cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract Tp117: Mir-15a/16-1 Cluster Inhibits Angiogenesis In Mouse After Ischemic Stroke

Angiogenesis may occur as a natural defense response against neurological diseases. Accumulating studies have shown that post-ischemic angiogenesis promotes functional recovery after ischemic stroke and is related to longer survival time in ischemic stroke patients. MicroRNAs (miRs) have been documented as a novel family of noncoding small RNAs that negatively modulate protein expression in various organisms. Recent studies have revealed important roles for miRs in regulating angiogenesis. However, the function of miRs in the angiogenic processes after ischemic stroke is unknown. We have previously demonstrated that the miR-15a/16-1 cluster has an anti-survival role in ischemia-induced endothelial cell death. Here we further investigate the role of the miR-15a/16-1 cluster in the regulation of post-ischemic angiogenesis. We have shown that expression of the miR-15a/16-1 cluster is significantly increased in the cerebral vasculature at the penumbral area 7 days after mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Accordingly, in comparison with the wild-type animals, endothelial cell (EC)-selective miR-15a/16-1 transgenic overexpression leads to reduced cerebral blood vessel formation, increased brain infarction and neurological deficits in mice 7 days post-MCAO. Mechanistically, lentivirus-mediated miR-15a/16-1 gain- or loss-of-function reduces or increases FGFR1 and VEGF mRNA or protein levels in mouse cerebral vascular endothelial cell cultures, respectively. Through the bioinformatics analysis, 3’UTR luciferase reporter assays, and immunoassays, we further found that miR-15a and miR-16-1 bind to the 3’UTR of FGFR1 or VEGF mRNA, and directly inhibit FGFR1 and VEGF activities. Our findings suggest the miR-15a/16-1 cluster can suppress post-ischemic cerebral angiogenesis through direct inhibition of endothelial FGFR1 and VEGF activities. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of miR-15a/16-1 cluster-mediated angiogenesis will provide new insights into the understanding of miR function in the post-ischemic neurovascular remodeling and neurological recovery and open a new area with potential promise for further development of neurorestorative therapies after ischemic stroke.
Build-up and regression of inhibitory effects of cholic acid on in vivo liver cholesterol synthesis.

SummaryA study of sequence of events during initiation and regression of inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by dietary cholic acid was made in rats. In the initiation study, increases of liver cholesterol and serum bile acid levels paralleled decreases of liver cholesterol-x-C14 activity. There was a decrease in liver phospholipid during the same time interval. In the regression study, serum bile acid and liver cholesterol returned to control levels more rapidly than the rate of liver cholesterol synthesis. The results suggest that dietary cholic acid initially elevates liver cholesterol, which in turn leads to the inhibition of acetate-1-C14 incorporation into liver cholesterol.
The Avian Egg: Surface Area, Volume, and Density

The surface area of the avian egg through which the developing embryo must exchange heat, metabolic gases, and water vapor is a variable of prime importance for quantitation of the permeability of the egg shell to these substances. Surface-area measurements are necessary if one is to compare the permeability properties of shells ranging in size from less than 0.5 g in hummingbirds, to 1.5 kg in the Ostrich (Struthio camelus), and to more than 10 kg in the extinct Aepyornis. In the course of experiments designed to measure and compare the water vapor permeability of eggs of many species (Ar et al. 1974), we found it necessary to develop a method of measuring surface area that was both convenient and accurate.
Leadership and Mindfulness

This chapter, possibly more so than others, focuses on leadership as a process that begins within the leader. The underlying assumption in this chapter is that we cannot be good leaders to others if we cannot lead ourselves well. The chapter touches on a behavioral pattern to which many people fall prey: the sleepwalking mode. People who sleepwalk, move through the motions of personal and professional life without questioning whether they still matter to them. Mindfulness, the opposite of sleepwalking, is a critical skill for a leader to develop and maintain, because it has a major influence on the type of decisions this leader will make, and the type of influence this leader will have onto followers.
Practicality analysis for fault diagnosis of medium-scale grounding grid

To implement the practicality for fault diagnosis methods of medium-scale grounding grid, fault diagnosis model was established combining electrical network theory with sensitivity analysis in this paper. By simulation analysis of fault diagnosis, a new method which is used to select the node pairs to calculate the corrosion situation of grounding grid was presented. Based on this method, the fault branch of grounding grid can be efficiently judged through topology diagram and port resistance without power failure and the excavation of large area. Field test was carried out at 220 kV electrical substations using the diagnosis method, the result was identical to the diagnosis results, indicating that this diagnosis method has engineering practicality.
Basic Economic Considerations Affecting Single And Multiple Purpose Projects

A practical analysis of a given condition is followed throughout the paper. The writer has defined an exemplary area and discusses data collected as a result of field investigations. The paper is s...
Psychological Facet Development: Cognitive Experiences

This chapter focuses on the distinctive ways focalizing characters think in the ten novels. Thinking structures construe 47 different types of cognitive experiences including believing, deciding, expecting, imagining, knowing, questioning, realizing, recollecting, and theorizing. Distinctive thinking-patterns develop in each novel and are examined at length in this chapter. These patterns include thinks in complex ways, poses questions about own actions and other people’s thinking, dreams about past events, and a pattern of thinking that is unique to one focalization, schematic thinking. Augmented, reconfigured, and emergent thinking-patterns in selected novels are examined in detail.
Sugar Blowing-Induced Porous Cobalt Phosphide/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanostructures with Enhanced Electrochemical Oxidation Performance toward Water and Other Small Molecules.

Rational design of high active and robust nonprecious metal catalysts with excellent catalytic efficiency in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is extremely vital for making the water splitting process more energy efficient and economical. Among these noble metal-free catalysts, transition-metal-based nanomaterials are considered as one of the most promising OER catalysts due to their relatively low-cost intrinsic activities, high abundance, and diversity in terms of structure and morphology. Herein, a facile sugar-blowing technique and low-temperature phosphorization are reported to generate 3D self-supported metal involved carbon nanostructures, which are termed as Co2P@Co/nitrogen-doped carbon (Co2P@Co/N-C). By capitalizing on the 3D porous nanostructures with high surface area, homogeneously dispersed active sites, the intimate interaction between active sites, and 3D N-doped carbon, the resultant Co2P@Co/N-C exhibits satisfying OER performance superior to CoO@Co/N-C, delivering 10 mA cm−2 at overpotential of 0.32 V. It is worth noting that in contrast to the substantial current density loss of RuO2, Co2P@Co/N-C shows much enhanced catalytic activity during the stability test and a 1.8-fold increase in current density is observed after stability test. Furthermore, the obtained Co2P@Co/N-C can also be served as an excellent nonprecious metal catalyst for methanol and glucose electrooxidation in alkaline media, further extending their potential applications.
Early Change in Stroke Size Performs Best in Predicting Response to Therapy

Background: Reliable imaging biomarkers of response to therapy in acute stroke are needed. The final infarct volume and percent of early reperfusion have been used for this purpose. Early fluctuation in stroke size is a recognized phenomenon, but its utility as a biomarker for response to therapy has not been established. This study examined the clinical relevance of early change in stroke volume and compared it with the final infarct volume and percent of early reperfusion in identifying early neurologic improvement (ENI). Methods: Acute stroke patients, enrolled between 2013 and 2014 with serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (pretreatment baseline, 2 h post, and 24 h post), who received thrombolysis were included in the analysis. Early change in stroke volume, infarct volume at 24 h on diffusion, and percent of early reperfusion were calculated from the baseline and 2 h MRI scans were compared. ENI was defined as ≥4 point decrease in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scales within 24 h. Logistic regression models and receiver operator characteristics analysis were used to compare the efficacy of 3 imaging biomarkers. Results: Serial MRIs of 58 acute stroke patients were analyzed. Early change in stroke volume was significantly associated with ENI by logistic regression analysis (OR 0.93, p = 0.048) and remained significant after controlling for stroke size and severity (OR 0.90, p = 0.032). Thus, for every 1 mL increase in stroke volume, there was a 10% decrease in the odds of ENI, while for every 1 mL decrease in stroke volume, there was a 10% increase in the odds of ENI. Neither infarct volume at 24 h nor percent of early reperfusion were significantly associated with ENI by logistic regression. Receiver-operator characteristic analysis identified early change in stroke volume as the only biomarker of the 3 that performed significantly different than chance ( p = 0.03). Conclusions: Early fluctuations in stroke size may represent a more reliable biomarker for response to therapy than the more traditional measures of final infarct volume and percent of early reperfusion.
Student Mobilization, Higher Education, and the 2013 Protests in Brazil in Historical Perspective

This article analyzes student mobilization and public discourse on higher education during the June 2013 protests in Brazil in an effort to situate the protests historically. I argue that higher education was a major, yet overlooked, component of the 2013 protests, and that concerns over the failings and shortcomings of Brazil’s university system had deeper roots in institutional problems and student discourses on education, society, and democracy. These historical inequalities combined with institutional memories that offered students models and examples of past mobilization and allowed them to tie their present-day concerns to past examples of student politics. I consider the ways in which the often-overlooked question of educational reform offers insights into ongoing social inequalities in Brazil, the failure of various regimes to address structural issues, and how students in 2013 looked to the past while simultaneously drawing on their own particular educational contingencies. This article situates 2013 historically while exploring the ways in which higher education in the twenty-first century has transformed, even as it remains an important part of political and social struggles between society and the state. Finally, this article explores how the 2013 protests in Brazil reflect ongoing struggles to define the role of the state in society, not just in Brazil but in the Americas more generally.
Forcing Ladderenes into Plastic Semiconductors with Mechanochemistry

May the force be with you: Xia, Burns, Martinez, and co-workers harnessed the ring strain of ladderenes to enable both their polymerization and mechanochemical unzipping to yield semiconducting polyacetylene-based block copolymers. These materials have promise as functional polymers for applications such as detection of physical stress.
Estimating properties of the fast and slow adaptive processes during sensorimotor adaptation

Motor learning is supported by multiple adaptive processes, each with distinct error sensitivity and forgetting rates. We developed a generalized expectation maximization algorithm that uncovers th...
The Future of Technology in Positive Psychology: Methodological Advances in the Science of Well-Being

Advances in biotechnology and information technology are poised to transform well-being research. This article reviews the technologies that we predict will have the most impact on both measurement and intervention in the field of positive psychology over the next decade. These technologies include: psychopharmacology, non-invasive brain stimulation, virtual reality environments, and big-data methods for large-scale multivariate analysis. Some particularly relevant potential costs and benefits to individual and collective well-being are considered for each technology as well as ethical considerations. As these technologies may substantially enhance the capacity of psychologists to intervene on and measure well-being, now is the time to discuss the potential promise and pitfalls of these technologies.
Structural equation modeling of health belief model influences on exercise behavior among medical center employees

This investigation examined the factor structure of a Health Belief Model (HBM) Inventory designed to assess motivation for participation in physical activity. Although the HBM has long been suggested as a framework for understanding decisions related to one's health, there has been only one previous research effort directed at empirical validation of the HBM constructs in relation to exercise behavior. Consequently, this study examined the factor structure of a revised, 53-item version of the Health Belief Model Inventory consisting of six factors. These six hypothesized factors represented five components of the health
Spectral Methods for Time-Dependent Variable-Coefficient PDE Based on Block Gaussian Quadrature

Krylov subspace spectral (KSS) methods have previously been applied to the variable-coefficient heat equation and wave equation, as well as systems of coupled equations such as Maxwell’s equations, and have demonstrated high-order accuracy, as well as stability characteristic of implicit time-stepping schemes, even though KSS methods are explicit. KSS methods compute each Fourier coefficient of the solution using techniques developed by Gene Golub and Gerard Meurant for approximating elements of functions of matrices by Gaussian quadrature in the spectral, rather than physical, domain. In this paper, we review the most effective type of KSS method, that relies on block Gaussian quadrature, and compare its performance to that of Krylov subspace methods from the literature.
Data Farming: Concepts and Methods

A typical data mining project uses data collected for various purposes, ranging from routinely gathered data, to process improvement projects, and to data required for archival purposes. In some cases, the set of considered features might be large (a wide data set) and sufficient for extraction of knowledge. In other cases the data set might be narrow and insufficient to extract meaningful knowledge or the data may not even exist.
Determination of Stress Free Temperature in Composite Laminates for Residual Stress Modeling

As the complexity of composite laminates rises, the use of hybrid structures and multi-directional laminates, large operating temperature ranges, the process induced residual stresses become a significant factor in the design. In order to properly model the initial stress state of a structure, a solid understanding of the stress free temperature, the temperature at which the initial crosslinks are formed, as well as the contribution of cure shrinkage, must be measured. Many in industry have moved towards using complex cure kinetics models with the assistance of commercial software packages such as COMPRO. However, in this study a simplified residual stress model using the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch and change in temperature from the stress free temperature are used. The limits of this simplified model can only be adequately tested using an accurate measure of the stress free temperature. Only once that is determined can the validity of the simplified model be determined. Various methods were used in this study to test for the stress free temperature and their results are used to validate each method. Two approaches were taken, both involving either cobonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) or glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) to aluminum. The first method used a composite-aluminum plate which was allowed to warp due to the residual stress. The other involved producing a geometrical stable hybrid composite-aluminum cylinder which was then cut open to allow it to spring in. Both methods placed the specimens within an environmental chamber and tracked the residual stress induced deformation as the temperature was ramped beyond the stress free temperature. Both methods revealed a similar stress free temperature that could then be used in future cure modeling simulations.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells: The Future is Now.

The immune system acting via cancer immune-surveillance is considered a potential target for improving outcomes among some malignancies. The ability to harness immune cells, engineer them and educate them to target cancer cells has changed the paradigm for treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown remarkable anti-tumor activity against refractory B cell malignancies. Ongoing research aims to expand the scope of this adoptive cell therapy, understanding mechanisms of resistance and reducing toxicity. In this review, we will discuss the current scope of CAR T-cell therapy and ongoing future applications.
Trajectory of Physical Functioning Among Persons Living With HIV in Nursing Homes.

Abstract Objective(s) To examine the change in physical functional status among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in nursing homes (NHs) and how change varies with age and dementia. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting NHs in 14 states in the United States. Participants PLWH who were admitted to NHs between 2001 and 2010 and had stays of ≥90 days (N = 3550). Measurements We linked Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) and Minimum Data Set (MDS) data for NH residents in the sampled states and years and used them to determine HIV infection. The main outcome was improvement in physical functional status, defined as a decrease of at least 4 points in the activities of daily living (ADL) score within 90 days of NH admission. Independent variables of interest were age and dementia (Alzheimer's disease or other dementia). Multivariate logistic regression was used, adjusting for individual-level covariates. Results The average age on NH admission of PLWH was 58. Dementia prevalence ranged from 14.5% in the youngest age group (age Conclusions/relevance PLWH, especially younger persons, may be able to improve their ADL function after being admitted into NHs. However, with older age, PLWH with dementia are more physically dependent and vulnerable to deterioration of physical functioning in NHs. More and/or specialized care may be needed to maintain physical functioning among this population. Findings from this study provide NHs with information on care needs of PLWH and inform future research on developing interventions to improve care for PLWH in NHs.
Adenoviral Keratoconjunctivitis: Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention

This review will provide an updated overview of the diagnosis, management, and prevention of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. Human adenovirus (HAdV) is undergoing nomenclature changes because of whole genome sequencing. Recombination has led to newly identified ocular pathogens like HAdV-D53, HAdV-D54, and HAdV-D56. No quick, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test is available for ocular adenoviral infections. PCR takes a few hours but is not widely available. Results of using PCR in employees at one medical center support the view of endemic HAdV in the community. Infection control is highly important as no treatment for ocular HAdV infections exists, ocular sequelae can be significant, and HAdV is endemic. Diagnosis of HAdV ocular infections can be challenging; ophthalmologists are best positioned to diagnose the condition and provide antibiotic stewardship. Development of an accurate diagnostic test with quick turnaround would lead to major benefits in terms of less antibiotic use and fewer work furloughs. Outbreaks occur when infection control becomes lax.
Linear and circular CDKN2B-AS1 expression is associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and participates in intestinal barrier formation.

Abstract Aims The role of long non-coding RNA's (lncRNA) in the biology of ulcerative colitis (UC) is not well understood. We have previously detected changes in lncRNA's associated with UC. This study aims to characterize one specific lncRNA, CDKN2B-AS1 whose expression was downregulated in UC patients. Main methods UC biopsies were used to determine the levels of linear and circular CDKN2B-AS1 relative to healthy controls. In situ hybridization was used to determine the localization of CKDN2B-AS1 in the colon. The intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2, was used to study the effects of shRNA mediated loss of CDKN2B-AS1. Transepithelial electrical resistance was used to measure barrier function. An RT-PCR array, immunoblots and immunohistochemistry were used to determine tight junction proteins that CDKN2B-AS1 regulates. Key findings CDKN2B-AS1 is transcribed into not only linear transcripts but also as circular RNA through back-splicing and both forms are decreased in IBD. CDKN2B-AS1 is expressed mainly in colonic epithelial cells. Cells with down-regulated CDKN2B-AS1 exhibited increased proliferation and no alterations in apoptosis. Targeting both the linear and circular transcripts of CDKN2B-AS1 with short hairpin RNAs enhanced barrier function. We subsequently determined that Claudin-2, a “leaky Claudin” known to decrease barrier function, was decreased in CDKN2B-AS1 knockdown cells. Significance This study identifies a novel lncRNA with both linear and circular transcripts affecting UC biology.
In AF with recent ACS or PCI, apixaban reduced bleeding vs VKAs; aspirin increased bleeding vs placebo

Source Citation Lopes RD, Heizer G, Aronson R, et al; AUGUSTUS Investigators. Antithrombotic therapy after acute coronary syndrome or PCI in atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2019;380:1509-24. 308...
A qualitative exploration of potential determinants of accelerated summer weight gain among school-age children: perspectives from parents.

There is growing evidence that school children in the United States gain weight more rapidly during the summer than the school year, but few studies have explored the causes of this phenomenon. The goal of this study was to qualitatively explore potential determinants of accelerated summer weight gain by interviewing parents of school-age children. Key informant interviews were conducted with parents of third and fourth grade students enrolled in a school-based physical activity intervention in three peri-urban communities in Eastern Massachusetts. A structured interview guide was developed to assess school year and summertime differences in child diet, physical activity, daily routine, and family rules. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and major themes were identified using thematic analysis. Summer activities varied substantially by family. Many parents characterized summer as a time with less structure and more relaxed rules, particularly around bedtime and screen use. Parents perceived their child to be more physically active in the summer and reported few barriers to summertime physical activity. Parents reported increases in both positive (increased consumption of fruits and vegetables) and negative (increased consumption of “sweets” and “junk foods”) dietary behaviors. They highlighted several stressors unique to summer, such as the high cost of camps and the need to coordinate childcare and manage children’s time. Parents perceived their children to be more physically active in the summer and consume more fruits and vegetables than during the school year. However, they also perceived children to consume more energy-dense, nutrient poor foods, engage in more screen time, and have later bedtimes during the summer. These behaviors are important targets for summertime obesity prevention interventions. Large-scale quantitative studies are needed to determine whether these parent perceptions reflect meaningful risk factors for accelerated summer weight gain.
Outcomes of Adenotonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to obesity, hypotonia, and abnormal ventilatory responses. We evaluated post-adenotonsillectomy complications, polysomnography changes, and quality of life in children with OSA and PWS. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus. Two researchers independently reviewed studies about adenotonsillectomy for OSA in patients <21 years with PWS. We extracted study design, patient numbers, age, complications, polysomnography, and quality of life. We pooled postoperative changes in apnea hypopnea index (AHI) for meta-analysis. We applied Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) criteria to assess study quality. RESULTS The initial search yielded 169 studies. We included 68 patients from eight studies with moderate to high risk of bias. Six studies reported on complications and 12 of 51 patients (24%) had at least one. Velopharyngeal insufficiency was the most commonly reported complication (7/51, 14%). We included seven studies in meta-analysis. Mean postoperative improvement in AHI was 7.7 (95% CI: 4.9-10.5). Postoperatively 20% (95% CI: 3%-43%) had resolution of OSA with AHI < 1.5 while 67% (95% CI: 50%-82%) had improvement from severe/moderate OSA to mild/resolved (AHI < 5). Two studies evaluated quality of life and demonstrated improvement. CONCLUSIONS Children with PWS undergoing adenotonsillectomy for OSA have a substantial risk of postoperative complications that may require additional interventions, especially velopharyngeal insufficiency. Despite improvements in polysomnography and quality of life, many patients had residual OSA. This information can be used to counsel families when considering OSA treatment options. Laryngoscope, 131:898-906, 2021.
Vasopressors in traumatic brain injury: Quantifying their effect on mortality

Abstract Background The benefits of vasopressor (VP) use to improve clinical outcomes in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unknown. We sought to characterize the use of VP in TBI patients and evaluate its impact on mortality. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all TBI patients admitted to an ICU at a Level I trauma center from January 2014 to August 2016. Patients who had any VP administered (VP+) were compared to those who did not (VP-). Results Among the 556 patients analyzed, 83 (14.9%) received VP. The overall mortality was 9.2%, significantly higher in the VP + cohort (42.2% vs. 3.4%, p Conclusion Although VP may be temporarily useful in avoiding secondary insult to the brain in TBI patients, their use is not associated with improved survival.
Universal Human Rights in a World of Difference: Universalisms and differences

Introduction In this chapter I argue that normative arguments that make or rely on explicitly transcendental claims about justice (like some religious arguments) and normative arguments that use formal rules to derive claims about justice (like some philosophical arguments) exhibit a form of reasoning that conceals a particular politics, often defining that politics as apolitical or prior to politics. The first vests truth in a transcendental source and vests authority in those philosophers, theologians, and spiritual leaders who interpret the transcendental source. The second vests truth in particular ways of reasoning about truth and vests authority in those philosophers, theologians, and other leaders who are most adept at following those norms. They both have an undemocratic basis for the authority to define the norms of argument. Both approaches vest authority in intermediaries or interpreters. Each intermediary or interpreter has a potentially exploitable authority to make universalist arguments about justice. Such authority is subject to manipulation by the politics of epistemology, diversity, and dissent discussed in chapter 2. Thus, they both mask political authority as authoritative interpretation. Their political universalisms are problematic not because they are universalist but because they portend to be apolitical universals. This criticism, applicable to many approaches to human rights theory as revealed in its elaboration in this chapter, sets up the proposition explored in the following four chapters: the possibility of theorizing about universality without assuming a falsely apolitical stance.
Cancer prevention by tea and tea polyphenols

The inhibition of tumorigenesis by tea extracts and tea polyphenols has been demonstrated in different animal models, including those for cancer of the skin, lung, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, bladder, liver, pancrease, prostate, and mammary glands. Caffeine is also active in inhibition of tumorigenesis on the skin, lung, and perhaps other organs. In spite of many in vitro and in vivo studies, the molecular mechanisms for the cancer preventive actions of these compounds are not clearly known. The relationship between tea consumption and cancer risk has not been conclusively demonstrated, and the relationship may become more clear if we consider the effects of specific types of tea, at defined doses, in populations with certain dietary patterns or genetic polymorphisms. Human intervention trials and large prospective studies are needed to further assess the cancer preventive activities of tea constituents.
Fractured processes: adaptive, fine-grained process abstractions

We introduce Fracture, a novel framework that transforms and modernizes the basic process abstraction. By "fracturing" an application into logical modules, Fracture enables powerful and novel run-time configurations that improve run-time testing, application availability, and general robustness, all in a generic and incremental manner. We demonstrate the utility of fracturing via in-depth case studies of a chat client, a web server, and two user-level file systems. Through these examples, we show that Fracture enables applications to transparently tolerate memory leaks, buffer overflows, and isolate subsystem crashes, with little change to source code; through intelligent fracturing, we can achieve low overhead as well, thus enabling deployment.
Upstream shocks and interplanetary magnetic cloud speed and expansion: Sun, WIND, and Earth observations

Abstract Identifications have been made of the probable sources on the Sun (from SOHO data), where possible, of the magnetic clouds observed by WIND near Earth over the span of about 4 years (1995–1998), i.e., mainly during the quiet solar phase. The timing of the probable source transients at the Sun allow the estimations of transit times from the Sun to Earth for a set of 20 magnetic clouds with the result that acceleration effects in the interplanetary medium appear to be small. For a larger set of magnetic clouds (N=27) it is found that the relative speed of the front part of a cloud at 1 AU (its ramming speed) correlates better than cloud expansion with the existence of an upstream interplanetary shock. Hence, cloud expansion is not likely the primary agent responsible for clouds driving shocks. Approximately 1/2 of the magnetic clouds (i.e., 14 cases) were accompanied by upstream shocks, and for an additional 1/4 of the cases pressure pulses ahead of the magnetic clouds were present. It is shown that these upstream shocks (or pressure pulses) are well correlated with SSC's at Earth. We also examine the effects of the engulfing of the magnetosphere by the shocked solar wind-magnetic cloud complex, by comparing the integrated solar wind Poynting flux input (Σ eΔt = energy, where e is the Akasofu e-function) with the associated minimum Dst, and we develop a formal relationship between them.
Paramagnetic resonance study of Nitric Oxide hemoglobin.

Abstract The electron paramagnetic resonance absorption of nitric oxide hemoglobin was observed as a possible model system for oxyhemoglobin. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum showed three g factors indicating a rhombic symmetry around the paramagnetic center. By use of 15NO, the unpaired electron was found very little associated with NO nitrogen, in contrast to what has been customarily assumed. Modifying NO-hemoglobin with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) shifted the whole spectrum toward a lower magnetic field retaining the rhombic symmetry. The 14N hyperfine structure was now resolved in one of the peaks with the splitting of 15 gauss. The number of SDS molecules to complete this transformation was found equal to the number of the basic amino acid residues. At high SDS concentrations (g0.2 m) further transformation of the spectrum took place which indicated the randomization of the structure and the change of symmetry type around the paramagnetic center from rhombic to axial. NO-hemoglobin powdered specimen after dehydration gave a spectral pattern indistinguishable from that of the SDS-modified NO-hemoglobin. This spectral conversion to dehydrated type could be repeated completely reversibly by evacuating and replenishing H2O vapor. The interaction with 0.03 to 0.5 m sodium salicylate resulted in a decrease of absorption with concomitant appearance of four new peaks, tentatively interpreted as due to a low spin Fe(III) type electronic configuration. The possible implication of the rearrangement of the electronic state was discussed in connection with the known oxidase-like activity of oxyhemoglobin under similar conditions.
Folate requirements of methotrexate-resistant human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines.

We studied the folate requirements of a human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, MOLT-3, and methotrexate (MTX)-resistant sublines established in vitro. The requirement of pteroylglutamate (PGA) for optimal cell growth was different for each cell line. With increasing MTX resistance, there was progressive increase in PGA requirements, moving the PGA concentration-cell growth curve (dose-response curve) 1 log order of magnitude to the right. The increases in the requirement of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methyl-THF) by the resistant sublines were more pronounced than PGA requirement, moving the dose-response curve nearly 3 log orders in magnitude to the right. The concentrations in vitro of 5-methyl-THF required for optimal growth of the MTX- resistant sublines far exceeded the normal serum 5-methyl-THF concentrations known in humans. These observations show that MTX- resistant cell established in vitro in culture media containing PGA instead of 5-methyl-THF, a physiological folate, cannot be expected to grow in vivo. The collateral sensitivity of transport-impaired MTX- resistant sublines to 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-[(3',4',5'- trimethoxyanilino) methyl] quinazoline (trimetrexate, TMQ) was negated in the absence of PGA. With the addition of 5-methyl-THF, the parent cells became more resistant than the transport-impaired sublines to TMQ These data indicate that the collateral sensitivity of MTX resistant cells to the substituted 2,4-diaminoquinazoline is due to functional folate deficiency by virtue of the impaired transport of folate.
Primary and Secondary Immunocompetence in Mixed Allogeneic Chimeras

Targeted disruption of T cell costimulatory pathways, particularly CD28 and CD40, has allowed for the development of minimally myeloablative strategies for the induction of mixed allogeneic chimerism and donor-specific tolerance across full MHC barriers. In this study we analyze in depth the ability of mixed allogeneic chimeras in two strain combinations to mount effective host-restricted and donor-restricted antiviral CD4 and CD8 responses, as well as the impact of development of mixed chimerism on the maintenance of pre-existing memory populations. While antiviral CD8 responses in mixed chimeras following acute viral infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus Armstrong or vaccinia virus are largely host-restricted, donor-restricted CD8 responses as well as host- and donor-restricted CD4 responses are also readily detected, and virus is promptly cleared. We further demonstrate that selection of donor-restricted T cells in mixed chimeras is principally mediated by bone marrow-derived cells in the thymus. Conversely, we find that mixed chimeras exhibit a deficit in their ability to deal with a chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus clone 13 infection. Encouragingly, pre-existing memory populations are largely unaffected by the development of high level mixed chimerism and maintain the ability to control viral rechallenge. Our results suggest that while pre-existing T cell memory and primary immunocompetence to acute infection are preserved in mixed allogeneic chimeras, MHC class I and/or class II tissue matching may be required to fully preserve immunocompetence in dealing with chronic viral infections.
The Fast Fourier Transform

We have seen (page 126) that the intensity of a Bragg reflection is proportional to |F(h)|2, where F(h) is the Fourier transform of the density of scattering matter in the unit cell of a crystal, evaluated at the point h = ha* + kb* + lc* in the reciprocal lattice. We are actually interested in the distribution of scattering matter, ρ(r), and we could determine it by means of the inverse Fourier transform if we had complete knowledge of the transform. However, because sin θ = λ|ha* + kb* + lc*|/2 (page 54),| and because sin λ cannot be greater than one, the value of the transform, which extends to infinity in reciprocal space, can be measured only in a finite region. Furthermore, the diffraction data contain no information about the phase of the complex number F(h). Therefore we can never know all of the information necessary for the computation of the inverse transform. Techniques for circumventing the problems caused by incomplete information make extensive use of iterative, trial-and-error computations whose efficiency can be greatly enhanced by the use of computational methods known as fast Fourier transforms, or FFTs.
Polymer Fiber Optics: Materials, Physics, and Applications

HISTORY OF POLYMER OPTICAL FIBERS Introduction Using Light for Telecommunications Glass Fibers Polymer Fibers The Future LIGHT PROPAGATION IN A FIBER WAVEGUIDE Introduction Bound Modes of Step-Index Fibers Multimode Waveguides Ray Propagation in a Graded-Index Medium Directional Couplers Conclusion Acknowledgments FABRICATING FIBERS Making Polymer Fibers by Extrusion Making Polymer Fiber by Drawing a Preform Birefringence of Drawn Fibers Mechanical Properties of Fibers THEORY OF REFRACTIVE INDEX AND LOSS Refractive Index Optical Loss Bending Loss Dispersion A Practical Example Polarization CHARACTERIZATION TECHNIQUES AND PROPERTIES Refractive Index Optical Loss Numerical Aperture Bandwidth TRANSMISSION, LIGHT SOURCES, AND AMPLIFIERS Transmission Displays Optical Amplification and Lasing OPTICAL SWITCHING Electrooptic Switching All-Optical Switching STRUCTURED FIBERS AND SPECIALTY APPLICATIONS Bragg Gratings Advanced Structured Fibers Photorefraction Stress and Temperature Sensors Chemical Sensors Appendix - Coupled Wave Equation SMART FIBERS AND MATERIALS Smart Materials Photomechanical Effects The Future of Smart Photonic Materials CONCLUSION Bibliography Index
A High-School Algebra and high-school (purely formal) calculus,. Wallet-Sized Proof, of the Bieberbach Conjecture [after L. Weinstein]

L. Weinstein's brilliant short proof of de Branges's Theorem is made even shorter by using computer algebra.
Assessment of optical network impairments through twelve distinct optical nodesat 10.66 Gbit/s

Experimental and modeling results are presented for transmission through 12 distinct wavelength-layered optical add–drop and cross-connect nodes at 10.66 Gbit/s with 38 channels. The signal impairments induced by filter concatenation and in-band cross talk are examined and found to have little effect on the overall signal quality, with combined maximum Q penalties of the order of 0.5 dB or less.
Impact of urbanization and agriculture on the occurrence of bacterial pathogens and stx genes in coastal waterbodies of central California

Fecal pollution enters coastal waters through multiple routes, many of which originate from land-based activities. Runoff from pervious and impervious land surfaces transports pollutants from land to sea and can cause impairment of coastal ocean waters. To understand how land use practices and water characteristics influence concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and pathogens in natural waters, fourteen coastal streams, rivers, and tidal lagoons, surrounded by variable land use and animal densities, were sampled every six weeks over two years (2008 & 2009). Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB; Escherichia coli and Enterococci) and Salmonella concentrations, the occurrence of Bacteroidales human, ruminant, and pig-specific fecal markers, E. coli O157:H7, and Shiga toxin (stx) genes present in E. coli, were measured. In addition, environmental and climatic variables (e.g., temperature, salinity, rainfall), as well as human and livestock population densities and land cover were quantified. Concentrations of FIB and Salmonella were correlated with each other, but the occurrence of host-specific Bacteroidales markers did not correlate with FIB or pathogens. FIB and Salmonella concentrations, as well as the occurrence of E. coli harboring stx genes, were positively associated with the fraction of the surrounding subwatershed that was urban, while the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 was positively associated with the agricultural fraction. FIB and Salmonella concentrations were negatively correlated to salinity and temperature, and positively correlated to rainfall. Areal loading rates of FIB, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 to the coastal ocean were calculated for stream and river sites and varied with land cover, salinity, temperature, and rainfall. Results suggest that FIB and pathogen concentrations are influenced, in part, by their flux from the land, which is exacerbated during rainfall; once waterborne, bacterial persistence is affected by water temperature and salinity.
Natural convection at a thermal leading edge on a vertical wall

Abstract The natural convection from a thermal leading edge region (Tw/T∞ = 1 + τ0 xn, n > 1) is determined and matched with the known solution immediately above this region. It is shown that in this region there is a downward conduction of heat near the wall which flows back into the wall just above the leading edge so that there is a region just above this point in which the heat transfer is reversed to the expected direction of heat flow. Comparisons in temperature and velocity distributions at the matched position of the solutions are given for several values of the exponent n.
Novel weak coordination to silylium ions : formation of nearly linear Si-H-Si bonds

The weakly coordinating carborane anion in ion-like trialkylsilyl species R3Si(CHB11Cl11) can be displaced by nucleophiles as weak as ortho-dichlorobenzene, SO2 and trialkylsilanes, the latter forming nearly linear hydride bridges in R3Si–H–SiR3+ cations.
The range of the dynamical coulomb interaction in junctions of thin disordered films

Abstract We have experimentally searched for the long range of the (dynamical) Coulomb interaction in sandwiches of two disordered metal films separated by an insulating layer. We expect the two films to assist each other in screening but our measurements do not support the long range character of the dynamical Coulomb potential and challenge the theoretical description of the latter.
The Role of Uncertainty Stemming from Product Monetary Value in Online Auctions: The Case of Search Goods

This study strives to demonstrate that uncertainty in online auction transactions is partly driven by product monetary values. We argue that as product monetary value increases, so do transaction uncertainty and the amount of consumers' cognitive effort required for analyzing the transaction. This effect can be observed through the changing roles of price premium determinants such as seller reputation, seller strategies, bidder strategies, and market competition among auctions that offer identical items. Drawing upon consumers' goal to minimize their cognitive effort, this study develops two online auction price premium models that are customized to different levels of product monetary value. To test the models, online auction transactions from eBay were collected and separated into lower-priced and higher-priced auction samples. The results show that consumers' goal of minimizing cognitive effort in the bidding process can explain most of the relationships between price premium and its determinants propo...
The maintenance of prolonged reticuloendothelial system depression in dogs using nitrogen mustard

Summary o 1. In the dog, nitrogen mustard produces early gastrointestinal toxicity when administered in a dose of 1 mg./kg., resulting in death in 83 per cent of animals. 2. Initial toxicity is markedly diminished and long survival possible when the initial dosage is reduced to 0.8 mg./kg. in divided doses. 3. Marked reticuloendothelial system depression can be achieved by administering the nitrogen mustard in this dosage, and can be prolonged by additional weekly administration of the drug up to five or six months. 4. Animals so treated are in good clinical condition and tolerate surgical procedures well. Such animals require preliminary immunizations and well ventilated quarters with good daily care and hygiene. 5. Nitrogen mustard in the dosage presented above shows differential suppression of lymphocytic cells, only slightly depressing the bone marrow.
Modeling the BOLD correlates of competitive neural dynamics

Winner-take-all models are commonly used to model decision-making tasks where one outcome must be selected from several competing options. Related random walk and diffusion models have been used to explain such processes and apply them to psychometric and neurophysiological data. Recent model-based fMRI studies have sought to find the neural correlates of decision-making processes. However, due to the fact that hemodynamic responses likely reflect synaptic rather than spiking activity, the expected BOLD signature of winner-take-all circuits is not clear. A powerful way to integrate data from neurophysiology and brain imaging is by developing biologically plausible neural network models constrained and testable by neural and behavioral data, and then using Synthetic Brain Imaging - transforming the output of simulations with the model to make predictions testable against neuroimaging data. We developed a biologically realistic spiking winner-take-all model comprised of coupled excitatory and inhibitory neural populations. We varied the difficulty of a decision-making task by adjusting the contrast, or relative strength of inputs representing two response options. Synthetic brain imaging was used to estimate the BOLD response of the model and analyze its peak as a function of input contrast. We performed a parameter space analysis to determine values for which the model performs the task accurately, and given accurate performance, the distribution of the input contrast-BOLD response relationship. This underscores the need for models grounded in neurophysiological data for brain imaging analyses which attempt to localize the neural correlates of cognitive processes based on predicted BOLD responses.