cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Casting Speed on Physical Fields of AZ80 Magnesium Alloy during DC Casting

A comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) mathematical model based on a combination of the commercial finite element package ANSYS and the commercial finite volume package FLUENT was developed to describe the interaction of the multiple physics fields during DC casting process. ANSYS was for calculation of the stress field and FLUENT was for calculation of the fluid flow, heat transfer of the solidification. The results show that: the model is reliable and accurate to simulate the multiple physics of DC casting. Consequently, the position, which was prone to hot tearing, was confirmed and the max velocity, at which the hot cracking might not occur, was determined. The numerical simulations will be very useful for preventing crack, optimizing casting parameters and obtaining high-quality ingots.
Controllable Snail-Paced Light in Biological Bacteriorhodopsin Thin Film

We observe that the group velocity of light is reduced to an extremely low value of 0.091 mm/s in a biological thin film of bacteriorhodopsin at room temperature. By exploiting unique features of a flexible photoisomerization process for coherent population oscillation, the velocity is all-optically controlled over an enormous span, from snail-paced to normal light speed, with no need of modifying the characteristics of the incident pulse. Because of the large quantum yield for the photoreaction in this biochemical system, the ultraslow light is observed even at low light levels of microwatts, indicating high energy efficiency.
STEADY AXI-SYMMETRIC MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC FLOW.

Pour illustrer les effets d'un champ magnetique sur un ecoulement de revolution stationnaire d'un fluide non visqueux ideal, parfaitement coducteur de l'electricite, on envisage ici les cas particuliers ou le champ magnetique a une composante differente de zero. On utilise l'analyse lineaire pour etudier les faibles perturbations non-isentropiques d'un ecoulement initialement uniforme.
Electromagnetic heating of spheres

A commonly encountered problem in induction heating and levitation work is the determination of the heat generated in the workpiece or, conversely, the determination of the coil and generator parameters necessary for a specified heat input. In this paper, we describe a series of experiments to verifytheoretical predictions of the heating in conducting spheres
Diffuse pulmonary malignant mesothelioma. Response to doxorubicin and 5‐azacytidine

A 46-year-old patient who developed a right pleural mesothelioma 18 years after asbestos exposure was found to have diffuse reticular nodular infiltrates in both lungs. Lung biopsy by fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed alveolar and interstitial spread of the neoplastic cells. A dramatic clinical and radiologic response occurred after treatment with a combination of doxorubicin (Adria-mycin) and 5-Azacytidine. Cancer 42:1687–1691, 1978.
Spinal Cord Meningioma: A Treatable Cause of Paraplegia

Chondrocalcinosis associated with Gitelman syndrome (GS) presents in young adults with either no symptoms or joint pain, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, paresthesias, episodes of tetany, or hypokalemic paralysis. Spinal cord meningiomas present with gradual onset of lower extremities weakness, numbness, pain, or balance problem. We report a 76 year old gentleman who presented with gradually progressive leg weakness puzzling the treating physicians.
Multiple mechanisms actively target the SUN protein UNC-84 to the inner nuclear membrane

Approximately 100 proteins are targeted to the inner nuclear membrane (INM), where they regulate chromatin and nuclear dynamics. The mechanisms underlying trafficking to the INM are poorly understood. The Caenorhabditis elegans SUN protein UNC-84 is an excellent model to investigate such mechanisms. UNC-84 recruits KASH proteins to the outer nuclear membrane to bridge the nuclear envelope (NE), mediating nuclear positioning. UNC-84 has four targeting sequences: two classical nuclear localization signals, an INM sorting motif, and a signal conserved in mammalian Sun1, the SUN--nuclear envelope localization signal. Mutations in some signals disrupt the timing of UNC-84 nuclear envelope localization, showing that diffusion is not sufficient to move all UNC-84 to the NE. Thus targeting UNC-84 requires an initial step that actively transports UNC-84 from the peripheral endoplasmic reticulum to the NE. Only when all four signals are simultaneously disrupted does UNC-84 completely fail to localize and to function in nuclear migration, meaning that at least three signals function, in part, redundantly to ensure proper targeting of UNC-84. Multiple mechanisms might also be used to target other proteins to the INM, thereby ensuring their proper and timely localization for essential cellular and developmental functions.
10 Networking Papers: readings for protocol design

The last two issues of ACM Computer Communication Review included short pieces on reading list recommendations. I enjoyed them enough that I started to write my own. But I quickly found an overall list to be a daunting task, as I tended toward well-known, albeit classic, papers. Instead, to make progress, I have narrowed the focus to an interest of mine: protocol design. The end-to-end argument [16], the robustness principle [14], soft-state [5] and application level framing [6] are well-known strategies that can strengthen the design of protocols as part of your research. They are an excellent starting point for readings if you are not familiar with them already. But, having read them, what else can help? The readings that follow are part of my answer to this question. Each paper below has something to say about protocol design. That makes this list different than the earlier ones: I intend the papers to be read with an external context in mind as well as for their intrinsic value. Some provide examples of strategies that can be adapted and re-used elsewhere, as I’ve tried to point out. Others present experiences with designs that serve as food for thought. I have chosen papers that surprised me when I first encountered them. And I’ve tried to include at least some papers that you are unlikely to have read; I’d appreciate hearing of other papers I might not have read that would fit on this list too. Enjoy! And, when you are done, consider submitting your own list to CCR.
The Economic Costs of Environmental Regulation in U.S. Dairy Farming: A Directional Distance Function Approach

Analyses of the costs of regulating greenhouse gas emissions from dairy production, which could be used to assess the effectiveness of alternative policy measures, is a missing link in the literature. This article addresses this gap by establishing the economic impact associated with a hypothetical greenhouse gas environmental regulatory regime across major dairy producing counties in the United States. In doing so, the article makes three important contributions to the literature. First, it develops a comprehensive pollution index based on Environmental Protection Agency methodologies, which contrasts with previous studies that rely on partial measures based only on surplus nitrogen stemming from the over‐application of fertilizer. Second, the article uses a directional output distance function, an approach that has not been employed previously to evaluate polluting technologies in the U.S. dairy sector. Third, the article incorporates a four‐way error approach that accounts for unobserved county heterogeneity, time‐invariant persistent technical efficiency, time‐varying transient technical efficiency, and a random error. The results indicate that regulating greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming would induce a 5‐percentage point increase in average technical efficiency. In addition, the economic costs of implementing this hypothetical regulatory framework exhibit significant spatial variation across counties in the United States.
Hybrid impedance control of robotic manipulators

The inclusion of force information in the control of robots increases their adaptability to uncertain environments, such as are found in deburring, grinding, and assembly tasks. The authors present a foundation for force control strategies, in view of the fact that the type of control strategy that is employed depends fundamentally on the characteristics of the environment. A general control approach is introduced, called hybrid impedance control which in its simplest forms reduces the operational space control of O. Khatib and J. Burdick (1986), or to N. Hogan's (1985) impedance control. The control law is formulated in a general enough fashion, however, to allow for higher order controllers. >
Models of child-family interactions for children with developmental delays: child-driven or transactional?

Abstract Child-driven and transactional models of child-family interactions were tested with 80 children who had developmental delays and their families. Children's cognitive competence, personal–social competence, behavior and communication “hassle,” and family accommodations to the children were assessed at child ages 3, 7, and 11. Accommodations were summarized as internal (within the family) and external (use of outside resources) intensity and types. Results indicate that the longitudinal relationships between children's cognitive competence, personal–social competence, behavior and communication hassle, and family accommodations are best explained by a child-driven model. Implications for early intervention and for the need to consider both child and family outcomes are discussed.
VDCCs and NMDARs Underlie Two Forms of LTP in CA1 Hippocampus In Vivo

N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor/channel (NMDAR) and voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) antagonists applied independently reduce the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) in area CA1 of the ...
Bistability and biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis

Biofilms of Bacillus subtilis consist of long chains of cells that are held together in bundles by an extracellular matrix of exopolysaccharide and the protein TasA. The exopolysaccharide is produced by enzymes encoded by the epsA-O operon and the gene encoding TasA is located in the yqxM-sipW-tasA operon. Both operons are under the control of the repressor SinR. Derepression is mediated by the antirepressor SinI, which binds to SinR with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Paradoxically, in medium promoting derepression of the matrix operons, the overall concentration of SinR in the culture greatly exceeded that of SinI. We show that under biofilm-promoting conditions sinI, which is under the control of the response regulator Spo0A, was expressed only in a small subpopulation of cells, whereas sinR was expressed in almost all cells. Activation of Spo0A is known to be subject to a bistable switch, and we infer that SinI reaches levels sufficient to trigger matrix production only in the subpopulation of cells in which Spo0A is active. Additionally, evidence suggests that sinI is expressed at intermediate, but not low or high, levels of Spo0A activity, which may explain why certain nutritional conditions are more effective in promoting biofilm formation than others.
EliXR: an approach to eligibility criteria extraction and representation

Objective To develop a semantic representation for clinical research eligibility criteria to automate semistructured information extraction from eligibility criteria text. Materials and Methods An analysis pipeline called eligibility criteria extraction and representation (EliXR) was developed that integrates syntactic parsing and tree pattern mining to discover common semantic patterns in 1000 eligibility criteria randomly selected from . The semantic patterns were aggregated and enriched with unified medical language systems semantic knowledge to form a semantic representation for clinical research eligibility criteria. Results The authors arrived at 175 semantic patterns, which form 12 semantic role labels connected by their frequent semantic relations in a semantic network. Evaluation Three raters independently annotated all the sentence segments (N=396) for 79 test eligibility criteria using the 12 top-level semantic role labels. Eight-six per cent (339) of the sentence segments were unanimously labelled correctly and 13.8% (55) were correctly labelled by two raters. The Fleiss' κ was 0.88, indicating a nearly perfect interrater agreement. Conclusion This study present a semi-automated data-driven approach to developing a semantic network that aligns well with the top-level information structure in clinical research eligibility criteria text and demonstrates the feasibility of using the resulting semantic role labels to generate semistructured eligibility criteria with nearly perfect interrater reliability.
Small island tourist economies across the life cycle

Abstract: Using an abbreviated three-stage version of the destination life cycle as a theoretical backdrop, this study applies the tourism penetration index (TPI) to 36 small islands less than 1 million in population and 5000 km2 in area. Most developed are primarily Caribbean, least developed Pacific and Indian Ocean, and intermediates from all regions. Tourism characteristics of each group (stage) are detailed and changes are recorded between 1991 and 2001. Descriptive profiles reveal sharp differences in socio-economic and demographic modernisation up the cycle. Rising tourism development is associated with rising income, in-migration, literacy and life expectancy, and falling unemployment, fertility and infant mortality. These same differences surface when islands are dichotomously categorised by political status with dependencies outperforming sovereign islands. This evidence indirectly suggests that successful tourism-driven small islands represent a special insular development case and an alternative to migration, remittances, aid and bureaucracy.
The motion of a finite-width rimless wheel in 3D

We consider a new model for human (or biped robot) locomotion, consisting of a spoked rimless wheel of finite width rolling down a slope. In our model, consecutive spokes are on alternate sides of the wheel, and this models the finite leg separation in humans or robots. Full 3D motion is considered, in contrast to McGeer's 2D model. Numerical studies indicate that for a given slope, a single steady-state solution exists, and this corresponds to rolling straight down the slope at a particular average speed. Moreover, this equilibrium solution is asymptotically stable.
Retention but Not Recruitment of Crb2 at Double-Strand Breaks Requires Rad1 and Rad3 Complexes

The fission yeast checkpoint protein Crb2, related to budding yeast Rad9 and human 53BP1 and BRCA1, has been suggested to act as an adapter protein facilitating the phosphorylation of specific substrates by Rad3-Rad26 kinase. To further understand its role in checkpoint signaling, we examined its localization in live cells by using fluorescence microscopy. In response to DNA damage, Crb2 localizes to distinct nuclear foci, which represent sites of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Crb2 colocalizes with Rad22 at persistent foci, suggesting that Crb2 is retained at sites of DNA damage during repair. Damage-induced Crb2 foci still form in cells defective in Rad1, Rad3, and Rad17 complexes, but these foci do not persist as long as in wild-type cells. Our results suggest that Crb2 functions at the sites of DNA damage, and its regulated persistent localization at damage sites may be involved in facilitating DNA repair and/or maintaining the checkpoint arrest while DNA repair is under way.
Creating microenvironments using encapsulated polymers

Miscible solvents are phase separated within microcapsules containing entrapped polymers, thereby creating stable, isolated microenvironments. In particular, we demonstrate that encapsulated polyethyleneimine induces phase separation of toluene and methanol and that this phase separation is well modeled by the Flory-Huggins theory. We further show the generality of microenvironment formation by phase separating tetrahydrofuran and acetone with entrapped polystyrene. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2309–2315, 2008
Local interactions between the sea and the air at monthly and annual time scales

A statistical analysis of wind, air, dew-point and sea-temperature records from all nine weather ships in the North Atlantic shows local variations between years which are highly significant when compared with variations within months. The fluctuations show a consistent pattern with a scale of more than 500 miles in the atmosphere and a persistence over several months. The horizontal extent of sea-surface temperature anomalies appears to be somewhat smaller, but they tend to last longer than air-temperature anomalies. Short-period variations in the flux of latent and sensible heat are due predominantly to atmospheric variations, particularly in winter. The effect of sea-surface temperature anomalies is somewhat greater in summer, though it becomes significant only on the annual time scale.
Arterial access and door-to-balloon times for primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients presenting with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: This study compares the transradial versus the transfemoral approach for time to intervention for patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background: Survival following STEMI is associated with reperfusion times (door-to-balloon; D2B). For patients undergoing primary PCI for acute STEMI, potential effects of transradial approach (r-PCI) as compared with the femoral artery approach (f-PCI) on D2B times have not been extensively studied. Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with STEMI at a tertiary care medical center were enrolled in a comprehensive—Heart Alert program (HA) and included in this analysis. Time parameters measured included: door-to-ECG, ECG-to-HA activation, HA activation-to-cath lab team arrival, patient arrival in cath lab to arterial access, and arterial access-to-balloon inflation. Results: Of 240 total patients, 205 underwent successful PCI (n = 124 r-PCI; n = 116 f-PCI). No significant difference was observed in the pre-cath lab times. Mean case start times for r-PCI took significantly longer (12.5 ± 5.4 min vs. 10.5 ± 5.7 min, P = 0.005) due to patient preparation. Once arterial access was obtained, balloon inflation occurred faster in the r-PCI group (18.3 vs. 24.1 min; P < 0.001). Total time from patient arrival to the cardiac cath lab to PCI was reduced in the r-PCI as compared to the f-PCI group (28.4 vs. 32.7 min, P = 0.01). There was a small but statistical difference in D2B time (r-PCI 76.4 min vs. f-PCI 86.5 min P = 0.008). Conclusions: Patients presenting with STEMI can undergo successful PCI via radial artery approach without compromise in D2B times as compared to femoral artery approach. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Communication infrastructure for emerging transmission-level smart grid applications

This paper investigates new applications in transmission system operation, protection and maintenance and discusses concerns in designing communication infrastructure to implement these applications. Requirements from such applications are highlighted by study of use cases. Standards associated with data format, communication protocols and cyber security are then identified. A generic communication infrastructure and problems in selection of communication technologies for the new applications are addressed at last.
Helix inversion in the chiral nematic and isotropic phases of a liquid crystal

Measurements of the chirality $(2\ensuremath{\pi}/\mathrm{pitch})$ in the chiral nematic phase and of a structural constant proportional to the chirality in the isotropic liquid for a system in which a helix inversion line crosses the chiral nematic to isotropic phase transition line are reported. While the chirality shows a strong temperature dependence in the chiral nematic phase, it loses all temperature dependence in the isotropic phase. In addition, the chirality in the isotropic phase is proportional to the chirality in the chiral nematic phase at the phase transition, and may in fact be continuous across the transition. While molecular field and phenomenological theories can explain the strong temperature dependence in the chiral nematic phase, including the helix inversion, these theories predict a strong discontinuity in the chirality at the phase transition that is not supported by experiment. So while a theory that includes short range molecular correlations is called for to understand the behavior of the chirality across the phase transition, theoretical attempts to explain the chirality of a phase from a microscopic level must account for the strong role played by long range orientational order.
A macroscopic model of nonlinear constitutive relations in superconductors

A macroscopic model is proposed for nonlinear electromagnetic phenomena in superconductors. Nonlinear constitutive relations are derived by modifying the linear London's equations. The superelectron number density as a function of applied macroscopic current density, n/sub s/(J), is derived from a distribution of electron velocities at a certain temperature T. At temperature T/spl ne/0 K, the function n/sub s/(J) has a smooth variation near the macroscopic critical current density J/sub c/. Agreement has been found between this n/sub s/(J,T) model and the temperature dependence of n/sub s/ in the two-fluid model. The nonlinear conductivities /spl sigma//sub s/(J) and /spl sigma//sub n/(J) are obtained from the London's equation with the modified n/sub s/(J) function. Nonlinear resistance R(I), kinetic inductance L/sub k/(I) and surface impedance Z/sub s/(I) in thin wire, slab, and strip geometries are calculated. >
Planktonic Foraminifera of the California Current Reflect 20th-Century Warming

It is currently unclear whether observed pelagic ecosystem responses to ocean warming, such as a mid-1970s change in the eastern North Pacific, depart from typical ocean variability. We report variations in planktonic foraminifera from varved sediments off southern California spanning the past 1400 years. Increasing abundances of tropical/subtropical species throughout the 20th century reflect a warming trend superimposed on decadal-scale fluctuations. Decreasing abundances of temperate/subpolar species in the late 20th century indicate a deep, penetrative warming not observed in previous centuries. These results imply that 20th-century warming, apparently anthropogenic, has already affected lower trophic levels of the California Current.
1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 down-regulates expression of prostate specific membrane antigen in prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression correlates with prostate cancer grade and is increased in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The increased expression of PSMA following androgen deprivation therapy may be a consequence of the down-regulation of PSMA expression by androgen. Moreover, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-VD) has been shown to suppress prostate cancer progression as well as cell motility and invasion. Since PSMA is positively correlated with both of these characteristics, we hypothesized that 1,25-VD would regulate PSMA expression. METHODS LNCaP prostate cancer cells were treated with 1,25-VD, followed by analysis of cell surface PSMA expression. The PSMA enhancer, located within the third intron of the PSMA gene, was cloned into a reporter vector and regulation by 1,25-VD was investigated. The role of the androgen receptor (AR) in 1,25-VD mediated suppression of PSMA expression was examined using Casodex and AR specific siRNA. RESULTS Surface expression of PSMA was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner by 10 nM 1,25-VD or greater. Regulation by 1,25-VD occurred at the level of the PSMA enhancer. Over-expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) also decreased expression of PSMA. Additionally, suppression of AR translation using siRNA technology blocked the suppressive effect of 1,25-VD on PSMA expression, however inhibition of PSMA expression by 1,25-VD occurred in the absence of androgens. CONCLUSIONS Suppression of PSMA by 1,25-VD occurs at the level of the PSMA enhancer and is elevated by over-expression of the VDR. This regulation involves the AR, but is not dependent on the presence of androgens. Prostate 68: 773–783, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Novel nonconductive adhesives/films with carbon nanotubes for high performance interconnects

Novel nonconductive adhesives/films (NCAs/NCFs) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for high performance interconnects were developed. A small amount of CNTs (0.03 wt%) was dispersed into the NCAs/NCFs to increase the thermal conductivities and at the same time to decrease the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for high thermo-mechanical reliability of the NCAs/NCFs interconnect joints. The thermal mechanical analyzer measurements showed that the CTE value of the 0.03 wt% CNTs filled NCAs/NCFs was significantly decreased. Current-voltage characterizations showed that the current carrying capabilities of the CNTs (0.03 wt%) filled NCAs/NCFs were increased 14% comparing to the unfilled NCAs/NCFs due to the more efficient thermal dissipation.
Managing risk for Cassini during Mission Operations and Data Analysis (MO&DA)

A risk management process has been tailored for Cassini that not only satisfies the requirements of NASA and JPL, but also allows the Program to proactively identify and assess risks that threaten mission objectives. Cassini risk management is a team effort that involves both management and engineering staff. The process is managed and facilitated by the Mission Assurance Manager (MAM), but requires regular interactions with Program staff and team members to instill the risk management philosophy into the day to day mission operations. While risk management is well defined for projects in the development phase, it is a relatively new concept for mission operations. The Cassini team has embraced this process and has begun using it in an effective, proactive manner, to ensure mission success. It is hoped that the Cassini risk management process will form the basis by which risk management is conducted during Mission Operations and Data Analysis (MO&DA) on future projects.
Zeros and passivity of Arnoldi-reduced-order models for interconnect networks

CAD tools and research in the area of reduced-ordermodeling of large linear interconnect networks have evolvedfrom merely finding a Pad' e approximation for the givennetwork transfer function to finding an approximate transferfunction that preserves such circuit-theoretic propertiesof the network as stability, passivity, and RLC synthesizability.In particular, preserving passivity guarantees thatthe reduced-order models will be well-behaved when embeddedback in the circuit where the interconnect networkoriginated. While stability can be ascertained by studyingthe poles of the reduced-order transfer function, passivitydepends on both the poles and zeros of the networkdriving-point impedance. In this paper, we present a novelmethod for studying the zeros of reduced-order transferfunctions and show how it yields conclusions about passivityand synthesizability. Moreover, in order to obtain aguaranteed-passive reduced-order model for multiport RCnetworks, a new algorithm based on the Arnoldi iteration ispresented. This algorithm is as computationallyefficient asthe one used to generate guaranteed-stable reduced-ordermodels [Coordinate-transformed Arnoldi for generating guranteed stable reduced-order models for RLC circuits].
An analysis of N Schwarz inverters driving a common AC bus

Electric power systems for future spacecraft may need distribution networks with multiple inputs and outputs. One way of achieving such a system is to connect Schwarz inverters in parallel to drive a common AC bus. A steady state model is derived to calculate certain variables of interest and to predict how these inverters will share the load.
Mechanistic model for microbial growth on hydrocarbons

Based on available information describing the transport and consumption of insoluble alkanes, a mechanistic model is proposed for microbial growth on hydrocarbons. The model describes the atypical growth kinetics observed, and has implications in the design of large scale equipment for single cell protein (SCP) manufacture from hydrocarbons. The model presents a framework for comparison of the previously published experimental kinetic data.
Shannon Expansion Based Supply-Gated Logic for Improved Power and Testability

Structural transformation of a design to enhance its testability while satisfying design constraints on power and performance, can result in improved test cost and test confidence. In this paper, we analyze the testability in a new style of logic design based on Shannons decomposition and supply gating. We observe that tree structure of a logic circuit due to Shannons decomposition makes it intrinsically more testable than conventionally synthesized circuit, while at the same time entailing an improvement in active power. We have analyzed three different aspects of testability of a circuit: a) IDDQ test sensitivity b) test power during scan-based testing, and c) test length (for both ATPG-generated deterministic and random patterns). Simulation results on a set of MCNC benchmarks show promising results on all the above aspects. We have also demonstrated that the new logic structure can improve parametric yield of a circuit under process variations when considering a bound on circuit leakage.
Second messenger function of phosphatidic acid in platelet activation

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is synthesized as the result of the receptor-mediated response of platelets to physiologic agonists. The role of PA in platelet signal transduction, however, is largely unknown. We have examined the responses of platelets to 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl phosphatidic acid (SAPA), the predominant molecular species of human platelet PA. SAPA alone causes platelet aggregation, and pretreatment of platelets with SAPA markedly enhances thrombin-induced aggregation and secretion. Addition of SAPA to intact human platelets causes rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and the generation of diacylglycerol and endogenous PA. These reactions are associated with mobilization of intracellular calcium and activation of protein kinase C. SAPA also stimulates the release of endogenous arachidonic acid and its conversion to thromboxane A2. Furthermore, platelet activation by SAPA is blocked by indomethacin, indicating that the actions of SAPA are mediated by cyclooxygenase products. These findings suggest that SAPA may play an important role as an endogenous positive feedback signal to amplify receptor-mediated activation of PIP2-specific phospholipase C in human platelets.
Relationship between Reported Commercial Landings and Abundance of Young Striped Bass in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

Abstract The ability to predict subsequent landings of striped bass Morone saxatilis from the indices of abundance of juveniles (young of the year) determined annually by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources was evaluated by multiple-regression techniques. About 57% of the variation in reported landings could be accounted for by the juvenile indices 2, 3, 4, and 5 years prior to the year of the landings for the period 1959–1983. Elimination of the first 4 years of record (1959–1962) increased the R2 to 0.83. The regressions of reported landings on the indices of ages 2–5 striped bass for the periods 1964–1973 and 1974–1983 indicated that mortality in the fishable stock increased between the two periods. These results support the use of the juvenile indices for monitoring recruitment into the population and as a basis for management decisions.
A STRATEGY FOR SCHEDULING PARTIALLY ORDERED PROGRAM GRAPHS ONTO MULTICOMPUTERS

The issue of scalability is key to the success of massively parallel processing. Due to their distributed nature, message-passing multicomputers are appropriate for achieving scalar performance. However, the message-passing model lacks programmability due to difficulties encountered by the programmers to partition and schedule the computation over the processors and to establish efficient inter-processor communication in the user code. Therefore, this paper presents a compile-time scheduling heuristic, called BLS, that maps programs onto the processors of a message-passing multicomputer. In contrast to other methods proposed, BLS takes a more global approach in attempt to balance the tradeoff between exploiting parallelism and reducing communication overhead. To evaluate the effectiveness of BLS, simulation studies of scheduling SISAL programs are presented.
Glutaminase-γ-Glutamyltransferase: Subcellular Localization and Ammonia Production in Acidosis

In the rat kidney, glutamine is utilized by either the mitochondria1 glutaminase 1 -glutamate dehydrogenase pathway (1-3) or a glutaminase-y-glutamyltransferase pathway (4-6). The subcellular location of the glutaminase-y-glutamyltransferase is unknown, although if localized in the cytosol, it would lend support to the previously proposed hypot hesis (7) postulating glut amine utilization by dual pathways. The present study was designed (i) to determine its subcellular location and (ii) to determine its quantitative contribution to ammonia production by acidotic kidneys perfused with 1 mM L-glutamine. Materials and Methods. Male Sprague
Habitat and Microhabitat Features Associated with Cowbird Parasitism in Two Forest Edge Cowbird Hosts

I examined the relationship of habitat and nest microhabitat features of Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) and Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) to brood parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) in central Missouri. In old field habitats, Indigo Buntings were more frequently parasitized than Field Sparrows, but Indigo Buntings nesting in forested habitat were parasitized at higher frequencies than buntings in old fields. Logistic regression models showed that nest concealment best explained parasitism for all Indigo Buntings and field-nesting Indigo Buntings, with poorly concealed nests more likely to be parasitized. However, side concealment was not related to parasitism for heavily-parasitized Indigo Buntings in forested habitats. Microhabitat variables did not explain parasitism at Field Sparrow nests, but their nests were lower and better concealed than field-nesting Indigo Buntings. Results suggest that nest microhabitat features may influence probability of parasitism, but species and habitat characteristics may override microhabitat in explaining frequency of parasitism.
Weasel Preys on Larval Salamander

On August 27, 1954, while on a short hike up the Wahkeena Falls Trail in the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland, Oregon, Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Kirkpatrick, my wife and myself had the opportunity of watching a weasel ( Mustela frenata ) hunting. The animal was first seen coming up the trail over which we had just walked. It nosed along checking all …
A New Graphical Test for Multivariate Normality

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTA new methodology for assessing distributional assumptions of multivariate data, with graphical applications, is presented. The underlying procedure is based on transforming the multivariate sample into a set of uncorrelated samples and representing the order statistics of each transformed sample by linked vectors in a two dimensional space. The proposed method is described and its properties discussed. The multivariate normality tests are reviewed and a new classification scheme for them is proposed. The new test is then compared with a selection of the “best” competing ones under an exhaustive Monte Carlo study. A selection of “best” tests for several non normal alternatives, with advantages and disadvantages, is given. Graphical aspects of the new procedure are discussed.
Physiological Character and Gene Mapping of Virescent Mutant Line ds93in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Green-revertible albino mutant is useful genetic resource for studying chlorophyll biosynthesis,chloroplast development and cloning genes involved in these processes in plants.A green-revertible albino mutant lines,named ds93,was found in a set of chromosome segment substitution lines(CSSLs)that were developed from cross between the cultivar 9311 as recipient parent and a common wild rice accession DP30 as donor parent.The phenotypic characteristic and thermosensitivity traits were identified by the measurement of chlorophyll content and the observation of chloroplast ultrastructure.An F2 population was developed by crossing ds93 and 9311 to reveal the genetic basis of this variation.The results showed that the green-revertible albino trait of mutant lines ds93 was related to temperature.At 16 ℃,18 ℃and 20 ℃ temperature conditions,the initial three leaves of ds93 showed white color,but developed normal green leaves under the temperature higher than 23 ℃.Therefore,the shift temperature for albino phenotype was predicted to be around 20 ℃.Genetic analysis indicated that the albino phenotype was controlled by a single recessive locus.Gene ds93 was initially mapped between the SSR markers RM5777 and RM7390 on chromosome 9,with the genetic distance of 2.2 cM and 3.5 cM,respectively.Comparative analysis on F2 agronomy traits of ds93 and 9311 indicated that the mutated gene didn't affect plant height,panicle length,effective tillers per plants,grain width,grain setting ratio,1000-grain weight as well as yield per plant at maturity,but significantly affected grain number per panicle and grain length.
149 EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE ON EXPRESSION OF P85α AND PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 3-KINASE ACTIVITY IN 3T3-L1 CELLS AND EPIDIDYMAL FAT OF WILD-TYPE AND P85α+/- MICE.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-k) plays a critical role in mediating metabolic signaling of insulin. PI 3-k consists of a regulatory p85 (with p85α being the major isoform) and a catalytic p110 subunits. The regulatory subunit p85 exists in excess to p110, creating a certain balance between the free p85 monomer and a p85-p110 heterodimer complex that possesses PI 3-k activity. Because p85 monomer competes with the heterodimer for the IRS-1 binding sites, increases in p85 expression displace p85-p110 heterodimer from IRS-1, resulting in a decreased PI 3-k activity. This can occur in type 2 diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy, when insulin resistance is induced by human placental growth hormone (GH). In this study we tested the direct effect of GH on p85a expression in 3T3-L1 cells and in fat cells obtained from wild-type (WT) mice and mice with heterozygous deletion of p85α+/-. Results Incubation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes with increasing concentrations of rat recombinant GH (0, 500, and 2,500 ng/mL) for 24 hr increased p85α protein expression by approximately 250% (p Conclusions GH induces insulin resistance by increasing expression of p85α and creating an imbalance between the subunits of PI 3-k. Increases in p85α compete with p85-p110 heterodimer at the IRS-1 binding sites, resulting in decreased PI 3-k activity.
A study on the effects of fluoride foam on dental caries among kindergarten children

Objective To study the effect of the application of fluoride foam on kindergarten children for pre- venting dental caries. Methods The fluoride foam preventive therapy was carried on a study group of 197 children with,dental caries.Another 180 children of the same situation were not given such treatment.A 2- year clinical follow-up was taken to study the incidence of dental caries of the two groups. Results Before the study,the caries incidence of the prevention group was 62.94%,and that of the control group was 61.67%,the result showed no statistically significant difference(P0.05).After the prevent treatment of fluoride foam was applied,during the clinical follow-up period,the incidence of dental caries of prevention group significantly dropped to 41.12%,while that of the control group was 73.89%,and the difference be- tween them was statistically significant.In addition,the prevention group added 14new cases(7.11%),yet the control group added 37new cases(20.56%).The statistics for the prevention group was much better than that of control group(P0.05),and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusions Fluoride foam used among preschool children,especially kindergarten children has a positive effect on the prevention of dent- al caries.
Riboflavin Reduces Edema in Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Oxidized iron has been proposed as a mediator of the free radicalinduced damage that occurs during cerebral ischemia. Dihydroriboflavin, a compound produced from riboflavin (B2) by NADPH-dependent flavin reductase, rapidly reduces oxidized iron. Since treatment with riboflavin offers protection from ischemic injury in other tissues, we tested the effect of pretreatment with B2 on brain edema formation during focal ischemia.
From Solution Spectroscopy to Image Spectroscopy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some basic concepts and techniques used in the study of fluorescence of solutions and their possible application in investigations of living cells. The fluorescence spectroscopy of solutions has developed rapidly during the last 30 years, and the most important advances have been those related to the purely methodological aspects. For emissions in the ultraviolet and visible regions of the spectrum one can count reliably and efficiently the number of emitted photons, thus, closely approaching the theoretical limit in sensitivity of detection, and the numerical manipulation of the data can be accomplished in many cases in parallel with the acquisition. The uncertainty in the measurements of fluorimetric intensity follows a simple rule: as the emission is a Poisson process, the standard deviation is simply given by the square root of the number of accumulated photon counts. One is, thus, able to collect, digest, and evaluate numerically the reliability of the data and to optimally extract the information available in the fluorescence emission.
Turning Long and Short Return Histories into Equal Histories: A Better Way to Backfill Returns

Standard quantitative portfolio analysis techniques, including mean-variance analysis, historical risk and performance estimation, and various portfolio optimization techniques, implicitly require all assets under consideration having the same length of return histories. Unfortunately, it is often the case that certain assets have shorter return histories than others. We present a method, which is a significant improvement over an existing technique, for efficiently backfilling missing returns while accounting for non-normal distributions.
Contested Empire: Rethinking the Texas Revolution. Edited by Sam W. Haynes and Gerald D. Saxon

Contested Empire: Rethinking the Texas Revolution . Walter Prescott Webb Memorial Lectures Series. Edited by Sam W. Haynes and Gerald D. Saxon. (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2015. x + 174 pp. Illustrations, maps, notes, index. $30.00.) This brief volume consists of five essays written by established historians who now examine distinct aspects of Texas’s separation from Mexico. Since the work is not thematic, each contribution ought to be considered separately. Two of the essays examine Texas in a Mexican context. Miguel Soto poses a two-stage argument: that the massive land grants of the 1824–1835 period diminished Mexico’s control of the territory well before the 1836 revolt erupted and that the Mexican government and many of that … Irving.levinson{at}utrgv.edu
A pre-tracer approach for improving the accuracy of metabolic measurements by hyperpolarized nuclear magnetic resonance.

Hyperpolarized nuclear magnetic resonance (HP-NMR) can probe the reaction kinetics of metabolic enzymes in vivo (1), and the translation of this technology into human patients based on the most commonly used tracer 13 C-pyruvate has been initiated in recent years (2). Currently the metabolite signal ratios are used as indicators for biological processes in healthy and diseased status. For example, to probe the reaction of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) with hyperpolarized 13 C-pyruvate, the peak, mean, or integrated (area-under-curve) signal ratios of 13 C-lactate to 13 C-pyruvate are used to differentiate tumor and normal tissues, and to evaluate treatment response (3-5). However, these ratios do not have clearly defined biochemical meaning, and it is desirable to quantify the reaction rate constants.
Fluoroquinolone Prophylaxis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients Undergoing Post-Remission Chemotherapy Reduces Hospital Admission Rates

Abstract 2570 Background: High-dose cytarabine (HIDAC) is a standard treatment for younger AML patients (pts) receiving post-remission chemotherapy. The risk for febrile neutropenia (FN) is high among these pts and considered a medical emergency, requiring prompt hospital admission and treatment. In 2004 our institution adopted the use of fluoroquinolones (FQ) for bacterial prophylaxis in AML pts receiving HIDAC. We compared rates of hospital admission due to FN before and after the initiation of bacterial prophylaxis with FQ. We also evaluated the incidence of blood stream infections (BSI) and the incidence of resistant infections among the two groups. Methods: We identified AML (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia) pts receiving cytarabine-based remission induction chemotherapy at Cleveland Clinic who achieved a complete remission and then were treated with HIDAC post-remission chemotherapy (cytarabine dose of 3000mg/m2 × 6) from 1997–2008. Pts receiving FQ prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin 500mg twice daily or levofloxacin 500mg once daily comprised the treatment group, while AML patients with no prophylaxis served as controls. Pts were excluded if they developed an episode of FN during hospital admission for HIDAC or received non-FQ bacterial prophylaxis. Categorical data and continuous variables were analyzed per chemotherapy cycle using Fishers exact test and independent-sample t-tests, respectively. Results: 80 pts received HIDAC post-remission chemotherapy during the study period; 52 received FQ prophylaxis; 28 did not. A total of 198 chemotherapy cycles were administered, 148 in the FQ group and 50 in the control group. The mean age (+/−SD) of the entire cohort was 44.8 (11.4) years; 53% were female. Despite the decreased use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in the FQ group (12% vs. 50%, p Conclusion: AML pts treated with HIDAC chemotherapy followed by FQ prophylaxis had fewer and shorter hospital admissions due to FN compared to pts with no prophylaxis. FQ treated patients were at increased risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacterial BSI. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Breast cancer risk factors among women in same-sex relationships

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 3221 Background: It has been hypothesized that women who have sex with women (WSW) may be at higher risk for breast cancer based on a spectrum of risk factors, but few population-based data exist to describe risks among these women. The purpose of this study is to describe breast cancer-related health behaviors among women in same-sex relationships. Methods: In the pooled 1997-2002 National Health Interview Surveys, we identified persons living in a same-sex relationship (SSR) and individuals living in an opposite-sex relationship (OSR). We used weighted chi-square tests to compare SSR and OSR subjects with respect to body mass index, alcohol intake, parity, age at first birth, and oral contraceptive use (OCs); we then used weighted logistic regression modeling to compare risk factors while controlling for age, race, region, educational attainment, income, and urbanicity of residence. Results: The study sample included 261 SSR and 24,998 OSR women. SSR women were much less likely to have ever given birth (32.5% vs. 83.3%, p 30) compared to OSR (31.5% and 24.5%, p=0.03). SSR women were more likely to be current (69.8%) or former (17.8%) alcohol drinkers than were OSR women (62.1% and 13.9%, p=0.0008). After controlling for explanatory factors, SSR women were much less likely to have ever given birth (OR=0.10, 95%CI: 0.05-0.19) or ever used OCs (OR=0.23, 0.11-0.47). SSR women were more likely to be overweight or obese (OR=1.75, 1.27-2.41), and over twice as likely to be current or former alcohol drinkers (OR=2.23, 1.24-4.04). Conclusions: We recommend targeting WSW in breast screening programs.