cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical calculation of grounding system buried in vertical earth model in low frequency domain based on the boundary element method

To solve a grounding problem which describes a grounding system with floating metallic conductors buried in vertical multilayer earth model under a high voltage a.c. substation, a new mathematical model for accurately computing currents flowing along conductors of the grounding system has been developed in this paper, which is hybrid of Galerkin's type Boundary Element Method and conventional nodal analysis method. Propagation effect of electromagnetic wave within the substation has been neglected due to its limited area. A quasi-static complex image method and new closed form of Green's function for the vertical multilayer earth model are introduced into this model to accelerate mutual impedance and induction coefficients calculation. The model is then implemented in a computer program, which can be used to calculate currents distribution of any configuration of grounding system, and with or without floating metallic conductors buried in the vertical multilayer earth model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Iba1 immunoreactivity is enhanced following an antigen retrieval treatment with EDTA, pH 6.0

Antigen retrieval is a standard procedure to enhance immunohistochemical detection. However, among the many choices of techniques available for antigen retrieval, it is important to choose a method that works specifically for the antibody of interest. The small calcium binding protein, Iba1, has been well characterized as a microglia specific marker useful for identifying both resting and activated populations (ito etal., 1998[1]). In this study, we tested whether antigen retrieval methods would increase the sensitivity or improve the morphologic visualization of Iba1 immunoreactive microglia in the brains of wild type C57BL/6 mice and an APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A more sensitive detection method might allow for better quantitation of microglial changes during disease. We modified a protocol which used three different methods and their combination for retrieving specifically anti-Ab immunoreactivity in AD mouse brains to determine whether it improved Iba1 staining (Kai et al., 2012; Murayama et al., 1999). The following modifications were made to the original protocol: We boiled the free floating brain sections or slide mounted brain sections in 10 mM EDTA solution (pH 6.0) in a secondary water bath instead of autoclaving for attempting Iba1 antigen retrieval.We used a 15 min, 0.25% trypsin-EDTA treatment instead of protease K for attempting Iba1 antigen retrieval.We immunostained with anti-Iba1 antibody as our primary interest but also stained some sections in parallel with 4G8 antibody for anti-Aβ staining comparison. Iba1 immunoreactivity was best enhanced by boiling in the low pH EDTA solution for both free floating and slide mounted tissues.
Superparamagnetic Relaxation and Magnetic Anisotropy Energy Distribution in CoFe2O4 Spinel Ferrite Nanocrystallites

Superparamagnetism is a unique feature of magnetic nanoparticles. Spinel ferrite nanoparticles provide great opportunities for studying the mechanism of superparamagnetic properties. CoFe2O4 nanocrystallites have been synthesized with a microemulsion method. The neutron diffraction studies and the temperature-dependent decay of magnetization show the superparamagnetic relaxation occurring in these nanoparticles. The neutron diffraction shows a high degree of inversion with the 78% tetrahedral sites occupied by Fe3+ cations. The nanoparticles with a 12 nm diameter have a blocking temperature around 320 K. The field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetization measurements display a divergence below the blocking temperature. The energy barrier distribution of magnetic anisotropy is derived from the temperature-dependent decay of magnetization. The magnetic anisotropy is clearly the origin of the divergence in the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetization measurements. The energy barrier distribution fu...
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF STEATITE BODIES

A discussion is given of the characteristics of vitrified steatite bodies containing more than 70% talc. Several typical compositions have been selected from a series of experimental bodies and their firing range and other ceramic and physical properties are described.
Sesame: informing user security decisions with system visualization

Non-expert users face a dilemma when making security decisions. Their security often cannot be fully automated for them, yet they generally lack both the motivation and technical knowledge to make informed security decisions on their own. To help users with this dilemma, we present a novel security user interface called Sesame. Sesame uses a concrete, spatial extension of the desktop metaphor to provide users with the security-related, visualized system-level information they need to make more informed decisions. It also provides users with actionable controls to affect a system's security state. Sesame graphically facilitates users' comprehension in making these decisions, and in doing so helps to lower the bar for motivating them to participate in the security of their system. In a controlled study, users with Sesame were found to make fewer errors than a control group which suggests that our novel security interface is a viable alternative approach to helping users with their dilemma.
X-ray scattering from a discrete helix with cumulative angular and translational disorders

X-ray scattering from a discrete helix possessing cumulative angular and translational disorders is studied by the Barakat model [Barakat (1987). Acta Cryst. A43, 45-49] assuming Gaussian distributions for random rotations and translations between subunits. This model is found to be identical to the paracrystalline model of the second kind. The intensity function shows that the intensity maximum decreases with increase in the Bessel order, whereas the peak breadth in the fiber direction and the intensity minimum increase.
Electrochemistry of Anticonvulsants: Electron Transfer as a Possible Mode of Action

Summary: Reduction potentials were determined for various anticonvulsants, including progabide, SL 75.102, CGS 9896, pyridazines, zonisamide, 1,2,3-triazoles, and copper complexes. The values generally were in the range of about 0.1 to 0.6 V for the protonated drugs and the metal complexes. Reduction potentials provide information on the feasibility of electron transfer (ET) in vivo. If the value is relatively positive (greater than about 0.6 V), the agent can act catalytically as an electron acceptor from an appropriate cellular donor. A concomitant favorable influence on abnormal neuronal processes associated with epilepsy could occur. We describe ET as a possible mode of action of anticonvulsants as well as some anti-epileptic agents with no electrochemical data based on this hypothetical ET approach.
Effectiveness of a heat/cool technique for shucking oysters

A method was developed to use heat/cool processes to effectively shuck oysters. The optimal method devised required only low-pressure steam and chilled water, thus providing a low cost and readily available solution to processors. A series of treatments were devised, and instrumentation installed to monitor process temperatures. Steam injection was used for heating, a vacuum pump was used to increase heating and chilling rates and an ice water solution was used for chilling. Sixty-seven different treatment combinations of both time-temperature and oyster location were tested on a total of 697 oysters. Release rates of up to 85% were observed. Coupling release rates with acceptable meat quality suggests optimal time-temperature combinations for the oysters studied (primarily from Louisiana and Mississippi coasts of the Gulf of Mexico) of 30 s pre-heat; 30 s steam injection at 30 psi; 30 s hold and 240 s ice water chill for these oysters. Variations among treatments suggest that this method of evaluation would be needed for different localities and oyster types, but still suggests that this methodology may potentially provide effective and inexpensive methods for automating oyster shucking.
Process for preparing macroscopic quantities of brightly photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles with emission spanning the visible spectrum

Silicon nanoparticles with bright visible photoluminescence have been prepared by a new combined vapor phase and solution phase process, using only inexpensive commodity chemicals. CO2 laser induced pyrolysis of silane was used to produce Si nanoparticles at high rates (20−200 mg/h). Particles with an average diameter as small as 5 nm were prepared directly by this vapor phase (aerosol) synthesis. Etching these particles with mixtures of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and nitric acid (HNO3) reduced the size and passivated the surface of these particles such that after etching they exhibited bright visible luminescence at room temperature. The wavelength of maximum photoluminescence (PL) intensity was controlled from above 800 nm to below 500 nm by controlling the etching time and conditions. Particles with blue emission (maximum PL intensity at 420 nm) were prepared by rapid thermal oxidation of orange-emitting particles. The particle synthesis methods; steady-state photoluminescence spectra; results of their cha...
1-Carboxyethyl-4-cyanopyridinium-mediated photoinduced electron-proton cotransport across phosphatidylcholine vesicle membranes

Abstract Asymmetrically organized egg lecithin small unilamellar vesicles containing an electron acceptor (Co(bpy)33+) in the internal aqueous phase with a photosensitizer (ZnTPPS4−) and electron donor (dithiothreitol) in the external medium were prepared. When 1-carboxyethyl-4-cyanopyridinium ions were also present in the medium, illumination with visible light gave rise to net transmembrane oxidation–reduction; however, no transmembrane redox reaction was observed when this ion was absent. Transient spectroscopy revealed that the pyridinium derivative oxidatively quenched the 3ZnTPPS4− photoexcited ion, forming the neutral pyridinium radical, which subsequently diffused across the bilayer to reduce the occluded Co(bpy)33+ ion. Quenching rate constants in 20 mM Tris, pH 3.3, at room temperature were 4.5×109 M−1 s−1 and 2.1×109 M−1 s−1 in the absence and presence of vesicles, respectively; the characteristic time for transmembrane diffusion of the radical was 30 ms. Under continuous illumination, at least seven internal Co(bpy)33+ ions could be reduced to Co(bpy)32+ for each 1-carboxyethyl-4-cyanopyridinium ion present, implying that the redox mediator had cycled on average seven times across the membrane. Transmembrane reduction rates increased when the vesicle interior was made alkaline, consistent with the formally neutral 1-carboxyethyl-4-cyanopyridinium zwitterion being the diffusible form of the oxidized carrier. The data support a transmembrane transport model involving stepwise photosensitized reduction of the carrier, transmembrane transport of the neutral radial, reoxidation accompanied by proton release from the pendant carboxyl group, and diffusion of the oxidized zwitterion to the external medium with subsequent proton uptake to close the cycle.
The warped geometry of visual space near a line assessed using a hyperacuity displacement task

Badcock and Westheimer (Spatial Vision 1 (1), 3-11, 1985) showed that a thin vertical line induces nearby zones of attraction and repulsion; this study extends those results by more closely examining the horizontal and vertical extents of the repulsion zone and by using an illusory contour to induce repulsion. The experimental paradigm measures perceived hyperacute displacements of a thin vertical line 10' tall. Halfway through the stimulus, the bright target line was shifted and a lower contrast flanking line added. Conditions equivalent to Badcock and Westheimer replicate their results. Repulsion is observed horizontally from separations of 5' to at least 30' and becomes minimal at 50'. Repulsion also decreases with increasing vertical separation. Another experiment shows that symmetry is not required for repulsion when the flanking line is split into two vertically separated fragments; one fragment alone causes the same amount of repulsion as both fragments together. Finally, it is shown that a flanking contour formed by the grating illusion causes repulsion of the target line in the same manner as a target line defined by luminance.
Classification image analysis: estimation and statistical inference for two-alternative forced-choice experiments

We consider estimation and statistical hypothesis testing on classification images obtained from the two-alternative forced-choice experimental paradigm. We begin with a probabilistic model of task performance for simple forced-choice detection and discrimination tasks. Particular attention is paid to general linear filter models because these models lead to a direct interpretation of the classification image as an estimate of the filter weights. We then describe an estimation procedure for obtaining classification images from observer data. A number of statistical tests are presented for testing various hypotheses from classification images based on some more compact set of features derived from them. As an example of how the methods we describe can be used, we present a case study investigating detection of a Gaussian bump profile.
A note on cross-modality matching.

”Stevens' law”, that the psychophysical law is a power function, is often taken to be confirmed by results of cross-modality matching experiments, for it predicts both the fact that cross-modality matching experiments yield power functions, and the exponents of these power functions. Both these predictions, however, follow from a more general form of the psychophysical law, of which Fechner's law is a special case. In view of this, an interpretation of cross-modality matching based on stimulus discriminability rather than sensation magnitude is proposed.
Region-Specific Contribution of Ephrin-B and Wnt Signaling to Receptive Field Plasticity in Developing Optic Tectum

Ephrin-B/EphB and Wnts are known to regulate synapse maturation and plasticity, besides serving as axon guidance molecules, but the relevance of such synaptic regulation to neural circuit functions in vivo remains unclear. In this study, we have examined the role of ephrin-B and Wnt signaling in regulating visual experience-dependent and developmental plasticity of receptive fields (RFs) of tectal cells in the developing Xenopus optic tectum. We found that repetitive exposure to unidirectional moving visual stimuli caused varying degrees of shift in the RFs in different regions of the tectum. By acute perfusion of exogenous antagonists and inducible transgene expression, we showed that ephrin-B signaling in presynaptic retinal ganglion cells and Wnt secretion from tectal cells are specifically responsible for the enhanced visual stimulation-induced changes in neuronal responses and RFs in the ventral and dorsal tectum, respectively. Thus, ephrin-B and Wnt signaling contribute to region-specific plasticity of visual circuit functions.
Investigating product development process reliability and robustness using simulation

This paper uses the design structure matrix to model and simulate the performance of product development processes. Although simulation is a powerful tool for analysing process performance, its ability is limited by the availability of accurate input information. Design structure matrix simulation requires process data that is hard to assess or estimate directly from development participants. In this paper, we propose a methodology that allows a more practical estimation of an important simulation input parameter: rework probability. Furthermore, we show how this assessment method (combined with simulation) allows managers to evaluate process improvement plans based on two resultant process measures: reliability and robustness. The method is illustrated with a real application from the automotive industry.
Gut and liver coordinated metabolic response following major torso injury

Abstract Major trauma provokes a stress response which is mediated, in part, via glucagon, catecholamines, and cortisol. These stress hormones modulate the choice of energy substrate for various tissues. While glucose and fatty acids are considered the preferred fuels, ketone bodies (26/ATP/mole) may be a viable alternative. In this study, we measured the concentrations of acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) in the portal as well as systemic circulations of 10 critically injured patients (revised trauma score = 6.8 ± 0.5, injury severity score = 27 ± 3) during the first 5 postoperative days. At 6 hr postinjury, 3-OHB was elevated in the portal system (0.34 ± 0.01 m M ) while depressed systemically (0.09 ± 0.02 m M ), indicating that the gut was capable of ketogenesis. In contrast, at 24 hr, 3-OHB rose systemically (0.39 ± 0.02 m M ) while decreasing in portal blood (0.09 ± 0.01 m M ) implying gut ketone consumption. Moreover, the systemic ketone body ratio became elevated at 24 hr, suggesting an enhanced liver energy status. In summary, we believe ketogenesis is stimulated by major trauma. Initially, the gut supports ketone concentration in the systemic circulation, whereas, by 24 hr, the gut becomes a ketone consumer and the liver maintains circulating levels.
Effect of photoperiod and temperature on fatty acid composition of the mosquito Culex tarsalis

Abstract A strain of Culex tarsalis from 35 N. latitude (not very cold hardy) was examined for the interplay of photoperiod and temperature on fatty acid saturation. At 22°C newly emerged females on 8 hr (short) photoperiod had 62 per cent unsaturated fatty acids compared to 52 per cent for those on 16 hr (long) photoperiod. The short photoperiod females reached a plateau at 1 week which was matched by the long photoperiod group at 3 weeks. Females on a complex low-temperature treatment had more unsaturated fatty acids than females at high temperature (30°C). Nevertheless the effect of short photoperiod was observed in the low-temperature females as the short photoperiod group had 43 and 26 per cent of palmitoleic and oleic acids versus 31 per cent and 20 per cent respectively for the long photoperiod group. Thus short photoperiod serves as a factor accessory to low temperature in the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids. Males, which do not overwinter, accumulate lesser amounts of unsaturated fatty acids. Extreme temperatures (particularly high) caused the accumulation of large amounts of fatty acids of less than 14 carbon chainlength in males.
The application of statistical process control to horizontal strabismus surgery

Abstract Purpose Although originally developed to evaluate quality in manufacturing, statistical process control (SPC) techniques may be applicable to other frequently performed standardized processes. SPC analysis has rarely been used in medicine. We employed SPC charts to analyze the outcomes of one- and two-muscle horizontal strabismus surgery for esotropia and exotropia. Methods During a 33-month period between October 1, 1998 and July 1, 2001, we evaluated 95 patients undergoing strabismus surgery on either one or two previously unoperated eye muscles in one or both eyes. SPC charts were used to evaluate the success and validity of our surgical guidelines for horizontal recession and resection procedures. Data were divided into 2 groups, patients with esotropia and patients with exotropia, for computerized statistical analysis using QI Analyst (SPSS, Chicago, IL). Results Our results after horizontal strabismus surgery, both esotropia and exotropia repair, appear to follow the laws of statistical fluctuation or normal random variation. Our dose-response schedule produced a resultant ocular alignment or exit angle that appeared to be in statistical control, ie, variation from orthotropia that can be expected simply from normal random chance error with only a limited number of outliers. Conclusion The resultant ocular alignment or exit angle after one- or two-muscle strabismus surgery may be described by standard models of statistical fluctuation. SPC may be a valuable method to analyze the variability of the results of many ophthalmologic procedures or treatments over time with the ultimate goal of producing better patient outcomes by decreasing variability.
A Turbine-Speed Fuel Pump for Small Gas-Turbine Engines

Advances in gas turbine engine technology have made possible small, lightweight, very high-speed engines. Plans for future units promise a continuation of this trend. Accessory technology has not made comparable advances to date. The low-speed capability of presently available accessories threatens to severely penalize the specific weight and volume of anticipated small engine packages. This paper describes the design analysis and laboratory evaluation of a vane-type fuel pump designed to operate at gas-turbine-shaft speed. Techniques required to attain these speeds without sacrificing endurance in the vane-type pump are discussed.Copyright © 1969 by ASME
Effects of Cell-Attachment and Extracellular Matrix on Bone Formation In Vivo in Collagen-Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds

Cell-based tissue engineering can be used to replace missing or damaged bone, but the optimal methods for delivering therapeutic cells to a bony defect have not yet been established. Using transgenic reporter cells as a donor source, two different collagen-hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds, and a critical-size calvarial defect model, we investigated the effect of a cell-attachment period prior to implantation, with or without an extracellular matrix-based seeding suspension, on cell engraftment and osteogenesis. When quantitatively compared, the in-house scaffold implanted immediately had a higher mean radiopacity than in-house scaffolds incubated overnight. Both scaffold types implanted immediately had significantly higher area fractions of donor cells, while the in-house collagen-HA scaffolds implanted immediately had higher area fractions of the mineralization label compared with groups incubated overnight. When the cell loading was compared in vitro for each delivery method using the in-house scaffold, immediate loading led to higher numbers of delivered cells. Immediate loading may be preferable in order to ensure robust bone formation in vivo. The use of a secondary ECM carrier improved the distribution of donor cells only when a pre-attachment period was applied. These results have improved our understanding of cell delivery to bony defects in the context of in vivo outcomes.
Mobilizing a University for Important Social Science Research : Biotechnology at the University of Illinois

Complex societal issues, such as those raised by agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified food, call out for prompt, large-scale multidisciplinary research. Universities encounter powerful institutional impediments when trying to respond. This article describes a successful experiment designed to overcome those impediments and build university research capacity. Twenty-five faculty members from four colleges joined together to learn more about biotechnology. Within 1 year they produced 20 useful journal articles to help themselves and others understand the emerging issues, possibilities, and policy options.
Coordinate regulation of contractile protein synthesis during myoblast differentiation

Abstract The synthesis of contractile proteins has been studied during the differentiation of quail skeletal muscle myoblasts in culture. Myoblast differentiation was synchronized by transferring secondary cultures of rapidly dividing myoblasts into medium lacking cell division-promoting factors. Cultures at various stages of differentiation were then pulse-labeled with 35 S-methionine, and cell extracts were resolved by electrophoresis on two-dimensional gels. Incorporation into specific proteins was quantitated by autoradiography and fluorography using a scanning densitometer. Contractile proteins synthesized by muscle cultures were identified by their co-electrophoresis on two-dimensional gels with contracile proteins purified from quail breast muscle. Our results show that the synthesis of myosin heavy chain, two myosin light chains, two subunits of troponin and two subunits of tropomyosin is first detected at the time of myoblast fusion and then rapidly increases at least 500 fold to maximum rates which remain constant in muscle fibers. Both the kinetics of activation and the molar rates of synthesis of these contractile proteins are virtually identical. Muscle-specific actin (α) synthesis also increases at the time of myoblast fusion, but this actin (α) is synthesized at 3 times the rate of the other contractile proteins. The synthesis of 30 other muscle cell proteins was quantitated, and most of these are shown to follow different patterns of regulation. From these results, we conclude that the contractile proteins are regulated coordinately during myoblast differentiation.
A multidimensional differential proteomic platform using dual-phase ion-exchange chromatography-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/reversed-phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Differential proteomic analysis has arisen as a large-scale means to discern proteome-wide changes upon treatment, injury, or disease. Tandem protein separation methods are required for large-scale differential proteomic analysis. Here, a novel multidimensional platform for resolving and differentially analyzing complex biological samples is presented. The platform, collectively termed CAX-PAGE/RPLC-MSMS, combines biphasic ion-exchange chromatography with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for protein separation, quantification, and differential band targeting, followed by capillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography and data-dependent tandem mass spectrometry for quantitative and qualitative peptide analysis. CAX-PAGE provides high protein resolving power with a theoretical peak capacity of 3570, extendable to 7600, a wide protein mass range verified from 16 to 273 kDa, and reproducible differential sample comparison without the added expense of fluorescent dyes and imaging equipment. Demonstrated usin...
MACROPHAGE‐LYMPHOCYTE INTERACTIONS MEDIATED BY SOLUBLE FACTORS*

Adherent-cell-depleted primed rabbit splenocytes were capable of mounting an in vitro response to SRBC. The addition of alveolar macrophages (AM) to adherent-cell-depleted or unseparated lymphoid cell populations resulted in significant suppression of the PFC response. Suppressive activity was limited to AM and dependent on the presence of a ratio of 1 AM:20 lymphocytes. The cell-mediating suppression was found to be resistant to irradiation and antithymus globulin but sensitive to heat, freeze-thawing, and treatment with iodoacetamide. Suppression was mediated by a soluble factor (MW greater than 10,000 daltons) that required an AM-lymphocyte interaction for its production. Suppression appeared to be achieved through the inhibition of proliferation of antigen sensitive cells although the effect of AM could possibly be exerted on an early event in the immune response. AM were capable of enhancing the proliferative responses of rabbit lymphoid cells to PHA and Con A. Enhancing and suppressing activities of AM were abolished by inhibition of RNA synthesis but unaffected by inhibitors of DNA and protein synthesis.
Calculation of interfacial tension in polymer systems

We propose an equation, based on “reciprocal” mean and force additivity, for calculating the interfacial tension between polymers or between a polymer and an ordinary liquid: where γ12 is the interfacial tension; γi the surface tension; γ and γ the dispersion and polar components of γi, respectively. This equation is shown to predict accurately the interfacial tension between polymers or between a polymer and an ordinary liquid. Fowkes' equation or Fowkes' equation with a geometric-mean polar term 2(γiPγ2p)1/2 is not applicable to polarlpolar systems. The interfacial tension arises mainly from disparity in the polarities of the two phases. The above equation can also be used to calculate the surface tension and polarity of polymers or organic solids from contact angle data.
Energies of circular inclusions: sliding versus bonded interfaces

The elastic strain energies of circular inclusions with sliding and bonded interfaces are compared. It is shown that the energy in the inclusion with a sliding interface due to uniform eigenstrain is greater than the energy in the inclusion with a bonded interface if the Poisson ratio of the material is less than 1/6, and smaller if it is greater than 1/6. The total energy in the inclusion and the matrix due to uniform eigenstrain is always smaller in the case of a sliding inclusion. The opposite is true for the inclusion under remote uniform loading at infinity. The relationships between the energies of sliding and bonded inhomogeneities are also derived.
Experience with tacrolimus in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome

Children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) are at risk of developing renal failure. We report here the results of a single-center retrospective observational study of the remission rate in pediatric patients with SNRS receiving tacrolimus. Serial renal biopsies from children on tacrolimus therapy were evaluated for tubulointerstitial fibrosis and transforming growth factor-β immunostaining. Of the 16 children with SRNS, 15 went into complete remission after a median of 120 days of therapy. Nine children were able to stop steroids, while the others were on tapering doses. Forty-seven percent had relapses, most of which were steroid-responsive. Serial renal biopsies were obtained from seven children after a median treatment duration of 24 months; two of these children had increased tubulointerstitial fibrosis and four showed increased transforming growth factor-β tissue staining. Children with worsening histological findings were younger. There was no significant association between tacrolimus exposure and biopsy changes, although the average trough level was higher in those children with worsening histological findings. In conclusion, tacrolimus may be a safe and effective alternative agent for inducing remission in children with SRNS. However, caution needs to be taken when prescribing this agent due to its narrow therapeutic index. Serial renal biopsies are necessary to check for subclinical nephrotoxicity, especially in younger children and those with higher trough levels.
Primordial helium recombination. II. Two-photon processes

Interpretation of precision measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) will require a detailed understanding of the recombination era, which determines such quantities as the acoustic oscillation scale and the Silk damping scale. This paper is the second in a series devoted to the subject of helium recombination, with a focus on two-photon processes in He i. The standard treatment of these processes includes only the spontaneous two-photon decay from the 21S level. We extend this treatment by including five additional effects, some of which have been suggested in recent papers but whose impact on He i recombination has not been fully quantified. These are: (i) stimulated two-photon decays; (ii) two-photon absorption of redshifted He i line radiation; (iii) two-photon decays from highly excited levels in He i (n1S and n1D, with n>=3); (iv) Raman scattering; and (v) the finite width of the 21Po resonance. We find that effect (iii) is highly suppressed when one takes into account destructive interference between different intermediate states contributing to the two-photon decay amplitude. Overall, these effects are found to be insignificant: they modify the recombination history at the level of several parts in 10^4.
A Topology Control Approach to Using Directional Antennas in Wireless Mesh Networks

Directional antennas in wireless mesh networks can improve spatial reuse. However, using them effectively needs specialized protocol support at the MAC layer, which is always not practical. In this work, we present a topology control approach to effectively using directional antennas with legacy MAC layer protocols such as IEEE 802.11. The idea is to use multiple directional antennas on each node and orient them appropriately to create low interference topologies while maintatining network connectivity. Our approach is based on a well-known approximation algorithm to compute minimum degree spanning trees. We show via empirical studies that this approach can reduce interference significantly without increasing stretch factors to any appreciable extent. Detailed wireless network simulations also show that this approach improves end-to-end throughput of multihop flows relative to using omni-directional antennas. Three or four directional antennas per network node with only moderate beamwidths are sufficient to improve the saturation throughput of multihop flows by a factor of 3?4.
The Impact of Animal Welfare Advertising on Opposition to the Canadian Seal Hunt and Willingness to Boycott the Canadian Seafood Industry

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this research was to measure and compare the initial and carryover effects of a video advertisement developed by an animal welfare organization, namely Harpseals. org. The ad was designed to educate the public about an egregious act against wildlife (i.e., the Canadian seal hunt), increase opposition to this act, and recruit participation to boycott the industry (i.e., the Canadian seafood industry). After initial opposition to the egregious act had been measured, respondents were exposed to the ad, and subsequently asked again about their opposition to the seal hunt as well as their willingness to join the Canadian Seafood Boycott. About two months later, a follow-up study investigated whether the respondents' opposition to the seal hunt and their participation in the Canadian Seafood Boycott were still affected by the advertisement to which they had been exposed during the first contact. The results show that respondents' level of opposition to the seal hunt—even though it had som...
Adaptive mathematical morphology: A unified representation theory

In this paper, we present a general theory of adaptive mathematical morphology (AMM) in the Euclidean space. The proposed theory preserves the notion of a structuring element, which is crucial in the design of geometrical signal and image processing applications. Moreover, we demonstrate the theoretical and practical distinctions between adaptive and spatially-variant mathematical morphology. We provide examples of the use of AMM in various image processing applications, and show the power of the proposed framework in image denoising and segmentation.
Sex differences in infants' visual interest in toys.

Evidence indicating that sex-linked toy preferences exist in two nonhuman primate species support the hypothesis that developmental sex differences such as those observed in children’s object preferences are shaped in part by inborn factors. If so, then preferences for sex-linked toys may emerge in children before any self-awareness of gender identity and gender–congruent behavior. In order to test this hypothesis, interest in a doll and a toy truck was measured in 30 infants ranging in age from 3 to 8 months using eye-tracking technology that provides precise indicators of visual attention. Consistent with primary hypothesis, sex differences in visual interest in sex-linked toys were found, such that girls showed a visual preference (d > 1.0) for the doll over the toy truck and boys compared to girls showed a greater number of visual fixations on the truck (d = .78). Our findings suggest that the conceptual categories of “masculine” and “feminine” toys are preceded by sex differences in the preferences for perceptual features associated with such objects. The existence of these innate preferences for object features coupled with well-documented social influences may explain why toy preferences are one of the earliest known manifestations of sex-linked social behavior.
Day Care Increases the Risk of Respiratory Morbidity in Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity

OBJECTIVES: Infants and children with chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLDP) are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality from respiratory viral infections. Exposure to respiratory viruses may be increased in the day care environment. The risk of respiratory morbidity from day care attendance in the CLDP population is unknown. We therefore sought to determine if day care attendance is a significant risk factor for increased respiratory morbidity and symptoms in infants and children with CLDP. METHODS: Between January 2008 and October 2009, parents of infants and children with CLDP were surveyed. Information on perinatal history, sociodemographic information, day care attendance, and indicators of respiratory morbidity, including emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, systemic corticosteroid use, antibiotic use, and respiratory symptoms, was collected on children RESULTS: Data were collected from 111 patients with CLDP. The average gestational age was 26.2 ± 2.0 weeks. Day care attendance was associated with significantly higher adjusted odds for ED visits (odds ratio [OR]: 3.74 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41–9.91]; P P P P P CONCLUSIONS: We found that day care attendance is associated with increased respiratory morbidities in young children with CLDP. Physicians should consider screening for and educating caregivers about the risks of day care attendance by young children with CLDP.
Use of a multicultural food-frequency questionnaire with pregnant and lactating women

In a multicultural society the difficulty experienced by pregnancy care teams in asking subjects to remember what they have eaten and then adjusting the food recall for lapses in detail related to portion size, product names, food combinations, and ethnic uniqueness poses a handicap for collecting food-recall data. The purpose of this study was to design and administer a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to clarify the 24-h dietary recall of pregnant and lactating women of Caribbean and African descendants. Focus groups convened in eight states around the United States determined ethnic food nomenclature, methods of preparation and cooking, types of and additions to food, and cultural differences in quantifying food servings. The FFQ assessed weekly intake patterns of six categories of foods and described the frequency of consumption of 82 food items. Correlation analysis and paired t tests compared agreement indicators (0.80) and differences on the reporting.
Distribution and abundance patterns of rocky intertidal fishes in central California

Distribution patterns and relative abundances were determined for rocky intertidal fishes in central California. Distributions were described relative to a categorization scheme of tidepools based on certain biotic and physical criteria. The fishes displayed a variety of distributions over tidepool categories and showed some segregation within categories. Cottids were the predominant tidepool fishes encountered, withOligocottus snyderi andClinocottus analis comprising 62% of all captures. The cebidichthyidCebidichthys violaceus and the stichaeidAnoplarchus purpurescens were also relatively common and dominated the out-of-water microhabitat.Oligocottus snyderi showed a minor shift in distribution over tidepool categories between seasons, and C. analis showed none, but both species varied substantially in abundance. Temporal changes in abundance of the more common species indicated seasonal trends, but the duration of the census period was insufficient to verify this. It is concluded that while species interactions may have influenced the observed patterns of habitat partitioning, the roles of predation and competition cannot be unambiguously defined. Presently, neither these nor historical factors can be discounted from having significantly influenced the evolution of the intertidal fish community.
Cell death induced by acute renal injury: A perspective on the contributions of apoptosis and necrosis

In humans and experimental models of renal ischemia, tubular cells in various nephron segments undergo necrotic and/or apoptotic cell death. Various factors, including nucleotide depletion, electrolyte imbalance, reactive oxygen species, endonucleases, disruption of mitochondrial integrity, and activation of various components of the apoptotic machinery, have been implicated in renal cell vulnerability. Several approaches to limit the injury and augment the regeneration process, including nucleotide repletion, administration of growth factors, reactive oxygen species scavengers, and inhibition of inducers and executioners of cell death, proved to be effective in animal models. Nevertheless, an effective approach to limit or prevent ischemic renal injury in humans remains elusive, primarily because of an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms of cellular injury. Elucidation of cell death pathways in animal models in the setting of renal injury and extrapolation of the findings to humans will aid in the design of potential therapeutic strategies. This review evaluates our understanding of the molecular signaling events in apoptotic and necrotic cell death and the contribution of various molecular components of these pathways to renal injury.
Use of wikis in pharmacy hybrid elective courses

Abstract Objectives Three separate elective courses on medication safety, clinical research, and evidence-based medicine used a hybrid course design combining online wikis and face-to-face interaction. Enrolled students were surveyed to assess their perceptions of wiki effectiveness in reviewing course content and the engagement of students in wiki assignments was assessed through examination of wiki entries. Methods Online surveys were disseminated to enrolled students after course completion. Respondents evaluated agreement with survey statements using a five-point Likert scale, and additional space was provided for open-ended answers. Survey results were reported using descriptive statistics. Wiki entries were compared throughout the course. Results Survey responses on the use of wikis within hybrid elective courses indicate that wikis helped students review and understand course concepts and reflect on course content. A smaller percentage of students felt that wikis within a hybrid course design enhanced collegiality among their peers. Wiki entries became more complex and improved throughout each course. Conclusions Wikis within hybrid elective courses enhanced the student experience by reinforcing course concepts and objectives.
A NEW HYMENOLEPID TAPEWORM FROM WILD TURKEYS OF ARKANSAS, USA

Publisher Summary This chapter presents reports related to a new hymenolepid tapeworm from wild turkeys of Arkansas. The reported cestodes of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in the United States comprise 13 known species in six genera. Although the majority of these tapeworms infect both domestic and wild turkeys, a few have been recorded from only the wild host. Viscera of 126 wild turkeys from five counties in Arkansas and one county in Mississippi were examined for the presence of this hymenolepid. Infected birds were found in Grant and Hot Springs counties, Arkansas, with an incidence of 91% and 50%, respectively. Infected birds were not found in Arkansas, Desha, or Lee counties, Arkansas, or in Bolivar country, Mississippi.
Determining the Orientations of Ocean Bottom Seismometers Using Virtual Sources

We present a new method for determining the horizontal orientation of ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) using the polarization of virtual Rayleigh waves retrieved from ambient noise cross-correlation. We demonstrate that the sensor orientation angle can be estimated through maximizing the correlation between the radial-vertical component and the Hilbert transformed vertical-vertical component of the empirical Greens tensor. We apply this method to L-SCAN OBS array data collected from the Eastern Lau Spreading Center, and illustrate its robustness by comparing the obtained orientations with results from a conventional method utilizing teleseismic P and Rayleigh wave polarizations. The advantage of the ambient noise method lies in the large number of inter-station ray paths and excellent azimuthal coverage for large OBS arrays. Potential applications include continuous monitoring of sensor orientations during time-lapse survays.
AN INTEGRATED SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT FOR CFD AND OTHER COMPUTATIONAL DISCIPLINES

The simulation of physical processes using numerical models typically requires the execution of a number of tools. A significant amount of user time is required to simply manage this simulation process. This paper describes an integrated simulation environment infrastructure that has been developed to assist the user in managing the simulation process. The environment can provide graphical user interfaces (GUI) to non-GUI tools, manage the flow of data and execution among the tools, and reduce the learning curve for the tools by removing mundane details that are managed by the environment. A sample simulation environment has been developed and is presented for overset computational fluid dynamics simulations.
Perturbing the Active Process of Hair Cells: Self Recovery of Spontaneous Oscillations Following Overstimulation

In the inner ear, hair cells perform the transduction of mechanical input into electrical output. An energy-consuming process enhances their sensitivity to incoming auditory and vestibular stimuli. One manifestation of this active process is spontaneous oscillation of the mechano-sensitive organelle, the hair bundle, which is at the apical surface of each hair cell. To attain this increased sensitivity, the hair bundle is postulated to operate near a bifurcation, where an internal control parameter vital to the active process determines whether the bundle shows limit cycle oscillations or is quiescent. This control parameter may be linked to adaptation in vertebrate hair cells and could help explain how prolonged high-level sounds cause a temporary threshold shift in mammalian hearing. High amplitude, prolonged deflection of bullfrog sacculus bundles have been shown to temporarily suppress spontaneous oscillations, suggesting a readjustment of the control parameter through a bifurcation. The transition back from quiescence to limit cycle oscillations has been shown to depend on the duration of the imposed deflection and on calcium ion concentration around the mechanically gated transduction channels.Here, we present experiments where we identify other environmental factors that affect this control of the active process. We introduce various pharmacological agents to manipulate the mechano-sensitive transduction channels and the myosin motors inside the hair bundles. We compare how these agents affect particular components of the internal control parameter by measuring the duration of the induced quiescent intervals and the time scales associated with the return of the bundle's position to equilibrium. Additionally, we attach magnetic bead particles to the hair bundles and deflect with a strong magnetic field. Thus, hair bundles avoid physical contact with the stimulus probe, and experience no external hydrodynamic effects. Selected results are discussed.
Architecture: A Nexus of Creativity, Math, and Spatial Ability

The United States is dependent on innovations in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields for the growth of its economy and improvements to quality of life, but too few students are...
Medical Management of Colorectal Carcinomas

Current information on the medical treatment of colorectal cancer was reviewed after a search of the literature through Medline. Publications from 1984 to present were surveyed. Appropriate adjuvan...