cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gas-Phase Chemistry of Curium: Reactions of Cm+ and CmO+ with Alkenes, Acetonitrile, and Hexafluoropropene

The metal ions, Cm+, U+, and Tb+, and their oxides, MO+, were reacted in the gas phase with alkenes, acetonitrile, and hexafluoropropene. Product compositions and abundances provide a survey of essential aspects of the gas-phase chemistry of the curium cation, now the heaviest element for which such systematic studies have been carried out (U and Tb were included to provide comparisons). Of particular interest is the difference in behavior between the 4f lanthanide and 5f actinide series and variations in chemistry across the actinide series. The primary emphasis was on reactions with alkenes, particularly dehydrogenation, as indicative of the ability of a M+ to activate C−H bonds (the extent of C−C activation was generally in parallel with that of C−H activation). With acetonitrile and all of the alkenes (except ethene), the three M+ ions induced dehydrogenation. Variations were evident for the different reactant substrates, but the overall qualitative ordering of dehydrogenation efficiency was U+ > Tb+ ...
N-MYC Regulates Focal Adhesion Kinase Expression in Human Neuroblastoma *

N-MYC is a transcription factor that plays an important role in cellular survival in neuroblastoma, and amplification of the N-MYC oncogene is the primary adverse prognostic indicator for neuroblastoma. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a survival factor that has been shown to be overexpressed in many types of human cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of N-MYC regulation of FAK expression in neuroblastoma. We first found a correlation between N-MYC and FAK expression in neuroblastoma. Real time quantitative PCR demonstrated an increase in FAK mRNA abundance in the N-MYC-amplified IMR-32 compared with the nonamplified SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cell lines. FAK protein expression also correlated positively with N-MYC expression in the N-MYC-amplified IMR-32 versus nonamplified SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cell lines. The same results were seen with the isogenic N-MYC+ (Tet–) and N-MYC– (Tet+) neuroblastoma cell lines. Promoter-reporter assays showed that activity of the FAK promoter was increased in the N-MYC-amplified IMR-32 cell line, in the N-MYC-transfected SK-N-AS nonamplified cell line, and in the isogenic N-MYC+ (Tet–) neuroblastoma cell lines compared with the nonamplified and N-MYC-nonexpressing cell lines. We also identified two N-MYC binding sites in the FAK promoter sequence and showed binding of N-MYC transcription factor to the FAK promoter through electrophoretic mobility shift, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and dual luciferase assays. Finally down-regulation of FAK expression in N-MYC-inducible neuroblastoma cell lines with FAK small interfering RNA or a dominant-negative FAK inhibitor (AdFAK-CD) significantly decreased viability and increased apoptosis in the N-MYC+ (Tet–) cells compared with the isogenic N-MYC– (Tet+) cells, demonstrating the biological significance of FAK overexpression in the N-MYC-expressing cell lines. This is the first report linking N-MYC and FAK in neuroblastoma, and it clearly demonstrates that N-MYC induces FAK expression. The results indicate that N-MYC regulation of FAK expression can control cellular functions in isogenic N-MYC–/+ (Tet+/–) neuroblastoma cell lines.
Materials science: A metal left spinning.

Conductors and semiconductors usually behave like conduits for fluids of electrons. But sometimes the electrons' spins conspire to produce unconventional behaviours that can be turned off and on with magnets.
Observational evidence for earthquakes as a nonlinear dynamic process

Abstract Herein I review experimental evidence for earthquake scale-invariance. Earthquake occurrence exhibits scaling properties: the temporal correlations of earthquakes are power law and the distribution of the earthquake size is also a power law. Recently, it has been determined that several other statistical features of earthquakes, i.e., spatial distribution of earthquakes, rotation of their focal mechanisms, and stress patterns which both cause and are caused by earthquakes, are also scale-invariant. Seismicity is also recognized as a chaotic phenomenon. The intrinsic randomness of an earthquake occurence makes most of standard physical techniques unsuitable for study, thus the methods of stochastic processes should be used for the seismicity analysis. I present evidence that seismicity is controlled by scale-invariant statistical distributions which possibly have universal values for exponents. Finally, I discuss mechanical and other models proposed to reproduce these properties of seismicity, and offer a model of random defect interaction which, without additional assumptions, seems to explain most of the available empirical results.
Cloud‐seeding weather experiments

‘Whitetop,’ ‘Stormfury,’ ‘HIPLEX,’ ‘FACE,’ ‘CCOPE,’ ‘CREST,’ and other federally funded weather modification projects have had precious little tangible success over the past 35 years. However, this does not mean that there has been no progress whatever in the field. In a recent report (Science, 519–521, Aug. 6, 1982), C. Holser of Pennsylvania State University is quoted as stating: ‘It's really a tragic thing. … Now that we're getting our act together, there are these funding cuts.’
Fabrication Of Precision Optical Elements Using Phase Measuring Interferometric Tests

Fabrication of high quality optical surfaces requires both sensitive methods of evaluating surface characteristics and delicate control of fabrication techniques. Interferometers which yield half wave data have been augmented by computer controlled phase measuring techniques which are capable of greater accuracy and flexible real time data analysis. Key elements of the Phase Measuring Interferometer (PMI) system are a modified Twyman Green interferometer, a piezo driven reference mirror, detector, interface, and minicomputer system containing a graphic display, keyboard, and dry copier. Wavefront data are obtained by a direct measurement of phase difference over the aperture on a 32 x 32 element array. Several programs have been written to augment the capability of the basic system. System capabilities include standard isometric contour maps at variable sensitivity, wavefront subtraction and calibration modes, wavefront averaging, calculation and display of the MTF and Point Spread Function, determination of tilt and power over subapertures with respect to a defined standard aperture, and deconvolution of wavefront data to yield aberration coefficients.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Cell-Based Approach to the Human Proteome Project

The general scope of a project to determine the protein molecules that comprise the cells within the human body is framed. By focusing on protein primary structure as expressed in specific cell types, this concept for a cell-based version of the Human Proteome Project (CB-HPP) is crafted in a manner analogous to the Human Genome Project while recognizing that cells provide a primary context in which to define a proteome. Several activities flow from this articulation of the HPP, which enables the definition of clear milestones and deliverables. The CB-HPP highlights major gaps in our knowledge regarding cell heterogeneity and protein isoforms, and calls for development of technology that is capable of defining all human cell types and their proteomes. The main activities will involve mapping and sorting cell types combined with the application of beyond the state-of-the art in protein mass spectrometry.
Public perception of the foster care system: A national study

Abstract This study explores the American public's knowledge and perception of both the foster care system and foster parents, while examining the public's opinion of the foster care system's importance relative to other national social issues. Using random digit dialing techniques, this study asked 301 nationally representative respondents to complete a survey seeking their general knowledge and perception of the foster care system. Respondents revealed a largely positive attitude toward the foster care system, but the majority also believed that the system needed change and reform. Additionally, the results of this study reflected respondents' positive opinions regarding the motivations of foster parents while acknowledging some concern regarding the idea of financial compensation for foster parents. Respondents indicated a larger body of knowledge regarding the foster care system than was initially expected. However, when comparing the foster care system to other national social issues, respondents consistently placed the foster care system as less important and less serious than other social issues.
Informative feedback conditions and verbal-discrimination learning in elderly subjects

Verbal-discrimination learning was investigated in elderly Ss under three different informative feedback conditions: Right-Wrong (RW), Right-Nothing (RN), and Wrong-Nothing (WN). In contrast to studies with younger Ss, Group WN displayed a slower rate of acquisition than Groups RW and RN, with the latter two groups being comparable. A successive probability analysis indicated that the slower rate under WN resulted from a perseveration of incorrect selections.
Effect of TGF-β1 on re-epithelialization of human keratinocytes in vitro: An organotypic model

Abstract Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) has been shown to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation in vitro yet to stimulate wound healing in vivo . To explore this apparent paradox, the effect of TGF-β1 on proliferation and migration was investigated in organotypic cultures after incisional wounding. Organotypic cultures provide a more in vivo -like epidermal tissue and may therefore respond in a different manner than previous culture models in which epidermal differentiation is incomplete. Without TGF-β1, keratinocytes were hyperproliferative in response to wounding. At doses of 2.5 ng/ml or greater, a delay in re-epithelialization was seen at 24 h post-wounding along with a reduction in hyperproliferation. By 48 h, however, re-epithelialization was complete in all cultures treated with TGF-β1. In particular, 7 ng/ml TGF-β1 inhibited proliferation yet had no effect on re-epithelialization by 48 h. These studies demonstrate that i) TGF-β1 induced a delay in re-epithelialization, ii) proliferation of wounded keratinocytes was not inhibited at 2.5 ng/ml doses of TGF-β1, and iii) at 7 ng/ml TGF-β1, re-epithelialization was complete by 48 h in spite of the profound inhibition of cell proliferation. In the organotypic model, TGF-β1 appears to alter re-epithelialization.
Cell interactions in plants.

Plant cells interact during development through diverse mechanisms that range from genetically encoded signals to physical stresses. Pollen self-incompatibility is the best understood cell interaction in plants. Analysis of genes that appear to be involved in specific developmental signals, such as liguleless 1 from maize and GLABROUS1 from Arabidopsis , will provide clues as to the nature of cell interactions in plant development. Recent data suggest that intercellular connections may be more similar in plants and animals than previously thought.
Circulation, respiratory volumes and temperature regulation of the pigeon in dry and humid heat

Abstract 1. 1. In an 8 km/hr breeze pigeons survived T a s † of 54·5°C in dry air and 42·5°C at 96% r.h. 2. 2. Blood pressure remained relatively constant in the heat. 3. 3. Relative humidity had no effect on the Tb or Ta at which the f first began to increase, but thereafter as the f slowly increased r.h. had a marked effect on evaporative cooling. 4. 4. Maximal f's of 650/min with VT's of 3–4 ml produced a VE max of 2·4 1/min at a Tb of 46°C. This VE max was 23–25 times that during rest. 5. 5. The body plethysmograph, used to monitor respiration, blocked cutaneous evaporation of water which significantly hampered the pigeons' ability to thermoregulate when compared to free-standing controls.
The potential use of nisin to control Listeria monocytogenes in poultry

Nisin (NisaplinTM) was added to scald water and used to treat Listeria monocytogenes which were either directly suspended in the water or attached to turkey skin. There was at least a 1 log decrease of listeria for the nisin treatments. This was followed by further reductions when the samples were stored under refrigeration. Heat exhibited a synergistic relationship with the nisin when the cells were directly suspended in the scald water. A 2 log decrease was observed immediately after this treatment and there was complete elimination of the listeria after 48 h of refrigeration. However, this relationship was not as obvious when the cells were first attached to the turkey skin. In these latter experiments, the nisin treatments resulted in reductions in the listeria levels but they were smaller than those observed when the cells were directly suspended in the scald water.
Self-Organization of Mother-Child Instructional Dyads and Later Attention Disorder

Instructor-learner interactions are viewed from the perspective of dynamically self-organizing, coordinated systems. Mothers were asked to instruct their preterm and full-term 24-month-old children to sort blocks according to size and color (a challenging task for children of this age). Dyads were observed for their ability to find a mutual and stable instructional relationship. Dyads in which the child was later identified as having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were marked by significantly less stable organization, less mutuality, and greater perturbations in the system. Mothers of children later found to have ADHD tended to apply stronger constraints than those whose children grew up to have no identified school problems. Implications are drawn for optimal instruction of children who are at risk for central nervous system disorders.
A TELEOLOGICAL VIEW OF OBESITY, DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION

1. The current worldwide epidemic of obesity and its major complications, namely type 2 diabetes and hypertension, is well documented. The present mini-review develops the thesis that 'thrifty' metabolic traits, evolved in the setting of intermittent famine, contribute to the obesity pandemic. 2. These thrifty traits, namely a decreased capacity for dietary thermogenesis and an increased resistance to insulin-mediated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, would prolong survival during famine but predispose to obesity and diabetes in the face of abundance. The regulation of dietary thermogenesis by the sympathetic nervous system also explains the well-established association between obesity and high blood pressure. 3. These observations provide a deep-seated rationale for the efficacy of lifestyle interventions in the treatment of obesity and its complications and may also provide a predicate for the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at neutralizing the impact of these thrifty traits. Such strategies may entail, for example, therapeutic agents that enhance metabolic rate during low-energy diets, thereby reversing the physiological impediment imposed by suppression of the sympathetic nervous system.
From the child's perspective: A qualitative analysis of kinship care placements

Abstract Kinship care is not a new phenomenon; a relative caring for children who cannot remain in the home of their biological parents has long been a community strategy utilized to preserve families [Hegar, R. L. (1999). The cultural roots of kinship. In R. L. Hegar & M. Scannapieco (Eds.), Kinship foster care (pp. 17−27). New York, NY: Oxford University Press]. Though there is a long and informal tradition of kinship care, the realization within child welfare that kin may be a valuable resource within the foster care system is relatively recent. Therefore, kinship care research does not match its utilization; indeed, it is only a very few studies that describe, from the child's perspective, the experience of living in the care of a relative [Brown, S., Cohon, D., & Wheeler, R. (2002). African American extended families and kinship care: How relevant is the foster care model to kinship care. Children and Youth Services Review , 24 (1/2), 53–77; Chipman, R., Wells, S. J., & Johnson, M. A. (2002). The meaning of quality in kinship foster care: Caregiver, child, and worker perspectives. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services , 508–521]. The aim of this research is to provide a descriptive analysis of kinship care from the child's perspective. Eight focus groups were conducted ( n = 40) with children living with kinship caregivers; the topics of discussion centered around transitional issues, family relationships, the stigma of being in care, and the child's perceived stability of their placement.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation and Sexual Phenomena

Nine cases of sexual phenomena that occurred with use of nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation are described. Dentists involved routinely used concentrations of nitrous oxide greater than 50% and did not have assistants in the room during dental procedures. Recommendations on the concentrations of nitrous oxide and the presence of an assistant are made.
Discrete wavelet transform to improve guided-wave-based health monitoring of tendons and cables

Multi-wire steel strands are used in civil structures as pre-stressing tendons in prestressed concrete and as stay-cables in cable-stayed and suspension bridges. Monitoring the structural performance of these components is important to ensure the proper functioning and safety of the entire structure. Among the various NDE techniques that are under investigation for monitoring tendons and cables, the use of ultrasonic guided waves shows good promises. The main advantage of this approach is the possibility for the simultaneous monitoring of loads and detection of defects, such as corrosion and broken wires, by using the same ultrasonic setup. Load monitoring is achieved by measuring the travel time of the wave across a given length of the cable. Defect detection is achieved by measuring the reflections of the wave from the geometrical discontinuities. The new contributions of the current paper are two-fold. First, the study identifies those ultrasonic frequencies propagating with low attenuation for long-range defect detection. Second, the technique is substantially improved by implementing the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) as a data post-processing tool. The data de-noising and data compression abilities of the DWT allow for greater sensitivity, larger ranges and higher monitoring speed. It is shown that the implementation of the DWT in the ultrasonic guided-wave technique becomes necessary for monitoring tendons and cables in the field.
Mobilization of Plasmacytoid and Myeloid Dendritic Cells to Mucosal Sites in Children with Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Other Viral Respiratory Infections

Background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the principal etiologic agent of bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia in infants and young children. Yet, many aspects of its immunopathogenesis are not well understood. Methods. We analyzed the immune cells that are mobilized by RSV and other respiratory viruses, by studying nasal wash samples from children hospitalized with acute viral respiratory infections. Results. RSV mobilizes virtually all blood immune cells, including myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), to the nasal mucosa. DCs were also mobilized to the nasal mucosa of children with other viral respiratory infections. The increased number of pDCs in the nasal compartment significantly correlates with RSV load (P = .022), and it is associated with a significant decrease in the number of pDCs in the blood (P = .007). The influx of DCs in the nasal mucosa is not transient, as even higher numbers of both DC subsets were found in respiratory secretions weeks after the acute symptoms of RSV infection had resolved. Immunochemistry analysis of respiratory samples has demonstrated the presence of the RSV fusion protein within HLA-DR-positive cells. Conclusion. Infection with RSV and other respiratory viruses mobilizes DCs to the site of viral entry.
The electrical behavior of CdSe between room temperature and 600 °C

The conductivity and Hall mobility of CdSe have been measured between room temperature and 600 °C to elucidate the changes in electrically active point defect concentrations that occur during cooling from high temperatures. Measurements were made on undoped, lightly Cu-doped and In-doped samples, all of which exhibited low resistivity n-type behavior. Based upon the temperature dependence of the electron concentration, it is proposed that Cu is the dominant electrically active defect in both undoped and Cu-doped samples and is involved in an interstitial-substitutional exchange. For the In-doped material, the impurity donor appeared to be fully ionized below 350 °C. Die Leitfahigkeit und der Halleffekt von CdSe wurden zwischen Raumtemperatur und 600 °C gemessen, um die Veranderungen der Konzentrationen elektrisch aktiver Fehlstellen zu studieren, die sich wahrend des Abkuhlens von hohen Temperaturen einstellen. Die Messungen wurden an undotierten, leicht Cu-dotierten und leicht In-dotierten Proben vorgenommen, die alle geringen Widerstand und n-Leitung zeigten. Auf Grund der Temperatur-abhangigkeit der Elektronenkonzentrationen wird angenommen, das sowohl im undotierten als auch im Cu-dotierten Material Cu als der elektrisch aktive Defekt dominiert und sich an einem Zwischengitterplatz-Substitutionsstorstellen-Austausch beteiligt. Im In-dotiertem Material scheint unterhalb von 350 °C der Fremd-Donator vollig ionisiert zu sein.
Optimal pulse-inversion imaging for microsphere contrast agents

Microbubbles are used as contrast agents because they scatter incident ultrasound (US) efficiently. Pulse-inversion imaging makes use of the asymmetrical difference in response of a bubble to an US pulse and its symmetrical opposite to obtain improved contrast. In this theoretical work, the principle of pulse-inversion imaging is expanded upon by finding the optimal pulse shape to maximize the signal from a bubble. Given a limit on driving intensity, a suitable norm of the bubble response is maximized using optimal control theory to identify the proper pulse/antipulse driving protocol for a single bubble. The optimal pulse yields a several-fold increase in the normed response over the best sinusoidal pulse of the same driving intensity. It was found that the optimal driving for a single bubble also maximizes the nonlinear response of the cloud if its mean bubble size is the same as that of the single bubble.
The heart and pediatric rheumatology

Recent advances in Kawasaki disease have included attempts to define genes involved in its pathogenesis. There have been recent advances in the studies of rheumatic carditis, leading to a better understanding of the mechanism of the disease. Histologic evaluation of patients with neonatal lupus erythematosus has revealed fibrosis with collagen deposition and calcification of the atrioventricular node. Therapy for cardiac involvement in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis should involve treatment of the underlying disease and systemic inflammatory state, and typically includes nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, disease-modifying drugs, and biologic therapies targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6.
TEACHERS' REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM BEHAVIOR OF CHILDREN IN THEIR CLASSROOMS

Research examining teachers' judgments of children's behavior has typically used archival data, staged videos, or written vignettes describing children's behavior. The main advantage of using staged videos and written vignettes has been that those methodologies have led to well-controlled studies. The main disadvantage is that little is known about teachers' perceptions of the problems of children in their own classrooms. In the current study, 111 first-, second-, and third-grade teachers described children in their classrooms whose behavior concerned them. Teachers identified significantly more children with externalizing problems than internalizing problems and significantly more boys than girls as having problems that concerned them However, when teachers identified children as having internalizing problems, they were just as likely to judge them as needing referral as children with externalizing problems. Similarly, when teachers judged children to have problems that concerned them, they were just as ...
Including Pupils with Special Educational Needs: beyond rhetoric and towards an understanding of effective classroom practice

Abstract The future of educational provision for pupils with special educational needs can be seen to be central to educational debate across Europe and the USA. Legislation from many countries has focused upon the means by which the achievement of a more inclusive education system can be achieved. This article suggests that whilst the socio‐political and moral arguments for inclusion have been well established, insufficient attention has been given to the development of an understanding of classroom practices which are conducive to creating an inclusive education system. The moral imperative for inclusion is clear and few teachers would deny that a move towards a more equitable education system should be regarded as a priority. Yet, moves towards the achievement of greater inclusion have been slow. Existing research has demonstrated that under some circumstances inclusion can be efficacious, yet many teachers remain uncertain with regard to its implementation in their schools. This article argues that th...
Improving sketch reconstruction accuracy using linear least squares method

Sketch is a sublinear space data structure that allows one to approximately reconstruct the value associated with any given key in an input data stream. It is the basis for answering a number of fundamental queries on data streams, such as range queries, finding quantiles, frequent items, etc. In the networking context, sketch has been applied to identifying heavy hitters and changes, which is critical for traffic monitoring, accounting, and network anomaly detection.In this paper, we propose a novel approach called lsquare to significantly improve the reconstruction accuracy of the sketch data structure. Given a sketch and a set of keys, we estimate the values associated with these keys by constructing a linear system and finding the optimal solution for the system using linear least squares method. We use a large amount of real Internet traffic data to evaluate lsquare against countmin, the state-of-the-art sketch scheme. Our results suggest that given the same memory requirement, lsquare achieves much better reconstruction accuracy than countmin. Alternatively, given the same reconstruction accuracy, lsquare requires significantly less memory. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach.
The structure of a partially solid alloy

An apparatus is described that permits continuous production of partially solidified slurries of Sn-15 pct Pb alloy. The slurries thus produced can be cast into ingots semi-continuously. Results of earlier fundamental studies carried out on a high temperature viscometer are verified by an extensive number of experiments carried out in this apparatus. The three important process variables affecting structure and viscosity of a slurry are: average shear and cooling rates during primary solidification and volume fraction solid in the slurry. Increasing the average cooling rate makes the primary solid particles smaller and more uniform in size, but increases the amount of entrapped liquid in each particle. Increasing the average shear rate affects particle size and uniformity of size similarly, except this effect is noted only at low cooling rates. Primary solid particle size in a vigorously agitated slurry is approximately the same as primary dendrite arm spacing in a conventional casting solidified at equivalent cooling rate. As the volume fraction solid in a slurry increases, so do its primary solid particle size and viscosity.
Structure of an enzyme-derived phosphoprotein recognition domain.

Membrane Associated Guanylate Kinases (MAGUKs) contain a protein interaction domain (GKdom) derived from the enzyme Guanylate Kinase (GKenz). Here we show that GKdom from the MAGUK Discs large (Dlg) is a phosphoprotein recognition domain, specifically recognizing the phosphorylated form of the mitotic spindle orientation protein Partner of Inscuteable (Pins). We determined the structure of the Dlg-Pins complex to understand the dramatic transition from nucleotide kinase to phosphoprotein recognition domain. The structure reveals that the region of the GKdom that once served as the GMP binding domain (GBD) has been co-opted for protein interaction. Pins makes significantly more contact with the GBD than does GMP, but primarily with residues that are conserved between enzyme and domain revealing the versatility of the GBD as a platform for nucleotide and protein interactions. Mutational analysis reveals that the GBD is also used to bind the GK ligand MAP1a, suggesting that this is a common mode of MAGUK complex assembly. The GKenz undergoes a dramatic closing reaction upon GMP binding but the protein-bound GKdom remains in the ‘open’ conformation indicating that the dramatic conformational change has been lost in the conversion from nucleotide kinase to phosphoprotein recognition domain.
Cell Compatibility of Fibrin Sealants: In Vitro Study with Cells Involved in Soft Tissue Repair:

Fibrin sealants can be used to support tissue regeneration or as vehicles for delivery of cells in tissue engineering. Differences in the composition of fibrin sealants, however, could determine the success of such applications. The results presented in this article show clear differences between Fibrin sealant A (FS A) clots and Fibrin sealant B (FS B) clots with respect to their compatibility with primary human cells involved in soft tissue repair. FS A clots, which are characterized by a physiological coarse fibrin structure, promoted attachment, spreading, and proliferation of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. In contrast, FS B clots displaying a fine to medium clot structure failed to support spreading of all three cell types. Adhesion of keratinocytes was decreased on FS B clots compared to FS A clots after 3 h incubation, whereas number of attached fibroblasts and endothelial cells was initially comparable between the two fibrin sealants. However, all three cell types proliferated on FS A clots but no sustained proliferation was detected on FS B clots. We further demonstrate that the observed differences between FS A and B clots are partly based upon 1 M sodium chloride extractable constituents, like thrombin, and partly on nonextractable constituents or the fibrin structure. In conclusion, our in vitro results demonstrate that FS A clots serve as a provisional matrix that encourages adhesion and growth of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Therefore, FS A seems to be well suited for applications in tissue engineering.
Panoramic stitching for driver assistance and applications to motion saliency-based risk analysis

Cameras can provide the capability for surround vehicle analysis and intuitive visualization for driver support in critical situations. As salient objects can be distributed anywhere around the vehicle, a wide view of the surround has many benefits for studying driver behavior in a holistic manner, as well as developing effective driver assistance systems. In this work, we are concerned with the hardware setup and calibration needed to provide such stitched views. In particular, views with large translation differences, many moving objects, and large changes in brightness are handled. We show the qualitative effects of calibration scene and camera orientation on common stitching algorithms. Finally, we analyze the stitched view for salient objects to detect critical events.
An analytical investigation of swirl in annular propulsive nozzles

An analytical performance prediction methodology for annular propulsive nozzles with swirl introduced in the combustor upstream of the nozzle is presented. The application of that methodology to a specific nozzle design for a free vortex swirl distribution is discussed. Discharge coefficients, specific impulses, and wall pressure distributions are presented. These numerical studies show that the discharge coefficient, thrust, and specific impulse decrease as the amount of swirl increases. This methodology will enable nozzle designers to account for the effects of swirl in nozzle design.
Design patterns for open tool integration

Design tool integration is a highly relevant area of software engineering that can greatly improve the efficiency of development processes. Design patterns have been widely recognized as important contributors to the success of software systems. This paper describes and compares two large-grain, architectural design patterns that solve specific design tool integration problems. Both patterns have been implemented and used in real-life engineering processes.
Effects of Free Fatty Acids on Synaptosomal Amino Acid Uptake Systems

The Na+-dependent synaptosomal uptakes of proline, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and gamma-aminobutyric acid were strong inhibited by monounsaturated fatty acids. With oleic acid, half-maximal inhibition was observed at about 15 microM. The Na+-independent uptakes of leucine, phenylalanine, histidine, and valine were less sensitive to inhibition by the unsaturated fatty acids. In contrast, the uptakes of all of these amino acids were unaffected by saturated fatty acids. The inhibition of proline uptake (and that of the other Na+-dependent amino acids) by oleic acid was overcome by the addition of serum albumin and the data presented further indicate that the previously reported stimulation of proline uptake by albumin could be related to its fatty acid binding properties.
Ovarian Function in Dairy Heifers Following Hysterectomy

Summary Follicular growth, ovulation, corpus luteum formation, and luteal regression were investigated in hysterectomized dairy heifers. Simultaneous hysterectomy and corpus luteum removal were followed by relatively normal follicular growth, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation in five of seven heifers. These post-operative corpora lutea appeared to persist similarly to those formed prior to hysterectomy. Corpora lutea formed prior to hysterectomy and marked for future identification at the time of hysterectomy in 12 heifers failed to regress. When these corpora lutea were examined 20 days after hysterectomy, their total progesterone content equalled that of corpora lutea removed 9–11 days postestrus. However, the persistent corpora lutea differed in that they contained appreciable levels of Δ 4 -pregnen-20B-ol-3-one in addition to progesterone. Ten daily injections of crude or urea-incubated aqueous extracts of bovine hypophysial tissue did not decrease the progesterone content of the corpora lutea which persist following hysterectomy. On the contrary, administration of the crude extracts increased the total weight and progesterone content of many of the corpora lutea; extracts previously incubated with urea to inactivate the luteinizing hormone component had no stimulatory effect on the corpora.
Displacive Phase Transformations and Phonons

The use of first principles calculations to help understand materials properties has gone from wishful thinking, to feasible, to invaluable, largely because of the doubling of computing power every 18 months for the last 30 years,. We are still, however, just beginning the era when such calculations will become a factor in the synthesis, processing, and development of materials by design. Other papers in these proceedings demonstrate the utility of modern electronic structure calculations, particularly in arriving at the low temperature ground state configurations and energies. In this paper we focus on the use of such calculations to determine the stability of a material or compound of fixed stoichiometry as a function of temperature or pressure. Our emphasis will be on displacive structural phase transformations from one crystal symmetry to another. The goal of the studies reviewed is to identify and understand the details of the microscopic electronic interactions responsible for the transformations. In this manuscript we illustrate by way of a few prototypical examples the kind of information attainable with modern computational resources. The materials to be considered include Ba, Na, and the intermetallic compounds NiTi and NiAl. We conclude with some speculation on how massively parallel computers will soon enhance the theoretical landscape.
EC-GLRT: Detecting Weak Plumes in Non-Gaussian Hyperspectral Clutter Using an Elliptically-Contoured Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test

We investigate the behavior of a detector for weak gaseous plumes in hyperspectral imagery that can be derived in terms of a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) applied to an elliptically-contoured (EC) model for the distribution of background clutter. Two limiting cases of this EC-GLRT detector are the adaptive matched filter (AMF) and the adaptive coherence estimator (ACE). While the general EC-GLRT detector does not share the specific optimality or invariance properties exhibited by these limiting cases, it provides an in-between model that can be competitive with both of them over a broad range of scenarios.
Distributed algorithm design for multi-robot task assignment with deadlines for tasks

In this paper, we present provably-good algorithms for multi-robot task assignment, where each task has to be completed within its deadline. Each robot has a upper limit on the maximum number of tasks that it can perform due to its limited battery life, and each task takes the same amount of time to complete. Each robot has a different payoff (or cost) for the tasks and the objective is to assign the tasks to the robots such that the total payoff (cost) is maximized (minimized) while respecting the task deadline constraints. This problem is an extension of a special generalized assignment problem (where each task consumes the same time resource and must be finished), with additional deadline constraints for the time resource assignment. We show that the problem can be reduced to a problem of assigning tasks to robots, where the tasks are organized in overlapping sets, and each robot has a limit on the number of tasks it can perform from each set, which is a variant of multi-robot assignment problem with set precedence constraint (SPC-MAP) discussed in [1].We present a distributed auction-based algorithm for this problem and prove that the solution is almost-optimal. We also present simulation results to depict the performance of our algorithm.
An integrated framework for MC-CDMA reception in the presence of frequency offsets, phase noise, and fast fading

The combination of code-division multiple-access and multicarrier (MC) modulation has been proposed to develop high data-rate wireless communication systems. Due to the longer symbol duration in comparison with single-carrier systems, MC systems are more sensitive to various imperfections, including phase noise and frequency offsets due to local oscillators and Doppler spreading due to motion that results in temporal channel variations. The performance of current systems is significantly limited by these imperfections because they disperse the transmitted power in a particular subcarrier into adjacent subcarriers, thereby causing interference between the subcarriers at the receiver. We consider a single-user communication system and use a canonical model for the received signal that efficiently captures the effects of all impairments. The model uses Fourier basis functions that are fixed for all imperfections while the expansion coefficients depend on imperfections. Using the model, we introduce a receiver structure that implements the matched filter (MF), and hence, optimal. The MF is implemented through a Rake receiver in the frequency domain. The receiver fully compensates for frequency offsets as well as phase noise, thereby eliminating the performance loss due to these factors. Furthermore, in contrast to existing designs, it delivers improved performance under fast fading by exploiting Doppler diversity. Finally, the same integrated receiver structure works for all imperfections eliminating the need for devising a separate correction technique for each.
Wound Closure and Metabolic Parameter Variability in a db/db Mouse Model for Diabetic Ulcers

Background Diabetic foot ulcers are a major cause of nontraumatic lower extremity amputations. Wound-healing researchers commonly use db/db mice as a model for diabetes, while the excisional wound correlates well with chronic foot ulcers. Recent clinical trials identified a correlation between glycemic control and cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if the severity of diabetes was related to poor wound healing and the broad wound closure variability observed in diabetic db/db mice. Materials and methods Adult female C57BLKS/J, db+/−, and db/db mice were anesthetized followed by creation of a 1.5 × 1.5 cm full-thickness excisional wound. Wound closure was measured on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21. Weight, fasting blood glucose, and fasting insulin were also measured during the study. Results By POD 21 both wild-type and db+/− mice demonstrated complete wound closure. In db/db mice open wounds were still present at POD 21. There was a broad range of percent wound closure from 24 to 81% with a mean of 55%. Despite strong correlations between diabetic parameters, there was no significant correlation between wound closure rate and severity of diabetes. Conclusions Diabetic db/db mice exhibit a significant impairment of healing in the excisional wound model. The variability of wound closure for individual mice did not correlate with severity of obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, or insulin resistance. An extensive evaluation of basic diabetes parameters does not provide significant insight into the wound-healing process in the db/db mouse model.
Predicting performance during clinical years from the new medical college admission test

The results of a predictive validity study of the new Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) using criteria from the clinical years of undergraduate medical education are presented and discussed. The criteria included course grades and faculty ratings of clerks in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry; scores on a comprehensive test of clinical knowledge (including patient management type examinations); and scores on Part II of the examinations of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). While the validity coefficients of the MCAT with the Part II examinations ranged from .03 to .47, they were higher than those of undergraduate grade-point averages with the same criteria. The implications of the small-to-medium size validity coefficients for admissions are discussed.
Purposeful abstractions: thoughts on creating business network models

Purpose – This paper expresses the author's viewpoint on how to advance research and practice on managing business networks and addressing convergence across industries.Design/method/approach – The paper is based on the authors extensive prior research in strategy and business experience.Findings – The author suggests differentiating networks by purpose and framing role spaces can be useful abstractions that help researchers study networks and managers to navigate the design of networks. The author raises critical questions around business network design.Originality/value – The paper presents novel suggestions for studying business networks in a pragmatic way.
FaReS: Fair Resource Scheduling for VMM-Bypass InfiniBand Devices

In order to address the high performance I/O needs of HPC and enterprise applications, modern interconnection fabrics, such as InfiniBand and more recently, 10GigE, rely on network adapters with RDMA capabilities. In virtualized environments, these types of adapters are configured in a manner that bypasses the hypervisor and allows virtual machines (VMs) direct device access, so that they deliver near-native low-latency/high-bandwidth I/O. One challenge with the bypass approach is that it causes the hypervisor to lose control over VM-device interactions, including the ability to monitor such interactions and to ensure fair resource usage by VMs. Fairness violations, however, permit low-priority VMs to affect the I/O allocations of other higher priority VMs and more generally, lack of supervision can lead to inefficiencies in the usage of platform resources. This paper describes the FaReS system-level mechanisms for monitoring VMs' usage of bypass I/O devices. Monitoring information acquired with FaReS is then used to adjust VMM-level scheduling in order to improve resource utilization and/or ensure fairness properties across the sets of VMs sharing platform resources. FaReS employs a memory introspection-based tool for asynchronously monitoring VMM-bypass devices, using InfiniBand HCAs as a concrete example. FaReS and its very low overhead (
Uncertainty and Worst-Case Analysis in Electrical Measurements Using Polynomial Chaos Theory

In this paper, the authors propose an analytical method for estimating the possible worst-case measurement due to the propagation of uncertainty. This analytical method uses polynomial chaos theory (PCT) to formally include the effects of uncertainty as it propagates through an indirect measurement. The main assumption is that an analytical model of the measurement process is available. To demonstrate the use of PCT to assess a worst-case measurement, the authors present two examples. The first one involves the use of PCT to estimate the possible worst case of a measurement due to the propagation of parametric uncertainty of a low-pass filter. This case study concerns the analysis of nonlinear effects on the propagation of uncertainty of a signal-conditioning stage used in power measurement. In this paper, the PCT method is applied to determine the probability density function (pdf) of magnitude and phase of the frequency response of the filter and their impact on the power measurement. Of particular interest is the use of PCT to determine the worst-case, expected-case, and best-case effects of the filter, avoiding the reconstruction of the complete pdf of the filter output. The results illustrate the potential of this method to determine the significant boundary of measurement uncertainty, even when the uncertainty propagates through a nonlinear nonpolynomial function. In the second example, the authors use PCT to perform a worst-case analysis for an indirect measurement of a loop impedance. For both examples, the PCT method is compared with the numerical Monte Carlo analysis and the analytical method described in the guide on uncertainty on measurements (GUM).