cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Origin of the mosaicity in graphene grown on Cu(111)

We use low-energy electron microscopy to investigate how graphene grows on Cu(111). Graphene islands first nucleate at substrate defects such as step bunches and impurities. A considerable fraction of these islands can be rotationally misaligned with the substrate, generating grain boundaries upon interisland impingement. New rotational boundaries are also generated as graphene grows across substrate step bunches. Thus, rougher substrates lead to higher degrees of mosaicity than do flatter substrates. Increasing the growth temperature improves crystallographic alignment. We demonstrate that graphene growth on Cu(111) is surface diffusion limited by comparing simulations of the time evolution of island shapes with experiments. Islands are dendritic with distinct lobes, but unlike the polycrystalline, four-lobed islands observed on (100)-textured Cu foils, each island can be a single crystal. Thus, epitaxial graphene on smooth, clean Cu(111) has fewer structural defects than it does on Cu(100).
Homologies ofNeurospora homothallic species using repeated and nonrepeated DNA sequences

DNA:DNA hybridization studies of the homothallic species ofNeurospora showed that the repeated DNA sequences provided no means of distinction among them. Hybridization with nonrepeated DNA sequences, however, showed that theN. terricola species was quite unlike the others. These studies suggest that heterothallism might have evolved from homothallism inNeurospora.
Group G streptococcus—an emerging cause of graft loss?

Summary Following anecdotal reports of skin graft loss due to non-group A streptococcal infection, a retrospective study was performed to compare the effect of streptococcal infections on our recent practice (1987–1990) and on a similar period 15 years earlier. Graft loss was estimated following streptococcal infection of any kind for the two periods, and compared to Staph. aureus controls. In the recent period, graft take was significantly decreased for streptococcus G compared to other non A groups and Staph. aureus controls. No differences were found for the early period. It is suggested that group G streptococcus may now be associated with decreased graft survival and that thin is a recently observed effect, possibly due to altered bacterial pathogenicity.
Deposition of organic matter on a high-energy sand beach by a mass stranding of the cnidarian Velella velella (L.)

Abstract Strandings of cnidaria occur commonly on exposed shorelines. In some years, large numbers of the chondrophoran Velella velella (L.) are stranded on Pacific beaches of North America. The quantity of organic material deposited on an Oregon beach by one of three mass strandings in 1984 was measured. An average of 2573 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) was deposited per meter of shoreline, representing 1223 g m −1 of carbon and 347 g m −1 of nitrogen. No significant reduction in AFDW m −1 of the decomposing material was observed in the first three days. The drying mat of stranded material was broken apart by wave action after nine days and most of the material was absent after twelve days. Measurement of microbial and primary production in the period following a stranding may help to determine how long nutrients derived from the stranded material are retained in the beach and surf system.
Methylation of ribosomal RNA genes in the macronucleus of Tetrahymena thermophila

Abstract We have investigated the occurrence of methylated adenine residues in the macronuclear ribosomal RNA genes of Tetrahymena thermophila. It has been shown previously that macronuclear DNA, including the palindromic ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA), of Tetrahymena thermophila contains the modified base N-6-methyladenine, but no 5-methylcytosine. Purified rDNA was digested with restriction enzymes Sau 3AI, MboI and DpnI to map the positions and levels of N-6-methyladenine in the sequence 5' GATC 3'. A specific pattern of doubly methylated GATC sequences was found; hemimethylated sites were not detected. The patterns and levels of methylation of these sites did not change significantly in different physiological states. A molecular form of the rDNA found in the newly developing macronucleus and for several generations following the sexual process, conjugation, contained no detectably methylated GATC sites. However, both the bulk macronuclear DNA and palindromic rDNA from the same macronuclei were methylated. Possible roles for N-6-methyladenine in macronuclear DNA are discussed in light of these findings.
Allocating programs containing branches and loops within a multiple processor system

The problem of assigning the modules of distributed program to the processors of a distributed system is addressed. The goal of such an assignment is to minimize the total execution and communication costs. A computational model of a distributed program containing probabilistic branches and loops is described by a directed graph whose edges represent precedence relations between modules. Efficient algorithms based on short-path methods are presented to determine the optimum assignment on a distributed system containing N heterogeneous processors.
Mechanisms of Renal Vasodilation and Hyperfiltration During Pregnancy: Current Perspectives and Potential Implications for Preeclampsia

A thorough understanding of the renal and cardiovascular adaptations to normal gestation is essential for proper diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders and renal diseases during pregnancy. Here, we briefly review the renal hemodynamic changes of normal pregnancy. In addition, we present new findings and current concepts related to the underlying hormonal and molecular mechanisms. Finally, we speculate on the potential contribution of these insights from normal pregnancy to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Adult peripheral lung organ culture—A model for respiratory tract toxicology

Abstract This report describes procedures to culture 1- to 2-mm-thick cross sections of lung lobes for periods of 4 to 6 weeks. Normal morphologic and macromolecular composition are maintained. Previous attempts to maintain adult peripheral lung cultures for periods beyond 7–10 days or to examine respiratory disorders in vitro other than acute changes have been generally unsuccessful. Eight different, supplemented, serum-free media, mixed with heated liquid agarose were infused into the airways of hamster and rat lungs. Cross sections were explanted onto squares of porous surgical packing material, placed in medium, and incubated for 4 to 6 weeks. The ability of each medium to maintain normal lung was assessed microscopically by quantitative image analysis and by biochemical analyses. The optimal medium formulation for each species is described. The adult peripheral lung culture system may provide toxicologists with a unique model for mechanistic and safety evaluations of potential lung toxicants.
The use of computer graphic simulation in the development of on-orbit tele-robotic systems

This paper describes the use of computer graphic simulation techniques to resolve critical design and operational issues for robotic systems used for on-orbit operations. These issues are robot motion control, robot path-planning/verification, and robot dynamics. The major design issues in developing effective telerobotic systems are discussed, and the use of ROBOSIM, a NASA-developed computer graphic simulation tool, to address these issues is presented. Simulation plans for the Space Station and the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle are presented and discussed.
Degree of training and the novelty transfer effect

Four groups of 40 Ss were given transfer tests following 2.4, 6, or 8 14-trial blocks of paired-associate training with unequal stimulus frequencies and then retested after a further training period in which the same compound stimuli were presented at equal frequencies. The novelty effect, in which Ss respond to new combinations of training components by giving the response associated with the least frequent component, was obtained in every transfer test. It was concluded that the novelty effect is a mode of responding that is produced by differential frequencies during early learning and which, once adopted, is retained by Ss regardless of whether the frequency differential is maintained.
Fostering Ethics Research: An Analysis of the Accounting, Finance and Marketing Disciplines

This study compares the level of ethics research published in 25 business-ethics journals and the Top-40 journals for the accounting, finance, and marketing disciplines. This research documents an increasing level of ethics research in the accounting and marketing disciplines starting in 1992. While the level of finance doctorates reported by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has increased at a higher rate (40.4%) than accounting (18.4%) and marketing (32.2%) since 1995, this increase has not been reflected in the level of ethics scholarship in finance. The level of ethics scholarship in finance remained relatively constant between 1987 and 2005 at an average of seven coauthor-adjusted articles per year. However, both the accounting and marketing disciplines now regularly publish approximately 50 coauthor-adjusted articles each year.
Application of parameter estimation and hypothesis test for a generalized gamma distribution

This paper develops maximum likelihood (ML) estimation procedures for the parameters of a generalized Gamma probability density function. In addition, the likelihood ratio conditioned on the ML estimates of the process parameters is given. A special case arising in the analysis of carbon monoxide pollution data is discussed in detail and the performance of the binary hypothesis test functioning as a pollution forecasting algorithm is reported.
Aversive conditioning of junk food consumption: A multiple baseline study

Three female volunteers participated in a multiple-baseline study of an aversive conditioning treatment designed to reduce consumption of junk food. Self-reported consumption, ratings of palatability, and SHP (salivation) measures decreased following the introduction of treatment for each participant. Independent assessment of treatment compliance suggested a relationship between adherence and outcome.
The Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Complex dnaB Locus and Protein Intein Splicing

Intein is a protein sequence mebedded in-frame within a precursor protein and is posttranslationally excised by a self-catalytic protein splicing process. Protein splicing is believed to follow a pathway requiring Cys, Ser, or Thr residues at the intein N-terminus and substitutions other than Cys, Ser, or Thr residues prevent splicing. We show that the dnaB locus in some strains of M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) contains intein and that the intein N-terminal amino acid is Ala [Ala-type]. We demonstrate that the M. avium DnaB precursor protein undergoes posttranslational proteolytic processing producing proteins corresponding to the sizes of the DnaB and intein. Further, by Western analysis we detect a protein corresponding to the size of the spliced DnaB protein in MAC cell extracts. Together, these results indicate that the Ala-type MAC DnaB inteins can splice and provide another example that points to an interesting alternative splicing mechanism (Southworth, M. W., Benner, J., and Perler, F. B., EMBO J. 19, 5019-5026, 2000).
Velocity contrast along the Calaveras fault from analysis of fault zone head waves generated by repeating earthquakes

[1] We systematically investigate the velocity contrast along the Calaveras fault that ruptured during the 1984 Morgan Hill earthquake using fault zone head waves (FZHW) that refract along the fault interface. We stack waveforms in 353 sets of repeating clusters, and align the peaks or troughs of the direct P waves assuming rightlateral strike-slip focal mechanisms. The obtained velocity contrasts are 2–3% and 12–14% NW and SE of station CCO, respectively. The FZHW and the fault plane outlined by the relocated seismicity SE of CCO are more complicated than those NW of CCO. The results can be explained by a relatively simple and sharp fault interface in the NW, and a complicated fault structure with a presence of a low-velocity zone in the SE. The along-strike variations in the strength of the velocity contrast are consistent with surface geological mapping and recent 3D tomography studies in this region. Citation: Zhao, P., and Z. Peng (2008), Velocity contrast along the Calaveras fault from analysis of fault zone head waves generated by repeating earthquakes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L01303, doi:10.1029/2007GL031810.
C/EBP Transcription Factors in Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Selective Changes in Expression of Isoforms Correlate with the Neoplastic State

The CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Proteins (C/EBPs) are a family of leucine-zipper transcription factors that regulate physiological processes such as energy metabolism, inflammation, cell cycle, and the development and differentiation of several tissues including skin. Recently, a role for C/EBPs in tumor cell proliferation and differentiation has been proposed, but the incomplete characterization in the literature of multiple translational isoforms of these proteins has made interpretation of these roles difficult. Therefore, we have carefully reexamined C/EBP isoform expression in human non-melanoma skin cancers. C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, and C/EBPδ were analyzed histologically in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). The individual isoforms of C/EBPα and C/EBPβ were examined by immunofluorescent digital imaging, western blotting and DNA binding activity (electrophoretic mobility shift analysis). Expression of all C/EBP family proteins was decreased in SCC tumors. Suppression was greatest for C/EBPα, less for C/EBPβ, and least for C/EBPδ. Western analyses confirmed that C/EBPα p42 and p30 isoforms were decreased. For C/EBPβ, only the abundant full-length isoform (C/EBPβ-1, LAP*, 55 kD) was reduced, whereas the smaller isoforms, C/EBPβ-2 (LAP, 48 kD) and C/EBPβ-3 (LIP, 20 kD), which are predominantly nuclear, were significantly increased in well- and moderately-differentiated SCC (up to 14-fold for C/EBPβ-3). These elevations correlated with increases in PCNA, a marker of proliferation. Although C/EBPβ displayed increased post-translational modifications in SCC, phosphorylation of C/EBPβ-1 (Thr 235) was not altered. C/EBP-specific DNA binding activity in nuclear and whole-cell extracts of cultured cells and tumors was predominantly attributable to C/EBPβ. In summary, two short C/EBPβ isoforms, C/EBPβ-2 and C/EBPβ-3, represent strong candidate markers for epithelial skin malignancy, due to their preferential expression in carcinoma versus normal skin, and their strong correlation with tumor proliferation.
Withdrawal of medical treatment in children.

Children are not supposed to die. In developed countries, the majority of pediatric deaths occur in a hospital, usually in an intensive care setting. Studies performed in various centers over the past decade have shown that withdrawal or withholding of support accounts for between 28% and 65% of deaths in pediatric intensive care units (see table).1,2,3,4,5,6​6 Table 1 Mode of death (%) in pediatric intensive care units The United Kingdom's Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health recently published a practice framework to address the circumstances in which intensive treatment may not be in the best interest of a child.7 This article reviews each of the 5 scenarios envisioned by the college and provides illustrative case histories. To protect patient confidentiality, all of these cases are composites. I also outline the importance of good communication between medical staff and the family, together with options when dissent arises between the 2 parties.
Controversies in the Use of Combination Therapy in the Older Patient

Monotherapy of hypertension should be the goal of treatment. Even in the elderly hypertensive patient there is a good response to monotherapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors as well as to diuretics and calcium channel blockers, despite the low plasma renin activity seen in the elderly. Adverse effects on metabolism and quality of life should be avoided in elderly patients as well as in younger hypertensive patients. Combinations of 2 drugs will not necessarily eliminate these undesirable effects, but drug combinations will be required in half of the hypertensive population. It is reasonable, when a second drug is added, to use one with a different mode of action. The role of diuretics, which have been the mainstay of antihypertensive therapy for a long time, may ultimately become that of a second drug in combination treatment.
The politics of international regime formation: managing natural resources and the environment

Why do actors in international society succeed in forming institutional arrangements or regimes to cope with some transboundary problems but fail to do so in connection with other, seemingly similar, problems? This article employs a threefold strategy to make progress toward answering this question. The first section prepares the ground by identifying and critiquing the principal models embedded in the existing literature on regime formation, and the second section articulates an alternative model, called institutional bargaining. The third section employs this alternative model to derive some hypotheses about the determinants of success in institutional bargaining and uses these hypotheses, in a preliminary way, to illuminate the process of regime formation in international society. To lend empirical content to the argument, the article focuses throughout on problems relating to natural resources and the environment.
Prognosis of Patients with Transected Melanomas

Background The management of melanoma is directly related to Breslow's depth. Biopsying melanomas in a fashion that transects the deep margin precludes an accurate measurement of the true depth. Objective To examine the prognosis of melanomas transected along the deep margins, as well as cases where no residual melanoma was seen on re-excision after transection. Methods Records from a cohort of patients at one institution were examined from 1996 through 2007. Patients were considered to have “transected” melanomas if tumor cells were present on the deep margin of the biopsy. Overall survival was determined. Results Seven hundred fourteen patients were examined. 171 (24%) of all melanomas were transected. 101(59%) of those lacked tumor cells on re-excision. Patients with transected melanomas were older (OR = 1.03, p < .001), and had higher Breslow's depths (OR = 1.21, p < .001) than those without transected tumors. Those with no residual melanoma after transection were younger (OR = 0.98, p = .010) and more likely to have no lymph node involvement (OR = 2.23, p = .037). Neither transection (p = .760), nor lack of residual melanoma on re-excision after transection (p = .793) influenced survival. Conclusion A high number of melanomas are transected at diagnosis, many of which lack visible tumor. The original Breslow's depth of transected melanomas without residual tumor on re-excision accurately predicts survival and prognosis.
Local Interaction, Multilevel Selection, and Evolutionary Transitions

Group-structured and neighbor-structured populations are compared, especially in relation to multilevel selection theory and evolutionary transitions. I argue that purely neighborstructured populations, which can feature the evolution of altruism, are not properly described in multilevel terms. The abilityto“gestaltswitch”betweenindividualistandmultilevel frameworks is then linked to the investigation of “major transitions” in evolution. Some explanatory concepts are naturally linked to one framework or the other, but a full understanding is best achieved via the use of both.
All Together Now: Concurrent Learning of Multiple Structures in an Artificial Language.

Natural languages contain many layers of sequential structure, from the distribution of phonemes within words to the distribution of phrases within utterances. However, most research modeling language acquisition using artificial languages has focused on only one type of distributional structure at a time. In two experiments, we investigated adult learning of an artificial language that contains dependencies between both adjacent and non-adjacent words. We found that learners rapidly acquired both types of regularities and that the strength of the adjacent statistics influenced learning of both adjacent and non-adjacent dependencies. Additionally, though accuracy was similar for both types of structure, participants’ knowledge of the deterministic non-adjacent dependencies was more explicit than their knowledge of the probabilistic adjacent dependencies. The results are discussed in the context of current theories of statistical learning and language acquisition.
Generic netlist representation for system and PE level design exploration

Designer productivity and design predictability are vital factors for successful embedded system design. Shrinking time-to-market and increasing complexity of these systems require more productive design approaches starting from high-level languages such as C. On the other hand, tight constraints of embedded systems require careful design exploration at system level (coarse grained exploration) and at the processing-element (PE) level (fine grained exploration).In this paper we presented GNR, a formal modeling approach, developed to improve productivity of designing systems and processing elements, the same way that traditional ADLs improved productivity for designing processors. The GNR is an order of magnitude shorter than state-of-the-art ADLs with RTL generation capabilities and yet can capture any structural details that affect the implementation quality. Using relatively short GNR description, we explored several designs for implementing an MP3 decoder and achieved 3.25 speedup compared to MicroBlaze processor. We have also developed a web-based interface for our tools, so that users can upload and evaluate new architectures described in GNR. Our toolset and GNR is an intermediate step towards synthesis of TLM to RTL.
Gain of Glucose-Independent Growth upon Metastasis of Breast Cancer Cells to the Brain

Breast cancer brain metastasis is resistant to therapy and a particularly poor prognostic feature in patient survival. Altered metabolism is a common feature of cancer cells but little is known as to what metabolic changes benefit breast cancer brain metastases. We found that brain-metastatic breast cancer cells evolved the ability to survive and proliferate independent of glucose due to enhanced gluconeogenesis and oxidations of glutamine and branched chain amino acids, which together sustain the non-oxidative pentose pathway for purine synthesis. Silencing expression of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatases (FBPs) in brain metastatic cells reduced their viability and improved the survival of metastasis-bearing immunocompetent hosts. Clinically, we showed that brain metastases from human breast cancer patients expressed higher levels of FBP and glycogen than the corresponding primary tumors. Together, our findings identify a critical metabolic condition required to sustain brain metastasis, and suggest that targeting gluconeogenesis may help eradicate this deadly feature in advanced breast cancer patients.
Transitioning from standard to minimum tillage: Trade-offs between soil organic matter stabilization, nitrous oxide emissions, and N availability in irrigated cropping systems

Few studies address nutrient cycling during the transition period (e.g., 1–4 years following conversion) from standard to some form of conservation tillage. This study compares the influence of minimum versus standard tillage on changes in soil nitrogen (N) stabilization, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, shortterm N cycling, and crop N use efficiency 1 year after tillage conversion in conventional (i.e., synthetic fertilizer-N only), low-input (i.e., alternating annual synthetic fertilizer- and cover crop-N), and organic (i.e., manure- and cover crop-N) irrigated, maize–tomato systems in California. To understand the mechanisms governing N cycling in these systems, we traced 15 N-labeled fertilizer/cover crop into the maize grain, whole soil, and three soil fractions: macroaggregates (>250 mm), microaggregates (53– 250 mm) and silt-and-clay (<53 mm). We found a cropping system effect on soil Nnew (i.e., N derived from 15 N-fertilizer or - 15 N-cover crop), with 173 kg Nnew ha � 1 in the conventional system compared to 71.6 and 69.2 kg Nnew ha � 1 in the low-input and organic systems, respectively. In the conventional system, more Nnew was found in the microaggregate and silt-and-clay fractions, whereas, the Nnew of the organic and low-input systems resided mainly in the macroaggregates. Even though no effect of tillage was found on soil aggregation, the minimum tillage systems showed greater soil fraction-Nnew than the standard tillage systems, suggesting greater potential for N stabilization under minimum tillage. GrainNnew was also higher in the minimum versus standard tillage systems. Nevertheless, minimum tillage led to the greatest N2O emissions (39.5 g N2O–N ha � 1 day � 1 ) from the conventional cropping system, where N turnover was already the fastest among the cropping systems. In contrast, minimum tillage combined with the low-input system (which received the least N ha � 1 ) produced intermediate N2O emissions, soil N stabilization, and crop N use efficiency. Although total soil N did not change after 1 year of conversion from standard to minimum tillage, our use of stable isotopes permitted the early detection of interactive effects between tillage regimes and cropping systems that determine the trade-offs among N stabilization, N2O emissions, and N availability.
Soil clean up by in-situ aeration. X. Vapor stripping of mixtures of volatile organics obeying Raoult's law

Mathematical models are developed for the soil vapor extraction of nonaqueous phase liquid mixtures obeying Raoult's law. The models make the local equilibrium assumption for vapor and liquid, and can handle up to three components. Vapor stripping in laboratory columns, by means of a single vertical well screened at the bottom (axial symmetry) and by means of a single horizontal slotted pipe (Cartesian symmetry), are modeled. The models run on IBM PC-AT compatible microcomputers. Some representative results are given.
Bupropion and nicotine enhance responding for nondrug reinforcers via dissociable pharmacological mechanisms in rats

Rationale Nicotine serves as a primary reinforcer but also potently enhances responding for nonnicotine stimuli with reinforcing properties. One of the most successful pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation, bupropion, also increases responding for nondrug reinforcers such as food and brain stimulation rewards.
Role of Nitric Oxide and Mitochondria in Control of Firefly Flash

SYNOPSIS. In light-producing cells (photocytes) of the firefly light organ, mitochondria are clustered in the cell periphery, positioned between the tracheolar air supply and the oxygen-requiring bioluminescent reactants which are sequestered in more centrally-localized peroxisomes. This relative positioning suggests that mitochondria could control oxygen availability for the light reaction. We hypothesized that active cellular respiration would make the interior regions of the photocytes relatively hypoxic, and that the ‘‘on’’ signal for production of bioluminescence might depend on inhibition of mitochondrial oxygen consumption, which would allow delivered oxygen to pass through the peripheral mitochondrial zone to reach peroxisomes deep in the cell interior. We published recently that exogenous NO induces bioluminescence in the intact firefly; that NO mediates octopamine-induced bioluminescence in the dissected lantern, and that nitric oxide synthase is abundant in cells of the tracheolar system of the light organ. Additional experiments showed that nitric oxide gas (NO) inhibits respiration in isolated lantern mitochondria. Inhibition is reversed by bright light, and this inhibition is relieved when the light is turned off. Altogether, the results support the idea that NO triggers light production by reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in lantern cells, and probably in tracheolar cells as well. The data also suggest that the light of bioluminescence itself relieves NO inhibition thus contributing to rapid on/off switching. While other mechanisms may be in play, NO production that is directly related to neural input appears to have a key role in the oxygen gating that controls flash communication signals.
Obesity Related Alterations in Plasma Cytokines and Metabolic Hormones in Chimpanzees

Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and serves as a major risk factor for hypertension, coronary artery disease, dyslipidemias, and type-2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in metabolic hormones, inflammatory cytokines, and immune function, in lean, overweight, and obese chimpanzees in a controlled environment. We observed increased plasma circulating levels of proinflammatory TH-1 cytokines, Interferon gamma, interleukin-6, interleukin-12p40, tumor necrosis factor, soluble CD40 ligand, and Interleukin-1β and anti-inflammatory TH-2 cytokines, Interleukin-4, Interleukin-RA, Interleukin-10, and Interleukin-13 in overweight and obese chimpanzees. We also observed increased levels of metabolic hormones glucagon-like-peptide-1, glucagon, connecting peptide, insulin, pancreatic peptide YY3–36, and leptin in the plasma of overweight and obese chimpanzees. Chemokine, eotaxin, fractalkine, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were higher in lean compared to obese chimpanzees, while chemokine ligand 8 increased in plasma of obese chimpanzees. We also observed an obesity-related effect on immune function as demonstrated by lower mitogen induced proliferation, and natural killer activity and higher production of IFN-γ by PBMC in Elispot assay, These findings suggest that lean, overweight, and obese chimpanzees share circulating inflammatory cytokines and metabolic hormone levels with humans and that chimpanzees can serve as a useful animal model for human studies.
General properties of the resource consumption principle of neural function

It has been proposed that volumes of neural tissue may represent important processing elements. This viewpoint suggests one way that populations of synaptic elements cooperate to implement important computational capacities. I extend this view by proposing a set of computational functions for the extracellular space shared by a local population of synapses. The critical hypothesis is the existence of a hypothetical 'fluid' resource present outside synapses that must be internalized in order for a synapse to function. I outline some of the consequences of assuming that such a resource is in limited supply on short time scales.
The effects of databases as cognitive tools in a multimedia problem-based learning environment

Computer-based cognitive tools can offer learners an intellectual partnership that transcends the limitation of human cognition, such as limitations to memory, thinking, and problem solving. Databases, for example, can function as cognitive tools because of their organized and searchable nature. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential of databases to function as cognitive tools to promote cognitive skill acquisition, share learners' cognitive load, and impact learning. A total of 98 students from 6 intact sixth grade science classes at a suburban middle school in the southern United States participated in the study. 57.9% of the participants were Caucasian, 24% were Hispanic, 18% were African American, and 0.01% were Asian. The six classes were assigned to one of three treatment conditions: (a) online database, (b) paper-based database, (c) no database. All groups completed a 3-week instructional program using the same version of Alien Rescue, a multimedia learning environment, which contains the same content and tools. Measures of task difficulty rating, instructional efficiency, transfer, and factual knowledge recall were administered to evaluate learners' cognitive load, cognitive skills, and overall performance. Students in online database groups received positive and higher instructional efficiency scores, which indicated a more efficient allocation of cognitive load. Online database groups also received significantly higher scores on cognitive skill transfer test than did students in both paper-based database and non-database groups. In addition, students in online database groups scored significantly higher on achievement tests than both the paper-based database and non-database groups. The results support researcher's hypothesis that the online database tool can reduce learners' extraneous cognitive load and increase learners' germane cognitive load; support the transfer of cognitive skills; and help learners perform better in a multimedia learning environment. However, future research is needed to confirm the results and to further investigate the effects of individual differences on learning using database tools.
EFFICIENCY OF UTILIZATION OF VISUAL INFORMATION AS A FUNCTION OF INDUCED MUSCULAR TENSION

Traditional incerprecations of the inverted U-shaped curve describing the functional relation becween scress and performance have emphasized either the role of competing responses or variation in intra-sensory interactions. More recently, interest has shifted to the perceptual consequences of motivational level and the relationship of these consequences to performance efficiency. The working hypothesis underlying the latcer point of view is that variation in motivational level (stress, drive, arousal) modifies rhe breadth and variety of task cues to which the individual responds (cf. Eascerbrook, 1959). Experimental data indicating the various types of "scressors" reduce exterocepcive informational input (Callaway, 1957; Jones, 1960), rate of accumulation of relevant cues (Smock, 1955; Binder, 1958), and perceprual span (Silverman & Blitz, 1954; Shaw, 1956) support the perceptual conscriction hypothesis stated above. The general purpose of this srudy was to extend chese findings by decerrnining the effect of induced muscular cension on perceptual efficiency. Systematic study of the effect of intensity of motor feedback stimulation on perception has received relatively little attention. Shaw (1956) reports the "recognition span" for numerals initially increased and then decreased as muscular tension was increased. The optimal degree of tension was related to task difficulty, i.e., the longer the series of numerals, the greater amount of tension necessary to reach optimal recognition efficiency. More recently, Shore ( 1958) presenced high, medium, and low anxiety (Taylor MAS scores) Ss with visual resolution targets under varying levels of induced muscular cension. The inverted-U performance curve was characceristic only of the high anxiety Ss and only for the square target. The data reported in both studies are consistent with the hypothesized effect of arousal level on perceptual efficiency. However, it is not clear what "perceptual operations" or mechanisms are involved in the loss of efficiency. Attneave (1954), Bruner ( 1957), and others have proposed chat perception be conceptualized as a probabilistic-categorization process. In visual recognition, for example, che organism scans the visual f~eld, rnakes implicit probability operacions on the informational dimensions of that field, and then cacegorizes this inforrnacion (cues) according to prior formed classes of evencs. "Recognition" occurs when sufficient information has been accumulated to permit implicit "prediction" as to which of a population of arrangements of "cues" is represented in the field. Accordingly, high arousal level may modify
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis increases venular permeability and alters endothelial actin cytoskeleton

Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis using N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) orN G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) increases venular permeability in the rat mesentery (I. Kurose, R. Wo...
Inpatient Pediatric Tonsillectomy: Does Hospital Type Affect Cost and Outcomes of Care?

ObjectiveTo ascertain whether hospital type is associated with differences in total cost and outcomes for inpatient tonsillectomy.Study DesignCross-sectional analysis of the 2006, 2009, and 2012 Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID).Subjects and MethodsChildren ≤18 years of age undergoing tonsillectomy with/without adenoidectomy were included. Risk-adjusted generalized linear models assessed for differences in hospital cost and length of stay (LOS) among children managed by (1) non–children’s teaching hospitals (NCTHs), (2) children’s teaching hospitals (CTHs), and (3) nonteaching hospitals (NTHs). Risk-adjusted logistic regression compared the odds of major perioperative complications (hemorrhage, respiratory failure, death). Models accounted for clustering of patients within hospitals, were weighted to provide national estimates, and controlled for comorbidities.ResultsThe 25,685 tonsillectomies recorded in the KID yielded a national estimate of 40,591 inpatient tonsillectomies performed in 2006, 2009, and 201...
DESIGN OF FILTER SYSTEM FOR RUBBLE-MOUND STRUCTURES

The rubble-mound seawalls, groins, breakwaters and ripraps around oceanfall pipelines are still the most common type of shore-protection structures currently in use. Major reasons include: easiness to construct and repair, flexible with respect to settlement, favorable wave-energy dissipation, fitness for any water depth and any foundation, and because of its economical nature if rubble-stones are readily available. However, the importance of a filter system in the stability of such structures must be emphasized. More recently, the submerged rubble-mound structures have become very popular due to aesthetic reasons. A filter system is considered a must to protect such a structure against erosion as a result of wave overtopping. Following a brief review of the problems, general discussions are made of the specific causes of failures including piping, overtopping, and nonstability. The physical factors that would affect the filter design are discussed in detail. Methods for design of filter system is presented including those applicable to the gradation of filter layers and to the plastic filters. The design procedure involves (a) making mechanical analysis of the backfill and base material, (b) estimating sizes of voids in the rubble-stones, (c) designing filter by Terzaghi criteria as revised by U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station. A sample design of graded filter system behind rubble-mound seawalls is given. The procedure for the selection of plastic filters is also included. A comparison of the merits and demerits of these two types of filter systems will be made. This comparison will take into account the model test results conducted in the Look Laboratory. However, the readers are cautioned about the scale effects of the scour characteristics particularly on those tests with light-weight model sediments. This paper is intended as a general guideline for practicing engineers who will be responsible for design and construction of rubble-mound marine structures.
A Beagle Bone Black Baed AHRS for Control of Small UAS and Small Sounding Rockets

In flight testing and automatic control of flight vehicles require good data about the state of the vehicle. In the not too distant past, data collection systems were heavy, bulky and costly. The development of microprocessors reduced the size and weight of the data collection systems. Recent advancements in MEMs devices have miniaturized an inertial measurement platform to the size and weight of a dime. The work describes the use of a single board computer and MEMs tranducers to generate an inertial platform and guidance computer.
Implementation of Developmental Screening Guidelines for Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

Objectives To assess awareness and implementation among pediatric primary care providers of the 2012 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for the evaluation and management of developmental abnormalities in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). We hypothesized that children with CHD are not being provided neurodevelopmental screening and support according to the AHA guidelines. Study design An online survey was administered to licensed pediatric primary care providers in Minnesota (pediatricians = 530, family physicians = 1469) to evaluate awareness of the AHA guidelines, current screening practices, and barriers to implementation of these guidelines. Results A total of 326 providers (17% of 1911 successful e-mails) responded to the survey, which included 148 pediatricians (29% of 518 successful e-mails) and 178 family physicians (13% of 1393 successful e-mails). Overall, 202 providers (62%) reported caring for children with CHD. Among those caring for children with CHD, the most commonly reported reasons for neurodevelopmental referral were nonspecific to CHD. Presence of risks specific to children with CHD, such as history of cyanotic heart disease or open heart surgery as an infant, accounted for only 25% and 22% of the referrals, respectively. Only 21% of providers were aware of the guidelines, and only 7% received guidance from a pediatric cardiologist regarding neurodevelopmental screening in children with CHD. Conclusion There is need for further education of primary care providers on the developmental risks associated with CHD as well as increased involvement by the pediatric cardiology community to enhance the developmental outcomes of children with CHD.
Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) response to animal source foods varies among healthy young men and is influenced by their gut microbiota composition: A randomized controlled trial.

cope Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite linked to the gut microbiota, is associated with excess risk of heart disease. We hypothesized that (i) TMAO response to animal source foods would vary among healthy men and (ii) this response would be modified by their gut microbiome. Methods and results A crossover feeding trial in healthy young men (n = 40) was conducted with meals containing TMAO (fish), its dietary precursors, choline (eggs) and carnitine (beef), and a fruit control. Fish yielded higher circulating and urinary concentrations of TMAO (46–62 times; p < 0.0001), trimethylamine (8–14 times; p < 0.0001), and dimethylamine (4-6-times; P<0.0001) than eggs, beef, or the fruit control. Circulating TMAO concentrations were increased within 15 min of fish consumption, suggesting that dietary TMAO can be absorbed without processing by gut microbes. Analysis of 16S rRNA genes indicated that high-TMAO producers (≥20% increase in urinary TMAO in response to eggs and beef) had more Firmicutes than Bacteroidetes (p = 0.04) and less gut microbiota diversity (p = 0.03). Conclusion Consumption of fish yielded substantially greater increases in circulating TMAO than eggs or beef. The higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes enrichment among men exhibiting a greater response to dietary TMAO precursor intake indicates that TMAO production is a function of individual differences in the gut microbiome.
Particle/substrate interaction in the cold-spray bonding process

Publisher Summary The actual mechanism by which the solid particles deform and bond during cold spray is not well understood. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the key phenomena accompanying particle/substrate interactions and bonding during cold spray. It describes the continuum-type transient non-linear dynamics modeling techniques that are widely used to study the particle/substrate interactions and the attendant modeling mechanisms. It has been showed that it is generally accepted that interfacial melting and inter-diffusion play minor roles in particle/substrate bonding. The prevailing opinion is that the phenomena that must be responsible for the particle/substrate bonding are: (a) adiabatic shear instability and flow localization, which give rise to the formation of “surface scrubbing” sets and (b) high contact pressure-promoted adhesion of the “cleaned” particle and substrate contact surface. In addition, the formation of sub-micron-scale particle/substrate interfacial roll-ups and vortices, and particle-scale rivet-like inter-locks, plays a significant role in particle/substrate bonding.
Recent Developments in Advanced Design Codes for Vacuum Electronic Devices

Computer-aided design of modern vacuum electronic devices such as travelingwave tubes (TWTs), klystrons, and gyrotrons has become standard in both the research and industrial communities. The physical processes at work in these devices are for the most part described by the Maxwell-Lorentz equations. However, the various physical processes that govern device behavior span widely disparate spatial and temporal scales, posing serious challenges to the development of accurate computational design tools with efficient run-times. To address these modeling and simulation challenges, several approaches and techniques have been developed over the past few decades. Ideally, a fully selfconsistent, end-to-end simulation of the device is desired. However, such a simulation is prohibitively computation-intensive for most device types, particularly if parameter scoping and design optimization are involved. Thus, despite all of the advances in processor speed and parallel computing techniques, state-of-the-art computational resources remain insufficient for the magnitude of the task. Instead, the general approach has been to break the problem up into smaller, more manageable sub-problems, to develop algorithms and codes to model basic phenomena for each sub-problem, and to integrate the results by having the various codes communicate with each other. Thus, the entire radiation generation process has been divided into key physical sub-processes: beam generation, beam propagation, beam-wave interaction, beam collection, wave injection (in the case of an amplifiers), wave extraction, and thermal management. Each of these sub-processes (with the exception of thermal management) is described by a set of equations derived using the general set of Maxwell-Lorentz equations where, by necessity, the models are a compromise between sufficient complexity to capture the basic physics of the particular sub-process and simplifications made to reduce computation time. In the past, this approach has been very successful and has led to the development of a number of parametric design codes that have been used to design the current generation of vacuum electronic devices. However, compromises in model and algorithm complexity have had an effect on the accuracy of the codes – it is often necessary to fabricate multiple experimental prototypes before achieving the desired performance in a given device. The inefficiency and cost associated with the need for
Implementation of integrated CAD/CAM systems in small and medium sized shipyards : A case study

The Coast Guard Yard in Cunis Bay, MD implemented a PC/AutoCAD based CAD/CAM system and used it to construct a series of 15 M (49 foot) buoy tenders. Implementing CAD/CAM is primarily a management, rather than technical, challenge. Performance-Based Management Techniques were used to develop the new system as an integrated whole, controlled and documented under ISO 9001. The process was cost-effective, required minimum retraining, was fully implemented in a few months, and was appropriate to a small shipyard building boats, but extensible as required to medium sized ships. The authors discuss: I) The use of Performance-Based Management and team-building techniques to help implement the process; 2) The use of process management techniques to document control and systematically improve the process in order to remain competitive; 3) The process developed, including methods to allow varying levels of operator skill, geometry, weight and interference contain and development of automation techniques; 4) The lessons learned, the results in productivity improvement, and the future path for continuous improvement.