cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Separation of the pubic symphysis during pregnancy and after treatment with relaxin in two subspecies of Peromyscus maniculatus

Abstract Marked separation of the pubic symphysis has been shown to occur in pregnant deermice ( Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii and P. m. gracilis ) and in immature deermice following treatment with relaxin. A pubic separation of approximately 0.15 mm on the day of mating remained essentially unchanged for the first 10 days of gestation. Thereafter the separation increased to 1 mm on day 14 and reached a maximum separation of approximately 4.3 mm on day 22 of gestation, i.e., the day of parturition. A rapid decrease to 2.0 mm was noted at 2 days post partum with a further decrease to 0.2 mm on the 10th day post partum . In general, the time sequence and magnitude of change during gestation was the same for the two subspecies. Significant relaxation of the pubic symphysis was also obtained in the two subspecies of immature deermice after treatment with 5 μg estradiol cyclopentyl-propionate and followed 8 days later with relaxin. A dose-response curve was obtained in which the public separation increased from 0.3 to 1.4 mm over a dosage range of 1 to 10 GPU of relaxin.
Some Desiderata for Elementary Language Texts

Author's summary.— An enumeration of certain features which appear desirable for elementary language texts, in the light of recent improvements in approach and method.
Production of Cirrhosis of the Liver of the Normal Dog by High Fat Diets.

During the course of a study on the maintenance of the completely depancreatized dog, it was observed that cirrhosis of the liver developed in 8 of the 16 animals that had been kept alive with insu...
Virtual Screening as a Technique for PPAR Modulator Discovery.

Virtual screening (VS) is a discovery technique to identify novel compounds with therapeutic and preventive efficacy against disease. Our current focus is on the in silico screening and discovery of novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonists. It is well recognized that PPARγ agonists have therapeutic applications as insulin sensitizers in type 2 diabetes or as anti-inflammatories. VS is a cost- and time-effective means for identifying small molecules that have therapeutic potential. Our long-term goal is to devise computational approaches for testing the PPARγ-binding activity of extensive naturally occurring compound libraries prior to testing agonist activity using ligand-binding and reporter assays. This review summarizes the high potential for obtaining further fundamental understanding of PPARγ biology and development of novel therapies for treating chronic inflammatory diseases through evolution and implementation of computational screening processes for immunotherapeutics in conjunction with experimental methods for calibration and validation of results.
Reconsidering the Study of Mathematics Instructional Practices: The Importance of Curricular Context in Understanding Local and Global Teacher Change

This paper discusses the case of one teacher, Jackie, whose instructional practices illuminate the importance of textbooks and student/parent expectations in shaping pedagogy. Jackie teaches in the Plainview district, which offers parents and students a choice between a reform-oriented, integrated curriculum (Core Plus) and a more conventional algebra sequence (the University of Chicago series). Each day, Jackie teaches two very different sections of accelerated eighth-grade mathematics using each of these curricular materials. Drawing from students’ survey responses, classroom observations, and teacher interview data, we show ways in which Jackie’s pedagogy differs considerably between the two courses and we shed light on reasons underlying this variation.
Real-time Obstacle Map Building with Target Tracking

In this paper, a new method is proposed to build a probabilistic occupancy map for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a forward-looking sensor, such as a laser scanning sensor (known as lidar). For a UAV, target tracking as well as mapping of obstacles are both important. Instead of using raw measurements to build a map, the proposed algorithm uses the interacting multiple model (IMM)-based target formulation and tracking method first to process the noisy measurement data. The state estimates and true target probability of each point-mass target tracks are then used to build a probabilistic occupancy map. Therefore, simultaneous tracking and mapping of both moving and stationary obstacles are accomplished in real time. In addition, the mapping algorithm has the robustness to the noisy sensor measurements. The obtained probabilistic occupancy map shows good agreement with the physical layout of the obstacles in the field in simulations. This shows the potential that the developed method can be used to help an unmanned vehicle navigate the field without a previous database of obstacles.
Uses of motion imagery in activity-based intelligence

Activity-Based Intelligence (ABI) was defined by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence as “a discipline of intelligence where the analysis and subsequent collection is focused on activity and transactions associated with an entity, population, or area of interest.” ABI is inherently multi-INT, and motion imagery is a rich data source for ABI analysis. Motion imagery provides a unique temporal aspect which is critical for activity detection and classification. Additionally, motion imagery tends to have high spatial oversampling useful for determining activities and patterns above the noise threshold.
Equibiaxial extensional flow of polymer melts via lubricated squeezing flow. I. Experimental analysis

The technique of lubricated squeezing flow is evaluated using experiments in both constant strain rate and constant stress flows of two low-density polyethylene melts. Experimental parameters that include the lubricant viscosity and sample aspect ratio are systematically varied to examine their effect on the viability of the technique in the linear viscoelastic regime by comparing measured quantities to those predicted by finite linear viscoelastic theory. An evaluation is also made by comparing viscosities measured using the lubricated squeezing flow technique and Meissner's rotating clamp (MAD) rheometer in the non-linear regime. In both cases, deviations between the expected and measured viscosities were observed, indicating that the technique is not applicable to large strains for constant strain rate and constant stress flows. It is suggested that this limit is the result of lubricant thinning.
Magnetization reversal in arrays of Co rings

The magnetization behavior of arrays of individual and coupled Co rings has been studied using superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry, magneto-optical imaging, and Lorentz transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The transition from the polarized into the vortex state of isolated rings is shown to occur through the motion and annihilation of head-to-head domain boundaries. The chirality of the vortex state is fixed on subsequent magnetization cycles, indicating that it is predetermined by structural imperfections of the rings. The effect of interactions between the rings has been investigated in arrays of chains of touching rings. For fields applied parallel to the chains rings in extended sections of the chains are found to switch simultaneously. Neighboring rings in these sections can display alternating chirality as well as the same chirality accompanied by a 180° boundary on the nodes. For fields perpendicular to the chain direction the switching occurs pairwise. This coupling introduces a broad distribution of switching fields and correspondingly a magnetization curve that is significantly broader than that for the parallel orientation.
Introduction of single-copy sequences into the chromosome of Escherichia coli: application to gene and operon fusions

We have developed a general method for the introduction of any cloned sequence into the chromosome of Escherichia coli. This method employs an Hfr strain which carries a fragment of bla (the pBR322 gene imparting ampicillin resistance) between lacI and lacZ. Plasmid-borne inserts which are flanked by sequences from bla and lacZ can be introduced at this locus by homologous recombination. The isolation of recombinants is enhanced by selection for transfer of an integrated copy of the plasmid during conjugation. Once introduced into the chromosome, the inserted sequences can be transferred to other strains by conventional methods such as P1 transduction or conjugation. This method is suitable for the transfer of any cloned sequence to the chromosome and is particularly well suited to the construction of chromosomal gene and operon fusions with lacZ.
Traffic shaping and scheduling for OBS-based IP/WDM backbones

We introduce Proactive Reservation-based Switching (PRS) -- a switching architecture for IP/WDM networks based on Labeled Optical Burst Switching. PRS achieves packet delay and loss performance comparable to that of packet-switched networks, without requiring large buffering capacity, or burst scheduling across a large number of wavelengths at the core routers. PRS combines proactive channel reservation with periodic shaping of ingress-egress traffic aggregates to hide the offset latency and approximate the utilization/buffering characteristics of discrete-time queues with periodic arrival streams. A channel scheduling algorithm imposes constraints on burst departure times to ensure efficient utilization of wavelength channels and to maintain the distance between consecutive bursts through the network. Results obtained from simulation using TCP traffic over carefully designed topologies indicate that PRS consistently achieves channel utilization above 90% with modest buffering requirements.
Computing Bounds on the Expected Maximum of Correlated Normal Variables

We compute upper and lower bounds on the expected maximum of correlated normal variables (up to a few hundred in number) with arbitrary means, variances, and correlations. Two types of bounding processes are used: perfectly dependent normal variables, and independent normal variables, both with arbitrary mean values. The expected maximum for the perfectly dependent variables can be evaluated in closed form; for the independent variables, a single numerical integration is required. Higher moments are also available. We use mathematical programming to find parameters for the processes, so they will give bounds on the expected maximum, rather than approximations of unknown accuracy. Our original application is to the maximum number of people on-line simultaneously during the day in an infinite-server queue with a time-varying arrival rate. The upper and lower bounds are tighter than previous bounds, and in many of our examples are within 5% or 10% of each other. We also demonstrate the bounds’ performance on some PERT models, AR/MA time series, Brownian motion, and product-form correlation matrices.
Acute Toxicity of Ammonia and Nitrite to Spotted Seatrout

Abstract Median lethal concentrations (LC50) of ammonia and nitrite were determined for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in static tests. Ammonia toxicity tests were conducted with eggs, larvae hatched from eggs previously exposed to ammonia (ammonia-exposed eggs), larvae hatched from eggs not previously exposed to ammonia (unexposed eggs), 1-month-old juveniles, and 4-month-old juveniles. Nitrite toxicity tests were conducted with eggs and larvae. Spotted seatrout eggs were the life history stage most tolerant of un-ionized ammonia; 91.6% hatch occurred at 6.0 mg NH3-N/L. The 24-h LC50 for larvae hatched from both ammonia-exposed and unexposed eggs was 0.28 mg NH3-N/L. The 24-h LC50 of nitrite for larvae was 980 mg NO2-N/L; 92% hatch occurred at 1,200 mg NO2-N/L. Tolerance of un-ionized ammonia increased with age through the 4-month juvenile stage; the respective 24-h NH3-N LC50s for 1 - and 4-month-old juveniles were 1.38 and 1.98 mg/L, and the respective 96-h LC50s were 0.98 and 1.72 mg/L.
Why Whites Favor Spending More Money to Fight Crime: The Role of Racial Prejudice

A “get-tough” approach has guided criminal justice policy in the United States since the 1970s. This approach has involved hiring more police, building more prisons, and handing out longer and more certain prison terms for a variety of offenses. Although scholars dispute the impact of such measures, they generally agree that these steps stem in part from widespread public concern over crime and the desire that the criminal justice system treat suspects and criminals more punitively. Prior research, however, has found that racial prejudice partly underlies punitive sentiments among the public. This article extends this work into another important dimension of public opinion on crime, the view that the criminal justice system needs more money to fight crime. We investigate a link between racial prejudice and this view using data on white Americans in the 2000 General Social Survey. We find that whites who perceive African Americans as more violent are more likely to want more money spent on crime. In specifying this general result, we find further that this relationship is limited to one segment of whites: the most racially prejudiced. Final remarks address the theoretical and pragmatic implications of these findings.
GDP kinase activity associated with salt-washed ribosomes.

Abstract In the presence of ATP, 1M-salt-washed ribosomes and subunits of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes phosphorylate GDP to 5′GTP. A possible role for the ribosome-associated GDP kinase is presented.
Part-Time Mate Guarding Affects Paternity in Male Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Male mate guarding by close following has been reported in many socially monogamous bird species and is generally believed to function as a paternity guard. Many aspects of the dynamics and effectiveness of this behavior are still however poorly understood. Here, we describe the temporal variation in mate guarding behavior in male reed buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus) with a particular focus on how males allocate their mating effort between mate guarding and extrapair mating in a context of intense sperm competition. In our highly synchronous study population most males have to balance the simultaneous and mutually exclusive demands of mate guarding and seeking extrapair copulations (EPCs). We found that males frequently switched between guarding their mates and performing intrusions to neighboring territories. Both activities seemed to have significant fitness payoffs, as male mate guarding effort had a positive effect on paternity, and a large fraction of extrapair fertilizations occurred during the days when the sire guarded its own female. The reed bunting is thus an example of how discontinuous or part-time mate guarding can still be effective in securing paternity. Female reed buntings were not particularly active in initiating EPCs as they never were observed performing extraterritorial forays. We argue that the absence of female-initiated EPCs is a prerequisite for males to trade mate guarding against seeking EPCs. Otherwise, if females circumvent male mate guarding by timing their EPCs to periods of male absence, males should guard their mates almost continuously or rely on alternative paternity guards.
A Framework for the Control of Stable Aperiodic Walking in Underactuated Planar Bipeds

This paper presents a new definition of stable walking - that is not necessarily periodic - for a class of biped robots. The inspiration for the definition is the commonly-held notion of stable walking: the biped does not fall. To make the definition useful, an algorithm is given to verify if a given controller induces stable walking. Also given is a framework to synthesize controllers that induce stable walking. The results are illustrated on a model of a 5-link biped.
Socialization to the culture of a rehabilitation hospital: an ethnographic study.

OBJECTIVES Most previous research on rehabilitation of patients after spinal cord injuries has dealt with the attainment of outcomes valued by staff members or with the prediction of successful outcomes based on sociodemographic characteristics of patients. This study examined the rehabilitation process from the insider's perspective of an individual patient to determine his view of important adaptive problems and to examine how these problems were addressed. METHODS Ethnographic methods were used for fine-grained documentation of the experiences of one 30-year-old man with spinal cord injury. Daily interview were conducted with this patient during his 116 days of inpatient rehabilitation. An interdisciplinary research team analyzed the data with the constant comparative method to identify a number of recurring themes. RESULTS Findings indicate that in addition to learning how to function in the local world of the rehabilitation hospital, the patient also learned a new identify as a person with a long-term disability. DISCUSSION A central theme was the patient's ongoing attempt to figure out how his future was related to his life before the injury and how he could use previous competencies in adapting to disability. Staff members seemed so intent on teaching the patient new skills that they often discounted the significance of his past experience and failed to engage in helping the patient connect his future life story to his past.
Application of a front tracking method in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) simulation

A numerical model is developed to simulate the short-circuiting metal transfer process during gas metal arc welding (GMAW). The energy equation and the Marangoni convection are considered for the first time in analyzing the short-circuiting time. A front-tracking free surface method explicity tracks the profile of the liquid bridge. The electromagnetic field, distribution of velocity, pressure, and temperature are calculated using the developed model. Effects of welding current, surface tension temperature coefficient, and initial drop volume on short-circuiting duration time are examined. The results show that both the electromagnetic force and Marangoni shear stress play significant roles in short-circuiting transfer welding.
The mechanisms of radiation carcinogenesis

Abstract There is considerable knowledge of the factors that are involved in radiation carcinogenesis but the precise mechanisms are not understood. Different types of induced DNA lesions appear to initiate the process. As yet it is not clear what are the common features that make the lesions carcinogenic. Both endogenous and exogenous factors play a major role in determining whether the initial lesions are expressed as an overt cancer. A major question is whether these factors, usually called host factors, are the controlling ones. It is clear that in some cancers the host factors determine the time of appearance of the tumors. The recent advances in molecular biology and cytogenetics will make it possible to investigate the roles of the activation of proto-oncogenes and of specific chromosomal translocation in radiation carcinogenesis. However, a better understanding of the role of host factors is of equal importance.
Establishment of the nuclear location of Dictyostelium discoideum plasmids.

Abstract The nuclear location of the Dictyostelium discoideum plasmids was studied using a biochemiCAl approach based on the presence of plasmid sequences m nucleosomes. This analysis revealed that all four of the known plasmids (Ddp1, Ddp2, Ddp3, Ddp5) are present in chromatin. This evidence establishes that the D. discoideum plasmids are not cytoplasmic but located in the nucleus. D. discoideum is unique among eukaryotes in possessing a group ofnonhomologous endogenous plasmids m its nucleus. These plasmids are excellent starting material for construction of nuclear transformation and expression vectors. Such vectors upon transformation into D. discoideum are also present in chromatin as expected for DNA located in the nucleus.
Influence of Molecular Weight and Layer Age on Self-Exchange Kinetics for Saturated Layers of PEO in a Good Solvent

The dynamics in adsorbed homopolymer layers were probed using self-exchange studies with the model system poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, adsorbed on silica from aqueous solution. The latter constitutes a good solvent for PEO. The influence of layer age and molecular weight was investigated. The self-exchange traces themselves were bimodal, fitting a simple noncooperative exchange model at short times and then switching over to stretched exponential behavior. In mature PEO layers (where no further influence of aging was found), higher molecular weight layers were less mobile than lower molecular weight layers, with a linear influence of molecular weight on the stretched exponential time constant and on the time constant describing the initial stages of exchange. The stretching exponent was 0.34 ± 0.04, independent of molecular weight. Also, the approach of newly formed layers to the mature state followed a single exponential, with faster maturation of layers of longer chains.
An examination of the relationship between expectancy learning and preference conditioning

Abstract In three experiments rats were given go no go discrimination training with flavors as cues and sucrose and quinine as differential consequences. Following discrimination training conditioned preference for the flavor cues was assessed. Go no go discrimination was used as a measure of differential consequence expectancies associated with the two flavor cues. In Experiments 1 and 2 rats did acquire specific flavor-consequence expectancies as evidenced by successful go no go discrimination learning mediated by flavor cues. Subjects also acquired a conditioned preference for the sucrose-paired flavor. In Experiment 3 the predictive relationship between flavor cues and consequences was explicitly reversed between two separate training contexts. Subjects were able to learn this conditional go no go discrimination, suggesting acquisition of context-specific flavor-consequence expectancies, but no context-specific conditioned preference was observed. This suggests the operation of different conditioning mechanisms in simple expectancy learning and preference conditioning. These data confirm that rats can use flavor cues as discriminative stimuli for instrumental behavior when consequences are like those used in preference/aversion conditioning.
Extrema Statistics of Wiener-Einstein Processes in One, Two, and Three Dimensions

The maxima and first-passage-time statistics of Wiener-Einstein processes are evaluated analytically in one, two, and three dimensions. We show that the mean square maximum displacement has the same time dependence as the mean square displacement, i.e., it grows linearly with time. The ratio of the mean square maximum to the mean square displacement is shown to decrease with increasing dimensionality. We also calculate the mean first passage time for the process to attain a given absolute displacement and find that it grows as the square of the displacementand is independent of the dimensionality of the process. In addition, we evaluate the dispersion of maxima and of first passage times and discuss their dependence on dimensionality.
Fuzzy logic, multiple target tracking, and equivalence classes of random sets

Surprisingly, fuzzy sets (in the guise of equivalence classes of random sets) arises naturally in a Bayesian analysis of bounds on performance for tracking in a dense multiple target environment. This talk will explain the connection between these ideas. Moreover, the use of fuzzy sets as `primitives' has promise to reduce the computational complexity of real-time approximate multiple hypothesis tracking algorithms.
Adiponectin and Leptin in African Americans

Objective: African Americans (AAs) have less visceral and more subcutaneous fat than whites, thus the relationship of adiponectin and leptin to body fat and insulin sensitivity in AA may be different from that in whites. Methods and Procedures: Sixty-nine non-diabetic AA (37 men and 32 women), aged 33 ± 1 year participated. The percent fat was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) volume by computerized tomography (CT), and insulin sensitivity by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Results: VAT was greater in men (1,619 ± 177 cm3 vs. 1,022 ± 149 cm3; P = 0.01); women had a higher percentage of body fat (34.1 ± 1.4 vs. 24.0 ± 1.2; P < 0.0001), adiponectin (15.8 ± 1.2 μg/ml vs. 10.4 ± 0.8 μg/ml; P = 0.0004) and leptin (23.2 ± 15.8 ng/ml vs. 9.2 ± 7.2 ng/ml; P < 0.0001). SAT and HOMA did not differ because of the sex. Adiponectin negatively correlated with VAT (r = −0.41, P < 0.05) in men, and with VAT (r = −0.55, P < 0.01), and SAT (r = −0.35, P < 0.05) in women. Adiponectin negatively correlated with HOMA in men (r = −0.38, P < 0.05) and women (r = −0.44, P < 0.05). In multiple regression, sex (P = 0.02), HOMA (P = 0.03) and VAT (P = 0.003) were significant predictors of adiponectin (adj R 2 = 0.38, P < 0.0001). Leptin positively correlated with VAT, SAT, percent fat and HOMA in men (r = 0.79, r = 0.86, r = 0.89, and r = 0.53; P < 0.001) and women (r = 0.62, r = 0.75, r = 0.83, and r = 0.55; P < 0.01). In multiple regression VAT (P = 0.04), percent body fat (P < 0.0001) and sex (P = 0.01), but not HOMA were significant predictors of serum leptin (adj R 2= 0.82, P < 0.0001). Discussion: The relationship of adiponectin and leptin to body fat content and distribution in AA is dependent on sex. Although VAT and insulin sensitivity are significant determinants of adiponectin, VAT and percent body fat determine leptin.
Syndrome de la traversée thoracobrachiale dû à une anomalie vasculaire comprimant le plexus brachial supérieur

Resume Les etiologies vasculaires directement a l’origine d’un syndrome de la traversee thoracobrachiale (STTB) sont exceptionnelles en dehors des vaisseaux sous-claviers. Nous rapportons un cas unique d’une artere anormale, accompagnee de sa veine, comme etant la cause directe d’une compression du plexus brachial superieur entrainant un STTB. Tous les symptomes ont gueri apres un traitement chirurgical ayant comporte une ligature et une resection des vaisseaux anormaux. Cette observation montre que, meme si les etiologies vasculaires du STTB sont tout a fait rares, elles doivent etre envisagees parmi les causes possibles de ce syndrome.
Nitric oxide modulates cholinergic reflex pathways to the longitudinal and circular muscle in the isolated guinea-pig distal colon

The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in enteric neural pathways underlying reflex responses of the longitudinal muscle (LM) and circular muscle (CM) layers activated by mucosal stimulation was examined in the isolated guinea-pig distal colon. A segment of colon spanned two partitions (10 mm apart), which divided the organ bath into three chambers: a recording chamber where LM and CM tension was measured; a stimulation chamber where mucosal stimulation was applied; and a middle chamber separating them. Brushing the mucosa anal and oral to the recording site evoked simultaneous oral contraction and anal relaxation of both the LM and CM. Nω-nitro-L-arginine (l-NA; 100 μm) or Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 100 μm) applied to the middle chamber or stimulation chamber decreased the oral contractile response of the LM and CM (by about 30–40 %), but increased the anal relaxation (> 600 %) and exposed an anal contraction (> 1000 % increase) of both muscles. The addition of l-NA to the recording chamber reduced the anal relaxation of the LM and CM and the anal contraction of the LM, but slightly increased the anal contraction of the CM. S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP; 10 μm), an NO donor, reversed the effects of l-NA in the middle or stimulation chambers. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 μm), a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, mimicked the effects of l-NAin the middle chamber or stimulation chamber, but these effects were not reversed by SNAP. The oral contractile responses, and the anal relaxation and contractile responses of the LM and CM produced by l-NA in the stimulation or middle chambers, were blocked by hexamethonium (300 μm) in any chamber. Atropine (1 μm) in the recording chamber reduced the contractile responses of the LM and CM. In conclusion, endogenous NO facilitates and depresses release of acetylcholine from interneurons in ascending and descending nervous pathways, respectively. These NO effects are mediated through soluble guanylate cyclase in cholinergic interneurons
Bacteria Fighting Paper Towels: The Influence of Selenium Nanoparticles

Bacterial infections are commonly found on paper towels and other paper products leading to the potential spread of bacteria and consequent health concerns. The objective of this in vitro study was to introduce antibacterial properties to standard paper towel surfaces by coating them with selenium nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy was used to measure the size and distribution of the selenium coatings on the paper towels. The amount of selenium precipitated on the paper towels was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. In vitro bacterial studies with S. aureus were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the selenium coatings at inhibiting bacterial growth. Results showed that the selenium nanoparticles coated on the paper towel surfaces were well distributed and were semi spherical 50nm in diameter. Most importantly, the selenium nanoparticle coated paper towels inhibited S. aureus growth by 90% after 24, 48 and 72 hours compared with uncoated paper towels. Thus, this study showed that nano-selenium coated paper towels may lead to an increased eradication of bacteria to clean a more wide-range of clinical environments and for the food industry, thus, improving health.
The collaborative information portal and NASA's Mars Rover mission

NASA Ames Research Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory jointly developed the collaborative information portal for NASA's Mars exploration rover mission. Mission managers, engineers, scientists, and researchers used this Internet-based enterprise software application to view current staffing and event schedules, download data and image files generated by the rovers, send and receive broadcast messages, and get accurate times in various Mars and Earth time zones. This article describes the application's features, architecture, and implementation, and conveys the lessons learned from its deployment.
Oxygen ion conductivity in oxygen-deficient perovskite-related oxides

Abstract Oxygen-deficient oxides with perovskite and perovskite-related structures have been prepared and their electrical conduction properties studied. The following materials were prepared in the form of dense single phase sintered specimens: CaTi 0.7 Al 0.3 O 2.85 □ 0.15 , Sr 3 NbO 5.5 □ 0.5 , Sr 2 CaTaO 5.5 □ 0.5 , Sr 2 CaNbO 5.5 □ 0.5 , LaAl 0.85 Mg 0.15 O 2.925 □ 0.075 , LaAl 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 2.9 □ 0.1 , SrZr 0.8 Yb 0.2 O 2.9 □ 0.1 , SrZr 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 2.8 □ 0.2 , and LaNb 2.6 Zr 0.4 O 8.8 □ 0.2 , where □ represents an oxygen vacancy. At high oxygen partial pressures, p-type electronic conductivity is predominant, but oxygen ion conductivity predominates at low oxygen pressures. Ionic conductivity effects are related to oxygen vacancy concentrations and the size of the dopant ions.
Chemistry of Modified Fenton’s Reagent (Catalyzed H2O2 Propagations–CHP) for In Situ Soil and Groundwater Remediation

The use of modified Fenton’s reagent, or catalyzed H2 O2 propagations (CHP), has become increasingly popular for the in situ and ex situ treatment of surface soils and the in situ remediation of the subsurface. The process is based on the catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by soluble iron, iron chelates, or iron minerals to generate the strong oxidant hydroxyl radical as well as other reactive oxygen species. Some of these species function as reductants and nucleophiles and may be responsible for the enhanced treatment of sorbed and nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) contaminants that is sometimes observed in the field. This paper serves as a review of the process chemistry of CHP; the goal is to provide researchers and practitioners with fundamental concepts that will aid in applying the CHP process to soil and groundwater contamination. Although the importance of well placement and the method of reagent injection must be considered in CHP remediation, understanding and promoting the most effective...
Influence of selection bias on dose-time analysis: a theoretical investigation.

Abstract Background and purpose : We investigate the effect of patient selection factors on the interpretation of dose-time analyses of retrospective head and neck data treated with external beam radiation therapy. Materials and methods : We use a computer simulation model to ascertain the influence of individualizing the fractionation regimen on the estimated steepness of dose-response and time-response estimates, on the probability of local control and on the validity of statistical tests and confidence intervals. We assume that the total dose and overall treatment time for each patient are altered by consideration of three possible factors, the pre treatment size of the tumor, the response of the tumor to therapy or the amount of acute effects. Results : We find that individualizing treatment leads to very small improvements in the local control rate, but substantial biases in the estimates of the doubling time and the effective D 0 value. Patient selection also compromises the validity of confidence intervals and tests. Despite this selection bias our results suggest that if there were no real effect of treatment time then the influence of individualizing treatments would not cause treatment time to be found to be as important as it has been shown to be in many studies. Conclusions : Assuming the fundamental radiobiological assumptions in the model are appropriate, individual alterations of the fractionation schedule due to the response to therapy can compromise the interpretation of dose-time analyses of retrospective data, without giving much improvement in the control rate.
Molecular orbital study of interactions of single transition metal atoms with PF3 and CO ligands

Abstract Interactions of single transition metal atoms of Cr, Fe, Co and Ni with PF 3 and CO ligands were studied by means of an ab initio MO theory. The HOMO levels of both ligands shift toward lower energies due to the interaction with the metal 4s and 3d z z orbitals. The magnitudes of the HOMO level shifts increase monotonically with atomic number.
Application of a parallel direct simulation Monte Carlo method to hypersonic rarefied flows

Application of a method for performing direct simulation Monte Carlo calculations using parallel processing to several hypersonic, rarefied flow problems is presented. The performance and efficiency of the parallel method are discussed in terms of some simple benchmark problems. The applications described are the flow in a channel and the flow about a flat plate at incidence. The benchmark results show significant advantages of parallel processing over conventional scalar processing and demonstrate the scalability of the method to large problems
Evaluation of the IRI-2007 model options for the topside electron density

Abstract The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) 2007 provides two new options for the topside electron density profile: (a) a correction of the IRI-2001 model, and (b) the NeQuick topside formula. We use the large volume of Alouette 1, 2 and ISIS 1, 2 topside sounder data to evaluate these two new options with special emphasis on the uppermost topside where IRI-2001 showed the largest discrepancies. We will also study the accurate representation of profiles in the equatorial anomaly region where the profile function has to accommodate two latitudinal maxima (crests) at lower altitudes but only a single maximum (at the equator) higher up. In addition to IRI-2001 and the two new IRI-2007 options we also include the Intercosmos-based topside model of Triskova, Truhlik, and Smilauer [Triskova, L., Truhlik, V., Smilauer, J. An empirical topside electron density model for calculation of absolute ion densities in IRI. Adv. Space Res. 37 (5), 928–934, 2006] (TTS model) in our analysis. We find that overall IRI-2007-NeQ gives the best results but IRI-2007-corrected provides a more realistic representation of the altitudinal–latitudinal structure in the equatorial anomaly region. The applicability of the TTS model is limited by the fact that it is not normalized to the F2 peak density and height.
Large-scale sequential quadratic programming algorithms

The problem addressed is the general nonlinear programming problem: finding a local minimizer for a nonlinear function subject to a mixture of nonlinear equality and inequality constraints. The methods studied are in the class of sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithms, which have previously proved successful for problems of moderate size. Our goal is to devise an SQP algorithm that is applicable to large-scale optimization problems, using sparse data structures and storing less curvature information but maintaining the property of superlinear convergence. The main features are: (1) The use of a quasi-Newton approximation to the reduced Hessian of the Lagrangian function. Only an estimate of the reduced Hessian matrix is required by our algorithm. The impact of not having available the full Hessian approximation is studied and alternative estimates are constructed. (2) The use of a transformation matrix Q. This allows the QP gradient to be computed easily when only the reduced Hessian approximation is maintained. (3) The use of a reduced-gradient form of the basis for the null space of the working set. This choice of basis is more practical than an orthogonal null-space basis for large-scale problems. The continuity condition for this choice is proven. (4) The use of incomplete solutions of quadratic programming subproblems. Certain iterates generated by an active-set method for the QP subproblem are used in place of the QP minimizer to define the search direction for the nonlinear problem. An implementation of the new algorithm has been obtained by modifying the code MINOS. Results and comparisons with MINOS and NPSOL are given for the new algorithm on a set of 92 test problems.
The effect of oral midazolam on anxiety of preschool children during laceration repair

Preschool age children often experience marked anxiety and physical pain during laceration repair. Locally infiltrated anesthetics or topical tetracaine, adrenaline, and cocaine (TAC) usually control the physical pain but have little or no effect on anxiety. Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine with anxiolytic, hypnotic, and antegrade amnestic effects. In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, we evaluated the efficacy of midazolam in alleviating anxiety during laceration repair in children less than 6 years old. On admission to the emergency department, anxiety level was determined on a scale of 1 to 4 based on a predetermined behavior criteria. Patients with high anxiety level (3 or 4) received a single oral dose of either midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) or placebo. The anxiolytic effect of midazolam was considered adequate if the anxiety level decreased two or more points (from 4 to ≤ 2 or from 3 to 1) during laceration repair. In the midazolam group (30), 70% of the children had a two-point or more decrease in anxiety level compared with 12% in the placebo group (25) ( P
Genes differentially expressed during pupal-adult neurogenesis in Manduca sexta

Abstract Using the “reverse genetic” approach to identify genes necessary for postembryonic neurogenesis, we have constructed a brain cDNA library from Manduca sexta and cloned novel genes that were differentially expressed during pupal-adult development, a major period of neurogenesis. The isolated clones, three of which are brain-specific, represent six different patterns of gene expression. In 0–12-h-old pupae, genes 1 and 2 were expressed eight and four times as strongly as in 7–8-day-old pupae. Gene 3, in 7–8-day-old and 11–12-day-old pupae, respectively, was expressed two and three times as strongly as in 0–12-h-old pupae. Genes 5 and 6 had peak expression at 7–8 days and 11–12 days, respectively. Gene 4, used as a control, had a relatively constant level of expression throughout development. The sizes of RNA transcripts of all these genes were different from each other. Genes 1, 2, 5 and 6 had single transcripts. However, genes 3 and 4 each had a dominant transcript and several other transcripts that were bigger or smaller in size than the dominant one. Activation of the cloned genes during this critical period of transformation from a larva into an adult suggests that the controlled expression of these genes is important for postembryonic neurogenesis and brain differentiation.
Measurement of Diffusive Flux of Ammonia from Water

An instrument was developed for the measurement of gaseous ammonia concentration, NH(3(sw,eq)), in equilibrium with surface waters, notably ocean water. The instrument measures the ammonia flux from a flowing water surface under defined conditions and allows the calculation of NH(3(sw,eq)) from the principles of Fickian diffusion. The flux collector resembles a wetted parallel plate denuder previously developed for air sampling. The sample under study runs on one plate of the device; the ammonia released from the sample is collected by a slow flow of a receptor liquid on the other plate. The NH(3) + NH(4)(+) (hereinafter called N(T)) in the effluent receptor liquid is preconcentrated on a silica gel column and subsequently measured by a fluorometric flow injection analysis (FIA) system. With a 6-min cycle (4-min load, 2-min inject), the analytical system can measure down to 0.3 nM N(T) in the receptor liquid. Coupled with the flux collector, it is sufficiently sensitive to measure the ammonia flux from seawater. The instrument design is such that it is little affected by ambient ammonia. In both laboratory (N(T) 0.2-50 μM), and field investigations (N(T) 0.18-1.7 μM) good linearity between the ammonia flux and the N(T) concentration in seawater (spiked, synthetic, natural) was observed, although aged seawater, with depleted N(T) content, behaves in an unusual fashion upon N(T) addition, showing the existence of an "ammonia demand". NH(3(sw,eq)) levels from ocean water measured in the Coconut Island Laboratory, HI, ranged from 6.6 to 33 nmol/m(3) with an average of 17.4 ± 6.9 nmol/m(3), in comparison to 2.8-21 nmol/m(3) (average 10 ± 7 nmol/m(3)) NH(3(sw,eq)) values previously reported for the Central Pacific Ocean (Quinn, P. K.; et al. J. Geophys. Res. 1990, 95, 16405-16416).
Motivation for hay: effects of a pelleted diet on behavior and physiology of horses.

Abstract The natural diet of free-ranging horses is grass, which is typically high in fiber and calorically dilute, however diets for high performance domestic horses are often low in fiber and calorically dense. The aim of the study was to determine the motivation of horses for hay when fed a low roughage diet. Their motivation could be used to determine if low roughage diets compromise the welfare of horses. Eight mares were fed two different diets in counterbalanced order: ad libitum orchard grass hay; a complete pelleted feed (pellets). Each trial lasted three weeks, with a one-week transition period between diets. To determine the motivation of horses for fiber they were taught to press a panel to obtain a food reward. The fixed ratio (FR) was increased using a progressive ratio ((1,2,4,7,11…) technique. When fed pellets, the horses worked for a median FR of 1 (Range = 1–497) to attain pellets, and when fed hay, they worked for a median FR of 25.5 (4–497) to attain pellets. When fed hay, the horses worked for a median FR of 0 (0–0) to attain hay, and when fed pellets, they worked for a FR of 13 (2–79) to attain hay. These results indicate a greater motivation for hay, a high fiber diet, when fed a low fiber diet. The horses spent 10 (5–19.4)% of their time during a 24-hour period eating pellets compared to 61.5 (29–76) % of their time eating hay. Horses spent 58% of their time standing when fed the pellets and only 37% of their time standing when fed hay. Searching behavior (i.e. sifting through wood shaving bedding for food particles) took up 11.5 (1.4–32) % of the horse's day when fed pellets, but only 1.2 (0–3.5) % of the daily time budget when fed hay. Horses chew more times when eating a hay diet (43,476 chews/day) than when eating a pellet diet (10,036 chews/day). Fecal pH was lower in horses fed the pelleted diet.
Sentencing Guidelines and Judicial Discretion: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Human Calculation Errors: Sentencing Guidelines and Judicial Discretion

The extent to which rules set by the legislature bind or influence decisions regarding sentence length is central to institutional design and to determining the practical impact of any proposed reform regarding criminal punishment. However, it is generally difficult to identify empirically the impact of sentencing recommendations because court actors may have preferences that are correlated with those outlined in the guidelines. In this article, we take advantage of a new source of identification to study how government actors interact and make decisions in the criminal sentencing process. We identify instances in the Maryland circuit court in which the case facts are not consistent with the final sentence recommendation - inconsistencies that appear to be the result of human error and exogenous to the preferences of downstream actors. We find that even an advisory guidelines system like the one in Maryland has a direct impact on judicial decision making in cases involving drugs and violent crimes. Judges appear eager to go along with an erroneous lesser sentence for violent offenses. In contrast, judges appear to discount mistakes that are too high. This asymmetry does not occur for property and drug offenses that are simpler and more frequently encountered. More generally, experience matters. Error rates are lower for more frequently occurring offense types and lower for those court professionals who complete more of the sentencing worksheets. The net effect of sentencing guidelines on time served appears to be small because parole boards counteract the remaining influence of the guidelines.
Free Flap "Steal" Hastening Amputation of a Revascularized Lower Limb.

Complex limb threatening wounds secondary to end-stage atherosclerotic peripheral occlusive disease remain significant challenges that frequently mandate vascularized tissue coverage that can only be achieved with a microsurgical composite tissue transfer. Following or concurrent with limb revascularization, the theoretical risk that such a free flap could divert flow to a comparably lower resistance system of the flap has been previously considered hypothetical. We present a case report where we believe such a “steal syndrome” did occur as suggested by arteriogram, and this adverse phenomenon hastened limb amputation. This possible risk must be carefully explained and accepted by these patients prior to embarking on these complex limb salvage attempts.