cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining the Beliefs of Involved Adults Concerning the Moral and Religious Development of Individuals with Mental Retardation.

Abstract Examining the beliefs concerning the moral and religious development of individuals with mental retardation was the focus of this study. Participants completed a Q sort with a concourse of 45 items reflecting potential opinions. Four dissimilar factors emerged. The most profound identifier of factor A, Hopeful Humanist, is the hopeful nature in which they perceive individuals with mental retardation. Members of factor B, Devout Followers, see themselves as directed by God and willing followers of God. As Special Caregivers the members of factor C make it clear there is a distinct difference between individuals with mental retardation and those who are without disabilities. In factor D, Staunch Copers, the most important belief is a realistic and pragmatic view about the individual with mental disabilities.
Comparative durability of untreated wood in use above ground

Abstract Cross-brace units constructed of 10 different softwoods and nine different hardwoods were exposed on a test fence in Wisconsin for up to 22 years. Sapwood was included for all species and heartwood for some. The objective of this study was to determine the above-ground longevity of these woods against decay. The wood was classified into above-ground decay resistance groups. The longevity spans apply only to structural components similar in cross-sectional size to the test units used in this study. Millwork and fencing components may fit into this category. Woods estimated to last more than 20 years above ground, and thus classified as most resistant, included the heartwood of Douglas-fir, western white pine, redwood, Eucalyptus sp., red and white oak, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and the sapwood of redwood, white oak, and red oak. No woods fell into the nonresistant class (⩽ 7 years expected average life). The remaining woods were classified moderately resistant or resistant based upon service lives of 8 to 13 and 14 to 19 years, respectively.
Generating Java trace data

We describe a system for gathering and analyzing Java trace data. The system provides relatively complete data collection from large Java systems. It also provides a variety of different analyses of that data for use with a software visualization system.
Probabilistic analysis of incremental light bundle adjustment

This paper presents a probabilistic analysis of the recently introduced incremental light bundle adjustment method (iLBA) [6]. In iLBA, the observed 3D points are algebraically eliminated, resulting in a cost function with only the camera poses as variables, and an incremental smoothing technique is applied for efficiently processing incoming images. While we have already showed that compared to conventional bundle adjustment (BA), iLBA yields a significant improvement in computational complexity with similar levels of accuracy, the probabilistic properties of iLBA have not been analyzed thus far. In this paper we consider the probability distribution that corresponds to the iLBA cost function, and analyze how well it represents the true density of the camera poses given the image measurements. The latter can be exactly calculated in bundle adjustment (BA) by marginalizing out the 3D points from the joint distribution of camera poses and 3D points. We present a theoretical analysis of the differences in the way that LBA and BA use measurement information. Using indoor and outdoor datasets we show that the first two moments of the iLBA and the true probability distributions are very similar in practice.
Finite Element Modeling of Particle Adhesion: A Surface Energy Formalism

Abstract The adhesion of particles is modeled with finite element analysis using an energy approach comparable with that used in the JKR formalism. The strain energy of a cylindrically symmetric system, comprising a particle adhering to a surface with a fixed contact size, is computed as a function of contact size and then added to an energy term that is linearly proportional to the contact patch area. These computations also include contributions from the potential energy of a body force comparable with that which might be applied by a centrifuge. The results show regions of stability (adhesion) where a local energy minimum exists and regions of release where separation of the particle from the surface leads to a continuous decrease in the energy of the system. The effect of the deformation of the particle is included implicitly as a result of the FEM which provides details of the strains and stresses within the system. Discussion concentrates on the physical meaning of the behaviors and the significance...
A useful mouse model of glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension.

Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced ocular hypertension and iatrogenic glaucoma still are a major side effect associated with GC therapy, especially with the increased use of intravitreally administered GCs for a variety of retinal conditions. In this issue, Overby and colleagues1 investigated GC-induced ocular hypertension in mice. They built on the success of Whitlock and coworkers,2 who previously reported GC-induced ocular hypertension in mice by systemic delivery of the potent GC dexamethasone (DEX) using osmotic minipumps. Overby et al.1 showed that systemic DEX delivery significantly elevated IOP (by approximately 3 mm Hg), which correlated with a 52% reduction in the aqueous outflow facility. They also showed DEX-induced changes in the extracellular matrix of the trabecular meshwork (TM) that were very similar to the histologic changes observed in humans with steroid-induced ocular hypertension and POAG, including increased fibrillar material in juxtacanalicular tissue, plaque-like sheath material surrounding elastic fibers in the TM, and myofibroblasts on the outer wall of Schlemm's canal. It should be noted that an important side effect of this route of DEX administration was considerable weight loss in a significant percentage of animals during the 4 weeks of systemic exposure. This will be an extremely useful animal model to study the molecular mechanisms responsible for GC-induced ocular hypertension as well as POAG. The power of mouse genetics will allow determination of the involvement of specific genes and signaling pathways in this model. In addition, there are significant differences in human responsiveness to GC-induced ocular hypertension, so a mouse strain survey may help uncover the mechanisms responsible for these differences in GC sensitivity.
Controlling the Mechanism of DNA transport through Synthetic Nanopores

Solid-state nanopores have emerged as a useful tool for studying biopolymers. The ability to map regions of interest along stretched biopolymers, as well as to detect subtle changes in conformation, makes nanopores attractive single-molecule sensors. Using solid-state nanopores with diameters in the range of 3-10 nm, DNA transport has been too fast but seems to be more regulated. In contrast, transport through smaller pores in the 3-5 nm range is noticeably slower, yet sticking and other interactions complicate the transport dynamics. Therefore, a full understanding of the translocation process requires exploring regimes where polymer linearization is coupled to regulated transport. In this study, we report on an interesting nanopore geometry regime that allows for regulated DNA transport process, while slowing down DNA in order to achieve true detection from individual base pairs. We will show that transport matches theoretical prediction in this geometric regime, and that these results allow us to obtain quantitative information on polymer length with unprecedented detail.
Partial recovery of luteal function after bariatric surgery in obese women

Objective To determine whether obesity-related reproductive endocrine abnormalities in ovulatory women are reversible with weight loss. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. Patient(s) Women aged 18–48 years with regular menstrual cycles 21–40 days and a body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m 2 planning to undergo bariatric surgery were recruited. Intervention(s) Twenty-five eumenorrheic (non–polycystic ovary syndrome) women with a mean BMI of 47.3 ± 5.2 kg/m 2 were sampled with daily menstrual cycle urinary hormones before (n = 25) and 6 months after (n = 9) weight loss surgery resulting in >25% reduction of sinitial body weight. Daily hormones were compared before and after surgery and with 14 normal-weight control subjects. Main Outcome Measure(s) Metabolites of LH, FSH, E 2 , and P were measured daily for one menstrual cycle. Group means were compared using t tests among ovulatory cycles. Result(s) Luteal pregnanediol glucuronide (Pdg) increased from 32.8 ± 10.9 to 73.7 ± 30.5 μg/mg creatinine (Cr) and whole-cycle LH increased from 168.8 ± 24.2 to 292.1 ± 79.6 mIU/mg Cr after surgically induced weight loss. Luteal Pdg remained lower than in normal-weight control subjects (151.7 ± 111.1 μg/mg Cr). Obese women took longer to attain a postovulatory Pdg rise of >2 μg/mg Cr than control subjects (3.91 ± 1.51 vs. 1.71 ± 1.59 days); this improved after surgery (2.4 ± 1.82 days). Whole-cycle estrone conjugates (E 1c ) was similar to control subjects at baseline, but decreased after weight loss (from 1,026.7 ± 194.2 to 605.4 ± 167.1 ng/mg Cr). Follicle-stimulating hormone did not relate to body size in this sample. Conclusion(s) Women of very high BMI have deficient luteal LH and Pdg excretion and a delayed ovulatory Pdg rise compared with normal-weight women. Although these parameters improved with weight loss, Pdg did not approach levels seen in normal-weight women. Luteinizing hormone may be less effective in stimulating the corpus luteum in obesity. The large postoperative decrease in E 1c may reflect the loss of estrone-producing adipose tissue after weight loss.
Numerical simulation of biofilm growth in porous media

Biofilms are very important in controlling pollution in aquifers. The bacteria may either consume the contaminant or form biobarriers to limit its spread. In this paper we review the mathematical modeling of biofilm growth at the microscopic and macroscopic scales, together with a scale-up technique. At the pore-scale, we solve the Navier-Stokes equations for the flow, the advection-diffusion equation for the transport, together with equations for the biofilm growth. These results are scaled up using network model techniques, in order to have relations between the amount and distribution of the biomass, and macroscopic properties such as permeability and porosity. A macroscopic model is also presented. We give some results.
Growth Hormone Mediates Pubertal Skeletal Development Independent of Hepatic IGF-1 Production

Deficiencies in either growth hormone (GH) or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are associated with reductions in bone size during growth in humans and animal models. Liver-specific IGF-1-deficient (LID) mice, which have 75% reductions in serum IGF-1, were created previously to separate the effects of endocrine (serum) IGF-1 from autocrine/paracrine IGF-1. However, LID mice also have two- to threefold increases in GH, and this may contribute to the observed pubertal skeletal phenotype. To clarify the role of GH in skeletal development under conditions of significantly reduced serum IGF-1 levels (but normal tissue IGF-1 levels), we studied the skeletal response of male LID and control mice to GH inhibition by pegvisomant from 4 to 8 weeks of age. Treatment of LID mice with pegvisomant resulted in significant reductions in body weight, femur length (Le), and femur total area (Tt.Ar), as well as further reductions in serum IGF-1 levels by 8 weeks of age, compared with the mean values of vehicle-treated LID mice. Reductions in both Tt.Ar and Le were proportional after treatment with pegvisomant. On the other hand, the relative amount of cortical tissue formed (RCA) in LID mice treated with pegvisomant was significantly less than that in both vehicle-treated LID and control mice, indicating that antagonizing GH action, either directly (through GH receptor signaling inhibition) or indirectly (through further reductions in serum/tissue IGF-1 levels), results in disproportionate reductions in the amount of cortical bone formed. This resulted in bones with significantly reduced mechanical properties (femoral whole-bone stiffness and work to failure were markedly decreased), suggesting that compensatory increases of GH in states of IGF-1 deficiency (LID mice) act to protect against a severe inhibition of bone modeling during growth, which otherwise would result in bones that are too weak for normal and/or extreme loading conditions. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A new electrodynamics

Abstract So successful have been Maxwell's equations that the electrodynamic formulations of Ampere, Weber, and Riemann have been almost forgotten. The purpose of this paper is to present a rejuvenation of the older theories, based entirely on the force between charged particles. The new formulation leads to the correct formulas for force, induced emf, and radiation.In fact, it may be regarded as an alternative to Maxwell's equations, with the advantages of Galilean relativity and a closer contact with reality (charges rather than fictitious flux lines).
Is ultrasound guidance needed for shoulder injections

MJ is a 44-year-old teacher who has had right lateral shoulder pain for 5 weeks. The pain developed acutely after he played a pickup game of basketball. He initially presented to his primary care physician, who suspected an acute rotator cuff injury and prescribed naproxen, 500 mg twice daily, along with physical therapy. MJ has completed 4 weeks of appropriate therapy focusing on scapular retraction exercise, pectoralis stretching, and rotator cuff strengthening. He experienced no relief from the therapy or medication, so his primary care physician obtained a shoulder magnetic resonance (MR) arthrogram, which demonstrated thickening of the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, suggestive of bursitis, and a type I superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesion. MJ was sent to you for further evaluation and treatment. He currently has a 7 out of 10 level of pain over the anterolateral shoulder that is worse when he performs overhead maneuvers and sleeps on his right side. Upon physical examination he has no tenderness to palpation but experiences pain during active range of motion testing, particularly with internal rotation and abduction, respectively. He also has a positive Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer sign, and O’Brien test. He has difficulty deciding whether his characteristic pain is reproduced more by the impingement maneuvers or labral maneuver. Neurovascularly, he is intact. You discuss treatment options, and given the failure of conservative treatments thus far, he wishes to pursue a corticosteroid injection in the subacromial bursa. He recently saw a commercial on TV featuring an injection that was performed with ultrasound guidance and asks if ultrasound guidance should be used to perform his injection. Dr Jonathan Finnoff will argue that ultrasound guidance should be used for the injection, and Dr John Costouros will argue that ultrasound guidance is not needed.
Frequency and Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism in Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Retrospective Review

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially fatal complication of major abdominal operations. Liver transplantation is carried out as a treatment for end-stage liver disease (ESLD). It is not well studied whether this population is at increased or decreased risk of a VTE event after a liver transplantation. This study was to determine the frequency of VTE in this population and identify possible predictors. Methods Retrospective review of 917 patients over 15 years at a single tertiary center was conducted. Liver transplant recipients with symptomatic VTE occurring up to 1 year after liver transplantation were included. Upper and lower extremities deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was identified. The diagnosis of DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE) was made by appropriate diagnostic imaging. Data regarding known risk factors of VTE such as thrombophilia, recent hospitalization, malignancy, and other comorbid conditions were collected. Results Among 917 patients, a total of 45 events occurred in 42 (4.58%) patients. Twelve had PE and 33 had DVT events. On Cox regression analysis the absence of an alcoholism diagnosis (Hazard Ratio [HR], −0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13–0.83), the presence of diabetes (HR, −3.36; 95% CI, 1.76–6.42), a history of VTE (HR, −8.06; 95% CI, 3.37–19.3), and the presence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD; HR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.34–10.01) were significant predictors of a VTE outcome. No particular diagnosis, history of malignancy, or presence of thrombophilia were associated with increased risk of VTE. Conclusion The 4.58 % incidence of VTE is comparable with the reported incidence after major abdominal procedures (5%–10%). This data also shows that there is increased risk of VTE in transplant recipients with comorbid conditions of diabetes, previous VTE, and ESRD. This study suggests that a more aggressive strategy for prophylaxis of VTE should be used in liver transplant recipients as with other major abdominal procedures.
Low-frequency chiral coatings

A procedure to estimate the electromagnetic properties of chiral samples with different volume concentrations is developed based upon the electromagnetic properties of the chiral sample with a specified volume concentration. The electromagnetic properties of the chiral sample is obtained using normal incidence measurements at microwave frequencies. Then the macroscopic susceptibilities and microscopic rotabilities of the chiral sample are computed in the long wavelength (low frequency) limit from the measured electromagnetic properties. As long as the microscopic rotabilities of the chiral sample with a given volume concentration are calculated, then the electromagnetic properties of the chiral samples with different volume concentrations can be computed numerically. Comparison between the extrapolated and measured electromagnetic properties of chiral samples will be reported.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Interferon-gamma induces autophagy with growth inhibition and cell death in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells through interferon-regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1)

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a pleiotropic cytokine with immunomodulatory, anti-viral, and anti-proliferative effects. In this study, we examined the effects of IFN-γ on autophagy and cell growth in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. IFN-γ inhibited cell growth of Huh7 cells with non-apoptotic cell death. IFN-γ induced autophagosome formation and conversion/turnover of microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) protein. Furthermore, overexpression of IRF-1 also induced autophagy in Huh7 cells. Silencing IRF-1 expression with target small hairpin RNA blocked autophagy induced by IFN-γ. Silencing of the autophagy signals Beclin-1 or Atg5 attenuated the inhibitory effect of IFN-γ on Huh7 cells with decreased cell death. Additionally, IFN-γ activated autophagy in freshly cultured human HCC cells. Together, these findings show that IFN-γ induces autophagy through IRF-1 signaling pathway and the induction of autophagy contributes to the growth-inhibitory effect of IFN-γ with cell death in human liver cancer cells.
Hyperspectral imaging for melanoma screening

The 5-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with Melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, in its latest stages is about 15%, compared to over 90% for early detection and treatment. We present an imaging system and algorithm that can be used to automatically generate a melanoma risk score to aid clinicians in the early identification of this form of skin cancer. Our system images the patient's skin at a series of different wavelengths and then analyzes several key dermoscopic features to generate this risk score. We have found that shorter wavelengths of light are sensitive to information in the superficial areas of the skin while longer wavelengths can be used to gather information at greater depths. This accompanying diagnostic computer algorithm has demonstrated much higher sensitivity and specificity than the currently commercialized system in preliminary trials and has the potential to improve the early detection of melanoma.
Displaying digital video over ethernet TCP-IP

Digital video is fast becoming the standard implementation for displaying imaes. By usingdigital techniques, a computer has control over such aspects as color and resolution'. An exampleis the re-release of the digitally re-mastered Disney classic full-length animated cartoon, "Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs". Typically, the re-mastering process was performed only on analogformats such as audio.This example of computer manipulation of digital video is just one which shows what can bedone to this media. However, regardless of what can be done to correct or enhance digital video, it
Astrophysical Observations: Lensing and Eclipsing Einstein's Theories

Albert Einstein postulated the equivalence of energy and mass, developed the theory of special relativity, explained the photoelectric effect, and described Brownian motion in five papers, all published in 1905, 100 years ago. With these papers, Einstein provided the framework for understanding modern astrophysical phenomena. Conversely, astrophysical observations provide one of the most effective means for testing Einstein's theories. Here, I review astrophysical advances precipitated by Einstein's insights, including gravitational redshifts, gravitational lensing, gravitational waves, the Lense-Thirring effect, and modern cosmology. A complete understanding of cosmology, from the earliest moments to the ultimate fate of the universe, will require developments in physics beyond Einstein, to a unified theory of gravity and quantum physics.
Predicting the viscosity of alkanes using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics: Evaluation of intermolecular potential models

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) viscosity simulations of branched and linear alkanes at liquid densities were performed using both united-atom (UA) and all-atom (AA) intermolecular potential models in order to study the relative efficacy of the models in predicting fluid viscosity. Both models were used in conjunction with fixed bond lengths and bond angles, but different torsional potentials were investigated. The commonly used Ryckaert–Bellemans intermolecular potential model, which accurately predicts viscosities for short straight-chain alkanes, produced values for branched and long-chain alkanes that were significantly below experimental values. Likewise, a more complex UA model that uses transferrable site potentials and is commonly used to simulate thermodynamic properties also under predicted viscosities for branched and long-chain molecules. The UA models were also found to be density dependent, substantially under predicting viscosity at high liquid densities for all model fluids tested...
Data-Driven Optimization of Order Admission Policies in a Digital Print Factory

On-demand digital print service is an example of a real-time embedded enterprise system. It offers mass customization and exemplifies personalized manufacturing services. Once a print order is submitted to the print factory by a client, the print service provider (PSP) needs to make a real-time decision on whether to accept or refuse this order. Based on the print factory's current capacity and the order's properties and requirements, an order is refused if its acceptance is not profitable for the PSP. The order is accepted with the most appropriate due date in order to maximize the profit that can result from this order. We have developed an automated learning-based order admission framework that can be embedded into an enterprise environment to provide real-time admission decisions for new orders. The framework consists of three classifiers: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), and Bayesian Probabilistic Model (BPM). The classifiers are trained by history orders and used to predict completion status for new orders. A decision integration technique is implemented to combine the results of the classifiers and predict due dates. Experimental results derived using real factory data from a leading print service provider and Weka open-source software show that the order completion status prediction accuracy is significantly improved by the decision integration strategy. The proposed multiclassifier model also outperforms a standalone regression model.
On the Type of Certain Co-Semigroups

Let be the infinitesimal generator of a Co-semigroup in Hilbert space. We assume that A0 is normal and B is bounded. We further assume that there is M > 0 such that every spectral value of A:O with modulus greater than M - 1 is an isolated eigenvalue with finite multiplicity. Moreover, we assume that the multiplicities of all the eigenvalues lying in any given unit disk (centered at some z with ) do not add up to more than some fixed integer n. It is proved that the type of the semigroup is determined by the spectrum of A. Applications to one-dimensional hyperbolic problems are given.
Microfabrication issues in constructing freestanding membranes of near-frictionless carbon and diamond-like films

Abstract The near-frictionless carbon (NFC) film developed at Argonne National Laboratory has excellent mechanical and tribological properties, such as the super low friction coefficient of 0.001 and the wear rates of 10 − 11 –10 − 10 mm 3 /N m. In this study, microfabrication procedures are developed to fashion the NFC thin films into freestanding structures which are necessary for many MEMS sensor devices. The entire microfabrication process is outlined in detail for use by other researchers. The NFC membranes were characterized with optical, scanning electron, and atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy both before and after the fabrication process to observe any structural changes. Several surface and bulk micromachining issues, such as reactive ion notching effect and NFC film releasing, were studied and mitigated.
The Gains from Corporate Selloffs: The Case of Real Estate Assets

Recent financial economics literature has hypothesized that variations in market structure influence the distribution of gains from corporate restructuring between buyers and sellers. We test this hypothesis using data on restructuring involving real estate assets by isolating the effects depending on multiple versus single bidders, acquisition frequency and transaction type. While we find gains for both buyers and sellers, the buyers gain only when they make few purchases. Those firms pursuing an acquisition strategy show no gains around the specific acquisition announcements. Additionally, both buyers and sellers are more likely to have a positive reaction to the announcement when the transaction is property rather than a division or subsidiary.
Downregulation of Axl in non-MYCN amplified neuroblastoma cell lines reduces migration

Neuroblastomas (NBL) are common pediatric solid tumors with a variable clinical course. At diagnosis half of all neuroblastoma patients presents with metastatic disease. The mechanisms of metastasis are largely unknown. Gene expression profiles (HU133plus2.0 arrays, Affymetrix) of 17 NBL and 5 peripheral neuro-ectodermal cell lines were used to identify a subgroup of non-MYCN amplified (non-NMA) NBL cell lines with a distinct gene expression profile and characterized by high expression of AXL. Axl is a tyrosine kinase receptor which plays a role in the metastatic process of several types of cancer. We hypothesized that Axl contributes to the metastasizing potential of non-NMA NBL and tested if AXL silencing diminishes malignant properties of high Axl expressing cell lines. AXL was silenced in two non-NMA NBL cell lines by using a lentiviral shRNA construct that was able to transduce these cell lines with more than 90% infection efficiency. Axl mRNA and protein level were efficiently knocked-down resulting in a decrease of migration of Axl positive cell lines GI-M-EN and SH-EP-2, and decreased invasion of GI-M-EN. Morphologically, Axl knockdown induced more rounded cells with a loss of contact. Intracellularly, we observed induction of stress fibers (immunofluorescence F-actin). These changes in cytoskeleton were associated with decreased migration, but were not accompanied by changes in genes involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition such as CDH2, VIM or MMP9. No effects were observed for cell proliferation, apoptosis or downstream pathways. In conclusion, AXL is identified as a possible mediator of NBL metastasis.
Electric birefringence of surfactant vesicles

Abstract Transient electric birefringence is induced by single, high-voltage electric square pulses in isotropic aqueous suspensions of unilamellar bilayer vesicles (liposomes) prepared from the surfactants egg L-α-phosphatidylcholine (EPC) or dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). Preliminary results for DOPC vesicles are presented on the effects of concentration, temperature, and electric field strength on the steady-state induced optical retardation δo. Within the ranges investigated, the positive δo is relatively insensitive to change in temperature, but depends on the other variables. Possible mechanisms of the induction of birefringence are discussed.
Mechanical perturbation of webbed edges in 3T3 cells.

We have previously described actin edge-bundles (AEBs) as cables of microfil-aments lining the webbed edges of 3T3 cells (Zand and Albrecht-Buehler: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 13:195–211, 1989). We have suggested that AEBs, along with their cell-substratum adhesions, resist cortical tension and prevent the collapse of cytoplasm towards the nucleus. In this paper, we report several stages of AEB disassembly and re-formation induced by the following micro-manipulations (1) Scoring of the webbed edge of a 3T3 cells with a microneedle. As a result the sides of the score retracted and the severed AEB appeared to disassemble down to its terminal adhesion points. The retraction stopped after 20–40 seconds and the cells formed a webbed edge with large curvature. Over a period of 20–80 minutes, the new web decreased in length and depth, until it regained its approximate original shape. (2) Bending of cell processes at acute angles. As a result the processes moved until they projected at right angles to the side of the cell and formed new webs gradually expanded their area. In both cases, the nascent webs were lined by actin edge-bundles.
Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for ≥ 7 cm renal masses: a comparative outcome analysis.

Objective To present our robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) experience for renal masses ≥7 cm and compare the surgical outcomes in this cohort with those obtained for small (≤4 cm) renal masses. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed our institutional review board–approved RPN database and identified patients undergoing RPN for tumors ≥7 cm. Surgical technique, renal function, oncologic, and pathologic data were analyzed and compared with the RPN for renal masses ≤4 cm. Results Overall, 441 patients were identified for the purpose of this study, including 29 cases and 412 controls. Median operative time (200 vs 180 min; P = .005), warm ischemia time (26.5 vs 19 min; P P P = .005). However, the percentages of major complications (Clavien grade ≥III) were comparable (18.2% vs 17%; P = .57 for cases and controls respectively). Postoperative blood transfusion was higher for larger tumor group (24.1% vs 4.1%; P P = .45 for cases and controls respectively). There was no difference in estimated glomerular filtration rate decline between the two groups (12.2% vs 15.8% decline; P = .98). Conclusion RPN represents a feasible and safe nephron-sparing surgery approach for highly selected (mostly exophytic growth pattern, polar location, and likelihood of benign histology) renal masses ≥7 cm in diameter.
Efficient verification of network reachability properties

Network management will benefit from automated tools based upon formal methods. Several such tools have been published in the literature. We present a new formal method for a new tool, Atomic Predicates (AP) Verifier, which is much more time and space efficient than existing tools. Given a set of predicates representing packet filters, AP Verifier computes a set of atomic predicates, which is minimum and unique. We evaluated the performance of AP Verifier using forwarding tables and ACLs from three large real networks. The atomic predicate sets of these networks were computed very quickly and their sizes are surprisingly small. The use of atomic predicates dramatically speeds up computation of network reachability. On the average, AP Verifier is 3 orders of magnitude faster than an existing tool, Hassel in C. It also uses 2 to 3 orders of magnitude less memory than Hassel in C.
GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND THE DEVELOPMENTAL TIMING OF FIRST SEXUAL AND ROMANTIC EXPERIENCES

One of the most important tasks faced by adolescents and young adults is the formation of romantic relationships. Little is known, however, about the developmental timing of early relational experiences. This study investigated the age at which an ethnically diverse sample of young adults (N = 683) experienced their very first date, love, serious relationship, kiss, and act of intercourse. Most had experienced each event by the end of high school, with first dates and kisses occurring at earlier ages than falling in love or intercourse. Gender and ethnic differences were found. For example, young men began dating at earlier ages than did young women. Asian American participants were less sexually and romantically experienced, and had their very first sexual experiences at an older age, than African American, Latino/Hispanic, and Caucasian/non-Hispanic White participants. Interestingly, there were no differences in first romantic love experience. Almost all men and women within each ethnic group had fallen in love at least once, typically around age 17; this suggests that romantic love is a common human life event and that it first occurs during the developmental period spanning late adolescence and early adulthood.
Starter culture, temperature, and antibiotic residue in fermentation of mastitic milk to feed dairy calves.

Abstract Starter culture, temperature, and antibiotic concentration affecting fermentation rate of mastitic milk were studied to determine if mastitic milk could be preserved to feed dairy calves. In trial 1, milk samples from cows treated with 100,000 IU penicillin G and 150mg neomycin sulfate in two quarters each were either inoculated with a Streptococcus cremoris-Streptococcus lactis starter culture or allowed to ferment naturally. This was to determine if mastitic milk could be fermented adequately under farm conditions where starter cultures might not be readily accessible. Milkings 1, 3, and 5 postantibiotic treatment required 113, 49, and 43h to ferment to a pH of 4.7 without culture compared to 114, 17, and 11h with culture. In trial 2, mastitic milk samples from cows treated with 100,000 IU penicillin G and 150mg neomycin sulfate, mastitic milk from cows not treated with antibiotics, and normal milk from the bulk tank were inoculated with commercial buttermilk and fermented at 4.4, 21.1, and 32.2C. Increasing temperature from 4.4 to 21.1 to 32.2 decreased time to ferment to pH 4.7 from 108 to 51 to 38h. In trial 3, mastitic milk samples from cows treated with 100,000 IU penicillin G and 150mg sodium novobiocin were inoculated with commercial buttermilk and fermented. Penicillin concentrations in mastitic milk greater than .06 IU/ml and/or novobiocin concentrations greater than .35µg/ml reduced fermentation rates of milk from postantibiotic treatment milkings 1 and 2. Novobiocin was not detected, and penicillin concentrations had decreased to .02 IU/ml by the third milking.
A novel workload migration scheme for heterogeneous distributed computing

Dynamically partitioning of adaptive applications and migration of excess workload from overloaded processors to underloaded processors during execution are critical techniques needed for distributed computing. Distributed systems differ from traditional parallel systems in that they consist of heterogeneous resources connected with shared networks, thereby preventing existing schemes from benefiting large-scale applications. In particular, the cost entailed by workload migration is significant when the excess workload is transferred across heterogeneous distributed platforms. This paper introduces a novel distributed data migration scheme for large-scale adaptive applications. The major contributions of the paper include: (1) a novel hierarchical data migration scheme is proposed by considering the heterogeneous and dynamic features of distributed computing environments; and (2) a linear programming algorithm is presented to effectively reduce the overhead entailed in migrating excess workload across heterogeneous distributed platforms. Experiment results show that the proposed migration scheme outperforms common-used schemes with respect to reducing the communication cost and the application execution time.
Intrinsic bistability in nonlinear transport through a submicron lateral barrier

We investigate nonlinear transport between regions of a 2DEG separated by a submicron barrier produced by a shallow etch in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure. After illumination a region of bistability appears in the I-V characteristic, where the current jumps randomly between zero and a finite value. The bistability is seen routinely in all similar devices, and it occurs even if the etch is deeper than the 2DEG, implying that the current-carrying electrons leave the plane of the heterojunction.
Evolution of peptides that modulate the spectral qualities of bound, small-molecule fluorophores

Abstract Background: Fluorophore dyes are used extensively in biomedical research to sensitively assay cellular constituents and physiology. We have created, as proof of principle, fluorophore dye binding peptides that could have applications in fluorescent dye-based approaches in vitro and in vivo . Results: A panel of Texas red, Rhodamine red, Oregon green 514 and fluorescein binding peptides, termed here ‘fluorettes', was selected via biopanning of a combinatorial library of 12-mer peptides fused to a minor coat plll protein of the filamentous bacteriophage M 13, The ‘best' fluorette sequences from each of the groups were subjected to further mutagenesis, followed by a second biopanning to select a new generation of improved fluorettes. Phage were selected that had higher avidity for each fluorophore except Rhodamine red, Of these, peptides were characterized that could specifically and with high affinity bind at least one dye, Texas red, in solution, In addition, the binding of certain peptides to Texas red shifted the peak excitation and/or the emission spectra of the bound dye. Conclusions: Peptides in the context of phage display could readily be selected that could bind to small-molecule fluorophores. The affinities of selected mutant fluorettes could be increased by mutation and further selection, Only a subset of the free peptides could bind free dyes in solution, suggesting that phage context contributed to the selection and ability of certain peptidic regions to independently bind the dyes, Future screens might lead to the creation of other dye-binding peptides with novel characteristics or Texas red derivatives with cross-linking substituents might be designed to increase the utility of the system.
Metasomatic oxidation of upper mantle periodotite

Examination of Fe3+ in metasomatized spinel peridotite xenoliths reveals new information about metasomatic redox processes. Composite xenoliths from Dish Hill, California possess remnants of magmatic dikes which were the sources of the silicate fluids responsible for metasomatism of the peridotite part of the same xenoliths. Mossbauer spectra of mineral separates taken at several distances from the dike remnants provide data on Fe3+ contents of minerals in the metasomatized peridotite. Clinopyroxenes contain 33% of total iron (FeT) as Fe3+ (Fe3+/FeT=0.33); orthopyroxenes contain 0.06–0.09 Fe3+/FeT; spinels contain 0.30–0.40 Fe3+/FeT; olivines contain 0.01–0.06 Fe3+/FeT; and metasomatic amphibole in the peridotite contains 0.85–0.90 Fe3+/FeT. In each mineral, Fe3+ and Fe2+ cations per formula unit (p.f.u.) decrease with distance from the dike, but the Fe3+/FeT ratios of each mineral do not vary. Clinopyroxene, spinel, and olivine Fe3+/FeT ratios are significantly higher than in unmetasomatized spinel peridotites. Metasomatic changes in Fe3+/FeT ratios in each mineral are controlled by the oxygen fugacity of the system, but the mechanism by which each phase accommodates this ratio is affected by crystal chemistry, kinetics, rock mode, fluid composition, fluid/rock ratio, and fluid-mineral partition coefficients. Ratio increases in pyroxene and spinel occur by exchange reactions involving diffusion of Fe3+ into existing mineral grains rather than by oxidation of existing Fe2+ in peridotite mineral grains. The very high Fe3+/FeT ratio in the metasomatic amphibole may be a function of the high Fe3+/FeT of the metasomatic fluid, crystal chemical limitations on the amount of Fe3+ that could be accommodated by the pyroxene, spinel, and olivine of the peridotite, and the ability of the amphibole structure to accommodate large amounts of 3 + valence cations. In the samples studied, metasomatic amphibole accounts for half of the bulk-rock Fe2O3. This suggests that patent metasomatism may produce a greater change in the redox state of mantle peridotite than cryptic metasomatism. Comparison of the metasomatized samples with unmetasomatized peridotites reveals that both Fe2+ and Fe3+ cations p.f.u. were increased during metasomatism and 50% or more of iron added was Fe3+. With increasing distance from the dike, the ratio of added Fe3+ to added Fe2+ increases. The high Fe3+/FeT of amphibole and phlogopite in the dikes and in the peridotite, and the high ratios of added Fe3+/added Fe2+ in pyroxenes and spinel suggest that the Fe3+/FeT ratio of the metasomatic silicate fluid was high. As the fluid perolated through and reacted with the peridotite, Fe3+ and C−O−H volatile species were concentrated in the fluid, increasing the fluid Fe3+/FeT.
Growth mechanisms of silicon in Al-Si alloys

Abstract Eutectic silicon in Al-Si alloy has been examined by optical, SEM and TEM methods. Normal flake silicon grows anisotropically and has a low twin density; quench modified fibrous silicon is essentially twin free and grows isotropically (non-faceted); sodium modified silicon contains a very high twin density and the fibers are somewhat faceted. It is concluded that in the absence of sodium, molecular attachment by the TPRE mechanism is incidental but in the presence of sodium this is the dominant growth mechanism. Various aspects of the modification mechanism are discussed.
The lowest-frequency bending mode (ν71) of HCN-HF from near-infrared laser spectroscopy

Abstract The lowest intermolecular bending frequency of HCN-HF has been determined in both the ground (73.583(3) cm −1 ) and excited (73.176(3) cm −1 ) CH vibrational states using near-infrared laser molecular beam spectroscopy. The results also show that the vibrational predissociation lifetime is weakly dependent on the intermolecular bending state.
A new algorithm for dominant points detection and polygonization of digital curves

A new algorithm for detecting dominant points and polygonal approximation of digitized closed curves is presented. It uses an optimal criterion for determining the region-of-support of each boundary point, and a new mechanism for selecting the dominant points. The algorithm does not require an input parameter, and can handle shapes that contain features of multiple sizes efficiently. In addition, the approximating polygon preserves the symmetry of the shape.
RECENT OCEANIC INTRAPLATE EARTHQUAKE IN BALLENY SEA WAS LARGEST EVER DETECTED

The largest oceanic intraplate earthquake ever detected and the largest event worldwide since 1994 occurred in a remote oceanic region near the Balleny Islands on March 25, 1998 (03:12:26 UT; Mw 8.2). An intraplate earthquake of this magnitude is extremely rare, especially for the Antarctic plate, which shows low seismicity. The earthquake occurred about 300 km west of the Balleny Transform between the Antarctic passive margin and the Australian-Antarctic spreading center (Figure 1). The best double-couple mechanism from the Harvard Centroid Moment Tensor (CMT) solution shows strike-slip faulting with nodal planes trending north-south and east-west (Figure 1). The CMT solution also shows a large, compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) component that can be interpreted as indicating northwest-southeast extension.
The Effect of IGV Wake Impingement on the Flow Structure and Turbulence Around a Rotor Blade

The flow structure and turbulence around the leading and trailing edges of a rotor blade operating downstream of a row of Inlet Guide Vanes (IGV) are investigated experimentally. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements are performed in a refractive index matched facility that provides unobstructed view of the entire flow field. Data obtained at several rotor blade phases focus on modification to the flow structure and turbulence in the IGV wake as it propagates along the blade. The phase-averaged velocity distributions demonstrate that wake impingement significantly modifies the wall-parallel velocity component and its gradients along the blade. Due to spatially non-uniform velocity distribution, especially on the suction side, the wake deforms while propagating along the blade, expanding near the leading edge and shrinking near the trailing edge. While being exposed to the non-uniform strain field within the rotor passage, the turbulence within the IGV wake becomes spatially non-uniform and highly anisotropic. Several mechanisms, which are consistent with rapid distortion theory (RDT) and distribution of turbulence production rate, contribute to the observed trends. For example, streamwise (in rotor frame reference) diffusion in the aft part of the rotor passage enhances the streamwise fluctuations. Compression also enhances the turbulence production very near the leading edge. However, along the suction side, rapid changes to the direction of compression and extension cause negative production. The so-called wall blockage effect reduces the wall-normal component.Copyright © 2005 by ASME