cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny and Taxonomic Revision of the Endemic Malagasy Genus Ptychochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae), with the Description of Five New Species and a Diagnosis for Katria, New Genus

Abstract The Malagasy cichlid genus Ptychochromis is revised and five new species are described, one of which is presumed to be extinct. The three valid nominal species, P. oligacanthus, P. grandidieri, and P. inornatus, are redescribed with diagnoses provided for each. A phylogeny of ptychochromin cichlids, derived from the simultaneous analysis of morphological features and nucleotide characters from a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear genes is presented. Ptychochromis is diagnosed by a suite of derived features of the pharynx, infraorbital series, and palatine morphology. In addition, the sister taxon to Ptychochromis, Ptychochromoides katria, is removed from Ptychochromoides and placed in its own genus, Katria, which is described herein as new. Katria is diagnosed by a unique pigmentation pattern, the absence of paired anterior gas bladder chambers that approach the neurocranium, an elevated vertebral count, and a slender caudal peduncle. An unnamed clade comprising Ptychochromis and Katria is ...
Engine knock and combustion characteristics of a spark ignition engine operating with varying hydrogen and carbon monoxide proportions

Varying proportions of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (synthesis gas) have been investigated as a spark ignition (SI) engine fuel in this paper. It is important to understand how various synthesis gas compositions effect important SI combustion fundamentals, such as knock and burn duration, because in synthesis gas production applications, the compositions can vary significantly depending on the feedstock and production method. A single cylinder cooperative fuels research (CFR) engine was used to investigate the knock and combustion characteristics of three blends of synthesis gas (H2/CO ratio); 1) 100/0, 2) 75/25, and 3) 50/50, by volume. These blends were tested at three compression ratios (6:1, 8:1, and 10:1), and three equivalence ratios (0.6, 0.7, and 0.8). It was revealed that the knock limited compression ratio (KLCR) of a H2/CO mixture increases with increasing CO fraction, for a given spark timing. For a given equivalence ratio and spark timing, a 50%/50% H2/CO mixture produced a KLCR of 8:1 compared to a 100% H2 condition, which produced a KLCR of 6:1. The burn duration and ignition lag is also increased with increasing CO fraction. The results from this work are important for those considering using synthesis gas as a fuel in SI engines. It reveals that although CO is a slow burning fuel, higher CO fractions in synthesis gas can be beneficial, because of its increased resistance to knock, which gives it the potential of producing higher indicated efficiencies through the utilization of an engine with a higher compression ratio.
Recent advances in multistep solution nanosynthesis of nanostructured three-dimensional complexes of semiconductive materials

Abstract Constructing simply nanostructured zero-, one-, and two-dimensional crystallites into three-dimensional multifunctional assemblies and systems at low-cost is essential and highly challenging in materials science and engineering. Compared to the simply nanostructured components, a three-dimensional (3D) complex made with a precisely controlled spatial organization of all structural nanocomponents can enable us to concert functionalities from all the nanocomponents. Methodologically, so doing in nm-scales via a solution chemistry route may be much easier and less expensive than via other mechanisms. Hence, we discuss herein some recent advances in multistep solution syntheses of nanostructured 3D complexes of semiconductors with a focus mainly on their synthetic strategies and detailed mechanisms.
When Five Words Are Not Enough: A Conceptual and Terminological Discussion of English as a Lingua Franca.

The goal of this article is to (re)define key terminology in the study of English as a lingua franca (ELF). Although the diverse perspectives and ideological standpoints represented in competing definitions of terms is appreciated, a critical conversation on definition and interpretation of ELF and other related concepts is crucial in providing a more solid base for further inquiry in this area. Specifically, this study argues that ELF is a term that describes a function that English performs in multilingual contexts and posits that English as an international language refers to specialized cases of ELF found in international contexts. Furthermore, this study differentiates these terms from other related concepts, such as English as a second language and English as a foreign language, and discusses why conceptualizing ELF as a function, rather than a linguistic variety, is necessary in capturing the complexity and diversity found in English today.
Endogenous coordination and discoordination games: Multiculturalism and assimilation

Abstract We argue that many strategic interactions are chosen by, rather than imposed upon, agents. The endogeneity of the implicit game substantially alters the incentive structure faced by agents. If agents can refuse to play a game and instead seek a different partner, then it becomes in their interest to be the sort of player with whom a high quality partner will agree to play. Formally, we explore games which are endogenous in the sense that players first choose to learn a specific set of strategies to play with future partners, and then enter a matching process to find a suitable partner. We find that in coordination games, the only equilibria involve all agents learning the exact same single strategy and playing this with the first partner they meet. Applying this to culture and language, our results imply that if there are benefits from interacting with similar agents then there is a strong bias towards assimilation and the emergence of a single culture (that is, all agents use the endogenous game structure to learn or adopt only a single common culture or language). This result can be overturned, however, by such factors as heritage, cultural affinities, caste, and government policies. Finally, we show that if agents benefit from interacting with agents dissimilar from themselves (we call this a “discoordination game”), not only will different cultures coexist, but also there must necessarily arise a class of “cultural market makers” who specialize in bridging the cultural divide.
A comparison of cefadroxil and penicillin V in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis in children.

The efficacy of cefadroxil, an orally administered broad spectrum cephalosporin, was compared with that of penicillin V in several studies comprising more than 550 children with group A β-haemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis. Both drugs alleviated clinical signs and symptoms and eradicated GABHS from the upper respiratory tract within 18 to 24 hours of the initiation of therapy. Approximately 8% of the patients treated with either cefadroxil or penicillin V had strains of GABHS isolated from 1 of their follow-up throat cultures which were identical to the strains isolated from their initial throat cultures, and were considered bacteriological treatment failures. Compliance was greater than 90% with all of the regimens used, but was significantly better with cefadroxil given as a 30 mg/kg dose once daily than with penicillin V given 3 times daily. There were no serious adverse reactions with either drug. Thus, cefadroxil was shown to be well tolerated and as effective as the standard agent, oral penicillin V, in the treatment of GABHS pharyngitis in children.
Network architecture: hamming codes and cyclic redundancy for transmission error correction

In this paper, we examine how detect and correct transmission errors transmission control protocols such as TCP. We will first show how to construct Hamming Codes to detect and correct single-bit transmission errors. Then, we will evaluate various aspects of the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) codes in comparison to Hamming Codes. The efficiency and the ease with which we can build and implement CRC codes are some of the aspects of the CRC codes that this paper explores.
Color Images From Computer-Generated Holograms

Despite their existence for nearly a decade, computer-generated (synthetic) holograms are seldom used for visual displays. One problem not easily solved is the time and expense of calculating and displaying the large number of resolution elements required for a high quality image. Another problem, one which is more easily solved, is the production of color images rather than the usual unnatural-looking monochromatic ones.
Improving HTTP-based video performance using network flow buffering

We present network flow buffering, which is the use of a remote flow-regulating buffer that is deployed between a Web client and server to improve performance of HTTP-based playback of video. We show that HTTP enhanced with network flow buffering significantly improves performance, especially under high packet loss and highly variable bandwidth conditions, when compared with using either straight HTTP or streaming. The benefits of network flow buffering are numerous, and include reducing interruptions to playback, maintaining high video-image quality, and decreasing client-buffering requirements. Network flow buffering is easily implemented with existing Web mechanisms.
Preservice elementary teachers' views toward a science methods curriculum

One factor effecting the success of an elementary science methods curriculum are preservice teachers' perceptions of a course's usefulness. In the fall of 1991, over 100 elementary science methods students were administered a survey to assess their views toward a curriculum. Survey results supply a distinct ordering of curricular components. Some class components were viewed in a favorable manner, while others were viewed less positively. Three class components elicited unpredictable student responses. Survey results and implications for reforming this methods course are presented.
Processing of hierarchical data with hash objects Part 1 – Creation of XML documents

AbstractThe introduction of hash objects with SAS® version 9 brought about new opportunities for novel programming techniques. The recent discovery that hash tables can contain even other hash objects, also known as the ‘hash of hashes’, opens the door to their application to hierarchical data structures. This is because hierarchies, like the XML structure, can be considered ‘containers within containers’, and with the hash-of-hashes technique, tables can contain tables, thereby becoming compatible with hierarchical formats. This has the potential of being useful for processing clinical data in XML format. The advent of Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) and its increasing reliance on XML technology for handling clinical trial data implies that clinical SAS® programmers now have to get used to hierarchical data structures. Clinical trial data set submissions now have to be accompanied by metadata such as define.xml. The traditional SAS® data sets are tabular and relational, whereas the...
Radial location theory

This article presents algorithms to locate optimally a service facility in a network subject to the condition that the facility has only a specified radius over which it can serve.
Alternatives to rules for knowledge-based modelling

The technology of knowledge-based systems undoubtedly offers potential for educational modelling, yet its practical impact on today's school classrooms is very limited. To an extent this is because the tools presently used in schools are mostly rule-based expert system shells, which lack usability. We developed three alternative tools, using ideas from knowledge acquisition research, and compared their effectiveness to that of an established rule-based shell. Children working with the new tools produced higher quality models and developed more positive attitudes. We relate these findings to the forms of representation provided by the new tools and present evidence that modelling increases children's representational skill. We conclude that knowledge acquisition systems and alternative forms of representation can contribute to improved forms of knowledge-based modelling.
Stabilities of combined radiation and Rayleigh–Bénard–Marangoni convection in an open vertical cylinder

This paper studies the combined radiation and natural convection in an open vertical cylinder. The cylinder is heated through its sidewall at a constant heat flux and cooled at the top surface via radiation. The high order finite difference method is used to simulate the fluid flow and heat transfer inside the cylinder and the internal radiation is solved using discontinuous finite element method. The two numerical methods are coupled through an iterative process. Based on the numerical simulations, a linear stability analysis is carried out to investigate how the internal radiation changes the stability of the flow.
High-resolution scanning electron microscopy of surface reactions

Abstract High-resolution ( A ) and high-quality secondary electron (SE) images can be obtained from specimens in the high-resolution imaging position of a HB5 dedicated STEM instrument, in parallel with STEM or SREM imaging and with microdiffraction and microanalysis using EELS. The additional information obtained by the SEM arises from the possibility of revealing three-dimensional morphology and sensitivity to the chemical composition of surface layers. Examples include evidence of a reaction between Pd and MgO substrate and the formation of Ni by reduction of NiO under electron beam irradiation.
Epigenetic mechanisms in heart development and disease

Suboptimal intrauterine development has been linked to predisposition to cardiovascular disease in adulthood, a concept termed ‘developmental origins of health and disease’. Although the exact mechanisms underlying this developmental programming are unknown, a growing body of evidence supports the involvement of epigenetic regulation. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and micro-RNA confer added levels of gene regulation without altering DNA sequences. These modifications are relatively stable signals, offering possible insight into the mechanisms underlying developmental origins of health and disease. This review will discuss the role of epigenetic mechanisms in heart development as well as aberrant epigenetic regulation contributing to cardiovascular disease. Additionally, we will address recent advances targeting epigenetic mechanisms as potential therapeutic approaches to cardiovascular disease.
Ocular outcomes after gold weight placement and facial nerve resection

Objective To assess the effectiveness of acute gold weight placement after facial nerve resection and to determine the role of concomitant lower eyelid procedures. Study Design Retrospective review. Subjects and Methods Twenty-two patients who received an upper eyelid gold weight at the time of parotidectomy and facial nerve resection were reviewed to assess ocular outcomes. Results After gold weight placement, twelve patients (12 of 22, 54.5%) subsequently presented with symptomatic ectropion (n = 9) and/or lagophthalmos (n = 5). Nine patients received a lower eyelid procedure (7 tarsal strips only, 1 tarsal strip combined with a lateral tarsorrhaphy, and 1 lateral tarsorrhaphy only). Six patients, in addition to a gold weight, also underwent a static sling to the midface at the time of facial nerve resection. None of these 6 received a subsequent lower eyelid procedure. Two patients required gold weight upsizing. Two patients required weight removal. Conclusions Insertion of 1.2 gm upper eyelid weight with placement of midface sling is recommended at the time of facial nerve resection. Due to the need to tighten the lower eyelid in many of these patients, we now also consider performing a tarsal strip procedure at the time of facial nerve resection in any patient with pre-existing lower lid laxity.
Cytotoxicity of mesoporous silica nanomaterials.

Abstract We here measure the toxicity of MCM-41, a mesoporous silica nanomaterial, two of its functionalized analogs, AP-T, which has grafted aminopropyl groups and MP-T, which has grafted mercaptopropyl groups, and spherical silica nanoparticles (SiO 2 ), toward human neuroblastoma (SK–N–SH) cells. Since the particles studied are not soluble in aqueous media, the metric used to report the cytotoxicity of these materials is a new quantity, Q 50 , which is the number of particles required to inhibit normal cell growth by 50%. Determining the number of particles per gram of material applied to the cells required both the calculated and experimentally determined surface areas of these nanomaterials. This study shows that Q 50 increases in the order, MCM-41 2 , showing that on a per particle basis, MCM-41 is the most cytotoxic material studied. For the three mesoporous silica materials in this study, cytotoxicity appears related to the adsorptive surface area of the particle, although the nature of the functional group cannot be ruled out. Silica nanospheres have the lowest surface area of the particles studied but since they exhibit a Q 50 value similar to that of AP-T, shape may also be important in the cytotoxicity of these materials.
Integrating Bone Targeting Radiopharmaceuticals Into the Management of Patients With Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer With Symptomatic Bone Metastases

Metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) refers to the disease state in which metastatic prostate cancer fails to respond to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). This can be manifest as a rising PSA, increase in radiographically measurable disease, or progression of clinical disease. Roughly 90 % of men with metastatic prostate cancer have bone metastases, which is a predictor of both morbidity and mortality. Historically, treatment has been palliative, consisting of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and pharmacological analgesics for pain control and osteoclast inhibitors, such as bisphosphonates and denosumab to mitigate skeletal-related events. Older radiopharmaceuticals, such as Strontium-89 and Samarium-153, are Beta-emitting agents that were found to provide palliation but were without survival benefit and carried high risks of myelosuppression. Radium-223 is an Alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical that has demonstrated a significant overall survival benefit in men with metastatic CRPC, delay to symptomatic skeletal events (SSEs), and improvement in pain control, with a favorable toxicity profile compared with placebo. Unlike EBRT, Radium-223 has systemic uptake, with the potential to address several bone metastases concurrently and provides overall survival benefit. It is a simple administration with minimal complexity and shielding requirements in experienced hands. EBRT appears to provide a more rapid and dramatic palliative benefit to any given lesion. Because Radium-223 has limited myelosuppression, the two can be thoughtfully integrated, along with multiple agents, for the treatment of men with CRPC with symptomatic bone metastases. Given its excellent safety profile, there is interest and anecdotal safety combining Radium-223 with therapies, such as abiraterone and enzalutamide. Formal recommendations regarding combination therapies will require clinical trials. The use of Alpha-emitting radiopharmaceuticals in castrate-sensitive disease, in metastatic asymptomatic CRPC, the categorical sequencing amongst other treatments for CRPC, as well as the application to other primary pathologies, such as metastatic breast cancer, is currently evolving.
A new device for blockout procedures in rotational path removable partial dentures

The rationale of a rotation axis is discussed and on this basis a blockout device is designed for rotational path removable partial dentures. This device has three basic components, which are (1) the acrylic resin block, (2) the rotation axis, and (3) the functional part. In the blockout procedures for removable partial dentures with tilted mandibular molars, the rotation axis of the prosthesis is first localized by the blockout device. A knife edge, made of Duralay resin that corresponds to the survey lines of teeth to be used as supports, is constructed and is joined to the functional part of the blockout device. Blockout regions are determined by the rotational movement of the Duralay resin knife edge along the rotation axis of the blockout device. In addition to the function of blockout, the device can also be used to analyze diagnostic casts for critical undercuts. Internal and external types of blockout devices are also discussed.
Unusual techniques employed in heat transfer programs

A program for the IBM 704 to solve general transient and steady state heat transfer problems is described. The computer program was developed by Evendale Computations Operation in cooperation with the Jet Engine Department, General Electric Company, Flight Propulsion Division. Jet Engine Department personnel who were instrumental in the formulation of the problem are Mr. William K. Koffel and Dr. J. M. Botje. Dr. James T. Anderson, of Michigan State University, acted as a consultant and played a central role in the development of the program. The method of solution permits the analysis of problems with arbitrary geometry and several combined modes of heat transfer. To facilitate the description and solution of extensive and complicated problems, many logical and computational techniques not usually applied to engineering calculations are incorporated in the program.
Sequence verification of oligonucleotides containing multiple arylamine modifications by enzymatic digestion and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS).

An analytical method for the structure differentiation of arylamine modified oligonucleotides (ODNs) using on-line LC/MS analysis of raw exonuclease digests is described. Six different dodeca ODNs derived from the reaction of N-acetoxy-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-aminofluorene with the dodeca oligonucleotide 5′-CTCGGCGCCATC-3′ are isolated and sequenced with this LC/MS method using 3′- and 5′-exonucleases. When the three products modified by a single aminofluorene (AF) are subjected to 3′-exonuclease digestion, the exonuclease will cleave a modified nucleotide but when di-AF modified ODNs are analyzed the 3′-exonuclease ceases to cleave nucleotides when the first modification is exposed at the 3′-terminus. Small abundances of ODN fragments formed by the cleavage of an AF-modified nucleotide were observed when two of the three di-AF modified ODNs were subjected to 5′-exonuclease digestion. The results of the 5′-exonuclease studies of the three di-AF modified ODNs suggest that as the number of unmodified bases between two modifications in an ODN sequence increases, the easier it becomes to sequence beyond the modification closest to the 5′-terminus. The results of this study indicate that the LC/MS method described here would be useful in sequencing ODNs modified by multiple arylamines to be used as templates for site-specific mutagenesis studies.
Changes in plant community composition and reduced precipitation have limited effects on the structure of soil bacterial and fungal communities present in a semiarid grassland

To assess the impacts of precipitation and plants on soil bacterial and fungal communities, precipitation was reduced and plants were removed from experimental plots in a semiarid grassland. For plots with reduced precipitation, rainout shelters were constructed using clear, corrugated polycarbonate panels. Plant removal plots had plants extracted manually to remove both above- and belowground portions, and these plots were kept free of vegetation for the duration of the experiment. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS region was used to assess the response of soil microbial communities to experimental manipulations. Soil moisture content, inorganic nitrogen concentrations, and aboveground plant biomass were also examined in these experimental plots. Soil moisture in plots with reduced precipitation was on average 40 % lower than that in control plots, while soil moisture in plant removal plots resembled that of control plots. No significant differences in available nitrogen were observed among treatments. Plots with reduced precipitation contained significantly less aboveground biomass than control plots, and also displayed a significantly higher occurrence of Russian thistle, an annual exotic. Soil bacterial and fungal communities were impacted by reduced precipitation, plant removal, and time, though these differences were subtle. Climate-change associated reductions in precipitation and vegetation will not cause large shifts in soil microbial communities on short time scales.
Integrative Analysis of Many Weighted Co-Expression Networks Using Tensor Computation

The rapid accumulation of biological networks poses new challenges and calls for powerful integrative analysis tools. Most existing methods capable of simultaneously analyzing a large number of networks were primarily designed for unweighted networks, and cannot easily be extended to weighted networks. However, it is known that transforming weighted into unweighted networks by dichotomizing the edges of weighted networks with a threshold generally leads to information loss. We have developed a novel, tensor-based computational framework for mining recurrent heavy subgraphs in a large set of massive weighted networks. Specifically, we formulate the recurrent heavy subgraph identification problem as a heavy 3D subtensor discovery problem with sparse constraints. We describe an effective approach to solving this problem by designing a multi-stage, convex relaxation protocol, and a non-uniform edge sampling technique. We applied our method to 130 co-expression networks, and identified 11,394 recurrent heavy subgraphs, grouped into 2,810 families. We demonstrated that the identified subgraphs represent meaningful biological modules by validating against a large set of compiled biological knowledge bases. We also showed that the likelihood for a heavy subgraph to be meaningful increases significantly with its recurrence in multiple networks, highlighting the importance of the integrative approach to biological network analysis. Moreover, our approach based on weighted graphs detects many patterns that would be overlooked using unweighted graphs. In addition, we identified a large number of modules that occur predominately under specific phenotypes. This analysis resulted in a genome-wide mapping of gene network modules onto the phenome. Finally, by comparing module activities across many datasets, we discovered high-order dynamic cooperativeness in protein complex networks and transcriptional regulatory networks.
Measurement of Heart Chamber Volumes by Analysis of Dilution Curves Simultaneously Recorded by Scintillation Camera

After a peripheral injection of Technetium-99 m , an Anger scintillation camera placed over the precordium of nine patients without and three patients with hemodynamic abnormalities was used to record in rapid sequence the flow of the injected material through the central circulatory system. After the data were processed as sequential frames of digitized spatial matrices, the position of various chambers or compartments was identified and dilution curves from six sites were obtained, providing a series of input-output relations through the central circulatory system, i.e., superior vena cava, right atrium, right ventricle, lung, left atrium, and left ventricle. These relations were assumed to be cascaded as a series of first order lag systems, with or without time delay, on an analog computer, which allowed estimation of the time constant of the transfer function of each chamber or compartment (volume/flow) by reducing the problem to a consecutive, one-parametric manipulation. Measurement of the flow rate through the series (cardiac output) permitted the volume of each chamber to be estimated. Results correlated well with mean values established by other methods.
Influence of Seminal Plasma and Maturity of Bovine Spermatozoa upon Their Freezability

Summary Two experiments were conducted to determine whether the greater postfreezing revival of spermatozoa from the second over the first ejaculate is attributable to differences in seminal plasma or to differences in the cells. In both experiments, spermatozoa were frozen in yolk-citrate diluter. In the first experiment, seminal plasma was interchanged between first and second ejaculates. The superiority of spermatozoa from the second over the first ejaculates remained, whether plasma from the same or the other ejaculate was in the medium or whether the plasma was removed. In the second experiment, the freezability of spermatozoa in the cauda epididymis was superior to that in the ampulla, although not significantly so. The evidence from these two experiments indicates that the superiority in freezability of spermatozoa from the second over the first ejaculate can be attributed to characteristics of the cells and not to differences in seminal plasma.
Vitamin D Status among 4-Month-Old Infants in New England: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Concerns over vitamin D deficiency in infants and children recently prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend increased supplementation. Few studies have examined vitamin D status in the same infants over time. Also, while many researchers label “breastfeeding” as a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency, few differentiate between any breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and supplemented or unsupplemented breastfeeders.Objective: To determine predictors of 25(OH)D deficiency at 4 months in a group of children previously tested at birth.Methods: We enrolled newborns from 2005 to 2007 at an urban Boston hospital. Maternal and infant blood samples were collected within 72 hours of birth. At 4 months, we obtained a second infant blood sample.Results: At 4 months, 11.9% of the 177 infants were vitamin D deficient compared to 37.5% at birth (25(OH)D <20 ng/mL). Median 25(OH)D was 35.2 ng/mL (range, 5-100.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 32.8-37.6). At 4 months, 40% of unsupplemented ...
Relationships Between Structural Parameters and Tenacity of Polypropylene Monofilaments

Quantitative relationships have been established between the tensile strength of polypropylene fibers and their molecular weight, molecular-weight distribution, crystal linity, and orientation. An ...
Convergence Study of Decentralized Min-Cost Subgraph Algorithms for Multicast in Coded Networks

The problem of establishing minimum-cost multicast connections in coded networks can be viewed as an optimization problem, and decentralized algorithms were proposed by Lun to compute the optimal subgraph using the dual subgradient method. However, the convergence rate problem for these algorithms remains open. There are limited results in the literature, which bound the amount of infeasibility of the primal solution recovered after each iterations or the convergence rate. However, due to the special structure of the network coding problem, we have an algorithm that generates a feasible solution after each iterations. In addition, the convergence rate of the primal problem is O(1/n) to a neighborhood of the optimal solution. We also propose heuristics to further improve our algorithm and demonstrate through simulations that the distributed algorithm converges to the optimal subgraph quickly and is robust against network topology changes.
Wideband Circularly Polarized L-shaped Slot Antenna

A wideband circularly polarized (CP) slot antenna with L-slot and L-shaped feed is designed. Wideband CP is obtained by truncating a corner of the antenna element, and by exciting the L-slot with asymmetric L-shaped feed line. This geometry introduces orthogonal components with quadrature phase difference to excite circularly polarized wave. The antenna attains an overlapped bandwidth (axial ratio < 3 dB and return loss < -10 dB) of 41.5 % (2.10 GHz - 3.20 GHz) in simulation.
Recognizing and working with remaining abilities: Toward improving the care of Alzheimer's disease sufferers

Empirical evidence derivedfrom the discourse of two Alzheimer's disease (AD) sufferers is presented and found to support the notion proposed by Kitwood and Bredin1 that there are aspects of “relative well-being” which are preserved in Alzheimer's disease sufferers despite the loss of a variety of individual cognitive abilities as measured by standard tests. The present in-depth case studies also reveal that aspects of relative well-being can be supported by the social environment in which the afflicted person lives. It is proposed that supporting the afflicted person's remaining intact abilities, as seen in the signs of relative well-being, can enhance the interactions between the caregiver and AD sufferer, and thus be a source of benefit to both.
Computerized-tomography: Isotope sources

Abstract Recently pure rotary fan beam computerized tomography (CT) body scanners have been successfully demonstrated by Artronics, AS&E, GE and Varian. These scanners have the large solid angle detection efficiency required by proposed practical isotope source-based CT scanners. Current scanners employ broad-energy bremsstrahlung sources at 100–140 kVp. The nonlinearity of polychromatic X-ray attenuation introduces significant absolute accuracy errors in the CT image even when sophisticated software corrections are employed. Accuracy is important in heavy ion treatment planning and quantitative physiological measurements. A 100 Ci 153 Gd source would enable accurate, industry competitive 20 sec scans, but would require a specific activit 3–10 times the current state of the art. The dual monochromatic energy emission at “43” keV and “100” keV of 153 Gd can be utilized to simultaneously reconstruct electron density and atomic number CT images. These techniques may be useful for the development of a low-cost dedicated CT scanner for therapy planning.
Manganese Vanadium Oxide Nanotubes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemistry

Vanadium oxide nanotubes have been formed from the layered vanadium oxide precursor V2O5+δ[C12H25NH3]. Both the precursor and tubes have been characterized. The black nanotubes have a relatively low thermal stability in oxygen, being oxidized to V2O5 below 200 °C. A new manganese vanadium oxide nanotube, Mn0.1VO2.5+δ·nH2O, has been synthesized by ion exchange. These manganese tubes have a tetragonal layer with a = 6.157 (3) A and an interlayer spacing c = 10.52 (3) A. The nanotubes react with lithium chemically and are also electrochemically active in lithium cells. Two lithium atoms per vanadium can be incorporated chemically from n-butyllithium into both the manganese and the alkylammonium nanotubes. The manganese compound electrochemically intercalates 0.5 lithium per vanadium to a 2 V cutoff, giving a capacity of 140 A h/kg.
Computer analysis and evaluation of marine structures

The marine industry in general and the American Bureau of Shipping in particular have turned to the extensive use of computers for the solution of the problems encountered in the design, analysis and construction of ships and other marine structures. Mathematical solution techniques have been available for some time, but the complexity of the necessary calculations precluded their use. The advent of electronic digital computers with their powerful, constantly expanding "number-crunching" capabilities has bridged this gap, leading to the application and further expansion of available techniques.The most useful and usable tool is the finite element method, which has found widespread use and has been extensively applied for structural, dynamic and thermal analyses of marine structures, ranging from entire vessels to local structural details. Descriptions and examples of such analyses are given in the paper.Other facets of computer versatility applicable to and used by the industry include conversational programs, naval architecture programs, computer graphics and information retrieval. These subjects are presented and discussed in the paper.Looking ahead, future trends of computer applications in the industry are mentioned.
The Drosophila CD2AP/CIN85 orthologue Cindr regulates junctions and cytoskeleton dynamics during tissue patterning

Developing tissues require cells to undergo intricate processes to shift into appropriate niches. This requires a functional connection between adhesion-mediating events at the cell surface and a cytoskeletal reorganization to permit directed movement. A small number of proteins are proposed to link these processes. Here, we identify one candidate, Cindr, the sole Drosophila melanogaster member of the CD2AP/CIN85 family (this family has been previously implicated in a variety of processes). Using D. melanogaster retina, we demonstrate that Cindr links cell surface junctions (E-cadherin) and adhesion (Roughest) with multiple components of the actin cytoskeleton. Reducing cindr activity leads to defects in local cell movement and, consequently, tissue patterning and cell death. Cindr activity is required for normal localization of Drosophila E-cadherin and Roughest, and we show additional physical and functional links to multiple components of the actin cytoskeleton, including the actin-capping proteins capping protein alpha and capping protein beta. Together, these data demonstrate that Cindr is involved in dynamic cell rearrangement in an emerging epithelium.
The social environment and IL-6 in rats and humans

Inflammatory cytokine levels predict a wide range of human diseases including depression, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disease, general morbidity, and mortality. Stress and social experiences throughout the lifecourse have been associated with inflammatory processes. We conducted studies in humans and laboratory rats to examine the effect of early life experience and adult social position in predicting IL-6 levels. Human participants reported family homeownership during their childhood and current subjective social status. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured from oral mucosal transudate. Rats were housed in groups of three, matched for quality of maternal care received. Social status was assessed via competition for resources, and plasma IL-6 was assessed in adulthood. In both humans and rats, we identified an interaction effect; early social experience moderated the effect of adult social status on IL-6 levels. Rats that experienced low levels of maternal care and people with low childhood socioeconomic status represented both the highest and lowest levels of IL-6 in adulthood, depending on their social status as young adults. The predicted interaction held for non-Hispanic people, but did not occur among Hispanic individuals. Adversity early in life may not have a monotonically negative effect on adult health, but may alter biological sensitivity to later social experiences.
Resting Ventricular-Vascular Function and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: A RELAX Trial Ancillary Study

Background— Exercise intolerance is a hallmark of heart failure, but factors associated with impaired exercise capacity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are unclear. We hypothesized that in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the severity of resting ventricular and vascular dysfunction are associated with impairment in exercise tolerance as assessed by peak oxygen consumption. Methods and Results— Subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction enrolled in the PhosphodiesteRasE-5 Inhibition to Improve CLinical Status And EXercise Capacity in Diastolic Heart Failure (RELAX) clinical trial (n=216) underwent baseline Doppler echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and cardiac MRI. RELAX participants were elderly (median age 69 years) and 48% were women. Ejection fraction (60%) and stroke volume (77 mL) were normal, while diastolic dysfunction (medial E / e ′, 16; deceleration time, 185 ms; left atrial volume, 44 mL/m2) and increased arterial load (arterial elastance, 1.51 mm Hg/mL) were evident. Peak oxygen consumption was reduced (11.7 mLkg−1min−1, 1141 mL/min) and age, sex, body mass index, hemoglobin, and chronotropic response collectively explained 64% of the variance in raw peak oxygen consumption (mL/min). After adjustment for these variables, left ventricular structure (diastolic dimension [1.5%, P =0.008] and left ventricular mass [1.6%, P =0.008]), resting stroke volume (2.0%, P =0.002), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (deceleration time [0.9%, P =0.03] and E / e ′ [1.4%, P =0.009]), and arterial function (arterial elastance [2.1%, P =0.002] and systemic arterial compliance [1.5%, P =0.007]), each explained only a small additional portion of the variance in peak oxygen consumption. Conclusions— In heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, potentially modifiable factors (obesity, anemia, and chronotropic incompetence) are strongly associated with exercise capacity, whereas resting measures of ventricular and vascular structure and function are not. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00763867][1] [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00763867&atom=%2Fcirchf%2F7%2F4%2F580.atom
Accelerating tropical cyclone analysis using LambdaRAM, a distributed data cache over wide-area ultra-fast networks

Data-intensive scientific applications require rapid access to local and geographically distributed data, however, there are significant I/O latency bottlenecks associated with storage systems and wide-area networking. LambdaRAM is a high-performance, multi-dimensional, distributed cache, that takes advantage of memory from multiple clusters interconnected by ultra-high-speed networking, to provide applications with rapid access to both local and remote data. It mitigates latency bottlenecks by employing proactive latency-mitigation heuristics based on an application's access patterns. We present results using LambdaRAM to rapidly stride through remote multi-dimensional NASA Modeling, Analysis and Prediction (MAP) 2006 project datasets, based on time and geographical coordinates, to compute wind shear for cyclone and hurricane and tropical cyclone analysis. Our current experiments have demonstrated up to a 20-fold speedup in the computation of wind shear with LambdaRAM.
Type I collagen segment long spacing banding patterns: improved correlation with models using a variable h-spacing.

Five models of collagen molecular structure incorporating a variable h-spacing were evaluated by comparing theoretical densitometric scans of segment long spacing (SLS) banding patterns with experimental densitometric scans. The five models tested assumed a shift in the h-spacing of different residues: (1) proline only, (2) hydroxyproline only, (3) proline and hydroxyproline (in the same direction), (4) proline and hydroxyproline (in opposite directions), and (5) all residues shifted depending on their relative hydrophobicity. The best correlation coefficients were obtained when, in the theoretical models, the proline residues were expanded axially and/or the hydroxyproline residues were contracted. Using the hydrophobic model, the results showed that in general the more hydrophobic a residue is, the larger its h-spacing. Theorectical models with the α2-chain in the A position of the triple helix (α2,α1,α1) correlated best with the experimental data. In conclusion, these studies suggest that variation exists in the h-spacing of the amino acid residues proline and hydroxyproline in SLS prepared for electron microscopy and stained with phosphotungstic acid and uranyl acetate. Some of this variation may be due to drying and may not be present in hydrated molecules.
The occurrence of γ-carboxyglutamic acid in mammalian ribosomes☆

Abstract γ-carboxyglutamic acid (GLA) has been identified and estimated in mammalian ribosomes (mouse, rat, man, cultured cells) by amino acid analysis of total extracted protein. Assay results varied from 5.7–19.1 nMoles GLA/mg protein (6.0–9.9 residues GLA/1000 residues GLU), depending on purity and origin of ribosomes. GLA was not eliminated by purification. GLA in mouse hepatoma ribosomes was increased 3-fold upon preparation of puromycin-dissociated sub-units and sedimentation on gradients containing 1.0 M KCl. This tightly bound GLA (17.7 nMoles/mg sub-unit protein) could be present in one or more ribosomal proteins incorporated in the nucleoli, or in GLA-containing proteins acquired in the cytoplasm.
On The Concept Of Periapsis In Hill’s Problem

The concept of closest approach is analyzed in Hill’s problem, resulting in a partitioning of the position space. The different behavior between the direct and retrograde motion is explained analytically, resulting in a simple estimate of the variation of Hill’s periodic and quasi-circular orbits as a function of the Jacobi constant. The local behavior of the orbits on the zero velocity surfaces and an analytical definition of local escape and capture in Hill’s problem are also given.
Membrane association and functional regulation of Sec3 by phospholipids and Cdc42.

The exocyst is an octameric protein complex implicated in tethering post-Golgi secretory vesicles at the plasma membrane in preparation for fusion. However, it is not clear how the exocyst is targeted to and physically associates with specific domains of the plasma membrane and how its functions are regulated at those regions. We demonstrate that the N terminus of the exocyst component Sec3 directly interacts with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. In addition, we have identified key residues in Sec3 that are critical for its binding to the guanosine triphosphate–bound form of Cdc42. Genetic analyses indicate that the dual interactions of Sec3 with phospholipids and Cdc42 control its function in yeast cells. Disrupting these interactions not only blocks exocytosis and affects exocyst polarization but also leads to defects in cell morphogenesis. We propose that the interactions of Sec3 with phospholipids and Cdc42 play important roles in exocytosis and polarized cell growth.
Orientation phenomena for electron-ion collisional excitations in a classical nonideal plasma

Orientation phenomena for direct 1s → 2p ±1 excitations in electron-hydrogenic-ion collisions are investigated in a classical nonideal plasma. An effective pseudopotential model taking into account plasma-screening and collective effects is applied to describe the interaction potential in a nonideal plasma, The orientation parameter for direct 1s → 2p ±1 excitations in a nonideal plasma is obtained as a function of the impact parameter, the nonideal-plasma parameter, the Debye length, and the projectile energy. The result shows that the nonideal effect reduces the propensity of the Is → 2p -1 transition. It is also found that the nonideal effect on the orientation parameter increases with increasing projectile energy.
The relationship of bone mineral density and anthropometric variables in healthy male and female children.

Abstract The relationships among bone mineral measurements at hip, wrist, and spine sites and anthropometric measurements which provided estimates of frame size, skinfold thickness, and muscularity were examined in a population of 140 children. The average age of the children at the time of measurement was 9.5 ± 2.5 years and all subjects were white. In this study population, the anthropometric measurements were generally highly intercorrelated. Univariate correlations among bone mass and density variables at the different sites were also high, especially in the female children. Model fitting procedures were employed to separate the effects of age, frame size, and fatness on the bone mass measures. Resulting models confirmed previous results which suggest that height is the best predictor of bone mass in children. As expected, models for bone mineral content and bone mineral density were similar. Models for hips and wrist sites were also similar in including an estimate of frame size, while in those for the spine hip circumference explained a greater percentage of the variance. It appears that there are several identifiable characteristics among the anthropometric variables which appear to exert differential effects on skeletal development in children.