cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of ovarian hormones and ACTH on uterine defense to Corynebacterium pyogenes in cows.

Abstract Ovariectomized cows were treated with either estrogen, progesterone or adrenogorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Each cow's uterus was inoculated with 1×106 Corynebacterium pyogenes organisms. The cows were evaluated by rectal examination for signs of uterine infection. Peripheral leukocytic phagocytosis was determined by chemiluminescence at the beginning (Day 4) and end (Day 21) of the experiment. Uterine cultures were obtained at the end. None of the estrogen-treated cows developed signs of uterine infection, but all the other cows did develop uterine disease. All the infected cows showed clinical improvement at the experimental end (Day 21). There were no differences between groups for leukocytic phagocytosis on Day 4, but on Day 21, values for progesterone-treated and control cows were similar but greater than those for estrogen or ACTH-treated cows, which were similar. Leukocytic phagocytosis values for all cows were lower on Day 21 than on Day 4. Most of the estrogen- and ACTH-treated cows had negative intrauterine cultures on Day 21 while most of controls and progesterone-treated cows had positive cultures.
The Role of News Media Use and Demographic Characteristics in the Possibility of Information Overload Prediction

Drawing on the information overload theory, this study investigates how news media use relates to the probability of information overload. Our broad goal is to explore how typical media use outside the working environment impacts information overload. Through a large mail survey conducted in northwest Ohio ( N = 661), the study combined resident samples and college student samples and examined several variables regarding demographic characteristics, news media use, and information searching efficiency. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results confirmed that age, gender, income, traditional news media use, and information searching efficiency can partially predict one’s probability of experiencing information overload. Theoretical explanations for these outcomes are presented, and implications for information overload research are discussed.
Why error measures are sub-optimal for training neural network pattern classifiers

Pattern classifiers that are trained in a supervised fashion are typically trained with an error measure objective function such as mean-squared error (MSE) or cross-entropy (CE). These classifiers can in theory yield Bayesian discrimination, but in practice they often fail to do so. The authors explain why this happens and identify a number of characteristics that the optimal objective function for training classifiers must have. They show that classification figures of merit (CFM/sub mono/) possess these optimal characteristics, whereas error measures such as MSE and CE do not. The arguments are illustrated with a simple example in which a CFM/sub mono/-trained low-order polynomial neural network approximates Bayesian discrimination on a random scalar with the fewest number of training samples and the minimum functional complexity necessary for the task. A comparable MSE-trained net yields significantly worse discrimination on the same task. >
Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Activation by Butylated Hydroxytoluene Hydroperoxide: Implications for Cellular Survival and Tumor Promotion

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade plays an important role in carcinogenic development. Herein, we show that the skin tumor promoter butylated hydroxytoluene hydroperoxide (BHTOOH) stimulates a rapid and potent (14- to 20-fold) activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in vivo and in cultured mouse keratinocytes. BHTOOH also moderately (5-fold) activated c-jun-N-terminal kinase, and 38-kDa MAPK-related protein in these same cells. N-acetylcysteine and o-phenanthroline abolished ERK activation by BHTOOH, consistent with a requirement for metal-dependent formation of reactive intermediates. Indeed, 4-CD3-BHTOOH, an analogue that generates less of the metabolite BHT-quinone methide (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylene-2,5-cyclohexadienone) and fewer tumors in vivo, accordingly exhibited diminished potency for activating ERK. ERK activation by BHTOOH was inhibited by suramin, and by expression of dominant-negative Ras-N-17 in PC12 cells, suggesting overlap between the pathways for BHTOOH and growth factor signaling. Induction of MAPK-dependent genes c-fos and MAPK phosphatase-1 by BHTOOH was also blocked by Ras-N-17 expression. Moreover, expression of Ras-N-17 or kinase-defective MAPK kinase (MEK) diminished cell survival following BHTOOH exposure. Similarly, pretreatment with suramin or the MEK inhibitor PD098059 also potentiated the toxicity of BHTOOH. On the other hand, expression of constitutively active MEK enhanced cell survival. Thus, we demonstrate that the MAPK cascade is critical to the cellular response to BHTOOH. This study suggests a functional role for MAPK activation in tumor promotion stimulated by oxidants and other agents.
IgH V-Region Sequence Does Not Predict the Survival Fate of Human Germinal Center B Cells

Germinal center (GC) B cell survival fate is governed in part by the outcome of successful/failed BCR-mediated interactions with accessory cells. However, the extent to which the BCR primary sequence influences such interactions is not fully understood. Over 1000 IgV H 4 family cDNAs were sequenced from living (annexin V − ) and apoptotic (annexin V + or from within tingible body macrophages) GC B cell fractions from seven tonsils. Results surprisingly demonstrate that living and dying GC B cells do not significantly differ in IgV H , D, or J H gene segment use; HCDR3 length or positive charge; or mutation frequency. Additionally, equivalent IgH cDNA sequences were identified in both fractions, suggesting that BCR sequence alone is an unreliable predictor of GC B cell survival.
High butanol production by regulating carbon, redox and energy in Clostridia

Butanol is a promising biofuel with high energy intensity and can be used as gasoline substitute. It can be produced as a sustainable energy by microorganisms (such as Clostridia) from low-value biomass. However, the low productivity, yield and selectivity in butanol fermentation are still big challenges due to the lack of an efficient butanol-producing host strain. In this article, we systematically review the host cell engineering of Clostridia, focusing on (1) various strategies to rebalance metabolic flux to achieve a high butanol production by regulating the metabolism of carbon, redox or energy, (2) the challenges in pathway manipulation, and (3) the application of proteomics technology to understand the intracellular metabolism. In addition, the process engineering is also briefly described. The objective of this review is to summarize the previous research achievements in the metabolic engineering of Clostridium and provide guidance for future novel strain construction to effectively produce butanol. Open image in new window
Wavelet transform analysis of arrester voltage in surge motor protection

Studies showed that most motors stator winding failures result from the breakdown of the turn insulation during switching or lightning surges. Failure would be less frequent if motors were properly protected against such surges. Meaningful information is contained in the transient surge signals and should be used in the protection algorithm to increase their speed and accuracy. In this paper, the Electromagnetic Transient Program (EMTP) is used to simulate surge arrester behaviour during switching. The multiscale wavelet transform is then applied to the voltage waveform across the terminals of an induction motor. The instantaneous time-frequency information obtained may be useful for the design of a fast and accurate relay algorithm.
Further Studies Concerning Sex-Limited Genetic Infertility in Cattle,

Summary Data from additional mating tests support earlier evidence that the type of female sterility in the California Experiment Station Jersey Herd is conditioned by an autosomal recessive gene. Additional data also support an earlier conclusion that the gene conditioning the sterility is of relatively high frequency in certain lines in the Jersey breed. While more extensive studies are needed, a sample of the sterile females investigated manifest estrous cycles that, in general, appear to be in the normal range. The cause of failure in the reproductive mechanism was not determined. Some of the eggs are capable of being fertilized and undergo cleavage. Thus, normal oogenesis, meiosis and fertilization are indicated, as is zygote abortion in the late cleavage or early blastocyst stage. A small group of related Holstein bulls manifesting abundant libido but with greatly impaired fertility was studied. The chief characteristic of the semen I was a low concentration of spermatozoa, a high percentage of which were malformed. The conception rate per mating of five of the bulls varied from less than 1 to less than 10 per cent; other tests indicate that the upper limit of fertility may be as high as 30 per cent. A pedigree analysis suggests that the male infertility may be conditioned by a recessive autosomal gene. The data also suggests that different genes condition the male and female infertility.
Induction of DT-diaphorase by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

Abstract The compounds 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) are both inducers of the enzyme system aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. It has recently been reported that 3-MC is also an inducer of DT-diaphorase activity in rat liver. In this report the ability of TCDD to induce hepatic DT-diaphorase activity was examined. The results indicate that TCDD is approximately 17,000 times more potent as an inducer of DT-diaphorase activity than 3-MC.
The public health approach to youth violence and child maltreatment prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Millions of people in the United States suffer the consequences of violence, including physical injuries, psychological trauma, and death. Solutions to violence have traditionally been reactive. Through the lens of the public health perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) views violence as predictable based on various contributing factors, and thus as preventable. Within CDC, the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) leads efforts to prevent injury, death, and disability, and to reduce the suffering and medical costs caused by violence. DVP employs a multidisciplinary, public health approach to identify factors associated with violence, and to develop, evaluate, and disseminate preventive interventions. Psychology is one discipline that has contributed to our approach. The authors present a series of violence prevention initiatives funded by the CDC that are framed within a public health perspective, with attention to the contributions of psychology to youth violence and child maltreatment prevention.
A first look at student motivation resulting from a pass/fail program for first-semester engineering students

In 2010, administrators at Colorado State University implemented an experimental program allowing first-semester engineering students to take their entire course load for pass/fail grades, instead of the traditional A-F grades. Engineering educators were interested in the impact that this program had, and initially looked to GPA and grades. Realizing that those were insufficient to understand impact of the program, this study expands on previous work by obtaining a preliminary measure of students' motivation and correlating it with GPA and other variables of interest. Results indicate that the pass/fail students and traditionally graded students were very similar in terms of motivational qualities on average, but that motivational qualities showed relationships with semester GPA uniquely for pass/fail versus traditionally graded students. Also, student comments suggested that at the least they felt no harm was done by the program being offered and their enrollment or non-enrollment.
Antibodies to gangliosides and myelin proteins in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

An earlier investigation from our laboratory (Ilyas AA, Wilson HJ, Quarles RH, et al. Serum antibodies to gangliosides in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Ann Neurol 1988;23:440-447) demonstrating the presence of high levels of antiganglioside ganglioside antibodies in the sera of 5 of 26 patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) but not in control sera is summarized. The ganglioside antigens varied among the 5 patients with positive findings, and the antiganglioside antibodies decreased concurrently with clinical improvement in those patients for whom longitudinal samples were available for analysis. The results are discussed in the context of antibodies to acidic glycolipids in other types of neuropathy and other studies on antiglycolipid antibodies in GBS. Data showing the occurrence of lower levels of antibodies to P2 protein, P0 glycoprotein, and myelin-associated glycoprotein in some of the GBS patients are also summarized. The findings from our laboratory combined with the results of others make it unlikely that antiganglioside antibodies have a notable pathogenic effect in most patients with GBS, but the possibility remains that they are of pathogenic importance in some patients with the highest antibody titers.
pH-Responsive Nanoparticle Vaccines for Dual-Delivery of Antigens and Immunostimulatory Oligonucleotides

Protein subunit vaccines offer important potential advantages over live vaccine vectors but generally elicit weaker and shorter-lived cellular immune responses. Here we investigate the use of pH-responsive, endosomolytic polymer nanoparticles that were originally developed for RNA delivery as vaccine delivery vehicles for enhancing cellular and humoral immune responses. Micellar nanoparticles were assembled from amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of an ampholytic core-forming block and a redesigned polycationic corona block doped with thiol-reactive pyridyl disulfide groups to enable dual-delivery of antigens and immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) adjuvants. Polymers assembled into 23 nm particles with simultaneous packaging of CpG ODN and a thiolated protein antigen, ovalbumin (ova). Conjugation of ova to nanoparticles significantly enhanced antigen cross-presentation in vitro relative to free ova or an unconjugated, physical mixture of the parent compounds. Subcutaneous vaccinatio...
Limit periodic functions, adding machines, and solenoids

We prove that a stable adding machine invariant set for a homeomorphism of the plane is the limit of periodic points and also that a stable solenoid minimal invariant set for a three dimensional flow is the limit of periodic orbits. We give an example to show that a similar result is false in higher dimensions.
Teaching African Artisanry, Seeing African Labor: Persistent Pedagogies in Twentieth-Century Niger

Through the analysis of photographs of artisans and students working, this essay traces the pedagogical precedents of an artisanal educational experiment in Niamey, Niger in the 1970s to racialized...
Endolymphatic sodium homeostasis by Reissner's membrane.

Abstract Cochlear sensory transduction depends on active extrusion of sodium ion (Na + ) from the luminal fluid, endolymph. Reissner’s membrane epithelium forms much of the barrier between cochlear endolymph and perilymph and we hypothesized that Reissner’s membrane might be responsible for this function. We found that Reissner’s membrane isolated from gerbil produced a short circuit current ( I sc ) directed into the apical side, consistent with cation absorption and/or anion secretion. I sc was inhibited by amiloride analogs in the potency sequence benzamil>amiloride>>ethylisopropylamiloride, consistent with Na + absorption through an epithelial sodium channel in the apical cell membrane. I sc was also inhibited by an inhibitor of Na + ,K + -ATPase, ouabain, and by the K + channel blockers Ba 2+ , 4-aminopyridine and quinine but not tetraethylammonium nor glibenclamide, consistent with the presence of a voltage-activated K + channel. Bumetanide, an inhibitor of the Na + ,2Cl − ,K + -cotransporter, had no effect on I sc . Contrary to previous hypotheses, no evidence was found for electrogenic secretion of Cl − under control of cAMP since neither forskolin nor genistein affected I sc when Na + absorption was blocked. These results provide the first direct evidence that Reissner’s membrane contributes to normal cochlear function by absorption of Na + from endolymph.
A 36-Year-Old Haitian Man With Coma, Acute Kidney Injury, Lactic Acidosis, and Respiratory Failure

A 36-year-old man was found diaphoretic and unresponsive. Two days of headaches and back pain preceded his presentation. The patient had lived in Haiti all his life, working as an agricultural officer, and arrived in the United States 2 weeks earlier. Physical Examination The patient was afebrile but tachycardic (133/min) and tachypneic (40/min). His BP was 119/63 mm Hg, and his arterial oxygen saturation was 93% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula. He had no spontaneous eye opening, verbal response, or motor movements, but withdrew from noxious stimuli. His pupils were 3 mm, symmetric, and reactive to light. The results of the remainder of his physical examination were normal. Laboratory Findings Serum chemistry profile revealed the following values: sodium 124 mmol/L, bicarbonate < 5 mmol/L, blood urea nitrogen 89 mg/dL, creatinine 6 mg/dL, glucose 93 mg/dL, and lactic acid 20 mmol/L. His measured serum osmolality was 315 mOsm/kg with an estimated osmolar gap of 29 mOsm/kg. His arterial blood gas study revealed a pH of 6.8, Pco2 of 12, and Po2 of 185 on 2 L/min of oxygen. His aspartate aminotransferase level was 106 U/L, alanine aminotransferase level was 99 U/L, and bilirubin level was 5 mg/dL. His total WBC count was 24,300/μL with 58% bands and 24% segmented neutrophils. The hematocrit was 32.6%, and the platelet count was 22,000/μL. International normalized ratio was 1.6. Partial thromboplastin time was 93 s. Calcium oxalate crystals were present in the urine. HIV serology was negative. He was intubated and started on broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy. Chest radiograph revealed prominent interstitial markings (Fig 1). A CT scan of the head without contrast was normal. A lumbar puncture was not done, given coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia. Evaluation for ethanol, salicylates, and acetaminophen returned negative. His blood smear is shown in Figure 2. Figure 1. Admission chest radiograph with prominent interstitial markings. Figure 2. Thin blood film showing numerous burr cells, several schistocytes, and intraerythrocytic parasites (arrow). What is the diagnosis? Diagnosis: Severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Epigenetic Changes in Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells Influence the Inflammatory Phenotype and Alter Wound Healing in Type 2 Diabetes

Classically activated (M1) macrophages are known to play a role in the development of chronic inflammation associated with impaired wound healing in type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, the mechanism responsible for the dominant proinflammatory (M1) macrophage phenotype in T2D wounds is unknown. Since epigenetic enzymes can direct macrophage phenotypes, we assessed the role of histone methylation in bone marrow (BM) stem/progenitor cells in the programming of macrophages toward a proinflammatory phenotype. We have found that a repressive histone methylation mark, H3K27me3, is decreased at the promoter of the IL-12 gene in BM progenitors and this epigenetic signature is passed down to wound macrophages in a murine model of glucose intolerance (diet-induced obese). These epigenetically “preprogrammed” macrophages result in poised macrophages in peripheral tissue and negatively impact wound repair. We found that in diabetic conditions the H3K27 demethylase Jmjd3 drives IL-12 production in macrophages and that IL-12 production can be modulated by inhibiting Jmjd3. Using human T2D tissue and murine models, we have identified a previously unrecognized mechanism by which macrophages are programmed toward a proinflammatory phenotype, establishing a pattern of unrestrained inflammation associated with nonhealing wounds. Hence, histone demethylase inhibitor–based therapy may represent a novel treatment option for diabetic wounds.
3D Stereoscopic PIV visualization of the axisymmetric conical internal wave field generated by an oscillating sphere

To date, experimental studies of internal wave velocity fields have been limited to two-dimensional investigations of planar or axisymmetric systems. Here, we present results of the first three-dimensional stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) visualizations of an internal wave field. The experiments utilize the canonical arrangement of a vertically oscillating sphere, which enables rigorous comparison with recently published theoretical results. The excellent level of agreement between experiment and theory demonstrates the utility of using stereoscopic PIV to study three-dimensional internal waves. Furthermore, the ability to measure all three components of the velocity field gives an alternative perspective on the significance of harmonics generated via nonlinear processes in the vicinity of the oscillating sphere.
Real-time GPU rendering of piecewise algebraic surfaces

We consider the problem of real-time GPU rendering of algebraic surfaces defined by Bezier tetrahedra. These surfaces are rendered directly in terms of their polynomial representations, as opposed to a collection of approximating triangles, thereby eliminating tessellation artifacts and reducing memory usage. A key step in such algorithms is the computation of univariate polynomial coefficients at each pixel; real roots of this polynomial correspond to possibly visible points on the surface. Our approach leverages the strengths of GPU computation and is highly efficient. Furthermore, we compute these coefficients in Bernstein form to maximize the stability of root finding, and to provide shader instances with an early exit test based on the sign of these coefficients. Solving for roots is done using analytic techniques that map well to a SIMD architecture, but limits us to fourth order algebraic surfaces. The general framework could be extended to higher order with numerical root finding.
Radiative and non-radiative inter-subband transition in self assembled quantum dots

Abstract Self-assembled quantum dot structures have emerged as zero-dimensional structures with high radiative efficiency. In this paper we examine and compare various non-radiative and radiative scattering mechanisms for inter-subband transitions in self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots. Due to the large energy separation between first excited and ground states, we find that phonon-induced scattering is ineffectual and electron–hole scattering is the dominant non-radiative scattering process. Consequences for the inter-subband devices are also discussed.
The serpent beguiled me and i did eat: Entrapment and the creation of crime

This paper examines the legitimacy of pro-active law enforcement techniques, i.e. the use of deception to produce the performance of a criminal act in circumstances where it can be observed by law enforcement officials. It argues that law enforcement officials should only be allowed to create the intent to commit a crime in individuals who they have probable cause to suppose are already engaged or intending to engage in criminal activity of a similar nature.
Changing Appreciation of the Soviet Problem

Whether we articulate them or not, the assumptions that we make concerning the future development of the Soviet system are fundamental to our thinking about American foreign policy. The objectives toward which we can reasonably direct our efforts, the philosophy of our situation, are in a very large measure a function of the image we have in our minds of the changes we discern or anticipate in the character of the society and the government of the Russian people.
The direct determination of the vacancy concentration and P-T phase diagram of Hg 0.8 Cd 0.2 Te and Hg 0.6 Cd 0.4 Te by dynamic mass-loss measurements

A modified mass-loss measurement technique is employed, for the direct,in- situ determination of the metal vacancy formation in (Hg1x2212;itxCdx)1−yTey(s) withx = 0.2 and 0.4. Forx = 0.2, the metal vacancy concentrations are determined between 336 and 660° C for three different compositions(y) within the homogeneity region and range from 2.4 to6.8 x 1019cm−3. The enthalpy of formation of a singly-ionized metal vacancy is derived to be between 0.17 and 0.45 eV depending upon the deviation from stoichiometry (compositiony). Forx= 0.4, three samples of different y-values give the metal vacancy concentrations from 1.9 to 5.5 x 1019cm−3 between 316 and 649° C, and the enthalpy of vacancy formation between 0.25 and 0.40 eV. Compared to the recent data on HgTe(s), these experimental results show a slight but significant decrease in the enthalpy of vacancy formation from HgTe to Hg0.8Cd0.2Te, which supports theoretical predictions of the bond weakening effect of Cd for the latter alloy system. Based on the simultaneously determined equilibrium Hg partial pressures within the homogeneity range, the vacancy concentration-partial pressure isotherms are constructed. The Hg partial pressures are also measured along the three-phase boundaries of the solid solutions of bothx = 0.2 and 0.4, and these are in close agreement with published data obtained by optical absorption measurements.
Have the year 2000 neonatal resuscitation program guidelines changed the delivery room management or outcome of meconium-stained infants?

To study the impact of neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) guidelines on delivery room (DR) management of infants born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). A retrospective study of all term (≥37 weeks) infants born through MSAF was performed. Patients were divided into two periods: pre year 2000 NRP and post year 2000 NRP. Meconium consistency, APGAR scores and intubation (INT) for suctioning and respiratory outcome were recorded. Groups were analyzed using χ2 tests and stepwise logistic regression. The incidence of MSAF remained constant in period 1 (13.6%) and period 2 (13.1%) while the proportion of infants intubated fell from 67 to 41% (p<0.001). The incidence of meconium aspiration and nonspecific respiratory distress did not differ between groups. Since the implementation of year 2000 NRP guidelines, the rate of DR INT for tracheal suctioning has fallen significantly without a change in overall respiratory complications. Results of this study support the efficacy of year 2000 NRP recommendations.
Age-related changes in human middle latency auditory evoked potentials.

Abstract We recorded middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MAEPs) in young (20–40 years) and elderly (60–80 years) subjects with normal hearing. The Pa component was prolonged in latency and markedly enhanced in amplitude in the elderly subjects. No changes were found in Na, or in the binaural interaction of the MAEP. Differences in Pa amplitude and latency were not due exclusively to changes in auditory thresholds, since they were not duplicated by changes in stimulus intensity, and persisted when MAEPs from selected young and old subjects were compared at similar SPL levels. The enhancement of Pa amplitude appears to reflect age-related central modifications in auditory processing.
Assessment of the embryotoxic potential of the total hydrolysis product of fumonisin B1 using cultured organogenesis-staged rat embryos

Aminopentol (AP1) is the total hydrolysis product of fumonisin B1 (FB1), the major and best characterized of the fumonisins, which are mycotoxins that are common contaminants of corn and corn meal. Some human populations expected to have significant exposure to AP1 have a high incidence of babies born with neural tube defects (NTD). The embryotoxicity of AP1 was evaluated in cultured rat embryos. Gestation day 9.5 embryos were exposed to 0, 3, 10, 30, 100 or 300 microM AP1 throughout the entire 45-hr culture period. At 100 microM AP1, growth and overall development were reduced significantly. There was also a significant increase in the incidence of abnormal embryos. 29% of the embryos had NTD, and 36% of the embryos had other abnormalities. At 300 microM AP1, the incidence of NTD was 15%, and 85% of the embryos had other abnormalities. These findings suggest that AP1, at concentrations of 100 microM and above, can induce NTD in organogenesis-stage cultured rat embryos. However, these NTD are in conjunction with significant overall retardation of growth and development as well as significant increases in the incidence of other defects. These studies also showed, when compared with previous findings, that AP1 is over 100-fold less toxic than FB1 to cultured rat embryos.
Interaction of rare-gas-halide excimers with simple cryogenic liquids.

A one-parameter theory for the energy shifts experienced by the electronic levels of dipolar rare-gas\char21{}halide excimers dissolved in liquid rare gases is presented. The theory, based on Onsager's solute-solvent interaction, yields good results for both diatomic and triatomic species. The radius of the Onsager cavity is found to be dependent only on the dielectric characteristics of the solvent while the strength of the reaction electric field appears to be determined exclusively by solute molecular properties, namely, the dipole moment and the polarizability. These empirical rules lead to the determination of a fundamental constant, characteristic of these interactions, which is conserved to within approximately 2% for the materials studied. In addition, the use of this constant in the description of the interaction, which has the units of a polarizability, permits a drastic reduction of parameters, from one cavity radius per liquid host, to only a single fundamental constant. From this analysis, very simple expressions for the cavity radius and the reaction electric field are deduced for argon, krypton, and xenon.
A denial-of-service jamming game for remote state monitoring in smart grid

Denial-of-service (DoS) attack is a serious threat to the communication networks in smart grid, which may result in severe instability of power systems. A jammer can send strong interference to jam the data transmission if wireless communication systems are used for conveying system state information from a remote sensor to a controller in the wide area system monitoring and control. When being jammed by a jammer, the remote sensor can utilize multiple channels to avoid the jamming interference. Hence, the jamming and anti-jamming are modeled as a zero-sum stochastic game. In this game, the actions of the sensor and jammer are dependent on the current system state. A quadratic function is used as the payoff function, thus facilitating the LQG control of the power system. The Nash equilibrium of the game is analyzed, including the existence and the corresponding computation. Numerical simulations are carried out for a seven-dimensional linear system of power grid and demonstrate the increase of reward when proper anti-jamming actions are taken.
Phat Diem: Nationalism, Religion, and Identity in the Franco-Viet Minh War

The wars of postcolonial Asia, although often viewed by U.S. officials as struggles between Communist and non-Communist forces or between colonial powers and independence movements, were in fact far more complex and ambiguous in nature. The conflicts displayed some of the characteristics of civil war, brigandage, and ethnic, regional, and religious warfare. This article exams the experience of Phat Diem, a predominantly Catholic enclave in northern Vietnam, during the First IndochinaWar, to highlight the dynamics of these cross-currents of regionalism, nationalism, and religion. Ultimately Phat Diem's attempts to steer a middle course between Communism and French colonialism ended disastrously, but its story highlights several important but little recognized aspects of the war in Indochina and the nature of Asia's wars in the first decade after the end of World War II.
PinPlay: a framework for deterministic replay and reproducible analysis of parallel programs

Analysis of parallel programs is hard mainly because their behavior changes from run to run. We present an execution capture and deterministic replay system that enables repeatable analysis of parallel programs. Our goal is to provide an easy-to-use framework for capturing, deterministically replaying, and analyzing execution of large programs with reasonable runtime and disk usage. Our system, called PinPlay, is based on the popular Pin dynamic instrumentation system hence is very easy to use. PinPlay extends the capability of Pin-based analysis by providing a tool for capturing one execution instance of a program (as log files called pinballs) and by allowing Pin-based tools to run off the captured execution. Most Pintools can be trivially modified to work off pinballs thus doing their usual analysis but with a guaranteed repeatability. Furthermore, the capture/replay works across operating systems (Windows to Linux) as the pinball format is independent of the operating system. We have used PinPlay to analyze and deterministically debug large parallel programs running trillions of instructions. This paper describes the design of PinPlay and its applications for analyses such as simulation point selection, tracing, and debugging.
Bor-Stickstoff-Verbindungen, X. Einige neue Aminoborane

Unsymmetrisch substituierte Aminoborane wurden durch Kondensation von Aminen mit Borhalogeniden, durch Transaminierungsreaktionen oder durch Umsetzen von Amino-halogenboranen mit Grignard-Reagenz erhalten. Als neue Methode zur Darstellung organisch substituierter Aminoborane wird der Substituenten-Austausch zwischen Triorganoboranen und Trisaminoboranen beschrieben.
Design, synthesis and polymerization of highly branched pseudodendrimers through tandem reactions

BACKGROUND: Pseudodendrimers are hyperbranched polymers which are isomeric with dendrimers, that is, each repeat unit is either fully reacted or only singly reacted. The careful design of an ABB′ monomer leads to higher branching by virtue of tandem reactions that increase the reactivity of linear units during polymerization, leading to fully reacted repeat units. The resulting polymers are predicted to be very highly branched, and in the optimum case, pseudodendrimers. RESULTS: Our work shows that 6-amino-3-bromophthalide leads to a highly branched polymer via bromohydrin decomposition during polymerization, giving polymers of M = of 3000 and a polydispersity index of 1.03. Our findings indicate a degree of branching of 0.84. The synthesis of similar polymers using different techniques confirms our proposed intermediate. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated a new class of hyperbranched polymers which are highly branched, and may be considered pseudodendrimers. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
CIELAB Hue-Angle Anomalies at Low Tristimulus Ratios

Hue angles calculated using the CIELAB recommendation are usually dependent on the luminance factors of the stimulus if any tristimulus ratio is below the critical figure at which the Pauli linear function is applied. This can cause errors of up to 35° in the case of stimuli of low luminance lying on the spectrum locus or purple line. Errorrs are unlikely to occur in the case of surface colors, but in the case of transparent object colors their frequency and magnitude are such as to make CIELAB unsuitable as a color space or as a color-difference formula whenever a tristimulus ratio is below the critical figure. Practical considerations suggest that in such cases the best solution is to use a modified Judd polynomial function, and this course is suggested for consideration by the CIE Colorimetry Committee and the committee responsible for developing an ISO Standard for the color measurement of plastics.
Ocular lipid peroxides and galactose-induced cataracts in albino and pigmented rats reared under darkness or cyclic light

Abstract Weanling male albino Sprague-Dawley and pigmented Long-Evans rats were fed a 20% galactose diet ad libitum. They were reared either in darkness or under cyclic light (12 hr darkness: 12 hr light, 100 ft-candles). After 80 days, lipid peroxide levels were significantly increased in the retina (2.5-fold) and eye-cup (composed of the retinal pigment epithelium, choroid, and sclera) (2.1-fold) of albino rats reared under cyclic light compared to albino rats reared in darkness. In contrast, no significant differences in lipid peroxide levels were found in eye tissues of pigmented rats reared under darkness or cyclic light. The lipid peroxide levels in the retina and eye-cup of pigmented rats were similar to those of albino rats reared in darkness. Plasma tryptophan levels were decreased and the over-all rate of galactose-induced cataract formation was significantly delayed in albino rats reared in darkness compared to albino rats reared under cyclic light. No significant differences in lens changes were observed among pigmented rats reared under darkness or cyclic light. In summary, darkness protected against increased lipid peroxidation of the retina and eye-cup of albino rats and delayed the development of cataract formation in these rats fed a 20% galactose diet. Similarly, ocular pigmentation in Long-Evans rats was protective against light-induced lipid peroxidation of the retina and eye-cup, but it had no effect on the progression of galactose-induced cataract formation in these animals.
PLAGUE IN A COMPLEX OF WHITE-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS AND ASSOCIATED SMALL MAMMALS IN WYOMING

Fleas were collected from white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus) and other small mammals trapped on six grids during a field study near Meeteetse (Wyoming, USA) in 1989 and 1990 to investigate the dynamics of plague in this rodent population. Fleas were identified and tested for Yersinia pestis by mouse inoculation. Yersinia pestis-positive fleas were found on prairie dogs and in their burrows. Flea species on prairie dogs changed from spring to late summer. White-tailed prairie dog numbers were significantly lower in the presence of Y. pestis-positive fleas; however, affected populations generally recovered 1 to 2 yr following absence of detectable plague. Grids where recovery occurred had a high proportion of juvenile male prairie dogs. Eighteen flea species were identified on small mammals, six of which were infected with Y. pestis. Some flea species were associated with a particular small mammal species, while others were found on a broad range of host species. Flea species most important in the...
Evolutionary theory of host and parasitoid interactions

Abstract The challenge of developing a theory on the evolution of insect host and parasitoid interactions is addressed. Stages in the development of theory are recognized as the identification of pattern in nature, the development of hypotheses to account for pattern, and the further study that will validate or refute perceived patterns and processes. Patterns are identified in the context of vegetational ecological succession. Along this gradient there are an increasing number of parasitoid species per host species and an increasing proportion of more generalized (idiobiont) parasitoid species per host species. As the number of parasitoid species per host herbivore species increases, the expectation of higher mortality inflicted upon host populations increases. This expectation is justified on the basis of attempts at biological control that show a correlation between the number of parasitoid species per host and the probability of successful regulation by parasitoids. A predicted pattern is that, in host-parasitoid interactions along vegetational succession, innate responses to semiochemicals by searching parasitoids will be strong in early succession, and learned responses will predominate in late successional communities. Hypotheses that account for the mechanisms in generating pattern are reviewed, based on the literature, and their applications to a theory of biological control are discussed.
Changes in the infrared spectra of solutions of deoxypentose nucleic acid in relation to its structure.

Abstract High molecular weight deoxypentose nucleic acid (DNA) in aqueous solution has a characteristics infrared spectrum which may be changed by physica, chemical, or enzymic treatment. The region of the spectrum in which the most important changes occur is that associated with the purine and pyrimidine components. In particular, two strong absorption bands at 1680 and 1645 cm−1 disappear upon (a) raising the pH over 11, or () heating the solution for a few minutes at 100° C, or (c) upon short treatment with desoxyribonuclease. Concomitant with the disappearance of the absorption bands at 1680 and 1645 cm−1 is the appearance of two new bands at 1660 and 1625 cm− We have not been able to reverse changes in the infrared absorption spectra of DNA in solution once they have occurred. The observed infrared spectral changes of DNA in solution, with the treatments described above, lie in the region where purine-pyrimidine absorption occurs and are indicative of the important role these bases must play in the molecular configuration of DNA. The nature and extent of the spectral shifts are such as to lead us to postulate that such treatments irreversibly alter the specific double stranded helical configuration of the original high molecular weight DNA.
Fiber Bragg grating with long-period fiber grating superstructure for simultaneous strain and temperature measurement

Multiplexed FBG strain sensors are currently deployed for the monitoring and analysis of structural loading worldwide. One remaining issue is the separation of the strain-induced wavelength shift from that induced by temperature changes.
Developing a peptide-based near-infrared molecular probe for protease sensing.

Recently near-infrared (NIR) molecular probes have become important reporter molecules for a number of types of in vivo biomedical imaging. A peptide-based NIR fluorescence probe consisting of a NIR fluorescence emitter (Cy5.5), a NIR fluorescence absorber (NIRQ820), and a protease selective peptide sequence was designed to sense protease activity. Using a MMP-7 model, we showed that NIRQ820 efficiently absorbs the emission energy of Cy5.5 resulting in a low initial signal. Upon reacting with its target, MMP-7, the fluorescence signal of the designed probe was increased by 7-fold with a Kcat/Km of 100 000 M-1 s-1. The described synthetic strategy should have wide application for other NIR probe preparations.
Streamflow trends in Nepal

Abstract This study presents the first comprehensive nationwide trend detection of streamflow in Nepal, a country that has been historically understudied despite its critical location as the southern pathway for most of the Himalayan snowpack melt and torrential seasonal monsoon rains. We applied Mann-Kendall and Sen's trend tests using trend-free pre-whitening and bootstrap approaches to two streamflow data sets to deal with serial and cross-correlation. The two data sets comprised 23–33 hydrometric stations with 31 years and more than 20 years of published data, respectively. The test on the 33 stations data set showed that 23% of the streamflow variables studied had statistically significant trends, evenly divided between upward and downward trends. Similarly, in the second, relatively smaller data set, 24% of variables exhibited trends, of which 41% were downward and 59% upward. The higher percentage of observed upward trends in pre-monsoon and winter seasonal average flow is noteworthy given the pote...
An approximate method to incorporate spin—orbit effects into calculations using effective core potentials

Abstract An effective one-electron, one-center spin—orbit operator, which has given good results in all-electron calculations, is tested for valence-electron calculations on silicon atom using an effective core potential (ECP). The results are compared to recent calculations by Stevens and Krauss, who used the ab initio spin—orbit operator developed by Ermler et al. and based on Dirac—Fock calculations. Although the latter approach does lead to superior agreement with experiment, the results of the effective one-electron, one-center spin—orbit operator are quite good. In fact, for cases in which the radial character of the valence orbitals does not change drastically, the effective one-electron, one-center spin—orbit operator should provide comparable accuracy to the spin—orbit operator of Ermler et al. The present approach has the advantages of simplicity since it does not require the calculation of relativistic effective potentials from Dirac—Fock wavefunctions.
Photobiological hydrogen production from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 encapsulated in silica sol–gel

Abstract Hydrogen production was measured from viable wild-type and M55 mutant cells of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 encapsulated in silica sol–gel derived from tetraethoxysilane, tetramethoxysilane, and a mixture of tetraethoxysilane with methyltriethoxysilane. Glycerol and polyethylene glycol were used as additives in concentrations up to 14 wt.% to increase porosity and pore connectivity and to reduce stress on the encapsulated cells. Mixtures were evaluated for hydrogen production in a high-throughput screening assay, and samples were imaged with environmental scanning electron microscopy. Compositions showing improved H 2 production were selected for further study via quantitative analysis of H 2 production in GC vial assays. H 2 production activity was monitored for up to 5 days and H 2 production from encapsulated cells was observed at levels comparable to or exceeding cells suspended in liquid media.
Improving text retrieval for the routing problem using latent semantic indexing

Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) is a novel approach to information retrieval that attempts to model the underlying structure of term associations by transforming the traditional representation of documents as vectors of weighted term frequencies to a new coordinate space where both documents and terms are represented as linear combinations of underlying semantic factors. In previous research, LSI has produced a small improvement in retrieval performance. In this paper, we apply LSI to the routing task, which operates under the assumption that a sample of relevant and non-relevant documents is available to use in constructing the query. Once again, LSI slightly improves performance. However, when LSI is used is conjuction with statistical classification, there is a dramatic improvement in performance.
Stable cholinergic-muscarinic inhibition of rat parotid adenylate cyclase.

1. Introduction There are numerous reports describing cY-adrener- gic and cholinergic inhibition of CAMP accumulation in various tissues [ l-101 . The rat parotid gland pro- vides an excellent model system for the elucidation of inter-receptor interactions. The stimulation of a-adrenergic, /3-adrenergic and cholinergic-muscarinic receptors has been well characterized pharmacol- ogically, biochemically and morphologically and has been integrated into an overall scheme in [ 11 ,121. Cholinergic-muscarinic and a-adrenergic inhibition of CAMP accumulation, stimulated by activation of /3-adrenergic receptors in the rat parotid has been reported [13-IS]. Recent data from our laboratory demonstrated a different mechanism of action for the cholinergic and cu-adrenergic effect and also indicated adenylate cyclase as the target enzyme [ 16,171 . In the present communication we report a stable inhibi- tion of parotid adenylate cyclase in homogenates and washed membrane preparations following the ex- posure of tissue slices to carbamylcholine. 2. Experimental methods Male Wistar rats (120-200 g) were used through- out. Rats were fasted overnight prior to sacrifice. The