cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A dedicated undergraduate track in computer security education

To better prepare our graduates to face the challenges in computer and information security, in Fall 2002, the authors launched an undergraduate track in computer security for the computer science majors at Towson University. This paper describes the motivation for this track and discusses its structure and requirements.
Unified nonlinear analysis for nonhomogeneous anisotropic beams with closed cross sections

A unified methodology for geometrically nonlinear analysis of nonhomogeneous, anisotropic beams is presented. A 2D cross-sectional analysis and a nonlinear 1D global deformation analysis are derived from the common framework of a 3D, geometrically nonlinear theory of elasticity. The only restrictions are that the strain and local rotation are small compared to unity and that warping displacements are small relative to the cross-sectional dimensions. It is concluded that the warping solutions can be affected by large deformation and that this could alter the incremental stiffnes of the section. It is shown that sectional constants derived from the published, linear analysis can be used in the present nonlinear, 1D analysis governing the global deformation of the beam, which is based on intrinsic equations for nonlinear beam behavior. Excellent correlation is obtained with published experimental results for both isotropic and anisotropic beams undergoing large deflections.
Oligomerization of an archaeal group II chaperonin is mediated by N-terminal salt bridges

Abstract Group II chaperonins (Cpns) are essential mediators of cellular protein folding in eukaryotes and archaea. They consist of two back-to-back rings forming symmetrical cavities in which non-native substrates undergo appropriate folding, but the primary structural basis for the double ring formation remains unclear. To address this, we carried out systematic mutagenesis on the Cpn from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, which is assembled from identical subunits. In our study, 21GRDAQRMNIL30 was found to be a critical domain for double ring formation. Deletion of this section stepwise beyond residue 20 resulted in failure to assemble double-ring oligomers and the progressive loss of chaperone function. A key domain spanning the residues 21–50 that is essential for the formation of tetramers that appear to be the intermediates for double ring assembly. Mutation of either Arg22 to Ala22 or Glu37 to Ala37 resulted in similar defects in double-ring assembly and functional deficits. A mutant with Arg22 and Glu37 switched assembled double rings efficiently and exhibited chaperone functions similar to the wild-type. Therefore, Arg22 and Glu37 could form inter-ring salt bridges critical for double ring formation. In addition, Asn28 and Ile29 were found to contribute significantly to ring formation. Sequence alignment revealed that these four residues are highly conserved among group II Cpns. This is the first report of a comprehensive N-terminal mutational analysis for elucidating the oligomerization of group II Cpns.
The Temporal and Spatial Scales of Global Climate Change and the Limits of Individualistic and Rationalistic Ethics

Here I argue that the hyper-individualistic and rationalistic ethical paradigms – originating in the late eighteenth century and dominating moral philosophy, in various permutations, ever since – cannot capture the moral concerns evoked by the prospect of global climate change. Those paradigms are undone by the temporal and spatial scales of climate change. To press my argument, I deploy two famous philosophical tropes – John Rawls's notion of the original position and Derek Parfit's paradox – and another that promises to become famous: Dale Jamieson's six little ditties about Jack and Jill. I then go on to argue that the spatial and especially the temporal scales of global climate change demand a shift in moral philosophy from a hyper-individualistic ontology to a thoroughly holistic ontology. It also demands a shift from a reason-based to a sentiment-based moral psychology. Holism in environmental ethics is usually coupled with non-anthropocentrism in theories constructed to provide moral considerability for transorganismic entities – such as species, biotic communities, and ecosystems. The spatial and temporal scales of climate, however, render non-anthropocentric environmental ethics otiose, as I more fully explain. Thus the environmental ethic here proposed to meet the moral challenge of global climate change is holistic but anthropocentric. I start with Jamieson's six little ditties about Jack and Jill.
Sex differences in memory for erotica

Abstract The research investigates how the sexes differ in their memory for sexual stones. Twenty males and 20 females read a story describing a heterosexual encounter. The story contained romantic, erotic, and neutral elements. Memory was tested via a recognition test. As hypothesised, there were significant Subject Sex by Sentence Content interactions for both recognition accuracy and decision time. Women were better and faster at identifying romantic sentences: Men were better and faster at identifying erotic sentences. The sexes did not differ in responding to neutral sentences. The research illustrates the utility of the memory bias paradigm in the domain of sexuality.
Effect of halothane anesthesia on experimental Salmonella peritonitis in mice

Abstract Peritoneal neutrophil mobilization in mice following the intraperitoneal injection of S. typhimurium was markedly suppressed by anesthetizing the mice with halothane. Under the conditions of these experiments halothane anesthesia produced moderate hypothermia in the mice, but this was shown not to be responsible for the suppression of neutrophil response to endotoxin. Halothane concentrations of 30 mg. percent in culture medium supporting in vitro growth of S. typhimurium caused a diminution in bacterial growth rate, suggesting bacteriostasis. A series of tenfold dilutions of S. typhimurium were given to groups of mice, half of whom were anesthetized, the other half not anesthetized. Mortality rates of mice given halothane anesthesia developed more rapidly, although after discontinuing anesthesia the mortality rates of unanesthetized and anesthetized animals eventually became equal. The cause of the rapidity of death in anesthetized mice was shown not to be due to the endotoxin content of the bacteria. A combination of decreased extravasation of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity plus a depression of their function of phagocytosis allowed a relatively greater bacterial growth rate in the anesthetized mice given viable S. typhimurium, despite the bacteriostatic effect on the Salmonella itself. It is possible that prolonged general anesthesia may contribute to the incidence of infection through depression of the host's natural defenses.
The interaction of N-oleylethanolamine with phospholipid bilayers.

Abstract Long chain acylamides of ethanolamine were previously found to increase in the infarcted canine myocardium. Subsequent in vitro experiments established a number of interesting biological and physiological properties of these compounds including alteration of rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum function and inhibition of permeability dependent calcium release from heart mitochondria. These results suggested an interaction between the N- acylethanolamines and biological membranes. In the present work we show that the most potent species in previous studies, N- oleylethanolamine , forms stable complexes with phospholipid vesicles, lowers species in previous studies, N- oleylethanolamine , forms stable complexes with phospholipid vesicles, lowers diphenylhexatriene polarization ratios in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine uni- and multilamellar bilayer vesicles, and also produces a concentration dependent decrease in the phase transitions of these lipid structures. In addition studies with parinaric acids also suggested that N- oleylethanolamine partitions preferentially into more fluid areas of the bilayer. The results are discussed in terms of possible effects on biological membranes.
Adaptation to surgery for head and neck cancer

We examined the postoperative adjustment of 45 patients who underwent surgery for cancers of the head and neck: 23 who had laryngeal cancer, 18 who had oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancers, and 4 who had cancers of other sites. Patients were assessed preoperatively, and at 3 months and 9 to 12 months postsurgery. Interviews and questionnaires were used to assess depression, body image, limitations, pain, financial problems, need for help at home, and social interaction. Results revealed that pain, fatigue, weakness, and loss of speech were major concerns. Pain and financial concerns were worst at 3 months and then improved. Physical limitations increased steadily with time. Depression was a major factor in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers. Of note, patients who underwent postoperative radiation therapy had the most difficulty adapting to their illness and treatment, with persistent limitations in function and social isolation. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Diet estimation in California sea lions, Zalophus californianus

We performed a captive feeding experiment using California sea lions to assess biases associated with estimating pinniped diet using scats and spews. Sea lions were fed nine of their natural prey species: anchovy, sardine, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, hake, steelhead smolts, shortbelly rockfish, pink salmon, and market squid. Recovery percentages varied among prey species using otoliths and were improved for adult salmon and sardine using the all-structure method. Numerical and graded length correction factors provided better estimates of number and size of prey consumed. Four models used to determine the proportions of prey species consumed by a sea lion population were tested. The all-structure method and variable biomass reconstruction model, in conjunction with numerical and graded length correction factors, provided more accurate estimates than without. We provide numerical correction factors for all prey species, including correction factors for specific salmon bones: vertebrae, branchials, radials, teeth, gill rakers, and hypurals.
Valuations defined by Ostrowski nets

Ostrowski proved that if v is a valuation on an algebraically closed field F and if w is a valuation extending v to the field F (x) of rational functions over F, then w is defined by a transcendental pseudo-convergent net (that is, an Ostrowski net) or w is a Rella extension of v centered about x − c for some c in F. In this paper, valuations on the field of rational functions over an arbitrary field determined by Ostrowski nets, along with the topologies they generate, are investigated.
Reanalysis of solidus points and Te chemical potential for Te-rich CdTe(s)

The author’s previously published partial pressures of tellurium over tellurium-rich CdTe are reanalyzed to yield new solidus points as well as temperatures and partial pressures for compositions within the homogeneity range. Although the results are qualitatively the same as before, they are more satisfactory in that some thermodynamic inconsistencies have been removed. The composition range of the CdTe phase extends slightly beyond the equal atom fraction,X Te=0.5, to a Te-rich composition of (X Te−0.5)=(1 to 7)×10−5. The data are in fair agreement with that obtained from total pressure measurements at generally higher compositions. Since both types of measurement are near the limits of attainable accuracy, their agreement would seem to confirm the essential correctness of both.
Diffusion in symplectic maps

The characteristic function method is used to obtain the diffusion tensor for symplectic maps. At lowest order the quasilinear result is obtained, and a series in higher-order correlations is developed. Comparison of the theory to numerical experiments is given using a four-dimensional example of Froeschl\'e. The experiments agree well with the theory for moderately large parameters. Arnol'd diffusion for the ``thick-layer'' case is discussed. It is shown that the short-time correlations in one canonical plane affect the diffusion in the other plane even in the limit of zero coupling. Accelerator modes exist for the Froeschl\'e example and cause divergences in the diffusion, but these only appear when the accelerating region is included in the ensemble.
Phenomenological interatomic potentials for silicon, germanium and their binary alloy☆

Abstract A phenomenological potential is constructed for silicon, germanium, and their binary alloy. As in the modified embedded atom model (MEAM), the interatomic interactions are assumed to arise from the overlap of the electron wave functions. However, the calculation of energy is quite different in the two models. The proposed potential has seven adjustable parameters in contrast to ten or more in MEAM but gives perfect fit with the measured values of seven most important quantities for characterizing strained silicon: cohesive energy, equilibrium lattice constant, vacancy formation energy, Raman frequency, and the three elastic constants. The potential should be suitable for lattice statics calculations on strained silicon.
The Role of Hypersensitivity Reactions to Toxoplasma Antigens in Experimental Ocular Toxoplasmosis in Nonhuman Primates

Abstract To assess the role of ocular hypersensitivity reactions to Toxoplasma antigens in previously sensitized ocular tissues, we used a nonhuman primate model of ocular toxoplasmosis. Each eye of eight monkeys was inoculated with living Toxoplasma organisms into the inner retinal layers. All eyes developed necrotizing retinochoroiditis. Healing of the lesion occurred with the formation of a retinochoroiditic scar. Four months later, Toxoplasma antigens were injected through the right internal carotid artery. Four weeks after this, Toxoplasma antigens were inoculated into the left retina Iritis, vitritis, and retinal edema occurred in response to the administration of the antigens, but no recurrent necrotizing retinochoroiditis was produced in this model. These findings suggested that hypersensitivity to Toxoplasma antigens does not play a major role in triggering recurrences of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in nonhuman primates
Father-infant and mother-infant interaction in the first year of life.

LAMB, MICHAEL E. Father-Infant and Mother-Infant Interaction in the First Year of Life. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1977, 48, 167-181. 20 infants were observed interacting with their mothers and fathers at home when they were 7, 8, 12, and 13 months of age. Infants showed no preference for either parent in the display of attachment behaviors, though both parents were consistently differentiated from a relatively unfamiliar investigator on these measures. This indicates that the infants were clearly attached to both parents from the beginning of attachment relations. Preferences in the display of affiliative behaviors were accounted for largely by differences in the degree of adult activity in interaction with the infants. As they grew older, infants were increasingly likely to direct attachment behaviors to all 3 adults. Infants responded more positively to father-infant play, though there were few differences in the types of play the parents initiated. Mothers held the infants most often to engage in caretaking functions, while fathers held them most often to play. It is argued that the father-infant and mother-infant relationships may involve different kinds of experiences for infants, such that the two parents have differential influences on personality development from infancy onward.
Kilauea slow slip events: Identification, source inversions, and relation to seismicity

[1] Several slow slip events beneath the south flank ofKilauea Volcano, Hawaii, have been inferred from transient displacements in daily GPS positions. To search for smaller events that may be close to the noise level in the GPS time series, we compare displacement fields on Kilauea's south flank with displacement patterns in previously identified slow slip events. Matching displacement patterns are found for several new candidate events, although displacements are much smaller than previously identified events. One of the candidates, 29 May 2000, is coincident with a microearthquake swarm, as are all of the previously identified slow slip events. The microearthquakes follow the onset of slow slip, implying that they are triggered by stress changes during slip. The new slow slip event brings the total number of events on Kilauea, between 1997 and 2007, to eight, the smallest having M w = 5.3, and the largest having M w = 6.0. While the recurrence time between the four largest events is 2.11 ± 0.01 years, the repeat time for all eight events is 0.9 ± 0.6 years. We invert for the fault geometry and distribution of slip during the slow slip events. The optimal source depths of 5 km, assuming uniform slip dislocations in an elastic half-space, are considerably shallower than the accompanying swarm earthquakes (6.5-8.5 km), which would place the earthquakes in a zone of decreased Coulomb stress. Inversions including the effects of topography and layered elastic structure in the forward models favor depths comparable to microearthquake depths, such that the earthquakes are located in a region of increased Coulomb stress. We also invert for time-dependent fault slip directly from the 30 s GPS phase observations, constraining the source to the optimal uniform slip geometry. On the basis of these inversions, the larger events last between 1.5-2.2 days. The data are unable to resolve migration of slip along the fault. The temporal pattern of accompanying microearthquakes is consistent with the fault slip history assuming a seismicity rate theory based on rate and state-friction, making the swarm earthquakes coshocks and aftershocks of the slow slip events.
Auditory recognition memory in adolescents at risk for schizophrenia: Report on a verbal continuous recognition task

Abstract As part of the New York High-Risk Project and in the context of a third round of testing, auditory short-term recognition memory for words and for consonant-vowel-consonant trigrams was measured in normal control adolescents ( n =53) and in adolescents at high risk for schizophrenia ( n =46). Differences in performance between the two groups are attributable to a lower initial memory strength on the part of the high-risk subjects, with trigrams showing larger differences than words. A subgroup of the high-risk subjects characterized by “clinical deviancy” showed, in addition, a (nonsignificant) increase in the rate of information loss from memory for trigrams.
ALCHEMY IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Access to powerful new computers has encouraged routine use of highly complex analytic techniques, often in the absence of any theory, hypotheses, or model to guide the researcher's expectations of results. The author examines the potential of such techniques for generating spurious results, and urges that in exploratory work the outcome be subjected to a more rigorous criterion than the usual tests of statistical significance. Hillel Einhorn is Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago.
Variability and prediction of freshwater and nitrate fluxes for the Louisiana-Texas shelf: Mississippi and Atchafalaya river source functions

Time histories of riverine water discharge, nitrate concentration, and nitrate, flux have been analyzed for the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers. Results indicate that water discharge variability is dominated by the annual cycle and shorter-time-scale episodic events presumably associated with snowmelt runoff and spring or summer rains. Interannual variability in water discharge is relatively small compared to the above. In contrast, nitrate concentration exhibits strongest variability at decadal time scales. The interannual variability is not monotonic but more complicated in structure. Weak covariability between water discharge and nitrate concentration leads to a relatively “noisy” nitrate flux signal. Nitrate flux variations exhibit a low-amplitude, long-term modulation of a dominant annual cycle. Predictor-hindcastor analyses indicate that skilled forecasts of nitrate concentration and nitrate flux fields are feasible. Water discharge was the most reliably hindcast (on seasonal to interannual time scales) due to the fundamental strength of the annual hydrologic cycle. However, the forecasting effort for this variable was less successful than the hindcasting effort, mostly due to a phase shift in the annual cycle during our relatively short test period (18 mo). Nitrate concentration was more skillfully predicted (seasonal to interannual time scales) due to the relative dominance of the decadal-scale portion of the signal. Nitrate flux was also skillfully forecast even though historical analyses seemed to indicate that it should be more difficult to predict than either water discharge or nitrate concentration.
The Reluctance to Expose Dangerous Lies1

Three studies examined a hypothesized inhibition against exposing a lie. In Experiment 1, 21 men and 27 women were placed in conditions in which their nonexposure of another's lie resulted either in the risk of an experimenter's data being contaminated (impersonal consequence), or in the risk of the subject contracting pinkeye (personal consequence). Each person was given the opportunity to expose the lie, first in a group setting, and later in a private setting. Eighty-three percent of the subjects in the impersonal condition and 77% of the subjects in the personal condition failed to expose the lie. Experiment 2 explored the phenomenon further by assessing whether subjects not in the presence of individuals other than the liar would be more likely to confront the lie. As in Experiment 1, it was found that most subjects did not reveal the lie, regardless of consequence condition of setting. In Experiment 3, it was anticipated that objective self-awareness would interact with consequence information to produce more exposing behavior in the personal-consequence condition, but not in the impersonal condition. Results generally confirmed the hypothesis; a significant interaction of Consequence x Self-Awareness Condition was found.
Toward Improved Prediction of Heat Transfer on Turbine Blades

Reynolds averaged computations of turbulent flow in a transonic turbine passage are presented to illustrate a manner in which widely used turbulence models sometimes provide poor heat transfer predictions. It is shown that simple, physically and mathematically based constraints can substantially improve those predictions.
Why Naturalize Consciousness

This paper examines the relevance of philosophical work on consciousness to its scientific study. Of particular concern is the debate over whether consciousness can be naturalized, which is typically taken to bear on the prospects for its scientific investigation. It is not at all clear that philosophers of consciousness have properly identified and evaluated the assumptions about scientific activity made by both naturalization and antinaturalization projects. I argue that there is good reason to think that some of the assumptions about physicalism and explanation made by the parties to the debate are open to serious doubt. Thus this paper is an invitation for those inquiring into whether consciousness can be naturalized to more carefully consider the expected payoff of such efforts.
Dynamics of cytonuclear disequilibria in finite populations and comparison with a two-locus nuclear system

We study the behavior of cytonuclear disequilibria in a finite monoecious population due to (1) random drift alone, (2) random drift and mutation, and (3) random drift and migration, using exact results on the RUZ (Random Union of Zygotes) model and diffusion approximations. We also show that the RUG (Random Union of Gametes) model is not suitable for a cytonuclear system. The study is also accompanied by a comparison with a two-locus nuclear system. We show that in a finite population of size N without mutation, the rate of decrease of the cytonuclear allelic disequilibrium is the same as that in the corresponding unlinked two-locus nuclear system. The principal rate of decrease of variance in allelic disequilibrium in a cytonuclear system is slightly faster than that in the corresponding nuclear system. However, the expected value of the variance in cytonuclear disequilibria is larger than that in a two-locus nuclear system for at least the first N generations. With mutation, the expected value of steady state variances of both systems are about the same; however, the normalized variance in linkage disequilibrium σd2 of the cytonuclear system is about twice as large as that for the corresponding nuclear system. For the migration process, two sets of steady state solutions are provided, one for the variables before migration and the other for the variables after migration. Diffusion approximations for both the principal rate of decay and steady state solutions in both systems are found to be satisfactory. A more accurate backward diffusion equation for a two-locus nuclear system is provided when the recombination fraction R is large.
Nonparametric procedure for selecting the least nbu population : large sample approach

Let π1, …,πk be k independent populations with continuous distributions F1, …, Fk respectively. Hollander and Proschan (1972) proposed as a measure of the NBU-ness of Fiand used it to develop a test of exponentiality versus non-exponential NBU alternatives. In this paper the k populations are compared in terms of ▵i and we are interested in selecting the population with the largest ▵ value which is defined as the least NBU population. Our procedure is based on the U-statistics Jn(Fi. Which is the unbiased estimator of ▵i and its large-sample properties. Some applications of the selection procedure to gamma, Weibull and linear failure rate families are discussed.
Budgetary priorities in Saudi Arabia: the impact of relative austerity measures on human capital formation

Abstract : Throughout the 1980s, Saudi Arabia experienced a period of relative fiscal austerity. Falling oil revenues forced a number of significant budgetary cutbacks. By early 1989, however, the situation had stabilized to the point where the Saudi Government announced that its 1989 budget would be equal to that of 1987--140 million Saudi riyals. To many observers, this signalled a welcome end to the deflationary effects of successive reductions in Government budgetary expenditure over the previous few years. In practice, it allowed Ministries to prepare sufficient projects for implementation, in the event that revenue constraints did not force cutbacks during the year. While most OPEC Countries were forced to introduce similar austerity programmes, little is known about how their Governments set priorities for their shrinking reviews between major expenditure categories. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue. In particular, we are interested in determining the manner in which, in light of revenue developments during the fiscal year, the Saudi Government revised its allocation to the major budgetary categories. Did expenditure on certain categories vary systematically with unanticipated changes in revenue? If so, which sectors gained? Lost? Do these patterns provide insights as to the manner in which the Government established budgetary priorities during this period?
TE scattering by a two-dimensional groove in a ground plane using higher order boundary conditions

An application of a third-order generalized boundary condition to scattering by a filled rectangular groove is presented. Deficiencies of such higher-order boundary conditions are addressed, and a correction for the present case is proposed. As part of the process of examining and correcting the accuracy of the proposed generalized boundary conditions, an exact solution is developed and a comparison is provided with a solution based on the standard impedance boundary condition. >
Microbiological and Clinical Features of Four Cases of Catheter-Related Infection by Methylobacterium radiotolerans

Four cases of central venous catheter-related Methylobacterium radiotolerans infection are presented here. The patients were all long-term catheter carriers with an underlying diagnosis of leukemia, and they mostly manifested fevers. The isolated bacterial strains all showed far better growth on buffered charcoal yeast extract agar during the initial isolation and/or subcultures than they did on sheep blood or chocolate agar. This microbiological feature may improve the culture recovery of this fastidious pink Gram-negative bacillus that has rarely been isolated in clinical microbiology laboratories.
Location of Helix III in the Lactose Permease of Escherichia coli As Determined by Site-Directed Thiol Cross-Linking†

The six N-terminal transmembrane helices (N(6)) and the six C-terminal transmembrane helices (C(6)) in the lactose permease of Escherichia coli, each containing a single Cys residue, were coexpressed, and cross-linking was studied. The proximity of paired Cys residues in helices III (position 78, 81, 84, 86, 87, 88, 90, 93, or 96) and VII (position 227, 228, 231, 232, 235, 238, 239, 241, 243, 245, or 246) was examined by using iodine or two rigid homobifunctional thiol-specific cross-linking reagents with different lengths [N,N'-o-phenylenedimaleimide (o-PDM; 6 A) and N, N'-p-phenylenedimaleimide (p-PDM; 10 A)]. Cys residues in the periplasmic half of helix III (position 87, 93, or 96) cross-link to Cys residues in the periplasmic half of helix VII (position 235, 238, 239, 241, or 245). In contrast, no cross-linking is evident with paired Cys residues near the cytoplasmic ends of helices III (position 78 or 81) and VII (position 227, 228, 213, 232, or 235). Therefore, the periplasmic halves of helices III and VII are in close proximity, and the helices tilt away from each other toward the cytoplasmic face of the membrane. On the basis of the findings, a modified helix packing model for the permease is presented.
Differential host gene expression in cells infected with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses

Abstract In order to understand the molecular mechanisms by which different strains of avian influenza viruses overcome host response in birds, we used a complete chicken genome microarray to compare early gene expression levels in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with two avian influenza viruses (AIV), A/CK/Hong Kong/220/97 and A/Egret/Hong Kong/757.2/02, with different replication characteristics. Gene ontology revealed that the genes with altered expression are involved in many vital functional classes including protein metabolism, translation, transcription, host defense/immune response, ubiquitination and the cell cycle. Among the immune-related genes, MEK2, MHC class I, PDCD10 and Bcl-3 were selected for further expression analysis at 24 hpi using semi-quantitive RT-PCR. Infection of CEF with A/Egret/Hong Kong/757.2/02 resulted in a marked repression of MEK2 and MHC class I gene expression levels. Infection of CEF with A/CK/Hong Kong/220/97 induced an increase of MEK2 and a decrease in PDCD10 and Bcl-3 expression levels. The expression levels of alpha interferon (IFN-α), myxovirus resistance 1 (Mx1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were also analyzed at 24 hpi, showing higher expression levels of all of these genes after infection with A/CK/Hong Kong/220/97 compared to A/Egret/Hong Kong/757.2/02. In addition, comparison of the NS1 sequences of the viruses revealed amino acid differences that may explain in part the differences in IFN-α expression observed. Microarray gene expression analysis has proven to be a useful tool on providing important insights into how different AIVs affect host gene expression and how AIVs may use different strategies to evade host response and replicate in host cells.
Comparison of Magnetostrictive Performance Loss of Particulate Tb0.3 Dy0.7 Fe2 Epoxy Composites Prepared with Different Matrix Polymers M. Shanmugham et al.: Comparison of Magnetostrictive Performance Loss of Particulate Tb0.3 Dy0.7 Fe2 Epoxy Composites

Particulate composites of magnetostrictive Terfenol-D were prepared with polyamine and anhydride cured epoxy polymer matrices with the presence or the absence of a strong magnetic field. These composites were studied to investigate (i) the influence of magnetic field that is applied during specimen preparation in strain output levels, (ii) performance loss at high temperatures, and (iii) the influence of matrix material in magnetostrictive strain performance. A six-way comparison is made of materials processed under magnetic field with materials processed under no magnetic field, and magnetostrictive strain performance at glass transition finish temperature with magnetostrictive strain performance at glass transition start temperature, and magnetostrictive strain performance in low modulus matrix systems with magnetostrictive strain performance in high modulus matrix systems. A four-way comparison is also made between the micrographs for strain-cycled and non-strain-cycled samples and relative damage incurred by samples prepared using high and low modulus matrix systems.
Stochastic Process Pharmacodynamics: Dose Timing in Neonatal Gentamicin Therapy as an Example

We consider dosing regimens designed to cure patients by eradicating colony forming units (CFU) such as bacteria. In the field of “population” pharmaco-kinetics/dynamics (PK/PD), inter-individual variability (IIV) of patients is estimated using model parameter statistical distributions. We consider a more probabilistic approach to IIV called stochastic process theory, motivated by the fact that tumor treatment planning uses both approaches. Stochastic process PD can supply additional insights and suggest different dosing regimens due to its emphasis on the probability of complete CFU eradication and its predictions on “pure chance” fluctuations of CFU number per patient when treatment has reduced this integer to less than ~100. To exemplify the contrast between stochastic process PD models and standard deterministic PD models, which track only average CFU number, we analyze, neglecting immune responses, neonatal intravenous gentamicin dosing regimens directed against Escherichia coli. Our stochastic calculations predict that the first dose is crucial for CFU eradication. For example, a single 6 mg/kg dose is predicted to have a higher eradication probability than four daily 4 mg/kg doses. We conclude: (1) neonatal gentamicin dosing regimens with larger first doses but smaller total doses deserve investigation; (2) in general, if standard PK/PD models predict average CFU number drops substantially below 100, the models should be modified to incorporate stochastic effects more accurately, and will then usually make more favorable, or less unfavorable, predictions for front boosting (“hit hard early”). Various caveats against over-interpreting the calculations are given.
Single particle trajectories through ionizing regions

Abstract The number of times a test particle, released at a random position in a vacuum chamber, passes through a volume V g with surface area A g is calculated and found to be A g /A p where A p is an effective pump area. This result is used to deduce the ionization plus collection probability of a particle traversing an ionizing region in an ion gauge or mass spectrometer. The latter is applied to an estimate of two low pressure limits of ion gauges: (i) tungsten evaporation and (ii) gauge outgassing.
Restorative Effects of GDNF on Striatal Dopamine Release in Rats Treated with Neurotoxic Doses of Methamphetamine

Repeated methamphetamine (METH) administration to animals can result in long-lasting decreases in striatal dopamine (DA) release and content. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has pronounced effects on dopaminergic systems in vivo, including neuroprotective effects against METH. The present experiments were designed to examine the ability of GDNF to reverse, or accelerate recovery from, METH-induced alterations in striatal DA release. Male Fischer-344 rats were administered METH (5 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline 4 times in one day at 2-hour intervals. Seven days later the animals were anesthetized and given a single injection of 10 microg GDNF, or vehicle, into the right striatum. Three weeks later microdialysis experiments were carried out in both the right and left striata to examine basal and evoked levels of DA and its metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA). In animals treated with METH followed by vehicle 7 days later, there were significant reductions in potassium- and amphetamine-evoked overflow of DA, and in basal levels of DOPAC and HVA, compared to control animals. In rats treated with METH followed 7 days later with GDNF, there were significant increases in potassium- and amphetamine-evoked overflow of DA on the right, GDNF-treated, side of the brain compared to the left side. Basal levels of DOPAC and HVA were also elevated on the GDNF-treated side of the brain. These results suggest that GDNF can accelerate recovery of dopaminergic release processes in the striatum of rats treated with neurotoxic doses of METH.
Naso- and oropharyngeal dimensions in children with obstructive sleep apnea☆

Sixty children (3-11 years) were evaluated to determine variations in naso- and oropharyngeal dimensions associated with tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy. The subjects were grouped according to tonsil size and a clinical history of chronic upper airway obstruction. Intraoperative measurements included oropharyngeal diameter, length of the hard and soft palates, width and arch of the hard palate, nasopharyngeal volume, as well as tonsil and adenoid weights and volumes. A significantly larger oropharyngeal diameter was found in children with small, non-obstructing tonsils (P less than 0.01). Children with large, non-obstructing tonsils had a similar oropharyngeal diameter to those children with large, obstructing tonsils. However, tonsil volume, not weight, was increased in the children with large obstructing tonsils as compared to those with large non-obstructing tonsils and small non-obstructing tonsils (P less than 0.04). A shorter soft palate was associated with larger, obstructing tonsils (P less than 0.004). The length of the hard palate was similar in all patients, however, a trend towards a higher arched palate was seen in patients with larger, obstructing tonsils. The distance from the soft palate to the posterior pharyngeal wall was greater in obstructed patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (P less than 0.003). In patients requiring adenoidectomy, the nasopharyngeal volume prior to adenoidectomy was significantly smaller in patients with obstructive symptoms (P less than 0.001). Postadenoidectomy, no significant difference was found in the nasopharynx volume amongst all subjects. These data indicate that subtle differences in oropharyngeal dimensions exist which along with increased lymphoid tissue volume, lead to the development of obstructive symptoms. Etiologic considerations are discussed.
Reflecting boundary conditions for graded p‐n junctions

In a graded junction, the formalism for handling reflecting boundary conditions must be modified. Since a significant drift term is present, zero recombination velocity at the surface does not imply a zero excess carrier gradient but rather zero overall flux. A model for analyzing p‐n junctions fabricated by implantation or diffusion is presented, assuming the dominant recombination mechanism in the graded region is Auger. The model enables optimization of diode design. By proper selection of parameters, mainly by reducing surface concentration or by increasing the steepness of the dopant profile, it is possible to drastically reduce the saturation current generated by the graded region.
Use of β-cyclodextrin and activated carbon for quantification of Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis from ground beef by conventional PCR without enrichment

The high level of PCR inhibitors present in ground beef is a major factor that affects molecular based techniques, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for the detection of Salmonella enterica. In this study, the use of β-cyclodextrin and milk protein coated activated carbon (MP-CAC) allowed the PCR to detect low numbers of Salmonella seeded into ground beef without enrichment of samples. invA was used as target gene in the conventional PCR protocol. With 25 g samples of ground beef containing 7.0, 15, and 27% fat, treatment of stomached samples with 5.0, 10, and 15% β-cyclodextrin respectively followed by treatment with MP-CAC, resulted in the detection of 3 CFU/g (equivalent to 75 CFU in a 25 g sample). The total assay time was 4.5 h. The methodology described in this study for the detection of S. enterica in ground beef without enrichment is rapid, sensitive, and has the potential to be applied to a number of complex food matrices to detect low numbers of food-borne bacterial pathogens.
An expert system for selecting a development tool (abstract only)

A system has been developed for choosing the best tool or language for the development of a particular knowledge-based application. The expert system determines what features the tool should have by asking the user about (1) the size, type and complexity of the application; (2) hardware requirements; (3) interface and graphics needs; (4) knowledge representation techniques. The system then concludes with a list of one or more appropriate tools or languages, their costs, and the addresses of vendors, and their features. Persons with little experience in knowledge engineering can use the system successfully by taking advantage of explanation facilities. The system has been developed on a Zenith AT compatible microcomputer using INSIGHT 2+. The presentation will include a discussion of the design, implementation, and use of the system.
Substituent and Solvent Effects on the Nature of the Transitions of Pyrenol and Pyranine. Identification of an Intermediate in the Excited-State Proton-Transfer Reaction†

A comparative study of pyrenol and its trisulfonated derivative, pyranine, is undertaken to provide new clues for the understanding of the excited-state proton-transfer reaction (ESPT) of hydroxyarenes (ArOH*). A particular goal is to elucidate the nature of a transient intermediate involved in a three step mechanism of ESPT, as recently revealed in a dynamical study of excited pyranine in water. The present focus is on the reactant side, before the proton transfer occurs, and particular attention is given to the analysis of the nature of the electronic transitions and to the solute−solvent interactions in the ground and excited states of the ArOHs. Using both quantum chemical calculations and solvatochromism analyses, both (a) the role of electron-withdrawing substituents and H-bond interaction with the solvent in stabilizing the two lowest excited states, 1Lb and 1La, and (b) their relevance to the inversion of these two states are studied. The results allow the identification of the intermediate specie...
A unified convex–concave model of urban land values

Abstract This study develops and fits a nonlinear, unified convex–concave model for land sales. The model's flexibility accommodates convexity for small parcels, concavity for large parcels, a non-deterministic change point while accounting for spatial correlation. All parameters are fit simultaneously from a Bayesian perspective using Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques. Virtually all previous models for land sales are shown to be special cases of the unified model. The results indicate an 86.9% probability of convexity (plottage) for parcels smaller than 3516 ft2.
A data-rich approach for investigating social mechanisms in the wild

A key challenge of data-driven social science is the gathering of high quality multi-dimensional datasets. A second challenge relates to design and execution of structured experimental interventions in-situ, in a way comparable to the reliability and intentionality of ex-situ laboratory experiments. This work introduces the "Social fMRI" --- a ubiquitous computing approach that enhances existing methodologies by combining extremely rich data collection in terms of signals, dimensionality, and throughput, together with the ability to conduct targeted experimental interventions with study populations. The proposed research aims to demonstrate the value of the Social fMRI approach via its first instantiation: The Friends and Family living laboratory study, in which a young-family residential community was transformed into a living laboratory for over a year. Using the highly fine-grained and unprecedented longitudinal dataset collected in the study, I aim to show how this approach allows us to gain insights on intricate social mechanisms and interpersonal relationships within the community in ways not possible with traditional approaches. In addition, the mobile-phone based sensing and intervention delivery system developed for this study --- a Social fMRI reference implementation --- is field-proven and robust enough to be reused by other researchers and developers as an open and extensible sensing platform.
Effect of low-pressure hydrogen on the room-temperature tensile ductility and fracture behavior of Ni3Al

Abstract The effect of low-pressure (≤1.3 × 10 3 Pa) hydrogen gas on the ductility and fracture behavior of polycrystalline Ni 3 Al (23.4 at% Al) was investigated. Room-temperature tensile ductilities remained high over the entire pressure range tested: from 41% elongation to fracture at 5.7 × 10 −8 Pa pressure to 31% at 1.3 × 10 −3 Pa. Over this pressure range, the amount of transgranular fracture also remained quite high and scaled with the tensile ductility, increasing from ~60% in the samples with 31% ductility to ~70% in the specimen with 41% ductility. The ionization gage—used to measure hydrogen pressure—had a dramatic (deleterious) effect on the ductility of Ni 3 Al: at any given hydrogen pressure, the ductility measured with the ion gage on was about half to a quarter of that measured with the ion gage turned off. Accompanying this decrease in ductility was a change in fracture mode from predominantly transgranular to predominantly intergranular. The role of the ion gage is believed to be hot-filament-assisted dissociation of molecular H 2 into atomic H, which is quickly absorbed and embrittles the crack-tip regions. In the absence of any H-induced embrittlement (either by filament-assisted dissociation of H 2 or by Al-induced reduction of H 2 O), polycrystalline Ni 3 Al is found to be quite ductile, with tensile elongations exceeding 40% and predominantly (>70%) transgranular fracture. Since these ductilities are similar to those of the most ductile B-doped alloys, the main role of boron is to suppress environmental embrittlement. Our results indicate that, at room temperature, low-pressure H 2 does not dissociate very efficiently into atomic H on the surfaces of Ni 3 Al and that, at comparable pressures, hydrogen is not as harmful to ductility as moisture (H 2 O).