cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Indolyl-quinuclidinols inhibit ENOX activity and endothelial cell morphogenesis while enhancing radiation-mediated control of tumor vasculature

There is a need for novel strategies that target tumor vasculature, specifically those that synergize with cytotoxic therapy, in order to overcome resistance that can develop with current therapeutics. A chemistry-driven drug discovery screen was employed to identify novel compounds that inhibit endothelial cell tubule formation. Cell-based phenotypic screening revealed that noncytotoxic concentrations of (Z)-(+/-)-2-(1-benzenesulfonylindol-3-ylmethylene)-1-azabicyclo[2. 2.2]octan-3-ol (analog I) and (Z)-(+/-)-2-(1-benzylindol-3-ylmethylene)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-ol (analog II) inhibited endothelial cell migration and the ability to form capillary-like structures in Matrigel by > or =70%. The ability to undergo neoangiogenesis, as measured in a window-chamber model, was also inhibited by 70%. Screening of biochemical pathways revealed that analog II inhibited the enzyme ENOX1 (EC(50) = 10 microM). Retroviral-mediated shRNA suppression of endothelial ENOX1 expression inhibited cell migration and tubule formation, recapitulating the effects observed with the small-molecule analogs. Genetic or chemical suppression of ENOX1 significantly increased radiation-mediated Caspase3-activated apoptosis, coincident with suppression of p70S6K1 phosphorylation. Administration of analog II prior to fractionated X-irradiation significantly diminished the number and density of tumor microvessels, as well as delayed syngeneic and xenograft tumor growth compared to results obtained with radiation alone. Analysis of necropsies suggests that the analog was well tolerated. These results suggest that targeting ENOX1 activity represents a novel therapeutic strategy for enhancing the radiation response of tumors.
Automating the Flexible Lofting Spline for Reusable Forming Devices

A flexible lofting spline is presented as an actuated component in mechanical systems requiring the forming of continuous shapes. The spline is modeled with a piece-wise, cubic polynomial, based on minimum elastic strain energy, and nonlinear, large deflections. A flexible spline test device is explained and used to evaluate accuracy, limitations, and general issues. Conclusions and recommendations are provided.
The localization of buckling modes in nearly periodic trusses

The global buckling problem of nearly periodic trusses, including intermediate weak members and disordered panels, is considered. The possibility of local buckling or plastification of individual bars is neglected. The problem is solved numerically using a finite element program. The results show the buckling load factor as well as the buckled mode shapes as functions of a disorder related parameter. These relations are found to be of a nonlinear nature for both the critical loads and the normalized displacements of selected nodes of the studied structures for a given mode shape. Thus, small changes in the disorder related parameter result in a sharp decrease of normalized displacements everywhere but at a certain region of the trusses presented. These results suggest that the phenomenon of buckling mode localization may be utilized in order to passively control structural elastic instability.
Data-driven forecasting algorithms for building energy consumption

ABSTRACT This paper introduces two forecasting methods for building energy consumption data that are recorded fromsmart meters in high resolution. For utility companies, it is important to reliably forecast the aggregate con-sumption pro le to determine energy supply for the next day and prevent any crisis. The proposed methodsinvolve forecasting individual load on the basis of their measurement history and weather data without usingcomplicated models of building system. The rst method is most ecient for a very short-term prediction, suchas the prediction period of one hour, and uses a simple adaptive time-series model. For a longer-term prediction,a nonparametric Gaussian process has been applied to forecast the load pro les and their uncertainty boundsto predict a day-ahead. These methods are computationally simple and adaptive and thus suitable for analyz-ing a large set of data whose pattern changes over the time. These forecasting methods are applied to severalsets of building energy consumption data for lighting and heating-ventilation-air-conditioning (HVAC) systemscollected from a campus building at Stanford University. The measurements are collected every minute, andcorresponding weather data are provided hourly. The results show that the proposed algorithms can predictthose energy consumption data with high accuracy.Keywords: building energy consumption, forecasting, autoregressive model, Gaussian process, distributionforecasting, covariance function, nonparametric density estimation, Bayesian analysis
Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis: an overview

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins is a robust and reproducible technique. It is the most widely used separation tool in proteomics. Current efforts in the field are directed at development of tools for expanding the range of proteins accessible with two-dimensional gels.
Selenium deficiency in cultured adrenocortical cells: Restoration of glutathione peroxidase and resistance to hydroperoxides on addition of selenium

Cultured bovine adrenocortical cells were previously shown to be functionally deficient in selenium and vitamin E when grown in medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum. In the present experiments, the lack of significant bioavailable amounts of selenium in the medium was demonstrated by the finding of only low levels of glutathione peroxidase in the cultured cells (0.008 U/mg protein compared with 0.045 U/mg protein in fresh adrenocortical tissue). When 20 nM selenium as selenite was added to the cultured adrenocortical cells, glutathione peroxidase activity increased continuously over 72 h, with a total increase of about eightfold over this period. Over the same time-course, the highest concentration of cumene hydroperoxide tolerated by the cells without cell death increased progressively from 10 microM to 50 microM. Addition of 1 microM alpha-tocopherol also increased the amount of cumene hydroperoxide tolerated to 50 microM. Cell death was measured by cloning efficiency after removal of cumene hydroperoxide. Addition of either selenium or alpha-tocopherol had little effect on the growth rate of the cells over six passages, even when residual vitamin E was removed from the serum by extraction with ether and residual low molecular weight selenium compounds were removed by dialysis. It is concluded that combined deficiency of selenium and vitamin E, at least in the presence of other components of fetal bovine serum, has little effect on the ability of the cells to survive under normal conditions, as evidenced by continued long-term proliferation. However, the low levels of glutathione peroxidase resulting from selenium deficiency cause an increase susceptibility to peroxide-mediated toxicity. The combined deficiency of selenium and vitamin E impairs the ability of cells to survive under adverse conditions, as well as altering mitochondrial functions, as previously demonstrated.
Percolation Segregation in Binary Size Mixtures of Spherical and Angular-Shaped Particles of Different Densities

Percolation segregation in binary size mixtures for two particulate types, urea (spherical) and potash (angular), were studied. Materials chosen are major raw ingredients of blended fertilizer that represent two extremes based on shape and density. In this study, the coarse and fine particles were classified using particle sizes larger and smaller than 2,000 μm, respectively. Three coarse mean sizes (3,675 μm, 3,075 μm, and 2,580 μm) for both spherical and angular particles and three fines mean sizes (2,180 μm, 1,850 μm, and 1,550 μm) for angular particles and two fines mean sizes (2,180 μm and 1,850 μm) for spherical particles were selected for tests. Size ratio for binary size mixture is defined as the ratio of mean size of coarse to fine particles. Binary mixed samples of coarse and fine particles were placed into the shear box of the primary segregation shear cell (PSSC-II) very gently to avoid segregation. Percolation segregation was quantified using PSSC-II. Based on experimental results, the segreg...
Predicting Marine Recreational Fishing Patterns from Boat Characteristics and Equipment

Abstract This paper reports an approach for predicting general marine fishing locations and distances traveled offshore for fishing from boat equipment data. Discriminant analysis indicated that bay and offshore fishing boats could be distinguished with 80% classification accuracy from horse-power, fuel capacity, and boat length. Multiple regression analyses verified that fuel capacity and presence of radios and long range navigation (LORAN) were significant predictors of offshore fishing distances.
Interspecific Aggression and Habitat Partitioning in Garter Snakes

Defense of a limited resource, such as space or food, has recently been discovered in snakes and has been widely documented in lizards. Garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.) are historically considered generalist predators such that food is not a limiting resource. However, in this study we show that the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and the aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis atratus) show a strong preference for amphibians as their primary food source at the Santa Lucia Preserve (SLP), Monterey County, California. This food preference forces these snake species at SLP to exploit aquatic habitats. Our principle goal was to investigate the aggressive behavior of T. sirtalis and the potential that this aggression displaces T. atratus from its preferred habitat. We found that when individuals from either species are alone, a 100% preference for aquatic or near aquatic habitat is observed. In contrast, when these species are together, T. sirtalis occupy the aquatic habitat and T. atratus occupy an area far removed from water. Thamnophis sirtalis often physically force T. atratus from the aquatic habitat through repeated biting and other displays of aggression.
Two-Electrode Electrochemical Impedance Sensor: Part 2—Impedance Measurement and Simulation of Coatings on Nonmetal Substrates

Abstract Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been studied extensively as a quantitative technique for evaluating protective coatings, which degrade unavoidably, regardless of their sub...
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin alters embryonic palatal medial epithelial cell differentiation in vitro.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is teratogenic in mice, inducing cleft palate and hydronephrosis. After exposure in vivo. TCDD specifically alters differentiation of embryonic palatal medial epithelial cells. In this study, the palatal epithelial cell response to TCDD is determined in vitro. C57BL6N palatal shelves were placed in organ culture on gestation day (GD) 12 in Richter's improved modified Eagle's medium:Ham's F12 medium (1:1) with 1% fetal bovine serum for 3 or 4 days. Medium contained 0.1% dimethylsulf-oxide and TCDD at 0, 10−13, 10−12, 10−11, 10−10, and 10−9 m, with some doses at 5 × 10−11, 7.5 × 10−11, and 5 × 10−12 m. Epithelial cell responses to TCDD occurred over a narrow range of concentrations, with maximal response at 5 × 10−11 m. Cytotoxicity was detected at 1 × 10−10 m. At a stage when control medial cells ceased proliferation and EGF receptors were not detected immunohistochemically, TCDD-exposed medial cells incorporated [3H]thymidine and high levels of epidermal growth factor receptors were detected. TCDD prevented programmed cell death of medial peridermal cells, and induced a shift in the differentiation of medial cells toward an oral-like phenotype. The responses to TCDD observed after exposure in vitro were indistinguishable from previously reported effects observed after exposure in vivo. In the present study, the distribution of TCDD in the fetus after exposure in vivo was examined. The levels of exposure to TCDD are similar for in vitro and in vivo exposure routes. The levels of TCDD in 1 × 10−11 to 1 × 10−10 m solutions (3 to 32 pg/ml) were comparable to levels observed in fetal tissues after in vivo exposure on GD 11 to 30 μg/kg [3H]TCDD, where the palatal shelf contained 1.4 to 3.5 pg TCDD, representing 0.0003% of the total dose. In vivo, TCDD was detected in the GD 11 embryo 3 hr postexposure and the TCDD was equally distributed between the embryonic head and body. At 72 hr postexposure, 0.035% of the total dose was in fetal tissues, and 1% of the TCDD in the fetus was found in the palatal shelf. The present study shows that the palatal epithelium responds to TCDD in vitro in a manner comparable to that observed after in vivo exposure, and that the response occurs at a concentration comparable to in vivo levels in the fetus. The availability of an in vitro system will facilitate studies of TCDD toxicity that are difficult or impossible to perform in vivo, such as comparisons of TCDD effects between species, including human tissues.
Visual Tutorials for Point-of-Need Instruction in Online Courses

ABSTRACT This paper will discuss a method of incorporating demonstrations into online information and technology literacy courses. The demonstrations are designed to increase the visual component and to address point-of-need questions and problems. Also discussed will be experimentations with this method in other library services, such as electronic reference services, one-shot course-related instruction, subject research guides, and outreach to faculty for their own professional development and as a way to incorporate information and technology literacy in their courses. Recent developments in tutorial software have made it possible to quickly create brief demonstration modules to visually illustrate information literacy concepts and research tools. The primary example presented here is the incorporation of short, task-oriented demonstrations into lesson modules, answers to student questions, and assignment instructions and feedback in an online information and technology literacy course. Initial comment...
The relationship between human papillomavirus and lower genital intraepithelial neoplasia in immunosuppressed women

In a group of 20 immunosuppressed women with lower genital neoplasia, evidence of associated human papillomaviral infection was found in all patients on the basis of the histologic identification of koilocytes in the upper strata of areas of mild or moderate dysplasia. Immunohistochemical study of similar areas disclosed human papilloma structural antigens in the lesions in 60%, while 50% had lesions in which human papilloma virions were detected by the electron microscope. An abnormal immunologic status, indicated by an altered T-helper/T-suppressor ratio, a deficient response to mitogenic stimulation, or both, was confirmed in 80% of the patients studied. Twelve of the 20 patients had unusually persistent and recurrent intraepithelial neoplasia, and in one the disorder progressed to invasive epidermoid carcinoma. The progressive behavior of human papillomavirus-associated neoplasia in these immunosuppressed patients might represent an accelerated version of the long-term course of such lesions in immunocompetent hosts.
Signal transduction: hanging on a scaffold.

Abstract Recent data concerning scaffolding proteins profoundly challenge our conceptions of multicomponent signal transduction systems. Recent studies of the phototransduction system in Drosophila suggest two points. First, scaffolding markedly limits the possibilities for signal amplification. Second, the methods generally available to study signal transduction may be too crude to assess the in vivo roles of scaffolds. Studies of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway scaffold, Ste5, indicate functions beyond that of a passive structural element. Finally, the identification of new mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway scaffolds suggests the existence of multiple ‘signalosomes’ or ‘transducisomes.’
Uterine Trauma: Its Anabolic Effect and Influence on Uterine Sensitivity to Prolactin in Ovariectomized Hamsters

The influence of uterine trauma in the form of 2 thread loops sewed into the uterine wall on uterine sensitivity to prolactin (PRL) in ovariectomized golden hamsters as evinced by wet and dry uterine wt was studied in progesterone (PG)-treated and saline (S)-treated animals maintained on a 12L:12D lighting schedule. Ovariectomies and traumatization were performed the morning after cyclic estrus. Hormonal and S regimens were administered 7 days commencing the day of surgery. PG (100 µg) or S (0.24 cc) was administered at 1200 hr (midpoint of light period) to hamsters receiving PRL (100 µg in S) or S at 0500, 1200, 1700, or 2400 hr. PRL increased the fluid wt of traumatized uteri independently of the ovary. Peak uterine sensitivity was to PRL administered at 2400 and 0500 hr. PG increased uterine solids in traumatized animals. Trauma implemented uterine sensitivity to both PRL and PG and exerted an independent effect by increasing uterine solids in the absence of exogenous hormone. The minimal to moderate d...
Electric-Field Control of Magnetism in Graphene Quantum Dots: Ab Initio Calculations

Employing ab initio calculations we predict that the magnetic states of hydrogenated diamond-shaped zigzag graphene quantum dots (GQDs), each exhibiting unique electronic structure, can be selectively tuned with gate voltage, through Stark or hybridization electric-field modulation of the spatial distribution and energy of the spin-polarized molecular orbitals, leading to transitions between these states. Electrical read-out of the GQD magnetic state can be accomplished by exploiting the distinctive electrical properties of the various magnetic configurations.
Evaluation of control factors affecting the operator's immersion and performance in robotic teleoperation

This paper presents the results of an experimental study in which users teleoperating a mobile robot evaluated three controllers: a keyboard, a game controller, and a touchpad interface. It is motivated by the need to engage a broader, non-expert user audience in teleoperation as robots become more prevalent in everyday applications. Analysis focuses on how specific control elements and the user's comfort with a device improve the operator's sense of immersion in the task and how this alters performance. Our results show that perceived controllability of the controller, users' level of technological anxiety, and the physical nature of feedback from the controller had an effect on user feelings of immersion and presence. Our findings have implications for the development of controllers that can be used for teleoperating robots by a broad user audience.
The prevention and management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia remain one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. They also contribute to perinatal morbidity and mortality as well. Multiple strategies have been proposed for the prevention of pre-eclampsia, with mixed results. Likewise, different strategies for the management of pre-eclampsia have been proposed, also with mixed results. While the prevention of pre-eclampsia remains unachievable, meticulous medical management of mother and fetus will contribute to an overall lowering of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia's contribution to perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality.
From Analog to Digital Conversion to Blood Screening; Evolution of Photonic Time Stretch

We show how the ability to slow down, amplify, and capture fast transient events can produce high-throughput real-time instruments ranging from digitizers to imaging flow cytometers.
John Updike: The Literary Vermeer

He's drinking a toast to the visible world, his impending departure from it be damned. —John Updike, “The Full Glass” (2008) He was the master of the elegantly lyrical sentence and the precisely ob...
Reverse multifurcations and universal constants

Abstract Evidence is given for the existence of reverse multifurcation sequences in one-dimensional mappings, and the associated universal constants are described.
Evaluation of the anticholinesterase activity of metronidazole and misonidazole.

Abstract Contrary to an earlier report that metronidazole exhibited anticholinesterase activity on isolated organ preparations, a direct spectrophotometric assay was unable to demonstrate any significant inhibition of either true or pseudocholinesterase activity in the presence of this drug. The related nitroimidazole, misonidazole, was also found to be inactive when tested in this system. This report demonstrates that the clinical neurotoxicity of these two compounds cannot be attributed to any direct on the cholinesterase enzymes.
Team Action in Pupil Personnel

For historical reasons, specialists in the several pupil services are likely to operate indepen dently of each other. But both common and pro fessional sense dictate that if there is one aspect of education which must make use of staff teaming to be maximally effective, pupil ser vices is that aspect.
THE GLANDULAR STATUS OF BROWN MULTILOCULAR ADIPOSE TISSUE

This review seems justified by the fact that the brownishcolored and gland-like multilocular adipose tissue found in many mammals has repeatedly been considered to be an incretory gland and by the further fact that recently it has been suggested that it may be of importance in connection with deficiency diseases. names by which it has been known While this multilocular adipose tissue is most often termed the hibernating gland (Barkow), it is met with in the literature under a variety of other names—adipose gland (Rudolphi), oil gland (Jones), brown fat (Hammar), lipoid or cholesterin gland (Cramer), organ of hibernation (von Hansemann), and hibernating mass (Vignes). A circumscribed fat mass in human foetuses in the dorso-cervical and interscapular regions, which some consider a homologous structure, has been called the interscapular gland by Hatai. As will be evident from the following discussion, there is very little and frequently no justification for many of these terms.
The importance of charge–quadrupole interactions for H2 adsorption and diffusion in CuBTC

We have assessed the effects of charge–quadrupole interactions (CQIs) between the framework atoms of copper(II) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (CuBTC) and adsorbed H2 molecules on equilibrium adsorption properties and self- and transport diffusivities. We have also compared charges computed from periodic density functional theory (DFT) on the fully periodic CuBTC structure with charges derived from DFT calculations on cluster models of CuBTC. Our results indicate that carboxylate group atom charges computed from plane wave periodic DFT with the Bader charge analysis formalism are not consistent with the charges computed from the ChelpG method from Gaussian-based DFT cluster calculations. The charges derived from Bader analysis seem to be too large. Adsorption isotherms computed from Monte Carlo simulations and diffusivities computed from molecular dynamics simulations indicate that CQIs have a substantial impact on equilibrium and transport properties of H2 adsorbed in CuBTC at 77 K. Conversely, both adsorp...
Communication: Unusual structure and transport in ionic liquid-hexane mixtures

Ionic liquids having a sufficiently amphiphilic cation can dissolve large volume fractions of alkanes, leading to mixtures with intriguing properties on molecular length scales. The trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium cation paired with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide anion provides an ionic liquid that can dissolve large mole fractions of hexane. We present experimental results on mixtures of n-C6D14 with this ionic liquid. High-energy X-ray scattering studies reveal a persistence of the characteristic features of ionic liquid structure even for 80% dilution with n-C6D14. Nuclear magnetic resonance self-diffusion results reveal decidedly non-hydrodynamic behavior where the self-diffusion of the neutral, non-polar n-C6D14 is on average a factor of 21 times faster than for the cation. Exploitation of the unique structural and transport properties of these mixtures may lead to new opportunities for designer solvents for enhanced chemical reactivity and interface science.
COMMENTS ON THE CLADISTIC APPROACH TO THE PHYLOGENY OF THE "BRYOPHYTES" BY MISHLER AND CHURCHILL

Basic errors are seen in failure to recognize problems of large phyletic gaps, failure to include fossil evidence which might help bridge phyletic gaps, inconsistency on transferability of characters between gametophyte and sporophyte, simplistic polarizations not meeting the basic standards of cladistics, and the failure to recognize functional limitations in ancestral forms.
Suppression of human nucleolus organizer activity in mouse-human somatic hybrid cells.

Abstract Cells from four different mouse-human somatic cell hybrids were stained with quinacrine to identify each metaphase chromosome and with ammoniacal silver by the Ag-AS method to locate nucleolus organizer regions. Each of the hybrids contained human acrocentric chromosomes. None of these human acrocentric chromosomes was stained with silver in any hybrid cell. Diploid cells were available from the human parent of one of the hybrids. In these cells both copies of nos. 13 and 15 stained with silver; the same chromosomes in the hybrid cell were not stained. These results support earlier reports that the expression of human ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes is suppressed in mouse-human hybrid cells. Further, they suggest that silver staining by the Ag-AS method reflects activity of rRNA genes rather than just the presence of these genes.
Perception of intraphonemic differences by phoneticians, musicians, and inexperienced listeners

Several studies have shown that extensive training with synthetic speech sounds can result in substantial improvements in listeners’ perception of intraphonemic differences. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of listening experience on the perception of intraphonemic differences in the absence of specific training with the synthetic speech sounds being tested. Phonetically trained listeners, musicians, and untrained listeners were tested on a two‐choice identification task, a three‐choice identification task, and an ABX discrimination task using a synthetic [bi]–[phi] continuum and a synthetic [wei]–[rei] continuum. The three‐choice identification task included the identification of stimuli with an ‘‘indefinite’’ or ‘‘ambiguous’’ quality in addition to clear instances of the opposing phonetic categories. Results included: (1) All three subject groups showed some ability to identify ambiguous stimuli; (2) phonetically trained listeners were better at identifying ambiguous stimuli than musicians and untrained listeners; (3) phonetically trained listeners performed better on the discrimination task than musicians and untrained listeners; (4) musicians and untrained listeners did not differ on any of the listening tasks; and (5) participation by the inexperienced listeners in a 10‐week introductory phonetics course did not result in improvements in either the three‐choice identification task or the discrimination task.
Temperature response of ULE Fabry-Perot cavities

Low expansion glass cavities with optically contacted mirrors can exhibit structural distortions at the mirrors which may shift the temperature at which dv/dT = 0. An update on experiments to confirm finite element modeling analysis is presented.
Engineering the isoelectric point of a renal cell carcinoma targeting antibody greatly enhances scFv solubility.

Abstract Background. The murine A6H monoclonal antibody targets a cell surface antigen associated with renal cell carcinoma with high specificity and excellent biodistribution properties. Tumor to blood ratios of >40:1 have been achieved in clinical studies. Objectives. In order to generate an antibody engineering system that would allow the construction of improved derivatives for diagnostics and therapeutics, a single-chain Fv antibody (scFv) derived from A6H was constructed. The initial single-chain Fv, constructed with a cysteine residue and hexa-histidine sequence at the C-terminus, displayed a limited solubility of 100 μg/ml at pH 7.4. The low solubility and refolding yield of the original single-chain Fv required that a more soluble variant be designed and constructed. Study design. We hypothesized that lowering the pI of the scFv antibody away from the physiological range would yield a more soluble antibody. A derivative was thus subsequently engineered with five glutamic acid residues followed by the cysteine and hexa-histidine residues. The cysteine was included to provide a conjugation site for future radiolabeling studies. Results. The redesigned A6H single-chain Fv has a predicted pI of 6.1, relative to 7.5 for the native scFv. The redesigned A6H scFv displayed a greatly enhanced solubility of >15 mg/ml at pH 7.4. Both the original scFv and the redesigned single-chain Fv exhibited a strong tendency to form dimers and soluble high molecular weight aggregates. The monomer and disulfide bonded dimer were separated from the aggregates and complete cell binding isotherms were obtained, demonstrating that the purified A6H scFv retains much of the activity of the parent monoclonal. Conclusion. The addition of glutamic acid to the C-terminus of poorly soluble scFv antibodies could provide a straightforward avenue for improving their solubility properties. The increased solubility of the A6H scFv allowed the purification of the monomeric and dimeric species from the soluble aggregated species.
Prediction of Hot Tearing Tendency for Multicomponent Aluminum Alloys

It is of practical importance to be able to predict the hot tearing tendency for multicomponent aluminum alloys. Hot tearing is one of the most common and serious defects that occurs during the casting of commercial aluminum alloys, almost all of which are multicomponent systems. For many years, the main criterion applied to characterize the hot tearing tendency of an alloy system was based on the solidification interval. However, this criterion cannot explain the susceptibility-composition relation between the limits of the pure base metal and the eutectic composition. Clyne and Davies correlated the susceptibility-composition relationship in binary systems based on the concept of the existence of critical time periods during the solidification process when the structure is most vulnerable to cracking. The Scheil equation was used in their model using constant partition coefficient and constant liquidus slope estimated from the phase diagram. In the current study, the authors followed Clyne and Davies’ general idea, and directly coupled the Scheil solidification simulation with phase diagram calculation via PanEngine, a multicomponent phase equilibria calculation interface, and extended the model to higher order systems. The predicted hot tearing tendencies correlated very well with the experimental results of multicomponent aluminum alloys.
A Randomized Trial of Providing House Staff with Patient Social History Information: Effect on Patient Outcomes

The purpose of this project was to assess if providing physicians (house staff) with routine comprehensive social history information on their patients will improve patient outcomes. Comprehensive social history information was gathered over a 5-month period on 134 consecutive patients. Patients were randomized to have social history information provided or not provided to the resident physician caring for them. Outcomes of interest were: patient satisfaction, length of stay, and early unplanned readmission. Analysis was with analysis of covariance, controlling for patient severity of illness and amount of social history information documented by the house officer. Outcomes were the same for patients for whom house staff were provided social history information versus those for whom the information was not provided. The authors conclude that providing house staff with routine comprehensive social history information did not influence patient outcomes.
Short Posterior Ciliary Artery Insufficiency with Hyperthermia (Uhthoff's Symptom)

Transient visual blurring with heart or exercise (Uhthoff's symptom) is associated with multiple sclerosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of its occurrence in cases of documented vascular disease. Two patients had insufficiency of the short posterior ciliary circulation. In one it was caused by a carotid occlusion and in the other by cranial (giant-cell, temporal) arteritis. The monocular blurring may have occurred during periods of relative arterial hypotension.
Effect of electrical stimulation of the arcuate nucleus on neurochemical estimates of tuberoinfundibular and tuberohypophysical dopaminergic neuronal activities

Abstract The activity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons has been estimated biochemically by measuring the rates of dopamine (DA) synthesis (accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) after NSD 1015) and turnover (decline of DA concentrations after α-methyltyrosine) in the striatum. It has been assumed that the activities of tuberinfundibular dompaminergic (TIDA) and tuberohypophysial dopaminergic (THDA) neurons can also be estimated by making the same measurements in the terminals of these neurons in the median eminence and the posterior pituitary, respectively. In the present study, this assumption was tested directly by measuring the rates of DA synthesis and turnover in the median eminence and posterior pituitary following electrical stimulation of TIDA and THDA cell bodies in the arcuate nucleus. Electrical stimulation of the arcuate nucleus increased the rate of DOPA accumulation and the α-methyltyrosine-induced decline of DA concentrations in the median eminence and in the neural and intermediate lobes of the posterior pituitary. γ-Butyrolactone (GBL), an anesthetic that selectivelly inhibits DA impusle flow, reduced by the rates of DA synthesis and turnover in the median eminence. GBL also increased prolactin secretion which is tonically inhibited by DA released from TIDA neurons. Serum prolactin levels were significantly decreased by arcuate nucleus stimulation in GBL-anesthetized rats. These results indicate that the rates of DA synthesis and turnover within the median eminence and posterior pituitary reflect the activities of TIDA and THDA neurons, respectively.
Scenario management in organizational DSS

Organizational decision making often involves multiple groups developing alternative "what-if" and negotiation scenarios. We characterize the necessary database support and propose version management. An extension of independently updated views (IUVs) is described that supports multiple versions, change propagation across versions and version hierarchies. We give the SQL implementation and a comprehensive example for a negotiation process. >
Effects of rootstocks and K and N fertilizers on seasonal apple fruit mineral composition in a high density orchard

Abstract Seasonal mineral composition of ‘Starkspur Golden Delicious’ apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh.) grown on six rootstocks: Mailing (M) 1, M 7, M 26, Mailing Merton (MM) 106, OAR 1 and seedling rootstocks in a high density orchard with two levels of K (K2SO4) and two levels of N (urea) soil fertilization were studied in 1980 and 1981. The concentrations (dry weight basis) of all minerals declined in fruits of all treatments as the season progressed. However, fruit from OAR 1 stock generally had about 15% lower N, P, K, Mg, Fe, and Cu, but about 17% higher B, whereas fruit from M 7 had about 10% higher concentrations of N, K, Fe and Cu than most other rootstocks. Fruit on M 26 had about 6% lower concentrations of B than most other stocks in both seasons. Scion fruit on OAR 1 had the lowest mineral content (total mineral per fruit) except for B which was about 11% higher for this rootstock than most other rootstocks. Crop load was found to affect mineral contents particularly fruit of light cropping...
Short-term testosterone manipulations do not affect cognition or motor function but differentially modulate emotions in young and older male rhesus monkeys

Abstract Human aging is characterized by declines in cognition and fine motor function as well as improved emotional regulation. In men, declining levels of testosterone (T) with age have been implicated in the development of these age-related changes. However, studies examining the effects of T replacement on cognition, emotion and fine motor function in older men have not provided consistent results. Rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) are excellent models for human cognitive aging and may provide novel insights on this issue. We tested 10 aged intact male rhesus monkeys (mean age = 19, range 15–25) on a battery of cognitive, motor and emotional tasks at baseline and under low or high T experimental conditions. Their performance was compared to that of 6 young males previously tested in the same paradigm (Lacreuse et al., 2009; Lacreuse et al., 2010). Following a 4-week baseline testing period, monkeys were treated with a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (Depot Lupron, 200 μg/kg) to suppress endogenous T and were tested on the task battery under a 4-week high T condition (injection of Lupron + T enanthate, 20 mg/kg, n = 8) or 4-week low T condition (injection of Lupron + oil vehicle, n = 8) before crossing over to the opposite treatment. The cognitive tasks consisted of the Delayed Non-Matching-to-Sample (DNMS), the Delayed Response (DR), and the Delayed Recognition Span Test (spatial-DRST). The emotional tasks included an object Approach-Avoidance task and a task in which monkeys were played videos of unfamiliar conspecifics in different emotional context (Social Playbacks). The fine motor task was the Lifesaver task that required monkeys to remove a Lifesaver candy from rods of different complexity. T manipulations did not significantly affect visual recognition memory, working memory, reference memory or fine motor function at any age. In the Approach-Avoidance task, older monkeys, but not younger monkeys, spent more time in proximity of novel objects in the high T condition relative to the low T condition. In both age groups, high T increased watching time of threatening social stimuli in the Social Playbacks. These results suggest that T affects some aspects of emotional processing but has no effect on fine motor function or cognition in young or older male macaques. It is possible that the duration of T treatment was not long enough to affect cognition or fine motor function or that T levels were too high to improve these outcomes. An alternative explanation for the discrepancies of our findings with some of the cognitive and emotional effects of T reported in rodents and humans may be the use of a chemical castration, which reduced circulating gonadotropins in addition to T. Further studies will investigate whether the luteinizing hormone LH mediates the effects of T on brain function in male primates.
Conversion of environmental pollutant to mutagens by visible light.

Abstract Illumination of DMBA, 3-methylcholanthrene, 2-aminoanthracene and chrysene with visible light resulted in the formation of direct-acting chemicals endowed with genotoxic and frameshift mutagenic activities. These findings may be of relevance in assessing the potential health hazards inherent in the planned conversion to diesel fuels which is expected to result in increased atmospheric levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Historical changes in black brant Branta bernicla nigricans use on Humboldt Bay, California

Abstract We examined 70 years (1931–2000) of black brant Branta bernicla nigricans abundance on Humboldt Bay, California. We used linear regression to convert count data to a standard variable (use-days) for evaluating hypotheses that explain temporal trends in brant use. Winter and spring brant-days on Humboldt Bay declined sharply in the mid-1950s and continued to decline through the mid-1980s, but have since increased. Evidence suggests that this trend may have been driven largely by changes in temporal patterns of hunting pressure on Humboldt Bay. We found little convincing support for alternative hypotheses such as changes in eelgrass Zostera marina condition over time, effects of non-hunting disturbance, and correlation with trends in abundance at the flyway level. Our study affirms the appropriateness of current hunting regulations for brant in California, but poses a challenge to wildlife managers who wish to provide hunting opportunities without displacing brant from important staging and winteri...
Novel modularized optical multistage interconnection network architecture with multicast capability

Summary form only given. In this paper, a new class of optical multistage interconnection network (MIN) architecture is presented, which is constructed utilizing a modularization approach rather than the traditional recursive or fixed exchange pattern methods. We show that it has the best application flexibility and provides multicast function without imposing significant negative impacts to the whole network. A new multicast pattern is also proposed here, which makes it practical and economical to apply amplification in space-division networks. Compared with existing multicast architectures, this new architecture with Dilated Benes PTP modules has better performance in terms of system SNR, the number of switch elements, and system attenuation in point-to-point connections.
Phenotype variation in two-locus mouse models of Hirschsprung disease: Tissue-specific interaction between Ret and Ednrb

Clinical expression of Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) requires the interaction of multiple susceptibility genes. Molecular genetic analyses have revealed that interactions between mutations in the genes encoding the RET receptor tyrosine kinase and the endothelin receptor type B (EDNRB) are central to the genesis of HSCR. We have established two locus noncomplementation assays in mice, using allelic series at Ednrb in the context of Ret kinase-null heterozygotes, to understand the clinical presentation, incomplete penetrance, variation in length of aganglionic segment, and sex bias observed in human HSCR patients. Titration of Ednrb in the presence of half the genetic dose of Ret determines the presentation of an enteric phenotype in these strains, revealing or abrogating a sex bias in disease expression depending on the genotype at Ednrb. RET and EDNRB signaling pathways are also critical for the normal development of other tissues, including the kidneys and neural crest-derived melanocytes. Our data demonstrate that interaction between these genes is restricted to the enteric nervous system and does not affect renal, coat color, and retinal choroid development.
Digitally-programmable switched-current filters

A second-order lowpass digital filter with independently programmable input gain, selectivity, and center frequency is presented as an example of the switched-current technique. The programmable second-order section has 63 possible gain values, 63 possible selectivity values, and eight possible logarithmically-spaced center frequencies per octave. Design considerations and frequency response simulations are discussed. >
An extension to the ordered subcarrier selection algorithm (OSSA)

In this letter, we propose an extension to the ordered subcarrier selection algorithm (OSSA) for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The result is a simple algorithm for minimizing the bit error rate of the OFDM system at a fixed throughput. The proposed algorithm employs multiple modulations (non-uniform bit loading) within an OFDM symbol. However, unlike existing bit loading algorithms that have a very high computational complexity, the proposed algorithm is based only on the ordered statistics of the subcarrier gains and is consequently very simple. After ordering the subcarriers based on their gains, progressively higher order modulations are used with increasing gains. The key aspect here that greatly simplifies the algorithm is that the modulation used on a subcarrier depends only on the position of its gain in the ordered set and not on the actual values of the gains. We show an analytical approach for determining the parameters of the algorithm.
The queer time of death: Temporality, geopolitics, and refugee rights:

Using the ethnographic data from interviews with the Iranian queer and transgender refugee applicants in Turkey, the UNHCR, and NGOs in Istanbul, Ankara, Denizli, Kayseri, and Nevsehir, I explore t...
Loop-Aware Instruction Scheduling with Dynamic Contention Tracking for Tiled Dataflow Architectures

Increasing on-chip wire delay along with the distributed nature of processing elements, makes instruction scheduling for tiled dataflow architectures very crucial. Our analysis reveals that careful placement of frequently executed sections of applications, and dynamic resource contention tracking can significantly improve the performance of the application. The former reduces the operand network latency, while the latter reduces stalls due to contention for processing elements. We augment one of the most recent instruction scheduling algorithms -- hierarchical instruction scheduling -- to better exploit spatial locality between instructions within a loop, thereby reducing expensive communication overhead by 6.5% and increasing average IPC by 5.13%. Secondly, in the presence of conditional branches and variable latency memory instructions, estimating resource contention, at compile time, is not only complex but also imperfect. We suggest dynamic tracking of contending instructions, and their re-location, once a contention threshold is exceeded. Results showed that dynamic contention tracking reduced the average ALU conflicts by 23%, thereby improving the average IPC by 14.22%. Combined together, these augmentations improve the average IPC by 19.39% and over 30% for some benchmarks.
Underwater glider motion control

This paper describes an underwater glider motion control system intended to enhance locomotive efficiency by reducing the energy expended by vehicle guidance. In previous work, the authors derived an approximate analytical expression for steady turning motion by applying regular perturbation theory to a realistic vehicle model. The analysis results suggested the use of a well-known time-optimal path planning procedure developed for the Dubins car, an often-used model of a wheeled mobile robot. For underwater gliders operating at their most efficient flight condition, time-optimal glide paths correspond to energy-optimal glide paths. Thus, an analytically informed strategy for energy-efficient locomotion is to generate sequences of steady wings-level and turning motions according to the Dubins path planning procedure. Because the turning motion results are only approximate, however, and to compensate for model and environmental uncertainty, one must incorporate feedback to ensure convergent path following. This paper describes the dynamic modelling of the complete multi-body control system and the development and numerical implementation of a motion control system. The control system can be combined with a higher level guidance strategy involving Dubins-like paths to achieve energy-efficient locomotion.
Pricing network services

A game theoretic pricing mechanism for statistically guaranteed service in packet-switched networks is proposed. The mechanism provides congestion control, differentiated qualities of service, and efficient resource allocation. For users, the mechanism offers better quality and lower price. Service providers can base new service and revenue models within the mechanism. We apply this mechanism to the Internet.