cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micropropagation of Japanese Bunching Onion (Allium fistulosum L.) and Its Hybrid (A. fistulosum × A. cepa) Derivatives

Alliums belong to the family Liliaceae and are of considerable importance worldwide. Tremendous genetic diversity exists among the over 600 species (McCollum 1976), which are found mainly in northern temperate zones (Novak et al. 1986). A. fistulosum is widely grown in East and West Africa and Asia (Tindall 1983). A. fistulosum is most commonly known as the Japanese bunching onion, but is also called the Walsh onion (the word Welsh is derived from the Anglo-Saxon welise and the old German welsche, meaning foreign; it has no association with Wales) (Tindall 1983). Other less common names include the Chinese small onion (Herklots 1972), green bunching onion, spring onion, two-bladed onion, Ciboule (Fr.), Cebolla, Ceboletta (Sp.), Rohtenlauch (Ger.), Pijplook, Bieslook (Neth.), Taai Ts’ung (China), and Kikiyu onion (E. Afr.) (Tindall 1983).
A deep-sea, high-speed, stereoscopic imaging system for in situ measurement of natural seep bubble and droplet characteristics

Abstract Development, testing, and application of a deep-sea, high-speed, stereoscopic imaging system are presented. The new system is designed for field-ready deployment, focusing on measurement of the characteristics of natural seep bubbles and droplets with high-speed and high-resolution image capture. The stereo view configuration allows precise evaluation of the physical scale of the moving particles in image pairs. Two laboratory validation experiments (a continuous bubble chain and an airstone bubble plume) were carried out to test the calibration procedure, performance of image processing and bubble matching algorithms, three-dimensional viewing, and estimation of bubble size distribution and volumetric flow rate. The results showed that the stereo view was able to improve the individual bubble size measurement over the single-camera view by up to 90% in the two validation cases, with the single-camera being biased toward overestimation of the flow rate. We also present the first application of this imaging system in a study of natural gas seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. The high-speed images reveal the rigidity of the transparent bubble interface, indicating the presence of clathrate hydrate skins on the natural gas bubbles near the source (lowest measurement 1.3 m above the vent). We estimated the dominant bubble size at the seep site Sleeping Dragon in Mississippi Canyon block 118 to be in the range of 2–4 mm and the volumetric flow rate to be 0.2–0.3 L/min during our measurements from 17 to 21 July 2014.
The Black Band Disease of Atlantic Reef Corals

. Some reef building corals in the western Atlantic are susceptible to an infection known as black band disease that is caused by the cyanophyte (cyanobacterium) Phormidium corallyticum Rutzler & Santavy. Field observations on the barrier reef of Belize and on reefs of the Bermuda platform indicate the disease is fairly common in susceptible species. Coral tissue destruction monitored in situ in Belize reveals rapid spreading rates and seasonality of the disease. Laboratory experiments confirm that P. corallyticum is the etiologic agent and we speculate that a toxic exudate is the cause of histolysis observed in coral penetrated by the organism. Coral tissue is further broken down by a rapidly developing disease microcommunity, including bacteria and ciliate protozoans, identified with the aid of light, SEM, and TEM photomicrography. Study of P. coraltyticum in culture away from its host coral reveals several ecological requirements, including dependence for optimal growth on yet unidentified organic substances contained in coral tissue. Healthy corals inoculated with various control organisms - including the gliding bacterium Beggiatoa, a filamentous chlorophyte, and six cyanophytes other than P. corallyticum - did not develop the disease. Gorgonacean corals, too, can be artificially infected with P. corallyticum, but naturally occurring gorgonian bands are composed only of noninfectious cyanophyceans.
Caught in a Web of Lies: Use of Prior Inconsistent Statements to Impeach Witnesses Before the ICTY

Trial attorneys around the world face the problem of how to confront a witness whose live testimony contradicts his prior statements. U.S. prosecutors take refuge under Federal Rule of Evidence 613 and the Harris doctrine, which permit inadmissible hearsay and illegally obtained statements to be used to impeach a witness’s live testimony. No similar rule aids prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Recent divergent decisions regarding the use of inconsistent statements for impeachment purposes have left ICTY prosecutors struggling to prove cases against the most heinous criminals in history. This Note argues that the ICTY should adopt a new evidentiary rule akin to the United States’ Rule 613 and the Harris doctrine. Adoption of a new rule would more efficiently balance the prosecutor’s duty to prove the case against the accused’s right not to be convicted by otherwise inadmissible evidence. The question is whether you were lying then or are you lying now . . . or whether in fact you are a habitual and compulsive liar! —Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution
In vitro differentiation of bone marrow derived porcine mesenchymal stem cells to endothelial cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold potential for the regeneration of damaged tissues in cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential of porcine MSCs to differentiate into endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro. The cultured bone marrow-derived cells were CD11b–CD34–CD44+CD45–CD90+ and showed mesodermal lineage differentiation, which is characteristic of MSCs. The MSCs were induced to differentiate into ECs using endothelial growth medium (EGM), with and without high concentrations of VEGF (EGM + VEGF; 50 ng/ml). Endothelial basal medium (EBM) without growth factors served as the control. The EC differentiation was assessed by the presence of vWF, ability to take up acetylated LDL, in vitro angiogenesis assay, flow cytometry and qPCR of EC markers vWF, VE-cadherin, PECAM-1, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 after 10 days of stimulation. Cells cultured in EGM + VEGF medium demonstrated higher amounts of DiI-AcLDL-positive cells and enhanced the presence of vWF (90%), VE-Cadherin- (60%) and PECAM-1 (48%)-positive cells, than in EBM. These cells showed profuse sprouting of capillary tubes and closed polygon formation in the angiogenesis assay. There was 1.5–2-fold increase in the mRNA expression of endothelial markers in the cells stimulated with EGM + VEGF medium when compared to control. The results demonstrate the ability of porcine MSCs to differentiate into ECs under in vitro inducing conditions. The differentiated cells would provide new options for re-endothelialization following interventional procedures and tissue engineering. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring Europa with an RPS-powered orbiter spacecraft

The National Research Council's solar system exploration decadal survey identified Jupiter's moon Europa as its highest-priority destination for near-term exploration. Voyager and Galileo missions to the Jupiter system provided evidence consistent with a subsurface ocean on Europa, which is of great interest as a potential abode for extraterrestrial life. This paper describes a conceptual flagship-class Europa orbiter concept that was assumed to launch as early as 2012, arriving at Europa approximately 8 years later using inner solar system gravity assists to reach Jupiter. Jupiter's intense radiation environment limits the mission duration at Europa to 30 days for this study, though the duration is a result of multiple trades and is by no means fixed. The Europa subgroup of the outer planets assessment group identified six primary science objectives for this concept. An /spl sim/150-kg instrument suite selected for the study addresses those objectives. Large heliocentric distances, high power levels required, and especially the harsh Jovian radiation environment drove the selection of radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for all onboard electrical power, with the excess heat aiding spacecraft thermal control. Mass and architecture trades were performed using different spacecraft trajectories, launch vehicle types, radioisotope power systems, and mission durations. The study shows that new mission constraints allow a scientifically compelling Europa orbiter mission that might also deliver a Europa lander.
Fatty Acid and 3-β-Hydroxysterol Synthesis in the Perfused Rat Liver INCLUDING MEASUREMENTS ON THE PRODUCTION OF LACTATE, PYRUVATE, β-HYDROXYBUTYRATE, AND ACETOACETATE BY THE FED LIVER

Conditions are described for perfusing rat livers in vitro which result in rates of fatty acid synthesis which equal the rates observed in vivo. Rates of 3-β-hydroxysterol synthesis by the perfused liver are equal to or greater than those observed in vivo. Livers from starved animals perfused with low concentrations of glucose show low rates of fatty acid and 3-β-hydroxysterol synthesis. When such livers are perfused with high concentrations of glucose they show a substantial increase in the rate of fatty acid and 3-β-hydroxysterol synthesis. These increases are compared with similar increases in vivo, which are observed when starved animals are refed. Relationships are examined between rates of fatty acid synthesis and the production of lactate, pyruvate, β-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate, as well as the oxygen consumption. Metabolite contents are reported for perfused livers that exhibit high and low rates of fatty acid synthesis.
Energy Sources and Life

An external energy source is a necessary condition for life, because living systems require a flow of energy to organize materials and maintain a low state of entropy (Morowitz 1968). Energy is also needed to perform work. Life on Earth can be distinguished by the external energy source that it uses. Photoautotrophic life derives energy from sunlight and uses CO2 as a carbon source. Chemolithotrophic life uses redox reactions involving abiological compounds and chemolithoautotrophic life uses CO2 (or other small carbon compounds) as a carbon source. Chemoheterotrophic life uses high-energy organic molecules, produced in general by autotrophic life, as a source of energy and carbon. On other worlds, where other forms of energy may be more abundant, or where the primary sources for energy on Earth may be lacking, life may have evolved to depend on different forms of energy. In this chapter, we critically analyze the various forms of energy that are potentially available to living systems, consider other factors that bear on the evolution of energy harvesting mechanisms, and evaluate the apparent availability of different forms of energy at different sites in our Solar System.
Perspectives and potential applications of nanomedicine in breast and prostate cancer

Nanomedicine is a branch of nanotechnology that includes the development of nanostructures and nanoanalytical systems for various medical applications. Among these applications, utilization of nanotechnology in oncology has captivated the attention of many research endeavors in recent years. The rapid development of nano-oncology raises new possibilities in cancer diagnosis and treatment. It also holds great promise for realization of point-of-care, theranostics, and personalized medicine. In this article, we review advances in nano-oncology, with an emphasis on breast and prostate cancer because these organs are amenable to the translation of nanomedicine from small animals to humans. As new drugs are developed, the incorporation of nanotechnology approaches into medicinal research becomes critical. Diverse aspects of nano-oncology are discussed, including nanocarriers, targeting strategies, nanodevices, as well as nanomedical diagnostics, therapeutics, and safety. The review concludes by identifying some limitations and future perspectives of nano-oncology in breast and prostate cancer management.
The Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer: Lessons Learned, Managerial and Policy Implications, and the Road Forward

In recent years, there have been numerous studies of the effectiveness of university technology transfer. Such technology transfer mechanisms include licensing agreements between the university and private firms, science parks, incubators, and university-based startups. We review and synthesize these papers and present some pointed recommendations on how to enhance effectiveness. Implementation of these recommendations will depend on the mechanisms that universities choose to stress, based on their technology transfer "strategy." For example, institutions that emphasize the entrepreneurial dimension of technology transfer must address skill deficiencies in technology transfer offices, reward systems that are inconsistent with enhanced entrepreneurial activity and the lack of training for faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students in starting new ventures or interacting with entrepreneurs. Universities will also have to confront a set of issues related to ethics and social responsibility, as they more aggressively pursue technology commercialization. Finally, we suggest some possible theoretical frameworks for additional research.
RFID tag load impedance measurement using backscattered signal

Radio frequency identification is a pervasive technology used for many different purposes. This paper presents a unique technique to evaluate tag's loads impedance without modifying its electronics. In this in-situ technique, no external measuring equipment such as vector network analyzer was directly connected with the tag. The complex back scattered signal together with simulated tag antenna's impedance and gain were used to extract its load impedance. The evaluated load impedance showed unified effect of the tag electronics and board parasitics.
Primary repair of complete atrioventricular canal in patients less than 2 years old

Twenty-seven consecutive patients less than 2 years of age underwent primary intracardiac repair of complete atrioventricular (A-V) canal. Three (19 percent) of the 16 operated on after January 1, 1975 died in the hospital, a smaller proportion than the 8 of 11 patients who died in the hospital after operation between 1972 and 1975 (P = 0.005). The date of operation as a continuous variable is also related to the probability of hospital death (P = 0.016). Age at operation was not related to hospital mortality among the total group of 27 infants, nor were the anatomic characteristics of the anterior and posterior bridging leaflets, the location and size of the interventricular communications or the duration or technique of profound hypothermia (total circulatory arrest versus low perfusion flow rate). The improved results in the 16 patients operated on since January 1, 1975 are believed to be primarily the result of an improved ability to construct "mitral" and "tricuspid" valves from the common A-V valve. Fourteen of the 16 hospital survivors are alive and well 5 to 60 months after operation. These results and the natural history of patients with this malformation indicate that there should be no change in the policy of performing elective intracardiac repair before age 2 years and primary repair rather than pulmonary arterial banding when operation is required in the early months of life.
Measurement of transition displacement in magnetic recording

A simulation of the magnetic-recording process shows that the magnetic transition is displaced relative to the transducer gap. This displacement has been measured by a simple technique using unipolar write currents. The implications on packing density are pointed out.
The effect of fire-induced soil hydrophobicity on wind erosion in a semiarid grassland: Experimental observations and theoretical framework

Aridland ecosystems are often susceptible to degradation resulting from disturbances like fires and grazing. By exposing the soil surface to the erosive action of winds, these disturbances contribute to the redistribution of soil nutrients associated with grassland-to-shrubland conversions and to the formation of a heterogeneous landscape. Wind erosion maintains the local heterogeneities in nutrient and vegetation distribution in arid landscapes through the removal of nutrient-rich soil from the intercanopy areas and the subsequent deposition of soil onto vegetation patches. Even though wind erosion and disturbances like fires strongly interact with each other and determine vegetation patterns in arid landscapes, very few studies have addressed these interactions. Using soil samples collected after a wildfire event at the Cimarron National Grasslands in southwestern Kansas, we demonstrate through a series of wind-tunnel experiments, laboratory measurements, and theoretical analyses how wind erosion can be enhanced by fire-induced water repellency. Results from the wind-tunnel experiments show that in semiarid grasslands fires can cause a decrease in the threshold velocity of wind erosion thereby, enhancing the post-burn erosion of (hydrophobic) soils. Further, a generalized process-based theoretical equation was derived to explain the decrease in threshold friction velocity in water-repellent soil for the case of soil particles modeled as asymmetrical cones.
Development of a program teaching laparoscopic sterilization using local anesthesia

A program teaching laparoscopic sterilization using local anesthesia was developed and implemented in a large residency program in which sterilization using general anesthesia was already being taught in a traditional fashion. Important steps for the development of such a program included the designation of an individual with overall responsibility for the program, identification of potential obstacles along with feasible solutions, and training of residents and staff in the new techniques. The major obstacles to implementation included opposition from anesthesia personnel, the need for additional training in the new techniques for both residents and faculty, nursing staff resistance, and the uncertainty of patient acceptance. Solutions included involving anesthesia personnel in program planning as well as in the ultimate performance of the procedures, practicing local techniques during cases under general anesthesia, limiting initial cases to candidates anticipated to be uncomplicated, and using nondirective counseling of patients. Similar strategies can be useful both to other residency programs and individuals wishing to offer local anesthesia as an option for laparoscopic sterilization at their hospitals.
Use of primer selection and restriction enzymes to assess bacterial community diversity in an agricultural soil used for potato production via terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) can be used to assess how land use management changes the dominant members of bacterial communities. We compared T-RFLP profiles obtained via amplification with forward primers (27, 63F) each coupled with the fluorescently labeled reverse primer (1392R) and multiple restriction enzymes to determine the best combination for interrogating soil bacterial populations in an agricultural soil used for potato production. Both primer pairs provide nearly universal recognition of a 1,400-bp sequence of the bacterial domain in the V1–V3 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene relative to known sequences. Labeling the reverse primer allowed for direct comparison of each forward primer and the terminal restriction fragments’ relative migration units obtained with each primer pair and restriction enzyme. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and nested multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to assess the effects of primer pair and choice of restriction enzyme on the measured relative migration units. Our research indicates that the 63F–1392R amplimer pair provides a more complete description with respect to the bacterial communities present in this potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)–barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) rotation over seeded to crimson clover (Trifolium praense L.). Domain-specific 16S rRNA gene primers are rigorously tested to determine their ability to amplify across a target region of the gene. Yet, variability within or between T-RFLP profiles can result from factors independent of the primer pair. Therefore, researchers should use RDA and MANOVA analyses to evaluate the effects that additional laboratory and environmental variables have on bacterial diversity.
Preoperative Preparation in Children : A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Study Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a behavioral preparation program on reducing anxiety in children and their parents prior to elective surgery. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A children's hospital. Patients: 143 children undergoing outpatient surgery, and their parents. Interventions: A behavioral preoperative preparation program. Measurements and Results: Overall anxiety in children and their parents did not differ significantly between the group that received the preoperative program and the group that did not ( p = NS). Children older than 6 years were least anxious on separation from their parents if they participated in the preparation program more than 5 to 7 days prior to surgery, moderately anxious if they did not receive preparation, and most anxious if they received the preparation 1 day prior to surgery ( p = 0.04). Multivariable regression analysis (for overall model, F=2.14, p = 0.02) revealed that although the preparation program itself was not a predictor of a child's behavior on separation to the operating room, the interaction between child's age and timing of the program ( p = 0.003), and child's previous hospitalization were predictors of children's anxiety response. Similarly, in the preoperative holding area, independent predictors of anxiety included timing of the preparation program, age of child, and the child's baseline temperament characteristics. Conclusions: The results highlight the complexities in assuming that a behavior-based preoperative preparation program is effective for all pediatric outpatients. The effects of such an intervention vary with the child's age, the timing of the intervention, and a history of previous hospitalization.
s-process studies - Xenon and krypton isotopic abundances

We propose an analysis of the s-process contributions to the isotopes of xenon and krypton. The object is to aid studies of the possibility that meteorites may contain gas that was carried in presolar grains that were grown in stellar ejecta and that were not degassed prior to incorporation into parent bodies. That model suggests routine interstellar fractionation of s-isotopes from r-isotopes owing to differential incorporation into dust. We show that a deficiency of s-process nuclei cannot yield details of Xe-X, but the gross similarities are strong enough to lead one to think that such a deficiency may play a role in a more complicated explanation. We predict the existence of an s-rich complement somewhere if fractional separation of this type has played a role in Xe-X. We show that the analogous decomposition of krypton is more uncertain, and we call for measurements of neutron-capture cross sections to alleviate these uncertainties.
On control of linear systems with time lags

The terminal control of a general time invariant linear system with time lags has been studied in a variety of situations by means of the technique of dynamic programming. Optimum control laws, satisfying a minimum energy constraint are explicitly derived under each of the following assumptions concerning the noise in the system: noise free, noise generated by a Markov source, noise whose statistics are partially unknown, and worst case or competitive disturbances.
Obstetric antecedents to body-cooling treatment of the newborn infant.

Objective Obstetric antecedents were analyzed in births in which the infant received whole-body cooling for neonatal encephalopathy. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included all live-born singleton infants delivered at or beyond 36 weeks' gestation from October 2005 through December 2011. Infants who had received whole-body cooling identified by review of a prospective neonatal registry were compared with a control group comprising the remaining obstetric population delivered at greater than 36 weeks but not cooled. Univariable analysis was followed up by a staged, stepwise selection of variables with the intent to rank significant risk factors for cooling. Results A total of 86,371 women delivered during the study period and 98 infants received whole-body cooling (1.1 per 1000 live births). Of these 98 infants, 80 newborns (88%) had moderate encephalopathy and 10 (12%) had severe encephalopathy prior to cooling. Maternal age of 15 years or younger, low parity, maternal body habitus (body mass index of ≥40 kg/m 2 ), diabetes, preeclampsia, induction, epidural analgesia, chorioamnionitis, length of labor, and mode of delivery were associated with significantly increased risk of infant cooling during a univariable analysis. Catastrophic events to include umbilical cord prolapse (odds ratio [OR], 14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3–72), placental abruption (OR, 17; 95% CI, 7–44), uterine rupture (OR, 130; 95% CI, 11–1477) were the strongest factors associated with infant cooling after staged-stepwise logistic analysis. Conclusion A variety of intrapartum characteristics were associated with infant cooling for neonatal encephalopathy, with the most powerful antecedents being umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption, and uterine rupture.
A Dynamic hp-Adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Shallow-Water Flows on the Sphere with Application to a Global Tsunami Simulation

A discontinuous Galerkin model solving the shallow-water equations on the sphere is presented. It captures the dynamically varying key aspects of the flows by having the advantageous ability to locally modify the mesh as well as the order of interpolation within each element. The computational load is efficiently distributed among processors in parallel using a weighted recursive coordinate bisection strategy. A simple error estimator, based on the discontinuity of the variables at the interfaces between elements, is used to select the elements to be refined or coarsened. The flows are expressed in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, but tangentially constrained to the sphere by adding a Lagrange multiplier to the system of equations. The model is validated on classic atmospheric test cases and on the simulation of the February 2010 Chilean tsunami propagation. The proposed multiscale strategy is able to reduce the computational time by an order of magnitude on the tsunami simulation, clearly demonstrating its potential toward multiresolution three-dimensional oceanic and atmospheric applications.
Differential effects of teleocidin on TNFα receptor regulation in human B cell lines: Relationship to coexpression of IL-2 and IL-1 receptors and to lymphokine secretion

Abstract We have studied 23 human B cell lines for TNFα receptor reactivities and TNF secretion. High affinity TNFα receptors with a wide range of 200 to 7200 receptor sites/cell and an average k D of ~10 −10 M were detected in 22 of 23 cell lines. Following activation with the tumor promoter teleocidin, changes in TNFα receptor binding were classified into three categories: (I) Downregulation of TNFα receptors ( n = 15); (II) Upregulation of TNFα receptors ( n = 5); and (III). No change of TNFα receptor binding ( n = 3). Constitutive secretion of TNF was detected in 2 cell lines only, and teleocidin triggered TNF secretion in an additional 10 cell lines in category I. Although this suggests possible association between TNFα receptor downregulation and secreted TNF, 48-hr kinetic studies demonstrated that TNFα receptors were downregulated at ~1 hr after activation with teleocidin, whereas TNF secretion was detected only at 24 hr. TNFα receptor regulation did not seem to be influenced by secreted IL-1 and/or B cell IL-2-like molecule as well, but correlates with coexpression of IL-1 and IL-2 receptors. Dissecting the complexity between these three types of lymphokine receptors and their corresponding lymphokines suggest that TNFα receptor regulation is influenced by IL-2 receptors and/or IL-1 receptors coexpressed on the same cell, and that cross-talk between B cell lymphokine receptors exists.
Current state of Marek's disease virus microRNA research.

SUMMARY. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a major family of small RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression. Small RNA profiling studies have revealed that some viruses, particularly large DNA viruses, such as Marek's disease virus (MDV), encode their own set of miRNAs. There are currently 406 viral miRNAs in miRBase, of which 392 are encoded by herpesviruses. To date, 26 MDV-1 miRNAs, 36 MDV-2 miRNAs, and 28 herpesvirus of turkeys miRNAs have been identified. Interestingly, herpesvirus miRNAs appear to have spatial conservation, located in clusters within repeat regions, but lack sequence conservation. Two clusters of MDV-1 miRNA have been identified, one located near the MEQ gene and one within the latency-associated transcript (LAT). miRNA profiling studies have shown that MDV miRNA are differentially expressed between strains and stages of infection. For example, mdv1-miR-M4 and mdv1-miR-M2-3p are three- and sixfold higher, expressed, respectively, in vv+ strains compared to vv strains. A recent st...
In-Situ IR Spectroelectrochemistry Study of One-Electron Oxidations of Bis(cyclopentadienyl) Molybdenum(II)-Alkyne or -Alkene Compounds

Anodic oxidations of the bis-cyclopentadienyl alkyne compound MoCp2(η2-C2Ph2), 1, and three metal−alkene analogues MCp2(η2-C2H2 trans-R2) (M = Mo, R = CO2Me, 2; M = Mo, R = H, 3; M = W, R = H, 4) have been studied by a combination of electrochemistry and in-situ IR spectroelectrochemistry. The primary redox process for all compounds is a reversible one-electron oxidation at very facile potentials (from −0.30 V vs FeCp20/+ for 2 to −0.80 V for 4). The νCC alkyne stretch in the IR spectrum of 17-electron Mo−alkyne ion 1+ (1824 cm-1) was shifted 50 cm-1 to higher energy than the same band in 1, consistent with a decrease in the metal−alkyne interaction in the Mo(III) cation. Compounds 2−4 all gave Mo(III) cations that were stable on the cyclic voltammetry (CV) time scale. In bulk electrolyses monitored by a combination of voltammetric and in-situ IR spectroelectrochemical analyses, the Mo(III) cation 2+ was shown to undergo some loss of alkene. The fiber-optic in-situ IR technique is a powerful method for ch...
Algorithms for solution updating due to large changes in system parameters

A set of algorithms for solution updating due to large changes in system parameters is derived. The algorithms are derived by partitioning the changes in the values of the elements from the remainder of the system and then applying tearing procedures to solve tthe partitioned system of equations. The algorithms obtained include new ones as well as most of the previously proposed ones for solving this problem. Sparse matrix solution techniques are used whenever possible, and the computational requirements of the algorithms are assessed and compared.
6984 A dilated pancreatic duct at ercp can be associated with a lower incidence of post-ercp pancreatitis (pep).

Background: The etiology of PEP is probably multifactorial. Pancreatic stenting has been shown to reduce the incidence of PEP in selected patients. We hypothesized that normal diameter ducts are more likely to become occluded by edema and hence associated with PEP. The relationship between the findings of pancreatic ductography and PEP is not known. Aim: Evaluate if there is an association between pancreatic duct dilatation (PDIL) and PEP. Methods: The MUSC GI Trac database was reviewed for patients who had successful pancreatography. Patients with cancer, stricture, stones and prior pancreatic duct or orifice therapy were excluded. The incidence of PEP was evaluated in patients who did or did not have (PDIL). Patients were sub-grouped if they had a pancreatic stent placed and/or concomitant biliary sphincterotomy (BSx). Results: Of 3298 patients (mean age 49yrs., range 10-89yrs., M:F= 3:7), PEP occurred in 150 (5%). A dilated duct was noted in 801 patients. The incidence of PEP in all patients with PDIL was 3% (23/801) compared to 5% (127/2497) in those with no PDIL, p=0.008. The incidence of PEP in patients with and without BSx, pancreatic stenting and PDIL, is tabulated: Of all patients who had a pancreatic stent placed (n=887), there was no statistical difference in the incidence of PEP in those with PDIL (3%, 10/316) Vs no PDIL (5%, 27/571). CONCLUSIONS: 1] The overall incidence of PEP is lower if the pancreatic duct is dilated. 2] The presence of duct dilatation in patients who do not undergo BSx or PD stenting is associated with a lower incidence of PEP.
Cognitive functions of the posterior parietal cortex: top-down and bottom-up attentional control.

Although much less is known about human parietal cortex than that of homologous monkey cortex, recent studies, employing neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods, have begun to elucidate increasingly fine-grained functional and structural distinctions. This review is focused on recent neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies elucidating the cognitive roles of dorsal and ventral regions of parietal cortex in top-down and bottom-up attentional orienting, and on the interaction between the two attentional allocation mechanisms. Evidence is reviewed arguing that regions along the dorsal areas of the parietal cortex, including the superior parietal lobule (SPL) are involved in top-down attentional orienting, while ventral regions including the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) are involved in bottom-up attentional orienting.
2008 Special Issue: Some neural networks compute, others don't

I address whether neural networks perform computations in the sense of computability theory and computer science. I explicate and defend the following theses. (1) Many neural networks compute-they perform computations. (2) Some neural networks compute in a classical way. Ordinary digital computers, which are very large networks of logic gates, belong in this class of neural networks. (3) Other neural networks compute in a non-classical way. (4) Yet other neural networks do not perform computations. Brains may well fall into this last class.
Layer thickness dependence of anisotropic coupling in Gd/Y superlattices

Abstract The asymmetry of spin-coupling through nonmagnetic yttrium interlayers in b -axis Gd/Y MBE superlattices grown on [101¯0] Y substrates has been examined using SQUID magnetometry and neuron scattering. For c -axis Gd/Y superlattices, the Gd layers align ferromagnetically or antiferromagnetically across the intervening layers depending in an oscillatory manner on the Y thickness with interlayer coupling strengths of approximately 1 kOe. Neutron scans for b -[Gd 43 A |Y 52 A ] 85 demonstrate that the Gd moments anti-align across the Y in zero field. The Gd layers in samples b -[Gd 47 A |Y 42 A ] 50 and b -Gd 60 A |Y 26 A ] 80 with thinner Y interlayers are aligned at temperatures less than 90 K. The saturation fields obtained for these samples are 80, 35 and 20 Oe at 150 K, respectively. This result suggests that the antiferromagnetic coupling mechanism is much weaker than that for the c -axis superlattices. We will compare models for the coupling based on RKKY and dipolar interactions.
Inclusion of Risk in Public Works Projects An Example With Waste Recycling Options

Often public works are made with little if any concern for risk. Analysis of public works investments especially during the 1990s and 2000s assumed rapid employment growth would continue into the future. However, with the “Great Recession,” the assumption of continued high employment growth, and the absence of risk considerations in public works investments, a number of local government bankruptcies occurred. Public works decision makers must aim to identify public works investments that not only have the highest positive net returns under average conditions but also yield highest net returns under unfavorable conditions. This article discusses the incorporation of risk into public works investments and the use of Monte Carlo simulation to complete a standard investment or public works appraisal. The article completes an investment appraisal of a material recovery facility (MRF) system and discusses how risk could be addressed and analyzed by public decision makers.
Evaluation of BEOL design rule impacts using an optimal ILP-based detailed router

Continued technology scaling with more pervasive use of multi-patterning has led to complex design rules and increased difficulty of maintaining high layout densities. Intuitively, emerging constraints such as unidirectional patterning or increased via spacing will decrease achievable density of the final place-and-route solution, worsening die area and product cost. However, no methodology exists for accurate assessment of design rules' impact on physical chip implementation. At the same time, this is a crucial need for early development of BEOL process technologies, particularly with FinFET or future vertical-device architectures where cell footprints can become much smaller than in bulk planar CMOS technologies. In this work, we study impacts of patterning technology choices and associated design rules on physical implementation density, with respect to cost-optimal design rule-correct detailed routing. A key contribution is an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) based optimal router (OptRouter) which considers complex design rules that arise in sub-20nm process technologies. Using OptRouter, we assess wirelength and via count impacts of various design rules (implicitly, patterning technology choices) by analyzing optimal routing solutions of clips (i.e., switchbox instances) extracted from post-detailed route layouts in an advanced technology.
Mesenteric pseudoaneurysm and cerebral stroke as sequelae of infective endocarditis in an adolescent

Infective endocarditis is uncommon in children, and there is a paucity of literature concerning cases that involve unique or resistant organisms. Complications associated with infective endocarditis are distinctly rare and poorly characterized, especially unusual sequelae such as pseudoaneuryms of the abdominal mesentery. Our case involves an adolescent who presented with several weeks of fever and eventual cardiac murmur and was found to have vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus growing as a vegetation on a previously undiagnosed bicuspid aortic valve. He had a cerebral stroke presenting as Broca's aphasia before cardiac surgery, as well as a superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm several days postoperatively. The case highlights some of the serious surgical complications that can occur in young persons with infective endocarditis, as well as many of the problems involved in managing a patient with highly resistant pathogens and a surgically challenging location of the aneurysm.
Development of the Vestibulo-ocular Reflex from Infancy to Adulthood

The time constants and gains of the vestibulo-ocular reflex were computed from the primary nystagmus evoked by constant angular acceleration in 79 normal infants and children, ranging in age from 2 months to 11 years old, and 10 normal adults. There were significant changes in both time constant and gain in respect to development. The time constants increased while the gains decreased as a function of the logarithm of age. The time constants of the youngest infants were close to the cupular time constant. The lengthening of the time constant with increasing age was discussed in respect to maturation of inhibitory brainstem reticular formation mechanisms.
Solubilization and affinity labeling of a dihydropyridine binding site from skeletal muscle: Effects of temperature and diltiazem on [3H]dihydropyridine binding to transverse tubules

Abstract Effects of temperature and d-cis-diltiazem (DTZ) on [3H]nitrendipine (NTD) and [3H]nimodipine (NIM) binding to skeletal muscle t-tubular membranes were studied. A decrease in temperature from 37°C to 10°C decreased KD and increased Bmax slightly. DTZ increased binding by increasing Bmax under all conditions and also decreased KD for NTD at 37°C. The binding protein labeled with [3H]isothiocyanate dihydropyridine revealed a molecular weight of 36,000. The binding site for NTD was solubilized by deoxycholate and dihydropyridine binding was still stimulated by DTZ in the solubilized form.
Parody as brand The case of [adult swim]’s paracasual advergames

Advergames – a neologism for video games designed to advertise a product or service – are marketing devices employed to impact consumers’ purchasing decisions and, more frequently, shape their impressions of a promoted brand. The online advergames of the programming block-turned media brand [adult swim] (AS) present a clear case in which the games act as rich signifiers of brand aesthetics even if they are not directly connected to the content of the brand’s television shows, live events, and other assorted merchandise. Although these ‘casual’-style titles have gameplay mechanics that are accessible to broad audiences, these advergames often exhibit a critical stance toward other games, which differentiates them from the vast majority of casual games on the market. But rather than being anti-casual, we argue that these games are best understood as being paracasual because they use parody to both trouble prevailing definitions of casual games and advergames, and deploy an aesthetic disposition that further...
Reward Structures of Academic Disciplines.

This article examined the specific differences in the salary reward structures of eight clusters of academic disciplines included in Biglan's three-dimensional model of the academic profession. The sample consisted of 1.320 faculty at a large research university who responded to the Faculty Activity Analysis questionnaire requesting information on the amount of time they devoted each week to eleven categories of professional responsibility. These measures were used to predict faculty salaries in the eight discipline clusters. The results demonstrated wide variation in the reward structures of these discipline clusters.
Thallium-205 NMR spectroscopy. II. 205Tl chemical shifts and coupling constants in substituted arylthallium(III)bis(trifluoroacetates)

Abstract The 205Tl resonance frequency has been measured in a series of substituted arylthallium(III)bis(trifluoroacetates). The resonance frequency of 205Tl in these compounds is remarkably sensitive to the substituent with a correlation existing between the resonance frequency and the Hammett σ parameter. A correlation between the resonance frequency and the 205Tl-1H coupling constants was also found. Very large solvent effects on the 205Tl resonance frequency were observed with some of the compounds.
The induction of asthmalike attacks in subjects with “idiopathic” asthma

Abstract 1.1. Seven subjects exhibiting all or some of the characteristics of "intrinsic" or "idiopathic" asthma were tested by an inhalation technique with a number of common allergens. The method of testing was more sensitive than that used by others in studies of this type in the past. 2.2. Four subjects showed no reactions to inhalation of the allergens although inhalation of solutions of histamine or acetyl-beta-methylcholine produced sharp pulmonary reactions. In three patients, pulmonary reactions followed inhalation of certain extracts, and, with one doubtful exception, the skin was likewise reactive. 3.3. Interpretation of the results of studies of this kind depends on the activity of the extracts, the intensity of exposure, and the degree of correlation between pulmonary reactions on the one hand and clinical sensitivity on the other.
On the Metabolism of Astasia longa (Jahn).

SYNOPSIS. Most tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates are oxidized by intact cells of the apochlorotic flagellate Astasia longa (Jahn). Use of these substrates depends on the pH of the medium. The acetate-stimulated respiration is much more sensitive to metabolic inhibitors than is cell motility. The following glyoxylate cycle and/or tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes have been demonstrated in cell-free extracts: acetic-thiokinase, condensing-enzyme, aconitase, TPN-isocitric dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase, fumarase, and malic dehydrogenase.
Stardust Entry: Landing and Population Hazards in Mission Planning and Operations

The 385 kg Stardust mission was launched on Feb 7, 1999 on a mission to collect samples from the tail of comet Wild 2 and from interplanetary space. Stardust returned to Earth in the early morning of January 15, 2006. The sample return capsule landed in the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) southwest of Salt Lake City. Because Stardust was landing on Earth, hazard analysis was required by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, UTTR, and the Stardust Project to ensure the safe return of the landing capsule along with the safety of people, ground assets, and aircraft. This paper focuses on the requirements affecting safe return of the capsule and safety of people on the ground by investigating parameters such as probability of impacting on UTTR, casualty expectation, and probability of casualty. This paper introduces the methods for the calculation of these requirements and shows how they affected mission planning, site selection, and mission operations. By analyzing these requirements before and during entry it allowed for the selection of a robust landing point that met all of the requirements during the actual landing event.
New results in projection-type algorithms of use in image processing and reconstruction

In image restoration the two main goals are noise smoothing and restoration of sharp details. We consider the noise smoothing problem from the point-of-view of convex projections and introduce several normed derivative constraints and their associated projectors.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Osseous cryosurgery and its effect on adjacent pulpal tissues.

Abstract The effect of cryosurgical temperatures on pulpal tissue in vital teeth adjacent to osseous defects of the mandibles of dogs was studied. When compared to the control on the opposite side, the pulps of teeth adjacent to the cryosurgical site were hyperemic. Neither pulpitis nor necrosis was observed postoperatively at 6 weeks.
Conduction Velocity and Intracellular Action Potentials of the Tunicate Heart

The tubular heart of tunicates is composed of a single layer of myoendothelial cells. The direction of contraction reverses every few minutes. The conduction times in both directions are the same. Conduction velocity was greatest in the middle of the arms of the V-shaped heart and slowest in the apex. The greater the heart length, the greater was the conduction velocity. The Q10 of conduction velocity was 2–2.3. Removal of the raphe which attaches the heart to the pericardium and removal of a line of undifferentiated cells opposite the raphe did not change the conduction velocity or prevent the heart from reversing the direction of conduction. The median resting potential of 42 cells was -71 mv and the median action potential was 75 mv. At 20°C the duration of the action potential was 1.2 sec and the maximal rate of depolarization was 3–10 v/sec. An increase in the beat frequency produced by electrically stimulating the heart decreased the resting potential, rate of rise, the duration, and the overshoot of the action potential. The shape of the action potential was sometimes different in the two directions of conduction. The electrophysiological evidence indicates only one cell type and suggests that the mode of the spread of excitation is by local current flow from cell to cell.
The Elementary Divisors of the Incidence Matrices of Points and Linear Subspaces in Pn(Fp)

The elementary divisors of the incidence matrices between points and linear subspaces of fixed dimension in Pn(Fp) are computed.