cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal sampling of random processes under stochastic energy constraints

In this paper, we study the optimal sampling policy for an energy harvesting sensing system, which is designed to estimate a wide-sense stationary random process by using discrete-time samples collected by a sensor. The energy in the sensor is consumed by taking observations and is replenished randomly with energy harvested from the ambient environment. Our goal is to identify the optimal sampling policy that minimizes the estimation mean squared error (MSE) under stochastic energy constraints. The problem can be formulated as a stochastic programming problem, which is generally difficult to solve. We identify an asymptotically optimal solution to the problem by exploiting the properties of random processes with power-law decaying covariance. Specifically, with the help of a newly derived inverse covariance matrix of the random process, it is discovered that the linear minimum MSE (MMSE) estimation of the random process demonstrates a Markovian property. That is, the optimal estimation of any point in a time segment bounded by two consecutive samples can be achieved by using the knowledge of only the two bounding samples while ignoring all other samples. Such a Markovian property enables us to identify a lower bound of the long term average MSE. Motivated by the structure of the MSE lower bound, we then propose a simple best-effort sampling scheme by considering the stochastic energy constraints. It is shown that the best-effort sampling scheme is asymptotically optimal in the sense that, for almost every energy harvesting sample path, it achieves the MSE lower bound as time becomes large.
The effect of sensory activities on correct responding for children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract Sensory-based activities are commonly recommended for students with ASD, even in the absence of empirical data to substantiate their effectiveness. A single subject alternating treatment design was used to assess functional relations between sensory-based antecedent interventions and correct responding in four students with autism. As individuals with autism constitute a heterogeneous population, it is not surprising that a functional relation was found for only two of the four students. Results of this study lead to the conclusion that sensory-based interventions may be effective for some but not all students with autism. Implications for evaluating aptitude by treatment interactions and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Neutralization effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) antibodies on sulfur mustard (HD)-induced IL-6 secretion on human epidermal keratinocytes

Abstract The proinflammatory cytokine human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) plays an important role in the early and late courses of inflammation, trauma, and wound healing caused by sulfur mustard (HD). Previously, we demonstrated that hIL-6 might be involved in the early event of structural changes of the signal transducer glycoprotein, which indirectly initiates the cascade of events, such as skin irritation and blister formation observed in the pathophysiology of HD injury. In this present work, we focus on the neutralization effect of IL-6 antibodies with regard to the modulation of hIL-6 secretion. Levels of secreted cytokine hIL-6 in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) stimulated with HD (10 −4 M) and incubated for 24 h at 37 °C were determined by enzyme immunoassay, protein immunocytologic assay and reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The ratio of HD-treated NHEK to constitutive non-stimulated NHEK controls (S/C) on the induction of hIL-6 is reported. S/C was four-fold higher than non-stimulated NHEK controls as determined by ELISA. By using a more sensitive immunocytologic assay, Luminex 100 ™, the increment was verified. hIL-6 levels in NHEK stimulated with HD were 21±11 ng/mL as measured by Luminex 100 ™. The messenger RNA expression of the cytokine (hIL-6) gene was analyzed semiquantitatively. RT-PCR demonstrated that HD induced an increase in the transcription of hIL-6 gene. Selective immunosuppression, using IL-6 neutralizing antibodies, led to a reduction of such expression of HD-induced transcription of hIL-6 in human keratinocytes. The neutralization by pre-incubating NHEK with monoclonal anti-IL6 antibodies decreased hIL-6 secretion by 76%±1.8 ( * P
Modification of Selectivity in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Mixed Stationary Phases

Abstract Monomeric and polymeric C18 materials provide significantly different selectivities for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Selectivity factors vary in a regular manner with respect to surface concentration of C18 groups on different C18 columns. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of “customizing” a C18 column to provide an intermediate selectivity by mixing 5-μm polymeric C18 material from two different lots with high and low C18 surface concentrations. Polymeric C18 materials from different production lots were mixed in ratios of 30/70, 50/50, and 70/30 (w/w). Selectivity factors for these columns were found to be similar to those predicted by the linear addition of the selectivities of the two individual phases. The PAH selectivities on these mixed columns were also found to be comparable to data obtained from coupled short columns of appropriate lengths each containing one of these different C18 materials. These studies indicate that col...
Oxygen isotope exchange between illite and water at 22°C

Abstract Oxygen isotope exchange experiments at 22°C have been made on a series of illites displaying a range of perfection of crystallinity and degree of interstratification. Structurally bound oxygen underwent significant non-equilibrium exchange in time periods ranging from 2 to 70 months. Exchange was found to be controlled by accessibility of water to the interlayer cation region. 1000 In α appears to be in the general neighborhood of +23.4 at 22°C for the illite-water system; however, it was found that equilibrium fractionation cannot be represented by a single value for structurally and chemically distinct illites.
Effects of Cassava effluent on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in a Tropical Stream in Southern Nigeria

The study of the effect of cassava effluents on macroinvertebrates along downstream reaches of the Orogodo River, the Niger Delta was carried out monthly from January to June 2006. Three study stations were selected along the river course (upstream of the cassava impacted site, the cassava-impacted site, and downstream of the cassava impacted site). The study showed that cassava effluents caused a decrease in dissolved oxygen and pH and an increase in biochemical demand (BOD) and nitrates. Significant differences in these parameters were established among the stations sampled. A post hoc test indicated that station II (the cassava impacted site) was the cause of the observed differences. A total of 55 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa with a mean of 6,116 individuals were collected from the three stations along the river. The analysis showed that the overall density of fauna differed significantly among the stations. Cassava effluents permitted the dominance of oligochaetes and dipterans at station II and th...
Chinese and Americans Agree on What Is Fair, but Disagree on What Is Best in Societal Decisions Affecting Health and Safety Risks

Through surveys of students and junior professionals and interviews with business and government executives, we studied Chinese choices and fairness perceptions in risky health and safety decisions. The survey responses were compared with American responses from an earlier study by Keller and Sarin. The survey results show that the American and Chinese respondents had similar fairness perceptions, but the Chinese did not make decisions that were consistent with their fairness perceptions, whereas the Americans did. We found that the middle-age Chinese professionals tended to make choices that were more different from the Americans than were the choices of the young Chinese management students. It is likely that these discrepancies were caused by cultural differences, with the younger Chinese tending to face a stronger Western influence. The insights from the survey results were enriched by interviews that revealed fairness perceptions of Chinese business and government executives. A framework to interpret cultural influences on decision making was also proposed.
Reactions of platinum triflate complexes with carbon monoxide and t-butyl isonitrile

Abstract The platinum triflate complexes [Pt(SO 3 CF 3 ) 2 (PP)] (PP = dppm, dppe) are reduced in the presence of carbon monoxide in acetone solution to produce [Pt 2 (CO) 2 (μ-dppm) 2 ] 2+ or the novel [Pt 2 (CO) 2 (dppe) 2 ] 2+ cation, which contains an unsupported metal-metal bond. The reactions of [M(SO 3 CF 3 ) 2 (dppe)] (M = Pd, Pt) or [Pt(SO 3 CF 3 ) 2 (dppm)] with CN t Bu in acetone proceed by initial displacement of the triflate ligands by CN t Bu. In the dppm case, dimerization occurs to yield [Pt 2 (CN t Bu) 4 (μ-dppm) 2 ] 4+ , whereas with dppe cleavage of one of the isonitrile ligands occurs to produce 2-methylpropene and [Pt(CN)(CN t Bu) (dppe)] + . Cleavage of the isonitrile is promoted by addition of ethanol or aniline. In the presence of excess diethylamine, addition to one of the isonitriles in [Pt(CN + Bu) 2 (dppe)] 2+ is proposed to occur to generate a carbene complex, which is subsequently deprotonated to yield [Pt{C(NEt 2 )-N + Bu}(CN t Bu)(dppe)] 2+ .
Productivity gains by fertilisation in Eucalyptus urophylla clonal plantations across gradients in site and stand conditions

Nutrition management in Eucalyptus plantations is fundamental for sustaining high production. Fertilisation is routinely used to improve tree nutrition, providing profitable returns on large investments. Growth responses to fertilisation differ dramatically among sites, however, so efficient investment decisions in fertilisation is important. The twin-plots design characterises the fertilisation response in a short period of time, providing the information needed to landscape-scale silvicultural prescriptions. This method entails the establishment of pairs of plots, with one control and one treated plot at each location. The control plot may typically be a permanent plot of an inventory network, providing representative information for a company's decisionmaking. The paired twin-plot receives intensive management (high fertilisation and weed control) to minimise (or remove) these constraints to forest productivity. We used this approach with 131 blocks of twin-plots to represent an area of 34 540 ha in th...
Influence of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen on Microbial Populations and Shelf Life of Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream

Abstract Creamed Cottage cheese sealed in commercial thermoplastic containers following air evacuation and carbon dioxide or nitrogen-flushing, and stored at 4C, showed greatly repressed growth of spoilage organisms, including yeast and mold and psychrophiles, for up to 112 days. Excellent flavor and texture were maintained in gassed cheese to 45 days. Slight bitterness was apparent in Cottage cheese held under carbon dioxide for 73 and 120 days, and slight to medium bitterness in cheese held under nitrogen for a similar period. Creamed Cottage cheese stored in waxed cartons and replaceable lids, without evacuation or gassing deteriorated in flavor after 11 to 18 days and in texture after 32 to 45 days. Carbon dioxide gassing maintained the basic fresh flavor of cheese for 73 days at 4C, but gave the Cottage cheese a pleasant, slight, fizzy character. Excellent quality sour cream packaged and stored under identical experimental conditions showed no growth of spoilage organisms even in control containers for 112 days at 4C and pH 4.5. Flavor of the sour cream stored under carbon dioxide was excellent for 120 days, but some body and texture destabilization occurred in 25 days. The body and texture of sour cream stored under nitrogen was excellent for 73 days at 4C.
Studies of complement autoactivatability in hereditary angioedema: direct relationship to functional C-1-INA and the effect of classical pathway activators.

It has been observed earlier that the hemolytic complement in diluted sera obtained from patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) undergoes spontaneous decay when incubated at 37 degrees C. Employing individual serum from patients at different stages of this disease it was demonstrated that this spontaneous loss of hemolytic complement also occurs without dilution and is directly linked to the absence of functional C-1-INA. Incubation of HAE serum resulted in a loss of activity which appears to be dependent upon the concentration of functional C-1-INA. While C-1-INA levels less than 50 micrograms/ml lead to rapid depletion with time, reconstitution of deficient sera with highly purified C-1-INA or of undiluted NHS inhibited spontaneous activation. Furthermore, NHS was rendered susceptible to autoactivation when its C-1-INA was depleted by passage over an anti-C-1-INA Sepharose 4B affinity column in the presence of 10 mM EDTA, indicating that in the absence of functional C-1-INA, C1 undergoes an uninhibited spontaneous autoactivation which leads to the consumption of C4 and C2 but not C3. Consumption of C3 was observed, however, in HAE sera that contained a significant amount of immune complexes. Incubation of HAE sera with highly purified Hageman factor fragment (5 micrograms/ml), or aggregated IgG (2 mg/ml) was found to accelerate the rate of decay when compared to untreated samples while sera from patients under treatment with Danazol or Stanozolol failed to autoactive. These results suggest that, the absence of C-1-INA, may, by itself trigger the dissociation and autoactivation of C1 in the sera of such patients; however, the presence of other complement activators accelerates the reaction. This inherent property of HAE sera, i.e., spontaneous autoactivation at 37 degrees C, may be a useful screening test but direct determination of C-1-INA activity is required to establish the precise diagnosis.
Structure-Function Relationships of Antimicrobial Piscidins 1 and 3 bound to Cholesterol-Containing Lipid Membranes

Isolated in the mast cells of hybrid-striped sea bass, piscidin 1 (p1) and piscidin 3 (p3) are antimicrobial, cationic, and amphipathic peptides that have demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and cancer cells. Both p1 and p3 adopt an alpha-helical structure when bound to phospholipid membranes. p1 is the more active of the two isoforms, exhibiting higher lytic activity on different bacterial strains, as well as erythrocytes. This research uses various biophysical methods to investigate the differences in the backbone structure and bilayer location of piscidin bound to different lipid bilayers of biological relevance.To mimic the composition of human erythrocytes, a mixture of 4:1 palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC):cholesterol (CHL) at pH 7.4 was used. Oriented bilayer samples prepared with 1:40 peptide:lipid were analyzed using solid-state NMR yielding 15N-1H dipolar couplings as well as 15N amide chemical shifts. These data were used to compute a high-resolution atomic-level structure of p1 and p3 bound to zwitterionic bilayers. The peptide's backbone structure is largely conserved across various bacterial and mammalian membrane mimics, suggesting that the difference in a peptide's activity on various membranes is more reliant on the peptide's side-chain and its position within the membrane.The structural results were supplemented with dye leakage assays in order to probe the peptide's activity on lipid vesicles, mimicking bacterial and mammalian cells. These results lend insight into how specific changes in peptide's structure may result in varying activity on different membrane systems. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to predict the peptide's bilayer location and depth of insertion. Membrane thinning, an event known to precede pore formation, was shown using MD. Overall, these experiments help obtain principles to design novel antibiotic pharmaceuticals with low hemolytic effects and high lytic activity on bacteria.
Genetic Structure in Native Populations of Grape Phylloxera (Homoptera: Phylloxeridae)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to study genetic structure and diversity in native grape phylloxera populations growing on Vitis arizonica Englemann in central Arizona and on V. riparia Michaux in New York. RAPD data from the Arizona collections were clustered into 3 subpopulations, whereas data from the New York collections were not clustered, which reflected topographic features and the distribution of the sampled vines. Similarity coefficients of the 2 collection areas had similar ranges (0.89–1.0). The similarity coefficient between the Arizona and New York collections was 0.62. Analyses of molecular variance were used to partition the variance in genetic distances, and confirmed the results of the dendrogram clustering. The clustering of the Arizona populations is likely the result of gene flow restriction caused by geographic isolation. Greater diversity was expected among the Arizona populations. That diversity levels were similar suggests that other factors, such as inbreeding or past population history, must play a role in the relatively low level of diversity found in Arizona.
Increasing Student Participation and Productivity in Small-Group Activities for Psychology Classes

This article consolidates suggestions about ways to increase individual student involvement in small-group activities for psychology classes. First, the literature on group productivity and social ...
Introduction to the physics of Brownian motors

A detailed introduction to directed transport in Brownian motors occurring in spatially periodic systems far from equilibrium is presented. We elucidate the prominent physical concepts and novel phenomena with a representative dissipative Brownian motor dynamics. Its main ingredient is a thermal noise with time-dependent temperature modulations that drive the system out of thermal equilibrium in a spatially asymmetric (ratchet-) potential. Yet, this asymmetric setup does not exhibit a concomitant obvious bias into one or the other direction of motion. Symmetry conditions for the appearance (or not) of directed current, its reversal upon variation of certain parameters, and various other generic features and applications are discussed. In addition, we provide a systematic classification scheme for Brownian motor models and review historical landmark contributions to the field.
Corrigendum to “Constrained non-rigid registration for use in image-guided adaptive radiotherapy” [Medical Image Analysis 13 (2009) 809–817]

Corrigendum Corrigendum to ‘‘Constrained non-rigid registration for use in image-guided adaptive radiotherapy” [Medical Image Analysis 13 (2009) 809–817] W.H. Greene *, S. Chelikani , K. Purushothaman , J.P.S. Knisely , Z. Chen , X. Papademetris , L.H. Staib , J.S. Duncan a,b Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Hydrolysis and transfer reactions catalyzed by γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; Evidence for separate substrate sites and for high affinity of L-cystine

Abstract γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase was studied with L- and D-γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide as γ-glutamyl donors. No autotranspeptidation occurred with the D-γ-glutamyl donor or when the L-γ-glutamyl donor was used at concentrations lower than 10 μM. The K m values for hydrolysis were 5 and 31 μM for the L- and D-γ-glutamyl donors, respectively; the corresponding V max values were identical. The γ-glutamyl donor site of the enzyme thus exhibits low stereospecificity (but high affinity), while the acceptor site exhibits absolute L-specificity. The K m value for L-cystine as acceptor is very low (30 μM); the same value was obtained with L- and D-γ-glutamyl donors. The data are consistent with a ping pong mechanism and the existence of separate donor and acceptor enzyme sites. The present findings thus extend the usefulness of γ-glutamyl-p-nitro-anilide as a substrate in probing the catalytic behavior of this enzyme.
Collodion membrane secures cells sorted by flow cytofluorometry onto microscope slides

Quantitative microscopic cytology of cells previously sorted by flow cytofluorometry has been hindered by the loss of cells from the microscope slide during staining procedures. The simple application of a semi-permeable membrane of collodion over fixed or unfixed cells sorted directly onto a microscope slide secured virtually 100% of the cells onto the slide. Cells covered with the collodion membrane studied with Papanicolaou's stain as well as routine clinical cervical cytologic preparations. In contrast, fewer than one half of the cells sorted onto uncoated or albumin coated slides were retained after staining.
Helping users recall their reasoning process

The final product of an analyst's investigation using a visualization is often a report of the discovered knowledge, as well as the methods employed and reasoning behind the discovery. We believe that analysts may have difficulty keeping track of their knowledge discovery process and will require tools to assist in accurately recovering their reasoning. We first report on a study examining analysts' recall of their strategies and methods, demonstrating their lack of memory of the path of knowledge discovery. We then explore whether a tool visualizing the steps of the visual analysis can aid users in recalling their reasoning process. The results of our second study indicate that visualizations of interaction logs can serve as an effective memory aid, allowing analysts to recall additional details of their strategies and decisions.
A mechanism for the generation of screw dislocations from grain-boundary ledges

Abstract A mechanism, similar to that of Li for edge dislocations, is proposed for formation of screw dislocations from grain-boundary ledges. Several possible consequences with respect to macroscopic plastic deformation are discussed, the most important being incubation of slip at grain boundaries in the microstrain region.
Experimental Analysis of the Wear, Life and Behavior of PTFE Coated Thrust Washer Bearings Under Non-Axisymmetric Loading

In this work the behavior and life of a PTFE coating on a flat thrust washer bearing is investigated. The thrust washer bearing is located between a helical gear and its carrier, and is subjected to non-axisymmetric loading and wear. The volume of worn material is approximated by measuring the difference in height between the worn and unworn surfaces. It was also found that the surface roughness of tested washers increases with the severity of wear, in most cases. After a finite number of cycles the effective coefficient of friction between the surfaces increases, suggesting that the coating is wearing off and losing effectiveness. The rate at which the coating wears off also varies with load and speed, hence, there is a region of operation that minimizes the wear and friction. Presented at the 58th Annual Meeting in New York City April 28–May 1, 2003
Multiple resolution seismic imaging of a shallow hydrocarbon plumbing system, Woolsey Mound, Northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract The northern Gulf of Mexico is dominated by salt tectonics, resulting fracturing and numerous seafloor seeps and vents. Woolsey Mound, site of the Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research Consortium's seafloor observatory, has been investigated extensively via surveys, direct sampling and seafloor instrument systems. This study presents an innovative approach to seismic data interpretation, integrating three different resolution datasets and maximizing seismic coverage of the complex natural hydrocarbon plumbing system at Woolsey Mound. 3D industry seismic data reveal the presence of a salt body at in the shallow subsurface that has generated an extended network of faults, some extending from the salt body to the seafloor (master faults). Higher resolution seismic data show acoustic wipe-out zones along the master faults with expulsion features – seafloor pockmarks and craters – located immediately above them and associated, in the subsurface, with high-amplitude, negative anomalies at constant depth of 0.2 s TWTT b.s.f., interpreted as free gas. Since pockmarks and craters provide pathways for hydrocarbons to escape from depth into the water column, related sub-surface seismic anomalies may indicate free gas at the base of the gas hydrates stability zone (GHSZ). Fluid flow and gas hydrates formation are segmented laterally along faults. Gas hydrates formation and dissociation vary temporally in the vicinity of active faults, and can temporarily seal them as conduits for thermogenic fluids. Periodic migrations of gases and other fluids may perturb the GHSZ in terms of temperature and pressure, producing the observed lack of classical BSRs.
Successful treatment of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia with the cardiac pacemaker.

he occurrence of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia during the surgical management of valvular heart disease carries an unfavT orable prognosis because of the risk of ventricular fibrillation and death. The prevention and treatment of ventricular tachycardia with cardiac depressant drugs have not been consistently successful, and use of such drugs is not desirable during the immediate postoperative period. This paper describes four patients in whom recurrent episodes of ventricular tachycardia were successfully controlled by temporary cardiac pacemaker. A 47-year-old woman was admitted in January, 1967, because of severe dyspnea. She had had rheumatic fever at age 16 but had remained asymptomatic subsequently until eight years previously, when she had developed dyspnea on exertion and pedal edema. During the two years prior to admission she had noted progressive orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and edema. Physical examination and diagnostic studies including cardiac catheterization and cineangiocardiography showed mitral stenosis, mitral insufficiency, aortic stenosis, aortic insufficiency, tricuspid insufficiency, pulmonary hypertension, and congestive heart failure. Digoxin was not administered during the 48 hours before operation, and diuretics were stopped five days before operation. The total body potassium determined with radioactive potassium was low. The serum potassium was 3.1 mEq. per liter. Using extracorporeal circulation, the mitral and aortic valves were replaced with Starr-Edwards valves and a tricuspid valvuloplasty was performed. A temporary pacemaker wire was left in the right ventricle as a prophylactic measure. A tracheostomy was carried out. The patient tolerated the operation well. She was placed on assisted ventilation. Following operation she began to develop short runs of ventricular tachycardia with an irregular ventricular rhythm between episodes. The heart was paced at a rate of 85 beats per minute, and no further episodes of ventricular tachycardia occurred. The morning following operation the pacemaker was turned off, and again Case 1.
Simulations of two dimensional hopper flow

We report on discrete element simulations of the flow out of a hopper. The geometry of the setup, as well as the material parameters, are taken directly from the experiments reported by Tang and Behringer (Chaos 21:041107, 2011; IFRPI-NSF collaboratory: 2D hopper data summary, 2010). The simulations consider flow of elastic, frictional, disk-like particles as the slope of the hopper walls and the size of the opening are varied, so that we can consider both the regime where jamming happens frequently (small openings) and where it occurs very rarely, or not at all (large openings), as well as the influence of the slope of hopper walls. We discuss the distribution of jamming events, the mass flux out of the hopper, and the influence of material parameters on these quantities. In addition, we consider velocity and pressure fields in the hopper, as well as their fluctuations.
Knowledge elicitation with multiple experts: considerations and techniques

The already difficult knowledge acquisition process is complicated when the expert system being developed requires interaction with multiple experts. In this tutorial for novice knowledge engineers and managers we discuss some considerations involved in using multiple experts, including (1) deciding when multiple experts may be necessary, (2) eliciting knowledge from multiple experts individually or in small groups, and (3) knowledge engineer capabilities and preparation. Next, we present three specific group-appropriate techniques to elicit knowledge during a knowledge acquisition session: brainstorming, consensus decision making, and the nominal group technique. Finally, we consider the importance and objectives of debriefing following knowledge acquisition from multiple experts
Gender-related differences exist in cortical [3H]nisoxetine binding and are not affected by prenatal morphine exposure

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that prenatal morphine, which differentially affects hypothalamic norepinephrine content and turnover in male and female rats, has sexually dimorphic effects on the density of hypothalamic norepinephrine uptake sites in adult offspring. The binding characteristics of norepinephrine transporters were examined in the hypothalamus, preoptic area and frontal cortex of adult male and female rats exposed to morphine (5–10 mg/kg, twice daily) or saline on gestation days 11–18. There was a gender-related difference in the density of norepinephrine uptake sites measured by [3H]nisoxetine binding in the frontal cortex of saline controls, with control males having significantly fewer binding sites than control females. Prenatal morphine administration did not reverse or eliminate this difference. Additionally, prenatal morphine exposure had no effects on either the binding capacity or the affinity of norepinephrine uptake sites in the hypothalamus, preoptic area or frontal cortex of adult progeny. Thus, alterations in hypothalamic norepinephrine content and turnover following prenatal morphine exposure are not reflected in alterations in norepinephrine uptake sites. However, recent immunocytochemical work in our laboratory correlated reductions in hypothalamic norepinephrine content and turnover rate with reductions in tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-β-hydroxylase fiber density in the hypothalamus of morphine-exposed female rats. Therefore, the present results may suggest that compensatory mechanisms increase the density of norepinephrine uptake sites in hypothalamic terminal fields of morphine-exposed females.
Reply to “Comment on ‘Dirac R -matrix method for the calculation of x-ray line polarization’ ”

In response to the Comment written by Zhang et al. [Phys. Rev. A 82, 036701 (2010)] we show that the main ideas and results (about the physics and method) reported in our paper [Phys. Rev. A 79, 062715 (2009)] still appear to be correct. Although none of the conjectures given in the Comment about the potential problems in our code are correct, there was a small error in our code, so the part of our paper with numerical data, presented to support our method, appears to be incorrect. The wealth of resonance features in the x-ray line $3D$ demonstrated in our paper still appears to be real and is reconfirmed by a revised calculation with the error fixed.
Ab initio calculations of f -orbital electron-phonon interaction in laser cooling

Results of ab initio calculation of electron-phonon interaction in laser cooling are reported and compared with the values estimated using analytical harmonic potential approximation. Electronic band-structure changes due to normal-mode ligand displacement are used to find the energy change in $f$-orbital optically active electron at the gamma point. The band-structure calculations show that the partial band structure of Yb is flat, indicating limited interaction with the neighboring atoms. The electron-phonon interaction potential calculated is within a factor 2 (larger) of the value using the harmonic potentials and the difference is attributed to the necessary approximations of each method. Single ligand displacement, which simulates one-phonon propagation, is also used and the resulting electron-phonon interaction potentials are in agreement with those from normal-mode vibration of the entire complex. Using these interaction potentials, larger cooling rates of the ion-host pair are calculated.
Virtual math objects with pedagogical, mathematical, and cognitive fidelity

The examination of mathematical and cognitive fidelity for math related websites has been studied by Web designers; yet teachers, and especially pre-service teachers, as users of technology in the classroom, also need to be familiar with pedagogical, mathematical, and cognitive fidelity. What is pedagogical, mathematical, and cognitive fidelity; and, what makes a math website high in pedagogical, mathematical, and cognitive fidelity are discussed in this article. Evidence is shown that technology high in pedagogical, mathematical, and cognitive fidelity, when used in the classroom, improves student academic achievement.
Structural Optimization of Laminated Composite Blade Using Particle Swarm Optimization

Composite blades working underwater experience complicated loading conditions. Robust design of a composite blade for hydrokinetic applications should satisfy varying loading conditions and conservative failure evaluations. Blade manufacturing using composites requires extensive optimization studies in terms of composite materials, number of layers, stacking sequences, ply thickness and orientation. In the current study, particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is adopted to conduct composite lay-up optimization for the turbine blade. Layer numbers, ply thickness and ply orientations are optimized using standard PSO (SPSO) to minimize weight. Composite failure criteria are applied using finite element method to generate the most conservative blade design. Based on the blade lay-up design with minimized weight, stacking sequence of the blade lay-up was optimized to maximum safety factor of the designed blade using permutation discrete PSO (PDPSO). To improve the efficiency of the algorithm, the concepts of valid/invalid exchange, and memory checking were introduced into PDPSO. Meanwhile, another discrete PSO using partially mapped crossover (PMX) technique was used to validate the simulation results optimized by PDPSO. A final composite blade design with minimized weight and maximized load-carrying capacity was presented.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The breakdown and rehabilitation of visuospatial dysfunction in brain-injured patients

Neuropsychological studies on visuospatial dysfunction are reviewed and a model is described that characterizes hemispheric specialization of this function. It is proposed that the right hemisphere is dominant for configural processing and the left hemisphere for detail processing. Past efforts of visuospatial rehabilitation, which have focused primarily on one type of impairment, "left-neglect", are discussed. Future directions for rehabilitation of visuospatial dysfunction associated with both right- and left-hemisphere pathology are suggested.
Spacing effects in memory: evidence for a two-process account

Une serie d'experiences traite de la question du role de l'accroissement des intervalles entre les repetitions des items sur leur memorisation et examine les effets de l'intentionnalite de l'apprentissage
Nocardiosis in Renal Transplant Recipients Undergoing Immunosuppression with Cyclosporine

Nine cases of nocardiosis were diagnosed among 1,255 renal transplant recipients given cyclosporine (CsA)-prednisone for immunosuppression between August 1980 and March 1992 (incidence, 0.7%). Of these nine patients presenting with nocardiosis 32-1,806 days after transplantation, eight had pulmonary involvement, two had skin manifestations (one with localized disease), and one had a cerebral abscess and a pleural effusion. All cases required aggressive diagnostic procedures. Nocardia asteroides was isolated in seven cases and Nocardia brasiliensis in two. All but one case was cured. Included among the cures were all of four cases treated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Therapy with CsA-prednisone was continued throughout the infection in eight cases. Analysis of a group of 154 historical controls who received azathioprine (AZA)-prednisone for immunosuppression after renal transplantation (performed before 1980 at the same center) revealed four cases of nocardiosis (incidence, 2.6%). Thus nocardiosis is apparently less common among renal transplant recipients given CsA-prednisone than among those given AZA-prednisone. The clinical presentation of nocardiosis in renal transplant recipients is variable, with pulmonary involvement predominating. Diagnosis requires an aggressive approach. Chemotherapy is successful in most cases, including those treated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid when the isolate is susceptible.
Damping characterization of carbon nanotube thin films

This paper investigates the potential of exploiting interfacial sliding interactions in carbon nanotube thin films for structural damping applications. Carbon nanotubes, due to their huge effective interfacial area, may provide an unprecedented opportunity to dramatically improve damping properties with minimal weight penalty. Three different mechanisms for interfacial friction damping in nanotube films were identified in this paper. These include: 1) Energy dissipation due to inter-tube interactions, 2) Energy dissipation due to nanotube-polymer interactions and 3) Energy dissipation due to nanotube and encapsulated nanowire interactions. These damping mechanisms are investigated using computational techniques (such as molecular dynamics) as well as experimentation (viscoelastic shear, bending tests). The results indicate that over 15-fold increase in the material loss factor for an epoxy thin film can be achieved by the use of carbon nanotube fillers.
Stressors and rewards for workers in AIDS service organizations.

The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of recent advances in the treatment of HIV/AIDS on AIDS service providers. The study surveyed the motivations, stressors, and rewards of workers employed in AIDS service organizations. Employees of AIDS service organizations play a valuable role in providing services to people with HIV/AIDS, and their motives and attitudes about their jobs are significantly related to the quality of care provided to clients. A total of 180 employees from nine AIDS service organizations in New York City completed a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of demographic, motivation, stressor, and reward items. This ethnically diverse sample consisted of social service workers (56%), administrative workers (22%), health care workers (18%), and other workers (4%). Forty-two percent of respondents had been working in the AIDS field for 5 or more years. The main reasons for choosing this line of work were a desire to help others, followed by havi...
Enabling technology scaling with in production lithography processes

As the industry hits a road block with RETs that attempt to aggressively scale k1, we propose to extend the life of optical lithography by a complete co-optimization between circuit choices, layout patterns and lithography. We demonstrate that the judicious selection of a small number of layout patterns along with the appropriate circuit topologies would not only enable k1 relaxation but also efficient implementation of circuits. Additionally, in this paper, we discuss the use of regular design fabrics to extend the life of current generation lithography equipment. We will introduce the Front End of Line (FEOL) limited regular design fabric. The metal 1 patterns for this fabric are selected such that we can utilize a 1.2 NA 32nm metal 1 lithography process without any area penalty with respect to standard cells with conventional design rules, which require a 32nm metal 1 process with a rather unrealistic k1 of 0.35 while using a more advanced 1.35 NA tool. We also demonstrate simulation results on 2-dimensional layout patterns. The results suggest that smart selection of layout patterns can enable the extension of single exposure lithography to a 32nm production lithography process.
The Authority Structure of the School: System of Social Exchange:

In this paper the bureaucratic authority structure of the school is viewed as consisting of an asymmetric system of role relationships with teachers' obligations and institutional expectations considered as an exchange system. It is suggested that the decision concerning how much authority to invest in teachers depends upon expectations of a return of the investment and an assessment of the risk involved. There appears to be a withdrawal of authority invested in teachers due to the perceived risk involved resulting in an abandonment of their professional orienta tion and a tendency to adopt a more rewarding bureaucratic orienta tion toward the schools. Since school administrators invest little author ity in their instructional staff, teachers in turn have little authority to invest in students. Consequently, the school fails to draw upon the pow erful societal norms of the adolescent subculture to reinforce achieve ment of the school's goals.
The effect of trifluoroethoxy groups on the structures of eight-membered ring-containing cyclic phosphites

New phosphites 1–4 were synthesized from phosphorus trichloride and an appropriate diphenol followed by the addition of trifluoroethanol in the presence of triethylamine. These phosphites are to serve as precursors in the syntheses of biorelated hypervalent phosphoranes. 1H, 19F, and 31P NMR spectra were recorded. X-ray analysis of 3 and 4 revealed that the sulfur-containing eight-membered ring was in a syn conformation that a allowed a sulfur donor interaction to the phosphorus atom, whereas for phosphite 2, the eight membered sulfonyl containing ring was in an anti conformation that did not allow a donor interaction to phosphorus from the oxygen atom of the sulfonyl group. Structural comparisons are made with related cyclic phosphites and phosphates having donor atoms in eight-membered rings.
Comparison of the effects of cholic acid and chenic acid feeding on rates of cholesterol synthesis in the liver of the rat

To compare the ability of cholic acid and chenic acid to suppress cholesterol synthesis in the liver, these two bile acids were fed in varying amounts to rats for either 66 hr or 6 weeks. In both instances there were significant changes in the bile acid pool in the small intestine and suppression of the rate of cholesterol synthesis in the liver. The administration of cholic acid, however, consistently produced greater suppression of the rate of cholesterol synthesis from octanoate or of microsomal HMG CoA reductase activity than did the administration of a similar amount of chenic acid. Furthermore, this difference was present whether the rates of cholesterogenesis were measured at high-substrate concentrations, ie, under conditions whereVmax was apparently achieved, or under circumstances where there was essentially no extracellular substrate present. These findings do not support the view that the superiority of chenic acid for dissolution of gallstones is secondary to its greater effect as an inhibitor of hepatic cholesterol synthesis.
The t(8;21) fusion protein contacts co-repressors and histone deacetylases to repress the transcription of the p14ARF tumor suppressor.

Abstract The t(8;21) is one of the most frequent chromosomal translocations associated with acute leukemia. The translocation fuses the DNA binding domain of AML1 to nearly all of the ETO co-repressor. ETO associates with the mSin3 and N-CoR co-repressors as well as histone deacetylases 1, 2, and 3. Although this is one of the most frequent chromosomal translocations in acute leukemia, accounting for 10–15% of the cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the direct targets for transcriptional regulation that stimulate leukemogenesis are unknown. We found that AML1–ETO repressed the promoter of p14 ARF tumor suppressor in transient transfection assays and reduced endogenous levels of p14 ARF expression in multiple cell types. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that AML1–ETO bound to the p14 ARF promoter. In acute myeloid leukemia samples containing the t(8;21), levels of p14 ARF mRNA were markedly lower when compared to other acute myeloid leukemias. Therefore, p14 ARF is a direct transcriptional target of AML1–ETO.
Emerging roles of immunostimulatory oral bacteria in periodontitis development

Periodontitis is a common dental disease which results in irreversible alveolar bone loss around teeth, and subsequent tooth loss. Previous studies have focused on bacteria that damage the host and the roles of commensals to facilitate their colonization. Although some immune responses targeting oral bacteria protect the host from alveolar bone loss, recent studies show that particular host defense responses to oral bacteria can induce alveolar bone loss. Host-damaging and immunostimulatory oral bacteria cooperatively induce bone loss by inducing gingival damage followed by immunostimulation. In mouse models of experimental periodontitis induced by either Porphyromonas gingivalis or ligature, γ-proteobacteria accumulate and stimulate host immune responses to induce host damage. Here we review the differential roles of individual bacterial groups in promoting bone loss through the induction of host damage and immunostimulation.
Monoclonal Antibody to Fenbendazole: Utility in Residue Studies

A monoclonal antibody-based ELISA was developed for fenbendazole, a widely used benzimidazole anthelmintic, with approved uses in cattle and other food animals. The antibody was elicited using as hapten 2-succinamido-5(6)-phenylthiobenzimidazole, which was conjugated with bovine serum albumin to produce an immunogen and with horseradish peroxidase to prepare a labeled ligand. The ELISA was performed on aqueous extracts of bovine liver or diluted milk samples. In bovine liver, the limit of detection was 200 ppb; in the milk matrix, the limit of detection was 3 ppb. The ELISA method is a simple approach to screen food samples for residues of fenbendazole.
Proteomic analysis of human prostate cancer.

Proteomics is a promising approach in the identification of proteins and biochemical pathways involved in tumorigenesis. In an effort to discover such proteins and pathways that are deregulated in prostate tumorigenesis, cellular proteomes of matched normal prostate epithelial cells and high-grade prostate cancer cells were analyzed by tissue microdissection, two-dimensional electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry. Forty protein alterations were detected in the tumors; however, the majority of these changes were not shared among the 12 neoplasms. In contrast, parallel cDNA microarray analysis identified a number of common gene expression changes. The marked heterogeneity of the observed protein alterations may have significance with regard to tumor biology and research strategies for molecular profiling analyses of human prostate cancer.