cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low grip strength, impaired tongue force and hyperactivity induced by overexpression of neurotrophin-3 in mouse skeletal muscle

Transgenic mice overexpressing neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in skeletal muscle (mlc/NT-3 mice) develop abnormal muscle spindles in skeletal muscle and display abnormal motor function in the form of gait and locomotive disturbances. The purpose of this work was to characterize the functional consequences of NT-3 overexpression in skeletal muscle with further behavioral assessments that permitted inferences about muscle weakness in the tongue or forelimbs as well as potential central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities compared to wild-type controls. Wild-type (n=12) and mlc/NT-3 (n=12) male mice were tested in five procedures (in chronological order): lick dynamics, locomotor activity, grid ataxia, go-no-go discrimination procedure, and grip strength. Relative to wild-type mice, the mlc/NT-3 mice exhibited lower tongue force, hyperactivity, slowed limb retrieval in the grid ataxia test, similar discrimination performance, and lower grip strength. Overall, the data suggest that chronically elevated levels of NT-3 in mouse skeletal muscle cause muscle weakness in the mlc/NT-3 mice. Surprisingly, mlc/NT-3 mice also exhibited significant hyperactivity, suggesting that NT-3 overexpression in the periphery may have caused abnormalities in the CNS that are related to the cortical processing of proprioceptive afferent information.
Influence of Transmural Pressure and Cytoskeletal Structure on NF-κB Activation in Respiratory Epithelial Cells.

Respiratory epithelial cells are exposed to complex mechanical forces which are often modulated during pathological conditions such as Otitis Media and acute lung injury. The transduction of these mechanical forces into altered inflammatory signaling may play an important role in the persistence of disease conditions and inflammation. In this study, we investigated how static and oscillatory pressures altered the activation of NF-κB inflammatory pathways and how changes in the actin cytoskeleton influenced the mechanotransduction of pressure into NF-κB activation. An in vitro system was used to apply static and oscillatory pressures to alveolar epithelial cells cultured at an air–liquid interface. Latrunculin A and Jasplakinolide were used to alter the cytoskeleton and tight-junction structure and ELISA was used to monitor activation of NF-κB. Results indicate that both static and oscillatory pressures can activate NF-κB and that this activation is magnitude-dependent at low oscillation frequencies only. Jasplakinolide treated cells did not exhibit significant changes in normalized NF-κB activation compared to unloaded controls while Latrunculin treated cells exhibited increases in normalized NF-κB activation only at low frequency or static pressures. These results indicate that altering the actin cytoskeleton may be a useful way to mitigate the mechanotransduction of pressure forces into inflammatory signaling.
Coadsorption of sulfate anions and silver adatoms on the Au(111) single crystal electrode. Ex situ and in situ comparison

Abstract Interactions of sulfate anions in diluted sulfuric acid solutions with the Ag Au(111) surface were studied using Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Core Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (CEELS) and electrochemistry. At electrode potentials more positive than those within the silver deposition range sulfate adsorbate forms an ordered Au(111)(√3 × √3)R30 ° adlattice, and gives rise to a corresponding, but diffuse, LEED pattern. Following extensive rinsing procedure, silver forms two well-ordered structures, Au(111)p(3 × 3) and Au(111)p(5 × 5). However, AFM images reveal a clear p(3 × 3)-4Ag structure, which condenses to a close packed p(1 × 1)-Ag overlayer at more negative potentials. Distinctive S(LMM) Auger electron transitions and the S(L2,3) core electron energy loss of the sulfate adsorbate show a characteristic S6+ sulfur valency, giving evidence that the sulfur oxidation state is not altered in the ultra-high vacuum environment following solution/vacuum transfer.
Rotation of a closed torus in the slip regime

Abstract During the eighties, Williams investigated analytically the role of jump and slip conditions on neutron diffusion and torque and drag on non-spherical single as well as multiple bodies. This work is of fundamental importance in nuclear science and engineering as well as in aerosol sciences. The investigations related to curvilinear geometries, as the analytical techniques are necessarily applicable to such geometries only, but these provided a range of results and insights not available previously. Inspired by this work, we have been exploring a method based on use of Green's function to solve numerically a range of problems relating to condensation on arbitrarily shaped particles and the torque and drag on them in the jump and the slip regimes. In this paper, we review briefly an analytical result of Williams on torque on a closed torus, and find that the numerical results are in good agreement with this expression.
Human aberrant crypt foci with carcinoma in situ from a patient with sporadic colon cancer

Aberrant crypt foci are putative preneoplastic lesions found in the colons of carcinogen-treated rodents and at an increased frequency in humans at increased risk for colon cancer. There is a strong association between aberrant crypt foci and colon cancer, including many shared phenotypic and genetic alterations. The aim of this study is to present further evidence of a relationship between aberrant crypt foci and colon cancer in humans. Multiple aberrant crypt foci from a single patient were identified in unembedded colonic mucosa. Histological sections of the aberrant crypt foci and adjacent mucosa were evaluated for dysplasia, proliferative activity, and pigment-laden macrophages that were characterized with histochemical techniques. The first patient with sporadic colon cancer identified with aberrant crypt foci with carcinoma in situ is described. It is interesting that this 99-year-old patient had multiple carcinomas in situ, pseudomelanosis coli, and two metachronous colon cancers. These data lend support to the hypothesis that aberrant crypt foci are precursors of some colon cancers.
After Digital Storytelling: Video Composing in the New Media Age

Abstract This paper considers the composing processes for novice moviemakers and the disciplinary, pedagogical, and epistemological ramifications of these by using two student case studies. The current model of video composing as a sequential series of temporally discrete steps, made famous by the Center for Digital Storytelling, is predicated on the logic of old media and, thus, may no longer be sufficient to account for the new media composing processes that emerge with new media interfaces. In place of a linear and sequential process of video composing, we suggest expanding the predominant model to account for a simultaneous, multiply-recursive process that involves the semiotic channels of image, sound, and word.
Educational Leadership and the Crisis of Democratic Government

This article is organized around three major assumptions. First, it argues that the current crisis of American schooling is symptomatic of a broader crisis in the meaning and practice of American democracy. Second, it contends that the dominant approaches to educational reform, particularly America 2000, appear to be at odds with educating students to be informed, critical citizens capable of actively participating in shaping and governing a democratic society. Third, it calls for educators to refashion educational leadership through a language of critique and possibility that expands and deepens the possibility for cultural and political democracy. In short, the article suggests that educational reformers need to expand the purpose and promise of schooling beyond the narrow interests of the marketplace, view multicultural education as central to living in a democratic society, refuse to equate nationalism with monoculturalism, and substitute the language of community, solidarity, and public responsibilit...
Pavement distress detection and severity analysis

Automatic recognition of road distresses has been an important research area since it reduces economic loses before cracks and potholes become too severe. Existing systems for automated pavement defect detection commonly require special devices such as lights, lasers, etc, which dramatically increase the cost and limit the system to certain applications. Therefore, in this paper, a low cost automatic pavement distress evaluation approach is proposed. This method can provide real-time pavement distress detection as well as evaluation results based on the color images captured from a camera installed on a survey vehicle. The entire process consists of two main parts: pavement surface extraction followed by pavement distress detection and classification. In the first part, a novel color segmentation method based on a feed forward neural network is applied to separate the road surface from the background. In the second part, a thresholding technique based on probabilistic relaxation is utilized to separate distresses from the road surface. Then, by inputting the geometrical parameters obtained from the detected distresses into a neural network based pavement distress classifier, the defects can be classified into different types. Simulation results are given to show that the proposed method is both effective and reliable on a variety of pavement images.
Watching vibrational energy transfer in liquids with atomic spatial resolution

Ultrafast spectroscopy was used to study vibrational energy transfer between vibrational reporter groups on different parts of a molecule in a liquid. When OH stretching vibrations of different alcohols were excited by mid-infrared laser pulses, vibrational energy was observed to move through intervening CH2 or CH groups, taking steps up and down in energy, ending up at terminal CH3 groups. For each additional CH2 group in the path between OH and CH3, the time for vibrational energy transfer increased by about 0.4 picosecond.
Cardiovascular and neurophysiologic changes during graded duration of apnea in piglets.

To examine the interrelationship between the duration of apnea and changes in oxygen saturation, blood pressure, electroencephalogram (EEG), and heart rate, reflex apnea of 10, 20, 40, and 60 s duration was induced by stimulating the superior laryngeal nerves. Pig- lets (n = 11, age 5-14 days) were chronically instrumented for continuous monitoring of SaOz and blood pressure and for sampling arterial blood. Ventilation was recorded using whole body plethysmography and EEG and electrocardi- ogram were measured by acutely placed subcutaneous elec- trodes. Central apnea produced an immediate rise in blood pressure and a decrease in SaOz by 20 s. By 30 s into the apnea, EEG amplitude had already decreased. Major car- diac slowing did not occur until 80 s after the start of apnea. Hyperoxia delayed the start of desaturation, hyper- tension, and EEG attenuation. These data suggest that during superior laryngeal nerve-induced apnea in young piglets: 1) desaturation can reach profound levels rapidly, 2) EEG amplitude decreases substantially and becomes nearly isoelectric within 1 min, and 3) bradycardia is a late manifestation when compared to changes in oxygen satu- ration, blood pressure, and EEG. (Pediatr Res 23:402- 407,1988) Abbreviations SLN, superior laryngeal nerves EEG, electroencephalogram SaOz, arterial oxygen saturation MAP, mean arterial blood pressure EKG, electrocardiogram IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage
Fulminant right lower quadrant mass in a child.

A 3-YEAR-OLD PUERTO RICAN boy was admitted in June, 1970, for evaluation of an abdominal mass discovered four days prior to admission on routine physical examination. There was no history of weight loss, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, dysuria, hematuria, or parasites. Birth and neonatal history were normal, as were growth and development. He had been hospitalized at one month of age for bronchi'olitis, and developed asthma at nine months of age. Physical examination revealed normal vital signs. Examination of the ears, nose, throat, chest, and nervous system was normal. The abdomen was soft and nontender, with the liver edge palpable 1.5 cm below the right costal margin and no other organomegaly. There was a firm, smooth, movable, nontender 9 x 10 cm mass in the right lower quadrant. Rectal examination was unremarkable. There was no lymphadenopathy or skin rash. Hemogram on admission revealed a hemoglobin concentration of 11.3 gm/dl, hematocrit value 35%, white blood cell count 8,000/mm ~, with 41 neutrophils, 14 stabs, 40 lymphocytes, 3 monocytes, and 2 eosinophils, and an adequate number of platelets. Measurements of liver function were within normal limits. Urinalysis was normal and urinary vanillylmandelic acid was 2.1 mg/24 hours (normal:2 to 6 mg/24 hours). Intravenous pyelogi'aphy and bone survey for metastases were negative. Small and large bowel roentgenograms showed evidence of a mass approximately 6 cm from the terminal ileum. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a mass, arising in the region of the terminal ileum, with numerous regional enlarged lymph nodes. The mass and nodes were removed. Bone marrow biopsy was normal.
A mixed-metal salt comprised of metal-metal bonded dinuclear ions: structure and properties of [Rh2(OAc)2(MeCN)6][Re2Cl8]

Abstract The unusual salt [Rh2(OAc)2(MeCN)6][Re2Cl8] (1) is produced from a methathetic reaction of the salt [NBu4n]2[Re2Cl8] with [Rh2(OAc)2(MeCN)6][BF4]2. Crystal data for 1: Pccn, a=27.42(1), b=26.736(4), c=18.137(5) A, V=13.296(7) A3, Z=16, Dcalc=2.450 g/cm3, μ(Mo Kα)=90.05 cm−1, R=0.078, Rw=0.109 for 483 parameters and 5229 data with Fo2>3σ(Fo)2. The new salt constitutes the only example of a structure wherein the octachlorodirhenate unit is present in three different crystallographic environments in the same unit cell. The asymmetric unit contains two independent [Rh2]2+ cations together with one [Re2Cl8]2− anion at full occupancy and two dirhenium anions each at half-occupancy. The synthesis, structure, key spectroscopic properties and solution behavior of 1 are presented and discussed.
A Bayesian Semiparametric Model for Random-Effects Meta-Analysis

In meta-analysis, there is an increasing trend to explicitly acknowledge the presence of study variability through random-effects models. That is, one assumes that for each study there is a study-specific effect and one is observing an estimate of this latent variable. In a random-effects model, one assumes that these study-specific effects come from some distribution, and one can estimate the parameters of this distribution, as well as the study-specific effects themselves. This distribution is most often modeled through a parametric family, usually a family of normal distributions. The advantage of using a normal distribution is that the mean parameter plays an important role, and much of the focus is on determining whether or not this mean is 0. For example, it may be easier to justify funding further studies if it is determined that this mean is not 0. Typically, this normality assumption is made for the sake of convenience, rather than from some theoretical justification, and may not actually hold. W...
PCOR: A joint power control and routing scheme for rechargeable sensor networks

We propose PCOR, a power control and routing scheme for rechargeable wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that are characterized by spatial and temporal variations of energy resources. The proposed scheme is applied to asynchronous WSNs where overhearing plays a dominant role in the energy consumption. PCOR performs quality aware route selection while reducing the energy consumption in sensor nodes that have low remaining battery life through cooperative and network-wide adaptations of transmit power levels and parent selection. Performance evaluations are presented from extensive simulation studies as well as from an experimental testbed.
Effects of exogenous ghrelin infusion on feed intake and metabolic parameters of energy homeostasis in Standardbred mares

Six Standardbred mares (age 12±2 years, body weight 502±63 kg; mean ± standard deviation) were given 1.6 µg/kg acylated human ghrelin or vehicle treatment as an intravenous bolus in a randomised, cross-over design to test the hypothesis that exogenous ghrelin infusion would increase feed intake and alter metabolic parameters of energy homeostasis, leptin, glucose, insulin and cortisol. After the horses had initial access to hay cubes for 1.5 h, doses were given and hay cubes were available once again. Leftover feed was weighed 6 times over each of the 24 h testing periods. Blood samples for measurement of active ghrelin, growth hormone, leptin, glucose, insulin and cortisol were taken at time 0 (immediately before infusion) and 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 240, 480, and 720 min post-infusion. Every 10 min, the horses’ behaviour was recorded for eating, drinking, resting, and other behaviours. Ghrelin infusion did not increase (P≯0.05) feed intake in the mares as a group, but did increase feed intake (P<0.04)...
Functional Imaging of Matrix Structure of Cryopreserved Engineered Tissues Using Back-Directional Gated Mesoscopic Imaging

Successful cryopreservation of engineered tissues (ETs) can greatly advance the access and availability of cell/tissue engineering products for clinical use. One of the key challenges in cryopreserving ETs is that the functionality of ETs should be maintained throughout the preservation process. Many of the functionalities are associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure, which in turn can be a crucial marker for the post-thaw functionality. Recent studies also reported that the ECM microstructure can be affected by freezing-induced cell-fluid-matrix interactions.1–3 Thus, it is critical to assess three-dimensional (3-D) matrix structure of cryopreserved ETs in a non-destructive, non-invasive, and rapid manner.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Single particle tracking as a method to resolve differences in highly colocalized proteins

Single particle tracking fluorescence microscopy was used to study two late endosomal proteins, Rab7 and LAMP1, that appear to be highly colocalized in static fluorescence microscopy images. Imaging these proteins simultaneously reveals that Rab7 and LAMP1 undergo periods of separation within the cell. Single particle tracking carried out during these periods of separation shows that Rab7-vesicles have greater velocities, but undergo less efficient transport than LAMP1-vesicles. This research demonstrates the use of single particle tracking as a tool to resolve functional differences in highly colocalized proteins in intact live cells.
Phonagnosia: A voice homologue to prosopagnosia

Phonagnosia is the inability to individuate people on the basis of their voice and is thus a condition parallel to that of prosopagnosia (Van Lancker & Canter, 1982). We report a case of developmen...
Amine-quinone polyurethanes : Preparation of polyurethane segmented block copolymers containing 2,5-bis(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-1,4-benzoquinone, toluene diisocyanate, and an oligomeric polyether diol

The amine-quinone diol monomer 2,5-bis(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-1,4-benzoquinone (AQM-1) was prepared by the condensation of 2-(N-methylamino)ethanol with hydroquinone in the presence of oxygen and copper(II) chloride. This crystalline monomer was used to prepare a series of amine-quinone polyurethanes by condensation polymerization, either in the melt or in DMF solution, with toluene diisocyante and an oligomeric diol either poly(1,2-butylene glycol) or polytetrahydrofuran. The amine-quinone functional group was incorporated into the polymer mainchain, giving red-brown polyurethanes that had molecular weights in the range of 20,000–80,000 and were soluble in THF, MEK, DMF, and DMSO. The thermal properties were consistent with a two-phase morphology with an amorphous soft segment, containing the oligomeric diol, and a microcrystalline hard segment, containing AQM-1. These polymers had a high affinity for the surface of commercial iron particles used in state of the art magnetic tape and prevented the corrosion of the particles. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2339–2345, 1999
Testing the Productive Skills: A Creative Focus for Hybrid Achievement Tests

ABSTRACT The testing of the mechanics of a second language is essentially an activity most appropriate to brief quizzes. The evaluation of mastery at the various stages of language acquisition is more appropriately carried out through the use of creative testing on hybrid achievement tests, which retain certain features of achievement tests and which incorporate proficiency-based tasks that require authentic communicative language use. Such tests call for the relatively autonomous use of language by the student, the quality of which will be restricted only by the level of study and the language repertoire of the student. Although lip service is paid to proficiency-focused instruction, many tests still reflect a sole preoccupation with grammatical accuracy. This paper suggests the incorporation of testing practices that allow students to demonstrate their true abilities in the second language, and the movement away from discrete-point test items and purely objective evaluation toward holistic, analytical, or primary-trait scoring procedures, which give credit for creative language use. Creative testing on paper-and-pencil tests is a viable alternative. Such testing allows for student creativity in carrying out truly communicative tasks, yet it provides an effective measure of student learning and performance.
Insight into α-synuclein plasticity and misfolding from differential micelle binding.

Misfolded species of the 140-residue protein α-synuclein (αS) are implicated in the demise of dopaminergic neurons, resulting in fatal neurodegeneration. The intrinsically unstructured protein binds curved synaptic vesicle membranes in helical conformations but misfolds into amyloid fibrils via β-sheet interactions. Breaks in helical αS conformation may offer a pathway to transition from helical to sheet conformation. Here, we explore the evolution of broken αS helix conformations formed in complex with SDS and SLAS micelles by molecular dynamics simulations. The population distribution of experimentally observed αS conformations is related to the spatial concentration of intrinsic micelle shape perturbations. For the success of micelle-induced αS folding, we posit the length of the first helical segment formed, which controls micelle ellipticity, to be a key determinant. The degree of micelle curvature relates to the arrangement and segmental motions of helical secondary structure elements. A criterion f...
The radical photodissociation channel of acrylonitrile

We have measured nascent Doppler profiles of CN (X2Σ+) fragments from the 193 nm photodissociation of acrylontrile using transient frequency-modulation spectroscopy. The Doppler profiles exhibit no μ · vorv · j correlations, and are consistent with the CN velocity distributions expected for a statistical, ground state dissociation. About 12% of the CN fragments have a single quantum of vibrational excitation, greater than the statistical prior prediction. However, the overall pattern of energy disposal and vector correlations is more consistent with a ground state, statistical fragmentation than a prompt, excited state dissociation. The CN quantum yield is 0.003 ± 0.001 at 193 nm.
Modelling and characterization of textile structural composites: A review

AbstractThe development of innovative fibre architecture, such as two- and three-dimensional woven fabrics and knitted fabrics, as well as braided structure, provides an attractive form of reinforcement for advanced composites. These new materials require new techniques in analysis and design in order to fully utilize their unique mechanical properties.Several analytical models for predicting the thermoelastic properties of two- and three-dimensional fabric composites are reviewed in this paper. The applicability and limitation of the modelling techniques are examined.Recent advancements in the characterization of mechanical properties of three-dimensional fabric composites are also presented. Overall, three-dimensionally braided, angle interlock and orthogonal interlock fabric composites have demonstrated significant improvement in damage tolerance.
CH activation by aqueous platinum complexes: A mechanistic study

Abstract Detailed mechanistic studies are reported on the oxidation of alkanes by aqueous [PtCl 6 ] 2− /[PtCl 4 ] 2− to alcohols plus alkyl chlorides, via proposed (alkyl)Pt II and (alkyl)Pt IV intermediates. Reactions of [PtCl 4 ] 2− with RI (R = CH 3 , CH 2 CH 2 OH) in water yield [PtCl 5 R] 2− , which were isolated as their NMe 4 salts. Kinetic rate laws of their decomposition in aqueous chloride solution to ROH and RCl support S N 2 displacement by Cl − or H 2 O as the mechanism of the last step. erythro- and threo -[PtCl 5 (CHDCHDOH)] 2− are obtained by oxidation of [PtCl 3 ( trans - and cis -CHDCHD)] − respectively, and react with Cl − with inversion of stereochemistry at carbon, consistent with the S N 2 mechanism. [PtCl 5 (CH 2 CH 2 OH)] 2− is also obtained by oxidation of Zeise's salt with [PtCl 6 ] 2− . Kinetics indicate that attack of water on coordinated ethylene to give a β-hydroxyethyl group precedes oxidation of Pt II to Pt IV , rather than the reverse order, and that this reaction is a model for the oxidation of (alkyl)Pt II to (alkyl)Pt IV during alkane functionalization. 195 Pt isotopic labeling demonstrates that the oxidation is not accompanied by transfer of the β-hydroxyethyl group from one Pt center to another.
Predator Avoidance and Alarm‐response Behaviour in Kin‐discriminating Tadpoles (Rana cascadae)

When captured by predators, the tadpoles of some species of frogs and toads may release an alarm substance that alters the behaviour of conspecifics. Such ‘alarm response’ behaviour has been proposed as a potential mechanism whereby related conspecifics may ‘warn’ relatives of a predator's presence and thus, improve their inclusive fitness. We examined predator avoidance and alarm response behaviour in tadpoles of the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) and tested whether such behaviour is influenced by kinship factors. Tadpoles reduced activity when in the presence of a predatory newt (Taricha granulosa). Individuals in sibling groups were more active than both solitary tadpoles and individuals in mixed groups of siblings and nonsiblings. However, we found no evidence of an alarm response in R. cascadae. Behaviour of tadpoles in groups exposed only to predators was not different from that of tadpoles in groups exposed to predators plus crushed conspecifics. Tadpoles in groups exposed to crushed tadpoles were as active as tadpoles in groups exposed to water controls, and some test individuals fed upon the dead tadpoles. Thus, while R. cascadae tadpoles reduce activity in response to newt predators, crushed tadpoles appear to initiate a feeding response rather than an alarm response as has been previously proposed.
A Proposal for Truly Global Poverty Measures

Standard absolute poverty measures probably understate poverty rates in rich countries, given that their residents face higher welfare costs of social inclusion and relative deprivation. At the same time, standard measures of relative poverty probably understate the extent of poverty in poor countries, given that these measures attach little value to social inclusion needs at low mean income. This article provides the first estimates of a new class of truly global measures that aim to avoid these deficiencies of past measures. The results indicate that worsening distribution in the set of high-income countries has pushed up the incidence of relative poverty since 1990, but not by as much as success against absolute poverty has swelled the ranks of the relatively poor in the developing world. The incidence of purely relative poverty is now higher in the developing world than among rich countries – reversing the historical pattern.
The Ashen Light

Present understanding of the Ashen Light of Venus is reviewed. Ashen Light is most often reported when Venus is in the evening sky, when the evening terminator of Venus is toward the earth. It is argued that the local time asymmetry is too great to be explained by terrestrial effects alone. It is argued that Venus lightning is the only known phenomenon that shows a marked dawn-dusk asymmetry on Venus and which could also explain the occurrence of Ashen Light. The following factors appear to affect the visibility of Ashen Light from earth: the distance of Venus from the earth, the length of time Venus is above the horizon, and the local time distribution of the Ashen Light source on Venus.
NEW MELT CONVEYING MODELS FOR A SINGLE SCREW EXTRUDER

The flow theory in an extruder is fundamental to the study of extrusion technology. Present analytical solutions of the flow theory used in many studies give significant overpredictions of the volumetric flow rate due to erroneous boundary conditions used. Modified flat plate models with and without considering side wall effect and a coaxial cylinder model for Newtonian fluids were derived in this study using new boundary conditions confirmed by Choo et al. (1980). Using experimental data from published literature, it was found that the volumetric flow rates in the extruder were better predicted by these models than the numerical solutions or the original analytical solutions.
Trends in software technology

Software has made more progress during the last few years than any years before that. New technology is coming every day and it is impossible for every one to catch up with it. Two technologies and their impacts on software development are presented: software reusability, which can significantly improve software productivity; and Internet computing, which provides a new testbed for software applications as well as their development. Software reusability and Internet computing change the way software will be developed. We discuss some of their impacts.
Summarizing DNA evidence when relatives are possible suspects

Abstract Summaries of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evidence in criminal proceedings have been controversial in part because calculations of the probability of a “match” between crime and suspect samples assuming that the pairing of these samples occurred by chance typically have depended on independence or conditional independence assumptions that are subject to dispute. This article describes a new methodology that summarizes DNA evidence by addressing the possibility that a relative of the accused individual is the source of a crime sample, which can be viewed as complementary to assessing the probability of a “match” assuming that individuals in a broader population are paired by chance. The new technique uses a statistical criterion based on distances between bands from autoradiograph images to distinguish individuals without relying on any conditional independence assumptions. We apply the method to data from a paternity testing laboratory to illustrate its ability to distinguish between the DNA profi...
Analytic solutions for Stokes' flow with lateral variations in viscosity

SUMMARY Analytic solutions for 2-D incompressible Stokes’ flow with lateral variations in viscosity have been developed with a Green's function method and matrix propagator techniques. The analytic solutions are developed based on the observation that lateral variations in viscosity only result in mode coupling between viscosity and buoyancy in the horizontal dimension and not in the vertical dimension. The Green's function solution for flows with a viscosity that varies laterally with an exponential function indicates that, if the lateral variation in viscosity is within one order of magnitude, at very long wavelengths (for example degree 2) the mode coupling between viscosity and buoyancy does not greatly influence the geoid deduced from models ignoring the lateral variations in viscosity. The relatively short-wavelength geoid (degree 4 and higher modes), however, is seriously contaminated by mode coupling. The solutions for sharp lateral variations in viscosity calculated with propagator matrix techniques show that the topography varies rapidly across the viscosity boundaries.
“Ich kam unter die Schweizer”: Teaching Switzerland as a Multi‐Ethnic Society

This article describes a five-week module on “Switzerland as a multi-ethnic society” intended to counteract the popular image of Switzerland as a homogenous country concerned mostly with tourism, chocolate, and watches. Instead, the module treats Switzerland through topics such as the definition of identity in a multi-ethnic society, the politics of immigration for a largely service-based economy, and the strains that migration puts on a modern society shaped by political will. The unit seeks to familiarize students with contemporary multi-ethnic Switzerland through a number of different texts (including film and music), compare the Swiss debates of migration and integration to those in the United States, and move students toward deep reflection on the larger issue concerning migration and national identity. The module is versatile in that it can be taught as part of a course on Switzerland, or of a broader course on migration in the German-speaking countries.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common serious sports injuries. This injury can result in an unstable knee, causing meniscal tears and articular cartilage degeneration. In this article, we outline our basic approach to a patient with an ACL injury, including preoperative evaluation, patient selection, operative technique, and rehabilitation principles. Also, we identify critical factors in ACL reconstruction as well as potential pitfalls and techniques to manage them.
Large mitochondria in a pituitary adenoma with hyperprolactinemia

A 27-year-old woman with amenorrhea following cessation of birth control pills was found to have a pituitary tumor which was secreting large amounts of prolactin. Many tumor cells had large mitochondria, the diameter of which ranged between 7 and 12ft. Some tumor cells also displayed oncocytic transformation, and a few were definite oncocytes. The pathogenesis of mitochondrial swelling in pituitary tumors is discussed and the possible roles of of prolonged intake of steroids and/or ischemia are suggested. Cancer 46:537–542, 1980.
Marine environment-based forecasting of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) adult recruitment

Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to investigate the relationships between annual recruitment of natural coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) from Oregon coastal rivers and indices of the physical ocean environment. Nine indices were examined, ranging from large-scale ocean indicators, e.g., Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), to indicators of the local ecosystem (e.g., coastal water temperature near Charleston, OR). Generalized additive models with two and three predictor variables were evaluated using a set of performance metrics aimed at quantifying model skill in short-term (approximately 1 yr) forecasting. High explanatory power and promising forecast skill resulted when the spring ⁄summer PDO averaged over the 4 yr prior to the return year was used to explain a low-frequency (multi-year) pattern in recruitment and one or two additional variables accounted for year-to-year deviations from the low-frequency pattern. More variance was explained when averaging the predictions from a set of models (i.e., taking the ensemble mean) than by any single model. Making multiple forecasts from a set of models also provided a range of possible outcomes that reflected, to some degree, the uncertainty in our understanding of how salmon productivity is driven by physical ocean conditions.
Synthesis and magnetic properties of hybrid nanostructures of Pt–FexOy

We report the synthesis conditions and magnetic properties of Pt and iron oxide (Pt–FexOy) hybrid nanostructures. The injection time and temperature of the Fe precursor after the decomposition of the Pt precursor are found to be the key parameters for the tuning of FePt to Pt–FexOy nanoparticles. The particle shape can be controlled from spherical to cubic by selective molar ratios of surfactants and solvents. A comparative study of the dynamic and static magnetic properties of Pt–FexOy and FexOy, (after etching of Pt) is presented. The effective anisotropy of Pt–FexOy is found to be one order of magnitude higher than that of etched FexOy. Consequently, a strong enhancement of the blocking temperature is observed which is attributed to the enhanced interfacial anisotropy between Pt and FexOy layers.
Implication of MAC Frame Aggregation on Empirical Wireless Experimentation

Wireless network emulator testbeds have become increasingly important for realistic, at-scale experimental evaluation of new network architectures and protocols. Typically, wireless network performance measurements are made at multiple layers of the wireless protocol stack, i.e. link layer, MAC layer and network layer. This study highlights the impact of layer 2 frame aggregation that is enabled by default in the software drivers for commodity wireless 802.11 devices while it is still not a part of the core 802.11 standard. Using experimental measurements, it is shown that this feature has an impact across a diverse set of wireless experiments and should be considered while comparing results. Measurements on the ORBIT testbed show that throughput measurements can vary up to a startling 25% for certain packet sizes and the variance in receiver side inter-frame delays can almost double if MAC aggregation and preset transmission opportunities are not taken into consideration. Further results for VoIP traffic show a deterioration in jitter of up to 8 times when coupled with MAC layer aggregation in 802.11.
The Ero1α-PDI Redox Cycle Regulates Retro-Translocation of Cholera Toxin

Cholera toxin (CT) is transported from the plasma membrane of host cells to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where the catalytic CTA1 subunit retro-translocates to the cytosol to induce toxicity. Our previous analyses demonstrated that the ER oxidoreductase protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) acts as a redox-dependent chaperone to unfold CTA1, a reaction postulated to initiate toxin retro-translocation. In its reduced state, PDI binds and unfolds CTA1; subsequent oxidation of PDI by Ero1alpha enables toxin release. Whether this in vitro model describes events in cells that control CTA1 retro-translocation is unknown. Here we show that down-regulation of Ero1alpha decreases retro-translocation of CTA1 by increasing reduced PDI and blocking efficient toxin release. Overexpression of Ero1alpha also attenuates CTA1 retro-translocation, an effect due to increased PDI oxidation, which prevents PDI from engaging the toxin effectively. Interestingly, Ero1alpha down-regulation increases interaction between PDI and Derlin-1, an ER membrane protein that is a component of the retro-translocation complex. These findings demonstrate that an appropriate Ero1alpha-PDI ratio is critical for regulating the binding-release cycle of CTA1 by PDI during retro-translocation, and implicate PDI's redox state in targeting it to the retro-translocon.
A Therapeutic and Economic Comparison of the Top Innovative New Drugs of the 1970s and 1980s

The economically most important drugs introduced in the US in the 1980s represented distinct therapeutic advances over those of the 1970s. However, most recently, the strong post- World War II technological leadership of US based companies is clearly being challenged. Of the top 36 new chemical entities (NCEs) approved and marketed in the US in the 1980s, US based companies received a significantly smaller market share than they did for those NCEs approved in the 1970s, while during the same period, foreign based companies more than doubled their share of NCEs in this critical portion of the US market. Furthermore, discoveries of top drugs by US based companies decreased even more markedly from the 1970s to the 1980s. US based companies were able to continue to maintain their dominance in the upper end of the US market in the 1980s only by licensing more drugs from foreign sources. A cohesive set of national policies is needed to assure strong US leadership through the 1990s.
Synthesis of high-order bandpass filters based on coupled-resonator optical waveguides (CROWs)

We present a filter design formalism for the synthesis of coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) filters. This formalism leads to expressions and a methodology for deriving the coupling coefficients of CROWs for the desired filter responses and is based on coupled-mode theory as well as the recursive properties of the coupling matrix. The coupling coefficients are universal and can be applied to various types of resonators. We describe a method for the conversion of the coupling coefficients to the parameters based on ring resonators and grating defect resonators. The designs of Butterworth and Bessel CROW filters are demonstrated as examples.
Isotopic shift in an introduced population of gemsbok (Oryx gazella).

We use isotope ratio mass spectrometry to examine the foraging ecology of an introduced population of gemsbok, Oryx gazella, in New Mexico, USA. Gemsbok in New Mexico exhibit an isotopic shift in carbon when compared to African gemsbok, suggesting that the introduced gemsbok include more shrubs (C3 plants) in their diets than do native African gemsbok. New Mexican gemsbok did not differ significantly in isotopic signatures according to gender, maturity, or reproductive status; they did exhibit significant patterns of fractionation in carbon and nitrogen isotopes between-tissue types (bone, muscle, and hair). Stable isotope analysis indicated that C3 plants (shrubs and forbs) may comprise up to 44% of the diets of gemsbok in New Mexico and that gemsbok diets may vary seasonally. These results are consistent with previously published fecal analyses. Stable isotope analysis appears to be a useful tool for rapid dietary analysis and may help wildlife managers to quickly evaluate the role of diet limitation or expanded diet breadth on the population dynamics of introduced species, and to examine the role of resource competition between native and introduced populations.
De novo mutations revealed by whole-exome sequencing are strongly associated with autism

Multiple studies have confirmed the contribution of rare de novo copy number variations to the risk for autism spectrum disorders. But whereas de novo single nucleotide variants have been identified in affected individuals, their contribution to risk has yet to be clarified. Specifically, the frequency and distribution of these mutations have not been well characterized in matched unaffected controls, and such data are vital to the interpretation of de novo coding mutations observed in probands. Here we show, using whole-exome sequencing of 928 individuals, including 200 phenotypically discordant sibling pairs, that highly disruptive (nonsense and splice-site) de novo mutations in brain-expressed genes are associated with autism spectrum disorders and carry large effects. On the basis of mutation rates in unaffected individuals, we demonstrate that multiple independent de novo single nucleotide variants in the same gene among unrelated probands reliably identifies risk alleles, providing a clear path forward for gene discovery. Among a total of 279 identified de novo coding mutations, there is a single instance in probands, and none in siblings, in which two independent nonsense variants disrupt the same gene, SCN2A (sodium channel, voltage-gated, type II, α subunit), a result that is highly unlikely by chance.
Family Change and the Concept of Motherhood in China

This study considers family development and attitudes toward motherhood in light of changing roles of women in China. The effects of revolutionary events and government policies on marriage and the traditional family are presented based on interviews conducted in China and a review of the literature. Attitudes toward motherhood were investigated using a method adapted from linguistics with 80 subjects that generated a lexicon to describe “mother.” Motherhood was not romanticized, but certain familiar themes found in comparable research in the United States were frequent, such as hard work, sacrificing, and caring. Two distincive themes were the mother as teacher and model and the attribute of courage. Comparisons of mothers and fathers as well as the importance of food management are discussed. Chinese still regard the family as the mainstay of society, and the mother is seen as being at the core of the family.
A nonlinear operator-based speech feature analysis method with application to vocal fold pathology assessment

Traditional speech processing methods for laryngeal pathology assessment assume linear speech production with measures derived from an estimated glottal flow waveform. They normally require the speaker to achieve complete glottal closure, which for many vocal fold pathologies cannot be accomplished. To address this issue, a nonlinear signal processing approach is proposed which does not require direct glottal flow waveform estimation. This technique is motivated by earlier studies of airflow characterization for human speech production. The proposed nonlinear approach employs a differential Teager energy operator and the energy separation algorithm to obtain formant AM and FM modulations from filtered speech recordings. A new speech measure is proposed based on parameterization of the autocorrelation envelope of the AM response. This approach is shown to achieve impressive detection performance for a set of muscular tension dysphonias. Unlike flow characterization using numerical solutions of Navier-Stokes equations, this method is extremely computationally attractive, requiring only a small time window of speech samples. The new noninvasive method shows that a fast, effective digital speech processing technique can be developed for vocal fold pathology assessment without the need for direct glottal flow estimation or complete glottal closure by the speaker. The proposed method also confirms that alternative nonlinear methods can begin to address the limitations of previous linear approaches for speech pathology assessment.
An exploratory usability evaluation of Colorado State University Libraries' digital collections and the Western Waters Digital Library Web sites

Abstract In an exploratory study, participants (n = 18) completed 11 usability tasks to assess ease of use of two Web sites, and then a Web site perception questionnaire for each. Participants rated both Web sites positively, but 25% and 36% could not complete all tasks; doing so required more than a minute to complete.