cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
VEGF is deposited in the subepithelial matrix at the leading edge of branching airways and stimulates neovascularization in the murine embryonic lung

We used whole lung cultures as a model to study blood vessel formation in vitro and to examine the role that epithelial-mesenchymal interactions play during embryonic pulmonary vascular development. Mouse lungs were isolated at embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) and cultured for up to 4 days prior to blood vessel analysis. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM/CD31) and thrombomodulin (TM/CD141) immunolocalization demonstrate that vascular development occurs in lung cultures. The vascular structures identified in lung cultures first appear as a loosely associated plexus of capillary-like structures that with time surround the airways. To investigate the potential role of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) during pulmonary neovascularization, we immunolocalized VEGF in embryonic lungs. Our data demonstrate that VEGF is uniformly present in the airway epithelium and the subepithelial matrix of E11.5 lungs. At later time points, E13.5 and E15.5, VEGF is no longer detected in the proximal airways, but is restricted to the branching tips of airways in the distal lung. RT-PCR analysis reveals that VEGF164 is the predominant isoform expressed in lung cultures. Grafting heparin-bound VEGF164 beads onto lung explants locally stimulates a marked neovascular response within 48 hr in culture. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR reveals an 18% increase in PECAM mRNA in VEGF164-treated whole lung cultures as compared with untreated cultures. The restricted temporal and spatial expression of VEGF suggests that matrix-associated VEGF links airway branching with blood vessel formation by stimulating neovascularization at the leading edge of branching airways. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
High pressure autothermal reforming in low oxygen environments

Abstract Recent interest in fuel cells has led to the conceptual design of an ocean floor, fuel cell-based, power generating station fueled by methane from natural gas seeps or from the controlled decomposition of methane hydrates. Because the dissolved oxygen concentration in deep ocean water is too low to provide adequate supplies to a fuel processor and fuel cell, oxygen must be stored onboard the generating station. A lab scale catalytic autothermal reformer capable of operating at pressures of 6–50 bar was constructed and tested. The objective of the experimental program was to maximize H2 production per mole of O2 supplied (H2(out)/O2(in)). Optimization, using oxygen-to-carbon (O2/C) and water-to-carbon (S/C) ratios as independent variables, was conducted at three pressures using bottled O2. Surface response methodology was employed using a 22 factorial design. Optimal points were validated using H2O2 as both a stored oxidizer and steam source. The optimal experimental conditions for maximizing the moles of H2(out)/O2(in) occurred at a S/C ratio of 3.00–3.35 and an O2/C ratio of 0.44–0.48. When using H2O2 as the oxidizer, the moles of H2(out)/O2(in) increased ≤14%. An equilibrium model was also used to compare experimental and theoretical results.
Morphology and Tectonic Evolution of the East-Central Pacific

Mapping of the East Pacific Rise between the equator and 40° S. shows the location and trend of nine active fracture zones and the probable location of a few more. An area of relatively shallow sea floor west of Easter Island marks a second active spreading center discovered by Herron (1972b). New data indicate that segments of several fracture zones exist on either side of the rise and can be correlated across that feature. New segments of the fossil Galapagos Rise have been identified, indicating that its southern part is significantly deeper than the northern segments. At 15° S., 120° W., the topographic configuration of the East Pacific Rise is markedly asymmetric: the western part is shallower than 2,000 fm (3,750 m) and occupies twice the area of that part to the east of the rise crest.
An Integrated Study on Mobility Models and Scalable Routing Protocols in VANETs

A vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) is a high mobility wireless ad hoc network that is targeted to support vehicular safety, traffic monitoring, and other commercial applications. Mobility models used in traditional mobile ad hoc networks cannot be directly applied to VANETs since real world factors such as road layouts and traffic regulations are not considered. In this paper, we propose a vehicular mobility model that reflects real world vehicle movement on the road. Based on the mobility, we study the performance of existing Mobile Ad Hoc network (MANET) routing protocols, i.e., AODV and GPSR. We observe the drawbacks of the MANET protocols and argue the inappropriateness of directly applying those MANET protocols to VANETs. We also propose simple modifications to these protocols which make them more suitable for small scale VANETs. When investigating the large scale VANETs, we introduce a two phase routing protocol that incorporates map information. The proposed protocol defines an overlay graph with roads of high vehicular density and forwards packet along the pre-calculated path in the overlay. The access, which is the rest areas relies on our modified small scale routing protocols to send packets to overlay . Both small and large scale routing protocols are validated with simulation. We generate vehicular mobility traces for different road layouts in Orlando by making vehicles follow the mobility model. We feed the traces to network simulators to study the routing behavior. Simulation results show the performance and effectiveness of our modified and proposed routing protocols for VANET scenarios.
Nitrate in Groundwater of the United States, 1991−2003

An assessment of nitrate concentrations in groundwater in the United States indicates that concentrations are highest in shallow, oxic groundwater beneath areas with high N inputs. During 1991−2003, 5101 wells were sampled in 51 study areas throughout the U.S. as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program. The well networks reflect the existing used resource represented by domestic wells in major aquifers (major aquifer studies), and recently recharged groundwater beneath dominant land-surface activities (land-use studies). Nitrate concentrations were highest in shallow groundwater beneath agricultural land use in areas with well-drained soils and oxic geochemical conditions. Nitrate concentrations were lowest in deep groundwater where groundwater is reduced, or where groundwater is older and hence concentrations reflect historically low N application rates. Classification and regression tree analysis was used to identify the relative importance of N inputs, bioge...
A Cornucopia of Minimal Degrees

The first minimal degree construction is due to Spector [7]. To this Sacks [5] has added the priority method of Friedberg [1] and Muchnik [4] to obtain a minimal degree less than 0′. Sacks' methods have been modified in several directions to obtain minimal degrees satisfying various incomparability conditions.
Avoiding and Treating Heterotopic Ossification After Total Hip Arthroplasty

The occurrence of heterotopic ossification (HO) after total hip arthroplasty has been reported between 2% and 90% and depends on the risk factors associated with the patient population being reported. Risk factors such as male gender, operative approach, patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, previous hip operations, or traumatic injury have all been reported. Preventive measures can be implemented using oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, or radiation treatment in higher risk individuals. Once HO has started to form, there are no treatment modalities that will halt its progression. If severe HO results that significantly hampers patient function, then excision may be considered with planned measures to prevent recurrence.
Risk-factor changes in wives with husbands at high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD): the spin-off effect.

This study of 220 wives of participants from four of the 22 clinics in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) addresses the question of whether spouses of men exposed to a continuous coronary heart disease (CHD) risk-factor intervention program (SI group) make changes in their own risk status compared to wives of men who did not receive the intervention program (UC group). Total serum cholesterol and low-density lipopro-tein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly lower for the SI wives. These differences were found for both hypertensive and normotensive wives, although the magnitudes were much greater for the hypertensive wives. There were also significant differences between the two groups of wives in the food-record rating and in dietary-knowledge scores, indicating that the probable mechanism for the beneficial effect of the intervention with respect to cholesterol levels was the change in the family diet. Although not statistically significant, differences indicating a lower risk for SI wives were found for diastolic blood pressure. There was also a greater mean reduction in cigarettes per day for SI wives who smoked.
Stereo- and regiocontrolled hydroxylation of oxyallyl [4+3] cycloadducts. A concise synthesis of hinokitiol

Abstract Stereo- and regioselective hydroxylation of 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ones was achieved by the action of (diacetoxyiodo)benzene in methanolic potassium hydroxide (the Moriarty oxidation). Subsequent double elimination afforded a convenient preparation of substituted tropolones, as exemplified in a three-step synthesis of hinokitiol ( 1 ).
Landmarks, places, environments: Multiple mind—Brain systems for spatial orientation

Abstract Studies are reviewed which describe the cognitive structures and processes that support spatial orientation within environments navigated on foot by human adults. The review is organized around different levels of spatial knowing. The review of the experimental literature in cognitive psychology starts with a structural description of visual information-available at the perceptual level to a locomoting person and then turns to a discussion of cognitive representations of spatial knowledge at increasingly larger spatial scales: from landmarks, a configuration of visual features; to places, a configuration of landmarks; to environments, a configuration of places. The experimental and neuropsychological evidence reviewed suggests that spatial orientation may be supported by a number of functionally distinct cognitive systems. Neuroanatomical and functional divisions in the visual system of monkeys reported in the field of neuroscience are also reviewed. Where appropriate, connections are proposed between the functional divisions motivated by research in experimental psychology and the functional-neuroanatomical systems described in neuroscience, suggesting multiple mind-brain systems for spatial orientation in human adults.
Gertrude Blanch of the Mathematical Tables Project

Gertrude Blanch can be viewed as either the last and most important leader of human computers or one of the first numerical analysts for electronic computers. From 1938 to 1948, she was the technical director of the Mathematical Tables Project, the largest and most sophisticated of the human computing groups. During that period, she organized the literature of computing and numerical analysis. After the Mathematical Tables Project became the Computation Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards, Blanch went on to develop numerical analysis for the early computers, working first for the Institute for Numerical Analysis, next for the Computer Division of Consolidated Engineering (later ElectroData), and finally for the Air Force's Aeronautical Research Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio.
Fault-controlled deformation and stress from pumping-induced groundwater flow

Summary Four two-dimensional numerical model scenarios are developed to gain a better understanding of how earth fissures form under pumping induced stress. The simulated aquifer–aquitard system contains a low compressibility sub-vertical 100 m wide fault zone that transects the hydrostratigraphic system that includes a 100 m thick vadose zone. Two scenarios represent constant and cyclical pumping over a 5-year period and two scenarios are used to evaluate the difference between using purely elastic aquitards versus elasto-plastic aquitards. The model provides for the analysis of the spatial distribution of deformation, and normal and shear stress that potentially lead to the formation of earth fissures. Results indicate that this fault-zone largely controls the deformation and stress regime of the system during pumping. Patterns of deformation and stress are similar for all scenarios with only the magnitudes being affected. Simulation results show that pumping induces a counterclockwise rotation of the fault plane on the footwall. The distribution of deformation through the fault is damped and the deformation patterns are more subdued on the hanging wall but all deformation is directed toward the pumping well. These deformation patterns result in two areas of stress accumulation that may lead to fissure formation: (a) near the land surface in the fault zone, and (b) near the saturated–unsaturated interface on the hanging wall adjacent to the fault zone. These results reveal the importance of both the fault and vadose zones in fissure genesis.
A DYNAMIC INTRSECTORAL, MODEL OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH*

. The dynamic relationship between sectoral value added and regional economic growth is analyzed using a stochastic intersectoral model estimated by ordinary least squares and linear systems techniques. A state-space portion of the model identifies the time element of sedoral value added. Dynamic multipliers, tracing the temporal path of regional growth, are calculated for the state of Georgia over the period 1963–1986. This application shows that the impacts of sectoral shocks can follow cyclical as well as monotonic patterns and that the direction and magnitude of the impact may change over time.
Citizen Adoption of Technology Mediated Social Participation Systems

I study technologies developed to encourage the public to contribute to the public good. However, few of these systems are well accepted and adopted by public. Using a mixed methods approach grounded on technology acceptance theoretical frameworks, my dissertation explores why people are motivated to take participatory actions to be more involved and engaged within their communities? By using an example of Balagh Tejary, a public participation mobile application used to report merchant violations with the Ministry of Commerce in Saudi Arabia I aim to explore the motivational factors underpinning the acceptance of public participation systems in public good domain.
Cross-talk between Site-specific Transcription Factors and DNA Methylation States

DNA methylation, which occurs predominantly at CpG dinucleotides, is a potent epigenetic repressor of transcription. Because DNA methylation is reversible, there is much interest in understanding the mechanisms by which it can be regulated by DNA-binding transcription factors. We discuss several models that, by incorporating sequence motifs, CpG density, and methylation levels, attempt to link the binding of a transcription factor with the acquisition or loss of DNA methylation at promoters and distal regulatory elements. Additional in vivo genome-wide characterization of transcription factor binding patterns and high-resolution DNA methylation analyses are clearly required for stronger support of each model.
Using Airy Function to Thermoelastically Separate Stresses in a Central Circularly Perforated Plate

Thermoelastic Stress Analysis (TSA) information is proportional to the change in the sum of the principal stresses. Since one often has to know the magnitude of individual stresses, additional experimental methods or data are frequently required to ‘separate the stresses’. This paper demonstrates the ability to evaluate individual stresses in a uniaxially-loaded finite plate with a central circular hole from TSA-recorded information without supplementary experimental data. Measured temperatures are combined with an Airy stress function and some limited traction-free conditions. The present technique does not presuppose knowing the external geometry or boundary conditions, overcomes traditional difficulties of unreliable edge data, and reduces the number of coefficients needed by satisfying the traction-free conditions analytically on the edge of the hole. Attention is paid to determining an appropriate number of the real (not complex) Airy coefficients.
An atmospheric tracer investigation of transport and diffusion around a large, isolated hill

Abstract Twenty-one single and dual tracer tests were conducted during May and June 1981, at Steptoe Butte (335m), an isolated hill located in eastern Washington state. SF 6 and CBrF 3 tracer releases from upwind of the hill at heights ranging from near the surface to approximately 190 m were used to study plume transport over and around the hill during unstable, neutral, and stable atmospheric conditions. Plumes released upwind during daytime near-neutral conditions traveled up and over the hill with maximum concentrations on the windward side at receptor elevations between 0.5 and 1.5 times the source height. Maximum concentrations were in the same range as calculated from models for neutral flow over a hemisphere. Plumes released upwind during transitional day-to-night conditions exhibited maximum concentrations similar to the daytime releases, but the tracer isopleths indicated some plume bifurcation. The concept of a critical streamline height to predict whether plumes impinge upon the hill and pass round it or travel up and over the hill was found to be valid at Steptoe Butte. The two largest 15-min average concentrations occurred on the windward side, but more than half of the concentration maxima were observed on the leeward half of the hill predominately as the result of transport up and over the hill. The position of the maximum concentrations tended to shift toward the side of the hill as the horizontal displacement of the source from the flow centerline increased. The largest maximum concentration was in a range calculated previously with an impingement model of a turbulent plume embedded in a potential flow around a cylinder, while the remainder of the maxima were in a range predicted with a similar model of potential flow over a hemisphere.
Eye movements in children with the Dandy-Walker syndrome

Although the effects of cerebellar lesions upon eye movements are well established, there has been no systematic attempt to define the defects of ocular motility that occur in the Dandy-Walker syndrome. The authors have studied the eye movements of four children with this syndrome; all had been treated successfully with ventricular shunts and none had any visual symptoms. Only one of the four patients showed an abnormality: a minor degree of saccadic dysmetria. These findings contrast with the deficits of ocular motility that occur when Dandy-Walker syndrome or other cerebellar disease presents later in life.
Molecular orientation of hydroquinone on smooth platinum electrodes studied by radioactive labeling

Abstract Adsorption of hydroquinone on smooth polycrystalline platinum was studied by using a radioactive labeling method and electrochemistry. The potential dependence, bulk concentration dependence, and rates of adsorption were measured in 0.1 M HClO4 supporting electrolyte. The potential dependence revealed behavior typical for a strongly adsorbed species; a broad plateau of maximum adsorption was found in the double layer region with decreasing adsorption toward potential extremes. Earlier thin layer electrochemistry. (TLE) results by Hubbard and Soriaga obtained with this system were confirmed. In particular, we report that horizontally oriented molecules occupy the surface at low bulk concentrations of hydroquinone, and edgewise oriented molecules occupy the surface at higher concentrations. Surface concentrations were generally lower than those obtained by the TLE and related techniques, but were comparable to Auger electron spectroscopy measurements of hydroquinone adsorption on Pt(111) electrodes. Possible reasons for this observation are discussed.
Cultivar preferences of lepidopterous pests of broccoli

Abstract Selected cultivars of broccoli grown in Halifax County (south-central Virginia) and Montgomery County (southwestern Virginia) from 1986 to 1988 were sampled regularly for insects to compare cultivar (cv.) preference of the lepidopterous pests. The imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), was the most abundant pest of broccoli in Montgomery Co. during five consecutive spring and autumn plantings. In the autumn plantings in Halifax Co. the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), and the cabbage webworm, Hellula rogatalis (Hulst), were most abundant in 1987, and the cabbage looper and the imported cabbageworm were most abundant in 1988. Other Lepidoptera encountered in low numbers were the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.); the cross-striped cabbageworm, Evergestis rimosalis (Guenee); and the corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie). Counts of imported cabbageworm eggs showed some differences between cvs in Montgomery Co., but not in Halifax Co., nor was there any difference for cabbage looper eggs. Mean larval counts (sum of small and large larvae of Lepidoptera per plant per sample date) for each season showed significant differences between the 13 cvs tested. The level of insects infesting the plants corresponded to the maturity dates of the cvs: more larvae per sample date were found on the late-maturing cvs than the early-maturing cvs. Symphony, an early-maturing cv., had the least number of larvae whereas Green Defender, a late-maturing cv., had the most. The mid-maturing cvs had intermediate levels of insects. No significant differences in leaf defoliation, yield, or percentage marketable heads were found between cvs.
Oxazepam induced mouse killing by rats.

Abstract Oxazepam (2.5–80 mg/kg) induced significant mouse killing among large samples (N=100/dose) of Holtzman strain albino rats. Meprobamate (2.5–80 mg/kg) and Chlorpromazine (0.5–4 mg/kg) did not induce killing. Despite its lesser tendency to induce aggression in humans, Oxazepam is as potent as Chlordiazepoxide for inducing killing by rats. Induction of mouse killing by rats appears to the predict clinical potency rather than the aggressive side-effects of anxiolytic benzodiazepines.
Life-threatening hypokalemia associated with profound electrocardiographic manifestations in thyrotoxic periodic paralysis

We describe a case of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) associated with profound electrocardiographic abnormalities and cardiac arrhythmias along with a brief literature review. A 38-year old Hispanic male presented with a history of intermittent profound lower extremity weakness which went undiagnosed for over a year before a diagnosis of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) was made. The patient experienced ventricular tachycardia, as well as complete atrioventricular block and a right bundle branch block requiring urgent treatment. Although all these electrocardiographic abnormalities are known to occur in TPP, they are rarely manifest together in a single patient. TPP is a frequently unrecognized but life-threatening disorder which requires a high index of suspicion for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Our patient demonstrates the multiple electrocardiographic abnormalities associated with TPP and severe hypokalemia. Unfortunately, this condition went unrecognized for over a year, highlighting the need for better recognition of this potentially fatal disorder.
Regulation of phospholipase C-β isozymes by G-proteins

Abstract Phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes are known to be regulated, in part, by heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G-protein) subunits, including Gα subunits of the G q family and Gβγ subunits. New data show that PLC can also be regulated by a high molecular weight G-protein that doubles as a cellular transglutaminase. Furthermore, a soluble phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) has been implicated in sustaining the activity of PLC by delivering substrate to the plasma membrane. Such diverse regulatory mechanisms imply that the PLC isozymes are precisely controlled and have specific roles in generating second messengers in response to various external stimuli.
Mutation analysis of Jagged1 (JAG1) in Alagille syndrome patients

Alagille syndrome (AGS) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in Jagged1 (JAG1), a ligand in the evolutionarily conserved Notch signaling pathway. Previous studies have demonstrated that a wide spectrum of JAG1 mutations result in AGS. These include total gene deletions, protein truncating, splicing and missense mutations which are distributed across the coding region of the gene. Here we present results of JAG1 mutation screening by SSCP and FISH in 105 patients with AGS. For these studies, new primers were designed for 12 exons. Mutations were identified in 63/105 patients (60%). The spectrum of the JAG1 mutations presented here is consistent with previously reported results. Eighty three percent (52/63) of the mutations were protein truncating, 11% (7/63) were missense, 2% (1/63) were splice site, and 5% (3/63) were total gene deletions demonstrable by FISH. Six of the missense mutations are novel. As has been reported previously, there is no apparent relationship between genotype and clinical phenotype.
Analyst Information Processing, Financial Regulation, and Academic Research

ABSTRACT: Changes in regulations governing capital markets always provide a rich setting for archival researchers to examine how such changes affect the behavior of market participants. Barniv et al. (2009; hereafter, BHMT) and Chen and Chen (2009; hereafter CC) examine the impacts of recently enacted regulations aimed at curbing perceived abused by sell‐side analysts. There were no less than six significant regulations issued between 2000 and 2003 that affected the activities of analysts. BHMT and CC emphasize different regulations, but both predict that analysts' recommendation will be less biased as a result of the collective regulatory changes. The evidence in both studies is strong and convincing that the association between analysts' earnings forecasts and stock recommendations has changed, consistent with analysts' personal conflicts of interest having less impact on their analyses. However, the attribution of what regulation, if any, effected this change is less clear. Collectively, the similariti...
Synthesis of Cu-Doped InP Nanocrystals (d-dots) with ZnSe Diffusion Barrier as Efficient and Color-Tunable NIR Emitters

Efficient Cu-doped InP quantum dots (Cu:InP d-dots) emitters were successfully synthesized by epitaxial growth of a ZnSe diffusion barrier for the dopants. The Cu dopant emission of the Cu:InP/ZnSe core/shell d-dots covered the important red and near-infrared (NIR) window for biomedical applicaitons, from 630 to 1100 nm, by varying the size of the InP host nanocrystals. These new d-dots emitters not only compensate for the emission wavelength of the existing noncadmium d-dots emitters, Cu- and Mn-doped ZnSe d-dots (450-610 nm), but also offer a complete series of efficient nanocrystal emitters based on InP nanocrystals. The one-pot synthetic scheme for the formation of Cu:InP/ZnSe core/shell d-dots was successfully established by systematically studying the doping process, the dopant concentration-dependent photophysical properties, and the dopant diffusion during shell epitaxy, etc. Complete elimination of InP bandgap emission and efficient pure dopant emission (with photoluminescence quantum yield as high as between 35-40%) of the core/shell d-dots were achieved by optimizing the final doping level and the diffusion barrier thickness.
Correlation of optical properties and temperature-induced irreversible phase transitions in europium-doped yttrium carbonate nanoparticles

Abstract Nanophase europium-doped yttrium carbonate precursors are subjected to heat treatments, ranging from 300 °C to 1100 °C for dwell times of 5 min, 30 min, and 180 min. XRD, TEM, FT-IR, fluorescence, fluorescence excitation, and fluorescence lifetime measurements are used to characterize the materials. Upon heating, the material transitions through several amorphous stages until it reaches the crystalline cubic Y2O3 phase. DSC measurements show an exothermic transition at 665.7 °C, indicating the formation of crystalline Y2O3. The grain size development is fitted by the relaxation equation and yields an activation energy of 50.3 kJ/mol. The amorphous phases are characterized by inhomogenously broadened optical spectra. Heating up to 700 °C leads to an increased fluorescence lifetime (from about 1 ms to 2.4 ms). As the material is heated to higher temperatures and completes the formation of the crystalline cubic Y2O3 phase, the optical spectra become narrower and the fluorescence lifetime decreases to about 1.2 ms.
Streamwise vorticity generation and mixing enhancement in free jets by delta-tabs

The effect of triangular tabs, placed at the nozzle exit, on the evolution of free jets is investigated. The effect, a large distortion of the jet cross section and a resultant increase in mixing downstream, has been inferred before to be due to a pair of streamwise vortices originating from each tab. In this paper, the generation mechanism of the stream wise vorticity (omega sub x) is considered first. Two sources are postulated. One is the upstream 'pressure hill', produced by the tab, which appears to be the dominant source. Another is due to vortex filaments shed from the sides of the tab and reoriented downstream by the mean shear of the mixing layer. In the case of a 'delta-tab', a triangular tab with its apex leaning downstream, vorticity from the two sources explain the stronger effect in that configuration. Data on the vorticity evolution for the effect of two delta-tabs are presented, up to twelve jet diameters from the exit, which show that the streamwise vortices persist even at the farthest measurement station. The magnitude of omega sub x-maximum decays continually with distance from the nozzle, its ratio to azimuthal vorticity maximum is found to be about 1/5 everywhere. The relative effect of a delta-tab on jets from an axisymmetric nozzle and a 8:1 rectangular nozzle is also studied. The mixing layer distortion is found to be less pronounced in the rectangular case. The jet mixing, as manifested by the mass flux measured at a downstream station, is increased in the axisymmetric jet but it is decreased in the rectangular jet under consideration by the delta-tab.
The antiinflammatory mechanism of methotrexate depends on extracellular conversion of adenine nucleotides to adenosine by ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase: Findings in a study of ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase gene–deficient mice

Objective Evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies indicates that adenosine mediates, at least in part, the antiinflammatory effects of methotrexate (MTX), although the biochemical events involved have not been fully elucidated. This study was undertaken to investigate whether MTX exerts antiinflammatory effects in mice that lack ecto-5′-nucleotidase (ecto-5′-NT) (CD73) and are unable to convert AMP to adenosine extracellularly, in order to determine whether adenosine is generated intracellularly and transported into the extracellular space or is generated from the extracellular dephosphorylation of AMP to adenosine. Methods Male CD73 gene–deficient mice and age-matched wild-type mice received intraperitoneal injections of saline or MTX (1 mg/kg/week) for 5 weeks. Air pouches were induced on the back by subcutaneous injection of air; 6 days later, inflammation was induced by injection of carrageenan. Results Fewer leukocytes, but higher levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), accumulated in the air pouches of vehicle-treated CD73-deficient mice compared with those of wild-type mice. As expected, MTX treatment reduced the number of leukocytes and TNFα levels in the exudates and increased exudate adenosine concentrations in wild-type mice. In contrast, MTX did not reduce exudate leukocyte counts or TNFα levels or increase exudate adenosine levels in CD73-deficient mice. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the antiinflammatory actions of MTX are mediated, at least in part, by increased release of adenine nucleotides that are hydrolyzed extracellularly to adenosine via an ecto-5′-NT–dependent pathway.
Diurnal Cycle in Serum Concentrations of Follicle-stimulating Hormone in Men

A DIURNAL rhythm in the activity of human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been recognized by the use of a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay technique1.
Kit-like immunoreactivity in the zebrafish gastrointestinal tract reveals putative ICC.

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility results from the coordinated actions of enteric neurons, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), and smooth muscle cells. The GI tract of the zebrafish has a cellular anatomy that is essentially similar to humans. Although enteric nerves and smooth muscle cells have been described, it is unknown if ICC are present in the zebrafish. Immunohistochemistry and PCR were used determine expression for the zebrafish Kit orthologue in the zebrafish gastrointestinal tract. Cells displaying Kit-like immunoreactivity were identified in the muscular layers of the adult zebrafish gastrointestinal tract. Two layers of Kit-positive cells were identified, one with multipolar cells located between the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layers and one with simple bipolar cells located deep in the circular muscle layer. Primers specifically designed to amplify mRNA coding for two zebrafish kit genes, kita and kitb, and two kit ligands, kitla and kitlb, amplified the expected transcript from total RNA isolated from zebrafish GI tissues. The Sparse mutant, a kita null mutant, showed reduced contraction frequency and increased size of the GI tract indicating a functional role for kita. These data establish the presence of a cellular network with Kit-like immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus region of the zebrafish GI tract, adjacent to enteric neurons. Expression of kita and kitb, and the ligands kitla and kitlb, were verified in the adult GI tract. The anatomical arrangement of the Kit-positive cells strongly suggests that they are ICC. Developmental Dynamics 236:903–911, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Comparison of the vaginal environment of Macaca mulatta and Macaca nemestrina throughout the menstrual cycle.

Problem Pigtail macaques, Macaca nemestrina (PT) are more susceptible to vaginal transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) than rhesus macaques (RM). However, comparative studies to explore the reasons for these differences are lacking.
Professional Growth and Development in Physical Education: A Focus on PETE Students

This editorial focuses on professional growth and development from the perspective of the physical education teacher education (PETE) student. The article encourages professional growth and development among PETE students.
Mesh modification using deformation gradients

Computer-generated character animation, where human or anthropomorphic characters are animated to tell a story, holds tremendous potential to enrich education, human communication, perception, and entertainment. However, current animation procedures rely on a time consuming and difficult process that requires both artistic talent and technical expertise. Despite the tremendous amount of artistry, skill, and time dedicated to the animation process, there are few techniques to help with reuse. Although individual aspects of animation are well explored, there is little work that extends beyond the boundaries of any one area. As a consequence, the same procedure must be followed for each new character without the opportunity to generalize or reuse technical components. This dissertation describes techniques that ease the animation process by offering opportunities for reuse and a more intuitive animation formulation. A differential specification of arbitrary deformation provides a general representation for adapting deformation to different shapes, computing semantic correspondence between two shapes, and extrapolating natural deformation from a finite set of example shapes. Deformation transfer adds a general-purpose reuse mechanism to the animation pipeline by transferring any deformation of a source triangle mesh onto a different target mesh. The transfer system uses a correspondence algorithm to build a discrete many-to-many mapping between source and target triangles that permits transfer between meshes of different topology. Results demonstrate retargeting both kinematic poses and non-rigid deformations, as well as transfer between characters of different topological and anatomical structure. Mesh-based inverse kinematics extends the idea of traditional skeleton-based inverse kinematics to meshes by allowing the user to pose a mesh via direct manipulation. The user indicates the class of meaningful deformations by supplying examples that can be created automatically with deformation transfer, sculpted, scanned, or produced by any other means. This technique is distinguished from traditional animation methods since the expensive character setup stage is avoided. It is distinguished from existing mesh editing algorithms since the user retains the freedom to specify the class of meaningful deformations. Results demonstrate an intuitive interface for posing meshes that requires only a small amount of user effort. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Precedence for the Structural Role of Flagella in Biofilms

Continuing the trend of impressive results using microscopy to decipher how biofilms form, Serra et al. recently discovered that flagella in biofilms serve a structural role (1). In Escherichia coli colonies on a relatively cold agar surface (28°C), Serra et al. found in some regions that flagella wrapped around cells and anchored them; hence, the flagella play a role in cementing cells together like polysaccharides, DNA, and protein. However, this new role for flagella is not unprecedented, since my colleagues and I showed in 2007 that 20 E. coli flagellum genes are regulated throughout biofilm formation in flow cells (2). Our manuscript was the first report of the importance of flagella in mature biofilms, and we deduced that flagella …
“Profound Levels of Learning” Through Brain-Based Teaching: A Tribute to Roland Barth

Abstract This article is a tribute to the writings of Dr. Roland Barth through a personal story spanning over two decades. It explores Dr. Barth's personal vision of an effective school through recent brain-based principles. It revisits Barth's axioms and uses recent implications from the neurosciences as new supporting evidence for their success in helping students and their teachers reach profound levels of learning in the classroom and in staff development experiences.
A dynamically reconfigurable mixed in-order/out-of-order issue queue for power-aware microprocessors

In this work we focus on power-aware solutions for the issue queue in an out-of-order superscalar processor We propose two different schemes. Our first approach partitions the issue queue into FIFOs such that only the instructions at the head of each FIFO may request to issue. We then dynamically monitor the FIFO usage and disable FIFOs that are not being efficiently used. In our second approach we also use a FIFO scheme, but dynamically vary the number and size of each FIFO simultaneously while at the same time keeping the total number of issue queue entries constant. We analyze both approaches and compare them in terms of the performance and power reduction. We find that although the first scheme of completely disabling issue queue entries is more straight-forward to implement, it may not be the best option, particularly for floating point applications. Our best experimental result shows an average power saving of 27.3% in the issue queue with a performance degradation of only 2.7%.
MMSE decoding for analog joint source channel coding using monte carlo importance sampling

We investigate the performance of a discrete-time all-analog-processing joint source-channel coding system for the transmission of i.i.d. Gaussian sources over additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels. At the encoder, samples of an i.i.d. source are grouped and mapped into a channel symbol using a space-filling curve. Different from previous work in the literature, MMSE instead of ML decoding is considered, and we focus on both high and low channel SNR regions. In order to reduce complexity, Monte Carlo importance sampling is applied in the decoding process. The main contribution of this paper is to show that for a wide range of rates the proposed system presents a performance very close to the theoretical limits, even at low SNR, as long as the curve parameters are properly optimized.
Context-aware composition

Context-Aware Composition is a technique to overcome the complexity of wireless discovery, device selection, and establishing connections to other computers in an environment where potentially tens or even hundreds of other computers may reside. In this paper, we present our work demonstrating the benefit of using context to facilitate the discovery process through sensing. We describe our sensor platform, the Context Card, and discuss how the Sensor Actuator API (SAAPI) is used to collect and distribute sensor data. We also show how context can be used to create multi-modal composition commands and provide a quantitative evaluation of a multimodal position sensing system to support context-aware composition.
Pluralistic ignorance among student–athlete populations: a factor in academic underperformance

It is well documented that student–athletes underperform academically. Some researchers have suggested that this underperformance is because student–athletes lack motivation in academic endeavors. In contrast, we find that most student–athletes hold positive private attitudes towards academic achievement, but also believe that their peers do not. In order to fit in, athletes conform to the perceived (but false) social norm in their public behaviors, thus undermining their academic performance and simultaneously reinforcing the (false) social norm for the rest of their team. This pluralistic ignorance suggests that different interventions will be needed to solve the problem than are typically proposed.
Gravitational radiation reaction for bound motion around a Schwarzschild black hole

A particle of mass μ moves, in the absence of external forces, in the geometry of a nonrotating black hole of mass M. The system (black hole plus particle) emits gravitational waves, and the particle’s orbit evolves under radiation reaction. The aim of this paper is to calculate this evolution. Our calculations are carried out under the assumptions that μ/M≪1, that the orbit is bound, and that radiation reaction takes place over a time scale much longer than the orbital period. The bound orbits of the Schwarzschild spacetime can be fully characterized, apart from initial conditions, by two orbital parameters: the semi-latus rectum p, and the eccentricity e. These parameters are so defined that the turning points of the radial motion (the values of the Schwarzschild radial coordinate at which the radial component of the four-velocity vanishes) are given by r1=pM/(1+e) and r2=pM/(1-e). The units are such that G=c=1. We use the Teukolsky perturbation formalism to calculate the rates at which the gravitational waves generated by the orbiting particle remove energy and angular momentum from the system. These are then related to the rates of change of p and e, which determine the orbital evolution. We find that the radiation reaction continually decreases p, in such a way that the particle eventually plunges inside the black hole. Plunging occurs when p becomes smaller than 6+2e. (Orbits for which p<6+2e do not have a turning point at r=r1). For weak-field, slow-motion orbits (which are characterized by large values of p), the radiation reaction decreases e also. However, for strong-field fast-motion orbits (small values of p), the radiation reaction increases the eccentricity if p is sufficiently close to its minimum value 6+2e. The change of sign of de/dt can be interpreted as a precursor effect to the eventual plunging of the orbit.
Taxonomic Revision of the Southeast Asian Ant Genus Euprenolepis

The taxonomy of Euprenolepis has been in a muddled state since it was recognized as a separate formicine ant genus. This study represents the first species-level taxonomic revision of the genus. Eight species are recognized of which six are described as new. The new species are E. echinata, E. maschwitzi, E. thrix, E. variegata, E. wittei, and E. zeta. Euprenolepis antespectans is synonymized with E. procera. Three species are excluded from the genus and transferred to Paratrechina as new combinations: P. helleri, P. steeli, and P. stigmatica. A morphologically based definition and diagnosis for the genus and an identification key to the worker caste are provided.
Why economics matters for understanding the effects of climate change on fisheries

Research attempting to predict the effect of climate change on fisheries often neglects to consider how harvesters respond to changing economic, institutional, and environmental conditions, which leads to the overly simplistic prediction of “fisheries follow fish”. However, climate effects on fisheries can be complex because they arise through physical, biological, and economic mechanisms that interact or may not be well understood. Although most researchers find it obvious to include physical and biological factors in predicting the effects of climate change on fisheries, the behaviour of fish harvesters also matters for these predictions. A general but succinct conceptual framework for investigating the effects of climate change on fisheries that incorporates the biological and economic factors that determine how fisheries operate is presented. The use of this framework will result in more complete, reliable, and relevant investigations of the effects of climate change on fisheries. The uncertainty surrounding long-term projections, however, is inherent in the complexity of the system.
Identification of In Vivo, Conserved, TAF15 RNA Binding Sites Reveals the Impact of TAF15 on the Neuronal Transcriptome

SUMMARY RNA binding proteins (RBPs) have emerged as major causative agents of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To investigate the function of TAF15, an RBP recently implicated in ALS, we explored its target RNA repertoire in normal human brain and mouse neurons. Coupling high-throughput sequencing of immunoprecipitated and crosslinked RNA with RNA sequencing and TAF15 knockdowns, we identified conserved TAF15 RNA targets and assessed the impact of TAF15 on the neuronal transcriptome. We describe a role of TAF15 in the regulation of splicing for a set of neuronal RNAs encoding proteins with essential roles in synaptic activities. We find that TAF15 is required for a critical alternative splicing event of the zeta-1 subunit of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (Grin1) that controls the activity and trafficking of NR1. Our study uncovers neuronal RNA networks impacted by TAF15 and sets the stage for investigating the role of TAF15 in ALS pathogenesis.