cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Mental abacus”: The effect of abacus training on Chinese children's mental calculation

Abstract Skilled abacus operators report visualizing a mental image of the abacus, and performing rapid mental calculation by manipulating the beads on their “mental abacus.” Eleven-year-old Chinese children at three levels of abacus expertise were observed performing both abacus and mental addition. Response times and errors were examined as a function of problem type and mode of computation. Chinese performance was compared with a group of American adults performing the same mental additions. Chinese were also given a task which required them to access intermediate states of mental abacus calculation. Results indicate that abacus training has both quantitative and qualitative effects on children's mental calculation skill, and that a “mental abacus” is used by experts.
Infection of the boll weevil by Chilo iridescent virus

Abstract When infections with Chilo iridescent virus (CIV) were induced in larvae of boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis , by intrahemocoelic injection or by feeding, and in adults by feeding, the typical blue coloration of adipose tissue developed at 3–7 days postinfection, and mortality occurred after 3 days. The symptomatology and the pathological expressions depended on the initial infectious titer. The virus remained viable when it was added to the feeding stimulant bait used to infect weevils with protozoan pathogens in the field, and weevils feeding on the formulation became infected when it had been exposed 1–3 days in nature.
Experiential and Formal Models of Geographic Space

In this paper human experience and perception of phenomena and relations in space are studied. This focus is in contrast to previous work where space and spatial relations were examined as objectiv...
Spray Computations in a Centerbody Combustor

Abstract : A hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian method is employed to model the reactive flowfield of a centerbody combustor. The unsteady two-dimensional gas-phase equations are represented in Eulerian coordinates and liquid-phase equations are formulated in Lagrangian coordinates. The gas-phase equations based on the conservation of mass, momentum and energy are supplemented by turbulence and combustion models. The vaporization model takes into account the transient effects associated with the droplet heating and liquid-phase internal circulation. The integration scheme is based on the TEACH algorithm for gas-phase equations, the Runge-Kutta method for liquid-phase equations and linear interpolation between the two coordinate systems. The calculations show that the droplet penetration and recirculation characteristics are strongly influenced by the gas- and liquid-phase interaction in such a way that most of the vaporization process is confined to the wake region of the centerbody and thereby improving the flame stabilization properties of the flowfield. Keywords: Sprays; Combustion; Phase; Flow; Computations.
Dual-subtype FIV vaccine (Fel-O-Vax FIV) protection against a heterologous subtype B FIV isolate.

Vaccine trials were undertaken to determine whether the Fel-O-Vax® FIV, a commercial dual-subtype (subtypes A and D) feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine, is effective against a subtype B FIV isolate. Current results demonstrate the Fel-O-Vax FIV to be effective against a subtype B virus, a subtype reported to be the most common in the USA.
Experimental Evaluation of Abradable Seal Performance at High Temperature

Abradable seals have been used in aero-engines and land-based gas turbines for more than three decades. They are applied to various sections of the engine in order to reduce gas leakage by optimizing the gap between rotating and stationary parts. This optimization represents a significant increase in efficiency and decrease in fuel consumption. Performance evaluation of any abradable seal includes measurement of its mechanical properties, abradability tests and (ultimately) tests in engines. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of temperature on the rub performance of abradable seals. A series of experiments has been carried out in order to evaluate a commercially available seal material at different operating conditions. The effect of operating temperature on contact force, abrasion scar appearance and blade wear is examined and analyzed. A microstructural analysis of the rub scar has also been performed.Copyright © 2008 by National Research Council of Canada
Individualism, Civic Virtue, and Gender in America

Individualism is a powerful symbol of American life. We treasure individual rights to speak our minds, choose our values, seek our goals, and achieve self-fulfillment. We believe individual self-interest is the foundation of economic growth and prosperity. We treat individual suffrage as the definitive characteristic of democratic government. In a sense, individualism is the lifeblood of an American dream that flows to our children, circulates among immigrants, and courses through the rhetoric of public policy. American historians record its genealogy and sociologists diagnose its effects while business leaders prescribe more of it and politicians praise it. Even critics are obsessed with it. They tell us that individualism has infected the habits of our hearts and forced the closing of our minds.
Computerized Modeling and Simulation of Spiral Bevel and Hypoid Gears Manufactured by Gleason Face Hobbing Process

The Gleason face hobbing process has been widely applied by the gear industry. But so far few papers have been found regarding the mathematic models of the tooth surface generations and tooth contact analysis (TCA). This paper presents the generalized theory of the face hobbing generation method, mathematic models of tooth surface generations and the simulation of meshing of face hobbed spiral bevel and hypoid gears. A generalized description of the cutting blades is introduced by considering four segments of the blade edge geometry. A kinematical model of a bevel gear generator is developed by breaking down the machine tool settings and the relative motions of the machine elemental units and applying coordinate transformations of the elemental motions. A generalized and enhanced TCA algorithm is proposed. The face hobbing process has two categories of generation methods applied to the gear tooth surface generations, which are non-generated (Format® ) and generated methods. In both categories the pinions are always finished with the generated method. The proposed tooth surface generation model covers both categories with left-hand and right-hand members. Based upon the developed theory, an advanced tooth surface generation and TCA program is developed and integrated into Gleason CAGE™ for Windows System. Two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the implementation of the developed mathematic models.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Some Marxist interpretations of James' pragmatism: A summary and reply

It is a strange but true fact that the work of William James continues to serve as a foil for the development of Marxist thought. Perhaps the most famous text where this occurs is in Leszek Koiakowski's 'Karl Marx and the Classical Definition of Truth'. Ko?akowski distinguishes two concepts of practical activity which developed at the end of the 19th century: positivism and pragmatism. The former, advocating a copy theory of knowledge and as sociated with Engels, evolved into Lenin's Materialism and Empirio-Criticism. Pragmatism, by contrast, at least the form of it described by Ko?akowski, is associated with James' outlook, portrayed as follows:
Acyl group composition of lipids and the activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, 5′-nucleotidase and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase in salivary glands and kidneys of rats fed diets containing different dietary fats

Two nutritional models, an essential fatty acid deficiency model and the feeding of saturated versus unsaturated fats, were used in a feeding study in order to assess the relationship between tissue fatty acid composition and the activities of some membrane-associated enzymes. Purified diets containing 7% hydrogenated coconut oil, 7% corn oil, 10% safflower oil or butter were fed to rats for a total of 49 weeks (1 week of pregnancy, 3 weeks of lactation and 45 weeks post-weaning). Tissue homogenates from submandibular salivary glands and kidneys were analyzed for fatty acid composition of total lipids and phospholipids. Changes in fatty acid patterns typical of essential fatty acid deficiency such as an increase in the levels of 16:1 and 18:1, a decrease in 18:2 and 20:4 and an accumulation of 20:3 omega 9 were observed in salivary glands and kidneys of rats fed the deficient diet. Tissues of rats fed 10% butter also showed fatty acid compositional changes which were somewhat similar to those in essential fatty acid deficiency, but to a lesser degree. The activities of ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were higher in homogenates of salivary glands and kidneys of the deficient rats and those fed butter as compared with their controls. The results suggest a relationship between the double bond index of fatty acids as an indication of membrane lipid fluidity and allosteric modification of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. However, other explanations for the observed changes in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity cannot be ruled out. There were no diet-related differences in the activities of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase or 5'-nucleotidase.
Dissociation between haemodynamics and sympathetic activation during anaesthetic induction with desfluranes

To compare the simultaneous haemodynamic effects, sympathetic activation and cardiac risks associated with desflurane used in a balanced technique, with those of isoflurane anaesthesia. A prospective, randomized, open label study was conducted at a University medical centre. Forty patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery were randomized to receive either desflurane or isoflurane as the primary anaesthetic agent. After premedication, fentanyl and thiopentone were administerediv. Anaesthesia was increased up to 1.0 MACET in O2 via controlled mask ventilation and maintained at 1.0 MAC before tracheal intubation. Maintenance consisted of N2O, O2 and desflurane or isoflurane for 10 min. During the study, HR and arterial BP were continuously measured, as were ECG ST-segments and ventricular dysrhythmias using a 3-channel Holter ECG recorder Left ventricular global and regional function were measured using precordial echocardiography. Serial plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured. For both groups, HR was maintained without increases over baseline values while systolic BP showed a progressive decrease during induction. Use of beta blockade during induction was higher in the desflurane (7/20 = 35%) than in the isoflurane group (1/20 = 5%),P = 0.04. The plasma norepinephrine concentrations progressively increased in the desflurane group but not in the isoflurane group. Four patients in the desflurane and three in the isoflurane group developed transient worsening of regional function but no change in mean left ventricular ejection fraction area and no ECG ischaemia occurred during anaesthetic induction. Desflurane differs from isoflurane in that sympathetic stimulation persisted despite blunting of potential hyperdynamic haemodynamic responses by narcotic and beta blockade. However; this sympathetic activation did not appear to increase cardiac risks.
The vertical nonparallel pin splint. Part II. Construction, cementation, and troubleshooting

Abstract Nonparallel pins are preferred to parallel pins, because they are more retentive and do not require the use of any intraoral paralleling device. Partial coverage abutments in either type of restoration should be prepared with resistance forms to prevent the application of lateral shearing stresses directly on the pins. New anterior and posterior abutment preparations that can be used in both parallel and nonparallel pin restorations were described. Step-by-step instrumentation was outlined to prevent failures of vertical nonparallel pin restorations. One-step cementation is recommended for vertical nonparallel pin restorations. An alternative two-step cementation also was described as a “back up” procedure in case some difficulty arises. Solutions for troubleshooting problems, such as a pin preparation not aligned with the gold casting, a nonretentive threaded pin, a pin broken during cementation, and a preparation for threaded-pin retention in gold, were discussed.
Convergent Transcription Induces Dynamic DNA Methylation at disiRNA Loci

Cytosine methylation of DNA is an important epigenetic gene silencing mechanism in plants, fungi, and animals. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, nearly all known DNA methylations occur in transposon relics and repetitive sequences, and DNA methylation does not depend on the canonical RNAi pathway. disiRNAs are Dicer-independent small non-coding RNAs that arise from gene-rich part of the Neurospora genome. Here we describe a new type of DNA methylation that is associated with the disiRNA loci. Unlike the known DNA methylation in Neurospora, disiRNA loci DNA methylation (DLDM) is highly dynamic and is regulated by an on/off mechanism. Some disiRNA production appears to rely on pol II directed transcription. Importantly, DLDM is triggered by convergent transcription and enriched in promoter regions. Together, our results establish a new mechanism that triggers DNA methylation.
Low plasma levels of 2-hydrdxyestrone are consistent with its rapid metabolic clearance

Published plasma levels of the catechol estrogen 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) are comparable to those of estrone and estradiol. In light of the very high (40,000 L/d) metabolic clearance rate of 2-OHEi, these concentrations imply unreasonable production rates. We therefore re-examined plasma 2-OHE1 levels using a modified radiotnnmmoassay procedure. Plasma samples are extracted with ethyl acetate and passed over a short column of LH-20 Sephadex before equilibration with an antiserum directed against a 2-hydroxyestrone-17-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime-bovine serum albumin conjugate. Plasma 2-OHE1 concentrations are indistinguishable from blank (< 15 pg/ml) in men and non-pregnant women, but rise to ~ 200 pg/ml during pregnancy. These values for 2-OHE1 levels are consistent with the rapid metabolic clearance of this catechol estrogen.
Tender Offers and Free Cash Flow: An Empirical Analysis

High free cash flow firms are characterized by a mismatch between growth opportunities and resources. High free cash flow target firms receive higher-than-average abnormal returns. Target returns are lower when the bidder is a high free cash flow firm. During the 1970s, results suggested that cash-flow-rich bidding firms pursued low-benefit takeovers. During the 1980s, high free cash flow firms became the targets of tender offers. Results are consistent with the notion that reducing agency problems in target firms generates benefits and that bidding firms with large free cash flow undertake low-benefit acquisitions.
Extraction separation of tervalent lanthanide metals with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid

Abstract The extraction behavior of certain tervalent lanthanides (Ln) such as La, Pr, Eu, Ho and Yb, using a chloroform solution containing bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (HBTMPP), either alone or combined with one of three adductants, trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), octyl(phenyl)- N,N -diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) or methylenbis(diphenylphosphine) oxide (MBDPO), was studied. The stoichiometry, extraction constants and separation factors of these systems were determined. Lanthanide ions were found to be extracted in the presence of TOPO (B), Ln(HL 2 ) 3 , or as the adduct complexes, Ln(HL 2 ) 2 B. Neither CMPO nor MBDPO was found to form adducts.
TLR2 and TLR4 mediate the TNFα response to Vibrio vulnificus biotype 1

Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause life-threatening infections in humans. Most fatal cases are due to septic shock that results from dysregulation of cytokines, particularly TNFα, which plays a critical role in the outcome of Vv infection. The goal of this study was to investigate the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated TNFα response to four Vv biotype 1 strains using mice deficient for TLR2, TLR4, and TLR2/TLR4. Ex vivo assays were performed with blood, splenocytes, and Kupffer cells (KC) from wild-type (WT) and TLR-knockout (KO) mice using formalin-inactivated Vv (f-Vv) as stimulant. All f-Vv biotype 1 strains elicited strong TNFα production by WT mouse blood and cells, which was TLR2 and TLR4 dependent. OxPAPC, an inhibitor of TLR2 and TLR4 signaling, effectively blunted the TLR-mediated TNFα response to f-Vv. Furthermore, TLR2 KO and TLR2/TLR4 KO mice were more resistant to lethal infection with Vv ATCC 27562 than WT mice, perhaps due to attenuation of the TNFα response. These data suggest that it may be possible to devise strategies to specifically target the harmful TLR-mediated TNFα response as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment of severe Vv infection.
Resident Training in Nursing Home Care: Survey of Successful Educational Strategies

OBJECTIVE: To identify educational strategies for resident training in nursing home care deemed successful by a large number of programs. DESIGN: A mail survey with three follow-up mailings. PARTICIPANTS: Directors of accredited internal medicine and family practice residency programs. MEASUREMENTS: Open- and closed-ended questionnaire eliciting curricular content, instructional strategies, and evaluation techniques from programs offering a nursing home experience. Identification of barriers to implementation of a nursing home curriculum and recommendations for success were requested. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 814 surveys mailed, 537 were returned for a response rate of 66%. Nursing home experiences were required in 86% of family practice residency programs but in only 25% of internal medicine programs. Most geriatric medicine curricular content areas were taught in the nursing home; however, relatively little emphasis was given to rehabilitation, organization, and financing of health care, and coordination of care between acute and chronic settings. Direct patient care, bedside rounds, and lectures were the most common instructional strategies reported. Evaluation approaches included faculty observations, resident attendance, and chart reviews with written and skill-based examinations infrequent. Availability of faculty and conflict with other rotations were identified as the principal barriers to implementation of nursing home rotations. An organized nursing home curriculum supervised by enthusiastic faculty using a longitudinal rotation format with resident involvement in an interdisciplinary team was recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Educational strategies exist for successful implementation of a residency nursing home curriculum. Greater priority must be given to training residents in nursing home care and developing nursing home faculty to substantially increase the number and quality of physicians who practice in this setting.
Isolated EF-loop III of calmodulin in a scaffold protein remains unpaired in solution using pulsed-field-gradient NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract Calmodulin (CaM) is a trigger calcium-dependent protein that regulates many biological processes. We have successfully engineered a series of model proteins, each containing a single EF-hand loop but with increasing numbers of Gly residues linking the EF-hand loop to a scaffold protein, cluster of differentiation 2 (CD2), to obtain the site-specific calcium-binding ability of a protein with EF-hand motifs without the interference of cooperativity. Loop III of calmodulin with two Gly linkers in CD2 (CaM-CD2-III-5G) has metal affinities with Kd values of 1.86×10−4 and 5.8×10−5 M for calcium and lanthanum, respectively. The oligomeric states of the CD2 variants were examined by pulsed-field-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG NMR). The diffusion coefficient values of CD2 variants are about 11.1×10−7 cm2/s both in the presence and absence of metal ions, which are the same as that of wild-type CD2. This suggests that the isolated EF-loop III of calmodulin inserted in the scaffold protein is able to bind calcium and lanthanum as a monomer, which is in contrast to the previous observation of the EF-hand motif. Our results imply that additional factors that reside outside of the EF-loop III may contribute to the pairing of EF-hand motifs of calmodulin. This result is of interest as it opens up the way for studying the ion-binding properties of isolated EF-hands, which in turn can answer important questions about the properties of EF-hands, the large and important group of calcium-binding signaling proteins.
Accommodation and the third spatial harmonic.

Purpose. Mathews and Kruger recently reported that accommodative tracking of sine wave grating targets is best between 1 and 7 cpd. Their study suggests that the spatial third harmonic might not enhance the accommodative response if the fundamental is higher than roughly 2 cpd. This study tested the effect of adding the third harmonic with targets that included 1, 3, and 5 cpd fundamental sine wave gratings, compound gratings with the third harmonic of each of these fundamentals added in either peaks-add or peaks-subtract phase, as well as each third harmonic presented alone at one-third of the contrast of the fundamental gratings. Methods. Accommodation was monitored continuously with a dynamic infrared optometer while the subject viewed the gratings in a Badal stimulus system. Dioptric vergence changed sinusoidally over a 2.00 or 0.50 D range at 0.2 Hz. A Fast Fourier Transform extracted the amplitude and phase of each response at the temporal frequency of the stimulus. Results and Conclusions. The third harmonic enhanced the accommodative response only when the fundamental was 1 cpd. This was true at both amplitudes of target motion. This contradicts models that suggest that high spatial frequencies are used to refine the accommodative response. Second, the responses to the peaks-add and peaks-subtract phase conditions were essentially the same for each fundamental. This suggests that the effect of harmonics cannot be described by any simple linear relationship between the increased luminance gradient of the grating target and the accommodative response. Third, the accommodative response to gratings with a 5 cpd fundamental were smaller than the responses to gratings with the 3 cpd fundamental. This contradicts the gradient hypothesis of accommodative control inasmuch as the luminance gradient is steeper in the gratings with the 5 cpd fundamental. Alternatively, it seems that harmonics will enhance an accommodative response regardless of phase if they are effective accommodative stimuli on their own.
Strategic culture, identity and nuclear (in)security in Indian politics: Reflections from critical constructivist lenses

Despite a rich volume of scholarship on strategic culture and security, scant attention has been paid in such studies to explore the representations of strategic cultures and insecurities in international politics. To address this lacuna, I follow in this article a critical constructivist reading of strategic culture and insecurity, with an eye at examining some of its conceptual, theoretical and analytical premises, which, despite incorporating how various aspects of strategic cultures define security choices, have shared the realist notion of anarchy as given in international politics. In doing so, I offer a critical constructivist analysis highlighting the socially constructed nature of and the mutually constitutive relation between the representations of India's strategic culture, statist identity, insecurities and nuclear policies. Drawing from my case study, I conclude by offering some suggestions along a critical constructivist line to conceptually, theoretically and analytically broaden the existing understandings of strategic cultures and states’ security practices.
A Test for Maize Consumption by Fauna in Late Prehistoric Eastern North America

It has been suggested that some animals eaten by late prehistoric populations of eastern North America were pest species that consumed maize. This could lead to over-estimates of amounts of maize that were directly consumed in prehistoric human diets. Stable carbon- and nitrogen-isotope ratios of collagen from white-tailed deer and raccoon bones from the Late Archaic Indian Knoll and Middle Mississippian Angel sites are compared. The stable isotope ratios are used to determine the amount of maize, if any, in Middle Mississippian faunal diets. We find no evidence that deer or raccoon at the Angel site consumed maize.
Comments on the measurement of thermal conductivity and presentation of a thermal conductivity integral method

A discussion is presented regarding the significance of the spatial temperature gradient approximation normally used in thermal conductivity measurement. Examples are presented illustrating the magnitude of temperature differences allowed for conductivity integral (TCI) method of analysis is presented as an alternative method which totally eliminates the need to impose temperature difference restrictions on the measurement process, so long as other errors, such as radiative heat losses, do not become excessive.
Cloning a novel form of rat PDGF A-chain with a unique 5'-UT: regulation during development and in glomerulonephritis.

Abstract An unique form of rat platelet-derived growth factor A-chain (PDGF A-chain), with a novel 5′ UT region, was cloned from a rat macrophage cDNA library and expressed. In the 5′ UT, the homology of the 79 bp sequence adjacent to the ATG codon between rat and human was 92%; however, the homology of the remainder in the 5′ UT was less than 30%. RNase mapping indicated this form was differentially expressed during development and immune glomerular injury, and that it probably arose from alternative splicing. We propose that the variant mRNAs reflect different levels of the control of PDGF A-chain expression.
New mechanism of the gas drift near a magnetized surface

Abstract A novel mechanism of the drift of a gas is described. It occurs under velocity-selective excitation in a cell with magnetized walls. The effect can be used for isotope-selective control of the spatial distributions of gases and purification, probing the corrugation of the near-the-surface potential for the gas–surface atomic scattering, studying heterogeneous chemical reactions, and potentially in laser cooling.
Evaluation of radiation effects against C6 glioma in combination with vaccinia virus-p53 gene therapy

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the antitumor effects of recombinant vaccinia virus-p53 (rVV-p53) in combination with radiation therapy against the C6 rat glioma, a p53 deficient tumor that is relatively radioresistant. VV-LIVP, the parental virus (Lister strain), was used as a control. Localized treatment of subcutaneous C6 tumors in athymic mice with either rVV-p53 or VV-LIVP together with tumor irradiation resulted in low tumor incidence and significantly slower tumor progression compared to the agents given as single modalities. Assays of blood and spleen indicated that immune system activation may account, at least partly, for the enhance tumor inhibition seen with combined treatment. No overt signs of treatment-related toxicity were noted.
Relation of bone mineralization measures to serum biochemical measures.

Sir .—Harkavy 1 discussed the theoretical benefits of reporting bone mineral content (BMC) measurements (mg/cm) in terms of their relation to bone width (BW) or a derivative of BW. This argument is in keeping with the results of studies in adults that suggest that correction of BMC for bone size may be useful in evaluating bone mineralization. 2 This view is challenged by Vyhmeister and colleagues, 3 who state that the division of BMC by BW or a derivative of it (such as BW 2 ) may add additional errors to the estimate of bone mineralization. We suggest that although both Harkavy and Vyhmeister et al present well-developed theoretical arguments, neither position is supported by new bone mineral data. Although no absolute method has been identified as the ideal measure by which to determine bone mineralization in infants, the relative utility of different measures of bone mineralization may be established by
ORCON Creep: Information sharing and the threat to government accountability

Abstract Many policymakers suggest that an effective response to terrorist threats will require more extensive sharing of information among government agencies. Traditionally, governments have insisted on applying the rule of originator control (ORCON) before they share information with other governments. The ORCON rule allows originating governments to retain control over the declassification of information (if it is classified) or its release to nongovernmental parties. The ORCON rule is being widely applied as the U.S. government responds to the terror attacks of September 11. However, the ORCON rule clashes with the principles underlying most right-to-information (RTI) laws and its extension could undermine governmental accountability. A better approach would allow for the structured decentralization of discretion about the public disclosure of shared information.
Osteosarcoma following total hip arthroplasty in a dog

Osteosarcoma involving the distal right femur was diagnosed in a nine-year-old female neutered Rottweiler seven years after total hip arthroplasty had been performed on that limb. The findings were consistent with a primary bone tumour and pathological fracture of the right femoral condyle with loosening of the orthopaedic implant and fracture of the polymethylmethacrylate at the distal aspect of the femoral component. Possible hypotheses to explain the association of osteosarcoma with total hip arthroplasty suggest that the neoplastic process was the result of some derangement of host tissue and the healing process or that the implants or their by-products were carcinogenic. Given the large number of total hip arthroplasties that are routinely performed in dogs, the development of a malignant lesion appears to be an extraordinary complication and may be completely coincidental.
High Glucose Concentrations Dilate Cerebral Arteries and Diminish Myogenic Tone Through an Endothelial Mechanism

Background and Purpose Diabetes is associated with cerebrovascular disease and impaired autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of acute glucose exposure on basal tone and myogenic reactivity of isolated rat cerebral arteries. Methods Posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs, n=38) were dissected from male Wistar rats and mounted on glass cannulas in a system that allowed control of transmural pressure (TMP) and measurement of lumen diameter. Arteries were exposed to various concentrations of glucose, and the amount of basal tone and reactivity to TMP was measured. The effect of elevated glucose on cerebral endothelial modulation of basal tone was determined by mechanical denudation and the use of inhibitors of both nitric oxide and prostaglandin synthesis. Results Arteries exposed to 44 versus 5.5 mmol/L glucose developed significantly less intrinsic tone (percent tone, 2±1% versus 28±2%; P .05), as did inhibition of nitric oxide production with 0.3 mmol/L nitro-l-arginine (percent tone, 52±4% versus 46±3%; P >.05); however, blockade of the cyclooxygenase pathway with indomethacin (10−5 mmol/L) only partially inhibited the dilation to glucose (percent tone, 32±3% in 5.5 mmol/L versus 12.4±3% in 44 mmol/L; P <.01). Conclusions Acute glucose exposure dilates arteries with intrinsic tone and impairs cerebrovascular reactivity to TMP via an endothelium-mediated mechanism that involves nitric oxide and prostaglandins.
A hybrid finite element method for fluid‐filled porous materials

A hybrid finite element method is proposed for the thermo-mechanical analysis of porous materials with pore pressure. Arbitrary n-sided polygonal elements based on the Hellinger-Reissner principle are used to mesh the heterogeneous domain. The validity of the proposed method is verified by a simple analytical solution and the results obtained by the conventional finite element method (ABAQUS). Irregular local stress distribution on a porous material with randomly distributed holes is predicted by the proposed method.
IKKα Shields 14-3-3σ, a G2/M Cell Cycle Checkpoint Gene, from Hypermethylation, Preventing Its Silencing

We recently reported that a large proportion of aggressive squamous cell carcinomas of humans and mice express markedly reduced IKKalpha. However, the role of IKKalpha in maintaining genomic stability is unknown. Here we reported that IKKalpha-deficient keratinocytes had a defect in the G(2)/M cell-cycle arrest in response to DNA damage due to downregulated 14-3-3sigma, a cell cycle checkpoint protein. Trimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 (H3-K9) was found to associate with the histone trimethyltransferase Suv39h1 and DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a in the methylated 14-3-3sigma locus. Reintroduction of IKKalpha restored the expression of 14-3-3sigma. IKKalpha was found to associate with H3 in 14-3-3sigma, which prevented access of Suv39h1 to H3, thereby preventing hypermethylation of 14-3-3sigma. IKKalpha mutants that failed to bind to H3 did not restore the expression of 14-3-3sigma. Thus, IKKalpha protects the 14-3-3sigma locus from hypermethylation, which serves as a mechanism of maintaining genomic stability in keratinocytes.
Bond-based corrections to semi-empirical and ab initio electronic structure calculations

A simple, empirical, bond-based correction method improves the accuracy of several types of electronic structure calculations in predicting heats of formation. The optimal corrections for common types of bonds are determined by minimizing the deviations from experimental thermochemical data. The method is tested with the 223-species of the G3/99 test set of Curtiss et al. For the subset of 155 species containing only bonds in the set of 15 bonds for which corrections are made, the mean absolute error is reduced from 142 to 1.84 for LSDA, from 0.81 to 0.61 for G3, from 4.65 to 1.48 for B3LYP, from 5.54 to 1.94 for TPSS, and from 3.51 to 1.76 for TPSSh (all in kcal/mol).
Maximum Margin Clustering on Data Manifolds

Clustering is one of the most fundamental and important problems in computer vision and pattern recognition communities. Maximum Margin Clustering(MMC) is a recently proposed clustering technique which has shown promising experimental results. The main theme behind MMC is to extend the standard maximum margin principle in Support Vector Machine (SVM) to the unsupervised scenario. This paper will consider the problem of maximum margin clustering on data manifolds. Specifically, we propose an approach called Manifold Regularized Maximum Margin clustering (MRMMC) which combines both the maximum margin data discrimination and data manifold information in a unified clustering objective and propose an efficient algorithm to solve it. Finally the experimental results on several real world data sets are presented to show the effectiveness of our method.
Strength of landmine signatures under different soil conditions: implications for sensor fusion

Most sensors for the detection of buried landmines are influenced by the properties of the soil that surrounds the mine. The temporal and spatial variability in soil properties accounts for a significant part of the detection uncertainty that is associated with most sensors. In particular, most sensor types (e.g. ground-penetrating radar, thermal infrared cameras, and chemical sniffers) are affected by the water content of the soil. However, each sensor type reacts in its own way to variations in soil water content and other soil properties. The resulting variation in sensor performance has serious implications for sensor fusion operations. We show how knowledge of soil physics can contribute to a better understanding of sensor performance and can lead to improved data fusion.
Abyssal peridotites reveal the near-chondritic Fe isotopic composition of the Earth

Terrestrial oceanic and continental basalts are enriched by approximately +0.1‰ in 56Fe/54Fe ratio relative to primitive, undifferentiated meteorites (chondrites). The δ56Fe values of terrestrial basalts are also distinct from those of basalts from Mars and asteroid Vesta, which have chondritic Fe isotopic compositions. The processes responsible for the isotopic enrichment of terrestrial basalts are debated, in part because the Fe isotopic composition of the mantle source of terrestrial basalts is unknown. Here we report Fe isotopic measurements of abyssal peridotites, which are the residues of limited melting at oceanic ridges and are thus the best proxies for the composition of the convective portion of the mantle. Our data show that abyssal peridotites have a mean δ56Fe value of +0.010±0.007‰ (relative to IRMM-014), which is indistinguishable from chondrites. After correcting this data for seafloor weathering and mantle melting, we estimate the average Fe isotopic composition of the terrestrial mantle to be δ56Fe=+0.025±0.025‰, which is also indistinguishable from chondrites, within current analytical precision. We determine that the maximum shift in δ56Fe for peridotite residues during partial mantle melting is 0.01‰. Our results argue against isotopic fractionation during core–mantle differentiation or iron vaporization during the Moon-forming giant impact, because both processes would yield a bulk mantle δ56Fe value that is non-chondritic. In addition, our results suggest that disproportionation of mantle Fe2+–Fe3+ in perovskite and Fe0 metal and segregation of metal to the core could not have been a driver for Fe isotopic fractionation in the silicate mantle. Instead, the different iron isotopic compositions of abyssal peridotites and MORBs support mounting evidence for iron isotopic fractionation of melts but not residues during the formation of oceanic and continental crust.
CASIMIR: a submillimeter heterodyne spectrometer for SOFIA

The CAltech Submillimeter Interstellar Medium Investigations Receiver (CASIMIR) is a multichannel, heterodyne spectrometer being developed for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). It has a very high resolution, up to a million, over the submillimeter and far-infrared wavelength range of 150 to 600 m, or 2.0 to 0.5 THz. CASIMIR is extremely well suited to the investigation of both the galactic and extragalactic warm, approximately 100 K, interstellar medium. A combination of advanced SIS and Hot Electron Bolometers (HEB) receivers will be used to cover this frequency range with very high sensitivity. CASIMIR will use only solid state local oscillators, with quasioptical coupling to the mixers. We present a description of the instrument and its capabilities, including detailed discussions of the receivers, local oscillators and IF systems.
PANTHER version 7: improved phylogenetic trees, orthologs and collaboration with the Gene Ontology Consortium

Protein Analysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships (PANTHER) is a comprehensive software system for inferring the functions of genes based on their evolutionary relationships. Phylogenetic trees of gene families form the basis for PANTHER and these trees are annotated with ontology terms describing the evolution of gene function from ancestral to modern day genes. One of the main applications of PANTHER is in accurate prediction of the functions of uncharacterized genes, based on their evolutionary relationships to genes with functions known from experiment. The PANTHER website, freely available at http://www.pantherdb.org, also includes software tools for analyzing genomic data relative to known and inferred gene functions. Since 2007, there have been several new developments to PANTHER: (i) improved phylogenetic trees, explicitly representing speciation and gene duplication events, (ii) identification of gene orthologs, including least diverged orthologs (best one-to-one pairs), (iii) coverage of more genomes (48 genomes, up to 87% of genes in each genome; see http://www.pantherdb.org/panther/summaryStats.jsp), (iv) improved support for alternative database identifiers for genes, proteins and microarray probes and (v) adoption of the SBGN standard for display of biological pathways. In addition, PANTHER trees are being annotated with gene function as part of the Gene Ontology Reference Genome project, resulting in an increasing number of curated functional annotations.
Association of Diet and Mammographic Breast Density in the Minnesota Breast Cancer Family Cohort

Mammographic breast density is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. The present report analyzes the association of breast density and dietary factors in 1508 women in a historical cohort study of breast cancer families in Minnesota. Diet was assessed by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Percent breast density was estimated visually by a radiologist experienced in mammography. The association of percent breast density with quartiles of energy-adjusted dietary intakes was examined in analysis of covariance models adjusting for potential confounding effects of age, body mass index, and other covariates as well as correcting for familial correlation. Analyses were performed on all women combined and were also stratified by menopausal status. Among premenopausal women, percent breast density was positively associated with intakes of polyunsaturated fat, polyunsaturated:saturated fat ratio, and vitamins C and E and was inversely associated with saturated fat and total dairy intake. Among postmenopausal women, vitamin B12 was linearly associated with increased breast density. The positive associations for vitamin C and B12 were attributable to supplement intake only. There was a suggestive positive trend between breast density and daily alcohol consumption in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. After adjustment for other sources of alcohol, only wine intake among postmenopausal women was significant such that white wine showed a positive association and red wine an inverse association with percent breast density. There was no association with other examined dietary factors. The cross-sectional differences in breast density across levels of dietary factors were small in magnitude but may have implications for breast cancer risk.
A New Approach of Arc Skeletonization for Tree-like Objects Using Minimum Cost Path

Traditional arc skeletonization algorithms using the principle of Blum's transform, often, produce unwanted spurious branches due to boundary irregularities and digital effects on objects and other artifacts. This paper presents a new robust approach of extracting arc skeletons for three-dimensional (3-D) elongated fuzzy objects, which avoids spurious branches without requiring post-pruning. Starting from a root voxel, the method iteratively expands the skeleton by adding a new branch in each iteration that connects the farthest voxel to the current skeleton using a minimum-cost geodesic path. The path-cost function is formulated using a novel measure of local significance factor defined by fuzzy distance transform field, which forces the path to stick to the centerline of the object. The algorithm terminates when dilated skeletal branches fill the entire object volume or the current farthest voxel fails to generate a meaningful branch. Accuracy of the algorithm has been evaluated using computer-generated blurred and noisy phantoms with known skeletons. Performance of the method in terms of false and missing skeletal branches, as defined by human expert, has been examined using in vivo CT imaging of human intrathoracic airways. Experimental results from both experiments have established the superiority of the new method as compared to a widely used conventional method in terms of accuracy of medialness as well as robustness of true and false skeletal branches.
Design and Performance of the 1.5 MV Injector for FXR

The new flash x-ray machine (FXR) at LLNL is scheduled for completion in late 1981. This is a 54 module, linear induction accelerator, designed to deliver 500 Roentgen at 1 m as bremsstrahlung from a 20 MeV, 4 kA, 60 ns pulsed electron beam. The 1.5 MV, cold cathode injector makes use of six accelerator modules as voltage sources. High voltage testing of the accelerator modules and their associated pulse forming lines and Marx banks has been completed, and beam tests of the complete injector assembly are in progress. Design information and preliminary test results are presented.
Budburst and leaf area expansion measured with a novel mobile camera system and simple color thresholding

Abstract Plant phenology relates strongly to primary productivity and the energy that enters into ecological food webs, and thus is vital in understanding ecosystem function and the effects of climate and climate change. The manual collection of phenological data is labor-intensive and not easily scalable, thus the ability to quantify leaf flush and other parameters at many locations requires innovative new methodologies such as the use of visible light digital cameras. Improved imaging performance was obtained by using a cabled, mobile camera system that allowed a repeated image census of branches of Rhododendron occidentale in the understory along a 30 m transect during leaf flush. Automatic division of acquired images into areas of interest (leaves) and background for calculating leaf area was accomplished by thresholding images in different color spaces. Transformation of the color space into the hue, saturation, and luminance (HSL) color space before thresholding resulted in a mean RMS error of 21.2 cm 2 compared to hand-counts of leaf area. Thresholding in the native red, green, and blue (RGB) color space to isolate leaves resulted in a larger error, as did using algebraic combinations of the color components or color ratios. Relating physiological function to images, as for sap flow for branches of R. occidentale , indicates that the greening and calculated leaf area of a species as detected by imagers requires additional meteorological sensor data for interpretation.
An inducible transgene expression system for regulated phenotypic modification of human embryonic stem cells

Self-renewing pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES) cells are capable of regenerating such non-dividing cells as neurons and cardiomyocytes for therapies and can serve as an excellent experimental model for studying early human development. Both the spatial and temporal relationships of gene expression play a crucial role in determining differentiation; to obtain a better understanding of hES cell differentiation, it will be necessary to establish an inducible system in hES cells that enables specific transgene(s) to reversibly and conditionally express (1) at specific levels and (2) at particular time points during development. Using lentivirus (LV)-mediated gene transfer and a tetracycline-controlled trans-repressor (TR), we first established in hES cells a doxycycline (DOX)-inducible expression system of green fluorescent protein (GFP) to probe its reversibility and kinetics. Upon the addition of DOX, the percentage of GFP+ hES cells increased time dependently: The time at which 50% of all green cells...