cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rationally Designed Peptoids Modulate Aggregation of Amyloid-Beta 40

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Plaques composed of aggregated amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) accumulate between the neural cells in the brain and are associated with dementia and cellular death. Many strategies have been investigated to prevent Aβ self-assembly into disease-associated β-sheet amyloid aggregates; however, a promising therapeutic has not yet been identified. In this study, a peptoid-based mimic of the peptide KLVFF (residues 16–20 of Aβ) was tested for its ability to modulate Aβ aggregation. Peptoid JPT1 includes chiral, aromatic side chains to induce formation of a stable helical secondary structure that allows for greater interaction between the aromatic side chains and the cross β-sheet of Aβ. JPT1 was found to modulate Aβ40 aggregation, specifically decreasing lag time to β-sheet aggregate formation as well as the total number of fibrillar, β-sheet structured aggregates formed. These results suggest that...
Reactions of 2-aminobiphenyl with group 13 metal alkyls. Syntheses and molecular structures of [Me2MN(H)Bp]2 (M = Al, Ga) and [(i-Bu)2AlN(H)Bp]2 (NH2 Bp = 2-aminobiphenyl)

Abstract Reaction of Me 3 M (M = Al, Ga) with 2-aminobiphenyl, NH 2 Bp, in toluene affords aluminium ( I ) and gallium ( II ) crystalline complexes of the type [Me 2 MN(H)Bp] 2 . Compound I crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 (No. 2) with unit-cell parameters a = 9.046(1), b = 9.767(1), c = 17.713(2) A, α = 78.30(1)°, β = 75.44(1)°, γ = 63.01(1)°, V = 1342.5(3) A 3 , and D c = 1.12 g cm −3 for Z = 2. Full-matrix least-squares refinement based on 2644 observed reflections with intensities in the range 3.50 R = 0.054 ( R w = 0.069). The crystalline product [( i -Bu) 2 AlN(H)Bp] 2 ( III ), isolated from reaction of diisobutylaluminium hydride with 2-aminobiphenyl in toluene, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 2 1 / n with unit-cell parameters a = 12.835(3), b = 22.306(11), c = 13.545(3) A, β = 93.00(2)°, V = 3873(2) A 3 and D c = 1.06 g cm −3 for Z = 4. Full-matrix least-squares refinement based on 1935 observed reflections with intensities in the range 3.50 R = 0.089 ( R w = 0.099). Compound I resides in a trans conformation relative to aza hydrogen atoms while a cis conformation is observed for III .
Enhanced T cell maturation and altered lineage commitment in T cell receptor/CD4-transgenic mice.

Abstract The two mature subsets of T lymphocytes, CD4 + and CD8 + cells arise from a common progenitor during development in the thymus. The differentiation of this progenitor cell into one of the two mature T cell subsets is determined by the specificity of the αβ TCR for MHC class I or class II molecules. Using a line of TCR-transgenic mice expressing an MHC class II-specific TCR, 2B4, we have examined the thymocyte subsets present in a selecting versus a nonselecting MHC background. Our results are consistent with the model that CD4 versus CD8 downregulation occurs stochastically. In an effort to confirm these findings, we examined T cell development in double-transgenic mice expressing high levels of a CD4-transgene plus the 2B4 TCR transgenes. Unlike the findings with MHC class I-specific TCR-transgenic models, peripheral T cells in these mice include a substantial fraction of MHC class II-specific (2B4 + ) T cells expressing CD8 plus the transgene-encoded CD4. In addition, analysis of both thymocytes and peripheral T cells in these double-transgenic mice indicate that CD4 overexpression also leads to a striking enhancement of T cell maturation in 2B4 TCR-transgenic mice. Together with the studies of others, these data support a stochastic model for CD4 versus CD8 lineage commitment of an MHC class II-specific TCR during T cell development in the thymus.
Multiple interval mapping for gene expression QTL analysis

To find the correlations between genome-wide gene expression variations and sequence polymorphisms in inbred cross populations, we developed a statistical method to claim expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) in a genome. The method is based on multiple interval mapping (MIM), a model selection procedure, and uses false discovery rate (FDR) to measure the statistical significance of the large number of eQTL. We compared our method with a similar procedure proposed by Storey et al. and found that our method can be more powerful. We identified the features in the two methods that resulted in different statistical powers for eQTL detection, and confirmed them by simulation. We organized our computational procedure in an R package which can estimate FDR for positive findings from similar model selection procedures. The R package, MIM-eQTL, can be found at http://www.statgen.ncsu.edu/~wzou/MIM.eQTL.html .
Effect of opioid receptor antagonists on vasodilator nerve actions in the perfused rat mesentery.

Abstract Our previous work suggests that opioid peptidcs modulate sensory nerves in the perfused rat mesentery. Therefore we tested the hypothesis that opioids are involved in the ongoing regulation of sensory nerve activity using selective opioid receptor antagonists. In the presence of guancthidinc and methoxamine, transmural nerve stimulation caused a vasodilator response which was potentiated significantly by naloxonc (3 × 10 −3 M). However, naloxone did not affect vasodilator responses to exogenous calcitonin gene related peptide. ICI 174.864 (3 × 10−7 M), a selective δ receptor antagonist, had no effect on vasodilator responses to transmural nerve stimulation. In contrast CTOP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Phc-Thr-NH2) (3 × 10−7 M), a selective μ receptor antagonist, significantly inhibited vasodilator responses to transmural nerve stimulation, effects which were abolished by naloxone treatment. In preparations prctrcalcd with β-FNA (β-funaltrexaminc HCI). an irreversible μ. receptor antagonist, naloxone no longer potentiated vasodilator responses to transmural nerve stimulation. These results suggest that potentiation of vasodilator responses to transmural nerve stimulation by naloxone may be due to blockade of μ receptors, resulting in a reduced inhibitory modulation by endogenous opioids. These findings support the contention that prejunctionai opioid receptors on sensory nerves may play a role in moduluting activity of the cardiovascular system.
Noncontact thermometry in the Optical Technology Division at NIST

The Optical Technology Division (OTD) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains the thermodynamic temperature scale above the silver freezing point using spectral radiance ratios according to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90). Radiance temperature calibration services are performed in the OTD, and NIST's calibration services support industry, government agencies, national standards laboratories, pyrometer and blackbody manufacturers, universities, and U.S. military service calibration laboratories. In addition, the OTD also offers a four day Short Course on Temperature Measurement by Radiation Thermometry every year that extensively covers many aspects of radiation thermometry. Routine intercomparisons of the thermodynamic temperature scale are done with other national measurement laboratories for international verification of the accuracy of the issued calibrations. We describe research into alternatives to the ITS-90: the use of absolute detector standards to directly measure the temperature of a high temperature blackbody.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Systematic optical and X-ray study of In x Ga 1-x As on InP

We present a systematic study of In x Ga1−x As on InP grown by molecular beam epitaxy using the characterization techniques of Fourier transform photoluminescence, x-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and photoreflectance spectroscopy. The four techniques were used to determine and correlate the fundamental parameters of band-gap energy, phonon frequency and composition. Comparing room temperature (293 K) PL and low temperature PL indicate the presence of a partially ionized acceptor with binding energy of about 13 meV in the unintentionally doped material. Double crystal x-ray diffraction (XRD) using a symmetric and asymmetric reflections was also employed. The use of two reflections gives precise lattice constants, composition, and extent of film relaxation. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to measure phonon frequencies in the In x Ga1−x As films and correlated to XRD composition. Room temperature photoreflectance (PR) was used to determine band-gap energy for both the low and intermediate field cases. Band gap energies determined at room temperature by PL and PR were in agreement within experimental error.
ON THE COLLISION OF RIGID BODIES

The problem of collision of two rigid bodies has been reexamined and several alternative conditions, which extend the validity of the so-called Newton's law of impact, have been derived. The obtained results concern, among others, cases of constrained impulsive motion of rigid bodies.
Using Puppetry in a Coordinated School Health Program

Educators and clinicians are continually searching for innovative methodologies that promote positive health behaviors, that are age and developmentally appropriate, and that are fun. Puppetry meets these criteria. Puppetry is a creative learning methodology that stimulates learning through play. Various types of puppets are identified and a summary of the ways in which puppets may be used in a coordinated school health program to enhance positive health behaviors is presented. While many individuals attest to the value of using puppets, research should be conducted to assess effectiveness of puppetry on health knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors. Language: en
Formation of an aggregate scale in Arctic sea ice

[1] The ice pack covering northern seas is a mixture of thick ridged and rafted ice, undeformed ice, and open water. Conventional Eulerian Arctic sea ice models use a plastic yield surface to characterize the constitutive behavior of the pack. An alternative is to adopt a discontinuous Lagrangian approach and explicitly model the formation of leads and pressure ridges. We use a Lagrangian ice model that consists of thousands of discrete polygonal floes 1–4 km in width. At the beginning of a simulation the ice floes are frozen together in a square domain. We apply a linearly varying wind stress that deforms the pack by stretching the viscous-elastic joints between adjacent floes. Fractures propagate along joints forming a crack pattern in the model ice pack. The crack pattern defines a system of large plates 10–100 km in width that are aggregates of many individual floes. The average size of the plates is determined by a competition between the rate of crack creation and the speed of the relaxation wave that travels outward from a newly broken joint and reduces stresses in the surrounding pack. Simulation results are used to characterize the formation of the aggregate structure and to determine how the rate of crack creation and the average area of the aggregate plates depends on tensile strength, the wind stress gradient, and the size of the individual floes. After the formation of the aggregate-scale plate structure, subsequent deformation occurs at the plate boundaries. Since the usual state of the ice pack is a state of failure, an interesting situation is created in which the initial wind-driven deformation creates the material conditions or aggregate structure under which subsequent deformation occurs.
Overcoming limitations in semiconductor alloy design

Abstract The phenomenon of giant band gap ‘bowing’ recently observed in several III–V dilute nitride alloys is promising for increasing the flexibility in choice of semiconductor band gaps available for specified lattice constants. However, the poor electrical transport properties that these materials exhibit seriously limit their usefulness. It is proposed that these materials behave as heavily nitrogen-doped semiconductors rather than dilute nitride alloys and that the abnormal or irregular alloy behavior is associated with impurity band formation that manifests itself in the giant bowing and poor transport properties. The potential for regularizing the alloy behavior using isoelectronic co-doping is discussed.
'SOLUBILIZATION' OF CARCINOGENS WITH NUCLEIC ACID SOLUTIONS. THE INTERACTION OF P-DIMETHYLAMINOAZOBENZENE WITH RIBONUCLEIC ACIDS.

PHENOMENA of ‘solubilization’ of carcinogens in nucleic acid solutions have been previously described1,2. For example, Boyland and Green2 reported that native DNA solubilizes more benz(a)pyrene than heat-denaturated DNA does. A slight bathochromic effect of 10 nm and quenching of the fluorescence were taken, following Steele and Szent-Gyorgyi3, as evidence of a molecular interaction. However, Giovanella, McKinney and Heidelberger4 questioned the interpretation of these findings and claimed that they were entirely due to a phenomenon of stabilization of the colloidal suspension of benz(a)pyrene by the nucleic acids. They concluded that no non-enzymatic interaction between the carcinogenic hydrocarbons and DNA could be proved.
Reducing boundary effects in static EIT imaging

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive technique used to image the electrical conductivity and permittivity within a body from measurements taken on the body's surface. High-quality static images are required for many medical imaging applications. Forming such images usually requires an accurate way to calculate the expected voltages on the surface resulting from the application of known currents to that surface. This is described as the forward problem. This paper introduces a new method to improve static images by using an improved forward solution which estimates a different conductivity value for each applied current pattern. This method, creating an automatically adjusting forward solution, can improve the sensitivity of static images under many EIT imaging applications. It does so by reducing the boundary effects caused by electrodes and any layered structures near them such as skin. The drawback of this method is that circularly symmetric structures of interest may be suppressed or eliminated from the images. The performance of this method is illustrated in a 2D circular phantom with simulation data from both a FEM model and experimental data.
Large Eddy Simulation of Flow and Convective Heat Transfer in a Gas Turbine Can Combustor With Synthetic Inlet Turbulence

Large eddy simulations of swirling flow and the associated convective heat transfer in a gas turbine can combustor under cold flow conditions for Reynolds numbers of 50,000 and 80,000 with characteristic Swirl number of 0.7 are carried out. A precursor Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation is used to provide the inlet boundary conditions to the large-eddy simulation (LES) computational domain, which includes only the can combustor. A stochastic procedure based on the classical view of the turbulence as superposition of the coherent structures is used to simulate the turbulence at the inlet plane of the computational domain using the mean flow velocity and Reynolds stress data from the precursor RANS simulation. To further reduce the overall computational resource requirement and the total computational time, the near wall region is modeled using zonal two layer model. A novel formulation in generalized co-ordinate system is used for solution of effective tangential velocity and temperature in the inner layer virtual mesh. LES predictions are compared with the experimental data of Patil et al. [1] for the local heat transfer distribution on the combustor liner wall obtained using robust infrared thermography technique. The heat transfer coefficient distribution on the liner wall predicted from LES is in good agreement with experimental values. The location and the magnitude of the peak heat transfer are predicted in very close agreement with the experiments.© 2011 ASME
Atom Transfer Radical Copolymerization of Styrene and n-Butyl Acrylate

Styrene and n-butyl acrylate were copolymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization catalyzed by CuBr/4,4‘-di(5-nonyl)-2,2‘-bipyridine. Composition was consistent with a simple terminal model analysis and was independent of [CuBr]0, [I]0, and temperature for copolymerizations with initial feed content of styrene (fst)0 = 0.510. Monomer reactivity ratios evaluated from experimental data by nonlinear least-squares calculations were 0.68 ≤ r1 ≤ 0.82 and 0.22 ≤ r2 ≤ 0.26. 13C NMR spectra of styrene/n-butyl acrylate copolymers were very similar to copolymers prepared through conventional radical polymerizations, indicating that carbon-centered free radicals were generated under these conditions. Conversion/molecular weight plots showed no evidence of transfer, though measured molecular weights were consistently higher than theoretical ones. Semilogarithmic plots of monomer conversion versus time were nonlinear, indicating an irreversible termination reaction whose contribution decreases with decreasing tem...
A Comparison of EAST Shock-Tube Radiation Measurements with a New Air Radiation Model

This paper presents a comparison between the recent EAST shock tube radiation measurements (Grinstead et al., AIAA 2008-1244) and the HARA radiation model. The equilibrium and nonequilibrium radiation measurements are studied for conditions relevant to lunar-return shock-layers; specifically shock velocities ranging from 9 to 11 kilometers per second at initial pressures of 0.1 and 0.3 Torr. The simulated shock-tube flow is assumed one-dimensional and is calculated using the LAURA code, while a detailed nonequilibrium radiation prediction is obtained in an uncoupled manner from the HARA code. The measured and predicted intensities are separated into several spectral ranges to isolate significant spectral features, mainly strong atomic line multiplets. The equations and physical data required for the prediction of these strong atomic lines are reviewed and their uncertainties identified. The 700-1020 nm wavelength range, which accounts for roughly 30% of the radiative flux to a peak-heating lunar return shock-layer, is studied in detail and the measurements and predictions are shown to agree within 15% in equilibrium. The plus or minus 1.5% uncertainty on the measured shock velocity is shown to cause up to a plus or minus 30% difference in the predicted radiation. This band of predictions contains the measured values in almost all cases. For the highly nonequilibrium 0.1 Torr cases, the nonequilibrium radiation peaks are under-predicted by about half. This under-prediction is considered acceptable when compared to the order-of-magnitude over-prediction obtained using a Boltzmann population of electronic states. The reasonable comparison in the nonequilibrium regions provides validation for both the non-Boltzmann modeling in HARA and the thermochemical nonequilibrium modeling in LAURA. The N2 (+)(1-) and N2(2+) molecular band systems are studied in the 290 480 nm wavelength range for both equilibrium and nonequilibrium regimes. The non-Boltzmann rate models for these systems, which have significant uncertainties, are tuned to improve the comparison with measurements.
Recycling of vitamin E in human low density lipoproteins.

Oxidative modification of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and their unrestricted scavenger receptor-dependent uptake is believed to account for cholesterol deposition in macrophage-derived foam cells. It has been suggested that vitamin E that is transported by LDL plays a critical role in protecting against LDL oxidation. We hypothesize that the maintenance of sufficiently high vitamin E concentrations in LDL can be achieved by reducing its chromanoxyl radicals, i.e., by vitamin E recycling. In this study we demonstrate that: i) chromanoxyl radicals of endogenous vitamin E and of exogenously added alpha-tocotrienol, alpha-tocopherol or its synthetic homologue with a 6-carbon side-chain, chromanol-alpha-C6, can be directly generated in human LDL by ultraviolet (UV) light, or by interaction with peroxyl radicals produced either by an enzymic oxidation system (lipoxygenase + linolenic acid) or by an azo-initiator, 2,2'-azo-bis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN; ii) ascorbate can recycle endogenous vitamin E and exogenously added chromanols by direct reduction of chromanoxyl radicals in LDL; iii) dihydrolipoic acid is not efficient in direct reduction of chromanoxyl radicals but recycles vitamin E by synergistically interacting with ascorbate (reduces dehydroascorbate thus maintaining the steady-state concentration of ascorbate); and iv) beta-carotene is not active in vitamin E recycling but may itself be protected against oxidative destruction by the reductants of chromanoxyl radicals. We suggest that the recycling of vitamin E and other phenolic antioxidants by plasma reductants may be an important mechanism for the enhanced antioxidant protection of LDL.
Evaluation of Bridging Stress from R-Curve Behavior for Nontransforming Ceramics

Bridging stresses at the crack interface behind the crack tip are calculated for nontransforming ceramics which show increasing toughness with crack extension (R-curve behavior). With this approach, bridging stresses can be related analytically to the experimental R curve. Sample calculations for SiC-whisker-reinforced Al/sub 2/0/sub 3/ with a bridging-zone length of >0.5 mm, are shown in the present study. The results indicate that the bridging stress has a maximum value within a short distance (<0.01mm) behind the crack tip and then decreases to 0 or levels off to a finite value at the end of the bridging zone depending upon the nature of the R-curve behavior.
Review article: A review of soft computing technology applications in several mining problems

Soft computing (SC) is a field of computer science that resembles the processes of the human brain. While conventional hard computing is run based on crisp values and binary numbers, SC uses soft values and fuzzy sets. In fact, SC technology is capable of address imprecision and uncertainty. The application of SC techniques in the mining industry is fairly extensive and covers a considerable number of applications. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the published work on SC applications in different mining areas. A brief introduction to mining and the general field of SC applications are presented in the first section of the paper. The second section comprises four review chapters. Mining method selection, equipment selection problems and their applications in SC technologies are presented in chapters one and two. Chapter three discusses rock mechanics-related subjects and some of representative SC applications in this field. The last chapter presents rock blasting related SC applications that include blast design and hazards. The final section of the paper comments on the use of SC applications in several mining problems and possible future applications of advanced SC technologies.
Integration of Online Parameter Identification and Neural Network for In-Flight Adaptive Control

An indirect adaptive system has been constructed for robust control of an aircraft with uncertain aerodynamic characteristics. This system consists of a multilayer perceptron pre-trained neural network, online stability and control derivative identification, a dynamic cell structure online learning neural network, and a model following control system based on the stochastic optimal feedforward and feedback technique. The pre-trained neural network and model following control system have been flight-tested, but the online parameter identification and online learning neural network are new additions used for in-flight adaptation of the control system model. A description of the modification and integration of these two stand-alone software packages into the complete system in preparation for initial flight tests is presented. Open-loop results using both simulation and flight data, as well as closed-loop performance of the complete system in a nonlinear, six-degree-of-freedom, flight validated simulation, are analyzed. Results show that this online learning system, in contrast to the nonlearning system, has the ability to adapt to changes in aerodynamic characteristics in a real-time, closed-loop, piloted simulation, resulting in improved flying qualities.
A note on the use of odor manipulation to facilitate the adoption of alien lambs by ewes bearing twins

Abstract Adoption of alien lambs by ewes bearing single natural offspring has been facilitated by the use of artificial odorants such as neatsfoot oil to establish a common odor for own and alien young and by the use of cloth stockinette jackets to exchange natural odors between lambs. The objective of the present study was to determine the extent to which a combination of these odor modification techniques would facilitate the acceptance of an alien lamb by ewes bearing natural twin lambs. Neatsfoot oil and cloth stockinette jackets were placed on the twin lambs of 13 East Friesian×Targhee cross ewes and 13 alien lambs within 12 h of birth. On the day following birth, jackets were exchanged between own and alien lambs and the alien lambs were fostered. Daily 10-min acceptance tests were conducted to determine the incidence of acceptance and rejection behaviors exhibited by the ewes. In 5 days, 11 of 13 ewes (85%) had met the acceptance criteria of no butts or butt attempts directed at the alien lamb and sucking time of 20 s or more by the lamb in each of two successive daily acceptance tests. Four of the 11 ewes (36%) adopted alien lambs immediately. It was concluded that alien lambs can be successfully fostered on East Friesian×Targhee cross ewes with natural twin lambs using a combination of neatsfoot oil to establish a common odor between own and alien lambs and cloth stockinette jackets to exchange natural odors between natural and alien lambs.
Cip/Kip cyclin-dependent protein kinase inhibitors and the road to polyploidy

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play a central role in the orderly transition from one phase of the eukaryotic mitotic cell division cycle to the next. In this context, p27Kip1 (one of the CIP/KIP family of CDK specific inhibitors in mammals) or its functional analogue in other eukarya prevents a premature transition from G1 to S-phase. Recent studies have revealed that expression of a second member of this family, p57Kip2, is induced as trophoblast stem (TS) cells differentiate into trophoblast giant (TG) cells. p57 then inhibits CDK1 activity, an enzyme essential for initiating mitosis, thereby triggering genome endoreduplication (multiple S-phases without an intervening mitosis). Expression of p21Cip1, the third member of this family, is also induced in during differentiation of TS cells into TG cells where it appears to play a role in suppressing the DNA damage response pathway. Given the fact that p21 and p57 are unique to mammals, the question arises as to whether one or both of these proteins are responsible for the induction and maintenance of polyploidy during mammalian development.
Conservation and Management of Polytypic Species: The Little Striped Whiptail Complex (Aspidoscelis inornata) as a Case Study

Subspecies have most often been described qualitatively with small sample sizes as excerpted from geographic continua. They present a long-standing conflict with evolutionary and statistical principles as well as conservation planning that often relies upon a phylogenetic perspective. Herpetological subspecies have been recognized in the literature as exceeding numerical expectations and subsequent reevaluations during the last decade have decreased their numbers ,50%, the exception being whiptail lizards (Aspidoscelis, family Teiidae). Here we used 842 base pairs of mitochondrial (mt) DNA to examine potential taxonomic and conservation boundaries among two putative species and four subspecies of the abundantly polytypic Aspidoscelis inornata (Little Striped Whiptail Complex, LSWC) of southwestern North America. Body coloration, but not mtDNA, distinguished two putative species inhabiting alkali deposits, whereas neither dataset could diagnose three paraphyletic subspecies. A trend to elevate putative subspecies following a more contemporary evaluation is premature for the LSWC: we suggest that two species (arizonae, pai) and three subspecies (gypsi, junipera, llanuras) lack molecular and morphological differentiation and thus should be rescinded in taxonomic rank. These uncertainties concerning the LSWC with regard to its distributions and relationships impinge upon conservation proposals that, for example, seek to list A. arizonae as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act.
Vortex dynamics in a pipe T-junction: Recirculation and sensitivity

In the last few years, many researchers have noted that regions of recirculating flow often exhibit particularly high sensitivity to spatially localized feedback. We explore the flow through a T-shaped pipe bifurcation—a simple and ubiquitous, but generally poorly understood flow configuration—and provide a complex example of the relation between recirculation and sensitivity. When Re ≥ 320, a phenomenon resembling vortex breakdown occurs in four locations in the junction, with internal stagnation points appearing on vortex axes and causing flow reversal. The structure of the recirculation is similar to the traditional bubble-type breakdown. These recirculation regions are highly sensitive to spatially localized feedback in the linearized Navier–Stokes operator. The flow separation at the corners of the “T,” however, does not exhibit this kind of sensitivity. We focus our analysis on the Reynolds number of 560, near the first Hopf bifurcation of the flow.
Adaptation Of The ISCCP Cloud Detection Algorithm To Combined Avhrr And Smmr Arctic Data

The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) cloud detection algorithm is applied to artic data, and modifications are suggested. Both Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data are examined. Synthetic AVHRR and SMMR data are also generated. Modifications suggested include the use of snow and ice data sets for the estimation of surface parameters, additional AVHRR channels, and surface class characteristic values when clear sky values cannot be obtained. Greatest improvement in computed cloud fraction is realized over snow and ice surfaces; over other surfaces all versions perform similarly. Since the use of SMMR for surface analysis increases the computational burden, its use may be justified only over snow and ice-covered regions.
Multi-view registration for feature-poor underwater imagery

This paper reports an algorithm for the registration of images with low overlap and low visual feature density—a typical characteristic of down-looking underwater imagery. Our algorithm exploits locally accurate temporal motion-priors and pairwise image correspondences to aggregate semi-rigid sets of sequential images. These sets are then used to search for visual correspondences across sets instead of between individual pairs of images. By simultaneously searching over multiple views, we increase the physical area seen by more than one image, effectively increasing the “field of view” of the image correspondence search. This increases the probability that the area viewed by both sets will contain enough visual features to register the sets. Our algorithm systematically reduces the uncertainty in the motion prior between the two sets resulting in a refined motion prior that is used to geometrically constrain the correspondence search between sets. This geometric constraint allows us to confidently identify local correspondences that would not be possible globally, further increasing our ability to register images in feature poor environments. We present results using a real-world ship hull inspection data set collected by an autonomous underwater vehicle.
Pruning and visualizing generalized association rules in parallel coordinates

One fundamental problem for visualizing frequent itemsets and association rules is how to present a long border of frequent itemsets in an itemset lattice. Another problem comes from the lack of an effective visual metaphor to represent many-to-many relationships. This work proposes an approach for visualizing frequent itemsets and many-to-many association rules by a novel use of parallel coordinates. An association rule is visualized by connecting items in the rule, one item on each parallel coordinate, with continuous polynomial curves. In the presence of item taxonomy, each coordinate can be used to visualize an item taxonomy tree which can be expanded or shrunk by user interaction. This user interaction introduces a border, which separates displayable itemsets from nondisplayable ones, in the generalized itemset lattice. Only those itemsets that are both frequent and displayable are considered to be displayed. This approach of visualizing frequent itemsets and association rules has the following features: 1) It is capable of visualizing many-to-many rules and itemsets with many items. 2) It is capable of visualizing a large number of itemsets or rules by displaying only those ones whose items are selected by the user. 3) The closure properties of frequent itemsets and association rules are inherently supported such that the implied ones are not displayed. Usefulness of this approach is demonstrated through examples.
Changes in Vitamin D Supplement Use and Baseline Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration Predict 5-y Change in Concentration in Postmenopausal Women

Few studies have prospectively examined predictors of change in plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. We sought to determine the predictors of 5-y change in 25(OH)D. Plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were assessed at baseline (1997-2000) and 5 y later (2002-2005) in 668 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease Study. Baseline and changes in demographic, dietary, lifestyle, and health-related factors were tested as predictors of change in 25(OH)D concentrations by using multivariable linear regression. The mean 5-y change in 25(OH)D (mean ± SD) was 7.7 ± 0.7 nmol/L (P < 0.001). In our predictive model (n = 643), predictors explained 31% of the variance in change in 25(OH)D concentrations and included baseline 25(OH)D, baseline and change in vitamin D supplementation and physical activity, change in season of blood draw, BMI, whole-body T score, and baseline hormone therapy use. Baseline 25(OH)D and change in vitamin D supplementation explained the most variation (25%) in 25(OH)D. Exploratory analyses showed a borderline significant interaction between tertiles of baseline 25(OH)D and change in vitamin D supplementation over time (P = 0.06). The greatest mean increase in 25(OH)D (22.9 ± 16.8 nmol/L), with adjustment for other statistically significant predictors, occurred in women whose baseline 25(OH)D concentration was ≤51.0 nmol/L (tertile 1) and who increased supplementation use over time. These results confirm the importance of supplementation in increasing 25(OH)D concentrations in aging women, even after other statistically significant predictors are controlled for. These data also suggest that this is especially true among aging women with inadequate 25(OH)D (e.g., <50 nmol/L).
Usefulness of flow cytometric immunophenotyping for bone marrow staging in patients with mantle cell lymphoma after therapy.

We evaluated the role of flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) in the assessment of bone marrow (BM) specimens in 104 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) following treatment with aggressive combination chemotherapy. Of the patients, 77 had no morphologic or FCI evidence of MCL, 13 had morphologic and FCI evidence of MCL, and 14 patients were morphologically negative but FCI showed CD5+ clonal B-cells (M–/FCI+). Retrospective cyclin D1 immunostaining was positive in 3 of 12 M–/FCI+ cases. Clinical staging and follow-up showed that 4 of 12 patients had concurrent extramedullary involvement by MCL, 5 patients subsequently became M+ for MCL in BM (within 2-24 months), and 3 patients had no recurrent MCL on follow-up. We conclude that FCI is more sensitive than morphologic examination of BM at the time of restaging in patients with MCL and that positivity by only FCI in BM often correlates with concurrent disease or subsequent relapse.
Mechanobiology of myofibroblast adhesion in fibrotic cardiac disease

Fibrotic cardiac disease, a leading cause of death worldwide, manifests as substantial loss of function following maladaptive tissue remodeling. Fibrosis can affect both the heart valves and the myocardium and is characterized by the activation of fibroblasts and accumulation of extracellular matrix. Valvular interstitial cells and cardiac fibroblasts, the cell types responsible for maintenance of cardiac extracellular matrix, are sensitive to changing mechanical environments, and their ability to sense and respond to mechanical forces determines both normal development and the progression of disease. Recent studies have uncovered specific adhesion proteins and mechano-sensitive signaling pathways that contribute to the progression of fibrosis. Integrins form adhesions with the extracellular matrix, and respond to changes in substrate stiffness and extracellular matrix composition. Cadherins mechanically link neighboring cells and are likely to contribute to fibrotic disease propagation. Finally, transition to the active myofibroblast phenotype leads to maladaptive tissue remodeling and enhanced mechanotransductive signaling, forming a positive feedback loop that contributes to heart failure. This Commentary summarizes recent findings on the role of mechanotransduction through integrins and cadherins to perpetuate mechanically induced differentiation and fibrosis in the context of cardiac disease.
Evaluation of the Effects of Corrosion on Fatigue Life of Clad Aluminum Alloy 2024-T3-Riveted Lap Joints with Acoustic Emission Monitoring

Corrosion affects the fatigue life of clad aluminum alloy-riveted lap joints, such as those found on an aircraft fuselage structure. Single-, double-, and triple-column-riveted lap joint specimens were fabricated and corroded in a Q-Fog accelerated corrosion chamber for five months using an ASTM G85-A5 prohesion test. Specimens were taken out of the chamber every 4 weeks, and the corrosion products which had been deposited on them were removed by immersion in concentrated nitric acid. For each corroded specimen, the mass loss with corresponding corrosion rate was determined. The specimens were fatigue loaded to failure on an MTS Universal Testing Machine with acoustic emission monitoring. Results indicate that exposure of lap joint specimens to this corrosive environment increased corrosion (mass loss), corrosion rate, and significantly reduced fatigue life. For a prolonged exposure in the corrosive environment, the fatigue life was reduced to zero, which has significant implication for aging aircraft. Acoustic emission monitoring successfully detected fatigue failure. Two failure modes, multisite crack damage and shear of the rivets, were observed.
Spontaneous Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissections: Case Report and Literature Review

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) has been increasingly identified as a cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. We report the clinical and radiographie findings in a case of spontaneous bilateral VADs and review the literature on the causes, pathophysiology, diagnostic considerations, and treatment options for VAD. A 29-year-old man was admitted to our hospital after sudden onset of headache and nuchal rigidity that progressed to a posterior lateral medullary syndrome in a 2-week period. The diagnosis of bilateral VADs was based on findings on cranial magnetic resonance imaging and conventional angiography. The patient was given anticoagulant therapy and had no further neurologic deterioration. The differentia] diagnosis of craniocervical pain in young patients should include arterial dissection of the neck because early diagnosis and treatment may reduce the chances of long-term neurologic sequelae.
Capacitance-plethysmograph method for separating blood flow in muscle and skin in the human forearm

Abstract We offer a method to separate blood flow in skin from that in muscle, using an electro-capacitance plethysmograph for measurements of flow and a pneumatic counterpressurization cuff underlying the electro-capacitance screen. By inflating the pneumatic system to carefully controlled pressures, it is possible to obliterate the flow of blood in the skin without modifying that in muscle. The argument was validated by experiments in which such counterpressurization was shown to have little or no influence on the clearance of locally injected isotope from muscle underlying the counterpressurization cuff, whereas it did diminish to less than one third the clearance of intradermally injected isotope. When blood flow in skin alone was augmented by means of reflex heating, plethysmographic measurements showed an increase in total blood flow but no modification in the blood flow with counterpressurization. Increased local muscle blood flow by exercise of a small group of forearm muscles produced equal increases in both total flow and flow measured after the application of the counterpressure. The relationship of these findings to earlier measurements of blood flow in the human forearm under conditions of increased local counterpressure is discussed. There is no contradiction between our findings and those previously reported. We propose that this new technique offers a significant improvement over the currently available techniques for the separation of blood flow in muscle from that in skin in the human forearm.
Nanoparticle Characteristic Interaction Effects on Pulmonary Toxicity: A Random Forest Modeling Framework to Compare Risks of Nanomaterial Variants

Due to their unique physicochemical properties, nanomaterials have the potential to interact with living organisms in novel ways. Nanomaterial variants are too numerous to be screened for toxicity individually by traditional animal testing. Existing data on the toxicity of inhaled nanomaterials in animal models are sparse in comparison to the number of potential factors that may affect toxicity. This paper presents meta-analysis-based risk models developed with the machine-learning technique, random forests (RFs), to determine the relative contribution of different physical and chemical attributes on observed toxicity. The findings from this analysis indicate that carbon nanotube (CNT) impurities explain at most 30% of the variance in pulmonary toxicity as measured by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) count. Titanium dioxide nanoparticle size and aggregation affected the observed toxic response by less than 10%. Differences in observed effects for a group of metal oxide nanoparticles associated with di...
The Nexus of Dependency and Delinquency: Requesting Dependency Lawyers to Handle Delinquency Cases

Child advocates who specialize in dependency cases should consider handling delinquency cases because of the strong connection between the two areas of law. Too often crucial information affecting the client may not surface because children in delinquency cases are underrepresented. Accordingly, dependency lawyers could bring much needed assistance to an area where child clients are often neglected. It is therefore important to educate advocates on the similarities along with the benefits of handling such cases because these lawyers are best situated to competently represent these children. Thus, based on an understanding of the connection between dependency and delinquency the quality of representation a child receives in juvenile court could greatly improve if attorneys willingly enrolled in handling both dependency and delinquency matters.
Nuclear Structure and the rp-Process in X-Ray Bursts

Nuclear Astrophysics is concerned with the study of nuclear processes at stellar temperature and density conditions and its influence on nucleosynthesis and energy generation in stars and stellar explosions. Detailed understanding of nuclear processes and improved observational data allow a highly sophisticated analysis of the hydrodynamic conditions in static and dynamic stellar processes. In my talk I will concentrate on one particular nucleosynthesis scenario, the explosive hydrogen burning which is associated with accretion processes on the surface of a neutron star. These events have been observed over the last ten years as X-ray bursts. The nuclear processes driving the explosion are characterized by a sequence of fast proton capture reactions and subsequent s-decays near the proton drip line up to Z≈50. I will show how the nuclear structure characteristics along the process path determines the ignition and the timescale of the explosion and how it influences the luminosity curve of the burst and the subsequent abundance distribution in the crust of the neutron star. I summarize the present need for reaction and structure data for neutron deficient isotopes necessary for a better interpretation of the characteristics of X-ray bursts.
Further applications of the Container Method

Recently, Balogh–Morris–Samotij and Saxton–Thomason proved that hypergraphs satisfying some natural conditions have only few independent sets. Their main results already have several applications. However, the methods of proving these theorems are even more far reaching. The general idea is to describe some family of events, whose cardinality a priori could be large, only with a few certificates. Here, we show some applications of the methods, including counting C4-free graphs, considering the size of a maximum C4-free subgraph of a random graph and counting metric spaces with a given number of points. Additionally, we discuss some connections with the Szemeredi Regularity Lemma.
The sources of secessionist war: the interaction of local control and foreign forces in post-Soviet Georgia

ABSTRACTNationalism is one of the most powerful forces in the modern world – but why some ethno-national groups mobilize for conflict, while others remain quiescent, remains subject to significant disagreement. This paper argues that domestic politics create the incentives for secession, and international forces make conflict feasible against a sometimes stronger military adversary – the state. The proposed theory unpacks this interaction of domestic and international factors, and posits that when regional elites possess local control in an area that is contiguous with a potential sponsor, external support is more feasible and more apt to lead to mobilization and conflict. When regional elites lack local control, external sponsors will be wary of supporting a potentially lost cause and regional elites will exhibit more restraint, reducing the chances of conflict – external support therefore often flows from strong states to strong regions in weaker states. It is instrumental and variable, rather than affe...