cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A queueing network model for the effect of data compression on system efficiency

Data compression is often employed in data base systems to reduce the volume and therefore the cost of large online data bases. The use of data compression is normally assumed to imply a tradeoff---storage space is decreased in return for which the CPU is required to spend time coding and decoding the data, with a consequent decline in system throughput. We employ queueing network models with classes of customers to show that the effect of data compression on system efficiency can be calculated. Our calculations indicate that under some circumstances, data compression may actually increase system throughput by decreasing input/output transfer time and/or increasing the useful processing per data record. We formulate and solve several models to indicate the power of our technique.
Heat Flow and Magnetic Profiles on the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge

Sixty heat flow values were measured along nine profiles across the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge. The results were roughly of the same character as the ones previously reported for the South Atlantic Ridge. The correlation of high heat flow with the centre of the ridge was less pronounced. The scatter of heat flow values when plotted as a function of distance from the ridge was even greater. The average of all values is 1$\cdot $35 $\mu $cal cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, indicating that over the surveyed area the heat flow is normal. The cause for the low values on the flanks of the ridge remains unknown. A right lateral displacement of about 200 km across the Vema Trench was measured from the offset of the magnetic anomaly on the ridge crest.
Respiratory response during arm elevation in isolated diaphragm weakness

Upper extremity exercise is associated with a significant metabolic and ventilatory cost that is particularly evident in patients with severe chronic airflow obstruction. In these patients abnormal ventilatory muscle recruitment has been hypothesized to relate to impaired diaphragm function resulting from hyperinflation. Similar data have never been reported in patients with isolated diaphragm weakness but without airflow obstruction or hyperinflation, a group that would ideally define the role of diaphragm function during arm elevation (AE). We prospectively studied 15 patients with isolated diaphragm weakness of varying severity (Pdisniff, 31.74 ± 3.75 cm H2O) as contrasted with eight normal subjects (Pdisniff, 111.77 ± 13.35 cm H2O) of similar age. Patients with diaphragm weakness demonstrated significant lung volume restriction with normal Dl CO/Va. There was no difference in resting oxygen consumption (V˙ o 2), carbon dioxide production (V˙ co 2), minute ventilation (V˙ e), and tidal volume (Vt) betw...
Characterization of the MIPS gene family in Glycine max

Phytic acid (myo-inositol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate) is the primary storage component of phosphorus in plant seeds. The first step in phytic acid biosynthesis is the de novo synthesis of myo-inositol, which is catalyzed by the enzyme D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate synthase (MIPS EC 5.5.1.4). Previous work detected four MIPS genes in soybean (Glycine max). However, only a limited amount of data were available for the MIPS gene family and some of the data were conflicting. The work described here clears up these data and characterizes the MIPS gene family for the purposes of reverse genetic technologies. The complete genomic sequence of all four genes was determined and their expression profile was examined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Our results indicate that the four MIPS genes are highly conserved and temporally and spatially expressed. The MIPS gene family in the low phytic acid soybean line, CX1834, was also characterized since this line displays a phenotype similar to previously characterized MIPS mutants. These data demonstrate that mutations in MIPS genes are not the cause of the low phytic acid phenotype.
Biological control of Snail-Borne diseases: A review

Abstract The need for alternatives to chemical control of snail-borne diseases and the growing interest in biological control methods are noted. Two groups of natural enemies of snails reviewed as especially promising for biological control are competing and predatory snails, and predatory fly larvae. Potentially useful natural enemies of the intramolluscan stages of trematodes include microsporidian infections and antagonistic trematode larvae. More unusual methods of biological control include the use of a toxic plant product (endod) and genetic manipulation of snails to decrease their susceptibility to trematode infection. The disappointing progress in biological control of snail-borne diseases in the past is attributed largely to delay in recognizing the need for alternatives to chemical control and to lack of interdisciplinary communication.
Online News Media and Advanced Learning: A Test of Cognitive Flexibility Theory

This study looks at how audiences of online news media could benefit from an application of cognitive flexibility theory (CFT), a constructivist theory from the field of education psychology. CFT posits that when case examples from a complex, “ill-structured” knowledge area are interwoven with conceptual perspectives, individuals can better apply learning across diverse settings. Researchers propose that news stories on complex issues lend themselves to CFT. Results suggest that the CFT format offers greater efficiency and some advantages for more knowledgeable and involved audiences, and for frequent Web users.
Continuities in the HIV/AIDS Policy Debate in South Africa.

Wouters et al. (2010) critiqued the prospects of success for South Africa’s new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV/AIDS; they stressed the need to mobilize people living with HIV/AIDS and their communities in order to implement the comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy. Utilizing the South African sample from the Fourth Round of the Afrobarometer survey, this paper identifies the factors which predicted respondent selection of HIV/AIDS as an important issue for the government to address. The identification of HIV/AIDS as an important governmental problem became the study’s dependent variable. Other possible important factors were whether respondents had personal knowledge of HIV/AIDS, meaning they knew someone who died of AIDS, poverty, and their assessments of the way the government was handling the HIV/AIDS crisis. Respondent background and demographic characteristics were also included in a logistic regression analysis. The results identified three factors that predicted respondent choice of HIV/AIDS: race, especially being a Black South African, the choice of health as a governmental priority, and the rural-urban dimension. The conclusion was that HIV/AIDS, as opposed to health, should be the focus of campaigns designed to mobilize public support of comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategies in South Africa.
Tuffaceous sediments as source rocks for uranium: A case study of the White River Formation, Wyoming

Abstract Fine-grained tuffaceous sediments of the White River Formation (Oligocene) are evaluated as a possible source of uranium for the sedimentary uranium deposits of Wyoming. The evaluation is based upon a model in which volcanic glass is considered to be a major host of uranium and thorium and in which uranium and silica are released during alteration of glass to montmorillonite. The evaluation scheme is applicable to other tuffaceous sediments in similar geologic settings. The average uranium and thorium contents of glass separates and glassy air-fall ashes of the White River Formation are 8 ppm and 22.4 ppm respectively, and these values approximate the average composition of glass deposited in Wyoming basins in Oligocene time. Comparison of these values with the uranium and thorium concentrations in montmorillonite separates indicates little change in thorium concentrations but reductions in uranium concentrations which average 3.3 ppm. In spite of the apparent major removal of uranium during alteration of glass to montmorillonite, whole-rock samples of tuffaceous siltstones show an average uranium loss of only 0.4 ± 0.4 ppm, because of generally small amounts of clay alteration. This conclusion is generated by comparisons between glassy ash and partially altered vitric siltstones, the latter corrected for dilution of glass and clay-altered glass with uranium- and thorium-poor primary and detrital materials. The original volume of the White River Formation is adequate to generate economically significant quantities of mobile uranium, even with such modest losses. Uranium and silica which are mobilized during glass alteration can coprecipitate as uraniferous secondary silica in areas where solutions become silica saturated. These precipitates indicate pathways of ancient, uranium-rich solutions in tuffaceous rocks. Exploration efforts in the White River Formation and underlying units should concentrate on areas where such pathways intercept reducing environments. Intercepts of this type are present at some uranium deposits in the study area and this lends support to a tuffaceous source rock model.
A cellular cofactor in HIV-1 assembly: INI1 is also an ‘outtie’

Recent findings have shed light on the previously poorly understood process by which HIV is assembled and released from infected cells. The host cell cofactor integrase interactor 1 (INI1), which was previously shown to chaperone the covalent linkage of the viral genome to the chromosomal DNA of the cell, also appears to assist in virus assembly. Another host cofactor, TSG101, that functions in vacuolar protein sorting has been found to play a key role in virus budding.
High-resolution NMR spectroscopy at high pressures

The field of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at high pressure is reviewed. The various applications of the high-pressure NMR spectroscopy to chemical systems are given out in the introduction. After a discussion of high-resolution NMR instrumentation for experiments at high pressures up to 950 MPa, the two main sections cover the recent applications of the high-resolution NMR spectroscopy at high pressure to chemical and biochemical systems. In particular, the use of 2D NMR techniques will be emphasized as the combination of advanced NMR methods with the high-pressure capability represents a new, powerful tool in studies of chemical and biochemical systems.
The aging voice

A number of studies have found that listeners are often able to differentiate the voices of young and old speakers accurately. Following an overview of structural and functional changes found in studies of aging larynges, this article examines current findings on maximum phonation duration, voice quality, vocal jitter/shimmer, spectral noise, and fundamental frequency. Aging can affect vocal pitch, loudness, and quality, but such effects are highly variable across the aging population. Therefore, a thorough voice and medical examination is needed to isolate voice problems caused by vocal abuse or pathology from those due to normal aging. Pushing exercises may be a viable treatment option for those with age-related voice problems.
Biosynthesis of intestinal glycoprotein: A study of an α (1 → 2) fucosyltransferase in rat small intestinal mucosa

Abstract A fucosyltransferase which transfers fucose from GDP-fucose to glycoprotein or oligosaccharide acceptors was isolated from rat small intestinal mucosa. This microsomal enzyme attaches fucose in an α (1 → 2) glycosidic bond to a terminal β-galactosyl residue of the oligosaccharide chain. The structure formed is the determinant for human blood group H (O) activity. The optimum pH value for the incorporation of fucose was 6, in the presence of 40 m m magnesium or 20 m m manganese ions. The apparent K m for GDP-fucose (10 −6 m ) was the same whether a glycoprotein or an oligosaccharide was the acceptor. A product of the reaction, GDP, competitively inhibits the enzyme reaction. Other guanosine nucleotides such as GMP, GTP, and GDP-mannose were also found to be inhibitors.
Implementation of an obstetric hemorrhage risk assessment: validation and evaluation of its impact on pretransfusion testing and hemorrhage outcomes

Objective: To evaluate the impact of an obstetric hemorrhage risk assessment on pretransfusion testing and hemorrhage outcomes at a tertiary care, academic medical center.Methods: A retrospective c...
Hydrogeophysical joint inversion capabilities and impact of petrophysical assumptions

We present a joint hydrogeophysical inversion approach for estimating hydrological properties on pixilated parameter grids. The method is relevant for investigating multiphase flow through porous media in a large class of near-surface and reservoir monitoring applications. Our implementation uses a modified Levenberg-Marquardt minimization algorithm providing for a robust and efficient calibration of complex models. The optimization framework has an underlying layer of parallel hydrological and geophysical forward simulation operators using domain decomposition and iterative solvers for the resulting sparse linear systems. To address the main computational burden of assessing parameter sensitivities, a two-level hierarchy distributes the sensitivity matrix calculation among groups of parallel communicators. In the context of a conservative tracer experiment, the effectiveness of the pixel-based inversion approach for estimating heterogeneous hydraulic permeability distributions is demonstrated using time-lapse cross-borehole electrical resistivity tomography and depthaveraged fluid electrical conductivity samples. Also examined is the potential to overcome a perceived limitation of the approach, namely, the need for a petrophysical model linking hydrological and geophysical attributes, by including petrophysical uncertainty into the parameter calibration process.
Soil Losses by Wind Erosion

Measurements of wind erosion from fields are limited, but with recently developed erosion samplers, it is possible to determine soil losses from natural winds. Erosion of soils by wind was measured in five states. The soil loss was dependent on wind velocity, storm duration, and soil surface characteristics. Average annual rainfall varied from 356 mm at Eads, CO, to 915 mm at Crown Point, IN. Field soil varied from 29% sand at Eads, CO, to 83% sand at Big Spring, TX. Soil losses from individual erosion events in 3.1-ha fields varied from 0.050 kg m -2 at Big Spring, TX, to 7.007 kg m -2 at Elkhart, KS. Soil surface roughness, percentage of wind-erodible aggregates on the soil surface, and percentage of the soil surface covered with nonerodible material such as crop residues are extremely important in controlling wind erosion. A ground cover of 4% reduced wind erosion losses 15% compared with bare soil. Ridging a smooth soil with 50- to 70-mm ridges reduced soil erosion 98% on a sandy loam soil.
Malignant brenner tumor of the ovary. A case report: negative second look laparotomy following surgery, radiation and chemotheraphy

Abstract A patient with malignant ovarian Brenner tumor treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is presented. She has remained free of disease fifteen months after negative second look laparotomy.
Aortic Occlusion Hemodynamic Attenuation With Valproic Acid

Objectives: Valproic acid (VPA; a histone deacetylase inhibitor) has demonstrated significant decreases in resuscitation requirements as well as minimizing pathologic physiology following short term aortic occlusion. The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiac and hemodynamic changes with VPA administration following supraceliac aortic occlusion. Methods: 19 swine were exposed to a 35% blood volume hemorrhage followed by a supraceliac aortic cross clamp only model with valproic acid (400 mg/kg) administered as a drip continuously during supraceliac aortic cross clamping (CC, n 1⁄4 9). Hemodynamics were measured with the use of arterial blood pressure monitor and a pulmonary artery thermodilution catheter. Results: 10 swine were divided into two equal groupssham and model. In this validation, hemodynamics were significantly different as measured after hemorrhage and cross clamp by mean arterial pressure (MAP; P 1⁄4 .024), heart rate (P < .001), cardiac index (CI; P 1⁄4 .005). In the comparison arm of control and cross clamp group, there was a significant attenuation in the adverse hemodyamic response with administration of VPA (n 1⁄4 9) during cross clamp (MAP 1⁄4 87 6 28 vs CC-122 6 43 mm Hg; P 1⁄4 .02; HR 1⁄4 124 6 23 vs CC-161 6 32 bpm; P 1⁄4 .01). Additionally, throughout the cross clamp application, there was a significantly decreased hyperdynamic response with the administration of VPA (Fig). Conclusions: VPA helps attenuate the adverse hyperdynamic cardiac response following a hemorrhagic event and subsequent aortic occlusion. The hemodynamic response appeared to be not only significant at each time interval, but sustained as cross clamp times increased. Additionally, VPA seemed to minimize pathologic hemodynamic variation and provide cardiac protection through minimizing cardiac stress and work of the heart during aortic occlusion. Author Disclosures: M. W. Causey: Nothing to disclose; M. Martin: Nothing to disclose; S. Miller: Nothing to disclose; N. Singh: Nothing to disclose.
Exercise and Mental Health

Physical exercise is increasingly being advocated as a means to maintain and enhance good mental health. In general, findings from research indicate that exercise is associated with improvements in mental health including mood state and self-esteem, although a causal link has not been established. Research on acute exercise indicates that 20 to 40 minutes of aerobic activity results in improvements in state anxiety and mood that persist for several hours. These transitory changes in mood occur in both individuals with normal or elevated levels of anxiety, but appear to be limited to aerobic forms of exercise.
A disconnection mechanism of enhanced grain boundary diffusion in Al2O3

Enhanced diffusion in high angle grain boundaries in Al2O3 is usually attributed to relatively easy point defect jumping in the plane of the boundary, due to the more open and disordered geometry of random boundaries. However, the pre-exponentials revealed by recent diffusion experiments are incompatible with a point defect mechanism. Instead, such grain boundary diffusion is thought to occur by migration of disconnections, grain boundary ledge defects characterized by a step height h, and a Burgers vector, b.
Gravity Wave Variances and Propagation Derived from AIRS Radiances

Abstract. As the first gravity wave (GW) climatology study using nadir-viewing infrared sounders, 50 Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) radiance channels are selected to estimate GW variances at pressure levels between 2–100 hPa. The GW variance for each scan in the cross-track direction is derived from radiance perturbations in the scan, independently of adjacent scans along the orbit. Since the scanning swaths are perpendicular to the satellite orbits, which are inclined meridionally at most latitudes, the zonal component of GW propagation can be inferred by differencing the variances derived between the westmost and the eastmost viewing angles. Consistent with previous GW studies using various satellite instruments, monthly mean AIRS variance shows large enhancements over meridionally oriented mountain ranges as well as some islands at winter hemisphere high latitudes. Enhanced wave activities are also found above tropical deep convective regions. GWs prefer to propagate westward above mountain ranges, and eastward above deep convection. AIRS 90 field-of-views (FOVs), ranging from +48° to −48° off nadir, can detect large-amplitude GWs with a phase velocity propagating preferentially at steep angles (e.g., those from orographic and convective sources). The annual cycle dominates the GW variances and the preferred propagation directions for all latitudes. Indication of a weak two-year variation in the tropics is found, which is presumably related to the Quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). AIRS geometry makes its out-tracks capable of detecting GWs with vertical wavelengths substantially shorter than the thickness of instrument weighting functions. The novel discovery of AIRS capability of observing shallow inertia GWs will expand the potential of satellite GW remote sensing and provide further constraints on the GW drag parameterization schemes in the general circulation models (GCMs).
A Floating Adhesive Trap for Neustonic Insects

Continuous quantitative sampling of neustonic insect populations presents some difficulties. Many insects of the neuston are not attracted to light traps or are attracted only during certain types of weather. Some neustonic insects are active both day and night, but some species are either diurnal or nocturnal in their activity. In addition, the nocturnal habits of a large majority of neustonic insects are unknown. Conceivably, some of these problems could be overcome by systematic use of special floating traps. One of these employs a detergent to trap the insects. This trap, devised by Grigarick (1959), consists of a detergent solution contained in a shallow pan held within a wooden frame float. The float is anchored on the corners with dowels and can be equipped with a rain shield. Grigarick designed the device to trap adults of Hydrellia griseola (Fallen) (Diptera: Ephydridae), which alight upon and skate over the water surface. Flies attempting to settle upon the trap solution sink, probably because of the destruction of their tarsal hydrofuge oils and the decrease of the surface tension by the detergent.
Changes in the neuro-excitability of alcohol-dependent rats undergoing withdrawal as measured by the pentylenetetrazole seizure threshold.

Abstract Rats that had been intubated intragastrically with alcohol two or three times daily for 7 days exhibited a withdrawal syndrome after the cessation of treatment. On the day of withdrawal pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizure thresholds were significantly reduced while an elevation was observed from 1 day to 4 weeks after withdrawal. In addition, multiple convulsions were noted after exposure to PTZ from 1 to 7 days after withdrawal. The elevation in PTZ thresholds is apparently not related to physical dependence since administering alcohol once daily for 14 days resulted in no overt withdrawal syndrome but still led to a significant increase in the PTZ threshold. Also, a possible acceleration in the rate of metabolism of PTZ as a result of chronic administration of alcohol does not appear to contribute significantly to the elevated PTZ thresholds since this effect was not antagonized by the administration of SKF 525A one hour prior to the determination of PTZ thresholds. The data suggest that there exists a number of changes in the neuro-excitability of alcohol-dependent rats not previously described in experimental animals.
Face and lip tracking in unconstrained imagery for improved automatic speech recognition

When combined with acoustical speech information, visual speech information (lip movement) significantly improves Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) in acoustically noisy environments. Previous research has demonstrated that visual modality is a viable tool for identifying speech. However, the visual information has yet to become utilized in mainstream ASR systems due to the difficulty in accurately tracking lips in real-world conditions. This paper presents our current progress in tracking face and lips in visually challenging environments. Findings suggest the mean shift algorithm performs poorly for small regions, in this case the lips, but it achieves near 80% accuracy for facial tracking.
Joint Effects of Chroma and Value on Spatial Balance of Color Pairs

Previous research has shown that for two areas of color to appear spatially balanced, small areas of high chroma (saturation) balance larger areas of low chroma. For colors of different value (lightness), subjects prefer a narrow band of either the light or the dark color, avoiding equal areas when values differ. Theories of color balance [1,2] treat both value and chroma; therefore, the purpose of the present research was to study spatial balance of stimuli that varied in both aspects. Value and chroma were varied in equal Munsell steps (Experiment 1), and in approximately equal perceptual units (Experiment 2), because value has a much smaller just noticeable difference (jnd) than chroma. In Experiment 1, both value and chroma affected balance in patterns very similar to their effects when varied alone. In Experiment 2 chroma alone affected balance. Munsell's theory fit the data better than Moon and Spencer's, but neither adequately described the complex way value affects balance on a neutral gray backgr...
Macroeconomic uncertainty, excess liquidity and stability of money demand (M3) in Australia

There has been limited research that explains the breakdown of the relationship between M3 and real activity after the financial deregulation in Australia. This paper contributes to the existing body of literature by examining the stability of money demand as a function of real income, interest rate and economic uncertainty index. We use the Johansen procedure of cointegration to estimate the long–run stationary relationship between an Australian monetary aggregate (M3) and the explanatory variables. We use the GARCH (1, 1) model to construct an economic uncertainty index. When we account for economic uncertainty, our results establish a long–run equilibrium relationship for the post–deregulation and for the entire sample period, and show an improvement in excess liquidity. Our result has an implication for reopening an important policy question on the viability of framing monetary policy around monetary aggregate.
Reason in Emotions or Emotions in Reason

The four articles on rationality and emotions are examined here from an emotions perspective. Economists Frank and Hirshleifer view emotions as often facilitating self-interested rational choice. From a Weberian social action perspective, rational choice is so thoroughly imbued with emotion that emotion plays more than a supporting role in the so-called rational determination of action. Sociologists Collins and Jasso concede at the outset the fundamental importance of emotion in rational action. Collins argues that emotion is the fundamental utility sought in all social action but appears, like many who have offered similar arguments, to risk tautology. Jasso locates emotion centrally in her theory of social comparisons and rational choice and thereby affords an opportunity to extend her examination of the emotions that can result from varying outcomes and comparisons.
1430 MECHANICAL WORK OF BREATHING OF 7 INFANT VENTILATORS

The mechanical work of breathing (WOB), can be determined from the simultaneous measurement of changes in volume displacement and pressure (WOB=ΔV·ΔP). We designed a lung simulator device which typifies a breathing, intubated neonate in compliance, frequency, inspiratory flowrate, resistance and tidal volume (2cc/cmH2O, 50/minute, 80cc/second, 3.0 ET tube, 10cc respectively). All measurements were at the airway opening via a calibrated transducer/recorder system with a frequency response flat to >50 Hz. We evaluated the performance of the BABYbird 1R, BABYbird 2R Bear BP-200R, Bear-2001 ‘Cub’R, Healthdyne 105R, Healthdyne 200R and Sechrist IV-100BR. All units were stock and represented a wide sampling of current continuos flow, pressure limited, time cycled neonatal ventilators. Excluding the exhalation valve, the ventilator circuits were identical (TYGONR tubing, 0.3cc/cmH2O, compliance). The following settings were used during the test period: inspiratory time= 1.0 second, peak inspiratory pressure= 25 cmH2O, and PEEP= 5 cmH2O. Mechanical WOB ranged from 140 to 240 cc·cmH2O during the IMV breaths and 110 to 200 in the PEEP interval. The Healthdyne 105R had the lowest WOB in both periods whereas the greatest WOB occurred with the Sechrist in IMV and Bear Cub in PEEP. We have used clinically all of the ventilators tested and have not noted any deleterious results secondary to the diversity in mechanical WOB. However, the WOB difference is broad and may have subtle and/or patient compensated effects on the spontaneously breathing infant being exposed to mechanical ventilation.
The complex role of multivalency in nanoparticles targeting the transferrin receptor for cancer therapies.

Transferrin receptor (TfR, CD71) has long been a therapeutic target due to its overexpression in many malignant tissues. In this study, PRINT nanoparticles were conjugated with TfR ligands for targeted drug delivery. Cylindrical poly(ethylene glycol)-based PRINT nanoparticles (diameter (d) = 200 nm, height (h) = 200 nm) labeled with transferrin receptor antibody (NP-OKT9) or human transferrin (NP-hTf) showed highly specific TfR-mediated uptake by all human tumor cell lines tested, relative to negative controls (IgG1 for OKT9 or bovine transferrin (bTf) for hTf). The targeting efficiency was dependent on particle concentration, ligand density, dosing time, and cell surface receptor expression level. Interestingly, NP-OKT9 or NP-hTf showed little cytotoxicity on all solid tumor cell lines tested but were very toxic to Ramos B-cell lymphoma, whereas free OKT9 or hTf was not toxic. There was a strong correlation between TfR ligand density on the particle surface and cell viability and particle uptake. NP-OKT9...
Antisense and kidney cell research.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides offer the potential to block the expression of specific genes with the goal of altering the phenotypic behavior of the cell. Antisense technology has attracted special interest as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of genetic disorders, viral infections, and most recently proliferative diseases such as glomerular kidney disease. This technique has recently been used for in vitro and in vivo studies in renal cells. The use of antisense technology has been applied in vitro to help define both the normal mechanisms of specific ion transport and function and the pathobiological processes leading to glomerular proliferation and matrix formation. Most promising are the recent uses of antisense technology in vivo that have been used to treat the damaged peritoneum and alter glomerular remodeling in experimental animal models. It is hoped that widespread use of antisense will not only provide new insight into the normal regulatory behavior of the kidney cells but also allow one to develop therapeutic strategies to treat kidney disease.
Reovirus core transcriptase and ethidium bromide: a continuous fluorimetric assay for polynucleotide synthesis based on the secondary structure of mRNA.

Abstract Reovirus mRNA interacts with ethidium bromide to produce an increase in the quantum yield of fluorescence of the dye. At low concentrations of ethidium bromide, the reovirus transcriptase packaged in the subviral core will synthesize mRNA at an undiminished rate. During RNA synthesis the fluorescence of ethidium bromide increases linearly and continuously providing a nonradioactive assay procedure for polyribonucleotide synthesis. The results demonstrate that reovirus mRNA has a complex secondary structure, involving H-bonded base pairing, whose biological function is at present conjectural.
Azimuthally fluctuating magnetic field and its impacts on observables in heavy-ion collisions

Article history: The heavy-ion collisions can produce extremely strong transient magnetic and electric fields. We study the azimuthal fluctuation of these fields and their correlations with the also fluctuating matter geometry (characterized by the participant plane harmonics) using event-by-event simulations. A sizable suppression of the angular correlations between the magnetic field and the 2nd and 4th harmonic participant planes is found in very central and very peripheral collisions, while the magnitudes of these correlations peak around impact parameter b ∼ 8-10 fm for RHIC collisions. This can lead to notable impacts on a number of observables related to various magnetic field induced effects, and our finding suggests that the optimal event class for measuring them should be that corresponding to b ∼ 8-10 fm. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Giant Resonance Studies with Radioactive Beams

The use of radioactive beams to explore giant resonances is only in its beginning. Presently, low beam intensities limit the accessibility and make it necessary to develop new techniques and more efficient detectors. The initial experiments show encouraging results and especially in view of the next generation radioactive beam facilities giant resonance studies promise be a productive field in the future.
Solid teratoma of the ovary.

Abstract Although ovarian teratomas are rare, a working knowledge of the differential characteristics of the cystic and solid teratoma is essential in order to properly inform the patients of their prognosis. The prognosis of cystic teratomas is excellent, whereas the prognosis of the solid teratomas is primarily dependent upon gross extension of the disease and histology of the primary tumor. Thurlbeck and Scully's classifications for histologically grading solid teratomas on the basis of differentiation of the cellular elements of the tumor does seem to have useful application. (Thurlbeck, H., and Scully, R. E. Cancer 13 , 804–813, 1960). A grave prognosis is indicated with solid teratomas composed primarily of undifferentiated, atypical, and mitotically active elements; however, solid teratomas, composed of predominantly mature, benign elements, support a favorable prognosis. If the tumor mass remains confined to the ovary, the recommended mode of therapy is unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with bivalving of the contralateral ovary.
A phased approach to implementing radio frequency identification technologies within the perioperative process

As a technology solution, radio frequency identification (RFID) has proven increased efficiency and accuracy within traditional production and inventory control environments. Likewise, RFID also offers increased transparency, accountability, and quality across the healthcare industry. Specifically, this paper provides an a priori perspective to implementing RFID applications in the hospital environment within the perioperative process. The paper describes, examines, and discusses the opportunities and challenges that RFID technologies pose to an individual hospital’s perioperative process and supporting auxiliary services. Based on an 87-month longitudinal study of a large 909 registered-bed teaching hospital, this paper investigates the complexity of technological change dynamics, integrated information systems, as well as the benefits and learning curves associated with implementing RFID technology in a hospital’s perioperative process. This paper also provides theoretical and practical implications, as well as study limitations.
Effects of In Vivo versus Simulation-Plus-In Vivo Training on the Acquisition and Generalization of Grocery Item Selection by High School Students with Severe Handicaps.

Abstract In the present study, high school students with moderate and severe retardation were trained to locate 15 grocery items through Isolated In vivo training and Simulation-Plus-In vivo training. Isolated in vivo training consisted of daily instruction in locating 15 target items in a single store located near the subjects' school. Simulation plus in vivo training included training with slides of grocery store aisles and shelves in the classroom plus training in a single store located near the students' school. Generalized responding was assessed through a multiple-baseline design across subjects in three novel grocery stores and validated in a store frequented by the students' families. Results indicate that generalization was more likely when the range of stimulus variation in training examples was expanded via in-class simulations. The results are discussed in terms of procedures for teaching generalized skills and guidelines that can be used by teachers for developing effective classroom-based simulations.
Round robin analyses of hydrogen isotope thin films standards

Hydrogen isotope thin film standards have been manufactured at Sandia National Laboratories for use by the materials characterization community. Several considerations were taken into account during the manufacture of the ErHD standards, with accuracy and stability being the most important. The standards were fabricated by e-beam deposition of Er onto a Mo substrate and the film stoichiometrically loaded with hydrogen and deuterium. To determine the loading accuracy of the standards two random samples were measured by thermal desorption mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry techniques with a stated combined accuracy of ∼1.6% (1σ). All the standards were then measured by high energy RBS/ERD and RBS/NRA with the accuracy of the techniques ∼5% (1σ). The standards were then distributed to the IBA materials characterization community for analysis. This paper will discuss the suitability of the standards for use by the IBA community and compare measurement results to highlight the accuracy of the techniques used.
National FFA Dairy Career Development Event

Abstract Each year the National FFA Dairy Career Development Event is held in Kansas City, Missouri. This event is a culminating activity for approximately 170 youth on 45 teams that have each won the event in their respective states. Between 1500 and 1600 local chapter teams of 3 or 4 students participate in the state events. The objectives of the event are "1) to provide agricultural students with dairy interests a practical experience that will serve them well in industry positions or in management of a modern herd; 2) to develop students' skills in observation, analysis, and communication and team collaboration; 3) to provide experience in the evaluation of dairy cattle type, production records, and dairy herd management; 4) to encourage agricultural instructors to seek assistance from various resources in the dairy industry…" (2). The event consists of the following six categories: cow and heifer judging, oral reasons, production or management questions and problems, sire evaluation, linear evaluation, and pedigree evaluation. A national committee plans and coordinates this event, and there are industry sponsors. The winning team represents the US in a youth contest at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland. State, area, and county staffs have the opportunity to help teach dairy management, decision-making, and communication to young people who are preparing for the local and state events. A dairy handler activity is conducted as a part of each state and national event to encourage proper presentation of the cattle for the contest and to recognize those youth for their contributions to the success of each contest.
Efficient optically switched metro Ethernet

With the overwhelming success of Ethernet technology in local access networks (LANs), owing to its ease of management and its much lower line rate cost, there has been a continuous effort in migrating Ethernet technology into metro-area networks (MANs) and wide-area networks (WANs). However, current Ethernet technology has to overcome the scalability and reliability deficiencies in order to be recognized as a viable MAN/WAN technology. Recently these concerns are being addressed under the framework of Generalized-MPLS (GMPLS) and its traffic-engineering (TE) intelligence. In this paper we propose an optical Ethernet solution viable for MAN/WAN based on the concept of a reconfigurable Ethernet node, integrating reconfigurable optical cross-connects (OXCs) with traditional Ethernet switches. We subsequently proposed a dynamic TE scheme that utilizes both the simplicity of all-optical switching and the flexibility of optical-electrical-optical (OEO) traffic grooming realized by the proposed optical Ethernet node. We showed through simulations that with our proposed TE scheme, the number of OEO transceivers needed by such an optical Ethernet node is only about 20% of a fully-populated one in the extreme case (very high load) and about only 10% in normal load conditions, without degrading the performance. This actually implies a tremendous cost saving on Ethernet OEO transceivers, and on the other hand indicates that a highly efficient and scalable MAN/WAN Ethernet network system could be well achieved by using Ethernet switches of only modest switching capacity (as legacy Ethernet switches have) along with reconfigurable OXCs. To demonstrate and test our proposed ideas we have built a GMPLS testbed using MEMS-based optical cross-bar switches and legacy Gigabit Ethernet switches. The testbed consists of three core nodes and six edge nodes. Performance experiments have been conducted on the testbed as well.
Multivariate Density Estimation by Bayesian Sequential Partitioning

Consider a class of densities that are piecewise constant functions over partitions of the sample space defined by sequential coordinate partitioning. We introduce a prior distribution for a density in this function class and derive in closed form the marginal posterior distribution of the corresponding partition. A computationally efficient method, based on sequential importance sampling, is presented for the inference of the partition from this posterior distribution. Compared to traditional approaches such as the kernel method or the histogram, the Bayesian sequential partitioning (BSP) method proposed here is capable of providing much more accurate estimates when the sample space is of moderate to high dimension. We illustrate this by simulated as well as real data examples. The examples also demonstrate how BSP can be used to design new classification methods competitive with the state of the art.
Intermolecular potential parameter combining rules for the Lennard-Jones 6–12 potential

Abstract By comparing the experimental values for gas mixture transport properties with prediction based upon Chapman-Enskog theory and the Lennard-Jones 6–12 potential, the accuracy of various choices for the potential parameters of unlike molecule interactions is determined. The results are presented in a graphical manner which makes it possible for one to easily assess the accuracy of any potential parameter combining rule.
Cooperative activation of D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell is required for the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in the rat.

Abstract Activation of D1-like (D1, D5) or D2-like (D1, D3, D4) dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell is sufficient to reinstate cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. The goal of these experiments was to assess whether cooperative activation of D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors in the accumbens shell is required to promote cocaine reinstatement. Rats were initially trained to self-administer cocaine (0.25 mg, i.v.) using a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement for approximately 21 days. Animals subsequently underwent an extinction phase during which saline was substituted for cocaine. Once cocaine self-administration behavior was extinguished (defined as trans -(−)-(4aR)-4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9-octahydro-5-propyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-g]quinoline hydrochloride (quinpirole) (3.0 μg) directly into the nucleus accumbens shell promoted reinstatement of cocaine seeking. In order to determine if endogenous dopamine tone in the accumbens shell is required for dopamine receptor agonist-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking, D1/5 or D2/3 dopamine receptor antagonists were administered into the nucleus accumbens shell prior to a selective dopamine receptor agonist. Microinfusion of the D2/3 dopamine receptor antagonist sulpiride (( S )-5-aminosulfonyl-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-2-methoxybenzamide) (1.0 μg) into the nucleus accumbens shell 10 minutes prior to SKF-81297 (1.0 μg) blocked the ability of this D1-like dopamine receptor agonist to reinstate cocaine seeking. Similarly, administration of the selective D1/5 dopamine receptor antagonist R(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride (SCH-23390) (1.0 μg) into the nucleus accumbens shell prior to quinpirole (3.0 μg) blocked reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior elicited by this D2/3 dopamine receptor agonist. Moreover, intra-accumbal shell co-administration of subthreshold doses of quinpirole (1.5 μg) and SKF-81297 (0.1 μg) promoted cocaine-seeking behavior. Collectively, these results indicate that cooperative activation of D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell is necessary to reinstate cocaine seeking in rats.
Comparison of Culture and Serology for the Diagnosis of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipients

This study compared culture, including the shell vial procedure, with serology, including IgM cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody testing, for the diagnosis of CMV infection in 42 subjects undergoing cadaveric renal or liver transplantation. Of 35 subjects who developed active CMV infection, 31 had positive cultures, while IgM CMV antibodies were detected in 29. Subjects with symptomatic CMV infection were more likely than asymptomatic subjects to have positive cultures of leukocytes (17/18 vs. 9/17, P = .01). In contrast, symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects did not differ in their IgG or IgM CMV antibody test responses. In subjects with symptomatic infection, viral shedding typically began early in the course of infection, often preceding symptoms, while the serologic response usually followed the appearance of symptoms. With the use of the shell vial procedure to facilitate detection of positive cultures, symptomatic CMV infections following kidney or liver transplantation can be recognized earlier and more reliably using viral culture than by serologic testing.
Slow Disassembly of Neural-Cadherin Dimers

Cadherins are calcium dependent homophilic cell adhesive protein molecules that are critical for morphogenesis, synaptogenesis and synapse maintenance. Cadherins comprise an extracellular region, a single transmembrane region and a cytoplasmic region. The extracellular region has five tandemly repeated ectodomains (EC1-EC5), with three calcium binding sites situated between each of these domains. Cell-cell adhesion is mediated by the dimerization of cadherins presented on neighboring cell surfaces. We are focusing our studies on two members of type I classical cadherins, Neural (N) - and Epithelial (E)-cadherins. In spite of high sequence similarity between E- and N-cadherin, they have distinct physiological localization implying differences in their adhesive properties. Here, we compare the spectral characteristics, stability, calcium binding and assembly properties of the first two domains of N- and E- cadherins. Spectroscopic studies of these proteins were predictable and indicated typical β-sheet conformation with only partial exposure of tryptophans. Although both proteins are stabilized by calcium, apo-ECAD12 is less stable than apo-NCAD12. Direct calcium titrations that found the proteins bind calcium with equally high affinity (−6.2 kcal/mol). There was a striking difference between these proteins in terms of the kinetics of disassembly. Analytical size exclusion chromatography experiments showed that disassembly of ECAD12 dimers is rapid and disassembly of NCAD12 dimers is slow regardless of the calcium concentration. We observe this striking difference with constructs containing only the first 220 residues of a 700 residue protein. Thus, not only is this an interesting protein folding-function question, this remarkable difference in these cadherins may explain their segregation into different physiological niches.