cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seed release in a changing climate: initiation of movement increases spread of an invasive species under simulated climate warming

Aim Reliable estimates of how species will move under future climatic conditions are lacking, and the ability of species to track suitable habitat under climate change is strongly predicated on dispersal. In wind-dispersed plants, initiation of movement by maternal seed release characteristics can affect the ultimate shape of the dispersal kernel. If seed dispersal traits respond to altered local abiotic conditions induced by climate change during development, the effects could have major impacts on projections of future population spread. Location Central Pennsylvania, USA. Methods To quantify how seed release characteristics might be affected by climate change, we experimentally manipulated temperature in a field study of the wind-dispersed, invasive plant Carduus nutans (Asteraceae). We quantified seed release in a series of trials conducted in a full-size experimental wind tunnel, and we examined the effect of the probability of seed release on the projected population spread rate (c*). Results Experimental warming over the growing season significantly increased the probability of seed release in wind tunnel trials by 7%. When these data were incorporated into matrix integro-differential equation models of population spread for this species, the measured increase in seed release, combined with previously reported increases in plant height, resulted in a projected increase in the population spread rate of C. nutans of 38% per year due to increased temperature. Main conclusions Ignoring altered seed release dynamics significantly underestimates the increase in potential spread rate by 11%. This increase could allow this species to reach suitable habitat more quickly than expected from existing models of population spread, and could require management timing to shift in the future. More generally, our results suggest that models of future distributions of other wind-dispersed species that do not include information about species' dispersal responses to climate may incur significant errors and could result in poorly applied management or inadequate spatial risk assessment.
Assuring quality in high through-put laboratories: implemented programs and lessons for the future

Molecular diagnostics differs from routine laboratory testing in several crucial features. Software packages and systems designed for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) for assays performed on automated analysers cannot be used for molecular diagnostics. Since molecular assays are usually qualitative or semi-quantitative, it is impossible to directly translate concepts from standard testing into the molecular arena. We developed a software package that allows the monthly monitoring of genotyping results for our high volume assays. The variance of these monthly results is small and allowed us to establish a warning threshold that would alert us to any potential troubles in an assay prior to the controls failing. We have also developed some manual QA procedures for Sanger Sequencing based assays that will be shared with the audience. The challenges of QA for advanced sequencing with some suggested potential solutions will also be discussed.
Ghrelin Impairs Prandial Glucose Tolerance and Insulin Secretion in Healthy Humans Despite Increasing GLP-1.

Objectives: Administration of ghrelin inhibits the acute insulin response to glucose and worsens IV glucose tolerance in healthy subjects. Evidence from preclinical studies suggests that ghrelin may have differential effects on glucose metabolism during fasting and feeding. Our objective was to test the effects of ghrelin on glucose and insulin responses during a meal tolerance test. Design: Acyl ghrelin (0.26 and 2.0 μg/kg/h) or saline was infused in 13 healthy subjects on three separate occasions in randomized order. Ghrelin was infused for 45 minutes to achieve steady-state levels and continued for 240 minutes after ingestion of a liquid test meal. Primary outcomes were area under the curve for glucose and insulin secretion. Results: We found that ghrelin infusions of 0.26 and 2.0 μg/kg/h raised steady-state plasma total ghrelin levels to 1.7- and 4.8-fold above fasting concentrations, but did not alter fasting plasma glucose or insulin levels. During the meal tolerance test, ghrelin decreased insulin ...
Discovering the Student with Impaired Vision in the Schools

(1942). Discovering the Student with Impaired Vision in the Schools. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 13, No. 10, pp. 578-625.
Obrero: a platform for sensitive manipulation

We are interested in developing sensitive manipulation for humanoid robots: manipulation that is as much about perception as action and is intrinsically responsive to the properties of the object being manipulated; manipulation that does not rely on vision as the main sensor but as a complement. As a first step to achieve sensitive manipulation we have built Obrero, a robotic platform that addresses some of the challenges of this kind of manipulation. In this paper, we present the design, construction and evaluation of this robot. Obrero consists of a very sensitive and force controlled hand, a force controlled arm, and an active vision head. These parts are integrated by a high-speed communication network. The robot is programmed using behavior-based architecture to deal with unknown environments
A design methodology for a low power bang-bang all digital PLL based on digital loop filter programmable coefficients

The implementation of bang-bang all digital phase locked loop (BBADPLL) in frequency synthesizer has proven a reduction in the power and, area. This reduction results from eliminating the need for complex, power, and area hungry blocks, such as an analog to digital converter (ADC) or a time to digital converter (TDC). These blocks are typically used to convert the average analog output to digital bits for the digital controlled oscillator (DCO). However, the non-linearity of the BBADPLL makes the traditional Laplace transform used in modeling the PLL invalid. Hence, there are serious design challenges in managing the tradeoffs between tracking bandwidth, jitter, and lock time. In this paper, a new design methodology that adjusts the digital loop filter (DLF) coefficients according to the digital controlled oscillator (DCO) frequency step is presented. The DLF coefficients are used to control the closed loop dynamics of the PLL. Useful expressions that model the DLF are presented for the design and optimization of the programmable DLF coefficients.
Impact of cache power reduction techniques in multi-core processor using network on-chip paradigm

Caches which are an essential part of memory systems consume a significant amount of power. A number of techniques have been proposed in the literature to reduce power consumption in cache modules. In this paper a survey of various widely used circuit and architecture level techniques for cache power management system is presented to investigate an effective approach for multi-core system-on-chip employing network-on-chip design paradigm. Specific focus has been given on the gated-VDD and drowsy cache schemes. Instead of offering a new cache power management scheme we performed a comparative analysis of the impacts of available techniques on the performance and leakage power reduction in multi-core environment. Based on the analysis, several promising aspects and associated challenges have been projected.
Transgenic Cotton Resistant to the Herbicide 2,4-D

For close to half a century, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has been a popular herbicide for controlling broadleaf weeds. The synthetic auxin has high selectivity on dicotyledonous plants, making it ideal for use among the monocotyledonous cereals, sugarcane, and turf lawn. The herbicide is also relatively inexpensive, and offers a cost-effective means for controlling weeds over vast land areas, such as forest undergrowth. The one drawback with the use of this herbicide is its volatility. Since it drifts with the prevailing winds, nearby dicotyledonous crops can be severely damaged. This is particularly true for cotton, where extremely low levels of 2,4-D drift can cause severe damage and yield reductions. In the US Southern High Plains, these annual events result in unnecessary lawsuits and increases in insurance premiums. Several years ago, cotton was engineered to tolerate 2,4-D drift (Bayley et al. 1992; Lyon et al. 1993). The approach taken was to transfer into cotton a gene that can degrade the herbicide. In this chapter, our work on engineering of 2,4-D resistance into cotton is summarized.
Role of the Somatotropic Axis in Mammalian Aging

Publisher Summary The somatotropic hormone axis has been implicated in the regulation of aging processes and life span. This chapter indicates that interfering with signaling at various points along this axis results in extension of life span in multiple species. Importantly, long-living mutant mice appear to benefit from a longer “health span” as well as longer life. Mechanisms of the life-span extension are numerous, as this pathway affects a multitude of physiological systems. It is clear that growth hormone plays a role in the functioning of multiple organ systems and metabolic pathways. Plasma levels of (growth hormone) GH and its main downstream effector, insulin like growth factor (IGF1), contribute to alterations in body composition, glucose, and oxidative metabolism as well as cognitive and immune function and age-related pathologies. High levels of GH and IGF1 generally exert negative effects on metabolism and cause age-related pathologies, with observations of premature or accelerated aging of many organ systems and significantly reduced longevity. On the other hand, GH deficiency in rodents leads to a delayed or decelerated expression of several key age-sensitive characteristics. This slowing of age-related processes results in significant increases in longevity. Calorie restriction exerts very similar actions on age-related processes, although the magnitude of difference from controls can be different. Further studies delineating the pathways that lead to delayed expression of these markers of senescence are of great interest and could lead to significant therapeutic interventions in human aging.
The Effectiveness of Prescribed Rest Depends on Initial Presentation After Concussion

Objective To evaluate if patients with signs of injury respond differently to prescribed rest after concussion compared with patients with symptoms only. Study design Secondary analysis was completed of a prospective randomized controlled trial (NCT01101724) of pediatric concussion patients aged 11-18 years. Patients completed computerized neurocognitive testing and standardized balance assessment at the emergency department within 24 hours of injury and on follow-up (3 and 10 days). Patients were randomized to rest or usual care and completed activity and symptom diaries for 10 days after injury. A series of 2 × 2 ANOVAs with grouping factors of patient group (symptoms, signs) and treatment arm (prescribed rest, standard of care) were used to examine differences on clinical measures. Univariate nonparametric test (ie, χ 2 with ORs and 95% CIs) was used to examine the association between treatment arm and symptom status 1-9 days after injury. Results A 2 × 2 factorial ANOVA revealed a significant patient group × treatment arm interaction for symptom score at 3 days after injury (F = 6.31, P = .01, η 2 = 0.07). Prescribed rest increased the likelihood of still being symptomatic at days 1-6 and 8 ( P P = .029), but not for the symptoms group. Conclusion Compared with patients with signs of injury, patients with predominantly symptoms were more likely to remain symptomatic after injury if prescribed rest, whereas patients with signs of injury benefited from rest after a concussion. Individualized treatment planning after concussion should start in the emergency department. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01101724.
Visual training improves perceptual grouping based on basic stimulus features

Training on visual tasks improves performance on basic and higher order visual capacities. Such improvement has been linked to changes in connectivity among mediating neurons. We investigated whether training effects occur for perceptual grouping. It was hypothesized that repeated engagement of integration mechanisms would enhance grouping processes. Thirty-six participants underwent 15 sessions of training on a visual discrimination task that required perceptual grouping. Participants viewed 20 × 20 arrays of dots or Gabor patches and indicated whether the array appeared grouped as vertical or horizontal lines. Across trials stimuli became progressively disorganized, contingent upon successful discrimination. Four visual dimensions were examined, in which grouping was based on similarity in luminance, color, orientation, and motion. Psychophysical thresholds of grouping were assessed before and after training. Results indicate that performance in all four dimensions improved with training. Training on a control condition, which paralleled the discrimination task but without a grouping component, produced no improvement. In addition, training on only the luminance and orientation dimensions improved performance for those conditions as well as for grouping by color, on which training had not occurred. However, improvement from partial training did not generalize to motion. Results demonstrate that a training protocol emphasizing stimulus integration enhanced perceptual grouping. Results suggest that neural mechanisms mediating grouping by common luminance and/or orientation contribute to those mediating grouping by color but do not share resources for grouping by common motion. Results are consistent with theories of perceptual learning emphasizing plasticity in early visual processing regions.
Non-governmental Organizations and Corruption: The Case of Kenya

The non-governmental organization (NGO) sector has established itself as a medium for delivery of economic, political, and social development for those living on the margins of the society in developing countries (Ndegwa 1996; Werker and Ahmed 2008). Since the 1980s, also known as the “NGO decade” due to the drastic growth of NGOs, the sector has broadened its mission from playing relatively marginal roles in a few developing countries to providing welfare services in many global arenas (Barrow and Jennings 2001). During the 1980s, NGOs were perceived as a “magic bullet” and panacea for many of the ills of the developing nations, like corruption (Edwards and Hulme 1996; Zaidi 1999; Hearn 2007). NGOs have stepped in to fill the gaps in the service delivery where the market has failed or is unwilling to invest due to low or no profit margins. NGOs also filled in where politically challenged, indebted, or corrupt governments were unable or unwilling to perform their duties of meeting the needs of their citizens (Kanyinga et al. 2007; Teegen et al. 2004).
Can we crowdsource language design

Most programming languages have been designed by committees or individuals. What happens if, instead, we throw open the design process and let lots of programmers weigh in on semantic choices? Will they avoid well-known mistakes like dynamic scope? What do they expect of aliasing? What kind of overloading behavior will they choose? We investigate this issue by posing questions to programmers on Amazon Mechanical Turk. We examine several language features, in each case using multiple-choice questions to explore programmer preferences. We check the responses for consensus (agreement between people) and consistency (agreement across responses from one person). In general we find low consistency and consensus, potential confusion over mainstream features, and arguably poor design choices. In short, this preliminary evidence does not argue in favor of designing languages based on programmer preference.
Energetic evaluation of wastewater treatment using microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris

Abstract This research evaluates the feasibility of utilizing municipal wastewater source as growth medium for microalgae production and wastewater treatment. First, the effect of the addition of external organic carbon on the microalgae growth and wastewater treatment was studied. Second, actual municipal wastewater from two different (primary and secondary) levels of treatment of an oxidation ditch wastewater treatment plant was used as a growth medium to evaluate both the microalgae growth and wastewater treatment. Third, the effect of light under day/night cycles was evaluated using actual municipal wastewater. A comparative analysis of volumetric biomass productivities, specific growth rates and energetic evaluation of the three different experimental conditions was performed. COD removal rates were 37.5 mg/L, 87.5 mg/L, and 118.75 mg/L per day while microalgae volumetric biomass concentrations were approximately 50–80 mg/L per day with specific biomass growth rates of 0.81, 0.89, and 1.28 1/d for 125, 250, and 500 mg/L COD concentrations, respectively. COD removal, biomass production and specific growth rates are lower for the municipal wastewater due to poor availability of carbon source. However, microalgae present a promising alternative when the energetic evaluation is considered for both actual and synthetic wastewater treatment. A total of 13.5, 17.4, and 35.2% of net energy recovery was possible with microalgae harvested in synthetic wastewater at 125, 250, and 500 mg/L COD concentrations, respectively while a total of 4.7% net energy recovery was possible with microalgae harvested in raw wastewater after accounting for the energy required for wastewater treatment.
Design of metal-dielectric resonant-cavity thin-film structures using the effective reflectance index method

A mathematical design process for the resonant condition of metal-dielectric cavity designs is presented in this paper. The technique is based on the effective reflectance index of multilayer thin films, and the complex refractive indices of the films are self-consistently included. The scaling behavior of metal-dielectric structures as a function of wavelength for different metals is analyzed from the visible to near-infrared spectrum. The maximum achievable peak transmission, as well as the design trade-offs among sheet resistance, resonant wavelength, and the choice of metals, has been calculated.
Convolutional models of RNA energetics

Nucleic acid molecular biology and synthetic biology are undergoing rapid advances with the emergence of designer riboswitches controlling living cells, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, high-throughput RNA-based silencing, and reengineering of mRNA translation. Many of these efforts require the design of nucleic acid interactions, which relies on accurate models for DNA and RNA energetics. Existing models utilize nearest neighbor rules, which were parameterized through careful optical melting measurements. However, these relatively simple rules often fail to quantitatively account for the biophysical behavior of molecules even in vitro, let alone in vivo. This is due to the limited experimental throughput of optical melting experiments and the infinitely large space of possible motifs that can be formed. Here, we present a convolutional neural network architecture to model the energies of nucleic acid motifs, allowing for learning of representations of physical interactions that generalize to arbitrary unmeasured motifs. First, we used existing parameterizations of motif energies to train the model and demonstrate that our model is expressive enough to recapitulate the current model. Then, through training on optical melting datasets from the literature, we have shown that the model can accurately predict the thermodynamics of hairpins containing unmeasured motifs. This work demonstrates the utility of convolutional models for capturing the thermodynamic parameters that underlie nucleic acid interactions.
Available Testing Techniques

This chapter discusses some necessary definitions and the pros and cons of the techniques available for field experiments of the Universal Basic Income. These techniques include randomized controlled trials, saturation studies, and combinations of the two.
Freedoms in the khaki: gendering a ‘gender-neutral’ uniform

Drawing on data from an ethnography of the school-based Student Police Cadet (SPC) program in Kerala, India, this paper examines the ways in which female high school student-cadets mobilized SPC's ...
Efficient discontinuous finite difference meshes for 3-D Laplace-Fourier domain seismic wavefield modelling in acoustic media with embedded boundaries

Author(s): Alsalem, HJ; Petrov, P; Newman, G; Um, E; Rector, J | Abstract: Simulation of acoustic wave propagation in the Laplace?Fourier (LF) domain, with a spatially uniform mesh, can be computationally demanding especially in areas with large velocity contrasts. To improve efficiency and convergence, we use 3-D second- and fourth-order velocitypressure finite difference (FD) discontinuous meshes (DM). Our DM algorithm can use any spatial discretization ratio between meshes. We evaluate direct and iterative parallel solvers for computational speed, memory requirements and convergence. Benchmarks in realistic 3-D models and topographies show more efficient and stable results for DM with direct solvers than uniform mesh results with iterative solvers.
Arthroscopic Reduction and Fixation of a Lesser Trochanter Avulsion Nonunion

Abstract Identifying and treating avulsion fractures of the pelvis and proximal femur in adolescent athletes has become increasingly more important as the rate of competitive sports participation has grown. The majority of these fractures can be treated conservatively, with most returning to full activity. Surgical treatment of these injuries has been traditionally indicated for >2 cm displacement, painful nonunion, symptomatic exostosis formation, or persistent pain and symptoms. Lesser trochanter avulsion injuries are extremely rare and literature outlining their surgical treatment lacking. We present our method of arthroscopic reduction and fixation of lesser trochanter avulsion nonunions.
Brain Abscess in a Patient With Radiotherapy-Treated Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: A Misdiagnosis Case Report and Review of the Literature

Brain abscesses are a relatively rare entity with an estimated incidence of 0.3 to 1.3 per 100,000 people per year. Brain abscesses arise from direct contiguous spread, hematogenous spread, neurosurgical procedures, open traumatic brain injuries, and cryptogenic sources. Early identification is pivotal, as delayed diagnosis and treatment lead to a very poor prognosis. Our case illustrates an elderly gentleman with a history of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the oropharyngeal palate who presented to an outside hospital with severe headaches and was found to have a questionable metastatic lesion to his left temporal region. He was discharged with a course of steroids. Weeks later his headaches persisted, mentation further declined and repeat imaging revealed the same abnormal lesion. He subsequently underwent a craniotomy and was found to have a significant temporal abscess and empyema, which were evacuated. Post-operatively his course was complicated by status epilepticus requiring intubation and he was ultimately placed on hospice care. Our case illustrates the importance of early recognition and intervention for suspicious lesions, particularly when predisposing risk factors exist. J Neurol Res. 2020;10(5):199-202 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr620
Remarks on Limit Theorems for Partial Differential Equations with Random Coefficients

We shall give some examples of asymptotics for partial differential equations with coefficients that are random functions. Roughly, the asymptotic analysis deals with cases in which the coefficients vary much more rapidly than the solution but there are many ways such a statement can be interpreted. We shall not give detailed statements or proofs; some essential points are presented in [1]. For boundary value problems of ordinary differential equations with random coefficients some of the examples are applications of the theorems of White and Franklin [2].
BUILDERS: A Project-Based Learning Experience to Foster STEM Interest in Students from Underserved High Schools

Access to enriching science programs is not equitable, with students from affluent districts having more opportunities to develop their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills than students from underserved districts. The Building Unique Inventions to Launch Discovery, Engagement, and Reasoning in STEM (BUILDERS) program was started in 2017 with support from the National Science Foundationâ€™s ITEST program to provide students from the Alabama Black Belt with STEM opportunities to which they would otherwise have no access. This project-based learning (PBL) program uses the concept of a makerspace to allow students to explore how science and technology can be used to solve the problems that affect their own communities. During an intensive, 3-week summer experience (the BUILDERS Academy), teams of students enthusiastically use the makerspace to design, build, and test prototypes of technology-based solutions to their community problems. During this immersive PBL process, they acquire and apply STEM concepts, learn about STEM careers, and acquire valuable 21st century skills. An extension of the summer Academy into the academic year was only moderately successful, highlighting the need to make extra-curricular STEM interventions available to underserved students in order to increase equitable access to practical and enriching educational experiences in STEM.
Oita International Electrocardiology Symposium 2000 “Electrophysiology and Management of Lethal Arrhythmias in the New Millennium: From Genes to Bedside”

The most potent group of class III antiarrhythmic agents are methanesulfonani tries. Nanomolarconcentrations of these compounds block the rapid delayed rectifier K current (IKr) in a very slowly reversible manner, consistent with the drug being trapped by closure of the activation gate inside the inner vestibule of the channel. The IKr channel is formed by co-assembly of HERG alpha subunits. HERG channels heterologously expressed in oocytes provide a convenient system to characterize block of the channel by drugs. A mutant form of die HERG channel (D540K HERG) that opens in response to either depolarization or hyperpokuization was used to determine if the very slow t ovety from block of HERG channels by MK-499 results from a trapping mechanism. Strong hyperpolarization of D540K HERG, but not wild type HERG channels, promotes reoovety from block by MK-499. This finding suggests that MK-499 binds to a site behind the activation gate, and the drug ls trapped inside the channel when the activation gate ls dosed. High affinity binding of the drug s favored by channel inactivation. Removal of inactivation by point mutations of HERG reduces the potency of block by about lafokL In summary, MK-499 preferentially blocks inactivated HERG channels at a site located within the inner vestibule that is accessed from the cytoplasm only after channel opening.
Multimodal urgency coding: auditory, visual, and tactile parameters and their impact on perceived urgency.

Through a series of investigations involving different levels of contextual fidelity we devel- oped scales of perceived urgency for several dimensions of the auditory, visual, and tactile modalities. Psychophysical ratings of perceived urgency, annoyance, and acceptability as well as behavioral re- sponses to signals in each modality were obtained and analyzed using Steven's Power Law to allow comparison across modalities. Obtained results and their implications for use as in-vehicle alerts and warnings are discussed.
Applications of Shape Memory Alloys for Neurology and Neuromuscular Rehabilitation

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a very promising class of metallic materials that display interesting nonlinear properties, such as pseudoelasticity (PE), shape memory effect (SME) and damping capacity, due to high mechanical hysteresis and internal friction. Our group has applied SMA in the field of neuromuscular rehabilitation, designing some new devices based on the mentioned SMA properties: in particular, a new type of orthosis for spastic limb repositioning, which allows residual voluntary movement of the impaired limb and has no predetermined final target position, but follows and supports muscular elongation in a dynamic and compliant way. Considering patients in the sub-acute phase after a neurological lesion, and possibly bedridden, the paper presents a mobiliser for the ankle joint, which is designed exploiting the SME to provide passive exercise to the paretic lower limb. Two different SMA-based applications in the field of neuroscience are then presented, a guide and a limb mobiliser specially designed to be compatible with diagnostic instrumentations that impose rigid constraints in terms of electromagnetic compatibility and noise distortion. Finally, the paper discusses possible uses of these materials in the treatment of movement disorders, such as dystonia or hyperkinesia, where their dynamic characteristics can be advantageous.
The relationship between psychiatry and pediatrics: a disputatious view.

THE Aldrich Award Address by Dr. Julius Richmond in this issue requires careful reading. Within its sober, low-keyed assessment of the state of developmental research in pediatrics is a perceptive critique of the present and an exciting preview of a possible future. Writing as a pediatrician, Dr. Richmond chides, but only gently, my psychiatric colleagues and indicates, but only modestly, the potential contribution of pediatrics. As a child psychiatrist not under (or at least not admitting to) such restraints, I feel freer to comment on certain aspects of the relationship between the two specialties. Child psychiatrists cite the importance of knowledge of child development for fully effective pediatric practice, bemoan the grossly inadequate training in medical psychology presently afforded pediatric house officers, had decry the unsympathetic reception they have receive from pediatrics faculties when they have ample justification.
Immunology of Gonadal Steroids

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the immunology of gonadal steroids. Antibodies against steroids can be elicited by the administration of conjugates in which the steroids or their derivatives are coupled covalently to proteins or polypeptides. Different types of procedure used for the preparation of these steroid protein conjugates are tabulated in the chapter. The production of antibodies against steroids, by the administration of steroid-protein conjugates is also described. In biological studies, the use of such conjugates as immunizing agents decreases the chance of complications because of anaphylaxis. The most commonly used carrier proteins are: serum albumin of human (HSA), bovine (BSA), or rabbit (RSA) origin, although other proteins such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KHL) are used. The specificity of any antibody is not absolute and, because of the complexity and heterogenicity of the immune response, may vary from antiserum to antiserum. Antibody methods using fluorescent and immunoenzyme techniques are used successfully for the localization of proteins in tissues. The use of such methods for the localization of steroids presents several problems. The method used for dealing with the problem of crossreactions is based on liapten-inhibition studies of homologous and heterologous reactions.
The transition to non-pictorial star maps

It is rare to find constellation images in modern-day star atlases. Sometimes, lines are drawn connecting major stars to produce stick-figure representations of the constellations. In other cases, there are no representations, just boundary lines drawn around the area of the sky assigned to the constellation. Practically, such atlases are much more advanced, showing stars and deep-sky objects beyond naked eye visibility whose positions have been computer-generated with great accuracy and located in a coordinate system that is current and very precise. Aesthetically, however, much has been lost in terms of artistry and mythology. But then, shouldn’t the major purpose of a star map be to accurately map the heavens? Of course, it has always been this way. It is just that what made previous maps appealing were their anthropomorphic and historic qualities (which in past times were relevant to their mapping function), but such features are now just seen as so much unnecessary superficial clutter.
AQCS: adaptive queue-based chunk scheduling for P2P live streaming

P2P streaming has been popular and is expected to attract even more users. One major challenge for P2P streaming is to offer users satisfactory Quality of Experience (QoE) in terms of video resolution, startup delay, and playback smoothness, all require efficient utilization of bandwidth resources in P2P networks. In this paper, we propose AQCS, adaptive queue-based chunk scheduling, that can support the maximum streaming rate allowed by a P2P streaming system with small signaling overhead and short startup delay. AQCS is a distributed algorithm with minimum requirement on peers. Queue-based design enables peers to be self-adaptive to the bandwidth variations and peer churn, and automatically converges to the optimal operating point. The prototype of AQCS is implemented and various implementation issues are examined. The experiments over the PlanetLab further demonstrate AQCS's optimality and its robustness against changing system/network environment.
“Mathematicians Would Say It This Way”: An Investigation of Teachers' Framings of Mathematicians

Although popular media often provides negative images of mathematicians, we contend that mathematics classroom practices can also contribute to students' images of mathematicians. In this study, we examined eight mathematics teachers' framings of mathematicians in their classrooms. Here, we analyze classroom observations to explore some of the characteristics of the teachers' framings of mathematicians in their classrooms. The findings suggest that there may be a relationship between a teachers' mathematics background and his/her references to mathematicians. We also argue that teachers need to be reflective about how they represent mathematicians to their students, and that preservice teachers should explore their beliefs about what mathematicians actually do.
Promoted Ignition-Combustion Behavior of Light Metals in Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres

Promoted ignition-combustion is a term which has been used to describe a situation where a substance with poor oxygen compatibility ignites and supports the combustion of a more resistant material. Previous papers on the subject in recent years have reported on the investigation of this phenomenon as it relates to aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steels and a number of engineering alloys. Aluminum alloys are used in the construction of equipment found in industrial gas applications. Yet, promoted ignition-combustion test data on aluminum samples showing the effects of variables such as test pressure, oxygen purity, promoter types, etc. on promoted ignition-combustion behavior of one aluminum alloy are scarce over the full spectrum of oxygen enriched atmospheres which might be encountered in the industrial gas business. Titanium alloys are preferred materials of construction in certain environments where severe corrosion is of concern. However, there are known instances where they have proven to be incompatible with oxidizers such as liquid oxygen, gaseous oxygen, red fuming nitric acid and "red" nitrogen tetroxide. Recent developments in titanium alloys have been oriented towards improvement of their ignition resistance in oxygen enriched environments for specific applications. In this investigation, the promoted-ignition combustion behavior of aluminum alloy 5183 was studied in oxygen-nitrogen gas mixtures over the pressure range of 0.1 MPa to 20.8 MPa with oxygen purities ranging from 40% to 99.7% using 3.175 mm diameter rods. Utilizing the same test method and specimen size, the promoted ignition-combustion resistance of a commercially pure titanium alloy and Nb-55Ti titanium alloy was studied in oxygen-nitrogen mixtures with oxygen purities ranging from 30 to 80% oxygen at pressures up to 1.5 MPa.
Service Development for Adolescents and Adults in North Carolina’s TEACCH Program

Childhood autism has only recently been recognized as a disorder which can best be treated and managed in the context of the child’s own family and community. Such children have been provided with comprehensive, statewide services in North Carolina, a program for the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communications handicapped CHildren (Division TEACCH). Beginning as a research project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the U.S. Office of Education in 1966, the TEACCH program has been serving autistic children and their families for the past 15 years. It became the first legally mandated statewide program for autistic children in 1972, and now includes a network of 5 regional centers, 34 public school classrooms, and 4 group homes located throughout the state of North Carolina. Over 1,000 children and their families have been evaluated and assisted since the program’s inception.
Frequency, risk factors, and management of perigraft seroma after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Objective Perigraft seroma (PGS) causing enlargement of the native aneurysm sac after open abdominal aortoiliac aneurysm (AAA) repair is a rarely recognized complication with unknown clinical consequences. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of PGS, identify associated risk factors, and review resulting complications and their management strategies. Methods Charts of all patients who underwent open AAA repair at our institution from 1995 to 2009 and had at least one postoperative abdominal cross-sectional imaging study (the study subjects) were retrospectively reviewed. PGS was defined as a perigraft fluid collection present >3 months postoperatively, ≥3-cm in diameter and having a radiodensity ≤25 Hounsfield units on computed tomography (CT). Patient records were reviewed for demographics, comorbidities, operative and postoperative variables, and long-term outcome. Results Of the 111 study subjects identified, 13 had aortic reconstruction with Dacron grafts and 98 with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts. Twenty patients (18%) had PGS, all of whom had PTFE grafts (20 of 98; 20.4%). Mean age was 68.5 years and mean aneurysm diameter preoperatively was 6.4 cm (range, 4.0-10.9 cm). The average time from AAA repair to PGS detection was 51 months (range, 4-156 months). PGS averaged 6.0-cm in diameter (range, 3.0-11.0 cm). Multivariate analysis revealed that the following factors were associated with PGS development: diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-21.2; P = .013), smoking (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 0.73-33.74; P = .01), anticoagulation (OR, 7.2; 95% CI, 2.6-63.3; P = .003), bifurcated graft reconstruction (OR, 8.0; 95% CI, 2.6-94.1; P = .017), and left flank retroperitoneal approach for repair (OR, 7.1; 95% CI, 1.9-26.5; P = .003). Four patients (4 of 20; 20%) required intervention for PGS-related complications: 3 patients for symptomatic PGS expansion (1 patient with rupture) and 1 patient for acute limb ischemia secondary to graft limb compression and thrombosis. Two patients had open exploration, sac evacuation/reduction, and graft replacement with a Dacron graft: 1 patient for a ruptured aneurysm sac and 1 patient for persistent pain associated with sac enlargement. A third patient underwent a failed CT-guided drainage for abdominal pain and was subsequently treated with partial graft excision. The patient with acute limb ischemia was treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis and graft limb stenting. Conclusion PGS after open AAA repair occurs more frequently than previously reported. Complications requiring intervention can occur in up to 20% of patients with PGS. A variety of treatment modalities can be used to deal with the complications. Earlier CT surveillance is advised after open AAA repair with a PTFE graft if symptoms are suggestive of PGS development.
Investigation on the mechanism of the 193-nm resist linewidth reduction during the SEM measurement

Linewidth reduction (or line slimming) of resist features has been previously observed during routine scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact of the linewidth reduction may result in measurement precision and accuracy errors and potential device reliability issues due to permanent feature deformation. The magnitude and the origin of these effects for various resist platforms are not well understood. In this study the measurement of the extent of slimming is performed on two 193nm single layer resist (SLR) platforms, including an acrylate based SLR and a polynorborene (poly-CO) based SLR. The maximum shrinkage is found to be approximately 15% and varies as a function of resist composition and electron beam landing energy and flux. Mechanisms for the resist shrinkage that impact both the physical (e.g., annealing or solvent loss) and chemical (e.g., bond scission, cross-linking, fragmentation, or deprotection) properties are evaluated. Potential methods for reducing the slimming effect are proposed in this paper.
Multi-domain system models integration for faults detection in induction motor drives

The power electronic converters, electric machines, and mechanical loads are key parts of the electric drives systems, and these components are usually modeled and analyzed using specific simulation tools. The overall performances of the electric drives are influenced by system's interconnected components. One solution, to investigate the interaction between different parts of these multi-domain systems, is to integrate them into only one simulation environment. This paper presents the development of two integrated models of a three-phase induction motor (IM) drive: one, based on d-q machine model using MATLAB/Simulink-Simscape, the second being based on finite element analysis (FEA) motor model using ANSYS Simplorer/Maxwell software. The goal is to analyze the system models capabilities to simulate the faults detection caused by failures of different drive's components. The motor current signature analysis is used, in this paper, for monitoring the operation of the IM fed through a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) power inverter. Finally, two case studies are presented, one illustrating the effects of a faulty device of the PWM inverter, and the second case demonstrating the influence of the IM's stator fault. Another objective of this study is to provide users a convenient way of instruction in the area of faults detection and power quality of alternating current (ac) machines and drives.
Temperature oscillations in the north atlantic.

Richard Kerr's News article “A North Atlantic climate pacemaker for the centuries” (16 June, p. [1984][1]) describes a 50- to 70-year temperature oscillation over the North Atlantic Ocean, but did not mention our 1994 Nature paper “An oscillation in the global climate system of period 65–70
Role of Notch signaling in colon homeostasis and carcinogenesis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths world-wide. Despite the development of new anti-cancer agents, there will be an estimated 150,000 new cases and 50,000 deaths associated with this disease during the next year.1 This is due in part to the limitations of chemotherapy resulting from drug resistance and organ system toxicities. To overcome the inherent limitations associated with standard chemotherapy modalities, the development of novel drug targets is of utmost importance in combating this disease. There is accumulating evidence that a small fraction of cancer cells, referred to as cancer stem cells, may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of this disease. In fact, the identification of cancer stem cells can be accomplished based on the expression of surface markers associated with a cancer stem-like phenotype. This stem-like phenotype includes indefinite self-replication, pluripotency, and most importantly, resistance to chemotherapeutics. Therefore, understanding the properties of cancer stem cells may ultimately lead to new therapeutic approaches. Recently, several studies have shown that Notch signaling is critical to maintain the cancer stem cell properties. This review provides summary of colonic crypt organization and colon carcinogenesis from the point of view of stem cells. Moreover, we discuss novel therapeutic strategies that are under development for targeting Notch signaling in cancer stem cells.
Short-term increases in transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 mediate stress-induced enhancement of neuronal excitation.

Progression of neurodegeneration in disease and injury is influenced by the response of individual neurons to stressful stimuli and whether this response includes mechanisms to counter declining function. Transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels transduce a variety of disease-relevant stimuli and can mediate diverse stress-dependent changes in physiology, both presynaptic and postsynaptic. Recently, we demonstrated that knock-out or pharmacological inhibition of the TRP vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) capsaicin-sensitive subunit accelerates degeneration of retinal ganglion cell neurons and their axons with elevated ocular pressure, the critical stressor in the most common optic neuropathy, glaucoma. Here we probed the mechanism of the influence of TRPV1 on ganglion cell survival in mouse models of glaucoma. We found that induced elevations of ocular pressure increased TRPV1 in ganglion cells and its colocalization at excitatory synapses to their dendrites, whereas chronic elevation progressively increased ganglion cell Trpv1 mRNA. Enhanced TRPV1 expression in ganglion cells was transient and supported a reversal of the effect of TRPV1 on ganglion cells from hyperpolarizing to depolarizing, which was also transient. Short-term enhancement of TRPV1-mediated activity led to a delayed increase in axonal spontaneous excitation that was absent in ganglion cells from Trpv1−/− retina. In isolated ganglion cells, pharmacologically activated TRPV1 mobilized to discrete nodes along ganglion cell dendrites that corresponded to sites of elevated Ca2+. These results suggest that TRPV1 may promote retinal ganglion cell survival through transient enhancement of local excitation and axonal activity in response to ocular stress.
Photometric properties of powdered sulfur

Particle size, temperature, thermal history, and scattering geometry are shown by the present laboratory investigation of the spectrophotometric properties of three particle-size fractions of sulfur to influence the spectral reflectance of both normal and quenched molten samples of sulfur. A scattering law that consists of a linear combination of lunar-like and Lambertian terms adequately describes the data for all particle sizes. Near opposition, sulfur particles closely follow a Minnaert limb darkening law except where the reflectance is low, as in the strong UV absorption band of the larger particle size fractions. The present data indicate that quantitative comparisons between disk-integrated observations of Io and laboratory measurements of flat sulfur samples are inadequate unless temperature effects and scattering geometry changes are included.