-ear and inner-ear structures. From the structure of the ear, we formulate an equivalent electric network consisting of six admittance blocks and two transformers. The admittance blocks represent the mechanical properties of particular structures, e.g. the tympanic membrane (TM), the ossicle, the TM-ossicular joint, the vestibule, the basilar membrane and the helicotrema. The transformers represent the conversions from acoustical to mechanical variables performed by the TM-ossicular system and by the columella footplate. The block admittances and transformer ratios are inferred from the measurements, and each admittance is approximated by a network with a few simple elements. The resulting model fits the experimental results satisfactorily, allows correlations between specific structures and response behavior, and predicts the macromechanical transfer function. This transfer function acts as the first stage of a model of the alligator-lizard auditory periphery (Weiss et al., Weiss and Leong, 1985, Hearing Res. 20, 131-138, 157-174, 175-195). In the model the frequency dependence of basilar-membrane motion (1) is determined primarily by the tympanic membrane and extracolumella in the middle frequencies and (2) is affected by the helicotrema at low frequencies and the TM-ossicular joint at high frequencies.
The First Nucleotide Binding Fold of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Can Function as an Active ATPase

Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the cell membrane protein called CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) which functions as a regulated Cl- channel. Although it is known that CFTR contains two nucleotide domains, both of which exhibit the capacity to bind ATP, it has not been demonstrated directly whether one or both domains can function as an active ATPase. To address this question, we have studied the first CFTR nucleotide binding fold (NBF1) in fusion with the maltose-binding protein (MBP), which both stabilizes NBF1 and enhances its solubility. Three different ATPase assays conducted on MBP-NBF1 clearly demonstrate its capacity to catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP. Significantly, the mutations K464H and K464L in the Walker A consensus motif of NBF1 markedly impair its catalytic capacity. MBP alone exhibits no ATPase activity and MBP-NBF1 fails to catalyze the release of phosphate from AMP or ADP. The Vmax of ATP hydrolysis (˜30 nmol/min/mg of protein) is significant and is markedly inhibited by azide and by the ATP analogs 2′-(3′)-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-adenosine-5′-triphosphate and adenosine 5′-(β,γ-imido)triphosphate. As inherited mutations within NBF1 account for most cases of cystic fibrosis, results reported here are fundamental to our understanding of the molecular basis of the disease.
EXTENSION OF THE CHOU-YANG MODEL TO MULTIPARTICLE PROCESSES *

A natural and essentially unique extension of the Chou-Yang model to multiparticle processes is presented. The multiparticle amplitudes are derived from the physical ideas of the original Chou-Yang approach. The beam and target particles are treated as extended, non-recoiling, Lorentz-contracted objects which interact and produce particles as they pass through each other. The resulting multiparticle amplitudes satisfy s-channel unitarity exactly. A minor modification allows us to include diffractive inelastic effects. When diffraction is included the connection with the electromagnetic form factor must be given up. The model is in good qualitative agreement with various features exhibited by the data. The model requires the total cross section to rise in a definite way. However, quantitative agreement at ISR energies is far from satisfactory. This is probably due to the "no-recoil" assumption inherent in the Chou-Yang model.
Integrated power management in IoT devices under wide dynamic ranges of operation

By the year 2020 it is expected that corresponding to every human being there would be seven connected devices. These connected devices will usher in the Internet of Things (IoTs) and would percolate every aspect of human life, changing the human experience at a fundamental level. In order to power these devices novel strategies would have to be developed as these devices will not only have a dynamic load, due to multiple features, but also dynamic sources if opportunistic energy harvesting is used to supplement the rechargeable battery. For the power delivery network, figures of merit would be to comprehend both the ability to supply the worst case design as well as to maintain high efficiency across a wide dynamic range. To maintain high efficiency for a large range we will need adaptive components on the load side as well as at the energy source. In this work we will discuss the general IoT power delivery network (PDN), current research and the state of the art PDN components, novel designs and control for interface circuits and energy harvesters.
Effects of estrogen on proton secretion via the apical membrane in vaginal-ectocervical epithelial cells of postmenopausal women.

The main function of the acidic environment of the vaginal lumen is to control infections of the lower genital tract. The vaginal acid-base environment is tightly regulated, and during premenopausal years vaginal-fluid pH ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 with mild alkalinization to about 6.0 before ovulation. Despite its important role, relatively little is known about mechanisms that regulate vaginal-fluid pH in women. Until recently, it was believed that the acidic milieu is determined by cohabituating Doderlein lactobacilli.1 We recently presented data that refute the Doderlein theory by showing that human normal vaginal-ectocervical epithelial cells grown on filters under sterile conditions acidify their luminal solution.2 The effect was estrogen-dependent, and could be blocked by low micromolar concentrations of bafilomycin-A1, indicating active proton (H+) secretion by V-type H+-ATPase3 that is located in the apical membrane (Fig. 1). In this regard, vaginal epithelial cells resemble other H+ secreting cells that regulate acid secretion into the lumen.4-9 FIG. 1 Hypothesis of the present study. Vaginal-ectocervical epithelial cells acidify the lumen by active extrusion of protons via proton transport mechanisms located in the apical cell membrane. Tight junctions (filled horizontal bars) separate the plasma membranes ... After menopause, vaginal-fluid pH increases to 6.5 to 7.0.10 Elevated vaginal-fluid pH has been associated with urinary tract infections,11 vaginal atrophy,12 and dyspareunia.13 Treatment with estrogen can acidify the luminal vaginal pH to 5.5 to 6.5,10 suggesting that alkalinization of the vaginal-fluid pH in postmenopausal women is the result of hypoestrogenism. To test this hypothesis more directly, we used our novel culture system of filter generated vaginal-ectocervical cultured epithelia to determine effects of estrogen on luminal proton secretion in cells of postmenopausal women. The results indicate that treatment with estrogen increases active proton secretion by cells of postmenopausal women. However, luminal pH remained elevated compared with that of cells of premenopausal women, suggesting that in addition to hypoestrogenism, other factors of the aging process affect the capacity of vaginal-ectocervical cells to secrete acid.
Flight Dynamics Modeling and Simulation of a Damaged Transport Aircraft

A study was undertaken at NASA Langley Research Center to establish, demonstrate, and apply methodology for modeling and implementing the aerodynamic effects of MANPADS damage to a transport aircraft into real-time flight simulation, and to demonstrate a preliminary capability of using such a simulation to conduct an assessment of aircraft survivability. Key findings from this study include: superpositioning of incremental aerodynamic characteristics to the baseline simulation aerodynamic model proved to be a simple and effective way of modeling damage effects; the primary effect of wing damage rolling moment asymmetry may limit minimum airspeed for adequate controllability, but this can be mitigated by the use of sideslip; combined effects of aerodynamics, control degradation, and thrust loss can result in significantly degraded controllability for a safe landing; and high landing speeds may be required to maintain adequate control if large excursions from the nominal approach path are allowed, but high-gain pilot control during landing can mitigate this risk.
Specificity of the colorimetric assay of tyrosine with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol

Abstract The commonly used nitrosonaphthol-nitric acid method for colorimetric assay of tyrosine has been shown to lack sufficient specificity, especially with regard to some naturally occurring catabolites of tyrosine. This warrants its more careful use and interpretation. In particular, p-hydroxyphenyl acids give rise to yellow compounds which are spectrally very similar to that formed from tyrosine. The intensity of color produced with tyrosine is considerably greater on a mole basis than color contributed by other hydroxyaromatic acids. Hence, it is only when concentrations of the latter become relatively high that the quantitative assay of tyrosine by this method becomes difficult.
Compensation of beam walk-off in hollow metal waveguides

Hollow metal waveguides feature well collimated beams and small losses across air gaps. This enables introduction of multiple optical beam splitters, or taps, along the waveguide to multicast signals from a source to multiple receivers. The splitters need to be of sufficient thickness to provide mechanical integrity and ease of handling. As a result, passing through the thickness leads to a beam walk-off. Walk-off dependence on the splitter thickness and its effect on the system optical efficiency are investigated. Two methods to compensate the walk-off are described: by offsetting the outgoing waveguide, and by introducing an additional symmetric optical element to shift the beam back to the original optical path. Both methods have been shown to effectively mitigate the walk-off effects.
Atrazine inhibition of testosterone production in rat males following peripubertal exposure.

Atrazine is currently one of the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the US and is the most frequently detected pesticide in ground and surface water. Earlier work by others has raised the possibility that atrazine can act as an endocrine disrupter in rat males. The current study examined testosterone levels following in vivo and in vitro exposure to atrazine. For in vivo exposures, juvenile rat males were administered atrazine 50 mg/kg body weight per day by gavage acutely (from postnatal day (pnd) 46 to 48) and chronically (from pnd 22 to 48). In both acutely- and chronically-treated animals, serum and intratesticular levels of testosterone were significantly reduced by approximately 50%. For in vitro exposures, Leydig cells isolated from rats on pnd 49 were co-cultured with 232 μM atrazine in the presence of a maximally stimulating concentration of luteinizing hormone. Compared with cells cultured with vehicle and luteinizing hormone alone, testosterone production by Leydig cells treated with atrazine was reduced by 35%. A similar decrease was observed when Leydig cells were stimulated with dibuterol cAMP (db-cAMP) in lieu of luteinizing hormone, but not when cells were stimulated with hydroxycholesterol, indicating that the effects of atrazine on testosterone production can be bypassed. Taken together, these results demonstrate that atrazine acts as an endocrine disrupter in rat males by directly inhibiting Leydig cell testosterone production.
Dissolved and labile concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in aged ferrihydrite-organic matter systems

The relative efficiencies of an organic and a mineral component of soils in controlling Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb solubility and dissolution initially and during aging at pH 5.5 for up to 200 days in investigated. Metal retention by a natural organic matter and a mineral model system (ferrihydrite) were tested for the organic and hydrous ferric oxide components separately (ORG and HFO) and in a mixed system (HFO-ORG). Total dissolved and labile concentrations of metals in solution were measured. Initial Cd and Zn solubility in the systems followed the order: HFO > HFO-ORG > ORG. After aging for about 200 days, however, Cd and Zn solubility was HFO = HFO-ORG > ORG. Thus, the organic adsorbate proved to be more efficient in Zn and Cd removal from solution under the conditions used in this study. The HFO system resulted in the highest Cu solubility at intermediate aging times. However, during longer aging, total dissolved Cu increased in the ORG system whereas that in the HFO decreased, so that Cu solubility was lower in HFO after about 200 days. Lead solubility generally remained very low except in the ORG system in which the total dissolved Pb reached 0.25 {micro}M. Themore » ORG system shows that about 75% of total dissolved Cu and 80% of total dissolved Pb exist as nonlabile organo-metal complexes, while soluble nonlabile complexes account for about 40% of dissolved Zn. Cadmium complexation in the ORG system was minimal, thus Cd exists mostly in the free ionic form or as weak (labile) organic complexes.« less
Axiomatizations of Euclidean geometry in terms of points,equilateral triangles or squares, and incidence

Abstract Dimension-free Euclidean geometry over Euclidean ordered fields can be axiomatized in a two-sortedfirst-order language, with points and regular n-gons (with n = 3 or 4) as variables, and with a binary predicate standing for the incidence of a point and a regular n-gon as the only primitive notions.
Oil and Gas Developments in West Virginia in 1954

The total number of wells drilled in West Virginia in 1954 reported to February 25, 1955, was 760, an increase of 48, or 6.74 per cent. Permits to drill or deepen totaled 791, or 79 more than in 1953, or an increase of 11 per cent. Abandoned during the year were 371 gas wells and 164 oil wells, or a total of 535 wells. Wells completed were: gas, 471; oil, 57; oil and gas, 31; storage, brine, water-injection, and pressure wells, 77; dry holes, 124; total, 760. Compared with 1953, gas wells increased 20, or 4.4 per cent; oil wells increased 7, or 14 per cent; oil and gas wells increased 7, or 29 per cent; storage and other wells increased 24, or 56 per cent; dry holes decreased 20, or 13.9 per cent. Depth of wells completed ranged from 471 to 8,185 feet, compared with 345 t 8,508 feet in 1953. Total footage drilled (2,083,554 feet) increased 124,105 feet, or 6.3 per cent over 1953 (1,959,449 feet). The average depth of wells (2,742 feet) increased 4 feet. The total initial daily open flow of the gas wells was 394,025 MCF, an increase of 245 MCF. The size of the gas wells ranged from 7 to 24,000 MCF, compared with 12 to 22,247 MCF in 1953. The total daily initial oil was 1,940½ barrels, 1,342 barrels more than in 1953, or 224.4 per cent. The size of the oil wells ranged from ½ barrel to 275 barrels daily, compared with 3/4 barrel to 90 barrels in 1953. The number of wells drilling or unreported if completed at the end of the year was 257, 12 less than in 1953, a decrease of 4.46 per cent. Letters were sent to 191 operators regarding 398 wells not eported. Replies were received from 106 operators regarding 285 wells, leaving 85 operators unheard from regarding 113 wells. The average size of gas wells was 810 MCF, compared with 850 MCF in 1953, or a 4.7 per cent decrease. The average size of the oil wells was 26.8 barrels, compared with 9.2 barrels in 1953, an increase of 17.6 barrels, or 191.3 per cent. Preliminary estimates of production for 1953: gas, 170,000,000 MCF, compared with 180,000,000 MCF estimated for 1953, or a decrease of 5.55 per cent; oil, 2,900,000 barrels, a decrease of 100,000 barrels under the 1953 estimate (3,000,000 barrels), or 3 1/3 per cent. Production at this high level was largely due to water flooding. The estimated number of producing wells at the end of 1954: gas, 13,884; oil, 12,864. The table of ope ations gives statistics by counties.
On the quantum correction to the rate of the sphaleron transitions

Abstract The quantum correction to the classical sphaleron massin the (1+1)-dimensional abelian Higgs model is evaluated analytically. The semiclassical expansion is shown to break down for a large ratio of the gauge coupling constant to the scalar self-coupling. This suggests that the semiclassical expansion plausibly is not reliable in the Coleman-Weinberg limit of the standard electroweak theory. A compact expression of rather general origin for the entropy factor in the sphaleron background is derived.
Simple example of digital control systems with chaotic rounding errors

Chaotic behaviour due to round-off characteristics in digital compensators is called a chaotic rounding error. First, we show sufficient conditions for the existence of chaotic rounding errors in digital control systems with first-order plants and first-order finite-wordlength compensators. Next, it is shown that a chaotic rounding error, which appears as a chaotic attractor in the state space, can be described by a Markov chain with an appropriate partition of the attractor. Finally, by analysing the Markov chain we calculate several statistical properties of the chaotic rounding error.
Beyond CiSE and Back to the Future

Organizing a special issue on novel architectures for Computing Now offered lessons in what online readers want, as well as a glimpse into what's possible for CiSE.
Corrosion studies of CVD diamond coated molybdenum, evaluation of equivalent circuit and the effect of pinholes in diamond film on cyclic voltammetric behavior

Abstract Boron-doped diamond films have been deposited on molybdenum substrates by a microwave plasma CVD process using a methane and hydrogen gas mixture at a pressure of 35.7 Torr. Boron doping of diamond has been achieved in-situ by using a solid boron source while growing the diamond in the CVD process. Electrochemical polarization measurement in the Tafel regime have been used to evaluate the boron-doped diamond, undoped diamond, molybdenum, platinum, palladium, gold, and silver electrode materials for corrosion resistance characteristics in terms of charge-transfer coefficients and corrosion rate in 0.5 M NaCl solution. Diamond has shown the highest corrosion resistance and is better than the precious materials. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to evaluate the presence of pinholes in the diamond films grown on molybdenum substrates in l M KNO3 solution. AC impedance has been used to determine the double-layer parameters and to fit the experimental data to validate the equivalent circuit corresponding to molybdenum/solution and diamond/solution interface.
Molecular signaling and genetic pathways of senescence: Its role in tumorigenesis and aging

In response to progressive telomere shortening in successive cell divisions, normal somatic cells enter senescence, during which they cease to proliferate irreversibly and undergo dramatic changes in gene expression. Senescence can also be activated by various types of stressful stimuli, including aberrant oncogenic signaling, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Because of the limited proliferative capacity imposed by senescence, as well as the ability of senescent cells to influence neighboring non-senescent cells, senescence has been proposed to play an important role in tumorigenesis and to contribute to aging. Considerable effort has been put into elucidating the molecular mechanisms of senescence, including the signals that trigger senescence, the molecular pathways by which cells enter senescence, and evidence that supports its role in tumorigenesis and aging.
Age-dependent effect of myostatin blockade on disease severity in a murine model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.

Myostatin (MSTN) is a muscle-specific secreted peptide that functions to limit muscle growth through an autocrine regulatory feedback loop. Loss of MSTN activity in cattle, mice, and humans leads to a profound phenotype of muscle overgrowth, associated with more and larger fibers and enhanced regenerative capacity. Deletion of MSTN in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy enhances muscle mass and reduces disease severity. In contrast, loss of MSTN activity in the dyW/dyW mouse model of laminin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy, a much more severe and lethal disease model, does not improve all aspects of muscle pathology. Here we examined disease severity associated with myostatin (mstn−/−) deletion in mice nullizygous for δ-sarcoglycan (scgd−/−), a model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Early loss of MSTN activity achieved either by monoclonal antibody administration or by gene deletion each improved muscle mass, regeneration, and reduced fibrosis in scgd−/− mice. However, antibody-mediated inhibition of MSTN in late-stage dystrophic scgd−/− mice did not improve disease. These findings suggest that MSTN inhibition may benefit muscular dystrophy when instituted early or if disease is relatively mild but that MSTN inhibition in severely affected or late-stage disease may be ineffective.
The politics of Arabic language education: Moroccan immigrant children's language socialization into ethnic and religious identities

Abstract This paper focuses on issues of reproduction and the manufacturing of national/ethnic and religious identities in the deterritorialized space of the Moroccan immigrant diaspora. More specifically, this paper examines Moroccan immigrant children's language socialization into pan-Arabic and Islamic identities in relation to the teaching of the Arabic language to these younger generations of Moroccans, who have either already been born in Spain, or who immigrated to Spain with their parents when they were toddlers. Moroccan immigrant children in this study attend Arabic language classes in a Spanish public school—a relatively new program jointly funded by the Spanish and Moroccan Ministries of Education—and in after-school religious classes in a small oratory-mosque run by a local Islamic cultural organization. In this paper, I address similarities and differences in linguistic and literacy practices between these two contexts, paying particular attention to how the internal dynamism of the Moroccan community itself organizes adults’ socializing efforts in relation to language education, especially where there may be some conflicting interests in achieving literacy by religious and secular elements of the children's communities of origin. Comparing language and literacy practices in the fields of Arabic language classes at the school and in the mosque allows us to trace homologies, or similarity of organization in linguistic and cultural (re)production, across these two settings, but also to uncover different kinds of strategies teachers engage in and the differential effect pursued by putting these strategies to use in the classroom. Outlining both, processes of homology and heterogeneity, is particularly important to understand the degree of redundancy in language socialization practices, as well as the possible areas of disjuncture that may impinge upon children's ability to negotiate commonality of belonging in their multiple communities.
Carbon and oxygen isotopic disequilibria of recent deep-sea benthic foraminifera☆

Abstract The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of 149 samples of benthic foraminifera from deep-sea core tops indicate that none of the nine species studied secrete calcium carbonate in isotopic equilibrium with ambient bottom water. Uvigerina, Pyrgo murrhina, and Oridorsalis tener are the closest to 18O equilibrium (with average deviations about −0.4‰), while Planulina wuellerstorfi and P. murrhina are the closest to 13C equilibrium (with average deviations about −1‰). P. wuellerstorfi shows the most systematic relationship between δ 13C and bottom water apparent oxygen utilization. The intraspecific variabilities in δ 18O and δ 13C suggest that estimates of bottom water paleotemperatures can be made to a precision of ± 0.7°C, while estimates of past apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) can be made to ± 35 μmol/kg. Based on intraspecific comparisons of the Recent samples with fossils, no temporal changes in the degree of either 18O or 13C disequilibrium have been detected for Planulina wuellerstorfi, Uvigerina, Oridorsalis tener and Globocassidulina subglobosa.
HORMONE AND ELECTROLYTE STUDIES OF PATIENTS WITH HYPERADRENOCORTICAL SYNDROME (CUSHING'S SYNDROME)1

A great deal of attention has centered around the adrenocortical syndrome since Cushing (1) in 1932 rekindled interest in this subject by pointing out that the syndrome then designated as polyglandular is frequently associated with a basophil adenoma of the pituitary. He coined the term ‘pituitary basophilism’ for this condition and suggested that it was due primarily to hyperfunction of basophil cells of the anterior pituitary. The purpose of this communication is to present evidence in favor of the view that Cushing's syndrome is essentially a hyperadrenocortical state due to the over-production of the adrenal cortical hormone (cortin). It is now recognized that there are two types of syndromes: the adrenogenital syndrome [le syndrome genito-surrenal of Gallais (2)] in which the tendency to sex reversal or to precocious sexual maturity is the chief feature, and Cushing's syndrome, characterized mainly by plethora, localized obesity, hypertension, osteoporosis, polycythemia, hyperglycemia and a tendency ...
Crouch gait patterns defined using k-means cluster analysis are related to underlying clinical pathology

In this study a gait classification method was developed and applied to subjects with Cerebral palsy who walk with excessive knee flexion at initial contact. Sagittal plane gait data, simplified using the gait features method, is used as input into a k-means cluster analysis to determine homogeneous groups. Several clinical domains were explored to determine if the clusters are related to underlying pathology. These domains included age, joint range-of-motion, strength, selective motor control, and spasticity. Principal component analysis is used to determine one overall score for each of the multi-joint domains (strength, selective motor control, and spasticity). The current study shows that there are five clusters among children with excessive knee flexion at initial contact. These clusters were labeled, in order of increasing gait pathology: (1) mild crouch with mild equinus, (2) moderate crouch, (3) moderate crouch with anterior pelvic tilt, (4) moderate crouch with equinus, and (5) severe crouch. Further analysis showed that age, range-of-motion, strength, selective motor control, and spasticity were significantly different between the clusters (p < 0.001). The general tendency was for the clinical domains to worsen as gait pathology increased. This new classification tool can be used to define homogeneous groups of subjects in crouch gait, which can help guide treatment decisions and outcomes assessment.
Antitumor Agents XXVIII: Structural Elucidation of the Novel Antitumor Sesquiterpene Lactone, Microlenin, from Helenium microcephalum

The structure and stereochemistry of the novel dimeric antitumor sesquiterpene lactone, microlenin, were determined on the basis of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectral evidence.
Possible evolutionary basis for trichromacy

For normal human observers, color is three-dimensional. The color appearance of any surface can be matched by adjusting just three variables (such as lightness, hue, and saturation). This trichromacy is mediated, but not ultimately explained, by the existence of three classes of photoreceptors -- retinal cones having peak sensitivities to longer, medium, and shorter wavelengths of visible light. Possibly, this trichromacy is the result of a more or less arbitrary compromise between (a) the larger number of dimensions required to represent the full spectral reflectance distributions of surfaces and (b) the smaller number of classes of retinal receptors needed to maintain, through denser retinal packing, higher spatial resolution for each receptor class. Alternatively, building on a linear model for color vision, as formulated by Maloney and Wandell, this paper seeks a less arbitrary basis for trichromacy in the prevailing degrees of freedom of terrestrial illumination. Natural selection may have favored trichromacy because it permits the achievement of color constancy despite terrestrial transformations of sunlight, which, unlike the variations in surface reflectances, have been limited to essentially three degrees of freedom. Any visual system, whether biological or artificial (including a system that requires merely an achromatic, shades-of-gray representation), can achieve constancy of color (and of lightness) only by first analyzing its optical input into three chromatic channels in order to compensate for the prevailing three degrees of freedom of terrestrial illumination.
Recognition of Ribosomal Protein L11 by the Protein Trimethyltransferase PrmA

Bacterial ribosomal protein L11 is post-translationally trimethylated at multiple residues by a single methyltransferase, PrmA. Here, we describe four structures of PrmA from the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus. Two apo-PrmA structures at 1.59 and 2.3 A resolution and a third with bound cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine at 1.75 A each exhibit distinct relative positions of the substrate recognition and catalytic domains, revealing how PrmA can position the L11 substrate for multiple, consecutive side-chain methylation reactions. The fourth structure, the PrmA-L11 enzyme-substrate complex at 2.4 A resolution, illustrates the highly specific interaction of the N-terminal domain with its substrate and places Lys39 in the PrmA active site. The presence of a unique flexible loop in the cofactor-binding site suggests how exchange of AdoMet with the reaction product S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine can occur without necessitating the dissociation of PrmA from L11. Finally, the mode of interaction of PrmA with L11 explains its observed preference for L11 as substrate before its assembly into the 50S ribosomal subunit.
Acting out and talking back: negotiating discourses in American early educational settings

As a first‐grade teacher preparing for the upcoming year, I was shocked to learn that George was on my new roll. His previous teacher wrote that George was a ‘behaviour problem’, was defiant, talked back to adults, didn't speak properly, was behind academically and spent over half of kindergarten in detention. George initially gave me negative impressions, using non‐standard English and more direct speech than I expected. Yet by listening closely and employing classroom discourse analysis, I came to recognise George's contributions, consequently working to dispel the myth that African‐American Vernacular English (AAVE) is wrong. I started analysing my own talk, instead of blaming George for misunderstandings. We openly talked about the use of direct and indirect statements. Through this study, I suggest that kidwatching, looking closely at interactions and contexts, and seeing AAVE as a resource in class, can positively affect young children and their teachers.
ALFS: An Inductive Learning Algorithm

ALFS is an inductive learning algorithm that employs feature selection to learn concepts from examples. Features which best represent and differentiate a subset from other subsets in learning data are detected and used to produce rules. These rules form a knowledge base for an expert system. The performance of ALFS is illustrated using data sets from the domains of primary tumour and game playing.