cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preferences for Explanation Generality Develop Early in Biology But Not Physics

One of the core functions of explanation is to support prediction and generalization. However, some explanations license a broader range of predictions than others. For instance, an explanation about biology could be presented as applying to a specific case (e.g., "this bear") or more generally across "all animals." The current study investigated how 5- to 7-year-olds (N = 36), 11- to 13-year-olds (N = 34), and adults (N = 79) evaluate explanations at varying levels of generality in biology and physics. Findings revealed that even the youngest children preferred general explanations in biology. However, only older children and adults preferred explanation generality in physics. Findings are discussed in light of differences in our intuitions about biological and physical principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
The association between socioeconomic status and subclinical atherosclerosis in a rural Bangladesh population

Abstract Background In Bangladesh, CVD accounts for the majority of non-communicable mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of socioeconomic status (SES) on subclinical atherosclerosis measured as carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in a rural Bangladesh population. Methods Carotid IMT was measured between 2010 and 2011 in 1022 participants (average age 46, 40% male) randomly selected from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS), a population-based prospective cohort study based in rural Bangladesh. SES was measured as occupation type, land ownership, educational attainment, and television ownership. Results Half of the participants received formal education (53%) and under half owned land (48%) and a television (44%). Women were primarily homemakers (95%) and men worked as factory workers (24%), laborers (18%), or in business (55%). In univariate analysis, those owning greater than one acre of land (p = 0.03), owning a television (p = 0.02), or laborers and business owners compared to factory workers had higher levels of carotid IMT (p Conclusion Business sector employment was positively associated with subclinical atherosclerosis after adjustment for confounders. This finding is consistent with evidence from other developing nations suggesting that certain SES factors are independent predictors of CVD.
Privacy-Preserving Community-Aware Trending Topic Detection in Online Social Media

Trending Topic Detection has been one of the most popular methods to summarize what happens in the real world through the analysis and summarization of social media content. However, as trending topic extraction algorithms become more sophisticated and report additional information like the characteristics of users that participate in a trend, significant and novel privacy issues arise. We introduce a statistical attack to infer sensitive attributes of Online Social Networks users that utilizes such reported community-aware trending topics. Additionally, we provide an algorithmic methodology that alters an existing community-aware trending topic algorithm so that it can preserve the privacy of the involved users while still reporting topics with a satisfactory level of utility.
How to Help Students Learn Class Combination in the Course of Java Language

The combination of the class is a common method in software reuse. The teacher carried out a detailed analysis of class combination related difficulties such as object memory model representation, parameter transmission of method, the UML diagram of classes, effectively made the class combination less difficult and abstract, improved the classroom teaching effect, and facilitated students to master the core course of The Java Language Programming faster and better.
Solar + Storage Synergies for Managing Commercial-Customer Demand Charges

Author(s): Gagnon, P; Govindarajan, A; Bird, L; Barbose, GL; Darghouth, NR; Mills, AD | Abstract: Demand charges, which are based on a customer’s maximum demand in kilowatts (kW), are a common element of electricity rate structures for commercial customers. Customer-sited solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can potentially reduce demand charges, but the level of savings is difficult to predict, given variations in demand charge designs, customer loads, and PV generation profiles. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are collaborating on a series of studies to understand how solar PV can impact demand charges. Prior studies in the series examined demand charge reductions from solar on a stand-alone basis for residential and commercial customers. Those earlier analyses found that solar, alone, has limited ability to reduce demand charges depending on the specific design of the demand charge and on the shape of the customer’s load profile. This latest analysis estimates demand charge savings from solar in commercial buildings when co-deployed with behind-the-meter storage, highlighting the complementary roles of the two technologies. The analysis is based on simulated loads, solar generation, and storage dispatch across a wide variety of building types, locations, system configurations, and demand charge designs.
Minimal Residual Disease

The goal of cancer therapy is to eliminate all cancer cells in a patient by surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. If residual cancer cells remain after therapy, the patient is more likely to have recurrent disease. Thus, detection of small amounts of residual cancer is predictive of relapse. Methods for detecting small amounts of cancer may include microscopy, cytogenetic studies, immunohistochemical or immunofluorescent staining, or sensitive molecular techniques. Although very sensitive methods are available to detect residual cancer, there is no agreement as to whether and how to treat patients with minimal residual disease.
Lactoferrin: a critical player in neonatal host defense.

Newborn infants are at a high risk for infection due to an under-developed immune system, and human milk has been shown to exhibit substantial anti-infective properties that serve to bolster neonatal defenses against multiple infections. Lactoferrin is the dominant whey protein in human milk and has been demonstrated to perform a wide array of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions and play a critical role in protecting the newborn infant from infection. This review summarizes data describing the structure and important functions performed by lactoferrin in protecting the neonate from infection and contributing to the maturation of the newborn innate and adaptive immune systems. We also briefly discuss clinical trials examining the utility of lactoferrin supplementation in the prevention of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in newborn infants. The data reviewed provide rationale for the continuation of studies to examine the effects of lactoferrin administration on the prevention of sepsis in the neonate.
Biomass Grinding Process Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology and a Hybrid Genetic Algorithm

Biomass could be a key source of renewable energy. Agricultural waste products, such as corn stover, provide a convenient means to replace fossil fuels, such as coal, and a large amount of feedstock is currently available for energy consumption in the U.S. This study has two main objectives: (1) to understand the impact of corn stover moisture content and grinder speed on grind physical properties; and (2) develop response surface models and optimize these models using a hybrid genetic algorithm. The response surface models developed were used to draw surface plots to understand the interaction effects of the corn stover grind moisture content and grinder speed on the grind physical properties and specific energy consumption. The surface plots indicated that a higher corn stover grind moisture content and grinder speed had a positive effect on the bulk and tapped density. The final grind moisture content was highly influenced by the initial moisture content of the corn stover grind. Optimization of the response surface models using the hybrid genetic algorithm indicated that moisture content in the range of 17 to 19% (w.b.) and a grinder speed of 47 to 49 Hz maximized the bulk and tapped density and minimized the geomantic mean particle length. The specific energy consumption was minimized when the grinder speed was about 20 Hz and the corn stover grind moisture content was about 10% (w.b.).
Development of the neutron energy-biased in-air-figure-of-merit for predicting in-phantom BNCT neutron beam characteristics

Maximizing the efficacy of a Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) modality requires improvements in two areas: development of better boron-delivering drugs and better tailoring of the epithermal neutron beam. Previous attempts at the latter have not always been successful in predicting optimal in-phantom results, often assuming that all neutrons within a certain “useful” energy range are equally valuable for BNCT purposes. Some studies have recognized that higher energy epithermal neutrons (~10keV) and more forward-directed neutrons provide more penetrating beams. This results in higher tumor doses at centerline phantom depths. The exact effect of neutron beam energy spectrum shaping for BNCT has not been thoroughly explored. One reason for this has been the usage of inappropriate and often misleading in-air figures-of-merit.
LIDAR Data on Plankton in a fjord in Washington State

Abstract : Our long-term goal is to understand how physical-biological, biological-biological and chemical-biological interactions control the formation, maintenance and dissipation of thin layers of plankton and how the resulting thin layers impact in situ and remote sensing technologies of critical interest to the Navy. We are also interested in improving our ability not only to detect, characterize and map the temporal and spatial extent of thin layers, but also to improve our ability to predict their occurrence in a variety of ocean environments. Our short-term objective was to support the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in a continuing series of measurements in East Sound, Orcas Island, Washington. Specifically, the objective was to use the airborne lidar to locate layers in the sound and relay the position and depth of these layers to the NRL surface vessel in real time. The objectives of this program do not include data processing or analysis.
Grey eosinophils in a Miniature Schnauzer with a poorly differentiated mast cell tumor.

A 10-year-old female spayed Miniature Schnauzer was presented for investigation of an intra-nasal mass. The mass was diagnosed by histopathologic examination as an undifferentiated round cell neoplasm with an infiltrate of segmented leukocytes, interpreted as neutrophilic inflammation. The mass was treated with palliative radiation and systemic chemotherapy due to the presence of regional lymph node metastasis. During subsequent monitoring over several months, the peripheral leukocyte concentration was repeatedly within reference intervals to slightly increased with low numbers of toxic neutrophils. Four months after the initial diagnosis, there was a significant leukocytosis of 66 100 cells/μL, and 39 700 cells/μL of the leukocytes had variably mature, lobulated, and hypolobulated nuclei, and grey cytoplasm with clear vacuoles, resembling grey eosinophils. To further characterize these cells, peripheral blood smears from the patient and a canine control with eosinophilia were stained for alkaline phosphatase (AP), peroxidase, and esterase activities, and with Luxol fast blue (LFB). Histopathologic sections of the nasal mass were stained with LFB and immunohistochemically for tryptase. On blood smears, the cytoplasm of the suspected grey eosinophils stained for AP and granules stained with LFB confirmed that there was an eosinophilic lineage. Peroxidase staining was weak, and esterase staining was absent. On histopathologic sections from the nasal mass, the segmented leukocytes contained LFB-staining granules, indicating an eosinophilic infiltrate was present. Neoplastic cells expressed tryptase, which confirms a mast cell lineage. Our findings suggest that grey eosinophils might be under-recognized and interpreted incorrectly as toxic neutrophils. This report expands the canine breeds in which these eosinophils have been identified.
Greening up stormwater infrastructure: Measuring vegetation to establish context and promote cobenefits in a diverse set of US cities

Abstract Urban greening practices are often adopted to mitigate the negative impacts of increasing impervious surfaces in urban areas. In the United States, green approaches are prevalent in the field of stormwater management as some cities are required to install green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to meet regulatory requirements. While the primary function of GSI is to address stormwater quality and quantity issues, stormwater managers often tout the ancillary social and environmental benefits, or co-benefits, when promoting their green approach. Co-benefits are difficult to quantify because they span a diverse set of categories and cannot be easily measured using any single metric. Drawing from existing techniques in the field of ecosystem services, this study uses the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to establish trends in ecosystem services in ten US cities with GSI programs and to evaluate the impacts of GSI interventions on urban greenness. Results show that only two of the ten study cities (Seattle, WA and Milwaukee, WI) are getting greener, likely due to maturing vegetation. A case study for one of the 10 cities, Philadelphia, utilizes a stormwater control measure (SCM) inventory of GSI installations, and shows decreasing greenness at the city-wide scale. This case study demonstrates that 62% of GSI project area is composed of non-vegetated SCMs. High-resolution imagery and spatial GSI data identifies densification trends in Philadelphia where non-vegetated SCMs are installed to control post-development stormwater, resulting in a decrease in NDVI. Smaller, vegetated SCMs contribute to greenness and related co-benefits when installed in series, especially when near larger vegetated vacant lots. Moving forward, decision makers are encouraged to incorporate NDVI into their planning processes to move beyond water quality and quantity control measures and directly incorporate and incentivize co-benefits into GSI goals.
Rational design, synthesis and evaluation of uncharged, "smart" bis-oxime antidotes of organophosphate-inhibited human acetylcholinesterase.

Organophosphate (OP) intoxications from nerve agent and OP pesticide exposures are managed with pyridinium aldoxime-based therapies whose success rates are currently limited. The pyridinium cation hampers uptake of OPs into the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, it frequently binds to aromatic residues of OP-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in orientations that are nonproductive for AChE reactivation, and the structural diversity of OPs impedes efficient reactivation. Improvements of OP antidotes need to include much better access of AChE reactivators to the CNS and optimized orientation of the antidotes' nucleophile within the AChE active-center gorge. On the basis of X-ray structures of a CNS-penetrating reactivator, monoxime RS194B, reversibly bound to native and venomous agent X (VX)-inhibited human AChE, here we created seven uncharged acetamido bis-oximes as candidate antidotes. Both oxime groups in these bis-oximes were attached to the same central, saturated heterocyclic core. Diverse protonation of the heterocyclic amines and oxime groups of the bis-oximes resulted in equilibration among up to 16 distinct ionization forms, including uncharged forms capable of diffusing into the CNS and multiple zwitterionic forms optimal for reactivation reactions. Conformationally diverse zwitterions that could act as structural antidote variants significantly improved in vitro reactivation of diverse OP-human AChE conjugates. Oxime group reorientation of one of the bis-oximes, forcing it to point into the active center for reactivation, was confirmed by X-ray structural analysis. Our findings provide detailed structure-activity properties of several CNS-directed, uncharged aliphatic bis-oximes holding promise for use as protonation-dependent, conformationally adaptive, "smart" accelerated antidotes against OP toxicity.
Extreme precipitation enhances phenolic concentrations of spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Understanding environmental impacts on crop growth and quality is essential in developing sustainable agricultural practices with climate change. Shifts are expected in precipitation, an essential ...
The establishment of an arterialized liver transplantation model in mice

Objective To establish a stable orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT)model with hepatic artery reconstruction in mice.Methods Of the 66 OLT mice,33 recipient mice underwent conventional 'two cuff' technique without hepatic artery reconstruction(control group),33 with hepatic artery reconstruction using 'stent' technology(experimental group).Results The 2 week posttransplant survival rate was 84.85%(28/33)and 81.82%(27/33)in the arterialized and nonarterialized groups respectively.Serum γ-GT and ALP level of arterialized recipient were much lower than those of nonarterialized animals.The pathology of the donor liver showed that rearterialization helps to relieve bile duct injury of liver allograft.Conclusions The hepatic artery supply plays a central role in preventing bile duct injury after transplantation.This mouse OLT model may meet the need for the study of problems associated with liver transplantation. Key words: Liver transplantation; Animal experimentation; Revascularization
Characterization of ductile phase toughening mechanisms in a hot-rolled tungsten heavy alloy

Abstract Tungsten heavy alloys (WHAs) are a type of ductile phase toughened alloy that are becoming increasingly interesting as an alternative to polycrystalline tungsten for fusion reactor plasma facing material components due to their balanced strength and ductility. To justify their use in the extremely harsh environment of a fusion reactor, understanding detailed microstructural features of WHAs associated with their mechanical property changes is necessary. A 90W-7Ni-3Fe WHA alloy has been chosen to investigate the effect of thermomechanical treatment and microstructural manipulation on the overall effectiveness of deformation accommodation in these bi-phase metallic composites. Both in-situ tensile testing and 3D microstructural analysis of the samples reveal a predominance of microcracking at tungsten grain boundaries that are blunted and arrested by the ductile phase, while there remains little to no instances of interfacial debonding. Thermomechanical treatment of this alloy is found to alter the spherical brittle phase domains into elongated plates, drastically reducing the ductile phase connectivity, and changing the nature of material deformation. Characterization of the ductile phase toughening mechanisms in these materials has provided deeper insight into the underlying physics governing material behavior in these alloys; revealing a surprising interfacial strength between the different phases.
Gut-derived T cells might cause brain injury in NEC

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an acute intestinal emergency in preterm infants, which is often later complicated by cognitive delay and neurodevelopmental disability. A new study performed in mice suggests that CD4+ T cells can travel from the NEC-inflamed gut to the brain and cause IFNγ-mediated brain injury.
Clinical and Surgical Management of Pediatric Branchial and Congenital Anomalies of the Head and Neck

Congenital anomalies of the head and neck manifest from errors in its complex embryology developing into mature structures. These abnormalities may herald at birth or become evident later in life, even to the tenth decade. The results of aberrant development may be difficult to diagnose, but knowledge of the relevant embryological pathways is key to identification and successful treatment. This chapter reviews the anomalies of the embryonic neck tissues: the branchial apparatus, skin and adnexal tissues, mesoderm, and skeleton.
A Novel Subxiphoid Approach for Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Harvesting.

ObjectiveBilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) bypass can enable more complete arterial revascularization procedures. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) can offer significant patient ben...
Interview by Fisher Dilke — Randomness in Arithmetic

[My first TV interview, broadcast by the BBC in. 1990. It had the amazing effect of convincing some Brits that I believe that 2 + 2 is sometimes 5 and sometimes 3, which is precisely what I deny in the interview. This was in a weekly program on the arts, Arena: Numbers, and it was the first program of its season and therefore quite visible. My inclusion was due to the fact that the producer, Fisher Dilke, had a science degree, and also because this particular Arena program was on the role that numbers play in the arts and in popular culture.]
Wen stellen wir bloß ein

„Sie sind ja hier als Vertreter der Industrie. Konnen Sie uns ein paar Fragen beantworten? Welcher Stoff, den wir hier im Studium behandeln, ist im Beruf am wichtigsten? Was mussen wir uns besonders aneignen? Was mussen wir unbedingt konnen? Was wird erwartet? Ist ein Auslandsaufenthalt notig? Ist es gut, wenn wir Praktika absolviert haben?“
A Novel Approach to Cell Formation

We present an approach to the cell formation problem, known from group technology, which is inspired by formal concept analysis. The cell formation problem consists in allocating parts (objects) to machines (attributes), based on the machine-part matrix. This can be viewed as forming groups consisting of a set of parts and a set of machines. Such groups resemble formal concepts in the input data. Due to the specific nature of the performance assessment in the cell formation problem, good groups can be thought of as rectangles which, unlike those corresponding to formal concepts, contain a few blanks, i.e. which are not full of crosses in terms of formal concept analysis. Moreover, such groups need to be disjoint both in terms of objects and attributes. In this paper, we present an algorithm for the cell formation problem, experimental results, and a comparison to some methods proposed in the literature.
Dynamics of Hope: Eternal Life and Daily Christian Living, by Charlotte Joy Martin

Martin's unassuming volume Dynamics of Hope presented me with a wonderful paradox. At once I found it concise, and yet thoroughly illuminating on a wide range of topics. Its size may appear to conv...
Preconditions for English Modernization

Why did the Industrial Revolution start in England? An economic historian can hardly find any indicators during the Middle Ages that the Albion had potential to modernize before France or Spain. Yet, during the thirteenth century, an irreversible process began on the British Isles that would create all the necessary preconditions for their take-off half a millennium later. This paper explores the evolution of the unique English social and political institutional structures responsible for the rise of western democracy and free market capitalism.
The hot part of the interstellar medium

In the preparation of this chapter there arose issues of semantics. Specifically, what does the “hot part” mean in reference to the interstellar medium (ISM), and just what part of the hot ISM should be considered? As the original task for this chapter referred to the X-ray and EUV (extreme ultraviolet), appropriate temperatures are in the several 105K to several 106K range. In a Universe where the fundamental temperature is currently about 3 K and in a Galaxy where most of the material in the ISM has temperatures less than 104K, any component at 106K must have been produced by fairly extreme and unusually spectacular methods. The most common of these methods in the general galactic disk are supernovae, occasionally aided and abetted by the stellar winds of massive stars. However, as supernova remnants (SNRs) are ably covered elsewhere in this text (see Chapter 41), the topic for this chapter required further refinement. What happens to a SNR when it slips past middle age into its dotage? All of the visual features that allow a SNR to stand out clearly from the background fade: the shock fronts (the interface region between the expanding SNR and the undisturbed ISM) with occasionally spectacular radio, optical, and X-ray emission, and the hot and relatively dense interior with bright X-ray emission. As the SNR fades it also increases in size to become a more significant, or at least a more extensive part of the ISM. In essence it becomes old and boring, and fades into the woodwork; a pale ghost of its former self.
Deformable 2D-3D registration of the pelvis with a limited field of view, using shape statistics

Our paper summarizes experiments for measuring the accuracy of deformable 2D-3D registration between sets of simulated x-ray images (DRR's) and a statistical shape model of the pelvis bones, which includes x-ray attenuation information ("density"). In many surgical scenarios, the images contain a truncated view of the pelvis anatomy. Our work specifically addresses this problem by examining different selections of truncated views as target images. Our atlas is derived by applying principal component analysis to a population of up to 110 instance shapes. The experiments measure the registration error with a large and truncated FOV. A typical accuracy of about 2 mm is achieved in the 2D- 3D registration, compared with about 1.4 mm of an "optimal" 3D-3D registration.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome with "adenoma malignum" of the cervix. A report of two cases.

Abstract Two cases of the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome associated with cervical adenocarcinoma of the "adenoma malignum" type are reported with a review of four similar cases, three of which have been reported elsewhere. One of our two patients also had bilateral ovarian sex cord tumors with annular tubules and the other had bilateral ovarian mucinous cystadenomas of borderline malignancy. The relatively frequent occurrence of "adenoma malignum" of the cervix, an otherwise rare form of cervical cancer, in women with the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, warrants close supervision of these patients by a gynecologist to assure early detection and treatment of this highly malignant tumor.
Tumour in solitary kidney: laparoscopic partial nephrectomy vs laparoscopic cryoablation.

Study Type – Therapy (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Tumour in a solitary functioning kidney represents an absolute indication for nephron-sparing surgery whenever technically feasible. We report the longest follow-up data comparing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic cryoablation in patients with solitary kidney with oncological follow-up to five years. OBJECTIVES • We compare perioperative, functional and intermediate-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) vs laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA) for small renal tumour in patients with a solitary kidney. • A treatment algorithm is also proposed. PATIENT AND METHODS • Over a 10-year period (02/1998-09/2008), 78 patients with a small tumour in a functionally solitary kidney underwent LPN (n= 48) or LCA (n= 30). • Baseline, perioperative, and follow-up data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS • Demographic data were similar between the LPN and LCA groups. Tumours were somewhat larger (3.2 vs 2.6 cm) in the LPN group. LPN was associated with greater blood loss (391 vs 162 mL; P= 0.003), and trended towards more post-operative complications (22.9% vs 6.7%; P= 0.07). • By 3 months post-operative, eGFR decreased by 14.5% and 7.3% after LPN and LCA, respectively (P= 0.02). Post-operative temporary dialysis was required after 3 LPN (6.2% vs 0%, P= 0.16). • Median follow-up time for LPN and LCA was 42.7 and 60.2 months, respectively. • Local recurrence was detected in 4 (13.3%) LCA patients only (P= 0.02). • Overall survival was comparable between LPN and LCA at 3 and 5 years, respectively (P= 0.74). The LPN group had superior cancer-specific and recurrence-free survival at 3 and 5 years compared to the LCA group (P < 0.05, for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS • Given adequate technical expertise, both LPN and LCA are viable nephron-sparing options for patients with tumour in a solitary kidney. • Although LCA is technically easier and has superior functional outcomes, oncologic outcomes are superior after LPN.
Noisy channel performance of intraframe VQ coding of images

Results for vector quantization encoded data transmitted over a binary symmetric channel are presented. An empirical technique for predicting the effect of channel errors has been developed. To prevent unnecessary bandwidth expansion, a method of selectively protecting only the most vulnerable source bits was examined at two different bit-error probabilities. For low-rate source-coding application, the use of forward error-correcting coding resulted in a 3-5 dB signal-to-noise ratio improvement compared to systems using alternative source-coding rates but without error control. >
Network-on-chip link analysis under power and performance constraints

This paper analyzes the behavior of interconnects in the highly structured environment of a network-on-chip (NoC). Two distinct classes of wires are considered, namely links between adjacent routers and links between a router and an attached processing element (PE). Analytical models for global router-to-router links and semi-global router-to-PE links are studied. Power and performance optimizations are obtained for each of these two classes of interconnections.
An investigation into the role of lipid peroxidation in the mode of action of aromatic hydrocarbon and dicarboximide fungicides

Abstract The mode of actio of aromatic hydrocarbon and dicarboximide fungicides has been the subject of many studies which have not conclusively identified the primary target site. One current theory proposes that active oxygen species generated by these compounds initiate lipid peroxidation. We studied the effects of two aromatic hydrocarbons, chloroneb and tolclophos-methyl, and three dicarboximides, vinclozolin, iprodione, and myclozoline, on microsomes of Ustilago maydis . As a control, we compared the effect of paraquat, which is known to generate active oxygen, with that of these fungicides. Growth of U. maydis is very sensitive to all five compounds under study, especially to tolchlophos-methyl (I 50 = 0.3 μg/ml). No lipid peroxidation occurred in the fungal microsomes when treated with the fungicides. In fact, no peroxidation was observed when the fungal microsomes were treated with a potent oxidation system of ascorbate iron. This may be explained by the lack of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids in this fungus. Whereas paraquat caused the uncoupling of electron flow in U. maydis microsomes as demonstrated by NADPH oxidation and O 2 consumption, no effect was observed upon treatment with the fungicides. These compounds also did not inhibit NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase activity. These results suggest that lipid peroxidation as the primary mode of action of these compounds is unlikely in this organism.
Test and evaluation of a SoS using a prescriptive and adaptive testing framework

Testers need the ability to adapt test planning on the order of days and weeks. PATFrame will use its reasoning engine to prescribe the most effective strategies for the situation at hand. Strategies in this context include methods of experimental designs, test schedules and resource allocation. By facilitating rapid planning and replanning, the PATFrame reasoning engine will enable users to use information learned during the test process to improve the effectiveness of their own testing rather than simply follow a preset schedule. This capability is particularly attractive in the domain of Systems of Systems testing because the complexity of test planning and scheduling make frequent re-planning by hand infeasible.
Precision tracking systems for sonobuoys

A system has been developed to track arrays consisting of several sonobuoys deployed for acoustic detection. This navigation technique can be used to track the position of any free-drifting hydrophones. The method, employing bottom-moored acoustic transponders, can provide relative hydrophone positions to within 20 meters. Ultimate geographical positioning is dependent on the accuracy of the primary navigation system available; satellite navigation can yield absolute positions to within 200 meters. The system operates in real time, yielding a hydrophone fix every 20-30 seconds. Sonobuoy arrays have been deployed for acoustic detection and localization of microearthquakes in the median valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
The conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to methylglyoxal and inorganic phosphate by methylglyoxal synthase

Abstract [ 14 C]Dihydroxyacetone phosphate labeled in either the C-1 or C-3 position was enzymatically synthesized, isolated, and utilized as a substrate for crystalline methylglyoxal synthase purified from Proteus vulgaris . After reaction with the enzyme, the methyl carbon of methylglyoxal 3 was identified as CHI 3 by the iodoform reaction. The labeling pattern revealed that C-1 is dephosphorylated and reduced to the methyl group, while C-3 is oxidized to the aldehyde. Methylglyoxal was found to be noncompetitive with respect to dihydroxyacetone phosphate, while inorganic phosphate was competitive and transformed the dihydroxyacetone phosphate saturation kinetics from hyperbolic to sigmoidal. The enzyme was inactivated by freezing, and phosphate stabilized the enzyme toward both cold- and heat-induced denaturation. The phosphate moiety of the substrate appears to be required for binding, since the synthase is competitively inhibited by a variety of phosphorylated compounds but not by their nonphosphorylated counterparts. Based on these observations, and the ability of bromo- and iodoacetol phosphates to act as active-site reagents, a mechanism is proposed in which the enzyme first catalyzes the keto-enol tautomerization to the hydrogen-bonded enol which facilitates the internal oxidation-reduction and phosphoester cleavage with CO bond breakage.
A quantitative method for determining spatial discriminative capacity

Background The traditional two-point discrimination (TPD) test, a widely used tactile spatial acuity measure, has been criticized as being imprecise because it is based on subjective criteria and involves a number of non-spatial cues. The results of a recent study showed that as two stimuli were delivered simultaneously, vibrotactile amplitude discrimination became worse when the two stimuli were positioned relatively close together and was significantly degraded when the probes were within a subject's two-point limen. The impairment of amplitude discrimination with decreasing inter-probe distance suggested that the metric of amplitude discrimination could possibly provide a means of objective and quantitative measurement of spatial discrimination capacity.
Enhancement of herpesvirus type 2 infection in pregnant mice.

SummaryPregnant and nonpregnant mice were infected with HSV-2 by the IVAG, IP, IV and INAS routes. An enhancement of infection in pregnant mice was demonstrated only by the IVAG route. In addition, infection with a respiratory virus (influenza A) demonstrated that pregnant mice were not more susceptible and were perhaps more resistant than nonpregnant mice to this infection.
Comment on "Soft-pion theorems and a light-cone quark model"

A Comment on the Letter by Z-J. Cao and L. S. Kisslinger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 1007 (1990).
Nonlinear Control of a Single-Link Shape Memory Alloy Actuated Arm

This paper presents a nonlinear, robust control algorithm for accurate positioning of a single degree of freedom rotary manipulator actuated by Shape Memory Alloy (SMA). A model for an SMA actuated manipulator is presented. The model includes nonlinear dynamics of the manipulator, a constitutive model of Shape Memory Alloy, and electrical and heat transfer behavior of SMA wire. This model is used for open and closed loop motion simulations of the manipulator. Experiments are presented that show results similar to both closed and open loop simulation results. Due to modeling uncertainty and nonlinear behavior of the system, classic control methods such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative control are not able to present fast and accurate performance. Hence a nonlinear, robust control algorithm is presented based on Variable Structure Control. This algorithm is a control gain switching technique based on the weighted average of position and velocity feedbacks. This method has been designed through simulation and tested experimentally. Results show fast, accurate, and robust performance of the control system. Computer simulation and experimental results for different stabilization and tracking situations are also presented.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Die-counting algorithm for yield modeling and die-per-wafer optimization

This paper presents a computer algorithm for accurately counting the total number of possible yielding die sites on a wafer. This algorithm takes into account such variables as the X and Y die dimensions, the size and orientation of the wafer flat(s), the size of the non-yielding periphery zone, and the position of the die array relative to the center of the wafer. This algorithm can be used in conjunction with a variety of different yield models to increase each model's ability to predict accurate die per wafer yields. In addition to applications in yield modeling, this die counting algorithm may also be used as a tool for increasing yields or decreasing circuit layout cycle time. Several examples of these alternate applications are presented.
Dealing with the Threat of Rape: Reactance or Learned Helplessness?1

The effects of perceived controllability of rape victimization among potential rape victims were investigated in three studies. In a true experiment, perceived controllability of rape was manipulated through a pamphlet rating paradigm (N= 60). Women who saw materials that presented rape as an uncontrollable event reported greater anxiety on the street (p <.001) and in their homes (p <.05), and greater intention to engage in precautionary behaviors (p <.001) than women who read materials that presented rape as somewhat more controllable. In a quasi-experiment, women (N= 58) were classified as viewing rape as controllable or uncontrollable based on their descriptions of the “typical rape”. Women who viewed rape as an uncontrollable event reported higher risk of rape (p <.05) and unlike respondents in Study 1, reported less use of precautionary behaviors on the street (p <.05) than women who viewed rape as a somewhat controllable event. In Study 3, women (N= 40) were classified as perceiving high or low controllability based on pre-test responses. As in Study 2, women who reported lower control perceptions also reported more fear and less precautionary behavior. As predicted, the high control women reported significantly higher levels of fear after being exposed to the low control message used in Study 1. These women, however, did not increase their intended self-protective behavior. These results are discussed in terms of reactance and learned helplessness.
Inside the thymus

The thymus has fascinated immunologists since the discovery that it influenced the maturation of T lymphocytes. However, only within the past five years have investigations of the thymus progressed beyond descriptive histology or functional studies performed at the population level. Our closeness to an understanding of the raison d'etre of the thymus was discussed at a recent meeting.
Pitting Function of the Spleen in Malaria: Ultrastructural Observations

Ultrastructural studies of spleens from monkeys infected with Plasmodium knowlesi suggest that the spleen removes or "pits" malaria parasites from red cells. This function may explain the presence of nonparasitized spherocytic erythrocytes in the peripheral blood and may in part account for the discrepancy between the excessive hemolysis and the number of parasitized erythrocytes in animals with experimentally induced malaria.
Allosteric effectors of hemoglobin as modulators of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in vitro and in vivo

Introduction: A series of molecules designed to be allosteric effectors of hemoglobin were examined for their potential as radiation sensitizers in vitro and in vivo and for their potential as chemosensitizers in vivo as well as for their antimetastatic effect. Results: At a concentration of 100 μM for 1 h prior to, during and for 1.5 h after radiation exposure, the allosteric effectors decreased the shoulder of the radiation survival curve of normally oxygenated EMT-6 cells and increased the slope of the radiation survival curves of hypoxic EMT-6 cells resulting in dose-modifying factors of 1.8 to 2.1. In vivo the allosteric effectors had antitumor activity against the Lewis lung carcinoma and produced primarily additive tumor growth delay when administered along with fractionated radiation therapy. When administered on days 4 through 18 after tumor implantation, the allosteric effectors, especially JP-7, RSR-13 and RSR-4, were highly effective antimetastatic agents in animals bearing Lewis lung carcinoma. In cell culture, simultaneous exposure to the allosteric effectors (at 100 μM ) effectively sensitized EMT-6 cells to the effects of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide, thiotepa and carboplatin. The allosteric effectors were not very cytotoxic toward EMT-6 tumor cells from tumors treated in vivo with single doses of each molecule nor were these agents very cytotoxic toward bone marrow CFU-GM taken from the same animals. Conclusions: It is likely that the allosteric effectors have a molecular target in addition to hemoglobin. Other possible targets include hydroxymethyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase or microsomal cytochrome b5.
Assessment of wound-site redox environment and the significance of Rac2 in cutaneous healing

We have previously reported that H(2)O(2) is actively generated by cells at the wound site and that H(2)O(2)-driven redox signaling supports wound angiogenesis and healing. In this study, we have standardized a novel and effective electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy-based approach to assess the redox environment of the dermal wound site in vivo. Rac2 regulates inducible NADPH oxidase activation and other functional responses in neutrophils. Using Rac2-deficient mice we sought to investigate the significance of Rac2 in the wound-site redox environment and healing responses. Noninvasive measurements of metabolism of topically applied nitroxide (15)N-perdeuterated tempone in murine excisional dermal wounds demonstrated that the wound site is rich in oxidants, the levels of which peak 2 days postwounding in the inflammatory phase. Rac2-deficient mice had threefold lower production of superoxide compared to controls with similar wounds. In these mice, a lower wound-site superoxide level was associated with compromised wound closure. Immunostaining of wound edges harvested during the inflammatory phase showed that the numbers of phagocytic cells recruited to the wound site in Rac2-deficient and control mice were similar, but the amount of lipid peroxidation was significantly lower in Rac2-deficient mice, indicating compromised NADPH oxidase activity. Taken together, the findings of this study support that the wound site is rich in oxidants. Rac2 significantly contributes to oxidant production at the wound site and supports the healing process.
Normal-Mode Flexible Fitting of High-Resolution Structure of Biological Molecules toward One-Dimensional Low-Resolution Data

We present a method for reconstructing a 3D structure from a pair distribution function by flexibly fitting known x-ray structures toward a conformation that agrees with the low-resolution data. This method uses a linear combination of low-frequency normal modes from elastic-network description of the molecule in an iterative manner to deform the structure optimally to conform to the target pair distribution function. A simple function, pair distance distribution function between atoms, is chosen as a test model to establish computational algorithms—optimization algorithm and scoring function—that can utilize low-resolution 1D data. To select a correct structural model based on less information, we developed a scoring function that takes into account a characteristic of pair distribution functions. In addition, we employ a new optimization algorithm, the trusted region method, that relies on both first and second derivatives of the scoring function. Illustrative results of our studies on simulated 1D data from five different proteins, for which large conformational changes are known to occur, are presented.
Influence of Surface Defect Structure on the Underpotential Deposition of Pb Monolayers at Ag(111)

The underpotential deposition (upd) of Pb monolayers at Ag(111) thin-film electrodes in perchlorate solutions have been investigated as a function of the substrate defect structure. Ag(111) films were grown epitaxially on muscovite mica by thermal evaporation and annealed at 300 °C at 10-6 Torr for periods between 0 and 12 h. X-ray diffraction and electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy indicate that thermal annealing significantly increases the degree of film crystallinity and smoothness. A more ideal voltammetric response for the upd of Pb was obtained using Ag thin-film electrodes that were annealed for periods longer than 6 h. Specifically, the width of the upd voltammetric wave, as well as the splitting between the cathodic and anodic peaks, was found to decrease with an increase in annealing time. Surface roughness factors (defined as the ratio of the electrochemically-active area relative to the geometric area) for the Ag(111) films decreased from 1.15 for unannealed films to 0.99 ± 0.03 for ...
The effect of viewing position on the perceived layout of space

Eight observers judged the location of 13 objects in an open field by drawing a map of the scene, estimating absolute distances between objects, and rank ordering subsets of distances. Half the observers made judgments twice from the same position while the rest moved 90° around the scene before making the second set of judgments. Scaled judgments showed a strong visible similarity to the actual spatial layout of the scene. Observer judgments changed significantly as a function of observer position. A portion of this effect was due to a perceptual shortening of radial distances. These results were taken to support the classical psychophysical model of space perception rather than a strong ecological model and to emphasize the importance of the subjective element of visual space perception.