cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of substrate modes on thermal transport in supported graphene

We examine thermal transport in graphene supported on SiO${}_{2}$ using molecular dynamics simulations. Coupling to the substrate reduces the thermal conductivity (TC) of supported graphene by an order of magnitude, due to damping of the flexural acoustic (ZA) phonons. However, increasing the strength of the graphene-substrate interaction enhances the heat flow and effective TC along supported graphene, contrary to expectations. The enhancement is due to the coupling of graphene ZA modes to the substrate Rayleigh waves, which linearizes the dispersion and increases the group velocity of the hybridized modes. These findings suggest that the TC of two-dimensional supported graphene is tunable through surface interactions, providing an interesting route for controlled energy flow in nanomaterials.
A new assessment of the ability of oral ethanol to function as a reinforcing stimulus.

Background: In animal studies, the ability of ethanol to function as a reinforcer has been described as weak to moderate. This is in contrast with the human condition, where the consumption of alcoholic beverages can result in a variety of unwanted drinking behaviors. However, when the ethanol self-administration pattern is examined, animal studies over the last several years indicate that the ability of ethanol presentation to maintain behavior may be greater than originally assumed. Methods: We reevaluated the ability of ethanol to function as a reinforcing stimulus in two paradigms by using an analysis of drinking bout characteristics. Data from previous studies that employed two self-administration models were analyzed. With the dipper model, small amounts of ethanol are presented after each completion of a response requirement; with the sipper model, the animal is allowed access to a drinking tube that contains ethanol for an extended period after completing a single response requirement. For both models, the consumption pattern could be characterized as occurring in a bout. Each drinking bout was divided into runs within the bout, and run rates and size were analyzed. As well, in the sipper model, the data on response requirement size were reviewed to demonstrate the ability of ethanol presentation to maintain high levels of responding in this model. Results: From this assessment, we suggest that ethanol presentation in non-food- or non-water-restricted rats is as reinforcing as many other stimuli generally considered to be strong reinforcers (i.e., food in food-restricted rats). Using run size, we demonstrated that intake control appears to be regulated by shifts in run size during the bout and not run rate. Conclusions: Assessment of the pattern of ethanol consummatory bouts and the behaviors that precede them is critical in understanding how ethanol functions as a reinforcer. By using a drinking pattern analysis, the shifts in the momentary salience of the ethanol stimulus can be evaluated in these animal models. In addition, the separation of responding required to gain access to ethanol from consumption of ethanol demonstrated that ethanol presentation in this procedure can be a strong reinforcer for rats.
Non-Stoichiometric Polymer-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Compounds: Constraints Placed on Un-Included Chain Portions Tethered at Both Ends and Their Relation to Polymer Brushes

When non-covalently bonded crystalline inclusion compounds (ICs) are formed by threading the host cyclic starches, cyclodextrins (CDs), onto guest polymer chains, and excess polymer is employed, non-stoichiometric (n-s)-polymer-CD-ICs, with partially uncovered and “dangling” chains result. The crystalline host CD lattice is stable to ~300 °C, and the uncovered, yet constrained, portions of the guest chains emanating from the CD-IC crystal surfaces behave very distinctly from their neat bulk samples. In CD-IC crystals formed with α- and γ-CD hosts, each containing, respectively, six and eight 1,4-α-linked glucose units, the channels constraining the threaded portions of the guest polymer chains are ~0.5 and 1.0 nm in diameter and are separated by ~1.4 and 1.7 nm. This results in dense brushes with ~0.6 and 0.4 chains/nm2 (or 0.8 if two guest chains are included in each γ-CD channel) of the un-included portions of guest polymers emanating from the host CD-IC crystal surfaces. In addition, at least some of the guest chains leaving from a crystalline CD-IC surface re-enter another CD-IC crystal creating a network structure that leads to shape-memory behavior for (n-s)-polymer-CD-ICs. To some extent, (n-s)-polymer-CD-ICs can be considered as dense polymer brushes with chains that are tethered on both ends. Not surprisingly, the behavior of the un-included portions of the guest polymer chains in (n-s)-polymer-CD-ICs are quite different from those of their neat bulk samples, with higher glass-transition and melt crystallization temperatures and crystallinities. Here we additionally compare their behaviors to samples coalesced from their stoichiometric ICs, and more importantly to dense polymer brushes formed by polymer chains chemically bonded to surfaces at only one end. Judging on the basis of their glass-transition, crystallization and melting temperatures, and crystallinities, we generally find the un-included portions of chains in (n-s)-polymer-CD-ICs to be more constrained than those in neat bulk as-received and coalesced samples and in high density brushes. The last observation is likely because many of the un-included chain portions in (n-s)-polymer-CD-ICs are tethered/constrained at both ends, while the chains in their dense brushes are tethered at only one end.
Urinary Tract Infections and Circumcision: A Case-Control Study

• It has been shown that uncircumcised infants have a higher rate of urinary tract infections in the first few months of life. To investigate further the association between noncircumcision and urinary tract infections, a case-control study was performed of infant boys who had a catheterized or suprapubic urine culture done as part of an acute illness visit. Cases (n = 36) were those infants who had a positive culture (>105 organisms per milliliter); controls (n=76) had a negative culture( ( AJDC . 1989;143:348-350)
The organic-rich carbonaceous component of dust aggregates in circumstellar disks: Effects of its carbonization on infrared spectral features of its magnesium-rich olivine counterpart ☆

Abstract We model dust in comets, protoplanetary disks, and debris disks as aggregates consisting of submicron-sized grains with a silicate core and an organic-rich carbonaceous mantle. By computing the infrared (IR) spectra of the aggregates, we show that the degree of carbonization determines the positions of infrared peaks characteristic of magnesium-rich crystalline silicates. We discuss our results in terms of processing of organic materials by ultraviolet irradiation, ion bombardments, and thermal devolatilization. A comparison between the model IR spectra of the aggregates and the observed spectra of dust in circumstellar disks reveals that at least one third of the organic refractory component has suffered from carbonization in a very short timescale.
Solution-Phase Parallel Synthesis of a Pharmacophore Library of HUN-7293 Analogues: A General Chemical Mutagenesis Approach To Defining Structure−Function Properties of Naturally Occurring Cyclic (Depsi)peptides

HUN-7293 (1), a naturally occurring cyclic heptadepsipeptide, is a potent inhibitor of cell adhesion molecule expression (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin), the overexpression of which is characteristic of chronic inflammatory diseases. Representative of a general approach to defining structure−function relationships of such cyclic (depsi)peptides, the parallel synthesis and evaluation of a complete library of key HUN-7293 analogues are detailed enlisting solution-phase techniques and simple acid−base liquid−liquid extractions for isolation and purification of intermediates and final products. Significant to the design of the studies and unique to solution-phase techniques, the library was assembled superimposing a divergent synthetic strategy onto a convergent total synthesis. An alanine scan and N-methyl deletion of each residue of the cyclic heptadepsipeptide identified key sites responsible for or contributing to the biological properties. The simultaneous preparation of a complete set of individual residue...
Asp34 of PvuII endonuclease is directly involved in DNA minor groove recognition and indirectly involved in catalysis.

Abstract The PvuII restriction endonuclease is a homodimer that recognizes and cleaves the DNA sequence 5′-CAGCTG-3′ in double-stranded DNA, and the structure of this enzyme has been reported. In the wild-type enzyme, Asp34 interacts with the internal guanine of the recognition sequence on the minor groove side. The Asp34 codon was altered to specify Gly (D34G), and in vitro studies have revealed that the D34G protein has lost binding specificity for the central G·C base-pairs, and that it cuts the canonical sequence with 10−4-fold reduced activity as compared to the wild-type enzyme. We have now determined the structure at 1.59 A resolution of the D34G PvuII endonuclease complexed with a 12 bp duplex deoxyoligonucleotide containing the cognate sequence. The D34G alteration results in several structural changes relative to wild-type protein/DNA complexes. First, the sugar moiety of the internal guanine changes from a C2′-endo to C3′-endo pucker while that of the 3′ guanine changes from C3′-endo to C2′-endo pucker. Second, the axial rise between the internal G·C base-pairs is reduced while that between the G·C and flanking base-pairs is expanded. Third, two distinct monomeric active sites are observed that we refer to as being “primed” and “unprimed” for phosphodiester bond cleavage. The primed and unprimed sites differ in the conformation of the Asp58 side-chain, and in the absence from unprimed sites of four networked water molecules. These water molecules, present in the primed site, have been implicated in the catalytic mechanism of this and other endonucleases; some of them can be replaced by the Mg2+ necessary for cleavage. Taken together, these structural changes imply that the Asp34 side-chains from the two subunits maintain a distinct conformation of its DNA substrate, properly situating the target backbone phosphates and indirectly manipulating the active sites. This provides some insight into how recognition of the specific DNA sequence is linked to catalysis by the highly specific restriction endonucleases, and reveals one way in which the structural conformation of the DNA is modulated coordinately with that of the PvuII protein.
New gas–grain chemical models of quiescent dense interstellar clouds: the effects of H2 tunnelling reactions and cosmic ray induced desorption

New models of the chemistry of dense interstellar clouds are presented in which both gas-phase and grain-surface chemistry occur. The dust-grain and gas temperatures are fixed at 10 K and the gas density n=n(H)+2n(H 2 ) remains approximately at 2×10 4 cm −3 in these models, in order to represent the chemistry occurring in quiescent clouds. Our previous model has been improved in several substantial ways. The gas-phase network has been extended to 2671 reactions, mainly with the inclusion of recent results involving organo-sulphur reactions. The surface-chemistry network has been extended to 254 reactions. The most significant new surface reactions are exothermic processes of the general type X+H 2 →XH+H, where X is a molecule, and where a significant activation energy of uncertain magnitude exists
The Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education: improving how journalists are educated & how their audiences are informed

I’m reminded of an old newsroom saying–“Better to be lucky than good”– when I look back at the almost seven years of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Journalism Initiative. It began as a somewhat unfocused reaction to the wholesale worry about the state of journalism at the end of the 1990s. The Board of the Corporation and the then newly appointed president of the foundation, Vartan Gregorian, wanted to respond to what was seen as an increasingly entertainment-focused news business shedding its values and foreign news bureaus faster than it could stop the red ink. The need for a democracy to be strengthened by a vital news business was the impetus for the Corporation’s initiative. After all, positive change cannot happen in school reform, the immigration system, in international affairs, nuclear nonproliferation, or the understanding of Islam–indeed, in almost any area of our national life or international relationships that lies within or beyond the scope of the Corporation’s work–unless vibrant news media engage the American public about the issues of this still-emerging century. Since education is a foundational value and tradition at Carnegie Corporation, we decided to focus our initiative not on what was happening in U.S. newsrooms, but instead on what was happening within journalism schools at some of America’s most prestigious research universities. That was the lucky part of our decision-making: our focus on a “pipeline” strategy that would affect the next generation of journalists. By 2009, the upcoming generation of newsmen and newswomen was clearly more critical to the debate about the news business than the middle-aged “leaders.” The revolution in news via the Web was challenging the 1⁄2nancial model of even America’s most secure newspapers, as well as transforming the entire way that the news is delivered, consumed, and produced.
COMPOSITE NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS OF PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS Part I. Global Extrapolation

Abstract Composite techniques are developed for numerical solutions of partial differential equations (PDE's) by the combinations of different solutions. The combination can be global or local depending on the usage of the composite. A global composite is one in which the composite solution is not utilized in any continued calculations of the different numerical solutions. Global composites are space by space combinations, i.e., the solutions are obtained over the entire space of independent variables. For local combinations, on the other hand, the composite is used in the continued calculations of the different solutions. Therefore, the local procedure is a line by line algorithm where the different solutions are combined and become the initial values for the continued calculations of the different solutions. Composites considered are (i) global extrapolation, (ii) local extrapolation and local stabilization, (iii) alternating direction methods, and (iv) acceleration. By extrapolation the solution over t...
Coming out discourses of Asian American lesbians

The authors examined the accounts of a small group of Asian American lesbians regarding their experiences forming their sexual identities. Discourse analysis and the social constructionist approach were applied to the subjects’ accounts of their coming out. Focus group subjects’ discussions were transcribed in order to depict the practices they employed to render their experiences meaningful to themselves and others. There was an internal dialectical process between the subjects’ subjective and objective reality, during which they came to terms with their subjective identity, or came out to themselves. There was also an external dialectical process between the subjects and society, during which they negotiated with their objective world for their subjective identity, or came out to the public in general and to their families in particular. The research suggests that in these dialectical processes, Asian cultural values and beliefs served as the means through which the conflict between the subjects’ interiority and their social networks was reconciled. The desire to reabsorb the subjects served to motivate the family members to work collaboratively to overcome cultural barriers to acceptance.
Exposure and affect: Overview and meta-analysis of research 1968-1987

L'auteur analyse les effets de variables methodologiques (type et complexite du stimulus, intervalle de presentation, temps d'exposition) et de variables subjectives (âge d'exposition, personnalite) sur la sensibilite du sujet aux stimulus de toutes sortes. Il conclut sur l'interet methodologique de sa recherche, ainsi que sur ses apports pratiques (publicite, traitement de la phobie)
Zur Struktur von Scotophobin

The biological and chemical properties of one of the synthetic peptides Seryl-asparagil-asparaginylasparaginyl-glutaminyl-glycyl-glycy-lysyl-seryl-alanyl-glutaminyl-glutaminyl-glycyl-glycyl-tyrosylamid are identical with those of the natural scotophobin.
The IBM RT PC ROMP processor and memory management unit architecture

The ROMP processor is the microprocessor used in the IBM RT PC. It is a 32-bit processor with an associated memory management unit implemented on two chips. ROMP is derived from the pioneering RISC project, the 801 Minicomputer at IBM Research. This paper describes some of the trade-offs which were made to turn the research project into a product. It gives an introduction to the architecture of ROMP, including the addressing model supported by ROMP's memory management unit. Some of the unique features of the programming model are explained, with high-level language coding examples which show how they can be exploited. ROMP's architecture is extensible, and the fact that almost all programming for the RT PC has been in high-level languages means that the RT PC hardware architecture can be extended as needed to meet future requirements while preserving the investment in existing software.
Control Mechanism Or Deliberative Democracy? Two Images of Comitology

One of the most striking features of contemporary EU governance is the ubiquity of Commission and member-state committees known under the rubric of "comitology." The significance of these committees, however, remains a matter of dispute, with two distinct theoretical images of comitology being put forward in the literature. The first of these approaches, drawn from sociological institutionalism and constructivism, suggests that EU committees provide a forum in which national and supranational experts meet and deliberate in a search for the most efficient solutions to common policy problems. A second view, derived from rational choice theory, depicts comitology committees as control mechanisms designed by EU member governments to supervise the Commission in its executive duties. This article engages in a direct competitive test of these two approaches, examining the empirical record of institutional choice of comitology committees and demonstrating that the weight of both quantitative and qualitative evide...
Pointwise ergodic theorem along the prime numbers

The pointwise ergodic theorem is proved for prime powers for functions inL p,p>1. This extends a result of Bourgain where he proved a similar theorem forp>(1+√3)/2.
Termination and inhibition of recurrent tachycardias by implanted pervenous pacemakers

Three patients are described with recurrent paroxysmal tachycardia who required implanted pervenous demand pacemakers for the control of repetitive tachyarrhythmias. One patient had frequent weekly episodes of life-inhibiting supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) lasting hours to days and refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs. A coronary sinus atrial demand pacemaker at 72 beats per minute was implanted. During the subsequent two months, the patient quickly terminated nine episodes of SVT by activating the generator with an external magnet and competitively pacing the atrium. The second patient had frequent daily episodes of SVT and secondary angina despite vigorous antiarrhythmic medication. Demand ventricular pacing at a rate of 88 beats per minute prevented the recurrence of SVT during the seven month follow-up. A third patient with an old myocardial infarction had frequent biweekly episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to conventional treatment. A ventricular demand pacemaker was implanted, and three episodes of VT were terminated by magnetically activated competitive ventricular pacing at 64 beats per minute. Augmentation of the demand pacemaker rate to 86 beats per minute inhibited the recurrence of VT during a five month follow-up. The rates of the tachycardias were less than 160 beats per minute in all three cases, and evidence suggests a re-entrant or reciprocating mechanism for the tachyarrhythmias. The electrophysiologic rationale for pacemaker therapy in certain types of recurrent SVT and VT is discussed.
ON THE USE OF ADSORBENTS IN IMMUNIZATIONS WITH HAPTENS.

Experiments are described which confirm the observation of Gonzalez and Armangue that heterogenetic extracts can be made antigenic by adsorption to inorganic materials. With fractions of the original extracts from which a part of inactive material had been removed no such enhancement was observed, whereas with foreign protein an activation was still possible. Carbohydrate preparations behaved similarly in that purification, perhaps loss of protein, was accompanied by a distinct decrease in antigenicity after adsorption. The activity of a but slightly antigenic heteroalbumose preparation was markedly increased after adsorption to charcoal and alum. The most reasonable explanation for the effects observed by Gonzalez and Armangue, and Zozaya, seems to be that a preexisting antigenic capacity has been enhanced by the use of adsorbents. The experiments reported here support the view that these effects are influenced significantly by the presence of substances other than those of a specific nature.
Science, Advocacy, and Credibility

In their letter “Ecological science and the human predicament” F. Bazzaz et al. (Science's Compass, 30 Oct., p. [879][1]) make an important point about the need for scientists to go beyond their research and publication activities to inform the general public about the “relevance and importance” of their work. Of course, whereas the objectivity of scientific findings is subject to test, statements concerning relevance and importance reflect the personal views of the scientist concerned and are thus inherently subjective. I am not so sure that all field research is done in systems altered by man—this statement reflects the terrestrial viewpoint of most of the numerous signers of the letter and might be difficult to demonstrate everywhere in the open ocean. But where I get nervous is when I read that ecologists must be ready and willing to devote part of their professional lives to “stemming the tide of environmental degradation and the associated losses of biodiversity and its ecological services, and to teaching the public about the importance of those losses.” My problem is not with preserving biological diversity, but with the difficulty in distinguishing between objective reporting and preaching. When an ecologist makes an apocalyptic statement about the death of one or another ecosystem, he trades his credibility as a scientist for his passion as an advocate. Credibility is a basic coin of science, and while scientists have every right to be avid supporters of whatever cause, they should not expect to be taken as seriously in their advocacy as they hope to be in their science. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.282.5390.879c
Nocturnal hypertension: Will control of nighttime blood pressure prevent progression of diabetic renal disease?

Patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes and nephropathy frequently have a blunted fall in nighttime arterial blood pressure. This abnormality is already seen in subjects with type 1 diabetes who are in the microalbuminuric phase of the disease, and we have also shown that an increase in nighttime systolic blood pressure precedes the development of microalbuminuria. These studies suggest that nocturnal hypertension may be an important early predictor of diabetic nephropathy. Various drugs have different effects on nocturnal blood pressure, and chronotherapy may be key in determining clinical outcomes. There is a compelling need for studies showing that treating nocturnal hypertension in diabetes can prevent renal disease progression.
Low-temperature conditioning of the ice nucleation active bacterium, Erwinia herbicola

Abstract Rapid “low-temperature conditioning” and “solute conditioning” of the ice nucleation active bacterium Erwinia herbicola No. 26 are described. Conditioning is the process by which the ability to initiate ice at high temperatures is gained in these bacteria. The cumulative ice nucleator concentration, N[T], was used to measure the number of ice nucleators present in the bacterial systems. N[T] was determined at temperatures from −2 ° to −10 °C and was measured under varying conditioning temperature, time, and solute regimes. Values of N[T] increased rapidly on cooling samples from 30 to 5 °C. The optimum low temperature for conditioning was 5 °C. The conditioning process followed first-order reaction kinetics and time constants (1/rate constant) were between 43 and 62 min at 5 °C. Individual ice nucleators were isolated in droplets and were stable for at least 2 hr. Low-temperature conditioning did not occur when protein synthesis was inhibited by eliminating amino acids in the low-temperature conditioning media or by using the protein synthesis inhibitors chloramphenicol and streptomycin. Analysis of low-temperature conditioning, using heterogeneous ice nucleation theory predicted that ice nucleators are large and have diameters ranging from 80 A (active at −8 °C) to 300 A (active at −3 °C). In conclusion, it was predicted that conditioning resulted from growth of the nucleator from about 80 to 300 A, from a change in the surface properties of 300 A nucleator making it more similar to ice, or from a combination of these.
Putative Linkage Signals Identified for Breast Cancer in African American Families

Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified polymorphisms associated with breast cancer subtypes and across multiple population subgroups; however, few studies to date have applied linkage analysis to other population groups. Methods: We performed the first genome-wide breast cancer linkage analysis in 106 African American families (comprising 179 affected and 79 unaffected members) not known to be segregating BRCA mutations to search for novel breast cancer loci. We performed regression-based model-free multipoint linkage analyses of the sibling pairs using SIBPAL, and two-level Haseman–Elston linkage analyses of affected relative pairs using RELPAL. Results: We identified −log10 P values that exceed 4 on chromosomes 3q and 12q, as well as a region near BRCA1 on chromosome 17 (−log10 P values in the range of 3.0–3.2) using both sibling-based and relative-based methods; the latter observation may suggest that undetected BRCA1 mutations or other mutations nearby such as HOXB13 may be segregating in our sample. Conclusions: In summary, these results suggest novel putative regions harboring risk alleles in African Americans that deserve further study. Impact: We hope that our study will spur further family-based investigation into specific mechanisms for breast cancer disparities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(2); 1–6. ©2014 AACR .
Cotidal Charts for the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii Using f-Plane Solutions

Abstract The tidal constituents K1, O1, P1, Q1, M2, S2, N2, K2 derived from sea level records at six sites spanning the Hawaiian Islands show a systematic variation in amplitude and phase from site to site that indicate that the tide is mainly diffracted about the Hawaiian Islands Ridge rather than diffracted about the individual islands. This variation enables us to construct cotidal charts. We model the tide by a small set of plane waves for a uniform depth, horizontally unbounded ocean on a flat, uniformly rotating earth appropriate to a given latitude and model the ridge by an elliptically shaped cylindrical island. Proudman's (1914) approximate solution of this problem is used to determine the set of plane waves that least-squares fit the tidal observations. These plane waves enable us to estimate the tidal motion in the deep ocean beyond Hawaii. The rms (root-wean-square) fit of the model to the Hawaiian tidal constituents is <7% of the constituent amplitude. In fact, our tidal model, extrapolated o...
Interleukin-6, Age, and Corpus Callosum Integrity

The contribution of inflammation to deleterious aging outcomes is increasingly recognized; however, little is known about the complex relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and brain structure, or how this association might change with increasing age. We examined the association between IL-6, white matter integrity, and cognition in 151 community dwelling older adults, and tested whether age moderated these associations. Blood levels of IL-6 and vascular risk (e.g., homocysteine), as well as health history information, were collected. Processing speed assessments were administered to assess cognitive functioning, and we employed tract-based spatial statistics to examine whole brain white matter and regions of interest. Given the association between inflammation, vascular risk, and corpus callosum (CC) integrity, fractional anisotropy (FA) of the genu, body, and splenium represented our primary dependent variables. Whole brain analysis revealed an inverse association between IL-6 and CC fractional anisotropy. Subsequent ROI linear regression and ridge regression analyses indicated that the magnitude of this effect increased with age; thus, older individuals with higher IL-6 levels displayed lower white matter integrity. Finally, higher IL-6 levels were related to worse processing speed; this association was moderated by age, and was not fully accounted for by CC volume. This study highlights that at older ages, the association between higher IL-6 levels and lower white matter integrity is more pronounced; furthermore, it underscores the important, albeit burgeoning role of inflammatory processes in cognitive aging trajectories.
Integrating control, simulation, and planning in MOSIM

Simulations have traditionally been used as off-line tools, for examining process models and experimenting with system models for which it would have been either impossible, too dangerous, expensive, or time-consuming to perform with the physical systems. We propose a novel way of regarding simulations as part of both the development and the working phases of systems. In our approach simulation is used within the processing and control loop of the system to provide sensor and state expectations. This minimizes the inverse sensory data analysis and model maintenance problems. We refer to this mode of operation as the verification mode, in contrast to the traditional discovery mode. This paper describes the integration of control, simulation, and planning within the mobile platform control and simulation interface program (MOSIM). MOSIM is a program which supports the combination of control and simulation of disparate platforms and environments. The main feature of MOSIM is the sensor simulations and the provision for capturing real sensory data and registering the simulated data with it. In order to provide simulations and planning that are intertwined with the control of a physical system, temporal issues have to be considered. By limiting the focus of the system to small portions of complex models which are temporarily relevant to the system's operation, the system is able to maintain its models and respond faster. For this we employ the context-based caching (CbC) mechanism within MOSIM. CbC is a novel knowledge management technique which maintains large knowledge bases by making the necessary information available at the right time.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Bed properties of Siple Dome and adjacent ice streams, West Antarctica, inferred from radio-echo sounding measurements

We have used ground-based radio-echo sounding (RES) profiles to reveal the spatial distribution of basal and internal ice properties across Siple Dome, West Antarctica, and under the dormant ice streams on its flanks. The RES-detected bed-reflection power, corrected for the effects of instrumentation and ice-thickness variation, is nearly constant across Siple Dome at a value suggesting spatially homogeneous basal properties of ice frozen to bedrock. Till, if present under the dome, must be thin ( 1 m) thawed or frozen till layer. The evidence that the dormant SIS is not frozen directly to underlying bedrock (but is separated by a water or till layer) is a further indication that it was once an active ice stream, and suggests that streaming motion may have ceased before the basal layer was frozen. The absence of a thick till layer beneath Siple Dome is consistent with its apparent stability as an inter-ice-stream ridge in the past and may suggest that it will remain as a stable limitation of ice-stream width in the future.
Prostaglandin F2α-induced estrus in ewes exhibiting estrous cycles of different duration

Effects of prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)), administered during the mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle, were examined in ewes exhibiting estrous cycles classified as short ( or =18 days, long-cycle ewes, n = 9) based on the durations of two estrous cycles (cycles -2 and -1) before treatment. The ewes received (i.m.) 20mg of PGF(2alpha) on day 10 of the third estrous cycle (cycle 0) followed, 36 h later, by 25 microg of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) to time the events of ovulation. Duration of subsequent estrous cycles +1 and +2 were recorded, and then the ewes were treated with the same combination of PGF(2alpha) and GnRH beginning on day 10 of estrous cycle +3. Ovaries were recovered 6h after GnRH administration to assess development of pre-ovulatory follicles. The proportion of ewes that exhibited estrus after PGF(2alpha) and GnRH treatment on cycle 0 was not different (P > 0.05) between short- and long-cycle ewes. Onset of estrus occurred sooner (P 0.05) after PGF(2alpha) and GnRH administration in ewes having long cycles. Pre-ovulatory follicles did not differ (P > 0.05) in numbers, diameter, layers of granulosa cells nor concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17beta in follicular fluid between short- and long-cycle ewes after PGF(2alpha) and GnRH treatment. In conclusion, ewes having short or long estrous cycles responded differently to PGF(2alpha) and GnRH treatment with respect to the interval to onset of estrus and duration of the subsequent estrous cycle.
Experimental spinal cord ischemia: model characterization and improved outcome with arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVE Paraplegia from spinal cord ischemia is a devastating complication of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Perioperative hypoperfusion of the spinal cord is a critical determinant of residual neurologic deficits. We determined if functional and histologic outcome is dependent on systemic blood pressure in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia. DESIGN Randomized, controlled, prospective study. SETTING Research laboratory at a university teaching hospital. SUBJECTS Adult male Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS Endotracheally intubated adult male Wistar rats (300-450 g) anesthetized with halothane underwent a thoracotomy and placement of a clip across the descending aorta for 27 mins. Mean proximal arterial blood pressure (MPABP) was monitored with a cannula placed in the left common carotid artery. Halothane was adjusted (1.25-1.5%) to maintain MPABP between 70 and 90 mm Hg (n = 20) or 140 and 150 mm Hg (n = 20). Shamoperated rats (n = 10) had a thoracotomy without aortic clamping at an MPABP of 70-90 mm Hg. Following 1, 24, 48, and 72 hrs of recovery from anesthesia, motor function of the hind paws was scored as follows: 0, no evidence of deficit; 1, toes flat under body when walking but with ataxia; 2, knuckle walks; 3, movements in hind limbs but unable to knuckle walk; 4, no movement, drags hind limbs. Body temperature was maintained between 37 and 38 degrees C throughout the experiment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS All sham operated rats with MPABP 70-90 mm Hg recovered without neurologic deficits, whereas those that underwent aortic occlusion with MPABP between 70 and 90 mm Hg emerged from anesthesia with grade 3 and 4 deficits and remained in this condition without improvement at 72 hrs. Histopathology at 72 hrs demonstrated moderate to severe neuronal loss with involvement of dorsal, intermediate, and ventral horns. Only eight of 20 rats that underwent aortic occlusion with MPABP between 140 and 150 mm Hg had grade 1 and 2 deficits on emergence but had no neurologic deficit after 1 hr. Most of the surviving neurons in these animals appeared normal histologically, particularly motor neurons around the periphery of the ventral horn. CONCLUSIONS Systemic blood pressure is a critical determinant of outcome following spinal cord ischemia, and controlled peri-operative blood pressure augmentation may ameliorate neurologic deficits in patients who undergo thoracoabdominal vascular procedures and are at risk for spinal cord hypoperfusion.
Vanadium and Dental Caries

THE effects of trace elements other than fluoride on dental caries have recently received increased attention. The results of numerous investigations, reviewed elsewhere1, have indicated that selenium is capable of increasing the susceptibility to caries, particularly when it is consumed during the formation of the teeth and incorporated into their structure. On the other hand, molybdenum appears to have a beneficial effect on caries2.
General purpose simulation with stroboscope

Stroboscope is a programming language designed for the simulation of processes common to construction engineering. These processes are very complex and involve many different types of resources. As a result, Stroboscope is also an efficient and effective general purpose simulation system. The paper presents an overview of Stroboscope and illustrates how it can be used to model a complex example taken from classic simulation literature.
Biochemical characterization of protein quality control mechanisms during disease progression in the C22 mouse model of CMT1A.

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) is a hereditary demyelinating neuropathy linked with duplication of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene. Transgenic C22 mice, a model of CMT1A, display many features of the human disease, including slowed nerve conduction velocity and demyelination of peripheral nerves. How overproduction of PMP22 leads to compromised myelin and axonal pathology is not fully understood, but likely involves subcellular alterations in protein homoeostatic mechanisms within affected Schwann cells. The subcellular response to abnormally localized PMP22 includes the recruitment of the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS), autophagosomes and heat-shock proteins (HSPs). Here we assessed biochemical markers of these protein homoeostatic pathways in nerves from PMP22-overexpressing neuropathic mice between the ages of 2 and 12 months to ascertain their potential contribution to disease progression. In nerves of 3-week-old mice, using endoglycosidases and Western blotting, we found altered processing of the exogenous human PMP22, an abnormality that becomes more prevalent with age. Along with the ongoing accrual of misfolded PMP22, the activity of the proteasome becomes compromised and proteins required for autophagy induction and lysosome biogenesis are up-regulated. Moreover, cytosolic chaperones are consistently elevated in nerves from neuropathic mice, with the most prominent change in HSP70. The gradual alterations in protein homoeostatic response are accompanied by Schwann cell de-differentiation and macrophage infiltration. Together, these results show that while subcellular protein quality control mechanisms respond appropriately to the presence of the overproduced PMP22, with aging they are unable to prevent the accrual of misfolded proteins.
Modeling of multiple effects of atmospheric tides on the ionosphere: An examination of possible coupling mechanisms responsible for the longitudinal structure of the equatorial ionosphere

[1] A number of recent studies have highlighted the observational evidence for a coupling between atmospheric tides in the thermosphere and the electron density structure of the ionosphere. The most commonly proposed mechanism to explain this is an electrodynamic coupling between tides at E region altitudes and ion drifts at F region altitudes. However, based on both the observational evidence from recent satellite missions such as those of the neutral winds associated with nonmigrating tides at F region altitudes, and considering the theoretical effects of atmospheric tides on the thermosphere and ionosphere, more than one coupling mechanism must be considered. We use Sami2 is Another Model of the Ionosphere to test a set of electrodynamic and chemical-dynamical coupling mechanisms that could explain the link between tides in the thermosphere and the low-latitude ionosphere. We investigate the possible role of the vertical drifts during the both the day and around sunset, perturbations to the thermospheric neutral density and thermospheric [O]/[N2], and tidal winds at F region altitudes. These simulations give an estimate of the sensitivity of the nighttime ionosphere to each of these coupling mechanisms. We then compare the results of these sensitivity tests with the effects of atmospheric tides on different thermospheric parameters as simulated by a self-consistent model of the atmosphere-ionosphere-electrodynamic system (thermosphere-ionosphere-mesosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model). This comparison shows that in addition to the E region dynamo modulation, the potential coupling between tides and the ionosphere via changes in thermospheric [O]/[N2], meridional winds at F region altitudes, and modification of the vertical drifts around sunset could play an important role and all require further study, both with models and new observations.
Two-dimensional block adaptive filtering algorithms with optimum convergence factors

In this paper, two new fast gradient algorithms which perform 2-D block adaptive filtering are presented. The 2-D adaptive filter coefficients are updated once for every block of input data and error measurement. The two algorithms employ variable convergence factors which are optimized in the least-squares (LS) sense to track the variations in an image's local statistics. These 2-D optimal algorithms are obtained from the one-dimensional optimal adaptive algorithms, which have been recently reported. In the first algorithm, the 2-D optimum block adaptive algorithm with individual adaptation of parameters (TDOBAI), the convergence factors are obtained, that are individually tailored for each 2-D filter weight and are updated once per block iteration. The second algorithm uses a convergence factor that is the same for all the 2-D coefficients at a particular block iteration, and is determined at each block iteration. This algorithm is called the 2-D optimum block adaptive algorithm (TDOBA). In both algorithms, the convergence factors are easily computed from readily available signals. The excellent performance characteristics of the optimal 1-D algorithms are shown to be retained in the proposed 2-D optimal algorithms. The convergence properties of the TDOBAI and the TDOBA algorithms are investigated and compared with the 2-D block least-mean-square (TDBLMS) algorithm which uses a convergence factor that is constant for each 2-D coefficient at each block iteration, using computer simulations. It is also shown that for the TDOBAI and TDOBA algorithms, the convergence, speed and accuracy of adaptation are greatly improved at the expense of a modest increase in computational complexity, as compared to the TDBLMS algorithm. The effectiveness of the algorithms is demonstrated in 2-D system modeling, restoration (2-D additive noise cancellation), and enhancement of artificially degraded images. Also, it is shown that the TDOBAI algorithm is a more general formulation, from which several other recently proposed 2-D sequential and block algorithms can be obtained as special cases, by trading performance with computational complexity. >
BING‐1: a tin–oxalate–sodium–fluoride framework, Na4Sn4(C2O4)3F6

BING-1 [tetrasodium tetratin tris­(oxalate) hexafluoride] was synthesized solvothermally at 423 K and crystallized in the triclinic system, with the P\overline 1 space group. The asymmetric unit consists of two types of tin(II) centres, connected by oxalate groups. The Sn atoms are also bonded to fluoride ions, which bond the tin oxalate layers together via interlayer Na atoms, to define a three-dimensional framework.
The roentgenographic features of ureteral obstruction secondary to granulomatous disease of the bowel.

The roentgenographic features of ureteral obstruction secondary to granulomatous (Crohn's) disease of the bowel has been described. The obstruction is caused by periureteral disease related basically to extension of the granulomatous process into the retroperitoneum or to a secondary inflammatory oedema adjacent to intra-abdominal disease. This association occurs more often than previously believed. More frequent intravenous pyelography in patients with regional enteritis will confirm its true frequency.
NF1 Deletion Generates Multiple Subtypes of Soft-Tissue Sarcoma That Respond to MEK Inhibition

Soft-tissue sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors arising from connective tissue. Recently, mutations in the neurofibromin 1 (NF1) tumor suppressor gene were identified in multiple subtypes of human soft-tissue sarcomas. To study the effect of NF1 inactivation in the initiation and progression of distinct sarcoma subtypes, we have developed a novel mouse model of temporally and spatially restricted NF1-deleted sarcoma. To generate primary sarcomas, we inject adenovirus containing Cre recombinase into NF1(flox/flox); Ink4a/Arf(flox/flox) mice at two distinct orthotopic sites: intramuscularly or in the sciatic nerve. The mice develop either high-grade myogenic sarcomas or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST)-like tumors, respectively. These tumors reflect the histologic properties and spectrum of sarcomas found in patients. To explore the use of this model for preclinical studies, we conducted a study of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibition with the MEK inhibitor PD325901. Treatment with PD325901 delays tumor growth through decreased cyclin D1 mRNA and cell proliferation. We also examined the effects of MEK inhibition on the native tumor stroma and find that PD325901 decreases VEGFα expression in tumor cells with a corresponding decrease in microvessel density. Taken together, our results use a primary tumor model to show that sarcomas can be generated by loss of NF1 and Ink4a/Arf, and that these tumors are sensitive to MEK inhibition by direct effects on tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment. These studies suggest that MEK inhibitors should be further explored as potential sarcoma therapies in patients with tumors containing NF1 deletion.
Effect of anti-oxidant treatment on hyperhomocysteinemia-induced myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction.

Background Recent studies demonstrate that hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for heart failure. Oxidant stress is a major mediator of the pathogenic effects of hyperhomocysteinemia. Methods We utilized a rat model of diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia to examine whether treatment with an anti-oxidant vitamin (C&E) combination will prevent hyperhomocysteinemia-induced myocardial fibrosis. Results Dietary anti-oxidant therapy attenuated hyperhomocysteinemia-induced increases in myocardial oxidant stress and myocardial fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction. Conclusions Hyperhomocysteinemia acts via oxidant stress to promote myocardial fibrosis and dysfunction. Dietary anti-oxidant therapy could be an important preventive and therapeutic strategy in diastolic heart failure.