cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taking advantage of rotifer sensitivity to rotenone to prevent pond crashes for algal-biofuel production

Abstract Although algae-biofuels have many advantages including high areal productivity, algae can be preyed upon by amoeba, ciliates, and rotifers, particularly in open pond systems. Thus, these algal predators need to be controlled. In this study, Chlorella kessleri was used as the algae and the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus as the predator. The effect of the pesticide, rotenone, was tested with the goal of totally inhibiting the rotifer while causing only minor inhibition to the alga. The rotenone 24-hr LC50 for B. calyciflorus was 0.074 μM while C. kessleri growth was uninhibited at 0.8 μM. The rotenone EC50 for population growth of the marine alga Tetraselmis suecica was 0.56 μM, in contrast to 0.13 and 0.26 μM for the marine rotifers Brachionus rotundiformis and Brachionus manjavacas, respectively. Rotifer reproduction was inhibited at even lower rotenone concentrations than those causing mortality. In co-culture, a rotenone concentration of 0.1 μM caused near complete B. calyciflorus mortality while leaving C. kessleri growth unaffected. Rotenone applications to produce 1 million gallons of biodiesel in one year are estimated to cost $842. This provides algae farmers an important and inexpensive tool to manage grazing predators in algae mass cultures and avoid pond crashes.
Photo-regulation of Kinesin ATPase Activity using Photochromic Molecule

Azobenzene is a photochromic molecule that undergoes rapid and reversible isomerization between the cis- and trans-forms in response to ultraviolet (UV) and visible (VIS) light irradiation, respectively. Previously, we have introduced the sulfhydryl-reactive azobenzene derivative 4-phenylazophenyl maleimide (PAM) into the functional region of kinesin to reversibly regulate the ATPase activity of kinesin by photoirradiation. The five kinesin motor domain mutants, A247C, L249C, A252C, G272C and S275C, which contained a single reactive cysteine residue in loops L11 and L12 were prepared. The PAM-modified S275C and L249C mutants exhibited reversible alterations in ATPase activity accompanied by cis-trans isomerization upon UV and VIS light irradiation. In the present study, we prepared the six new mutants (A21C, G26C, S66C, R16C, R25C, M96C) that have single cysteine at near the ATP binding site in order to regulate kinesin activity more effectively than previous mutants. PAM was stoichiometrically incorporated into the cysteine residues in A21C, resulting in reduction of ATPase activity. However, PAM-modified A21C mutant did not exhibit reversible alterations in ATPase activity on UV-VIS light irradiation. PAM-modified G26C mutant also did no show the change in the ATPase activity upon UV-VIS light irradiation. On the other hand, PAM-modified S66C mutant exhibit reversible alterations in ATPase activity on UV-VIS light irradiation in a preliminary experiment.
Forced Disruption in Continuity of Primary Care: The Patients' Perspective

Abstract This investigation examines patients' experiences when policy changes of a managed care system require them to change health care providers. Continuity of care has been recognized as a major cornerstone of the ideal physician I patient relationship, particularly as it applies to primary care (Ware and Snyder 1975; Gonnella and Herman 1980; Weiss, Ramsey and McWhinney 1982; Weiss and Ramsey 1989; Hjortdahl and Laerum 1992; Emanuel and Dubler 1995). The radically changing landscape of managed care in the United States increasingly limits both patient and physician options for maintaining continuity in the doctor-patient relationship (Woolhandler and Himmelstein 1995). Considering patients' experiences of such policies allows for understanding the human costs of social change. We seek to describe the patients' response to the disruption in continuity of their primary medical care and to explore factors that may be associated with their perceptions of difficulty. Our study thus represents an initial ...
Effect of Sampling Site on Protozoa and Fermentation End Products in the Rumen of Dairy Cows

Abstract Three ruminally cannulated Holstein cows fed a diet containing 55% corn silage and 45% concentrate (DM basis) were used to compare rumen contents obtained from three sampling sites in the rumen. Rumen contents were collected from the dorsal, ventral, and anterior sacs of the rumen prior to (0h) and at 2, 4, and 8h after the a.m. feeding. Strained and unstrained rumen contents were preserved for protozoa count. Volatile fatty acids, NH 3 N, and pH analyses were performed on strained rumen contents. Total protozoa numbers (entodiniomorphs and holotrichs), VFA, and NH 3 N concentrations were higher and rumen pH lower in rumen contents obtained from the dorsal sac than in rumen contents from ventral and anterior sacs; however, holotrich numbers were not affected by rumen sampling site. Numbers of protozoa in strained preparation of rumen contents were greater than those in unstrained rumen contents. Data from this study suggest that differences in concentration of protozoa among ruminal sampling sites are related to end products of microbial fermentation.
Periodic motions and grazing in a harmonically forced, piecewise, linear oscillator with impacts

Abstract In this paper, an idealized, piecewise linear system is presented to model the vibration of gear transmission systems. Periodic motions in a generalized, piecewise linear oscillator with perfectly plastic impacts are predicted analytically. The analytical predictions of periodic motion are based on the mapping structures, and the generic mappings based on the discontinuous boundaries are developed. This method for the analytical prediction of the periodic motions in non-smooth dynamic systems can give all possible periodic motions based on the adequate mapping structures. The stability and bifurcation conditions for specified periodic motions are obtained. The periodic motions and grazing motion are demonstrated. This model is applicable to prediction of periodic motion in nonlinear dynamics of gear transmission systems.
International cooperation in Earth observations from space

Abstract Earth observation from space requires international cooperation in many areas in order to effectively contribute to the understanding of the Earth system. Groups have been established to foster such cooperation in areas including payload planning, data management, calibration and validation, and mission operations. This paper provides a framework for understanding the motivations for international cooperation. It then reviews the existing groups, their objectives and achievements, and identifies areas for future work in international cooperation.
Electrostatically Enhanced Second and Third Virial Coefficients, Viscosity, and Interparticle Correlations for Linear Polyelectrolytes

The use of an automatic, continuous mixing (ACM) technique, coupled with multiangle static light scattering, refractometric, and viscometric detectors allowed detailed measurements of electrostatic effects in polyelectrolyte solutions to be made while varying ionic strength (I), and polyelectrolyte concentration. A linear polyelectrolyte, sodium hyaluronate (HA) was used. The behavior of second and third virial coefficients, A2 and A3, the angular scattering envelope, and the reduced viscosity were determined simultaneously. The crossover regime from where interparticle effects dominate the scattering to where single particle form factors dominate is clearly seen and is rationalized by a simple pair correlation function. Good agreement is found for polymer dimensions and A2 using a combination of electrostatic persistence length and electrostatic excluded volume theories, with no adjustable parameters. The contribution to (I) from the HA counterions is observed via the electroviscous effect, a reduced viscosity crossover phenomenon, and an unusual scattering minimum vs polyelectolyte concentra- tion at low (I).
Structure and spectral radiation properties of turbulent ethylene/ air diffusion flames

An experimental and theoretical study of the structure and radiation properties of round, turbulent, luminous ethylene/air diffusion flames is described. Measurements included mean and fluctuating velocities, mean concentrations of major gas species, soot volume fractions, monochromatic absorption (632.8 nm), spectral emission (1000–5500 nm), and total radiative heat flux distributions. Flame structure was predicted using a Favre-averaged k-∈-g turbulence model and the laminar flamelet approximation. Spectral radiation intensities were predicted using a narrow-band model—both ignoring (using mean properties) and considering (using a stochastic method) turbulence/radiation interactions. Total radiative heat fluxes were found by summing spectral intensities over wavelength and paths through the flame. The comparison between predicted and measured flame structure was reasonably good. Differences between mean-property and stochastic radiation emission predictions were significant (50–300 percent) suggesting strong turbulence/radiation interactions in luminous flames. However, both radiation analyses represented trends due to changes in position and burner flow rate reasonably well. This suggests that soot volume fractions may approximate universal functions of mixture fraction in turbulent flames, even though this correspondence is only crudely observed in laminar flames due to hydrodynamic complications of soot particle motion.
Pathogenesis of Disease Caused by Entamoeba histolytica: Studies of Adherence, Secreted Toxins, and Contact-Dependent Cytolysis

Amebiasis is due to invasion of the colonic mucosa by the enteric protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. The biology of the parasite and the pathogenic mechanisms of E. histolytica have been extensively studied. Recent studies provide new insights into the mechanism by which amebas colonize the gut, interact with bacterial flora, adhere to and lyse tissue, and combat the host's inflammatory response. Elucidation of the biochemical and cellular bases of the pathogenesis of disease caused by E. histolytica may lead to the development of an immunologic or pharmacologic means of prophylaxis.
The kinetics of heat inactivation of bovine serum agglutinins for Brucella.

SummaryTwo types of nonspecific agglutinins for Brucella were distinguished through kinetic studies of their inactivation by heat. Rates of inactivation of specific and nonspecific agglutinins differ to an extent that can be accounted for only by a difference in molecular species. Heat inactivation of nonspecific and specific agglutinins for Brucella is a first order reaction.
Conventional depth profiling using narrow nuclear resonances

Abstract A simple energy scanning and data acquisition system for nuclear resonance analyses with a narrow resonance is presented. Ion beam energy was scanned by directly supplying a bias in the range −30 to +30 kV to a target holder. Details of the energy scanning and the data acquisition are described. Some examples for the depth profiling of nitrogen implanted into metals using the system with the nuclear reaction 15N(p, αγ)12C at 429 keV are shown in comparison with the calculated results by a Monte Carlo simulation. The data analysis program used to obtain depth profiles from excitation curves is also shown. The target is divided into layers of uniform concentration and the reaction probability in a layer is calculated from a starting depth profile obtained from raw data, using the normalized error function with Gaussian approximation for the overall energy spread. This leads to a very simple computer program, fast to operate with a small computer.
Fitting bivariate loss distributions with copulas

Abstract Various processes in casualty insurance involve correlated pairs of variables. A prominent example is the loss and allocated loss adjustment expenses on a single claim. In this paper the bivariate copula is introduced and an approach to conducting goodness-of-fit tests is suggested. A large example illustrates the concepts.
Energy Efficiency and Spectral Efficiency Tradeoff in Type-I ARQ Systems

The optimum energy efficient and spectral efficient designs for type-I automatic-repeat-request (ARQ) systems in Rayleigh flat fading channels are studied in this paper. Three optimum designs are considered: the first scheme maximizes the energy efficiency (EE), or equivalently, minimizes the total energy per information bit without considering the spectral efficiency (SE); the second scheme minimizes a new metric, the energy per information bit normalized by the SE; and the third scheme maximizes the EE under the constraint of a minimum SE. For given physical and link layer parameters, such as hardware power consumption, coding rate, modulation, bit rate, number of overhead bits, and communication distance, the three schemes are optimized with respect to the average transmission energy and the number of information bits per frame. The fundamental EE-SE tradeoff curve is analytically identified via the optimization of the third scheme, and it is shown that the optimum EE is quansiconcave in SE in a type-I ARQ system. The optimum solutions to the first two schemes are special operating points on the EE-SE tradeoff curve. Computer simulation results verify the analytical solutions.
Quantum Control of Electron Transfer

We explore electron transfer in double quantum well structures induced by femtosecond mid-infrared intersubband excitation. Spatial transfer of electrons from one quantum well to its hole filled neighbor is detected by recombination luminescence. The process results in upconversion of the mid-infrared exciting light to near-infrared luminescence. Two mid-infrared pulses with variable time delay allow us to display the field and intensity autocorrelation function for the upconverted signal and measure the electron transfer dynamics. Electron transfer between two GaAs quantum wells separated by 300 nm can be saturated and the intensity autocorrelation function exhibits a slow 18 ps recovery. Transfer between wells separated by only 25 nm is coherently controlled by the phase of the two collinear infrared pulses.
Verbal interaction patterns of depressed and non-depressed institutionalized mentally retarded adults

Abstract Data obtained through 18, 5-minute observations of nine depressed and nine non-depressed institutionalized mentally retarded adults revealed five patterns of verbal interaction including: (a)_other individuals were more likely to request action from depressed individuals than to make declarative statements; (b) the depressed subjects were more likely to gain compliance by exhibiting negative affect; (c) the depressed subjects were more likely to resist request by exhibiting negative affect; (d) other individuals were more likely to exhibit negative affect when interacting with depressed subjects; (e) staff rather than peers were more likely to interact with depressed subject. Depressed and non-depressed subjects could not be differentiated by the number of communications initiated which did not require a response from others and on the percentage of communications initiated with staff.
Water diffusion into silica glass at a low temperature under high water vapor pressure

Abstract Water in glass has disproportionately large effects on various properties of oxide glasses, such as chemical durability and mechanical strength. Silica glass is the basis of many oxide glasses. Thus, there have been numerous studies on water diffusion into silica glasses. But most past research on water diffusion into silica glasses has been conducted at high temperatures, where water diffusion is accompanied by structural changes of the glass. In the present study, water diffusion into silica glass at low temperature, 250 °C, was measured using IR spectroscopy as the main research tool. Saturated high water vapor pressure was used to increase the amount of water diffusing into the glass so that the water can be detected by the IR method after a reasonably short heat-treatment time. It was found that both water solubility and diffusion coefficient were time dependent. Furthermore, both hydroxyl and molecular water were detected in the glass. From the concentrations of hydroxyl and molecular water, an apparent equilibrium constant, K = [SiOH]n/[H2O] was evaluated. At high temperatures, water reacts with silica glass by Si–O–Si + H2O ↔ 2SiOH, and the local reaction equilibrium has been established at the value of n being 2. In the present study of low temperature water diffusion in silica glass, unlike the local reaction equilibrium in high temperature studies, the value of n was found to be close to 1. This indicates that the two hydroxyls formed in the glass during the reaction are not independent of each other.
Tumor necrosis factor–α promoter gene polymorphism -308 and chorioamnionitis ☆

Abstract Objective A single-base polymorphism within the promoter of the gene for tumor necrosis factor α at position -308 relative to the transcriptional start site of the gene is correlated with differences in production of tumor necrosis factor α. There are two allelic forms: TNFA1 and TNFA2. The TNFA2 allele is associated with increased production of tumor necrosis factor α. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between carriage of the TNFA2 allele and clinical chorioamnionitis. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, previously banked deoxyribonucleic acid from 149 women who had spontaneous labor from 37 to 42 weeks’ gestation was used. Polymerase chain reaction was used for polymorphism assay. Demographic and clinical information was obtained from the medical record. Clinical chorioamnionitis was defined as at least one temperature elevation above 38C combined with at least two of the following signs: maternal or fetal tachycardia, uterine tenderness greater than expected, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and white blood cell count more than 18,000. Results Chorioamnionitis was present in 18 women (12.1%). Among women who did not carry TNFA2, the chorioamnionitis rate was 7.4%. Among women who carried TNFA2, the chorioamnionitis rate was 24.4%. The relative risk for chorioamnionitis with carriage of TNFA2 was 3.3 (95% confidence interval 1.3, 7.1). This increased risk was not altered after adjustment for race, type of rupture of membranes, intrauterine pressure catheter use, smoking, and prolonged rupture of membranes. Conclusion Carriage of the TNFA2 allele is associated with a more than three-fold increased risk of clinical chorioamnionitis, even when accounting for important clinical and microbiologic risk factors.
Lighting For Color Vision

Some results concerning lighting for human color vision can be generalized to robot color vision. These results depend mainly on the spectral sensitivities of the color channels, and their interaction with the spectral power distribution of the light. In humans, the spectral sensitivities of the R and G receptors show a large overlap, while that of the B receptors overlaps little with the other two. A color vision model that proves useful for lighting work---and which also models many features of human vision---is one in which the "opponent color" signals are T = R - G, and D = B - R. That is, a "red minus green" signal comes from the receptors with greatest spectral overlap, while a "blue minus yellow" signal comes from the two with the least overlap. Using this model, we find that many common light sources attenuate red-green contrasts, relative to daylight, while special lights can enhance red-green contrast slightly. When lighting changes cannot be avoided, the eye has some ability to compensate for them. In most models of "color constancy," only the light's color guides the eye's adjustment, so a lighting-induced loss of color contrast is not counteracted. Also, no constancy mechanism can overcome metamerism---the effect of unseen spectral differences between objects. However, we can calculate the extent to which a particular lighting change will reveal metamerism. I am not necessarily arguing for opponent processing within robots, but only presenting results based on opponent calculations.
Genotype, uterine position, and testosterone sensitivity in older female mice.

Abstract CF-1 and CK (C57BL/6J × AKr) female mice that developed in utero between two males (2M), adjacent to one male (1M), or between two females (0M) were tested for their sensitivity to the aggression-promoting property of testosterone (T) beginning at 9 months of age. Comparisons between the strains showed that a higher proportion of CF-1 females fought in response to T and that the period of hormone exposure required to induce aggression also was shorter in this strain. Within each of the genotypes, there were no systematic differences in responsiveness to T related to contiguity to males during fetal development. While the results provide further evidence for genotype as a major influence on neural sensitivity to androgen, they do not support uterine position of females relative to males as a source of phenotypic variation in responsiveness.
An optical sensor based on infrared spectroscopy

A thin-film pH sensor based on vibrational spectroscopy has been developed. The sensor was constructed by the immobilization of Congo Red at a base-hydrolyzed cellulose acetate film that had been coated onto a ZnSe internal reflection element. The protonation of the azo groups of Congo Red was monitored as a function of pH with infrared internal reflection spectroscopy. The response characteristics of this sensor demonstrate the potential utility of applying infrared spectroscopy to detect the response of thin film sensors. Opportunities to design sensors based on the molecular specificity of infrared spectroscopy are briefly discussed.
Proposed algorithm to investigate latent and occult viruses in vaccine cell substrates by chemical induction

The recent urgency to develop new vaccines for emerging and re-emerging diseases, such as pandemic influenza, has necessitated the use of cell substrates not previously used in the manufacture of licensed vaccines. A major safety concern in the use of novel cell substrates is the presence of potential adventitious agents, such as latent and occult viruses, that may not be detected by currently used conventional assays. In cases where the novel cell substrate is known to be tumorigenic, there are additional safety issues related to tumorigenicity of intact cells and oncogenicity of residual cellular DNA. We have developed a strategy for evaluating vaccine cell substrates for the presence of latent/occult viruses, including endogenous retroviruses, latent RNA viruses and oncogenic DNA viruses, by optimizing conditions for chemical induction of viruses and using a combination of broad and specific assays to enable detection of known and novel viruses.
Age-related changes in auditory brainstem responses in fischer 344 rats: effects of rate and intensity

Abstract Age-related changes in auditory brainstem responses (ABR) observed in humans may reflect peripheral or centrally-occurring deficits. In clinical studies, high stimulus repetition rates have been used to improve the identification of central auditory pathology. In the present study, interactions between stimulus level and repetition rate were examined in the Fischer 344 rat, an animal demonstrating both peripheral hearing loss and changes in auditory brainstem neurochemistry with age. Monaural threshold and standard ABR morphology were determined in young (3–6 months) and old (20–23 months) rats using clicks at 10/s, with intensity varied from 0–100 dB. The effects of increasing stimulus repetition rate on ABR latency and morphology were evaluated at 60–100 dB using rates of 5, 10, 20, and 40/s. Old animals demonstrated elevated ABR click thresholds, reflected by shifts in the latency-intensity curves. With increased stimulation rates, aged rats exhibited prolonged Wave 4 and 5 latencies, especially at the highest intensities, with degraded waveform morphology. Peak amplitudes were generally reduced in old rats, irrespective of rate or stimulus level. These findings suggest auditory processing is altered in aged animals, while the selective effects of rate increases on Waves 4 and 5 provide supporting evidence for possible involvement of the central auditory generators of these components.
Modulation classification for MIMO-OFDM signals via Gibbs sampling

The problem of modulation classification for a multiple-antenna (MIMO) system employing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is investigated under the assumptions of unknown frequency-selective fading channels and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The classification problem is formulated as a Bayesian inference task and a solution is proposed based on a selection of the prior distributions that adopts a latent Dirichlet model for the modulation type and on the Bayesian network formalism. The proposed Gibbs sampling method converges to the optimal Bayesian solution and the speed of convergence is shown to improve via annealing and random restarts. While most of the existing modulation classification techniques works under the assumptions that the channels are flat fading and that a large amount of observed data symbols is available, the proposed approach performs well under more general conditions. Finally, the proposed Bayesian method is demonstrated to improve over existing non-Bayesian approaches based on independent component analysis.
Microwave spectrum, dipole moment, barrier to internal rotation of 1,1‐dimethyldiborane

The microwave spectra of four isotopic species of 1,1‐dimethyldiborane have been investigated in the region between 18.0 and 40.0 GHz. The observed rotational constants (MHz) for the normal species are A=7070.68(7), B=6606.57(3), C=3660.33(1); for 10B1 species, A=7069.87(15), B=6605.79(5), C=3659.88(3); and for 10B2 species, A=7070.63(27), B=6889.89(10), C=3745.92(6). The B–B distance determined by the Kraitchman method is 1.76(2) A. The carbon–boron structure could be fitted to the moments of inertia by assuming reasonable values for the other structural parameters: r(B1−C)=1.59 A and <CBC=121.2°. From the Stark effect measurements, the dipole moment is measured to be 0.87(3) D. Assuming no coupling between the rotors, the barrier height to internal rotation is 1.39(16) kcal/mol.
5 HT3-receptor antagonists and cardiac repolarization time in patients expressing a novel genetic target associated with baseline QTc interval abnormalities

Abstract Study Objective To investigate whether a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs10494366, is associated with significant prolongation of the QTc interval following administration of 5-HT 3 -receptor antagonists in the perioperative setting. Design Post-hoc analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples and electrocardiographic (ECG) data from an established perioperative genomics database. Setting University teaching hospital. Measurements DNA samples of 132 ASA physical status 1, 2, and 3 patients were obtained from an established genomic database of surgical patients who had received either granisetron or dolasetron as part of their general anesthesia plan. ECG recordings were collected on all subjects before administration of antiemetic medication, then 10 minutes after drug injection. DNA analysis was performed using TaqMan real-time PCR genotyping assay. Results from the TaqMan real-time PCR assay were used to calculate relative frequencies of the T (major) and G (minor) alleles, in addition to calculating the genotype frequencies. QTc intervals were calculated according to Bazett's formula. Results Relative frequencies for T and G alleles were 0.63 and 0.37, respectively. The relative frequencies of the pertinent genotypes were TT 39.4%, TG 46.9%, and GG 13.7%. No significant difference was noted in QTc interval pre-antiemetic or post-antiemetic drug administration for the homozygous carriers of the minor allele GG ( P = 0.059), but a significant difference was seen in the pre-drug and post-drug QTc intervals in the heterozygous and homozygou s carriers of the major allele TG and TT ( P = 0.003 and P = 0.017, respectively). Compared with homozygous carriers of the minor allele, absolute risk increase for QTc interval prolongation after antiemetic administration was 0.08 and 0.15 in heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the major allele, respectively. Conclusion Homozygous and heterozygous carrier status for the major SNP, rs10494366 allele ( T ), in intron 1 of the human NOSA1P gene may be associated with an increased risk of QTc interval prolongation following administration of 5-HT 3 -receptor antagonists in the perioperative setting, when compared with homozygotes for the minor ( G ) allele.
A combined CALPHAD/first-principles remodeling of the thermodynamics of Al-Sr: unsuspected ground state energies by "rounding up the (un)usual suspects"

Abstract Despite numerous investigations, all previous efforts on thermodynamic modeling of Al–Sr have suffered from inaccurate energetics of either the solid-state compounds or of the liquid alloy. Here, we demonstrate a method yielding simultaneously, accurate solid-state and liquid energetics, as given by first-principles density functional calculations and experimental measurements, respectively. Via first-principles methods, we have investigated the T =0 K energetics of not only the reported ground state compounds in Al–Sr (“the usual suspects”), but also of a wealth of other possible crystal structures observed in isoelectronic alloy systems (somewhat more “unusual suspects”). We find: (i) LDA calculations surprisingly show that Al 2 Sr in the C 15 structure is slightly lower in energy than the observed CeCu 2 -type structure. However, GGA predicts the opposite order, consistent with the observed CeCu 2 -type/ C 15 stability. (ii) An as-yet-unreported Al 5 Sr 4 compound (observed in Al–Ba) is found to be on the T =0 K ground state hull. (iii) An Al 3 Sr 8 phase, isostructural with the recently discovered Al 3 Ca 8 compound, is predicted to lie above the ground state hull and is not a T =0 K ground state. Using the first-principles formation enthalpies along with experimental thermodynamic and phase stability information, we have performed a new CALPHAD modeling of Al–Sr, including the three observed intermediate compounds as well as a hypothetical compound Al 3 Sr 8 . Two different models of the liquid phase were considered: an associate and a random solution model. The descriptions resulting from the two liquid models are critically evaluated with respect to experimental data in the literature and the present first-principles results.
Survey of Blunt Body Flows Including Wakes at Hypersonic Low-Density Conditions

James N. Moss is a Senior Research Engineer in the Aerothermodynamics Branch at the NASA Langley Research Center. He received his B.S. in Engineering Science from the Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1962, his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1968, and his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1972. He also received an M.S. in Engineering Administration in 1988 from George Washington University. The author joined NASA Langley Research Center in 1962, where his early research assignments dealt with thermal protection materials and the aerothermodynamics of atmospheric entry. His current research concerns rare ed  ows. He is a recipient of the AIAA Thermophysics Award (1989) and is a Fellow of the AIAA.
Multichannel digital transmission in an optical network of communicating molecules.

In present telecommunication networks, information transfer relies on the interplay of optical and electrical signals. Data are communicated optically but processed electronically. Methods to maintain the propagating signals solely at the optical level must be developed to overcome the transmission capacities and speed limits imposed by the electronic components. We have demonstrated that molecular switches can be used to gate optical signals in response to optical signals. We have realized a simple optical network consisting of three light sources, one cell containing a solution of three fluorescent molecules, one cell containing a solution of a three-state molecular switch and a detector. The light emitted by the three fluorophores is absorbed by the three states of the molecular switch. Using this simple operating principle, we have shown that multichannel digital transmission can be implemented on an ensemble of communicating molecules relying exclusively on the interplay of optical inputs and optical...
Data-Dependent Kernel Machines for Microarray Data Classification

One important application of gene expression analysis is to classify tissue samples according to their gene expression levels. Gene expression data are typically characterized by high dimensionality and small sample size, which makes the classification task quite challenging. In this paper, we present a data-dependent kernel for microarray data classification. This kernel function is engineered so that the class separability of the training data is maximized. A bootstrapping-based resampling scheme is introduced to reduce the possible training bias. The effectiveness of this adaptive kernel for microarray data classification is illustrated with a k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classifier. Our experimental study shows that the data-dependent kernel leads to a significant improvement in the accuracy of KNN classifiers. Furthermore, this kernel-based KNN scheme has been demonstrated to be competitive to, if not better than, more sophisticated classifiers such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and the Uncorrelated Linear Discriminant Analysis (ULDA) for classifying gene expression data.
Neuroanatomical specificity of the circuits controlling sympathetic outflow to different targets

1. Despite the emerging framework that central neural pathways controlling the activity of the sympathetic nervous system are capable of producing highly selective responses, the specific neural pathways governing different sympathetic outflows are poorly understood. 2. Anatomical studies suggest that five brain areas, namely the rostral ventrolateral medulla, the rostral ventromedial medulla, the caudal raphe nuclei, the region containing the A5 noradrenergic neurons and the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, provide dominant supraspinal innervation of sympathetic preganglionic neurons. 3. The anatomical parcellation of different functions within and among these cell groups is uncertain. However, recent studies using transynaptic retrograde labelling of neural pathways connected to various sympathetic targets suggest that the circuits controlling these different targets may be partially distinct. Similarly, anatomical studies relying on stimulus-evoked expression of immediate early genes, such as c-fos, suggest that different sympathetic responses may be controlled by distinct, neural circuits. 4. Thus, although many similarities exist in the anatomical circuits innervating different sympathetic targets, possibly supporting the orchestration of global sympathetic responses, differences are also discernible.
Cultural landscapes and cultural brokers of sexual and reproductive health in U.S. Latino and Latin American populations.

A literature review synthesizing 19 recent journal articles related to sexual and reproductive health education in U.S. Latino and Latin American populations. Emphasis is on the role of culture and qualitative research methodologies and listening to the voice of communities. Part 1 deals with the cultural landscape: social influence on behavior by male partners family and community. Part 2 describes the roles played by lay health providers and promoters (parteras promotoras poetas) as cultural brokers influencing sexual and reproductive health behavior. (authors)
Nonlinear attractor dynamics in the fundamental and extended prism adaptation paradigm

Adaptation and re-adaptation processes are studied in terms of dynamic attractors that evolve and devolve. In doing so, a theoretical account is given for the fundamental observation that adaptation and re-adaptation processes do not exhibit one-trial learning. Moreover, the emergence of the latent aftereffect in the extended prism paradigm is addressed.
Organizing Hazards, Engineering Disasters? Improving the Recognition of Political-Economic Factors in the Creation of Disasters

Disaster studies have made important progress in recognizing the unequally distributed consequences of disasters, but there has been less progress in analyzing social factors that help create "natural" disasters. Even well-known patterns of hazard-creation tend to be interpreted generically – as representing "economic development" or "capitalism" – rather than through focusing on the more specific dynamics involved. We illustrate this point with two recent and well-known cases of flooding – those in the upper Mississippi River Valley and in the Katrina-related devastation of New Orleans. In the former case, damage was caused in part by building the very kinds of higher and stronger floodwalls that were shown to be inadequate in the latter. In the New Orleans case, a more important factor in the death and destruction was the excavation of a transportation canal. In both cases, and many more, the underlying causes of damage to humans as well as to the environment has involved a three-part pattern, supported by the political system – spreading the costs, concentrating the economic benefits and hiding the real risks. In very real senses, these have been floods of folly, created not just by extreme weather events, but by deadly and avoidable patterns of political-economic choices. Comparable patterns appear to deserve greater attention in other contexts, as well.
Relational Identity and Identification: Defining Ourselves Through Work Relationships

We explore the meaning and significance of relational identity and relational identification, predicated on the role-relationship between two individuals. We argue that relational identity integrates person- and role-based identities and thereby the individual, interpersonal, and collective levels of self; contrast relational identity and relational identification with social identity and social identification; contend that relational identity and relational identification are each arranged in a cognitive hierarchy ranging from generalized to particularized schemas; and contrast relational identification with relational disidentification and ambivalent relational identification.
Software design of the Stiquito micro robot

The Stiquito robot is a small, six legged robot that walks by utilizing a special material called Flexinol. Flexinol acts as a muscle for each of the legs, providing a means of walking for the robot. Stiquito was originally designed as a manually controlled device, where the operator would manually control the six legs in sets of three. A self-controlled version of the Stiquito was later developed This version provides more versatility in possible applications by allowing it to travel alone, without being tethered to an operator. This self-controlled version of the Stiquito robot uses a microprocessor to coordinate the operation of the legs to produce a forward motion. To accomplish this, an algorithm and resulting software must be developed to satisfy several operating requirements. This paper discusses these requirements and the development of the C/C++ software designed to implement them.
Device for the control of oxygen concentration in multiwell cell culture plates

Oxygen is a key modulator of many cellular pathways but current devices permitting in vitro oxygen modulation fail to meet the needs of many researchers. In this study, a microfabricated insert for multiwell formats has been developed to control the gas concentration of each well independent of the global incubator's condition. The platform consists of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) insert that nests into a standard multiwell plate and serves as a passive network with a gas permeable membrane aimed to deliver gas to adherent cell cultures. Preliminary data demonstrate that the insert is effective in controlling the oxygen concentration at the cell surface inside a well with equilibration times in minutes rather than hours for conventional technologies. A wide variety of oxygen profiles can be attained based on the device design, such as the cyclic profile achieved in this study, and even gradients in local oxygen concentration to mimic those found in vivo for more biomimetic cellular models.
An architectural alternative to optimizing compilers

Programming languages are designed to make programming productive. Computer architectures are designed to make program execution efficient. Although architectures should be designed with programming languages in mind, it may be as inappropriate to make the computer execute the programming language directly it is to make the programmer use machine language. It is the compiler's job to match the programming language and the computer architectures, and therefore making compiler's efficient and easy to write are important design goals of a complete hardware/software system. This paper summerizes research completed in 1980 [5] on a computer architecture, TM, that takes over some of the more burdensome tasks of optimizing compilers for high-level-languages (HLL's), performing these tasks dynamically during the execution of the object program. This is a different approach to making compilers efficient than is commonly taken; more common approaches include devising more efficient optimization algorithms[I], being clever about when to do optimizations [4], and building the compilers semiautomatically [6].
The Role of Nonnormality in Overreflection Theory

The role of nonnormality in the overreflection of gravity waves is investigated. In the limit of weak stratification, wave packets having a critical level inside a shear layer of finite depth are reflected with amplified energy. This process, which exhibits the characteristics of stimulated emission, occurs in three stages: first, the incoming wave enters the shear layer and excites nonpropagating perturbations leaning with and against the shear.Subsequently,theenergyofperturbationsleaningagainstthesheargrowsinamannersimilartoenergy growth of perturbations in constant shearflows, indicating that the Orr mechanism that is slightly modified by stratification underlies the observed growth. Finally, the amplified perturbations excite propagating waves originating from the vicinity of the shear layer boundary. The role of nonnormality in this process is also investigated from the perspectiveof the associated nonorthogonality of the modes of the dynamical system. It is found that the incident wave packet projects on nonorthogonal analytic modes having the structure of a downward propagating wave in the far field below the shear layer and overreflection expressed by the interaction among these nonorthogonal modes.
HYPERPITUITARISM BEGINNING IN INFANCY THE ALTON GIANT

Giants over seven feet tall are extremely uncommon. Usually if not always they exhibit disturbed function of the pituitary gland as an etiological factor in their abnormal development. The pathological condition is ordinarily associated with delayed closure of the epiphyses. According to Biedl (1) the abnormality most often begins at puberty and may continue far beyond the normal period of growth even to the age of 25 or 30. Cases of earlier gigantism are excessively rare and have not been thoroughly studied during the period of childhood and adolescence. It is of interest, therefore, that during the past 18 months we have had the opportunity of observing intimately a boy who at the time of his first admission was eleven years old but who had grown abnormally and continuously from the age of six months.
Individual Differences in the Spontaneous Recruitment of Brain Regions Supporting Mental State Understanding When Viewing Natural Social Scenes

People are able to rapidly infer complex personality traits and mental states even from the most minimal person information. Research has shown that when observers view a natural scene containing people, they spend a disproportionate amount of their time looking at the social features (e.g., faces, bodies). Does this preference for social features merely reflect the biological salience of these features or are observers spontaneously attempting to make sense of complex social dynamics? Using functional neuroimaging, we investigated neural responses to social and nonsocial visual scenes in a large sample of participants (n = 48) who varied on an individual difference measure assessing empathy and mentalizing (i.e., empathizing). Compared with other scene categories, viewing natural social scenes activated regions associated with social cognition (e.g., dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and temporal poles). Moreover, activity in these regions during social scene viewing was strongly correlated with individual differences in empathizing. These findings offer neural evidence that observers spontaneously engage in social cognition when viewing complex social material but that the degree to which people do so is mediated by individual differences in trait empathizing.
Privacy Preserving Pattern Classification

We give efficient and practical protocols for privacy preserving pattern classification that allow a client to have his data classified by a server, without revealing information to either party, other than the classification result. We illustrate the advantages of such a framework on several real-world scenarios and give secure protocols for several classifiers.
Therapeutic ultrasound, part I.

Acoustic hemostasis is a new field of ultrasound research in which high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is used to induce hemostasis in actively bleeding, injured solid organs and blood vessels. In animal studies, moderate to profuse bleeding from parenchymal and vascular injuries has been arrested within approximately 1 minute of HIFU application, even when a large dose of heparin was administered. Moreover, acoustic hemostasis has shown promise in cauterizing large regions of liver, providing a method for bloodless resectioning of abnormal tissue. Two distinct physical mechanisms of HIFU appear to contribute to hemostasis: (1) a thermal mechanism in which absorption of sound leads to temperature elevations, and (2) mechanical mechanisms (acoustic cavitation) in which gas and vapor-filled voids oscillate with large displacement amplitudes. While the thermal mechanism results in a temperature increase in excess of 70°C in about 1 second, the mechanical mechanism appears to result in structural disruption of tissue and possible release of coagulation-inducing tissue factors. Of utmost importance in further development of HIFU as a clinical tool is targeting and monitoring of the HIFU treatment. We have obtained initial success in integrating HIFU with ultrasound imaging so as to develop an image-guided therapy system. Image-guided acoustic hemostasis may provide a valuable method of hemostasis in surgical and prehospital settings with applications in trauma and elective surgery.
Long-period long-duration seismic events during hydraulic stimulation of shale and tight-gas reservoirs — Part 2: Location and mechanisms

ABSTRACTLong-period long-duration (LPLD) seismic events that have been observed during hydraulic stimulation of shale-gas and tight-gas reservoirs appear to represent slow shear slip on relatively large faults. Within the limitations of the recording geometry, we determine the areas in the reservoirs where the events are located in two case studies in the Barnett shale. In one data set, LPLD events appear to occur in the region where the density of natural fractures as well as the fluid pressure during pumping were highest. In the other data set, the LPLD events are observed to occur between two wells and seem to establish a hydraulic connection between them. In both data sets, the LPLD events occur in areas with very few located microearthquakes. A combination of factors such as high fluid pressure and/or high clay content is potentially responsible for the slowly slipping faults. The LPLD events appear to be occurring only on faults large enough to produce a sequence of slow slip events. We suggest that...