cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Order Information in Working Memory: fMRI Evidence for Parietal and Prefrontal Mechanisms

Working memory is thought to include a mechanism that allows for the coding of order information. One question of interest is how order information is coded, and how that code is neurally implemented. Here we report both behavioral and fMRI findings from an experiment involved comparing two tasks, an item-memory task and an order-memory task. In each case, five letters were presented for storage, followed after a brief interval by a set of probe letters. In the case of the item-memory task, the two letters were identical, and the subject responded to the question, "Was this letter one of the items you saw?". In the case of the order-memory task, the letters were different, and subjects responded to the question, "Are these two letters in the order in which you saw them?". Behaviorally, items that were further apart in the sequence that elicited faster reaction times and higher accuracy in the Order task. Areas that were significantly more activated in the Order condition included the parietal and prefrontal cortex. Parietal activations overlapped those involved in number processing, leading to the suggestion that the underlying representation of order and numbers may share a common process, coding for magnitude.
Regulation of the Myoblast-specific Expression of the Human β-Enolase Gene

The muscle-specific β-enolase gene is expressed in proliferating adult myoblasts as well as in differentiated myotubes. Through deletion-transfection analysis, we identified a 79-base pair enhancer from the β-enolase gene that leads to high level expression of a reporter gene in myoblasts, but not in fibroblasts. Following myoblast differentiation into myotubes, the activity of the enhancer declined, indicating that β-enolase gene expression in myotubes is mediated by other regulators, possibly the myogenic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that proteins present in myoblast nuclear extracts specifically bind to the 3′ half of the 79-base pair enhancer. This region contains an ets DNA-binding motif which is required not only for high level activity in myoblasts, but also for repressing activity in fibroblasts. Furthermore, the β-enolase myoblast-specific enhancer shows limited similarity to the myoblast-specific enhancer associated with the human desmin gene, suggesting that gene expression in adult myoblasts may be coordinately regulated.
Reducing Early Smokers' Risk for Future Smoking and Other Problem Behavior: Insights from a Five-Year Longitudinal Study

Abstract Purpose To identify risk and protective factors during early and later adolescence that predict future regular smoking and multiple problem behavior among at-risk youth, defined as those who tried smoking by grade 7. Methods At grades 7, 10, and 12, data were collected from 2,000 early smokers drawn from California and Oregon. Multivariate regression analyses tested predictors of the two grade 12 outcomes in separate models using data from grades 7 and 10. Gender interactions and buffering of risk factors by protective factors were assessed. Results For at-risk youth, consistent protective factors against future smoking and problem behavior included living in an intact nuclear family (all four models) plus getting good grades and parental disapproval of smoking/drug use (three of four models). Consistent risk factors included exposure to substance-using peers (four models) and problems in school (three of four models). Adult substance use was a predictor during early, but not later, adolescence; pro-smoking/drug use beliefs were significant predictors during later adolescence. There were few differences across gender and no significant buffers against risk. Conclusions At-risk youth would likely benefit from peer resistance training, parental involvement in prevention efforts, and efforts to improve educational performance during both middle school and high school. Changing pro-drug beliefs may be more effective among older adolescents.
Microbial Contribution to Dry Matter and Amino Acid Content of Poultry Excreta

Abstract A physical separation procedure was developed for determination of the microbial contribution to dry matter and amino acid content of excreta from adult Single Comb White Leghorn roosters. The procedure included repeated mixing of excreta in saline, filtration, and low-speed and high-speed centrifugation. Excreta were separated into microbial, insoluble, and soluble fractions. Total facultative and direct microscopic counts of bacteria in the fractions indicated that 90% of the measured microbial cells were in the microbial fraction. Purity of the microbial fraction was ascertained by comparison of its amino acid composition to that of isolated microbial cells from poultry excreta. The microbial contribution to dry matter and amino acid content of poultry excreta was estimated to be 11 and 25%, respectively. The results indicate that bacteria represent a substantial proportion of amino acids in poultry excreta. Thus, measurement of amino acid digestibility with fecal collection methods may not be valid.
Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of tungsten oxynitride

High surface area tungsten oxynitride has been prepared by the temperature programmed reaction (TPR) of WO3 with NH3. All samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption, CO chemisorption, and elemental analysis. Samples were prepared at different heating rates (β), and a Redhead analysis yielded an activation energy for nitridation of 109 kJ mol−1. A heating rate of 0.016 K s−1 gave optimal synthesis conditions. Solid state intermediates were studied by interrupting the temperature program at various stages. No distinct suboxide phases were found using XRD. The nitridation step was determined to be a continuous transformation from oxide to oxynitride. Surface area, CO uptake, and nitrogen weight % were all found to increase as the reaction progressed. Reactivity experiments showed reasonable hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) activity, but little hydrogenation (HYD) or hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity.
Innate immunity to a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen

The murine response to Listeria monocytogenes has long been considered a paradigm of T-cell-mediated immunity. There is, however, substantial evidence that T-cell-deficient mice are capable of surviving a L. monocytogenes challenge. Recently, advances have been made in our understanding of the cell biology and pathogenesis of infection.
Synthesis and testing of substituted phenylthioribose analogs against Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract Halogen substituted analogs of 5-(phenylthio)ribose were synthesized and tested as inhibitors of the methylthioribose kinase-containing pathogen. Klebsiella pneumoniae . All of the compounds exhibit good activity against organism. 5-(4-Iodophenylthio)ribose demonstrated the most potent inhibitory effects with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) value of ′ 2.5 picomolar (0.0009 ng/ml).
The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) are involved in hepatocyte-mediated phenotypic switching in prostate cancer cells.

The greatest challenge for the seeding of cancer in metastatic sites is integration into the ectopic microenvironment despite the lack of an orthotopic supportive environment and presence of pro-death signals concomitant with a localized “foreign-body” inflammatory response. In this metastatic location, many carcinoma cells display a reversion of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that marks dissemination in the primary tumor mass. This mesenchymal to epithelial reverting transition (MErT) is thought to help seeding and colonization by protecting against cell death. We have previously shown that hepatocyte coculture induces the re-expression of E-cadherin via abrogation of autocrine EGFR signaling pathway in prostate cancer (PCa) cells and that this confers a survival advantage. Herein, we show that hepatocytes educate PCa to undergo MErT by modulating the activity of p38 and ERK1/2. Hepatocytes inhibited p38 and ERK1/2 activity in prostate cancer cells, which allowed E-cadherin re-expression. Introduction of constitutively active MEK6 and MEK1 to DU145 cells cocultured with hepatocytes abrogated E-cadherin re-expression. At least a partial phenotypic reversion can be achieved by suppression of p38 and ERK1/2 activation in DU145 cells even in the absence of hepatocytes. Interestingly, these mitogen-activated protein kinase activities were also triggered by re-expressed E-cadherin leading to p38 and ERK1/2 activity in PCa cells; these signals provide protection to PCa cells upon challenge with chemotherapy and cell death-inducing cytokines. We propose that distinct p38/ERK pathways are related to E-cadherin levels and function downstream of E-cadherin allowing, respectively, for hepatocyte-mediated MErT and tumor cell survival in the face of death signals.
Rigorous conductor modeling of signal integrity in integrated circuits

We present a multi-region, multi-solver domain decomposition method (MS-DDM) to accurately analyzing the signal integrity problems in integrated circuits with complex geometries. Specifically, we discuss in detail a 3-D full-wave method to model the conductor loss due to finite conductivities in metals. The proposed MS-DDM follows a hierarchical domain partitioning strategy and the original problem is decomposed into non-overlapping subregions. A finite element domain decomposition method (FE-DDM) is adopted for the dielectric subregion with complex geometries and non-uniform material properties. A surface integral equation domain decomposition method (SIE-DDM) is applied for the conductor subregions. To further improve the convergence in the DDM iterations, optimized transmission conditions are introduced to enforce the field continuities across sub-domain interfaces. Moreover, a hierarchical multi-level fast multiple method is adopted to address the low frequency issues that are prominent in IC applications. Rigorous numerical experiments validate the potential benefits offered by the proposed method.
Decomposition of arbitrary gray-scale morphological structuring elements

Mathematical morphology has been widely used for many applications in image processing and analysis. Most image processing architectures adapted to morphological operations use structuring elements of a limited size. Therefore, difficulties arise when we deal with a large-sized structuring element. In this paper, we present algorithms for the decomposition of arbitrary gray-scale structuring elements into combined dilations or maximum operators of smaller structuring components. Our method does not need to perform additional pre-processes, such as checking the type of structuring elements and the decomposition rules. Furthermore, it is suited for a parallel pipelined architecture.
IR detection by depletion of trapped charge in localized impurity states of an extrinsic semiconductor.

Recently we have described a new mode of IR detection which utilizes charge storage in localized levels of an extrinsic semiconductor at low temperatures. This method is based on field-assisted impurity photoionization. IR photoionization depletes the population of stored charge in localized impurity states. The integration takes place inside the bulk of the semiconductor. A large negative going pulse causes rapid field ionization of the remaining charge after an IR exposure. Readout is accomplished by measuring this ejected charge. Using a cryogenically cooled monochromator, we have studied the spectral response and its field dependence. Extremely low dark currents (<3×10−18 A) permit IR integration times of up to 12 hours or more. For the first time, significant photoresponse is obtained from a cryogenic Si:P detector at wavelengths up to 43 μm, well beyond the nominal long wavelength cutoff of 27 μm.
Alumina-supported triosmium clusters and ensembles: Characterization by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

Structurally defined supported osmium clusters [HOs3(CO)10OAl<] were prepared by the reaction of [Os3(CO)12] with the -OH groups of γ-Al2O3. The supported clusters were heated to 200 °C in argon and then reduced in hydrogen at 400 °C, being characterized at different stages of the treatment by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. After the sample had been heated to 200 °C, scattering centers about 6 A in diameter were evident in the micrographs, their size being consistent with the expected geometry of three-atom ensembles of Os(II) complexes formed by cluster breakup. The ensembles were remarkably stable, and even prolonged exposure of the same area to the 100 keV electron beam caused neither disintegration nor agglomeration. After reduction of the osmium in hydrogen at 400 °C, aggregates of similar size were observed. In contrast to the ensembles of Os(II) complexes, the aggregates seemed to disintegrate slowly under the impact of the electron beam. The difference in stability of the ensembles and the reduced osmium aggregates is attributed to the difference between the strong ionic bonds in the former sample and the weaker interaction between the reduced metal and the Al2O3 surface.
Dose-response relationship between norepinephrine and erythropoiesis: evidence for a critical threshold

Background Severe traumatic injury elicits a neuroendocrine response that activates the sympathetic nervous system. Our previous work suggests that norepinephrine (NE) influences the bone marrow (BM) erythropoietic response. However, the dose-response relationship between NE and erythropoiesis remains unclear. Materials and Methods Two days following chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or injection with saline vehicle (SHAM), male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused continuously with either saline (NS) or increasing doses of NE for 5 d via osmotic pumps. Erythropoiesis was assessed by growth of erythroid progenitor colonies (BFU-E and CFU-E for early and late progenitors, respectively). Results Following chemical sympathectomy with 6-OHDA, both BFU-E and CFU-E growth is inhibited (42%∗ and 43%∗ versus 100% SHAM, ∗P Conclusions Erythroid precursor colony growth is inhibited in sympathectomized rats. In addition, supraphysiologic doses of exogenous NE inhibit normal erythropoiesis in a dose-dependent fashion. Following chemical sympathectomy with 6-OHDA, exogenous NE restores erythropoiesis in a narrow window. Therefore, NE has a complex interaction within the BM and the elevation of NE following traumatic injury impacts BM erythropoietic function.
An Analysis of Fee-Shifting Based on the Margin of Victory: On Frivolous Suits, Meritorious Suits, and the Role of Rule 11

We show that, when plaintiffs cannot predict the outcome of litigation with certainty, neither the American rule of litigation cost allocation (under which each litigant bears its own expenses) nor the British rule (under which the losing litigant pays the attorneys' fees of the winning litigant) would induce plaintiffs to make optimal decisions to bring suit. In particular, plaintiffs may bring frivolous suits when litigation costs are sufficiently small relative to the amount at stake, and plaintiffs may not bring some meritorious suits when litigation costs are sufficiently large relative to the amount at stake. We analyze the effect of more general fee-shifting rules that are based not only upon the identity of the winning party but also on how strong the court perceives the case to be at the end of the trial -- that is, the 'margin of victory.' In particular, we explore how and when one can design such a rule to induce plaintiffs to sue if and only if they believe their cases are sufficiently strong. Our analysis suggests some considerations to guide the interpretation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11.
Detection and partial structure elucidation of basic taxoids from Taxus wallichiana by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive method for the detection and characterization of basic taxoids from the ethyl acetate extract of Taxus wallichiana has been described. A combined analysis of the fragmentation spectra of 3 purified standard basic taxoids and the substructure analysis of 139 previously reported taxoids provided information on typical primary and secondary product ions that are generated by CID mass spectrometry of basic taxoids. Precursor-scan analysis of selected product ions allowed for the detection of 57 basic taxoids from the ethyl acetate extract of T. wallichiana, 45 of which have not been reported. The method describe in this paper provides a fast method for the “dereplication” of natural products. The mass spectrometric data derived by this method was sufficient for the partial structure elucidation of novel basic taxoids. The method presented in this paper can be easily adapted into a high-throughput screening protocol for the identification and characterization of bioactive natural products.
Do state rate setting regulations really lower hospital expenses

The phenomenon of regression to the mean might seriously bias estimates of the impact of hospital rate setting laws. We examine this problem and find that, while estimates of the average effectiveness of rate setting laws are not strongly affected, estimates for individual states may be skewed.
Plant Growth with Artificial Sources of Radiant Energy

In the design of experiments where plants are to be grown under controlled radiation conditions, it is necessary to have information on the relative power efficiency and the type of growth obtainable with various lamp sources, for the proper selection of equipment. It is well known that the growth form of plants is dependent upon the incident irradiance, photoperiod, and the spectral characteristics of the radiant energy (1, 2, 11, 14, 15,16). Before the introduction of the gaseous discharge lamps, most of the studies were made using the incandescent tungsten filament lamp as a source (7, 9,14). While the growth rate obtained with the bare incandescent lamp frequently was comparable with that often secured under greenhouse conditions when sufficiently high irradiances were used, the plants usually had thin stems and longer internodes than those grown with solar irradiation. With the advent of the modern type gaseous discharge lamps, Roodenburg (17), Arthur.and his co-workers (1, 2, 3), and others studied the growth obtainable with these sources. Arthur and Stewart (1) observed production of buckwheat plants under incandescent, neon, mercury, and sodium vapor lamps. They found that, with equal irradiances as measured with a Weston illuminometer, the efficiency in production of dry matter decreased in the following order : neon, incandescent, sodium, and mercury. When the radiant energy was calculated on an equal energy basis, they concluded that the actual order of efficiency was sodium, neon, incandescent, and mercury. When sodium alone was tried (2), it was found that the plants did not grow well over long periods of time. Supplementing the sodium with two hours per day from an 85-watt capillary mercury vapor lamp, caused an improvement in growth with a number of varieties of plants. Mitchell (12) grew tomato plants, using a carbon arc and an incandescent filament lamp as sources. He found that total synthesis of dry matter was greater per unit of time under the incandescent lamp when equivalent energies, as balanced with a Weston cell, were used. The plants synthesized more dry matter, although the height was less, under the carbon arc when equal total radiant energies, as measured by a nonselective detector, were used. ? Journal Paper no. 272, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station.
The effect of pulse pile-up on threshold crossing rates in a system with a known impulse response

Abstract The problem of counting rates in a counting detection system is viewed as a stochastic problem of mean threshold crossing rates for a dynamic system driven by a stationary random force. We present a general formula for calculating the rates of such a system at an arbitrary threshold for all values of event occurrence rates, given that the amplitude distribution of the incoming events and the impulse response of the detection system are known. From a single general formula we derive asymptotic expressions for counting rates at both limits of high and low incoming rates. We give a simple expression for the saturation counting rate of a detection system and show that for a high-order pile-up the average intensity and variation of the incoming signal can be determined by measuring the counting rates at two thresholds. For low incoming rates, we show how the unknown incoming distribution can be computed from the measured pulse-height spectrum. Based on the asymptotic results, we demonstrate how to construct an approximation to the impulse response function of the detection system, which facilitates numerical evaluation of the general formula. In each case, we present a comparison with numerical experiments. Throughout the paper, we illustrate how well-known experimental facts can be deduced from a single general formula.
The Relevance of Mathematics.

“Relevance” has been a favorite concept in the last few years. Questions about the relevance of an institution, an activity, or a subject are often asked (and less often answered). We take it that relevance must refer, at least implicitly, to a relation with some body of values or purposes. Thus a subject may be relevant in the first instance by way of its applications to another subject—which in its turn may then be tested for its further relevance, ultimately to human welfare or to an overriding conception of the good. In short, the relevance of mathematics involves both the various applications of mathematics and the position of mathematics in the spectrum of human values.
Hele-Shaw flows with anisotropic surface tension

In this note, we study Hele-Shaw flows in the presence of anisotropic surface tension when the fluid domain is bounded. The flows are driven by a sink, by a multipole, or solely by anisotropic surface tension. For a sink flow, we show that if the center of mass of the initial domain is not located at a certain point which is determined by the anisotropic surface tension and intensity of the sink, then either the solution will break down before all the fluid is sucked out or the fluid domain will eventually become unbounded in diameter. For a multipole driven flow, we prove that if the anisotropic surface tension, the order, and intensity of the multipole do not satisfy a certain equality, either the flow will develop finite-time singularities or the fluid domain will become unbounded in diameter as time goes to infinity. For a flow driven purely by anisotropic surface tension, we show that the center of mass of the fluid domain moves in a constant velocity, which is determined explicitly.
Electrophysiologic evaluation of cardiovascular agents in the isolated intact rabbit heart.

Abstract A modification of the Langendorff perfused rabbit heart is described. This model can be used to perform electrophysiologic studies in the isolated heart and is ideally suited for acute pharmacologie evaluation. His bundle electrograms were measured with a plunge electrode and allowed atrioventricular (AV) nodal physiology to be directly and precisely evaluated. Atrial conduction and refractoriness, atrioventricular node conduction and refractoriness, His-Purkinje conduction, and ventricular conduction and refractoriness could be accurately measured. Verapamil had a depressant effect on AV nodal conduction and refractoriness without affecting His-Purkinje conduction or myocardial refractoriness. Flecainide prolonged atrial conduction and His-Purkinje conduction with less effect on AV nodal physiology. The use of this isolated perfused rabbit heart model is an inexpensive and reliable technique for the evaluation of the electrophysiologic effects of pharmacologie agents on the conduction system of the heart. A major advantage of the isolated heart model is the absence of autonomie reflexes, which can confound studies performed in intact animals.
CREATIVE THOUGHT, PRODUCTIVITY, AND THE SELF-CONCEPT.

Although an extreme diversity in theoretical orientation and research approach is evident in the psychological investigation of creativity, a general consensus as to both the criteria for calling a...
THE PRODUCTION OF MIGRATION INHIBITION FACTOR BY B AND T CELLS OF THE GUINEA PIG

Stimulation of sensitized lymphocytes by specific antigen in vitro leads to the production of migration inhibition factor (MIF). In the case of the pure soluble protein, or hapten-protein antigens used in the present studies, this MIF production was a property of the T lymphocytes in the cell suspensions. When PPD was used, B cells, as well as T cells, produced MIF. Similarly, PPD could stimulate B cells to mediate the macrophage disappearance reaction, a reaction which is known to be a T cell-dependent in vivo manifestation of cell-mediated immunity. Suspensions of lymphocytes from nonimmune donors could also be stimulated by PPD; in this case, B cells, but not T cells, produced MIF. The factors produced by the two lymphocyte subpopulations appeared to be similar, if not identical, on the basis of physico-chemical criteria. It is suggested that PPD stimulates B cells for MIF production because of its role as a B cell mitogen. The ability of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide, another B cell mitogen, to also induce MIF production by B cells supports this contention. Thus, although activation of lymphocytes for MIF production by specific antigen is a property of T cells, B cells as well as T cells may be so activated by agents which act nonspecifically. This may prove to have implications for in vivo events involved in immunization. In addition, these observations lend further support to the concept that lymphokine production represents a general biologic phenomenon in addition to playing a role in the effector mechanisms for reactions of cell-mediated immunity.
Short‐wavelength turbulence in the solar wind: Linear theory of whistler and kinetic Alfvén fluctuations

[1] There is a debate as to the identity of the fluctuations which constitute the relatively high-frequency plasma turbulence observed in the solar wind. One school holds that these modes are kinetic Alfven waves, whereas another opinion is that they are whistler modes. Here linear kinetic theory for electromagnetic fluctuations in homogeneous, collisionless, magnetized plasmas is used to compute two dimensionless transport ratios, the electron compressibility Ce and the magnetic compressibility C for these two modes. The former is a measure of the amplitude of density fluctuations, and the latter indicates the relative energy in magnetic fluctuations in the component parallel to the background magnetic field Bo. For βe ≪ 1, [C]Alfven ≪ [C]whistler, and the latter quantity is of order 0.5 at whistler propagation strongly oblique to Bo. Such values of C are sometimes measured at relatively high frequencies and βe ≪ 1 in the solar wind; thus, it is concluded that such observations correspond to whistler mode turbulence. But other solar wind observations indicate that kinetic Alfven fluctuations also contribute to relatively high-frequency solar wind turbulence.
Painless pancreatitis after implantation of a biventricular assistive device

This young cardiac transplant patient developed painless acute pancreatitis within 10 days of implantation of a biventricular assist device (BIVAD). Historical, physical, laboratory, and imaging data allowed conservative management leading to a favorable outcome. Acute pancreatitis after cardiac transplantation is common with a significant mortality rate. Immunosuppression may play an important role in this process as well as infectious and pancreaticobiliary etiologies. Whereas acute pancreatitis is a well-documented complication of cardiac transplantation, this event has not previously been reported in patients who have received a BIVAD. The mechanism by which BIVAD placement may result in pancreatitis is unknown.
Challenge with ovalbumin antigen increases uterine and cervical contractile activity in sensitized guinea pigs.

Objective The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of ovalbumin challenge on uterine and cervical contractility, intrauterine pressure, and uterine electromyography activity in sensitized guinea pigs. Study Design Guinea pigs were sensitized by injection of ovalbumin-aluminum hydroxide suspension. Control animals were injected with the aluminum hydroxide suspension only. On days 55-57 of pregnancy, longitudinal uterine and cervical strips from guinea pigs were prepared for isometric tension recording. Nonpregnant guinea pigs were outfitted with telemetric transducers to record intrauterine pressure and uterine electromyography. Results Ovalbumin significantly increased contractility of uterine and cervical strips from sensitized versus nonsensitized animals. These effects were abolished by histamine H1 receptor antagonist in uterine strips and by histamine H1 receptor antagonist and a mast cell stabilizer in cervical strips from sensitized animals. Cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors had no significant effect on the response to ovalbumin. Treatment with ovalbumin in vivo significantly increased intrauterine pressure and uterine electromyography activity in sensitized but not in nonsensitized, animals. Conclusion Our findings indicate that type I hypersensitivity reactions may be important in mediating uterine contractility in pregnant and nonpregnant states.
Lead-alloy coolant technology and materials – technology readiness level evaluation

Abstract Lead and lead–bismuth eutectic heavy liquid metal coolants are under wide-ranging international investigation and development for advanced nuclear systems for energy production and waste transmutation (reactor-based or accelerator-driven). This report reviews the major supporting international R&D programs, the key advances in the main areas of coolant technology and materials, the state of technology, and the strategic directions for further development. Based on this review, we conservatively evaluate the technological readiness level (TRL) for programmatic and industrial applications in high-temperature advanced reactors to be 7, “one-dimensional engineering-scale demonstration”, or the first level in the proof-of-performance category. A 3-D engineering-scale integral test and demonstration facility should be the next step toward the realization of a test and demonstration nuclear system (reactor or accelerator-driven). The recent success of MEGAPIE, a 1 MW class lead–bismuth eutectic spallation target operating at the Paul Scherrer Institute signals that for such applications of short to intermediate durations at moderate temperatures, the TRL is close to 9, meaning the technology is nearly ready for deployment.
Nanorobotic in situ characterization of nanowire memristors and “memsensing”

We report the nanorobotic in situ forming and characterization of memristors based on individual copper oxide nanowires (CuO NWs) and their potential applications as nanosensors with memory (memristic sensors or “memsensors”). A series of in situ techniques for the experimental investigations of memristors are developed including nanorobotic manipulation, electro-beam-based forming, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) enabled correlation of transport properties and carrier distribution. All experimental investigations are performed inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The initial CuO NW memristors are formed by localized electron-beam irradiation to generate oxygen vacancies as dopants. Current-voltage properties show distinctive hysteresis characteristics of memristors. The mechanism of such memristic behaviors is explained with an oxygen vacancy migration model. The presence and migration of the oxygen vacancies is identified with EELS. Investigations also reveal that the memristic behavior can be influenced by the deformation of the nanowire, showing that the nanowire memristor can serve as a deformation/force memorable sensor. The CuO NW-based memristors will enrich the binary transition oxide family but hold a simpler and more compact design than the conventional thin-film version. With these advantages, the CuO NW-based memristors will not only facilitate their applications in nanoelectronics but play a unique role in micro-/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) as well.
Improving intelligence analysis: bridging the gap between scholarship and practice, by Stephen Marrin

This is a very important book in that it represents one of the first attempts to explicitly and rigorously address a long-existing dilemma within Intelligence Studies: not only making analysis stro...
Failure of Larger-Diameter Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty Resulting from Anterior Iliopsoas Impingement

Anterior iliopsoas impingement is a recognized cause of persistent groin pain after total hip arthroplasty. We report 3 patients with failed total hip arthroplasties resulting from anterior iliopsoas and capsular impingement secondary to a metal femoral ball with a diameter larger than the native femoral head. All patients had the same implant design. Resolution of symptoms occurred in all patients after revision surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this potential failure mechanism with these large-diameter implant designs and should be considered in the appropriate clinical scenario.
Using shared representations to improve coordination and intent inference

In groupware, users must communicate about their intentions and aintain common knowledge via communication channels that are explicitly designed into the system. Depending upon the task, generic communication tools like chat or a shared whiteboard may not be sufficient to support effective coordination. We have previously reported on a methodology that helps the designer develop task specific communication tools, called coordinating representations, for groupware systems. Coordinating representations lend structure and persistence to coordinating information. We have shown that coordinating representations are readily adopted by a user population, reduce coordination errors, and improve performance in a domain task. As we show in this article, coordinating representations present a unique opportunity to acquire user information in collaborative, user-adapted systems. Because coordinating representations support the exchange of coordinating information, they offer a window onto task and coordination-specific knowledge that is shared by users. Because they add structure to communication, the information that passes through them can be easily exploited by adaptive technology. This approach provides a simple technique for acquiring user knowledge in collaborative, user-adapted systems. We document our application of this approach to an existing groupware system. Several empirical results are provided. First, we show how information that is made available by a coordinating representation can be used to infer user intentions. We also show how this information can be used to mine free text chat for intent information, and show that this information further enhances intent inference. Empirical data shows that an automatic plan generation component, which is driven by information from a coordinating representation, reduces coordination errors and cognitive effort for its users. Finally, our methodology is summarized, and we present a framework for comparing our approach to other strategies for user knowledge acquisition in adaptive systems.
Mass spectrometric technique for the determination of N-phosphonoacetyl-L-aspartic acid in serum.

Abstract N-Phosphonoacetyl- l -aspartic acid (PALA), a potent inhibitor of aspartic acid transcarbamylase, is now undergoing Phase I clinical trials. Initial experiments revealed that PALA is not metabolized to phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) in humans. Thus PALA may be quantified in serum after in vitro conversion to PAA. Serum is deproteinized with perchloric acid, lipid extracted with methylene chloride, hydrolyzed with 8 N hydrochloric acid at 100° for 3 h, and evaporated to dryness with nitrogen. The residue is silylated, and PAA is quantified by monitoring the ions of the protonated molecular ions of trimethylsilyl derivatives of PAA and phosphonopropionic acid (internal standard) obtained in chemical ionization with methane. Limit of detection is 0.5 μM (150 ng/ml) PALA using 1 ml serum. PALA was given by continuous infusion to cancer patients at various doses. Maximum levels of PALA (50–500 μM range) were obtained at the end of infusion, followed in most cases by biexponential decay. Persistent residual PALA levels (5 μM for 48 h after infusion) correlated with increased toxicity.
The Divergence of Art from “African Culture”: From Achimota to the Educational Reforms of 1986 in Ghana's Art Education

At the national school cultural competition held in Cape Coast in May 1999, the 10 regions of Ghana presented the finest examples of the art and crafts made by students in the region's schools in t...
1-Butene separation processes with heat pump assisted distillation

Distillation processes with relative volatility near to one require huge amounts of energy and extremely high columns. In order to reduce the costs, several energy conserving methods can be utilized. In the case of separating 1-butene from the C4 fractions, two columns are needed, which makes it possible to consider their heat integration. Due to the small temperature differences between the column tops and bottoms, the heat pump processes are also promising. As the result of an exhaustive computer-aided analysis a combination of heat integration and vapour recompression proves to be the most economical scheme for separating 1-butene.
N-terminal Half of the cGMP Phosphodiesterase γ-Subunit Contributes to Stabilization of the GTPase-accelerating Protein Complex

In the visual signal terminating transition state, the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6) inhibitory γ-subunit (PDEγ) stimulates GTPase activity of the α-subunit of transducin (αt) by enhancing the interaction between αt and its regulator of G protein signaling (RGS9), which is constitutively bound to the type 5 G protein β-subunit (β5). Although it is known from a crystal structure of partial molecules that the PDEγ C terminus contacts with both αt and RGS9, contributions from the intrinsically disordered PDEγ N-terminal half remain unclear. In this study, we were able to investigate this issue using a photolabel transfer strategy that allows for mapping the interface of full-length proteins. We observed label transfer from PDEγ N-terminal positions 50, 30, and 16 to RGS9·β5 in the GTPase-accelerating protein (GAP) complex composed of PDEγ·αt·RGS9·β5. In support of a direct PDEγ N-terminal interaction with RGS9·β5, the PDEγ N-terminal peptide PDEγ(1–61) abolished label transfer to RGS9·β5, and another N-terminal peptide, PDEγ(10–30), disassembled the GAP complex in label transfer and pulldown experiments. Furthermore, we determined that the PDEγ C-terminal interaction with αt was enhanced whereas the N-terminal interaction was weakened upon changing the αt conformation from the signaling state to the transition state. This “rearrangement” of PDEγ domain interactions with αt appears to facilitate the interaction of the PDEγ N-terminal half with RGS9·β5 and hence its contribution to optimal stabilization of the GAP complex.
Radio-Frequency Interference Mitigation for the Soil Moisture Active Passive Microwave Radiometer

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) radiometer operates in the L-band protected spectrum (1400-1427 MHz) that is known to be vulnerable to radio-frequency interference (RFI). Although transmissions are forbidden at these frequencies by international regulations, ground-based, airborne, and spaceborne radiometric observations show substantial evidence of out-of-band emissions from neighboring transmitters and possibly illegally operating emitters. The spectral environment that SMAP faces includes not only occasional large levels of RFI but also significant amounts of low-level RFI equivalent to a brightness temperature of 0.1-10 K at the radiometer output. This low-level interference would be enough to jeopardize the success of a mission without an aggressive mitigation solution, including special flight hardware and ground software with capabilities of RFI detection and removal. SMAP takes a multidomain approach to RFI mitigation by utilizing an innovative onboard digital detector back end with digital signal processing algorithms to characterize the time, frequency, polarization, and statistical properties of the received signals. Almost 1000 times more measurements than what is conventionally necessary are collected to enable the ground processing algorithm to detect and remove harmful interference. Multiple RFI detectors are run on the ground, and their outputs are combined for maximum likelihood of detection to remove the RFI within a footprint. The capabilities of the hardware and software systems are successfully demonstrated using test data collected with a SMAP radiometer engineering test unit.
Mechanisms and attenuation of hemostatic activation during extracorporeal circulation

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass are at risk for excessive microvascular bleeding, which often leads to transfusion of allogeneic blood and blood components as well as reexploration in a smaller subset of patients. Excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery is generally related to a combination of several alterations in the hemostatic system pertaining to hemodilution, excessive activation of the hemostatic system, and potentially the use of newer, longer-acting antiplatelet or antithrombotic agents. Although several nonpharmacologic strategies have been proposed, this review summarizes the role of pharmacologic interventions as means to attenuate the alterations in the hemostatic system during CPB in an attempt to reduce excessive bleeding, transfusion, and reexploration. Specifically, agents that inhibit platelets, fibrinolysis, factor Xa and thrombin, as well as broad-spectrum agents, have been investigated with respect to their role in reducing consumption of clotting factors and better preservation of platelet function. Prophylactic administration of agents with antifibrinolytic, anticoagulant, and possibly antiinflammatory properties can decrease blood loss and transfusion. Although aprotinin seems to be the most effective blood conservation agent (which is most likely related to its broad-spectrum nature), agents with isolated antifibrinolytic properties may be as effective in low-risk patients. The ability to reduce blood product transfusions and to decrease operative times and reexploration rates favorably affects patient outcomes, availability of blood products, and overall health care costs.
GRAVITATION WITHOUT SELF-INTERACTION.

Abstract We explore the possibility that the gravitational field is a linear spin-two field. As is well-known such a field must have a divergence-free source. But when matter interacts with the gravitational field, its stress tensor is not divergence-free and therefore cannot serve as the source. Instead, we have chosen a divergence-free, nonlocal, projection of the matter stress tensor. It is shown that it gives the same predictions as general relativity in all experimental and observational tests made so far; it is in fact difficult to decide, experimentally, between the two theories. Conceptually there are basic differences. The principle of equivalence is fulfilled for matter but not for gravitons, which are “uncharged,” like photons in electrodynamics. There are indications that gravitational collapse does not occur. The theory may be written in local form, using auxiliary fields; these correspond to an additional spin-zero excitation (with positive-definite energy).
The shelahP-point independence theorem

In this paper, we present S. Shelah's example of a model of set theory in which there are noP-points in βN/N. This settles the famous open question: “Is ‘ZFC+there are noP-points in βN/N’ consistent?”
In the Science Zone II: The Fore, Papua New Guinea, and the Fight for Representation

Four questions—two for Dr. Anderson, the medically trained historian and STS scholar, and two for Professor Anderson, the historian of medicine and anthropology—arise as I read Warwick Anderson's T...
The mathematical model and control of human-machine perceptual feedback system

In this paper, we propose a novel system architecture and control scheme, a human-machine perceptual feedback system and control, to enhance a user's control performance while he is teleoperating a mobile robot with a joystick. First, we model the user, robot, and human-machine perceptual feedback controller. The two key roles of the controller are: a) displaying a preferred road width to the user with respect to various road types, and b) constraining the maximum linear and angular velocity of the robot for safer maneuver as well. Second, we define a perception to behavior stability and perform a stability analysis. Finally, we present simulation results showing that a novice user can teleoperate the mobile robot successfully along sidewalks by our approach.
Theory of quasiparticle energies and excitation spectra of semiconductors and insulators

A quasiparticle theory for the band gaps and excitation spectra of semiconductors and insulators is reviewed. In this approach, the nonlocal energy-dependent electron self-energy operator is calculated from first principles using the full dielectric matrix and the dressed Green's function. Experimental spectra are properly interpreted as transitions between quasiparticle states of an interacting many-body system. Application to covalent materials as well as large gap ionic compounds showed that the effects of local fields and dynamical screening are crucial for accurate results. With no empirical input, the calculated band gaps, optical transitions, and band dispersions are all within a few percent of experimental values.
Randomized trials of radiation therapy in adult low-grade gliomas.

There are two central questions in the radiotherapeutic management of the adult patient with a supratentorial low-grade (WHO grade II) astrocytoma, oligo-astrocytoma, or oligodendroglioma. The first question is one of timing. Following tissue diagnosis with or without maximum surgical resection, should immediate postoperative radiation therapy (RT) be given, or should RT be deferred to the time of local recurrence? The second question is one of dose. Assuming RT is given, should lower doses (ie, ≈45–50 Gray (Gy)or higher doses (ie, ≈60–65 Gy) be administered? One Phase III prospective randomized clinical trial addressing the first question and two addressing the second question have been performed. Their results suggest that delayed (versus immediate) RT and low-dose (versus high-dose) RT are both acceptable treatment strategies despite the bias amongst radiation oncologists (primarily based on retrospective data) that immediate and high-dose RT would result in better outcome. The schema of the ongoing Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study is presented.