cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development of indirect search strategies

Two experiments with 3- and 5-year-old children investigated the development of indirect search strategies. Two components of indirect search were evaluated: the acquisition of indirect search information and the utilization of that information to target further searches effectively. Even 3-year-olds showed some use of both components of indirect search, although they were more likely than 5-year-olds to search in places where previous indirect searches had indicated the target object could not be. An intriguing aspect of the results was that children were not necessarily any more efficient in their indirect searches than they would have been with a direct approach to the problem. This suggests that children actively strive to develop strategies for solving problems intelligently, even when those strategies do not produce any immediate improvement over direct or rote procedures.
Surface segregation in austenitic stainless steel

We report in this paper a study of surface segregation in austenitic stainless steel. Auger electron spectroscopy was used to measure segregation as a function of time and temperature. We have found that P, N, S, Cr, and Ni will all segregate to the surface. However, their presence on the surface often depends on the competitive and attractive interactions between the various elements. We show that thermodynamic data on ternary liquid iron alloys are quite valuable in predicting these interactions. We also discuss possible applications of these studies.
The computer science laboratory

Laboratory facilities as part of Computer Science departments can easily be categorized as either sufficient, or non-existent. There is no middle ground, either you are a “have” or you are a ldquo;have-not”.What is the reason for this apparent split? Is it economic considerations, lack of justification, poor planning, supplemental sources, or just a quirk of fate? The answer seems to be a combination of all of these reasons and forces us to ask the more important question, “Does Computer Science require laboratory facilities?” I think the answer is clearly yes and not only do I hope to show what the need is, but I also hope to show one way of developing a laboratory to meet this need. In fact, I shall conclude this paper with a discussion of the situation at the University of Massachusetts showing how we are attempting to develop the laboratory along with our department.
Bark Content of Two Shrub Willow Cultivars Grown at Two Sites and Relationships with Centroid Bark Content and Stem Diameter

Understanding the characteristics of short rotation woody crops (SRWC), like shrub willow, that affect feedstock quality and its variability is a priority as this source of biomass is expanded. Because of its relationship to ash content, the allotment of bark and wood within the stem is often highlighted as a factor impacting feedstock quality. Bark-to-wood ratios are frequently determined in willow by measuring this ratio for the centroid and assuming it represents the entire stem. The objectives of this study were to determine how site and genetic factors influenced the allometry of whole stem bark (WSB%) content on a dry weight basis and if the centroid bark percentage (CB%) on a dry weight basis adequately represents WSB%. A multiple linear regression approach was used to model WSB% and centroid bark content (CB%) using diameter, cultivar, and site factors. Five candidate models were evaluated ranging from parsimonious to complex. The simplest models estimated WSB% from CB% (R 2 = 0.76) and stem diameter (R 2 = 0.44). The most complex model included all factors and had an R 2 of 0.90. Two key relationships demonstrated by several models are that (1) CB% adequately predicts but underestimates WSB%, particularly for larger stems, and (2) WSB% increases as diameter decreases. However, empirical models can be enhanced with the inclusion of diameter, site, and cultivar information. The overall approaches can be useful for making relative comparisons between cultivars and sites. In a 3-year-old stand of willow stems less than 20 mm had high WSB%, the maximum being 23.8 %, but accounted for only 5 to 15 % of the total biomass. Large diameter stems accounted for the majority of the total and bark biomass, but the WSB% in large diameter stems is as low as 11.5 %. WSB% ranged from 12.9 to 14 % across the two cultivars at the stand level.
Integrability aspects of a dynamical system in magnetohydrodynamics

Recently, one of the present authors developed a current-sheet formation model in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). In this paper, we investigate the connections between dynamical-system and MHD aspects of this model. For this purpose, we look into the singularity structure of this dynamical system.
Pen 2 Paper 2 Power: Lessons from an Arts-Based Literacy Program Serving Somali Immigrant Youth

This study illustrates the ways in which the practices of two instructors in an arts-based, after-school literacy program serving Somali youth provide insights for teaching urban immigrant students. It draws on a qualitative self-study that examines the experiences and practices of the researchers in the development and implementation of a program called Pen 2 Paper 2 Power. It illuminates the difficulties of using culturally relevant pedagogy with immigrant youth, given the complexity of immigrant youth cultures, formed at the intersection of ethnic culture, youth culture, and popular culture. The research also examines the pedagogical implications of practicing culturally relevant hip-hop pedagogy with urban immigrant youth.
Evaluation of fault tolerant channel buffers for improving reliability in NoCs

Elastic or channel buffers can improve the overall power and area overhead of Network-on-Chip (NoC) architectures by reducing or replacing large, power hungry router buffers. In this paper, we design three fault tolerant schemes for our channel buffers which are used in a concentrated torus (CTorus) topology to reduce power consumption and improve throughput and latency. Our proposed fault tolerant techniques on CTorus topology are evaluated using the Synopsys Design Compiler and our results show (i) an improvement in energy-delay product (EDP) ranging from 20% to 43%, (ii) improvement in saturation throughput of 32% and (iii) an overall reduction in area overhead by 53–68% over other state-of-the-art electrical topologies.
Producing and streaming high resolution digital movies of microscopic subjects

A new approach to high resolution digital movie making through an optical microscope and to sharing live microscopic images with a remote audience is presented. For these applications, a high resolution digital movie camera, the RED One, has been interfaced to a number of different types of optical microscopes, allowing moving image capture at '4k' resolution onto digital storage, with simultaneous HD (high definition) video capture for live streaming to distant locations. The system has been used to create a movie, ''MicrOrganisms'', and to stream live moving images of marine microorganisms from Los Angeles to San Diego, California and to Yokohama, Japan.
Mother-Activism And The Geographic Conundrum of Social Movements

(2007). Mother-Activism And The Geographic Conundrum of Social Movements. Urban Geography: Vol. 28, Urban Geography Plenary Lecture, pp. 426-431.
Mobile Communication in Romantic Relationships: Mobile Phone Use, Relational Uncertainty, Love, Commitment, and Attachment Styles

This study examines the associations between mobile phone use and relational uncertainty, love and commitment, and attachment styles. A survey of 197 college students revealed that greater use of mobile voice calls with a romantic partner was associated with lower relational uncertainty and more love and commitment. Also, the higher the avoidance, the less the participants used voice calls, and an interaction effect was found between avoidance and anxiety on voice call use. However, there were no significant results in relation to the use of text messaging. Overall, more mobile calls in romantic relationships are associated with positive relationship qualities.
Nonlinear Wave Statistics in a Focal Zone

Abstract In this paper, the combined effects of refraction and nonlinearity on the evolution of ocean surface wave statistics are considered and possible implications for the likelihood of extreme waves, also known as freak or rogue waves, are examined. A frequency-angular spectrum model is derived that accounts for cubic nonlinear dynamics and weak lateral homogeneity of the medium. Through Monte Carlo simulations, the evolution of wave statistics in freely developing waves, waves over an opposing shearing current, and waves refracted over an isolated topographical feature is modeled. The simulations show that freely developing, directionally spread wave fields generally maintain near-Gaussian statistics, which was also found in earlier model studies. However, the enhanced nonlinearity caused by the refractive focusing of narrowband wave fields can result locally in strongly non-Gaussian statistics and an associated increased likelihood of extreme wave events.
Stereochemistry of the free-radical polymerization of zinc methacrylates coordinated with a bidentate ligand

The polymerization of zinc methacrylates coordinated with a bidentate ligand (1–4) was carried out in chloroform at 60°C. The polymerization of these monomers gave chloroform-insoluble polymers. Stereoregularity of the polymers was estimated from 1H NMR spectra of poly(methyl methacrylate)s (PMMAs) derived from the original polymers. Monomers 1 and 2 gave slightly different polymers compared with conventional ones obtained by polymerization of methacrylic acid, while 3 afforded higher amounts of isotactic polymers than 1 and 2. Conversely, 4 gave a polymer of high syndiotacticity. Furthermore, the relationship between triad tacticity and monomer concentration in the feed was studied. Consequently, it was demonstrated that the structure of bidentate ligands coordinated with zinc ion influences the stereoregularity of the resulting polymers.
Calpain inhibitors block long-term potentiation

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity that serves as a model for certain types of learning and memory. The role of the calcium-activated thiol proteases or calpains in the biochemical mechanism of LTP has been explored. We show that the extracellular application of two newly developed, highly potent calpain inhibitors, N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal and N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-methioninal, block LTP in both the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synaptic zone of the rat hippocampal slice and in perforant path-stimulated dentate granule cells in the intact hippocampus. The inhibitors do not affect baseline synaptic transmission and block LTP in the slice preparation if applied before but not after tetanic stimulation. The calpain inhibitor leupeptin is less potent than the above peptides but also blocks LTP if applied at a sufficient concentration.
Sequential teboroxime imaging during and after balloon occlusion of a coronary artery

Abstract Objectives. We sought to assess whether sequential teboroxime imaging can rapidly evaluate vessel patency and identify the coronary artery occluded in patients undergoing balloon occlusion of a coronary artery. Background. Intravenous thrombolytic therapy results in successful reperfusion of the infarct-related artery in only 50% to 80% of cases. A noninvasive technique to serially evaluate coronary perfusion would identify patients who might benefit from other interventions such as emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting or increased intensity of thrombolytic therapy. Methods. Teboroxime scans were performed during balloon occlusion in 15 nonconsecutive patients undergoing angioplasty of a major coronary artery. Equivalent views were repeated after successful angioplasty. Results. The mean time between balloon occlusion and reperfusion imaging was 1.6 ± 0.6 h. The mean number of defects decreased significantly from 4.13 ± 1.01 during balloon occlusion to 0.27 ± 0.44 after reperfusion (p = 0.0006). There was a 30% decrease in the defect/normal zone count/pixel ratios during balloon occlusion and normalization of these ratios after reperfusion (p = 0.0006). The scans correctly identified all nine left anterior descending coronary artery occlusions and both right coronary artery occlusions. One of the four left circumflex coronary artery occlusions was incorrectly identified as a right coronary artery occlusion by scan criteria. Overall, the scans correctly identified the occluded artery 93% of the time (kappa = 0.88). The scan was 100% accurate for distinguishing occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (n = 9) from occlusion of the left circumflex or right coronary artery (n = 6). Conclusions. We believe that this is the first clinical study to demonstrate that sequential planar imaging with teboroxime can 1) rapidly detect acute coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion, and 2) identify the occluded coronary artery. A trial comparing rapid sequential teboroxime imaging with coronary angiography in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction is warranted.
Methionine enkephalin-induced shaking behavior in rats: dissociation from brain serotonin mechanisms.

Abstract Intracerebroventricular injection of methionine enkephalin (met-enkephalin) caused dosedependent shakes in rats. The role of endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in met-enkephalin-induced shakes was investigated since shaking behavior has been associated with activation of 5-HT receptors. Met-enkephalin-induced shakes were not affected significantly by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, or methysergide. Naloxone inhibited the shakes caused by met-enkephalin. The results suggest that met-enkephalin elicits shaking behavior by a mechanism independent of central 5-HT.
Exponentiation using canonical recoding

Abstract The canonical bit recoding technique can be used to reduce the average number of multiplications required to compute XE provided that X−1 is supplied along with X. We model the generation of the digits of the canonical recoding D of an n-bit long exponent E as a Markov chain, and show that binary, quaternary, and octal methods applied to D require 4 3 n, 4 3 n, and 23 18 n multiplications, compared to 3 2 n, 11 8 n, and 31 24 n required by these methods applied to E. We show that, in general, the canonically recoded m-ary method for constant m requires fewer multiplications than the standard m-ary method. However, when m is picked optimally for each method for a given n, then the average number of multiplications required by the standard method is fewer than those required by the recoded version.
Chemical shift assignments and secondary structure prediction of the C-terminal domain of the response regulator BfmR from Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative pathogen responsible for severe nocosomial infections by forming biofilms in healthcare environments. The two-domain response regulator BfmR has been shown to be the master controller for biofilm formation. Inactivation of BfmR resulted in an abolition of pili production and consequently biofilm creation. Here we report backbone and sidechain resonance assignments and secondary structure prediction for the C-terminal domain of BfmR (residues 130–238) from A. baumannii.
HIV-1 suppression by early treatment with hydroxyurea, didanosine, and a protease inhibitor

Most HIV-1 production occurs in dividing (activated) Tlymphocytes. Non-dividing resting lymphocytes and macrophages, however, might be long-term reservoirs for HIV-1. We wanted to increase the antiviral efficacy of combination therapies by targeting simultaneously reservoir cells and the virus. Hydroxyurea blocks cellular activation necessary for viral replication in CD4 Tlymphocytes, protease-inhibitors inhibit HIV-1 replication in dividing cells, and hydroxyurea with didanosine is effective in non-dividing cells. 1,2 Eleven individuals were treated within 2 months after the onset of symptoms of primary HIV-1 infection and before complete serconversion, with a combination of hydroxyurea, didanosine, and indinavir. No greater than grade 2 toxicity was found, except for grade 3 episodes of nephrolithiasis in two patients; toxic events were resolved by switching from indinavir to nelfinavir. CD4 counts increased significantly by an average of 207 whereas CD8 counts decreased by an average of 399. CD4/CD8 ratio returned to normal in nine of eleven treated patients. This increase of CD4 counts was unexpected because the combination of hydroxyurea with didanosine, despite synergistic HIV-1 inhibition, in symptom-free individuals with CD4 counts between 200 and 500/mL, had not resulted in a significant increase of CD4 T-lymphocytes. 3
Microsatellite markers for woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) and their amplification in other New World primates (Primates: Platyrrhini)

Seven polymorphic microsatellite loci were identified for woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) from an ‘enriched’ genomic library. For a wild population of 66 animals, these markers averaged over 10 alleles per locus and provided a combined probability for excluding a random individual from parentage of over 98%. These loci were screened in up to 13 other genera of New World monkeys, and many were variable in multiple taxa. Few other platyrrhine-specific microsatellite markers have been identified; thus, these loci should prove valuable for studying the population genetic structure and mating system not just of Lagothrix but also of other neotropical primates.
Identifying core concepts in educational resources

This paper describes the results of a study designed to assess human expert ratings of educational concept features for use in automatic core concept extraction systems. Digital library resources provided the content base for human experts to annotate automatically extracted concepts on seven dimensions: coreness, local importance, topic, content, phrasing, structure, and function. The annotated concepts were used as training data to build a machine learning classifier as part of a tool used to predict the core concepts in the document. These predictions were compared with the experts' judgment of concept coreness.
Smart electro-optical zoom lens.

An electro-optical controlled zooming/focusing lens system based on spatial light modulators that does not require any mechanical movement of the lenses is presented. The system can focus an object over a long range of distances. It also has the property of a conventional zoom lens that the effective focal length of the lens can be adjusted while the image plane is held fixed.
Increased pressure from rising bubbles as a mechanism for remotely triggered seismicity

AFTERSHOCKS of large earthquakes tend to occur close to the main rupture zone, and can be used to constrain its dimensions. But following the 1992 Landers earthquake (magnitude Mw = 7.3) in southern California, many aftershocks were reported1 in areas remote from the mainshock. Intriguingly, this remote seismicity occurred in small clusters near active volcanic and geothermal systems. For one of these clusters (Long Valley, about 400 km from the Landers earthquake), crustal deformation associated with the seismic activity was also monitored. Here we argue that advec-tive overpressure2–7 provides a viable mechanism for remote seismicity triggered by the Landers earthquake. Both the deformation and seismicity data are consistent with pressure increases owing to gas bubbles rising slowly within a volume of magma. These bubbles may have been shaken loose during the passage of seismic waves generated by the mainshock.
High-Pressure Ion Mobility Spectrometry

The effects of above-ambient pressure on ion mobility on resolving power, resolution, and ion current were investigated using a small, stand-alone ion mobility spectrometer (IMS). This work demonstrates the first example of ion mobility spectrometry at pressures above ambient. Ion mobility spectra of chemical warfare agent (CWA) stimulant dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and several other standard compounds are shown for superambient conditions. The IMS was operated at pressures from 700 to 4560 Torr. An optimal resolving power was obtained at a specific voltage as a function of pressure, with higher optimal resolving powers obtained at higher voltages, as predicted from standard IMS theory. At high pressures, however, resolving power did not increase as much as theory predicted, presumably due to ion clustering. Nevertheless, an increase in pressure was found to improve resolution in IMS. One example where high pressure improved resolution was the separation of cyclohexylamine (K0 = 1.83) and 2-hexanone...
Convergence analysis for least-squares finite element approximations of second-order two-point boundary value problems

In this paper, a C^0 least-squares finite element method for second-order two-point boundary value problems is considered. The problem is recast as a first-order system. Standard and improved optimal error estimates in maximum-norms are established. Superconvergence estimates at interelement, Lobatto, and Gauss points are developed. Numerical experiments are given to illustrate theoretical results.
A Proof of Hozo's Conjecture on the Homology of a Class of Nilpotent Lie Algebras☆

LetPbe a rooted tree with rootrand vertex set {1, 2,…,n}. ConsiderPto be a poset by sayingu ≤ vifuis on the path fromrtov. LetZ[P] be the span of all matriceszuvsuch thatu <P v, wherezuvis then × nmatrix with a 1 in theu, ventry and 0's elsewhere. Note thatZ[P] is a nilpotent Lie subalgebra of sln(C). I. Hozo (Electron. J. Combin., to appear) studied the Laplacian of the Koszul complex for computing the Lie algebra homology ofZ[P]. He showed that the tree structure ofPforces significant simplifications in the Laplacian. He went on to conjecture that the eigenvalues of the Laplacian are indexed by certain labellings ofPby partitions. He gave a simple method for determining the eigenvalue indexed by a labelling. In this paper we prove Hozo's conjecture. As a consequence, we deduce that all eigenvalues of the Laplacian are integers.
Report on the state of the art: Injection molding of fiber reinforced thermoplastics. Part II. Design and manufacture

This is the second part of a survey of recent developments in injection molding of fiber reinforced thermoplastics. Topics discussed include product design, mold design and fabrication, prototyping, product manufacture, and applications of these materials.
Kinetic modeling of free‐radical graft polymerization

The kinetic model of free-radical surface graft polymerization developed is based on a conservational polymerization and molecular-weight distribution (CPMWD) numerical algorithm. The CPMWD model uses an implicit numerical technique to solve for the coupled monomer, surface site, and total growing polymer differential rate equations, which ensure that conservation of mass is maintained. The model formulation allows for the incorporation of kinetic rate coefficients, which are a function of the chain length of the reacting species, the solution viscosity, and the concentration of surface grafted polymer. The model also makes it possible to evaluate the monomer conversion, the graft yield and the molecular weight distributions of the homopolymer and surface-grafted polymer for the complete duration of the graft polymerization reaction. Its application was demonstrated for a model system of vinylpyrrolidone graft polymerization onto the surface of a silica substrate.
The impact of prospectively set hospital budgets on psychiatric admissions.

This article examines the impact of prospectively set hospital budgets on rates of admission of psychiatric patients in New York state, U.S.A. The analysis takes advantage of a natural experiment which took place in the early 1980s, whereby a geographic region adopted a prospective hospital budget reimbursement scheme that differed from the prospective per diem reimbursement scheme used in the rest of the state. The results indicate a strong decrease in psychiatric admissions attributable to the experimental payment method.
Enhanced Sensitivity to Naltrexone-induced Drinking Suppression of Fluid Intake and Sucrose Consumption in Maternally Separated Rats

Abstract Early-life stress has been identified as a risk factor in the development of a host of disorders, including substance abuse; however the link between early postnatal stress and changes in measures of reward has not been thoroughly researched. The current study had two main objectives: 1) to determine the impact of maternal separation (an animal model of early-life stress) on the consumption of 10% and 2.5% sucrose solutions by Long–Evans rat dams and male and female offspring, and 2) to determine the effect of the opioid antagonist naltrexone (0.1–3.0 mg/kg) on drinking by each of those groups. Dam-pup separations occurred for varying lengths of time during the first two postnatal weeks. In Experiment 1, a two-bottle choice test (sucrose solution vs. water) was administered across five days to both nonhandled (NH) and maternally-separated (MS) offspring as adults and to dams 2–4 weeks post-weaning. In Experiment 2, naltrexone was administered prior to two-bottle choice tests. MS males and the dams of MS litters exhibited increased intake of total fluid and sucrose solutions, whereas results from females were less consistent. Naltrexone elicited a greater decrease in fluid intake and sucrose intake in male MS offspring compared to male NH offspring. These results indicate that early postnatal stress alters both sucrose consumption, a non-drug measure of reward, and apparently the brain opioid systems that mediate naltrexone-induced drinking suppression.
Mo3Sb7 as a very fast anode material for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries

Mo3Sb7 thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering are evaluated as an anode material for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. The as deposited films are amorphous and composed of small agglomerated domains with an overall Sb/Mo ratio of 2.34 that is almost identical to the ratio measured for the starting powder and the expected nominal ratio of 2.33. When cycled with Li and Na, the films show large storage capacities of around 430 and 330 mA h g−1, respectively, with good capacity retention. In addition, micron thick films retain large capacities of about 310 and 280 mA h g−1 at very high rates of 100 and 30 C-rate currents for Li and Na, respectively. The XRD study of the changes in the structure of the electrode material reveals that Li3Sb forms at full discharge whereas the electrode at full charge is amorphous. For the reaction with Na, the electrode material remains amorphous. Analysis of the surface chemistry characterized by XPS suggests the formation of an inorganic layer (LiF, LixPOyFz) covered by organic products (carbonates, esters, ethers) in the case of Li and the formation of an organic layer only (carbonates) in the case of Na. The electrode surface is visible at full charge for Na, thereby indicating that the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer is thinner when cycling with Na compared to that with Li. Overall, the results highlight the very good potential of Mo3Sb7 as an anode for Li- and Na-ion batteries.
Where We Go From Here: The Mental Sketch Mapping Method and Its Analytic Components

The mental mapping method affords a lens into the way people produce and experience space, forms of spatial intelligence, and dynamics of human–environment relations. Mental mapping is the representation of an individual or group’s cognitive map, hand sketched and/or computer-assisted, in drafting and labeling a map or adding to and labeling an already existing map. Despite its long-term, rich, and multifaceted use across the social sciences, I found that the method’s development has been uneven and its analytics ad hoc and piecemeal. Drawing on 32 mental sketch maps and the interviews during which they were drafted, this article provides an extensive review of the method, and details a total of 57 analytic components and techniques drawn from the literature and my own work in this study. I address these analytics from a critical geographic perspective in four categories to follow trends the data reveal. In my discussion, I offer some future guidelines for research with mental sketch mapping (MSM) to cont...
Versatile CAMAC Power Supply Controller-Monitor with Built-In Ramping and Ripple Monitor

An integrated power supply controller-monitor has been designed and is in use to control "large" power supplies for SLC DC magnets. This singlewidth CAMAC module contains a 14-bit DAC, a 14-bit ADC, and several channels of optically coupled digital status and control signals. Additional features include built-in selectable ramping rates, self-test capabilities, and a ripple monitor circuit to measure AC ripple in the power supply current.
Treadmill injuries in patients with epilepsy.

Treadmill exercise is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in the United States, with an estimated 19.7 million people who do it with some regularity [1]. Treadmill exercise is considered relatively safe; a Medline search yielded no reports of injuries in individuals with epilepsy while participating in this activity. A number of our patients with epilepsy have taken up treadmill exercise because of the convenience of exercising at home and the feeling that it is a safer alternative to jogging outside. Some patients feel unsure about their balance and coordination and like this type of exercise because of the privacy it confers. Newer treadmill machines are required to have a safety device, the switch-off clip, which turns off the treadmill whenever the runner distances himself from the console of the machine. The device is a clip-on cord with hook-and-loop attachment that is attached to the walker, and should the user move backward or fall, the hook-and-loop connection is broken and the treadmill stops. Most of our patients were aware of this device and felt it gave them the needed security in case they had a seizure while exercising on the treadmill.
Factors Influencing Special Purpose Service Delivery among Counties

Little systematic research has been conducted that places county-level environments at the center of questions about why general purpose governments rely on special purpose service delivery. This paper, which focuses on special district formations within county-level environments between 2002 and 2007, reveals a conditional link between restrictions on functional and fiscal autonomy. Prior research shows that special district proliferation among counties is motivated by state-imposed constraints on their abilities to expand service choices. However, this finding is only realized under the condition that county-level governments have less binding restrictions imposed on their fiscal autonomy. Greater pressures for county-level governments to function as full-scale service providers lead to the increasing existence of special districts but only when counties have more freedom to exercise fiscal authority.
Scaffolding protein INAD regulates deactivation of vision by promoting phosphorylation of transient receptor potential by eye protein kinase C in Drosophila.

Drosophila visual signaling is one of the fastest G-protein-coupled transduction cascades, because effector and modulatory proteins are organized into a macromolecular complex (“transducisome”). Assembly of the complex is orchestrated by inactivation no afterpotential D (INAD), which colocalizes the transient receptor potential (TRP) Ca2+ channel, phospholipase Cβ, and eye protein kinase C (eye-PKC), for more efficient signal transduction. Eye-PKC is critical for deactivation of vision. Moreover, deactivation is regulated by the interaction between INAD and TRP, because abrogation of this interaction in InaDp215 results in slow deactivation similar to that of inaCp209 lacking eye-PKC. To elucidate the mechanisms whereby eye-PKC modulates deactivation, here we demonstrate that eye-PKC, via tethering to INAD, phosphorylates TRP in vitro. We reveal that Ser982 of TRP is phosphorylated by eye-PKC in vitro and, importantly, in the fly eye, as shown by mass spectrometry. Furthermore, transgenic expression of modified TRP bearing an Ala substitution leads to slow deactivation of the visual response similar to that of InaDp215. These results suggest that the INAD macromolecular complex plays an essential role in termination of the light response by promoting efficient phosphorylation at Ser982 of TRP for fast deactivation of the visual signaling.
Vibrational modes of oxygen on W(110)

Abstract Electron energy loss measurements of the vibrational modes of oxygen on W(110) as a function of coverage up to 0.5 monolayer are presented and analyzed. A single loss at 67 meV is observed initially; with increasing exposure this loss shifts to 72 meV and another loss appears at 47 meV. These data indicate coexistence of two species on the surface with a coverage-dependent conversion. Angular profiles of the specular elastic beam show a dramatic increase in width with initial oxygen coverage; this is possibly due to an oxygen-induced static disordering of the W surface layer.
Establishment of Proliferative, Pure Cultures of Pigmented Chicken Melanocytes from Neural Tubes

In order to obtain pure cultures of chicken melanocytes, neural tubes were excised from 22-somite stage embryos and placed in culture dishes to allow melanoblasts to migrate out and proliferate. The growth of contaminating cells was inhibited by maintaining the primary cultures in low-calcium and low-magnesium medium supplemented with 32 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Subsequently the pure cultures of melanocytes were maintained in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with TPA. The population doubling time was approximately 12 h. The cell density at confluency in medium containing 32 nM TPA, 80 nM TPA, or 32 nM TPA plus 1 nM cholera toxin was 3.4, 5.6, or 8.3 × 10 4 cells/cm 2 , respectively. The melanocytes were highly pigmented and had tyrosinase activities ranging from 0.7-5.0 mU/mg protein.
Optimal SIR and interference-based distributed power control for wireless networks

Transmitter power control has been shown to be an efficient and effective means for supporting variable-service users in wireless networks. In this presentation, an estimator-based controller is proposed for distributed uplink power control. The controller is optimal with respect to minimizing a cost function consisting of a user's signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) error and the network interference, in a decentralized manner. Assuming sufficiently good estimates, the controller has the potential of providing convergence in a few iterations. The main feature of the proposed controller is that it saves the user transmit power while achieving a satisfactory SIR value. Furthermore, the issue of joint minimization of network interference and a user's SIR error is addressed in a distributed manner so as to obtain a desired tradeoff.
Cimetidine blockade of histamine-induced insulin secretion

The effects of an H2-histamine receptor antagonist, cimetidine, on histamine-induced changes in plasma levels of insulin, free fatty acids (FFAs), and glucose was examined in a randomized, double-blind study in six fasted men. The intravenous infusion of histamine at an average rate of 0.13 μg/kg/min for 20 min caused a rapid rise in plasma insulin levels throughout the infusion period (p < 0.05). Insulin levels rose 23% above baseline after 5 min of infusion and continued to 51% above baseline 10 min after the infusion ended. Cimetidine pretreatment (300 mg intravenously) inhibited histamine-induced insulin secretion by 98% or more at each point during the infusion (p < 0.05), but did not inhibit an effect of histamine to elevate plasma FFA levels. Plasma FFA levels were increased 33% by histamine alone and 41% by histamine when subjects had been pretreated with cimetidine (p < 0.05). Plasma glucose levels were not affected by histamine or Cimetidine. These findings demonstrate that histamine is capable of inducing insulin secretion in man at low doses. Blockade of this effect with cimetidine suggests that the mechanism of histamine-induced insulin secretion involves the H2-histamine receptor. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 28, 392–397; doi:10.1038/clpt.1980.178
On the explanation and correlation of turbulent drag reduction in dilute macromolecular solutions

A simple mechanistic picture of turbulent drag reduction is proposed, based on the recent work of Corino and Brodkey for Newtonian fluids. Possible explanations are then considered from a phenomenological viewpoint, and the applicability of the well-known dumbbell model toward this end is discussed. It is seen that the predictions of the “molecular” dumbbell model are surprisingly similar to those of the “continuum” convected Maxwell model utilized by Seyer and Metzner. Furthermore, the significance of the fluid relaxation time θ in characterizing the drag-reducing effectiveness of a polymer solution is shown to follow from a number of qualitative arguments. A correlation is proposed, closely related to the recent correlations advanced by Rodriguez, Zakin, and Patterson, and Astarita, Greco, and Nicodemo. Some new aspects of this correlation are discussed.
Crystal Structure of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphatase 1 and its Functional Implications

Abstract Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase 1 (PDP1) catalyzes dephosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) in the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), whose activity is regulated by the phosphorylation–dephosphorylation cycle by the corresponding protein kinases (PDHKs) and phosphatases. The activity of PDP1 is greatly enhanced through Ca 2+ -dependent binding of the catalytic subunit (PDP1c) to the L2 (inner lipoyl) domain of dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2), which is also integrated in PDC. Here, we report the crystal structure of the rat PDP1c at 1.8 A resolution. The structure reveals that PDP1 belongs to the PPM family of protein serine/threonine phosphatases, which, in spite of a low level of sequence identity, share the structural core consisting of the central β-sandwich flanked on both sides by loops and α-helices. Consistent with the previous studies, two well-fixed magnesium ions are coordinated by five active site residues and five water molecules in the PDP1c catalytic center. Structural analysis indicates that, while the central portion of the PDP1c molecule is highly conserved among the members of the PPM protein family, a number of structural insertions and deletions located at the periphery of PDP1c likely define its functional specificity towards the PDC. One notable feature of PDP1c is a long insertion (residues 98–151) forming a unique hydrophobic pocket on the surface that likely accommodates the lipoyl moiety of the E2 domain in a fashion similar to that of PDHKs. The cavity, however, appears more open than in PDHK, suggesting that its closure may be required to achieve tight, specific binding of the lipoic acid. We propose a mechanism in which the closure of the lipoic acid binding site is triggered by the formation of the intermolecular (PDP1c/L2) Ca 2+ binding site in a manner reminiscent of the Ca 2+ -induced closure of the regulatory domain of troponin C.
Laryngopharyngeal Sensory Deficits in Patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and Dysphagia

There are no reliable means of quantifying the edema that results from acid exposure to the posterior larynx in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). However, it is possible to quantify laryngopharyngeal sensitivity in these patients by endoscopic administration of air pulses to the laryngeal mucosa in order to elicit the laryngeal adductor reflex. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with LPR have sensory deficits in the laryngopharynx, and whether treatment of these patients with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) results in resolution of sensory deficits. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing was prospectively performed in 54 patients with dysphagia without neurologic disease and in 25 healthy controls. The laryngopharyngeal sensory level, posterior laryngeal edema, and LPR were assessed. We defined LPR as passage of food material from the esophageal inlet retrograde into the hypopharynx. Patients with LPR were placed on 3 months of omeprazole or lansoprazole and then retested. Patients without LPR were placed on H2 blockers for 3 months and then retested. In the dysphagia group, 48 of 54 patients (89%) had edema of the posterior larynx, and 42 of 54 (78%) had laryngopharyngeal sensory deficits. We noted LPR in 38 of 54 (70%). In the control group, 1 of 25 subjects (4%) had edema, sensory deficits, and LPR. The differences in incidence of edema, sensory deficits, and LPR between the dysphagia group and the control group were significant (p < .001, chi2 test). Twenty-three patients with LPR placed on a PPI returned for follow-up, with improvement in laryngeal edema in 14 of the 21 (67%) who had pretreatment edema and resolution of sensory deficits in 15 of the 19 (79%) who had pretreatment deficits. In the non-LPR, non-PPI group, 11 of 16 patients returned for follow-up, with improvement in laryngeal edema in none of the 11 and improvement in sensory deficits in 1 of the 11 (9.1%). The differences in improvement in laryngeal edema and sensory deficits between the LPR, PPI group, and the non-LPR, non-PPI group were significant (p < .01, Fisher's exact test). We conclude that patients with dysphagia and edema of the posterior larynx as a result of LPR have sensory deficits in the laryngopharynx. Treatment of these patients with a PPI appears to result in resolution of laryngopharyngeal edema and improvement of sensory deficits, both subjectively and objectively.
Identification of Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitors Targeting Vaccinia Virus Processivity Factor for Development of Antiviral Agents

Poxvirus uracil DNA glycosylase D4 in association with A20 and the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase forms the processive polymerase complex. The binding of D4 and A20 is essential for processive polymerase activity. Using an AlphaScreen assay, we identified compounds that inhibit protein-protein interactions between D4 and A20. Effective interaction inhibitors exhibited both antiviral activity and binding to D4. These results suggest that novel antiviral agents that target the protein-protein interactions between D4 and A20 can be developed for the treatment of infections with poxviruses, including smallpox.
NG-nitro-l-arginine Methyl Ester Reduces Stress-Related Feeding in the Rat Tail-Pinch Model

Abstract A possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in stress-related feeding was investigated in male rats using the tail-pinch (TP) model, in within-subjects experimental designs. An initial experiment demonstrated a dose-related reduction in TP-induced solid food intake over a 10-min test period with increasing dose (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg SC) of the NO-synthase (NOS) inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), reaching statistical significance at 25 mg/kg l-NAME when compared to vehicle control ( p 60 s) oral behavior bouts with increasing dose of l-NAME; both measures reached statistical significance at 50 mg/kg ( p
Strength in the Technical Communication Journals and Diversity in the Serials Cited

More than 1,600 serials from across the disciplines were identified as sources for technical communication scholars. The 99 most frequently cited serials are described. This citation analysis is distinguished from others by the size of the database (25,000+ citations), the 10-year review of articles published in five technical communication journals between 1988 and 1997, the number of serials cited and reviewed, and the focus on technical communication as a discipline. The analysis yielded two observations. First, five technical communication journals have grown in strength as forums for discussions of technical communication. Second, the serials cited illustrate the diversity of resources referred to from business, education, psychology, science, and technology-related sources. As a discipline, technical communication has developed depth and rigor through building the base of its research and theory while integrating the research and theory gathered from a number of disciplines.
Rudder: a rule-based multi-agent infrastructure for supporting autonomic Grid applications

The emerging pervasive information and computational Grid is enabling a new generation of autonomic applications that continuously interact with their environments and with each other to monitor, adapt and optimize their execution. However, supporting these context-aware self-managing applications in widely distributed, heterogeneous and highly dynamic Grid environments requires suitable and effective coordination middleware services. The article presents the architecture and operation of Rudder, a rule-based adaptive multi-agent infrastructure for supporting autonomic applications in pervasive Grid environments. Specifically, Rudder enables dynamic composition and coordination of autonomic components to manage changing application requirements and system context. The design builds on three basic concepts: (1) software agents that dynamically define, deploy and execute rules to achieve self-behaviors, operating within flexible organizational structures while being situated in the dynamic pervasive Grid environments; (2) composition rules dynamically enabling application workflows, which can be executed using autonomic components; (3) a decentralized reactive tuple-space can scalably support agent coordination, execution of composition rules and creation of application workflows in Grid environments. The operation of Rudder is illustrated using an autonomic oil reservoir optimization application.
Physiochemical microparticle sensors based on nonlinear magnetic oscillations

Recently, the nonlinear rotation of single magnetic particles has emerged as a tool to measure physical parameters on the micro-scale. In this paper, detailed theoretical analyses are carried out for tailored microprobes that measure (1) local magnetic fields, (2) magnetic particle characteristics, (3) viscosity and (4) chemical binding, along with their corresponding experimental demonstrations. Such new physical measurement methods, using single micro- or nano-particles, in combination with previous chemical nanoparticle sensing methods, lead to a new class of physiochemical micro- and nano-particle sensors that may be of significant biomedical and technological interest.
Single-Cell RNA-Seq of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reveals Unique Profiles of Lineage Priming

The plasticity and immunomodulatory capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have spurred clinical use in recent years. However, clinical outcomes vary and many ascribe inconsistency to the tissue source of MSCs. Yet unconsidered is the extent of heterogeneity of individual MSCs from a given tissue source with respect to differentiation potential and immune regulatory function. Here we use single-cell RNA-seq to assess the transcriptional diversity of murine mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow. We found genes associated with MSC multipotency were expressed at a high level and with consistency between individual cells. However, genes associated with osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, neurogenic and vascular smooth muscle differentiation were expressed at widely varying levels between individual cells. Further, certain genes associated with immunomodulation were also inconsistent between individual cells. Differences could not be ascribed to cycles of proliferation, culture bias or other cellular process, which might alter transcript expression in a regular or cyclic pattern. These results support and extend the concept of lineage priming of MSCs and emphasize caution for in vivo or clinical use of MSCs, even when immunomodulation is the goal, since multiple mesodermal (and even perhaps ectodermal) outcomes are a possibility. Purification might enable shifting of the probability of a certain outcome, but is unlikely to remove multilineage potential altogether.