cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time variability of Indian Ocean equatorial currents

Abstract As part of the INDEX program we have obtained two records from current meters each of 6-month duration, from a single depth (500 m) and location (0°, 55°40′E) in the equatorial Indian Ocean. Spectral analysis for periods shorter than 500 h reveals features consistent with other equatorial measurements in the Indian and Atlantic oceans, features which follow from the disappearance of the mid-latitude inertial peak and its replacement by a sum of equatorially trapped waves. Certain comparisons with a model spectrum of such waves due to Eriksen (Journal of Geophysical Research, 85, 3285–3303, 1980) are noted. Longer-period variations cannot be analyzed statistically with such short records. Nevertheless, it is interesting that in the spring of two different years the zonal velocity changes abruptly (in 1 to 2 weeks) from near zero to 25 cm s−1 westward. There is a clear need for much longer measurements to examine the possible relationship between this variability and seasonal forcing due to the monsoons. Spectra of the higher frequency motions are not discernably different before and after this transition.
Technological Transparency: A Myth of Virtual Education:

In this article, the idea of technological transpar ency refers to the setting of computer artifacts to make them invisible. Transparency is treated as a mythology because it hides the tremendous social impact that computer-mediated communication has in contempo rary societies. This argument is supported by Ellul's assertion that technology has a systemic, rather than an instrumental, relation with society; therefore, it has to be explored as La Technique. La Technique is a systemic connection of human-artifacts-knowledge that reconstitutes society according to autonomous technological aims, disintegrating anything that cannot be converted into technology. This article discusses how computers mediate communication as a major universal source of La Technique and alters language structure, social relationships, space, time, and identities. Some clues are given to reconceptualize pedagogical notions, such as technological transpar ency, to overcome the reproduction of mythologies and to find better signifier...
Atod Prevention Programming in the Non-School Hours and Adolescent Substance Use:

To reduce problems associated with youth substance use, Indiana developed funding streams and infrastructure to facilitate coordination of statewide prevention efforts. These prevention efforts aimed at youth include programming in the non-school hours. To examine the relationship between these efforts and youth substance abuse, students indicating participation in one or more prevention activities were compared to non-participant students. Results revealed that participating middle school students were less likely to have reported use of tobacco than their non-participating peers. Also, participation in prevention activities in the non-school hours was related to a lower likelihood of alcohol use among high school students.
Atlantic Subtropical Storms. Part I: Diagnostic Criteria and Composite Analysis

Abstract Subtropical cyclones (ST) have only recently gained attention as damaging weather systems. A set of criteria for identifying and classifying these systems is introduced here and employed to identify 18 ST cases forming in the 1999–2004 hurricane seasons. To be classified as an ST, these systems must have near-surface gale-force winds and show hybrid structure for more than one diurnal cycle. The 18 ST cases are partitioned into four classes based upon their genesis environments. Genesis over waters with SST in excess of 25°C is observed in almost 80% of warm-season cases, in contrast with only 55% in an ST climatology presented in a companion study. The low-shear magnitude constraint recognized for tropical cyclogenesis is less apparent for ST formation with over 50% forming in the two partitions characterized by shear in excess of 10 m s−1. This relatively high-shear environment corresponds to equatorward intrusion of upper troughs over the relatively warm SST present in the mid–late hurricane s...
Increased spinal cord Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl⁻ cotransporter-1 (NKCC1) activity contributes to impairment of synaptic inhibition in paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain.

Microtubule-stabilizing agents, such as paclitaxel (Taxol), are effective chemotherapy drugs for treating many cancers, and painful neuropathy is a major dose-limiting adverse effect. Cation-chloride cotransporters, such as Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter-1 (NKCC1) and K+-Cl− cotransporter-2 (KCC2), critically influence spinal synaptic inhibition by regulating intracellular chloride concentrations. Here we show that paclitaxel treatment in rats significantly reduced GABA-induced membrane hyperpolarization and caused a depolarizing shift in GABA reversal potential of dorsal horn neurons. However, paclitaxel had no significant effect on AMPA or NMDA receptor-mediated glutamatergic input from primary afferents to dorsal horn neurons. Paclitaxel treatment significantly increased protein levels, but not mRNA levels, of NKCC1 in spinal cords. Inhibition of NKCC1 with bumetanide reversed the paclitaxel effect on GABA-mediated hyperpolarization and GABA reversal potentials. Also, intrathecal bumetanide significantly attenuated hyperalgesia and allodynia induced by paclitaxel. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed that NKCC1 interacted with β-tubulin and β-actin in spinal cords. Remarkably, paclitaxel increased NKCC1 protein levels at the plasma membrane and reduced NKCC1 levels in the cytosol of spinal cords. In contrast, treatment with an actin-stabilizing agent had no significant effect on NKCC1 protein levels in the plasma membrane or cytosolic fractions of spinal cords. In addition, inhibition of the motor protein dynein blocked paclitaxel-induced subcellular redistribution of NKCC1, whereas inhibition of kinesin-5 mimicked the paclitaxel effect. Our findings suggest that increased NKCC1 activity contributes to diminished spinal synaptic inhibition and neuropathic pain caused by paclitaxel. Paclitaxel disrupts intracellular NKCC1 trafficking by interfering with microtubule dynamics and associated motor proteins.
Remembering Donald F. Steiner

Pioneering endocrinologist and molecular biologist Donald Frederick Steiner, A. N. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago (Fig. 1), died on November 11, 2014 at the age of 84. “Very few scientists,” observed Nobel Laureate Joseph L Goldstein, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center, “can lay claim to original research that has stood the test of time in both the biological and clinical arenas.” Steiner’s contributions meet this dual standard. Dr. Steiner was also renowned for his mentorship of successive generations of leaders in biochemistry and academic medicine.
Optimization of time-series data partitioning for parameter identification

This paper presents a data-driven method of parameter identification in nonlinear systems based on the theories of symbolic dynamics. Although construction of finite-state-machine models from symbol sequences has been widely reported, similar efforts have not been expended to investigate partitioning of time series data to optimally generate symbol sequences. A data-set partitioning procedure is proposed to extract features from time series data by optimizing a multi-objective cost functional. Performance of the optimal partitioning procedure is compared with those of other traditional partitioning (e.g., uniform and maximum entropy) schemes. Then, tools of pattern classification are applied to identify the ranges of multiple parameters of a well-known chaotic nonlinear dynamical system, namely the Duffing Equation, from its time series response.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Evaluation of Muscidifurax zaraptor and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) for controlling flies associated with confined beef cattle

Abstract Releases of Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan and Legner and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were made at four beef cattle feedlots in eastern Nebraska. The ability of the parasites to parasitize house fly (Musca domestica L.) and stable fly [Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)] pupae under ambient environmental conditions was measured. The two species were released seven times at 2-week intervals from a central location within each of the four feedlots. Both species were recovered significantly more often from sentinel pupae placed around the perimeter of each feedlot than from sentinel pupae at untreated feedlots. Mean mortality of sentinel pupae for the four release feedlots ranged from 28 to 42% compared with 4.8% for two untreated feedlots. Parasites recovered from sentinel pupae comprised 87% M. zaraptor and 12% P. vindemiae. Correlations between the percentage mortality of sentinel pupae and the number of parasites released were poor. However, when the interaction of weekly mean air temperature was considered, a significant correlation between reduction of sentinel pupae and the number of parasites released was evident. Differences in parasitism between release and control sites were not as apparent when parasite emergence from naturally occurring house fly and stable fly puparia was determined. The indigenous M. zaraptor was clearly superior to the introduced P. vindemiae and readily parasitized house fly pupae placed around the perimeter of the release feedlots. The results also suggested that periods of mean weekly temperature exceeding 27°C appeared to adversely affect both parasite species.
Conservatively aggressive management with bilateral Wilms' tumors

Abstract Radical Primary Excision, up to and including bilateral nephrectomy with renal allotransplantation, has been advocated for bilateral Wilms' tumors. Since 1953 we have treated nine children with bilateral Wilms' tumors. Only two of them died of their malignancies; both had primary radical excision and received less than the currently recommended dosaes of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. More recently, we have excised the more involved kidney and treated the less involved side with radiotherapy and multiple courses of chemotherapy. We have termed this conservatively aggressive management; it has resulted in no evidence of residual malignancy in any of the six children so treated. Three of these six patients were left with residual benign rhabdomyomas. These results suggest that this less radical approach to bilateral Wilms' tumors is an effective method of management.
Cold-Hardiness of a Laboratory Colony of Lone Star Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

The cold-hardiness of a lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), laboratory colony was characterized. Fed and unfed larvae, fed and unfed nymphs, and unfed adults did not survive exposure to − 17°C for 7 d. After an 8-d exposure to −10°C, adults tolerated cold better than immatures and unfed specimens fared better than fed ticks. Exposing unfed 6- wk-old (postmolt) adult males and females to − 15°C for increasing intervals up to 2 h suggests that males were more tolerant to cold than were females. Half of all adults were alive 3 d after the 2-h low-temperature treatment. Males may have survived because of a significantly higher hemolymph osmotic pressure, although the solute concentration increased for both sexes after a 2-h exposure to 0°C. Acclimation to 5°C for 7 d had no influence on supercooling points for unfed males and females, engorged nymphs and larvae, and eggs. None of the life stages survived supercooling, which strongly suggests that this species is freeze intolerant. Intolerance of immature stages to chilling may be a limiting factor in the northern distribution of lone star ticks in North America.
Reactivity of hypervalent iron with biological compounds.

Although it is well establistied that the ferryl (F=O 2+ ) and perferryl (Fe=O 3+ ) oxidation states of iron have a beneficial role in enzymatic oxidation and hydroxylation processes, as small complexes that are suspected to be formed in Fenton reactions, they may have deleterious effects on living cells. I discuss the basic chemistry of small hypervalent iron complexes. Their reactivity with biological compounds is illustrated by considering ascorbic acid and essential amino acids
Surface Performance-Grading System to Grade Chip Seal Emulsion Residues

The performance-graded (PG) asphalt binder specification was developed to characterize asphalt binder properties that are directly related to the performance of hot-mix asphalt concrete in pavements. However, the PG specification cannot be applied directly to binders for use in chip seals. To address this need, the surface performance grading (SPG) specification was developed with the same equipment required for the PG system but with different limiting values for test parameters at high and low pavement surface design temperatures. NCHRP Project 14-17 used the PG and the SPG systems to grade base binders and recovered residues from five laboratory emulsions and from recovered residues for three emulsions for chip seal construction projects. Two residue recovery methods were used and compared: hot oven evaporation with nitrogen blanket and stirred can with nitrogen purge. Researchers compared the grades from the PG and the SPG systems and found that the grades were similar for the two residue recovery methods but slightly different from the base binder. On the basis of these results, a strawman specification for emulsion residues in chip seals is recommended for use with the stirred can recovery method. The current limiting values in the SPG system were developed for the Texas Department of Transportation. Limiting criteria should be developed for other regions and climatic conditions.
Skin-specific deletion of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 alters skin lipid composition and protects mice from high-fat diet-induced obesity

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids and is an important regulator of whole body energy homeostasis. Severe cutaneous changes in mice globally deficient in SCD1 also indicate a role for SCD1 in maintaining skin lipids. We have generated mice with a skin-specific deletion of SCD1 (SKO) and report here that SKO mice display marked sebaceous gland hypoplasia and depletion of sebaceous lipids. In addition, SKO mice have significantly increased energy expenditure and are protected from high fat diet-induced obesity, thereby recapitulating the hypermetabolic phenotype of global SCD1 deficiency. Genes of fat oxidation, lipolysis, and thermogenesis, including uncoupling proteins and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator-1α, are up-regulated in peripheral tissues of SKO mice. However, unlike mice globally deficient in SCD1, SKO mice have an intact hepatic lipogenic response to acute high carbohydrate feeding. Despite increased basal thermogenesis, SKO mice display severe cold intolerance because of rapid depletion of fuel substrates, including hepatic glycogen, to maintain core body temperature. These data collectively indicate that SKO mice have increased cold perception because of loss of insulating factors in the skin. This results in up-regulation of thermogenic processes for temperature maintenance at the expense of fuel economy, illustrating cross-talk between the skin and peripheral tissues in maintaining energy homeostasis.
Alternatively spliced products CC3 and TC3 have opposing effects on apoptosis.

The human gene CC3 is a metastasis suppressor for small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) in vivo. The ability of CC3 to impair the apoptotic resistance of tumor cells is likely to contribute to metastasis suppression. We describe here an alternatively spliced RNA of CC3, designated TC3, that encodes an unstable protein with antiapoptotic activity. TC3 and CC3 proteins share amino-terminal sequences, but TC3 has a unique short hydrophobic carboxyl terminus. Overexpression of CC3 results in massive death of rodent fibroblasts, but TC3 protects cells from CC3-induced death and from other death stimuli such as treatment with tumor necrosis factor or overexpression of Bax protein. The death-inducing activity of CC3 resides within its amino-terminal domain, which is conserved in TC3. The carboxyl terminus of TC3 is responsible for the antiapoptotic function of TC3; mutations in this domain abolish the ability of TC3 to protect cells from apoptosis. TC3 protein is short-lived due to its rapid degradation by proteasome, and it forms complexes with a regulatory subunit of proteasome known as s5α. The signal for the rapid degradation of TC3 resides within its carboxyl terminus, which is capable of conferring instability on a heterologous protein. The proapoptotic activity of CC3 in SCLC cells is induced by a wide variety of signals and involves disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). The CC3 protein has sequence similarity to bacterial short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases and might represent a phylogenetically old effector of cell death similar to the recently identified apoptosis-inducing factor. CC3 and TC3 have opposing functions in apoptosis and represent a novel dual regulator of cell death.
Clavanins, α‐helical antimicrobial peptides from tunicate hemocytes

Hemocytes from the invertebrate Styela clava, a solitary tunicate, contained a family of four α-helical antimicrobial peptides that were purified, sequenced and named clavanins A, B, C and D. Each clavanin contained 23 amino acid residues and was C-terminally amidated. The tunicate peptides resembled magainins in size, primary sequence and antibacterial activity. Synthetic clavanin A was prepared and displayed comparable antimicrobial activity to magainins and cecropins. The presence of α-helical antimicrobial peptides in the hemocytes of a urochordate suggests that such peptides are primeval effectors of innate immunity in the vertebrate lineage.
Cost-effective safety and fault localization using distributed temporal redundancy

Cost pressure is driving vendors of safety-critical systems to integrate previously distributed systems. One natural approach we have previous introduced is On-Demand Redundancy (ODR), which allows safety-critical and non-critical tasks, traditionally isolated to limit interference, to execute on shared resources. Our prior work has shown that relaxed dedication (RD), one ODR strategy which allows non-critical tasks (NCTs) to execute on idle critical task resources (CTRs), significantly increases NCT throughput. Unfortunately, there are circumstances under which, in spite of this opportunity, it is difficult to effectively schedule NCTs.In this paper, we introduce distributed temporal redundancy (DTR), which allows critical tasks, which traditionally execute in lockstep, to execute asynchronously. In doing so, DTR increases scheduling flexibility, resulting in systems that achieve much closer to the optimal NCT throughput than with relaxed dedication alone; in one set of experiments, DTR schedules no less 93% of the theoretical NCT cycles across a variety of synthetic benchmarks, out- performing RD by over 11%, on average. Furthermore, by distributing all redundant tasks across different resources, triple-modular redundancy, and therefore fault localization, can be achieved. We demonstrate that this can be accomplished with little additional cost and complexity: in practice, relatively few DTR tasks are in flight simultaneously, limiting the additional buffering needed to support DTR.
The geochemistry of volcanic, plutonic and turbiditic rocks from Sumba, Indonesia

Abstract Rocks that reveal the geology of Sumba for times before the Later Miocene (∼16 Ma) are relatively few and are not particularly well exposed. This has led to uncertainty about the nature of the basement rocks of the island and especially about whether Sumba originated as a fragment of Australia, or of that part of southeastern Eurasia which many authors have called Sundaland. A third possibility is that Sumba is underlain by arc material generated on the ocean floor and is not a fragment of either continent. We have studied the geochemistry of volcanic, plutonic and turbiditic rocks collected from Sumba in an attempt to provide additional insight into the island's origin and history between Late Cretaceous (∼86 Ma) and Early Miocene (∼16 Ma) times. Late Cretaceous to Early Oligocene (∼31 Ma) volcanic rocks on Sumba range compositionally from basalts to andesites, and are of typical oceanic island-arc affinity, exhibiting geochemical characteristics similar to those of high-Al basalts and their derivatives. Compositions indicate evolution along both calc-alkaline and tholeiitic trends. Some samples show indications of possible modifications by slab-derived melts and/or related fluids and also of contamination by turbiditic sediments. Gabbros and diorites collected from the Paleocene Tanadaro intrusion are compositionally similar to the associated volcanic rocks and, we consider, represent the plutonic equivalents of high-Al basalt. The geochemistry of Cretaceous turbiditic sedimentary rocks on Sumba indicates close proximity to an intra-oceanic island-arc environment. These results are consistent with the geochemical, sedimentological, stratigraphic, paleontological and paleomagnetic results of other investigators which together indicate that: (1) Late Cretaceous to Early Oligocene volcanic, plutonic and volcaniclastic rocks of Sumba are island-arc- and forearc-related; (2) the arc involved appears to have been what we refer to as the Great Indonesian Volcanic Arc, which had been active in this area from at least ∼86 to approximately ∼31 Ma. The Great Indonesian Volcanic Arc was closely affiliated with, but may have occurred offshore Sundaland. Sumba is therefore a fragment of this oceanic (Aleutian-type) island arc and not a piece of the main Sundaland continent. The geochemistry of the igneous rocks on Sumba is inconsistent with what we would expect from an Andean-type Continental Arc. No continental basement is required to explain the composition and origin of the igneous rocks of Sumba.
Rapid differentiation of soybean mosaic virus isolates by antigenic signature analysis

Antigenic differences among 14 soybean mosaic virus (SMV) isolates were shown by signature analysis employing a panel of nine well-characterized monoclonal antibodies. Sets of binding curves were generated by reacting aliquots of serial dilutions of leaf extracts from soybean plants infected with each strain of SMV simultaneously with each antibody in the panel. An iterative alignment procedure allowed comparison of binding profiles from different assays in which the starting concentrations of SMV antigen were unknown. Desiccation of infected soybean leaf tissue altered antigenic signatures by inducing changes in reactivity of epitopes recognized by certain antibodies. The method was useful for the elucidation of subtle antigenic differences amongSMV strains. The procedure requires a minimum amount of tissue processing, the analysis is rapid and sensitive, and it requires neither purification nor knowledge of concentration of virus in ground leaf tissue from infected plants. Zusammenfassung Schnelie Differenzierung von Sojabohnenmosaikvirus-Isolaten durch Antigenkennzeichenanalyse Es konnten antigenetische Unterschiede zwischen 14 Sojabohnenmosaikvirus (SMV)-Isolaten nach einer Kennzeichenanalyse, die einen Satz von neun gut charakterisierten monoklonalen Antikorpern verwendet, gezeigt werden. Satze von Bindungskurven wurden durch die Reaktion von Serienverdunnungen von Sojabohnenblattextrakten mit jedem Antikorper des Satzes erstellt. Die Sojabohnenpflanzen waren jeweils mit einem der 14 SMV-Isolate infiziert. Ein wiederholtes Anordnungsverfahren ermoglicht den Vergleich der Kopplungsprofile aus verschiedenen Assays, in denen die Ausgangskonzentrationen der SMV-Antgiene unbekannt waren. Eine Austrocknung des infizierten Sojabohnengewebes veranderte die antigenen Kennzeichnungen durch induzierte Anderungen der Reaktivitat der Epitope, die durch bestimmte Antikorper erkannt wurden. Die methode erwies sich als brauchbar fur die Aufklarung von feinen antigenen Unterschieden zwischen den SMV-Stammen. Das Verfahren benotigt ein minimales Mas an Gewebevorbereitung, die Analyse ist schnell und empfindlich, und es bedarf weder einer Vorreinigung noch der Kenntnis der Viruskonzentration im gemahlenen Blattgewebe von den infizierten Pflanzen.
Sources of Uncertainty Affecting Soil Organic Carbon Estimates in Northern New York

Estimations of regional soil organic C (SOC) stores are sensitive to map scale effects, the geography of soil resources, and uncertainty stemming from SOC values assigned to soil series. This study assessed uncertainty associated with regional SOC estimation for the Tughill Plateau (Major Land Resource Area [MLRA 141]) of northern New York. Soil samples from 103 sites, representing 30 soil series mapped within the Tughill Plateau, were collected from the upper meter and analyzed to develop a series-specific SOC database. Four 24 km 2 subregions of the Plateau were identified and soil survey maps of four different scales ranging from 1:15 840 to 1:750 000 were compared. Soil survey maps were digitized, and their respective map unit compositions and areas were related to the series-specific SOC database to calculate SOC (weighted by land extent). Estimates using different survey map scales ranged from 16.6 to 17.6 kg C m -2 . Smaller-scale soil survey maps (1:250 000 and 1:750 000) produced SOC estimates that were greater significantly than the 16.7 kg C m -2 estimated using the large-scale reference survey maps (1:15 840). Differences were caused by the process of map generalization, as soil series with lower mean SOC that occurred on the 1:15 840 survey maps were replaced by series that had higher SOC on the 1:250 000 and 1:750 000 survey maps. Although significantly different, area-weighted mean SOC estimates varied by <5%. The greatest uncertainty in regional SOC estimation originated from the variation in SOC values assigned to soil series, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 3 to 87%.
The effects of prostacyclin PGI2 on prolactin secretion in vitro

Continuously superfused rat anterior pituitary cells were used to study the effects of exogenous prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxanes (TXs) on the secretion of prolactin (PRL). No change in hormone release was observed upon superfusion with TXB2 (10(-5)M) or the TX synthesis inhibitor, imidazole (1.5 mM). PGs A2, B2, D2, E1, E2, F1 alpha, F2 alpha, and endoperoxide analogs, U-44069 and U-46619, also had no effect on PRL secretion (all at 10(-5)M). In contrast 10(-5)M PGI2 was repeatedly found to stimulate PRL release to a level at least 125% above control, while producing no apparent change in the amount of hormone secreted in response to TRH. Somatostatin (SRIF), at a dose of 10(-6)M, maximally inhibited TRH-induced PRL output, but failed to alter the PRL response to PGI2. These studies indicate that PGI2 may have a direct effect on the anterior pituitary to modify PRL secretion.
Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Requiring Tracheostomy Due to Neuroborreliosis

Neuroborreliosis can cause multiple cranial and peripheral neuropathies; however, involvement of both recurrent laryngeal nerves is rare. We report the case of a 90-year-old man who presented with dysphonia and right upper and lower extremity weakness. His course was complicated by bilateral vocal cord paralysis and respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy. The diagnosis of borreliosis was made by detection of IgM and IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi on enzyme immunoassay and Western blot. The patient received IV ceftriaxone for 2 weeks, followed by complete recovery of motor and vocal function over 2 months. Our case is the third report of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in the literature, and the first one, to our knowledge, presenting with respiratory failure requiring an artificial airway. Physicians should be aware of this unusual complication of neuroborreliosis.
Large-scale contact/impact simulation and sensitivity analysis on distributed-memory computers

A parallel computational strategy is presented for simulating frictional contact/impact response and evaluating sensitivity coefficients for large-scale finite element models of composite structures. The explicit central difference scheme is used for the temporal integration of the semi-discrete governing equations. The two key elements of the strategy are: (a) an element-based domain decomposition technique; and (b) a robust exchange algorithm for communicating information across subdomain interfaces. An implementation of the strategy suitable for any distributed-memory computing system (including clusters of workstations) is described. Numerical results are presented for three structures impacting a rigid surface. The three structures are: an inclined composite cylinder, an inclined stiffened cylinder and an Advanced Composites Technology (ACT) program test panel. For each of these problems, the performance characteristics of the computational procedure are assessed on the IBM SP2 parallel computer system.
Creation of short microwave ablation zones: in vivo characterization of single and paired modified triaxial antennas.

Purpose To characterize modified triaxial microwave antennas configured to produce short ablation zones.
The speech of language-disabled children

Among children who exhibit difficulties with reading and other academic skills are some who, during their preschool years, had considerable problems in acquiring spoken language. Often these problems are still evident during the early elementary school years and they may persist, in more subtle ways, through early adolescence and into early adulthood. Since certain skills, such as reading, are based on linguistic knowledge, it is important for us to know the kinds of linguistic difficulties these children experience prior to their school entrance — difficulties in the acquisition, comprehension, and use of spoken language. In this paper, I review a number of findings about the speech of language-disabled children.
Invasions and extinctions on Másatierra (Juan Fernández Islands): a review of early historical evidence

Abstract Biota of isolated oceanic islands are unusually susceptible to disturbance by human occupation. Masatierra, a mid-latitude high volcanic island, was not discovered and settled until well into the historic period and documentary records show the transformation of the natural landscape follows patterns observed on many islands. Among the introduced mammals only the goat proliferated initially. Their numbers and distribution changed when predators became established. The growth of populations of dogs, cats and rats on the island corresponded with the decline of the native ground nesting sea bird, seal and sea lion populations although direct killing by humans was clearly a factor. Deforestation and selective exploitation of native trees led to their decline, and in some cases extinction. Introduced crop and weed species increased rapidly but some subsequently disappeared reflecting the instability of populations in disturbed landscapes.
Functionalism and propositions

Some have argued, following Stalnaker, that a plausible functionalist account of belief requires coarse-grained propositions. I have explored a class of functionalist accounts, and my argument has been that, in this class, there is no account which meetsall of the following conditions: it is plausible, noncircular, and allows for the validity of the argument to coarse-grained propositions. In producing this argument, I believe that I have shown that it might be open to a functionalist to adopt fine-grained propositions; thus, one might be a functionalist without holding that all mathematical beliefs are about strings of symbols (and that the belief that all bachelors are unmarried men is a belief about words).
IgE-dependent signaling as a therapeutic target for allergies

Atopic diseases are complex, with many immunological participants, but the central element in their expression is IgE antibody. In an atopic individual, the immune system pathologically reacts to environmental substances by producing IgE, and these allergen-specific IgE antibodies confer to IgE receptor-bearing cells responsiveness to the environmental substances. Mast cells and basophils are central to the immediate hypersensitivity reaction that is mediated by IgE. In humans, there are various other immune cells, notably dendritic cells and B cells, which can also bind IgE. For mast cells, basophils and dendritic cells, the receptor that binds IgE is the high-affinity receptor, FcɛRI. For B cells and a few other cell types, the low affinity receptor, FcɛRII, provides the cell with a means to sense the presence of IgE. This overview will focus on events following activation of the high-affinity receptor because FcɛRI generates the classical immediate hypersensitivity reaction.
Generalized networks: Networks embedded on a matroid, part I

The definition of ordinary electric networks is based on graphs. Since such a formulation is inadequate in many respects, we define a new network concept, namely, a generalized network, which is a network based on a matroid. To make the paper self-contained an introduction to basic matroid theory is given in the first part of the paper. We then define a generalized network and formulate the network analysis and network synthesis problems for generalized networks. A number of new results are obtained for both analysis and synthesis and some old results for networks on graphs are generalized to networks on matroids. It is shown that the principle of duality, which does not hold for networks on graphs but is valid for generalized networks, adds power and insight for solving analysis and synthesis problems. The analysis problem, though formulated in terms of resistance networks, holds for networks containing all types of elements. The synthesis problem that is treated is the crucial one of the realization of a p-port resistance network.
Perched Water Bodies in Arid Environments and Their Role as Hydrologic Constraints for Recharge Rate Estimation: Part 1. A Modeling Methodology

The formation and temporal evolution of perched water bodies in arid environments is the theme of this article. Geological structure and effective recharge or net infiltration volume, which escapes the evapotranspiration capture zone, are the dominant factors controlling the phenomenon of perched water formation. An approach to use a combination of hydrological and geochemical data for present-day known occurrences of perched water bodies, cast in the form of hydrological and geochemical constraints, is proposed. These constraints are: present-day volume of perched water and attainment of steady-state behavior within a time period of less than 20,000 years (last pluvial), and present-day 14 C measurements.
Translating the lessons from gene therapy to the development of regenerative medicine.

One of the more exciting advances in the past decade has been the surprising discovery by Takahashi and Yamanaka that primary somatic cells can be converted into pluripotent cells (induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells) by the forced but transient expression of a small number of defined transcription factors, a discovery that may well prove worthy of a Nobel Prize.1 While there is significant excitement about the study and the therapeutic potential of human embryonic stem (ES) cells, the ethical issues surrounding the destruction of embryos that is necessary to generate such cells has slowed scientific investigation into their use. Because iPS cells are generated without the need to destroy an embryo, their discovery has further energized the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell biology. Indeed, there are clear similarities between the excitement generated by iPS cells and regenerative medicine today and that generated by the advent of gene therapy several decades ago. One hopes that the lessons learned from the growing pains experienced by the field of gene therapy will be applied by the leaders of this new field so as to hasten and facilitate the clinical translation of safe iPS cell technology. In this Commentary, I focus on several areas where these lessons can be applied to the iPS cell field.
Using real data to invigorate student learning

Students need hands-on-experience with industrial strength databases and large data sets so they can deal with them when once employed. Many schools find it too expensive because of the cost and faculty resources required. That excuse is no longer valid. Colleges and Universities throughout the world can avail themselves of an extraordinary gift from Teradata Corporation that allows introducing large, complex problems into computer science classes without cost. The gift includes software and enormous databases available through the Internet as Software as a Service. This editorial describes the Teradata University Network, and how faculty can obtain this resource for their classes.
Time course of miniature postsynaptic potentials at the Mauthner fiber giant synapse of the hatchetfish

Abstract The hatchetfish Mauthner fiber is presynaptic to 8–14 large myelinated axons in the medulla; the large (‘giant’) synapses formed by these fibers appear to be nicotinic cholinergic. Miniature postsynaptic potentials (mPSPs) were recorded from single identified synapses. The mPSPs were averaged to more accurately determine their shape; the rise time was approximately 70 μs, and the fall usually was biphasic with time constants of decay for the two phases of 280 and 800 μs. In 25% of the records analyzed a third, slow tail of decay was seen which had an average decay constant of 4.2 ms. The biphasic decay of mPSPs largely accounts for the similar shape of the postsynaptic current following a presynaptic impulse, which is described in the accompanying paper.
Improved synthesis of 1,5-dinaphtho[38]crown-10

We have devised a method of achieving the much-used macrocyclic polyether, 1,5-dinaphtho[38]crown-10, in three steps by a route that is more efficient and requires fewer purification procedures than those reported in the literature to date. The strategy can also be extended to the synthesis of asymmetric crown-10 ether derivatives with one 1,5-dinaphtho ring system.
νFDTD: A novel algorithm for improving conformal FDTD method

Summary form only given. Dealing with curved or slanted objects has been a challenge in the context of conventional FDTD, since it uses a staircase approximation to model them. To mitigate the effects of this staircase approximation one has to use a very fine mesh, which in turn places a heavy burden on the CPU memory and time. Alternate approach to dealing with such geometries is to use the Conformal FDTD (W. Yu and R. Mittra, Software and User's Guide, Boston: Artech House, 2004.). In this algorithm, the magnetic update equations are modified by using the areas of the partially-filled cells as opposed to their entire cell areas. However this algorithm becomes unstable when the partial area is small, and to circumvent this problem one has to use the entire cell area as opposed to the partially-filled area, and this obviously compromises the accuracy. Recently, a local physical-optics-based reflection coefficient approach was proposed by Panayappan and Mittra (K. Panayappan and R. Mittra, Proc. of IEEE International APS and UNSC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting, 2012), which bypassed the updating of partially-filled cell and was shown to be more accurate than the conformal FDTD. However, this asymptotic approach requires single frequency simulations in FDTD as opposed to those using a Gaussian excitation, which can generate the response over a wide frequency band. In this paper, we modify the above approach by utilizing an interpolation technique which can be used with Gaussian simulations to generate response over a wide frequency range, accurately and efficiently. To illustrate the application of the method we consider a simple geometry, that of a thin PEC plate, whose geometry is shown in Fig. 1a. The plate is located in the middle of a λ/20 cell, and to solve this problem by using the conventional FDTD one must use a cell size of λ/80 or smaller. Although the proposed algorithm still uses a cell size of λ/20, it obtains accurate results, as may be seen from Fig. 1(b), which compares the obtained results with those from the conventional approach. The proposed method has been applied to analyze curved and tilted objects and the results will be included in the presentation.
Rate control over RED with data loss and varying delays

In this paper, we developed a proportional rate control for the high-speed data networks subject to varying round-trip delays and packet loss. Given that data can be lost and round-trip delays can be varied, we showed that the proposed rate control could stabilize the network and overcome the oscillation problem that exists in most of current existing traffic controllers. It is also shown that the proposed rate control is not sensitive to the packet loss and achieves the fairness.
Register promotion in C programs

The combination of pointers and pointer arithmetic in C makes the task of improving C programs somewhat more difficult than improving programs written in simpler languages like Fortran. While much work has been published that focuses on the analysis of pointers, little has appeared that uses the results of such analysis to improve the code compiled for C. This paper examines the problem of register promotion in C and presents experimental results showing that it can have dramatic effects on memory traffic.
Optical Properties of Silicon Nanocrystals: A First Principles Study

Ab initio quasiparticle gaps. self-energy corrections. exciton Coulomb energies. and optical gaps of Si nanocrystals are calculated using the higher-order finite difference psendopotential method. The calculations are performed in real space on hydrogen-passivated Si clusters with diameters up to 30 A (> 1000 atoins). The size-dependent self-enerkgy correction is enhanced substantially compared to bulk. and quantum confinement and reduced electronic screening result in appreciable excitonic Coulomb energies. Calculated optical gaps are in very good agreement with absorption data from Si nanocrystals.
Public Health Crisis Preparedness and Response in Korea

Since the 2006 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan according to the World Health Organization’s recommendation, the Republic of Korea has prepared and periodically evaluated the plan to respond to various public health crises including pandemic influenza. Korea has stockpiled 13,000,000 doses of antiviral drugs covering 26% of the Korean population and runs 519 isolated beds in 16 medical institutions. The division of public health crisis response in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are in charge of responding to public health crises caused by emerging infectious diseases including severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza human infection, and pandemic influenza. Its job description includes preparing for emerging infectious diseases, securing medical resources during a crisis, activating the emergency response during the crisis, and fortification of capabilities of public health personnel. It could evolve into a comprehensive national agency to deal with public health crisis based on the experience of previous national emerging infectious diseases.
Invasive fungal infections in transplant recipients

Invasive fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hematopoietic stem cell transplant and solid organ transplant recipients. Evolving transplant modalities and techniques, complex and extensive immunosuppressant strategies, and the increased use of broad spectrum antifungal prophylaxis has greatly impacted the epidemiology and temporal pattern of invasive fungal infections in the transplant population. The goal of this article is to provide an up-to-date review of the most commonly encountered invasive fungal infections seen in transplant recipients, including epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnostic dilemmas, management and their overall influence on outcomes.
Kinetic Investigations of the Initial Oxidation Stage of Copper by In-Situ UHV-TEM

We have examined the nucleation and growth of copper oxides formed by in-situ oxidation of copper thin films inside a modified transmission electron microscope (TEM). Based on this data, we have developed a semi-quantitative model of the initial oxidation stage where the dominant mechanism for transport, nucleation and growth of oxide islands is oxygen diffusion on the surface. The copper oxide can be desorbed by annealing and introducing methanol vapor into the chamber. The clean copper film can be oxidized by introducing oxygen gas. Both the desorption and oxidation processes were observed by planar TEM techniques. The copper film was oxidized in-situ at a partial pressure of 5x10-4 torr. Cu2O islands, which formed epitaxially to the copper film, nucleated and grew into the copper film.
Key management in wireless ad hoc networks: collusion analysis and prevention

Due to the dynamic nature of wireless ad-hoc networks (WAHNs) and the multi-node involvement in most WAHN applications, group key management has been proposed for efficient support of secure communications. Exclusion basis systems (EBS) provide a framework for scalable and efficient group key management where the number of keys per node and the number of re-key messages can be relatively adjusted. EBS-based solutions, however, may suffer from collusion attacks, where a number of nodes may collaborate to reveal all system keys and consequently capture the network. In this paper we investigate the collusion problem in EBS and demonstrate that a careful assignment of keys to nodes reduces collusion. Since an optimal assignment is NP hard, we propose a location-based heuristic where keys are assigned to neighboring nodes depending on the Hamming distance between the strings of bits representing the used subset of the keys.
Development Of A Slush Molded TPO Instrument Panel Skin

Slush molding is a unique processing operation that was developed originally for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based materials. It has been utilized to produce a variety of automotive interior products, including instrument panel skins, where relatively intricate designs are required. PVC becomes brittle upon aging, while thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) doesn't lose its ductility upon aging. TPOs have made significant inroads into interior applications in the form of thermoformed extruded sheet. However, when multiple grains, geometric (technical) grains, deep profile lettering, and logos are needed, slush molding is the preferred process. Currently, there is an increased demand for non-PVC slush moldable materials, such as TPO, that can meet these demanding aggressive styling requirements. The semi-crystalline nature of TPO compositions renders them more difficult to process than PVC in slush molding. Moreover, TPO is typically a blend of polymers and has some unique challenges in slush molding. This paper will address the issues and challenges associated with formulating TPO materials suitable for slush molding. Additionally, we will also discuss equipment and associated manufacturing requirements for these materials.