cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low temperature water gas shift: the link between the catalysis of WGS and formic acid decomposition over Pt/ceria

Abstract Partial reduction of the ceria surface leads to the formation of bridging Type II OH groups, as reported previously. These were found to react with formic acid to yield bidentate formate and water, or with CO directly to form bidentate formate. In both WGS and formic acid decomposition via dehydrogenation whereby a high water/CO or water/formic acid ratio was utilized, a normal kinetic isotope effect was observed consistent with the involvement of formate C–H bond cleaving in the rate limiting step. In the current investigation, switching between a feed containing DCOOH to HCOOH led to an increase in the formic acid conversion, as well as a slight increase in the CO 2 selectivity. The overall change in the CO 2 yield was approximately 1.3, very close to the normal kinetic isotope effect of 1.4 reported in several studies of water gas shift on metal promoted ceria. By in situ DRIFTS, a slower D-formate decomposition rate versus H-formate in the presence of water was also observed during transient decomposition of the stabilized formate. Based on the identification of the same adsorbed reactive species and similar kinetic isotope effects, the results suggest an analogous mechanism operates for formic acid decomposition and water gas shift.
Dynamics of two strongly coupled van der pol oscillators

Abstract A perturbation method is used to study the steady state behavior of two Van der Pol oscillators with strong linear diffusive coupling. It is shown that a bifurcation occurs which results in a transition from phase-locked periodic motions to quasi-periodic motions as the coupling is decreased or the detuning is increased. The analytical results are compared with a numerically generated solution.
Experiencing virtual computing lab in information technology education

Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) is an open source remote access scheduling and image management system developed at North Carolina State University (NCSU). East Carolina University (ECU), partnered with NCSU and IBM to provide innovative centralized remote computer and software access to both faculty and students under the Virtual Computing Initiative. VCL was used in several information and computer technology courses for resource-intensive labs. VCL extended the boundary of learning from the traditional physical laboratory to the homes of the students. The students could study anytime, anyplace and at their own pace. As a centralized remote lab service, VCL was complementary to decentralized virtual labs which were performed on students' personal computers. Preliminary feedback indicated that the VCL system helped provide students a useable and useful online digital learning environment.
Perceived luminance depends on temporal context

Brightness--the perception of an object's luminance--arises from complex and poorly understood interactions at several levels of processing. It is well known that the brightness of an object depends on its spatial context, which can include perceptual organization, scene interpretation, three-dimensional interpretation, shadows, and other high-level percepts. Here we present a new class of illusion in which temporal relations with spatially neighbouring objects can modulate a target object's brightness. When compared with a nearby patch of constant luminance, a brief flash appears brighter with increasing onset asynchrony. Simultaneous contrast, retinal effects, masking, apparent motion and attentional effects cannot account for this illusory enhancement of brightness. This temporal context effect indicates that two parallel streams--one adapting and one non-adapting--encode brightness in the visual cortex.
Project Eric: The search for environmental reactions induced by comets

A sounding rocket experiment was conducted to release molecules of H2O and CO2 into the daytime ionosphere within the simultaneous fields of view of the Millstone Hill radar and the Dynamics Explorer UV imager. Preliminary results confirm the creation of chemically-induced F-region plasma depletions and reduced UV intensities from the modified region.
Chaos Theory as a Model for Life Transitions Counseling: Nonlinear Dynamics and Life's Changes

Chaos theory is presented for counselors working with clients experiencing life transitions. It is proposed as a model that considers disorder, unpredictability, and lack of control as normal parts of transition processes. Nonlinear constructs from physics are adapted for use in counseling. The model provides a method clients can use to reconstruct their own alternative life narratives, a framework in which life stories are understood, and a means to facilitate cocreation of adaptive interventions.
Mobility of hot electron in n-type InAs

Abstract A detailed study of the change in mobility with applied electric fields at 77°K is presented. The effects of ionized impurity scattering at low electric field are observed. At high electric field polar optical phonon scattering produces a decrease in mobility with applied electric field.
Chronic Ethanol Ingestion Increases Susceptibility to Acute Lung Injury*: Role of Oxidative Stress and Tissue Remodeling

Clinical studies have demonstrated that chronic alcohol abuse is an independent outcome variable in acute lung injury. The Emory Center for the Study of Acute Lung Injury is determining the mechanisms by which ethanol increases susceptibility to acute lung injury. We developed a rat model of chronic ethanol ingestion and demonstrated that ethanol predisposes rats to edematous lung injury elicited by endotoxemia or sepsis. Chronic ethanol ingestion in rats led to decreased levels of glutathione, an important antioxidant in the lung, and this defect was associated with alterations in epithelial cell permeability, decreased alveolar liquid clearance, decreased cell viability, and decreased surfactant production. Chronic ethanol ingestion also led to the activation of lung tissue remodeling as demonstrated by the increased expression of profibrotic growth factors, matrix components, and metalloproteases. In cultured fibroblasts, the induction of the matrix glycoprotein fibronectin by ethanol was mediated via nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-dependent signal transduction. We speculate that these alterations render the host susceptible to acute lung injury by diminishing the protective mechanisms of the lung and promoting exaggerated inflammatory and tissue repair responses elicited against injurious agents.
Modulation of Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ)/Smad Transcriptional Responses through Targeted Degradation of TGFβ-inducible Early Gene-1 by Human Seven in Absentia Homologue

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-inducible early gene-1 (TIEG1) is a Kruppel-like transcription factor that is rapidly induced upon TGFβ treatment. TIEG1 promotes TGFβ/Smad signaling by down-regulating negative feedback through the inhibitory Smad7. In this report, we describe the identification of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, Seven in Absentia homologue-1 (SIAH1), as a TIEG1-interacting protein. We show that TIEG1 and SIAH1 interact through an amino-terminal domain of TIEG1. Co-expression of SIAH1 results in proteasomal degradation of TIEG1 but not of the related factor TIEG2. Importantly, co-expression of SIAH1 completely reverses repression of Smad7 promoter activity by TIEG1. Furthermore, overexpression of a dominant negative SIAH1 stabilizes TIEG1 and synergizes with TIEG1 to enhance TGFβ/Smad-dependent transcriptional activation. These findings suggest a novel mechanism whereby the ability of TGFβ to modulate gene transcription may be regulated by proteasomal degradation of the downstream effector TIEG1 through the SIAH pathway. In this manner, turnover of TIEG1 may serve to limit the duration and/or magnitude of TGFβ responses.
Representing Future Generations: Political Presentism and Democratic Trusteeship

Democracy is prone to what may be called presentism – a bias in the laws in favor of present over future generations. I identify the characteristics of democracies that lead to presentism, and examine the reasons that make it a serious problem. Then I consider why conventional theories are not adequate to deal with it, and develop a more satisfactory alternative approach, which I call democratic trusteeship. Present generations can represent future generations by acting as trustees of the democratic process. The general principle is that present generations should act to protect the democratic process itself over time. They should try to make sure that future citizens continue to have competent control over their collective decision‐making.
Differentiation of Mouse Bone Marrow Precursor Cells into Neutrophil Granulocytes by an Activity Separation from WEHI‐3 Cell‐Conditioned Medium

Colonies comprised exclusively of neutrophil granulocytes have been obtained by growing mouse bone marrow cells in nutrient semisolid agar cultures. A stimulator of predominantly granulocyte colony formation was present in the breakthrough fraction of preparations of colony-stimulating activity separated on DEAE-Sephadex A. The source of colony-stimulating activity was concentrated conditioned medium of a murine myelomonocytic cell line (WEHI-3), which unfractionated stimulated the growth of colonies of granulocytes, macrophages, megakaryocytes, as well as mixed colony types. After stepwise column chromatography of the conditioned medium, the breakthrough fraction was shown to stimulate predominantly granulocyte colony formation, and the fraction eluted with 1 M NaCl was found to induce primarily macrophage colony growth. Colony morphology was independent of the concentration of eluate used. The morphology of colonies varied with increasing concentrations of the breakthrough fraction. At low concentrations, granulocyte colony formation was almost exclusively observed. With increasing concentrations of this fraction, an increasing proportion of the colonies were found to contain macrophages. The effect of concentration of this activity was in marked contrast to previous findings where the incidence of granulocyte colony formation was inversely related to the concentration of colony-stimulating activity. This differential responsiveness of cell to stimulus has previously been interpreted as low concentrations of a growth and differentiation factor being required for macrophage production and high concentrations of the same factor required for granulocyte formation. Separation of these activities by DEAE Sephadex chromatography, and alteration of the dose-response curve, such that granulocyte colony formation varies directly with the amount of stimulator, indicates that the differentiation of these two cell blood lineages may be controlled by separate entities.
Size-discordant twin pairs have higher perinatal mortality rates than nondiscordant pairs ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether size-discordant twin pairs have worse perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity rates than nondiscordant pairs and whether the smaller twins of discordant pairs have worse perinatal outcomes than the larger twins. Study Design: We conducted a population-based, retrospective analysis of linked birth certificates and fetal and infant death certificates for 9590 twin pairs who were born in the state of Washington from 1987 through 1999. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test, Student t test, and McNemar test were among the tests used to assess statistical significance. Results: Discordant twin pairs had higher rates of perinatal mortality, neonatal mortality, and 5-minute Apgar scores of Conclusion: Discordant pairs had worse perinatal outcomes within each gestational age category. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:1173-8)
Nanoparticle Formulation Increases Oral Bioavailability of Poorly Soluble Drugs: Approaches, Experimental Evidences and Theory

The increasing frequency at which poorly soluble new chemical entities are being discovered raises concerns in the pharmaceutical industry about drugability associated with erratic dissolution and low bioavailability of these hydrophobic compounds. Nanonization provides a plausible pharmaceutical basis for enhancing oral bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness of these compounds by increasing their surface area. This paper surveys methods available to pharmaceutical manufacturing nanoparticles, including wet chemical processes, media milling, high pressure homogenization, gas-phase synthesis, and form-in-place processes, and elaborates physicochemical rational and gastrointestinal physiological basis upon which nano-drugs can be readily absorbed. Relevant examples are illustrated to show that nano-drugs permeate Caco-2 cell monolayer fast and are well absorbed into animal systemic circulation with high T(max) and AUC, resulting in oral bioavailability higher than their counterpart micro-drugs. The size-dependent permeability and bioavailability should be given particular consideration in the development of potent and selective drug candidates with poor aqueous solubility.
Exocyst complex protein expression in the human placenta.

Abstract Introduction Protein production and secretion are essential to syncytiotrophoblast function and are associated with cytotrophoblast cell fusion and differentiation. Syncytiotrophoblast hormone secretion is a crucial determinant of maternal–fetal health, and can be misregulated in pathological pregnancies. Although, polarized secretion is a key component of placental function, the mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood. Objective While the octameric exocyst complex is classically regarded as a master regulator of secretion in various mammalian systems, its expression in the placenta remained unexplored. We hypothesized that the syncytiotrophoblast would express all exocyst complex components and effector proteins requisite for vesicle-mediated secretion more abundantly than cytotrophoblasts in tissue specimens. Methods A two-tiered immunobiological approach was utilized to characterize exocyst and ancillary proteins in normal, term human placentas. Exocyst protein expression and localization was documented in tissue homogenates via immunoblotting and immunofluorescence labeling of placental sections. Results The eight exocyst proteins, EXOC1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, were found in the human placenta. In addition, RAB11, an important exocyst complex modulator, was also expressed. Exocyst and Rab protein expression appeared to be regulated during trophoblast differentiation, as the syncytiotrophoblast expressed these proteins with little, if any, expression in cytotrophoblast cells. Additionally, exocyst proteins were localized at or near the syncytiotrophoblast apical membrane, the major site of placental secretion. Discussion/conclusion Our findings highlight exocyst protein expression as novel indicators of trophoblast differentiation. The exocyst's regulated localization within the syncytiotrophoblast in conjunction with its well known functions suggests a possible role in placental polarized secretion.
Differences in serotonin transporter binding affinity in patients with major depressive disorder and night eating syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: We examined serotonin transporter (SERT) binding affinity using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and night eating syndrome (NES). There are similarities between MDD and NES in affective symptoms, appetite disturbance, nighttime awakenings, and, particularly, response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). METHODS: Six non-depressed patients with NES and seven patients with MDD underwent SPECT brain imaging with 123I-ADAM, a radiopharmaceutical agent selective for SERT sites. Uptake ratios of 123I-ADAM SERT binding were obtained for the midbrain, basal ganglia, and temporal lobe regions compared to the cerebellum reference region. RESULTS: Patients with NES had significantly greater SERT uptake ratios (effect size range 0.64–0.84) in the midbrain, right temporal lobe, and left temporal lobe regions than those with MDD whom we had previously studied. CONCLUSIONS: Pathophysiological differences in SERT uptake between patients with NES and MDD suggest these are distinct clinical syndromes.
Asymptotic modal analysis of a rectangular acoustic cavity and characterization of its intensification zones

Asymptotic modal analysis (AMA) is used to study a rectangular cavity with a flexible vibrating portion on one wall and five rigid walls. The agreement between mean square pressure levels of the cavity interior calculated from classical modal analysis and from the AMA method improved as the number of responding modes increased. It is shown that intensification effects were due to both the excitation location and the response location.
Stereocontrolled glycosylations via additions of sulfur electrophiles to glycals

Abstract The methodology described herein examines the regio- and stereoselectivity of pyrimidine and purine glycosylations of furanoid glycals. The results show that following stereoselective sulfenylation, glycosylation of furanoid glycals, in the presence of SnCl4, proceeds both regio- and stereoselectively.
Logarithm second-order many-body perturbation method for extended systems

We propose progressive downsampling of wave vectors in the Brillouin zone integrations occurring in the second-order many-body or Moller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) method for extended systems of one-dimensional periodicity. Higher-lying unoccupied and lower-lying occupied Bloch orbitals are subject to downsampling by an exponentially increasing factor (with base n), making the total number of Bloch orbitals included in the MP2 lattice sums grow only logarithmically with respect to the number of basis functions per unit cell. Unlike the mod n downsampling scheme proposed earlier, this log n scheme reduces the scaling of the computational cost and thus achieves a greater speedup as the unit cell size increases. Correct band indexing is essential for accuracy. Two-electron integrals entering the MP2 energy and quasiparticle energy expressions must be multiplied by quadrature weights that are a function of the energy bands involved, and an algorithm to compute the weights is proposed. A combined use of the log n and mod n schemes can speedup the MP2/6-31G** calculation of polyacetylene typically by a factor of 20 with an error in the correlation energy within a few percent relative to the conventional calculation. Similar combinations can reproduce the MP2 quasiparticle energy bands accurately at a fraction of the usual computational cost.
Low-noise Josephson mixers at 115 GHz using recyclable point contacts

Thermally recyclable Nb point‐contact Josephson junctions are investigated as low‐noise mixers with an external local oscillator at 115 GHz. The best single sideband mixer noise temperature achieved is 140 (±20) K with a (SSB) conversion loss of 2.4 (±0.5) dB. Such rugged junctions are suitable for use in practical receivers and should give unprecedented sensitivity at the shorter millimeter wavelengths.
Forbidden Transitions in Nitrogen

IT has been possible to observe the forbidden transition 2D → 4S in atomic nitrogen by a method similar to the one which led to an unusually large relative intensity of the green auroral line1. The essential part of the method is the weakness of the discharge which generates the afterglow.
Polypropylene mesh closure of the complicated abdominal wound.

Abstract Background : Closure of the abdominal wall in the face of fascial necrosis or massive intestinal edema remains a difficult problem with frequent complications. Prior studies have addressed both the utility and the pitfalls of placing polypropylene mesh in this setting. Methods : We performed a retrospective evaluation of our experience with polypropylene mesh in traumatic and nontraumatic difficult abdominal closures. Timing of mesh placement and removal relative to the initial operation were recorded, as were abdominal complications, number of operative procedures, and type of ultimate abdominal closure. Results : Between 1988 and 1993, polypropylene mesh was placed in 26 critically ill or injured patients requiring celiotomy, of whom 23 survived more than 3 weeks. Ultimate wound management was delayed mesh removal and primary closure (17%), myocutaneous flap coverage over mesh (4%), split-thickness skin grafting to the granulating wound (35%), or closure by secondary intention over mesh (43%). Split-thickness skin grafting and closure by secondary intention resulted in enterocutaneous fistulas in 50% and 40% of cases, respectively. Full-thickness closure with or without mesh removal resulted in no fistulas. Conclusion : Mesh provided adequate fascial closure, even with gross wound contamination. Coverage of polypropylene mesh by secondary intention or split-thickness skin grafting resulted in unacceptably high rates of fistulous complications, and this procedure should be replaced by either mesh removal or full-thickness coverage.
Effect of the toxic castor bean protein, ricin, on the phosphorylation pattern of [32P]-labelled ribosomes from mouse L cells.

Mouse L cells were grown in the presence of [ 32 P] phosphate and two dimensional gel electrophoresis and radioautography was used to examine the labelling pattern of ribosomal proteins in the presence and absence of ricin. The major proteins that were phosphorylated were L40/L41, although others were phosphorylated to a smaller extent. There was an apparent decrease in the extent of L1/L2 phosphorylation brought about by ricin; however, the extent of L40/L41 phosphorylation was unchanged.
Theoretical Calculations of Band Gaps in the Aromatic Structures of Polythieno[3,4-b]benzene and Polythieno[3,4-b]pyrazine

Band gaps in polythiophene (T) and the related polymers with a fused benzene ring (TB, polythieno[3,4-b]benzene) or a fused pyrazine ring (TN, polythieno[3,4-b]pyrazine) have been computed using a variety of methods. Geometries of oligomers up to octamers (AM1) and up to tetramers (B3LYP/6-31G*) have been optimized, while excitation energies have been computed using ZINDO (INDO/S), configuration interaction singles (CIS), and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Band gaps have been extrapolated from excitation energies. T oligomers are found to have nonplanar geometries, though the planar form is only slightly less stable. TB oligomers are found to be nonplanar due to steric repulsion between a hydrogen on the fused benzene ring and the thiophene sulfur, while TN oligomers are predicted to be planar. As a result, the band gap in the TN polymer is predicted to be smaller than in the TB polymer. The aromatic/quinoid character of the TB oligomer units is discussed. Extrapolation of DFT HOMO−LUMO...
Interstitial Rheumatoid Lung Disease: A Reassessment and Review of the Literature

Thirty rheumatoid arthritic patients (RA) and 30 osteoarthritic patients (OA) were studied radiographically and functionally to further evaluate the significance of diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ten RA patients (33 percent) were found to have either radiographic or diffusion abnormalities consistent with interstitial fibrosis. None of the OA patients were found to be affected. Except for signs and symptoms directly attributable to the pulmonary lesions, historic and clinical characteristics were not found to be of value in defining affected RA patients. Surveys which screen for interstitial disease should utilize both chest radiographs and diffusion capacity measurement for adequate evaluation.
The skin cancer index: clinical responsiveness and predictors of quality of life.

Objective: To establish the clinical responsiveness of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI), a new disease-specific quality of life (QOL) instrument, and to assess demographic and clinical factors which impact QOL in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Study Design: Prospective study of 183 patients with NMSC of the face and neck referred to a tertiary care Mohs surgery clinic. Methods: The SCI is a 15 item, validated, disease-specific QOL instrument with 3 distinct subscales, Emotion, Social, and Appearance. Higher scores reflect better QOL. The SCI and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a general dermatology instrument, was administered at initial consultation and 4 months after surgical treatment. Multivariate analysis was conducted to assess demographic and clinical factors predictive of QOL for both instruments. Results: The SCI total score and all three subscale scores increased with treatment, demonstrating strong evidence of responsiveness over time (P < .001) in contrast with the DLQI (P = .46). Predictors of poorer QOL for the SCI included female sex and cancers located on the lip. Patients who demonstrated greatest improvement in QOL with treatment included those who were younger (<50 yr) and had lower reported household income. Also, first time NMSC patients and those patients who underwent less extensive reconstructions demonstrated greater improvements in QOL. Conclusion: The SCI is a sensitive and responsive QOL instrument for patients with NMSC. Distinct demographic and clinical variables that impact QOL have been demonstrated using this multidimensional, disease-specific instrument.
H2S and its role in redox signaling

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as an important gaseous signaling molecule that is produced endogenously by enzymes in the sulfur metabolic network. H2S exerts its effects on multiple physiological processes important under both normal and pathological conditions. These functions include neuromodulation, regulation of blood pressure and cardiac function, inflammation, cellular energetics and apoptosis. Despite the recognition of its biological importance and its beneficial effects, the mechanism of H2S action and the regulation of its tissue levels remain unclear in part owing to its chemical and physical properties that render handling and analysis challenging. Furthermore, the multitude of potential H2S effects has made it difficult to dissect its signaling mechanism and to identify specific targets. In this review, we focus on H2S metabolism and provide an overview of the recent literature that sheds some light on its mechanism of action in cellular redox signaling in health and disease. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Thiol-Based Redox Processes.
The Multiset Sampler

We introduce the multiset sampler (MSS), a new Metropolis–Hastings algorithm for drawing samples from a posterior distribution. The MSS is designed to be effective when the posterior has the feature that the parameters can be divided into two sets, X, the parameters of interest and Y, the nuisance parameters. We contemplate a sampler that iterates between X moves and Y moves. We consider the case where either (a) Y is discrete and lives on a finite set or (b) Y is continuous and lives on a bounded set. After presenting some background, we define a multiset and show how to construct a distribution on one. The construction may seem artificial and pointless at first, but several small examples illustrate its value. Finally, we demonstrate the MSS in several realistic examples and compare it with alternatives.
Locomotion in exercised and nonexercised cats cordotomized at two or twelve weeks of age

The influences of an animal's age at the time of cord transection and the use of ambulatory training on the recovery of weight-supported locomotion were assessed with 21 cats spinalized (T12) at 2 or 12 weeks of age. The animals were assigned at random to an exercise (E) or to a nonexercise (NE) group, and exercise therapy consisted of assisting the cat to walk on a motorized treadmill for 30 min, five times per week. During a 4-month recovery period, spontaneous clonus and hyperactive cutaneous reflexes developed in all animals, but skeletoarticular disorders were more typical of the younger animals. Age at cord transection had an effect on the recovery of weight-supported walking, as locomotion in the 2-E and 2-NE animals rated significantly higher than in the 12-E or 12-NE groups. For the younger animals, training was not critical to the development of locomotion, but for the older ones it was important. EMG records from soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles of spinal cats that achieved weight-supported locomotion revealed that recruitment of these muscles was normal despite significant changes in fiber composition and muscle contractility. In contrast, kinematic analyses of the locomotor patterns revealed gait abnormalities, including an absence of the yield phase during stance and an uncoupling of knee and ankle actions. We conclude that although the spinal cord contains the basic pattern-generating circuitry essential for locomotion, the recovery of this behavior was influenced by the animal's age at the time of cord transection and to a less obvious extent by subsequent training.
Minimizing a quadratic function of job lateness on a single machine

Abstract In real life situations, sometimes early completion of a job is equally undesirable as its late completion. In such cases, minimizing sum of squares of lateness values may be an appropriate objective for the decision maker. Therefore, this paper considers minimizing a quadratic function of job lateness and presents an algorithm based on the branch-and-bound technique to get an optimal solution. A heuristic rule is also presented which gives a near optimal solution.
CTHp1-5: Optimal Routing in the Worst-Case-Error Metric

This paper considers the problem of finding the path with minimum (zero) worst possible number of errors in a network with V nodes where (1) some nodes are capable of correcting up to a maximum number of xmax errors, (2) the nodes are connected by q-ary Symmetric channels a parametrized by their bit error ratios (BER) pi. We introduce (1) the BER and worst-case error (WCE) metrics and (2) an algebra that allows us to compute the path BER length from its edge lengths, and use them to measure network QoS. The WCE and BER metrics can be used with a generalized Dijkstra's algorithm to compute the path of minimum WCE length. Finally, we present an algorithm that solves the above problem in the worst-case time complexity of O(V3).
Edge excitations of the canted antiferromagnetic phase of the ν = 0 quantum Hall state in graphene: A simplified analysis

We perform a simplified analysis of the edge excitations of the canted antiferromagnetic (CAF) phase of the $\ensuremath{\nu}=0$ quantum Hall state in both monolayer and bilayer graphene. Namely, we calculate, within the framework of quantum Hall ferromagnetism, the mean-field quasiparticle spectrum of the CAF phase neglecting the modification of the order parameter at the edge. We demonstrate that, at a fixed perpendicular component ${B}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ of the magnetic field, the gap ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{edge}}$ in the edge excitation spectrum gradually decreases upon increasing the parallel component ${B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$, as the CAF phase continuously transforms to the fully spin-polarized ferromagnetic (F) phase. The edge gap closes completely (${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{edge}}=0$) once the F phase, characterized by gapless counterpropagating edge excitations, is reached at some finite ${B}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$-dependent value ${B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}^{*}$ and remains closed upon further increase of ${B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$. This results in a gradual insulator-metal transition, in which the conductance $G\ensuremath{\sim}({e}^{2}/h)\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{edge}}/T)$ grows exponentially with ${B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ in the range $0l{B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}l{B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}^{*}$ while in the gapped CAF phase, and saturates to a metallic value $G\ensuremath{\sim}{e}^{2}/h$ in the F phase at ${B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}g{B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}^{*}$. This unique transport feature of the CAF phase provides a way to identify and distinguish it from other competing phases of the $\ensuremath{\nu}=0$ quantum Hall state in a tilted-field experiment.
Effects of Habitat Size and Patch Isolation on Reproductive Success of the Serpentine Morning Glory

We examined the effects of habitat area and patch isolation on reproductive success in serpentine morning glory (Calystegia collina (Convolvulaceae)), a primarily self-incompatible clonal plant endemic to serpentine outcrops in northern California's coast ranges. Within a 4000-km2 region, we compared the repro- ductive success of C. collina on 16 small ( 300 ha) outcrops. Flower andfruit produc- tion were significantly higher on large serpentine outcrops than on small outcrops. Fruit production also was positively correlated with the soil's ratio of calcium to magnesium. Successful pollination was positively af- fected by flower density and the number of other flowering patches within 100 m of a C. collina patch. The number of nearby flowering patches was considerably higher on large than on small outcrops. Flowers on large outcrops did not receive significantly more bee visitors than flowers on small outcrops, suggesting that pollination success is related to the quality rather than the quantity of pollen deposited. Fruit production by plants on both small and large outcrops was enhanced by the experimental addition of pollen from other patches, but not by the addition of pollen from the same patch. These findings demonstrate that the size of habitat may have strong effects on the reproductive success of locally endemic plants by enhancing opportu- nities for successful sexual reproduction. They also warn against the presumption that naturally patchy plant species are invulnerable to the effects of habitatfragmentation.
Risk-Aware Response for Mitigating MANET Routing Attacks

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) have been highly vulnerable to attacks due to the dynamic nature of its network infrastructure. Among these attacks, routing attacks have received considerable attention since it could cause the most devastating damage to MANET. Even though there exist several intrusion response techniques to mitigate such critical attacks, existing solutions typically attempt to isolate malicious nodes based on binary or naive fuzzy response decisions. However, binary responses may result in the unexpected network partition, causing additional damages to the network infrastructure, and naive fuzzy responses could lead to uncertainty in countering routing attacks in MANET. In this paper, we propose a risk-aware response mechanism to systematically cope with the identified routing attacks. Our risk-aware approach is based on an extended Dempster-Shafer mathematical theory of evidence introducing a notion of importance factor. In addition, our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with the consideration of the packet delivery ratio and routing cost.
Biomechanical effects of kneeling after total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Kneeling following total knee arthroplasty can be a difficult task, impairing the activities of patients to varying degrees. Little is known about the biomechanical effects of kneeling following total knee replacement. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of kneeling on patellofemoral joint contact areas and pressures, knee joint reaction force, and patellar kinematics. Methods: Total knee arthroplasties were performed on eight fresh-frozen cadaveric knees, and they were tested with use of a custom knee jig, which permits the simulation of physiologic quadriceps loading as well as the application of an anterior force to simulate kneeling. The knees were tested at flexion angles of 90°, 105°, 120°, and 135° with no anterior force (mimicking a squatting position) and with an anterior force application simulating double-stance kneeling and single-stance kneeling. Patellofemoral joint contact areas and pressures were measured with pressure-sensitive film, and the knee joint reaction force was measured with use of a six-degree-of-freedom load cell. Patellar kinematics were assessed with use of digital photographs tracking fixed markers on the patella. Results: Compared with the condition without kneeling, both single-stance and double-stance kneeling demonstrated significant increases in patellofemoral contact area (p < 0.05) and pressure at all flexion angles (p < 0.05), with the exception of double-stance kneeling at 135° of flexion. The resultant knee joint -reaction force increased with kneeling at all flexion angles. The compressive component of this force increased with kneeling for most conditions, while the lateral component of this force decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with kneeling only at 90°, and the anterior component of this force increased significantly at all knee flexion angles (p < 0.05). Overall, kneeling had minimal changes on patellar tilt, with significant changes in patellar tilt seen only with kneeling at 120° (p = 0.02 for double stance, and p = 0.03 for single stance). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that kneeling at a higher flexion angle (135°) after total knee arthroplasty has a smaller effect on patellofemoral joint contact area and pressure than kneeling at lower flexion angles (≤120°). Clinical Relevance: These findings suggest that if greater than 120° of knee range of motion can be achieved following total knee arthroplasty, kneeling may be performed with less risk than was previously believed to be the case.
Predicting the outcomes of a tri‐trophic interaction between an indigenous parasitoid and an exotic herbivorous pest and its host plants

Understanding the novel ecological interactions that result from biological invasions is a critical issue in modern ecology and evolution as well as pest management. Introduced herbivorous insects may interact with native plants and indigenous natural enemies, creating novel tri-trophic interactions. To help predict the potential outcomes of novel interactions, we investigated the behavioural and physiological responses of an indigenous generalist parasitoid (Habrobracon gelechiae) to an introduced generalist herbivore (the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana) and its new host plants in California. We first examined the parasitoid's host location and acceptance on a range of nine common host plants of the moth representing distinctly different geographic origins and morphologies (to examine the effect of a known toxic plant on the parasitoid's performance, an additional toxic plant species was also tested that the moth consumes in the laboratory but does not naturally attack). The parasitoid was able to locate the host larvae on all plants equally well, although clutch size was affected by host plant. We then determined fitness of the moth and the parasitoid on four representative plants. The moth larvae suffered higher mortality and a slower developmental rate on the known toxic plant than on the other three plants, but the parasitoid's fitness correlates did not differ between the host food plants. These results show a high level of plasticity in the indigenous generalist parasitoid in its ability to exploit the exotic host on a wide range of host plants, generating an invasion-driven novel tri-trophic interaction.
Harnessing the transient signals in atomic force microscopy

SUMMARY In the existing dynamic-mode operation of atomic force microscopes (AFMs) steady-state signals like amplitude and phase are used for detection and imaging of material. Due to the high quality factor of the cantilever probe the corresponding methods are inherently slow. In this paper, a novel methodology for fast interrogation of material that exploits the transient part of the cantilever motion is developed. This method effectively addresses the perceived fundamental limitation on bandwidth due to high quality factors. It is particularly suited for the detection of small time scale tip–sample interactions. Analysis and experiments show that the method results in significant increase in bandwidth and resolution as compared to the steady-state-based methods. This article demonstrates the effectiveness of a systems perspective to the field of imaging at the nano-scale and for the first time reports realtime experimental results and scanning applications of the transient method. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The fastclime package for linear programming and large-scale precision matrix estimation in R

We develop an R package FASTCLIME for solving a family of regularized linear programming (LP) problems. Our package efficiently implements the parametric simplex algorithm, which provides a scalable and sophisticated tool for solving large-scale linear programs. As an illustrative example, one use of our LP solver is to implement an important sparse precision matrix estimation method called CLIME (Constrained L1 Minimization Estimator). Compared with existing packages for this problem such as CLIME and FLARE, our package has three advantages: (1) it efficiently calculates the full piecewise-linear regularization path; (2) it provides an accurate dual certificate as stopping criterion; (3) it is completely coded in C and is highly portable. This package is designed to be useful to statisticians and machine learning researchers for solving a wide range of problems.
Performance characterization of a highly offset diffuser with vortex generator jets

The effect of blowing vortex generator jets on the performance of a highly offset (S-duct) diffuser was investigated experimentally (Mi = 0.6, Re^ = 3.46 X 1C). Inlet plane total pressure and Mach number contours were mapped using a pitot probe. Exit plane total pressure recovery, static pressure recovery, and Mach number contours were mapped with blowing on and off, using pitot and static probes. Crosswire anemometry was used to measure the mean velocity and turbulence intensity in three dimensions at three spanwise locations on the exit plane with the blowing on and off. Without blowing, the flow on the lower surface of the diffuser was massively separated. Blowing at 0.50% mass flow ratio through three lower-surface vortex generator jets reduced the size of the separated-flow region and the exit plane boundary-layer thickness, increased pressure recovery, and decreased turbulence intensity. Blowing redistributed momentum within the diffuser and altered the secondary flow structure. However, the exit plane total and static pressure fields were more distorted with blowing than without.
Non-Newtonian behavior of a suspension of liquid drops in tube flow

This paper present an analysis and computed results of the flow of deformable droplets of one Newtonian flow suspended in another Newtonian fluid. Surface tension is assumed to act at the interface of the two fluids. Non-Newtonian characteristics of the suspension are demonstrated and are qualitatively similar to flow characteristics of blood in capillaries. The results show that the deformation of the drops may result in a significant reduction in the pressure gradient compared with that necessary for a suspension of rigid spheres or spherical (nondeformable) liquid drops. The decrease in the pressure gradient is velocity dependent. This constitutes a mechanism of non-Newtonain behavior of the suspension as a whole, and is attributable to the flexibility of the suspended elements. The resultant shapes of the liquid drops are similar to the shapes of red blood cells that have been observed in narrow glass capillaries as well as in blood vessels.
Sickle cell disease and Bartonella spp. infection

Sickle cell disease is the most common hereditary hematologic disorder in the world. Painful vaso-occlusive crises are the hallmark of the disease and it is difficult to treat. Chronic infection is related to a higher painful crisis rate in these patients. Bartonella spp. are fastidious bacteria of zoonotic transmission. They can cause human asymptomatic infection as well as fatal outcome. Pain, fatigue and fever, characteristic features of Bartonella spp. infection are manifest in sickle cell disease patients. Bartonella spp. infection should be ruled in sickle cell disease patients.
International Organizations, Strategy, and Crisis Bargaining

We analyze a game-theoretic model of crisis bargaining in which a challenger state can consult an international organization whose decisions can affect its costs for war. We demonstrate that, first, while multilateral opposition lowers the probability of war by coordinating international opposition and increasing the costs of fighting multilateral support can increase the probability of war by coordinating support and lowering those costs. Second, the aggregate effect of IO involvement on the probability of war is conditional on the strategic decisions of challengers to initially consult the organization, implying that any empirical analysis of the pacific effects of IOs should take this selection process seriously. Finally, we provide a more nuanced explanation for why states seek multilateral support and fail; rather than a lack of material power to influence IO decisions, it is a strategic incentive to take greater risks of opposition in order to garner the benefits multilateral support. This allows us...
Inhibition of TLR4 Signaling by TRAM-Derived Decoy Peptides In Vitro and In Vivo

Toll/IL-1R (TIR) domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-related adapter molecule (TRAM) serves as a bridging adapter that enables recruitment of TRIF to activated TLR4 and thereby mediates the induction of TRIF-dependent cytokines. A library of cell-permeating decoy peptides derived from TRAM TIR domain has been screened for the ability of individual peptides to inhibit TLR4 signaling in primary murine macrophages. Peptides derived from TRAM TIR BB loop (TM4) and C helix (TM6) inhibited the LPS-induced activation of MyD88-dependent and TRIF-dependent cytokines, as well as MAPK activation. TM4 and TM6 did not block macrophage activation induced by TLR2, TLR9, or retinoic acid-inducible gene 1-like receptor agonists. Both TM4 and TM6 blocked coimmunoprecipitation of TRAM and TLR4 ectopically expressed in HEK293T cells. Both peptides also blocked the LPS-induced recruitment of MyD88 to TLR4 in primary murine macrophages. In vivo examination of TRAM-derived peptides demonstrated that all peptides that were inhibitory in vitro profoundly suppressed systemic inflammatory response elicited in mice by a sublethal LPS dose, and protected mice against a lethal LPS challenge. This research identifies novel TLR inhibitors effective in vitro and in vivo and validates the approach taken in this study as a rational way for development of signaling inhibitors and lead therapeutics.
NGF-resistant PC12 cell death induced by arachidonic acid is accompanied by a decrease of active PKC zeta and nuclear factor kappa B.

Inflammation and the associated release of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) may be a component of neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging or chronic HIV-1 infection. Most of the neurons that are affected under these conditions require a constant supply of trophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival. NGF acts via binding to a specific tyrosine kinase receptor (TrkA). NGF also binds to the common neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), a member of the TNFα receptor (TNFR-I) superfamily, whose function may be to modulate apoptosis via the release of ceramide and the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). The similarity between p75NTR and TNFR-I signal transduction pathways suggests that one of the mechanisms by which TNFα affects neuronal survival is by impacting upon these pathways that normally promote NGF support of neurons. Here we show that arachidonic acid (AA), a signaling lipid potentially associated with TNFR-I signal cascade, induces apoptosis in PC12 cells through inhibition of both protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) and NFκB activity. We also show that apoptosis induced by AA cannot be prevented by NGF. These data support the idea that PKCζ and NFκB are both essential signaling elements for mediating NGF-promoted rescue from apoptosis. Our results also suggest that AA, an inflammatory signal lipid induced by TNFα via binding to TNFR-I, may reduce neuronal survival by inhibiting elements of the signal cascade induced by NGF. J. Neurosci. Res. 57:219–226, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.