cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Origin of Basalts in a Hot Subduction Setting: Petrological and Geochemical Insights from Mt. Baker, Northern Cascade Arc

The northern Cascade arc is an end-member ‘hot’ subduction zone where slab dehydration may be essentially complete prior to reaching sub-arc depths, presenting a potential problem for a flux melting origin for arc basalts. Nevertheless, mafic lavas from the Mt. Baker volcanic field, the most magmatically productive volcano in the northern Cascade arc, record subduction input and compositions typical of calc-alkaline magmas. Relative to normal mid-ocean ridge basalt, the most primitive lavas at Mt. Baker show elevated abundances of large ion lithophile elements (LILE), Pb and light rare earth elements (LREE). High field strength elements (HFSE) and heavy REE (HREE) are depleted relative to LILE. Reconstructed primary magmas define three groups: Group I calcalkaline basalts (Sulphur Creek, Lake Shannon, Hogback) have lower SiO2, (La/Yb)N and LILE/HFSE, and are olivineand plagioclase-phyric; Group II high-Mg basaltic andesites (Tarn Plateau, Cathedral Crag) also contain clinopyroxene phenocrysts and have higher H2O, SiO2, (La/Yb)N and LILE/HFSE; Group III low-K olivine tholeiite (Park Butte) has the lowest (La/Yb)N but highest LILE/HFSE.The redox states of all groups lie between QFM (quartz^fayalite^magnetite) and QFM þ1·4. Pb, Sr and Nd isotope compositions are similar among all the analysed samples and are consistent with a depleted mantle source modified by input from the subducting slab. Trace element^isotope modeling indicates a subduction component composed predominantly of metabasaltderived fluid with lesser amounts of sediment melt and metabasalt melt. Group I basalts record the smallest melt fractions ( 5^7%), lowest water contents (1·5^2·1wt %), and highest temperatures and pressures of mantle segregation (up to 13548C, 1·5 GPa) from lherzolitic ( spinel) residues. Group II basaltic andesites show the greatest extents of mantle metasomatism, the highest water contents (2·7^3·7 wt %) and partial melt fractions (10^12%), and segregated from harzburgite at 12708C, 1GPa, consistent with pooling of melts at the Moho. Group III records P^Tconditions similar to Group I ( 1·4 GPa, 13268C) but melt fractions (12%) and mantle residues (harzburgite) are more similar to Group II, and H2O contents ( 2·1wt %) are intermediate. Melting beneath Mt. Baker was initiated by dehydration melting of amphibole peridotite at 95 km and 10208C, within the stability field of garnet lherzolite. Initial melt fractions were small ( 1^2%) and near water-saturation. Phase equilibria and trace element modeling show no evidence for garnet-bearing mantle residues, indicating that progressive melting during ascent of diapirs through the hot core of the convecting mantle wedge reduced H2O contents and erased any residual garnet signature. Because fluid release from the slab is restricted to the forearc, mantle hydrated at shallow depths in the serpentine and/or chlorite stability fields must be down-dragged to the region of amphibole stability to initiate dehydration melting.
Adverse behavioral effects of treatment for acute exacerbation of asthma in children: a comparison of two doses of oral steroids.

Objective To determine the relative adverse symptomatic effects and benefits of therapy with oral corticosteroids at doses of 2 mg/kg vs 1 mg/kg daily in children with acute exacerbations of asthma. Methods Using a questionnaire that addressed symptoms, we conducted a prospective study of the adverse effects and benefits of therapy with prednisone or prednisolone at two dose levels in 86 children who were 2 to 16 years of age with mild persistent asthma during an acute exacerbation and were unresponsive to therapy with inhaled steroids and β-adrenergic agents. Parents and physicians were blinded to the dose level. Children were assigned to either of the two doses by random allocation. Behavioral side effects were assessed via a questionnaire administered by a physician. Benefits were measured by the resolution of asthma symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, and wheeze) at the completion of the treatment with oral steroids. Results Behavioral side effects, particularly anxiety (p ie , the number of patients receiving experimental treatment that would lead to one additional person being harmed vs patients receiving standard treatment) was 6.1 for anxiety, 8.6 for hyperactivity, and 4.8 for aggressive behavior. Conclusions Because the adverse side effects were greater at the higher dose but the benefits were comparable, we recommend using an oral corticosteroid dose of 1 mg/kg daily for children with mild persistent asthma who present with an acute exacerbation of asthma.
Decentralized resource management for a distributed continuous media server

Distributed continuous media server (DCMS) architectures are proposed to minimize the communication-storage cost for those continuous media applications that serve a large number of geographically distributed clients. Typically, a DCMS is designed as a pure hierarchy of centralized continuous media servers. RedHi, a Redundant Hierarchical topology for DCMS networks, can result in higher utilization and better reliability over pure hierarchy. We focus on the design of a resource management system (RMS) for RedHi that can exploit the resources of its DCMS network to achieve these performance objectives. Our RMS is based on a fully decentralized approach to achieve optimal scalability and robustness. The major drawback of a fully decentralized design is the increase in latency time and communication overhead to locate the requested object. However, as compared to the typically long duration and high resource/bandwidth requirements of continuous media objects, the extra latency and overhead of a decentralized resource management approach become negligible. Moreover, our RMS collapses three management tasks (object location, path selection and resource reservation) into one fully decentralized object delivery mechanism, reducing the latency even further. Decentralization of the resource management satisfies our scalability and robustness objectives, whereas collapsing the management tasks helps alleviate the latency and overhead constraints. To achieve a high resource utilization, the object delivery scheme uses our proposed cost function, as well as various object location and resource reservation policies to select and allocate the best streaming path to serve each request. The object delivery scheme is designed as an application-layer resource management middleware for the DCMS architecture to be independent of the underlying telecommunication infrastructure. Experiments show that our RMS is successful in realization of the higher resource utilization for the DCMS networks with the RedHi topology.
Mortality rates associated with crown health for eastern forest tree species

The condition of tree crowns is an important indicator of tree and forest health. Crown conditions have been evaluated during inventories of the US Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program since 1999. In this study, remeasured data from 55,013 trees on 2616 FIA plots in the eastern USA were used to assess the probability of survival among various tree species using the suite of FIA crown condition variables. Logistic regression procedures were employed to develop models for predicting tree survival. Results of the regression analyses indicated that crown dieback was the most important crown condition variable for predicting tree survival for all species combined and for many of the 15 individual species in the study. The logistic models were generally successful in representing recent tree mortality responses to multiyear infestations of beech bark disease and hemlock woolly adelgid. Although our models are only applicable to trees growing in a forest setting, the utility of models that predict impending tree mortality goes beyond forest inventory or traditional forestry growth and yield models and includes any application where managers need to assess tree health or predict tree mortality including urban forest, recreation, wildlife, and pest management.
Carcinoma of the cervix: analysis of bladder and rectal radiation dose and complications.

From April 1969 through December 1980, 527 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix received radical radiation therapy at North Carolina Memorial Hospital (NCMH). The treatment was designed to deliver a combined dose (external beam plus intracavitary) of 7000-8000 cGy to Point A and 5000-6500 cGy to the pelvic lymph nodes depending upon the stage of the disease. The maximum dose to the bladder and to the rectum were calculated from the orthogonal intracavitary placement films with contrast material in these organs. Thirty-three cases of cystitis and fifty-eight cases of proctitis were recorded. The mean bladder dose for the group of patients with cystitis was higher, 6661 +/- 1309 cGy, than that for the patients without cystitis, 6298 +/- 1305 cGy, p = .19. The risk of cystitis increased as a function of bladder dose ranging from 3% for patients receiving less than or equal to 5000 cGy to the bladder to 12% for patients receiving greater than or equal to 8001 cGy to the bladder. A similar correlation was also found for rectal dose and proctitis. The mean rectal dose for the group of patients with proctitis was higher, 6907 +/- 981 cGy, than that for the patients without proctitis, 6381 +/- 1290 cGy, p = .003. The risk of proctitis increased as a function of rectal dose ranging from 2% for patients receiving less than or equal to 5000 cGy to the rectum to 18% for patients receiving greater than or equal to 8001 cGy to the rectum. A study of the severity of the cystitis as a function of bladder dose revealed a relationship between bladder dose and the severity of the complication (Grade I cystitis = 6600 +/- 1318 cGy vs Grade III cystitis = 6856 +/- 853 cGy). A dose-response relationship was found between the rectal dose and the severity of the complication (Grade I proctitis = 6810 +/- 906 cGy vs Grade III proctitis = 6997 +/- 1137 cGy). This relationship was statistically significant, p = .003. While there was no difference in the frequency of cystitis as a function of dose to the whole pelvis, the risk of proctitis did increase with increasing doses of external beam to the whole pelvis. It ranged from 3% for patients who received 2000 cGy or less to the whole pelvis to 14% for patients who received greater than 4000 cGy to the whole pelvis, p = .02.
Biology Undergraduates’ Misconceptions about Genetic Drift

This study explores biology undergraduates’ misconceptions about genetic drift. We use qualitative and quantitative methods to describe students’ definitions, identify common misconceptions, and examine differences before and after instruction on genetic drift. We identify and describe five overarching categories that include 16 distinct misconceptions about genetic drift. The accuracy of students’ conceptions ranges considerably, from responses indicating only superficial, if any, knowledge of any aspect of evolution to responses indicating knowledge of genetic drift but confusion about the nuances of genetic drift. After instruction, a significantly greater number of responses indicate some knowledge of genetic drift (p = 0.005), but 74.6% of responses still contain at least one misconception. We conclude by presenting a framework that organizes how students’ conceptions of genetic drift change with instruction. We also articulate three hypotheses regarding undergraduates’ conceptions of evolution in general and genetic drift in particular. We propose that: 1) students begin with undeveloped conceptions of evolution that do not recognize different mechanisms of change; 2) students develop more complex, but still inaccurate, conceptual frameworks that reflect experience with vocabulary but still lack deep understanding; and 3) some new misconceptions about genetic drift emerge as students comprehend more about evolution.
A Survey of Bilingual Employment Opportunities in International Trade

In July 1978, the Department of Foreign Languages and Bilingual Studies of Eastern Michigan University received Title VI funding under NDEA to develop and implement graduate and undergraduate interdisciplinary curricula in Language and International Trade. When federal funding ended in June 1980, the programs were permanently established at the University and have played a major role in helping the Department of Foreign Languages and Bilingual Studies realize a 65 percent increase in enrollments over 1977–78. There are now two hundred graduate and undergraduate majors in the programs, and enrollment continues to grow. The dramatic rise in enrollments also increased the advising load in the department and created the need to identify the specifics of career opportunities for bilingual positions in business; in particular, the nature of entry-level positions and the nature of potential employer expectations. This led to the decision to conduct a survey of private sector employees in Michigan and some employers in nearby states in order to gather information regarding current and future needs for bilingual employees. This report presents a summary of the findings and offers specific recommendations to persons interested in bilingual careers in business.
Infrastructure Megaproject Leadership, Management, Innovation, and Accountability

Peeling back the layers of a transportation megaproject requires a prodigious level of dedication and perseverance. Relatively few undertake the journey and four of that small band of scholarly entrepreneurs appeared on a panel at the April 2010 Conference of the American Society for Public Administration in San Jose, California. The moderator of the panel summarizes the panel discussion and introduces the three papers that resulted. Three themes emerge: leadership matters, governance structures make a difference, and risk allocation counts.
High electron mobility in thin films formed via supersonic impact deposition of nanocrystals synthesized in nonthermal plasmas

Surface defects in nanomaterials can trap electrons and thereby limit the performance of electronic devices. Thimsen et al. show that the conductivity of films comprising ZnO nanocrystals can be increased by coating with Al2O3.
Special feature: Tutorial. Glow discharge mass spectrometry: Trace element determinations in solid samples

Glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS) is a mature, versatile technique for the direct determination of trace elements in a variety of materials. The technique is an extension of the earliest forms of mass spectrometry. Processes inherent to the glow discharge, namely cathodic sputtering coupled with Penning ionization, yield an ion population from which semi-quantitative results can be directly obtained. Quanti‐cation in GDMS is achieved both through standard elemental mass spectrometric procedures and more innovative approaches. The analytical performance of GDMS compares favorably with competing elemental mass spectrometric methods and newer experiments use this ionization method for both molecular and elemental analysis. As with any analytical technique, the future of GDMS lies in improvements with respect to instrumental implementation and extension to new areas of application. If the method is to remain competitive, commercial GDMS systems must incorporate advances in mass spectrometric technology to increase analytical performance while decreasing the size, complexity and cost of the technique. Continued e†orts to develop improved quantitation procedures are needed to provide greater accuracy. The method should continue to mature as sustained e†orts demonstrate its utility in the solution of new and more varied problems.
Strengthening the response/restoration linkage-lessons learned from recent oil spills

Although both spill responders and natural resource trustees share common goals, spill response in the United States is often a disjointed process. Spill responders focus on containment and cleanup of the spilled oil, while trustees focus on documenting the impacts and developing a damage claim to fund restoration projects. Both steps in the process are necessary, but lack of coordination may result in a less than optimal mix of response and restoration actions. Efforts to remove oil from a shoreline, or to capture and rehabilitate oiled wildlife may be conducted with good intentions, but may themselves cause further harm to the environment. Liability limits set by OPA may exacerbate the problem since responsible parties may exceed their financial obligations during the response phase of the spill, leaving no funds for later restoration actions. At some point in the process, it makes sense to curtail the response and shift the effort to restoration. This paper illustrates some of the problems with the status quo and argues that responders and trustees need to work together towards the goal of restoration using a combination of response and restoration tools. Expanding the use of the existing emergency restoration provisions under the Oil Pollution Act regulations may be a simple avenue to increase the effectiveness of both response and restoration actions.
Competitive Fitness of Nevirapine-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Mutants

Determining the fitness of drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains is necessary for the development of population-based studies of resistance patterns. For this purpose, we have developed a reproducible, systematic assay to determine the competitive fitness of HIV-1 drug-resistant mutants. To demonstrate the applicability of this assay, we tested the fitness of the five most common nevirapine-resistant mutants (103N, 106A, 181C, 188C, and 190A), with mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), singly and in combination (for a total of 31 variants) in a defined HIV-1 background. For these experiments, the 27 RT variants that produced viable virus were cocultured with wild-type virus without nevirapine. The ratios of the viral species were determined over time by utilization of a quantitative real-time RT-PCR-based assay. These experiments revealed that all of the viable variants were less fit than the wild type and demonstrated that the order of relative fitness of the single mutants tested was as follows: 103N > 181C > 190A > 188C > 106A. This order correlated with the commonality of these mutants as a result of nevirapine monotherapy. These investigations also revealed that, on average, the double mutants were less fit than the single mutants and the triple mutants were less fit than the double mutants. However, the fitness of the single and double mutants was often not predictive of the fitness of the derivative triple mutants, suggesting the presence of complex interactions between the closely aligned residues that confer nevirapine resistance. This complexity was also evident from the observation that all three of the replication-competent quadruple mutants were fitter than most of the triple mutants, and in some cases, even the double mutants. Our data suggest that, in many cases, viral fitness is the determining factor in the evolution of nevirapine-resistant mutants in vivo, that interactions between the residues that confer nevirapine resistance are complex, and that these interactions substantially affect reverse transcriptase structure and/or function.
Recently classified types of Coxsackie virus, group A; behavior in tissue culture.

SummaryNine additional types of Coxsackie virus, Group A, have been assigned numbers, Types 11-19. Strains of 4 of these types, Types 11, 13, 15, and 18 are cytopathogenic for human uterine tissue in plasma clot culture and for HeLa cells, but not for trypsinized monkey kidney or testicular cells.
Molecular Biology of the Natriuretic Peptide System. Implications for Physiology and Hypertension

The natriuretic peptides (NPs) are a group of peptide hormones that play important roles in the control of renal, cardiovascular, endocrine, and skeletal homeostasis. Atrial NP (ANP) was first identified as an activity by de Bold et al1 in 1981. It is a 28 amino acid peptide in humans that assumes a hairpin structure by virtue of a cystine bridge that links residues 7 and 23 (Figure 1). Brain NP (BNP), also known as the B-type NP, is 32 amino acids long in the human. It has a similar hairpin structure but demonstrates considerably more heterogeneity across species than ANP. C-type NP (CNP) is a 22 amino acid peptide that has a truncated carboxy terminus beyond the second cystine residue in the bridge. Figure 1. Primary structure of human NPs. ANP and BNP are produced primarily within the muscle cells of the heart. ANP shows a preference for expression in the cardiac atria versus ventricle, whereas BNP is more equivalently expressed throughout the heart. ANP is also expressed in the hypothalamus where it is thought to control blood pressure (BP), sympathetic outflow, vasopressin secretion, drinking behavior, and cardiovascular homeostasis. BNP, on the other hand, is expressed in the brains of only a few species (eg, pig and dog), where its function remains unknown. CNP is expressed in the central nervous system, reproductive tract, bone, and endothelium of blood vessels. There are 3 different types of NP receptors, and each of them spans the membrane bilayer as a single transmembrane segment. The type A NP receptor (NPR-A) is also known as the particulate guanylyl cyclase A. It is the high affinity receptor for both ANP and BNP. A schematic of the structure of this receptor is presented in Figure 2. NPR-A has a glycosylated, extracellular, ligand-binding domain linked to …
Pregnancy outcomes after cerclage placement in nulliparous women with a short cervix on transvaginal ultrasonography

AbstractObjective: Little is known about pregnancy outcomes associated with a short cervix and cerclage placement in nulliparous women.Methods: An electronic query of our ultrasound database was used to identify patients whose cervical length measured < 25 mm between 16–24 weeks of gestation. Any nulliparous women, with no prior pregnancy lasting beyond 13 weeks 6 d gestational age, were included in the analysis. The primary outcome was the interval of time from the diagnosis of a short cervix (<25 mm) to the time of delivery.Results: Our query identified 70 patients for analysis. The interval of time from diagnosis of a short cervix to delivery was observed to be 85 d (12.1 weeks) in the cerclage group and 116 d (16.6 weeks) in the expectantly managed group (p = 0.02). In those women receiving a cerclage, there was a statistically significant risk of spontaneous preterm birth <32 weeks gestational age (R.R. 6.7 [95% CI 1.45–30.6]).Conclusions: The impact of a short cervix is largely unknown in patients w...
Lynch v. Donnelly and the Endorsement Test

This brief Article discusses Lynch v. Donnelly, where the Court, addressing for the first time the constitutionality of a governmental display of a religious symbol, held that a city did not violate the Establishment Clause by including a creche in its annual Christmas display. With this ruling, the Court shifted its Establishment Clause jurisprudence away from a strict separation approach that had been articulated in Everson v. Board of Education and later incorporated into Lemon v. Kurtzman. A vital ingredient in the Lynch legacy is Justice O’Connor’s concurrence, in which she proposed a new Establishment Clause test. Justice O’Connor’s endorsement test suggested that a governmental accommodation of religion would not violate the First Amendment unless the government intends or is perceived to endorse religion.
Interfacial Structures of MoSi2-Mo5Si3 Eutectic Alloys

Script lamellar microstructures which occur in certain intermetallic eutectic alloys, such as in the Mo-Si system, may provide desirable mechanical properties. Arc-melted specimens of MoSi{in2}-Mo{in5}Si{in3} eutectic alloys which exhibit the interlocking lamellar phases were examined in this study. We have observed, by conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), an orientation relationship between the MoSi{in2} and the Mo{in5}Si{in3} phases, (1 $$\overline{1}$$ 0)[001]{in1–2} || (3 $$\overline{3}$$ 0)[110]{in5-3}, which is consistent with the crystallographic coordinate transformation matrix. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) discloses the interfacial dislocations to be of and 1/2 types and the interfaces are regularly faceted. A shear fault which may be consisting of antiphase boundary (APB)-coupled 1/6 superpartial dislocations was observed in MoSi{in2} grain near the interface. Crack propagation paths suggest that the eutectic has a strong, low energy interface which is consistent with the observations of a low index orientation relationship between the two phases and the faceted interfacial structures.
Acute hypoxemia stimulates atrial natriuretic factor secretion in vivo

The hypothesis was tested that acute hypoxemia may be a physiological stimulus for atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) secretion in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing rabbits. Base-line plasma ANF (range from 29.8 to 219 pg/ml; mean +/- SE = 87.0 +/- 14.1 pg/ml; n = 16 rabbits) was negatively correlated with base-line arterial PO2 (r = -0.759; P less than 0.01) but not with PCO2, pH, mean arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), minute ventilation, heart rate, or type of anesthetics used. Acute hypoxemia (arterial PO2 22.3-44.3 mmHg) lasting 10 min increased plasma ANF levels over base line by 69.2 +/- 47.7 (SE) pg/ml at 6 min and 87.5 +/- 46.8 (SE) pg/ml at 9 min (P less than 0.01; n = 9). The increase in arterial pH and minute ventilation and the decrease of arterial PCO2 paralleled the changes in plasma ANF. Mean arterial blood pressure, CVP, and heart rate did not change significantly. ANF responses to hypoxemia (range from 4.4 to 423 pg/ml) correlated with base-line CVP (r = 0.761; P less than 0.01) and base-line ANF (r = 0.523; P less than 0.05) but with no other measured variable. Although the mediators of hypoxemia-induced release of ANF need to be explored further, this study raises the possibility that ANF might be involved in the adaptation to hypoxemia.
Purification of Thionin, Azure A, Azure B and Methylene Blue

Column and paper chromatography of four thiazin dyes revealed both inorganic and organic impurities. In thionin, azure A, azure B and methylene blue, sodium and other metal cations were found as inorganic impurities. The analysis for organic impurities revealed that the dyes were mixtures; specifically each dye contained one or more of the other dyes as impurities. Inorganic impurities were detected by ashing the dyes in the presence of H2SO4 and chromatographing the sulfate salts on paper. They were removed by filtration through ion exchange resins. Organic impurities were detected by paper chromatography and removed by column chromatography on Woelm's neutral alumina.
Understanding the incremental nature of e-procurement implementation at the state and local levels

Government’s e-procurement system has not caught on as rapidly as has e-Bay! This article examines the slow implementation rate of public e-procurement systems. It challenges the notion that efficiency gains alone can entice governments to leave traditional procurement systems and principles behind. Four traditional procurement principles are reexamined to see whether they are deterrents to e-commerce: (1) low bid wins and that’s a must; (2) separation between the vendor and user is desirable to avoid claims of favoritism; (3) fixed price and fixed term contracts are best for government; and (4) open access is absolutely imperative in all situations. The jury is still out as to whether the new commerce is contingent upon a reformulation of these principles.
Models of God and Global Warming

How might models of God impact our approach to the problem of global warming? In this chapter, I address Sallie McFague’s model of God as outlined in her book, A New Climate For Theology: God, the World, and Global Warming (McFague 1997). McFague believes that the plight of global warming is exacerbated by the classical, theistic understanding of God, and that an alternative model of God in which the world turns out to be God’s body is comparatively more enlightened and helpful. I critically assess McFague’s model and highlight some or the environmental virtues of what may be called integrative theism.
Classification of bentgrass (Agrostis) cultivars and accessions based on microsatellite (SSR) markers

Genetic relationships among Agrostis species used for turf have been difficult to discern. Recent studies have either confirmed or contradicted previously proposed genetic relationships based on chromosome pairing behavior of inter-specific hybrids. The objective of the current study was to assess genetic relationships among Agrostis cultivars and accessions by using newly available A. stolonifera microsatellite (SSR) markers. Nuclear SSR (nuSSR) and chloroplast SSR (cpSSR) markers were used to genotype 16 individuals from each of 74 Agrostis cultivars and accessions. Genetic relationships based on nuSSR markers most closely resembled species relationships proposed by Jones in the 1950s. Contrary to the work of Jones, genetic relationships based on cpSSR markers indicated that A. canina was more closely related to A. stolonifera than to A. capillaris. We hypothesize that chloroplast introgression via interspecific hybridization between A. canina and A. stolonifera resulted in these species sharing common chloroplast genome lineages, while maintaining disparate nuclear genome lineages. Genetic relationships within Agrostis species based on nuSSR markers closely matched known pedigree relationships. Bayesian clustering analysis of nuSSR markers indicated that most modern seeded A. stolonifera cultivars exhibited high levels of admixture. Our study confirms that nuSSR markers distinguish Agrostis species and cultivars, and are valuable for studying genetic diversity and genetic relationships within the genus Agrostis.
Programming Techniques for the Automata Processor

The Micron Automata Processor (AP) is a novel co-processor accelerator that supports the parallel execution of multiple Nondeterministic Finite Automata (NFA) programmed directly into hardware over a single data-stream. In this paper, we present a number of programming techniques to develop automata that execute efficiently on this processor. First, we present general techniques to transform NFAs defined in their classical representation to the representation used by the AP, and optimize the same. Then, we present automata development techniques using simple but powerful generic building blocks. All the above techniques are generic in nature and can be useful to application developers working on this new upcoming co-processor architecture.
Some principles for designing a wide-area optical network

Explores design principles for next generation optical wide-area networks, employing wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), and targeted to nationwide coverage. This almost-all-optical network will exploit wavelength multiplexers and optical switches in routing nodes, so that arbitrary virtual topologies may be imbedded on a given physical network. The virtual topology, which is packet switched and which consists of a set of all-optical lightpaths, is set up to exploit the relative strengths of both optics and electronics viz. packets of information are carried by the virtual topology "as far as possible" in the optical domain, but packet forwarding from lightpath to lightpath is performed via electronic switching, whenever required. Algorithms are developed so that the WDM-based network architecture will (a) provide a high aggregate system capacity due to spatial reuse of wavelengths, and (b) support a large and scalable number of users, given a limited number of wavelengths. The authors illustrate their approaches by employing experimental traffic statistics collected from NSFNET. >
Lesinurad combination therapy with allopurinol in gout: do CLEAR studies make the treatment of gout clearer?

Gout is an often forgotten disease,1 despite being the most common inflammatory arthritis in adults in the Western world.2–4 Lesinurad, a new urate-lowering therapy (ULT), is now approved for the treatment of gout in the USA and the European Union,5 ,6 and is in phase III programmes as a combination therapy in many other countries. Lesinurad is a selective inhibitor of urate/anion exchanger 1 and organic acid transporter 4, two urate transporters responsible for the reabsorption of urate from the proximal renal tubule.7 Probenecid and benzbromarone are the other uricosurics available for use in gout as monotherapy or combination with allopurinol in case of an inadequate response to allopurinol. In the current issue of the journal, Bardin et al present the results of a 12-month, randomised, phase III trial efficacy and safety of oral lesinurad (200 or 400 mg) in combination with allopurinol.8 Combining Lesinurad with Allopurinol in Inadequate Responders (CLEAR) were two replicate studies, one in the USA (CLEAR-1)9 and one in Europe (CLEAR-2), published in the current issue of this journal.8 CLEAR-2 compared daily lesinurad (200 or 400 mg orally) with placebo when added to allopurinol in 610 patients with gout with serum uric acid (sUA) above target (<6 mg/dL or <0.36 mmol/L) and frequent gout flares (≥2 gout flares in the prior year). The primary trial endpoint of sUA <6 mg/dL (ie, <0.36 mmol/L) at 6 months was achieved by a significantly greater proportion of patients, 55% and 66% in the lesinurad 200 mg+allopurinol and lesinurad 400 mg+allopurinol groups versus 23% in the allopurinol alone group (p<0.0001 vs either lesinurad group).8 These rates were similar to the achievement of target sUA <6 mg/dL (ie, <0.36 mmol/L) in CLEAR-1.9 To my knowledge, CLEAR-28 and the replicate study, CLEAR-1,9 are the two largest randomised control trials …
The Influence of Parental Self-Efficacy and Perceived Control on the Home Learning Environment of Young Children

Abstract Objective To: 1) examine sociodemographic factors associated with high parental self-efficacy and perceived control, and 2) determine how self-efficacy and control relate to the home learning environment (HLE), including whether they mediate the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and HLE, among low-income parents of young children. Methods Cross-sectional survey of English- and Spanish-speaking parents, 18 years of age and older, with children 15 to 36 months old, to assess parental self-efficacy, perceived control, HLE, and sociodemographic characteristics. Bivariate analysis identified sociodemographic predictors of high self-efficacy and control. Separate multivariate linear regression models were used to examine associations between self-efficacy, control, and the HLE. Formal path analysis was used to assess whether self-efficacy and control mediate the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and HLE. Results Of 144 participants, 25% were white, 65% were immigrants, and 35% completed the survey in Spanish. US-born subjects, those who completed English surveys, or who had higher educational levels had significantly higher mean self-efficacy and perceived control scores ( P P = .04 and Conclusions High parental self-efficacy and perceived control positively influence HLEs of young children. Self-efficacy alone mediates the relationship between parental depressive symptoms, immigrant status, and less optimal early home learning.
Bio-orthogonal conjugation and enzymatically triggered release of proteins within multi-layered hydrogels.

Abstract Hydrogels are facile architectures for the controlled presentation of proteins with far-reaching applications, from fundamental biological studies in three-dimensional culture to new regenerative medicine and therapeutic delivery strategies. Here, we demonstrate a versatile approach for spatially-defined presentation of engineered proteins within hydrogels through i) immobilization using bio-orthogonal strain-promoted alkyne-azide click chemistry and ii) dynamic protease-driven protein release using exogenously applied enzyme. Model fluorescent proteins were expressed using nonsense codon replacement to incorporate azide-containing unnatural amino acids in a site-specific manner toward maintaining protein activity: here, cyan fluorescent protein (AzCFP), mCherry fluorescent protein (AzmCh), and mCh decorated with a thrombin cut-site. (AzTMBmCh). Eight-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was modified with dibenzylcyclooctyne (DBCO) groups and reacted with azide functionalized PEG in aqueous solution for rapid formation of hydrogels. Azide functionalized full-length fluorescent proteins were successfully incorporated into the hydrogel network by reaction with PEG-DBCO prior to gel formation. Temporal release and removal of select proteins (AzTMBmCh) was triggered with the application of thrombin and monitored in real-time with confocal microscopy, providing a responsive handle for controlling matrix properties. Hydrogels with regions of different protein compositions were created using a layering technique with thicknesses of hundreds of micrometers, affording opportunities for the creation of complex geometries on size scales relevant for controlling cellular microenvironments. Statement of Significance Controlling protein presentation within biomaterials is important for modulating interactions with biological systems. For example, native tissues are composed of subunits with different matrix compositions (proteins, stiffness) that dynamically interact with cells, influencing function and fate. Toward mimicking such temporally-regulated and spatially-defined microenvironments, we utilize bio-orthogonal click chemistry and protein engineering to create hydrogels with distinct regions of proteins and modify them over time. Through nonsense codon replacement, we site-specifically functionalize large proteins with i) azides for covalent conjugation and ii) an enzymatic cleavage site for user-defined release from hydrogels. Our results exemplify not only the ability to create unique bio-functionalized hydrogels with controlled mechanical properties, but also the potential for creating interesting interfaces for cell culture and tissue engineering applications.
Antagonism of corticotropin releasing factor in the basolateral amygdala of resilient and vulnerable rats: Effects on fear-conditioned sleep, temperature and freezing.

Abstract The basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) plays a significant role in mediating individual differences in the effects of fear memory on sleep. Here, we assessed the effects of antagonizing corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1) after shock training (ST) on fear-conditioned behaviors and sleep. Outbred Wistar rats were surgically implanted with electrodes for recording EEG and EMG and with bilateral guide cannulae directed at BLA. Data loggers were placed intraperitoneally to record core body temperature. The CRFR1 antagonist, antalarmin (ANT; 4.82 mM) was microinjected into BLA after shock training (ST: 20 footshocks, 0.8 mA, 0.5 s duration, 60 s interstimulus interval), and the effects on sleep, freezing and the stress response (stress-induced hyperthermia, SIH) were examined after ST and fearful context re-exposure alone at 7 days (CTX1) and 21 days (CTX2) post-ST. EEG and EMG recordings were scored for non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and wakefulness. The rats were separated into 4 groups: Vehicle-vulnerable (Veh-Vul; n = 10), Veh-resilient (Veh-Res; n = 11), ANT-vulnerable (ANT-Vul; n = 8) and ANT-resilient (ANT-Res; n = 8) based on whether, compared to baseline, the rats showed a decrease or no change/increase in REM during the first 4 h following ST. Post-ST ANT microinjected into BLA attenuated the fear-conditioned reduction in REM in ANT-Vul rats on CTX1, but did not significantly alter REM in ANT-Res rats. However, compared to Veh treated rats, REM was reduced in ANT treated rats on CTX2. There were no group differences in freezing or SIH across conditions. Therefore, CRFR1 in BLA plays a role in mediating individual differences in sleep responses to stress and in the extinction of fear conditioned changes in sleep.
Substrate Conformation Correlates with the Outcome of Hyoscyamine 6β-Hydroxylase Catalyzed Oxidation Reactions

Hyoscyamine 6β-hydroxylase (H6H) is an α-ketoglutarate dependent mononuclear nonheme iron enzyme that catalyzes C6-hydroxylation of hyoscyamine and oxidative cyclization of the resulting product to give the oxirane natural product scopolamine. Herein, the chemistry of H6H is investigated using hyoscyamine derivatives with modifications at the C6 or C7 position as well as substrate analogues possessing a 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core. Results indicate that hydroxyl rebound is unlikely to take place during the cyclization reaction and that the hydroxylase versus oxidative cyclase activity of H6H is correlated with the presence of an exo-hydroxy group having syn-periplanar geometry with respect to the adjacent H atom to be abstracted.
Formal Mentoring in Athletic Training Higher Education: Perspectives from Participants of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation Mentor Program

Context: Formal mentoring programs can help to socialize new faculty members in higher education and orient them to faculty life. Organizations may implement formal mentoring programs to create con...
Pulsatile pulmonary capillary pressure measured with the arterial occlusion technique

Pulsatile flow waves have been known to exist in the pulmonary capillary bed since the introduction of the N2O bolus technique [5, 10]. Although direct measurement of pressure pulsatility in the lung microvessels has yet to be performed, indirect methods have been used to assess the cyclic variations of the pulmonary capillary pressure during pulsatile perfusion [9, 7]. Recently, it has been suggested [3, 13, 6] that these periodic oscillations could be traced by measuring the vascular occlusion pressures [4, 2, 11, 1] repeatedly during the pulsatile pressure cycle. We describe an application of this technique in isolated left lower lobes (LLL) of canine lungs perfused by means of a pulsatile blood pump.
Yeast/Mycelial Dimorphism

All classes of the Eumycota contain members exhibiting yeast/mycelial dimorphism. In certain environments the fungus grows as spherical (Fig. 1A) or ellipsoidal (Fig. IB) budding yeasts. Under other conditions it grows by apical extension and branching of multicellular (Fig. ID) or coenocytic (Fig. 1C) hyphae. Dimorphism is common in several important plant pathogens (e.g., Cerato-cystis ulmi, Ustilago may dis, and Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum) and numerous human pathogens (e.g., Candida albicans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis). Pathogenicity is generally limited to only one of the alternative morphologies. This correlation between morphology and pathogenicity has served as a major incentive to elucidate the molecular basis of dimorphism.
The Concept of Dimensions in Developmental Research

In the present article, the terms attribute, concept, and category were deliberately used to demonstrate how such terms share a common meaning, at least at one level. This is precisely the level at which interpretive misunderstandings seem to abound. The misunderstandings are not limited to any group of theorists, but apply equally to many of us. Actually, the problem is not very different from that which exists for similarity. In an extensive analysis of the similarity construct, Gregson (1975) remarked that one reason for its popularity was that the lack of a precise definition could be "dangerously versatile." Versatility at the expense of precise definition does not improve either predictability or our understanding of complex developmental processes. That understanding is our goal, and if the suggestions we have made lead to more clearly defined research designs and more consistent results, our goals shall have been achieved.
Computer modelling of close-to-ground tornado wind-fields for different tornado widths

Abstract Tangential velocity (Vt) of tornadoes is the major parameter that causes building damage. In-field tornado measurements are less reliable at less than 20 m above ground level (AGL). Laboratory tornado simulators suggest that swirl ratio (S) and radius (ro) are the major tornado parameters that influence the Vt. However, due to scaling problems, the laboratory simulators also report the Vt at greater than 20 m AGL. Well-refined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models can evaluate the Vt at less than 10 m AGL. However, the CFD models are limited to ro = 1.0 km, and the effect of ro on Vt is not investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the maximum Vt for different ro close to ground. Simulation results show that increasing ro decreases the maximum Vt with respect to Vro. Moreover, by increasing ro, the corresponding elevation of occurrence of maximum Vt (zmax) will increase. However, for all tornado radii, the zmax is between 20 m and 64 m AGL. In addition, results show that for all ro, the radial Vt profile has two peaks at z
AT WATER'S EDGE: RITUAL MAYA ANIMAL USE IN AQUATIC CONTEXTS AT CANCUEN, GUATEMALA

Excavations at the Late Classic Maya site of Cancuen (Peten Department, Guatemala) uncovered a small-scale hydraulic system including stone-lined canals and reservoirs within the architectural core of the site. The abundance of other nearby potable water sources along with the elaborate form of the system demonstrate that it served an ideological rather than practical function. Artifacts deposited in the reservoirs support this interpretation. Moreover, the reservoir located in front of the site's royal palace contained the remains of at least 30 individuals who may represent members of the royal court massacred during the site's collapse. This paper reports the animal remains found within the site's reservoirs to further explore the nature and extent of ritual and disposal activities within these aquatic contexts. Inter- and intrasite comparisons are used to contextualize the results within broader discussions of how we identify ritual activity in the zooarchaeological record, and the role of water in ancient Maya ideological and political systems.
Regional delivery of mesothelin-targeted CAR T cells for pleural cancers: Safety and preliminary efficacy in combination with anti-PD-1 agent.

2511Background: We conducted a phase I dose escalation trial of first-in-human autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy targeting mesothelin (MSLN), a cell-surface antigen th...