cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cavity-QED measurements of the Sr 87 millihertz optical clock transition and determination of its natural linewidth

The authors develop a nondestructive cavity-QED technique to measure observables along long-lived optical transitions, applying this technique to determine the lifetime of a millihertz-linewidth transition in 87-Sr used in next-gen atomic clocks.
Digging In and Branching Out: Collaborative Processes of Building, Embedding, and Evolving Online Interactive Learning Modules for Library Instruction

This case study reflects on a long-term collaborative partnership between librarians and writing program administrators to plan, build, implement, and significantly revise two course-specific onlin...
Distributed Topology Correction for Flexible Connectivity Maintenance in Multi-Robot Systems

Multi-robot systems can perform task-related collaborative behaviors while maintaining connectivity within the system. However, some robots may fail to execute tasks or converge relatively slowly due to connectivity constraints. We consider the case that some robots may not have tasks assigned at a certain time frame, and they may help the task robots to achieve their goals by forming a connectivity graph with flexible topology. Therefore, we introduce a topology correction controller to provide flexibility for the task robots to perform task behaviors by modifying the topology of the connectivity graph for a faster convergence rate. We propose a distributed approach of blending weighted rendezvous and weighted flocking to form the correction controller. We prove that this scheme can guarantee a faster convergence rate and provide flexible connectivity graph topology. We then present our result of a system of up to thirty robots in various cluttered environments and show that our approach of behavior combination is robust and scalable.
Are micro- and nanoplastics from soil-biodegradable plastic mulches an environmental concern?

Abstract Micro- and nanoplastics are inevitably generated from biodegradable plastics during weathering and degradation. In this perspective article, we discuss whether micro- and nanoplastics generated from biodegradable plastics, especially soil-biodegradable plastic mulches, are of environmental concern. The environmental risk of micro- and nanoplastics generated from soil-biodegradable plastic mulches depends on size, concentration, time of exposure, and polymer characteristics (e.g., surface charge and hydrophobicity), similar to that of micro- and nanoplastics from conventional plastics. We argue that micro- and nanoplastics generated from soil-biodegradable plastic mulches will likely not cause environmental harm if soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are disposed of appropriately into soil or compost, because soil-biodegradable plastic mulches can degrade in a relatively short time, limiting the accumulation and exposure of generated micro- and nanoplastics in the terrestrial environment. However, micro- and nanoplastics from soil-biodegradable plastic mulches can be of concern when inappropriate disposal or off-site transport to atmospheric and aquatic environments happens. In such cases, the micro- and nanoplastics can no longer degrade readily and have environmental impacts.
Patriarchal Norms, Religion, and Female Labor Supply: Evidence from Turkey

Summary Despite significant structural and social change, the share of women working or seeking jobs in Turkey has declined. This paper focuses on the role of social conservatism as a constraint for women’s labor force participation using 2008 Demographic and Health Survey data. In analyzing labor supply model, I incorporate cultural constraints, specifically the sexual division of labor in the household and broader gender ideology into the analysis. I find that both patriarchal norms and religiosity are negatively associated with female labor force participation, and that the impact of patriarchal norms is statistically significant after controlling for endogeneity.
Fast Total Ordering for Modern Data Centers

The performance profile of local area networks has changed over the last decade, but many practical group communication and ordered messaging tools rely on core ideas invented over a decade ago. We present the Accelerated Ring protocol, a novel ordering protocol that improves on the performance of standard token-based protocols by allowing processes to pass the token before they have finished multicasting. This performance improvement is obtained while maintaining the correctness and other beneficial properties of token-based protocols. On 1-gigabit networks, a single-threaded daemon-based implementation of the protocol reaches network saturation, and can reduce latency by 45% compared to a standard token-based protocol while simultaneously increasing throughput by 30%. On 10-gigabit networks, the implementation reaches throughputs of 6 Gbps, and can reduce latency by 30-35% while simultaneously increasing throughput by 25-40%. A production implementation of the Accelerated Ring protocol has been adopted as the default ordering protocol for data center environments in Spread, a widely-used open-source group communication system.
Latest Results of the Sethi Survey at Arecibo

SETHi is a survey of the distribution of galactic neutral hydrogen being performed comensally at the NAIC Arecibo Observatory. At the same time that observers use receivers in the Gregorian dome, SETHi is recording a 2.5MHz band centered at 1420 MHz from a flat feed on Carriage House 1. During normal astronomical observations, the SETHi feed scans across the sky at twice the sidereal rate. During 4 years of observations, we have accumulated over 15,000 hours of data covering most of the sky accessible to Arecibo. This survey has higher angular resolution than existing single dish surveys and higher sensitivity than existing or planned interferometric surveys.
Memory function after temporal lobectomy for seizure control: a comparative neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological study.

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with often differing data and prognosis provided by the neuropsychiatrist and the neuropsychologist. It reflects the general psychology literature that raises the question as to whether laboratory testing of memory function truly reflects memory function in everyday life. Present practice in surgical epilepsy centers is a preoperative neuropsychological evaluation, particularly of memory function. The longitudinal study of epilepsy patients who have undergone temporal lobectomy at the Medical College of Ohio has emphasized utilization of neuropsychiatric evaluation as well as neuropsychological testing. Data and prognosis reported by the neuropsychologist are frequently in contrast with neuropsychiatric assessment, which provides subjective reports by the patient as well as review of performance-demanding memory ability, in the spheres of education and work. Comparisons of neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric data were expressed in terms of concordant or discordant findings.
Avalanches, Sandpiles and Tutte Decomposition

Sandpile and avalanche models of failure were introduced recently (Bak et al., 1987, and an avalanche of publications with references to this paper) to simulate processes of different nature (earthquakes, charge density waves, forest fires, etc., including economics) characterized by self-organized critical behavior. Statistical properties of an important class of these models, abelian sandpiles (Dhar, 1990) and abelian avalanches (Gabrielov, 1992), can be investigated analytically due to an abelian group acting on the phase space. It is shown that the distribution of avalanches in a discrete, stochastic abelian sandpile model is identical to the distribution of avalanches in a continuous, deterministic abelian avalanche model with the same redistribution matrix and loading rate vector. For a symmetric redistribution matrix, recurrent formulas for the distribution of avalanches in the abelian avalanche model lead to explicit expressions containing invariants of graphs known as Tutte polynomials. In general case, an analog of the Tutte decomposition is suggested for matrices and directed graphs, and the corresponding expressions for the distribution of avalanches in terms of directed tree numbers of a directed graph are found. New combinatorial identities for graphs and directed graphs are derived from these formulas.
POPULATION CHANGES IN DIPLOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE

Carta, G. (Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.) and W. Firshein. Population changes in Diplococcus pneumoniae. J. Bacteriol. 84:473-477. 1962.-Avirulent mutant strains derived from pneumococcal types I, II, III, and VII established themselves in initially virulent or predominantly virulent populations within 36 to 48 hr of incubation at 37 C in Brain Heart Infusion-blood broth. Aged blood-broth cultures or broth cultures lacking blood permitted a more rapid establishment of avirulent cells. This selective population change was due to a greater viability of avirulent than virulent cells, in the stationary phase, and to a toxic factor, produced by large numbers of avirulent cells, which inhibited the multiplication of virulent cells. Virulent cultures were stabilized, however, by the addition of mixtures of deoxynucleosides and deoxynucleotides, which prevented the establishment of avirulent cells.
The Causes of Pro-Immigration Voting in the United States Supreme Court

During the pre-confirmation debate over Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, critics accused her of allowing her background to influence her judicial decisions. This article assesses the validity of such a claim for all sitting justices from 1875 to 2007 in one relevant policy area, immigration. In this article, we look at all 185 immigration-related decisions by the Supreme Court from its creation through 2007. Logistic general estimating equation regression analysis of Supreme Court voting on these cases suggests that justices who were nominated by Democratic presidents, who were urbanites, and who had previous judicial experience were more likely to vote in favor of immigration. However, justices who grew up in the Southwest, had Southern European ancestors, or were ideological conservatives were more hostile to immigration. Although public opinion, the unemployment rate, and the percent foreign-born in a given year did not affect justices’ votes, non-asylum cases and appeals from the Eighth Circuit were more likely to receive favorable treatment. The mean level of racial liberalism of the Senators in office during a particular justice’s confirmation hearings likewise had a large impact on his or her subsequent rulings. These findings suggest that Supreme Court voting on immigration is substantially influenced by justices’ background and political preferences as well as by some political and legal structures. These results thus support Legal Realism and New Institutionalism instead of the Traditional Legal Model of Supreme Court behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Alport syndrome and thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy: a practical approach to diagnosis.

Abstract Context.—Alport syndrome and thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) are genetically heterogenous conditions characterized by structural abnormalities in the glomerular basement membrane and an initial presentation that usually involves hematuria. Approximately 40% of patients with TBMN are heterozygous carriers for autosomal recessive Alport syndrome, with mutations at the genetic locus encoding type IV collagen α3 [α3(IV)] and α4 chains. However, although the clinical course of TBMN is usually benign, Alport syndrome, particularly the X-linked form with mutations in the locus encoding the α5 chain of type IV collagen [α5(IV)], typically results in end-stage renal disease. Electron microscopy is essential to diagnosis of TBMN and Alport syndrome on renal biopsy, although electron microscopy alone is of limited value in distinguishing between TBMN, the heterozygous carrier state of X-linked Alport syndrome, autosomal recessive Alport syndrome, and even early stages of X-linked Alport...
The Stochastic Properties of Major Canadian Exchange Rates

This paper extends the results of Akgiray and Booth [2] on the stochastic properties of five major Canadian exchange rates using the EGARCH-M model along with the generalized error distribution (GED). In addition to the issue of first- and second-order dependencies, explored by the authors, the paper (1) addresses the issue of asymmetric volatility, (2) examines the extent to which volatility affects future movements in these exchange rates, (3) measures the amount of kurtosis in the data, and (4) investigates the transmission mechanism of innovations and volatility shocks across the five Canadian exchange rate markets. The five Canadian dollar exchange rates are for the U.S. dollar, the Japanese yen, the British pound, the German mark, and the French franc. Changes in Canadian exchange rates are conditionally heteroskedastic, a finding which is in line with that of Akgiray and Booth [2]. There is no evidence supporting the assertion that volatility triggers such changes. The hypothesis of asymmetric volatility is rejected for all Canadian exchange rates; thus unexpected appreciations and depreciations of the Canadian currency have similar impact on future volatility of these exchange rates. Innovations in the Canadian exchange rate markets for the U.S. dollar, the British pound, and French franc influence the Japanese yen market, while innovations in the markets of the British pound and German mark influence the French franc market. Significant but negative volatility spillovers radiate from the German mark market to the U.S. dollar market and from the French franc market to the German mark market, resulting in lower levels of volatility in both the U.S. and German markets. The distributions of all five series of Canadian exchange rates are highly leptokurtic relative to the normal distribution. The GED distribution provides a good characterization of these distributions.
Reporting instruction for radiology residents1

Abstract Rationale and Objectives. To determine the amount of formal instruction and evaluation about reporting given to radiology residents in the U.S.A., to document report generation methods and to quantify the performance of physician coding. Materials and Methods. E-mail requests with links to a web-based, anonymous survey were sent to program directors of all accredited radiology residencies in the USA. Demographic questions included university or private affiliation, number of residents, geographic location, and number of hospitals covered. Subject-specific items covered the amount of didactic instruction, formal evaluation of reports, and use of structured reports. A didactic activity index (DAI) was calculated as the sum of answers to domain-specific questions and tested for relation to demographic variables. We also asked about dictation methods and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) or Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding of examinations by radiologists. Results. Of the 191 active radiology residencies, 151 (79%) completed the survey. Responses for hours of didactic instruction in reporting given more than a 4-year residency were distributed as follows: 0–1 = 40%, 2–4 = 46%, >4 = 14%. The percentage of resident reports formally graded was distributed as follows: 0–1 = 82%, 2–4 = 8%, >4 = 10%. The extent to which faculty-designed, structured reports were used by residents was distributed as follows: none = 16%, minimal = 25%, few = 17%, some = 33%, most = 9%. The DAI was normally distributed with a mean of 14.8 and a standard deviation of 2.4. Military programs had higher DAIs than university residencies (P = .03). There was no significant relation between any other program demographic variables and the DAI (P > .05). A substantial number of programs reported that physicians performed coding for some or most studies: ICD-9 = 30%, CPT = 26%. The dominant method for report generation was human transcription in 79% followed by speech recognition at 19%. Speech recognition penetration (departments reporting use of the technology for at least some dictation) was estimated to be 38%. Conclusion. In 86% of sampled radiology residencies, trainees receive no more than one hour of didactic instruction in radiology reporting per year. An aggregate measure of didactic activity about interpretative reporting was identical across all program demographic variables except that military residencies seemed to do slightly more than those located at universities.
Guidelines for grade advancement of precocious children

Grade advancement is a legitimate and valuable method of meeting the needs of some intellectually or academically gifted students. Grade advancement is a way of bringing some gifted and talented children up to a level of instruction closer to their levels of achievement and pace. This method of acceleration is available to every school system. This article presents practical guidelines for making grade advancement decisions.
Determining Surface Orientations Of Specular Surfaces By Intensity Encoded Illumination

This paper discusses an intensity encoded line source illumination approach to estimating the surface orientation of specular surfaces. The normalized brightness difference function (NBDF) is introduced as a real time invertible relationship between image irradiances and surface orientation, and provides the basis for estimation of the surface gradient using relative brightness values rather than calibrated photometric measurements. Two complementary line source intensity patterns are generated for each measurement, and a series of radial lines are scanned to span the surface gradient space. Experiments have estimated the accuracy of the orientation measurement to be within 2-3%. Sensitivity to variations in specularity, and the feasibility of the encoding technique are described. Careful attention to the illumination geometry, distant source approximation and computation speed will be required for the purpose of practical implementation. The use of line sources is most suited to applications where the relevant features can be extracted from a finite set of cross sections of the object. Inspection of solder and machined metal are examples of the application of intensity encoding.
Molecular-orbital models for the catalytic activity and selectivity of coordinatively unsaturated platinum surfaces and complexes

Abstract Electronic structures have been calculated for 5-, 6-, and 10-atom Pt clusters, as well as for a Pt(PH3)4 coordination complex, using the self-consistent-field X-alpha scattered-wave (SCF-Xα-SW) molecular-orbital technique. The 10-atom cluster models the local geometry of a flat, unreconstructed Pt(100) surface, while the 5- and 6-atom clusters show features of a stepped Pt surface. Pt(PH3)4 resembles the chemically similar homogeneous catalyst Pt(PPh3)4. Common to all these coordinatively unsaturated complexes are orbitals lying near or coinciding with the highest occupied molecular orbital (“Fermi level”) which show pronounced d lobes pointing directly into the vacuum. Under the hypothesis that these molecular orbitals are mainly responsible for the chemical activities of the above species, one can account for the relative similarities and differences in catalytic activity and selectivity displayed by unreconstructed Pt(100) surfaces, stepped Pt surfaces or particles, and isolated Pt(PPh3)4 coordination complexes. The relevance of these findings to catalyst-support interactions is also discussed. Finally, relativistic corrections to the electronic structures are calculated and their implications on catalytic properties discussed.
Improvement of the evaluation of closed-loop production systems with unreliable machines and finite buffers

Abstract A closed-loop production system, or loop, is a system in which a constant amount of material flows through a single fixed cycle of workstations and storage buffers. Manufacturing processes that utilize pallets or fixtures can be viewed as loops. Control policies such as CONWIP and Kanban create conceptual loops. Gershwin and Werner (2007) developed a decomposition algorithm that accurately evaluates Buzacott type closed-loop systems of any size. However there are cases where the evaluated production rate, as a function of some system parameter, is discontinuous. Such a discontinuity may give misleading results for loop system design and optimization method. We present two modifications that improve the algorithm of Gershwin and Werner (2007). Two new special types of two-machine one-buffer building blocks are developed for the decomposition, and analytical solutions for them are found. Numerical experiments are provided to show the improvement of the evaluation accuracy as compared with the existing algorithm. The discontinuity in production rate is greatly diminished with these modifications.
Human mast cell proteases and mast cell heterogeneity.

Abstract Mast cell neutral proteases are distinctive markers of the MC T and MC TC cells in humans. Measurements of tryptase levels in vivo serve as an overall indicator of mast cell activity. Further research is needed to evaluate the functional role of these proteases as well as each mast cell type in situations related to both health and disease.
[Phe1Ψ(CH2-NH)Gly2]nociceptin-(1-13)-NH2 acts as an agonist of the orphanin FQ/nociceptin receptor in vivo

Abstract The orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N) derivative peptide, [Phe 1 Ψ(CH 2 -NH)Gly 2 ] nociceptin-(1-13)-NH 2 (PheΨ), has been claimed to be both an antagonist and an agonist of the orphan opioid receptor (ORL1) in different in vitro assays. We now report the dose-dependent inhibition of morphine analgesia by PheΨ in mice, an effect parallel to that of OFQ/N. Further, the anti-opioid actions of OFQ/N are not blocked by PheΨ. Thus, PheΨ acts as an ORL1 receptor agonist, not an antagonist, in vivo.
Solvent accessibility of βB2-crystallin and local structural changes due to deamidation at the dimer interface

Abstract In the lens of the eye the ordered arrangement of the major proteins, the crystallins, contributes to lens transparency. Members of the β/γ-crystallin family share common β-sheet rich domains and hydrophobic regions at the monomer–monomer or domain–domain interfaces. Disruption of these interfaces, due to post-translational modifications, such as deamidation, decreases the stability of the crystallins. Previous experiments have failed to define the structural changes associated with this decreased stability. Using hydrogen/deuterium exchange with mass spectrometry (HDMS), deamidation-induced local structural changes in βB2-crystallin were identified. Deamidation was mimicked by replacing glutamines with glutamic acids at homologous residues 70 and 162 in the monomer–monomer interface of the βB2-crystallin dimer. The exchange-in of deuterium was determined from 15 s to 24 h and the global and local changes in solvent accessibility were measured. In the wild type βB2-crystallin (WT), only about 20% of the backbone amide hydrogen was exchanged, suggesting an overall low accessibility of βB2-crystallin in solution. This is consistent with a tightly packed domain structure observed in the crystal structure. Deuterium levels were initially greater in N-terminal domain (N-td) peptides than in homologous peptides in the C-terminal domain (C-td). The more rapid incorporation suggests a greater solvent accessibility of the N-td. In the βB2-crystallin crystal structure, interface Gln are oriented towards their opposite domain. When deamidation was mimicked at Gln70 in the N-td, deuterium levels increased at the interface peptide in the C-td. A similar effect in the N-td was not observed when deamidation was mimicked at the homologous residue, Gln162, in the C-td. This difference in the mutants can be explained by deamidation at Gln70 disrupting the more compact C-td and increasing the solvent accessibility in the C-td interface peptides. When deamidation was mimicked at both interface Gln, deuterium incorporation increased in the C-td, similar to deamidation at Gln70 alone. In addition, deuterium incorporation was decreased in the N-td in an outside loop peptide adjacent to the mutation site. This decreased accessibility may be due to newly exposed charge groups facilitating ionic interactions or to peptides becoming more buried when other regions became more exposed. The highly sensitive HDMS methods used here detected local structural changes in solution that had not been previously identified and provide a mechanism for the associated decrease in stability due to deamidation. Changes in accessibility due to deamidation at the interface led to structural perturbations elsewhere in the protein. The cumulative effects of multiple deamidation sites perturbing the structure both locally and distant from the site of deamidation may contribute to aggregation and precipitation during aging and cataractogenesis in the lens.
Crumbling under Pressure

In order for an organism to maintain its form, it must be able to withstand physical perturbation, including the pull of gravity. A recent study in Nature from Porazinski and colleagues (2015) suggests that mechanisms promoting tissue tension are critical to resist the Earth's downward pull.
Numerical predictions for turbulent free convection from vertical surfaces

Abstract Numerical calculations for the free convection heat transfer from vertical surfaces have been made by means of suitable modifications of a program of the Patankar-Spalding type, and the heat-transfer coefficients so predicted, by the use of turbulence parameters successful for the prediction of forced convection flows, are shown to agree fairly with available results for air, water, and oils for both isothermal walls and those producing a constant rate of heat transfer.
Natural and Artificial Budgets: Accounting for Goethe's Economy of Nature

This article explores the relationship between Goethe's administration of the duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his investigation of nature. The notion of the budget was crucial to both enterprises. In Goethe's morphological and mining works, nature's budgets were a heuristic tool by which one could elucidate natural processes. Goethe applied his epistemological approach of investigating nature to the realm of social order. Law, order, balance, and budget formed the basis of Goethe's financial reform of the duchy. He tried, unsuccessfully, to construct artificial budgets, which were intended to mirror natural budgets to guide his plans of reform.
Total Quality Management, Organizational Commitment, Perceived Organizational Support, and Intraorganizational Communication:

As the Total Quality Management (TQM) movement sweeps through American businesses, much of the practitioner-oriented TQM literature discusses ways to improve intraorganizational communication while...
New generation of oral mucosal vaccines targeting dendritic cells

As most infectious organisms gain entry at mucosal surfaces, there is a great deal of interest in developing vaccines that elicit effective mucosal immune responses against pathogen challenge. Targeted vaccination is one of the most effective methods available to prevent and control infectious diseases. Mucosal vaccines can offer lower costs, better accessibility, needle free delivery, and a higher capacity for mass immunizations during pandemics. Both local mucosal immunity and robust systemic responses can be achieved through mucosal vaccination. Recent progress in understanding the molecular and cellular components of the mucosal immune system have allowed for the development of a novel mucosal vaccine platform utilizing specific dendritic cell-targeting peptides and orally administered lactobacilli to elicit efficient antigen specific immune responses against infections, including Bacillus anthracis in experimental models of disease.
Rationality and reciprocity for the greedy normal form of a Coxeter group

We show that the characteristic series for the greedy normal form of a Coxeter group is always a rational series and prove a reciprocity formula for this series when the group is right-angled and the nerve is Eulerian. As corollaries we obtain many of the known rationality and reciprocity results for the growth series of Coxeter groups as well as some new ones.
Mechanical Design of a High-Resolution X-ray Powder Diffractometer at the Advanced Photon Source

A novel high-resolution x-ray powder diffractometer has been designed and commissioned at the bending magnet beamline 11-BM at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). This state-of-the-art instrument is designed to meet challenging mechanical and optical specifications for producing high-quality powder diffraction data with high throughput. The 2600 mm (H) X 2100 mm (L) X 1700 mm (W) diffractometer consists of five subassemblies: a customized two-circle goniometer with a 3-D adjustable supporting base; a twelve-channel high-resolution crystal analyzer system with an array of precision x-ray slits; a manipulator system for a twelve scintillator x-ray detectors; a 4-D sample manipulator with cryo-cooling capability; and a robot-based sample exchange automation system. The mechanical design of the diffractometer as well as the test results of its positioning performance are presented in this paper.
A combined phase selector element based on the superimposed sequence components for parallel lines on the same tower

The traditional fault phase selectors which have excellent performance for single-circuit transmission line may mis-operation for some cross country faults in parallel lines on the same tower. Based on the analysis of faults in parallel lines, a novel combined phase selector based on the one-end sampling data of a single line is proposed. Assume that parallel lines as the overall analysis of the object, the sequence voltages are employed to determine the fault phase. The relationship between the superimposed positive- and negative- sequence impedances are employed to determine that the fault occurs either in line I or line II. According to the phase selector, the phase selection can be achieved in parallel lines on the same tower, especially in cross country faults. Therefore, the distance relay can be achieved using appropriate equations depending upon the faulted phase identification. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is well suited for the phase selection in parallel transmission lines.
Membrane damage in leukemic cells induced by ether and ester lipids: an electron microscopic study

This paper reports a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of different leukemic cell lines exposed to 1-octadecyl-2-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OMe). This is an ether lipid analog of platelet activating factor (1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) which inhibits neoplastic cell growth in vitro and in vivo and is believed to exert its action through an interaction with the plasma membrane. In this paper evidence of the morphological alteration of leukemic cell membranes due to the exposure to varying concentrations of ET-18-OMe in vitro and in vivo is presented. This membrane damage consists of formation of blebs and holes, and the severity of these two phenomena correlate with the degree of cell viability loss. These alterations were analyzed in comparison to those induced by the known and structurally related permeabilizing agent, lysophosphatidylcholine, an ester lipid.
The effects of phencyclidine and chlordiazepoxide on target biting of confined male mice

Target-biting of confined mice increases following delivery of tail shock and decreases during a tone that precedes the shock. Both phencyclidine and chlordiazepoxide reduced biting (dose dependently) following shock and had no effect on biting during the tone. These observations are discussed in reference to previous reports, which infer that the effects of phencyclidine and chlordiazepoxide on aggression might depend upon the baseline rate of the behavior.
Empirical relationships between isotope-edited IR spectra and helix geometry in model peptides.

Infrared spectroscopy (IR) is commonly used to study secondary structure of both peptides and proteins. The amide I band is very sensitive to peptide secondary structure, and the conformation of a peptide can be probed at the residue level by introducing site-specific isotope-labels into the peptide backbone. The replacement of a carbonyl 12C with a 13C results in a ∼40 cm-1 shift in the amide I‘ band. The amide I bands of specifically labeled helices should vary systematically as a function of the number and relative spacing of the labeled residues; thus one should be able to describe the conformation of a polypeptide in substantial detail by probing the changes in IR spectra as a function of the number and positioning of isotope labels. In this study, we report IR spectra of a series of differently labeled helical peptides. A series of 25mer peptides were synthesized based on the repeat sequence (AAAAK)n. We have varied the number and spacing of the labels on each peptide and studied the changes in the ...
Diagnosis of measles by fluorescent antibody and culture of nasopharyngeal secretions

An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) was evaluated using commercial mouse anti-measles monoclonal antibody and FITC-labeled goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin. For measles isolation, specimens were inoculated into Rhesus monkey kidney (RMK) cells and, when available, CV-1 cells. 381 specimens were tested by IFA and 408 specimens were cultured from patients suspected of having measles. For the 381 specimens tested by both methods, IFA and culture were positive for 31%, culture alone for 14%, IFA alone for 15%, and both negative for 40%. This study indicates that both IFA and culture are required for maximum measles virus detection. Of the positive specimens, 48% were detected either by IFA only (24%) or culture only (24%). IFA was positive in 69% of the culture-positive specimens and therefore, provided rapid diagnosis for many patients.
Transmission of parasitic and bacterial infections through blood transfusion within the U.S.

The American public has become aware that viral infections can be transmitted by blood transfusions; however, less attention has been paid to nonviral agents that are similarly transmitted. Although donors are tested routinely for serologic evidence of Treponema pallidum infection (syphilis), there are no other bacterial infections for which donors are routinely tested, and no testing is done routinely to detect parasitic infections. Although current preventive strategies appear effective in preventing the transmission of nonviral agents by transfusion, changing population demographics, increased travel and immigration, and increased occurrence of certain asymptomatic bacterial infections in blood donors may require new policies to maintain the safety of the U.S. blood supply. This review focuses on the parasitic and bacterial infections that might pose a risk to transfusion recipients in the U.S.
Looking toward Exascale Computing

Recently, Argonne National Laboratory installed a half petaflop Blue Gene/P system. It is the world's fastest open science supercomputer. With 163,840 cores, the machine is beginning to provide insight on how we might build future platforms as we scale toward exascale computing. There are many challenges, including the dramatic shift to multicore, the cost of electric power, and the need for robust fault management. In this talk I will focus on the architecture and system software challenges we face as we continue to attack ever-larger computational problems.
Ice-rich terrain in Gusev Crater, Mars?

Abstract The morphology of materials on the floor of Gusev Crater (14° S, 175° W), Mars, imply a history of volcanism and subsequent removal of an ice-rich deposit. Fluid lava flows observed in the western portion of Gusev Crater paradoxically terminate in a steep, thick ( 60 m ) flow front adjacent to hummocky terrain. The hummocky terrain is morphologically similar to deglaciated terrain on Earth, generated when glacial debris are left behind after the glacier has retreated. We propose the following scenario for the floor of Gusev Crater. First, ice-rich material was deposited adjacent to Thira Crater. Second, fluid lavas were emplaced and ponded against the ice-rich deposits. At some later time, the ice within the deposit sublimated, leaving hummocky terrain. Current age estimates for the Gusev flows are Hesperian, suggesting that the ice removal occurred in the upper Hesperian or more recently. If this hypothesis is correct, quench features (glassy rinds, columnar jointing) should be observed at the lava flow margin; the hummocky deposit should be poorly sorted, angular debris.
The impact of introducing laparoscopic donor nephrectomy to an established renal transplant program.

Although the advent of hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HLDN) has had a positive impact on the donor pool, there is still some concern about its safety. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a change in surgical access to live-donor nephrectomy on donor-related complication rates, the renal function of the donor, and the graft function of the recipient. At our hospital, HLDN was introduced in 1998. Thereafter, we compared 49 consecutive donors undergoing open donor nephrectomy (ODN) between 1987 and 2002 with 57 consecutive donors undergoing HLDN between 1998 and 2002. Donor renal and recipient graft functions were assessed by measuring creatinine levels and urine output, with the addition of warm and cold ischemia time and dialysis requirements in the latter group. Data are presented as means (±SD) and analyzed with the Student t-test or Fisher’s exact test. The ODN and HLDN donors were comparable for age, gender, body mass index, renovascular anatomy, and preoperative creatinine. Estimated blood loss (370 ± 280 vs 168 ± 160 ml, p < 0.0001), time to resumption of oral intake (1.7 ± 0.5 vs 1.3 ± 0.7 days, p = 0.01), duration of intravenous narcotic requirements (23 ± 0.7 vs 1.7 ± 1.0 days, p < 0.0001), and hospital stay (4.2 ± 1.4 vs 2.9 ± 1.3 days, p < 0.0001) were significantly decreased after HLDN. There were no significant differences between ODN and HLDN in operating time (204 ± 46 vs 202 ± 49 min), donor-related complication rates (12.2% vs 14%), or donor renal and recipient graft functions. The introduction of HLDN to an established renal transplant program led to an improved short-term outcome without any increase in donor-related complication rates or delay in recipient graft function.
Good Layouts for Pattern Recognizers

A system to lay out custom circuits that recognize regular languages can be a useful VLSI design automation tool. This paper describes the algorithms used in an implementation of a regular expression compiler. Layouts that use a network of programmable logic arrays (PLA's) have smaller areas than those of some other methods, but there are the problems of partitioning the circuit and then placing the individual PLA's. Regular expressions have a structure which allows a novel solution to these problems: dynamic programming can be used to find layouts which are in some sense optimal. Various search pruning heuristics have been used to increase the speed of the compiler and the experience with these is reported in the conclusions.
Authority files in online catalogs revisited

User requests resulting in zero hits for author searches in an online catalog are analyzed. The need for bibliographic records relating to a name to be brought together under one form of the name and the need for cross references to direct a user from variant forms of the name are discussed. Arlene Taylor's study of this problem in 1983 is replicated. Data are given to prove that linked bibliographic/authority files and the availability of see references online in the public view of OPACs are reducing zero hits.
Taking Off the SOCS: Cytokine Signaling Spurs Regeneration

Strategies to improve function after CNS injuries must contend with the failure of axons to regrow after transection in adult mammals. In this issue of Neuron, Smith et al. provide an important advance by demonstrating that SOCS3 acts as a key negative regulator of adult optic nerve regeneration.
Ethical issues in publication of research

We often think of research ethics mostly in connection with the processes of intervention, data collection, and analysis, but ethics does not stop there. The process of preparing publications involves a number of ethical considerations, including continued protection of the rights of human subjects; reporting findings truthfully, accurately, and completely and using one's own words to do so, or appropriately citing the work of others; and ensuring that authorship credit and acknowledgments accurately reflect the contributions of others. No foolproof way exists to ensure that only ethical publications see print; however, including content on publication ethics in all research courses, publishing clear policies related to ethical expectations in journals, and engaging in discussion of these issues with colleagues are a good start toward that goal.
Systemic vaccination with anti‐oligomeric monoclonal antibodies improves cognitive function by reducing Aβ deposition and tau pathology in 3xTg‐AD mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating disorder that is clinically characterized by a comprehensive cognitive decline. Accumulation of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD. In AD, the conversion of Aβ from a physiological soluble monomeric form into insoluble fibrillar conformation is an important event. The most toxic form of Aβ is oligomers, which is the intermediate step during the conversion of monomeric form to fibrillar form. There are at least two types of oligomers: oligomers that are immunologically related to fibrils and those that are not. In transgenic AD animal models, both active and passive anti-Aβ immunotherapies improve cognitive function and clear the parenchymal accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain. In this report we studied effect of immunotherapy of two sequence-independent non-fibrillar oligomer specific monoclonal antibodies on the cognitive function, amyloid load and tau pathology in 3xTg-AD mice. Anti-oligomeric monoclonal antibodies significantly reduce the amyloid load and improve the cognition. The clearance of amyloid load was significantly correlated with reduced tau hyperphosphorylation and improvement in cognition. These results demonstrate that systemic immunotherapy using oligomer-specific monoclonal antibodies effectively attenuates behavioral and pathological impairments in 3xTg-AD mice. These findings demonstrate the potential of using oligomer specific monoclonal antibodies as a therapeutic approach to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease.
SYSTEMATICITY AND VARIATION IN THE NONYNATIVE CHILD'S ACQUISITION OF CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS1

This research examines the development of one conversational subsystem. turn-allocatmn, in children acquiring English as a second language The purpose of the study was two-fold to describe the devices used for turn-allocation and to explore the role of prior experfence with language in learning a second language under naturalistic conditions Three female children, native speakers of Japanese!, Fimeh and Swsa German respectively; served as subjects for this &month lonstudinal study T6e children were found to be similar in &era1 ways including the presence of a limited number of turn-allocation devices from the start and a general increa significant differences between them seemed due to their identifying second language properties that were congruent with features of their respective native languages. The child's use of syntactic and prosodic contrasts from herefirst language in learning a second languege IS discud the use of such devices over the time period examined Some A:
Synthesis, characterization, and controlled nitric oxide release from S‐nitrosothiol‐derivatized fumed silica polymer filler particles

A new type of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing material is described that utilizes S-nitrosothiols anchored to tiny fumed silica (FS) particles as the NO donor system. The synthetic procedures suitable for tethering three different thiol species (cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, and N-acetylpenicillamine) to the surface of FS polymer filler particles are detailed. The thiol-derivatized particles are converted to their corresponding S-nitrosothiols by reaction with t-butylnitrite. The total NO loading on the resulting particles range from 21-138 nmol/mg for the three different thiol-derivatized materials [S-nitrosocysteine-(NO-Cys)-FS, S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC)-FS, and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP)-FS], with SNAP-FS yielding the highest NO loading. NO can be generated from these particles when suspended in solution via the addition of copper(II) ions, ascorbate, or irradiation with visible light. The SNAC-FS and SNAP-FS particles can be blended in polyurethane and silicone rubber matrixes to create films that release NO at controlled rates. Polyurethane films containing SNAC-FS submerged in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) generate NO surface fluxes approximately 0.1-0.7x10(-10) mol cm-2 min-1 and SNAP-FS films generate NO fluxes of approximately 0-7.5x10(-10) mol cm-2 min-1 upon addition of increasing amounts of copper ions. Silicone rubber films containing SNAC-FS or SNAP-FS do not liberate NO upon exposure to copper ions or ascorbate in phosphate-buffered saline solution. However, such films are shown to release NO at rates proportional to increasing intensities of visible light impinging on the films. Such photoinitiated NO release from these composite materials offers the first NO-releasing hydrophobic polymers with an external on/off trigger to control NO generation.
Histiocytoid cardiomyopathy: A cause of sudden death in apparently healthy infants

The clinical course of patients with single ventricle is in large part determined by the extent of puhnonic or subpulmonic stenosis. If there is no obstruction to pulmonic flow, congestive heart failure ensues early. With excessive puhnonic stenosis, hypoxia and cyanosis results. However, as this case clearly demonstrates, the “optimal” degree of obstruction of pulmonary blood flow can result in physiologic palliation with prolonged survival. Our patient provides an excellent example of a hemodynamic phenomenon described by Rahmitoola et al,6 who noted that L-transposition of the great vessels usually provides preferential streaming of oxygenated blood from. the left atrium into the systemic circulation. Thus, our patient had a systemic oxygen saturation of 93%, which was higher than the saturation in the left ventricle. He had neither cyanosis nor polycythemia. The cause of death in our patient is uncertain.
Electrochemical Impedance Analysis of the Wear of Planographic Plates

Abstract Chemically roughened and anodized Al sheets containing an oil-loving photosensitive organic compound provide the image carrying component for the high-speed planographic lithography used in the newspaper publishing industry. New concepts for printing press design require an understanding of the mechanism of wear and degradation of these surfaces. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy senses chemically and tribologically produced changes on the surface of a planographic plate. A concept for an electrochemical impedance wear monitoring device has been tested. Wear and degradation processes tend to increase the capacitance of the anodized Al surface of the plate. Measurement of the plate capacitance during an actual press run provides some insight into the wear process.