cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The University of Utah neutrino detector, II. Large area directional Čerenkov detectors

Abstract Cerenkov detectors of large uniform sensitive area have been economically constructed at the University of Utah to provide a highly efficient directional trigger for a hodoscope of pulsed cylindrical spark counters. The detectors are water filled concrete tanks having inside dimensions of 3 × 10 × 20 [ft], whose two large walls support a grid-like array of light collecting elements. A fraction of the Cerenkov light produced by a fast muon traversing the tanks is intercepted and trapped by the light collecting elements, the trapped light waveshifted to the blue and sensed by photomultiplier tubes located at the end of each light collector. The output from the array for a single fast muon corresponds to ∼16 photoelectrons, giving the light collection system an overall efficiency of 1%. The two Cerenkov tanks operated in coincidence incorrectly determine the direction of a particle traversing them only once in 100 000 times.
Human age-related cataract and lens epithelial cell death.

Purpose To evaluate the importance of lens epithelial cell death in age-related cataract. To determine whether the large percentage of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive lens epithelial cells previously reported in human capsulotomy specimens results from apoptosis or necrosis. Methods Capsulotomy specimens from patients who had undergone cataract surgery and epithelia from cataractous lenses of eye bank eyes were compared with epithelia from noncataractous lenses of eye bank eyes. DNA fragmentation was assayed using the TUNEL method. Cell membrane integrity was tested using a fluorescent stain for DNA, BOBO-3, that is excluded from living cells. Cell proliferation was assayed by labeling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). The number of cells in different regions of the lens epithelium was measured by digital imaging and computerized counting of nuclei after staining with methyl green. Results TUNEL-positive cells were sometimes detected adjacent to denuded regions of capsulotomy specimens, especially when epithelia were not fixed immediately after surgery. TUNEL-stained cells usually stained with BOBO-3, indicating loss of plasma membrane integrity. No BrdU-labeled cells were detected in capsulotomy specimens. Cell density in cataractous lens epithelia was similar to that in normal lens epithelia. In cataractous lenses from eye bank eyes, cell density in the region of the epithelium overlying the cataract was higher than cell density in the region of the epithelium overlying the transparent part of the lens. No correlation was found between cell density and cataract severity or between cell density and age. Conclusions TUNEL staining of lens epithelial cells in capsulotomy specimens most likely results from necrotic cell death caused by damage during or soon after cataract surgery. Loss of cells from the lens epithelium, by apoptosis or other mechanisms of cell death, does not seem to play a major role in age-related cataract formation.
Self Stabilizing Distributed Queuing

Distributed queuing is a fundamental problem in distributed computing, arising in a variety of applications. In a distributed queuing protocol, each participating process informs its predecessor of its identity, and (when appropriate) learns the identity ofits successor.This paper presents a new, self-stabilizing distributed queuing protocol. This protocol adds self-stabilizing actions to the Arrow distributed queuing protocol, a simple path-reversal protocol that runs on a network spanning tree.The protocol is structured as a layer that runs on top ofan y selfstabilizing spanning tree protocol. This additional layer stabilizes in constant time, establishing that self-stabilizing distributed queuing is no more difficult than self-stabilizing spanning tree maintenance. The key idea is that the global predicate defining the legality of a protocol state can be written as the conjunction of many purely local predicates, one for each edge of the spanning tree.
Service-Learning Initiatives in Nursing Education.

In response to the changing demands of the U.S. healthcare system and the needs of the nursing profession, the Institute of Medicine, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, spearheaded a two-year initiative to develop recommendations for the future of nursing.1 Discussions of these recommendations within nursing education led to the development of innovative curricula aimed at educating nurses to not only lead change, but also be socially responsible citizens. One educational model that has been developed is academic service-learning, a particular form of experiential education characterized by mutually beneficial campus-community partnerships that emphasize "learning 'with' the community as distinct from learning 'in' the community." This article describes one Catholic university’s approach to enhancing nursing curricula by using service-learning pedagogy grounded in Jesuit values to better prepare nursing leaders for healthcare in the twenty-first century. The servicelearning experiences that resulted from this initiative provided opportunities to build collaborative relationships in the community, addressed health concerns identified by members of high-needs urban communities, and engaged students in critical reflection focusing on urban challenges and health disparities. The findings suggest that by incorporating the Jesuit values of cura personalis, reflective practice, and social justice into service-learning opportunities, undergraduate nursing students develop skills to be socially responsible nursing leaders and, at the same time, learn to work collaboratively with communities to address their health needs.
Openness, Volatility and the Risk Content of Exports

It has been observed that more open countries experience higher output growth volatility. This paper uses an industry-level panel dataset of manufacturing production and trade to analyze the mechanisms through which trade can affect the volatility of production. We find that sectors with higher trade are more volatile and that trade leads to increased specialization. These two forces act to increase overall volatility. We also find that sectors which are more open to trade are less correlated with the rest of the economy, an effect that acts to reduce aggregate volatility. The point estimates indicate that each of the three effects has an appreciable impact on aggregate volatility. Added together they imply that a one standard deviation change in trade openness is associated with an increase in aggregate volatility of about 15% of the mean volatility observed in the data. The results are also used to provide estimates of the welfare cost of increased volatility under several sets of assumptions. We then propose a summary measure of the riskiness of a country's pattern of export specialization, and analyze its features across countries and over time. There is a great deal of variation in countries' risk content of exports, but it does not have a simple relationship to the level of income or other country characteristics
Loop-Erased Walk

In this chapter we discuss the loop-erased or Laplacian self-avoiding random walk. We will primarily use the loop-erased characterization of the walk because it is the one that allows for rigorous analysis of the model. In Proposition 7.3.1 we show that this is the same as the Laplacian random walk defined in Section 6.5.
Modern Stromatolites: A Review

Modern stromatolites comprise a wide spectrum of various, laminated and nonlaminated organosedimentary structures that form in various marine and freshwater habitats. Some stromatolites form under extremely harsh ecological conditions, such as those found in hypersaline and ephemeral ponds, or in thermal springs, others form in environments with normal marine salinity or in freshwater. Microbial communities of different species composition participate in their formation, lithification and destruction, often leaving marks of their particular activities.
Cure of Hemophilia A by Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

A patient with hemophilia A and transfusion-associated end-stage chronic liver disease underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. He had no requirement for exogenous factor VIII replacement during the 27 mo he survived. Although his hemophilia was cured, he had antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus; ultimately he died of complications arising from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Liver transplantation for cirrhotic hemophiliacs can free them of the need for antihemophilic-factor therapy; however, application of this approach may be limited by the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in multitransfused hemophiliacs.
The IBM SELECTRIC composer: the evolution of composition technology

In this paper a discussion is presented on how the IBM SELECTRIC Composer fits into the evolution of composition technology-- from the calligraphers of the Middle Ages to the modern photocomposers. The advantages and limitations of the machine are discussed briefly with emphasis being placed on their meaning for the typographer.
Isotopically anomalous tellurium in allende: another relic of local element synthesis

Abstract The isotopic composition of tellurium is reported in the two mineral fractions of the Allende meteorite which contain isotopically anomalous xenon. Relative abundances of the tellurium isotopes, determined by neutron activation, follow the general anomaly patterns of the xenon isotopes in minerals of Allende: In the carbon-rich fraction, both elements exhibit enhanced abundances of the neutron-rich and the neutron-poor isotopes; in the spinel-rich fraction, both elements are enriched in the intermediate mass isotopes. Correlated isotopic anomalies of Te and Xe and associated heterogeneities in the abundances of low-Z elements are consistent with the chemical and isotopic heterogeneities expected if the solar system condensed from the debris of a single supernova, concentric with the present sun[1]. The half-life of 131m Te is shown to be 32.4±0.3 hr.
Empfindlichkeit der Persalpetersäurereaktion bei der Bestimmung von Benzol

1. Das Persalpetersaureverfahren gibt eine charakteristische tiefrote Farbe mit 0,50cm3 Benzol und eine kaum erkennbare orangerote Farbung noch mit 0,005 cm3 Benzol.
Metallation and reaction of 4,5-dicyanoimidazoles with alkyllithium reagents

The conditions required for selective lithiation at the 2-position of 4,5-dicyanoimidazoles are described in detail. The course of the reaction of alkyllithium reagents with 4,5-dicyanoimidazoles depends on the temperature, the number of equivalents of alkyllithium and whether the 1-nitrogen is protected. Under certain circumstances, the alkyllithium reagent adds to one of the cyano groups giving cyanoimidazole ketones.
Guiding light with conformal transformations

The past decade has seen a revolution in electromagnetics due to the development of metamaterials. These artificial composites have been fashioned to exhibit exotic effects such as a negative index of refraction. However, the full potential of metamaterial devices has only been hinted at. By combining metamaterials with transformation optics (TO), researchers have demonstrated an invisibility cloak. Subsequently, quasi-conformal mapping was used to create a device that exhibited a broadband cloaking effect. Here we extend this latter approach to a strictly conformal mapping to create reflection less, inherently isotropic, and broadband photonic devices. Our method combines the novel effects of TO with the practicality of all-dielectric construction. We show that our structures are capable of guiding light in an almost arbitrary fashion over an unprecedented range of frequencies.
Recurrent Staphylococcus aureus chalazia in hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (Job's) syndrome.

Purpose To report a case of recurrent Staphylococcus aureus chalazia in a patient with hyperimmunoglobulinemia E syndrome (Job's Syndrome). Design Case report. Methods Three separate surgical incisions and curettages of multiple, recurrent chalazia of the right upper eyelid were performed over a course of 3 months. Cultures and pathologic specimens were obtained. Postoperative treatment consisted of oral erythromycin and amoxicillin/clavulonate, topical tobramycin/dexamethasone ointment, and warm compresses. Results Pathology of the tarsus confirmed the diagnosis of multiple chalazia. Cultures of the chalazia contents were positive for Staphylococcus aureus . No further recurrence was observed following the third surgical procedure over a 3-month follow-up period. Conclusion Characteristic Staphylococcus aureus skin infections in immunodeficient patients with hyperimmunoglobulinemia E syndrome can involve the eyelids and may be recurrent despite appropriate medical and surgical therapy.
Chromosome 17 loss-of-heterozygosity studies in benign and malignant tumors in neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant condition characterized by benign tumor (neurofibroma) growth and increased risk of malignancy. Dermal neurofibromas, arising from superficial nerves, are primarily of cosmetic significance, whereas plexiform neurofibromas, typically larger and associated with deeply placed nerves, extend into contiguous tissues and may cause serious functional impairment. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) seem to arise from plexiform neurofibromas. The NF1 gene, on chromosome segment 17q11.2, encodes a protein that has tumor suppressor function. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for NF1 has been reported in some neurofibromas and NF1 malignancies, but plexiform tumors have been poorly represented. Also, the studies did not always employ the same markers, preventing simple comparison of the frequency and extent of LOH among different tumor types. Our chromosome 17 LOH analysis in a cohort of three tumor types was positive for NF1 allele loss in 2/15 (13%) dermal neurofibromas, 4/10 (40%) plexiform neurofibromas, and 3/5 (60%) MPNSTs. Although the region of loss varied, the p arm (including TP53) was lost only in malignant tumors. The losses in the plexiform tumors all included sequences distal to NF1. No subtle TP53 mutations were found in any tumors. This study also reports the identification of both NF1 “hits” in plexiform tumors, further supporting the tumor suppressor role of the NF1 gene in this tumor type. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 28:425–431, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Statistics of MR signals: revisited

A common view in MRI research is that the object variability of MR signals is negligible. With this recognition, the signal components of MR signals are treated as constant and the noise components are studied as random processes. Because signal components of MR signals represent a collective behavior of a huge mount of spins, a statistical investigation may provide a better understanding of MR signals. The work reported in this paper first investigates statistics of the thermal equilibrium bulk magnetization (TEMM) which is the quantity to be imaged - one that can be measured and actually observed in MRI. Then it investigates statistics of the transverse precessing bulk magnetization (TPMM) which introduce an electromagnetic force in the receiver coil of MRI. Finally this study investigates statistics of signal components of three MR signals at the different stages of MR signal detection module: Free Induction Decay (FID), Phase Sensitive Detection (PSD), and Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC), sequentially. k-space sample is a reformatted ADC signal. The study derives and proves stochastic models for TEMM, TPMM, FID, PSD, and ADC signals, also proposes and justifies stochastic models for homogeneous and inhomogeneous samples. The study shows that under the normal conditions and the ordinary settings, magnetizations can be characterized as spatially deterministic processes with Probability one, and MR signals - signal component plus noise component - can be characterized as temporal Gaussian random processes with the means of signal components and the variances of noise components. These means are expressed in closed forms in terms of parameters of MR imaging system and the samples. The derived statistical properties of MR signals will serve as the basis for evaluating performances of imaging system and studying statistics of the MR image.
Experimental analyses of competition between two species of bumble bees (Hymenoptera: apidae)

Dynamical aspects of flower usage and forager body size in sympatric and experimentally-induced allopatric populations of Bombus flaviforns and Bombus rufocinctus were studied in 10 discrete subalpine meadows and over the last half of one summer. Results indicate that there is a high degree of asymmetry in the competitive effects and that B. flavifrons is the clear competitive and numerical dominant. When occurring alone, B. rufocinctus used the same spectrum of flowers in similar frequencies to that of B. flavifrons whose flower use was invariant over all meadows and treatments. When sympatric with B. flavifrons, B. rufocinctus was relegated to secondary, less preferred flowers. Shifts in flower use by B. rufocinctus were accompanied by changes in forager body-size: body weights were greater in allopatric populations of B. rufocinctus and smaller in those sympatric with B. flavifrons. Competitive dominance may be related to differences in species phenologies. Bombus flavifrons initiated colonies in the spring three weeks before B. rufocinctus and maintained higher densities over the summer; by virtue of greater numbers of foragers, it may control exploitation of the most profitable flowers.
Moving to Learn: Performance and Learning in Haitian Vodou

SUMMARY While conducting research in Haiti, I became initiated into Haitian Vodou and started a long apprenticeship with a local priestess. Learning about Vodou as an ethnographer and as an initiate presented many challenges that were directly linked to the way I needed to learn Vodou. In this article, I examine the ways practitioners (myself included) of Vodou approach learning. I have come to understand learning in Haitian Vodou as an embodied, sensuous, and active phenomenon. When I realized how important the body was in Vodou, I started questioning my own anthropological methods. I reacted by putting down my pen and notebook and becoming active. These methods have led me to favor learn-as-practitioner types of methods that allow me to do anthropology through my body. Indeed, as anthropologists in the field, we not only experience culture with our notebooks we also experience culture through movement and action. For me, culture is something that is only understood, albeit always partially, through rich and embodied experiences.
Polynomial chaos representation of spatio-temporal random fields from experimental measurements

Two numerical techniques are proposed to construct a polynomial chaos (PC) representation of an arbitrary second-order random vector. In the first approach, a PC representation is constructed by matching a target joint probability density function (pdf) based on sequential conditioning (a sequence of conditional probability relations) in conjunction with the Rosenblatt transformation. In the second approach, the PC representation is obtained by having recourse to the Rosenblatt transformation and simultaneously matching a set of target marginal pdfs and target Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (SRCC) matrix. Both techniques are applied to model an experimental spatio-temporal data set, exhibiting strong non-stationary and non-Gaussian features. The data consists of a set of oceanographic temperature records obtained from a shallow-water acoustics transmission experiment [1]. The measurement data, observed over a finite denumerable subset of the indexing set of the random process, is treated as a collection of observed samples of a second-order random vector that can be treated as a finite-dimensional approximation of the original random field. A set of properly ordered conditional pdfs, that uniquely characterizes the target joint pdf, in the first approach and a set of target marginal pdfs and a target SRCC matrix, in the second approach, are estimated from available experimental data. Digital realizations sampled from the constructed PC representations based on both schemes capture the observed statistical characteristics of the experimental data with sufficient accuracy. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the two proposed techniques are also highlighted.
A dose of 75 μg/kg/d of i.v. anti‐D increases the platelet count more rapidly and for a longer period of time than 50 μg/kg/d in adults with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Treatment with 75 μg/kg/d intravenous (i.v.) anti-D was compared with 50 μg/kg/d in a prospective randomized study of 27 RhD-positive, human immunodeficiency virus-negative, adult, acute, non-splenectomized patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and platelet counts ≤ 30 × 109/l. The higher dose resulted in greater median d 1 (43 × 109/l vs. 7·5 × 109/l; P = 0·012) and d 7 (153 × 109/l vs. 64·5 × 109/l; P = 0·001) platelet increases despite no greater haemoglobin decrease. Children with acute ITP receiving 75 μg/kg/d had overnight platelet increases in seven out of nine cases. The duration of effect at the 75 μg/kg/d dose was 46 d vs. 21 d (P = 0·03). Adverse events were mild to moderate and ameliorated with prednisone and acetaminophen premedication.
A Simple Method for Incorporating Madelung Field Effects into ab Initio Embedded Cluster Calculations of Crystals and Macromolecules

A new methodology is proposed for accurate and effective incorporation of the matrix elements of the Madelungpotential into ab initio embedded cluster calculations of macromolecules, polar crystals, and their surfaces.The electrostatic potential from the infinite crystal lattice is modeled by a finite number (usually severalhundred) of point charges located on a surface enclosing the cluster. A special boundary condition and theboundary element method are used to determine positions and magnitudes of these point charges. Theadvantages and accuracy of this approach are demonstrated on examples of water adsorption on the NaCl-(001) surface and the electrostatic field in a zeolite pore.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist testing of pituitary-gonadal function

The development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists has provided a unique means to functionally assess the pituitary-gonadal axis in both males and females. These agonists, when given in a dose sufficient to stimulate the gonadotropes and induce a gonadal steroid response, have provided insights into normal reproductive physiology, hyperandrogenic conditions such as the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and disorders of pubertal development. This review provides an overview of the use of such agonists as probes of the functional status of the pituitary-gonadal axis in both normal and abnormal reproductive states.
Characterization of organically modified clays using scattering and microscopy techniques

Understanding the structure of organophilic clays and the interaction between clay platelets dispersed in organic solvents is important for characterizing nanocomposites formed by organophilic clays and polymers. To understand and optimize potential processing conditions, organically modified montmorillonite clays were dispersed in a number of organic solvents covering a range of solubility parameters and characterized using small-angle neutron scattering and wide-angle X-ray scattering techniques. The organic modifier was dimethyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium. Both as-received (unextracted) and purified (extracted) organically modified clays were studied. The scattering profiles and dispersion behavior in organic solvents of the dry powder of unextracted and of extracted dimethyl dihydrogenated tallow montmorillonite are significantly different, confirming that the organic modifiers are present in excess in the unextracted material as reported by the industrial provider. The scattering data show that b...
High field electron transport properties of bulk ZnO

The Monte Carlo method is used to simulate electron transport for electric field strengths up to 350 kV/cm in bulk, wurtzite structure ZnO. The relevant parts of the conduction bands of a first-principles band structure are approximated by spherically symmetric, nonparabolic valleys located at the Γ and Umin symmetry points of the Brillouin zone. It is shown that the analytic expressions represent the band structure and the density of states well over a range of nearly 5 eV from the bottom of the conduction band. The simulated electron steady-state drift velocity versus electric field characteristics are calculated for lattice temperatures of 300, 450, and 600 K. For room temperature, drift velocities higher than 3×107 cm/s are reached at fields near 250 kV/cm. Examination of the electron energy distributions shows that the strong decrease of the differential mobility with increasing electric field in the field range studied is to be associated with the pronounced nonparabolicity of the central valley and...
Structural and Immunological Characterization of the Cuscuta pentagona L. Chloroplast

Structural and immunochemical studies were used to determine the photosynthetic potential of the dodder (Cuscuta pentagona) chloroplast. Ultrastructural studies revealed that thylakoid membranes of pre-parasitic phase Cuscuta pentagona are almost all organized into long, overlapping grana stacks of mainly two to five thylakoids with little space between adjacent stacks. Immunoblots reveal chloroplast proteins associated with PSI and 11, as well as cytochrome f and plastocyanin. Stromal extracts contained immmunologically-detectable RuBisCO and phosphoribulokinase. Cytochemical localizations of the oxidizing side of PSI showed product localization on the lumen side of the thylakoid. Immunocytochemical localizations of RuBisCO reveal exclusive labeling in the stroma, whereas antibodies to the PSII proteins, light-harvesting Chl a/b complex and the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII, are concentrated over the thylakoids. A limited capacity for C02 fixation was found in seedlings by monitoring exchange rates in the presence and absence of atrazine. These data indicate that the chloroplast from this species of dodder contains a number of the proteins required for a successful fixation of C02 and the proteins in the thylakoids are organized much like other higher plants, with the exception of the large percentage of the thylakoids organized into grana.
Studying the Atomic Nucleus - A New Era in Nuclear Structure Studies

The study of atomic nuclei is part of the fascinating quest to understand the fundamental nature and origins of matter. This field, nuclear structure, is undergoing a revolutionary transformation that is breaking cherished paradigms, opening new vistas of nuclear matter for study, and which has the promise of leading to a new comprehensive understanding. The advent of new facilities for the production and study of exotic nuclei provides access to an entirely new territory of nuclei, and advances in extreme computing are enabling similar advances in the theory of atomic nuclei.
Second Language Lexical Processes: Applied Linguistic and Psycholinguistic Perspectives edited by LENGYEL, ZSOLT, & JUDIT NAVRACSICS.

The article reviews the book "Second Language Lexical Processes: Applied Linguistic and Psycholinguistic Perspectives," edited by Zsolt Lengyel and Judit Navracsics.
Support for a postresection prognostic score for pancreatic endocrine tumors

BACKGROUND: Prognostic scores predicting long-term survival of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) have been created. The purpose of this study was to validate a prognostic scoring scheme at a single institution. METHODS: We reviewed all resections for PNETs from 1996 to 2004. Prognostic scores based on patient age, tumor grade, and distant metastasis were calculated. Survival was compared with an established postresection prognostic score for PNETs. RESULTS: A total of 34 PNETs were identified. Predicted 5-year survival for prognostic scores of 1, 2, and 3 were 76.7%, 50.9%, and 35.7%, respectively. Final prognostic scores of 1, 2, and 3 were observed in 13 (38%), 18 (53%), and 3 (9%) patients, with observed actual 5-year survivals of 92.3%, 72.2%, and 66.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PNET prognostic scores were found to be inversely related to survival. PNET postresection prognostic score categories may be useful tools in predicting long-term survival.
The Gatherer – a mechanism for integration of monitoring data in ATLAS

The ATLAS experiment triggering system is distributed across large farms of approximately 6000 nodes. Online monitoring and data quality runs alongside this system. We have designed a mechanism that integrates the monitoring data from different nodes and makes it available for shift crews. This integration includes adding or averaging of histograms, summing of trigger rates, and combination of more complex data types across multiple monitoring processes. Performance milestones have been achieved which ensure the needs of early datataking will be met. We will present a detailed description of the architectural features and performance.
Academic success expectancy: The interplay of gender, situation, and meaning

The importance of success expectancy is discussed, followed by a review of the extensive but fragmented literature demonstrating that females frequently have a lower success expectancy than males in achievement contexts, despite having a similar performance. These varied findings are synthesized and cast into a framework asserting that success expectancy emerges from three major factors: (1) the meaning given to self and the achievement situation; (2) the familiarity that one has with the task; and (3) sex-stereotypic personality disposition. This framework is then tested for 342 college students. The results show that both meaning and familiarity significantly explain success expectancy, and that familiarity also significantly explains test performance. There is no evidence, however, for a sex-related personality disposition for lower success expectancy. The discussion focuses on the need to move beyond sex differences and focus on how meaning and familiarity can impact the success expectancy of all college students.
What is cyberinfrastructure

Cyberinfrastructure is a word commonly used but lacking a single, precise definition. One recognizes intuitively the analogy with infrastructure, and the use of cyber to refer to thinking or computing -- but what exactly is cyberinfrastructure as opposed to information technology infrastructure? Indiana University has developed one of the more widely cited definitions of cyberinfrastructure.Cyberinfrastructure consists of computing systems, data storage systems, advanced instruments and data repositories, visualization environments, and people, all linked together by software and high performance networks to improve research productivity and enable breakthroughs not otherwise possible.A second definition, more inclusive of scholarship generally and educational activities, has also been published and is useful in describing cyberinfrastructure:Cyberinfrastructure consists of computational systems, data and information management, advanced instruments, visualization environments, and people, all linked together by software and advanced networks to improve scholarly productivity and enable knowledge breakthroughs and discoveries not otherwise possible.In this paper, we describe the origin of the term cyberinfrastructure based on the history of the root word infrastructure, discuss several terms related to cyberinfrastructure, and provide several examples of cyberinfrastructure
Kinetic and metabolic isotope effects in coral skeletal carbon isotopes: A re-evaluation using experimental coral bleaching as a case study

Abstract Coral skeletal δ13C can be a paleo-climate proxy for light levels (i.e., cloud cover and seasonality) and for photosynthesis to respiration (P/R) ratios. The usefulness of coral δ13C as a proxy depends on metabolic isotope effects (related to changes in photosynthesis) being the dominant influence on skeletal δ13C. However, it is also influenced by kinetic isotope effects (related to calcification rate) which can overpower metabolic isotope effects and thus compromise the use of coral skeletal δ13C as a proxy. Heikoop et al. (2000) proposed a simple data correction to remove kinetic isotope effects from coral skeletal δ13C, as well as an equation to calculate P/R ratios from coral isotopes. However, despite having been used by other researchers, the data correction has never been directly tested, and isotope-based P/R ratios have never been compared to P/R ratios measured using respirometry. Experimental coral bleaching represents a unique environmental scenario to test this because bleaching produces large physiological responses that influence both metabolic and kinetic isotope effects in corals. Here, we tested the δ13C correction and the P/R calculation using three Pacific and three Caribbean coral species from controlled temperature-induced bleaching experiments where both the stable isotopes and the physiological variables that cause isotopic fractionation (i.e., photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification) were simultaneously measured. We show for the first time that the data correction proposed by Heikoop et al. (2000) does not effectively remove kinetic effects in the coral species studied here, and did not improve the metabolic signal of bleached and non-bleached corals. In addition, isotope-based P/R ratios were in poor agreement with measured P/R ratios, even when the data correction was applied. This suggests that additional factors influence δ13C and δ18O, which are not accounted for by the data correction. We therefore recommend that the data correction not be routinely applied for paleo-climate reconstruction, and that P/R ratios should only be obtained by direct measurement by respirometry.
Level Alignments and Coupling Strengths in Conductance Histograms: The Information Content of a Single Channel Peak

We develop a theory for describing single channel peaks in conductance histograms by applying probability theory to electron transport. This produces analytical forms for fitting experimental conductance data, where the fitting parameters have physical significance. Depending on the transport mechanism (resonant vs nonresonant tunneling), the peak’s line shape contains information on the level alignment of the channel and the channel-electrode coupling(s). We additionally discuss the reliability of fitting data to these forms and present examples. Ultimately, this work provides tools for extracting additional information from experimental data, helping us better understand electron transport processes.
Substance Abuse Severity in Female Adolescents

The authors investigated the association between age at menarche and age at onset of substance use with frequency of alcohol consumption in mid-adolescence; age at first DSM-III-R diagnosis of psychoactive substance use disorder (PSUD); severity of physical health, substance use, and psychosocial problems; and psychiatric disorders in female adolescents. Twenty-eight PSUD female adolescents (age 14–18 years) were studied. Chronological age at first substance use, and not age at menarche, was associated with the four variables mentioned above. These findings indicate that substance use in this population is encompassed within significant psychiatric disturbance that most commonly precedes the onset of PSUD.
Microtox Toxicity Test Results for Water Samples from the Detroit River

Abstract The toxicities of over 70 water samples from the Detroit River between Lake St. Clair and the western basin of Lake Erie to the bioluminescent Photobacterium phosphoreum were determined with the Microtox toxicity analyzer. The samples were analyzed in the field within a few hours of collection and again several weeks later in the laboratory. After the storage, the samples were fractionated by distillation under vacuum. This process yielded three fractions of each sample of which the first fraction, enriched in some of the volatile contaminants, and the third fraction, containing the non-volatile compounds, were analyzed. High toxicities were found for several of the original samples and also for the first and third fractions of some concentrated samples. Testing of samples with this system provided a general overview of acute toxicity and may be useful for the quick recognition of contamination hotspots.
The role of the endocannabinoid system in the control of energy homeostasis

The endocannabinoid system has recently emerged as an important regulator of energy homeostasis, involved in the control of both appetite and peripheral fat metabolism. We briefly review current understanding of the possible sites of action and cellular mechanisms involved in the central appetitive and peripheral metabolic effects of endocannabinoids. Studies in our laboratory, using leptin-deficient obese rodents and CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1)-deficient mice, have indicated that endocannabinoids acting via CB1 are involved in the hunger-induced increase in food intake and are negatively regulated by leptin in brain areas involved in appetite control, including the hypothalamus, limbic forebrain and amygdala. CB1-/- mice are lean and are resistant to diet-induced obesity (DIO) despite similar energy intake to wild-type mice with DIO, suggesting that CB1 regulation of body weight involves additional peripheral targets. Such targets appear to include both adipose tissue and the liver. CB1 expressed in adipocytes has been implicated in the control of adiponectin secretion and lipoprotein lipase activity. Recent findings indicate that both endocannabinoids and CB1 are present in the liver and are upregulated in DIO. CB1 stimulation increases de novo hepatic lipogenesis through activation of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. Components of this pathway are also expressed in the hypothalamus where they have been implicated in the regulation of appetite. The fatty acid biosynthetic pathway may thus represent a common molecular target for the central appetitive and peripheral metabolic effects of endocannabinoids.
Serotonin-induced inward current in rat facial motoneurons: evidence for mediation byG proteins but not protein kinase C

Abstract The 5-HT-induced inward current in rat facial motoneurons was rendered irreversible by intracellular GTPγS, an hydrolysis-resistant analog of guanosine 5′-triphosphate which sustains G protein activation. Conversely, the 5-HT response was reduced by GDPsS, an analog of guanosine 5′-diphosphate which interferes with G protein activation. Inhibitors of protein kinase C enhanced the 5-HT-induced inward current. Thus, the slow inward current induced by 5-HT in facial motoneurons appears to be mediated by G proteins but modulated negatively by protein kinase C.
Comment on "Selection of transformer cores for forward converters" - Paper #5.6 of APEC 1986 (Applied Power Electronics Conference)

The commentor provides an example that illustrates the use of the equations in the subject paper to do a preliminary design of a transformer for a forward converter. The assumed input voltage is 150 VDC, the output voltage is 12 VDC at 100 watts; the switching frequency is 40 khz. The core is chosen from the Ferroxcube family of EC cores using 3C8 ferrite material, for which catalog data are tabulated.
Multiple EphB receptors mediate dorsal-ventral retinotopic mapping via similar bi-functional responses to ephrin-B1

Abstract The projection from the retina to the superior colliculus in mice is organized in a retinotopic map that develops through the formation and guidance of interstitial branches extended by retinal ganglion cell axons. Bidirectional branch guidance along the lateral–medial collicular axis is critical to mapping the dorsal–ventral retinal axis. EphB receptor tyrosine kinases expressed in an overall low to high dorsal–ventral retinal gradient have been implicated in this mapping in response to the graded low to high lateral–medial expression of a ligand, ephrin-B1, in the superior colliculus. However, the relative contributions of EphBs and ephrin-B1 are not well understood. We examined EphB1, EphB2, and EphB3 mutant mice and find that each has ectopic arborizations of retinal axon branches lateral to their appropriate termination zone, with no qualitative differences in aberrant mapping, suggesting a similar role for each EphB. However, the frequency of cases with map defects progressively rises in compound EphB mutants coincident with the number of EphB null alleles from one to five of the six total alleles indicating that EphB level is critical. We analyzed branch extension in vitro and find that dorsal branches, with low EphB levels, exhibit a negative response to ephrin-B1, whereas ventral branches, with high EphB levels, exhibit a positive response to ephrin-B1. Using EphB mutant retina, we show that both of these differential branch extension responses are dependent on EphB level. Our findings show a bifunctional action of ephrin-B1 regulated by EphB levels that can account for the bidirectional extension of interstitial branches required to establish a retinotopic map.
Characterization of in vitro chemosensitivity of perioperative human ovarian malignancies by adenosine triphosphate chemosensitivity assay.

We report the in vitro chemosensitivity of primary and recurrent human ovarian tumor samples analyzed by adenosine triphosphate chemosensitivity assay. We defined sensitivity as a ≥70% decrease in intracellular adenosine triphosphate versus control at 20% of the reported peak plasma concentration per agent tested. Twenty of 21 assays (95.24%) were completed successfully. Single-agent and combined dose-response patterns consisting of decreasing viability with increasing drug concentration were observed consistently. Thirteen primary tumors were assayed, with 15.4% sensitive to cisplatin, 7.7% sensitive to 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide and 53.8% sensitive to their combination. Seven recurrent tumors were assayed, with 14.3% sensitive to cisplatin, 28.6% sensitive to 5-fluorouracil, and 42.9% sensitive to their combination. Dose-response characteristics and in vitro sensitivity rates reported in this article are consistent with reports of patient response in the literature. We conclude that adenosine triphosphate chemosensitivity assay is an efficient and reliable instrument for the in vitro chemosensitivity assessment of human tumors and warrants further clinical investigation.
A comparison of three methods for selecting values of input variables in the analysis of output from a computer code

Two types of sampling plans are examined as alternatives to simple random sampling in Monte Carlo studies. These plans are shown to be improvements over simple random sampling with respect to variance for a class of estimators which includes the sample mean and the empirical distribution function.
α-Tocopherol (vitamin E) content of lung, liver, and blood in the newborn rat and human infant: Influence of hyperoxia

Increases in liver and lung alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) content occur concurrent with birth and the onset of suckling in the newborn rat and are prevented by denying pups access to dams. Liver alpha-tocopherol concentration peaks at 24 hours of age and then declines, whereas the lung concentration of alpha-tocopherol continues to increase in the early neonatal period. These tissue changes are not reflected by changes in the blood alpha-tocopherol concentration. Significant increases in lung alpha-tocopherol result from administering alpha-tocopherol (100 mg/kg body weight, sc) on days 0, 2, and 4 of age. Studies of lung alpha-tocopherol concentrations in infants with varying histories of alpha-tocopherol exposure confirm the findings in the rat, and suggest that increases in lung alpha-tocopherol concentration result from administration of alpha-tocopherol in the immediate newborn period. Studies of alpha-tocopherol values in alpha-tocopherol-treated and control newborn rats reveal no significant changes in lung tocopherol concentration resulting from exposure to hyperoxia.
The formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the supercritical pyrolysis of 1-methylnaphthalene☆

Abstract In order to better understand the pyrolytic reactions leading to the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and carbonaceous solids under supercritical conditions, we have pyrolyzed the model fuel 1-methylnaphthalene (critical temperature, 499 °C; critical pressure, 36 atm) in an isothermal silica-lined stainless-steel reactor coil at 585 °C, 110 atm, and 140 s. Analysis of the reaction products by high-pressure liquid chromatography with diode-array ultraviolet-visible absorbance detection and mass spectrometric detection has led to the identification of 37 individual 2- to 7-ring PAH—fifteen of which have never before been reported as products of 1-methylnaphthalene pyrolysis. The absence, among the reaction products, of single-ring aromatics and acetylene indicates that there is no aromatic ring rupture in this reaction environment, and the structures of each of the 5- to 7-ring PAH products reveal the intactness of the two 2-ring naphthalene units required in their construction. Proposed reaction pathways involving species plentiful in the reaction environment—1-naphthylmethyl radical, methyl radical, 1-methylnaphthalene, naphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene—account for the formation of the observed 5- to 7-ring PAH products. These reaction pathways, along with consideration of bond dissociation energies and relative abundances of reactant species, account for the extremely high product selectivity exhibited by the observed product PAH. The detection of seven 8- and 9-ring PAH, each requiring construction from three naphthalene or methylnaphthalene units, provides evidence that the types of reaction mechanisms outlined here—for the combination of two naphthalene entities to form 5- to 7-ring PAH—are also likely to apply to the combination of three and more such entities in the formation of larger-ring-number PAH and eventually carbonaceous solids.
Suspended judgment treatment effect size in clinical trials: An example from surfactant trials

The magnitude of treatment effect "worth" detecting in a clinical trial is a crucial element in the trial design. The important question is, how small a treatment benefit can influence a clinical decision in favor of the new treatment under study? A carefully thoughtout response to this question should provide the appropriate value for the treatment effect size factor in sample size calculation. The choice of a value for this factor is not a statistical one but should be based on clinical, economic, ethical, and pragmatic considerations. Therefore, the treatment effect size must be considered a bridge between statistical procedures and clinical decision making. To illustrate the complexities concerning this issue, we carried out a meta-analysis of artificial surfactant trials for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The following is an abridged version of that paper [1].
Ionic conduction in polymer films and related systems

In polymer films, electrical conduction by ion transport is a significant process which is potentially capable of revealing various aspects of the film's morphology. In this report, further details and consequences of conduction experiments with ion-doped cellulose 2.5 acetate will be discussed along with some corroborating evidence for a large number of organic liquids. The most important conclusions are: (1) sorbed moisture provides charge carriers by dissociation to H+ and OH−, and (2) the effective dielectric constant ϵ′ is increased by sorbed moisture to a value above that of the pure polymer, or organic liquid, so that barriers to the dissociation of ionic species are greatly reduced. Furthermore, the theory of weak electrolytes may be applied to “strong electrolytes” within solid polymeric and/or liquid organic systems.