cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progress in the development of advanced computational models for the analysis of generalized supersonic jet flowfields

This paper describes two three-dimensional computational codes (PARCH and CRAFT) for computing a generalized supersonic jet flowfields with subsonic external streams, which solve the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in a time asymptotic manner. The application of these codes to an imperfectly expanded jet flowfield is demonstrated. Special attention is given to numerical issues and to turbulence modeling. The application of the PARCH and CRAFT codes to other related flowfield problems, such as gas turbine and nozzle flows, and to generalized missile-plume flowfields is discussed.
Comparison of Broiler Poultry Litter and Commercial Fertilizer for Coastal Bermudagrass Production in the Southeastern US

ABSTRACT Animal waste, such as broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter, may be an economical alternative to commercial fertilizer for forage producers as the number of confined animal feeding operations increases and commercial fertilizer prices rise. Four levels of commercial fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O ratio of 3-1-2) were compared with 4 or 8 tons of broiler litter/acre applied in a single or split application to ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) on a Coastal Plain soil for 2 years. Applying broiler litter in a single application in late spring resulted in 10 to 20% higher yields and improved nutrient uptake compared with a split application between late spring and midsummer. Using regression of commercial fertilizer rate and bermudagrass yield, 62% of the N at the 4 ton rate and 60% of the N at the 8 ton rate in broiler litter were estimated to be available the first year. Crude protein and P concentrations in the forage were more sensitive to nutrient source and rate than were K, Ca a...
Function plotting using conic splines

A method is presented whereby, given a mathematical description of a function, a conic spline approximating the plot of the function is produced. Conic arcs were selected as the primitive curves because there are simple incremental plotting algorithms for conics already included in some device drivers, and there are simple algorithms for local approximations by conics. A split-and-merge algorithm for choosing the knots adaptively, according to shape analysis of the original function based on its first-order derivatives, is introduced. >
The chemistry of 1,2,5‐thiadiazoles, IV. Benzo[1,2‐c:3,4‐c′:5,6‐c″] tris [1,2,5] thiadiazole

Benzo [1,2-c:3,4-c′:5,6-c″] tris [1,2,5] thiadiazole (1) was synthesized from benzo [1,2-c:3,4-c′] - bis [1,2,5] thiadiazole (11). Nitration of 11 gave compound 15, which on direct amination gave nitroamine 17. Reduction of 17 gave diamine 18, and cyclization of 18 with thionyl chloride gave 1. Diamine 18 was also cyclized with selenium oxychloride, glyoxal, 9,10-phenanthrene-quinone, and formic acid to give the compounds 4, 5, 19, and 6, respectively. A new procedure for the preparation of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (7) from o-phenylenediamine was used.
Long-term outcome of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: effect of therapy.

Objective: To present an overview of current therapeutic practices and results in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Methods: Personal series of patients and selected studies reported ...
Influence of iron on plutonium absorption by the adult and neonatal rat

Abstract To determine how iron affects plutonium absorption, adult rats were gavaged with 238 Pu nitrate (pH 2) after they had been fed an iron-deficient diet or treated with iron supplements. Neonatal rats born to dams on an iron-deficient diet were also gavaged with 238 Pu. An iron-deficient diet resulted in enhanced 238 Pu absorption both in the adults and in neonates born to iron-deficient dams. Ferric iron increased 238 Pu absorption 12-fold in adult rats; injected iron-dextran reduced that increase; gavaged ferrous iron reduced 238 Pu absorption to one-third of the control value. Rat neonates absorbed 30 to 40 times as much 238 Pu as adults; absorption was lowered in groups that received iron supplements: Iron-dextran caused a 50% reduction; ferric iron, 95%; and ferrous iron, >95%. The results demonstrate an effect of the oxidation state of iron on plutonium absorption in adult rats different from that observed in suckling rats. The results suggest that the high rate of 238 Pu absorption by neonatal animals is due not only to the permeability of their intestines but also to their high demand for iron.
Bivariate Modeling of Wind Speed and Air Density Distribution for Long-Term Wind Energy Estimation

In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of bivariate modeling of wind speed and air density based on the data from two observation sites in North Dakota and Colorado. For each site, we first obtain univariate statistical distributions for the two parameters, respectively. Excellent fitting can be achieved for wind speed for both sites using conventional univariate probability distribution functions, but it is found that accurately fitting air density distribution of the North Dakota site can only be obtained using bimodal distributions. Thereafter, we apply the Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern approach to construct bivariate joint distributions to describe wind speed and air density simultaneously. Overall, satisfactory goodness-of-fit is achieved with the bivariate modeling approach.
Light Scattering from Intact Cells Reports Oxidative-Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Swelling

Angularly resolved light scattering measurements were performed on suspensions of EMT6 cells and on mitochondria isolated from rabbit liver. Mie theory analysis of the scattering from intact cells indicated that mitochondrial-sized organelles dominated scattering in the range 5–90°. This interpretation was supported by the analysis of scattering from isolated mitochondria. Intact cells were subjected to oxidative stress by photodynamic insult. After 3 h of incubation in the heme precursor aminolevulinic acid hexylester, EMT6 cells accumulated abundant protoporphyrin IX, an endogenous photosensitizer formed in mitochondria. Irradiation of aminolevulinic acid/protoporphyrin IX-sensitized cells with 10 J cm−2 of 514 nm light led to pronounced changes in angularly resolved light scattering consistent with mitochondrial swelling. Electron microscopy of similarly treated EMT6 cell monolayers showed significant changes in mitochondrial morphology, which included distension of the outer unit membrane and bloating of the internal mitochondrial compartment. Informed by these electron microscopy results, we implemented a coated sphere model to interpret the scattering from intact cells subjected to oxidative stress. The coated sphere interpretation was compatible with the scattering measurements from these cells, whereas simpler Mie theory models based on homogenous swelling were dramatically unsuccessful. Thus, in this system, angularly resolved light scattering reports oxidative-stress-induced changes in mitochondrial morphology.
Distributed Ada: case study

Abstract The paper describes the design and implementation of a distributed Ada system. Ada is not well defined with respect to distribution, and any implementation for distributed execution must make a number of decisions about the language. The objectives in the implementation described here are to remain as close to the current definition of Ada as possible, and to learn through experience what changes are necessary in future versions of the language. The approach taken to distributing a single program is to assign library units that compose it to nodes of the distributed system. In a formal sense the semantics of a program is independent of the distribution because the semantics is interpreted to include all possible behaviours that result from different distributions. However, the functionality of the distributed program may then depend on the distribution in the sense that program behaviour may be impacted by the time required for communication among the distributed modules, or parts of the program may continue to function in presence of failures. The implementation technique converts each distributed module into a standalone program that communicates with its correspondents; each of these may then be compiled by an existing Ada compiler. Issues discussed include the ramifications of sharing of data types, objects, subprograms, tasks, and task types. The implementation techniques used in the translator are described.
Effect of 5-bis-(2 chloroethyl)-aminouracil on metabolism of amino acids in normal and precancerous rat liver.

SummaryThese investigations reemphasize the utility of the isolated rat liver perfusion system for studying metabolic activity. The data obtained show that livers from azo-dye fed rats have an enhanced capacity for synthesis of acid-soluble liver proteins. These findings suggest further that 5-bis-(2 chloroethyl)-aminouracil is capable of inhibiting acid-soluble liver protein synthesis in liver of normal rats or in livers undergoing azo-dye carcinogenesis.
Thermal analysis of buildings in a mathematical programming environment and applications

Abstract An approach for computer-aided thermal analysis of buildings in a high level mathematical programming environment is presented with typical applications. It is based on a set of independent files organized through a hypertext system as an electronic book in a mathematical programming environment. Each file (section), which covers a specific topic such as psychrometric calculations or heating load estimation, integrates live equations (the program), explanatory text and figures, as well as graphs linked dynamically to equations and data. Both equations and input data can be readily changed and the results are instantly updated within the same document, thus providing unique educational and research capabilities. Three applications are presented: analysis of a floor heated with an infrared radiant ceiling system, thermal control analysis of a heating system and calculation of the thermal admittance transfer functions for a wall. The main advantage over the use of black box building simulation programs is that the user consolidates in a single document the input data, the output data, and the model, thus having the capability to easily understand and change the model as well as the data. However, this flexibility may also be a disadvantage if the models are quickly changed without careful planning; this problem may be avoided if well documented versions of a section (file) are created after each modification.
Slack in the state-owned enterprise: An evaluation of the impact of soft-budget constraints

Abstract In this paper slack in resource utilization is estimated, using data envelopment analysis, for a sample of 67 Indian state-owned, 63 private sector and 27 foreign-owned enterprises on a comparative basis. The study is cross-sectional and carried out for the year 1991 to assess how far the operation of soft-budget constraints has had an impact on the economic performance of Indian firms, particularly operated as state-owned enterprises. Specifically, the presence of debt-capital, provided primarily by government-owned financial institutions, is strongly and negatively related to performance. The results show that if firms turn out to be all equally-efficient, then average materials costs, human capital usage costs, costs associated with other operating items and physical capital usage by each state-owned enterprise sampled can be reduced by Rs. 203 million, Rs. 201 million, Rs. 53 million and Rs. 255 million, respectively. If existing levels of inputs are used efficiently, then the average addition to the value of output by each state-owned enterprise can rise by Rs. 693 million. The analyses reveal significant slack in resource utilization in Indian state-owned firms resulting from soft-budget constraints, and the implications of the existence of slack are discussed.
Human granulosa-luteal cell response to vinblastine exposure in vitro.

Abstract We examined the response of isolated human granulosa-luteal cells (HGLCs) to a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, vinblastine (VLB), that has been implicated in ovarian failure during treatment for Hodgkin's disease. VLB doses of 1.0 μg/mL for 4 h or 0.1 μg/mL for 24 h reduced HGLC progesterone production during exposure. The effect of high doses (10.0 and 100.0 μg/mL) persisted for at least 1 day after exposure. Previous 24 h, but not 4 h, high-dose VLB exposure reduced subsequent progesterone release in response to 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Without hCG stimulation, only cells previously exposed to 100.0 μg/mL had persistently reduced progesterone release. We conclude that HGLCs can completely recover from a short exposure to VLB, but longer exposures to 10.0 and 100.0 μg/mL are detrimental to their hormone secreting capacity.
Acute and subchronic toxicity of methylene blue to larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): Implications for aquatic toxicity testing

The acute and 7-d subchronic toxicity of methylene blue were determined for fathead minnow larvae using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methods. The 96-h lethal concentration (LC50) was 45 and 15 mg/L at 20 and 25°C, respectively. The 7-d chronic value for survival under laboratory light and low light was the same (2.1 mg/L). However, under laboratory light, larval growth was impaired at lower concentrations (chronic value = 0.6 mg/L) than under low light (chronic value = 2.1 mg/L). To assess prior methylene blue treatment on larval sensitivity, embryos, larvae <24 h old, and embryos followed by larvae were treated with 3 mg/L methylene blue. Cadmium LC50 values were similar between methylene blue-treated and untreated control groups. When larvae treated with methylene blue as embryos were subchronically exposed to an effluent, survival was similar to that of the untreated group. However, dry weight of the treated larvae was significantly lower. Differences in dry weight between treated and untreated groups were reduced as the age of the larvae at test initiation increased. Treatment of incubating embryos using 3 mg/L methylene blue does not appear to affect larvae sensitivity to cadmium but may affect the growth of larvae used in subchronic testing.
Sex differences in linkage between autosomal loci

Abstract In the case of conventional selection theory with multiplicative gene action between loci and no sex differences except in crossover frequencies, it is shown that the usual conditions for stability hold when the mean of the recombination frequencies for the two sexes is used. For additive gene action between loci, it is shown that, after one generation of random mating, the gene frequencies of male and female origin are the same. This equality implies the nondecreasing property of the mean fitness function. Some attention is also given to neutral loci.
METHODS FOR STUDYING THE INFLUENCE OF HIGHER CENTRAL NERVOUS CENTERS ON THE PERIPHERAL CIRCULATION OF INTACT MAN.

Abstract Although they are of clinical importance, relatively few studies have been conducted on the influence of orienting and conditional reflexes on the cardiovascular system. In addition, there are virtually no studies on the influence of such reflexes on the peripheral circulation of man. One of the difficulties involved in the study of vascular responses to orienting and conditional reflexes has been the lack of techniques which are quantitative and sensitive and which can be applied without disturbing the intact man. This report described two techniques used in our laboratory to study the peripheral circulation which are ideally suited for use with Pavlovian methodology.
Trends in induction of labor at early-term gestation

Objective To determine the trends and racial differences in early-term induction of labor in the United States. Study Design Data from the National Center for Health Statistics were used to identify women eligible for induction between 37-42 weeks' gestation in the United States from 1991-2006. Annual early-term induction rates were calculated, and maternal race/ethnicity was classified into 4 groups. The change in frequency and odds of early-term induction stratified by race/ethnicity over time was assessed. Results Among 39.2 million eligible women, early-term induction rates increased from 2.0% to 8.0% ( P P P P Conclusion In the United States, early-term induction rates rose significantly and were highest among non-Hispanic white women.
Acoustic stimulus perception by the American lobster Homarus americanus (Decapoda)

Pour le stimulant acoustique entre 10 et 150 Hz les seuils de reponses ont ete obtenus sur 5 homards (Homarus americanus). La plus grande sensibilite etait de 37,5 Hz pour une pression de — 13 db re: 1 bar, ou bien de 75 Hz pour une rapidite de particules de 19 db re: 1 var, conditions classiques realisees pour obtenir en bradycardie un si haut seuil tonal de stimulation.
Decreased virulence of recombinant vaccinia virus expression vectors is associated with a thymidine kinase-negative phenotype

Recent advances in molecular genetics have led to the possibility of using large DNA viruses, such as vaccinia virus, as a biological delivery system for immunizing man against unrelated disease-causing agents. When live vaccinia virus recombinants expressing the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), the influenza A virus haemagglutinin, the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 D glycoprotein, the rabies virus G glycoprotein and the vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein were used for immunization, animals were protected upon challenge with the appropriate pathogenic agent. A major concern with using such vaccines, however, stems from the previously documented vaccinia virus-associated post-immunizing complications. We present here experimental evidence that thymidine kinase-negative (TK-) vaccinia virus recombinants, constructed by inserting a variety of DNA coding sequences into the vaccinia virus tk gene, are less pathogenic for mice than wild-type virus.
Influence of Testicular Steroids on Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone‐induced Prolactin Release in Mature Rams

Prolactin (PRL) concentrations were measured in serum of intact rams, castrate rams, and steroid-treated castrate rams to determine whether testicular steroids influence PRL secretion in this species. Testosterone was administered to castrate rams by subdermal Silastic implants providing serum testosterone concentrations similar to those found in intact rams; estradiol was administered similarly to castrate rams, providing a ten-fold elevation of serum estradiol. Testosterone and estradiol implants decreased serum LH to concentrations found in intact rams, whereas estradiol, but not testosterone, effectively increased basal concentrations of PRL. This effect was most apparent when animals were exposed to short photoperiods (8 hours light:16 hours darkness). When 5 μg of thyrotropin releasing hormone were injected into these animals, peak PRL concentrations were lowest in castrate rams and highest in estradiol-treated castrate rams. PRL responses in testosterone-treated castrate rams and intact rams to the releasing hormone were intermediate. Results for peak PRL concentrations and area under the PRL response curves were similar. In conclusion, testicular steroids are suggested to play an important role in the regulation of PRL secretion in mature rams.
Ultrastructure of neuromuscular junctions in drosophila: Comparison of wild type and mutants with increased excitability

The ventral longitudinal muscles of the Drosophila larval body wall are innervated by at least four types of synaptic terminals that can be distinguished on morphological grounds at the light microscopical level. The innervation of these muscles has been previously shown to be regulated by neuronal activity. In this report we investigate the ultrastructural basis for synaptic bouton differences by using serial sections, and examine the structure of synaptic terminals in mutants with increased excitability. We report that individual identifiable muscle fibers are innervated by terminals containing two to three types of synaptic boutons that can be distinguished in terms of synaptic vesicle population, presynaptic and postsynaptic specialization, and general shape. We propose a model to account for the bouton types observed at the light microscopical level. We find that in the hyperexcitable mutant eag Sh, there are dramatic ultrastructural alterations at synaptic boutons. These alterations include a partial depletion of two types of synaptic vesicles and a change in appearance of a third type, changes in number and appearance of synaptic densities, and the presence of multivesicular bodies. Our results show that an increase in neuronal excitability produces profound effects in synaptic terminal structure.
Canine bile contains anticrystallization factors that inhibit precipitation of calcium carbonate.

Previous studies have strongly suggested that human bile contains a substance(s) that interferes with the precipitation of calcium phosphate and carbonate from solution. These studies, however, did not distinguish between calcium binding by biliary constituents resulting in decreased calcium carbonate saturation (alterations in solution thermodynamics) and true inhibition of calcium salt precipitation by kinetic factors. Because our recent studies have shown that canine common duct bile is always supersaturated with calcium carbonate (thermodynamically at risk for precipitation), we hypothesized that it must contain kinetic factors that inhibit formation and/or growth of calcium carbonate crystals. Effects of canine bile, bovine albumin and the bile salt taurocholate on calcium carbonate precipitation were studied in highly supersaturated solutions of calcium carbonate that spontaneously undergo rapid precipitation. Measured free ionized calcium concentrations, [Ca++], and calculated calcium carbonate saturation indices were compared in test solutions and controls to evaluate the thermodynamic effects of test solutions on the degree of saturation in the assay system. It is shown that addition of only 0.2 ml of normal canine gallbladder bile to the assay system (a 1:101 dilution of biliary components) abolished precipitation. A lesser inhibitory effect (a decrease in the rate of precipitation) was observed when gallbladder bile was diluted but was lost after 10-fold dilution. Canine common duct bile caused a decrease in the rate of precipitation similar to diluted gallbladder bile. In contrast, sodium taurocholate (250 mmol/L), the major bile salt in the dog, and albumin (1.5 gm/L), the most abundant protein in bile, had only a minimal inhibitory effect. We conclude that normal bile contains kinetic factors that inhibit calcium carbonate precipitation and protect against calcium-containing gallstones. These effects are not due to changes in calcium carbonate saturation but rather to alterations in precipitation kinetics. (HEPATOLOGY 1991;14:701–706.)
Chain-link compression of arbitrary black-white images

Abstract A class of black-white image compression algorithms is described which is based on chain-link encoding of the boundaries of objects. The algorithms are able to operate on completely arbitrary images, as opposed to special classes (e.g., line drawings). The reverse operation, decompression, provides a perfect copy of the original image.
Transport Behavior: A Role for Social Marketing

SUMMARY This article discusses travel behavior widely acknowledged to be a significant source of pollution: the use of private transport commonly referred to as the automobile. While this behavior can be tackled in a number of ways, this article presents an overview of key issues inhibiting a voluntary change in behavior among automobile users. These topics were identified based upon qualitative research data that was gathered from a number of UK households. The research methodology adopted different social marketing collateral in each of the households during the period of research. While weaknesses are identified in the marketing collateral, the research concludes that social marketing in itself cannot persuade people to make significant changes in their travel behavior. There are deeper issues at work for commuters that need to be more fully understood by the transport research community. The value of social marketing instead may lie as an effective channel of communication that can be utilized by desi...
The mechanical strength of polysilicon films : Part 1. The influence of fabrication governed surface conditions

In an effort to explain the considerable variations in measured mechanical strength of polysilicon films doped with phosphorous for use in MEMS applications, the influence of the specimen manufacturing processes on the mechanical properties has been examined in connection with varying exposure to 49% hydrofluoric acid (HF). It was found that surface roughness as characterized by groove formation along grain boundaries depends on the HF release time. Surface undulations and crevasses related to grain structure result thus in reduced fracture strength and, in addition, induce errors into the determination of the effective elastic modulus - especially when the latter is determined from flexure configurations. Extensive exposure to HF results in pervasive material degradation, as evidenced by a transition from transgranular to intergranular fracture, and a correspondingly precipitous drop of the film strength with attendant increase in grain boundary material removal. Short times of exposure to HF can result in delamination of a thin surface layer, which is suffcient to initiate an "early" failure. Longer exposure allows HF permeation into the intergranular domains, degrading the body of the material significantly. On the other hand, tests on material from a different source that has undergone different doping and post-processing demonstrated a suppression of this degradation resulting in film strengths that are higher by a factor of two or more. Thus, consideration of additional influences of doping and electro-chemical phenomena during the HF wet release, in association with silicon-metal contacts, is necessary.
CU safe: a software tool for campus safety

This paper describes a software tool that utilizes Google Maps to provide increased safety for students on campus. The software tool, Clemson University Safe (CU Safe) is split up into three modules that can be utilized by technology the student already owns. We present the need for improved safety on campuses, the current state of CU Safe, and how we plan to extend its functionality in the future.
Direct mediation of metastable supersymmetry breaking

The supersymmetric SU(NC) Yang-Mills theory coupled to NF matter fields in the fundamental representation has metastable vacua with broken supersymmetry when NC<NF<(3/2)NC. By gauging the flavor symmetry, this model can be coupled directly to the standard model. We show that it is possible to make a slight deformation to the model so that gaugino masses are generated and the Landau pole problem can be avoided. The deformed model has simple realizations on intersecting branes in string theory, where various features of the metastable vacua are encoded geometrically as brane configurations.
CLOSURE AND GROWTH OF MODE I CRACKS IN BIAXIAL FATIGUE

Abstract— —The closure behavior of mode I fatigue cracks under biaxial loading is studied with an elastic-plastic plane stress finite element model. Biaxial stresses are shown to have a significant impact on crack closure behavior at higher maximum stresses. In general, normalized crack opening stresses are highest for equibiaxial loading and lowest for pure shear loading. The differences are apparently negligible for maximum applied stresses less than about 0.4 σ0. Experimental crack growth data are quantitatively consistent with these trends. Correlations of the experimental data with a simple ΔKeff were successful as first-order engineering estimates. Changes in forward and reversed plastic zone sizes with biaxiality are not entirely consistent with trends in crack growth rates.
Fuzzy concept lattice construction: A basis for building fuzzy ontologies

Fuzzy concept lattices are being used as the basis for creating fuzzy ontologies. Fuzzy formal contexts serve as the starting point for which a variety of proposed methods have been used to create fuzzy concept lattices from them. This paper reviews two of these methods: the one-sided threshold approach and the fuzzy closure operator approach and presents the first comparison between these two approaches. Some simple examples are used and then bioinformatics data, specifically several gene annotation data files. The results show that the fuzzy closure approach produces huge numbers of concepts as compared to the threshold approach, and the extents produced by the threshold approach are a subset of the extents produced by the fuzzy closure approach.
Ontogenetic observations on the vomeronasal organ in two species of tamarins using neuron‐specific β‐tubulin III

Callitrichid primates (tamarins, marmosets) have extreme variation in the vomeronasal organ (VNO), including ontogenetic differences in the neuroepithelium and vomeronasal duct (VND) patency at birth. Such differences render the timing and extent of VNO maturation debatable in callitrichids, but no studies have used neuron-specific immunohistochemical markers to address this question. The present study compared the number of VNO epithelial cells that express immunoreactivity to neuron-specific beta-tubulin III (BT), VNO length, and VNO cross-sectional area between two species of tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia and Saguinus geoffroyi) that differed in perinatal VND patency. Neonatal lemurs and adult marmosets and bushbabies were also examined for a comparison to species previously shown to have a relatively large amount of VNO neuroepithelium and patent VNDs. The head of each specimen was serially sectioned in the coronal plane. Based on known rostrocaudal start/stop points of the VNO, selected unstained sections were used for BT protocols and area measurement at three percentiles (25th, 50th, 75th) in each specimen. Each section was photographed and enlarged for cell counts and measurement of cross-sectional epithelial area. In each specimen, the number of BT(+) cells in the VNO was counted at each percentile and expressed as a number per mm(2). Results indicated that lemur VNOs had a dense population of BT(+) cells at birth, but the VNO was more varied in the tamarin species. S. geoffroyi had few or no BT(+) cells in VNOs of neonates, which had fused VNDs, but had an increased BT(+) population by 1 and 2 months postnatal age, when the VND was patent. Of the species with patent VNDs at birth, neonatal L. rosalia had a denser population of BT(+) cells compared to S. geoffroyi, though not to the degree seen in neonatal lemurs or adult marmosets and bushbabies. These findings show that BT immunohistochemistry is a useful comparative method for the study of VNOs in subadult primates. Since the quantity of nonsensory VNO epithelium varies substantially between species, epithelial area measurements may be misleading, and BT(+) cell counts appeared to be the best quantitative method for comparing receptor neuron numbers among primates. It is suggested that the greater BT(+) cell population in L. rosalia at all subadult stages examined reveals an earlier maturation of the neuroepithelium compared to S. geoffroyi. Further investigation should consider whether this may relate to a comparatively brief subadult ontogeny and early onset of adult behaviors in L. rosalia compared to other tamarins studied to date.
First North American Record of the Palearctic Microplax albofasciata (Costa) (Hemiptera: Lygaeoidea: Oxycarenidae)

Abstract Microplax albofasciata (Costa), a Palearctic (mainly Mediterranean) species of the small family Oxycarenidae, is reported from California as the first record for the New World. Adults of this little-known lygaeoid bug were found in 2012 and 2013 at the Hastings Natural History Reservation in northern Monterey County. It is suggested that this immigrant heteropteran arrived from the Mediterranean Basin in shipments of ceramic tiles (or quarry products) and that California’s similar Mediterranean climate aided its establishment. A diagnosis, description, and illustrations are provided to facilitate the recognition of M. albofasciata in the Nearctic Region.
Orbital and periorbital cellulitis.

The acute onset of eyelid redness and swelling in a child usually results in a quick visit to the doctor9s office or an emergency room. The differential diagnosis for these signs ranges from relatively innocuous problems, such as allergy or an insect sting, to potentially vision-affecting or even life-threatening diseases, such as orbital cellulitis or cavernous vein thrombosis. The orbital contents often are protected from an inflammatory process by the orbital septum, a continuation of the periosteum of the bony orbit to the margins of both the upper and lower eyelids (Figure 1). An inflammatory process occurring in the structures superficial to the orbital septum is defined as preseptal or periorbital cellulitis; an inflammatory process in structures deep to the orbital septum is defined as orbital cellulitis of a specific complication thereof. Bacterial infection can cause both periorbital and orbital cellulitis. Another anatomic feature of importance is that the skin of the eyelid is the thinnest skin of the body. The subcutaneous tissue of the eyelid is composed of musculofibrous tissue and no fat. This combination of thin skin and loose subcutaneous tissues makes it possible for the eyelid to swell dramatically as it fills with edematous fluid. Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Periorbital Cellulitis
Alias-free, real coefficient m-band QMF banks for arbitrary m

Based on a generalized framework for alias free QMF banks, a theory is developed for the design of uniform QMF banks with real-coefficient analysis filters, such that aliasing can be completely canceled by appropriate choice of real-coefficient synthesis filters. These results are then applied for the derivation of closed-form expressions for the synthesis filters (both FIR and IIR), that ensure cancelation of aliasing for a given set of analysis filters. The results do not involve the inversion of the alias-component (AC) matrix.
Wood density in dense forest in central Amazonia, Brazil

Measurements of wood density of trees in Amazonian forests are necessary to reduce uncertainties in estimates of carbon stocks and of greenhouse-gas emissions from deforestation. Based on samples from 310 trees in 186 species or morpho-species collected near Manaus, Brazil, the present study finds that commonly used wood density estimates found in published lists by species need to be adjusted downward by 5.3%. Taking the average bole density from this study as a standard, wood density overestimations in three prior studies of the central Amazon were found to be 6%, 4% and 0%. Estimates of primary forest biomass and of gross emissions from biomass loss through deforestation will have to be reduced by similar percentages. Considering full disks with bark dried at 103 8C, the mean basic density at breast height in the Central Amazon dense forest was 0.704 � 0.117 (mean � 1 standard deviation; n = 310; range, 0.27‐0.96); at the top of the bole it was 0.647 � 0.093 (n = 307; range, 0.26‐0.87). The arithmetic mean of the basic density of the trunk—average of the density at breast height and at the top of the bole—was 0.675 � 0.101 (n = 307; range, 0.27‐ 0.91). The mean basic density of the bole, adjusted for tapering, and using four samples along the bole, was 0.670 � 0.099 (n =7 1; range, 0.38‐0.86). The arithmetic mean of the basic density for the same trees was 0.675 � 0.098 (range, 0.39‐0.87). The basic density of central heartwood was 0.766 � 0.158 (n = 149; range, 0.34‐1.06). Significant differences exist between the various published estimates for Amazonian forest biomass and emissions, but we emphasize that revision of density values based on the present study will not reduce these discrepancies; instead, all estimates will shift in parallel to lower levels. Adjustments to biomass and emissions are sufficiently large to be significant for the global carbon balance. For example, an estimate of net committed emissions of 249 � 10 6 Mg CO2-equivalent C/year for Brazilian Amazonia in the 1990, of which 237 � 10 6 Mg CO2-equivalent C/ year was from net removal of biomass, would be reduced by 14 � 10 6 Mg CO2-equivalent C/year (5.7%: larger than the 5.3% adjustment to gross emissions because regrowth estimates remain unchanged). Decrease of similar proportions would apply throughout the tropics. For the 1980s, these downward adjustments total 113 � 10 6 Mg C/year for CO2 effects alone, or
MAPLE: A Mobile Scalable P2P Nearest Neighbor Query System for Location-based Services

In this demonstration we present MAPLE, a scalable peer-to-peer nearest neighbor (NN) query system for mobile environments. MAPLE is designed for the efficient sharing of query results cached in the local storage of mobile peers. The MAPLE system is innovative in its ability to either fully or partially compute location-dependent nearest neighbor objects on each host. The demonstration illustrates how cooperative data sharing and distributed processing among mobile peers results in a considerable reduction of the load on remote spatial databases.
Genetic and Structural Analysis of the Bacteroides Conjugative Transposon CTn341

The genetic structure and functional organization of a Bacteroides conjugative transposon (CTn), CTn341, were determined. CTn341 was originally isolated from a tetracycline-resistant clinical isolate of Bacteroides vulgatus. The element was 51,993 bp long, which included a 5-bp coupling sequence that linked the transposon ends in the circular form. There were 46 genes, and the corresponding gene products fell into three major functional groups: DNA metabolism, regulation and antibiotic resistance, and conjugation. The G+C content and codon usage observed in the functional groups suggested that the groups belong to different genetic lineages, indicating that CTn341 is a composite, modular element. Mutational analysis of genes representing the different functional groups provided evidence for the gene assignments and showed that the basic conjugation and excision genes are conserved among Bacteroides spp. A group IIA1 intron, designated B.f.I1, was found to be inserted into the bmhA methylase gene. Reverse transcriptase PCR analysis of CTn341 RNA showed that B.fr.I1 was functional and was spliced out of the bmhA gene. Six related CTn-like elements were found in the genome sequences of Bacteroides fragilis NCTC9343 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI5482. The putative elements were similar to CTn341 primarily in the tra and mob regions and in the exc gene, and several appeared to contain intron elements. Our data provide the first reported sequence for a complete Bacteroides CTn, and they should be of considerable benefit to further functional and genetic analyses of antibiotic resistance elements and genome evolution in Bacteroides.
The Impact of Performance Asymmetry in Emerging Multicore Architectures

Performance asymmetry in multicore architectures arises when individual cores have different performance. Building such multicore processors is desirable because many simple cores together provide high parallel performance while a few complex cores ensure high serial performance. However, application developers typically assume computational cores provide equal performance, and performance asymmetry breaks this assumption. This paper is concerned with the behavior of commercial applications running on performance asymmetric systems. We present the first study investigating the impact of performance asymmetry on a wide range of commercial applications using a hardware prototype. We quantify the impact of asymmetry on an applicationýs performance variance when run multiple times, and the impact on the applicationýs scalability. Performance asymmetry adversely affects behavior of many workloads. We study ways to eliminate these effects. In addition to asymmetry-aware operating system kernels, the application often itself needs to be aware of performance asymmetry for stable and scalable performance.
Measurement Based Investigation of Indoor IEEE 802.11g Channel Dynamics

Understanding channel dynamics is essential and critical to a variety of research orientations on wireless networks. This paper presents observations and analysis from extensive measurements on IEEE 802.11g channels in an indoor environment with a customized testbed and measurement tools. We obtained the following major observations: 1) delivery ratio varies smoothly and large time scale delivery ratios change largely; 2) however, Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) varies largely in micro time scale, but stable in large time scale; 3) conformable to what is observed by other researchers, frame delivery ratio is not strongly correlated with SNR; 4) large time scale loss rate information is not informative.
The Death Effector Domains of Caspase-8 Induce Terminal Differentiation

The differentiation and senescence programs of metazoans play key roles in regulating normal development and preventing aberrant cell proliferation, such as cancer. These programs are intimately associated with both the mitotic and apoptotic pathways. Caspase-8 is an apical apoptotic initiator that has recently been appreciated to coordinate non-apoptotic roles in the cell. Most of these functions are attributed to the catalytic domain, however, the amino-terminal death effector domains (DED)s, which belong to the death domain superfamily of proteins, can also play key roles during development. Here we describe a novel role for caspase-8 DEDs in regulating cell differentiation and senescence. Caspase-8 DEDs accumulate during terminal differentiation and senescence of epithelial, endothelial and myeloid cells; genetic deletion or shRNA suppression of caspase-8 disrupts cell differentiation, while re-expression of DEDs rescues this phenotype. Among caspase-8 deficient neuroblastoma cells, DED expression attenuated tumor growth in vivo and proliferation in vitro via disruption of mitosis and cytokinesis, resulting in upregulation of p53 and induction of differentiation markers. These events occur independent of caspase-8 catalytic activity, but require a critical lysine (K156) in a microtubule-binding motif in the second DED domain. The results demonstrate a new function for the DEDs of caspase-8, and describe an unexpected mechanism that contributes to cell differentiation and senescence.
A data-intensive re-evaluation of semibridging carbonyl ligands

Structural data pertaining to bimetallic complexes with semibridging carbonyl (SBCO) ligands are analyzed using a comprehensive search of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). A brief review of the history of SBCO structures is presented, and this history is evaluated in light of the vastly larger dataset available today from the CSD. Additionally, computational analysis is used to reinforce conclusions from the structural data analysis, as well as to estimate the strength of a typical SBCO interaction. In view of the increasing number of research groups pursuing bimetallic strategies in inorganic/organometallic chemistry, this study adds to the understanding regarding an interaction type that, while weak, is known to play important structural and kinetic roles in certain systems.
A vision system for a Mars rover

A Mars rover must be able to sense its local environment with sufficient resolution and accuracy to avoid local obstacles and hazards while moving a significant distance each day. Power efficiency and reliability are extremely important considerations, making stereo correlation an attractive method of range sensing compared to laser scanning, if the computational load and correspondence errors can be handled. Techniques for treatment of these problems, including the use of more than two cameras to reduce correspondence errors and possibly to limit the computational burden of stereo processing, have been tested at JPL. Once a reliable range map is obtained, it must be transformed to a plan view and compared to a stored terrain database, in order to refine the estimated position of the rover and to improve the database. The slope and roughness of each terrain region are computed, which form the basis for a traversability map allowing local path planning. Ongoing research and field testing of such a system is described.
The microRNA pathway and fragile X mental retardation protein

Fragile X syndrome, one of the most common forms of inherited mental retardation, is caused by the functional loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a newly discovered class of small noncoding RNAs, have been implicated in multiple biological processes through posttranscriptional gene regulation. Recent evidence supports this view in terms of the biochemical and genetic interaction found between FMRP and the miRNA pathway, providing deeper insight into the molecular pathogenesis of mental retardation. This review briefly summarizes the progress towards an understanding of the role miRNAs play in neurological disorders, with a focus on the mechanism of interaction between FMRP and the miRNA pathway in the context of fragile X syndrome. In addition, we go on to discuss how the miRNA pathway may be involved in mental retardation.
Ascospore formation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sporulation of the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a response to nutrient depletion that allows a single diploid cell to give rise to four stress-resistant haploid spores. The formation of these spores requires a coordinated reorganization of cellular architecture. The construction of the spores can be broadly divided into two phases. The first is the generation of new membrane compartments within the cell cytoplasm that ultimately give rise to the spore plasma membranes. Proper assembly and growth of these membranes require modification of aspects of the constitutive secretory pathway and cytoskeleton by sporulation-specific functions. In the second phase, each immature spore becomes surrounded by a multilaminar spore wall that provides resistance to environmental stresses. This review focuses on our current understanding of the cellular rearrangements and the genes required in each of these phases to give rise to a wild-type spore.