cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The broad scope of enactivism

Villalobos and Razeto-Barry suggest that extended enactivist interpretations of the autopoietic theory do not adequately address the bodily dimensions of living beings. In reply, we suggest that th...
Body and Mind in the Guodian Manuscripts

This paper considers the relation between body and mind as described in the Guodian corpus, especially the Xing zi ming chu 性自命出, with particular interest in problems of mind-body dualism and holism. It argues that the Xing zi ming chu presents a weak mind-body dualism, in contrast to such texts as Wuxing 五行 and Ziyi 緇衣.
Endothelial PAI-1 (Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1) Blocks the Intrinsic Pathway of Coagulation, Inducing the Clearance and Degradation of FXIa (Activated Factor XI)

Objective- Activation of coagulation FXI (factor XI) by FXIIa (activated factor XII) is a prothrombotic process. The endothelium is known to play an antithrombotic role by limiting thrombin generation and platelet activation. It is unknown whether the antithrombotic role of the endothelium includes sequestration of FXIa (activated factor XI) activity. This study aims to determine the role of endothelial cells (ECs) in the regulation of the intrinsic pathway of coagulation. Approach and Results- Using a chromogenic assay, we observed that human umbilical veins ECs selectively blocked FXIa yet supported kallikrein and FXIIa activity. Western blotting and mass spectrometry analyses revealed that FXIa formed a complex with endothelial PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1). Blocking endothelial PAI-1 increased the cleavage of a chromogenic substrate by FXIa and the capacity of FXIa to promote fibrin formation in plasma. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses showed that FXIa-PAI-1 complexes were either released into the media or trafficked to the early and late endosomes and lysosomes of ECs. When baboons were challenged with Staphylococcus aureus to induce a prothrombotic phenotype, an increase in circulating FXIa-PAI-1 complex levels was detected by ELISA within 2 to 8 hours postchallenge. Conclusions- PAI-1 forms a complex with FXIa on ECs, blocking its activity and inducing the clearance and degradation of FXIa. Circulating FXIa-PAI-1 complexes were detected in a baboon model of S. aureus sepsis. Although ECs support kallikrein and FXIIa activity, inhibition of FXIa by ECs may promote the clearance of intravascular FXIa. Visual Overview- An online visual overview is available for this article.
Anti-Drone and Anti-Autonomy: Achieving Drone Control via System Logic Analysis

Drones (more formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles or unmanned aerial systems) are poised to provide benefits in numerous areas of society. Their application areas range from package delivery to military surveillance to scientific data collection. However, drone presence and activities are, in some cases, undesirable. Whether launched by a prankster, criminal, terrorist organization or state actor – or perhaps just an average citizen who has lost control of the craft – there is a need to prevent drone operations. This paper proposes a method that does not require physical interaction with the drone or the ability to compromise its ground control station or its onboard security or other software. Instead, the proposed method focuses on the identification of the logical processes that are used for decision making, their decomposition into rules (including rules that must be represented using partial membership and fuzzy logic) and the mapping of the rules into an expert system-style network. From this network, a solver algorithm can be utilized to identify solutions that modify external inputs (electronic data and sensed information) to produce a desired response from the UAV's autonomous command system. These responses could include departure from a restricted area, positioning for in-air capture or targeting, landing or a targeted crash. This paper presents the proposed system, the logic-to-rule decomposition process and a solver mechanism for the rule-based system. In also discusses the implementation of the system and its testing, before concluding with a discussion of its efficacy for various applications and pathways for future work.
Improvements in frailty contribute to substantial improvements in quality of life after lung transplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis

Background While lung transplantation (LTx) improves health-related quality of life (HRQL) in cystic fibrosis (CF), the determinants of this improvement are unknown. In other populations, frailty-a syndrome of vulnerability to physiologic stressors-is associated with disability and poor HRQL. We hypothesized that improvements in frailty would be associated with improved disability and HRQL in adults with CF undergoing LTx. Methods In a single-center prospective cohort study from 2010 to 2017, assessments of frailty, disability, and HRQL were performed before and at 3- and 6-months after LTx. We assessed frailty by the short physical performance battery (SPPB). We assessed disability with the Lung Transplant Valued Life Activities scale (LT-VLA) and HRQL by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Physical and Mental Component Summary scales (SF12-PCS, -MCS), the Airway Questionnaire 20-Revised (AQ20R), and the Euroqol 5D (EQ5D). We tested the association of concurrent changes in frailty and lung function on disability and HRQL by linear mixed-effects models adjusted for sex and body mass index. Results Among 23 participants with CF, improvements in frailty and lung function were independently associated with improved disability and some HRQL measures. For example, each 1-point improvement in SPPB or 200 mL improvement in FEV1 was associated with improved LT-VLA disability by 0.14 (95%CI: 0.08-0.20) and 0.07 (95%CI: 0.05-0.09) points and improved EQ5D by 0.05 (95%CI: 0.03 to 0.07) and 0.02 (95%CI: 0.01-0.03) points, respectively. Conclusion Improvement in frailty is a novel determinant of improved disability and HRQL in adults with CF undergoing LTx.
Biological control of Aedes mosquito larvae with carnivorous aquatic plant, Utricularia macrorhiza

Biological controls with predators of larval mosquito vectors have historically focused almost exclusively on insectivorous animals, with few studies examining predatory plants as potential larvacidal agents. In this study, we experimentally evaluate a generalist plant predator of North America, Utricularia macrorhiza, the common bladderwort, and evaluate its larvacidal efficiency for the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in no-choice, laboratory experiments. We sought to determine first, whether U. macrorhiza is a competent predator of container-breeding mosquitoes, and secondly, its predation efficiency for early and late instar larvae of each mosquito species. Newly hatched, first-instar Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti larvae were separately exposed in cohorts of 10 to field-collected U. macrorhiza cuttings. Data on development time and larval survival were collected on a daily basis to ascertain the effectiveness of U. macrorhiza as a larval predator. Survival models were used to assess differences in larval survival between cohorts that were exposed to U. macrorhiza and those that were not. A permutation analysis was used to investigate whether storing U. macrorhiza in laboratory conditions for extended periods of time (1 month vs 6 months) affected its predation efficiency. Our results indicated a 100% and 95% reduction of survival of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus larvae, respectively, in the presence of U. macrorhiza relative to controls within five days, with peak larvacidal efficiency in plant cuttings from ponds collected in August. Utricularia macrorhiza cuttings, which were prey-deprived, and maintained in laboratory conditions for 6 months were more effective larval predators than cuttings, which were maintained prey-free for 1 month. Due to the combination of high predation efficiency and the unique biological feature of facultative predation, we suggest that U. macrorhiza warrants further development as a method for larval mosquito control.
Robust antigen-specific CD8 T cell tolerance to a model prostate cancer neoantigen

Immunotherapy has shown limited success in prostate cancer; this may be partially explained by its immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Although androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), the m...
Effects of stimulus and task structure on temporal perceptual learning

Our ability to discriminate temporal intervals can be improved with practice. This learning is generally thought to reflect an enhancement in the representation of a trained interval, which leads to interval-specific improvements in temporal discrimination. In the present study, we asked whether temporal learning is further constrained by context-specific factors dictated through the trained stimulus and task structure. Two groups of participants were trained using a single-interval auditory discrimination task over 5 days. Training intervals were either one of eight predetermined values (FI group), or random from trial to trial (RI group). Before and after the training period, we measured discrimination performance using an untrained two-interval temporal comparison task. Our results revealed a selective improvement in the FI group, but not the RI group. However, this learning did not generalize between the trained and untrained tasks. These results highlight the sensitivity of TPL to stimulus and task structure, suggesting that mechanisms of temporal learning rely on processes beyond changes in interval representation.
Comparing the incidence of postoperative pain after root canal filling with warm vertical obturation with resin-based sealer and sealer-based obturation with calcium silicate-based sealer: a prospective clinical trial

This prospective clinical study compares postoperative pain after single-visit, non-surgical root canal treatment of teeth with irreversible pulpitis using two different root canal filling techniques. All cases were treated by endodontic residents with a standardized protocol (minimum apical size 35) and filled with one of the two techniques: warm vertical compaction technique (WVT) with gutta percha and epoxy resin-based sealer (AH Plus Jet Root Canal Sealer, Dentsply Maillefer, York, PA, USA) or sealer-based filling technique (SBT) with single cone gutta percha and calcium silicate-based sealer (EndoSequence BC Sealer, Brasseler, Savannah, GA, USA). Surveys were given to participating patients to record pain intensity on a numeric rating scale (NRS, 0–10) at 4, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. Statistical significance was set at 0.05 level. One hundred ninety-four surveys were distributed over eighteen months. Ninety-two patients returned the survey (41 WVT and 51 SBT), of which 38% were asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis cases. The NRS values reduced over time for both techniques. No statistical difference was found between the two groups at the three time points assessed (p > 0.05). Postoperative pain was related to age, gender, presence of preoperative pain, and sealer extrusion (p 0.05). The intensity of postoperative pain for the two obturation techniques was equivalent at evaluated time points. The obturation technique does not influence postoperative pain. After endodontic treatment of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis teeth, the pain subsides in 48 h regardless of the technique. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04462731
Genetic testing for unexplained perinatal disorders

Purpose of review Perinatal disorders include stillbirth, congenital structural anomalies, and critical illnesses in neonates. The cause of these is often unknown despite a thorough clinical workup. Genetic diseases cause a significant portion of perinatal disorders. The purpose of this review is to describe recent advances in genetic testing of perinatal disorders of unknown cause and to provide a potential diagnostic strategy. Recent findings Exome and genome sequencing (ES and GS) have demonstrated that significant portions of perinatal disorders are caused by genetic disease. However, estimates of the exact proportion have varied widely across fetal and neonatal cohorts and most of the genetic diagnoses found in recent studies have been unique to individual cases. Having a specific genetic diagnosis provides significant clinical utility, including improved prognostication of the outcome, tailored therapy, directed testing for associated syndromic manifestations, referral to appropriate subspecialists, family planning, and redirection of care. Summary Perinatal disorders of unknown cause, with nonspecific presentations, are often caused by genetic diseases best diagnosed by ES or GS. Prompt diagnosis facilitates improved clinical care. Improvements in noninvasive sampling, variant interpretation, and population-level research will further enhance the clinical utility of genetic testing. Video abstract http://links.lww.com/MOP/A61.
All-Atom MD Simulations of the HBV Capsid Complexed with AT130 Reveal Secondary and Tertiary Structural Changes and Mechanisms of Allostery

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid is an attractive drug target, relevant to combating viral hepatitis as a major public health concern. Among small molecules known to interfere with capsid assembly, the phenylpropenamides, including AT130, represent an important antiviral paradigm based on disrupting the timing of genome packaging. Here, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of an intact AT130-bound HBV capsid reveal that the compound increases spike flexibility and improves recovery of helical secondary structure in the spike tips. Regions of the capsid-incorporated dimer that undergo correlated motion correspond to established sub-domains that pivot around the central chassis. AT130 alters patterns of correlated motion and other essential dynamics. A new conformational state of the dimer is identified, which can lead to dramatic opening of the intradimer interface and disruption of communication within the spike tip. A novel salt bridge is also discovered, which can mediate contact between the spike tip and fulcrum even in closed conformations, revealing a mechanism of direct communication across these sub-domains. Altogether, results describe a dynamical connection between the intra- and interdimer interfaces and enable mapping of allostery traversing the entire core protein dimer.
A comparison of methods of discontinuing nasal CPAP in premature infants <30 weeks gestation: a feasibility study

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether abrupt discontinuation vs gradual wean of nasal CPAP (NCPAP) in infants <30 weeks gestation results in a decreased duration of NCPAP therapy. STUDY DESIGN We performed a single-center, randomized control trial of premature infants born <30 weeks gestation (n = 66), comparing discontinuation of NCPAP from 6 cmH2O (CWP) (fast wean arm) to discontinuation at 4 CWP, weaning by 1 CWP per day (slow wean arm). The primary outcome was the total number of days on NCPAP or mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes included wean failure, growth, length of stay, and related comorbidities. RESULTS Duration of NCPAP or mechanical ventilation was longer in the slow wean arm compared to the fast wean arm (17 vs 12 days, p = 0.03). There were no differences observed in secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION In weaning NCPAP, abrupt discontinuation may be associated with a shorter duration of positive pressure respiratory support compared to a gradual weaning strategy.
Novel Lipid-Lowering Agents

Lipid-lowering drugs are the second most commonly prescribed medication class in the USA with statins being the most commonly prescribed agent within this class. The widespread use of statins owes to overwhelming evidence of benefit and safety as well as awareness campaigns directed at both the physicians and consumers.
Invariant Imbedding and Optimal Control

The concept of optimizing the performance, yield or profits of an electrical, mechanical, chemical, social or economic system is of prime importance at the present time. Optimization of electrical, mechanical and chemical systems has reached a level which will probably never be attained in social and economic systems. The reason for this is obvious; electrical, mechanical and chemical systems behave in a well-defined manner whereas social and economic systems are man-influenced and cannot be defined precisely. Social and economic systems can be optimized in a gross sense, that is by considering large groups on a statistical basis. Unfortunately, there has been only a limited effort made to adopt the ideas of optimization to a social or economic system.
RAINFALL EFFECT ON SHEET FLOW OVER SMOOTH SURFACE

The variation of friction factor for different flows and rainfall conditions is established by statistical analysis. Boundary shear stress was directly measured by hot-film anemometry. The friction factor is found to be a function of both the flow Reynolds number, R , and the rainfall intensity, I , for a flow Reynolds number of less than 900. For a flow Reynolds number greater than 2,000, the friction factor is only a function of Reynolds number. A numerical model and a simplified procedure to predict the water surface profiles and boundary shear stresses for sheet flow with rainfall are presented. The computations of flow depths and boundary shear stresses are not too sensitive to the effect of uncertainties in selecting friction factor.
Failure-atomic updates of application data in a linux file system

We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of a file system mechanism that protects the integrity of application data from failures such as process crashes, kernel panics, and power outages. A simple interface offers applications a guarantee that the application data in a file always reflects the most recent successful fsync or msync operation on the file. Our file system furthermore offers a new syncv mechanism that failure-atomically commits changes to multiple files. Failure-injection tests verify that our file system protects the integrity of application data from crashes and performance measurements confirm that our implementation is efficient. Our file system runs on conventional hardware and unmodified Linux kernels and will be released commercially. We believe that our mechanism is implementable in any file system that supports per-file writable snapshots.
Blasphemy and Violence

Why did riots in response to the 2005 Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad occur in nine Muslim states but not in 43 other states in which Muslims form a majority of the population? I show that the location of the cartoon riots is best explained by combining insights from the study of politics with arguments from the sociology of religion. Protests were mobilized by radical Islamist movements alarmed by the moral threat posed by the blasphemous cartoons. In states characterized by political rights and civil liberties, regimes responded haphazardly to the demonstrations, leading to confrontations between security forces and angry rioters. This finding can be generalized beyond the Muslim world: We should expect reactive religious violence wherever fundamentalist movements are confronted by transgressive acts, committed by threatening opponents, in a political environment that permits protest but fails to protect the religious principles of the movement.
Automatic registration and fusion of high resolution micro-CT and lung perfusion SPECT images of the rat

Small animal imaging can provide high-throughput phenotypic data for functional genomic studies and better mechanistic understanding of disease. Fusion of anatomical and functional images will aid interpretation of functional images having relatively little anatomical detail. In this study, we are investigating automatic registration and fusion visualization methods for micro-CT and SPECT images of rat lung. The immediate application is studies of pulmonary perfusion in a healthy rat and one with an occluded left pulmonary artery. Registration experiments were performed on images acquired from rats and a phantom. Fusion visualization showed excellent registration results. Quantitative measures such as distances and perimeters from phantom results show that the registration is quite accurate.
Prospective and retrospective timing by pigeons

Pigeons discriminated between two pairs of durations: a short set (2.5 and 5 sec) and a long set (5 and 10 sec). The pairs were intermixed within sessions and identified by the colors on the signal and choice keys. Once the task was learned, the pigeons experienced the following three conditions seriatim: (1) The signal key was made ambiguous about the test change, but the choice keys were informative (retrospective); (2) the signal key identified the test range, but the choice keys did not (prospective); (3) probe trials were introduced in which the color of the center key signaled one test range, but the color of the choice keys signaled the other test range (inconsistent). Accuracy of choice decreased in the retrospective condition and, returned to baseline levels, was higher under the prospective condition than under the retrospective condition. In a final condition, referred to as conflict trials, the center-key color signified one test range and the choice-key colors the other range. The results from these conflict-inconsistent tests indicate that choice behavior was largely controlled by the signal-key color and not by the choice-key color. We relate these findings to different approaches to timing in animals.
Efficient state transfer in an ultracold dense gas of heteronuclear molecules

A rich internal structure and long-range interactions between them make molecules with non-vanishing dipole moments interesting for many applications. An experiment demonstrating the efficient transfer of loosely bound heteronuclear molecules into more deeply bound energy levels indicates a route towards producing dense ensembles of cold polar molecules.
Treaties As a Source of General Rules of International Law

Attempts a theoretical explanation of the power of treaties to extend their rules to nations not parties to them – to rationalize, in a nonpejorative use of that term, the Court's citation of the Bancroft treaties in Nottebohm and its use of treaty provisions in other cases – and to provide a basis for the continued use of the contents of treaties in assessing the requirements of international law. Thus this paper is basically argumentative – it attempts to state what the law ought to be by demonstrating that the law as it is logically compels the adoption of the present thesis.
Targeting malaria with polyamines

During the asexual cycle of Plasmodium falciparum within the host erythrocyte, the parasite induces a stage-dependent elevation in the levels of polyamines by increased metabolism and uptake of extracellular pools. Polyamine amides of N-methylanthranilic acid have been synthesized which have embedded within them putrescine, spermidine, or spermine and from a charge perspective mimic natural polyamines. The interaction of these polyamine conjugates with human erythrocytes infected with malaria is described using fluorescent microscopy. The fluorescent spermine mimic was the only probe to show measurable intracellular accumulation. This was observed in late stage development but not in the ring stages or in uninfected erythrocytes.
Neurons: Secretory Activity during Limb Regeneration and Induction in the Newt

Material staining with aldehyde fuchsin appeared in sensory ganglion cells supplying a regenerating limb or nerve-induced blastema and in regenerating nerve fibers within the blastema. With the electron microscope, large (1000 to 2500 angstroms), dense granules were observed in the perikarya and within end bulbs of peripheral nerves. Secretory materials may be elaborated and transported by neurons during limb regeneration and induction in the newt.
Double balloon endoscopy for pancreatic and biliary access in altered anatomy (with videos).

Background Access to the papilla of Vater or enteral anastomoses to the biliary tract or pancreatic duct is difficult in patients with altered anatomy. The usual approach to the papilla of Vater with a side-viewing duodenoscope, designed for passage through the stomach, pyloric channel, and proximal duodenum, is not suitable in postoperative patients with challenging anatomic rearrangements. There is therefore a need for better instrumentation to achieve access in patients with difficult anatomy. Objective To assess the potential of the new double balloon endoscope system for use in difficult postsurgical anatomic configurations. This system has now been utilized in several of these types of anatomic rearrangements with successful access to the papilla of Vater and hepatico-jejunal, choledocho-jejunal, or pancreatico-jejunal anastomoses. The technique of advancing the system and achieving cannulation is described. The accessories necessary and therapeutic potential are addressed. Interventions Diagnostic and therapeutic management of pancreatic and biliary disorders in altered anatomy. Conclusion Double balloon enteroscopy has provided a means to access the stomach, duodenum, biliary tract, and pancreatic duct after surgical procedures that have made access by the usual routes with the usual instruments not possible.
A Comparison of Video Cattle Auction and Regional Market Prices

The number of cattle sold through video auctions has increased substantially during the past five years. The nation's largest video cattle auction offered over 450,000 cattle for sale in 1988. This study compares price differences between the nation's largest satellite video cattle auction and three large regional auctions. Prices for both the regional and video auctions were adjusted for quality differences, transportation costs, commissions, and days to delivery. Net prices paid by buyers and received by sellers in video auctions exceeded the prices for three major regional auction markets.
A note on a sufficient-decrease criterion for a non-derivative step-length procedure

A step-length algorithm is an essential part of many descent methods for unconstrained and constrained optimization. In this note we present a criterion that defines an acceptable step length when only function values are available at trial step lengths.
Nucleosome Contact Triggers Conformational Changes of Rpd3S Driving High-Affinity H3K36me Nucleosome Engagement

Summary The Rpd3S histone deacetylase complex utilizes two subunits, Eaf3 and Rco1, to recognize nucleosomes methylated at H3K36 (H3K36me) with high affinity and strong specificity. However, the chromobarrel domain of Eaf3 (CHD) that is responsible for H3K36me recognition only binds weakly and with little specificity to histone peptides. Here, using deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (DXMS), we detected conformational changes of Rpd3S upon its contact with chromatin. Interestingly, we found that the Sin3-interacting domain of Rco1 (SID) allosterically stimulates preferential binding of Eaf3 to H3K36-methylated peptides. This activation is tightly regulated by an autoinhibitory mechanism to ensure optimal multivalent engagement of Rpd3S with nucleosomes. Lastly, we identified mutations at the interface between SID and Eaf3 that do not disrupt complex integrity but severely compromise Rpd3S functions in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that the nucleosome-induced conformational changes are essential for chromatin recognition.
Dominant lethal mutations and antifertility effects of di-2-ethylhexyl adipate and diethyl adipate in male mice

Abstract Some adipates have been shown to produce teratogenic effects in the rat fetus. To ascertain whether or not these plasticizers might also affect postmeiotic and/or premeiotic germ cells, diethyl and di-2-ethylhexyl adipates were studied in ICR mice to evaluate their effects on fertility and dominant lethal mutations. A single ip dose was given to the males, which were then mated with 2 virgin females/week for 8 wk. Both adipates produced dose-dependent antifertility and mutagenic effects, as indicated by reduced percentage of pregnancies and increased numbers of early fetal deaths, respectively. The highest dose of di-2-ethylhexyl adipate and the two higher doses of diethyl adipate produced a distinct reduction in incidence of pregnancies, especially during the first 3 or 4 wk; this effect was less evident with the lower doses. There was a reduction in the number of implantations and live fetuses/pregnancy for one or more dose levels of both adipates. Mutational effects, expressed by an increase in early fetal deaths/pregnancy, occurred mainly during the postmeiotic stage of spermatogenesis in mice for both adipates. Adverse effects upon the premeiotic stage were also observed with di-2-ethylhexyl adipate. Thus, early fetal deaths and semisterility constitute some of the genetic and reproductive effects elicited from ip administration of the adipates to male mice subsequently mated to untreated females.
ELECTRON-INDUCED CASCADE SHOWERS IN WATER AND ALUMINUM.

In the present experiment, the three-dimensional distribution of energy deposition was measured for 1-GeV electron-induced showers in water and aluminum. For the water target, two different detectors were employed: CsI(Tl) and anthracene. The measured longitudinal distribution of energy in water was found to be essentially independent of the detector employed in the measurement, while the radial distribution of energy deposition shows a strong detector dependence. Data were measured for the aluminum target with a Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$(Eu) detector. All of these data support the description that the primary energy-deposition mechanism at the initiation of the shower is ionization of the target material, and that the principle energy-transport mechanism after shower maximum is the propagation of minimum-attenuation $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays. The radial distributions of energy deposition show that the apparent dependence on the atomic number of the target observed in an earlier experiment was in part a detector-dependent result. The radial distributions nevertheless show significant differences from the prediction based on the Monte Carlo calculations of Nagel.
Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of A Full Vehicle With High Performance Computing

Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) of a full vehicle under the constraints of crashworthiness, NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), durability, and other performance attributes is one of the imperative goals for automotive industry. However, it is often infeasible due to the lack of computational resources, robust simulation capabilities, and efficient optimization methodologies. This research intends to move closer towards that goal by solving the MDO problem combining hardware and software solutions and the advanced MDO methodologies. The MDO problem includes safety and NVH attributes. The safety attribute considers multiple crash modes: roof crush, full frontal impact, and 50% frontal offset crash. The NVH attribute considers static bending/torsion and normal analysis. It has been demonstrated that with high performance computing, a conventionally intractable real world full vehicle multidisciplinary optimization problem considering all performance attributes with a large number of design variables become feasible.
Multiple-aperture three-dimensional image construction utilizing fringe-modulated speckle patterns

A technique is described for recording and reconstructing two- and three-dimensional color images utilizing a fringe-modulated speckle pattern. A multiple-aperture imaging system generates the modulated speckles and produces an image plane hologram in which the various complex waveforms, passing through the individual apertures, operate simultaneously as object and reference beams. This holographic recording system is considerably less sensitive to external vibration than conventional off-axis holography and requires much less stringent temporal- and spatial-coherence specifications for its light source.
Future Developments In Artificial Insemination Technology

Abstract The development of artificial insemination (AI) technology over the past decade has resulted in some significant advances in poultry breeding. However, because there are few poultry scientists performing fundamental research to advance AI technology, alternative approaches must be examined in an effort to expand AI technology. This paper suggests that the technology available for cell and tissue culture propagation should be evaluated and the applicability of this technology to poultry AI technology assessed. Instrumentation and clinical testing procedures used for the evaluation of somatic cells in culture could provide objective data before and after semen storage on large numbers of males in a short period of time. Furthermore, cell culture media and supplements already commercially available may be useful in the storage of semen for 24 hr or longer.
Manipulating protein conformations by single-molecule AFM-FRET nanoscopy.

Combining atomic force microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer spectroscopy (AFM-FRET), we have developed a single-molecule AFM-FRET nanoscopy approach capable of effectively pinpoint...
When microbial conversations get physical

It is widely accepted that microorganisms are social beings. Whereas communication via chemical signals (e.g. quorum sensing) has been the focus of most investigations, the use of physical signals for microbial cell–cell communication has received only limited attention. In this Opinion article, I postulate that physical modes of microbial communication could be widespread in nature. This is based on experimental evidence on the microbial emission and response to three physical signals: sound waves, electromagnetic radiation and electric currents. These signals propagate rapidly, and even at very low intensities, they provide useful mechanisms when a rapid response is required. I also make some suggestions for promising future research avenues that could provide novel and unsuspected insights into the physical nature of microbial signaling networks.
Recycling of cosmogenic nuclides after their removal from the atmosphere; special case of appreciable transport of 10Be to polar regions by aeolian dust

Abstract In this paper we discuss the general problem of recirculation of atmospheric cosmogenic isotopes after their initial removal from the atmosphere. Practically all nuclides are recycled after their removal from the atmosphere. The noble gas radio-nuclides re-circulate between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere; the fraction of time spent in these reservoirs depends on their solubility and half-lives. Radiocarbon atoms spend most of their life-time in the oceans before being removed to the sediments. All cosmogenic nuclides which are removed from the atmosphere by wet precipitations spend most of their life-time in the hydrosphere or in sediments. A special exception arises in the case of nuclides such as 10 Be and 26 Al, which are particle-active and adhere to aerosols and top soils in the lithosphere. Strong winds dislodge surface particles and transport the smaller particles to great distances. We discuss the special case of the transport of particle reactive 10 Be via aeolian dust, which can result in appreciable 10 Be fluxes in polar regions in cold climates, vis-a-vis its direct deposition from the atmosphere. We compare estimated concentrations of dust transported 10 Be with the measured total 10 Be concentrations in Antarctica in the Vostok and Taylor Dome ice cores, and atmospheric 10 Be concentrations in Greenland in the GISP and GRIP ice cores. During certain epochs, high aeolian dust concentrations contribute significantly to 10 Be fluxes in Greenland, comparable to or greater than atmospheric 10 Be fluxes. In the Antarctica, however, even during epochs of high dust fluxes, the aeolian 10 Be contributions are 10 Be fluxes. These results imply that great care should be taken in analyzing 10 Be concentrations in Greenland especially!
Effect of 4-chlorobiphenyl on substrate transport and phospholipid metabolism in mouse L5178Y lymphoma cells.

Abstract The toxicity of 4-chlorobiphenyl, a constituent of Aroclor 1221, was studied in mouse L5178Y cells, in vitro. 4-Chlorobiphenyl had a varied effect on the uptake of small precursor molecules. Uptake of [3H] l -leucine, [3H] l -serine, [3H]uridine and [3H]thymidine was inhibited, while that of [3H]inositol was stimulated. There was no significant effect on either [14C]ethanolamine or [14C]choline uptake. However 4-chlorobiphenyl significantly inhibited incorporation of [14C]ethanolamine into phosphatidylethanolamine and caused a 2- to 3-fold stimulation in the incorporation of [14C]choline into phosphatidylcholine. This effect on phosphatidylcholine metabolism depended on the adsorption and continued presence of 4-chlorobiphenyl on the cell plasma membrane. The stimulation of [14C]choline incorporation was reversed when treated cells were placed in fresh growth medium under conditions where 95 per cent of the 4-chlorobiphenyl was desorbed from the cell surface. The effect of 4-chlorobiphenyl on substrate uptake and phospholipid metabolism appears to depend upon the interaction of the agent with the cell membrane surface.
Planar Polyline Drawings via Graph Transformations

We study the problem of transforming plane triangulations into irreducible triangulations, which are plane graphs with a quadrangular exterior face, triangular interior faces and no separating triangles. Our linear time transformation reveals important relations between the minimum Schnyder’s realizers of plane triangulations (Bonichon et al., Proceedings of the 20th Annual Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 2607, pp. 499–510, Springer, Berlin, 2003; Research Report RR-1279-02, LaBRI, University of Bordeaux, France; Brehm, Diploma thesis, FB Mathematik und Informatik, Freie Universitat Berlin, 2000) and the transversal structures of irreducible triangulations (Fusy, Proceedings of 13th International Symposium on Graph Drawing, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 3843, pp. 177–188, Springer, Berlin, 2005; He, SIAM J. Comput. 22:1218–1226, 1993). The transformation morphs a 3-connected plane graph into an internally 4-connected plane graph. Therefore some of the graph algorithms designed specifically for 4-connected plane graphs can be applied to 3-connected plane graphs indirectly. As an example of such applications, we present a linear time algorithm that produces a planar polyline drawing for a plane graph with n vertices in a grid of size bounded by W×H, where $W\leq\lfloor\frac{2n-2}{3}\rfloor$, and $W+H\leq\lfloor \frac{4n-4}{3}\rfloor$. It uses at most $\lfloor\frac{2n-5}{3}\rfloor$bends, and each edge uses at most one bend. Our algorithm is area optimal. Compared with the existing area optimal polyline drawing algorithm proposed in Bonichon et al. (Proceedings of the 28th International Workshop on Graph-Theoretic Concepts in Computer Science, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 2573, pp. 35–46, Springer, Berlin, 2002), our algorithm uses a smaller number of bends. Their bend bound is (n−2).
Effect of state of charge on impedance spectrum of sealed cells Part I: Ni-Cd cells

Alternating current impedance spectroscopy (ACIS) was performed on commercial sealed Ni-Cd cells. A method previously developed in the literature was modified to determine the state of charge of sealed Ni-Cd cells by obtaining the impedance spectrum in a wide frequency range. The impedance parameters were sensitive to state of charge at low frequencies. A modified Randles' circuit was used to fit the impedance data. Appropriate modifications were made to account for an additional high frequency arc or a low frequency finite diffusion element. The effect of the state of charge on the equivalent circuit parameters was determined.
Chemical characteristics of leachate from pulp and paper mill residuals used to reclaim a sandy soil

Primary sludge, secondary sludge, and wood ash from a pulp and paper mill were combined with sand to create a synthetic topsoil (C:N ratio of 18:1) to restore an abandoned gravel pit. Synthetic topsoil was applied to field microcosms at rates equivalent to 0, 2170, 4341, or 6511 kg N/ha; each was seeded with grass. Fifteen chemical constituents in leachate were measured during two field seasons. Cadmium, Ni and Zn were mobilized rapidly by soil disturbance. Chloride and SO4-S eluted rapidly from the sludge along with Na. Nitrate leached with Ca late in each field season when sludge N-mineralization and nitrification exceeded plant uptake and microbial immobilization. Ammonium elution was negligible. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was mobilized by decomposition of organic matter in the sludge, as were Mg and K. Copper eluted with DOC, probably as an organic ligand. Lead and ortho-P were below our detection limits. We concluded that a synthetic topsoil with a 30:1 C:N ratio applied at a rate of 2100-4300 kg N/ha should provide adequate plant nutrition while minimizing water quality hazards.
ListChecker Pro 1.2: A program designed to facilitate creating word lists using the University of South Florida word association norms

Various areas of research (e.g., memory, metamemory, visual word recognition, associative priming) rely on the careful construction of reliable word lists. ListChecker Pro 1.2 is a computer program that accesses the University of South Florida word association norms (Nelson, McEvoy, & Schreiber, 1998, 2004) to report characteristics of words (e.g., frequency, concreteness), as well as direct and indirect associative relationships (e.g., shared associates, mediators). The present article presents the input requirements, menu options, and output obtained by ListChecker Pro 1.2. In addition, a randomly selected list of words from the associative versus semantic priming literature was submitted to ListChecker Pro 1.2 to demonstrate how seemingly unrelated words can be associated. The zipped file containing the program and database can be downloaded from www .eakinmemorylab.psychology.msstate.edu.
Does Body Image Play a Role in Risky Sexual Behavior and Attitudes

Body image and sexuality, both physically-oriented domains of the self, are likely linked, but few studies have examined their associations. In the present investigation, we studied emerging adult undergraduates (ages 17–19), focusing specifically on risky sexual behaviors and attitudes. Participants (N=434) completed a survey on body image, lifetime sexual behavior, sexual double standard attitudes, and attitudes about condoms. Males who evaluated their appearance more positively and who were more oriented toward their appearance were more likely to report risky sexual behavior, yet females who evaluated their appearance more positively were less likely to report risky sexual behavior. For most sexual attitudes, patterns did not differ by gender. Individuals who were more oriented toward their appearance believed more in the sexual double standard, and those who had more positive evaluations of their appearance perceived fewer barriers to using condoms. Intervention implications are discussed.
Si02 -Si Film-Substrate Single-Reflection Retarders For Different Mercury Spectral Lines

Design parameters for Si02-Si film-substrate single reflection retarders for several mercury spectral lines are presented. An example of an angle-of-incidence tunable retarder (AITR) capable of multiple wavelength operation (MWO) is reported. Simple, approximate formulae for calculating film-substrate retarder design parameters (least film thickness d' and incidence angle are presented.
Interest Rates and Price Expectations During the Civil War

Being a brief account of Northern money market conditions from 1861 through 1865, including representative empirical tables, together with yield curves and graphs, and containing speculations on the influence of gold.
Frictional coefficients of multisubunit structures. II. Application to proteins and viruses.

The theory of Kirkwood for the translational frictional coefficients of structures composed of identical subunits has been extended in the previous paper to the case where nonidentical subunits are involved. In this paper, the theory is applied to particular proteins and viruses. It is found that the calculated sedimentation coefficients of various states of aggregation of the reversibly associating proteins hemocyanin and phycocyanin are in excellent agreement with experiment. The dimensions of the fibrinogen molecule obtained from electron micrographs do not give good agreement between calculated and experimental frictional coefficients. The frictional coefficient of tobacco mosaic virus calculated without explicit consideration of end effects is in good agreement with experiment if a hydrodynamic diameter of 18O A., corresponding to the maximum diameter from x-ray studies, is used. Agreement is also good for the fast sedimenting form of bacteriophage T2 and the protein ghosts of bacteriophage λ but the slow form of T2 and whole λ have frictional coefficients considerably in excess of those calculated. Tail fiber configuration or head porosity are unable to account for the difference in sedimentation coefficients between the fast and slow forms of T2.
Aicardi syndrome: prenatal sonographic findings. A report of two cases.

The prenatal sonographic findings in two children with Aicardi syndrome are reported. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Forward Body Biased Adiabatic Logic for Peak and Average Power Reduction in 22nm CMOS

Quantum mechanical principles that govern the basic laws of physics increasingly limit CMOS operation with transistor scaling. Traditional logic based CMOS circuits cannot achieve ultra-low power levels due to heat dissipated for a single bit loss of information as represented by the Landauer barrier. Reversible logic is a promising computing paradigm towards realization of ultra-low power computing circuits. Reducing average and peak power consumption is an effective strategy for mitigation of side-channel attacks, such as Differential Power Analysis. We present designs of Forward Body Biased Adiabatic Logic for reduction of average, peak, and differential power. HSPICE simulations with predictive 22nm technology are used to analyze performance metrics and exhaustive simulation results are presented for various reversible CMOS designs. Average power is improved upon by up to 91%, the peak power by up to 96%, and the differential power is improved by up to a factor of 128.57.
Spreading in the heat sink base: phase change systems or solid metals??

Presently, the microelectronics industry needs thermal solutions that are able to dissipate high heat fluxes at low thermal resistance. The majority of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) within the microelectronics industry would like to achieve this by extending the application of air-cooling technologies since it implies minimal impact to the design of computer systems and is known to be a cost effective solution space. Spreading resistance through the base of the heat sink is one major component of the total thermal resistance from the silicon junction to the local ambient, especially if larger volume heat sinks are to be used. Until now, most of the research has focused on using phase change systems (i.e., vapor chambers) for reducing the spreading resistance of the heat sink base. Since no significant improvements have been achieved, there is a need to determine the envelope of the limitations for phase change-heat spreaders used in processor cooling, and to compare their performance against high thermal conductivity solid metals. Two simple models are presented to address the heat transfer limitations in phase change systems. Using these models, the ratio of phase change spreading resistance over solid metal spreading can be estimated.