cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structured model management

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are usually considered to have three major components--namely, sub-systems for data, dialog, and model management. Most of today’s database management systems (DBMS) provide decision support by means of extensive data management capabilities combined with a variety of dialog facilities (commands, menus, graphical displays, etc.) for invoking and controlling operations on the database. Some systems--for example, fourth generation languages like NOMAD2 (Trademark, D&B Computing Services, Inc.)--also provide a modeling capability. However, it is clear that the model management component of such systems is at a primitive stage of development compared to the data and dialog components.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR COMMENSAL RODENTS

The commensal rodents (literally, those with whom we share our table) conventionally are the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), roof rat (R. rattus), and house mouse (Mus musculus). All are of Asian origin, introduced to North America by early European immigrants and traders; and these populations now have been augmented from around the world. Native rodents, such as white-footed and deer mice (Peromyscus spp.) and various species of squirrels, frequently invade structures, but their management is much the same as for the traditional commensal species.
Occurrence and significance of pathogenicity and fitness islands in environmental vibrios

Pathogenicity islands (PAIs) are large genomic regions that contain virulence genes, which aid pathogens in establishing infections. While PAIs in clinical strains (strains isolated from a human infection) are well-studied, less is known about the occurrence of PAIs in strains isolated from the environment. In this study we describe three PAIs found in environmental Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains, as well as a genomic fitness island found in a Vibrio diabolicus strain. All four islands had markedly different GC profiles than the rest of the genome, indicating that all of these islands were acquired via lateral gene transfer. Genes on the PAIs and fitness island were characterized. The PAI found in V. parahaemolyticus contained the tdh gene, a collagenase gene, and genes involved in the type 3 secretion system II (T3SS2). A V. vulnificus environmental strain contained two PAIs, a small 25 kbp PAI and a larger 143 kbp PAI. Both PAIs contained virulence genes. Toxin–antitoxin (TA) genes were found in all three species: on the V. diabolicus fitness island, and on the V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus PAIs.
Investigating the reactivity of 9-phenyl-9-borafluorene with NH, OH, PH, and SH bonds

Abstract The reactions of 9-phenyl-9-borafluorene with N H, P H, O H, and S H containing substrates were investigated. Protodeborylation reactions were observed for phenol, water, aniline, and para-bromothiophenol. In the water reaction, both O H bonds reacted with 9-phenyl-9-borafluorene to furnish the oxygen bridged diborane whereas only one of the N H bonds in aniline reacted. Phenylphosphine coordinated to the boron center to give an adduct that did not react further. The results were compared to the corresponding reactions with the same substrates and pentaphenylborole.
Proteomics for the Investigation of Surface-Exposed Proteins in Probiotics.

Probiotics are commensal microorganisms that are present in the intestinal tract and in many fermented foods and positively affect human health, promoting digestion and uptake of dietary nutrients, strengthening intestinal barrier function, modulating immune response and enhancing antagonism towards pathogens. The proteosurfaceome, i.e. the complex set of proteins present on the bacterial surface, is directly involved as leading actor in the dynamic communication between bacteria and host. In the last decade, the biological relevance of surface-exposed proteins prompted research activities exploiting the potentiality of proteomics to define the complex network of proteins that are involved in the molecular mechanisms at the basis of the adaptation to gastrointestinal environment and the probiotic effects. These studies also took advantages of the recent technological improvements in proteomics, mass spectrometry and bioinformatics that triggered the development of ad hoc designed innovative strategies to characterize the bacterial proteosurfaceome. This mini-review is aimed at describing the key role of proteomics in depicting the cell wall protein architecture and the involvement of surface-exposed proteins in the intimate and dynamic molecular dialogue between probiotics and intestinal epithelial and immune cells.
Depth functions and mutidimensional medians on minimal spanning trees

ABSTRACTBased on the minimal spanning tree (MST) of the observed data set, the paper introduces new notions of data depth and medians for multivariate data. The MST of a data set of size n is the M...
Elaborating Funds of Knowledge: Community-Oriented Practices in International Contexts:

This article discusses a sociocultural approach we have developed, which we refer to as funds of knowledge. The emphasis of the funds of knowledge work has been to develop both theory and methods t...
Ligation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for ligation of patent ductus arteriosus as performed by the following approaches: thoracoscopic and open. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: access to the thoracic cavity, retraction of the left lung, identification of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, circumferential dissection of the patent ductus arteriosus, test clamping of the patent ductus arteriosus, ligation of the ductus arteriosus, and closure of the thorax.
Association of Perioperative Variables and the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Liver Transplant Recipients

Background The assessment of perioperative risk factors for the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been described in various surgical populations. However, there are only limited data among patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT), particularly regarding the influence of intraoperative ventilation parameters. We sought to identify the perioperative risk factors associated with the development of ARDS in LT recipients. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent LT at a tertiary academic medical center between January 1, 2006, and January 31, 2016. Postoperative ARDS was identified using the Berlin definition. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify perioperative risk factors for ARDS. Results Of 817 eligible patients who underwent an LT during the study period, 20 (2.45%) developed postoperative ARDS. In the preoperative model, ongoing dialysis (odds ratio, 6.41; P < 0.01) was identified as an independent risk factor of ARDS post-LT. A higher mean peak inspiratory pressure per increase of 1 cm H2O (odds ratio, 1.31; P < 0.01) was the only independent risk factor in the intraoperative model. Patients who developed ARDS postoperatively had significantly greater intensive care unit and hospital stay compared to non-ARDS patients (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the 30-day (P = 0.16) and 1-year (P = 0.51) mortality between the groups. Conclusions Dialysis at the time of transplant and elevated intraoperative mean peak inspiratory pressure were associated with the development of ARDS. ARDS post LT was associated with increased intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, but not increased mortality.
Impact of maternal overweight and obesity on milk composition and infant growth

Overweight and obesity (OW/OB) impact half of the pregnancies in the United States and can have negative consequences for offspring health. Studies are limited on human milk alterations in the context of maternal obesity. Alterations in milk are hypothesized to impact offspring development during the critical period of lactation. We aimed to evaluate the relationships between mothers with OW/OB (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2 ), infant growth, and selected milk nutrients. We recruited mother-infant dyads with pre-pregnancy OW/OB and normal weight status. The primary study included 52 dyads with infant growth measures through 6 months. Thirty-two dyads provided milk at 2 weeks, which was analysed for macronutrients, long-chain fatty acids, and insulin. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the association of maternal weight status with infant growth, maternal weight status with milk components, and milk components with infant growth. Mothers with OW/OB had infants with higher weight-for-length (WFL) and BMI Z-scores at birth. Mothers with OW/OB had higher milk insulin and dihomo-gamma-linolenic, adrenic, and palmitic acids and reduced conjugated linoleic and oleic acids. N6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA)-driven factor 1 was associated with higher WFL, lower length-for-age (LFA), and lower head circumference-for-age Z-scores change from 2 weeks to 2 months in human milk-fed infants, whereas N6 LC-PUFA-driven factor 5 was associated with lower LFA Z-score change. Human milk composition is associated with maternal pre-pregnancy weight status and composition may be a contributing factor to early infant growth trajectory.
E-099 Particle analysis of a novel liquid embolic

Introduction Endovascular devices are becoming more widely accepted ischemic stroke treatment options in patient healthcare. Current device testing methods must be developed to quantify downstream particulate migration. In vivo models are limited by local vessel structures and may lack neurovascular feeder vessels. Limited feedback devalues assessment of particulation and downstream migration of devices/materials. NAU’s Bioengineering Devices Lab has developed an in vitro blood flow and stroke model, which replicates the conditions of the neurovascular system. In prior workings, the in vitro model has quantified material particulation via filtration to capture particles and microscopy to analyze captured particles. Now, the process is a non-invasive method that has been developed in this study to allow researchers to quantify and characterize particles in real-time. Materials and Methods These improvements are made possible through the utilization of digital imaging processing and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). A CMOS camera captures fluorescent particles in movement through the in vitro system through an in-line cuvette. A developed algorithm is advancing to process images and characterize particles (figure 1). During the procedure, PPODA-QT is injected into the in-vitro model’s aneurysm bubble and particulate downstream migration data is collected in real-time. The system integrates LabView (National Instruments, TX) to view and collect images. The pump delivers pulsatile flow with pressure profile that can be tuned to physiological conditions. The study then concentrates on the particulate downstream migration through the modified in-line cuvette section. Results Long and short term testing is performed on the material to determine the potential material efficiency within the vascular system. Analysis of real-time data will quantify particle size and count. Results are then compared to ( - table 1) regulations. Conclusion The study results will help predict device performance within the neurovascular system to affirm the safety of the polymer biomaterial, PPODA-QT, in practical usage. Utilizing state of the art equipment and procedures, new innovative research can be conducted. Disclosures I. Smith: None.
Patterns of Failure in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients in an Urban, Predominately Black Population

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) behave more aggressively than hormone-receptor positive breast cancers. They are also known preferentially to affect young black women, often leading to poorer outcomes compared with those for white women. We sought to evaluate the comprehensive patterns of failure associated with treatment for TNBC at an urban institution with a predominantly black population and to assess the impact of social determinants of health on treatment failure. A retrospective review of TNBC patients treated from 2005 to 2015 was conducted. Detailed patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics and information on patterns of failure were included. With a median follow-up of 46 months, 32 (16%) documented failures occurred. Locoregional failures comprised 84% of failure patterns whether isolated or in combination with distant failure. Treatment failure was associated with insurance type and smoking status, as well as several tumor characteristics. On multivariate analysis, pathologic nodal staging was the most significant predictor of treatment failure. In contrast to previous studies, we found that black women had higher overall survival than white women, but race was not associated with differences in recurrence patterns or with likelihood of treatment failure. Regardless of race, of the patients who recurred, 53% failed in distant and locoregional sites simultaneously, with an additional 34% failing locally only. These results highlight the need for aggressive local therapies in high-risk patients and suggest a need for improved follow-up focusing on detecting locoregional failures. Multidisciplinary care is essential in the management of these patients at time of failure.
Metasurface flat optics: from high-performance components to cameras

Metasurfaces are leading to the emergence of new optical components based on dispersion engineering of nanoscale structures, which enable circumventing the limitations of standard refractive and diffractive optics as well as entirely new functionalities. Broadband metasurface achromatic optics based on metasurface and on hybrid refractive/diffractive design will be presented, along with ultracompact spectrometers consisting of a single off axis metalens, where high resolution is achieved by designing chromatic dispersion and eliminating field curvature. New metaoptical components where different functionalities can be accessed by changing either the wavelength, the angle of incidence or the incidence polarization will be presented. As an example, using waveplates with designed arbitrary elliptical birefringence, the eigen-polarizations and the output polarization can be tuned continuously from linear to elliptical by changing the angle of incidence. A new approach to polarization optics will be presented, based on a powerful generalization of Fourier optics ( Matrix Fourier Optics), which leads to the replacement of conventional phase plates and analyzers, This has led to the demonstration of a compact, single shot, full Stokes polarization sensitive camera using a single metasurface, thus dramatically reducing the complexity of existing cameras and increasing their functionality. Finally taking inspiration from how jumping spiders capture their prey, a new depth sensing camera at video rates based on co-design of hardware (metalenses) and software, which requires far computational resources than stereo and time of flight cameras has been developed. It combines spatially multiplexed metalenses and efficient computations to measure depth from image defocus. Compared with previous passive artificial depth sensors, this bioinspired design is lightweight, single-shot, and requires much less computation.
An approach to embedding traditional non-volatile memories into a deep sub-micron CMOS

This work presents an example of 16nm FinFET CMOS with an embedded flash 40nm memory employing Wafer-on-Wafer (WoW) technology. Our results show comparable embedded flash performance, CMOS logic speed and power consumption comparing corresponding circuits before and after the 3D assembly. WoW integration can provide embedded flash solution for advanced CMOS nodes where no solutions currently exist. The method is also applicable for embedding other functionalities into the advanced CMOS.
Depressed Supercooling Point and Increased Glycerol Concentration in Overwintering Adult Tiger Beetles (Cicindelida).

BACKGROUND Tiger beetles are a widely distributed group including species that may be exposed to sub-freezing temperature overwinter. Despite being well studied, little is known about tiger beetle cold tolerance. OBJECTIVE We investigated seasonal changes in cold hardiness of two northerly distributed tiger beetle species (Cicindela repanda and Cicindela limbalis). MATERIALS AND METHODS We monitored the supercooling point (SCP), glycerol concentration, and hemolymph osmolality of adult tiger beetles during a 3.5-month acclimation to winter. RESULTS SCP decreased during winter acclimation for C. repanda, but not for C. limbalis. Both species modestly increased glycerol concentration, and C. repanda increased hemolymph osmolality by 38%. CONCLUSION This initial investigation into the cold-hardiness of adult tiger beetles suggests that they are capable of lowering their SCP as winter approaches, which may help them survive sub-freezing winter temperatures. Further assessment of their chill and freeze tolerance and of their overwintering conditions in the field is needed to better understand their winter physiology.
Tazarotene 0.045% Lotion for Moderate-to-Severe Acne in Male and Female Participants: A Phase II Post-hoc Analysis

CLINICAL TRIALS ID: NCT02938494 BACKGROUND: In a Phase II study, tazarotene 0.045% lotion was statistically superior to vehicle and comparable to tazarotene 0.1% cream in reducing acne lesions, with fewer treatment-related adverse events (TEAEs) than the cream. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed data from the aforementioned study post-hoc to evaluate the effects of sex on treatment outcomes. METHODS: Participants aged 12 years or older with moderate-to-severe acne were randomized to tazarotene (0.045% lotion or 0.1% cream) or vehicle (lotion or cream) for 12 weeks of double-blind treatment. Outcomes analyzed in male and female subgroups included changes from baseline in inflammatory/noninflammatory lesions and TEAEs. RESULTS: In the intent-to-treat population (94 males and 116 females), reductions in lesion count were greater with tazarotene (lotion or cream) than with vehicle. In participants receiving tazarotene 0.045% lotion, the least-squares mean percent changes from baseline to Week 12 were greater in females than males, but the differences were not statistically significant (inflammatory [-70.3% vs. -56.2%]; noninflammatory [-60.0% vs. -53.2%]). In both females and males, the TEAE incidence was lower with tazarotene 0.045% lotion than 0.1% cream. CONCLUSION: Tazarotene 0.045% lotion substantially reduced acne lesions in both female and male participants. This newest tazarotene formulation might benefit patients who cannot tolerate older formulations or other topical retinoids. Given the relatively small size of this study, however, the results of this post-hoc analysis are intended to be exploratory in nature.
CCBD’s Position on Eliminating the Use of Seclusion in Educational Settings:

This document provides recommendations of the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD) regarding the use of seclusion in schools. It updates the CCBD’s position on this topic first pub...
Vaccination Against Cervical Cancer: Hopes and Realities.

Globally, carcinomas of the anogenital tract, in particular cervical cancer, remain some of the most common cancers in women, cervical cancer represents the second most frequent gynecological malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. The causal relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and anogenital cancer has prompted substantial interest in the development of both preventive and therapeutic vaccines against high-risk HPV types. In the past decade, several groups have shown encouraging results using experimental vaccination systems in animal models and these results have led to several current prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine clinical trials in humans. Prophylactic vaccination focuses on the induction of high titer neutralizing antibodies that are potentially protective against incident and persistent HPV infection. Two major phase II clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies have demonstrated that their vaccines have 100% efficacy in preventing persistent viral DNA and its associated cellular abnormalities; however, whether they induce long-lasting protective immunity is yet to be determined. At least one US FDA approved prophylactic vaccine targeting the two most common high-risk HPVs is expected to be on the market within the next 2–3 years. Nevertheless, significant reductions in the frequency and onset of cytologic screening and incidences of HPV-related lesions are not expected to become apparent for decades due to the fact that there will be women who are already infected with HPV, the long latency period between infection and development of high-grade lesions, and lesions associated with other high-risk HPV types not being included in the vaccines. Therapeutic vaccines aim to control HPV-associated malignancies by stimulating cellular immune responses that target established HPV infections via viral proteins. Progress in the field of HPV immunotherapy has remained elusive, with clinical trials being limited to small numbers of patients. Potential treatment of precancerous lesions is unique to HPV-associated infection and cancer because of cytologic monitoring and HPV typing. Unlike more common surgical treatments for cervical lesions, active immunotherapy has the potential to address HPV persistence as the cause of lesion development in addition to leaving the patient with long-term immunity that can be reactivated if and when the patient becomes reinfected.
The TD Model of Classical Conditioning: Response Topography and Brain Implementation

ABSTRACT Classical-conditioning procedures instill knowledge about the temporal relationships between conditioned stimuli, which are regarded as predictive signals and triggers for action, and the unconditioned stimulus, the event to be timed. This knowledge is expressed in the temporal features of the conditioned response, which typically develops such that its peak amplitude occurs at times when the unconditioned stimulus is expected. A simple connectionist network based on Sutton and Barto’s Time Derivative Model of Pavlovian Reinforcement provides a mechanism that can account for and simulate virtually all known aspects of conditioned-response timing in a variety of protocols, including delay and trace conditioning and conditioning under temporal uncertainty. The network is expressed in terms of equations that operate in real time according to Hebbian competitive-learning rules. The unfolding of time from the onsets and offsets of events such as conditioned stimuli is represented by the propagation of activity along delay lines. Inputs to the processing unit from conditioned stimuli arise from collateral taps off of each sequential element of these delay lines. The model can be aligned with anatomical circuits of the cerebellum and brainstem that are essential for learning and performance of eyeblink conditioned responses.
Clinical correlates of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in patients with pes cavus deformities.

Introduction: Given its association with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT), pes cavus is a common reason for referral to a neurologist. We investigated clinical features that may predict CMT in children with pes cavus. Methods: In this study we retrospectively reviewed pes cavus patients referred to Boston Children's Hospital in the past 20 years. Patients were categorized as idiopathic or CMT, based on EMG/genetic testing, and their clinical features were compared. Results: Of the 70 patients studied, 33 had idiopathic pes cavus, and 37 had genetically confirmed CMT. Symptoms of weakness, unsteady gait, family history of pes cavus and CMT, and signs of sensory deficits, distal atrophy and weakness, absent ankle jerks, and gait abnormalities were associated with CMT. Conclusions: In children with pes cavus, certain clinical features can predict CMT and assist in selection of patients for further, potentially uncomfortable (EMG) and expensive (genetic) confirmatory investigations. Muscle Nerve, 2013
Rheologic predictors of the severity of the painful sickle cell crisis.

Deformable sickle erythrocytes have been reported by Mohandas and Evans to be more adherent to vascular endothelium than rigid irreversibly sickled cells (ISC). To define the clinical implications of this finding we have determined genetic, hematological, clinical, and rheological characteristics of sickle erythrocytes obtained from 65 patients with sickle cell anemia and fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) levels less than 15%. The alpha-globin gene number had a significant effect on the hematological parameters, the percentage of dense cells, ISC number, and HB A2 levels. The presence or absence of alpha thalassemia, however, had no effect on the frequency and severity of the sickle cell painful crisis (r = 0.06, P greater than .05). RBC deformability, determined by an ektacytometer, showed great heterogeneity among patients with three or four alpha-globin genes. Linear regression analyses of the data showed significant positive correlation of the frequency and severity of the painful crisis with RBC deformability (r = 0.49, P less than .001), and negative correlations with the percentage of dense cells (r = -0.37, P = .002), and the percentage of ISC (r = -0.46, P less than .001). We propose that the more deformable the sickle RBC are, the greater their adherence to vascular endothelium, and the more they cause vaso-occlusive crises, RBC deformability and the percentage of dense cells (or ISC) seem to have a predictive value of the frequency and severity of painful crises in sickle cell anemia.
Computational analyses of intravascular tracer washout reveal altered capillary‐level flow distributions in obese Zucker rats

Non-technical summary The time course of washout of a labelled substance confined to the intravascular space of an organ is determined by the statistical distribution of pathway lengths and flows in the vascular network. We used labelled albumin (a plasma marker) washout data from gastrocnemius muscle from healthy versus obese rats to probe the asymmetrical flow distributions in the muscle vasculature, revealing significantly more heterogeneous microvascular flow with more low-flow capillaries in the obese animals compared to control. Exploration of drug treatments revealed specific combinations that optimally restore the healthy flow distribution in the obese model.
OVERLAPPING EGR-1 AND SP1 SITES FUNCTION IN THE REGULATION OF TRANSCRIPTION OF THE MOUSE THROMBOSPONDIN 1 GENE

We have evaluated the basis for the constitutive and serum-regulated expression of the mouse thrombospondin (TSP) gene in both transiently and stably transfected NIH-3T3 cells. Experiments with deleted and mutated mouse promoter/CAT constructs and gel mobility assays demonstrated that an Egr-1 binding site in the proximal promoter, flanked by overlapping GC boxes and an adjacent GC-rich region, functioned to positively regulate the constitutive activity of the gene. These motifs, and their cognate transcription factors, appear to act in concert, with partial redundancy, so that discrete mutations were only partially effective in reducing transcriptional activity. The Egr-1 site corresponds in position to an NF-Y binding site which functions synergistically with a distal serum-response element to mediate the serum response of the human TSP1 gene. However, neither the Egr-1 motif nor the surrounding proximal promoter region upstream from the TATA box participates in the serum response of mouse TSP1. These experiments add support to the growing realization that similar physiologic responses of homologous genes in mouse and man need not utilize similarly placed cis-acting elements.
Effective Visualization of Temporal Ensembles

An ensemble is a collection of related datasets, called members , built from a series of runs of a simulation or an experiment. Ensembles are large, temporal, multidimensional, and multivariate, making them difficult to analyze. Another important challenge is visualizing ensembles that vary both in space and time. Initial visualization techniques displayed ensembles with a small number of members, or presented an overview of an entire ensemble, but without potentially important details. Recently, researchers have suggested combining these two directions, allowing users to choose subsets of members to visualization. This manual selection process places the burden on the user to identify which members to explore. We first introduce a static ensemble visualization system that automatically helps users locate interesting subsets of members to visualize. We next extend the system to support analysis and visualization of temporal ensembles. We employ 3D shape comparison, cluster tree visualization, and glyph based visualization to represent different levels of detail within an ensemble. This strategy is used to provide two approaches for temporal ensemble analysis: (1) segment based ensemble analysis , to capture important shape transition time-steps, clusters groups of similar members, and identify common shape changes over time across multiple members; and (2) time-step based ensemble analysis , which assumes ensemble members are aligned in time by combining similar shapes at common time-steps. Both approaches enable users to interactively visualize and analyze a temporal ensemble from different perspectives at different levels of detail. We demonstrate our techniques on an ensemble studying matter transition from hadronic gas to quark-gluon plasma during gold-on-gold particle collisions.
Swirl-Can Combustor Performance to Near-Stoichiometric Fuel-Air Ratio

Emissions and performance characteristics were determined for full-annulus swirl-can modular combustors operated to near stoichiometric fuel air ratios. The purposes of the tests were to obtain stoichiometric data at inlet air temperatures up to 894 K and to determine the effect of module number by investigating 120 and 72 module swirl-can combustors. The maximum average exit temperature obtained with the 120-module swirl-can combustor was 2465 K with a combustion efficiency of 95 percent at an inlet-air temperature of 894 K. The 72-module swirl-can combustor reached a maximum average exit temperature of 2306 K with a combustion efficiency of 92 percent at an inlet air temperature of 894 K. At a constant inlet air temperature, maximum oxides of nitrogen emission index values occurred at a fuel-air ratio of 0.037 for the 72-module design and 0.044 for the 120-module design. The combustor average exit temperature and combustion efficiency were calculated from emissions measurements. The measured emissions included carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, and smoke.
Protein Microarray On-Demand: A Novel Protein Microarray System

We describe a novel, simple and low-cost protein microarray strategy wherein the microarrays are generated by printing expression ready plasmid DNAs onto slides that can be converted into protein arrays on-demand. The printed expression plasmids serve dual purposes as they not only direct the synthesis of the protein of interest; they also serve to capture the newly synthesized proteins through a high affinity DNA-protein interaction. To accomplish this we have exploited the high-affinity binding (∼3–7×10 −13 M) of E. coli Tus protein to Ter, a 20 bp DNA sequence involved in the regulation of E. coli DNA replication. In our system, each protein of interest is synthesized as a Tus fusion protein and each expression construct directing the protein synthesis contains embedded Ter DNA sequence. The embedded Ter sequence functions as a capture reagent for the newly synthesized Tus fusion protein. This “all DNA” microarray can be converted to a protein microarray on-demand without need for any additional capture reagent..
Assessment of the Microbial Community in a Constructed Wetland that Receives Acid Coal Mine Drainage

Constructed wetlands are used to treat acid drainage from surface or underground coal mines. However, little is known about the microbial communities in the receiving wetland cells. The purpose of this work was to characterize the microbial population present in a wetland that was receiving acid coal mine drainage (AMD). Samples were collected from the oxic sediment zone of a constructed wetland cell in southeastern Ohio that was treating acid drainage from an underground coal mine seep. Samples comprised Fe(III) precipitates and were pretreated with ammonium oxalate to remove interfering iron, and the DNA was extracted and purified by agarose gel electrophoresis prior to amplification of portions of the 16S rRNA gene. Amplified products were separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and DNA from seven distinct bands was excised from the gel and sequenced. The sequences were matched to sequences in the GenBank bacterial 16S rDNA database. The DNA in two of the bands yielded matches with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and the DNA in each of the remaining five bands was consistent with one of the following microorganisms: Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, strain TRA3-20 (a eubacterium), strain BEN-4 (an arsenite-oxidizing bacterium), an Alcaligenes sp., and a Bordetella sp. Low bacterial diversity in these samples reflects the highly inorganic nature of the oxic sediment layer where high abundance of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria would be expected. The results we obtained by molecular methods supported our findings, obtained using culture methods, that the dominant microbial species in an acid receiving, oxic wetland are A. thiooxidans and A. ferrooxidans.
On the use of the dynamic pulse method to measure metal surface areas

Abstract The use of the dynamic pulse method to measure supported Pt metal surface areas has been studied. In particular, variables such as injected pulse volume, eluted pulse area measurements, effect of carrier gas, and the pulse-volume to catalyst surface area ratio were considered. The volume of the injected pulse relative to the dead space of the reactor was found to be critical. When the volume of the injected pulse was too large, a nonlinear thermal conductivity detector response resulted. This nonlinearity was particularly evident when H 2 was used as an adsorbate in a He carrier gas. Due to slow reversible H 2 adsorption, eluted H 2 peaks were noticeably asymmetric. Because of extensive tailing, peak area measurements were found to be unreliable. A new method to estimate metal surface areas based solely on either eluted H 2 or CO peak heights is described. The fraction of H 2 and CO reversibly adsorbed was determined from the peak heights of the eluted pulse. Thirteen percent of the H 2 and 4.4% of the adsorbed CO were found to be reversibly adsorbed.
Fault-Tolerant Computing: An Introduction

THE first Special Issue on Fault-Tolerant Computing was published in this TRANSACTIONS nearly a decade ago [1]. Five other Special Issues devoted to this same topic followed [2]-[6]; this is the seventh in the series. These seven issues contain a representative sample (over 120 papers and correspondences) of the research activities that have taken place in fault-tolerant computing over the past decade. It is therefore tempting, in perusing these issues, to look for possible trends in this activity.
Scientists, educators prepare for Mars Pathfinder mission

Mars scientists, engineers, and 13 K-12 educators invaded eastern Washington's Channeled Scabland for a week in September to explore terrain similar to the kind Mars Pathfinder will encounter when it touches down on the red planet on July 4, 1997. Through field trips and workshops, the scientists and engineers reached consensus on a number of issues about Mars history and shared their knowledge and enthusiasm with the public. The teachers, who came from Washington and Idaho, witnessed engineering, scientific investigation, and debate in action, and acquired a great deal of knowledge about Mars that they can bring back to their classrooms and communities. “We worked side by side with the scientists and engineers as they researched, experimented, problem-solved and debated different aspects of the Mars Pathfinder mission,” explained high school teacher John Gallagher.
Temperature-induced homeoviscous adaptation of Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Abstract Exponential and plateau phase Chinese hamster ovary cells were maintained for 3 days at 32, 37, 39 or 41°C. The effect of growth temperature on the fluidity and composition of the cellular membranes, and on the ability of the cells to resist a subsequent heat treatment at 43°C, was measured. Cells grown at temperatures above 37°C displayed increased resistance or tolerance to a 43°C heat treatment, whereas cells grown at 32°C were sensitized to heat. Extensive cell division was not required for expression of heat tolerance. Membrane fluidity, as determined by the degree of rotational mobility of the fluorescent probe diphenylhexatriene, decreased with increasing growth temperatures, but the relationship did not hold in exponential phase cells grown at 32°C. The cholesterol : phospholipid molar ratio correlated with the fluorescence polarization values, suggesting that the cells are able to adjust membrane fluidity by varying the concentration of cholesterol. The results are compatible with the concept of homeoviscous adaptation: that organisms strive to maintain an optimal level of membrane fluidity and when grown at a different temperature will alter the lipid composition in order to maintain this level. Up until now, cholesterol has not been implicated in this process.
Neurobiological Adaptations to Psychostimulants and Opiates as a Basis of Treatment Development

Abuse of illicit substances, in particular psychostimulants and opiates, is a worldwide public health issue. Chronic use of cocaine and amphetamine causes common neurobiological adaptations that may guide new treatment development. These include perturbations in dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission, leading to trials of antidepressants, and serotonin and dopamine augmentation strategies. The detection of cerebral perfusion abnormalities caused by psychostimulants has led to examination of antiplatelet and excitatory amino acid (EAA) antagonist therapies. Further, development of cocaine vaccines allows for testing of peripheral blockade approaches to cocaine addiction. New approaches to behavioral treatments for cocaine dependence are also reviewed. For opiate dependence, understanding of heroin's effects on mu and kappa opiate receptors has led to investigations of the partial mu agonist buprenorphine in opiate maintenance. Evidence for hyper-excitability of locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic neurons and EEA inputs to the LC guides trials of new alpha 2-adrenergic agonists and EEA antagonists to alleviate opiate withdrawal. Finally, clinical experience with withdrawal from methadone and LAAM has led to trials of antagonist-accelerated opiate withdrawal. Improved treatment of psychostimulant and opiate addiction is critically needed, and likely to have wide-reaching impact in health care and society.
THE FORMATION OF HOLOCENE MARSH FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES, MIDDLE ATLANTIC COAST, U.S.A.: IMPLICATIONS FOR HOLOCENE SEA-LEVEL CHANGE

Substantial spatio-temporal variation in foraminiferal inputs occur over short areal distances at the sediment-water interface and downcore as a result of patchy distributions and seasonal reproduction; foraminiferal assemblages are in turn diagenetically overprinted by seasonal, inter-seasonal, and inter-annual changes in pore-water chemistry. Seasonal surface and near-surface assemblages are typically unrepresentative of deeper assemblages that are more likely to be incorporated into the sedimentary record. Cluster analysis of “artificially time-averaged” (ATA) assemblages revealed a distinct change in assemblages at ~20 cm depth. Differential preservation of foraminifera in the upper 60 cm, and especially the upper 20 cm, of sediment may produce an apparent paleoenvironmental change that could potentially be misinterpreted as a rapid fall in sea-level over the last ~100–200 years.
Long range correlations in a closed system with applications to nonuniform fluids

We investigate the corrections to the representation of the joint distribution of $q+l$ particles, ${n}_{q+l}$, by the product ${n}_{q}{n}_{l}$ for large separation between the sets of $q$ and $l$ particles. For a system in which there exists a "finite correlation length," we find explicitly the $\frac{1}{N}$ correction term to the simple product, where $N$ is the number of particles in our system. When $q+l$ is equal to two, this expression reduces to that familiar from the Ornstein-Zernike relations for scattering of light from a fluid. In a uniform gas, our derivation also yields the explicit $\frac{1}{N}$ dependence of equilibrium distributions. Our result on the asymptotic form is then used to determine the low-order distribution functions for an equilibrium system of varying density, as well as for a nonequilibrium system represented by a local-equilibrium ensemble. These distribution functions are shown to be governed by the temperature and density in the vicinity of the molecules considered. We find as expected that the two-body distribution function coincides, to within quadratic terms in the gradients, with its equilibrium value for a uniform system at the temperature and density of the midpoint. For the higher-order distributions, correction terms linear in the gradients are found.
ONTOGENY AND STRUCTURE OF THE FLOWER AND FRUIT OF PERESKIA ACULEATA

which become reflexed in the fruit, and its rim bears a series of small, triangular bracts, which are sharply delimited from the perianth segments. Vascular anatomy indicates that there is a short floral tube formed by the adnation and connation of the bases of the stamens and perianth segments. The inner side of this floral tube forms an extensive cylindrical nectary; the outer si'de is adnate to the receptacle. There are usually five carpels, each bearing a single ovule. Carpel tips are free, but their bases are congenitally connate. During ontogeny, the adaxial faces of the carpels grow together, forming a solid style. The base of the ovary is partially divided into locules by small partitions, which represent the fused margins of connate carpels. The tip of the floral receptacle (residual meristem) becomes a convex body which enlarges in the fruit, filling that portion of the ovary cavity not occupied by seeds. The superior ovary and the columella formed in the fruit are probably primitive characteristics, but in all other respects the flower of P. aculeata appears to be advanced. It is a product of evolutionary reduction.
Subcellular organization of the yolk syncytial-endoderm complex in the preimplantation yolk sac of the shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae.

The structure of the yolk syncytial-endoderm complex of the preimplantation yolk sac of the shark is examined by light- and transmission electron microscopy. The yolk syncytium is bounded by a membrane that is anchored to the plasmalemma of adjacent endoderm cells by desmosomes. Enlarged nuclei, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, mitochondria, and other cellular organelles populate the syncytium. Microtubules and filamentous elements are also observed free in the syncytium. Yolk is present as pleomorphic droplets, the profiles of which are generally spherical but may be vesicular, especially at the periphery of large yolk droplets. Occasionally, large yolk droplets have a paracrystalline configuration. Small yolk droplets are modulated through the Golgi complex of the yolk syncytium, and it is suggested that acid hydrolases are added there. Small yolk droplets released from the maturing face of the Golgi complex are sequestered in membrane-limited packets. The membrane of the packets fuses with the membrane enveloping the yolk syncytium and the yolk droplets are released into the yolk syncytialendoderm interspace. Subsequently, the yolk droplets are endocytosed by the endoderm. Yolk droplets disperse and fuse to form the large irregular yolk inclusions of the endoderm. Yolk metabolites are transported out of the endoderm through the yolk sac endothelium. The yolk sac endoderm thus mediates the transfer of metabolites from the yolk mass to the extraembryonic circulation.
Minority Employment in the Largest U.S. Municipal Governments

Abstract Are minorities fairly represented in U.S. municipal governments as demography changes? This article attempts to explore minority representation in the municipal governments of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston for the years 1990–2000 through an examination of the distribution of minorities. Findings indicate that rapid demographic changes in the four largest U.S. cities have not remarkably changed representation of minorities and nonminorities in those municipal governments. Demographic changes do affect the composition of the city work forces, but demographic changes do not seem to affect considerably the composition of the city work forces. Although minorities and nonminorities appear to be gaining more representation, the extent of the increase of representation has been much higher in Caucasians than minorities. Occupational and agency segregation as well as salary differences between minorities and nonminorities and between men and women has not been significantly reduced. The auth...
Glutamate neurotransmission is not required for, but may modulate, hypoxic sensitivity of pre-Bötzinger complex in vivo

Focal hypoxia in the pre-Botzinger complex (pre-BotC) in vivo elicits excitation of inspiratory motor output by modifying the patterning and timing of phrenic bursts. Hypoxia, however, has been reported to enhance glutamate release in some regions of the brain, including the medullary ventral respiratory column; thus the pre-BotC-mediated hypoxic respiratory excitation may result from, or be influenced by, hypoxia-induced activation of ionotropic glutamate [i.e., excitatory amino acid (EAA)] receptors. To test this possibility, the effects of focal pre-BotC hypoxia [induced by sodium cyanide (NaCN)] were examined before and after blockade of ionotropic EAA receptors [using kynurenic acid (KYN)] in this region in chloralose-anesthetized, vagotomized, mechanically ventilated cats. Before blockade of ionotropic EAA receptors, unilateral microinjection of NaCN (1 mM; 10-20 nl) into the pre-BotC produced either phasic or tonic excitation of phrenic nerve discharge. Unilateral microinjection of KYN (50-100 mM; 40 nl) decreased the amplitude and frequency of basal phrenic nerve discharge; however, subsequent microinjection of NaCN, but not DL-homocysteic acid (DLH, a glutamate analog), still produced excitation of phrenic motor output. Under these conditions, the NaCN-induced excitation included frequency modulation (FM) of phasic phrenic bursts, and in many cases, augmented and/or fractionated phrenic bursts. These findings show that the hypoxia-sensing function of the in vivo pre-BotC, which produces excitation of phrenic nerve discharge, is not dependent on activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors, but ionotropic glutamate receptor activation may modify the expression of the focal hypoxia-induced response. Thus these findings provide additional support to the concept of intrinsic hypoxic sensitivity of the pre-BotC.
Random graphs with clustering.

We offer a solution to a long-standing problem in the theory of networks, the creation of a plausible, solvable model of a network that displays clustering or transitivity---the propensity for two neighbors of a network node also to be neighbors of one another. We show how standard random-graph models can be generalized to incorporate clustering and give exact solutions for various properties of the resulting networks, including sizes of network components, size of the giant component if there is one, position of the phase transition at which the giant component forms, and position of the phase transition for percolation on the network.