cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Widespread Cryptic Dichromatism and Ultraviolet Reflectance in the Largest Radiation of Neotropical Songbirds: Implications of Accounting for Avian Vision in the Study of Plumage Evolution

ABSTRACT. Avian coloration has played a central role in the study of sexual selection and other aspects of animal behavior. However, only recently have analyses of avian coloration been able to incorporate avian visual abilities. Although several studies have broadly sampled species for evidence of plumage coloration visible to birds but invisible to humans, few studies have quantified these data for all species in a single taxonomic group. We quantify ultraviolet (UV) plumage reflectance and document cryptic sexual dichromatism in the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds, the cardinals and tanagers. Ultraviolet reflectance was common in the patches measured, with almost half of the species reflecting >20% of light in the UV range in at least one patch. High UV-reflecting patches, including 73 of the 91 patches that were found to be primarily UV colored, belonged to species in either Passerina or 2 of 13 major clades of tanagers. This indicates that high UV reflectance is not randomly distributed ac...
The role of child-directed speech in language acquisition: a case study

Abstract This study examines the nature of child-directed speech (CDS) from the perspective of functions [M.A.K. Halliday, Learning how to mean: Explorations in the development of language, Elsevier North-Holland, Inc., New York, 1977] and social interactionist theory. It is argued that previous explanations of CDS, often called motherese or caregiver speech, have either minimalized or neglected the functionalist–interactionist dimension of input in language acquisition. Far from being merely a novel way of describing the language caregivers use with infants, CDS is presented as a crucial catalyst in the complex process of L1 acquisition. At the heart of CDS is negotiation between caregiver(s) and infant. The infant need not always respond with complete or near-complete linguistic units or constituents such as an adult might during a given negotiation, yet the context of the negotiation remains crucial to the infant. As physical maturation increases and the infant begins to produce more adult-like utterances, the negotiation between interlocutors becomes more balanced, syntactically and phonologically, but not necessarily semantically/functionally. This paper presents the results of a case study which specifically examines the utterances or input which family members direct at a Japanese infant during the early part of his language development. The data generated by the subject and his parents provide an interesting glimpse into one of the ways in which infants absorb language. The results of the data analysis show that while the parents of the subject were seen to use roughly equal amounts of language with the child, the distribution of language functions used by the mother was importantly different from that used by the father; therefore, it is suggested that this difference in CDS aids the language development of the infant by providing more interactive negotiation, which is argued to be the crucial factor in language development.
Effects of Multiple Promotion of the Direct Synthesis Contact Mass with P, Zn, and Sn on the Synthesis of Methylchlorosilanes

The Direct Synthesis, or Rochow Synthesis, involves the reaction of methyl chloride, CH3Cl (MeCl), with Cu–Si contact masses (promoted with 1–2% of Zn, Sn, and P) to form methylchlorosilanes. Flow reactor studies (1 bar MeCl at 300 °C) showed that contact masses promoted with Zn, Sn, and P (triply promoted) demonstrated the highest Si and MeCl conversion at early reaction times. In situ infrared spectroscopy suggested that in contrast to the doubly promoted catalysts (where CH3 groups were primarily bound to Si), surface CH3 showed appreciable binding to the copper component of the triply promoted contact mass. This change in surface composition ultimately led to a drop in reactivity and selectivity of the triply promoted catalyst.
An experimental comparison of non-premixed bio-butanol flames with the corresponding flames of ethanol and methane

Abstract Butanol non-premixed flames were studied in a counter-flow burner configuration in view of the emergence of methods of production of this fuel from biological agricultural sources. Major combustion species were measured using line-Raman imaging and K-type thermocouples were used in order to perform temperature scans across the flame. Also, extinction strain rates were measured as a function of overall stoichiometry. Of particular importance was the comparison with flames of methane (which is not oxygenated) as well as ethanol which is a currently widely employed bio-fuel. It was shown that butanol flames could sustain higher strain rates at extinction than ethanol flames but significantly smaller than methane flames. The extinction strain rate of methane–butanol mixtures were shown to be smaller than weighted averages of the extinction strain rates of the flames of the two pure components. No leakage of C–H containing species through the flame was measured for either of the flames. For the strongly diluted flames under consideration, it was shown that temperature followed a very closely linear relation with nitrogen concentration. For the same nitrogen concentration, butanol exhibited smaller temperature at the same overall stoichiometry and heat release, because of the higher average molecular weight of the fuel stream. Consistently with theoretical predictions, a decrease in mixing layer thickness was measured with increasing strain.
Weakly bound complexes: structure and internal motion data obtained from rotational spectra☆

Abstract The structure of the Ar–SO 2 Van der Waals complex and the potential for the internal motion have been reinvestigated in order to compare different methods for structure determination, including the determination of substitution coordinates. Large amplitude motions cause considerable differences between geometries obtained using different methods, even when using the same set of rotational constants as input data. The geometries are also sensitive to various degrees to the selection of parameters or models used to fit a spectrum exhibiting tunnelling effects.
Methyl barrier to internal rotation and quadrupole coupling constants in S-methylchlorothioformate

Abstract Internal rotation A-E splittings have been observed in the ground state for both 35Cl and 37Cl isotopic species of S-methylchlorothioformate. The values V 3 ( 35 Cl ) = 893 ± 20 and V 3 ( 37 Cl) = 890 ± 20 cal/mole have been obtained. The anaalysis of the hyperfine structure gave χ aa ( 35 Cl ) = −49.2 , χ bb ( 35 Cl ) = 22.4 and χ aa ( 37 Cl ) = −39.0 , χ bb ( 37 Cl) = 18.3 MHz . Only the syn-conformation of the methyl group with respect to the carbonyl group has been observed. A partial r0 structure is given.
Ubiquitous laptop usage in higher education: Effects on student achievement, student satisfaction, and constructivist measures in honors and traditional classrooms

Three years of graduating business honors cohorts in a large urban university were sampled to determine whether the introduction of ubiquitous laptop computers into the honors program contributed to student achievement, student satisfaction and constructivist teaching activities. The first year cohort consisted of honors students who did not have laptops; the second and third year cohorts were given laptops by the University. The honors students found that their honors classrooms were statistically significantly more constructivist than their traditional (non-honors) classroom. The introduction of laptop computing to honors students and their faculty did not increase the level of constructivist activities in the honors classrooms. Laptop computing did not statistically improve student achievement as measured by GPA. Honors students with laptops reported statistically significantly less satisfaction with their education compared to honors students with no laptops.
Sodium-potassium pump in cultured fibroblasts from obese donors; No evidence for an inherent decrease of basal or insulin-stimulated activity

Na, K-ATPase activity may have a significant role in cellular thermogenesis. Reduced thermogenesis and an increased accumulation of unused calories in the form of fat could result from reduced basal or insulin-stimulated Na,K-ATPase activity in obese insulin-resistant man. We have previously demonstrated reduced Na,K-ATPase activity in intact red cells and their isolated membranes from obese humans. To determine if the reduced enzyme activity in obese subjects is the result of inherent cellular defects in the regulation of Na,K-pump activity, basal and insulin-stimulated rates of ouabain-inhibitable Rb uptake were measured in diploid fibroblasts from subjects with a range of body mass indices (BMI). Cell cultures were established from five extremely obese subjects (BMI > 40 kg/m2) with fasting hyperinsulinemia (38 ± 6 μU/mL) and in four control (BMI < 30 kg/m2) normoinsulinemic (14 ± 3 μU/mL) subjects. Basal (17 ± 3 v 23 ± 2 nmol/L/min/1010 cells ± SEM) and maximal insulin-stimulated Na,K-pump activities (26 ± 3 v 32 ± 3 nmol/L/min/1010 cells) were similar in the obese and control subjects. Maximal insulin stimulation for both groups was observed in four to eight minutes, and one-half maximal response required 2.5 ng/ml insulin. Cell density was negatively correlated with basal (r = 0.75, p < 0.001) and maximally stimulated Na,K-pump activity (r = −0.73, p < 0.001). Adjustment for this relationship did not influence the conclusions. Comparison of the results from the obese and control groups indicates (a) no evidence for an intrinsic cellular difference in basal Na,K-pump activity related to obesity and (b) no difference in insulin regulation of Na,K-pump activity, in fibroblasts from obese subjects.
The structure and function of antlion pits: slope asymmetry and predator-prey interactions

Abstract Larvae of the antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis, build conical pitfall traps in sand that are asymmetric, with lower-sloped walls in the part of the pit where the antlion resides, and steeper walls in front of the antlion. The front walls also tend to be lined with a higher density of fine sand. Simulation of movement at the pit bottom showed that this asymmetry can result from movement by the antlion. If asymmetry reduces prey capture efficiency, antlions should shift their position in the pit, and thereby reduce the impact of their movement on any given wall. Alternatively, if asymmetry is a design feature, antlions can maintain this feature by remaining in the same position for extended periods of time. Observations support the later hypothesis. Sixty-one per cent of 41 antlions tested remained in the same orientation for the entire observation time (9–14 days), and 20% remained in the same orientation for at least 5 days, then maintained a different orientation for the remainder of the experiment. Ant escape behaviour was analysed in relation to the asymmetry of the pit walls. The initial escape direction was random, but if ants moved to another part of the pit after their initial escape attempt (66% of escapes), they tended to travel to a steeper wall. The opposite occurred when ants escaped from artificial pits containing no antlions. Thus by constructing an asymmetric pit, the antlion compensates for its inability to efficiently capture prey that escape to the front of the pit. The antlion can throw sand directly at prey that attempt to escape in the back of the pit; they can also reach over their backs to capture prey, and can walk after prey in this direction. None of these behaviours is available if prey try to escape forward in the pit. A change in pit design with antlion size is discussed in light of these results.
Simplified Atmospheric Models and the Properties of Long-Period Internal and Surface Gravity Waves

Abstract Two- and four-layer models of the atmosphere up to heights of about 500 km allow a systematic and fairly accurate account of the far-field properties of guided internal and surface gravity waves having periods >10 min. Simple formulae and numerical results are given for a variety of models allowing one to determine the importance of such effects as compressibility, free vs rigid boundaries, layering, and the earth's rotation. The importance of coupling effects similar to those occurring in layered acoustic and electromagnetic waveguides is emphasized. It is also shown, in the period pass-band between 10 and 200 min, that there is in all models a difference between surface and internal wave group velocities of sufficient magnitude to preclude confusion in the travel times of these modes. It is also stressed that the layer of atmosphere between altitudes of 110 and 150 km, in which the Vaisala frequency may exceed the acoustic cut-off frequency, plays a critical role in determining the amplitude of...
Supercritical bipropellant droplet combustion

Fuel droplets burning at pressures sufficient to reach critical temperature under zero gravity conditions in free fall apparatus
The grade 5 syndrome: the highly hypnotizable person.

Abstract On a 0–5 hypnotizability range, as measured by the Hypnotic Induction Profile, the grades 4–5 are identified as highly hyp-notizable persons. This group tends to exhibit a clinically identifiable configuration of personality traits. Knowledge of the nature and interplay of these traits can help us to formulate appropriate treatment strategies. The features which together identify the grade 5 syndrome are: the high eye-roll sign; the high intact Hypnotic Induction Profile score; readiness to trust; a relative suspension of critical judgment; an ease of affiliation with new experiences; a telescoped time sense; an easy acceptance of logical incongruities; an excellent memory; a capacity for intense concentration; an overall tractability, and, paradoxically, a rigid core of private beliefs. Role-confusion and a subtle sense of inferiority are often evident. For these persons, treatment strategy requires clarification of central versus peripheral beliefs; increasing sensitivity to positive and negati...
Cellular distribution of iron, transferrin and ferritin in the hypotransferrinemic (Hp) mouse brain

Hypotransferrinemic (Hp) mice have a point mutation or small deletion in the transferrin (Tf) gene, resulting in defective splicing of precursor Tf mRNA. Hp animals produce < 1% of normal Tf levels and require supplemental serum or purified Tf for survival. Because of the lack of endogenous brain Tf, we examined regional and cellular distributions of iron and iron regulatory proteins (Tf and ferritin) in selected brain regions of Hp mice. The regional distribution of iron, Tf, and ferritin in Hp brain was similar to normal except for the pattern of iron staining in hippocampus. The cellular distribution of iron, ferritin, and Tf was similar between Hp and normal animals. The predominant cell type staining for Tf and iron was oligodendrocytes. Qualitative observations suggest that the number of cells staining for iron was similar between Hp and normal mice, whereas the number of Hp Tf-positive cells was reduced. Ferritin immunostaining was similar in both cases. However, ferritin-positive cells were predominantly astrocytes, an observation unique to mice among species studied previously. Western blot analysis revealed that Tf present in Hp brain was of exogenous origin (from supplemental injections). Presumably, Tf transports the iron found in Hp oligodendrocytes. These data demonstrate that, despite reduced endogenous Hp brain Tf, iron and plasma Tf migrate or are transported to the appropriate cells (oligodendrocytes), bringing into question the role of endogenous brain Tf in extracellular iron transport.
Interaction of spatial diffusion and delays in models of genetic control by repression.

A class of models based on the Jacob and Monod theory of genetic repression for control of biosynthetic pathways in cells is considered. Both spatial diffusion and time delays are taken into account. A method is developed for representing the effects of spatial diffusion as distributed delay terms. This method is applied to two specific models and the interaction between the diffusion and the delays is treated in detail. The destabilization of the steadystate and the bifurcation of oscillatory solutions are studied as functions of the diffusivities and the delays. The limits of very small and very large diffusivities are analyzed and comparisons with well-mixed compartment models are made.
Large fibre size in skeletal muscle is metabolically advantageous

Energy demand in muscle is largely due to maintaining the membrane potential of muscle fibres. Jimenez et al. study the metabolic cost of maintaining the membrane potential of muscle fibres across different species of crustaceans and fishes, and find that larger fibres are metabolically cheaper to maintain.
Developmental stability in flowers of Clarkia tembloriensis (Onagraceae)

Developmental instability of floral traits is examined in four populations of Clarkia tembloriensis (Onagraceae) with different natural outcrossing rates. Developmental instability is estimated using fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and within plant variance. The results are coupled with those from a previous study of leaf traits. In the first experiment, flowers were collected from the same growth chamber-grown plants that had been previously used to estimate leaf developmental stability in two C. tembloriensis populations. These populations differed in FA for only one floral trait, long filament length. After adjusting for organ size differences, we found floral FA values were about half those of leaves. These are the first quantitative data indicating that flowers are more developmentally stable than leaves. In a second experiment, greenhouse grown plants from two other C. tembloriensis populations (one highly outcrossing and one predominantly self-pollinating) did not differ significantly in floral FA or in within-plant variance of floral traits, though earlier studies of the same populations revealed significant differences in FA of leaf traits. In both experiments, FA values of different floral traits were uncorrelated. We attribute the lack of significant differences in floral stability between populations to the greater canalization of floral organs and to the magnification of measurement error that occurs when calculating FA. We also found that the shorter styles of selfers are the greatest difference in flower form between predominantly self-pollinating and predominantly outcrossing populations of C. tembloriensis.
Electrical Sampling Techniques

This is a tutorial paper about electrical sampling techniques. The paper reviews the basic sampling principles. It identifies the main sampling models, analyzes them, and discusses their corresponding signal recovery requirements and methods. The paper also presents the practical aspects of sampling. The conventional diode sampling gate circuit is presented and analyzed, and typical sampling system schematics are shown and discussed.
MRI in guiding and assessing intramyocardial therapy

Cardiovascular intervention, using MRI guidance, is challenging for clinical applications. Real-time imaging sequences with high spatial resolution are needed for monitoring intramyocardial delivery of drug, gene, or stem cell therapies. New generation MR scanners make local intramyocardial and vascular wall therapies feasible. Contrast-enhanced MRI is used for assessing myocardial ischemia, infarction, and scar tissue. Active (microcoils) and passive (T1 and T2* mechanisms) tracking methods have been used for visualization of endovascular catheters. Safety issues related to potential heating of endovascular devices is still a major obstacle for MRI-guided interventions. Fabrication of MRI-compatible interventional devices is limited. Noninvasive imaging strategies will be critical in defining spatial and temporal characteristics of angiogenesis and myocardial repair as well as in assessing the efficacy of new therapies in ischemic heart disease. MRI contrast media improve the capability of MRI by delineating the target and vascular tree. Labeling stem cells enables MRI to trace distribution, differentiation, and survival in myocardium and vascular wall. In the long term, MRI in guiding and assessing intramyocardial therapy may circumvent the limitations of peripherally administered cell therapy, X-ray angiography, and nuclear imaging. MRI represents a highly attractive discipline whose systematic development will foster the implementation of new cardiac and vascular therapies.
Glomerular basement membrane necrosis and crescent organization.

Glomerular basement membrane necrosis and crescent organization. In order to reveal structural damage to the glomerular basement membranes occurring in crescentic glomerulonephritis and the subsequent connective tissue organization of the crescent, 14 kidney biopsies were treated with detergents to remove cellular components and the tissue remaining examined by transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy. The fourteen biopsies were divided into two groups for analysis. Group I (7 cases) contained necrotizing lesions and cellular crescents. Acellular TEM (ATEM) revealed widespread lysis of mesangial matrix, while acellular SEM (ASEM) of five cases revealed three general patterns of GBM necrosis. Group II (7 cases) contained fibrocellular and fibrosis crescents. ATEM and ASEM revealed that collagen fibers initially form along fibrin fibrils and eventually result in formation of lacunar spaces occupied by cells of the crescent. Fibrous crescents were associated with prominent glomerular tuft distortion and entrapment of normal capillary loops. Continuity between interstitial space, matrix of crescent and mesangium were often observed. These observations suggest that lysis of mesangial matrix is extensive and precedes GBM lysis while the pattern of GBM damage fits best with local release of lytic factors. Furthermore, the architectural distortion and continuity which develops between normally segregated compartments (mesangial-interstitial) indicate that both the initial necrosis and the reparative response to injury, contribute substantially to overall nephron dysfunction.
5-Fluorouracil Concentrations in Rat Plasma, Parotid Saliva, and Bile and Protein Binding in Rat Plasma

The pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil were studied over a 60-min period in rats that received 12.5, 25.0, and 50.0 mg/kg iv. The plasma concentration–time relationship and the detectability in bile and parotid saliva (a route of elimination heretofore given little or no attention) were examined. Protein binding of 5-fluorouracil at concentrations chosen to approximate those found in plasma was determined by equilibrium dialysis. Bile–plasma and parotid saliva–plasma concentration ratios were calculated. 5-Fluorourac.il concentrations were quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma concentrations at all doses studied appeared to rapidly decline. The half-life, however, at the 50.0-mg/kg dose (27 min) was significantly longer (p < 0.025) than the corresponding half-life at the 25.0-mg/kg dose (22 min). This may be attributed to an easily saturable hepatic degradation. Although an observed decline in bile–plasma and parotid saliva–plasma concentration ratios at higher doses may represent saturation of these excretary routes, the small amounts of 5-fluorouracil detected in bile and parotid saliva probably contribute negligibly to the elimination of the total drug equivalents administered. Parotid saliva–plasma concentration ratios were not useful in predicting plasma protein binding as determined by equilibrium dialysis. Excretion of intravenously administered 5-fluorouracil in saliva, however, exposes the upper GI tract to this agent and may play a part in causing stomatitis in patients receiving the drug by this route.
How to look inside the brain

In the brain, less is more. Many of the most successful methods in neuroscience research draw their power from stripping away all but the structures or phenomena relevant to a particular experimental question--focusing on the problem at hand, and cutting out the distractions. The birth of the modern field one century ago is due to the discovery of a tissue staining protocol, the 'Golgi Stain', that marks only a small percentage of neurons in nervous tissue, but leaves the vast majority of them invisible, permitting visualization under the microscope of individual trees in what would otherwise have been an impenetrable forest. Today, with the advent of modern genetics and molecular biology, this same principle has been applied across countless brain areas and a broad set of questions about the anatomical configuration, function, development, and plasticity of the nervous system. Many of the most powerful and commonly employed tools--like Green Fluorescence Protein, Channelrhodopsin, and virus-mediated tracing of neuronal projections--are actually biological solutions to completely unrelated problems, such as how to get a jellyfish to glow green, how to convey photosensitivity to a unicellular organism, or how to spread the Rabies virus across an entire nervous system. These research tools, the product of millions of years of evolution (and a few years of human tinkering) yield datasets whose explanatory power draws from the fact that they, like the Golgi Stain, allow researchers to focus on the question at hand and filter out the surrounding noise.
On bounded maximum width sequential confidence ellipsoids based on generalized U-statistics☆

For a vector of (estimable) functionals of several independent distributions, sequential confidence ellipsoids (of bounded maximum width) based on a class of generalized U-statistics are studied. A stopping rule along with a procedure for choosing the component sample sizes at each stage is developed, so that the proposed confidence ellipsoid has a confidence coefficient asymptotically (as the prescribed maximum width shrinks to zero) equal to a preassigned 1 - a (0 < a < 1), and the expected total sample size is minimized for the procedure. Asymptotic efficiency of the procedure is also studied. The case of von Mises’ functionals is treated briefly at the end.
Pyridoxamine (Pyridoxine) 5’-Phosphate Oxidase Activity in Rat Tissues during Development of Riboflavin or Pyridoxine Deficiency

SummaryCompared with animals fed the control diet, PMP oxidase activity decreased significantly in the livers, kidneys, and brains of young rats fed a riboflavin-deficient purified diet for 6 weeks. PMP oxidase activity in tissues from rats fed a pyridoxine-deficient diet was not different from controls. PMP oxidase activity was more sensitive than the EGR activity coefficient to the degree of riboflavin depletion. It was concluded that PMP oxidase activity was a sensitive and specific index of riboflavin status.
Municipal property acquisition patterns in a shrinking city: Evidence for the persistence of an urban growth paradigm in Buffalo, NY

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to examine municipal property acquisition patterns in shrinking cities. We use data from the City of Buffalo’s municipal property auction records to analyze the spatial distribution of properties offered for sale in its annual tax foreclosure auction. In addition to these data, we examine demolition and building permit records. Our analysis suggests that cities like Buffalo follow strategies based on an urban growth paradigm when responding to abandonment. This paradigm operates under the assumption that growth is a constant and urban development is only limited by fiscal constraints, underdeveloped systems of urban governance, environmental degradation, and resistance by anti-growth coalitions. We recommend that planners in shrinking cities de-emphasize growth-based planning and focus on rightsizing strategies. These strategies are based on the assumption that growth is not a constant. Consequently, urban revitalization is concentrated in a smaller urban footprint.
QTc interval prolongation and torsade de pointes associated with second-generation antipsychotics and antidepressants: a comprehensive review.

We comprehensively reviewed published literature to determine whether it supported the link between corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation and torsade de pointes (TdP) for the 11 second-generation antipsychotics and seven second-generation antidepressants commonly implicated in these complications. Using PubMed and EMBASE, we identified four thorough QT studies (one each for iloperidone, ziprasidone, citalopram, and escitalopram), 40 studies specifically designed to assess QTc interval prolongation or TdP, 58 publications based on data from efficacy and safety trials, 18 toxicology studies, and 102 case reports. Thorough QT studies, QTc prolongation-specific studies, and studies based on efficacy and safety trials did not link drug-associated QTc interval prolongation with TdP. They only showed that the drugs reviewed caused varying degrees of QTc interval prolongation, and even that information was not clear and consistent enough to stratify individual drugs for this risk. The few toxicology studies provided valuable information but their findings are pertinent only to situations of drug overdose. Case reports were most informative about the drug–QTc interval prolongation–TdP link. At least one additional well established risk factor for QTc prolongation was present in 92.2 % of case reports. Of the 28 cases of TdP, six (21.4 %) experienced it with QTc interval <500 ms; 75 % of TdP cases occurred at therapeutic doses. There is little evidence that drug-associated QTc interval prolongation by itself is sufficient to predict TdP. Future research needs to improve its precision and broaden its scope to better understand the factors that facilitate or attenuate progression of drug-associated QTc interval prolongation to TdP.
Integrating multiple clinical information systems using the Java Message Service framework.

This article describes an application for capturing, delivering, and tracking urgent radiology exam results. Urgent exam findings are entered using a Web form embedded within the Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) display station. The findings are then accessible via soft copy using the PACS display stations, hospital information system (HIS) terminals, or wireless-enabled personal digital assistants (PDAs) or via hard copy printouts that are generated automatically or on demand. Additionally, quality control is performed on those findings entered by radiology residents and fellows, the results of which are used for both performance tracking and educational activities. The application was developed using Sun Microsystems’ Java programming language. The Java Message Service (JMS) was used to manage the delivery of findings. JMS provides a robust, flexible framework for exchanging messages between disparate applications. The application is now used for all urgent exams; completely replacing the original paper-based system. The use of JMS provides the necessary level of reliability needed by this application.
Crystal growth and magnetic properties of compositions in the CoS2:CoSe2 system☆

Abstract The growth of relatively large single crystals of several compositions in the CoS2:CoSe2 system has been accomplished by chloride chemical transport. Further details of the low temperature (4.2 ⩽ T ⩽ 300°K) magnetic properties of members of the series were explored to complement previous studies by the present authors and other workers. In particular, the temperature dependence of the magnetization for CoSe0.07S1.93, CoSe0.15S1.85, and CoS2 at several values of the applied magnetic field, and the field dependence of the magnetization at temperatures close to Tc for the same samples have been determined. The results strongly suggest first-order ferro- to paramagnetic transitions for the solid solutions. The magnetic properties of the entire system obtained in this study and by other workers are presented and compared. Peculiarities in the properties are also pointed out. Finally, a brief discussion of the bonding in the compounds, insofar as the magnetic properties allow inferences, is given.
Fluorocarbon Surfactant Polymers: Effect of Perfluorocarbon Branch Density on Surface Active Properties

We describe a series of fluorocarbon surfactant polymers designed for modifying fluorocarbon surfaces such as poly(tetrafluoroethylene). Novel fluorocarbon surfactant polymers poly(N-vinyldextranaldonamide-co-N-vinylperfluoroundecanamide), in which hydrophilic dextran oligosaccharides and hydrophobic perfluoroundecanoyl groups were incorporated sequentially onto a poly(vinylamine) backbone, were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, NMR, and XPS spectroscopy. By adjusting the feed ratio of dextran to fluorocarbon branches, surfactant polymers with different hydrophilic/hydrophobic balances were prepared. The surface activity of the surfactants at the air/water interface was demonstrated by significant reductions in water surface tension. Surfactant adsorption and adhesion at the solid PTFE/aqueous interface were examined under well-defined dynamic flow conditions, using a rotating disk system. The surface activity at the air/water interface and adhesion stability on PTFE under an applied shear stress bo...
A comparison of two surface virial analyses of monatomic gases on graphite and boron nitride

Abstract By examining monatomic gases (argon, krypton, and xenon) adsorbed on P33 graphite and hexagonal boron nitride, a two-surface model to represent gas-solid interaction systems was developed. Second gas-solid virial coefficients were used in conjunction with a Lennard-Jones (16,3) potential to determine the gas-solid interaction energy, the surface area, and the percentage area of the higher energy surface for both gas-P33 and gas-boron nitride systems. The analyses indicated that P33 graphite is best characterized as a single-surface solid, while boron nitride is best characterized as a two-surface solid. This two-surface virial approach was able to clearly distinguish the two types of surfaces using the temperature dependence of Henry's law adsorption data, but without any specific prior assumptions of differences in surface structures.
Motions in Planetary Atmospheres and the Interpretation of Radio Occultation Data

Atmospheric motions can produce variations in the height of constant pressure surfaces which must be taken into account in any comparison of occultation data from different points on the same planet.
Gray codes and the symbolic dynamics of quadratic maps

Alvarez et al. use Gray codes to study the symbolic sequences with two symbols which arise from superstable orbits of iterations of quadratic maps. They state several results without proof. A simplified version of this idea is presented, and proofs for the assertions proposed there are presented.
The design and time analysis of a systolic array with asynchronous protocols for matrix multiplication

Abstract In this paper, we present new techniques for designing systolic arrays and asynchronous arrays for recursive algorithms. More specifically, we propose a systolic array with simple local interconnections for matrix multiplication which achieves optimal performance without having undesirable features such as preloading input data or global broadcasting. An asynchronous array for matrix multiplication which can speed up the total computation time significantly is also presented. The key component of the asynchronous array is a communication protocol which controls input data flow properly and efficiently. Finally, performance of the arrays is analyzed and a simulation using Occam programmed in a Transputer network is reported.
Light Wavelength Effects on Performance of a-Si:H PIN Photodiodes

Light effects on the performance of the a-Si:H PIN photodiode has been studied. The leakage current-voltage and capacitance-voltage curves under the red, green and blue light illuminations were measured. The apparent charge storage density in the negative voltage range was quantified from the capacitance-voltage curve; charges in the positive voltage range were estimated from the leakage current-voltage curve. A comparison of charge storage capacities of diodes with different intrinsic layer thicknesses is also presented. The diode under the long wavelength light illumination condition stored more charges than that under the short wavelength light illumination condition because the former could penetrate the intrinsic a-Si:H layer deeper than the latter could. The leakage current and charge storage capacity of the diode are determined by the generation of electron-hole pairs, the depletion of charges in the intrinsic layer, and the supply of charges from the electrodes. The number of incident photons is critical to the process.
Analysis of domain correlations in yeast protein complexes

Motivation: A growing body of research has concentrated on the identification and definition of conserved sequence motifs. It is widely recognized that these conserved sequence and structural units often mediate protein functions and interactions. The continuing advancements in high-throughput experiments necessitate the development of computational methods to critically assess the results. In this work, we analyzed high-throughput protein complexes using the domain composition of their protein constituents. Domains that mediate similar or related functions may consistently co-occur in protein complexes. Results: We analyzed Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein complexes from curated and high-throughput experimental datasets to identify statistically significant functional associations between domains. The resulting correlations are represented as domain networks that form the basis of comparison between the datasets, as well as to binary protein interactions. The results show that the curated datasets produce domain networks that map to known biological assemblies, such as ribosome, RNA polymerase, proteasome regulators, transcription initiation and histones. Furthermore, many of these domain correlations were also found in binary protein interactions. In contrast, the high-throughput datasets contain one large network of domain associations. High connectivity of RNA processing and binding domains in the high-throughput datasets reflects the abundance of RNA binding proteins in yeast, in agreement with a previous report that identified a nucleolar protein cluster, possibly mediated by rRNA, from these complexes. Availability: The software is available upon request from the authors and is dependent on the NCBI C++ toolkit.
Latino School Concentration and Academic Performance among Latino Children

Objective. To examine the effects of the concentration of Latino students in elementary schools on Latino first graders’ test scores, and to determine if the effects vary by children’s nativity status. Methods. We use generalized estimating equations (GEE) on a sample of Latino first graders from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class of 1998 (ECLS-K). Results. For math and reading, Latino concentration in schools improves students’ first grade test scores for Latino children of immigrants, but it has no effect for Latino children of U.S.-born parents. For general knowledge test scores, Latino concentration has no effect for children of immigrants and has a deleterious impact on the scores of children of U.S.-born parents. We also show no effect of Latino concentration on the scores of white children of U.S.-born parents. Conclusions. The results suggest that Latino concentration in elementary schools promotes educational outcomes for children from Latino immigrant families, but Latino families headed by U.S.-born parents do not benefit from coethnic concentration, which is in accordance with expectations derived from assimilation theories. In the United States, the share of the population with Latino ancestry has grown from 9 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2006‐08 (U.S. Census Bureau, 1991, 2011). This growth has coincided with increases in residential and school Latino-white racial segregation (Fry, 2007; Iceland, Weinberg, and Steinmetz, 2002). Given the growing presence of this increasingly segregated group in the United States, it is important to examine how Latino concentration in schools affects Latino children’s educational outcomes. Research on African-American youth, going back to the Coleman Report (1966),
A Cytosolic Serine Endopeptidase from Trypanosoma cruzi Is Required for the Generation of Ca2+ Signaling in Mammalian Cells

An early event in the Trypanosoma cruzi cell invasion process, the recruitment of host lysosomes, led us to investigate the involvement of signal transduction. Infective trypomastigotes were found to contain a soluble Ca2+-signaling activity for mammalian cells that is sensitive to protease inhibitors. Inhibitor and substrate utilization profiles were used to purify a candidate peptidase for involvement in this process, from which we isolated a full-length cDNA clone. The sequence revealed a novel enzyme, denominated T. cruzi oligopeptidase B, which is homologous to members of the prolyl oligopeptidase family of serine hydrolases, known to participate in the maturation of biologically active peptides. The T. cruzi oligopeptidase B was expressed as a fully active product in Escherichia coli, and antibodies to the recombinant enzyme inhibited both peptidase activity and Ca2+ signaling induced in normal rat kidney cells by trypomastigote extracts. Our data suggest that the T. cruzi oligopeptidase B participates in processing events in the cytoplasm of the parasites, generating a factor with Ca2+-signaling activity for mammalian cells.
TFIIB-facilitated recruitment of preinitiation complexes by a TAF-independent mechanism

Gene activators contain activation domains that are thought to recruit limiting components of the transcription machinery to a core promoter. VP16, a viral gene activator, has served as a model for studying the mechanistic aspects of transcriptional activation from yeast to human. The VP16 activation domain can be divided into two modules--an N-terminal subdomain (VPN) and a C-terminal subdomain (VPC). This study demonstrates that VPC stimulates core promoters that are either independent or dependent on TAFs (TATA-box Binding Protein-Associated Factors). In contrast, VPN only activates the TAF-independent core promoter and this activity increases in a synergistic fashion when VPN is dimerized (VPN2). Compared to one copy of VPN (VPN1), VPN2 also displays a highly cooperative increase in binding hTFIIB. The increased TFIIB binding correlates with VPN2's increased ability to recruit a complex containing TFIID, TFIIA and TFIIB. However, VPN1 and VPN2 do not increase the assembly of a complex containing only TFIID and TFIIA. The VPN subdomain also facilitates assembly of a complex containing TBP:TFIIA:TFIIB, which lacks TAFs, and provides a mechanism that could function at TAF-independent promoters. Taken together, these results suggest the interaction between VPN and TFIIB potentially initiate a network of contacts allowing the activator to indirectly tether TFIID or TBP to DNA.
Synergistic effect of cAMP and palmitate in promoting altered mitochondrial function and cell death in HepG2 cells

Saturated free fatty acids (FFAs), e.g. palmitate, have long been shown to induce toxicity and cell death in various types of cells. In this study, we demonstrate that cAMP synergistically amplifies the effect of palmitate on the induction of cell death in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2 cells. Elevation of cAMP level in palmitate-treated cells led to enhanced mitochondrial fragmentation, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial biogenesis. Mitochondrial fragmentation precedes mitochondrial ROS generation and mitochondrial biogenesis, and may contribute to mitochondrial ROS overproduction and subsequent mitochondrial biogenesis. Fragmentation of mitochondria also facilitated the release of cytotoxic mitochondrial proteins, such as Smac, from the mitochondria and subsequent activation of caspases. However, cell death induced by palmitate and cAMP was caspase-independent and mainly necrotic.
Antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis prevents vaginal transmission of HIV-1 in humanized BLT mice

Background Worldwide, vaginal transmission now accounts for more than half of newly acquired HIV-1 infections. Despite the urgency to develop and implement novel approaches capable of preventing HIV transmission, this process has been hindered by the lack of adequate small animal models for preclinical efficacy and safety testing. Given the importance of this route of transmission, we investigated the susceptibility of humanized mice to intravaginal HIV-1 infection.
Presumed Consent: An International Comparison and Possibilities for Change in the United States

Every day in the United States 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant. The waiting list for organs, which now contains the names of 82,000 people, has more than tripled in the last 10 years. The U.S. policy on who can donate an organ is based both on previous consent of the potential donor and on the consent of the donor's family. This foundation greatly limits the number of potential donors. Spain is the world's leader in providing organs to its population, and the underlying principle of their policy on donors in presumed consent. That is, those people who have not expressly opposed donating their organs are considered eligible for donation. This policy, along with a plan of public education and a strong infrastructure for organ procurement, is what has enhanced their donor rates. Spain is not alone: other countries have seen the benefits of presumed consent and the limits of opt-in systems. The United States must put to use the experiences of these countries to stem the tide of organ shortage and give new life to those desperately awaiting organs.I would like to thank Dr. Philip Lee, Geoffrey Heller, and Dr. Linda Hogle for their invaluable advice on this article.
IT service management for high availability

High-availability service management (HASM) is defined as information technology (IT) service management that is designed to meet the business demand for availability of critical IT and IT-enabled business services. HASM requires the use of the Six Sigma method and analytical tools applied to key service management processes and services; event and incident monitoring and management design; high-end and high-quality infrastructure and application configuration; high-availability (HA) architecture and design; and special solutions that implement HA patterns and associated technologies. In this paper, we examine HASM and discuss the process flow for designing and implementing HA technologies.
Accelerated rare event simulation with Markov chain modelling in wireless communication networks

The paper recommends an effective approach to estimate probability of buffer overflow in wireless communication networks. The buffer overflow probability in queuing systems is defined as a rare event and can be estimated using rare event simulation with Markov chains. Two-node queuing networks are considered in this paper; and an event of buffer overflow at the second node is studied. Two efficient rare event simulation algorithms, based on the importance sampling and cross-entropy methods, are developed and applied to accelerate the overflow probability simulation with Markov chain modelling. Numerical examples and simulation results are provided.