cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of viral infections on body weight, survival, and tumor prevalence of B6C3F1 ( C57BL 6N × C3H HeN) mice in carcinogenicity studies

Sendai virus (SV), mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), and pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) are common viral infections of mice. Influence of these viral infections on the prevalence of liver tumors, lung tumors, and lymphoma is of concern in chemical carcinogenicity studies. Body weight, survival, and tumor prevalence of B6C3F1 mice with and without viral infections in 33 male and 34 female untreated control groups and 32 male and 32 female low- and high-dose groups of 2-year chemical carcinogenicity studies were evaluated. In male mice, the SV infection was associated with significantly (p less than 0.05) higher survival of control, low-dose, and high-dose groups, and higher prevalence of liver tumors and lymphoma. The increases in tumor prevalence are possibly due to an increase in the survival of male mice that had SV infection. However, when interlaboratory variability and time-related effects were taken into account, the number of significant effects was consistent with the expected false-positive rate inherent to the statistical procedures. The MHV and PVM infections did not cause consistent changes in body weight, survival, and tumor prevalences in the control and chemical treatment groups of male mice. Viral infections did not cause consistent increases or decreases in body weight, survival, or tumor prevalence in the control and chemical treatment groups of female B6C3F1 mice.
Self-powered wastewater treatment for the enhanced operation of a facultative lagoon

Abstract The goal of this study was to harness the redox gradients in facultative lagoons using a lagoon microbial fuel cell (LMFC) to enhance autonomously the delivery of oxygen to the lagoon through aeration and mixing by operating an air pump. To enhance the usability of the low power generated by the LMFC, a power management system (PMS) was used to harvest power continually while only operating the air pump intermittently. Here we demonstrate the LMFC as an alternative energy source for self-powered wastewater treatment systems by treating both artificial wastewater and dairy wastewater in large laboratory-scale simulated lagoons. For comparison, we also used a lagoon treatment system without self-aeration. We show that the integrated LMFC and PMS system was able to improve chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal time by 21% for artificial wastewater and by 54% for dairy wastewater. The LMFC-PMS wastewater treatment system operated for over a year and proved to be robust and provide a measure of sustainability. The LMFC-PMS combination offers an innovative and low-tech approach to increasing the capacity of lagoons for rural communities. We believe that the technology developed in this research is the first step towards providing sustainable self-powered wastewater treatment systems.
A metric for software readability

In this paper, we explore the concept of code readability and investigate its relation to software quality. With data collected from human annotators, we derive associations between a simple set of local code features and human notions of readability. Using those features, we construct an automated readability measure and show that it can be 80% effective, and better than a human on average, at predicting readability judgments. Furthermore, we show that this metric correlates strongly with two traditional measures of software quality, code changes and defect reports. Finally, we discuss the implications of this study on programming language design and engineering practice. For example, our data suggests that comments, in of themselves, are less important than simple blank lines to local judgments of readability.
Effects of reproductive activity and sex hormones on apoptosis in the epigonal organ of the skate (Leucoraja erinacea)

In elasmobranchs, a unique association exists between an immune tissue, the epigonal organ, and the gonads. The intimate morphological relationship between these tissues suggests functional interactions. In this study, we used apoptosis to assess differences between epigonal tissues of reproductively active (RA) and non-reproductively active (NRA) skates (Leucoraja erinacea). Plasma steroid levels were significantly higher in RA than in NRA animals, and TUNEL analysis showed that epigonal tissue of RA skates had greater DNA fragmentation than NRA skates. Addition of steroids to epigonal leukocytes in vitro demonstrated that progesterone, testosterone, and dexamethasone, but not estrogen, induced apoptosis of epigonal leukocytes as evidenced by DNA laddering and caspase-3 antibody labeling. This study supports recent evidence that cellular homeostasis of epigonal lymphomyeloid tissue may be influenced by gonadal activity and reproductive steroids in a representative of the most basal gnathastome group.
Design and field test of an mHealth system for emergency medical services

This research uses multiple methods guided by Information Systems Design Theory (ISDT) to design and evaluate a mobile multimedia information system for communicating patient and emergency incident information within the context of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The system design and requirements were examined and a mobile and web-based information technology system was developed to support EMS information exchange and decision-making. A field study was then conducted across EMS and hospital organizations in the Boise, Idaho region for three months to examine use of the system and practitioner perspectives on its utility. Findings from qualitative analysis include practitioners’ willingness to use mobile Smartphones to communicate during an emergency, transmit digital images and audio recordings, and the potential benefits and challenges of an mHealth application for augmenting communications processes and medical decision-making. From a more theoretical perspective, the study documents the interest in using richer forms of media in EMS communications than is typically utilized for the handover of patient information from prehospital to hospital providers. This paper describes the justification for an EMS mHealth artifact, presents the system design, the pilot test methodology and results, and overall implications and future research directions.
Functional role of HLA class I cell-surface molecules in human T-lymphocyte activation and proliferation

Abstract This investigation addressed the role of major histocompatibility complex-encoded class I molecules in the activation and proliferation of human lymphocytes. We studied the effect of antibodies specific for HLA-A and HLA-B locus gene products on mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subpopulations. Three individually derived, well-characterized anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibodies were demonstrated to inhibit the proliferation of human PBMC stimulated by either OKT3 or the calcium ionophore ionomycin. The antibody directed against HLA-A, -B, and -C locus gene products (W6/32) and the antibody directed against HLA-B locus gene products (4E) inhibited proliferation induced by either mitogen by 70-90%. The HLA-A locus-specific antibody (131), though inhibiting ionomycin-induced proliferation by 80-90%, was much less effective when OKT3 was the stimulus. The inhibition affected T4+ and T8+ cells and was not mediated by DR+ accessory cells. The inhibitory effect of these antibodies was associated with a decrease in the level of interleukin 2 activity present in culture supernatants, decreased interleukin 2 receptor expression, and decreased transferrin receptor expression and was not overcome by the addition of exogenous interleukin 2. Our results suggest that HLA class I molecules are directly involved in the early critical events of human lymphocyte activation and proliferation.
AN ANALYSIS OF REGULATED RATES OF RETURN FOR WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES

Two methods are used by public utility regulators to set the allowed rate of return to a wholly owned subsidiary: the “independent firm” approach and the “double leverage” approach. Neither approach is consistent with any existing theory of firm valuation. The contribution of this paper is to derive from standard valuation theory a “divisional cost of capital” specification of the allowed rate of return to a wholly owned subsidiary. On the basis of this specification it is shown that the independent firm approach allows shareholders to capture the value created by the interest tax savings on parent debt. It is also reconfirmed that the double leverage approach induces cross-subsidization since it allows each subsidiary to earn the same rate of return on equity regardless of the level of risk specific to the subsidiary.
A note on a probability involving independent order statistics

Suppose that we have a sample consisting of independent order statistics from the same continuous parent distribution. Kvam and Samaniego [Kvam, P.H. and Samaniego, F.J., 1993, On the inadmissibility of empirical averages as estimators in ranked set sampling. Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 36, 39–55.] developed a formula for the probability that these order statistics have a particular ordering, but their formula is computationally feasible only for small sample sizes. In this paper, an alternate, combinatorial proof of their result is presented. It is then shown how ideas from the new proof allow one to compute such probabilities even when the sample size is large. An example is given to illustrate how the method may be used to produce distribution-free confidence intervals for quantiles of the unknown parent distribution.
Thermal Conductivity Test of YBCO Coated Conductor Tape Stacks Interleaved With Insulated Stainless Steel Tapes

A 32 Tesla, all-superconducting user magnet, which consists of two high temperature superconductor YBCO inner coils producing a field of 17 T in an low temperature superconductor Nb3Sn and NbTi outer magnet producing a background field of 15 T, is being developed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. The YBCO inner coils are pancake-wound with YBCO coated conductor tapes with an interleaved insulation of sol-gel coated stainless steel tapes. The coils are to be cooled directly in liquid helium bath. Heat losses in the windings, such as ac losses during ramping and heat loss in the internal joints, are supposed to be transferred to the coil external surfaces through heat conduction. Thus, thermal conductivity of the coil structure is critical for the internal cooling of the coil and also quench propagation if any. Thermal conductivity measurements were carried out in the radial direction on stacks of alternating YBCO tapes and stainless steel tapes. This paper presents the test results that showed a very low thermal conductivity in the radial direction. For comparison purposes, calculated thermal conductivities in the axial and azimuthal direction are also presented.
Collaborative Approaches to Resolving Difficult ILL Borrowing Requests: Using a Working Group and a Wiki for Knowledge Sharing

Interlibrary loan borrowing staff at the University of Arizona Main Library, who handle difficult interlibrary loan requests, are taking a collaborative approach to obtaining unique, difficult-to-locate materials. A working group within the document delivery team meets weekly to share examples processed during the preceding week to increase the fill rate of challenging interlibrary loan requests. The group also established a wiki for the purpose of sharing resources that have been used to solve difficult requests. The wiki serves as an advanced interlibrary loan training resource that can be accessed by a greater number of staff, enabling them to gain the skills necessary to process difficult requests.
Evaluation of microbiologically influenced corrosion inhibition (MICI) with EIS and ENA

Abstract Microbiologically influenced corrosion inhibition (MICI) has been observed for Al 2024, mild steel and cartridge brass when an artificial seawater (AS) solution containing growth medium was contaminated by bacteria. In this case the test electrodes had been sterilized by immersion in ethanol, while the test cell had been sterilized in an autoclave. In tests in which all parts had been sterilized in an autoclave contamination did not occur and the corrosion behavior was similar to that obtained in AS without growth medium. Impedance data clearly showed that pitting did not occur for Al 2024 in the contaminated solution, while for mild steel and brass corrosion rates were greatly decreased. The corrosion potential Ecorr decreased due to bacterial contamination for Al 2024 and brass, but increased for mild steel. Analysis of electrochemical noise (EN) data demonstrated that the power spectral density (PSD) plots of the current fluctuations for Al 2024 and mild steel changed to lower levels due to bacterial contamination, while the PSD plots for the potential fluctuations remained unchanged. The slopes of the potential and current PSD plots were unchanged, while the localization index (LI) was close to zero in all cases. Pitting of Al 2024 did not occur and corrosion rates of mild steel and brass were greatly reduced during exposure to AS containing one of two strains of Shewanella. The corrosion mechanisms seemed to be different for mild steel, where Ecorr increased in the presence of the bacteria, and Al 2024 and brass, where it decreased. Addition of kanamycin to AS containing S. ana after 7 days induced an immediate increase of Ecorr for Al 2024 and brass. However, the corrosion activity occurring in abiotic AS was observed only after about another 7 days.
The tensor product of a semigroup with a union of groups

It has been shown by T. Head that if G is an abelian and S = Je~A G is a union of abelian groups, then group there exists an isomorphism e:G@S ~UacA (G@G) defined by e(g@s) = g@s for all g (G, s ~ S. In this paper it is shown that if S = UaeA Ga and T = U 8~B H8 are both unions of abelian groups then the surjective homomorphism 4: S~T ÷ Ue~AUS~B (Ga@H~) defined by ~(s ~t) = s ~t is an isomorphism if and only if either S or T is a group. This theorem is then used to show that if S is an abelian semigroup and T = ~e~A Ge is a union of at least two disjoint groups, then there exists a natural surjective homomorphism ~: S~T~e, A S~G which is an isomorphism iff S is archimedean. In this paper all semigroups will be abelian. Z and 0 will be the additive group of integers and singleton semigroup respectively. Homomorphisms will be referred to as maps. The following development of the union of groups U and the surjective homomorphism ~ in Theorem 1 are a generalization of results by T. Head [2]. Given S = ~A Ge and T = US~B HS, unions of groups
Iron charge state distributions as an indicator of hot ICMEs: Possible sources and temporal and spatial variations during solar maximum

[1] It has been shown that Fe charge states greater than and equal to 16 are often observed in the presence of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) at 1 AU. These elevated charge states, representative of hot source regions on the Sun, provide an identifier of ICMEs independent of expansion processes and heliocentric distance. Using this new identifier, we present a comparative study of Fe charge state distributions as a function of latitude and time. We compare Fe charge state data from the ACE spacecraft in the ecliptic plane with that from the Ulysses spacecraft along its orbit from low to high latitudes. We discuss the frequencies of high Fe charge state distributions through a range of latitudes on the approach toward solar maximum. Close to solar maximum, we find almost an order of magnitude fewer hot ICMEs at higher latitudes than in the ecliptic. We offer an explanation for the existence of high Fe charge states in hot ICMEs as a result of magnetic connectivity to flaring regions.
Learning text editor semantics by analogy

This paper presents a cognitive model for one aspect of how novices learn text editors—the acquisition of procedural skill by problem solving in problem spaces and the use of analogy for building a representation of the semantics of text-editor commands (which we call operators). Protocol data of computer-naive subjects learning the EMACS text editor suggests that they use their knowledge of typewriting to decide which commands to use in performing editing tasks. We propose a formal method of analysis that compares operators in two problem spaces and generates misconceptions. The comparison of these predicted misconceptions with verbal comments, error data, and task difficulty lends support to this analysis.
Adaptation of the relative onset time of two-component tones

The results of three selective adaptation experiments employing nonspeech signals that differed in temporal onset are reported. In one experiment, adaptation effects were observed when both the adapting and test stimuli were selected from the same nonspeech test continuum. This result was interpreted as evidence for selective processing of temporal order information in nonspeech signals. Two additional experiments tested for the presence of cross-series adaptation effects from speech to nonspeech and then from nonspeech to speech. Both experiments failed to show any evidence of cross-series adaptation effects, implying a possible dissociation between perceptual classes of speech and nonspeech signals in processing temporal order information. Despite the absence of cross-series effects, it is argued that the ability of the auditory system to process temporal order information may still provide a possible basis for explaining the perception of voicing in stops that differ in VOT. The results of the present experiments, taken together with earlier findings on the perception of temporal onset in nonspeech signals, were viewed as an example of the way spoken language has exploited the basic sensory capabilities of the auditory system to signal phonetic differences.
Temperature dependence of the frequency shift of adsorbate vibrations via interaction with substrate phonons: CO on Pt(111)

Abstract We analyse the effects of various anharmonic interactions between an adatom and a surface atom on the vibrational lineshape of the adsorbate, especially on the temperature dependence of the frequency shift. We find that, in the case where the surface atom vibrates perpendicularly to the surface, the anharmonic coupling produces a red shift in the frequency of the adsorbate vibration as the temperature increases, and varies in proportion to T at high temperatures. In contrast, surface vibrations parallel to the surface are more likely to give a blue shift to the adsorbate vibration. When applied to the Pt-CO stretch of CO on Pt(111) at low coverages, excellent qualitative agreement can be obtained between the experiment and our theory involving the perpendicular modes; quantitatively, the predicted shift is unable to account for the experiment unless the anharmonicity at the surface is much greater than a Morse potential would predict.
The use of transgenic and mutant mice to study oxygen free radical metabolism.

To distinguish the role of Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) from that of cytoplasmic CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), the mouse MnSOD gene (Sod2) was inactivated by homologous recombination. Sod2 -/- mice on a CD1 (outbred) genetic background die within the first 10 days of life (mean, 5.4 days) with a complex phenotype that includes dilated cardiomyopathy, accumulation of lipid in liver and skeletal muscle, metabolic acidosis and ketosis, and a severe reduction in succinate dehydrogenase (complex II) and aconitase (a TCA cycle enzyme) activities in the heart and, to a lesser extent, in other organs. These findings indicate that MnSOD is required to maintain the integrity of mitochondrial enzymes susceptible to direct inactivation by superoxide. On the other hand, Lebovitz et al. reported an independently derived MnSod null mouse (Sod2tmlLeb) on a mixed C57BL/6 and 129Sv background with a different phenotype. Because a difference in genetic background is the most likely explanation for the phenotypic differences, the two mutant lines were crossed into different genetic backgrounds for further analyses. To study the phenotype of Sod2tmlLeb mice CD1 background, the Sod2tmlLeb mice were crossed to CD1 for two generations before the -/+ mice were intercrossed to generate -/- mice. The life span distribution of CD1 Leb was shifted to the left, indicating a shortened life span on the CD1 background. Furthermore, the CD1 Leb mice develop metabolic acidosis at an early stage as was observed with CD1 Cje. When Sod2tmlCje was placed on C57BL/6J (B6) background, the -/- mice were found to die either during midgestation or within the first 4 days after birth. However, when the B6 Cje were crossed with DBA/2J (D2) for the generation of B6D2F2 Cje mice, an entirely different phenotype, similar to that described by Lebovitz et al., was observed. The F2 Sod -/- mice were able to survive up to 18 days, and the animals that lived for more than 15 days displayed neurological abnormalities including ataxia and seizures. Their hearts were not as severely affected as were those of the CD1 mice, and neurological degeneration rather than heart defect appears to be the cause of death.
Glutamate dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: an hypothesis

Abstract Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter that has been implicated in memory formation and learning. This acidic amino acid also has neurotoxic properties, and in animals produces lesions reminiscent of human neurodegenerative diseases. Here we present evidence that supports the hypothesis that glutamate dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and can account for many of the neurochemical and behavioral deficits observed in this disease.
Increased spectrin proteolysis in fibroblasts from aged and Alzheimer donors.

Abstract Since calcium homeostasis is altered in cultured skin fibroblasts from aged and Alzheimer donors, the present study examined the degradation of spectrin, a substrate of the calcium dependent protease calpain. Spectrin proteolysis was estimated as the percentage of spectrin breakdown products (e.g., 150+ 155 kDa bands) per total spectrin immunoreactivity. In the baseline condition (e.g., unstimulated fibroblasts), spectrin breakdown was 53% greater in cells from aged donors when compared to cells from either young or Alzheimer donors. Compared to unstimulated cells, serum increased spectrin breakdown in cells from aged (22.4%) or Alzheimer (92.1%) donors but was ineffective in cells from young donors. Thus, when compared to young donors (100%), serum stimulation increased spectrin proteolysis by 183.9% (aged) or 231.7% (Alzheimer) after serum stimulation. Treatment of unstimulated cells with carbonyl cyanide 4-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone (FCCP), an uncoupler of mitochrondrial function, increased spectrin degradation by 360.6% (young), 242.4% (aged) or 239.7% (Alzheimer) when compared to unstimulated cells of the same group. The combination of FCCP and serum stimulation enhanced spectrin breakdown in cells from aged (123.6%) and Alzheimer (154.0%) donors when compared to young cells (100%). Thus, changes in the regulation of calcium dependent proteases may contribute to decreased cell spreading and may play a role in the altered cytoskeletal dynamics characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Influence of blade characteristics on axial flow compressor noise

This experimental study was initiated as a result of earlier theoretical work which found that changes in the spanwise circulation distribution can have a significant influence on noise generation for the single rotor and for rotor-stator combinations. The experimental results presented here clearly show that the rotor noise, and especially the rotor-stator interaction noise, is affected by the type of radial loading, i.e., type of twist. Other blade parameters tested for their influence on far-field noise include rotor solidity, spacing between rotor and stator for twisted and untwisted blades, blade thickness, and stator chord length; radial effects on cutoff were also investigated.
The virtues of externalism

Examinant l'externalisme d'Aristote concernant la volonte et le bien, l'A. defend la validite de la conception aristotelicienne de la responsabilite de l'individu dans la formation de son caractere, malgre l'importance du role de l'habitude dans le processus de caracterisation et dans l'internalisation des valeurs
Food and food supplements with hypocholesterolemic effects

Hypercholesterolemia is a predominant risk factor for atherosclerosis and associated coronary and cerebrovascular diseases. Control of cholesterol levels through therapeutic drugs, notably statins, have significantly reduced the risk for developing atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases. However, adverse effects associated with therapeutic drugs warrant to find other alternative approaches for managing hypercholesterolemia, especially for those with borderline cholesterol levels. Food supplements have increasingly become attractive alternatives to prevent or treat hypercholesterolemia and reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases. This review summarized current patents on food supplements with claims of hypocholesterolemic effects. They can be mainly divided into four categories based on the active ingredients in the supplements: 1) plant sterols or stanols; 2) fiber or polysaccharides; 3) microorganism-derived; and 4) soy protein and phytoestrogens. The efficacy, mechanisms of action and potential side effects are reviewed for each of the four categories. The hypocholesterolemic effects of plant sterols, fiber, Monascus products and soy protein preparations have been consistently demonstrated in clinical trails whereas the efficacy of some probiotic bacteria and phytoestrogens-containing supplements remains to be established. Accumulative clinical data show that plant sterols, fiber, soy protein and phytoestrogen are generally considered safe and cause no obvious side effects. However, additional clinical studies are required to establish the safety profiles of certain probiotic bacteria as food supplements.
CSCL for schools that learn

Learning communities and organizations are being recognized both as a mechanism for bringing learning about and as an explanation of what learning takes place. Systems that support learning in context and collaborative learning are increasingly being used to support performance and learning for school reform and business productivity. Similarly, many of the performance and learning outcomes that we care the most about, e.g., higher order thinking, problem solving, communication competencies, are understood as developing in the authentic activity of a community, such as a profession, a trade, or an academic discipline. Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is a method for bringing the power of technology to support collaborative and contextual learning. This article argues that CSCL can be a framework for school reform, not just as a method of curriculum implementation, but also as a framework for enterprise-wide, process change. The article will also illustrate how cscl-type systems can facilitate schools becoming learning organizations, not just organizations that support learning.
Electrical characterization and modeling of carbon nanotube and carbon fiber self-sensing composites for enhanced sensing of microcracks

Carbon nanotube (CNT) networks and carbon fibers have been investigated for in situ sensing of micro-scale damage. The electrical resistance change due to transverse matrix cracking in [0/90]s cross-ply carbon fiber-reinforced and CNT/glass fiber-reinforced hybrid composites is analyzed for the purpose of improving measurement sensitivity. Two different types of conductively modified glass fiber/epoxy/nanotube composites are characterized and compared with a carbon fiber/epoxy laminate. Two-dimensional finite element models are generated using electrical properties obtained from experimental characterization. Electrostatic simulations are performed to investigate the effect of the electrical anisotropy and various electrode parameters on the measurement sensitivity to matrix cracking. Simulation results are verified by cyclic loading experiments which are used to correlate the change in electrical resistance to transverse matrix cracks. The damage sensitivity of the electrical network is highly dependent on the network morphology and electrical anisotropy. Glass fiber composites with nanotubes dispersed uniformly throughout the polymer matrix exhibited low electrical anisotropy and showed the highest sensitivity to matrix cracking. The choice of electrode configuration and spacing also becomes an important consideration as the anisotropy increases. Carbon fiber laminates are comparatively less sensitive to matrix damage but modification of the polymer matrix using carbon nanotubes provides opportunity to increase damage sensitivity.
Retinal pigment epithelial tears after pegaptanib injection for exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose To report two cases of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears following intravitreal pegaptanib injections for occult choroidal neovascularization. Design Noncomparative case series. Methods The charts of two patients with pigment epithelial tears after receiving intravitreal pegaptanib were reviewed. Approval from the institutional review board and informed consent were obtained before chart review. Fundus photos, intravenous fluorescein angiograms, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were obtained before and after therapy confirmed the diagnosis. Results Two patients had turbid pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) and occult choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) treated with intravitreal pegaptanib. Both patients developed RPE tears weeks following one intravitreal pegaptanib injection. Conclusions This report describes the development of RPE tears after intravitreal pegaptanib injection. Caution should be taken in cases of turbid pigment epithelial detachments in the monocular patient when treatment with intravitreal pegaptanib is entertained. Future studies should be performed to evaluate which subtypes of lesions are most susceptible to this devastating visual complication.
General properties of the Yang-Mills equations in physical space.

Abstract With the formulation of the gauge group as a Banach-Lie group of suitable Sobolev type, the Cauchy problem for the Yang-Mills equation in physical space-time reduces rigorously to the case of the temporal gauge. In this gauge there exist spatially global strong solutions for given data for field and potential that are L2 together with one or two derivatives (respectively). Regarding global existence in time, there is strong unicity, strong existence unless the potential becomes unbounded, and existence of a quasi-solution for arbitrary finite-energy Cauchy data. The variety of solutions of the equations is endowed with a canonical symplectic structure. This structure is degenerate to an extent precisely reflecting gauge-invariance and is conformally invariant.
Clustered targets imaged by optical tomography guided by ultrasound

Clustered small breast lesions may be present in the neighboring areas and are difficult to accurately resolve and quantify in diffuse optical tomography. In addition, larger cancers are often accompanied by clustered satellite lesions in the neighboring areas, which are also difficult to resolve and quantify. To improve the light quantification of clustered lesions, a new multi-zone reconstruction algorithm guided by co-registered ultrasound (US) was investigated using simulations, phantoms, and clinical examples. This method separated one larger region-of-interest (ROI) into several ROIs based on the location information provided by co-registered US. In general, the single-ROI method cannot resolve two smaller targets when their separations were less than 2.5 cm and the depth was greater than 2.0 cm. The multi-zone reconstruction method improved the resolving ability and reconstruction accuracy. As a result, two targets located at 2.5 cm depth with separation greater than 2.0 cm could be distinguished, and reconstruction improved by more than 20% as compared with that of the single-ROI method. When two targets, one larger and one smaller, were located closer to each other, the location of the reconstructed absorption mass was shifted toward the larger target and the quantification of the smaller target was limited. C 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). (DOI: 10.1117/1.3600773) target in the same absorption range as a 1-cm target was lower in the range of 50 to 63%, and the accuracy of a low-contrast target of the same size was in the range of 106 to 133% when the targets were located at the depth range of 1 to 3 cm, respectively. 29 It is noted that the high-contrast targets with absorption in the range of 0.22 to 0.25 cm −1 are under-reconstructed mainly due to the use of the linear Born approximation, and low-contrast targets of absorption coefficient in the range of 0.06 to 0.07 cm −1 are,
Photochemical Fate of Sulfadimethoxine in Aquaculture Waters

Sulfadimethoxine (SDM) is an antibiotic often used in combination with ormetoprim to prevent the spread of disease in freshwater aquaculture. It is known to undergo photochemical degradation in natural sunlit surface waters, but the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in this process is poorly understood. Our results show that water from a eutrophic catfish pond at the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center facility in Stoneville, MS facilitates the rapid phototransformation of SDM. In contrast, water from a nearby stream (Deer Creek) whose DOM is derived from allochthonous precursors does not enhance SDM photodegradation. We attribute these disparate results to DOM composition, whereby dissolved organic matter originating from highly eutrophic water bodies is a better SDM photosensitizer. Experiments conducted concurrently using respective autochthonous (Pony Lake, Antarctica) and allochthonous (Suwannee River) derived fulvic acids corroborate these findings. Scavenging experiments and experiments conducted anoxically show that the main indirect photodegradation pathway occurs by triplet excited-state DOM oxidation. Finally, transformation products assayed by mass spectrometry reveal the same major SDM photoproducts in the presence and absence of dissolved organic matter.
Heparin Dodecasaccharide Binding to Platelet Factor-4 and Growth-related Protein-α INDUCTION OF A PARTIALLY FOLDED STATE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA

alpha-Chemokines are known heparin-binding proteins. Here, a heparin dodecasaccharide (H12) was purified and used in NMR studies to investigate binding to growth-related protein-alpha (Gro-alpha) and to platelet factor-4-M2 (PF4-M2), an N-terminal chimera of PF4. Pulsed field gradient NMR was used to derive diffusion coefficients as the protein (monomer):H12 ratio was varied. In the absence of H12, both PF4-M2 and Gro-alpha give diffusion coefficients consistent with the presence of mostly dimers. As the PF4-M2:H12 ratio is increased from 1:6 to 2:1, the diffusion coefficient increases, indicating dissociation to the monomer state. On addition of H12 to either protein, (15)N/(1)H heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR data demonstrate loss of (1)H resonance dispersion and intensity, particularly at protein:H12 ratios of 2:1 to 4:1, indicating significant perturbation to native structures. For Gro-alpha in particular, (1)H resonance dispersion appears random coil-like. At these same ratios, circular dichroism (CD) data show general retention of secondary structure elements with a slight shift to additional helix formation. Random coil NMR resonance dispersion suggests a shift to a less compact, partially folded, and/or more flexible state. Further addition of H12 causes resonance intensity and dispersion to return making NMR spectra appear native-like. At low PF4-M2:H12 ratios, loss of resonance intensity for residues proximal to Arg-20 and Arg-22 in three-dimensional NMR HCCH-TOCSY spectra suggests that the Arg-20-Arg-22 loop either interacts most strongly with H12 and/or that binding at this site is heterogeneous. This domain was previously shown to be crucial to heparin binding. Of particular interest to the biology of PF4-heparin complex formation, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia antibody binding occurs at about the same PF4-M2:H12 ratio as does this transition to a partially folded PF4-M2 state, strongly suggesting that heparin-induced thrombocytopenia antibody recognizes a less folded, lower aggregate state of the protein.
CrowdWatch: enabling in-network crowd-sourcing

Proliferation of mobile smartphones has opened up possibilities of using crowd-sourcing to gather data from and so monitor large crowds. However, depending on the size of the crowd, current solutions either put unpredictable stress on the infrastructure and energy-constrained smartphones or do not capture the crowd behavior accurately. In response, we present CrowdWatch, a scalable, distributed and energy-efficient crowd-sourcing framework. CrowdWatch achieves its goal through off-loading some of the processing to the devices and establishing a hierarchy of participants by exploiting devices with multiple radios (i.e. WiFi (high-power) and BlueTooth (low-power)). CrowdWatch can outperform traditional crowd-sourcing frameworks by reducing the stress on the infrastructures to 10% of that of a traditional crowd-sourcing solution, while only requiring each phone to use their Wi-Fi radios 15% of the time in a dense environment.
RIBOSOMAL-DNA, MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA, CHROMOSOMAL, AND ALLOZYMIC STUDIES ON A CONTACT ZONE IN THE POCKET GOPHER, GEOMYS.

We studied 75 individuals of the Plains pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius, from eastern New Mexico, where the subspecies major and knoxjonesi hybridize. Each individual was examined for chromosome number, ribosomal DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and three protein systems for which reference parental populations were fixed for alternative alleles. Twenty individuals were indistinguishable from parental major, 14 individuals were indistinguishable from parental knoxjonesi, and 41 individuals had genotypes composed of combinations of character states that distinguish the two parental types. The parental types appear to represent discrete genetic entities that have restricted introgression across a narrow hybrid zone (width approximately 3 km, using the 20/80 criterion). Parental types overlap in geographic distribution near the center of the zone, and changes in mitochondrial DNA and the five nuclear markers are concordant across the zone. It is probable that there is premating isolation between knoxjonesi males and major females. The frequencies of individuals with certain genotypic combinations within our sample imply differential reproductive success of certain genotypes. We propose that F1 's and highly heterozygous males are sterile and that hybrid females are less fertile than parental females. These postmating factors, along with premating isolation for one of the reciprocal crosses, probably account for the restriction of gene flow across the contact zone. The structure of the zone can be explained by the "dynamic equilibrium" model.
The Visibility of Distant Objects

For thousands of years, thousands of mariners have sighted thousands of ships, and have made appropriate entries in their logs. Even so, this mass of miscellaneous information is of little use in predicting the range at which a specified object will be just visible under a new set of circumstances. The purpose of this paper is to identify the principal factors involved in the visibility of an object, to indicate how each factor affects the range of visibility, and to supply charts which, by combining these factors, enable the limiting range to be found under any set of prevailing conditions. (This paragraph has been lifted, almost verbatim, from some material prepared during the war by Professor Arthur C. Hardy, then Chief of the Camouflage Section (16.3) of the NDRC.)
Binary vaporliquid equilibria behavior in the vicinity of liquidliquidvapor loci

Abstract Liquid vapor isotherms for the binary mixtures CO 2 + n-hexylbenzene, n-heptylbenzene, and n-octylbenzene were experimentally studied in the temperature range of −5 to 45°C. Liquid phase compositions and molar volumes are reported as a function of pressure. Vapor phase compositions and molar volumes are also reported for some of the 35 and 45°C isotherms. Subcritical isothermal behavior for some of the isotherms near three-phase liquid liquid vapor loci is interpreted as being analogous to that seen for isotherms exhibiting supercritical extraction. This claim is supported by arguments based on Gibbs energy diagrams.
Effect of temperature on single asperity contact and separation in Au

We performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations of contact and separation of two Au surfaces at different temperatures. The pull-off force decreases monotonically with increasing temperature except for an abrupt rise that occurs between T1 ⩽ T ⩽ T2. This abrupt rise can be traced to a series of phase transformations in the sample during separation (face-centered cubic (fcc) → hexagonal close-packed → fcc) at elevated temperatures. The new fcc structure has a lower Schmid factor than the original fcc structure and consequently exhibits higher tensile strength.
Hyperactivity in hyposexual male rats

Abstract It is widely accepted that some male rats fail to copulate because of a decrease in arousability, measured as decreased general locomotor activity (hypoactivity). This relationship, however, failed to explain an observation made in our laboratory that rats that failed to copulate exhibited increased general locomotor behavior. To directly address this issue, we quantified open-field and male sexual behaviors in 360 rats from two different strains. Twenty-two out of 49 hyposexual males were also hyperactive; this was a significantly greater number than would be expected by chance ( p p
Emergency Care For Children In The United States

A formal emergency care system for children in the United States began in the 1980s with the establishment of specialized training programs in academic children’s hospitals. The ensuing three decades have witnessed the establishment of informal regional networks for clinical care and a federally funded research consortium that allows for multisite research on evidence-based practices. However, pediatric emergency care suffers from problems common to emergency departments (EDs) in general, which include misaligned incentives for care, overcrowding, and wide variation in the quality of care. In pediatric emergency care specifically, there are problems with low-volume EDs that have neither the experience nor the equipment to treat children, poor adherence to clinical guidelines, lack of resources for mental health patients, and a lack of widely accepted performance metrics. We call for policies to address these issues, including providing after-hours care in other settings and restructuring payment and reimb...
Radiation-Induced Cellular DNA Damage Repair Response Enhances Viral Gene Therapy Efficacy in the Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) treated with radiotherapy (RT) has incomplete responses as a result of radiation-induced tumoral stress response that repairs DNA damage. Such stress response is beneficial for oncolytic viral therapy. We hypothesized that a combination of RT and NV1066, an oncolytic herpes virus, might exert an additive or synergistic effect in the treatment of MPM. JMN, a MPM cell line, was infected with NV1066 at multiplicities of infection of .05 to .25 in vitro with and without radiation (1 to 5 Gy). Virus replication was determined by plaque assay, cell kill by lactate dehydrogenase assay, and GADD34 (growth arrest and DNA damage repair 34, a DNA damage-repair protein) by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot test. Synergistic cytotoxicity dependence on GADD34 upregulation was confirmed by GADD34 small inhibitory RNA (siRNA). Synergism was demonstrated between RT and NV1066 across a wide range of doses. As a result of such synergism, a dose-reduction for each agent (up to 5500-fold) can be accomplished over a wide range of therapeutic-effect levels without sacrificing tumor cell kill. This effect is correlated with increased GADD34 expression and inhibited by transfection of siRNA directed against GADD34. RT can be combined with oncolytic herpes simplex virus therapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma to achieve synergistic efficacy while minimizing dosage and toxicity.
Chemisorption of Tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium on Si(100)-2 × 1: C−H and C−N Bond Reactivity Leading to Low-Temperature Decomposition Pathways

Tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium, Ti[N(CH3)2]4 or TDMAT, is a metal alkylamide precursor often used in the deposition of titanium nitride films. The mechanisms of decomposition of TDMAT upon its adsorption on the Si(100)-2 × 1 surface are investigated by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and density functional methods. Two experimental observations, the formation of Si−H bonds at temperatures as low as 220 K and methane desorption at temperatures below 400 K, indicate the scission of C−H and C−N bonds. The unusual low-temperature reactivity of these bonds is explained in terms of bond activation due to the zwitterionic character of the silicon−silicon dimers of the Si(100)-2 × 1 surface. Silicon surface atoms with predominantly nucleophilic character are able to attract hydrogen atoms, forming Si−H bonds. Silicon surface atoms with electrophilic character are able to form N−Si dative bonds that weaken the C−N bond, favoring its scission. Density functional calculations su...
Diatom-inference models for acid neutralizing capacity and nitrate based on 41 calibration lakes in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

We investigated relationships among modern diatom species composition and physical and chemical characteristics of high-elevation lakes of the Sierra Nevada (California), to develop transfer functions that can be used to infer historic lake conditions. Data were collected from 50 lakes in National Parks and Forests of the central and southern Sierra Nevada. Multivariate statistical methods revealed that acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and nitrate accounted for significant variation in diatom taxa. A training set with 242 modern diatom taxa from a subset of 41 lakes was used to develop transfer functions for ANC and nitrate using weighted averaging techniques. ANC and nitrate calibration ranges were 23.0–137 μEq/L and 0.18–9.5 μM, respectively. Coefficients of determination for the models were: ANC: R2 = 0.76, and R jackknife 2 = 0.44; NO3: R2 = 0.67, and R jackknife 2 = 0.27. The ANC model was applied to the top 50 cm of sediments in Moat Lake to reconstruct ANC from ca. AD 350 to 2005. The reconstruction suggests that ANC declined by about 40 % (101–60 μEq/L) between the 1920s and the 1960s and then recovered to pre-1920s levels during 1980–2000. The magnitude of this ANC excursion was the largest observed during the past 1,600 years. We hypothesize that temporal variations in ANC were influenced by: (1) changes in rates of acid deposition, especially nitric acid and (2) variations in the timing and magnitude of snowmelt runoff.