cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Memory CD8+ T cell differentiation: initial antigen encounter triggers a developmental program in naïve cells.

The rules that govern memory T cell differentiation are not well understood. This study shows that after antigenic stimulation naive CD8+ T cells become committed to dividing at least seven times and differentiating into effector and memory cells. Once the parental naive CD8+ T cell had been activated, this developmental process could not be interrupted and the daughter cells continued to divide and differentiate in the absence of further antigenic stimulation. These data indicate that initial antigen encounter triggers an instructive developmental program that does not require further antigenic stimulation and does not cease until memory CD8+ T cell formation.
Carrier-mediated transport of folate compounds in L1210 cells. Initial rate kinetics and extent of duality of entry routes for folic acid and diastereomers of 5-methyltetrahydrohomofolate in the presence of physiological anions.

Comparison of the kinetic parameters for influx of highly purified [3H]folic acid versus [3H]methotrexate in L1210 cells under anionic buffer conditions showed a marked discordancy. In addition, the kinetics for influx of [3H]folic acid were unchanged in variant L1210 cells defective in [3H]methotrexate transport. In these variant cells, the Vmax, for methotrexate was reduced 17-fold and the Km was increased 3-fold. The results show that [3H]folic acid influx is mediated by a system which has a low affinity, but a 20-fold higher capacity, for folate compounds than the classical high-affinity system mediating [3H]methotrexate influx. Since the latter system also exhibits very low affinity for [3H]folic acid, it would not be expected to contribute significantly to the total influx of [3H]folic acid. The high-capacity system for [3H]folic acid influx is different from that believed to mediate pterin influx in L1210 cells since it was not inhibited by adenine, a potent inhibitor of pterin influx. However, exposure of cells to [3H]folic acid in a nonanionic buffer resulted in marked stimulation of initial influx, and a fraction of influx under these conditions was inhibited by methotrexate. These results suggest that anions modulate the extent of multiplicity of [3H]folic acid influx by their known effects on the highaffinity, reduced folate/methotrexate system. The diastereomers, at carbon 6, of [14C]5-methyltetrahydrohomofolate shared both transport systems. The influx Km for the natural diastereomer was one-half that of the unnatural form for both transport systems. Both diastereomers showed a much greater differential in affinity between the two transport systems than did [3H]folic acid. Our results suggest that an analog which could be effectively transported by the low-affinity/high-capacity route may be useful in the treatment of tumors resistant to methotrexate due to a defective high-affinity/low capacity influx system. We also found that incubation of L1210 cells with [3H]folic acid or the natural diastereomer [14C]5-methyltetrahydrohomofolate for 10 min resulted in the formation of a nonexchangeable fraction of radioactivity amounting to 20–40% of the total accumulation. This non-exchangeable fraction may be explained by the accumulation of metabolites other than polyglutamates. Preloading of cells with methotrexate prior to incubation with [3H]folic acid prevented the accumulation of radioactivity as a nonexchangeable fraction.
CaCl-ing Channels Get the Last Laugh

A long-sought ion-channel gene with intriguing links to cancer and development has been identified.
Theoretical calculation of the cosmic-ray solar diurnal variation

Theoretical calculations of the solar diurnal variation expected at 23 stations for the meson component of the cosmic radiation have been made by following the procedure developed by Nagashima, Potnis and Pomerantz and expanded by McCracken, Rao, Fowler, Shea and Smart. Different sets of weighting factors of counting rates from various zenith angles corresponding to different zenith-angle dependences are examined. It is shown that for all cases the results are not different. Further, we find that at least for two stations at middle latitude and equatorial regions, the counting rate contributions by particles from deep zenith angle are negligibly small. The calculations for various parameters are tabulated.
Challenges in recruiting subjects to a pilot trial of patient-managed in-hospital insulin

To examine the feasibility of implementing clinician-supported inpatient self-managed insulin to aid in the planning of a randomized clinical trial. We conducted a proof-of-concept interventional study of inpatients with diabetes mellitus who had hospital orders for basal-bolus or sliding scale insulin. Patients meeting inclusion criteria were offered the opportunity to manage their own basal-bolus insulin with support from a diabetes nurse practitioner. Over a three-month screening period, we conducted 361 screens in 336 patients, only eleven of whom met all inclusion criteria. None of these eleven eligible patients elected to enroll. The most common reason for refusal was lack of interest in self-managing insulin while acutely ill (36 %). Future studies of patient-managed in-hospital insulin should consider enrolling less acutely ill patients with longer anticipated lengths of stay. Trials registration: NCT02144441
Liver Transplant for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Currently, liver transplantation stands as the best treatment modality for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, giving patients the opportunity to be free from the potentially lethal complications from both cancer and their advanced underlying liver disease. Following a historical period characterized by high hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence rates following transplantation of patients with advanced stage disease, introduction of the “Milan criteria” encouraged a focus on early stage hepatocellular carcinoma and improved patient and oncologic outcomes were achieved. Data are emerging that patients with tumor size and tumor number slightly in excess of those proposed in the Conventional Milan Criteria share equivalent survivals with traditional early stage patients and should also be considered for liver transplantation. In settings where the number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and indications for transplant exceed the number of cadaveric liver allografts, alternative strategies are requisite. These include more liberal use of liver resection, interventional and systemic treatments, and living-related liver transplantation. The field has seen tremendous development and is now under considerable pressure due to epidemic rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in both hepatitis and fatty liver disease-induced cirrhotics. In this setting, multiple controversies in the field require resolution by clinical trial and/or consensus.
Gene regulatory factors of the sea urchin embryo. I. Purification by affinity chromatography and cloning of P3A2, a novel DNA-binding protein

The P3A2 regulatory protein interacts with specific sites in the control region of the CyIIIa actin gene. Previous studies showed that this interaction is required to confine expression of a CyIIIa.CAT fusion to the aboral ectoderm, the embryonic territory in which CyIIIa is normally utilized. P3A2 also binds specifically to similar target sites located in the regulatory region of the SM50 gene, which is expressed only in skeletogenic mesenchyme lineages. The P3A2 factor was purified by affinity chromatography from nuclear extracts of 24 h sea urchin embryos, and partial peptide sequences were used to isolate a cDNA clone encoding the complete protein. There are no significant similarities between P3A2 and any other protein in existing sequence data bases. P3A2 thus includes a novel type of DNA-binding domain. To examine the differential utilization of P3A2 in CyIIIa and SM50 genes, we measured the specific affinity of this protein for the various target sites in the regulatory DNAs of each gene, and identified the core target site sequences. The stability of P3A2 complexes formed with SM50 target sites is 50–100 times greater than that of the complexes formed with CyIIIa target sites, though the factor binds to very similar core sequence elements. P3A2 is one of at least twelve different proteins whose interaction with CyIIIa regulatory DNA is required for correct developmental expression. The results reported demonstrate that it might be possible to purify most of these regulatory proteins, or any other specific DNA-binding proteins of the sea urchin embryo, by using the simple procedures described for P3A2.
Relationship of Endogenous Sex Hormones to Coronary Heart Disease: A Twin Study

We examined the association between endogenous sex hormones (estradiol, estrone, testosterone, and SHBG) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in white male twins. Stored plasma samples were available for 566 participants of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Twin Study, a longitudinal study of cardiovascular disease in male twins. Twenty-eight of these individuals were lost to follow-up, and outcome data were missing. Of the remaining 538 participants, 78 had CHD at baseline, and 154 subsequently developed CHD over 20 yr of follow-up. We observed no differences in mean unadjusted or age- and body mass index-adjusted log-transformed sex hormone concentrations for participants with and without CHD (all P > 0.08). Quartile and median split analyses revealed no significant association between any of the sex hormones and either prevalent or incident CHD. The discordant monozygotic twins showed no significant case-control group difference in estradiol, estrone, testosterone, and SHBG (all P > 0.3). The positive and negative concordant twin pairs had similar values for each of the sex hormones (all P > 0.3). We observed no relationship between endogenous sex hormone concentrations and prevalent or incident CHD in this sample of male twins.
Homeostasis of exercise hyperpnea and optimal sensorimotor integration: The internal model paradigm

Homeostasis is a basic tenet of biomedicine and an open problem for many physiological control systems. Among them, none has been more extensively studied and intensely debated than the dilemma of exercise hyperpnea - a paradoxical homeostatic increase of respiratory ventilation that is geared to metabolic demands instead of the normal chemoreflex mechanism. Classical control theory has led to a plethora of "feedback/feedforward control" or "set point" hypotheses for homeostatic regulation, yet so far none of them has proved satisfactory in explaining exercise hyperpnea and its interactions with other respiratory inputs. Instead, the available evidence points to a far more sophisticated respiratory controller capable of integrating multiple afferent and efferent signals in adapting the ventilatory pattern toward optimality relative to conflicting homeostatic, energetic and other objectives. This optimality principle parsimoniously mimics exercise hyperpnea, chemoreflex and a host of characteristic respiratory responses to abnormal gas exchange or mechanical loading/unloading in health and in cardiopulmonary diseases - all without resorting to a feedforward "exercise stimulus". Rather, an emergent controller signal encoding the projected metabolic level is predicted by the principle as an exercise-induced 'mental percept' or 'internal model', presumably engendered by associative learning (operant conditioning or classical conditioning) which achieves optimality through continuous identification of, and adaptation to, the causal relationship between respiratory motor output and resultant chemical-mechanical afferent feedbacks. This internal model self-tuning adaptive control paradigm opens a new challenge and exciting opportunity for experimental and theoretical elucidations of the mechanisms of respiratory control - and of homeostatic regulation and sensorimotor integration in general.
Global tropical cyclone activity to decrease with climate change

Given its strong dependence on sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions, tropical cyclone activity is expected to be strongly affected by climate change. With observational records suggesting that tropical North Atlantic hurricane activity has increased in recent decades, some scientists have suggested that global tropical cyclone activity will increase as the planet warms. Using an ensemble atmosphere general circulation model, however, Sugi and Yoshimura found that global tropical cyclone activity has undergone a long-term decline from 1872 to the present—a trend they found should continue throughout the coming century. They found that the rate of global tropical cyclone activity decreased by 12.4 hurricanes per century—8.7 fewer hurricanes per century in the Northern Hemisphere and 3.7 fewer in the Southern Hemisphere.
The selective perception and recognition of single words from competing dichotic stimulus pairs

Abstract Five experiments are reported that concern selective perception and representation following dichotic presentations of competing word pairs differing only in their initial consonants (e.g., “gill-dill”). Only one word from each pair tended to be subjectively perceived, even when participants were encouraged to guess two words. Robust selective perception effects were evidenced as a function of stimulus affective valence. Control tasks showed that these effects could not be attributed to report biases or to the acoustic properties of the stimuli. The unreported words were not recognized on a two-alternative forced-choice task but were recognized with a more sensitive ranking task. Additional cognitive activity during the intertrial interval weakened memory only for the words reported as perceived. Moreover, negative affective valence decreased the recognition of words reported as consciously perceived but increased recognition of unreported words. The implications of these findings for theories of unconscious processing are discussed
LIMITATIONS ON PRESCRIBING THE HOPF DIFFERENTIAL FOR MINIMAL SURFACES IN H3

ABSTRACT The Hopf map from minimal surfaces in H 3 to holomorphic quadratic differentials on H 2 is considered. Whether or not a given quadratic differential is in the image of this map is determined by the global existence/non-existence of solutions to a certain quasi-linear PDE. It is shown that this map is not surjective.
Beyond Legal Compliance: Communities of Advocacy That Support Accessible Online Learning

Abstract The promise of social inclusion, reinforced by online technologies, has not become the reality for most people with disabilities. In 2002, over 10 years after the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), more people with disabilities were unemployed than at any time in the last 30 years. Most online educational environments are still not accessible to students with disabilities or those using assistive technologies. While enrollment of people with disabilities in colleges and universities has increased, few have been able to graduate, find successful employment, and move on to independent lifestyles, free of government assistance. This paper discusses the progress towards accessible online education by summarizing the impact that accessibility case law has had on reaching accessibility goals in education and employment and evaluating alternate approaches to defining and reaching accessibility in online education.
FDG PET IN THE FOLLOW-UP MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED HODGKIN AND NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA AFTER FIRST-LINE CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of PET imaging for predicting recurrence of disease and determining fields of radiation therapy for patients with lymphoma after first-line chemotherapy. Methods and materials The study population included 40 patients with lymphoma, newly diagnosed, staged and treated with either chemotherapy alone or combined modality therapy at this institution. PET findings were correlated with CT findings and radiation ports. Treatment and follow-up course were analyzed to determine patterns of failure. Results Twenty-eight of 40 patients (70%) were treated with chemotherapy alone, 12 of 40 (30%) were treated with combined modality therapy. Of the patients who received chemotherapy alone, 21 (75%) had a negative follow-up PET scan at the original site of disease, and 5 of these 21 (24%) recurred within the original site of disease. Of the patients who received combined modality therapy, 10 (83%) had a negative follow-up PET scan at the original site of disease and none recurred within the original site of disease. Conclusions A negative PET scan after completion of therapy does not exclude the presence of residual microscopic disease and does not indicate complete remission. A higher recurrence rate in patients who were treated with chemotherapy alone compared with combined modality therapy suggests that some of these patients may benefit from aggressive radiation therapy planned at initial staging. The radiation treatment volumes may be better planned from the initial staging PET study because a negative follow-up PET scan after chemotherapy cannot exclude residual microscopic disease.
Inhalation of benzene leads to an increase in the mutant frequencies of a lacI transgene in lung and spleen tissues of mice

Abstract The goal of this study was to determine if inhalation of benzene leads to an increase in the mutant frequencies in the tissues of male C 57 BL 6 mice. Mutant frequencies were measured using a previously described assay in which bacteriophage lambda lacI transgenes are rescued from mouse genomic DNA as infectious phage and scored for their LacI phenotype. Eight experimental mice were exposed to a target concentration of 300 ppm of benzene for 6 h/day × 5 days/week × 12 weeks, and eight control mice were treated similarly except that they were not exposed to benzene. Mutant frequencies were calculated as the ratio of LacI − /total phage recovered from organs of interest. The mean mutant frequency measured in lung tissues of mice exposed to benzene was (10.6 ± 1.4) × 10 −5 , which is about 1.7-fold higher than that of the unexposed controls. In spleen tissues from benzene-exposed mice the mean mutation frequency was (12.6 ± 4.1) × 10 −5 , which is about 1.5-fold higher than that of spleen tissues from unexposed controls. The differences in mean mutant frequencies between benzene-exposed and unexposed lung and spleen tissues are statistically significant. In liver tissues, however, the mean mutant frequencies of benzene-exposed mice and unexposed mice are not significantly different. These results demonstrate that inhaled benzene results in a statistically significant increase in the mutant frequencies in lung and spleen, but not in liver tissues of mice.
Anomaly detection in forward looking infrared imaging using one-class classifiers

In this paper we describe a method for generating cues of possible abnormal objects present in the field of view of an infrared (IR) camera installed on a moving vehicle. The proposed method has two steps. In the first step, for each frame, we generate a set of possible points of interest using a corner detection algorithm. In the second step, the points related to the background are discarded from the point set using an one class classifier (OCC) trained on features extracted from a local neighborhood of each point. The advantage of using an OCC is that we do not need examples from the "abnormal object" class to train the classifier. Instead, OCC is trained using corner points from images known to be abnormal object free, i.e., that contain only background scenes. To further reduce the number of false alarms we use a temporal fusion procedure: a region has to be detected as "interesting" in m out of n, m<n, consecutive frames in order to be reported as abnormal. To choose the best classifier for our task, we compare the performance of three OCCs: nearest neighbor (OCNN), SVM (OC-SVM) and Gaussian mixture (OC-GM). The comparison is performed using a set of about 900 background point neighborhoods for training and 400 for testing. The best performing OCC is then used to detect abnormal objects in a set of IR video sequences obtained on a 1 mile long country road.
DNA-mediated restoration of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene expression in enzyme-deficient derivatives of enzyme-constitutive mouse cell hybrids

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PH) gene expression is not extinguished in hybrids between PH− mouse A9 cells, or its neomycin-resistant derivative A9Neo-3, and PH+ mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, PHC-3A, in contrast to its extinction in hybrids between A9Neo-3 and PH+ rat hepatoma cells, FT-2. Two different types of 6-thioguanine (TG)-resistant derivatives of these A9 x PHC-3A hybrids (LP), are generated in regard toPH gene expression. In regular growth medium supplemented with 10−4 M TG (Tyr+/TG), TGr derivatives, all of which continue to express PH, occur with high frequency (≈10−3). In contrast, in tyrosine-deficient selective medium, supplemented with 10−4 M TG (Tyr−/TG), no actively growing colonies are observed. Nevertheless, small colonies containing quiescent cells can be rescued by supplementing the medium with tyrosine. The rescued TGr clones do not express any detectable level of PH. Biochemical, hybridization, and cybridization analyses of one such rescued clone, LPTG-3, showed that these cells lack the regulatory factor capable of activatingPH gene in PH− MEL cells. The PH− phenotype of LPTG-3 cells can be converted to the PH+ phenotype by transfection with restriction enzyme-digested or -undigested PHC-3A or mouse liver DNA. Therefore, these cells could be used to clone a fragment of DNA involved inPH gene regulation through DNA-mediated gene transfer methods.
Breakup of a supercontinent between 625 Ma and 555 Ma: new evidence and implications for continental histories

Abstract A method developed recently for constructing tectonic subsidence curves in early Paleozoic miogeoclines has produced new evidence for the breakup of a late Proterozoic supercontinent. Tectonic subsidence analyses in miogeoclines of eastern and western North America, northwestern Argentina, the Middle East and northwestern Australia limit the timing of the continental breakup to between 625 and 555 Ma. These results refine the implications of a much broader range of radiometric ages of rift-related igneous rocks and biostratigraphic ages of the transition from active extension to passive subsidence in miogeoclines. The recognition of the timing and extent of rifting has led to testable hypotheses for latest Proterozoic and early Paleozoic continental histories. Breakup and onset of drift along an extensive system of continental fractures within a relatively short period of time would generate a large amount of young ocean floor, thereby reducing the volume of the global ocean basin and causing a sea level rise. Maximum reduction of ocean basin volume would postdate the time of breakup, probably by about 70 m.y., placing the transgressive peak at a time not older then about 510–520 Ma. That age agrees well with the time of maximum flooding on the continents close to the end of the Cambrian. Restriction of the breakup to between 625 and 555 Ma reduces the time gap between an essentially intact late Proterozoic supercontinent and the oldest reliable paleomagnetic reconstruction of the dispersed continents at about 560 Ma. A continental reconstruction produced by rotating Laurentia and Baltica into Gondwana a minimum distance from the 560 Ma position is consistent with limited geologic data. However, that reconstruction places Laurentia and Baltica in low latitudes which is difficult to reconcile with the absence of evaporites in syn-rift complexes in both continents.
Work Function of Iron Surfaces Produced by Cleavage in Vacuum

Kelvin measurements of the contact potential difference between iron surfaces prepared by cleavage in high vacuum and freshly flashed tungsten surfaces are reported. From these measurements, the work function of iron could be found since the work function of the tungsten was known. The work function of the cleavage plane of iron was 4.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 electron volts at liquid nitrogen temperature. Evidence indicating that these measurements were made on clean surfaces is presented. The work function which has been determined is believed to be that of the (100) plane of iron.
Low-grade papillary adenocarcinoma of the palate: The significance of distinguishing it from polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma

Low-grade papillary adenocarcinoma (LGPA) represents a relatively rare histological variant of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA). There has been a debate as to whether LGPA is associated with greater aggressive potential compared to PLGA; this is further obfuscated by the fact that diagnostic criteria for LGPA have not been well-defined. We believe that this is the first report of a patient with LGPA who developed metastases to the femur and scalp. We review the published evidence for classifying LGPA as distinct from PLGA. The weight of published data does support the idea that LGPA is oncologically distinct from LGPA. However, as uniform diagnostic criteria are lacking, we suggest a cut-off value of 10% or greater papillary formation as being necessary to separate LGPA from PLGA.
Fullerene derivatives and fullerene superconductors

Abstract A series of 1:1 C 60 cycloaddition adducts, C 60 A (A = anthracene, butadiene, cyclopentadiene and methylcyclopentadiene), has been synthesized. The products are cleanly separated and characterized by use of TGA, 1 H-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry. Among these adducts, C 60 , (methylcyclopentadiene) showed the highest thermal stability and was doped with three equivalents of rubidium. The resulting Rb 3 C 60 (MeCp) is a semiconductor but can be thermally converted to the superconducting Rb 3 C 60 through a retro-Diels-Alder reaction. A one-step doping process to prepare Rb 3 C 60 crystals has been developed. The optimal doping condition occurs at 300°C. High superconducting shielding fractions between 60 and 90% and sharp transition widths (Δ T 10 - 90 between 4 and 0.7 K) were measured for these samples.
Macroinvertebrate communities in restored and natural Platte River slough wetlands

AbstractWetlands in the central Platte River basin provide numerous ecosystem services but have been diminished and degraded by agricultural practices and development. Wetland restoration is increasingly common in this region, but the success of restorations is virtually unknown. We sampled macroinvertebrates during spring 2003 and 2004 in restored (5–16 y old) and natural slough wetlands to assess restoration success. Simple measures (e.g., total abundance, biomass, diversity) were all similar in restored and natural wetlands. Communities were similar in natural and restored wetlands, but we observed some taxonomic differences. For example, abundances of Helisoma and Pisidium and abundance and biomass of amphipods were higher in natural than in restored wetlands, and leeches were collected only in natural wetlands. These results suggest that dispersal ability is a biotic filter limiting recovery and that these noninsects are good candidates for assessing recovery. Functional structure on the basis of abu...
Transthoracic monophasic and biphasic defibrillation in a swine model: a comparison of efficacy, ST segment changes, and postshock hemodynamics.

Abstract Objective: Biphasic waveforms for transthoracic defibrillation (DF) have been tested extensively after brief (15 s) episodes of VF in animal models and in patients undergoing electrophysiologic testing. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects mono- and biphasic waveforms for DF on postdefibrillation ST segments and left ventricular pressure, markers of myocardial injury, after more extended periods of VF (30 and 90 s). Methods: 21 anesthetized and instrumented swine were randomized to truncated exponential monophasic or biphasic waveform DF. VF was induced electrically and 30 s later, DF with the designated waveform was attempted with a shock dose of 200 J. If unsuccessful, 300 J and then 360 J were administered if necessary. Following return to control hemodynamic values and normalization of the surface ECG, VF was again induced and, after 90 s, DF was attempted as in the 30 s VF period. CPR was not performed during VF and each animal was countershocked with only one waveform for both VF episodes. Waveforms were compared for frequency of first shock defibrillation success, surface ECG indicators of myocardial injury (ST segment changes at 10, 20, and 30 s after countershock) and time to return to pre-VF hemodynamics after successful DF, an indicator of postshock ventricular function. Results: Successful first shock conversion rates at 30 and 90 s were 60 and 63% for monophasic and 64 and 82% for biphasic (NS). Biphasic DF after 30 s produced ST segment changes (measured 10 s after DF) in 1/10 animals while six of eight animals in the monophasic group showed ST segment changes ( P =0.013). After 90 s of VF, ST segment changes were observed in 6/8 in the monophasic group and 2/10 in the biphasic group ( P =0.054). Differences in the time to hemodynamic recovery (return to control peak left ventricular pressure) were not observed between biphasic and monophasic waveforms after 30 or 90 s of VF. Conclusions: Monophasic and biphasic transthoracic defibrillation are equally effective in terminating VF of 30 and 90 s duration and restoring a perfusing rhythm. The biphasic waveform produced less ECG evidence of transient myocardial injury. However, there was no difference in the rate of return to control hemodynamics. ST segment changes following countershock of VF of brief duration are transient and of questionable significance.
Comment on “Synthesis, characterization and growth mechanism of flower-like vanadium carbide hierarchical nanocrystals”

This Letter is in response to a recent paper by Ma et al. (CrystEngComm, 2010, 12, 750–754) which arguably studied vanadium carbide nanostructures whereas all available evidence indicates the study of vanadium oxide. We feel that it is important to communicate to the community several inconsistencies so that the interesting material reported can be seen in the right light, especially with several groups nowadays having reported similar structures from vanadium oxide synthesis.
Dissolved noble gases in marine waters

Abstract The supersaturation of neon in southeastern Pacific deep sea water is unexpectedly high, 6.6% on the average, while surface waters have values about a factor of two lower. A comparison of neon and argon concentrations indicates the presence of injected air in the deep water. The results from surface samples cannot be reconciled with air injection. Helium in deep water is supersaturated by 11.8%, of which 8.5% must be attributed to an air injection mechanism. The difference, amounting to an excess of 3.3%, may reflect an influx of helium from the interior of the earth. In contrast, the few available data from the deep Atlantic Ocean and from the Drake Passage show the supersaturation of helium can be accounted for through air injection alone.
Free-surface stress conditions for incompressible-flow calculations☆

Abstract The numerical study of transient incompressible fluid flows is greatly complicated by the presence of free surfaces. One method of treating such problems is the Marker-and-Cell technique, which in its original form, used simple approximations for the free-surface boundary conditions. These approximations are found to be inaccurate at low Reynolds numbers (R ≲ 10). With a simple modification it is possible to approximate the complete normal stress condition. This modification is shown to have a pronounced effect on some low-Reynolds-number flows.
On the Inefficiency of Two-Part Tariffs

The partial equilibrium literature on two-part tariffs suggests that if a commodity is produced under increasing returns, efficiency can be achieved through marginal cost pricing and a suitable choice of "entry fees" (fixed charge) which may vary from consumer to consumer. We show that this partial equilibrium intuition cannot,be extended beyond some special cases. Even with a consumer-specific fixed charge, it is possible that none of the equilibria yield Pareto efficiency. Furthermore, it may be impossible to achieve Pareto efficiency through any specification of taxes which are levied solely to cover losses. Hotelling (1939) and Lerner (1944) among others (see for example the surveys by Ruggles (1949, 1950)) argued that firms operating under increasing returns to scale should be regulated to equate their marginal cost to the price of the output and the resulting losses financed through lump-sum taxes. Being concerned primarily with efficiency issues, the proponents of the marginal cost pricing principle did not advocate any particular distribution of the lump-sum taxes among the consumers. After the ensuing debate, see for example Ruggles (1950), there seems to have been a general agreement that marginal cost pricing is necessary for efficiency. While admitting this, Coase (1946) presented an illuminating analysis of the drawbacks of what he called the Hotelling-Lerner solution and also proposed an alternative solution.' It will be useful to begin by briefly recalling Coase's criticism of the Hotelling-Lerner solution. Apart from the practical problem of collecting lump-sum taxes, he emphasized two distinct drawbacks of the Hotelling-Lerner scheme. He claimed that this solution would not necessarily guarantee efficiency in the sense that it might lead to a marginal cost pricing equilibrium in which a positive amount of the commodity was produced whereas it would be better not to produce the commodity at all. This can be restated simply as the argument that in the presence of non-convexities marginal conditions need not guarantee global optimality; there may be several marginal cost pricing equilibria, some efficient and some inefficient. As such, this phenomenon can hardly be ruled out. Coase's second objection to the Hotelling-Lerner solution was that it could effectively alter the income distribution. If, for instance, a lump-sum tax was imposed on all the consumers but only some of them consumed the commodity produced by the firm operating under increasing returns to scale, then there would effectively be a redistribution in favour of those who consumed this subsidized commodity. It was natural to keep the issue of efficiency separate from that of equity and Coase argued that the Hotelling-Lerner solution
Nonlinear Interaction of N Conservative Waves in Two Dimensions

Kinematic Fourier (KF) structures, exponential kinematic Fourier (KEF) structures, dynamic exponential (DEF) Fourier structures, and KEF-DEF structures with constant and space-dependent structural coefficients are developed in the current paper to treat kinematic and dynamic problems for nonlinear interaction of N conservative waves in the two-dimensional theory of the Newtonian flows with harmonic velocity. The computational method of solving partial differential equations (PDEs) by decomposition in invariant structures, which continues the analytical methods of undetermined coefficients and separation of variables, is extended by using an experimental and theoretical computation in Maple?. For internal waves vanishing at infinity, the Dirichlet problem is formulated for kinematic and dynamics systems of the vorticity, continuity, Helmholtz, Lamb-Helmholtz, and Bernoulli equations in the upper and lower domains. Exact solutions for upper and lower cumulative flows are discovered by the experimental computing, proved by the theoretical computing, and verified by the system of Navier-Stokes PDEs. The KEF and KEF-DEF structures of the cumulative flows are visualized by instantaneous surface plots with isocurves. Modeling of a deterministic wave chaos by aperiodic flows in the KEF, DEF, and KEF-DEF structures with 5N parameters is considered.
Cross-Country Policy Harmonization with Rent-Seeking

In a reciprocal market model with imperfectly competitive firms, domestic policies will differ across countries that are economically and politically diverse. We explore the implications of this standard result with regard to harmonization of environmental policies between corrupt and non-corrupt countries. Imposing a more stringent policy on a non-corrupt government will be welfare reducing to the receiving country, but may be welfare enhancing for the imposing country. However, where environmental standards are under the control of a corrupt government, it is possible that harmonization is welfare enhancing to both countries.
Evaluation by Monte Carlo Tests of Effects of Cloud Seeding on Growing Season Rainfall in North Dakota

Abstract Rainfall data collected at 67 gages in a 2750 mi2 target area during a four-year randomized cloud seeding experiment in North Dakota have been stratified in a variety of ways and subjected to several kinds of statistical tests. Some stratifications related to cloud model predictions were possible for only the last two years when a rawinsonde station was operated as part of the project. Monte Carlo experiments simulating 500 reruns of the four-year experiment have been used to establish significance levels for the tests within each data stratification. The analysis provides significant evidence that seeding convective clouds on a determinate set of days leads to 1) an increase in the frequency of rainfall events at the individual target gages, 2) an increase in the average rainfall recorded per rainfall event, and 3) an increase in total rainfall on the target. The set of days to which this evidence applies is those days with dynamic seedability; that is, days for which a cloud model predicted an ...
Self-characteristic distributions

Abstract This paper investigates the fixed points of the characteristic function operator, i.e., we seek probability density functions whose characteristic functions are identical to themselves. A prominent example of a self-characteristic function is the Gaussian. Interestingly, however, the Gaussian is not unique in that respect. We present a formulation that systematically generates self-characteristic densities by applying a nonlinear transform to arbitrary positive semi-definite functions.
The mental rotation and perceived realism of computer-generated three-dimensional images

Two experiments were performed, one to investigate the effects of computer-generated realism cues (hidden surfaces removed, multiple light sources, surf ace shading) on the speed and accuracy with which subjects performed a Standard cognitive task (mental rotation), the other to study the subjective perceived realism of computer-generated images. In the mental rotation experiment, four angles of rotation, two levels of object complexity, and five combinations of realism cues were varied as subjects performed “same—different” discriminations for pairs of rotated three-dimensional images. Results indicated that mean reaction times were faster for shaded images than for hidden-edge-removed images. In terms of speed of response and response accuracy, significant effects for object complexity and angle of rotation were shown. In the second experiment, subjective ratings of image realism revealed that wireframe images were viewed as less realistic than shaded images and that number of light sources was more important in conveying realism than type of surf ace shading. Implications of the results for analogue and propositional models on memory organization and integral and non-integral characteristics of realism cues are discussed.
Noise Exposure Reduction Aboard on Oceangoing Hopper Dredge

Reported industrial hygiene surveys aboard seagoing vessels are few, despite the presence of many potentially hazardous chemical and physical agents aboard ships. This investigation focused on crew noise exposure aboard an oceangoing hopper dredge. Noise exposure criteria were adopted based on the 24-hr equivalent continuous sound level (Leq(24)) because of the absence of standards for U.S. shipboard noise exposure. Personal noise dosimeters were used to measure the noise exposure of watchstanders, whose duties were predictable and repetitive. Watchstanders with high noise doses were asked to estimate their duration of exposure in specific areas of the vessel to enable calculation of noise dose per space. Noise sources within spaces associated with high noise dose were identified by sound pressure and surface vibration analysis in octave bands. Almost all accommodation spaces (cabins, recreation rooms, dining rooms, and hospital) were sufficiently quiet (sound pressure levels [SPLs] < 65 dBA) to permit he...
Kinase inhibitors compete with imipramine for binding and inhibition of serotonin transport

Effects of kinase inhibitors and activators on the binding of tritiated imipramine and inhibition of serotonin uptake were tested in platelets. The majority of compounds inhibited specific [3H]imipramine binding and serotonin uptake with affinities similar to those reported for their action on protein kinases themselves. Many of these compounds are derivatives with modified naphthalenesulfonamide or isoquinolinesulfonamide structures, which appear to compete directly with imipramine for binding to the serotonin transporter. This is of great importance for studies involving kinase regulation since at these concentrations, the inhibitors and activators were previously thought to interact virtually exclusively with protein kinases.
Formation of synthetic structures with micron size silica beads using optical tweezer

We have demonstrated that micron-size silica beads can be arranged in desired synthetic structure using an optical tweezer in a saline buffered solution. In 3.1 µm silica and water solution we added the right proportion of antistick glycol and NaCl to form a solution in which silica beads brought close to one another can bind by an adhesive electrostatic force without drifting away due to their thermal energy. Then by trapping and dragging one bead at a time using an optical tweezer, we have arranged the silica beads in two-dimensional structures.
Effects of training on Japanese face recognition: Reduction of the other-race effect

Subjects with demonstrated poor memory for Japanese faces were either intensively trained to learn Japanese face-digit pairs or assigned to a no-training control condition. Immediately following training, and at 1 and at 5 months later, trained subjects showed improved recognition when tested with new sets of Japanese faces. The no-training controls, who were tested on the same schedule, showed improvement only on the 5-month test. Data are discussed in relation to schema development and the “other-race” effect.
Analysis of Geologic Sequestration Costs for the United States and Implications for Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract Through work with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, ICF has developed a costing model for geologic sequestration of CO2 by geologic setting in the U.S. The GeoCAT model is being used by the EPA Office of Air and Radiation to assist in analyzing the impact of potential climate change legislation. GeoCAT includes an assessment of sequestration capacity by state and geologic setting. Costing algorithms are based upon a detailed analysis of individual cost components, such as site characterization and injection well construction. The study shows that the cost of geologic sequestration without by-product credits (such as additional oil produced with enhanced oil recovery (EOR)) ranges from $2.84 to $28.12 per metric ton of CO2, depending on characteristics specific to the type of geologic formation. By-product impacts on costs for EOR, enhanced coalbed methane, and shale gas production are very significant.
Exploring server redundancy in nonblocking multicast data center networks

Clos networks and their variations such as folded- Clos networks (fat-trees) have been widely adopted as network topologies in data center networks. Since multicast is an essential communication pattern in many cloud services, nonblocking multicast communication can ensure the high performance of such services. However, nonblocking multicast Clos networks are costly due to the large number of middle stage switches required. On the other hand, server redundancy is ubiquitous in today's data centers to provide high availability of services. In this paper, we explore server redundancy in data centers to reduce the cost of nonblocking multicast Clos data center networks (DCNs). First, we show that the sufficient nonblocking condition on the number of middle stage switches for multicast Clos DCNs can be significantly reduced, when the data center is 2-redundant, i.e., each server in the data center has exactly one redundant backup. We then investigate more general cases that the data center is k-redundant (k > 2), and show that a higher redundancy level further reduces the cost of nonblocking multicast Clos DCNs. We also extend the result to practical data centers where servers may have different number of redundant backups depending on the availability requirement of services provided. Finally, we provide a multicast routing algorithm with linear time complexity to configure multicast connections in Clos DCNs.
Money isn't everything: linking college choice to winning prizes and professorships

We expand upon the literature that considers how characteristics of undergraduate schools affect nonincome outcomes by considering Nobel Prize winners and full professors at top 25 universities. We introduce National Merit Scholars (NMS) as a percentage of 1960–1961 class as a time-appropriate measure of student quality and show how this measure largely matches up with prior expectations and observed outcomes. We conclude with the discussion of the convex relation between NMS and these professional outcomes.
Lymphocyte DNA Synthesis Inhibition

A specific endogenous inhibitor for lymphocyte DNA synthesis that can be isolated from the lymphoid system and which is probably cell specific is described. The inhibitor is thermolabile, is destroyed by trypsin, and has a mass of about 30,000 to 50,000 daltons.
East African medical attitudes.

Abstract An overview of traditional views and practices is taken primarily from studies of fifteen tribal societies. An emphasis on supernatural causes of disease, a dependence upon witchdoctors who utilize herbal and ritual remedies, and the use of surgical techniques were features common to most groups. Numerous health problems are shown to result from traditional beliefs. Among them are dietary deficiencies, high infant mortality, and poor mental health. Proposals to incorporate the witchdoctor into modern practice are discussed, but considered unwise, although an analysis of herbal remedies is recommended, as is an emulation of the traditional emphasis upon social and emotional factors in illness. The need for wide-spread, innovative health education and for scientific measurement of its progress is stressed.
Studies on osmotic adjustment in Tegula funebralis (Adams 1854)

Abstract 1. 1. Tegula funebralis regulates its internal osmotic concentrations of organic compounds in salinities from 100% to 160% sea water, but not in 50% sea water. 2. 2. Amino acids are used to help regulate internal osmotic pressure up to 120% sea water. Another ninhydrin-positive substance tends to replace amino acids in animals held in 160% sea water. 3. 3. Alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and taurine are found in high concentration in this species. 4. 4. Uric acid levels tend to be higher in animals held in the higher salinities.
Preliminary numerical study on dielectric mixtures under lightning impulse conditions

Numerical simulations on a simple particle-in-a-box system were performed to determine the properties of the mixture under non-sinusoidal fields. Impulse wave form was used in the simulations and different particles were employed. A new representation is proposed for the finite element method simulations.