cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metastatic malignant melanoma presenting as pancytopenia in a three-year-old boy

Malignant melanoma is rare in childhood and has never been reported to cause pancytopenia due to bone marrow metastases in a child. We report a 3-year-old boy with a large congenital melanocytic nevus who presented with bone pain and pancytopenia due to diffuse bone and bone marrow infiltration with metastatic melanoma without an identifiable primary site. Despite treatment with imatinib mesylate there was no response and the patient died with progressive disease. This case illustrates an unusual presentation of bone marrow failure secondary to malignant melanoma in a young child with symptomatic metastatic marrow infiltration, a rarely reported site of melanoma involvement in adults or children.
The cost of death's “memory picture”

contains much new material, arises from the perfect match of author and subject. The practices of the funeral industry can provoke righteous outrage, while the nature of the subject invites a great deal of mordant humour. The challenge for the writer is to maintain the proper balance, avoiding the jeremiad on one side and borscht-belt jokes on the other. Mitford keeps the tone just right throughout. The greater temptation lies in the direction of the jeremiad. Few consumers are so outmatched in dealings with businessmen as those seeking to bury their dead. Who would not feel just the slightest bit crass shopping around for the “best” funeral? Knowing that, the funeral business
Management Issues Related to Effectively Implementing a Nutrition Education Program Using Peer Educators

Abstract Objective To explore the influence of administrative aspects of a nutrition education program with peer educators delivering the program. Design Telephone interviews with peer educators trained to deliver La Cocina Saludable , a nutrition education program for Hispanics. Open- and closed-ended questions. Subjects/Settings Abuelas (grandmothers) recruited and trained as peer educators for the program. The sample included peer educators no longer teaching (22%), currently teaching (30%), and who never taught after training. Main Outcome Measures Motives and incentives for becoming peer educators, challenges for peer educators, and reasons peer educators withdrew from the program. Statistical Analyses Performed Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data from the closed-ended questions. Qualitative analysis was applied to data from open-ended questions. Results Working with community and learning about nutrition were prime motivators. Recruiting participants and coordination of classes appeared to be major challenges. Personal issues and traveling in a large geographic area were cited as the main reasons for quitting. Implications The effectiveness of using peer educators for La Cocina Saludable may be improved through empowerment, additional training, a structured and equitable reimbursement system, and assistance to carry out administrative tasks.
Measurements of the fate of gas hydrates during transit through the ocean water column

[1] We report on controlled experiments to document the fate of naturally occurring methane hydrate released from the sea floor (780 m, 4.3°C) by remotely operated vehicle (ROV) disturbance. Images of buoyant sediment-coated solids rising (∼0.24 m/s) from the debris cloud, soon revealed clear crystals of methane hydrate as surficial material sloughed off. Decomposition and visible degassing began close to the predicted phase boundary, yet pieces initially of ∼0.10 m size easily survived transit to the surface ocean. Smaller pieces dissolved or dissociated before reaching the surface ocean, yet effectively transferred gas to depths where atmospheric ventilation times are short relative to methane oxidation rates.
Studies on the N-glycosylation of the subunits of oligosaccharyl transferase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, oligosaccharyl transferase (OT) consists of nine different subunits. Three of the essential gene products, Ost1p, Wbp1p, and Stt3p, are N-linked glycoproteins. To study the function of the N-glycosylation of these proteins, we prepared single or multiple N-glycosylation site mutations in each of them. We established that the four potential N-glycosylation sites in Ost1p and the two potential N-glycosylation sites in Wbp1p were occupied in the mature proteins. Interestingly, none of the N-glycosylation sites in these two proteins was conserved, and no defect in growth or OT activity was observed when the N-glycosylation sites were mutated to block N-glycosylation in either subunit. However, in the third glycosylated subunit, Stt3p, there are two adjacent potential N-glycosylation sites (N535NTWN539NT) that, in contrast to the other subunits, are highly conserved in eukaryotic organisms. Mass spectrometric analysis of a tryptic digest of Stt3p showed that the peptide containing the two adjacent N-glycosylation sites was N-glycosylated at one site. Furthermore, the glycan chain identified as Man8GlcNAc2 is found linked only to Asn539. Mutation experiments were carried out at these two sites. Four single amino acid mutations blocking either N-glycosylation site (N535Q, T537A, N539Q, and T541A) resulted in strains that were either lethal or extremely temperature sensitive. However, other mutations in the two N-glycosylation sites N535NTWN539NT (N536Q, T537S, N540Q, and T541S), did not exhibit growth defects. Based on these studies, we conclude that N-glycosylation of Stt3p at Asn539 is essential for its function in the OT complex.
Hyperosmotic stress in murine hybridoma cells: effects on antibody transcription, translation, posttranslational processing, and the cell cycle.

Mechanisms for increased antibody production in batch cultures of murine hybridoma cells in response to hyperosmotic stress were investigated. The rates of immunoglobulin transcription and protein translation and posttranslational processing were determined in control and hyperosmotic cultures. Changes in immunoglobulin transcription played a minor role in the increase in antibody production in response to hyperosmotic stress. In contrast, protein translation increased substantially in response to osmotic stress. However, the antibody translation rate remained relatively constant after correcting for the overall increase in protein translation. Cell size and intracellular antibody pool also increased in response to hyperosmolarity. The intracellular antibody pool increased proportionately with the increase in cell size, indicating that hyperosmotic cultures do not selectively increase their intracellular antibody population. Changes in cell cycle distribution in response to osmotic stress and the relationship between the cell cycle and antibody production were also evaluated. Hyperosmotic stress altered the cell cycle distribution, increasing the fraction of the cells in S-phase. However, this change was uncorrelated with the increase in antibody production rate. Immunoglobulin degradation was relatively low (∼15%) and remained largely unchanged in response to hyperosmotic stress. There was no apparent increase in immunoglobulin stability as a result of osmotic stress. Antibody secretion rates increased approximately 50% in response to osmotic stress, with a commensurate increase in the antibody assembly rate. The rate of transit through the entire posttranslational processing apparatus increased, particularly for immunoglobulin light chains. The levels of endoplasmic reticulum chaperones did not increase as a fraction of the total cellular protein but were increased on a per cell basis as the result of an increase in total cellular protein. A difference in the interactions between the immunoglobulin heavy chains and BiP/GRP78 was observed in response to hyperosmotic conditions. This change in interaction may be correlated with the decrease in transit time through the posttranslational pathways. The increase in the posttranslational processing rate appears to be commensurate with the increase in antibody production in response to hyperosmotic stress.
A semi-microscopic Monte Carlo study of permeation energetics in a gramicidin-like channel: the origin of cation selectivity

The influence of a gramicidin-like channel former on ion free energy barriers is studied using Monte Carlo simulation. The model explicitly describes the ion, the water dipoles, and the peptide carbonyls; the remaining degrees of freedom, bulk electrolyte, non-polar lipid and peptide regions, and electronic (high frequency) permittivity, are treated in continuum terms. Contributions of the channel waters and peptide COs are studied both separately and collectively. We found that if constrained to their original orientations, the COs substantially increase the cationic permeation free energy; with or without water present, CO reorientation is crucial for ion-CO interaction to lower cation free energy barriers; the translocation free energy profiles for potassium-, rubidium-, and cesium-like cations exhibit no broad barriers; the lipid-bound peptide interacts more effectively with anions than cations; anionic translocation free energy profiles exhibit well defined maxima. Using experimental data to estimate transfer free energies of ions and water from bulk electrolyte to a non-polar dielectric (continuum lipid), we found reasonable ion permeation profiles; cations bind and permeate, whereas anions cannot enter the channel. Cation selectivity arises because, for ions of the same size and charge, anions bind hydration water more strongly.
Integer-spin electron paramagnetic resonance of iron proteins.

A quantitative interpretation is presented for EPR spectra from integer-spin metal centers having large zero-field splittings. Integer-spin, or non-Kramers, centers are common in metalloproteins and many give EPR signals, but a quantitative understanding has been lacking until now. Heterogeneity of the metal's local environment will result in a significant spread in zero-field splittings and in broadened EPR signals. Using the spin Hamiltonian Hs = S.D.S + beta S.g.B and some simple assumptions about the nature of the zero-field parameter distributions, a lineshape model was devised which allows accurate simulation of single crystal and frozen solution spectra. The model was tested on single crystals of magnetically dilute ferrous fluosilicate. Data and analyses from proteins and active-site models are presented with the microwave field B1 either parallel or perpendicular to B. Quantitative agreement of observed and predicted signal intensities is found for the two B1 orientations. Methods of spin quantitation are given and are shown to predict an unknown concentration relative to a standard with known concentration. The fact that the standard may be either a non-Kramers or a Kramers center is further proof of the model's validity. The magnitude of the splitting in zero magnetic field is of critical importance; it affects not only the chance of signal observation, but also the quantitation accuracy. Experiments taken at microwave frequencies of 9 and 35 GHz demonstrate the need for high-frequency data as only a fraction of the molecules give signals at 9 GHz.
Status of VibroIR at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Current efforts at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the area of vibrothermography (VibroIR or SonicIR) are presented. The primary goals of the efforts of the NDE group at LLNL have been to demonstrate the applicability of vibrothermography to new areas, to examine the degree to which VibroIR may replace existing NDE inspection procedures, and to conduct research on the underlying processes and optimal parameters in its implementation. We report three new applications of VibroIR, in the areas of brazed tube joint inspection, evaluationtion of thick multilayer carbon/carbon composites as used in the NASA Shuttle, and the inspection of soft composite materials. The goal of the brazed joint inspection process is ultimately the replacement of a current dye penetrant inspection procedure. Therefore a direct comparison between VibroIR and dye penetrant inspection is made. Preliminary results of the analysis of a leading edge panel from a NASA Shuttle is also reported as an example of the application of VibroIR to thick composites. Finally, a comparison betweeen the effectiveness of VibroIR versus a spectrum of other NDE techniques (ultrasonic imaging, radiographic tomography) for the imaging of known ceramic defects is briefly discussed.
MIXED CONVECTION FROM AN ISOLATED HEAT SOURCE IN A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE

Abstract The mixed convection transport from an isolated thermal source, with a uniform surface heat flux input and located in a rectangular enclosure, is studied numerically. The enclosure simulates a practical system such as an oven or an air-cooled electronic device, where an airstream flows through the openings on the two vertical walls. The heat source represents a heater or an electronic component located in such an enclosure. The interaction of the cooling stream with the buoyancy-induced flow from the heat source is of interest in this work. Laminar, two-dimensional flow is assumed, and the problem lies in the mixed convection regime, governed by the buoyancy parameter GrIRe1 and the Reynolds number Re. Other significant variables include the locations of the heat source and the outflow opening. The inflow is kept at a fixed position. The mathematical model is developed with vorticity and stream function, along with temperature, as the dependent variables. The unsteady terms are retained in the vo...
Acute regulation of adiponectin by free fatty acids

Little is known about the acute regulation of adiponectin in humans. In animal studies, adiponectin increases the clearance of free fatty acids (FFA) from the circulation by increasing skeletal uptake and oxidation of lipid, thereby regulating the FFA concentration. However, it is unknown if FFA regulate adiponectin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an acute reduction in free fatty acids on adiponectin concentration in healthy subjects. Ten normal male subjects were admitted for 2 inpatient visits and randomized to receive either acipimox (500 mg orally at 2 am and again at 6 am) or placebo on the first visit and vice versa on the second visit. Adiponectin, FFA, insulin and glucose were measured at 7:45 am. FFA concentrations were significantly lower after acipimox than placebo administration (0.08 +/- 0.02 mEq/L v 0.35 +/- 0.53 mEq/L, P <.05). Adiponectin concentrations were also significantly lower after acipimox than placebo administration (7.4 +/- 1.2 microg/mL v 10.3 +/- 1.7 microg/mL, P <.05). The change in FFA between acipimox and placebo correlated significantly with the change in adiponectin (r = 0.66, P <.05), eg, the larger the reduction in FFA in response to acipimox, the larger the reduction in adiponectin. These results suggest that acute lowering of FFA is associated with decreased adiponectin concentrations.
An investigation of aerosol microstructure on visual air quality

Abstract Visibility modeling requires a proper description of the optical properties of atmospheric pollutants and an accurate simulation of the physical processes of light propagation in the atmosphere. The objectives of this paper are to study the effects of various microstructures of atmospheric particles on their optical properties (such as extinction coefficient, probability of scattering, and scattering phase matrix) and consequential influence on the computation of path radiance and contrast. Mie computations are performed, in which the physical characteristics (e.g. size distribution, solubility, and mixture) of particles and the atmospheric conditions (e.g. moisture) are allowed to vary. A plane-parallel multiple scattering radiation model, utilizing the methods of doubling and adding, is then used to assess the impact of atmospheric pollutants on visibility and visual air quality. The results of this study demonstrate the dependence of sky radiance not only on the aerosol extinction coefficient but on the phase matrix and environmental conditions as well. These results are presented in sky color maps which are created using truecolor imagery.
Improvement of Convergence Properties for Ritz Formulations of Acousto-Elasticity Problems

Many applications require the analysis of structures with cavities filled with fluids or gases. In many cases the fluid domains can be ignored, and we can safely assume that the structure’s in vacuo properties apply. Sometimes, however, resonances in the fluid can couple with structural resonances to yield acousto-elastic modes of response. The most popular approach to these problems is to describe the trapped fluid in terms of a finite number of eigenmodes of a geometrically identical cavity with rigid boundaries. Then, the structural and fluid domains are coupled by matching the pressure across the wetted surface. However, for light structures with embedded cavities of relatively heavy fluids such as water, this technique may not be satisfactory because the interior rigid-cavity modes are poor candidates to satisfy the “natural boundary conditions” that exist at the fluid-structure boundary. This paper explores the use of an expanded set of Ritz functions for the fluid domain, to include a number of functions that explicitly allow for motion along the wetted surface. The method is applied to a two-dimensional rectangular acoustic cavity, with rigid boundaries on all sides except for a flexible membrane on the top surface. Through comparisons with the “exact solution,” it is shown that the solution using the expanded set of Ritz functions converges more quickly than do solutions employing rigid cavity modes. The convergence trends of the first few natural frequencies are computed for a number of different physical and geometric system properties.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Systemic hypertension complicating tetralogy of fallot: Effects of antihypertensive therapy☆

Abstract A 20 year old woman with tetralogy of Fallot and an associated atrial septal defect presented with severe hypertension and congestive heart failure. She had been acyanotic for several years. An acute trial of antihypertensive therapy during cardiac catheterization resulted in severe systemic oxygen desaturation and loss of consciousness. Since surgical correction, antihypertensive therapy has been well tolerated. This case demonstrates the hemodynamic Importance of systemic vascular resistance in tetralogy of Fallot and the need for extreme caution If aggressive antihypertensive therapy is attempted before surgical correction.
5-Cyanovaleramide production using immobilized pseudomonas chlororaphis B23

A biocatalytic process for the hydration of adiponitrile to 5-cyanovaleramide has been developed which can be run to higher conversion, produces more product per weight of catalyst, and generates significantly less waste products than alternate chemical processes. The biocatalyst consists of Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23 microbial cells immobilized in calcium alginate beads. The cells contain a nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) which catalyzes the hydration of adiponitrile to 5-cyanovaleramide with high regioselectivity, and with less than 5% selectivity to byproduct adipamide. Fifty-eight consecutive batch reactions with biocatalyst recycle were run to convert a total of 12.7 metric tons of adiponitrile to 5-cyanovaleramide. At 97% adiponitrile conversion, the yield of 5-cyanovaleramide was 13.6 metric tons (93% yield, 96% selectivity), and the total weight of 5-cyanovaleramide produced per weight of catalyst was 3150 kg/kg (dry cell weight).
Investigating landfill-impacted groundwater seepage into headwater streams using stable carbon isotopes

The impact of landfill contaminated groundwater along a reach of a small stream adjacent to a municipal landfill was investigated using stable carbon isotopes as a tracer. Groundwater below the stream channel, groundwater seeping into the stream, groundwater from the stream banks and stream water were sampled and analysed for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and the isotope ratio of DIC (δ13CDIC). Representative samples of groundwater seeping into the stream were collected using a device (a ‘seepage well’) specifically designed for collecting samples of groundwater seeping into shallow streams with soft sediments. The DIC and δ13CDIC of water samples ranged from 52 to 205 mg C/L and −16·9 to +5·7‰ relative to VPDB standard, respectively. Groundwater from the stream bank adjacent to the landfill and some samples of groundwater below the stream channel and seepage into the stream showed evidence of δ13C enriched DIC (δ13CDIC = −2·3 to +5·7‰), which we attribute to landfill impact. Stream water and groundwater from the stream bank opposite the landfill did not show evidence of landfill carbon (δ13CDIC = −10·0 to −16·9‰). A simple mixing model using DIC and δ13CDIC showed that groundwater below the stream and groundwater seeping into the stream could be described as a mixture of groundwater with a landfill carbon signature and uncontaminated groundwater. This study suggests that the hyporheic zone at the stream–groundwater interface probably was impacted by landfill contaminated groundwater and may have significant ecological implications for this ecotone. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous multiplane in vivo nonlinear microscopy using spectral encoding

Conventional point-by-point imaging schemes for laser scanning microscopy limit acquisition speeds, particularly when imaging three-dimensional volumes. We report a novel approach that achieves parallelization of multiple fields of view through the use of spectral encoding. By focusing two or more beams of different wavelengths at different positions within a suitable tissue, fluorescence or second/third harmonic generation emissions from these regions can be uniquely separated. We demonstrate that this approach can allow simultaneous in vivo imaging of fluorescence in two planes within the living rodent cortex, and of second harmonic generation in fresh tissue.
Paleosols of Late Pennsylvanian cyclic strata, New Mexico*

Cyclically deposited siliciclastic and carbonate rocks of the Late Pennsylvanian (Virgilian, Holder Formation) of south-central New Mexico were deposited on a narrow shelf between the Pedernal uplift and the Orogrande basin. In the Dry Canyon area, Sacramento Mountains, shelf-to-basin palaeotopography is indicated by onlapping beds and primary dips. Calcareous alteration zones are developed on the tops of major carbonate units. These detailed studies confirm earlier interpretations that alteration zones represent subaerial exposure events and provide new evidence for and further documentation of a paleosol environment. The paleosols contain: (1) rhizoliths; (2) tangential needle fibres of calcite; (3) five types of alveolar texture; (4) upward oriented ‘ribbon spar’; (5) brownish and clear isopachous spar; (6) blackened grains; (7) random needle fibres of calcite; (8) coated grains; (9) micritized grains; (10) glaebules; (11) desiccation cracks; (12) possible Microcodium; and (13) well-developed laminated crusts. Isopachous cements, upward-oriented cements (which mark the former tops of capillary fringes), dark colour and shallow depth of penetration of rhizoliths (less than 1 m) indicate significant paleosol formation in waterlogged (hydromorphic) and drier conditions. Pennsylvanian palaeohydrogeology of the system is reflected in the type of paleosol alteration. Paleosols developed on subtidal strata and paleosols which drape tens of metres of palaeotopography indicate cyclic sedimentation was not controlled by delta lobe switching. Local tectonic up and down movement would be an unlikely mechanism to explain the repeated tens of metres of relative sea-level fluctuation. Eustatic sea-level fluctuations, induced by Late Pennsylvanian Gondwana glaciation, probably were of the correct magnitude and frequency to have caused the Holder cycles.
Isopiestic studies of very concentrated aqueous electrolyte solutions of LiCl, LiBr, LiNO3, Ca(NO3)2, LiNO3 + KNO3, LiNO3 + CsNO3, and Ca(NO3)2 + CsNO3 at 100 to 150°C†

Thermodynamic properties of aqueous salt solutions show marked changes when the water content is reduced below 4 to 8 mol of H 2 O per mole of salt, reflecting the gradual transition between aqueous electrolytes and molten salts. The enthalpy of vaporization of water rises from values near that of pure water to values characteristic of water at infinite dilution in molten salts. Water activities at high concentrations have been determined from precise isopiestic measurements of LiCl, LiNO 3 , LiBr, Ca(NO 3 ) 2 and several mixtures including (Li, K)NO 3 at 100 to 150°C. All show a region in which Stokes and Robinson's B.E.T. adsorption model of hydration can be fitted with physically reasonable energy parameters. For the system (Li, K)NO 3 + H 2 O, the difference between the energy of adsorption and energy of liquefaction, calculated with the model, is 0.7 kcal mol −1 , while the difference between the enthalpies of vaporization of water at infinite dilution in salt and of pure water is 0.8 kcal mol −1 .
A passivity-based framework for resilient cyber physical systems

Resilient control systems play a special role in the area of cyber-physical systems, where the design must address the question how complex dynamic plants are to be controlled safely and reliably when a control system is under a cyber attack. In this paper we describe a control theoretical framework based on the concept of passivity for designing a control network which can tolerate, for instance, denial-of-service attacks on networks used in the closed loop. In particular, we demonstrate how the resilient power junction structure could be applied, and provide simulated results.
Laser ultrasonics: a new tool for the industry

In this paper we explore laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) at relatively low energies in the range 10 - 350 tJ. We present measurements ofthe threshold laser energy needed for LIBS and the scaling of plasma size and crater size with energy. The effects of the laser pulse length and gating of the detector on the LIB spectra are studied and we also assess the use ofmicrojoule LIBS for the identification ofAl alloys.
The effects of chronic cigarette smoking on cognitive recovery during early abstinence from alcohol.

Background: Alcohol use disorders are related to neurocognitive abnormalities during early abstinence in those seeking treatment for alcohol dependence (ALC). Considerable evidence indicates that chronic cigarette smoking is associated with multiple neurocognitive deficiencies. However, very little is known about the effects of chronic smoking on neurocognitive recovery during early abstinence from alcohol. We evaluated whether cigarette smoking interferes with cognitive improvement during early abstinence from alcohol, a period thought important for maintaining long-term sobriety. Methods: Neurocognitive functions previously shown to be adversely affected by both alcohol use disorders and chronic cigarette smoking were evaluated. We assessed 35 smoking ALC (sALC) and 34 nonsmoking ALC (nsALC) at approximately 1 and 5 weeks of monitored abstinence. Results: Although neither group was clinically impaired, both cross-sectional and longitudinal deficiencies were observed in sALC versus nsALC in processing speed, working memory, and auditory-verbal learning and memory. Lifetime alcohol consumption, medical, and psychiatric comorbidities did not predict neurocognitive performance or improvement across assessments. Within sALC, greater drinking and smoking severities were synergistically (more than additively) related to less improvement on visuospatial learning and memory. Former smoking status in the nsALC-mediated group differences in auditory-verbal delayed recall. Conclusions: Chronic cigarette smoking appears to negatively impact neurocognition during early abstinence from alcohol. Although the cognitive deficiencies observed in this cohort were not in a clinical range of impairment, they should be considered to enhance treatment efficacy. Our findings lend support to integrating smoking cessation as well as the individual assessment of cognition into early ALC treatment. Additionally, there is a need to elucidate the effects of current and former smoking status in future reports of neurocognition. © 2013 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.
Cryptography and relational database management systems

Security is becoming one of the most urgent challenges in database research and industry, and the challenge is intensifying due to the enormous popularity of e-business. The authors study database security from a cryptographic point of view. They show how to integrate modern cryptography technology into a relational database management system to solve some major security problems. Our study shows that cryptographic support is an indispensable ingredient for a modern RDBMS to provide a secure environment for storing and processing a huge amount of business data.
Medium-Chain Triglycerides as a Stress Factor in Vitamin E Deficiency of Chicks

Abstract It has previously been reported from this laboratory (Fisher and Kaunitz, 1965) that medium-chain triglycerides (C6–C12; henceforth MCT) produce a high incidence of exudative diathesis in chickens receiving a vitamin E low soybean meal-glucose diet. In this earlier study, Leghorn chicks were shown to be highly susceptible, whereas Columbian-cross chicks were not. In the present study we wish to report the susceptibility of rapidly growing Vantress chicks to MCT-induced vitamin E deficiency, and on certain interactions between MCT and antioxidants. PROCEDURE One-day-old male Vantress chicks were placed on the experimental diets for a period of 24 days. The basal diet contained (in %): Assay protein C-l, 30; corn starch, 30; mineral mix (Summers and Fisher 1967), 4.9; fiber, 3.1; dl -methionine, 0.3; choline chloride (70%), 0.3; tocopherol-free vitamin mix (Fisher and Griminger, 1967), 0.2; and glucose monohydrate, to 100. MCT or corn oil was added at the expense of glucose…
Effects of technology scaling on the SET sensitivity of RF CMOS Voltage-controlled oscillators

We analyze single-event transient (SET) effects in a high-speed voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) design that is applicable to mixed-signal RF operations. Our study shows that the sensitivity of this type of circuit topologies exhibits a strong correlation to: the minimum feature size of the technology in use, the range of oscillating frequencies that the circuit is designed to achieve and the frequency at which the VCO is operating. We also determine that current-starved VCOs have an optimal functional range for improved radiation tolerance, located at the upper segment of their voltage-to-frequency transfer characteristic, where exposition to low LET ions become of no consequence on the operation of the circuit. More importantly, we show that derating the frequency of such VCO designed in a state-of-the-art technology does not compensate for the increased radiation vulnerability at that node. If not properly accounted for, the performance overhead that the newer technology provides is shown to severely penalize the radiation hardness of the circuit.
Reducing Disparities in Hypertension Control: A Community-Based Hypertension Control Project (CHIP) for an Ethnically Diverse Population

The Community Hypertension Intervention Project (CHIP) is investigating medical, environmental, and psychosocial factors related to adherence to treatment for hypertension and examining the efficacy of three interventions designed to improve treatment adherence in a high-risk, underserved, ethnically diverse population. There were 1,367 Black (76%) and Hispanic (21%) adults who participated in a 4-year longitudinal study. Participants were randomized to either usual care or one of three interventions: (a) individualized counseling sessions with community health workers (CHWs), (b) a computerized appointment tracking system, or (c) home visits/focus group discussions with CHWs. At baseline, a total of 33% of the participants had one or more comorbidities in addition to hypertension; only 35% had their blood pressure under control. Participants assigned to the patient tracking intervention exhibited the most significant improvement in appointment keeping and blood pressure control status at 6 months; however, the 12-month follow-up assessments indicated that individualized counseling and home visits resulted in significant, sustained improvements in appointment keeping and blood pressure control status. These findings are now being integrated into the patient care delivery system of the participating outpatient clinics.
Studies on the Life History of Panopistus pricei Sinitsin, 1931 [Trematoda].

The life history of Panopistus pricei, as determined experimentally, has been described, together with the life history stages, including the sporocyst, cercaria and metacercaria. The snail Zonitoides arboreus has been determined experimentally to be a first and second intermediate host of the parasite.
Inconsistency in the triple layer model description of ionic strength dependent boron adsorption.

Understanding anion adsorption mechanisms is necessary to allow prediction of anion adsorption behavior. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the triple layer model, a chemical surface complexation model, to describe the effect of changes in solution ionic strength (0.01–1.0 M NaCl) and solution pH (3–11) on B adsorption by the iron oxide, goethite, the aluminum oxide, gibbsite, the clay minerals, kaolinite and montmorillonite, and two arid zone soils. Ionic strength dependence of adsorption suggests an inner-sphere adsorption mechanism for goethite, kaolinite, montmorillonite, and the two soils and an outer-sphere adsorption mechanism for gibbsite. The triple layer model, containing an inner-sphere adsorption mechanism, was able to describe B adsorption on goethite, kaolinite, montmorillonite, and the two soils. The model was able to describe B adsorption on gibbsite using an outer-sphere adsorption mechanism. A problematic inconsistency exists in the triple layer model description of ionic strength dependent B adsorption between the type of B surface complex defined in the model and the ionic strength dependence of the model result. That is, postulating an inner-sphere adsorption mechanism in the triple layer model resulted in an ionic strength dependence appropriate for the formation of outer-sphere surface complexes and vice versa. Additional tests of the ability of the triple layer model to describe ionic strength dependent adsorption of additional ions are needed to establish whether the inconsistencies are limited to the B system or are of concern in other triple layer model applications. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Tor1/2 regulation of retrograde gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae derives indirectly as a consequence of alterations in ammonia metabolism.

Retrograde genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encode the enzymes needed to synthesize α-ketoglutarate, required for ammonia assimilation, when mitochondria are damaged or non-functional because of glucose fermentation. Therefore, it is not surprising that a close association exists between control of the retrograde regulon and expression of nitrogen catabolic genes. Expression of these latter genes is nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive, i.e. expression is low with good nitrogen sources (e.g. glutamine) and high when only poor (e.g. proline) or limiting nitrogen sources are available. It has been reported recently that both NCR-sensitive and retrograde gene expression is negatively regulated by glutamine and induced by treating cells with the Tor1/2 inhibitor, rapamycin. These conclusions predict that NCR-sensitive and retrograde gene expression should respond in parallel to nitrogen sources, ranging from those that highly repress NCR-sensitive transcription to those that elicit minimal NCR. Because this prediction did not accommodate earlier observations that CIT2 (a retrograde gene) expression is higher in glutamine than proline containing medium, we investigated retrograde regulation further. We show that (i) retrograde gene expression correlates with intracellular ammonia and α-ketoglutarate generated by a nitrogen source rather than the severity of NCR it elicits, and (ii) in addition to its known regulation by NCR, NAD-glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH2) gene expression is down-regulated by ammonia under conditions where NCR is minimal. Therefore, intracellular ammonia plays a pivotal dual role, regulating the interface of nitrogen and carbon metabolism at the level of ammonia assimilation and production. Our results also indicate the effects of rapamycin treatment on CIT2 transcription, and hence Tor1/2 regulation of retrograde gene expression occur indirectly as a consequence of alterations in ammonia and glutamate metabolism.
Linking Self and Social Structure A Psychological Perspective on Social Identity in Sri Lanka

A large (N = 603) and representative sample in Sri Lanka completed a questionnaire that assessed the salience of 11 social identities (nation, social class, age, religion, caste, occupation, race, gender, educational level, town or village of residence, and political party) within respondents’ self-concepts. Consistent with extant psychological theories of identity, four features of an identity were found to be systematically related to its salience within the self-concept: (a) how the status of an identity affects one’s overall self-esteem, (b) the degree to which one is a demographic minority on a category of identity, (c) whether an identity has been affected by processes of urban-industrial development, and (d) the type and extent of intergroup contact on a category of identity. The relevance of the identity framework to cross-cultural theory is discussed.
Wide-angle memories of close-up scenes: A demonstration of boundary extension

Boundary extension refers to a tendency to remember seeing a greater expanse of a scene than was shown in a photograph. It is hypothesized that the view shown in the stimulus activates expectations about the scene’s layout just outside the picture’s borders. Following presentation, the viewer remembers having seen this expected information, and this yields boundary extension. We provide photographs and instructions for conducting two brief demonstrations of the phenomenon and provide materials for a related class experiment on the journal’s World-Wide Web site. These demonstrations of boundary extension provide graphic illustrations of the role of schematic expectancies in the representation of scenes and help to illustrate the role of real-world knowledge in cognition.
Radio Resource Management for Green Wireless Networks

In this paper, an auctioning strategy is proposed for cellular networks that ensures net energy savings. The pricing scheme, in conjunction with the two dimensional bid structure, incentivizes cooperation at the terminal nodes for better interference management at receivers and for cooperative relaying. It is shown that, for the proposed auctioning strategy, network operators are guaranteed revenue gains, mobile nodes' dominant strategy is to bid their true valuation of their energy resources, and overall effective energy gains occur under the assumption of a reserve price for bidding.
Alternative Method of Flow-Back Water Treatment in Shale Gas Development for Environmental Protection

During the process of shale gas extraction, water is one of the resources used in order to fracture the formation and retrieve the trapped gas. A portion of the injected water is recovered during the initial extraction of the gas, which is known as flow-back water. Flow-back water was found to contain very high concentrations of dissolved solids (e.g. calcium, barium, magnesium, chloride, and iron), which renders its treatment highly challenging for most of the existing treatment methods. Electrodialysis is an alternative for onsite treatment (or pre-treatment) and recycling of the flow-back water, which has gained more attention in recent years. The method is based on an electrically assisted membrane process for separation of salts from the water. In this study, the efficiency of the electrodialysis as a desalination process for flow-back water was investigated in the laboratory scale using samples of flow-back water from the Marcellus shale gas formation. The preliminary findings indicated a removal of total dissolved solids of between 35% to 90%.
A potentially novel overlapping gene in the genomes of Israeli acute paralysis virus and its relatives

The Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) is a honeybee-infecting virus that was found to be associated with colony collapse disorder. The IAPV genome contains two genes encoding a structural and a nonstructural polyprotein. We applied a recently developed method for the estimation of selection in overlapping genes to detect purifying selection and, hence, functionality. We provide evolutionary evidence for the existence of a functional overlapping gene, which is translated in the +1 reading frame of the structural polyprotein gene. Conserved orthologs of this putative gene, which we provisionally call pog (predicted overlapping gene), were also found in the genomes of a monophyletic clade of dicistroviruses that includes IAPV, acute bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus, and Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant) virus 1.
Impact of Beach Restoration on the Deep-burrowing Ghost Shrimp, Callichirus islagrande

Restorations of barrier islands can be beneficial to coastal marshes, but may also have detrimental effects on intertidal macrobenthic communities. Two barrier islands of the Isles Dernieres chain of Louisiana were recently renourished with dredged sediments taken from the adjacent estuary. This study addresses the impact of beach restoration on intertidal populations of the burrowing ghost shrimp, Callichirus islagrande. We compared sediment characteristics of the restored sites and neighboring sites (both with and without shrimp) and examined the effect of sediment alteration on recolonization rates. Beach height was increased by an average of 2.4 m. Differentiation among sites with respect to silt/clay, sand, and gravel fractions was significant (P<0.001). East Island, the primary site of restoration, had the largest proportion of silt/clay sediments (40 % of total) whereas Trinity Island had the largest proportion of gravel (12 %). Minimal population recovery (total = 3 individuals) was evident 2 years post-restoration. High levels of silt/clay loading at East Island appear to have slowed population recovery.
Introduction Neuropharmacology of Movement Disorders

Disorders of voluntary movement are common neurological problems that have unusual importance to both clinician and scientist. Movement disorders are important to the clinician because they are generally among the most treatable neuropsychiatric disorders, yet are also among the most frequent iatrogenic complications of drug therapies. Thus, the clinician is in a powerful position both to create and to alleviate movement disorders. Proper understanding of these conditions will help the clinician distinguish spontaneously occurring diseases from the ones he creates with drugs. Proper understanding of neuro-pharmacology will help the clinician to use drug treatments to alleviate movement disorders while avoiding or reducing complications from improper drug usage. For the neuroscientist, movement disorders represent simultaneously the greatest triumphs as well as the greatest failures of basic brain research. The triumphs include the first breakthroughs in applications of neurotransmitter mechanisms to neuronal functioning. Knowledge of basal ganglia anatomy, biochemistry, and pharmacology has led, for example, to the development of treatments for Parkinson’s disease. On the other hand, the failures include the production of unwanted movement disorders by numerous drugs, including the irreversible and disabling disease tardive dyskinesia. Understanding these lessons, both good and bad, from the field of movement disorders puts the basic scientist in a strong position to develop future treatments for other disorders of the human central nervous system.
Two-stream instability in plasma klystron

Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate have reproduced previous numerical simulations1 of a plasma wakefield klystron. This device was designed to produce electron beam bunching by exciting oscillations in a background plasma, as opposed to the more standard use of an RF structure for this purpose. Using AFRL's state-of-the-art computer simulation software package, the Improved Concurrent Electromagnetic Particle In Cell (ICEPIC) code, we obtained results similar to the previous work, and may have obtained given additional insight into the cause of the observed behavior. As opposed to wakefield oscillation, ICEPIC simulations indicate that the two stream plasma instability is a much better candidate for causing the device's simulated behavior. Trends in the simulations agree with expectations from two stream instability theory, and thresholds where the instability grows in simulation qualitatively agree with theoretical predictions. Such thresholds would not be present if the wakefield oscillations were the source of the device's behavior.
ClusterJoin: a similarity joins framework using map-reduce

Similarity join is the problem of finding pairs of records with similarity score greater than some threshold. In this paper we study the problem of scaling up similarity join for different metric distance functions using MapReduce. We propose a ClusterJoin framework that partitions the data space based on the underlying data distribution, and distributes each record to partitions in which they may produce join results based on the distance threshold. We design a set of strong candidate filters specific to different distance functions using a novel bisector-based framework, so that each record only needs to be distributed to a small number of partitions while still guaranteeing correctness. To address data skewness, which is common for high dimensional data, we further develop a dynamic load balancing scheme using sampling, which provides strong probabilistic guarantees on the size of partitions, and greatly improves scalability. Experimental evaluation using real data sets shows that our approach is considerably more scalable compared to state-of-the-art algorithms, especially for high dimensional data with low distance thresholds.
CO2 Laser CVD of Amorphous Hydrogenated Silicon: Gas Phase Processes and Properties of Thin Films

During deposition of amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) by continuous wave (cw) CO2 laser CVD in situ gas analysis was performed by mass spectrometry. The gas sample passed through an orifice in the substrate surface (Ts = 400 °C) and subsequently via a molecular beam into the analyser. Applying SiH4 and Si2H6 as precursors, polysilanes up to tetrasilane and pentasilane were observed, respectively. Time resolved mass analysis revealed a start-up period of several minutes becoming shorter with increasing laser power. In case of Si2H6 special starting conditions were necessary to suppress powder formation. Using a variable shutter in front of the substrate, the average film growth rate was found to decrease with the duration of laser deposition whereas the photo conductivity of the a-Si:H films remained constant. Possible implications of the start-up processes to the quality of solar cells are briefly discussed.