cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A computational evaluation of the effect of intramedullary nail material properties on the stabilization of simulated femoral shaft fractures

Titanium flexible intramedullary nails have become far more prevalent for stabilization of pediatric femur fractures in recent years. While steel may be expected to have superior fracture stability due to its higher elastic modulus; titanium alloy has experimentally demonstrated improved biomechanical stability, as measured by gap closure and nail slippage. The purpose of this study was to verify these observations computationally, and thus, explain why titanium alloy may be better suited for surgical fixation of fractured femurs. A finite element model of a femur with complete mid-diaphyseal fracture and having two 3.5 mm nails in a retrograde "C" pattern was created. Static analyses were run in which the nail material properties were titanium alloy or stainless steel, respectively. Gap closure for the stainless steel nails was 1.03 mm; while the titanium alloy nails had 0.69 mm of closure. Titanium alloy nails slipped slightly less at each loading increment than stainless steel nails. The titanium alloy nails distributed stress more evenly along the nail axis, resulting in lower peak magnitudes. These results agree with previously published clinical and biomechanical studies that reported increased gap closure and nail slippage with stainless steel nails. The increased deformation of the titanium alloy nail likely increases the contact area with the intramedullary canal wall, thus, increasing stability. Additionally, stainless steel nails had higher curve apex von Mises stresses, potentially inducing a stress-shielding effect which could hamper remodeling and consequently increase risk of re-fracture.
Self-punitive locomotor behavior in the Mongolian gerbil

This study was primarily a test of the generality of a behavioral phenomenon across species. Several investigations have shown that rats when punished for an aversively motivated response will maintain that response rather than abandon it. Similar treatments revealed that the Mongolian gerbil also showed such self-punitive behavior. Special characteristics of the gerbil were noted.
BarrierWatch: characterizing multithreaded workloads across and within program-defined epochs

Characterizing the dynamic behavior of a program is essential for optimizing the program on a given system. Once the program's repetitive execution phases (and their boundaries) have been correctly identified, various phase-aware optimizations can be applied. Multithreaded workloads exhibit dynamic behavior that is further affected by the sharing of data and platform resources. As computer systems and workloads become denser and more parallel, this effect will intensify the dynamicity of the executed workload.In this work, we introduce a new relaxed concept for a parallel program phase, called epoch. Epochs are defined as time intervals between global synchronization points that programmers insert into their program codes for correct parallel execution. We characterize the behavior of multithreaded workloads across and within epochs and show that epochs have consistent and repetitive behaviors while their boundaries naturally indicate a shift in program behavior. We show that epoch changes can be easily captured at run time without complex monitoring and decision mechanisms and we employ simple run-time techniques to enable epoch-based adaptation. To highlight the efficacy of our approach, we present a case study of an epoch-based adaptive chip multiprocessor (CMP) architecture. We conclude that our approach provides an attractive new framework for lightweight phase-based resource management for future CMPs.
Vapor-phase growth of (In,Ga)(As,P) quaternary alloys

Crystal growth techniques for the metal chloride-hydride vapor-phase epitaxy of InGaAsP alloys are described. The growth conditions and gas flows for alloys with energy bandgap wavelengths in the range of 1.0-1.7 \mu m are specified. Calibrations for n- and p-type doping and relationships between the photoluminescence spectral half-width and doping level are also presented. Mobility values as high as 4500 cm2/V . s (300 K) and electron diffusion lengths as long as 1.75 μm have been measured in InGaAsP alloys. The growth of alloys over "vee," "dovetail," and circularly defined regions in InP substrates is also discussed.
Observation of a minimum in collective flow for Ar+V collisions

We have added a new measurement at 100 MeV/nucleon to our previous excitation function for collective flow of light fragments from {sup 40}Ar+{sup 51}V collisions. In the earlier work, flow decreased as the beam energy was raised from 45 to 85 MeV/nucleon. This provided hints to the disappearance of flow, but the lack of measurements at higher beam energies precluded the observation of the reappearance of flow. At a beam energy of 100 MeV/nucleon the flow has reappeared and this allows an experimental determination of the region where attractive scattering balances with repulsive scattering in these collisions. A simultaneous least-squares fit of the flow data for light fragments yields (85{plus minus}10) MeV/nucleon for the balance energy.
Deployment and performance of NASA D3R during GPM IPHEx field campaign

In order to investigate how well observations from precipitation-monitoring satellites match up to the best estimate of the true precipitation measured at ground level and how to use the collected precipitation data to evaluate models that describe and predict the hydrology, the Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx) was conducted in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States from May 1 to June 15, 2014. The NASA dual-frequency dual-polarization Doppler radar (D3R), co-located with NASA NPOL radar, was deployed as part of the IPHEx field campaign to characterize precipitation properties at Ku- and Ka-band frequencies. This paper presents the deployment and performance of D3R during the IPHEx field experiment. Sample observations will be presented, with particular attention paid to cross-comparison between D3R and NPOL.
Development of a practical mass spectrometry based assay for determining enantiomeric excess. A fast and convenient method for the optimization of PLE-catalyzed hydrolysis of prochiral disubstituted malonates

Abstract A practical mass spectrometry-based enantioselectivity assay is presented which makes use of enantiomerically enriched, but not enantiomerically pure, probe molecules readily obtained from esterase hydrolysis of prochiral malonates. The technique presented here allows us to recycle materials obtained from esterase hydrolysis which give substantial, but synthetically insufficient, enantiomeric excess as probe molecules in an enantioselectivity assay. The enantiomerically enriched products are esterified using deuterium-labelled alcohol. The enantiomeric excess is measured using mass spectrometry (LC–MS and LDI) by measuring the D 5 /H 5 ratio in the resulting products obtained from an enzymatic hydrolysis. The D 5 /H 5 ratio is corrected to account for the enantiomeric purity of the probe. Herein we report the results obtained from Pig Liver Esterase hydrolyses of prochiral malonate esters and outline the strengths and limitations of this approach to enantioselectivity determinations. This assay strategy was able to identify reaction conditions that led to an improvement in ee from 70% ee to >97% ee in the PLE-catalyzed hydrolysis of a prochiral malonate used to prepare unnatural serine analogues.
Experimental investigation of the effect of drill coatings on hole quality under dry and wet drilling conditions

Abstract The performance of three different coatings in dry and wet drilling conditions are investigated to identify and understand their effect on the surface texture of the hole produced, the maximum temperature rise in the workpiece, chip clogging at the drill flutes and the size and profile of the hole produced. A statistical analysis of these responses demonstrates that refractory coated HSS drills (TiAlN/TiN and TiAlN) perform best in terms of the dimensional accuracy of the hole. The MoS 2 -coated carbide drills produced holes larger than the ones obtained with refractory coated HSS drills. Drill coatings did not have a significant effect on the measured workpiece temperatures nor on the surface texture of the hole produced. The use of coatings led to flute clogging in wet conditions only, flute clogging was not observed in the absence of cutting fluids. The experiments conducted also demonstrate, within the experimental space investigated, increasing feed rates induce lower workpiece temperatures in the absence of cutting fluids.
The Species of the Subgenus Kerteszia of Anopheles (Diptera, Culicidae)

This subgenus of Anopheles, which contains a small but interesting group of mosquitoes which breed in the water in bromeliads, and more rarely in bamboo, has been, taxonomically speaking, in rather a chaotic condition in the past. This has been due in part to inaccurate observation of specific characters, in part to the variability of color-markings in the species, and partly to lack of adequate material for study.
Separase anxiety: dissolving the sister bond and more

Separase is a protease that cleaves the bonds between sister chromatids during cell division. Until now, separase was thought to be a somewhat repressed protease, cleaving only a few substrates in a very controlled fashion. New findings in this issue raise the possibility that separase has some of the atavistic impulses that characterize caspases, its more destructive relatives.
A Collectional Data Model for Scientific Workflow Composition

Modern scientific computations are usually data intensive, involving large-scale, heterogeneous and structured scientific datasets. Modeling, organizing, and processing scientific data have become key challenges for scientific workflow management systems (SWFMSs). In contrast to business data, which is usually relational and stored in databases, scientific data is often hierarchically organized and collection oriented. Although several data models have been proposed for SWFMSs, none of them provides a formal data model with a set of well-defined operators. In this paper, we take a first step towards formalizing a collection-oriented data model, called collectional data model, to model hierarchical collection oriented scientific data, and a set of well-defined operators to manipulate and query such data. We then apply the collectional data model to VIEW, a dataflow-based scientific workflow composition framework, whose workflow constructs are extended to support collections. We implement our techniques and validate them by a case study in a biological simulation project.
P/M-Riding the Wings of Change

Metal Powder Industries Federation Amer. Powder Metals Inst. "PI M-Riding the Wings of Change" was the overall theme of the 1987 Metal Powder Industries Federation/American Powder Metals Institute Annual Powder Metallurgy Conference and Exhibition, held May 17-20 in Dallas, Texas. Spearheading this upbeat image was the announcement that hotforged steel engine connector rods are to be used by Ford in the 1.9 liter engines of the Escort and Lynx models. This could expand by the early 1990's with use ofPIM conrods in the planned modular engine. Other aggressive moves into new areas included the area of titanium P/M parts as bill of materials (BOM) on an advanced system (FI8), the maturing of injection molding, implementation of rapid solidification (RS) and direct processing using RS, possible replacement of heavy steel parts by PIM titanium components and a flurry of activity in low density materials. Overall, the U.S. PIM industry showed a slight increase in volume last year with iron and steel leading the way.
Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum is the primary ultrastructural lesion of the pancreas in the selenium-deficient chick.

Severe uncomplicated selenium (Se) deficiency was produced in chicks by feeding, from 1 day of age, a purified diet that contained 0.010 ppm Se but was adequate with respect to all other known nutrients. The deficiency was characterized by depressions in rate of growth and efficiency of feed utilization and by reductions in the plasma activity of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (SeGSHpx) by 85-97% from levels in chicks fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.20 ppm Se as Na2SeO3. Histological observations of the target organ of Se deficiency in the chick, i.e., the pancreas, using transmission electron microscopy, showed severe losses of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and absence of secretory granules in acinar cells of Se-deficient animals. These effects were not uniform within individuals, as Se-deficient pancreases also showed areas of unaffected acini. By 14 days of age, Se-deficient pancreases contained many apparently undifferentiated cells, which were absent from pancreases of Se-fed chicks. It is noteworthy that abnormal mitochondria were not observed in any pancreas sections. It is concluded that the metabolic consequences of severe uncomplicated Se deficiency in the chick result from the disruption of ER and loss of functional acinar cells, rather than to damage to mitochondria as previously suggested.
Amino acid composition of normal and cataractous human lens proteins.

Abstract The most significant change observed in the amino acid composition of cataractous lens proteins was in the content of cysteine (-SH) and half-cystine (-S-S-) residues. Normal lenses showed approximately 16 residues of cysteine and one half-cystine, where-as fully cataractous lenses showed approximately two residues of cysteine and 13 residues of half-cystine per 1000 amino acid residues. The content of tyrosine, histidine and tryptophan in normal and cataractous lenses was not significantly different. The autoxidation of -SH groups appears to be a major chemical change in the cataractogenic process.
A nanoscale slipped sandwich of Tb10-stabilization of a benzaldehyde methyl hemiacetyl

A nanoscale slipped sandwich of Tb10 is formed from the reaction of 5-bromo-3-methoxysalicylaldehyde (HL) with TbCl3·6H2O and Zn(OAc)2·2H2O. The compound also features an unusual example of a coordinated methylhemiacetal which is derived from HL.
Self-Identification and Alienation

SEVERAL STUDIES have looked at the relationships between statuses used for self-identification, and how humans organize their behavior. It is implied that if a person does not use an assigned status for self-identification, we will not find those statuses relevant to explaining his behavior. In contrast, there are several studies that support the idea that occupancy of a status, without being attached to the status, has consequences in how the person organizes his behavior.2 Many of the latter studies have been conducted under the umbrella "alienation"-a term with many meanings.3 The vagueness of the concept and the wide variety of ways in which it has been used do create problems in applying the concept to research. Seeman specifies five meanings for the term alienation.4 One of these is "self-estrangement." s Yet even self-estrangement, or selfalienation, appears to be vague and difficult to measure. But it does appear possible to conceptualize and measure "attachment to" or "alienation (estrangement) from" statuses assigned to self by others. If the proposition that an important part of the acquisition of self is the internalization of statuses and roles assigned an individual by others is accepted, it follows that measures of the degree of internalization of the statuses and roles assigned would tap an important dimension of human behavior. One useful measure of certain dimensions of the self is that de-
Betrachtungen zur Holokaustliterature

Die meisten der bisher zum Thema »Holokaust« veroffentlichten Werke der Primarliteratur leiden and einer unzureichenden geistigen Aktivierung des Rezipienten. Erschwert wird die partizipatorische Exegese des Lesers durch extreme Darstellungsformen wie z.B. die Hervorhebung des rein Personlichen, Physischen und offen Sentimentalen sowie durch die metaphorische Verkleidung bzw. humoristische »Bearbeitung« der Vorlage. Das behindert die adauquate Kommunikation zwischen Text und Empfanger. Dabei mus diesem Mitteilungsverhaltnis von Adressat und Sprachwerk auch im Hinblick auf den asthetischen Aspekt Vorrang eingeraumt werden. Ein Modell fur ein ausgesprochen leserorientiertes Werk ist Simon Wiesenthals Erzahlung Die Sonnenblume. Infolge der sich am Schlus des Buches direkt an den Rezipienten wendenden Fragestellung lauft die auktoriale Intention speziell auf die Aktivierung des Adressaten hinaus. Auf die Weise wird der Leser mit dem‘historischen’ Ereignis als gegenwaurtigem Problem konfrontiert, wird das geschichtliche Gefalle zwischen Erlebniszeit und Lesezeit aufgehoben und die angebliche Inkommensurabilitat der Vorkommnisse als relevantes Dilemma wahrgenommen. Die Sonnenblume legt ‘beredtes’ Zeugnis davon ab, das jegliches »Schweigen«, jede Form der Tabuisierung, Mystifizierung und Mythologisierung des Genozids einem Verstandnis des Problemkomplexes entschieden zuwiederlauft.
Presumption of Innocence: Congruence Bias Induced and Overcome

The American criminal justice system guarantees each citizen the right to a trial by a fair and impartial jury. Because juror biases might impede realization of this guarantee, the law provides a protection for defendants–the presumption of innocence. Three experiments were conducted to assess presumptions of innocence directly. In the first two experiments, subjects were given written descriptions of the defendant and charge; the level of judicial instructions was varied. Results failed to show a presumption of innocence and suggested that biases can be induced by the manipulation of crime congruence to defendant occupation. In addition, biases were not counteracted by specific judicial instructions, and crime congruence affected males and females differently. In a third experiment, the same biasing variable was incorporated into a simulated trial. Subjects viewed videotapes of the trial from jury boxes in a law school's model court room. With the full trial setting, crime congruence did not influence presumptions of innocence. Sex differences were noted again, with females giving higher ratings of guilt, but showing less confidence in their judgments compared to males. Given the strong bias that emerged in the first two experiments, the absence of bias with the full trial setting carries implications for psycholegal research that employs less realistic settings and less authentic material.
NUCLEAR-MATTER SIZES IN THE TIN ISOTOPIC SEQUENCE.

Differential cross sections and polarizations have been measured for 39.6-MeV protons elastically scattered from $^{116}\mathrm{Sn}$, $^{118}\mathrm{Sn}$, $^{120}\mathrm{Sn}$, $^{122}\mathrm{Sn}$, and $^{124}\mathrm{Sn}$. These data were analyzed with the optical model of Greenlees, Pyle, and Tang to extract nuclear-matter rms radii. These radii are significantly greater than the corresponding proton radii, and indicate that the neutrons added between successive even isotopes are added to the surface of the neutron distribution, with the exception of the isotope pair $^{118}\mathrm{Sn}$-$^{120}\mathrm{Sn}$, in which case an anomaly occurs which suggests a structural rearrangement.
Circuitry underlying temporally extended spatial working memory

Extended maintenance delays decrease the accuracy of information stored in spatial working memory. In order to elucidate the network underlying sustained spatial working memory, 16 subjects were scanned using fast event-related fMRI as they performed an oculomotor delayed response task containing trials with “short” (2.5 s) or “long” (10 s) delay periods. Multiple cortical and subcortical regions were common to both delay trial types indicating core task regions. Three patterns of activity were found in a subset of core regions that reflect underlying processes: maintenance-related (e.g., left FEF, right supramarginal gyrus (SMG)), response planning-related (e.g., right FEF, SEF), and motor response-related (e.g., lateral cerebellum (declive)) activation. Several regions were more active during long than short delay trials, including multiple sites in DLPFC (BA 9, 46), indicating a circuitry dynamically recruited to support sustained working memory. Our results suggest that specialized brain processes support extended periods of working memory.
Simplified clinically applicable vectorcardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (Frank lead system)

Abstract A simple, clinically applicable technique is described for the VCG diagnosis of LVH. The criteria described are sensitive and enable the clinician to diagnose LVH when the amount of hypertrophy is moderate. A plea is made for standardization of VCG techniques. Identical VCG techniques will enable valid comparison between the results of various VCG studies.
High Long-term Local Control with Sacrectomy for Primary High-grade Bone Sarcoma in Children

Background Sacrectomy may offer curative potential for primary sarcomas of the sacrum. However, it is unclear whether and to what extent sacrectomies achieve local control.
A New Japanese Hermit Crab (Decapoda, Paguridae) Resembling Pagurus Samuelis (Stimpson)

Pagurus geminus n. sp., espece japonaise confondue jusqu'a present avec Pagurus sanzuelis (Stimpson) sensu stricto, est decrit, illustre et compare a cette derniere espece. Les variations intraspecifiques sont discutees et un neotype est choisi pour P. samuelis.
Polymorphisms in the gene encoding lipoprotein lipase in men with low HDL-C and coronary heart disease: The Veterans Affairs HDL Intervention Trial

Our goal was to further define the role of LPL gene polymorphisms in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. We determined the frequencies of three LPL polymorphisms (D9N, N291S, and S447X) in 899 men from the Veterans Affairs HDL Intervention Trial (VA-HIT), a study that examined the potential benefits of increasing HDL with gemfibrozil in men with established CHD and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; ≤40 mg/dl), and compared them with those of men without CHD from the Framingham Offspring Study (FOS). In VA-HIT, genotype frequencies for LPL D9N, N291S, and S447X were 5.3, 4.5, and 13.0%, respectively. These values differed from those for men in FOS having an HDL-C of >40, who had corresponding values of 3.2% (P = 0.06), 1.5% (P In men with low HDL-C and CHD: 1) the LPL N9 and S291 alleles are more frequent than in CHD-free men with normal HDL-C, whereas the X447 allele is less frequent, and 2) the LPL N9 allele is associated with the LDL subclass response to gemfibrozil.
Novel Electrochemical Studies of Ionic Liquids

Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) have been proposed as alternative solvents for organic synthesis, separations, and electrochemical applications. Here, we report studies that probe the electrochemical and solvation properties of a tetraalkylammonium (methyltributylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfon)imide, M3BNIm) and an imidazolium (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, BMIPF6) based ionic liquid. It is demonstrated that despite impurities, the cathodic limit at a Pt electrode is enhanced for the tetraalkylammonium-based IL. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of tris(2,2‘-bipyrindinyl)ruthenium (Ru(bpy)32+) was observed in both ionic liquids, and differences in the response were interpreted in terms of the solvent reactivity and polarity. As ILs have been proposed as alternatives to organic solvents in extraction processes, an understanding of the relative lipophilicity of the IL ions and the equilibrium potential difference established across the IL/water interface is of fundamental releva...
Observation of the ''Brownian motion'' of the electric field in a laser

Critical dynamics of the laser field near the threshold of oscillation is investigated and observation of the Brownian motion of the electric field amplitude driven by quantum noise is reported. Experimental results agree well with the nonlinear oscillator model of the laser.
A supraventricular tachycardia: What is the mechanism?

A 93 year old female presented for an electrophysiology study and possible catheter ablation for two syncopal episodes, one associated with facial injury. Previously, she had undergone placement of a dual chamber permanent pacemaker for sinus bradycardia, and subsequent interrogation of the device revealed several episodes of tachycardia with a one to one V-A relationship. Holter monitoring confirmed that these episodes represented a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
Combination therapy design for targeted therapeutics from a drug-protein interaction perspective

ABSTRACT In the last decade, a number of drugs targeting specific proteins have been developed that are becoming common in cancer research as a basis for personalized therapy. How-ever, the numerous aberrations in molecular pathways that can produce cancer necessitate the use of drug combinations as compared to single drugs for treatment of individual cancers. In this article, we consider the design of combination therapy based on tumor sensitivity measurements over a panel of targeted drugs. We consider the following two optimization criteria (a) generating drug combinations with high sensitivity and minimal toxicity and (b) generating drug combinations targeting multiple parallel pathways for avoiding resistance. The optimization problem is solved using a set cover approach and a sequential search hill climbing technique. The effectiveness of our optimization procedure is illustrated on both synthetic and experimental models.
Specific inhibition of mitochondrial Ca++ transport by ruthenium red

Abstract The ability of rat liver mitochondria to transport calcium ions has been found to be inhibited specifically by the dye ruthenium red. Since this dye reacts specifically with mucopolysaccharides, and since energy conservation is not inhibited by this dye, it is concluded that mucopolysaccharides (in the form of mucoproteins or muco or glycolipids) are at the active center of the sites of mediation of mitochondrial Ca++ transport.
Exact Analytic Solutions for Stellar Wind Bow Shocks

Stellar wind bow shocks have been seen in association with a wide variety of stellar objects, from pulsars to young stars. A new solution method is presented for bow shocks in the thin-shell limit, stressing the importance of the conserved momentum within the shell. This method leads to exact analytic solutions to the classical problem of Baranov, Krasnobaev, & Kulikovskii. Simple formulae are given for the shell's shape, mass column density, and velocity of shocked gas at all points in the shell. These solutions will facilitate detailed comparison between observed sources and bow shock models.
Photoabsorption of the 4d electrons in xenon

In xenon, the cross section has been measured over the energy range 64–70 eV (194–177 A) for two series of resonances that converge to the 4d9 5s2 5p6(2D5/2,3/2) limits. By a parametrization technique the cross-section amplitude and widths of these resonances have been obtained. The oscillator strength, averaged over the interval between resonances, and the widths of resonances in each series are essentially constant. The oscillator strength in these 4d9 5s2 5p6(2D5/2,3/2)np series is small (0.06) compared to the total continuum oscillator strength integrated over open p and f channels. The ratio of the cross section at the 4d9 5s2 5p6(2D5/2) limit to the cross section at the 4d9 5s2 5p6(2D3/2) limit had a value of 1.4(4), consistent with the ratio of the statistical weights of the NIV,V levels.
Treatment of chronic pleural effusions after the Fontan procedure with prednisone

Abstract Pleural and pericardial effusions are a common complication after modified Fontan procedures. 1,2 Most of these effusions resolve within the first postoperative month, but in some cases may last longer than a year after this operation. 3 The causes of these effusions include infection, thoracic duct injury, elevated right atrial pressure, hypoproteinemia, renal failure and postpericardiotomy syndrome. Frequently, a cause cannot be identified and the treatment consists mainly of repeated thoracenteses, chest tube placement, diuretics, fluid restriction and, occasionally, pericardiectomy or pleural membrane sclerosing therapy. We describe 2 patients who had pleural and pericardial effusions more than 6 months after modified Fontan procedures. After identifiable causes for the effusions, including postpericardiotomy syndrome, were ruled out and conventional methods of therapy were unsuccessful, each was treated with anti-inflammatory agents. Both patients showed prompt resolution of the pleural effusions with the anti-inflammatory agents, recurrence of effusions after rapid drug tapering, and permanent resolution after slower tapering of the drugs.
Aβ Immunotherapy Leads to Clearance of Early, but Not Late, Hyperphosphorylated Tau Aggregates via the Proteasome

Abstract Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the hallmark neuropathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using a triple transgenic model (3xTg-AD) that develops both lesions in AD-relevant brain regions, we determined the consequence of Aβ clearance on the development of tau pathology. Here we show that Aβ immunotherapy reduces not only extracellular Aβ plaques but also intracellular Aβ accumulation and most notably leads to the clearance of early tau pathology. We find that Aβ deposits are cleared first and subsequently reemerge prior to the tau pathology, indicative of a hierarchical and direct relationship between Aβ and tau. The clearance of the tau pathology is mediated by the proteasome and is dependent on the phosphorylation state of tau, as hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates are unaffected by the Aβ antibody treatment. These findings indicate that Aβ immunization may be useful for clearing both hallmark lesions of AD, provided that intervention occurs early in the disease course.
Embedded fiber optic sensor for characterization of interface strains in FRP composite

Fiber reinforced polymer composites (FRP) have found widespread usage in repair and strengthening of concrete structures. FRP composites exhibit high strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and convenient to use in repair applications. Several methods have been devised for repair of concrete beams with FRP fabrics, including wrapping of the cracked members, or adhesion of the fabric to the tension face of the members. A common cause of failure in such members is associated with debonding of the FRP substrate from the concrete in an abrupt manner. The mechanism of debonding is investigated through embedment of a distributed optical fiber sensor at the interface between the cracked concrete and the FRP fabric during repair of reinforced concrete beams under load. The fiber optic system consists of segmented long gauge length sensors along the length of an embedded optical fiber. This arrangement allows for complete interrogation of the interface deformations and debonding phenomenon. Experimental results pertaining to the load testing of FRP-repaired reinforced concrete beams are reported.
A comparison of two behaviour reduction procedures: traditional extinction alone and interpolated reinforcement followed by extinction

Extinction responding of children with severe retardation was compared when one component of a multiple schedule (VR-20/VR-20) was interpolated with one session of additional reinforcement. Either variable ratio 10 (VR-10), variable ratio 5 (VR-5) or continuous reinforcement (CRF) were interpolated in one component prior to extinction in both. Interpolated reinforcement resulted in an extinction process at least as efficient as traditional methods. Total responding in the VR-10 and VR-5 components was less than in the comparable unchanged components. Results support and extend research with animals and humans. Results also suggest the feasibility of using such a procedure to gain control of behaviours that are controlled by intermittent schedules of reinforcement, are under multiple or inconsistent stimulus control or occur infrequently.
Setting the record straight: The office of technology assessment report—pharmaceutical R&D costs, risks, and rewards

The U.S. Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) report on pharmaceutical research and development (R&D)—costs, risks, rewards—has generated a range of often heated responses, both for and against the industry. The purpose of this commentary is to clarify two points of confusion that repeatedly appear about the report: First, it is not a new and definitive study of the cost of pharmaceutical R&D (although certain related studies were commissioned by OTA). Second, the report is not unexpected, given the political-economic context in which drug prices have historically been discussed. © 1993 wiley-Liss, Inc.
Improving 3-D LADAR range estimation via spatial filtering

A three-dimensional Laser Detection and Ranging (3-D LADAR) system can produce a set of 2-D images with a fast range gate (∼ 2 ns) resulting in a data cube of spatial and range scene data with excellent resolution in both dimensions. Each 2-D range slice image contains the detected photo-electrons at each pixel for a particular range. The photo-electron counts are directly proportional to the return signal intensities incident upon the detector.
Attack of the Killer Fungus: A Hypothesis-Driven Lab Module

Discovery-driven experiments in undergraduate laboratory courses have been shown to increase student learning and critical thinking abilities. To this end, a lab module involving worm capture by a nematophagous fungus was developed. The goals of this module are to enhance scientific understanding of the regulation of worm capture by soil-dwelling fungi and for students to attain a set of established learning goals, including the ability to develop a testable hypothesis and search for primary literature for data analysis, among others. Students in a ten-week majors lab course completed the lab module and generated novel data as well as data that agrees with the published literature. In addition, learning gains were achieved as seen through a pre-module and post-module test, student self-assessment, class exam, and lab report. Overall, this lab module enables students to become active participants in the scientific method while contributing to the understanding of an ecologically relevant model organism.
Qualitative Aspects of an Inductively Coupled Plasma in the Spectral Region between 120 and 185 nm

Investigations of the atomic emission lines produced by a variety of non-metals in the vacuum ultraviolet spectral region are reported. A number of promising analytical lines for oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, bromine, sulfur, and chlorine was observed between 120 and 185 nm using both photographic and electronic detection. A unique experimental configuration employing a side-arm torch which directly couples to the vacuum spectrometer/spectrograph is described.
Enhancement of cellular and humoral immunity in young broilers by the dietary supplementation of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate.

As a dietary supplement, beta-Hydroxy-beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB), a catabolite of leucine, has been shown to reduce broiler mortality. In a series of experiments, male broilers (Experiments 1 and 2, n = 576) were grown for 21 days on diets that contained HMB at 0, 0.01. 0.05, and 0.10% of diet. In Experiment 3 (n = 240), chicks were fed diets containing 0, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.10% HMB. HMB dietary supplementation did not significantly affect broiler weight gain in any experiment. However, a trend toward increased mean broiler weight gain per bird was observed in Experiments 1 and 3 when HMB was consumed at 0.10% of the diet. Mean feed to gain ratio was not affected by the inclusion of HMB in broiler diets. In Experiment 3, HMB supplemented diets did not affect bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen weights at 21 days of age. Cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity response against pokeweek mitogen was higher (P < or = 0.05) at 48 and 72 hours post-injection in chicks on 0.05% dietary HMB (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, this increase occurred 24 hours post-injection in chicks fed HMB at 0.01% of the diet. On the contrary, the T-cell mediated response against PHA-P mitogen was comparable between all dietary treatments in multiple experiments. Macrophage function profiles were determined at 21 days of age. All chicks in experiments 1 and 2 on HMB supplemented diets showed an increase in the recruitment of Sephadex-G50-elicited abdominal exudate cells (AEC). A 2-fold increase in AEC numbers occurred at the 0.10% HMB level (Experiment 1, P < or = 0.05). Although HMB supplementation did not significantly affect the phagocytic potential of the abdominal macrophages, nitrite levels in the macrophage culture supernatants were higher in 0.01% and 0.05% treatment groups as compared to the controls (Experiment 2, P < or = 0.04; Experiment 3, P < or = 0.05). HMB supplementation did not alter the bird's ability to clear Escherichiacoli or Salmonella arizona from the bloodstream. Beginning 7 days post-hatch, chicks were injected i.v. with a 7% sheep red blood cells suspension. Serum samples were collected to determine the primary and secondary antibody response. Chicks receiving the 0.1% HMB diet in Experiments 1 and 2 exhibited increased IgG and total anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibody levels during the primary response. During the secondary response, birds consuming the 0.10% HMB diet had elevated IgM levels as well as increased total anti-SRBC levels over the controls in Experiments 1 and 3. These studies show that HMB supplementation improves several immunological functions in young broilers, and such improvement may result in decreased mortality.
The effect of school quality on student performance: A quantile regression approach

We use quantile regressions to estimate whether the relation between school quality and performance on standardized tests differs at different points in the conditional distribution of 'test score gains'. Previous work has focused only on average school quality effects. © 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.
Embedded Intelligent Intrusion Detection: A Behavior-Based Approach

This paper describes the development of an intelligent intrusion detection system for use within an embedded device network consisting of interconnected agents. Integral behavior types are categorized by focusing primarily on inter-device requests and actions rather than at a packet or link level. Machine learning techniques use these observed behavioral actions to track devices which deviate from normal protocol. Deviant behavior can be analyzed and flagged, enabling interconnected agents to identify an intruder based upon the historical distribution of behavioral data that is accumulated about the possible deviant agent. Simulation results from the prototype system correlate detection accuracy with a tunable input tolerance factor.
A two-level prediction model for deep reactive ion etch (DRIE)

The authors contribute a quantitative and systematic model to capture etch non-uniformity in deep reactive ion etch of MEMS devices. Non-uniformity depends on uneven distributions of ion and neutral species at the wafer level, and local consumption at the die level. An ion neutral synergism model is constructed from data obtained from several layouts of differing layout pattern densities, and is used to predict wafer level variation with an r.m.s. error below 3%. This model is combined with the die level model, which the authors have reported previously based on T. Hill et al., (2004), on a MEMS layout. The two level model is shown to enable prediction of both within die and wafer scale etch rate variation for arbitrary wafer loadings.
Gay Rights in the States: Public Opinion and Policy Responsiveness

The rights of gays and lesbians, as part of the socalled “culture wars,” lie at the heart of recent political conflict in the United States, perhaps even affecting the outcome of the 2004 presidential election. Battles over gay rights have been fought most intensely at the subnational level—in legislatures, courtrooms, and direct democracy campaigns—yielding a complex policy mosaic. Some states have adopted numerous progay policies; others have few or none. What explains this variation? In particular, significant controversy has arisen over the role of public opinion and how well opinion majorities are respected. This evokes a basic tension in democratic theory. Functioning democracy requires some minimal matching of government choice to citizen preference. However, normative concerns quickly arise. Too little responsiveness calls democracy into question, whereas complete popular sovereignty raises the spectre of “tyranny of the majority.” This is particularly true for civil rights because minorities might be unable to rectify grievances through electoral processes. A strong relationship between public opinion and policy may suggest successful representative democracy, but still be troubling if it leads to fewer protections or rights for minorities. Struggles over minority rights have played a large role in U.S. history and are among the core conflicts in any diverse democracy. Such struggles have perhaps moved from race to sexual orientation, but basic
Biochemical And Tumorigenic Effects Of Redox Modification Of Ras-G12c By Nitric Oxide.

Background The Ras family of small GTPases cycle between an inactive, GDP-bound state and an active, GTP-bound state. When bound to GTP, Ras engages and activates a number of effectors that mediate proliferative and survival signals. Ras is mutated in over 30% of human cancers, usually at codons 12, 13, or 61, to remain in this active, GTP-bound state, which promotes tumorigenesis. One of these oncogenic mutations that commonly occurs in lung cancer is G12C. Recently, it was shown that alkylating agents that react with the thiol functional group of this mutant amino acid can inactivate oncogenic Ras G12C . Aims Given that Cys 12 of Ras G12C is accessible to thiol alkylating agents and forms interactions within the electrostatic phosphoryl-binding loop of Ras, we postulated that Cys 12 may possess an altered p K a, potentially allowing this residue to be modified by NO and other cellular oxidants. Methods We conducted several biochemical analyses to determine whether nitrosylation of Ras G12C alters its activity and structure in vitro . We also determined the biological effects of increasing NO production on the tumorigenic growth of cells transformed by Ras G12C . Results We found that Cys 12 has a depressed p K a of 7.4, which increases the susceptibility of the thiol to modification by oxidation or nitrosylation at physiological pH. We also found that coexpressing active eNOS S1177D and Ras G12C accelerated tumorigenic growth of human and murine cell line xenografts. Conclusion Modification of Cys 12 in mutant, oncogenic Ras G12C may promote its tumorigenic activity.
Brain potassium ion homeostasis, anoxia, and metabolic inhibition in turtles and rats

Microelectrode measurements of tissue oxygen tension (PtO2) and extracellular potassium ion concentration ([K+]o) and dual wavelength spectrophotometric measurements of the reduction/oxidation state of cytochrome aa3 were used to compare the resistance of turtle and rat brain to anoxia in vivo. In both species, respiration with 100% N2 resulted in a decrease of tissue oxygen tension to near 0 mmHg and reduction of cytochrome aa3. However, N2 respiration resulted in only moderate elevation of [K+]o in turtle bran while [K+]o in rat brain was elevated to levels greater than 50 mM. In addition, N2 respiration in turtles had no effect on the rate of recovery of [K+]o, which was elevated by direct electrical stimulation of the brain. Electrocorticographic activity (ECoG) of the turtle brain was only moderately depressed during N2 respiration for up to 4 h whereas the ECoG of rat brain became isoelectric within 1 min. Inhibition of glycolysis with iodoacetate (IAA) resulted in rapid elevation of [K+]o in turtle brain during anoxia, but IAA had little effect on [K+]o during normoxia. These results indicate that the remarkable resistance of the diving turtle to anoxia does not result from continued provision of oxygen to the brain either by redistribution of systemic blood flow or from blood O2 storage. In addition, the turtle brain does not rely on cellular stores of high-energy compounds for maintenance of ionic homeostasis. We conclude that potassium ion homeostasis in the anoxic turtle brain must result from increased glycolytic ATP production and from decreased energy utilization.
Aphid honeydew as a carbohydrate source for Edovum puttleri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Field studies showed that Edovum puttleri Grissell, an egg parasitoid of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), did not visit and feed on nectar of flowers commonly found near potato fields in the northeastern United States. Field cage observations and laboratory tests determined that E. puttleri uses aphid honeydew on potato as a source of nutrition. Because aphids do not usually colonize potato crops until early July in the Northeast, honeydew scarcity may prevent early-season establishment of this parasitoid in potato.
Heterogeneous Reactivity of Nitric Acid with Nascent Sea Spray Aerosol: Large Differences Observed between and within Individual Particles.

Current climate and atmospheric chemistry models assume that all sea spray particles react as if they are pure NaCl. However, recent studies of sea spray aerosol particles have shown that distinct particle types exist (including sea salt, organic carbon, and biological particles) as well as mixtures of these and, within each particle type, there is a range of single-particle chemical compositions. Because of these differences, individual particles should display a range of reactivities with trace atmospheric gases. Herein, to address this, we study the composition of individual sea spray aerosol particles after heterogeneous reaction with nitric acid. As expected, a replacement reaction of chloride with nitrate is observed; however, there is a large range of reactivities spanning from no reaction to complete reaction between and within individual sea spray aerosol particles. These data clearly support the need for laboratory studies of individual, environmentally relevant particles to improve our fundamen...
Influence of Neoprontosil on Migration of Blood Leucocytes in Tissue Cultures.

ConclusionIn tissue culture media composed entirely of animal body fluids Neoprontosil 1:1000 stimulates the rate of rabbit blood leucocyte migration.
How Do Television Networks Use Twitter? Exploring the Relationship between Twitter Use and Television Ratings

Television networks are increasingly using social-networking sites to promote programs and to interact with the audiences of those programs. Through a content analysis of 1,656 tweets from the Twitter sites of 20 popular programs featured on U.S. television networks, this study examined how television networks used Twitter and the relationship between the extent of their Twitter use and the ratings of television programs. Analyses revealed a significantly positive relationship between TV networks’ extent of Twitter use and television ratings. Additionally, this study found significant differences in the Twitter usage among television networks. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are also discussed.
Experimental study on activated carbon adsorbinghydroquinone

Under static condition,hydroquinone-containing wastewater was treated by activated carbon,the adsorption effects of activated carbon forhydroquinone-containing wastewater under different conditions were compared,meanwhile,the influences of pH value,activated carbon dosage,oscillation time,temperature,concentration ofhydroquinone,oscillation velocity and electrolyte of the wastewater on adsorption effect were determined.The results of the test showed that: under the condition that,the dosage of activated carbon was 35g/L,the pH value was 6.5,the oscillation time was 3.5h,the temperature was about 35 ℃,the best treatment effect ofhydroquinone-containing wastewater whose mass concentration was 100mg/L was obtained,the removal rate reached 99%.