cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression, Immanence and Constructivism: ‘Spinozism’ and Gilles Deleuze

This paper is an attempt to explicate the relationship between Spinozist expressionism and philosophical constructivism in Deleuze's work through the concept of immanent causality. Deleuze finds in Spinoza a philosophy of immanent causality used to solve the problem of the relation between substance, attribute and mode as an expression of substance. But, when he proceeds to take up this notion of immanent causality found in Spinoza in Difference and Repetition, Deleuze instead inverts it into a modal one such that the identity of substance may be said only of the difference of the modes. Complicating this further, Deleuze and Guattari claim in A Thousand Plateaus that substance, attribute, and mode are each, themselves, multiplicities. What is Philosophy? takes up immanent causality once again, this time through a constructivist lens aimed at resolving the question of the relation between philosophical multiplicities: ‘plane,’ ‘persona,’ and ‘concept.’ By following the different formulations of immanent c...
Pediatric unilateral vocal fold immobility

Unilateral VFI is a rare entity in the pediatric age group. Initial evaluation should include a thorough history and physical examination, particularly assessing for associated CNS and cardiovascular anomalies. Modalities of investigation include fiberoptic examination, EMG in the older child,diagnostic imaging, and rigid endoscopy. Controversy exists about the relevance of "growth centers" in the developing larynx, although recent studies dispute their existence. Recovery in idiopathic or congenital cases can occur up to 11 years later, which supports some observation between onset of paralysis and surgical intervention. In cases where the etiology is clear and recovery is not anticipated, a few reported series have demonstrated success with endoscopic injection and thyroplasty techniques. Unlike the case in adults, careful identification of the vocal fold level should be performed in children before implant placement. Further research is necessary to prove prospectively that surgical intervention in the pediatric larynx will not affect subsequent growth. Until this occurs, the otolaryngologist will continue to be challenged with decisions regarding the timing and choice of technique for correction of unilateral VFI in neonates and children.
Synthesis, characterization of (R)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl mono-sulfonamide and its ruthenium complex and evaluation of the catalytic properties in transfer hydrogenation reactions

Abstract (R)-2-amino-2′-(8-quinolinesulfonyl amino)-1,1′-binaphthyl is synthesized. Its ruthenium complex is shown to be an asymmetric catalyst for transfer hydrogenation reactions in high chemical yield and modest enantioselectivity. Single crystal diffraction studies of both the ligand and the ruthenium complex show strong π-stacking interactions between the quinoline ring and one of the naphthyl groups. The relationship between the structure and catalytic reactivity is also discussed.
Building mobile context-aware applications for leisure and entertainment

This paper presents a mobile context-aware tourist guide application created with the IVO platform. IVO (Integrated Virtual Operator) enables end-users to quickly build and deploy context-aware applications without the need to write any programming code, and using smartphones as the ubiquitous interaction device. Aiming at exploring the use of the IVO platform to build mobile leisure and entertainment applications, the developed application makes use of most features available in IVO. Using only the tools provided by the platform, IVO Builder and IVO Outlook, users can define temporal and spatial conditions and associate them with workflows of available activities. The paper also presents the user studies performed to evaluate the application's usefulness and usability.
Prospective study of single-stage repair of contaminated hernias using a biologic porcine tissue matrix: The RICH Study

Background In the presence of contamination, the repair of a ventral incisional hernia (VIH) is challenging. The presence of comorbidities poses an additional risk for postoperative wound events and hernia recurrence. To date, very few studies describe the outcomes of VIH repair in this high-risk population. Methods A prospective, multicenter, single-arm, the Repair of Infected or Contaminated Hernias study was performed to study the clinical outcomes of open VIH repair of contaminated abdominal defects with a non–cross-linked, porcine, acellular dermal matrix, Strattice. Results Of 85 patients who consented to participate, 80 underwent open VIH repair with Strattice. Hernia defects were ‘clean-contaminated’ (n = 39), ‘contaminated’ (n = 39), or ‘dirty’ (n = 2), and the defects were classified as grade 3 (n = 60) or grade 4 (n = 20). The midline was restored, and primary closure was achieved in 64 patients; the defect was bridged in 16 patients. At 24 months, 53 patients (66%) experienced 95 wound events. There were 28 unique, infection-related events in 24 patients. Twenty-two patients experienced seromas, all but 5 of which were transient and required no intervention. No unanticipated adverse events occurred, and no tissue matrix required complete excision. There were 22 hernia (28%) recurrences by month 24. There was no correlation between infection-related events and hernia recurrence. Conclusion The use of the intact, non–cross-linked, porcine, acellular dermal matrix, Strattice, in the repair of contaminated VIH in high-risk patients allowed for successful, single-stage reconstruction in >70% of patients followed for 24 months after repair.
Parametric polymorphism for Java: a reflective solution

A number of inadequacies of existing implementation techniques for extending Java™ with parametric polymorphism are revealed. Homogeneous translations are the most space-efficient but they are not compatible with reflection, some models of persistence, and multiple dispatch. Heterogeneous translations, on the other hand, can potentially produce large amounts of redundant information. Implementation techniques that address these concerns are developed. In languages that support run-time reflection, an adequate implementation of parametric, bounded and F-bounded polymorphism is shown to require (reflective) run-time support. In Java, extensions to the core classes are needed. This is in spite of the fact that parametric polymorphism is intended to be managed statically.
Local Structure and Dynamics of Lithium Garnet Ionic Conductors: A Model Material Li5La3Ta2O12

In this article, we combined two complementary structure/dynamics probes, i.e., total-scattering/reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modeling and classical molecular dynamics (MD), in order to understand local lithium structure and dynamics in a model disordered garnet oxide Li5La3Ta2O12. By examining the configurations from RMC and trajectories from MD, we individually and statistically analyzed the lithium distribution and dynamics within tetrahedral (Td) cages, octahedral (Oh) cages, and triangular bottlenecks. We found that lithium atoms within either Td or Oh cages prefer to stay at the off-center positions and close to one of the triangular bottlenecks. This is likely caused by the uneven Li–Li interaction in the form of lithium clusters, and such geometrical frustration leads to the local structure instability and fast ionic conduction. Both RMC and MD studies support that the lithium conduction path goes through the triangular bottleneck in a 3D continuous network of Td/Oh cages, without a direct Oh to Oh j...
Cosmic confusion and structure formation.

We present a reanalysis of the cosmic confusion hypothesis, elucidating the degree to which "confusion" can be expected to hold in a class of flat, adiabatic models. This allows us to devise a simple and accurate fitting function for the height of the first peak in the radiation power spectrum in a wide range of inflationary-inspired models. The range preferred by current data is given, together with a discussion of the impact of measurements of the peak height on constraining models of structure formation.
Design of a comparator tree based on reversible logic

The ex i sting design of reversible n-bit binary comparator that compares two n-bit numbers is a serial design [1] having the latency of O(n). In this work, we present a new reversible n-bit binary comparator based on binary tree structure that has the latency of O(log 2 (n)). The reversible designs are based on a new reversible gate called the TR gate, the improved quantum cost of which is also derived in this work. In the proposed reversible binary tree comparator each node consists of a 2-bit reversible binary comparator that can compare two 2-bit numbers x(x i , x i −1) and y(y i , y i −1), to generate two 1-bit outputs Y and Z. Y will be 1 if x(x i , x i −1)> y(y i , y i −1), and Z will be 1 if x(x i , x i −1)&#60;y(y i , y i −1). After careful analysis, we modified the logic equations of Y = x 1 y1 ⨁ kx 0 y 0 and Z =x 1 y 1 ⨁ kx 0 y 0 to Y = x 1 y 1 ⨁ kx 0 y 0 and Z = x 1 y 1 ⨁ kx 0 y 0 , respectively. The replacement of + operator with ⨁ operator without affecting the functionality of the design helped us in reversible mapping of the equations of Y and Z on the third output of the TR gate which is R=AB ⨁ C. Further, TR gate can also efficiently generate functions such as x 0 y 0 and x 0 y 0 . In the proposed reversible binary comparator, the leaf nodes will consist of 2-bit reversible binary comparators. Each internal node (2-bit reversible binary comparator) of the binary tree receives the partial comparison results from the left and the right children and propagates the 2-bit output of the comparison to its parent. Finally, the root node which is also a 2-bit reversible binary comparator generates the 2-bit result of the comparison of the n-bit numbers x and y to evaluate whether x>y or x&#60;y. The 2-bit result of the root node are passed to the reversible output circuit designed from a Toffoli gate and 4 NOT gates to generate three signals O 0 (x&#60;y), O 1 (x>y) and O 2 (x=y).
Critical Thermal Limits and Locomotor Activity of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Critical thermal (CT) maxima (CTMAX)and critical thermal minima (CTMIN) were determined for minor caste workers of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Ants were tested from polygynous colonies collected from northwestern Texas. Mean CTMAX is lower than that reported for the upper lethal temperature for short exposures and higher than that reported for the upper foraging limit. Mean CTMIN was, likewise, lower than the reported lower foraging limit. The CT values obtained at weekly intervals as colony maintenance temperatures were reduced from 29 to 9°C showed significant reductions in both CTMAX and CTMIN. The CT values averaged 40.7 (MAX) and 3.6°C (MIN). Differences between critical thermal values and those reported in previous studies of lethal and foraging temperatures are discussed.
Controlling the morphology of CVD films

The morphology of the gas-solid interface during typical chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes is investigated. The dynamic behavior of the interface depends on many factors, including local curvature of the film, reactant diffusion, adsorption equilibrium, surface kinetics, and mobility of adatoms. These factors depend on material properties of the system and reactor conditions, such as the deposition temperature and pressure. A 2-D model proposed describes the evolution of the interface in Cartesian coordinates under the influence of stabilizing and destabilizing effects. A linear stability analysis is used to predict under which conditions a planar interface becomes unstable. Stability criteria of a simplified 1-D analysis is not necessarily valid if the real system has more than one dimension. The substrate temperature and reactor pressure are important factors affecting the stability of film growth and thus the morphology of CVD films. An increase in temperature stabilizes planar film growth if the deposition is diffusion-limited, but destabilizes it if the process is reaction-controlled. The reactor pressure has a destabilizing effect on planar film growth during a typical CVD process.
Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration of Gastric Varices

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of gastric varices is an image-guided transcatheter procedure used to treat gastric varices with sclerosants rather than decompression of the portal venous system. The history of its development, relevant portal venous, and systemic venous anatomic considerations, techniques, indications, and early results will be reviewed. In addition, the status of the practice of BRTO in the United States will be discussed.
A joint multicontext and multiscale approach to Bayesian image segmentation

In this paper, a joint multicontext and multiscale (JMCMS) approach to Bayesian image segmentation is proposed. In addition to the multiscale framework, the JMCMS applies multiple context models to jointly use their distinct advantages, and we use a heuristic multistage, problem-solving technique to estimate sequential maximum a posteriori of the JMCMS. The segmentation results on both synthetic mosaics and remotely sensed images show that the proposed JMCMS improves the classification accuracy, and in particular, boundary localization and detection over the methods using a single context at comparable computational complexity.
A prevalence study on partner abuse in six Asian American ethnic groups in the USA

EnglishIn a survey of 1577 Asian Americans, the average partner abuse prevalence was 16.4 percent, that is, 22.4 percent among Vietnamese, 21.8 percent among Filipinos, 19.5 percent among Indians, ...
Laser measurement techniques applied to turbulent combustion in piston engines

The application of experimental laser diagnostic techniques to the study of turbulent flame propagation in homogeneous-charge internal combustion engines is demonstrated. A variety of laser refraction and scattering techniques are employed: the qualitative shape and detailed internal turbulence structure of the flame surface is investigated using laser schlieren photography; the flame location and local flame speed are measured using multibeam laser refraction; the instantaneous flame thickness is measured using Rayleigh scattering; gas temperatures are measured using Rayleigh and Raman scattering; gas velocity, turbulence intensities, and time scales of turbulence are measured using laser Doppler velocimetry. The problem of cyclic variation bias in turbulence measurements is addressed using conditional sampling procedures that involve the simultaneous implementation of multiple diagnostics. This paper focuses on the thermodynamic and fluid mechanic properties of interest to turbulence combustion studies, illustrating how laser diagnostics can be used to research the critical areas of interest.
Effects of TSH on thyroid membrane properties.

Effects of endogenous and exogenous TSH on rabbit thyroid cell membrane properties were studied. Both propylthiouracil (PTU) pretreatment and acute cold stress produced a fall in transmembrane potentials. PTU pretreated rabbit follicles had higher capacitances and lower resistances across their walls than follicles from control rabbits. This can be explained on the basis of increased membrane area. PTU pretreated animals also had a lower luminal electrical potential. In perfused glands in vitro, the addition of TSH to the perfusate produced a rapid fall in resistance and an increase in capacitance across the follicular wall. These changes are attributed to an increase in membrane area and to a fall in specific membrane resistance. (Endocrinology 86: 1154, 1970)
Effect of exercise intensity on depressive symptoms in women

Abstract Exercise has been shown to relieve depressive symptoms, yet optimal exercise intensity for treating depression has not been established. The mechanisms that explain the antidepressant effect of exercise also require investigation. The purpose of this study was to test (a) the effect of two different exercise intensities prescribed for aerobic training on depressive symptoms, and (b) a previously proposed psychological mechanism for this effect: self-efficacy. Sedentary women scoring ≥14 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were randomized to one of two aerobic training groups that differed on exercise intensity (high [65–75% MaxVO2 reserve] or low [40–55% MaxVO2 reserve]), or to a stretching control group for 10 weeks. Main outcome variables included depressive symptoms (BDI-II) and self-efficacy (exercise self-efficacy [ESE] and depression coping self-efficacy [DCSE]), which were measured at study entry, 5 and 10 weeks later. Participants in all groups (high, n = 18; low, n = 18; stretching, n = 18) had significant reductions in depressive symptoms at Week 5 (p
The prospects for OPEC: A critical survey of models of the world oil market

Abstract The paper critically surveys seven recent models of the world oil market and their evaluations of the prospects for OPEC: Blitzer-Meeraus-Stoutjesdijk, Bohi-Russell, the U.S. Federal Energy Administration, Kennedy, Kalymon, Levy and Nordhaus. After a brief discussion of the basic approaches to the problem, we examine the model specifications in some detail. The principal contributions and conclusions are summarized, as are the main limitations of these models. We conclude with some suggestions of the most promising areas for future research.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of food-borne diseases and surveillance among physicians in Guangdong, China

Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of food-borne diseases and surveillance among physicians in Guangdong, China. A total of 812 participants responded to a self-administered questionnaire with in-person interviews taking place in 10 hospitals. The ratio of male to female was 1:1. The majority of the respondents worked in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and clinical laboratory specialties and had been working as a physician for less than 20 years. Most of the respondents had at least university undergraduate degrees. Results showed over 50% of respondents could not identify the characteristics of food-borne diseases (except food poisoning), and 60% of respondents were not aware of the existence of the Pulsed Field Gel Eelectrophoresis (PFGE) system, which would allow them to monitor food-borne illnesses. 8% of respondents would not collect stool specimens for culture. Only 10% of respondents had positive attitudes towards reporting cases when there was only one suspected case. The predominant reason for non-reporting centered on physicians overlooking patients symptoms as minor with assuming of regular therapy being effective. Thus, physicians considered reporting unnecessary. In diagnosis, when patients presented with symptoms of the nervous system, the muscular system, fever, headache, and dizziness, most of the respondents would consider food-borne diseases depending on the situation. Results of this study show that there is need for food-borne disease surveillance education programs. Adequate education for physicians on food-borne diseases is critical not only for proper treatment of food-borne diseases in patients, but also for on time reporting to health authorities. In order to evaluate the results of the education sessions, further study of the assessment system is necessary.
Comparison of culture media for detection of Acinetobacter baumannii in surveillance cultures of critically-ill patients

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of CHROMagar Acinetobacter when compared to sheep blood agar, MacConkey agar and MacConkey agar with 6 μg/ml of imipenem for the detection of A. baumannii in surveillance cultures of hospitalized patients. We utilized peri-anal swabs and sputum samples from patients admitted to the University of Maryland Medical Center ICUs from December 7 through December 21, 2009. Samples were plated onto four media in the following order: (1) 5% sheep blood agar (SBA), (2) MacConkey agar, (3) MacConkey agar with 6 μg/ml of imipenem, and (4) CHROMagar Acinetobacter (CHROMagar). SBA was the gold standard to which all media was compared. There were 165 samples collected during the study period. SBA and CHROMagar detected 18 of 18 (100%) Acinetobacter and 11 of 11 (100%) MDR-A. baumannii. MacConkey agar detected 16 of 18 (89%) Acinetobacter and 10 of 11 (91%) MDR- A. baumannii while MacConkey agar with 6 μg/ml imipenem detected 9 of 11 (82%) MDR-A. baumannii. CHROMagar did not differentiate MDR- A. baumannii from non-MDR-A. baumannii. CHROMagar may be useful for rapid detection of patients with MDR-A. baumannii if improved upon to better select for MDR-A. baumannii.
Hydraulic Conductivity of Polymerized Bentonite-Amended Backfills

AbstractThe potential for chemical incompatibility between soil-bentonite (SB) backfills of vertical cutoff walls composed of conventional (chemically unmodified) sodium bentonite (CSB) and contaminated groundwater has led to evaluation of chemically modified bentonites for improved chemical resistance. Accordingly, the hydraulic conductivity to tap water (kw) and to CaCl2 solutions (kc) of SB backfills amended with a polymerized bentonite known as bentonite polymer nanocomposite (BPN) were measured and compared with those for a traditional backfill composed of CSB. The BPN was used both as a dry amendment and as the constituent in the bentonite slurry. Three backfills were evaluated, viz, clean silica sand amended with either 2 or 5% dry BPN and mixed with 2% BPN slurry (i.e., 2BPN2 and 5BPN2, respectively), and the same sand amended with 5% dry CSB and mixed with 5% CSB slurry (5CSB5). Based on permeation with 50 mM CaCl2, the ratio kc/kw varied in the order of 2BPN2<5CSB5<5BPN2, such that the 5BPN2 bac...
The puromycin route to assess stereo- and regiochemical constraints on peptide bond formation in eukaryotic ribosomes.

We synthesized a series of puromycin analogues to probe the chemical specificity of the ribosome in an intact eukaryotic translation system. These studies reveal that both d-enantiomers and β-amino acid analogues can be incorporated into protein, and provide a quantitative means to rank natural and unnatural residues. Modeling of a d-amino acid analogue into the 50S ribosomal subunit indicates that steric clash may provide part of the chiral discrimination. The data presented provide one metric of the chiral and regiospecificity of mammalian ribosomes.
An object-oriented testbed for research in reliable distributed systems

We are developing a testbed system on which to do research in the area of reliable, distributed systems. This research expands upon the experience the authors gained while implementing the Clouds distributed system project at Georgia Tech1,2,3,4,5. In particular, we intend to support some of the on-going research atour department in the areas of graphics, imaging, and robotics. By targeting these specific areas as applications and tailoring the system to support them, we expect to gain insight into what facilities are required from a distributed system and at what level these facilities should be provided.
Effects of particle size on inhibited grain growth

The purpose of this communication is to re-examine pinned grain growth simulation results for a range of particle sizes
Neuronal NAD(P)H oxidases contribute to ROS production and mediate RGC death after ischemia.

PURPOSE. To study the role of neuronal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NAD(P)H] oxidase–dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death after ischemia. METHODS. Ischemic injury was induced by unilateral elevation of intraocular pressure via direct corneal cannulation. For in vitro experiments, RGCs isolated by immunopanning from retinas were exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). The expression levels of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits were evaluated by quantitative PCR, immunocytochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. The level of ROS generated was assayed by dihydroethidium. The NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors were then tested to determine if inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase altered the production of ROS within the RGCs and promoted cell survival. RESULTS. It was reported that RGCs express catalytic Nox1, Nox2, Nox4, Duox1, as well as regulatory Ncf1/p47phox, Ncf2/p67phox, Cyba/p22phox, Noxo1, and Noxa1 subunits of NAD(P)H oxidases under normal conditions and after ischemia. However, whereas RGCs express only low levels of catalytic Nox2, Nox4, and Duox1, and regulatory Ncf1/p47, Ncf2/p67 subunits, they exhibit significantly higher levels of catalytic subunit Nox1 and the subunits required for optimal activity of Nox1. It was observed that the nonselective NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors VAS-2870, AEBSF, and the Nox1 NAD(P)H oxidase– specific inhibitor ML-090 decreased the ROS burst stimulated by OGD, which was associated with a decreased level of RGC death. CONCLUSIONS. The findings suggest that NAD(P)H oxidase activity in RGCs renders them vulnerable to ischemic death. Importantly, high levels of Nox1 NAD(P)H oxidase subunits in RGCs suggest that this enzyme could be a major source of ROS in RGCs produced by NAD(P)H oxidases. (Invest Ophthalmol
Attitude Error Response of Structures to Actuator/Sensor Noise

One of the principal performance criteria in CSI optimization is the attitude error. This paper presents explicit closed-form formulas for the RMS attitude error response to sensor and actuator noise for co-located actuators/sensors as a function of both control gain parameters and structure parameters. The main point of departure is the use of continuum models. In particular the anisotropic Timoshenko model is used for lattice trusses typified by the NASA EPS Structure Model and the Evolutionary Model. One conclusion is that the maximum attainable improvement in the attitude error varying either structure parameters or control gains is 3 db at most for the axial and horizon modes, the bending being essentially insensitive. The results are similar whether the Bernoulli model or the anisotropic Timoshenko model is used.
Effect of triiodothyronine and reserpine on induction and growth of mammary tumors in rats by 3‐methylcholanthrene

This study was designed to investigate the effects of exogenous L-triiodothyronine (LT3) and reserpine administration on the induction and stimulation of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) mammary tumors. Two hundred-fifty-eight 30-day-old virgin 100 gm Sprague Dawley rats were divided into eight groups. Groups I-IV received either reserpine, LT3, both, or saline 22 days after tumor induction with 3-MC. Groups V-VIII were pretreated with either reserpine, LT3, or both for 29 days prior to tumor induction, and treatment was continued after tumor induction in all except Group VII. All rats were observed for tumor growth and sacrificed at seven months. Reserpine administration resulted in a protective effect against tumor induction in all groups in which it was used, with the most striking effects observed in the pretreated groups. Early LT3 stimulation of tumor formation was reversed by simultaneous administration of reserpine. Prolonged administration was unnecessary when both agents were administered prior to 3-methylcholanthrene.
Urban Green Spaces: A Study of Place Attachment and Environmental Attitudes in India

Urban green spaces are critical to urban sustainability yet receive little scientific or political attention. This study explored the effect of place attachment on environmental attitudes among urban green space users in India. Data were collected via an on-site survey administered in March 2006. Among the English-speaking subsample (n = 219; adjusted response rate 87.6%), respondents had moderate levels of place identity and place dependence and exhibited a tendency toward pro-environmental attitudes. Additionally, stronger place identity was significantly associated with greater agreement regarding the balance between humans and nature as well as with weaker support for the domination of humans over nature. No significant relationships between place identity and ecological limits or place dependence and environmental attitudes emerged. Results suggest emotional connections with places contribute toward pro-environmental attitudes. Enhancing such connections is therefore likely to lead to increased envir...
Lapse rates and other variables applied to estimating paleoaltitudes from fossil floras

Abstract A previous method for determining paleoaltitude from fossil floras has used the difference between sea level and upland paleotemperatures, which is then multiplied by the reciprocal of a “normal” lapse rate. The present study examines other variables that can significantly influence such results. Terrestrial lapse rates have been calculated for 39 areas of the world based upon mean annual temperature ( mat ), mean warm month temperature ( mat ), and mean cold month ttemperature ( cmt ). These show regional and seasonal variability that is explained by factors including continentality, elevation of large massifs or high base levels, cold air drainage, fog, mountain barrier effects, and the location of the subtropical high-pressure zone. Lapse rates and projected sea level temperatures based on data from the western United States show distinct regional patterns. These indicate that, within this region, the highest lapse rate and temperature values are correlated with (1) continental climates in the subtropical high-pressure zone, and (2) areas having relief where the lowest elevation land surfaces (base levels) occur at high altitude. The data are applied to evaluate and revise the methodology for estimating paleoaltitudes. Variables of climatic change, sea level fluctuation, and paleogeography are also considered. Limitations in application of the method are emphasized. The method is exemplified by application to the latest Eocene Florissant flora of Colorado, U.S.A. Although the results are conjectural, they strongly suggest that the late Eocene erosion surface in the southern Rocky Mountains occurred at a much higher paleoaltitude than previously thought. This high elevation may have resulted from earlier Laramide crustal thickening.
Nonsense mutation in the human growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor causes growth failure analogous to the little (lit) mouse

Pituitary growth hormone release is under dual hypothalamic control, stimulated by growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and inhibited by somatostatin. Childhood growth hormone deficiency (GHD), leading to dwarfism and metabolic dysfunction1, can result from a failure of hypothalamic GHRH production or release, from maldevel-opment of the pituitary somatotrophes, and from genetic disorders of growth hormone synthesis. Some familial cases of isolated GHD have been attributed to mutations in the growth hormone gene itself2 but in other families GHD is not linked to this locus2. The mouse dwarfism trait, little, is due to a recessively inherited missense mutation (lit) in the extracellular domain of the GHRH receptor (Ghrhr)3–6: Pituitary glands of the little mouse are deficient in growth hormone and are unresponsive to GHRH in vivo and in vitro7. Somatic growth is increased by systemic administration of human growth hormone8. Human GHPHR shows strong sequence homology to the murine gene. The cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1,269 base pairs (bp) coding for a 423-amino acid protein10. Having mapped the human homologue (GHRHR) to chromosome 7p15 (ref. 9), we undertook to look for mutations in GHRHR in familial GHD. We now report a nonsense mutation in the human GHRHR gene that results in profound GH deficiency in at least two members of a consanguineous family. Mutations of GHRHR may account for other instances of GH deficiency in which the growth hormone gene is normal
Effect of boron additions on Al-Cu-Fe icosahedral quasicrystals

Abstract The structure, stability and phase relationships of a series of Al63-x Cu25Fe12B x alloys, with x ranging from 0 to 2, were investigated in this study. Increasing x resulted in a change in the solidification behaviour and microstructural scale. While the face-centred icosahedral (fci) phase was observed to be the primary solidification product in each of the samples, proportionately more AlFe (β) was observed as x increased and, for x = 1 and 2, Al2Cu appeared. Also, the relative amount of phason strain present in the fci phase increased as x increased.
SnapShot: Directed Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) posses great potential for applications in regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and developmental biology studies. This potential relies on the ability of these cells to differentiate into the hundreds of cell types within the body. Here, we highlight some of strategies for directing the differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs into defined cell types. Most cell types and pathways depicted correspond to published work on human cells, except for the production of spermatozoa, oocyte-like cells, otic hair cells, cortical layers, and optic cup, which were generated with mouse ESCs or iPSCs.In order to uncover these differentiation strategies, stem cell biologists have relied heavily on previous research in model organisms, including
Neutron optics optimization for the SNS EQ-SANS diffractometer

The extended Q-range small angle neutron scattering (EQ-SANS) diffractometer at the Spallation Neutron Source has recently been completed. Initial commissioning has shown that it has achieved its high intensity, low background, and wide dynamic range design goals. One of the key components that enable these performances is its neutron optics, which are extensively optimized using analytical and Monte Carlo methods. The EQ-SANS optics consist of a curved multichannel beam bender and sections of straight neutron guides on both ends of the bender. The bender and the guide are made of float glass coated with supermirror multilayers. The function of the optics is to ensure low instrument background by avoiding the direct line of sight of the neutron moderator at downstream locations, while transporting thermal and cold neutrons to the sample with maximum efficiency. In this work, the optimization of the EQ-SANS optics is presented.
Intravital nontoxic sulfide loading of synaptic zinc in hippocampus.

Abstract Intravital, reversible, bilateral selective sulfide loading of the synaptic vesicle zinc in certain systems within the mammalian hippocampus can be produced, at least once daily, by exposure of animals to graded inhalation of H2S to the level of seizure followed by 15 sec apnea. Heavy sulfide loading during the first half hour after seizure, and then gradual disappearance of the sulfide from the synapses during the succeeding 2 hr, can be displayed in the mossy fiber system by Timm's silver-sulfide impregnation method modified to exclude all sulfide from the histological reagents. During most of the period of heavy sulfide loading rats, if given background sensory arousal, appear normal in their somatomotor and sensory activities and can be, for instance, memory tested on complex mazes. Hence, if such synaptic sulfide loading determines functional blocking, as von Euler has shown that it almost certainly does in acute electroanatomical experiments, this procedure furnishes a chemical ablation tool for behavioral investigations of the functions of the fascia dentata and hippocampus.
CALCULATION OF VAPOR PRESSURE CURVES FOR ETHYL, PROPYL, AND BUTYL PARABENS USING THERMOGRAVIMETRY

The heat treatment of parahydroxy benzoic acid esters follows zero order rate processes that are in good correlation with their evaporation process. Rising temperature experiments were performed and the optimum conditions were found when the heating rate was 10°C/min in an atmosphere of dry nitrogen, the flow rate of which was maintained at 100 mL/min. The Antoine constants for methyl paraben were substituted into the Antoine equation to get the corresponding vapor pressures that were then used in the Langmuir equation to obtain the value for the coefficient of evaporation k . The Eact value, obtained from the Arrhenius plot, was 75.1 kJ mol−1; the enthalpy of vaporization (ΔHvap) was calculated to be 77.9 kJ mol−1, in very close agreement with the Eact value. Using the Antoine and Langmuir equations, the value of k was experimentally determined to be 124525 ± 0.8, units being in the S.I. system. Taking the value of k to be independent of the substance, the corresponding vapor pressures were obtained for ...
Optimized adaptive HTTP streaming for mobile devices

In this paper we present a solution to improve the performance of adaptive HTTP streaming services. The proposed approach uses a content aware method to determine whether switching to a higher bitrate can improve video quality. The proposed solution can be implemented as a new parameter in segment description to enable content switching only in cases with meaningful increase in quality. Results of our experiments show clear advantages of using additional parameter in DASH implementation. The proposed approach enables significant bandwidth savings with minimal decrease in quality. It guarantees optimal path of adaptation in various scenarios that can be beneficial both for network providers and end users.
Physical Growth and Nutritional Status of Children with Phenylketonuria

Abstract Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism. Conversion of Phe to tyrosine is impaired resulting in an accumulation of Phe and its metabolites in the blood, causing brain damage. Presently, through neonatal screening and careful monitoring and controlling of blood Phe level, mental development of these children is usually normal. Dietary management includes the controlled intake of low protein foods and the intake of low Phe or Phe-free amino acid mixture formula. Due to elimination of high protein foods and inadequate intake of formula, their protein intakes are quite low. Therefore, the study was designed to evaluate the physical growth, food intake, and nutritional status. Three male and three female children with PKU aged 3–16 years were subjects of this study. Three-day food diary, formula intakes, height and weight, and blood parameters were evaluated. This study showed that these children had stunted physical growth suggesting inadequate protein and energy intakes. Five of the six children were below the twenty-fifth percentile for both height and weight for their ages and sex. The mean percentile was 23.7 ± 23.7 and 24.2 ± 18.4 for the height and weight, respectively. Their protein intakes were also low; the mean protein intake was 62 ± 15 percent of their recommended levels. Other low intakes included calcium, phosphorus, and zinc. Blood analysis showed that these children had normal levels of glucose, hemoglobin, hematocrit, calcium, and total serum protein. The abnormal values included high serum albumin, low blood urea nitrogen, low creatinine, and low or high cholesterol. Younger children, aged 3 and 4 years, had a better control of blood Phe levels (6 and 6.2mg/dl). Older children, aged 8, 9, 12 and 16, had high levels of blood Phe (9.5, 13.9, 16.9, 17.5mg/dl), indicating they were in the catabolic stage due to inadequate protein and caloric intakes. This study demonstrates that careful monitoring of their diets and increasing protein intake are required. Increasing protein intake of their diets with a controlled amount of Phe is under investigation in a separate study.
Contour sequence moments for the classification of closed planar shapes

Abstract A technique for classifying closed planar shapes is described in which a shape is characterized by a one-dimensional sequence that represents the Euclidean distance between the centroid and all contour pixels of the shape. Contour sequences obtained from shapes belonging to the same class are similar and are considered to be different realizations of a stochastic process. Statistical moment functions derived from contour sequences are used to characterize the process and hence the shapes. It is shown that these moment functions are invariant to shape translation, rotation and scale transformations. Examples are presented to illustrate the performance of these moment functions in the classification of noisy shapes.
Comparison of Self-Attitudes of Gifted Children and Children in a Nongifted Normative Group:

The attitudes of 78 intellectually gifted children were assessed to determine whether they differed from a nongifted normative sample. The gifted children exhibited more favorable attitudes toward ...
An Exploratory Study of Ice Nucleation by Soot Aerosols

Abstract The activities of nearly monodisperse soot particles as ice nuclei at temperatures below −20°C were examined in a short series of experiments. A continuous slow expansion cloud chamber was used to cause cloud formation and growth on soot during simulations of adiabatic cooling by expansion. Soot was generated using an acetylene burner operating near the sooting limit. Activity as ice nuclei was measured as clouds cooled to the apparent homogeneous-freezing temperatures of the cloud droplets. Immersion-freezing nucleation appears to be a particularly dominant heterogeneous mode for these particles. The preliminary results suggest that activity by immersion-freezing increases with particle size.
Corporate Risks from Social Media

Social media has expanded the ability of people to interact and share information, but without appropriate guidelines, a company might encounter trouble in cyberspace. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/qBtRWj8cQTw is an audio recording from the Computing and the Law column, in which the author discusses how social media has expanded the ability of people to interact and share information, but without appropriate guidelines, a company might encounter trouble in cyberspace.
Polymorphism of solids under pressure

Abstract The fundamental thermodynamic concepts involved in high pressure polymorphism of solids with reference to both the macroscopic and micro scopic aspects have been reviewed. A thermodynamic analysis involving a pressure invariable characteristic compressibility, has led to an expression for the high pressure transition pressure of solids entirely in terms of well known thermodynamic quantities. A further study of the concept of entropy, interpreted as the ‘degree of randomness’ of a system, indicates that a specific entropy change has to occur before transition from one stable phase to another can take place. Different structure calls for different values of entropy change. Structures of CN=6 involve a higher critical entropy change than those of CN=4. By correlating the radius ratio with the critical entropy change, the transition pressures of inorganic compounds which have the coordination number of four and six are predictable.
Eribulin disrupts EB1-microtubule plus-tip complex formation

Abstract Eribulin mesylate is a synthetic analog of halichondrin B known to bind tubulin and microtubules, specifically at their protein rich plus-ends, thereby dampening microtubule (MT) dynamics, arresting cells in mitosis, and inducing apoptosis. The proteins which bind to the MT plus-end are known as microtubule plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) and have been shown to promote MT growth and stabilization. Eribulin's plus-end binding suggests it may compete for binding sites with known +TIP proteins such as End-binding 1 (EB1). To better understand the impact of eribulin plus-end binding in regard to the proteins which normally bind there, cells expressing GFP-EB1 were treated with various concentrations of eribulin. In a concentration dependent manner, GFP-EB1 became dissociated from the MT plus-ends following drug addition. Similar results were found with immuno-stained fixed cells. Cells treated with low concentrations of eribulin also showed decreased ability to migrate, suggesting the decrease in MT dynamics may have a downstream effect. Extended exposure of eribulin to cells leads to total depolymerization of the MT array. Taken together, these data show eribulin effectively disrupts EB1 +TIP complex formation, providing mechanistic insights into the impact of eribulin on MT dynamics.
The Self–Concept of Students with Learning Disabilities: A Meta–Analysis of Comparisons Across Different Placements

Although placement in less restrictive settings is generally believed to be associated with more positive social outcomes for students with disabilities, the empirical research has yielded equivocal findings. The purpose of this study was to synthesize the empirical research comparing the self–concept of students with learning disabilities (LD) in different educational placements. Meta–analysis revealed no overall association between self–concept and educational placement for four out of five comparisons: regular class vs. resource room, regular class vs. self–contained class, resource room vs. self–contained class, and regular class vs. special school. Students with LD receiving instruction in self–contained classrooms in regular schools exhibited lower self–concept compared to students with LD attending special schools. Follow–up analyses were conducted to explore whether the variability of effect sizes in regular class–resource room comparisons was associated with any of several potential moderator variables; the only variable for which the association approached significance was whether students in the regular classroom were provided with appropriate special education supports and services. The findings are discussed in light of documented individual variation in students’ placement preferences.
Effects of osmolytes on the SLN1-YPD1-SSK1 phosphorelay system from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The multi-step His-Asp phosphorelay system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae allows cells to adapt to osmotic, oxidative and other environmental stresses. The pathway consists of a hybrid histidine kinase SLN1, a histidine-containing phosphotransfer (HPt) protein YPD1 and two response regulator proteins, SSK1 and SKN7. Under non-osmotic stress conditions, the SLN1 sensor kinase is active and phosphoryl groups are shuttled through YPD1 to SSK1, therefore maintaining the response regulator protein in a constitutively phosphorylated state. The cellular response to hyperosmotic stress involves rapid efflux of water and changes in intracellular ion and osmolyte concentration. In this study, we examined the individual and combined effects of NaCl and glycerol on phosphotransfer rates within the SLN1-YPD1-SSK1 phosphorelay. The results show that the combined effects of glycerol and NaCl on the phosphotransfer reaction rates are different from the individual effects of glycerol and NaCl. The combinatory effect is likely more representative of the in vivo changes that occur during hyperosmotic stress. In addition, the effect of osmolyte concentration on the half-life of the phosphorylated SSK1 receiver domain in the presence/absence of YPD1 was evaluated. Our findings demonstrate that increasing osmolyte concentrations negatively affects the YPD1•SSK1∼P interaction thereby facilitating dephosphorylation of SSK1 and activating the HOG1 MAP kinase cascade. In contrast, at the highest osmolyte concentrations, reflective of the osmoadaptation phase of the signaling pathway, the kinetics of the phosphorelay favor production of SSK1∼P and inhibition of the HOG1 pathway.