cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infusing software assurance and secure coding into introductory CS courses (abstract only)

Nearly every facet of modern society depends heavily on highly complex software systems. The business, energy, transportation, education, communication, government, and defense communities rely on software to function, and software is an intrinsic part of our personal lives. Teaching software assurance and secure coding practices are significant challenges currently facing computer science educators. The Strawman version of the CS2013 curricular volume recognizes this vital need and has included a new knowledge area to specifically address software and information assurance in undergraduate computer science education. Also recognizing the importance of the software assurance discipline for protecting national infrastructures and systems, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified the growing need for skilled practitioners in this area. At the direction of the DHS, the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University initiated the Software Assurance Curriculum Project. Session leaders will share curricular materials from this project and will facilitate active discussion centered on infusing software assurance into introductory computer science courses at two-year and four-year colleges and universities. The latest curricular volume published September 2011 will be distributed at the session and includes a review of related curricula, outcomes and body of knowledge, expected background of target audiences, and outlines of six courses. These curricular materials are also available online at www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/11tr017.cfm.
Shallow subsurface diagenesis of Pleistocene periplatform ooze: northern Bahamas

Previous studies on early submarine diagenesis of periplatform carbonates have implied that these originally polymineralic (aragonite, magnesian calcite, calcite) sediments are susceptible to early diagenesis only in current-swept open seaways or where surficially exposed by erosion on the seafloor. It has also been proposed that while in the shallow subsurface, periplatform oozes retain their original mineralogy for at least 200,000–400,000 yr and remain unlithified for tens of millions of years. Evidence is reported here for extensive calcitization and selective lithification of periplatform oozes of late Pleistocene age in two piston cores collected from water depths of ∼ 1,000 m north of Little Bahama Bank. It is shown that shallow (<30 m) subsurface diagenesis can significantly alter the original mineralogy of periplatform oozes to predominantly calcite in less than 440,000 yr, and that cementation by calcite can produce chalk-ooze sequences within the same time-frame. Periplatform oozes that originally contain a high percentage of bank-derived magnesian calcite appear to have a higher diagenetic potential than those originally low in magnesian calcite. Shallow subsurface calcitization and fithification greatly reduce the diagenetic potential of periplatform carbonates, and chalk-ooze sequences apparently can persist for tens of millions of years and to burial depths of at least 300 m. Shallow subsurface diagenesis, at water depths > 1,000 m, proceeds via dissolution of magnesian calcite and aragonite and reprecipitation of calcite as allochem fillings, exterior overgrowths and cement. It is speculated that density-driven ‘Kohout convection‘, where seawaters under-saturated with respect to magnesian calcite and aragonite and saturated/supersaturated with respect to calcite flow through the margins of carbonate platforms, is the primary driving mechanism for shallow subsurface diagenesis. Removal of Mg during early stages of deep seafloor and shallow subsurface diagenesis should increase the Mg content of interstitial waters which is likely to increase the ‘dolomitizing potential’ of Kohout convection fluid flow.
Brain temperature fluctuation: a reflection of functional neural activation

Although it is known that relatively large increases in local brain temperature can occur during behaviour and in response to various novel, stressful and emotionally arousing environmental stimuli, the source of this heat is not clearly established. To clarify this issue, we monitored the temperature in three brain structures (dorsal and ventral striatum, cerebellum) and in arterial blood at the level of the abdominal aorta in freely moving rats exposed to several environmental challenges ranging from traditional stressors to simple sensory stimuli (cage change, tail pinch, exposure to another male rat, a female rat, a mouse or an unexpected sound). We found that brain temperature was consistently higher than arterial blood temperature, and that brain temperature increased prior to, and to a greater extent than, the increase in blood temperature evoked by each test challenge. Thus, the local metabolic consequences of widely correlated neural activity appear to be the primary source of increases in brain temperature and a driving force behind the associated changes in body temperature.
Climate modelling: The climate as natural oscillator

Description du modele de climat considere comme un oscillateur, propose par Saltzman et al. (1984), ou le processus physique dominant est la couverture de glace marine. Rappel des modeles du type oscillateur, proposes par Ghil et al. (1983), et par Peltier et Hyde (sous presse)
WE-G-213CD-01: 4D Optimization for Scanned Ion Beam Tracking Therapy for Moving Tumors.

Purpose: To apply scanned ion radiotherapy to patients with moving tumors, motion mitigation approaches are needed. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether 4D optimized ion beam tracking therapy could reduce dose to critical structures near a moving target while maintaining target dose coverage. Methods: A conjugate gradient minimization algorithm was developed to incorporate 4D organ motion data in the optimization of scanned ion pencil beam fluences. Treatment plans for 3D and 4D optimized carbonbeam tracking were prepared using an in‐ house code for a sphere target volume moving in water with a proximal avoidance volume. For 1 lungcancer patient, 3D and 4D optimized carbonbeam tracking treatment plans were designed to provide uniform dose coverage to a clinical target volume and minimal dose to the heart. For both the water phantom and patient case, 4D dose distributions were calculated. Differences between 3D and 4D optimized beam tracking were analyzed using dose colorplanes, dose‐volume histograms, and dose‐volume statistics. Results: For the sphere target, 3D optimized beam tracking achieved target dose coverage of (100.0 ± 0.3)% and a mean and maximum avoidance volume dose of 26.1% and 89.4%, respectively. 4D optimized beam tracking achieved target dose coverage of (99.9 ± 0.4)% and a mean and maximum avoidance volume dose of 7.7% and 42.2%, respectively. For the lung patient, 3D optimized beam tracking achieved target dose coverage of (101.0 ± 5.9)% and a mean and maximum heartdose of 7.7%and 103.4%, respectively. 4D optimized beam tracking achieved target dose coverage of (100.0 ± 0.1)% and a mean and maximum heartdose of 8.7% and 100.3%, respectively. Conclusions: 4D optimized ion beam tracking therapy may be used to reduce the maximum dose to critical structures near a moving target, compared to 3D optimized ion beam tracking therapy. Work supported by the Rosalie B. Hite Fellowship, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
How T. I. Sold Synthetic Speech

The task of determining the acceptance of a new product in itself is difficult, but it in no way compares to the task of determining the acceptance of a revolutionary product of which there is no existing product to compare. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the method used on such a product, the Speak & Spelltm, to establish its acceptance in the market and develop consumer awareness of its utility.
The correction of resonance peaks for experimental resolution

Abstract A technique is discussed for the determination of the true resonance shape from a measured resonance shape when the apparatus resolution shape is known, or, conversely, the determination of the resolution function if the true resonance shape is known. The problem is essentially that of the solution of an integral equation of the first kind and use is made of the relations among the Fourier coefficients to determine the unknown function. A successful application is made to the case of a resonance in the total neutron cross section of carbon where the widths of the resonance and resolution function are comparable. Some of the limitations of the technique are discussed.
Combinatorial aspects of relations

A multivalued algebra called a polygroup is introduced and used to establish connections among relation algebras, permutation groups, and edge-colored graphs.
Rapid isolation of synaptoneurosomes and postsynaptic densities from adult mouse hippocampus

Previous postsynaptic density (PSD) isolation methodologies have utilized either whole brain or discrete brain regions of relatively large mammals such as dogs and rats. The present report details a simple and highly effective procedure for the rapid isolation of PSDs from small amounts of adult mouse hippocampus that has several advantages. First, by substituting synaptoneurosomes for synaptosomes as starting material, we have decreased the steps, time, and amount of tissue required to isolate PSDs. Second, by modifying critical steps in the synaptic isolation protocols we were able to isolate PSDs from less than 200 mg of mouse hippocampi in 3 h. Electron micrographs of isolated synaptoneurosomes showed presynaptic vesicles and densely stained membranes representing PSDs. Morphological examination of these PSDs by electron microscopy revealed a preparation that seems to be quite pure, with little or no membrane contamination. A comparison by Western blot analysis of synaptoneurosome and PSD fractions suggests that this technique yields a purified sample. Moreover, two different protocols using swing and fixed bucket rotors were used for this small-scale PSD isolation and both resulted in a very pure partition, supporting the idea that this procedure is reliable and consistent.
PATTERNS OF CONSERVATION AND DIVERGENCE AT THE EVEN-SKIPPED LOCUS OF DROSOPHILA

The even-skipped (eve) gene of Drosophila melanogaster has been intensively studied as a model for spatial and temporal control of gene expression, using in vitro and transgenic techniques. Here, the study of eve is extended, using evolutionary conservation of DNA sequences. Conservation of much of the protein, and of known regulatory elements, supports models for eve function and regulation that have previously been advanced, and extensive conservation found in noncoding sequences predicts that functional elements exist that have yet to be defined. In contrast, a part of the protein implicated in transcriptional repression has diverged extensively while preserving overall amino acid composition, highlighting potentially essential features of this domain. Also, the basal promoter has diverged extensively, indicating evolutionary flexibility of promoter function.
Tensor amplitude extraction in sensor array processing

Sensor array measurements can be inverted to image a region containing targets. The resulting amplitude image is usually interpreted as target strength versus location, but often the imaged amplitude is a function of more parameters than just the location. Sparse target regions can be imaged with dictionary based modeling which relies on enumeration of each parameter with a dense grid. With many parameters, the dictionary becomes too large, which leads to computational complexity issues. This paper shows how additional parameters, such as target orientation and symmetry, can be represented by a tensor matrix instead of a simple amplitude. Furthermore, the tensor can be treated as a continuous variable just like amplitude, which enables extraction of multiple parameters, while reducing the storage requirements of the dictionary, and reducing off-grid modeling error.
Growth and Mortality of Littorina irrorata Say in Three North Carolina Marshes

During one year, growth and mortality of the salt marsh gastropod,Littorina irrorata, were examined at three levels of population density within three salt marshes in the Morehead City region of North Carolina. Density was manipulated by enclosures. The standing crop of the dominant vegetationSpartina alterniflora differed among the three marshes. Overall weight gain ofLittorina differed among marshes, density treatments, and three size classes of snails. Weight gain in the smallest individuals was significantly different among the three marsh areas, but not the density treatments. For intermediate-sized individuals, growth rate differences occurred only in response to the density treatments. In adults, weight gain was different in the three marshes, but the density treatments had little effect. Within-cage mortality appeared independent of the density treatments, but significantly different among the three marshes. Computed equations characterized average annual growth in shell width ofLittorina irrorata in the three marshes.
Bayesian Two-Stage Biomarker-Based Adaptive Design for Targeted Therapy Development

We propose a Bayesian two-stage biomarker-based adaptive randomization (AR) design for the development of targeted agents. The design has three main goals: (1) to test the treatment efficacy, (2) to identify prognostic and predictive markers for the targeted agents, and (3) to provide better treatment for patients enrolled in the trial. To treat patients better, both stages are guided by the Bayesian AR based on the individual patient's biomarker profiles. The AR in the first stage is based on a known marker. A Go/No-Go decision can be made in the first stage by testing the overall treatment effects. If a Go decision is made at the end of the first stage, a two-step Bayesian lasso strategy will be implemented to select additional prognostic or predictive biomarkers to refine the AR in the second stage. We use simulations to demonstrate the good operating characteristics of the design, including the control of per-comparison type I and type II errors, high probability in selecting important markers, and treating more patients with more effective treatments. Bayesian adaptive designs allow for continuous learning. The designs are particularly suitable for the development of multiple targeted agents in the quest of personalized medicine. By estimating treatment effects and identifying relevant biomarkers, the information acquired from the interim data can be used to guide the choice of treatment for each individual patient enrolled in the trial in real time to achieve a better outcome. The design is being implemented in the BATTLE-2 trial in lung cancer at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Optimization of turbulence models by means of a logical search algorithm

The momentum and turbulent kinetic energy equations are solved for a number of phenomenological closure approximations. The various methods are evaluated by comparison with several selected sets of experimental data. The empirical constants are determined such that the deviation between the experimental and theoretical values is minimized. The minimization process is carried out via a logical search algorithm which can also be applied to other problems in which the minimum or maximum value of a function of several variables is desired.
Effects of cervical stimulation and anti-LH releasing hormone serum on LH releasing hormone content in the hypothalamus.

Hypothalamic content of LHRH was radioimmunoassayed after cervical stimulation on the morning of day of estrus. LHRH content rose 3-fold by 120 min after the stimulation, reaching a level equivalent to that of day 5 of pseudopregnancy. The increase was not steady as there were two early periods when the content did not increase. Measurement of pituitary LH content revealed a marked increase followed by a sudden decrease which corresponded respectively to the two periods when LHRH levels failed to rise. These changes in pituitary LH level suggest that both the synthesis and release of LH in the pituitary are promoted by the action of LHRH released from the hypothalamus. LH changes in the pituitary were abolished by iv injection of 2 ml LHRH antiserum at the time of cervical stimulation, but pseudopregnancy was still induced and diestrus prolonged 4 days longer than in the control group. Progestin concentrations in ovarian vein blood were comparable between anti-LHRH-treated and control groups. These result...
MR Imaging of the Hip: Osseous Lesions

Because of the exquisite soft tissue contrast resolution of MR imaging combined with recent technologic developments, a variety of conditions involving the hip joint and adjacent bony structures can be well evaluated using MR imaging, with or without contrast material. Among the different conditions, hip trauma and avascular necrosis are the most frequent indications. Other entities for which MR imaging has proven its usefulness include subchondral fractures, osteochondritis dissecans, transient osteoporosis, bone tumors, inflammatory and infectious processes, and a variety of bone marrow disorders.
Pain Responses of Hospitalized Infants and Children to Venipuncture and Intravenous Cannulation

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of pain in infants and children in response to venipuncture and intravenous cannulation. Data on physiological, behavioral, and subjective responses were collected from 90 infants and children, in subgroups of 1 to 12 months, 1 to 3 years, 4 to 6 years, and 7 to 12 years. Changes in behavior were significant in all four groups, although the toddler group was the only group that showed a significant physiological change. The subjective measures showed that the children were able to identify their pain sites and intensity.
Asymmetric Weiner-Poisson Control.

A one-dimensional Wiener plus independent Poisson noise control problem, with asymmetric control bounds and integral discounted quadratic cost over an infinite horizon, is considered. The resultant Bellman equations are solved, allowing the optimal control to be expressed explicitly in closed-loop form.
Effect of communicative stress on the frequency and form-types of disfluent behavior in adult stutterers

Abstract Twenty adult stutterers spoke spontaneously for two minutes under each of four monitoring conditions of imposed communicative stress. Results indicated that being heard stuttering (The Auditory Component) is more stressful than being seen stuttering (The Visual Component). This finding applied to the total sample of subjects and for subgroups based on predominant disfluency form-type. In spite of changes in the frequency of molar disruptions, stutterers and stutterer-subgroups evidenced a consistent, stereotyped, molecular stuttering pattern in terms of specific disruption form-types.
Magnetoresistance Elements for the Measurement and Control of Harmonics in Superconducting Accelerator Magnets

A system for continuously monitoring the harmonic coefficients of a superconducting accelerator is described. The method employs a series of magnetoresistance elements placed at specific locations around the circumference of the usable aperture. Difference signals from these probes are used to determine the harmonic coefficients. This method does not require integration of the field measuring signals or rotation of the probes so that the elements can be built into the magnet during construction. Experimental results are given for the simplest configuration and these results are compared to the sextupole signal measured in a more conventional way.
Diffusion of silicon in aluminum-rich alloy thin films

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects on AlSi interdiffusion of the addition of a solute element having limited solubility in the aluminum. The four solute elements chosen were indium, tin, bismuth and antimony. It was found that the addition of 0.013 at.% In lowered the diffusion rate of silicon in the aluminum thin film by a factor of about 2 over the temperature range 400–560 °C; the addition of the same amount of tin to aluminum lowered the diffusion rate by a factor of about 1.3. In contrast, no significant change in the diffusivity of silicon over the same temperature range was observed when either 0.01 or 0.13 at.% Sb or when either 0.008 or 0.10 at.% Bi was alloyed with the aluminum.
Low-loss, broad-band coupling between single-mode optical fibers with very different mode-field diameters

An approach for efficient coupling between different single-mode fibers is demonstrated. It is shown that short segments of graded-index fiber can provide broadband, extremely low-loss coupling even when the fibers have very different mode-field diameters.
Interferometer instrument design for New Millennium Deep Space 3

Deep Space 3 will fly a stellar optical interferometer on three separate spacecraft in heliocentric orbits: one spacecraft for the Michelson beam combining optics, and two spacecraft for each of the starlight apertures. The spacecraft will formation fly to relative spacecraft distances from 100 meters to 1 kilometer, enabling an instrument resolution of 1 to 0.1 milliarcsecond. At each baseline length and orientation - up to 100 points in the synthetic aperture plane for a given astrophysical target - the instrument will measure source visibility amplitude form which the source brightness distribution can be determined. An infrared metrology system performs both linear and angular metrology between spacecraft and is sued to estimate delay jitter, interferometer delay and delay rate. Pointing and control mechanisms use the metrology error signals to stabilize delay jitter and to null delay and delay rate to enable detection and tracking of a white light fringe on a photon-counting detector. Once stabilized, fringes can be dispersed on a CCD in up to 80 spectral channels to attain high-accuracy measurements of visibility amplitude as a function of wavelength.
Some design considerations of a draft tube gas-liquid-solid spouted bed

The optimal design of a draft tube gas-liquid-solid spouted bed was experimentally evaluated by considering four design variables including the draft tube diameter, gas-liquid injector, top (above-draft-tube) spacing and bottom (below-draft-tube) spacing. The effects of these design variables on the overall gas holdup were comprehensively examined for various gas and liquid velocities and solid particle properties. The diameter of the outer column of the draft tube three-phase spouted bed was fixed at 15.24 cm. The overall gas holdup increases with an increase in gas or liquid velocity. It was found that, of the three diameters of draft tubes considered (7.62, 10.16 and 12.7 cm), the draft tube of 7.62 cm inside diameter has the highest overall gas holdup. Of the two liquid velocities considered (2.28 and 3.41 cm s−1), a higher overall gas holdup is obtained at a higher liquid velocity for each of the four bottom spacings considered (0.44, 1.27, 2.54 and 5.08 cm). Of these four bottom spacings, the 1.27 cm spacing has the highest overall gas holdup. The overall gas holdup increases with decreasing top spacing. 2.5 mm nylon balls have the highest overall gas holdup, followed by 4 mm glass beads. 3 mm glass beads have the lowest overall gas holdup. The concentric tube gas-liquid injector with the gas distributor plate of smallest pore size placed on the top of the outer tube gives rise to the highest overall gas holdup.
Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants <1500 G Enrolled in the National Neonatal Database Network: Are There Any Trends In Neonatalogy? † 1013

Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants <1500 G Enrolled in the National Neonatal Database Network: Are There Any Trends In Neonatalogy? † 1013
The dodo was Lewis Carroll, you see: Reflections and speculations

Abstract The suggestion is made in this speculative essay that Lewis Carroll's personal experiences with stuttering and the elements of the nature of stuttering itself contributed to the themes, word choices, and tone of his fictional works. The relationship between Carroll's stuttering, and his use of nonsense, oral aggression, and his treatment of communication failure are discussed. Examples from Carroll's writing are used to support the author's speculations.
Biosynthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids in lupine species

Abstract Tracer studies using radiolabelled precursors showed that there was possible interconversion of lupanine and α-isolupanine in Lupinus texensis . Anagyrine and Δ 5 -dehydrolupanine are biosynthesized from lupanine via a series of oxidations in L. subcarnosus .
Assessing the Auto Associative Network Approach for Prediction in Civil Engineering Databases

Abstract Auto-associative networks are a type of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) architectures that has been used in a variety of engineering areas for the past two decades. In auto-associative networks, the knowledge to be extracted from a database is the identity function. In other words, this particular network is trained to reproduce its inputs and output(s). Due to the fact that the network is optimized on inputs, as well as outputs, obtaining highly accurate results can be challenging. In this study, auto-associative network was explored using seven civil engineering databases from various applications and with a range of data types. The architecture of the auto-associative networks was developed with only three layers - input, hidden, and output layers - in order to maintain the generalization capabilities. Only the output was considered when assessing the statistical accuracy measures. A traditional ANN model was developed for each database to provide an initial estimate of the output. Then these estimates and the inputs were used to develop the auto-associative network. The auto-associative network improved the statistical accuracy measures for some databases relative to the traditional ANN approach. Overall, the auto-associative network yielded promising results and can be applicable to civil engineering databases.
Constructing Europe: Insights from historical sociology

This article argues that one of the benefits of mainstreaming sociology in EU studies is the potential to better understand the underpinnings of the EU's political authority. In particular, the use of macrohistorical approaches and insights from the sociology of culture literature can help us see what is innovative about the EU as an emergent political form while highlighting the tensions in its claims on European citizens’ loyalty.
Effect of energetic ions on the stability of bond-center hydrogen in silicon

We report an observation of low-temperature, athermal, ion-induced decay of infrared-active bond-center hydrogen (BCH) in silicon. Specifically, the infrared intensity of BCH is found to decay monotonically as a function of ion dose with a decay constant determined by the electronic energy deposited by each ion. Our data indicate that ion-induced decay of BCH results in a different final configuration when compared to the thermal decay process. These findings provide insight into the structure and stability of hydrogen related defects in silicon, and thus have implications for the reliability of state-of-the-art semiconductor devices, radiation damage, and ion-beam characterization studies of hydrogen containing solids.
Preoperative Statin Administration Is Associated With Lower Mortality and Decreased Need for Postoperative Hemodialysis in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perioperative statin administration on renal outcomes after cardiac surgery. Design A retrospective chart review. Setting A university hospital. Participants Patients presenting for cardiac surgery. Interventions The records of 2,760 patients admitted for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery from 1997 to 2006 were reviewed. In-hospital mortality, the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and acute renal failure (ARF) were considered the primary outcomes. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between each outcome and statin therapy while adjusting for other patient characteristics. Main Results Of the 2,760 patients, 1,557 were taking preoperative statins. On univariate analysis, the mortality rate for patients receiving statins was 2.4% versus 4.2% for those not receiving statins (p = 0.008). The requirement for RRT was 1.9% for patients receiving statins versus 3.6% for those not receiving statins (p = 0.011). The incidence of ARF was not statistically significant between groups (28% v 27.5%). On multivariate analysis, statin therapy was associated with a 43% decrease in the risk of death and a 46% decrease in the risk of RRT, but statins were not associated with a decreased risk of ARF. Also, the beneficial effects of statins were age-dependent, with younger patients experiencing a greater advantage. Conclusions The preoperative use of statins is associated with decreased in-hospital mortality and a reduction in the need for RRT.
Variations in benthic fauna underneath an effluent mixing zone at a marine oil terminal in Port Valdez, Alaska.

Abstract The distributions of hydrocarbons and infauna in sediments below a permitted mixing zone for the disposal of treated ballast waters in Port Valdez, Alaska were examined annually, 1999–2001. The associations of biological measures and the abundance of selected benthic organisms to total aromatic hydrocarbons (TARO) ranged up to large-sized effects, as compared against minimum-effect criteria (|r|⩾0.63). The apparent sensitivity of three polychaete worms to low levels of hydrocarbons makes them particularly useful as indicators of future changes in spatial distributions of hydrocarbons associated with discharged effluent. In 2001, sediment TARO concentrations decreased and the correlation values of TARO to biotic variables were generally less than in 1999 and 2000. Evidence supports a conclusion of a strong but spatially limited association of some fauna with accumulations of petroleum hydrocarbons in these sediments.
On the relation between insolation and climatological variables. V - Estimation of availability of solar energy

Abstract A new procedure is developed for estimating availability of solar energy in localities where adequate data are not available. The hourly variations in solar intensity with day of the year during clear weather (essentially no clouds and unlimited visibility) are shown to follow regular repeatable patterns. These patterns have been determined for four south-western locations. From these data, it is possible to estimate the maximum possible available solar energy for perfectly clear weather. The effect of clouds and reduction in visibility is to reduce the solar intensity below the value appropriate to any hour of any day in clear weather. A study of the dependence of reduction in solar intensity on cloud cover and visibility is now being conducted for several southwestern locations. A model for the dependence of direct normal solar intensity on total insolation is also being developed.
Effects of pyrimidine enriched medium on the female sterile mutants,Rudimentary andSonless inDrosophila

The effect of pyrimidine-enriched medium on the expression of the sex-linked female sterile mutationsrudimentary (r) andsonless (snl) ofDrosophila melanogaster was investigated. Although pyrimidine supplementation did significantly improve the fertility ofr females, as others have previously reported, it had no effect onsnl females. The total ribonucleic acid (RNA) content of eggs produced byr, snl, and control females was also measured. Eggs produced from homozygousr females mated tor males contained less total RNA than did eggs from other matings. These results support the hypothesis that certain sex-linked female sterile mutations cause the production of eggs deficient in some respect. In the case ofr, the deficiency seems to by pyrimidines. The biochemical deficiency associated withsnl requires further investigation.
Organic TFT controlled organic field emitter

In this paper, it will present a strategy for reducing the cost of a field emission display. Cost reduction strategies in the past have been driven by the idea that a passive matrix display technology, no matter how complex, will be less expensive than an active matrix technology. Experience has shown that this is not the case. Active matrix liquid crystal displays dominate the flat panel display market, primarily due to their price advantage over other flat panel strategies.
Optimized Quantification of Unculturable Candidatus Liberibacter Spp. in Host Plants Using Real-Time PCR

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is caused by the phloem-limited and psyllid-vectored Candidatus Liberibacter spp. and is a destructive disease of citrus that is rapidly increasing in importance. The disease was reported recently in the principle citrus-producing areas of Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2004 and in Florida in 2005. A variety of laboratory methods have been developed to confirm a symptom-based disease diagnosis or for the detection or identification of the pathogen; however, no quantitative information has been available on the pathogen titer in either host or vector interactions because the pathogen remains unculturable in artificial media. We previously developed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for detection of Ca. Liberibacter spp. and, in this study, we evaluated the effects of sample composition on quantification of the pathogen in citrus plants by TaqMan real-time PCR. Standard curves were established using cloned plasmids containing target DNA from the pathogen and with total DNA samples from field-grown HLB-infected citrus plants. Regression analysis showed that a standard curve established with DNA extracted from naturally infected field-grown plants was more accurate than the standard curve constructed from plasmids containing the amplification targets as cloned inserts. Nontarget DNA and putative PCR inhibitors from citrus plants decreased the sensitivity and the amplification efficiency of real-time PCR when plasmids provided the template target in "spiked" healthy citrus DNA extracts. This effect varied among plant tissue types, citrus species, and geographic locations. Based on these sample effects, a universal standard curve has been established for quantification of the pathogen in various citrus tissues of different citrus species planted in different geographic locations. Sample storage at 4°C for 2 months prior to PCR assay did not affect subsequent quantification of the pathogen. The validated quantitative real-time PCR method and the universal standard curve will be very useful for studies of host-pathogen interactions and epidemiology, and in the development of control strategies for the disease.
Dispersion in Core-Annular Flow with a Solid Annulus

The Taylor dispersion of a solute is studied in a core–annular geometry. The fluid flows only through the core, but the solute can diffuse into the solid annulus. The long time limit of the dispersion coefficient D* is derived by a regular expansion in the aspect ratio for two different scalings of the Biot number (Bi), which is the dimensionless interfacial mass-transfer resistance. The results for the case of O(1) Bi match those obtained by Aris and a number of other researchers. In the case of O(e) Bi, where e is the aspect ratio, the average mass-transfer equations for the core and the annulus are coupled and do not simplify to a simple convection–dispersion form. The average mass-transfer equations are derived for two velocity profiles: Poiseuille flow and plug flow. The dispersion coefficient for the limiting case when both the core and the annulus are radially well mixed at all times is also determined for the case of O(1) Bi. For O(1) Bi, the dispersion of the solute arises as a result of molecular diffusion, interfacial mass-transfer resistance, and convective flow, and the contribution from interfacial mass-transfer resistance is independent of the velocity profile. This dispersion coefficient reduces to the classical result of fluid flow through a tube in the limit of vanishing annulus thickness and also for the case when the solute has zero solubility in the solid. The core–annular geometry mimics the Krogh cylinder, which is a model used for analyzing mass transfer from capillaries into surrounding tissue. The model predictions for the dispersion coefficients in different tissues agree reasonably with the experimentally reported values, and the agreement is the best for muscles, where the Krogh cylinder model is expected to most closely resemble the actual physiology. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
On the generality of the laws of learning

That all events are equally associable and obey common laws is a central assumption of general process learning theory. A continuum of preparedness is denned which holds that organisms are prepared to associate certain events, unprepared for some, and contraprepared for others. A review of data from the traditional learning paradigms shows that the assumption of equivalent associability is false: in classical conditioning, rats are prepared to associate tastes with illness even over very long delays of reinforcement, but are contraprepared to associate tastes with footshock. In instrumental training, pigeons acquire key pecking in the absence of a contingency between pecking and grain (prepared), while cats, on the other hand, have trouble learning to lick themselves to escape, and dogs do not yawn for food (contraprepared). In discriminatio n, dogs are contraprepared to learn that different locations of discriminativ e stimuli control go-no go responding, and to learn that different qualities control directional responding. In avoidance, responses from the natural defensive repertoire are prepared for avoiding shock, while those from the appetitive repertoire are contraprepared. Language acquisition and the functional autonomy of motives are also viewed using the preparedness continuum. Finally, it is speculated that the laws of learning themselves may vary with the preparedness of the organism for the association and that different physiological and cognitive mechanisms may covary with the dimension. Sometimes we forget why psychologists ever trained white rats to press bars for little pellets of flour or sounded metronomes followed by meat powder for domestic dogs. After all, when in the real world do rats encounter levers which they learn to press in order to eat, and when do our pet dogs ever come across metronomes whose clicking signals meat powder ? It may be useful now to remind ourselves about a basic premise which gave rise to such bizarre endeavors, and to see if we still have reason to believe this premise.
The adverse impact of type 2 diabetes on brain volume in heart failure.

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is associated with structural brain abnormalities, including atrophy in multiple brain regions. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent comorbid condition in HF and is associated with abnormalities on neuroimaging in other medical and elderly samples. The current study examined whether comorbid T2DM exacerbates brain atrophy in older adults with HF. Methods: Seventy-five older adults with HF underwent an echocardiogram and completed a brief cognitive test battery. Participants then underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify total brain volumes, cortical lobar volumes, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Results: Approximately 30% of HF patients had a comorbid T2DM diagnosis. A series of multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) adjusting for medical and demographic characteristics and intracranial volume showed that HF patients with T2DM had smaller total brain, gray matter, and subcortical gray matter volume than those without such history....
A recurrence network approach for the analysis of skin blood flow dynamics in response to loading pressure

This paper presents a recurrence network approach for the analysis of skin blood flow dynamics in response to loading pressure. Recurrence is a fundamental property of many dynamical systems, which can be explored in phase spaces constructed from observational time series. A visualization tool of recurrence analysis called recurrence plot (RP) has been proved to be highly effective to detect transitions in the dynamics of the system. However, it was found that delay embedding can produce spurious structures in RPs. Network-based concepts have been applied for the analysis of nonlinear time series recently. We demonstrate that time series with different types of dynamics exhibit distinct global clustering coefficients and distributions of local clustering coefficients and that the global clustering coefficient is robust to the embedding parameters. We applied the approach to study skin blood flow oscillations (BFO) response to loading pressure. The results showed that global clustering coefficients of BFO significantly decreased in response to loading pressure ( p <0.01). Moreover, surrogate tests indicated that such a decrease was associated with a loss of nonlinearity of BFO. Our results suggest that the recurrence network approach can practically quantify the nonlinear dynamics of BFO.
Learning From the Stories of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families and Communities A Sociohistorical Lens

This article explores the literature that supports the use of family stories to help special educators better understand the sociohistorical reality and ways of thinking of diverse families and communities. Also developed in this article is the idea that for practitioners working with families from disenfranchised communities, the gathering of family and community stories may be the only vehicle to give them an insider's perspective and give voice to the unheard stories of voiceless communities. Examples from the work of student interns provide evidence for the seven key dispositions necessary for special educators using family stories.
Manganese induces IGF-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expressions in the basal hypothalamus during prepubertal female development.

Precocious puberty is a significant child health problem, especially in girls, because 95% of cases are idiopathic. Our earlier studies demonstrated that low-dose levels of manganese (Mn) caused precocious puberty via stimulating the secretion of luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone (LHRH). Because glial-neuronal communications are important for the activation of LHRH secretion at puberty, we investigated the effects of prepubertal Mn exposure on specific glial-derived puberty-related genes known to affect neuronal LHRH release. Animals were supplemented with MnCl2 (10 mg/kg) or saline by gastric gavage from day 12 until day 22 or day 29, then decapitated, and brains removed. The site of LHRH release is the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), and tissues from this area were analyzed by real-time PCR for transforming growth factor α (TGFα), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) messenger RNA levels. Protein levels for IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) were measured by Western blot analysis. LHRH gene expression was measured in the preoptic area/anteroventral periventricular (POA/AVPV) region. In the MBH, at 22 days, IGF-1 gene expression was increased (p < 0.05) with a concomitant increase (p < 0.05) in IGF-1R protein expression. Mn also increased (p < 0.01) COX-2 gene expression. At 29 days, the upregulation of IGF-1 (p < 0.05) and COX-2 (p < 0.05) continued in the MBH. At this time, we observed increased (p < 0.05) LHRH gene expression in the POA/AVPV. Additionally, Mn stimulated prostaglandin E2 and LHRH release from 29-day-old median eminences incubated in vitro. These results demonstrate that Mn, through the upregulation of IGF-1 and COX-2, may promote maturational events and glial-neuronal communications facilitating the increased neurosecretory activity, including that of LHRH, resulting in precocious pubertal development.
The cochlear F-box protein OCP1 associates with OCP2 and connexin 26

OCP1 and OCP2 are the most abundant proteins in the organ of Corti. Their distributions map identically to the epithelial gap-junction system, which unites the supporting cell population. Sequence data imply that OCP1 and OCP2 are subunits of an SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase. Consistent with that hypothesis, electrophoretic mobility-shift assays and pull-down assays with immobilized OCP1 demonstrate the formation of an OCP1-OCP2 complex. Sedimentation equilibrium data indicate that the complex is heterodimeric. The coincidence of the OCP1-OCP2 distribution and the epithelial gap-junction system suggests that one or more connexin isoforms may be targets of an SCF(OCP1) complex. Significantly, immobilized OCP1 binds (35)S-labeled connexin 26 (Cx26) produced by in vitro transcription-translation. Moreover, Cx26 can be co-immunoprecipitated from extracts of the organ of Corti by immobilized anti-OCP1, implying that OCP1 and Cx26 may associate in vivo. Given that lesions in the Cx26 gene (GJB2) are the most common cause of hereditary deafness, the OCP1-Cx26 interaction has substantial biomedical relevance.
Predator density and dissolved oxygen affect body condition of Stenonema tripunctatum (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae) from intermittent streams

The effects of population density, fish density, and dissolved oxygen on body condition of late-instar nymphs of Stenonema tripunctatum (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae) were investigated using nymphs sampled from isolated, upland stream pools over summer in central Arkansas, USA. All three factors exhibited high variation among pools. Body condition was negatively related to fish density, and positively related to dissolved oxygen (when included in the model). High fish densities may be related to low body condition because they cause reduced foraging or force earlier emergence at small body sizes. These results emphasize the combined effects of biotic and abiotic factors on body condition in mayflies, and support earlier findings that population density is a less-important factor.
Single Fiber Strength Variations of Developing Cotton Fibers—Strength and Structure of G. hirsutum and G. barbedense:

This paper reports on the single fiber strength and crystalline structure of two cotton fiber species, G. hirsutum (Texas Marker 1) and G. barbedense (Pima S7), at varying developmen tal stages from 20 days post-anthesis (dpa) to maturity. For both species, the force required to break single fibers increases with fiber development, with the most significant increases occurring during the fourth week of cell development. The patterns of increasing breaking force through the end of the fourth week of fiber development are similar for these two species. As fibers develop beyond 30 dpa, the single fiber breaking force and tenacity of G. barbedense fibers are higher than those of G. hirsutum fibers. Both developing fibers show characteristic cellulose I diffraction patterns. The overall crystallinity and apparent crystallite sizes increase with development for both species. The most significant increases in L101, L101, and crystal linity occur between 20 and 35 dpa, corresponding to the first two weeks of cell...
Propagation and optical interaction of guided acoustic waves in two-mode optical fibers

Acoustic modes propagating in cylindrical solid rods are considered. A review of the properties of several mode groups is given, and computed results are shown for a wide range of material properties. The lower mode of each group is relevant for an all-fiber-optic frequency shifter recently demonstrated. For these modes, dispersion relations, mode patterns, power relations, and acoustooptic coupling strength are calculated. Some experimental results are compared with the calculations, and alterations to improve the frequency shifter are proposed. >