cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of pore space in the Poza Rica trend (Mid‐Cretaceous), Mexico

The Poza Rica trend of the Tampico embayment, Mexico, will ultimately produce more than 2.3 × 109 barrels of oil from Mid-Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) basin-margin deposits. Bioclastic grainstone, packstone, and wackestone are interbedded with polymictic lime breccia and dolomitized debris; all were deposited by sediment gravity flow. Indigenous sediment was pelagic lime mud. Typical reservoir porosities are about 10%; permeabilities average 2 md and rarely exceed 100 md. Porosity is largely the result of selective dissolution of rudist fragments, which were originally aragonite. Detailed petrographic study, with emphasis on the diagenetic products, allows quantitative assessment of porosity at various diagenetic stages from original sediment to reservoir rock. A relatively simple diagenetic history is reflected by about 90% of the samples studied: primary porosity was reduced through lithification of matrix mud and initial cementation by clear, equant to bladed, non-ferroan calcite. Later dissolution produced extensive skelmoldic and minor vuggy porosity. Subsequently, non-ferroan calcite cement reduced porosity before the emplacement of hydrocarbons. Reconstructed sediment porosities are comparable to, but lower than, modern counterparts. The initial phase of cementation and presumed lithification of mud greatly reduced porosity in all lithologies, but appreciably more porosity persisted in grainstone and packstone than in wackestone or mudstone. Dissolution produced a porosity resurrection, which exceeded that of the initial sediment in some grainstones. Calcite cementation and local multiphase quartz cementation and dolomitization reduced porosity to present average values of 8–12% in grain-supported rocks and 3% in mud-supported rocks. The greater persistence of primary porosity and, therefore, permeability in grain-supported rocks probably accounts for their greater secondary porosity development and ultimate reservoir quality. Geometrically averaged permeabilities range from only 0.17 md in wackestone to 3.85 md in dolomite, but differ significantly with rock type and grain size. Permeability increases with porosity in all lithologies; the rate of increase is greater at higher porosities and with coarser grain sizes. The agent for both early cementation and development of secondary porosity appears to have been meteoric water. Subaerial exposure appears to be ruled out, however, by a basin-margin depositional environment and continued burial beneath Upper Cretaceous pelagic sediments. Early exposure to meteoric water can be explained by a hydrologic head developed during penecontemporaenous exposure that produced cavernous porosity in the adjacent Golden Lane trend. Descending meteoric water likely emerged as submarine springs along the Tamabra trend. Deposition of pelagic limestone during the Turonian blanketed part of the Golden Lane escarpment to enhance development of a large freshwater lens; gaps in the blanket localized springs and influenced flow patterns within the Poza Rica field. Analogous freshwater circulation exists today in northern Florida.
The Action of Solubilizing Agents on the Solubility of Xanthine Derivatives in Water: III. The Application of Cryoscopy to the Study of Caffeine, Theophylline, and Theobromine with Solubilizing Agents

Cryoscopy was applied to the study of xanthine combinations for the purpose of detecting interaction between the xanthine derivatives and the solubilizing agent. Caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine react with sodium salicylate probably by means of hydrogen bonding to form an associated product. The combination of theophylline, theobromine, or caffeine with sodium acetate shows no indication of reaction. The same is true of combinations with sodium benzoate.
The nutrition significance of sucrose consumption, 1970-1980.

Sucrose consumption is a controversial issue. Part of the difficulty arises because of inadequate knowledge about the actual consumption of populations, as well as individuals within a population. Data on the sucrose content of foods are lacking. This review presents information published in the 1970s on these topics as well as current research and thinking about possible relationships of sucrose consumption to dental caries, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and other disease conditions. Current attitudes toward recommendations concerning sugar consumption in the U.S. Dietary Goals are examined, as are data on the use of sugar as a fortification vehicle.
L-glutamate increases the spontaneous release of [3H]GABA from cultured cerebellar neurons.

The effects of l-glutamate on the spontaneous release of [3H]GABA from cerebellar neurons in well characterized cerebellar monolayer cultures were investigated. The release process was dependent on Ca2+, elicited by neuronal depolarization and specific to l-glutamate. d-Glutamate and l-aspartate were without effect, and glutamic acid diethylester (GDEE) abolished l-glutamate stimulated 3H]GABA release, suggesting that this effect was mediated by glutamate receptors.
Solution Behavior of Topological Isomers of Poly[11-(4‘-cyanophenyl-4‘ ‘-phenoxy)undecyl acrylate]s Prepared by Atom Transfer and Conventional Radical Polymerizations

The solution behavior of linear, three-arm star, and comb poly[11-(4‘-cyanophenyl-4‘ ‘-phenoxy)undecyl acrylate]s previously synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization was investigated by gel permeation chromatography (GPCPSt) and light scattering measurements in CH2Cl2, THF, and CHCl3 in order to correlate their size and shape with their molecular architecture and in order to investigate the extent of branching in the corresponding polymer prepared by conventional radical polymerization. The inaccuracy of the GPCPSt molecular weights increases as the polymers become more branched: linear < three-arm star < comb; the discrepancy between the GPCPSt and absolute molecular weights of polymers fractionated from the conventional radical polymerization is between those of the three-arm star and comb polymers in all three solvents. Light scattering studies demonstrate that CH2Cl2 is the best solvent for all of the polymers, resulting in either no aggregation or an insignificant amount of aggregation, w...
Negative charges in the DIII–DIV linker of human skeletal muscle Na+ channels regulate deactivation gating

Charge reversing, neutralizing and substituting mutations at D1309 and EE1314,15 in the DIII-DIV linker of the human skeletal muscle sodium channel hNav1.4 were constructed and expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The effects of these mutations on conductance, inactivation and deactivation were determined using on-cell macropatches. D1309R caused a depolarizing shift of the conductance-voltage (g(V)) curve and increased the apparent valency of activation. D1309R and EE1314,15RR increased time to peak activation. D1309R caused a depolarizing shift of the steady-state fast inactivation curve, whereas EE1314,15RR produced a hyperpolarizing shift and decreased the apparent valency. Charge reversal at either D1309 or EE1314,15 slowed open-state fast inactivation and accelerated closed-state fast inactivation. D1309R accelerated recovery from fast inactivation, whereas EE1314,15RR and EE1314,15QQ slowed recovery. Deactivation from the inactivated state was determined by the delay in the onset to recovery from fast inactivation. Recovery delay was abbreviated for D1309R but was prolonged for EE1314,15RR and EE1314,15QQ. Open-state deactivation was determined from the time constant of the decay (tau D) of tail currents. tau D was slowed by D1309R, D1309E, EE1314,15RR and EE1314,15QQ. Our findings suggest an important role in deactivation gating in hNav1.4 for the negative cluster of charge at EE1314,15. These and previous findings suggest that clusters of negatively and positively charged residues in the hNav1.4 DIII-DIV linker differentially regulate the kinetics of fast inactivation.
Immunodetection of Polyphenol Oxidase In Glandular Trichomes of S. Berthaultii, S. Tuberosum and Their Hybrids

Type A glandular trichomes confer insect resistance to the wild potato,S. berthaultii Hawkes by oxidatively polymerizing their contents upon breakage, resulting in insect entrapment. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is responsible for the oxidative polymerization of Type A glandular trichome exudate.S. tuberosum L. trichomes possess low amounts of PPO and lack the ability to either polymerize their contents or entrap insects. Polyclonal antibodies raised against purifiedS. berthaultii glandular trichome PPO were used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify PPO content ofS. berthaultii, S tuberosum, and hybrid type A glandular trichomes. The PPO ELISA and immunoblots were used to quantify PPO expression as a function of leaf development and genetic background. PPO accumulates to its maximal levels in trichomes prior to completion of leaflet expansion. In advanced breeding generations, trichome PPO is expressed at levels varying from that found inS. tuberosum to that found inS. berthaultii. By serving as an initial screen for trichome PPO, this ELISA may be useful to assist rapid introgression of this insect resistance trait into adaptedS. tuberosum backgrounds.
Multiple Roles for Src in a PDGF-Stimulated Cell

Abstract The observation that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) increases the catalytic activity of Src family members (Src) suggests that they contribute to PDGF-dependent responses. The role of Src in PDGF-dependent cell cycle progression, phosphorylation of proteins, and chemotaxis has been tested by investigators using a variety of cell types and approaches, and it appears that the contribution of Src is highly variable. This idea is perhaps best illustrated by the finding that Src plays radically different roles downstream of the PDGF α- and β-receptor subunits. Hence, Src is a versatile signal relay enzyme, whose contribution to a signaling cascade depends on variables such as the nature of the receptor via which the cell is activated, as well as the cell type itself.
This is What a Police State Looks Like: Sousveillance, Direct Action and the Anti-corporate Globalization Movement

Activists across the globe have increasingly incorporated digital communication technologies into their repertoire of direct action tactics to challenge state and corporate power. Examining the anti-corporate globalization protests at the September 2009 Group of Twenty (G-20) meetings in Pittsburgh, this paper explores how activists used sousveillance and counter-surveillance as direct action tactics to make excessive force by police more visible to the public. Collaborative endeavors such as the G-20 Resistance Project, the Tin Can Comms Collective and independent media centers provided activists with the necessary tactical and strategic communication networks to coordinate direct actions during the G-20 protests. Through the use of surveillance technologies widely available to the public such as video cameras, cell phones and the internet, activists created an environment of permanent visibility in which the behaviors of police were subjected to public scrutiny. The images captured by anti-globalization activists raises a salient question: Is this what a police state looks like?
Memory Reconsolidation: Time to Change Your Mind

A new study shows that temporal expectations about threats are a key part of fear memories and that changing this temporal expectation is enough to trigger the updating and reconsolidation of a previously learned fear.
Aeroacoustic properties of a supersonic diamond-shaped jet

The potential for using a novel diamond-shaped nozzle, which may allow superior mixing and noise characteristics of supersonic jets without significant thrust losses, is explored. Flow visualization and pressure measurements indicate the presence of distinct structures in the shear layers, not normally observed in shear layers of ideally expanded axisymmetric and rectangular jets. The characteristics of these features suggest that they are a manifestation of significant streamwise vorticity in the shear layers. Despite the distinct nature of the flowfield structure of the diamond jet, the far-field noise characteristics are quite similar to those of the corresponding axisymmetric jet, except moderate mixing-noise reduction in the aft quadrant. Furthermore, the global shear-layer growth rates are also very similar to those of the axisymmetric and two-dimensional counterparts. These observations lead one to believe that the presence of streamwise vorticity may not play a significant role on the overall mixing and noise generation of a supersonic jet.
A METHOD FOR IN VITRO CULTIVATION OF MOUSE OVA FROM TWO-CELL TO BLASTOCYST.

ince the pioneering work of Lewis and Gregory [4] in 1929, fertilized rabbit ova have been cultivated in vitro from one-cell to blastocyst in various media containing serum. However, other mammalian ova in early cleavage divisions have been relatively refractory to in vitro cultivation. Hammond [3] was the first to cultivate eight-cell mouse ova through to the blastocyst stage. He used a media containing egg white. Whitten [8] demonstrated that eight-cell mouse ova will develop into blastocysts when cultivated in a balanced salt solution containing glucose and bovine serum albumin. McLaren and Biggers [6] and Tarkowski [7] confirmed this and showed that these blastocysts developed into normal young when transferred to the uterus of foster mothers. Whitten [9] substituted calcium lactate for calcium chloride in this media and obtained the development of some late two-cell ova into blastocysts. A method for relatively large-scale in vitro experiments on the early cleavage divisions of the mouse embryo has been developed in this laboratory. A particular advantage of the method is that all the embryos can be observed at any time in the experiment without disturbing the conditions. Since the method is now being used in several types of study the full details are described in this paper.
Equilibrium computations of multiphase nonideal electrolytic systems and structure of turbulent reacting dissolving jets

The objectives of the paper are two-fold. First, a method has been presented and a computer program developed for the computation of chemical equilibrium of complex reacting, nonideal, multiphase and electrolytic mixtures Validity, of the program has been confirmed by comparing the calculated values with experimental solubility data of three binary systems. Applications have been made to hydrogen chloride gas and aqueous ammonia reacting dissolving systems. Extensive state relationships as a function of mixture fraction have been generated for ammonia solutions over a wide range of ammonia concentrations. The second objective is to investigate the structure of a turbulent, gaseous, reacting, dissolving hydrogen chloride jet submerged in an aqueous ammonia bath. The use of HCl(g) as oxidizer and NH 3(aq) as fuel has been of recent interest to simulate the tubulent combustion of a haogenegaseous oxidizer with an alkali liquid metal fuel. With the state relationships generated, the k -∈-g turbulent model, the local homogeneous two-phase flow approximation and a clipped Gaussian probability function for the square of the mixture fraction flucations, predictions have been made for the plume penetration length, temperature, voil fraction and concentration profiles of the plume. It is found that the total plume penetration length is controlled by the extent of vaporization of the bath liquid, which is governed by the concentration of the ammonia fuel. The theoretical calculations are found in good agreement with the recent experimental data, which include the maximum plume temperature, the plume penetration lengths and the void fraction profile.
CRAFT: a new secure congestion control architecture

Congestion control algorithms seek to optimally utilize network resources by allocating a certain rate for each user. However, malicious clients can disregard the congestion control algorithms implemented at the clients and induce congestion at bottleneck links. Thus, in an adversarial environment, the network must enforce the congestion control algorithm in order to attain the optimal network utilization offered by the algorithm. Prior work protects only a single link incident on the enforcement routers neglecting damage inflicted upon other downstream links. We present CRAFT, a capability-based scheme to secure all downstream links of a deploying router. Our goal is to enforce a network-wide congestion control algorithm on all flows. As a reference design, we develop techniques to enforce the TCP congestion control. Our design regulates all flows to share bandwidth resources in a TCP-fair manner by emulating the TCP state machine in a CRAFT router. As a result, once a flow passes a single CRAFT router, it is TCP-fair on all downstream links of that router.
Effect of NO2 inhalation and vitamin C deficiency on protein and lipid accumulation in the lung.

Abstract Vitamin C-deficient and normal guinea pigs were exposed to various concentrations of NO2 or air, and lavage fluid was obtained and analyzed for protein and lipid content. Exposure of normal animals to 752, 1880, 5640, or 9400 μg NO2/m3 (0.4, 1.0, 3.0, or 5.0 ppm) for 72 hr did not alter the protein or lipid content of lung lavage fluid. However, exposure of vitamin C-deficient animals to the same concentrations of NO2 caused marked increases in lavage proteins and lipids at all but the 752 μg/m3 (0.4 ppm) level. At 9400 μg NO2/m3 (5.0 ppm), 50% of the exposed vitamin C-deficient animals died, and pathologic study of the lungs showed proteinaceous edema fluid in the alveoli. Lungs from air-exposed animals and normal animals exposed to NO2 appeared healthy. No effects were seen at 752 μg NO2 (0.4 ppm) in either normal or deficient animals even when the time of exposure was extended to 1 week. At 9400 μg NO2/m3 (5 ppm) effects could be seen in vitamin C-deficient animals even when the exposure period was shortened to 3 hr. Assessment of protein and lipid content of lavage fluid provided a sensitive method for determining subtle changes in the lung following NO2 exposure.
Two-Photon 3-D High Density Optical Data Storage

The inherent three-dimensional features associated with two-photon absorption provides an excellent basis upon which to combine spatially-resolved, two-photon induced photoacid generation and fluorescence quenching with nondestructive two-photon fluorescence imaging, eliminating the need for a fixing step. A significant advantage of this approach is that solutions for optical storage can take advantage of new spatial and spectral dimensions. In addition, this multilayer approach provides optical memories that use the volume of the medium by recording data as binary planes stacked in 3-D. The use of transparent materials as storage media facilitates the use of a large number of layers. The data is stored in discrete bits in the plane, but also through the volume. Relative to a one-photon-based process, much higher information densities can be obtained by writing multiple layers of bits; this is due to, first, the excitation light penetrates deeply into the material, and is absorbed only at the focal region, and secondly, Rayleigh scattering is reduced for the longer wavelengths used for two-photon excitation. The quadratic dependence of two-photon excitation on incident intensity relative to single-photon excitation is illustrated in Figure 1. The more highly localized two-photon excitation can be observed in the focal volume.
Infrared spectral analysis of EBA-hexyl vanillate-ZnO cement.

Infrared spectroscopic changes associated with the setting reaction of a new cement based on o-ethoxybenzoic acid (EBA), n-hexyl vanillate (HV), and ZnO were followed using FTIR spectroscopy. Peak assignments were made for HV, EBA, and their reaction products. Spectral changes were observed for the EBA reaction but not the HV reaction in the setting cement.
Epithelial Cell Apoptosis Facilitates Entamoeba histolytica Infection in the Gut

Entamoeba histolytica is the protozoan parasite that causes amebic colitis. The parasite triggers apoptosis on contact with host cells; however, the biological significance of this event during intestinal infection is unclear. We examined the role of apoptosis in a mouse model of intestinal amebiasis. Histopathology revealed that abundant epithelial cell apoptosis occurred in the vicinity of amoeba in histological specimens. Epithelial cell apoptosis occurred rapidly on co-culture with amoeba in vitro as measured by annexin positivity, DNA degradation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Administration of the pan caspase inhibitor ZVAD decreased the rate and severity of amebic infection in CBA mice by all measures (cecal culture positivity, parasite enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and histological scores). Similarly, caspase 3 knockout mice on the resistant C57BL/6 background exhibited even lower cecal parasite antigen burden and culture positive rates than wild type mice. The permissive effect of apoptosis on infection could be tracked to the epithelium, in that transgenic mice that overexpressed Bcl-2 in epithelial cells were more resistant to infection as measured by cecal parasite enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and histological scores. We concluded that epithelial cell apoptosis in the intestine facilitates amebic infection in this mouse model. The parasite's strategy for inducing apoptosis may point to key virulence factors, and therapeutic maneuvers to diminish epithelial apoptosis may be useful in amebic colitis.
Surveillance of hazardous materials events in 17 states, 1993-2001: a report from the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system.

Background Thousands of acute hazardous materials (HazMat) releases occur annually throughout the United States. To prevent human exposure and resulting injuries, it is critical to understand the frequency with which these releases occur, the locations involved, the industries associated, and the specific substances being released. Methods HazMat events data from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system were analyzed for frequency and locations of occurrence, major industry categories and sub-categories involved, and substances released. The data analyzed were collected from 17 participating state health departments for 1993 through 2001. Results During 1993 through 2001, 53,142 HazMat events occurred. Of the 17 states analyzed, Texas had the most releases, comprising 38.3% of all HSEES events. Of the 14 major US Census industry categories analyzed, the manufacturing category had the highest percentage of events (48.7%) followed by transportation, communication, and other public utilities (27.5%). Of the 10 states that participated during the entire analysis period, the numbers of events increased 64.3%. Twelve of 14 major industrial categories experienced increases in numbers of events over the analysis period, while public administration and active duty military events decreased. The substances released most frequently overall included ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and sulfuric acid, respectively. Conclusions The HSEES data appear to reflect an upward trend in the occurrence of hazardous HazMat events. While it is difficult to definitively conclude whether this trend is due to more events actually occurring or from other factors, reviewing historical HazMat data may help communities, government agencies, and industries prevent or better prepare for potential events in the future. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:539–548, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Research in the Hard Sciences, and in Very Hard “Softer” Domains

The author of this commentary argues that physical scientists are attempting to advance knowledge in the so-called hard sciences, whereas education researchers are laboring to increase knowledge and understanding in an “extremely hard” but softer domain. Drawing on the work of Popper and Dewey, this commentary highlights the relative similarities between hard sciences and education research in their rhetorical nature, while acknowledging the divergent paths of these two fields of inquiry with regard to prediction and generalizability. The author suggests that given the highly contextualized nature of educational processes, embedded in shifting complex social settings, and the relevance of all variables, very little education research is able to pursue predictive power.
Outcomes of left ventricular reconstruction when established parameters are followed, and subsequent questions.

The 2010 Task Force guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology/European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery (ESC/EACTS) recommend ‘consideration of surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) to treat ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, following measurement of ventricular volume and assessment of myocardial scar in centers with high experience’ [1]. This issue contains a report by Cho et al. [2] concerning ‘Long-term results and mid-term features of left ventricular reconstruction procedures on left ventricular volume, geometry, function and mitral regurgitation’ that amplifies the importance of surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) to architecturally remedy the failing hearts of patients with ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Their superb results confirm how this procedure carries a very low perioperative mortality (1.6%), dramatically diminishes rehospitalization for cardiac causes over a 7-year interval and allows 79% long-term survival. These beneficial results are in concert with the broad number of world-wide SVR reports [3] and thus provide yet another contradiction to the flawed Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) study [4], whose misguided results have caused global curtailment of properly treating ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Cho et al. precisely followed the benchmark SVR entry criteria of >60 ml/m left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI), >35% scarring of the left ventricle (LV) perimeter and achieved the requisite 40% reduction of ventricular volume to reduce the LVESVI of <60 ml/m. These SVR-induced changes show why LVESVI <60 ml/m is an independent predictor of prognosis [5], as the very low 7-year mortality ‘resulted from the natural events of neoplasm and infection’ rather than from pump failure or sudden death. These splendid results were similarly achieved by the Dor, linear closure and septal anterior ventricular exclusion (SAVE) procedures, yet each outcome was accompanied by creating a more spherical ventricle instead of the intended elliptical form. Confirmation of improved systolic performance was garnered from the increased systolic eccentricity index that indicated the smaller remote muscle contracted more efficiently as it became more helical during ejection. Moreover, late findings in patients with larger pre-SVR ventricular volumes showed the development of a 22% incidence of mitral regurgitation (MR), which parallels Di Donato’s report of 38% later mitral insufficiency in patients with even larger preoperative ventricular volumes [6]. These shape and MR change direct attention towards how the procedure execution influenced these findings, since Pocar recently pointed out the disadvantage of a more spherical chamber and functional MR [7].
Structuring Meaning Through New Languaging: Going Beyond the Ethics of Caring

This column presents a novel discussion of ethical assumptions culled from the philosophical assumptions and principles of Parse’s human becoming school of thought. Disciplinary opportunities for creating and using new language in nursing ethics are presented.
Muscleblind localizes to nuclear foci of aberrant RNA in myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2

The phenotypes in myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2 (DM1 and DM2) are similar, suggesting a shared pathophysiologic mechanism. DM1 is caused by expansion of a CTG repeat in the DMPK gene. Pathogenic effects of this mutation are likely to be mediated, at least in part, by the expanded CUG repeat in mutant mRNA. The mutant transcripts are retained in the nucleus in multiple discrete foci. We investigated the possibility that DM2 is also caused by expansion of a CTG repeat or related sequence. Analysis of DNA by repeat expansion detection methods, and RNA by ribonuclease protection, did not show an expanded CTG or CUG repeat in DM2. However, hybridization of muscle sections with fluorescence-labeled CAGrepeat oligonucleotides showed nuclear foci in DM2 similar to those seen in DM1. Nuclear foci were present in all patients with symptomatic DM1 (n = 9) or DM2 (n = 9) but not in any disease controls or healthy subjects (n = 23). The foci were not seen with CUG- or GUC-repeat probes. Foci in DM2 were distinguished from DM1 by lower stability of the probe–target duplex, suggesting that a sequence related to the DM1 CUG expansion accumulates in the DM2 nucleus. Muscleblind proteins, which interact with expanded CUG repeats in vitro, localized to the nuclear foci in both DM1 and DM2. These results support the idea that nuclear accumulation of mutant RNA is pathogenic in DM1, suggest that a similar disease process occurs in DM2, and point to a role for muscleblind in the pathogenesis of both disorders.
A dynamic programming algorithm for decentralized Markov decision processes with a broadcast structure

We give an optimal dynamic programming algorithm to solve a class of finite-horizon decentralized Markov decision processes (MDPs). We consider problems with a broadcast information structure that consists of a central node that only has access to its own state but can affect several outer nodes, while each outer node has access to both its own state and the central node's state, but cannot affect the other nodes. The solution to this problem involves a dynamic program similar to that of a centralized partially-observed Markov decision process.
Effects of methylmercury on the morphogenesis of the rat cerebellum

Developing rat cerebellums were examined following continuous methylmercury exposure via maternal drinking water at 12.5 ppm during gestation and the suckling period. The continuous exposure resulted in reductions of the total cerebellar cell population and higher mercury tissue burdens than previous acute-dose studies. Cell necrosis was not evident, but rather alterations in the pattern of mitotic figures were observed. A decreased number of cells in the methylmercury exposed cerebellums was associated with an increased number of mitotic figures in the early stages of mitosis and a decrease in the number in the middle and late stages. These in vivo exposure observations are consistent with in vitro cell cycle studies in which the cells were found to have accumulated in G2 and early M phases. Impaired cell proliferation is suggested to be a major mechanism of developmental neurotoxicity following continuous low-does exposure to methylmercury.
Thermal Trends in Emerging Technologies

In the future, the peak temperature of a chip will be a primary design constraint. In order to meet this constraint, temperature must be considered in the earliest phases of the design process. Using a newly developed thermal analysis tool, HS3d, this work explores the thermal profile of devices as technology varies. We show that as technology scales, the hotspot locations can shift from the units with the most switching activity to those with the most low-threshold transistors. We further note that process variations in leakage dominated technologies can result in significant variations in the hotspot locations, indicating that feedback from thermal sensors will be very important. Finally, this work examines the thermal effects of multi-layer device stacking technologies, and finds that the vertical temperature difference between layers is much less significant than the horizontal differences due to power density, and as such, vertical placement optimizations will have much smaller impact on hotspot development than a uniform power distribution.
Instruction randomization self test for processor cores

Access to embedded processor cores for application of test has greatly complicated the testability of large systems on silicon. Scan based testing methods cannot be applied to processor cores which cannot be modified to meet the design requirements for scan insertion. Instruction Randomization Self Test (IRST) achieves stuck-at-fault coverage for an embedded processor core without the need for scan insertion or mux isolation for application of test patterns. This is a new built-in self test method which combines the execution of microprocessor instructions with a small amount of on-chip test hardware which is used to randomize those instructions. IRST is well suited for meeting the challenges of testing ASIC systems which contain embedded processor cores.
Gastric interposition following transhiatal esophagectomy: Radiographic evaluation

Gastric interposition was achieved in 138 patients following transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy. Among these, 33 had benign and 105 malignant lesions. All patients were evaluated on the 10th postoperative day with a barium swallow examination. However, if an anastomotic leak was suspected clinically before this time, a water-soluble contrast study was initially obtained. Early postoperative complications included anastomotic leaks (15), cricopharyngeal incoordination with aspiration (6), and gastric perforation (2). Late postoperative complications included anastomotic strictures (12), pyloric stenosis (4), recurrence of tumor (3), and transhiatal visceral herniation (2). Our technique of postoperative radiographic evaluation, particularly when a leak is suspected clinically, is discussed.
Shredder abundance and leaf breakdown in an Appalachian Mountain stream

SUMMARY. 1. Breakdown rates of dogwood {Cornus florida L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and white oak (Quercus alba L.) leaves were investigated at two first-order and two second-order sites in an Appalachian Mountain stream. 2. Leaves exposed in mesh bags were sampled on eight occasions over a 207 day period and breakdown rates were compared using an exponential decay model. 3. There was a consistent ranking in leaf breakdown rate within each site, i.e. dogwood > red maple > white oak, and all species broke down faster at second- than at first-order sites. 4. Our data suggest that differences in species-specific leaf breakdown rates were largely a function of shredder abundance on the leaves.
Absolute position measurement using pseudo-random binary encoding

This paper will present a non-traditional encoding method which represents a more efficient alternative to absolute position measurement applications. The new method is based on the properties of pseudo-random binary sequences and has the notable advantage of requiring only one bit of code per quantization interval. This advantage makes absolute position measurement more accessible for very high resolution applications.
Spatial sequence estimation based decoding algorithm for V-BLAST

In this paper we introduce a novel detection algorithm for V-BLAST (vertical-Bell-Labs layered space-time architecture). The original V-BLAST detector is based on a serial interference cancellation (SIC) algorithm. Although the algorithm is relatively simple to implement, it does not achieve the performance predicted by theoretical analysis. The nulling operation reduces the receive diversity and the serial processing results in unequal diversity advantage for different layers. Also the error propagation severely degrades the performance. A detection algorithm for V-BLAST based on sequence estimation is proposed. The concept of maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) is applied to combat spatial interference. State reduction techniques are also considered for practical implementation. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms interference cancellation based algorithms.
I. THE RELATION BETWEEN ATTACHMENT TO THE SUBSTRATUM AND INGESTION BY AMEBA IN STRYCHNINE SULFATE SOLUTION AND CONDITIONED MEDIA II. BIOLOGICAL ASSAY OF CONDITIONED MEDIA

1. Strychnine sulfate 0.000069 M decreased percentage attachment to the substratum by Amoeba proteus in 0.0029 M NaCl from 77.3 to 1.3, in 0.0029 M KCl from 40.8 to 2.5, in 0.002 M CaCl(2) from 73.3 to 68.0, in 0.002 M MgCl(2) from 85.5 to 83.3. 2. Frequency of ingestion of chilomonads by Amoeba proteus is increased by adding strychnine sulfate to solutions of NaCl, KCl, or CaCl(2). Frequency of ingestion is increased in NaCl solution from 1.3 to 2.3, in KCl from 0.75 to 2.25, and in CaCl(2) from 1.1 to 1.9 chilomonads per minute. Ingestion is not significantly increased by the addition of strychnine to MgCl(2) solution. 3. Frequency of ingestion of food by Amoeba proteus is not closely correlated with attachment to the substratum in NaCl and KCl solutions to which strychnine sulfate is added. 4. Chilomonads adhere to the plasmalemma of Amoeba proteus in solutions of NaCl, KCl, or CaCl(2) containing strychnine, but in MgCl(2) plus strychnine only a few adhere to it. Strychnine appears to make the surface of the amebae and chilomonads sticky in the former but not in the latter. Frequency of ingestion is apparently correlated with adherence of chilomonads to the plasmalemma. 5. Attachment to the substratum and ingestion by Pelomyxa carolinensis is increased by dead Chilomonas, Colpidium, and Paramecium in aqueous solutions, by materials obtained from paramecia by alcoholic-ether extraction, and by solutions in which these organisms have lived. 6. Attachment to the substratum by Pelomyxa carolinensis is not closely correlated with kind or concentration of inorganic salts used in this study. 7. Materials were found in extracts of paramecia which had certain characteristics in common with choline esters. There is no reason to doubt that under certain conditions materials are present in aqueous and alcoholic extracts which are pharmacologically similar to choline and acetylcholine. 8. Aqueous suspensions of paramecia when subcutaneously injected into young mice for 21 days inhibit the gonadotropic luteinizing hormone of the pituitary. Ovaries from injected mice showed no corpora lutea, and the seminal vesicles from injected males were smaller and contained less fluid than those of the controls.
Response to Neuroleptic Drugs as a Device for Classifying Schizophrenia

Although schizophrenic patients are routinely treated with neuroleptic medication, the diversity in response to such treatment is noteworthy; some patients are exquisitely responsive to neuroleptic treatment, while others are clearly resistant. The authors examine the hypothesis that neuroleptic-responsive and neuroleptic-resistant patients have different illnesses by considering the following issues: the reliability of the distinction between neuroleptic responsiveness and resistance; the consistency in neuroleptic responsiveness over time; the association between neuroleptic responsiveness and other clinical features; and the neuroleptics' therapeutic action. On the basis of the data available and on theoretical and historical grounds, the distinction between neuroleptic-responsive and neuroleptic-resistant patients warrants application in both clinical and research settings.
Modulation of germ cell apoptosis with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in a murine model of congenital cryptorchidism.

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Apoptosis has been implicated in testicular germ cell loss in experimental models of cryptorchidism. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has been shown to have a role in apoptosis in many cell types. The Hoxa 11 knockout mouse has congenital bilateral cryptorchidism and is uniformly sterile. We examined the time course of apoptosis in this model and attempted to attenuate this response in vivo by inhibition of NOS.Materials and Methods:: The offspring of heterozygous Hoxa 11 knockout mice were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. Homozygous knockout mice treated with the NOS inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and untreated controls were sacrificed at weekly intervals at 3 to 13 weeks of age. Spermatogenesis was evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Germ cell apoptosis was assessed with a TUNEL assay and DNA staining. Co-localization of NOS activity was measured with a polyclonal antibody to endothelial NOS.Results:: Impaired spermatogenesis was observed in Hoxa 11 kn...
Phase retrieval in inverse scattering

This paper discusses application of phase retrieval in inverse scattering, using optical diffraction tomography as an example. We consider two algorithms for recovering the phase of a scattered field from intensity measurements. The first algorithm is iterative and uses one intensity measurement and support information of the object to retrieve the phase. The second algorithm is non-iterative and uses two intensity measurements at different distances from the object to recover the phase by solving a pair of coupled algebraic equations. The second algorithm requires that the object by weakly scattering, a condition also required by the usual assumption of the Born or the Rytov approximations in diffraction tomography. The paper includes computer simulations of the two phase retrieval algorithms and compares the results to reconstruction obtained from full simulated data and a direct intensity-only reconstruction algorithm.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Teacher Preparation and the Education of Immigrant Children

This article looks at the issue of teacher preparation in light of changing demographics as a direct consequence of increased immigration. It begins by describing the current context in which many new teachers will find themselves. It then moves to a review of the teacher education literature over the past two decades to ascertain how the profession conceptualizes immigrant children and the education of those who will teach them. Using this review as a foundation, the article then outlines key issues that must be taken into account when preparing teachers to work effectively with immigrant children. The article concludes with recommendations for teacher educators.
The Representation of Sublexical Orthographic-Phonologic Correspondences: Evidence from Phonological Dyslexia

Although there is considerable evidence that grapheme and body units are involved in assembling phonology from print, there is little evidence supporting the involvement of syllabic representations. We provide evidence on this point from a phonological dyslexic patient (ML) who, as a result of brain damage, is relatively unable to read nonwords. ML was found to be able to perform tasks assumed to reflect processes involved in assembled phonology (i.e. segmentation, orthographic-phonologic conversion, and blending) when the units involved were syllables, but demonstrated considerable difficulty when they were onset, body, or phoneme units. Additionally, both ML and matched controls were much better able to find words in an anagrams task (Treiman & Chafetz, 1987) when they resulted from the combination of segments corresponding to syllables than when they did not. It is suggested that the relationship between print and sound is represented at multiple levels (including the syllable) (Shallice, Warrington, &...
Spread of Aspergillus flavus by Navel Orangeworm (Amyelois transitella) on Almond

Navel orangeworm (NOW) damage to almond is correlated with increased incidence of aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus. However, no reports demonstrate a causative relationship between NOW feeding and A. flavus infection. To demonstrate the potential of NOW to act as a vector of A. flavus on almond, NOW eggs were dusted with A. flavus and incubated in microchambers adjacent to but not touching agar plates or almond kernels. Following egg hatch, A. flavus colonies developed on agar along trails left by NOW larvae. Almond kernels damaged with A. flavus-carrying NOW showed higher incidence of A. flavus colonization and aflatoxin contamination than control treatments. Interestingly, levels of aflatoxin in NOW-damaged, A. flavus-infected almond were significantly higher than control treatments, even in the absence of visible fungal growth. Commercial almond orchards had a relatively low level of contamination with Aspergillus section Flavi in spring and early summer and a high level during summer, corresponding with the higher level of NOW infestation of the crop. Our study demonstrates that NOW is capable of vectoring A. flavus to almond, and that monitoring and sorting of almond kernels for insect damage is warranted to limit aflatoxin contamination potential both before and after harvesting.
Exploiting rotational symmetries for improved stacked yields in W2W 3D-SICs

Three-dimensional Stacked Integrated Circuit packages interconnected using high speed Through-Silicon Via technology can be efficiently manufactured using a wafer-to-wafer stacking process. Efforts to mitigate degradation in the composite yield of the stacked die are primarily focused on matching defect maps while assigning the pre-tested wafers from the available wafer repository to individual wafer stacks. In this paper we show how rotational symmetry can be exploited to increase the number of available wafer defect maps by a factor of four, thereby significantly improving matching possibilities and hence yield. We further apply our approach to processor-memory stacks, with relatively high memory die yield from redundancy and repair, for which we also present new heuristic matching algorithms. Altogether, our new approach shows viable absolute yields, with yield improvement of better than 25% over stacking without any matching. This is a significant advance over earlier results.
Learning in Virtual Worlds

The medium of multi-user virtual worlds is associated with many acronyms: from MUVE to MMORPG. The term MUVE (multi user virtual environment) tends to occur more in research papers exploring the potential for the medium to impact learning and is often used by computer scientists developing their own environments for this purpose (Dede, Ketelhut, and Ruess, 2004; Barab et al., 2000). Virtual Worlds is the term that has taken on popular meaning, and is used most by the media, commercial service providers, and the public. This is a sign of broader acceptance and the merging of the medium into the mainstream. Regardless of the name, all of these environments are digital and networked. This discussion will use the term virtual worlds, defined as online 3D multi-user, avatar-based systems that support creation of user-generated content. In such systems, data is shared among computers as users interact with and design in the environment. Some of these systems log records of users’ activities, offering a new dimension for assessment. Commercial game developers are expert at accessing this information, analyzing it on the fly, and using the results to support the learning player. However, educators using the medium for creative, project-based learning currently have more limited access to the data and less clearly defined expected outcomes, inhibiting their assessment of students’ work. The assessment methods outlined below therefore include suggestions for ways to make artifacts of learning in MUVEs more easily accessible to classroom teachers.
Earthquake Forces in Reinforced Concrete Chimneys

The results of the linear response of eight actual chimneys to accelerograms of three actual earthquakes are presented. These results are correlated with values obtained using certain simplified rules that can be adapted to design office procedures. Curves are given which can be used in designing earthquake resistant chimneys. The ratio of the maximum base shear to total weight is plotted against the first-mode period. Other curves would give the values of the bending moments in the chimney by distributing the base shear according to any one of three arbitrary rules described in the paper.