cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for separate neuronal mechanisms for the discriminative stimulus and catalepsy induced by Δ9-THC in the rat

The cataleptogenic effect of Δ9-THC was compared to its discriminative stimulus effects in rats. The ED50s for the discriminative stimulus and catalepsy were 0.8 and 4.0 mg/kg, respectively, while their time courses were very similar. The ED50 of Δ9-THC for catalepsy in experimentally naive rats was not different from that in rats trained with the drug discrimination procedure, indicating that the cataleptogenic effect was not appreciably attenuated by long-term exposure to low doses of Δ9-THC. Pharmacologically, the catalepsy produced by Δ9-THC more closely resembled that of haloperidol than of morphine, since anticholinergic pretreatment eliminated the Δ9-THC-induced catalepsy while pre-treatment with naloxone had no effect. Although the cataleptogenic effect of Δ9-THC could be pharmacologically manipulated by anticholinergic pre-treatment, its discriminative stimulus effects were not changed in the same animals. These results demonstrate that distinctive mechanisms of action exist for these cannabinoid-induced behaviors.
HUMAN IMMUNIZATION IN VITRO

In vitro sensitization of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells is potentially useful in evaluation of immune responses, for hybridoma production, and for imnunogenetic and vaccine research. Secondary (2 °) in vitro lymphoproliferative responses are obtained after in vivo sensitization. However, primary (1°) in vitro immunization with soluble antigens has been more difficult. We have now induced 1° and 2° responses in vitro for purified antigens, complex soluble antigens, a lipid antigen presented in liposomes, and bacteria. PBMC were incubated at 106 /ml in flasks for 9-11 d with a 5 log concentration range of BSA, KLH, PPD, coccidioidin, liposomes with M. leprae phenolic glycolipid 1 (PG-1-L), or irradiated M. leprae. After washing, cells in microtiter plates were restimulated with antigen or fed without antigen. After 48 h cells were pulsed with H-thymidine. Results are shown as ratio CPM with restimulation:CPM without restimulation. Ratios ≥ 1.9 reflect lymphoproliferative responses; ratios ≤ 0.3 indicate suppression of responses (both p < .05). Sensitization was designated as 1° if prior reactivity by skin test and/or lymphocyte transformation was absent, or 2° if present. Responses were 1° for BSA (maximum ratio = 2.8), KLH (2.7), PPD (10.6), coccidioidin (2.5), and PG-1-L (6.3); 2° responses occurred for KLH, PPD, and M. leprao. 1° suppression was seen for BSA, coccidiodin, and PPD. The technique may be useful in inducing immune responses without exposing the subject.
Generalized hazard-based goodness-of-fit tests for a repairable system

This paper examines the problem of goodness-of-fit concerning the distribution of the initial failure times of a repairable system. In particular, the class of intensity-based smooth goodness-of-fit tests studied in Pen ¨ a (1998a,b) and Agustin and Pen ¨ a (2000, 2001) is considered. Specific members of the family are derived and are shown to be generalizations of existing tests for independent and identically distributed observations. The results of a Monte Carlo simulation study are presented to illustrate the potential of these tests as powerful directional and omnibus tests.
Error-resilient video coding with improved 3D SPIHT and error concealment

This paper first introduces an asymmetric tree structure for utilization with an error resilient form 3-D SPIHT, called ERC-SPIHT. Then, we present a fast error concealment scheme, borrowed from Rane et al.'s work with images, for embedded video bitstream using ERC-SPIHT. In addition to using simple averaging method in the root subband, we detect the presence or absence of edges in the lost block of every image. Then we use an interpolation scheme to recover the lost edge information.
Strategic Retirement In The U.S. House Of Representatives, 1897–1996: “You Can't Fire Me, I Quit”

The fact that retirements rather than election defeats are the primary source of turnover in the U.S. House of Representatives has led some to conclude that voters' preferences have little influence on the composition of the House. Jacobson and Kernell's theory of strategic retirement suggests that many members retire to avoid likely defeat, so that one would expect a party's retirement rate to increase during an election cycle expected to be unfavorable to it. The theory is tested by specifying and estimating a multivariate regression model of party retirement rate including variables representing strategic, nonstrategic, and mixed motivations for retirement; the database consists of both parties' retirement rates for the 55th through 104th Congresses. The results suggest that the president's party members are more likely to retire during a midterm year, but this effect depends on model specification. Other strategic variables show no significant effects on party retirement rate. Separating the data by political party, type of retirement and party alignment period yields little evidence of a strategic retirement pattern that might have been obscured in the overall analysis. Additional research on individual-level forms of strategic retirement and alternative forms of strategic behavior is suggested.
Micropropagation of Ixia viridifolia and a Gladiolus × Homoglossum hybrid

Abstract Ixia viridifolia (ixia) and a new hybrid Gladiolus × Homoglossum (GH hybrid) were propagated by in vitro techniques. From an original 10 and 20 corms of ixia and GH hybrid, respectively, up to 1000 plants could be produced in 1 year. Large numbers of buds developed on transversely-cut halves of the corms when they were placed on Linsmaier-Skoog medium containing benzyladenine. Transfer to medium containing naphthaleneacetic acid resulted in elongation of buds into shoots and formation of corms at the bases of the shoots. Dormancy of the plants in vitro was dependent on the hormone composition of the medium.
A description of intraoperative ventilator management in patients with acute lung injury and the use of lung protective ventilation strategies.

BACKGROUND The incidence of acute lung injury (ALI) in hypoxic patients undergoing surgery is currently unknown. Previous studies have identified lung protective ventilation strategies that are beneficial in the treatment of ALI. The authors sought to determine the incidence and examine the use of lung protective ventilation strategies in patients receiving anesthetics with a known history of ALI. METHODS The ventilation parameters that were used in all patients were reviewed, with an average preoperative PaO₂/Fio₂ [corrected] ratio of ≤ 300 between January 1, 2005 and July 1, 2009. This dataset was then merged with a dataset of patients screened for ALI. The median tidal volume, positive end-expiratory pressure, peak inspiratory pressures, fraction inhaled oxygen, oxygen saturation, and tidal volumes were compared between groups. RESULTS A total of 1,286 patients met criteria for inclusion; 242 had a diagnosis of ALI preoperatively. Comparison of patients with ALI versus those without ALI found statistically yet clinically insignificant differences between the ventilation strategies between the groups in peak inspiratory pressures and positive end-expiratory pressure but no other category. The tidal volumes in cc/kg predicted body weight were approximately 8.7 in both groups. Peak inspiratory pressures were found to be 27.87 cm H₂O on average in the non-ALI group and 29.2 in the ALI group. CONCLUSION Similar ventilation strategies are used between patients with ALI and those without ALI. These findings suggest that anesthesiologists are not using lung protective ventilation strategies when ventilating patients with low PaO₂/Fio₂ [corrected] ratios and ALI, and instead are treating hypoxia and ALI with higher concentrations of oxygen and peak pressures.
Normapolles and triporate pollen assemblages from the Raritan and Magothy Formations (Upper Cretaceous) of New Jersey

Abstract Of the palynological zones proposed for the Cretaceous System of the Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain, the species composition of zones IV, V, and VII are the least known. Previous studies have shown that zones IV, V, and VII occur within the Raritan and Magothy Formations of northern New Jersey. Therefore, in order to characterize the assemblages that constitute these zones, a principal coordinates analysis was run on the Normapolles and triporate pollen from selected lithologic units of the Raritan and Magothy Formations. Results of the analysis suggest the presence of four assemblage zones within this stratigraphic interval. The zones are formally named and described in this report. In ascending stratigraphic order, the zones are referred to as the Complexiopollis‐Atlantopollis Zone, the Complexiopollis exigua‐Santalacites minor Zone, the Pseudoplicapollis longiannulata‐Plicapollis incisa Zone, and the ?Pseudoplicapollis cuneata‐Semioculopollis verrucosa Zone. The nominate species of these zones ...
Models and model value in stochastic programming

Finding optimal decisions often involves the consideration of certain random or unknown parameters. A standard approach is to replace the random parameters by the expectations and to solve a deterministic mathematical program. A second approach is to consider possible future scenarios and the decision that would be best under each of these scenarios. The question then becomes how to choose among these alternatives. Both approaches may produce solutions that are far from optimal in the stochastic programming model that explicitly includes the random parameters. In this paper, we illustrate this advantage of a stochastic program model through two examples that are representative of the range of problems considered in stochastic programming. The paper focuses on the relative value of the stochastic program solution over a deterministic problem solution.
Role of nutrition in response of blood lipids to thyroidectomy.

IT IS NOW WELL ESTABLISHED that increased concentrations of lipids appear in the blood during thyroid deficiency (1, 2). In a recent communication from this laboratory, the blood lipids of dogs were observed for as long as 2,14 days after thyroidectomy during a nutritional state in which the same caloric intake was main-tained during the entire period of observation, both before and after thyroidectomy (3). Changes in the levels of cholesterol esters were observed as early as 7 days after excision of the thyroid glands, and by the time 29 days had elapsed definite changes in total fatty acids had occurred. Not all lipid constituents of the blood responded to the same degree, for phospholipid and free cholesterol seldom showed pronounced increases after thyroidectomy. The increased concentrations of total fatty acids and cholesterol esters were not of constant occurrence
The chemical and enzymatic syntheses of specifically deuterated dinucleoside monophosphates

Proton magnetic resonance (pmr) studies of nucleic acid structure are currently hampered by extensive overlapping of signals, particularly in the ribose region. An approach with considerable promise involves the preparation of oligomers with specifically deuterated nucleotidyl units at known positions. In this publication, we report the synthesis of five dinucleoside monophosphates in which the 3′-nucleotidyl unit is deuterated. These compounds were prepared by standard chemical procedures and an enzymatic approach using ribonuclease T1. The deuterated dimers give pmr spectra which are much simpler than their protio analogs, thus permitting unambiguous peak assigments.
Robust Optimization of a Wing Under Structural and Material Uncertainties

ghter wing conguration in the presence of uncertainties in structural parameters and material properties. The design variables and input parameters are considered to have uncertainties and are treated as aleatory and epistemic random variables in the optimization process. The aleatory uncertainties are quantied and propagated via inexpensive sampling of kriging surrogate models, whereas the epistemic uncertainties are propagated using a box-constrained optimization approach. The considered loading condition arises from trimmed ight at a 220 =s roll maneuver. The resulting designs are shown to be robust against input anomalies to desired probabilistic levels.
A review of locking compression plate biomechanics and their advantages as internal fixators in fracture healing

Metallic implants are often involved in the open reduction and internal fixation of fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation is commonly used in cases of trauma when the bone cannot be healed using external methods such as casting. The locking compression plate combines the conventional screw hole, which uses non-locking screws, with a locking screw hole, which uses locking head screws. This allows for more versatility in the application of the plate. There are many factors which affect the functionality of the plate (e.g., screw placement, screw choice, length of plate, distance from bone, etc.). This paper presents a review of the literature related to the biomechanics of locking compression plates and their use as internal fixators in fracture healing. Furthermore, this paper also addresses the materials used for locking compression plates and their mechanical behavior, parameters that control the overall success, as well as inherent bone quality results.
Parameter Estimability of Biphasic Response Models

Abstract Pharmacodynamics of general anesthetic agents generally exhibit biphasic concentration–effect relationships (i.e., an activation phase at low concentrations and inhibition at higher concentrations). These relationships are usually characterized with biphasic models constructed from various combinations and modifications of the nonlinear sigmoid E MAX model. We tested and quantified the parameter estimability of the simplest additive biphasic pharmacodynamic models by a Monte Carlo method. The estimated model parameters were used to calculate descriptors of the concentration–effect data. Parameters and descriptors were compared with their true values. When the IC 50 /EC 50 ratio was low ( 50 , and IC 50 were poorly estimated (high coefficient of variation and pronounced bias). However, the fit to the data was excellent, and the data descriptors calculated from the estimated model parameters demonstrated high precision and accuracy. Baseline effect (E0) was estimated with good precision and accuracy. As the IC 50 /EC 50 ratio was increased, the estimability of model parameters and data descriptors improved, with the data descriptors continuing to be more estimable than model parameters. Thus, model parameters become estimable when there is sufficient separation between EC 50 and IC 50 to produce a plateauing of peak effect (activation), which can be observed directly from the data signature. Data descriptors are not subject to this limitation and thus may serve as better metrics for summarizing concentration–effect relationships.
CSSF MIMO RADAR: Compressive-Sensing and Step-Frequency Based MIMO Radar

A new approach is proposed, namely CSSF MIMO radar, which applies the technique of step frequency (SF) to compressive sensing (CS) based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar. The proposed approach enables high resolution range, angle and Doppler estimation, while transmitting narrowband pulses. For the case of slowly moving targets, a technique is proposed that achieves significant complexity reduction by successively estimating angle-range and Doppler in a decoupled fashion.
Microclimatic Moisture and Conidial Production in Erynia sp. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae): In Vivo Production Rate and Duration Under Constant and Fluctuating Moisture Regimes

Erynia sp. conidiation on larval alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, was studied in the laboratory under constant and fluctuating saturation deficits. At optimum conditions of saturated still air (0.0 mm of Hg, 100% relative humidity [RH]), the fungus would discharge conidia for up to 50 h. Peak conidial discharge occurred ca. 3 h after exposure to saturation deficits up to 0.9 mm of Hg. Minimal conidial discharge occurred at 1.8 of mm Hg saturation deficit. Periodic intervals of high-saturation deficits had increasingly repressive effects on both conidial discharge rate and duration as saturation deficits during these intervals increased. However, the fungus had the ability to resume conidial discharge if the environment was returned to optimal and <15 h had elapsed. Wind, at 4 liters/min with an RH of 90%, had an almost identical effect on conidial discharge repression as still air at 75.6% RH.
Activated microglia do not form functional gap junctions in vivo.

Abstract We investigated whether microglia form gap junctions with themselves, or with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, or neurons in vivo in normal mouse brains, and in pathological conditions that induce microglial activation — brain injury and a model of Alzheimer's disease. Although microglia are in close physical proximity to glia and neurons, they do not form functional gap junctions under these pathological conditions.
The Contribution of Relative Renal Mass to Erythropoietin Production

Androgenic hormones have been reported to increase erythropoiesis by direct stimulation of erythroid marrow. Because androgens also possess a renotrophie effect, the contribution of reneal mass to erythropoietin production was investigated. Rats were injected for 6 weeks with depotestosterone (in cotton seed oil), prior to and after nephreetomy. controls received cotton seed oil or were sham-operated. Endogenous erythropoietin production was suppressed during the experiment by transfusion with packed red blood cells. Erythropoietin production was stimulated by subjecting the animals to hypoxia for 18 h. Kidneys were then removed and blood obtained for erythropoietin bioassy. Hypoxia resulted in variable increase in erythropoietin levels in all animals. This vairation in erythropoietin production was found to correlate closely with the relative renal mass (renal weight : boy weight ratio), with erythropoietin levels increasing proportionately to renal mass in animals receiving either testosterone or in controls. Animals not subjected to hypoxia did not show any increase in erythropoietin levels, despite administration of androgens and resultant increase in renal mass. These studies show that the enhanced production of erythropoietin by androgens during hypoxia is due not only to its direct action on bone marrow, but is also related to the renotrophic effect of the steroid.
Impact damage and erosion in infrared materials

The mechanisms of impact damage and erosion that occur in infra-red materials subject to impact by solid particles and water drops are discussed. The elucidation of the damage mechanisms allows identification of the material properties that impart the maximum damage resistance and hence, permit the retention of good optical quality in erosive environments. The principal material properties are the fracture toughness, hardness and elastic wave velocity. Microstructural effects on these properties are briefly discussed.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Impact of Behavioral Symptoms on Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Dementia

The authors examined whether scores on two recently developed measures of behavioral disturbance, the Frontal Lobe Personality Scale (FLOPS) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), are associated with functional impairments in patients with dementia. Caregivers of 30 dementia patients were administered the FLOPS Family Form, the NPI, and an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale. Findings indicated a relationship between behavioral changes and functional limitations in patients with dementia. Moreover, the FLOPS, an instrument designed to specifically measure behaviors subserved by frontal lobe systems, was more strongly related to failures in instrumental ADLs than was the NPI. The authors conclude that behavioral measures add information over and above that available from cognitive tests in determining ADL functioning.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAVEMENT TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER DATA: WISCONSIN FIELD STUDY TO VERIFY SUPERPAVE ALGORITHM

Six test sections were constructed on US-53 in Trempealeau County by using different performance-graded asphalt binders to validate the Superpave pavement temperature algorithm and the binder specification limits. Field instrumentation was installed in two of the test sections to monitor the thermal behavior of the pavement as affected by weather. The instrumentation was used specifically to monitor the temperature of the test sections as a function of time and depth from the pavement surface. A meteorological station was assembled at the test site to monitor weather conditions, including air temperature. Details of the instrumentation systems used and analysis of the data collected during the first 22 months of the project are presented. The analysis was focused on development of a statistical model for estimation of low and high pavement temperatures from meteorological data. The model was compared to the Superpave recommended model and to the more recent model recommended by the Long-Term Pavement Perf...
Habit de qualité: Seventeenth-Century French Fashion Prints as Sources for Dress History

AbstractHistorians have debated the significance of a group of late-seventeenth-century French engravings depicting fashionably dressed men and women. At question is the classification of these engravings as fashion prints, images which depict as well as disseminate current fashion information. An analysis of these French prints, which date from the mid-1670s to about 1715, reveals that although often imitative, details of dress and coiffure were continually altered in order to reflect new fashion trends. The print artists responded to current events by changing the captions of their prints, but the subject matter remained fundamentally a presentation of French fashion. Dress information was disseminated by the sheer volume of published French prints, as well as by additional foreign-made copies. The visualization of fashion presented in these prints makes clear their essential role in the fashion print genre, while their short-lived but robust production signaled an emerging hegemony of French fashion in...
Impact of technology dispersion on slow‐wave high performance shielded CPW transmission lines characteristics

Shielded coplanar waveguides are promising candidates for the development of high quality factor transmission lines in millimeter-wave frequency bands. In this article, state-of-the-art experimental results carried out on a CMOS 0.35 μm low-cost technology are presented. This letter especially deals with the benchmark of slow-wave transmission lines in focusing on the impact of technology dispersion on the measurement results. Eight dies have been measured, each from a different wafer, showing a robust design versus the technology. These results open new possibilities for the development of miniaturized low-loss compact passive devices. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52:2786–2789, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25598
Deficient Humoral Responses Underlie Susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii in CD4-Deficient Mice

Resistance to infection with Toxoplasma gondii was studied in mice lacking CD4 expression. Such mice developed more brain cysts and survived for a shorter time than did wild-type controls after peroral infection with ME49 cysts. After immunization with the ts-4 strain of T. gondii, CD4-deficient mice exhibited impaired resistance to a challenge infection with virulent RH tachyzoites. Thus, deficient CD4 expression increases the susceptibility of mice to a primary peroral T. gondii infection with cysts and impairs their ability to be successfully vaccinated. CD8+ T cells from blood or spleens of Toxoplasma-infected, CD4-deficient mice expressed markers of activation at frequencies similar to those of infected wild-type mice. Production of IFN-γ in vitro was moderately depressed, and levels of Toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin G2a in serum were substantially lower than in wild-type mice. Administration of Toxoplasma-immune serum to ts-4-vaccinated CD4-deficient mice significantly improved their resistance to RH challenge. Also, the survival of CD4-deficient mice chronically infected with ME49 was significantly prolonged by administration of immune serum. These results demonstrate that in addition to CD8+ T cells and IFN-γ, which are known to be critical for resistance, CD4+ cells also contribute significantly to protection against chronic T. gondii infections and against challenge infections with highly virulent tachyzoites in immunized mice via their role as helper cells for production of isotype-switched antibodies.
Complications of laparoscopic surgery for urological cancer: a single institution analysis.

Purpose: We determined the incidence of and risk factors for perioperative complications associated with laparoscopic oncological surgery for urological malignancy.Materials and Methods: All records of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for urological malignancy at a tertiary care institution from April 1997 through January 2006 were reviewed. Relevant demographic and perioperative data during and within 6 weeks of surgery were evaluated retrospectively. Various factors were analyzed to estimate risk of a perioperative complication such as the Charlson Comorbidity Index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, European Scoring System for laparoscopic urological operations and surgeon experience. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for perioperative complications.Results: A total of 1,867 laparoscopic oncological surgeries were performed, including radical or partial nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, radical prostatectomy and radical cystectomy. Perioperative complic...
The Mucin Muc2 Limits Pathogen Burdens and Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction during Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Colitis

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a model organism used to explore the virulence strategies underlying Salmonella pathogenesis. Although intestinal mucus is the first line of defense in the intestine, its role in protection against Salmonella is still unclear. The intestinal mucus layer is composed primarily of the Muc2 mucin, a heavily O-glycosylated glycoprotein. The core 3-derived O-glycans of Muc2 are synthesized by core 3 β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C3GnT). Mice lacking these glycans still produce Muc2 but display a thinner intestinal mucus barrier. We began our investigations by comparing Salmonella-induced colitis and mucus dynamics in Muc2-deficient (Muc2−/−) mice, C3GnT−/− mice, and wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) mice. Salmonella infection led to increases in luminal Muc2 secretion in WT and C3GnT−/− mice. When Muc2−/− mice were infected with Salmonella, they showed dramatic susceptibility to infection, carrying significantly higher cecal and liver pathogen burdens, and developing significantly higher barrier disruption and higher mortality rates, than WT mice. We found that the exaggerated barrier disruption in infected Muc2−/− mice was invA dependent. We also tested the susceptibility of C3GnT−/− mice and found that they carried pathogen burdens similar to those of WT mice but developed exaggerated barrier disruption. Moreover, we found that Muc2−/− mice were impaired in intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) expression and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) detoxification activity in their ceca, potentially explaining their high mortality rates during infection. Our data suggest that the intestinal mucus layer (Muc2) and core 3 O-glycosylation play critical roles in controlling Salmonella intestinal burdens and intestinal epithelial barrier function, respectively.
Scanning electron microscopy of epiplexus cells (macrophages) in the fetal rat brain

Intraventricular macrophages were observed with the scanning electron microscope on the choroid plexus in developing rat brains. Cell membrane configurations of these large, epiplexus cells (8-10 μm) were typified by folds, flange-like surface projections and long, thin pseudopodia interdigitating with subjacent brain cell microvilli; discrete, periodic enlargements were observed at intervals along the pseudopodial processes.
Attribute inheritance implemented on top of a relational database system

An implementation technique which solves integrity checking, query evaluation, and transaction synchronization tasks in database systems with multiple attribute inheritance and uses the support of a relational database system is presented. It is shown how to implement an integrity checker and a transaction synchronization component of a database system with attribute inheritance. The basic idea is to map arbitrary integrity constraints, queries, and locks associated with classes of an inheritance lattice onto integrity constraints, queries, and locks associated with relations of an underlying relational database. >
Formal specification and verification of data separation in a separation kernel for an embedded system

Although many algorithms, hardware designs, and security protocols have been formally verified, formal verification of the security of software is still rare. This is due in large part to the large size of software, which results in huge costs for verification. This paper describes a novel and practical approach to formally establishing the security of code. The approach begins with a well-defined set of security properties and, based on the properties, constructs a compact security model containing only information needed to rea-son about the properties. Our approach was formulated to provide evidence for a Common Criteria evaluation of an embedded soft-ware system which uses a separation kernel to enforce data separation. The paper describes 1) our approach to verifying the kernel code and 2) the artifacts used in the evaluation: a Top Level Specification (TLS) of the kernel behavior, a formal definition of dataseparation, a mechanized proof that the TLS enforces data separation, code annotated with pre- and postconditions and partitioned into three categories, and a formal demonstration that each category of code enforces data separation. Also presented is the formal argument that the code satisfies the TLS.
Life in the flow lane: differences in pectoral fin morphology suggest transitions in station-holding demand across species of marine sculpin

Aquatic organisms exposed to high flow regimes typically exhibit adaptations to decrease overall drag and increase friction with the substrate. However, these adaptations have not yet been examined on a structural level. Sculpins (Scorpaeniformes: Cottoidea) have regionalized pectoral fins that are modified for increasing friction with the substrate, and morphological specialization varies across species. We examined body and pectoral fin morphology of 9 species to determine patterns of body and pectoral fin specialization. Intact specimens and pectoral fins were measured, and multivariate techniques determined the differences among species. Cluster analysis identified 4 groups that likely represent differences in station-holding demand, and this was supported by a discriminant function analysis. Primarily, the high-demand group had increased peduncle depth (specialization for acceleration) and larger pectoral fins with less webbed ventral rays (specialization for mechanical gripping) compared to other groups; secondarily, the high-demand group had a greater aspect ratio and a reduced number of pectoral fin rays (specialization for lift generation) than other groups. The function of sculpin pectoral fins likely shifts from primarily gripping where demand is likely low, to an equal dependence on gripping and negative lift generation where demand is likely high. Specialization of the ventral pectoral fin region for gripping likely contributes to the recent diversification of some species into high-demand habitats.
Notch signaling augments the canonical Wnt pathway to specify the size of the otic placode.

The inner ear derives from a patch of ectoderm defined by expression of the transcription factor Pax2. We recently showed that this Pax2^+ ectoderm gives rise not only to the otic placode but also to the surrounding cranial epidermis, and that Wnt signaling mediates this placode-epidermis fate decision. We now present evidence for reciprocal interactions between the Wnt and Notch signaling pathways during inner ear induction. Activation of Notch1 in Pax2+ ectoderm expands the placodal epithelium at the expense of cranial epidermis, whereas loss of Notch1 leads to a reduction in the size of the otic placode. We show that Wnt signaling positively regulates Notch pathway genes such as Jag1, Notch1 and Hes1, and we have used transgenic Wnt reporter mice to show that Notch signaling can modulate the canonical Wnt pathway. Gain- and loss-of-function mutations in the Notch and Wnt pathways reveal that some aspects of otic placode development - such as Pax8 expression and the morphological thickening of the placode - can be regulated independently by either Notch or Wnt signals. Our results suggest that Wnt signaling specifies the size of the otic placode in two ways, by directly upregulating a subset of otic genes, and by positively regulating components of the Notch signaling pathway, which then act to augment Wnt signaling.
An online analysis and information fusion platform for heterogeneous biomedical informatics data

Current research in biomedical informatics involves analysis of multiple heterogeneous data sets. This includes patient demographics, clinical and pathology data, treatment history, patient outcomes as well as gene expression, DNA sequences and other information sources such as gene ontologies. Analysis of these data sets could lead to better disease diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and drug discovery. However, the extent of knowledge that can be extracted from individual data sets is limited Recently, there has been a lot of focus on techniques that analyze genomic data sources in an integrated manner through information fusion. This places a need for an online platform to analyze biomedical informatics data sets using these techniques. We present here an online data warehouse to perform data exploration and analysis across heterogeneous biomedical informatics data sets with the aid of information fusion. The prototype platform is available at http://biogeowarehouse.cse.psu.edu.
“Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead”; Secondary Burial and Matt 8:21–22

New Testament interpreters have long puzzled over the meaning of the saying, “Let the dead bury their own dead” (Matt 8:22; Luke 9:60), and although many ingenious solutions have been proposed, none has been generally convincing. It is surprising that Jewish burial practices have not been brought into this discussion. For the burial practices of first-century Jews in Palestine are well known: many tombs have been carefully excavated, and several rabbinic texts explicitly discuss the care of the dead. Yet this information has never (to my knowledge) been brought to bear on Matt 8:21–22. In this paper, I propose that secondary burial, a widespread burial custom among Jews in first-century Palestine, can solve the riddle of these verses. Against the background of secondary burial, both the meaning of the disciple's question and the force of Jesus' response become clear. In particular, it is not necessary to suppose, as many interpreters do, that Jesus was talking about the “spiritually” dead. On the contrary, if the references to the dead are taken literally, the saying sounds both ironic and eschatological.
First Report of Asian Soybean Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on Soybean in Alabama

On November 4, 2004, soybean leaves (Glycine max (L.) Merr) were submitted to the Auburn University Plant Diagnostic Lab by a State Department of Agriculture and Industries Inspector. Samples were ...
VH1, a Provascular Cell–Specific Receptor Kinase That Influences Leaf Cell Patterns in Arabidopsis

The formation of the venation pattern in leaves is ideal for examining signaling pathways that recognize and respond to spatial and temporal information, because the pattern is two-dimensional and heritable and the resulting veins influence the three-dimensional spatial organization of the surrounding differentiating leaf cell types. We identified a provascular/procambial cell–specific gene that encodes a Leu-rich repeat receptor kinase, which we named VASCULAR HIGHWAY1 (VH1). A change in the expression domain and level of VH1 marks the transition from an uncommitted provascular state to a committed procambial state in early vascular development. The coding sequence, expression pattern, and transgenic phenotypes together suggest that VH1 transduces extracellular spatial and temporal signals into downstream cell differentiation responses in provascular/procambial cells.
Restorative activities of community-dwelling elders.

This study was conducted to identify the restorative activities of community-dwelling elders. Exposure to restorative activities, such as observing nature, is associated with improved concentration, more effective cognitive functioning, and feelings of greater mental energy, peacefulness, and refreshment. Little literature exists regarding the types and benefits of restorative activities engaged in by elders, a group in need of means to promote optimal daily functioning. A qualitative descriptive design was used. Thirty (28 women, 2 men) community-dwelling elders (ages 65 to 92 years) were interviewed using open-ended questions to ascertain their perceptions of restorative activities. A content analysis of themes produced 12 categories of restorative activities: creative outlets, altruism, nature, social connections, cognitive challenges, physical activity, reading, family connections, spirituality and reflection, cultural activities, travel, and other activities. Additional studies with larger, culturall...
A Study of Configurations for Anti-windup Control of Uncertain Systems

This paper considers configurations for anti-windup (AW) control of uncertain systems. Using the Bezout identity and coprime factorizations of the unconstrained controller and the plant, the configurations currently employed for static and dynamic AW control of uncertain systems are related to the general static AW control framework of Kothare et al (1994), and its extension via a Q parameter for dynamic AW controllers. The difference (mismatch) system describing the effect of saturation on the system response is explicitly described using the coprime relations and the Q parameter. This unification of configurations offers insight into the difficulties faced when employing specific AW control configurations and facilitates improved transparency in AW control system design.
A holistic approach to service survivability

We present SABER (Survivability Architecture: Block, Evade, React), a proposed survivability architecture that blocks, evades and reacts to a variety of attacks by using several security and survivability mechanisms in an automated and coordinated fashion. Contrary to the ad hoc manner in which contemporary survivable systems are built-using isolated, independent security mechanisms such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems and software sandboxes-SABER integrates several different technologies in an attempt to provide a unified framework for responding to the wide range of attacks malicious insiders and outsiders can launch.This coordinated multi-layer approach will be capable of defending against attacks targeted at various levels of the network stack, such as congestion-based DoS attacks, software-based DoS or code-injection attacks, and others. Our fundamental insight is that while multiple lines of defense are useful, most conventional, uncoordinated approaches fail to exploit the full range of available responses to incidents. By coordinating the response, the ability to survive successful security breaches increases substantially.We discuss the key components of SABER, how they will be integrated together, and how we can leverage on the promising results of the individual components to improve survivability in a variety of coordinated attack scenarios. SABER is currently in the prototyping stages, with several interesting open research topics.
Petroleum Developments in Middle East Countries in 1975

Petroleum production in Middle East countries in 1975 totaled 7,199,302,000 bbl at an average rate of 19,504,937 b/d, down 10% from 1974. Principal production increases were in Iraq, Oman, and Syria; main decreases were in Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. There were substantial new discoveries in Iran and Saudi Arabia. One new field was reported in Syria. The main areas of exploratory work were in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Turkey. New areas were explored on and offshore Iran and in Syria, where a new field started production in May 1975.
An experimental assessment of the potential effects of human disturbance on Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix in the North Pennines, England

In the United Kingdom, Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix have declined in range and abundance during the 20th century. In England at present, birds are largely found only on the margins of managed grouse moors in the north, where more than 80% of birds are confined to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Black Grouse is one of a group of species potentially at risk from increased human recreational disturbance owing to their threatened status and their use of habitats to which a statutory right of human recreational access has recently been granted. To assess the likely impact of increased disturbance to Black Grouse, 77 were caught and radiotagged between 2002 and 2004, and each was randomly assigned to one of three experimental disturbance categories: no disturbance (low), fortnightly disturbance (moderate) or twice weekly disturbance (high). Birds that were disturbed more regularly flushed at greater distances, especially in spring and winter when birds exposed to high disturbance flushed at 32% greater distances than those in moderate disturbance treatments. There were no differences in fecundity (clutch size, hatching success, breeding success) or survival between disturbance treatments. Winter survival was 78% and summer survival 92%. There was no age-related difference in survival. The disturbance regimes imposed had no discernible impact upon Black Grouse population dynamics. However, in the absence of appropriate data to indicate likely changes in patterns and levels of human recreation resulting from open access, we cannot be sure whether the levels we applied will be representative in the future. Should actual disturbance levels be higher than those we used in this study, we list visitor management options that may help reduce any conflict that arises.
The Effects of Proximity and Colony Age on Interspecific Interference Competition between the Desert Ants Pogonomyrmex barbatus and Aphaenogaster cockerelli

Abstract The ants Aphaenogaster cockerelli and Pogonomyrmex barbatus compete for seed resources in the Chihuahuan desert. Previous work showed that intraspecific competition in P. barbatus is more intense between near neighbors with overlapping foraging ranges and depends on colony age. Just before reaching reproductive maturity (3–4 y), colonies are more aggressive and persistent in intraspecific competition for foraging area than younger or older colonies. In this study we examine how interspecific interference behavior by A. cockerelli towards P. barbatus depends on the age and proximity of P. barbatus colonies. Before sunrise when P. barbatus colonies become active, A. cockerelli colonies completely plug the nest entrances of some P. barbatus colonies, thereby delaying the onset of P. barbatus foraging behavior. Pogonomyrmex barbatus colonies closer to A. cockerelli were plugged more frequently than more distant colonies. As distance from A. cockerelli nests increased, older P. barbatus colonies were ...
His Example 'Challenges Me to Be a Better Person'

This article discusses the author's experience on September 11th, 2001 and the bravery of one his college friends, Welles Crowther. Welles used his skills as a volunteer firefighter to rescue at least 12 people from the World Trade Center and it was on his third trip to rescue fellow workers that the south tower collapsed. His example has inspired so many people as well as the author.
Retail Practices: Ethical Perceptions of Retail Students

This study examines the ethical perceptions of retail students on a number of questionable retail situations and compares these perceptions with those of retail salespeople. The results suggest that retail students are less likely to perceive ethical ramifications in questionable retail situations than those employed in retailing.
Assessing Medical Student Knowledge of Imaging Modality Selection Before and After a General Radiology Elective: A Comparison of MS-IIs, MS-IIIs, and MS-IVs

Rationale and Objectives Correct selection of imaging tests is essential for clinicians but until recently has been largely neglected in medical education. How and when students acquire such non-interpretive skills are unknown. This study will assess student knowledge of imaging test selection before and after a general radiology elective. Materials and Methods Between 2008 and 2015, an unannounced 13-item test was administered to second, third, and fourth-year students on the first and last days of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine radiology elective. Scores (0–13) were based on the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria. Pre- and posttest means were compared using paired samples t tests. Whether performance on the pretest and posttest differed by class year was assessed using analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis, respectively, and whether year was associated with posttest score after controlling for pretest score was assessed using analysis of covariance. Results Posttest means were significantly higher than pretest means for students in all years (P values Conclusion Knowledge of modality selection increases with clinical training, but room for improvement remains. A general radiology elective increases this knowledge. Second-year students improve most, suggesting that taking radiology early is efficient, but further research to evaluate retention of this knowledge is needed. Medical student education in radiology must increasingly recognize and address non-interpretive skills and intelligent imaging utilization.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF UNIQUE PLASMA JETS FOR USE AS ION THRUSTERS

Recent experimental results suggest the possible use of an Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement (EC) device as a low-power, high specific impulse satellite thruster. An EC device, when operating in what has been coined "Halo mode," produces a unique plasma jet that could be used as a highly efficient source of 5keV mono-energetic ions. If operated with heavy, noble gases this device could provide efficient, high specific impulse. This paper describes the results of the initial characterization studies of the EC in Halo mode. A series of experiments was conducted on an EC device with a 30-cm diameter vacuum vessel, and a 6.4-cm diameter cathode-grid with a 1.9-cm hole constructed on one side. Consistent, stable operation was observed for both argon and hydrogen gas over a wide range of pressures and voltages, producing a single jet out of the enlarged hole. A number of voltage vs. current curves were made for a bias post that was placed in the path of the plasma jet. Analysis concludes that the plasma jet has a sufficient electron population suitable for generating a substantial ion jet.