cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
(Silox)3Nb(η2-N,C-4-picoline) as a source of (silox)3Nb: structure of [(silox)3Nb]2(μ-η2,η2-C6H6) (silox=tBu3SiO)

Abstract Electrochemical and chemical reductions of (silox)3NbCl2 (1, −1.42 V versus Ag/Ag+) and (silox)3TaCl2 (2, −2.18 V) generated [(silox)3NbCl2]− (1−) and [(silox)3TaCl2]− (2−). The anions were subject to Cl− loss, leading to (silox)3NbCl (3) and probable disproportionation (Ta). Complex 3 formed reversible solvent adducts (silox)3ClNbL (3-L, L=THF, py). Na/Hg reduction of (silox)3NbCl2 (1) in the presence of 4-picoline afforded (silox)3Nb(η2-N,C-4-NC5H4CH3) (6), which can be considered a source of ‘(silox)3Nb’, analagous to (silox)3Ta (4). Adducts such as (silox)3Nb(η2-H2CCHR) (R=H, 7; Ph, 8) may be formed upon addition of olefins, and 6 abstracted an oxygen from N2O, NO or ethylene oxide to give (silox)3NbO (9) and N2 or C2H4, respectively, which are reactions also observed for 4. 4-Picoline may be abstracted from 6 by 4 to give {(silox)3Nb}2(μ:η2,η2-C6H6) (11) and (silox)3Ta(η2-N,C-4-NC5H4CH3) (12). An X-ray structure determination of 11 revealed a disordered bridge that was modeled as a μ:η2,η2-benzene. Extended Huckel molecular orbital (EHMO) calculations showed that the μ:η2,η2-configuration was energetically better than a μ:η6,η6-alternative, but about the same as a plausible μ:η3,η3-arrangement.
Motor Areas of the Cerebral Cortex

The motor areas of the cerebral cortex are those four regions most directly involved in deciding which movements to make and in executing the selected movements – posterior parietal, dorsolateral prefrontal, secondary motor, and primary motor cortex. Keywords: visual input; somatosensory input; dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; voluntary movements
Efficient Nose-to-Lung (N2L) Aerosol Delivery with a Dry Powder Inhaler.

Abstract Purpose: Delivering aerosols to the lungs through the nasal route has a number of advantages, but its use has been limited by high depositional loss in the extrathoracic airways. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nose-to-lung (N2L) delivery of excipient enhanced growth (EEG) formulation aerosols generated with a new inline dry powder inhaler (DPI). The device was also adapted to enable aerosol delivery to a patient simultaneously receiving respiratory support from high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy. Methods: The inhaler delivered the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, which was formulated as submicrometer combination particles containing a hygroscopic excipient prepared by spray-drying. Nose-to-lung delivery was assessed using in vitro and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods in an airway model that continued through the upper tracheobronchial region. Results: The best performing device contained a 2.3 mm flow control orifice and a 3D rod array with a 3-4-3 rod pattern. Based on in...
Achieving cyberdeterrence and the ability of small states to hold large states at risk

Achieving cyberdeterrence is a seemingly elusive goal in the international cyberdefense community. The consensus among experts is that cyberdeterrence is difficult at best and perhaps impossible, due to difficulties in holding aggressors at risk, the technical challenges of attribution, and legal restrictions such as the UN Charter's prohibition against the use of force. Consequently, cyberspace defenders have prioritized increasing the size and strength of the metaphorical “walls” in cyberspace over facilitating deterrent measures.
Hamster Leukemia Virus: Lack of Endogenous DNA Synthesis and Unique Structure of Its DNA Polymerase

Infectious hamster leukemia virus (HaLV) contains a DNA polymerase different from those of murine and avian viruses. No endogenous reaction directed by the 60 to 70S RNA of HaLV could be demonstrated in detergenttreated HaLV virions, nor could the purified DNA polymerase copy added viral RNA. The virion RNA could, however, act as template for added avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase and the HaLV DNA polymerase could efficiently utilize homopolymers as templates. The HaLV enzyme was like other reverse transcriptases in that certain ribohomopolymers were much better templates than the homologous deoxyribohomopolymers. No ribonuclease H activity could be shown in the HaLV enzyme, but neither could activity be found in the murine leukemia virus DNA polymerase. The hamster enzyme was unique in that poly(A) ·oligo(dT) was a poor template, and globin mRNA primed with oligo(dT) was totally inactive as a template. Its uniqueness was also indicated by its subunit composition; electrophoresis of the HaLV DNA polymerase in sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gels revealed equimolar amounts of two polypeptides of molecular weight 68,000 and 53,000. The sedimentation rate of the enzyme in glycerol gradients was consistent with a structure containing one each of the two polypeptides. The enzyme thus appears to be structurally distinct from other known virion DNA polymerases. Its inability to carry out an endogenous reaction in vitro might result from an inability to utilize certain primers.
Ce:Fe:LiNbO/sub 3/ photorefractive crystal: material properties and applications

A specially doped photorefractive (PR) crystal Ce:Fe:LiNbO/sub 3/, and the effect due to Ce and Fe dopants are reported. We have found that the double-doped crystal exhibits higher PR sensitivity, larger dynamic range, broader spectral bandwidth, and lower scattering noise. It is about 10-times higher in PR sensitivity in the red light region (633 nm), as compared with the reported data. We have also discovered anomalous enhancement of PR effects which occur at 57/spl deg/C, 70/spl deg/C and 110/spl deg/C. The anomalies are primarily due to possible structural phase-transitions of the crystal at these temperatures. Several applications of this specially doped PR (Ce:Fe:LiNbO/sub 3/) crystal (both bulk and fiber) are also provided.
Leveling the Odds: The Effect of Quality Legal Representation in Cases of Asymmetrical Capability

How much does attorney quality influence the outcome of cases in which one litigant is significantly more capable than the other? Using a unique dataset of all asylum merits decision from 1990 to 2010, we find that high quality representation evens the odds for asylum applicants and that not being represented by legal counsel is actually better than being represented by a poor lawyer. In this analysis, we draw on a modified party capability theory and create new measures of attorney capability. We find that variation in attorney capability is a primary driver of the disparity in asylum outcomes in U.S. immigration courts and that a likely causal mechanism for this influence is the judge-specific reputation of an attorney.
The vibrations of borazine derivatives—II: A force field for borazine

Abstract The vibrational frequencies of borazine and its symmetrically deuterated derivatives, as reported by niedenzu et al. [2], are used in order to calculate a Modified Valence Force Field. Nine in-plane force constants are adjusted to fit the 42 observed frequencies of species A 1 ' and E '. Five out-of-plane symmetry force constants are refined by using the 12 observed A 2 '' frequencies. The final force field yields frequencies with an average percentual error of 0.86 %. The resulting normal modes are used to discuss the assignment of the planar ring stretching vibrations.
Syntax Based Reordering with Automatically Derived Rules for Improved Statistical Machine Translation

Syntax based reordering has been shown to be an effective way of handling word order differences between source and target languages in Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) systems. We present a simple, automatic method to learn rules that reorder source sentences to more closely match the target language word order using only a source side parse tree and automatically generated alignments. The resulting rules are applied to source language inputs as a pre-processing step and demonstrate significant improvements in SMT systems across a variety of languages pairs including English to Hindi, English to Spanish and English to French as measured on a variety of internal test sets as well as a public test set.
Nonvirtue is Not Apathy Warrants for Discourse and Citizen Dissent

The author argues that conditions of subordination limit opportunities for citizen participation and discourse and alter the forms and meanings of each. In her view, open participation in the forms recognized as conventional, virtuous, and authentic is often neither possible nor wise. The author offers James Scott’s work as a potential rejoinder to those who would require virtue of the nonapathetic and as an answer to Fox and Miller’s question, “Why bother attending a discourse where claims are as likely to be counterfeit as authentic?” Using Scott’s analysis of hidden transcripts as a point of theoretical departure, the author explores the impact of Fox and Miller’s warrants for discourse on perceptions of participation and dissent. She suggests that to be more fully inclusive, theorists might reconceptualize the ends of deliberative discourse and reconsider the place of Habermasian warrants in achieving them.
Who should be screened for HIV infection? A cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: The advent of effective prophylactic treatments for asymptomatic persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus has led to interest in widespread screening programs. However, the costs of screening programs and therapy are high, and the prevalence of infection above which screening becomes an appropriate use of scarce health care dollars remains undetermined. Methods: To examine the cost-effectiveness of screening in populations with differing prevalences of infection, we developed a Markov model to compare costs and life expectancy for two strategies: (1) screening and prophylactic treatment for infected persons who have or who develop low CD4+ (T4) cell counts, and (2) no screening. Based on studies in the literature, we estimated the prevalence of HIV infection, the rate of T4-cell loss, the rates of developing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Pneumocytis pneumonia stratified by T4 cell counts, the life expectancy with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the efficacy of prophylactic therapies, and costs. Results: In populations with a prevalence of infection more than 5%, which includes known risk groups, screening costs less than $ 11 000 per life-year gained. In populations with a prevalence as low as 0.15%, screening costs only $29 000 per life-year gained. Even when the efficacy of zidovudine is assumed to be limited to 3 years, screening still costs less than $40 000 per life-year gained in populations with a prevalence of 0.5% or greater. However, in populations with a very low prevalence of infection (two to 10/100 000), such as members of the general population without reported risk factors, screening costs rise to between $290 000 and $1 277 400 per life-year gained. Conclusions: When considering only direct medical benefits, screening for asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection in the general population, without regard to reported risk factors or seroprevalence data, would be expensive. In populations with a prevalence of infection of 0.5% or greater, however, the cost-effectiveness of screening falls within the range of currently accepted medical practices. These results suggest that screening be offered routinely to all persons in defined populations, such as persons receiving care at hospitals or clinics, or residing in geographic areas, where the seroprevalence is 0.5% or more, and underscore the need to conduct seroprevalence studies to identify such populations. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:1107-1116)
Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with huge cystic degeneration: a lesion to be distinguished from pseudocyst and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are rare and often mistaken for pseudocyst by imaging studies and macroscopic examination. We describe an unusual tumor of the pancreas composed of a mural nodule o...
A method for estimating incidence rate of infectious diseases among first-time blood donors.

BACKGROUND: In certain circumstances, there is no method for estimating incidence based on testing results on a single blood sample from first-time blood donors, severely limiting the ability to assess the residual risk of blood-borne infections among this donor subpopulation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Incidence rates were estimated for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among first-time donors using the formula (P2 − P1)/D, where P1 is the prevalence among blood donations from first-time donors of the minimum eligible ages for donation, P2 is the prevalence among donations from first-time donors of an older age group, and D is the age difference (in years) between the older and younger donor groups. RESULTS: Estimating incidence among first-time donors using the proposed method based on a single test for anti-HCV produced similar results to those based on HCV nucleic acid test (NAT) yield cases, by sex and in different periods. Comparison of the proposed method with HIV NAT yield also showed similar results although the small number of HIV NAT yield cases limits interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method provides an alternative way for estimating incidence of certain blood-borne infections among first-time donors, provided that our assumptions are met. It helps residual risk assessment in donor populations where first-time donors account for most of the donations and only one test result is available for each donor.
The Influence of Intensively Managed Rotational Grazing, Traditional Continuous Grazing, and Confinement Housing on Bulk Tank Milk Quality and Udder Health

Monthly bulk tank milk samples and veterinary records were analyzed for 1 yr on 15 Vermont dairy farms. Data were evaluated using ANOVA to compare effects of grazing management systems on milk quality and udder health. Systems evaluated were intensively managed rotational grazing, traditional continuous grazing, and confinement housing. Bulk tank samples were evaluated for standard plate count, bacterial type counts on tryptose-blood-esculin agar, and SCC. Veterinary records were evaluated for incidence of clinical mastitis, udder edema, and teat injuries. Within- and between-treatment group analyses were conducted by season, herd size, and udder sanitation systems. Mean standard plate counts were lower in rotationally grazed herds than counts of confined herds during the grazing season. Similarly, rotationally grazed herds with fewer than 60 cows had lower standard plate counts than confined herds of similar size. Mean bulk tank counts of streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae during the grazing season differed among treatments. The lowest counts occurred in rotationally grazed herds. Among herd using predip products recognized as efficacious, fewer streptococci other than S. agalactiae were isolated from bulk tank milk of rotationally grazed herds than confined herds. Rotationally grazed herds using postdips recognized as efficacious had lower SCC than those using unrecognized postdips. No udder health differences were observed among grazing treatments.
Assessing degeneration of human articular cartilage with ultra-short echo time (UTE) T2* mapping.

Summary Objective To examine the sensitivity of ultra-short echo time (UTE) T 2 * mapping to collagen matrix degeneration in human articular cartilage. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) UTE- T 2 * maps and standard T 2 maps were acquired on four human tibial plateau explants. Thirty-three osteochondral cores were harvested for polarized light microscopy (PLM), and composition analyses. Collagen matrix integrity was evaluated from PLM and histological images. Matrix integrity and composition was compared to standard T 2 values and UTE- T 2 * values on a spatially registered basis. Results UTE- T 2 * values varied with matrix degeneration ( P =0.008) and were lower in severely degraded cartilage compared to healthy tissue ( P =0.012). A trend for higher UTE- T 2 * values in healthy tissue compared to mildly degenerate tissue ( P =0.051) was detected. Standard T 2 values were not found to vary with matrix degeneration ( P =0.13) but tended to be higher in severely degraded cartilage compared to healthy tissue. UTE- T 2 * value variations were independent of type-II collagen and glycosaminoglycan contents. UTE- T 2 * mapping of deep cartilage, adjacent to subchondral bone, was more robust than standard T 2 mapping in this zone. Conclusion UTE- T 2 * mapping of articular cartilage is sensitive to matrix degeneration and detects short- T 2 signal, particularly in deep tissue, that is not well captured by standard T 2 mapping. Correlation of UTE- T 2 * values and PLM indices supports the hypothesis that both may be sensitive to collagen microstructure. Further exploration of UTE- T 2 * mapping as a non-invasive tool to detect early articular cartilage degeneration is warranted.
Managerial representations of competitive advantage

Managers use mental models of markets to simplify and impose order on complex and ambiguous competitive environments and isolate points of competitive advantage or deficiency. In this study of seni...
Active camera control from compressed image streams

In this paper we describe a new framework to control an active camera platform in order to improve the performance of tasks such as active stereo vision. This framework encompasses both calibrated and uncalibrated operations. We show how to control the camera system by making measurements as much as possible on compressed video streams. Coarse depth information, object segmentation, and focus and zoom control can be obtained from JPEG/MPEG streams without complete image stream decompression. When better accuracy is required, finer resolution depth maps can be reconstructed in the usual way by completely recovering the pixel information in the frames of the video stream. Our experimental results show the potential of these strategies for active vision systems.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neuroplasticity, Psychosocial Genomics, and the Biopsychosocial Paradigm in the 21st Century

The biopsychosocial perspective is a foundation of social work theory and practice. Recent research on neuroplasticity and psychosocial genomics lends compelling support to this perspective by elucidating mechanisms through which psychosocial forces shape neurobiology. Investigations of neuroplasticity demonstrate that the adult brain can continue to form novel neural connections and grow new neurons in response to learning or training even into old age. These findings are complemented by the contributions of psychosocial genomics, a field of scientific inquiry that explores the modulating effects of experience on gene expression. Findings from these new sciences provide external validation for the biopsychosocial perspective and offer important insights into the manifold means by which socioenvironmental experiences influence neurobiological structure and function across the life course.
Assisting and assessing the development of technological fluencies: insights from a project-based approach to teaching computer science

University-school partnerships hold great promise for establishing innovative computer-science curricula and investigating how students learn and appropriate technologies for their own use. Here we highlight an interdisciplinary design work and describe a novel approach to the assessment of student growth.
Pediatric Asthma Admissions: Chronic Severity and Acute Exacerbations

Factors resulting in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for asthma exacerbations remain largely unclear. We compared ICU and general pediatric ward admissions for asthma exacerbations. Charts of 56 (2- to 18-year-old) patients admitted consecutively to the ICU during a 1-year period for asthma exacerbations were compared with charts of 56 age-, sex-, race-, and era-matched patients admitted to a general pediatric ward. Few patients in both groups received oral steroids before admission. Children with different chronic asthma severities had comparable severities of acute exacerbation. In conclusion, acute asthma exacerbations dissociate in severity from chronic asthma and are under-treated with systemic corticosteroids.
Radiation Reaction and Radiative Frequency Shifts

We investigate the question of quantum-electrodynamic radiative corrections to atomic transition frequencies. It is shown that the Heisenberg equations of motion allow a novel and fruitful exploitation of the concept of radiation reaction.
Novel low temperature cross relaxation in nuclear quadrupole resonance.

We have observed a new cross relaxation mechanism in the presence of a pure nuclear quadrupole splitting. This process involves two simultaneous nuclear spin flips and dramatically changes the form of the magnetization recovery curves at low temperature. We present a model which combines this mechanism with spin-lattice relaxation. The addition of cross relaxation allows us to explain nonmonotonic features that were previously not understood in the recovery curves of Sc nuclei in a variety of samples.
On the possibility to detect lipid in atherosclerotic plaques using intravascular photoacoustic imaging

Large lipid core is common in rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques. Detection of the location and distribution of lipid in the atherosclerotic plaques can greatly benefit the diagnosis and treatment of vulnerable plaques. Recently introduced intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging - a technique to image the optical absorption property of tissue - can be used to detect and differentiate atherosclerotic plaques. In this work, we further investigated the ability of using spectroscopic IVPA imaging to visualize the lipid in atherosclerotic plaques. IVPA imaging was performed on an ex-vivo rabbit aorta in the 1200 – 1230 nm wavelength range. In the lipid-rich plaques, the photoacoustic signal strength within this spectral range behaved similar to the optical absorption spectrum of fatty tissue. To distinguish lipid from other types of tissue, correlation analysis was used. Specifically, intraclass correlation between the IVPA signals and the absorption spectrum of lipid reconstructed from multi-wavelength IVPA images was conducted on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The resulted correlation map showed the distribution of lipid in the atherosclerotic plaques. The distribution of lipid is further confirmed by histopathological analysis of tissue. The results of our study suggest that spectroscopic IVPA imaging, together with correlation analysis, may be used to detect lipid in atherosclerotic plaques.
Effects of morphine and naltrexone on impulsive decision making in rats

It has been reported that human opiate addicts discount delayed rewards more than non-addicts, indicating that they are more impulsive. However, it is not clear whether this difference reflects pre-existing traits, or the effects of exposure to the opiates. This study was designed to investigate the effects of an opioid agonist and antagonist on delay discounting in rats. The study had three objectives: to determine (1) the acute effects of the opioid agonist morphine (MOR) on delay discounting, (2) the acute effects of the opioid antagonist naltrexone (NAL) on delay discounting, and (3) whether NAL reverses the effects of MOR on delay discounting. An adjusting amount procedure (AdjAmt) was used to determine how much animals discounted the value of delayed rewards. Acute doses of MOR (0.3, 1.0, and 1.8 mg/kg SC), NAL (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg/kg SC) and NAL (0.1 mg/kg SC) prior to MOR (1.8 mg/kg SC) were tested in 15 rats. MOR dose dependently increased the rate of delay discounting (i.e., made the animals more impulsive). NAL alone had no effect on the value of delayed rewards, but NAL blocked the effects of MOR. These results suggested that the direct effects of MOR may contribute to the high level of impulsive behavior seen among opiate users.
Economic incentives for the recovery of secondary lead

Abstract Using scrap lead as an example, this paper investigates the desirability of U.S. federal initiatives to stimulate greater recovery of post-consumer waste materials. While a good case can be made that the free market does not provide sufficient recycling services to meet social desires, this paper argues that the direct subsidization of scrap processors would cost society far more than economic considerations would justify. The removal of income tax subsidies for primary processors, though not significantly affecting secondary material recovery, would be consistent with improving social welfare.
Transitions in replication timing in a 340 kb region of human chromosomal R-Band 1p36.1.

DNA replication is initiated within a few chromosomal bands as normal human fibroblasts enter the S phase (Cohen et al. [1998]: Exp Cell Res. 245:321–329). In the present study, we determined the timing of replication of sequences along a 340 kb region in one of these bands, 1p36.13, an R band on chromosome 1. Within this region, we identified a segment of DNA (approximately 140 kb) that is replicated in the first hour of the S phase and is flanked by segments replicated 1–2 h later. Using a quantitative PCR-based assay to measure sequence abundance in size-fractionated (900–1,700 nt) nascent DNA (Giacca et al. [1994]: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 91:7119), we mapped two functional origins of replication separated by 54 kb and firing 1 h apart. One origin was found to be functional during the first hour of S and was located within a CpG island associated with a predicted gene of unknown function (Genscan NT_004610.2). The second origin was activated in the second hour of S and was mapped to a CpG island near the promoter of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 4A1 (ALDH4A1) gene. At the opposite end of the early replicating segment, a more gradual change in replication timing was observed within the span of approximately 100 kb. These data suggest that DNA replication in adjacent segments of band 1p36.13 is organized differently, perhaps in terms of replicon number and length, or rate of fork progression. In the transition areas that mark the boundaries between different temporal domains, the replication forks initiated in the early replicated region are likely to pause or delay progression before replication of the 340 kb contig is completed. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Multiple bioindicators of environmental pollution in a sentinel species, Chrysemys picta, on Cape Cod, MA

Abstract High-level environmental contamination has been documented as eliciting negative effects on endocrine, reproductive and developmental events across vertebrate groups in the wild. Of particular interest and importance is whether relatively low levels of mixtures of environmental pollutants may have long-term impacts. We are investigating responses to ground and surface-water pollution from plumes on the MMR Superfund site on Cape Cod, MA, in the turtle Chrysemys picta . Parameters examined included hepatic cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) activity and protein, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, plasma vitellogenin levels, and metallothionein protein. Hepatic microsomal EROD activity in both males and females was higher at the plume-impacted site than at the non-impacted site; a seasonal pattern of activity was seen at both sites. The level of CYP1A protein expression was greater at the impacted site. GST activity also followed a seasonal pattern, but there were no significant differences in activity between the two sites. Plasma vitellogenin levels, although influenced by endogenous estrogen, were significantly lower in animals from plume impacted than non-impacted sites. Serum vitellogenin levels were very low to non-detectable in males. Metallothionein levels show a sex-specific difference at the non-impacted site only; there were no significant differences between the sites. Taken together, the observed changes suggest a potential ground water pollution impact on the endemic biota. These changes are of concern since they suggest that chronic exposure to low level mixtures of contaminants may represent long-term impacts. [Supported by ES07381 to I.P.C. and J.J.S.]
Aeroelastically deflecting flaps for shock/boundary-layer interaction control

Abstract An aeroelastic mesoflap system has been developed to improve the downstream flow properties of an oblique shock/boundary-layer interaction. The mesoflap system employs a set of small flaps over a cavity, whereby the flaps downstream of the interaction bend downward aeroelastically to bleed the flow and the upstream flaps bend upward to re-inject this same mass flow upstream. This recirculating system requires no net mass bleed and therefore has advantages for boundary layer control in external or mixed-compression supersonic aircraft inlets. In addition, the system may be applicable in other aerospace applications where boundary-layer control can help remedy the adverse effects of shock interactions. Several mesoflap systems have been fabricated and examined experimentally to investigate their aerodynamic and structural performance. Each mesoflap is rigidly attached to a spar on its upstream end while the remainder of the flap is free to deflect aeroelastically. The flap length is nominally a few boundary-layer thicknesses in dimension, while the flap thickness is small enough to allow tip deflections that are of the order of the boundary-layer momentum thickness. Experiments were conducted for a Mach 2.41 impinging oblique shock wave interaction with a turbulent boundary layer. Spanwise-centered laser Doppler velocimeter measurements indicate that certain mesoflap designs can show significant flow improvement as compared to the solid-wall case, including increased stagnation pressure recovery and a 7% reduction in boundary layer thickness and sonic thickness. However, one drawback of the mesoflap system is the potential for fatigue, which in some cases led to microcracking followed by flap failure. Structural design improvements to alleviate and avoid this problem included a lower profile spar design, substitution of Nitinol for aluminum as the flap material, and use of stress-relieving holes at the ends of the flap cut-outs.
Air quality in the 21st century: community outreach in North Central Texas.

Abstract Public education campaigns, to be successful, must repeat simple, consistent messages over time, using various sources and media. During the 2000, 2001, and 2002 ozone seasons, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) employed a four-pronged, multimedia approach to educate the public about air quality in the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) region. The four-pronged approach included several varied information sources: • The new Air Pollution Watch/Warning system based on public health and designed using standard meteorological terminology with notices delivered via e-mail, over the radio, during TV weather forecasts, and on electronic road signs. • A revamped Web page, including information about current air quality, ozone exceedances, clean air public meetings, and how to “Do Your Share for Cleaner Air”. • A PowerPoint presentation used to explain the basics of ozone air pollution, the new Air Pollution Watch/Warning system, and the new Dallas/Fort Worth Clean Air Plan to a variety of constituencies, including the media, scientific/technical/academic groups, elected officials, and community/civic organizations. • Newsletter updates, published in the Environmental Resources Department's InsidER (with a circulation of around 1500), to educate and keep the public up-to-date about various air quality issues. This paper provides details about the four-pronged approach, and how it incorporates principles of successful public education campaigns.
Multilevel distributed fusion of multisensors data

A combination serial and parallel configuration of n sensors for decision fusion is analyzed. Unlike a parallel fusion scheme which fuses data only when it receives all information from all sensors, this configuration does not require data from all sensors before fusion. This configuration, therefore, is better than parallel fusion due to its speed and tendency to process data without time delay. Furthermore, it is better than serial distributed decision fusion in the sense that it removes the possibility of link failure.
Reinforced concrete hysteresis model based on the damage concept

Reinforced concrete members subjected to cyclic inelastic deformation may exhibit both stiffness and strength degradation, depending on the maximum amplitude and the number of cycles experienced by the member. Many of the currently available models do not simulate the cycle-dependent stiffness loss often observed during the experiments. An analytical model based on a damage parameter which is a function of the cumulative cyclic inelastic deformation is proposed. A small-scale reinforced concrete beam–column joint was constructed and subjected to cyclic loading to calibrate the damage parameter. The model is able to approximate the complete hysteretic response and is simple to implement. The sensitivity of the analytical model was examined by comparing the model with several experimental results.
An exact interactive method for exploring the efficient facets of multiple objective linear programming problems with quasi-concave utility functions

Many real-world problems can be formulated as multiple-objective linear programming (MOLP) problems. In the search for the best compromise solution for conflicting and noncommensurate objectives, a quasiconcave preference structure (utility function) is used that is more flexible and general than pseudoconcave, concave, and linear utility functions. Since the complete assessment of such a utility function is very difficult or impossible, an interactive method is developed in which, with a minimum of simple questions to the decision-maker (DM), the best compromise solution can be obtained. The DM responds to either paired comparison or simple trade-off questions. Conversion of tradeoff questions to paired comparison is discussed. The method also uses linear approximations of the nonlinear utility function to improve convergence rate. A procedure is provided for identifying efficient tradeoffs on the efficient facet so that only efficient alternatives are generated. Convergence with a limited number of questions is proven for quasiconcave and pseudoconcave utility functions. >
Effects of verapamil on supraventricular tachycardia in patients with overt and concealed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Verapamil (0.15 mg/kg) intravenously, was administered to 19 patients with recurrent supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) undergoing electrophysiological evaluation. Twelve patients had overt Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome and seven patients had concealed accessory pathways conducting in the retrograde direction only. Verapamil had a significant effect in delaying conduction and prolonging refractoriness in the atrioventricular (AV) node, but no significant actions on any of the other cardiac tissues that formed the tachycardia circuit in these patients. In particular, it had no significant effects on anterograde or retrograde bypass conduction or refractoriness. Sustained SVT was initiated in 15 patients, and was terminated within 60 to 105 seconds of a 30-second injection of verapamil in 13 patients. Cycle length alternation during SVT was seen in six patients prior to reversion, and spontaneous ventricular complexes (VPCs) were observed following verapamil administration in five patients. Two patients with apparently normal sinus node function showed prolongation of their sinus node recovery times immediately following reversion of SVT by verapamil. Echo zones were assessed before and after verapamil, and sustained or self-terminating SVT could still be induced after the drug in 13 of the 15 patients who had sustained SVT beforehand. It was concluded that intravenous verapamil was effective in terminating sustained SVT in the majority of patients with overt or concealed WPW and that, despite a potential for sinus node depression and the initiation of VPCs, it had no clinically significant side effects. The ability to reinitiate SVT following its administration suggests the need for immediate follow-up with maintenance drug therapy.
Resilient distributed consensus

Consensus algorithms allow a set of nodes to reach an agreement on a quantity of interest. For instance, a consensus algorithm may be used to allow a network of sensors to determine the average value of samples collected by the different sensors. Similarly, a consensus algorithm can also be used by the nodes to synchronize their clocks. Research on consensus algorithms has a long history, with contributions from different research communities, including distributed computing, control systems, and social science.In this talk, we will discuss two resilient consensus algorithms that can perform correctly despite the following two types of adversities: (i) In wireless networks, transmissions are subject to transmission errors, resulting in packet losses. We will discuss how average consensus can be achieved over such lossy links, without explicitly making the links reliable, for instance, via retransmissions. (ii) In a distributed setting, some of the nodes in the network may fail or may be compromised. We will discuss a consensus algorithm that can tolerate Byzantine failures in partially connected networks.
Alpha-particle transfer to 0 + states in the germanium nuclei and the role of proton pairing correlations

Alpha transfer to the ground and first excited ${0}^{+}$ states of the Ge isotopes has been studied by means of the $^{64,66,68,70}\mathrm{Zn}(^{6}\mathrm{Li}, d)^{68,70,72,74}\mathrm{Ge}$ reactions at 34-MeV incident energy. The sharp variation in strength between $^{72}\mathrm{Ge}$ and $^{74}\mathrm{Ge}$ is shown to result from a change in the proton structure of these two isotopes as the neutron number changes from $N=40 \mathrm{to} 42$.
Screening for Down syndrome: changing practice of obstetricians

Objective We sought to assess the impact of American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines on the practices and knowledge of obstetricians regarding screening for Down syndrome 1 year later. Study Design A questionnaire on Down syndrome screening was mailed to 968 ACOG Fellows and Junior Fellows. Results The response rate was 53%. The majority (95%) of respondents offer Down syndrome screening to all pregnant patients; 70% of general obstetricians offer the first-trimester screen and 86% the quad screen. Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents are offering patients ≥ 1 combination of first- and second-trimester screening tests. For women aged Conclusion Obstetricians have adopted a new paradigm for Down syndrome screening. First-trimester screening has been incorporated into prenatal care. Experience with these current screening tests will likely influence future guidelines and challenge the long-standing tradition of offering diagnostic testing based on maternal age. This study highlights the need for concise, unambiguous guidelines and a need to address unresolved issues in Down syndrome screening.
The vertical thermal structure of the Martian atmosphere - Modification by motions.

Abstract The discrepancy between observations of the Martian atmospheric thermal structure and the radiative-convective equilibrium theory is considered and three processes that could account for this difference are analyzed. Baroclinic waves tend to redistribute heat in the atmosphere in such a way as to raise the temperature in the middle portion while lowering the temperature above and below. A further drop in the mean temperature high up in the atmosphere (above about 25km) may result from the existence of vertical motions due to the nonlinear nature of the cooling law. Finally, heat can be redistributed on the average when the amplitude of vertical motions varies with altitude.,
PREFERENCE FOR AGE-HOMOGENEOUS VERSUS AGE-HETEROGENEOUS SOCIAL INTERACTION

A major argument made in favor of age-segregated services is that older people prefer and benefit from age-homogeneous social interaction. Past studies indicate that older people who are attracted to age-segregated services do indeed benefit from them. However, no evidence of a widespread preference for age homogeneous social interaction was found in previous investigations. A review of the theoretical and empirical literature did, however, suggest that a preference for age-homogeneity might be more characteristic of those considered target groups, for social services, such as the old-old, frail, isolated, poor, and minorities. The present study sought to assess this preference through secondary analysis of the national data from The Myth and Reality of Aging survey (Harris, 1975). All respondents 18 years of age or older were asked "Would you personally prefer to spend most of your time with people about your own age or with people of all different ages?" Two-thirds of persons under 65 and three-quarters...
Abstract LB-507: A color coded fluorescent transgenic mouse model of spontaneous pancreatic cancer for imaging spectrally distinct cancer cells and stroma

Conditional fluorescent (mTmG) indicator mice constitutively express a conditional tdTomato transgene (mTmG) that converts to the expression of EGFP following exposure to Cre recombinase. PdxCre+, mTmG+ mice express bright, membrane-targeted, green fluorescent protein (mG) specifically in the pancreatic epithelial parenchyma. Non-epithelial pancreatic tissues and non-pancreatic tissues ubiquitously express membrane-targeted tdTomato (mT), providing a red fluorescent backlight in imaging studies. In the present report, we have applied the strengths of the PdxCre+, mTmG+ dual color system to the study of spontaneous tumor development in a triple transgenic PdxCre, LSL-KrasG12D/+, LSL-Trp53R172H/+ mouse model of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We generated mice that follow the well-described progression of pre-neoplastic changes in the pancreas, and ultimately develop fluorescent pancreatic tumors, recapitulating the sequence of events that occur in human PDAC in an imagable mouse model system. To establish this model, we intercrossed four lines of transgenic mice [PdxCre (C), LSL-KrasG12D/+(K), LSLTrp53R172H/+(P), and mTmG (mTmG)] and generated small cohorts of quadruple transgenics (CKPmTmG) and littermate controls. Like PdxCre+, mTmG+ dual transgenic mice, CKPmTmG mice demonstrated green fluorescent pancreata and red fluorescent non-pancreatic tissues. As in the non-fluorescent PdxCre, LSL-KrasG12D/+, LSL-Trp53R172H/+ (CKP) parental line, CKPmTmG mice developed pancreatic dysmorphia and dysplasia within the first several weeks of life. These changes were accompanied by development of pancreatic tumors and were associated with early mortality not seen in littermate controls. Ex vivo imaging of CKPmTmG mice at necropsy demonstrated a spectrum of pathologic findings, including cystic and solid pancreatic tumor masses surfaced by distorted and distended green fluorescent pancreatic ducts and duct-like structures. The non-epithelial pancreatic tissues provided a red fluorescent background. Histologic findings included ductal dilatation, ductal atypia with features of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) as previously described in CKP mice, atrophy of pancreatic acini, and duct-centered desmoplasia entrapping the occasional isolated pancreatic islet. This dual color, quadruple transgenic mouse model enables us to apply fluorescence imaging technology to the study of tumor microenvironment in mice genetically engineered to develop pancreatic cancer spontaneously. Based on preliminary studies, this mouse model promises to be a valuable tool with which to address many intriguing questions and timely controversies regarding the pathogenesis of human pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-507. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-507
Gene therapy for heart failure: an investigational treatment that is coming of age.

Correspondence: Dr D. Mancini, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 622 West 168th Street, PH1273, New York, NY 10032, USA E-mail: dmm31@columbia.edu Over the past 2 decades, despite advances in the management of heart failure with the addition of highly effective drugs and devices, the number of heart failure patients continues to increase. Heart failure is the end result of a variety of disease states including coronary artery disease, hypertension, alcohol abuse, and infections. Irrespective of the etiology of heart failure, many changes in the genetic expression of contractile proteins occur in the cardiac myocyte that may create effective targets for molecular therapies.1 Whether gene therapy can improve cardiac function by normalizing gene expression of contractile proteins is an avenue of active clinical research in the 21st century. In this brief review, the early state of gene therapy for heart failure will be described.
The Identification of a G4.5 mutation in a Patient with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy • 88

The Identification of a G4.5 mutation in a Patient with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy • 88
Do disorder-relevant cognitive biases endure in recovered bulimics?

To test whether disorder-relevant cognitive biases persist following recovery from bulimia nervosa, we asked female bulimics, short-term recovered bulimics, long-term recovered bulimics, and nondieting control participants to perform attentional and memory tasks. The attentional (Stroop) task required participants to color-name food words, body words, and neutral words. The memory task required participants to read a story that comprised propositions relevant and irrelevant to eating disorder concerns, and then to recall the story verbatim. The results indicated that the bulimic group exhibited selective processing of information related to body, but not food, concerns in both tasks. Both recovered groups performed indistinguishably from the control group. These results suggest that a cognitive bias for body-related cues is confined to individuals with current bulimia and is not evident in those who have recovered.
Selective amplification of protein-coding regions of large sets of genes using statistically designed primer sets

We describe a novel approach to design a set of primers selective for large groups of genes. This method is based on the distribution frequency of all nucleotide combinations (octa- to decanucleotides), and the combined ability of primer pairs, based on these oligonucleotides, to detect genes. By analyzing 1000 human mRNAs, we found that a surprisingly small subset of octanucleotides is shared by a high proportion of human protein-coding region sense strands. By computer simulation of polymerase chain reactions, a set based on only 30 primers was able to detect approximately 75% of known (and presumably unknown) human protein-coding regions. To validate the method and provide experimental support for the feasibility of the more ambitious goal of targeting human protein-coding regions, we sought to apply the technique to a large protein family: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Our results indicate that there is sufficient low level homology among human coding regions to allow design of a limited set of primer pairs that can selectively target coding regions in general, as well as genomic subsets (e.g., GPCRs). The approach should be generally applicable to human coding regions, and thus provide an efficient method for analyzing much of the transcriptionally active human genome.