cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Brucella Skin-Test Antigens

ceived very little attention apart from attempts to prepare reagents of varying grades of antigenic purity. Once these reagents have been available, they have usually been applied with some degree of parochial interest for the detection of one more sign of a Brucella infection. As the limitations of the test itself were clarified, and as serologic diagnosis improved, there was little motivation clinically to bring either knowledge of the antigens concerned, or the potential of the test itself to probe more deeply into the pathogenesis of the infectious disease, up to the level of development and use attained by the tuberculin test. Many interesting problems such as differentiation among bacterial species in the infection in nature might be aided by an effective and highly purified reagent from Brucella. Further knowledge of the possible spectrum of antigens capable of inducing the hypersensitivity could be of help in understanding the course of the infectious process, especially in the light of such phenomena as "L-forms" in vivo, the existence of lysogeny and its consequences in vivo, and the biologic roles of the various immunoglobulins in their regular sequence of appearance in the course of the infection. For these basic
Luteinizing hormone content of the pituitary of the lactating mouse.

Abstract Swiss mice each nursing six young were killed several hours after parturition or on day 6 or 12 of lactation. The luteinizing hormone (LH) activity of the mother's pituitary was determined by injecting the pituitary intraperitoneally into 30-day-old FSH-primed mice, using the induction of ovulation in the recipient mice as the endpoint. The pituitary on day 6 of lactation had the maximal content of LH, at a time when the reproductive tract was most inactive as judged by histological criteria. As little as one-fourth of the day 6 pituitary induced ovulation in 77% of the recipient mice. The day 12 pituitary was intermediate in LH content between the postpartum and day 6 groups; 50% of the recipient mice ovulated when injected with between one-fourth and one-half pituitary equivalents of the day 12 pituitary, while a similar endpoint for the day 6 pituitary fell between one-eighth and one-fourth pituitary. The 50% endpoint for the postpartum pituitary was close to two pituitary equivalents. In contrast, the pituitary removed 2 hr or less after delivery was as active as the day 6 pituitary. The pituitaries of mice nursing six or twelve young failed to show any difference in LH potency at day 6 or day 12. These experiments indicate that hormonal imbalance during lactation is due to the diminished release of gonadotropins from the pituitary rather than reduced production of the hormones.
Effect of cucurbitacin D on in vitro growth of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp., symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes

In vitro assays were conducted to determine the effect of cucurbitacin D, an oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoid found in cucurbits, on the growth of Xenorhabdus isolated from Steinernema carpocapsae (All, Mexican, Agriotos strains), Steinernema riobravis, Steinernema glaseri (NC strain, strain 27), and Photorhabdus from Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (NC, Lewiston strains), and Heterorhabditis sp. (FL2122 strain). Cucurbitacin D inhibited the growth of four isolates, had no effect on the growth of four isolates, and stimulated the growth of one isolate. Results are discussed in relation to progeny production of entomopathogenic nematodes from insects that have eaten plant material containing cucurbitacin D. This is the first report of an effect of a plant secondary compound on the bacterial symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes.
Getting Users to Library Resources: A Delicious Alternative

The article gives an overview of social bookmarking in libraries and discusses the University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries Delicious project and its outcomes in depth. It also addresses technical issues involved with setting up a library Delicious account; barriers to participation; training requirements; integration with other library sites and services; and overall use of and satisfaction with the service. The article offers an overall perspective for all those currently using or interested in utilizing Delicious. To evaluate the utility of Delicious for the UCF Libraries, the authors examined usage statistics, conducted a survey, and gathered anecdotal evidence.
Advanced Deconvolution Technique for Analyzing Multirate Well Test Data

Deconvolution allows the test analyst to estimate the constant-rate transient pressure response of a reservoir-well system, and assists us in system identification and parameter estimation. Unfortunately, deconvolution amplifies the noise contained in data. Often, we cannot identify the reservoir system from deconvolved results owing to solution instability caused by noise in measured data. We previously presented a deconvolution technique based on the fast Fourier transform that we applied to a single buildup or drawdown period. In this paper, we extend our previous work and apply the deconvolution technique based on the fast Fourier transform to arbitrarily changing rate profiles such as multirate tests. The deconvolution results, which represent a constant-rate pressure drawdown response spanning the entire duration of the test, can provide helpful insight into the correct reservoir description. We have improved our original deconvolution method in number of ways, particularly with the introduction of an iterative algorithm that produces stable deconvolution results. We demonstrate application of our deconvolution method to analysis of synthetic and field examples, including both flow and shut-in periods. Our deconvolution method can efficiently reproduce the characteristic responses of the reservoir-well system and increase our confidence in parameter estimates.
Effects of Ouabain and Potassium on Protein Synthesis and Angiotensin-Stimulated Aldosterone Synthesis in Bovine Adrenal Glomerulosa Cells*

Ouabain (1 μM and below) inhibited both basal and angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone synthesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. Ouabain had no effect on binding of 125I-labeled angiotensin, on angiotensin‘s effects on 45Ca2+ fluxes, or on 32PO4 incorporation into phosphatidylinositol. This spectrum of activities resembles that of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, which also blocks aldosterone synthesis. Ouabain was, therefore, tested for its effect on protein synthesis, as measured by uptake of [3H]leucine into acid-precipitable material. Ouabain inhibited protein synthesis at concentrations similar to those that depressed aldosterone synthesis, but did not block uptake of the nonmetabolized amino acid [carboxyl- 14C]aminocyclopentane-l-carboxylic acid, nor the entrance of [3H]leucine into cells. When cells previously loaded with 86Rb+ were treated with 1 μM ouabain, they lost approximately half of the accumulated radioactivity in 30 min. When cells were incubated in potassiumfree buff...
IMMUNO-CLINICAL CLASSIFICATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS PYOGENES AUREUS.

EXPERIMENTAL pyelonephritis in animals and clinical pyelonephritis in man have been under serious investigation at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center for the past decade. We have been publishing and presenting scientific exhibits at various time-intervals. In 1958, an immunological approach for the possible diagnosis of pyelonephritis in man was undertaken because, bacteriuria being intermittent, the urine culture in such patients was often negative, and no abnormal urinary and radiological changes were demonstrable, particularly early during the course of this disease.
Semiquantitative histopathology and 3D magnetic resonance microscopy as collaborative platforms for tissue identification and comparison within teratomas derived from pedigreed primate embryonic stem cells

Teratoma formation in xenografts is a sufficiently stringent pluripotency assay for stem cells. However, little is known about the composition and spatial relationships of tissues within teratomas that may provide clues about development and platforms for studying organ development. Additionally, teratoma formation and analysis lack standards for reporting as assays of pluripotency. Three of 27 total teratomas derived from pedigreed primate embryonic stem cells underwent quantitative three-dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM). Teratomas were subsequently serially sectioned and tissue types identified, semiquantitated, and correlated with MRM images. All teratomas demonstrated tissue derivatives from the three germ layers and approximately 23 different tissue types were identified. Certain tissue groups attempted to form organs more frequently (e.g., trachea/bronchi, small intestine). MRM discriminated some tissues readily (e.g., bone, adipose, cartilage) while other tissue types with like MR intensities could not be distinguished. Semiquantitative histopathological analysis of teratomas demonstrates the ability to delineate multiple tissues as derived from ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm and to use this information for comparison to other teratomas. MRM provides rapid quantitative imaging of intact teratomas that complements histology and identifies sites of interest for additional biological studies.
Mapping of long-range INS promoter interactions reveals a role for calcium-activated chloride channel ANO1 in insulin secretion

We used circular chromatin conformation capture (4C) to identify a physical contact in human pancreatic islets between the region near the insulin (INS) promoter and the ANO1 gene, lying 68 Mb away on human chromosome 11, which encodes a Ca2+-dependent chloride ion channel. In response to glucose, this contact was strengthened and ANO1 expression increased, whereas inhibition of INS gene transcription by INS promoter targeting siRNA decreased ANO1 expression, revealing a regulatory effect of INS promoter on ANO1 expression. Knockdown of ANO1 expression caused decreased insulin secretion in human islets, establishing a physical proximity-dependent feedback loop involving INS transcription, ANO1 expression, and insulin secretion. To explore a possible role of ANO1 in insulin metabolism, we carried out experiments in Ano1+/− mice. We observed reduced serum insulin levels and insulin-to-glucose ratios in high-fat diet–fed Ano1+/− mice relative to Ano1+/+ mice fed the same diet. Our results show that determination of long-range contacts within the nucleus can be used to detect novel and physiologically relevant mechanisms. They also show that networks of long-range physical contacts are important to the regulation of insulin metabolism.
Diversity, Racial Threat and Metropolitan Housing Segregation

Previous studies have shown that as the percent black or percent Hispanic grows, that group’s residential segregation from whites tends to increase as well. Typically, these findings are explained in terms of white discriminatory reaction to the perceived threat associated with minority population growth. The present analysis examines whether these racial threat effects depend on the extent of racial and ethnic diversity in an area. This possibility is tested by estimating otherwise standard models of black-white and Hispanic-white segregation using metropolitan area data from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. censuses. Results from robust regression analyses strongly support the prediction for each of the white-minority pairs: the racial threat effect is significantly diminished in areas with greater multi-ethnic diversity.
Equivalent linear two-body method for Bose-Einstein condensates in time-dependent harmonic traps

The recently developed time-independent effective linear two-body method [J. Phys. B: At., Mol. Opt. Phys. 33, 55 (2000)] has been generalized for time-dependent traps. The method is used to describe the dynamics of trapped Bose-Einstein condensates beyond the Thomas-Fermi regime. The calculated aspect ratios after ballistic expansion are found to be in good agreement with experimental data obtained recently by G\"orlitz et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 130402 (2001)].
Proline Replacements and the Simplification of the Complex, Parallel Channel Folding Mechanism for the Alpha Subunit of Trp Synthase, a TIM Barrel Protein

Abstract The kinetic folding mechanism for the alpha subunit of tryptophan synthase (αTS) from Escherichia coli involves four parallel channels whose inter-conversions are controlled by three cis/trans prolyl isomerization reactions (τ1, τ2 and τ3). A previous mutational analysis of all 19 proline positions, including the unique cis Asp27–Pro28 peptide bond, revealed that the G3P28G, P78A or P96A mutations selectively eliminated the fast, τ1 (ten seconds), folding phase, while the P217M and P261A mutations eliminated the medium, τ2 (40 seconds) and the slow, τ3 (∼300 seconds) folding phases, respectively. To further elucidate the role of these proline residues and to simplify the folding mechanism, a series of double and triple mutants were constructed at these critical positions, and comprehensive kinetic and thermodynamic experiments were performed. Although it was not possible to construct a stable system that was free of proline isomerization constraints, a double mutant variant, G3P28G/P217M, in which the refolding of more than 90% of the unfolded protein is not limited by proline isomerization reactions was identified. Further, long-range interactions between several of these residues appear to be a crucial part of the cooperative network of structure that stabilizes the TIM barrel motif for αTS.
Bonding agent strengths with processed composite resin veneers.

Abstract Intracoronal veneers of laboratory processed composite resin are currently being employed to produce esthetic restorations that do not involve the bulk or in situ polymerization problems of more traditional veneering systems. The retention of these materials depends on the bonds formed at the veneer/bonding agent interface and the bonding agent/enamel interface. The bond strength of the veneer/bonding agent interface was investigated using resin bonding agents differing in means of polymerization, filler content, and apparent viscosity. The bond strengths were better with materials that were light-cured and less highly filled.
The Effects of Strengths-Based Information on Teachers' Expectations for Diverse Students

This study examined the effects on teachers’ expectations of including information about students’ intrapersonal and interpersonal strengths in vignettes of Latino English Language Learner (ELL) and Caucasian non-ELL students in U.S. schools. Ninety-one elementary school teachers read one of four randomly assigned fictional vignettes describing a student struggling in school and then predicted the student’s future outcomes. Descriptions of student strengths (present vs. absent) and ethnic and linguistic backgrounds (Latino ELL vs. Caucasian non-ELL) were manipulated. Significant findings were obtained for the effects of including strengths on teachers’ expectations for both student groups in a variety of domains, including short- and long-term academic and behavioral outcomes, and level of family involvement in the child’s education. Implications for consideration of strengths in comprehensive assessments of children are discussed.
A Placement Test for Computer Science: Design, Implementation, and Analysis

An introductory CS1 course presents problems for educators and students due to students' diverse background in programming knowledge and exposure. Students who enroll in CS1 also have different expectations and motivations. Prompted by the curricular guidelines for undergraduate programmes in computer science released in 2001 by the ACM/IEEE, and driven by a departmental project to reinvent the undergraduate computer science and computer engineering curricula at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, we are currently implementing a series of changes which will improve our introductory courses. One key component of our project is an online placement examination tied to the cognitive domain that assesses student knowledge and intellectual skills. Our placement test is also integrated into a comprehensive educational research design containing a pre- and posttest framework for assessing student learning and providing valuable feedback for needed instructional revisions. In this paper, we focus on the design and...
Disulfide-Bond Cleavage and Formation in Proteins

Disulfide bonds can be cleaved at an alkaline pH by treating a protein with excess of a reagent disulfide in the presence of catalytic amounts of thiol. The cleavage products are stable and can be isolated; they contain the mixed disulfide between the reagent and the exposed thiol groups of the protein. The extent of cleavage is readily controlled by the pH of the reaction, temperature, and the addition of urea. Disulfide bonds cleaved by the reaction can be re-formed by exposing the mixed disulfide of the protein to catalytic amounts of thiol. Specific side chains can be added on to the thiol groups in native proteins by treatment with a reagent disulfide alone.
Milk fatty acid composition of dairy cows grazing at two pasture allowances and supplemented with different levels and sources of concentrate

Abstract Milk fatty acid (FA) composition of dairy cows from two grazing studies was examined. In the first study, effects of concentrate supplementation and pasture allowance were evaluated using 20 multiparous Holstein cows in five 4 × 4 Latin squares. The four treatments resulted from the combination of two pasture allowances (i.e., low, 25 versus high, 40 kg dry matter/cow/day) and two concentrate supplementation levels (i.e., 0 versus 1 kg concentrate/4 kg milk). No interactions occurred between concentrate supplementation and pasture allowance for milk FA composition. Concentrate supplementation increased short-chain FA content, and reduced the content of long-chain FA, trans11 C18:1, and cis9, trans11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (1.36 versus 1.18 g/100 g). Concentrate supplementation increased saturated FA (58.6 versus 54.0 g/100 g) and reduced unsaturated FA content (39.9 versus 43.8 g/100 g). Grazing at high pasture allowance increased short-, medium-, and long-chain FA content, without affecting cis9, trans11 CLA content. Saturated FA content was higher (57.1 versus 55.6 g/100 g), and unsaturated FA content was lower (41.3 versus 42.5 g/100 g), when cows grazed at high pasture allowance. Concentrate supplementation reduced unsaturated FA and cis9, trans11 CLA in milk of dairy cows grazing at two pasture allowances. In the second study, two experiments evaluated effects of different energy supplements in grazing dairy cows. In Experiment 1, 25 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to a cracked corn (CC) or a steam flaked corn (SFC) supplement containing 667 g/kg of corn grain plus a pelleted protein/mineral supplement. In Experiment 2, 22 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to a ground corn grain (GC) or a non-forage fiber (NFF) supplement. The GC supplement contained 850 g/kg of corn grain, and the NFF supplement contained 440 g/kg of non-forage fiber sources (i.e., beet pulp, soyhulls, wheat middlings) that partially replaced corn grain. Milk FA composition was not affected by corn processing or carbohydrate source. The content of short-, medium-, long-chain FA, and cis9, trans11 CLA (2.5 g/100 g in Experiment 1; 2.1 g/100 g in Experiment 2) was similar between supplements in both experiments. The type of supplement did not affect the content of saturated (62.6 g/100 g in Experiment 1; 65.4 g/100 g in Experiment 2) and unsaturated FA (37.5 g/100 g in Experiment 1; 34.6 g/100 g in Experiment 2). Supplementation with supplements differing in the rate and extent of ruminal carbohydrate digestion did not affect the milk FA composition of grazing dairy cows.
Structural changes during deformation in carbon nanotube-reinforced polyacrylonitrile fibers

Structural changes during deformation in solution- and gel-spun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers prepared with multi- and single-wall carbon nanotubes, and vapor-grown carbon nano-fibers were investigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. Deformation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) contributes to the increased modulus. CNTs, in addition to their mere presence as reinforcement, were found to alter the response of the PAN matrix to stress and thus enhance the performance of the composite. CNTs facilitate the orientation of the PAN crystals during deformation, and increase the load transferred to PAN crystals as evidenced by their increased lateral and axial strains at 75 °C. The monotonical decrease in PAN interchain spacing with the fiber strain was accompanied by a reversible helix to zigzag conformational change as well as by changes in the axial repeats of the two conformations. These changes were much larger in gel-spun fibers than in solution-spun fibers, indicating more effective load transfer in gel-spun fibers.
"Bioplutonism" and the evolutionary implications of beneficial genes from another biosphere.

Abstract Could exogenous genes from another biosphere have aided the evolution of life on Earth's surface over the last half-billion years? That possibility was considered by Thomas Gold in 1992, when he hypothesized that a “deep hot biosphere” (DHB) resides independently well below its cooler surface counterpart. And he suggested that “… in the long term … there may occasionally be beneficial exchanges of genetic material between microbial life at depth and the surface life.” Thus, the question: what evidence is there to support Gold's notion that exogenous genes from the DHB – let us call them “bioplutons” – ever bestowed benefits on the evolution of surface life? In pursuit of this question I drafted a null hypothesis: “Nothing beyond our own biosphere, as we know it today, renders any kind of genetic benefits to biological evolution.” After objectively analyzing the evidence and arguments pro and con I failed to reject the null hypothesis, given what we know today, especially the fact that no genetic imprint from the DHB has been identified in eukaryotic genomes. But my conclusion is regarded as tentative, because the fundamentals of Gold's argument, collectively referred to herein as “bioplutonism,” might be confirmed eventually with successful probes into the DHB, and with the sampling of its alleged genetic material.
The first indisputable remains of Iguanodon (Ornithischia: Ornithopoda) from North America: Iguanodon lakotaensis, sp. nov.

ABSTRACT The first species from the United States that can clearly be referred to the European genus Iguanodon is described from the Lakota Formation of South Dakota. Consisting of virtually the entire skull and two vertebrae, I. lakotaensis (sp. nov.) represents the most primitive of Iguanodon species. Presence of Iguanodon from the Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) Lakota Formation confirms the suggestion that there was a close connection between the North American and Eurasian continental blocks during or immediately before this time.
The generalized tonic-clonic seizure in partial versus generalized epilepsy: semiologic differences.

Summary: Purpose: To study differences in the clinical manifestations of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) of partial versus generalized onset. Methods: We studied 10 GTCSs in nine patients with idio-pathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and 10 GTCSs in 10 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Videotaped seizures were reviewed for all clinical features, focusing on asymmetries during different phases of each seizure. Results: In the IGE group, focal features were seen before generalized motor activity in seven seizures. The most common was adversive head turn (six seizures). One patient had opposite direction of head turning in two recorded seizures. The tonic phase was always symmetric. In the last generalized clonic phase, asymmetry or asynchrony of motor activity was seen transiently in three seizures. The TLE group showed focal features before generalization in all seizures. Adversive head turning occurred in nine patients and was always contralateral to the focus. Focal clonic activity occurred before generalization in three and was always contralateral to the focus. The generalized tonic phase was usually asymmetric, and in the last clonic phase, motor activity was asymmetric or asynchronous in eight seizures (p > 0.05, IGE vs. TLE). Conclusions: Brief focal features or asymmetry at onset are common in the GTCSs of IGE. However, asymmetry or asynchrony during the last clonic phase are uncommon in IGE, in contrast to TLE.
MO-E-BRCD-01: Proton Treatment Planning Issues.

Protontreatment planning involves many issues that affect the accuracy and robustness of treatment planning and delivery. Some issues such as patient setup uncertainty and CT number calibration are common with photon planning but have potentially greater effects on the treatment plan simulation and delivery for proton. Other issues such as range uncertainty and LET and RBE variations are unique to particle therapy. The complications of protontreatment planning have been well documented in the literature but there are multiple planning methods developed by clinics to reduce or avoid protondosimetry errors in treatment delivery. Additionally, error reduction methods are dependent upon the delivery Method: scattering or scanning, single‐field optimization or multi‐field optimization. This educational session will discuss the documented protontreatment planning issues and the methods developed in three different clinical centers to minimize or eliminate the errors associated with the issues for various treatment sites and proton treatment modalities. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the issues associated with protontreatment planning and the effects of range uncertainty, LET variations, and setup uncertainties. 2. Understand the differences of photon and protontreatment planning issues. 3. Understand the methods developed to reduce errors in protontreatment planning and delivery at three different centers.
Ecology, Domain Specificity, and the Origins of Theory of Mind: Is Competition the Catalyst?

In the nearly 30 y ears since Premack and Woodruff famously asked, “Does the chimpanzee have a theory of mind?”, the question of exactly how much non-human primates understand about the mental lives of others has had an unusually dramatic history. As little as ten years ago it appeared that the answer would be a simple one, with early investigations of non-human primates’ mentalistic abilities yielding a steady stream of negative findings. Indeed, by the mid-1990s even very cautious researchers were ready to flatly assert that Theory of Mind was a uniquely human capacity. Recently, however, an exciting new theor etical perspective on primate social cognition has arisen, and with it the distinct possibility that our evolutionary relatives may understand far more of the social world than we previously believed. In this paper we r eview ne w theor y and evidence suggesting that non-human primates may indeed represent the mental states of others, at least within the domains for which their distinctive social ecology has prepared them. Having asserted that Premack and Woodruff ’s original question can be answered with a qualified yes, we then consider the new questions that arise in its place, particularly how and why our own Theory of Mind became more domain-general than that of other primates.
Complications hospitalières rapportées après résection de côte pour syndrome du défilé thoraco-brachial neurogène

Bien que les lesions du plexus brachial aient ete decrites comme la complication la plus frequente apres intervention pour syndrome du defile thoraco-brachial (SDTB), et que des series aient ete rapportees, le taux d'incidence exact n'a pas ete rapporte. Nous avons realise une analyse retrospective de 5 ans (1999-2003) de la base de donnees Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Les patients presentant un SDTB neurogene, les resections de cote, les lesions du plexus brachial, et les lesions vasculaires sont identifies par des codes de diagnostic CIM-9 ou des codes de procedure. Un total de 2.016 operations pour SDTB ont ete identifiees dans cette base de donnees, allant de 317 a 468 par an. L'âge moyen etait 37,3 ans, avec 1409 (70,2%) femmes et 1270 (63%) de Caucasiens. Ces patients ont ete soignes dans 392 hopitaux, avec un volume moyen de 1,03 cas par hopital par an (extremes 0 a 114 cas par hopital par an). La duree moyenne du sejour a l'hopital etait de 2,51 jours (mediane 2 jours), avec un cout hospitalier total moyen de 16.160 $ en dollars de l'annee 2005 ajustes pour l'inflation (mediane 11.824 $). La majorite (1421, ou 70,5%) a ete traitee dans un hopital universitaire. Il y avait 12 lesions du plexus brachial (0,60%), et 35 lesions vasculaires (1,74%). Le taux de lesions vasculaires etait significativement moindre dans les hopitaux universitaires (1,34% contre 2,69%, p = 0,03) et chez les femmes (1,35% contre 2,67%, p = 0,03). Les patients avec des lesions vasculaires ont eu des durees significativement plus longues de sejour (7,7 jours contre 2,4 jours, p
Lock elision for read-only critical sections in Java

It is not uncommon in parallel workloads to encounter shared data structures with read-mostly access patterns, where operations that update data are infrequent and most operations are read-only. Typically, data consistency is guaranteed using mutual exclusion or read-write locks. The cost of atomic update of lock variables result in high overheads and high cache coherence traffic under active sharing, thus slowing down single thread performance and limiting scalability.In this paper, we present SOLERO (Software Optimistic Lock Elision for Read-Only critical sections), a new lock implementation called for optimizing read-only critical sections in Java based on sequential locks. SOLERO is compatible with the conventional lock implementation of Java. However, unlike the conventional implementation, only critical sections that may write data or have side effects need to update lock variables, while read-only critical sections need only read lock variables without writing them. Each writing critical section changes the lock value to a new value. Hence, a read-only critical section is guaranteed to be consistent if the lock is free and its value does not change from the beginning to the end of the read-only critical section.Using Java workloads including SPECjbb2005 and the HashMap and TreeMap Java classes, we evaluate the performance impact of applying SOLERO to read-mostly locks. Our experimental results show performance improvements across the board, often substantial, in both single thread speed and scalability over the conventional lock implementation (mutual exclusion) and read-write locks. SOLERO improves the performance of SPECjbb2005 by 3-5% on single and multiple threads. The results using the HashMap and TreeMap benchmarks show that SOLERO outperforms the conventional lock implementation and read-write locks by substantial multiples on multi-threads.
Field-reversed configurations with a component of energetic particles

This review is concerned with the physics of field-reversed configurations created by energetic particles of large orbits, of which the earliest example is the Astron. The Astron concept has evolved into the Ion Ring Compressor in which a low-energy ring of ions is magnetically compressed to high energy for heating the confined plasma to thermonuclear ignition. A third version is the hybrid in which field reversal is created both by plasma currents as in a θ-pinch or a spheromak and a component of energetic large orbit ions to provide heating energy as well as improved stability. This paper treats first the injection, trapping, and formation of electron and ion rings from a theoretical standpoint as well as presenting the principal experimental results. The equilibria and the characteristics of the particle orbits are discussed in some detail including conditions under which the orbits cease to be integrable and pass to a stochastic description. The theory of magnetic compression of rings and the classical transport of heat and particles of the plasma confined in the closed-poloidal-field-line region is presented. The bulk of the review is concerned with low-frequency stability of such configurations by means of a generalized energy principle for treating the large-orbit particles in the Vlasov limit. The pathology of all possible unstable modes is discussed at some length. We conclude with an exhaustive survey of microinstabilities driven by the energetic particle current for a special model and conclude that most of them are stabilized by strong gradients in density and magnetic field. A brief discussion on drift modes follows. Our present theoretical understanding of these systems, although still incomplete in some respects, nevertheless leads to the view that the promise of the very favourable features of fusion reactors based on these concepts is a sufficient impetus for their continued experimental and theoretical study.
Simulation of the Impact of Agricultural Management Practices on Chemical Transport in Macroporous Soils

A simulation model capable of describing preferential movement of water and pesticides in macroporous soils has been developed. The model assumes a bi-continuum, with flow and transport in and between each of two coexisting pore domains (matrix and macropore). In each pore domain, water flow is assumed to obey Richards’ equation and chemical movement is assumed to obey the convection-dispersion equation. Interdomain transfer of water and chemicals occurs under pressure and concentration gradients. The model incorporates features such as root water extraction, rate-limited sorption and desorption, and first-order decay. The macropore volume fractions are allowed to vary with space to accommodate variabilities in soil properties. The model can represent two-dimensions, to simulate the impact of agricultural management practices, such as tillage, irrigation, cropping practice, and organic addition, on flow and transport.
A Review of Hypervelocity Debris Testing at the Air Force Research Laboratory

In this paper, we describe a compact, low cost, fast turn-around-time technique used at the Air Force Research Laboratory to study hypervelocity debris impact effects on spacecraft structures and components. The technique described was used to study debris effects in the areas of: shock physics, debris-produced contamination, chemical analyses of the impact ejecta and debris initiated spacecraft discharge. Examples of research results obtained with the technique are presented and illustrate problems encountered in the field of space debris effects on spacecraft.
Factors that influence elastomeric coating performance: the effect of coating thickness on basal plate morphology, growth and critical removal stress of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite

Silicone coatings are currently the most effective non-toxic fouling release surfaces. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the performance of silicone coatings is necessary to further improve their design. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of coating thickness on basal plate morphology, growth, and critical removal stress of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. Barnacles were grown on silicone coatings of three thicknesses (0.2, 0.5 and 2 mm). Atypical ("cupped") basal plate morphology was observed on all surfaces, although there was no relationship between coating thickness and i) the proportion of individuals with the atypical morphology, or ii) the growth rate of individuals. Critical removal stress was inversely proportional to coating thickness. Furthermore, individuals with atypical basal plate morphology had a significantly lower critical removal stress than individuals with the typical ("flat") morphology. The data demonstrate that coating thickness is a fundamental factor governing removal of barnacles from silicone coatings.
Origin of the Rift Under the Amazon Basin as a Result of Continental Collision During Pan- African Time

A 1000-km-long positive gravity anomaly occupies the axis of the Amazon Basin and has been taken to indicate the presence of an underlying intracontinental rift. The oldest known sediments in the basin form the Trombetas formation of Late Ordovician and Silurian age (450 to 410 Ma). This unit can be interpreted as a product of thermal subsidence, suggesting that the underlying rift may have originated in Cambrian time (about 510 Ma). Overlying younger sediments and intrusives in the basin reveal a history that can be linked to the Phanerozoic evolution of the Andes and include a Devonian sequence (about 390 Ma), perhaps related to a Patagonian collision, and a thick Carbo-Permian sequence (320 to 260 Ma) deposited at the time of collision between Gondwanaland and Laurentia. Renewed rifting and a thick sedimentary sequence near the Amazon mouth records the opening of the South Atlantic at about 130 Ma and later South Atlantic continental margin history. We suggest that the Sub-Amazonal Rift originated as a...
Ochrobactrum anthropi bacteremia in a patient on hemodialysis

Although newer tunneled dialysis catheters offer improved capacity for blood flow and efficiency of dialysis, catheter-associated bacteremia remains an extremely important complication of this access strategy. This is a report of a case of catheter-associated bacteremia with Ochrobactrum anthropi, a water-borne gram-negative rod with an unusual pattern of antibiotic resistance. Given the organism's hydrophilic property and the frequency of catheter use in debilitated individuals with end-stage renal disease, Ochrobactrum anthropi infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a hemodialysis patient with unexplained fever.
Performance of long-wave infrared InAs/GaSb strained layer superlattice detectors for the space applications

We present our efforts on development of high performance low noise, long-wave infrared (LWIR) and multicolor detectors based on the InAs/GaSb strained layer material (SLS) material system. The LWIR SLS detector with PbIbN architecture showed improved performance over the conventional PIN design due to unipolar current blocking layers. At 77K and V b =-0.25V, a responsivity of 1.8 A/W, dark current density of 1.2 mA/cm 2 , quantum efficiency of 23% and shot noise limited detectivity (D*) of 8.7×10 10 Jones (λ c = 10.8 μm) has been observed. Dual band response was registered with 50% cut-off wavelengths of 5μm and 10μm from an SLS detector with the pBp design. The responsivity equal to 1.6 A/W (at λ = 5 μm and V b = +0.4 V) and 1.8 A/W (at λ = 9 μm and V b = -0.7 V) for MWIR and LWIR absorbers was achieved with corresponding values of specific detectivity 5 x 10 11 Jones and 2.6 x 10 10 Jones, respectively. The maximum values of quantum efficiency were estimated to 41% (MWIR) and 25% (LWIR) at V b = +0.4V and V b = -0.7V. Moreover, the diffusion-limited behavior of dark current at higher temperatures was observed for the MWIR absorber for pBp detector. Finally, three-color response was registered from three contact device with nBn architecture for SWIR and MWIR and heterojunction PIbN architecture for LWIR detection (NbNbiP). At 77K, the cut-off wavelength for SWIR, MWIR and LWIR regions have been observed as 3.0 μm, 4.7 μm, and 10.1 μm respectively. At the same temperature, D* of 1.4 × 10 10 Jones, 1.8 × 10 10 Jones and 1.5 × 10 9 Jones for SWIR, MWIR and LWIR signals has been observed.
Propagation effects for electromagnetic pulse transmission

We review past research on the propagation of electromagnetic pulse signals over the surface of the earth with emphasis on analytical methods to predict waveforms. The best example is the electromagnetic field radiated from a lightning stroke that can be observed at global distances or very close in if one has sufficient motivation. In any case, the propagation channel will distort the signal wave shape because of the strong frequency dependence of the attenuation factors and the phase velocities of the modes. We begin with a flat earth model that has the virtue of simplicity particularly when displacement currents in the earth are relatively small compared with the conduction currents. Here we see that the rise time of the ideally radiated step function signal is of the order of a few microseconds at a range of 50 km over average land paths. Such a prediction is in accord with published experimental data. At greater ranges, earth curvature comes into play and we show here how various analytical and numerical methods can be used in overlapping time regions which serves as a good consistency check. Other complicated effects such as mixed land-sea paths and ionospheric influences are also reviewed.
Monitoring of neoadjuvant chemotherapy using multiparametric, 23Na sodium MR, and multimodality (PET/CT/MRI) imaging in locally advanced breast cancer

We prospectively investigated using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to identify radiological biomarkers for treatment response in patients receiving preoperative systemic therapy (PST) for locally advanced breast cancer. Patients with a stage II or III breast cancer receiving PST were selected and underwent positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and breast biopsies at baseline and after the first cycle of PST (days 7–8) during the full course of treatment. PET/CT was acquired after injection of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-d-glucose (18FDG, 0.22 mCi/kg) and quantified with standardized uptake value assessment (SUV). Diagnostic breast MRI and sodium (23Na) was acquired at 1.5 T. Total tissue sodium concentration (TSC), response criteria in solid tumors (RECIST), and volumes were quantified. Treatment response was determined by pathological assessment at surgery. Immunohistochemistry values of the proliferative index (Ki-67) were performed on biopsy specimens. Six of nineteen eligible women (43 ± 11 years) who received PST underwent radiological imaging of 18FDG-PET/CT and MRI for at least two cycles of treatment. Five patients had a pathological partial response (pPR) and one had pathological non-response (pNR). TSC decreased 21% in responders with increases in the non-responder (P = 0.03). Greater reduction in SUV was observed in responders (38%) compared to the non-responder (22%; P = 0.03). MRI volumes decreased after cycle 1 by 42% (responders) and 35% (non-responder; P = 0.11). Proliferation index Ki-67 declined in responders in the first cycle (median = 47%, range = 29–20%), but increased (4%) in the non-responder. Significant decreases in TSC, SUV, and Ki-67 were observed in responders with increases in TSC and Ki-67 in non-responders. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using multi-modality proton, 23Na MRI, and PET/CT metrics as radiological biomarkers for monitoring response to PST in patients with operable breast cancer.
A Putative Receptor Mediating Cell-density Sensing inDictyostelium

When Dictyostelium cells starve, they begin secreting a glycoprotein called conditioned medium factor (CMF). When there is a high density of starved cells, as indicated by a high concentration of CMF, the cells begin expressing some genes and aggregate using pulses of cAMP as a chemoattractant. CMF regulates gene expression via a G protein-independent pathway, whereas CMF regulates cAMP signal transduction via a G protein-dependent pathway. To elucidate receptors mediating cell density sensing, we used CMF-Sepharose to isolate membrane proteins that bind CMF. We identified a 50-kDa protein, CMFR1, that is sensitive to trypsin treatment of whole cells. We obtained partial amino acid sequence of CMFR1 and isolated the cDNA encoding it. The derived amino acid sequence has no significant similarity to known proteins and has two or three predicted transmembrane domains. Expression of CMFR1 in insect cells caused an increase in CMF binding. Repression of CMFR1 inDictyostelium by gene disruption resulted in a ∼50% decrease of the CMF binding and a loss of CMF-induced G protein-independent gene expression. The G protein-dependent CMF signal transduction pathways appear to be functional in cmfr1 cells, suggesting that cells sense the density-sensing factor CMF using two or more different receptors.
Technological Facilitation of Terrorism: Definitional, Legal, and Policy Issues

This article notes the difficulty in defining cyberterrorism and several problems associated with identifying the potential misuses of the Internet and the World Wide Web by terrorist groups. In particular, the use of digital steganography has recently been identified as an emerging and alarming trend by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. This technological innovation is used as a case study of the complexities surrounding cyberterrorism, its definition, and how democracies can deal with these advances in communication technology. Supplementing this discussion is a review of the various social, regulatory, and legal forms of social intervention related to controlling electronic communications. The conclusion of this article includes an analytical framework from which additional research into these issues could be conducted and suggests how policy solutions for said complexities could be formulated.
X-ray structure of calcineurin inhibited by the immunophilin-immunosuppressant FKBP12-FK506 complex

The X-ray structure of the ternary complex of a calcineurin A fragment, calcineurin B, FKBP12, and the immunosuppressant drug FK506 (also known as tacrolimus) has been determined at 2.5 A resolution, providing a description of how FK506 functions at the atomic level. In the structure, the FKBP12-FK506 binary complex does not contact the phosphatase active site on calcineurin A that is more than 10 A removed. Instead, FKBP12-FK506 is so positioned that it can inhibit the dephosphorylation of its macromolecular substrates by physically hindering their approach to the active site. The ternary complex described here represents the three-dimensional structure of a Ser/Thr protein phosphatase and provides a structural basis for understanding calcineurin inhibition by FKBP12-FK506.
Experiments in high-dimensional text categorization

We present results for automated text categorization of the Reuters-810000 collection of news stories. Our experiments use the entire one-year collection of 810,000 stories and the entire subject index. We divide the data into monthly groups and provide an initial benchmark of text categorization performance on the complete collection. Experimental results show that efficient sparse-feature implementations of linear methods and decision trees, using a global unstemmed dictionary, can readily handle applications of this size. Predictive performance is approximately as strong as the best results for the much smaller older Reuters collections. Detailed results are provided over time periods. It is shown that a smaller time horizon does not diminish predictive quality, implying reduced demands for retraining when sample size is large.
Attenuation of Glass Dissolution in the Presence of Natural Additives

The study described here explored the dissolution kinetics of glasses in aqueous environments in systems which included a variety of natural crystalline solids in addition to the glass itself and the aqueous phase. The results demonstrated the possibility of a dramatic decrease in the rate of dissolution of silicate glass in the presence of certain varieties of olivine-based materials. This decrease in dissolution rate was shown to be due to the fact that these additives consist mostly of Mg-based material but also contain minor amounts of Al and Ca. The combined presence of Mg with these minor species affected the corrosion rate of the glass as a whole, including its most soluble components such as boron. The study has potentially important implications to the durability of glasses exposed to natural environments. The results may be relevant to the use of active backfill materials in burial sites for nuclear waste glasses as well as to better understanding of the environmental degradation of natural and ancient glasses.