cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ILIAD: an integrated laboratory for inference analysis and detection

This paper describes a laboratory for exploring inference detection and analysis techniques.* This laboratory is called ILIAD (Integrated Laboratory for Inference Analysis and Detection). It has been implemented at the University of Alabama in Huntsville as part of our AERIE inference research project. The paper describes the overall architecture of the laboratory and then describes the major components: a database generation tool called Genie and an inference analysis tool called Wizard. Genie is used to generate test databases that can be analyzed by Wizard. The basis for Genie’s database generation function is a simulator that provides the coherence necessary for the database to include actual inferences. Genie also supports a fact generation language called FGL, which pemtits the user to define a large database with only a relatively small number of FGL statements. The Wizard tool operates on data descriptions called facets, which encode the results of an inference-directed microanalysis of a database. Wizard can detect second-path inference channels within a single facet as well as inference channels that span multiple facets. The paper concludes with some observations from our initial use of ILIAD.
Leptin prevents insulin resistance induced by conjugated linoleic acid in obese mice

The dietary fatty acid conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces adipose mass and enhances insulin sensitivity in several animal models. Conversely, in some rodent models, CLA induces lipodystrophy, i...
Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa, in the aggregate, has had the worst growth performance of any major region of the world over the last few decades. It is important to recognize, however, the enormous diversity in growth experiences at the country level. Some countries, like Botswana and Cape Verde, have grown consistently. Others, including Madagascar and Niger, have seen persistent declines in income. Many countries, Cote d'Ivoire being one example, saw early growth only to be followed by economic decline. A few, like Uganda, after early stagnation and decline experienced growth in more recent years. Average growth rates over a period of several decades do not capture the complexities of the growth process in many countries. This paper examines growth in sub-Saharan African countries in detail over the period 1961 to 1996 by looking not only at average growth rates over this time period, but also at decade by decade growth rates, peak income years, nadir income years, and the variance of growth rates. Countries are classified, by the pattern of growth from 1961 to 1996, into one of five groupings. In addition to characterizing growth in Africa, the relevant literature is also reviewed. Explanations for the poor performance of Africa have included low investment rates, flawed economic policies and institutions, ethnic fractionalization, and adverse geography.
Assessment of the Spatial and Seasonal Variation of the Error–Intensity Relationship in Satellite-Based Precipitation Measurements Using an Adaptive Parametric Model

AbstractStudies have been reported about the efficacy of satellites for measuring precipitation and about quantifying their errors. Based on these studies, the errors are associated with a number of factors, among them, intensity, location, climate, and season of the year. Several error models have been proposed to assess the relationship between the error and the rainfall intensity. However, it is unknown whether these models are adaptive to different seasons, different regions, or different types of satellite-based estimates. Therefore, how the error–intensity relationship varies with the season or region is unclear. To investigate these issues, a parametric joint pdf model is proposed to analyze and study the 9-yr satellite-derived precipitation datasets of Climate Prediction Center (CPC) morphing technique (CMORPH); PERSIANN; and the real-time TRMM product 3B42, version 7 (TRMM-3B42-RTV7). The NEXRAD Stage IV product is the ground reference. The adaptability of the proposed model is verified by applyi...
Improved lower bounds for the universal and a priori TSP

We consider two partial-information generalizations of the metric traveling salesman problem (TSP) in which the task is to produce a total ordering of a given metric space that performs well for a subset of the space that is not known in advance. In the universal TSP, the subset is chosen adversarially, and in the a priori TSP it is chosen probabilistically. Both the universal and a priori TSP have been studied since the mid-80's, starting with the work of Bartholdi & Platzman and Jaillet, respectively. We prove a lower bound of Ω(log n) for the universal TSP by bounding the competitive ratio of shortest-path metrics on Ramanujan graphs, which improves on the previous best bound of Hajiaghayi, Kleinberg & Leighton, who showed that the competitive ratio of the n × n grid is Ω(√6log n/log log n). Furthermore, we show that for a large class of combinatorial optimization problems that includes TSP, a bound for the universal problem implies a matching bound on the approximation ratio achievable by deterministic algorithms for the corresponding black-box a priori problem. As a consequence, our lower bound of Ω(log n) for the universal TSP implies a matching lower bound for the black-box a priori TSP.
Methyl-directed repair of frameshift heteroduplexes in cell extracts from Escherichia coli.

The methyl-directed DNA repair efficiency of a series of M13mp9 frameshift heteroduplexes 1, 2, or 3 unpaired bases was determined by using an in vitro DNA mismatch repair assay. Repair of hemimethylated frameshift heteroduplexes in vitro was directed to the unmethylated strand; was dependent on MutH, MutL, and MutS; and was equally efficient on base insertions and deletions. However, fully methylated frameshift heteroduplexes were resistant to repair, while totally unmethylated substrates were repaired with no strand bias. Hemimethylated 1-, 2-, or 3-base insertion and deletion heteroduplexes were repaired by the methyl-directed mismatch repair pathway as efficiently as the G.T mismatch. These results are consistent with earlier in vivo studies and demonstrate the involvement of methyl-directed DNA repair in the efficient prevention of frameshift mutations.
Using immersive virtual reality to evaluate pedestrian street crossing decisions at a roundabout

In this paper, we use an immersive virtual environment to assess the separation, or "gap," between moving vehicles that people need before initiating a street crossing in a roundabout, where traffic can be approaching from several directions. From a pedestrians viewpoint, crossing at a roundabout can represent a more complex decision than at a normal linear intersection. This paper presents the design of a system that simulates reasonable traffic patterns that a pedestrian might encounter in making a crossing decision at the exit lane of a roundabout, while controlling the gap duration in the stream of traffic. Using a maximum-likelihood procedure, we conducted a street crossing experiment in the virtual environment to evaluate the minimum gap during which pedestrians would initiate a successful crossing of the intersection. Our results are generally consistent with real-world data on pedestrian street crossings, and may provide insights into how to engineer the design of such roundabouts.
Older Mexican Americans and God-mediated control: exploring the influence of Pentecostal/Evangelical affiliation

A growing number of Mexican Americans are leaving the Catholic Church to join Pentecostal and Evangelical congregations. The purpose of this study is to explore the benefits that are associated with joining Pentecostal and Evangelical congregations. A latent variable model is specified that contains the following core relationships: (1) older Mexican Americans who affiliate with Pentecostal/Evangelical congregations will attend worship services more often; (2) older Mexican Americans who attend church more often will receive more spiritual support from their fellow church members; (3) older Mexican Americans who receive more spiritual support will develop a closer relationship with God; and (4) older Mexican Americans who have a close relationship with God will develop a stronger sense of God-mediated control. Findings from a nationwide survey of older Mexican Americans provide support for each of these linkages.
Methanogenesis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Lot of Hot Air?

The human gut consists of several thousand species ofprokaryotes including bacteria and archaea that havemultiple metabolic and constitutive effects. A large pro-portion of these species are autochthonous, i.e., bacteriathat are present among the gut mucosal niches that haveevolved to survive in this ecological space while presum-ably providing a beneﬁcial effect to the host [1]. Changesin this ﬂora have been associated with inﬂammatory boweldisease, cirrhosis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)[2–4]. In most disease states, there is a relative increase inpotentially pathogenic bacteria compared to healthy hostsalong with a reduction in the overall bio-diversity.A stumbling block in the characterization of the gutmicrobiome is the inability of the majority of species,especially anaerobic species, to be grown using standardculture methods [5]. For example, it has been suggestedthat less than 1 % of an environmental community can becultured using typical growth media [6]. Initially, cloningand sequencing was performed to elucidate the communityin the human gut but this was both tedious and expensive[7]. The introduction of NextGen sequencing technologyhas revolutionized the ﬁeld of microbial ecology andallows for the rapid in-depth analysis of many differentenvironmental samples. To put this into perspective, thetypical ﬂuorescent sequencer will produce 96 reads per daywhile the NextGen Roche GS-FLX will produce 500,000reads per day. Thus, the new technology produces 20 yearsworth of cloning and sequencing in an afternoon. Fur-thermore, multitag pyrosequencing (MTPS) has become apowerful and routine method for microbial communityanalysis [8–11] that takes advantage of this high-through-put technology. This methodology essentially barcodessamples that are then mixed and sequenced on one high-throughput sequencing run and then the reads are sortedinto their corresponding samples based on the barcode.Speciﬁc ampliﬁcation primers can be used to selectivelyamplify variable regions of the 16S rRNA of archaea orbacteria to enumerate these components in the gutmicrobiome. Therefore, the profusion of recent studies thatevaluate the culture-independent methods of fecal bacterialenumeration opens an interesting chapter in our under-standing of this complex system.It has been known for decades that adult humans excretemethane and approximately one-third of all Americansproduce detectable methane [12, 13]. Methane is producedin the human colon by methanogenic archaea by reducingCO
Organic metals and superconductors: Facile synthetic methodologies bypassing coupling and chromatography

The organic donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF, 1) and its derivatives are synthesized from tetrathianaphthalene (TTN, 2) in a one pot reaction. The reaction takes advantage of an isomerization of lithiated TTN into lithiated TTF and subsequent substitution with novel disulfide electrophiles yielding substituted T donors. The isomerization approach eliminates the need for a chemical coupling reaction of oxones or thiones (a yield limiting procedure), and simple byproducts eliminate the need for tedious purification. The novel methodology allows for a high yield preparation of bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF, 3a, 80%) and bis(propylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BPDT-TTF, 3b), previously unavailable directly from TTF. A high yield of bis(phenylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BPhDT-TTF, 3c, unavailable from dimercaptoisotrithione “DMIT”) is also achieved using the synthetic scheme. The method is general, and can be used to prepare a variety of novel organic donors based on TTF. Synthetic procedures along with all relevant characterization are presented.
Conceptual Framework for Defining and Developing an Integrated Asset Management System

Interest in developing and implementing asset management systems has grown considerably during the past several years. Although asset management is defined in the literature, these definitions are generally all encompassing and fail to distinguish the asset management model from that of traditional infrastructure management systems. To assist those practitioners who are tasked with developing automated asset management systems, guidance is needed to better clarify what is meant by the term asset management. The work being done by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in defining asset management and enhancing its current program development process is described. The department's asset management system is defined in relation to four precepts, and a conceptual design for an automated asset management system is presented. Central to the NYSDOT approach is a method of conducting trade-off analysis among the department's four major goal areas—pavements, bridges, safety, and mobility. Excess...
Weathering the unexpected

Whether it is a hurricane blowing down power lines, a volcanic-ash cloud grounding all flights for a continent, or a humble rodent gnawing through underground fibers -- the unexpected happens. We c...
Unimolecular dissociation of energy-selected dimethyl sulfoxide

Abstract The fragmentation mechanism of dimethyl sulfoxide ion was studied using threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) mass spectrometry. The detailed breakdown graph was obtained in the energy range 9.0–17.5 eV. The appearance potentials of major fragments determined from breakdown curves are lower than those reported from early electron impact studies. The breakdown graph calculated using RRKM-QET is in good agreement with experiment, suggesting that the dissociation of dimethyl sulfoxide ion is statistical.
The development of the menstrual symptom questionnaire.

Abstract The literature has suggested that there are two separate types of primary dysmenorrhea with different physiological bases and different reported symptomatology. The purpose of this study was to construct a questionnaire based on suggestions from Dalton's (1969) theory of congestive and spasmodic types of primary dysmenorrhea, to obtain test-retest reliabilities of items, and to factor analyze the instrument to empirically investigate the two-type theory. The first set of 51 items had mean test-retest reliabilities of 0.76 and yielded two clearly distinct factors in support of the two-type hypothesis. When items with factor loadings less than ±0.35 were discarded, 25 items remained. The mean test-retest reliabilities of these items was 0.78. Again, two clearly distinct factors emerged defining congestive and spasmodic dysmenorrhea consistent with the literature. The retained items from the first questionnaire and the items from the second questionnaire loaded on the same factors both times. It was concluded that two types of dysmenorrhea do, in fact, exist and that this study has provided a reliable means of differentiating them. From a therapeutic standpoint, accurate diagnosis of type may be a prerequisite for prescribing appropriate treatment.
Stability Analysis of the Planetary System Orbiting υ Andromedae

We present results of long-term numerical orbital integrations designed to test the stability of the three-planet system orbiting upsilon Andromedae and short-term integrations to test whether mutual perturbations among the planets can be used to determine planetary masses. Our initial conditions are based on recent fits to the radial velocity data obtained by the planet search group at Lick Observatory. The new fits result in significantly more stable systems than did the initially announced planetary parameters. Our integrations using the 2000 February parameters show that if the system is nearly planar, then it is stable for at least 100 Myr for m(sub f) = 1/sin i less than or = 4. In some stable systems, the eccentricity of the inner planet experiences large oscillations. The relative periastra of the outer two planets' orbits librate about 0 deg. in most of the stable systems; if future observations imply that the periastron longitudes of these planets are very closely aligned at the present epoch, dynamical simulations may provide precise estimates for the masses and orbital inclinations of these two planets.
Electron irradiation effects in edge-defined film-fed growth ribbon silicon

Abstract Schottky diodes were fabricated on EFG ( e dge-defined f ilm-fed growth) one ohm-cm p-type silicon ribbon samples, which were then irradiated with two MeV electrons at near room temperature (∾290 K or ∾310) and were studied using conventional capacitance transient (DLTS) techniques. Several majority carrier traps were consistently observed. The thermal stability of these centers was determined by isochronal annealing studies. Tentative identifications, based primarily on comparison with energy levels and thermal stability of defects previously observed in aluminum- or boron-doped and electron-irradiated silicon are as follows: Ev + 0.165 eV, A l -related; Ev + 0.295 eV, vacancy + oxygen + boron; Ev + 0.39 eV, carbon-interstitial + carbon-substitutional; Ev + 0.71 eV, Fe-related. Samples irradiated at ∾290 K showed the energy level of the carbon-interstitial which anneals out at 300 K within a few hours and at the same time the carbon-interstitial + carbon-substitutional peak grows, which confirms that peak identification.
Effect of protein source and level on growth and performance of the captive freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Abstract Growth, feed conversion and survival were determined for juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii held in tanks under semi-controlled environmental conditions. Feeding trials incorporated water-stable diets at three levels of protein (15, 25 and 35%). The principal protein source combinations consisted either of soybean and tuna meal, or of soybean, tuna and shrimp meal. In a 244-day comparison of these diets, higher protein content produced larger prawns (P For the 244 days, a control group of prawns received no formulated diet. Growth and survival in this group during the first 110 days suggested that naturally occurring algae contributed substantially to the prawns' nutrition. Mean prawn length after 244 days on the best diet (35% protein from soybean and tuna meal) was 73 mm, and growth rate was equivalent to that achieved under pilot pond conditions.
Drag reduction on a patterned superhydrophobic surface

We present an experimental study of a low-Reynolds number shear flow between two surfaces, one of which has a regular grooved texture augmented with a superhydrophobic coating. The combination reduces the effective fluid-surface contact area, thereby appreciably decreasing the drag on the surface and effectively changing the macroscopic boundary condition on the surface from no slip to limited slip. We measure the force on the surface and the velocity field in the immediate vicinity on the surface (and thus the wall shear) simultaneously. The latter facilitates a direct assessment of the effective slip length associated with the drag reduction.
The impact of wood ice cream sticks' origin on the aroma of exposed ice cream mixes.

The effect of volatile compounds in white birch sticks obtained from four different geographical locations on the aroma of ice cream mix was investigated. Sensory evaluation, (specifically, a series of warmed-up paired comparisons) was conducted on stick-exposed ice cream mixes to determine whether aroma differences in those mixes could be detected. Batches of ice cream mix were exposed to the sticks and aged for 6 d at 4°C and then assessed by the panelists by pairwise comparison. Findings suggest that differences in aroma of mixes that have been exposed to white birch sticks from four different geographical origins can be distinguished perceptually.
Measurements of pore size distributions in cements, aggregates and soils

Abstract Pore size distributions, measured by mercury intrusion, have been used to better explain, and even predict, the behavior of a variety of construction materials, viz. hydrated portland cement, portland cement concrete aggregates, compacted fine-grained soils, and shales. In the cases of the cement and aggregates (including the shales), the response of interest was durability under the simulated environmental changes of an inservice position. For the soils, the compaction characteristics and their water permeability after compaction and saturation were the items studied. In all cases, examination of the pore size distribution aided substantially in understanding the physical condition (or fabric) of the material. In addition, several examples of statistically valid prediction equations using pore size parameters as independent variables are cited.
Analysis of Dynamic Loading of a Simple Structure to a Blast Wave

An object in the path of a blast wave generated by an explosion will experience a certain level of structural damage. The degree of destruction seen in a structure from a explosive blast wave is effected by three main parameters, (1) the force applied to the structure, (2) how long the force is acting on the structure, and (3) the specific geometric and material properties of the structure, or architectural surety. Structures capable of large lateral loads can be used for defense against explosions (terrorist threats). However, in order to fully predict the architectural surety of a structure, further investigation of the interaction of explosive blast waves with structures is required. The purpose of our analysis is to determine the efficiency of coupling energy from a blast wave to a simple structure. We performed some explosives tests and computer simulations to provide this analysis. In our experiments, the structures consisted of several free hanging steel plates at various distances from an explosion. The blast wave was generated by a sphere of TNT. We used a standard model to calculate the overpressure incident on this plates, we then calculated the shock energy coupled to the plates, we measured the overpressure at points near the plates (for calibration), we measured the effects of the blast wave on the plates (measured their displacement due to the blast), and we performed computer code calculations to predict the effect of the blast wave on the plates. The computational code Autodyn is currently being used at Sandia National Laboratories for various impact and blast loading problems. The code contains several simulation methods, including ALE (Arbitrary Langrangian Eulerian) simulation. Because explosive blast in air involves both expanding gases as well as solid/solid impacts, ALE codes typically provide better predictive capabilities.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
When to Allow Student Questions on Homework.

This study investigates whether allowing students to ask questions before homework is collected and allowing students to ask questions only after homework is graded and returned have different effects on student achievement. As a teacher must consider how and when to provide feedback to students' work, this question is particularly relevant to classroom instruction. Austin (1979) and Goldstein (1960) reviewed research on homework and found no studies on student questions on homework. Both graded homework and classroom discussion of homework can provide feedback on students' work. Feedback should be given as soon as possible after a response (cf. DeCecco, 1968, p. 295). If feedback is a reinforcer, then reinforcement theory supports reinforcing as soon as possible after a response (cf. Cooney, Davis, & Henderson, 1975, p. 189). This could imply that it is preferable to allow student questions on homework before it is collected rather than to grade homework, return it, and then allow questions. Dubisch (1963, p. 19) recommends allowing questions before collecting homework, although no research or psychological justification is given. If feedback is not immediate, however, research does not clearly indicate that the earlier the feedback the better. Johnston, Maertens, and Schooley (1969) studied feedback on class problems with fourth graders over a 7-day period. Using grades on class problems, feedback after each problem was superior both to feedback after all problems were attempted and to feedback after problems were collected and graded. The two delayed feedback groups did not differ. For six weeks Maertens and Johnston (1972) studied feedback on homework with fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. No differences in achievement were found between students receiving feedback after each problem and students receiving feedback only after all problems were attempted. Kulhavy (1977, p. 217) argues that if feedback is too easily available, subjects tend to copy and learn less than when feedback is less easily obtained. If students know that they can ask questions about difficult problems before homework is collected, they may not spend the time needed to do the problems (Dubisch, 1963, p. 19). The research seems somewhat inconclusive concerning the question of whether to permit student questions on homework before it is collected and graded. This study attempts to provide some information on this question.
Pediatric Code Cards

Life-threatening emergencies or "code blue" situations provoke anxiety for most physicians and other health care professionals. This is especially true when the critically ill patient is an infant or a child. Paradoxically, however, comfort and familiarity with emergency procedures and drug doses is low when the patient is a child. This can be attributed to the relatively infrequent occurrence of life-threatening emergencies in children, which results in limited physician experience with such situations and the heightened anxiety everyone feels when dealing with a critically ill child. Also, emergency medical services outside of pediatric centers are infrequently provided by physicians familiar with the emergency care of children.2In a 1984 study, Seidel et al3presented evidence that emergency medical services do not adequately meet the
Role of DNA Fluctuations in RNA Polymerase Translocation through a Single Nucleosome

We analyze two aspects of the physical behavior of a single nucleosome: the response of a single nucleosome core particle to tension and the translocation of RNA polymerase through the nucleosome. We develop a statistical-mechanics model of a nucleosome as a wormlike chain bound to a spool, incorporating fluctuations in the number of bases bound, the spool orientation, and the conformations of the unbound polymer segments. With the resulting free-energy surface, we perform dynamic simulations that permit a direct comparison with single-molecule experiments on a single nucleosome. This simple approach demonstrates that the experimentally observed structural states at nonzero tension are a consequence of the tension. Therefore, our model plays an important role in extrapolating the behavior to zero tension. This mechanism would arise in any system where the tether molecule is deformed in the transition state under the influence of tension.Using our statistical-mechanics model, we also study the translocation of RNA polymerase through a nucleosome. We consider RNA polymerase as a Brownian ratchet and model the translocation process using dynamic Monte Carlo simulation. We incorporate the effect of DNA elasticity on protein movement by considering the probability of RNA polymerase going into the pause state due to the force being applied by the bent DNA. Our theory suggests that RNA polymerase translocation is in pseudo-equilibrium with local DNA fluctuations and is not rate-limiting. Our theory predicts a very small change in translocation velocity of RNA polymerase in presence of TFIIS, suggesting that RNA polymerase generates sufficient forces to unravel the nucleosome in the absence of TFIIS.
Economies of scope and economies of agglomeration

Abstract Agglomeration economies are economies external to the firm, and plant, but internal to a particular location. In this paper the notion of agglomeration economies is formally investigated. The implications of the concept for urban structure and industrial organization are then traced. Under specified considerations, weak economies of agglomeration, as defined in this paper, are shown to be necessary for the existence of an urban area.
Effect of stress and sympathetic activity on rat cardiac and aortic ornithine decarboxylase activity.

Abstract Adult male rats were injected either with α- or s-adrenergic agonists and/ or antagonists and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in the heart and aorta was measured 4 hours later. At the lower doses, isoproterenol (0.2–0.4 mg/kg) resulted in a 10-fold increase in cardiac ODC activity but caused no significant change in aortic ODC activity. In contrast, phenylephrine (1 mg/kg) caused a 4-fold increase in aorta but no change in cardiac ODC activity levels. Phenoxybenzamine pretreatment completely abolished the PE-induced increase whereas no change was seen in ISop injected animals. Similarly, pretreatment with propranolol blocked the ISop induced response on ODC activity but had no effect on the increases observed after PE. These data suggest that the sympathetic regulation of ODC activity levels is mediated primarily via the s-receptor in the heart but through the α-receptor in the aorta.
Child‐rearing practices associated with the development of cognitive skills of children in low socioeconomic areas

Parents of pre‐school children with effective learning patterns in low socio‐economic areas were studied in relation to four dimensions: parental philosophy and values, perception of the child, feelings of competence, and verbal interaction. In these families, parents maintained a helpful and encouraging attitude toward their children as curious adventurers, creative and independent learners, and often interacted with them in situations which were non‐conflictual, thus providing a rich verbal environment This research adds to our knowledge about atypical parent‐child interaction in low socio‐economic areas which leads to effective learning, and may be helpful in planning optimal care for disadvantaged children.
Response of terrestrial small mammals to varying amounts and patterns of green-tree retention in Pacific Northwest forests

Abstract To sustain native species in managed forests, landowners need silvicultural strategies that retain habitat elements often eliminated during traditional harvests such as clearcut logging. One alternative is green-tree or variable retention. We investigated the response of terrestrial small mammals to experimental harvests that retained large live trees in varying amounts (approximately 100, 75, 40, and 15% of original basal area) and patterns (aggregated versus dispersed) in mature coniferous forests of western Oregon and Washington. Treatments were applied in 36, 13-ha experimental units. We used pitfall traps to sample small mammals for 4 weeks each autumn during 2 years before and 2 years after treatments. We captured 21,351 individuals of 32 species. We analyzed effects of treatments on relative abundance of 12 species. As level of retention declined, we expected species associated with closed-canopy forests to decrease (Sorex trowbridgii, Neurotrichus gibbsii, Peromyscus keeni, Myodes [Clethrionomys] californicus, and M. gapperi); species associated with early successional habitats to increase (S. vagrans, P. maniculatus, Microtus longicaudus, and Microtus oregoni); and habitat generalists to show little response (S. monticolus, S. pacificus, and S. sonomae). As expected, M. californicus declined after harvest, and P. maniculatus and M. longicaudus increased. Sorex sonomae showed an unpredicted decrease. Other species did not show consistent changes. Responses of S. monticolus, S. sonomae, and M. gapperi varied among study areas. For M. gapperi, this variation was not explained by differences in habitat structure among areas. For all species, capture rates were similar in dispersed- and aggregated-retention units. Similarity in species composition between harvested sites and controls decreased with decreasing retention. Future sampling of these treatments is needed to assess long-term responses. Based on our initial results, green-tree retention strategies need to be sensitive to regional variation in environmental characteristics and small mammal community composition.
On the Relation of Mechanical Deformation and Electrical Properties of BN Nanotubes

Using a novel in-situ scanning tunneling microcopy integrated into a 200Kv transmission electron microscopy, we have shown that boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) posses remarkable flexibility and convert from insulator to semi-conductor upon bending. To measure the electrical properties, the BNNT was bent between two gold contacts constructing a metal-semiconductor-metal circuit. The resistivity of the BNNT under bending condition was measured to be ∼460 MΩ from the experimentally recorded current-voltage data. Our finding suggests that mechanical straining can improve the electrical transport in BN nanotubes via reducing the band gap.
KRAS and extended RAS molecular profiling in metastatic colorectal cancer

SUMMARY The evolution of our understanding of the molecular biology of colorectal cancer has revolutionized our treatment paradigm. As we move into an era of genomic sequencing and tumor molecular profiling that will one day provide integral information on prognostic and predictive biomarkers, we are better able to personalize therapy accordingly, improving patient outcomes and minimizing unnecessary toxicity and cost. Progress has been made in identifying biomarkers that confer poorer outcomes with targeted therapy. KRAS exon 2 mutations have been established to be negative predictive biomarkers to anti-EGFR therapies, but more recent data support extended RAS testing that has recently been integrated into clinical practice. In this article, we review the evolution of KRAS and extended RAS testing as negative predictive biomarkers to anti-EGFR therapy, both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer.
An integrated pipeline to create and experience compelling scenarios in virtual reality

One of the main barriers to create and use compelling scenarios in virtual reality is the complexity and time-consuming efforts for modeling, element integration, and the software development to properly display and interact with the content in the available systems. Still today, most virtual reality applications are tedious to create and they are hard-wired to the specific display and interaction system available to the developers when creating the application. Furthermore, it is not possible to alter the content or the dynamics of the content once the application has been created. We present our research on designing a software pipeline that enables the creation of compelling scenarios with a fair degree of visual and interaction complexity in a semi-automated way. Specifically, we are targeting drivable urban scenarios, ranging from large cities to sparsely populated rural areas that incorporate both static components (e. g., houses, trees) and dynamic components (e. g., people, vehicles) as well as events, such as explosions or ambient noise. Our pipeline has four basic components. First, an environment designer, where users sketch the overall layout of the scenario, and an automated method constructs the 3D environment from the information in the sketch. Second, a scenario editor used for authoring the complete scenario, incorporate the dynamic elements and events, fine tune the automatically generated environment, define the execution conditions of the scenario, and set up any data gathering that may be necessary during the execution of the scenario. Third, a run-time environment for different virtual-reality systems provides users with the interactive experience as designed with the designer and the editor. And fourth, a bi-directional monitoring system that allows for capturing and modification of information from the virtual environment. One of the interesting capabilities of our pipeline is that scenarios can be built and modified on-the-fly as they are being presented in the virtual-reality systems. Users can quickly prototype the basic scene using the designer and the editor on a control workstation. More elements can then be introduced into the scene from both the editor and the virtual-reality display. In this manner, users are able to gradually increase the complexity of the scenario with immediate feedback. The main use of this pipeline is the rapid development of scenarios for human-factors studies. However, it is applicable in a much more general context.
Intrapulmonary Segment in Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Resemblance to Scimitar Syndrome

Three cases showing a large anomalous venous channel in the right lung are presented. In each case the large vein was a part of a pulmonary venous collateral system in association with anomalous pulmonary venous connection, partial in one case, and total in two. In two of the cases, each of which was an example of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, the anomalous vein in the right lung received the entire venous system of the left lung. In the two cases with conventional roentgenograms the anomalous vein within the right lung was apparent. Its shape, in some respects, resembled that of the anomalous pulmonary vein in the scimitar syndrome. Selective pulmonary arteriography appears to offer the best means of differentiation between an anomalous vein of the type described here and that of anomalous drainage of the hypoplastic right lung to the inferior vena cava (the scimitar syndrome).
Effects of combined acetylcholinesterase inhibition and serotonergic receptor blockade on age-associated memory impairments in rats.

Abstract We recently reported that post-training administration of serotonergic receptor antagonists attenuated the inhibitory-avoidance memory deficits normally exhibited by aged rats. In the present study, we determined whether a subeffective dose of the serotonergic type-2 receptor antagonist, ketanserin, would augment the facilitative effects produced by the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine, on memory in aged rats using the same task. The drugs were injected intraperitoneally alone, or in combination, immediately following training. Retention testing occurred 24 hours following training. A dose-dependent enhancement of memory was demonstrated as a result of the two treatment conditions (physostigmine 0.01–10.0 μ/kg, ketanserin 1.0 mg/kg + physostigmine 0.001–0.01 μ/kg). The facilitation of memory produced by the combined treatment was observed at doses well below those required to produce a similar effect when each drug was administered alone. The results provide additional evidence for an interaction between the cholinergic and serotonergic neurotransmitter systems in learning and memory, and may have important implications in the treatment of age-related memory impairments.
Observation of intersubunit movement of the ribosome in solution using FRET

Protein synthesis is believed to be a dynamic process, involving structural rearrangements of the ribosome. Cryo-EM reconstructions of certain elongation factor G (EF-G)-containing complexes have led to the proposal that translocation of tRNA and mRNA through the ribosome, from the A to P to E sites, is accompanied by a rotational movement between the two ribosomal subunits. Here, we have used Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to monitor changes in the relative orientation of the ribosomal subunits in different complexes trapped at intermediate stages of translocation in solution. Binding of EF-G to the ribosome in the presence of the non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue GDPNP or GTP plus fusidic acid causes an increase in the efficiency of energy transfer between fluorophores introduced into proteins S11 in the 30 S subunit and L9 in the 50 S subunit, and a decrease in energy transfer between S6 and L9. Similar anti-correlated changes in energy transfer occur upon binding the GTP-requiring release factor RF3. These changes are consistent with the counter-clockwise rotation of the 30 S subunit relative to the 50 S subunit observed in cryo-EM studies. Reaction of ribosomal complexes containing the peptidyl-tRNA analogues N-Ac-Phe-tRNAPhe, N-Ac-Met-tRNAMet or f-Met-tRNAfMet with puromycin, conditions favoring movement of the resulting deacylated tRNAs into the P/E hybrid state, leads to similar changes in FRET. Conversely, treatment of a ribosomal complex containing deacylated and peptidyl-tRNAs bound in the A/P and P/E states, respectively, with EF-G.GTP causes reversal of the FRET changes. The use of FRET has enabled direct observation of intersubunit movement in solution, provides independent evidence that formation of the hybrid state is coupled to rotation of the 30 S subunit and shows that the intersubunit movement is reversed during the second step of translocation.
Localization of paxillin, a focal adhesion protein, to smooth muscle dense plaques, and the myotendinous and neuromuscular junctions of skeletal muscle

In this report we have demonstrated that paxillin, a cytoskeletal protein which is present in focal adhesions, localizes in vivo to regions of cell-extracellular matrix interaction which are believed to be analogous to focal adhesions. Specifically, it is enriched in the dense plaques of chicken gizzard smooth muscle tissue and in the myotendinous junctions formed in Xenopus laevis tadpole tail skeletal muscle. In addition, paxillin was identified at the rat diaphragm neuromuscular junction. The distribution of paxillin is thus comparable to that of other focal adhesion proteins, for example, talin and vinculin, in these structures.
Child's age at the time of traumatic injury to the primary dentition contributes to the increased risk of the presence of the developmental sequelae in the permanent dentition.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Effects of traumatic dental injuries to primary teeth on permanent teeth—a clinical follow-up study. de Amorim Lde F, Estrela C, da Costa LR. Dent Traumatol 2011;27(2):117-21. Reviewer Dorota T. Kopycka-Kedzierawski, DDS, MPH Purpose/Question To determine the developmental sequelae in the permanent dentition after traumatic injury to the primary dentition and to determine possible associations with children’s age, gender, type of injury, recurrence of injury, and posttraumatic damage to the primary teeth Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Cohort study Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Dissection of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and T cell receptor contact residues in a Kb‐restricted ovalbumin peptide and an assessment of the predictive power of MHC‐binding motifs

The effect of alanine substitution on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding and T cell receptor recognition of the Kb-restricted ovalbumin 257-264 peptide was investigated. Positions 3, 5 and 8 of the octamer were important for Kb binding, as predicted from the motifs found in Kb-associated peptides, while mutations at positions 4, 6 and 7 affected cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition. Substitutions at positions 1 and 2 had very minor effects on T cell recognition. In addition, we tested the capacity of sequence motifs to predict MHC binding by analysis of a series of peptides which all bear the minimal Kb motif. We found that possession of good motifs was not always sufficient to give strong MHC binding, indicating secondary effects of the residues flanking the "MHC anchor" positions.
Efficiently Lowering the Freezing Point in Heat Transfer Coolants Using Carbon Nanotubes

The paper has reported the interesting freezing point decrease phenomenon in the nanofluids based on the carbon nanotubes and 50%water/50% PAC (ethylene glycol). The carbon nanotubes could be the ideal candidate for the nonacoolant application because they could not only increase the thermal conductivity, but also efficiently lower the freezing point
An all-or-none model for noncorrection routines with elimination of incorrect responses.

Abstract A model is developed for paired-associate learning in which the correct response is not identified on error trials (the noncorrection procedure). The principal assumptions made are (1) that subjects can learn to eliminate error responses and (2) that response elimination and associative processes are all-or-none. A number of statistics including the mean learning curve, sequential statistics, the distributions of the trial of the last error, the total number of errors, and the number of error trials between the kth and (k + 1)st success are presented for the three-response case.
Large igneous province on the US Atlantic margin and implications for magmatism during continental breakup

RIFTED continental margins commonly include sections of igneous rock more than twice as thick as normal oceanic crust. Explanations for this voluminous magmatic accretion during rifting include plume models1–3, which require a deep-seated thermal or chemical anomaly in upwelling mantle, and non-plume models4–7, which call on broad, shallow thermal anomalies and/or rapid upwelling of mantle through the melting zone. New seismic models from two transects across the continent-ocean transition on the US Atlantic margin8–10 confirm the presence of a 20–25-km-thick igneous section. Here we argue that the similarity of the crustal structure on these and two previous transects, spanning 1,000 km of the margin, and the association of thick igneous crust with the East Coast magnetic anomaly11 imply that the thick igneous section extends along the entire margin and may have a volume of as much as 3.2 × 106 km3. The distribution of volcanic and plutonic rocks, details of the seismic structure, and lack of independent evidence for a hotspot are difficult to reconcile with plume models and suggest that non-plume processes created the thick igneous crust.
Intracellular injection of phorbol ester increases the excitability of neurons of the motor cortex of awake cats.

Abstract The electrophysiological effects of two intracellularly injected phorbol esters (PhEs) which activate protein kinase C, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, were investigated in neurons of the motor cortex of awake cats. The major finding was that intracellularly injected PhEs increased the excitability of the neurons. This was indicated by (1) an increase in spontaneous firing and depolarizing current-induced spike activity, accompanied by a decrease in the latency and threshold of current-induced spike discharges, (2) a reduction in slow afterhyperpolarizations following action potentials and depolarizing pulses, and (3) the development of bursting activity. Neither increases in input resistance nor depolarization of the resting potential sufficient to account for these excitability changes were found. Increases in the amplitudes of action potentials and their fast afterhyperpolarizations were also observed. All changes occurred within 2–8 min after injection and lasted for 50 min or longer. Control injections of 4 α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, which does not activate protein kinase C, failed to induce changes in neuronal excitability or in any of the above parameters. We conclude that the excitability of neurons of the motor cortex of the awake cats can be increased by phorbol esters that translocate and activate protein kinase C.