cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypersonic Flow over a Flat Plate: CFD Comparison with Experiment

Experimental results of a hypersonic flow over a flat plate are compared with a CFD simulation. Slip boundary conditions are employed in the CFD simulation, with the accommodation coefficient being varied between 0.5 and 1.0. Detailed velocity profiles in both the x- and y-directions are compared with the experimental data, as well as slip velocity at the wall. A brief comparison is also made to similar simulation results using DSMC. I. Introduction The design of hypersonic vehicles requires accurate prediction of the gas flow around the vehicles surfaces. During it's trajectory through an atmosphere, a hypersonic vehicle will experience vastly different flow regimes due to the variation of atmospheric density with altitude. In addition, the high temperatures encountered due to the high velocities cause dissociation and ionization of the atmospheric gases. Reproduction of these varied flow conditions in ground-based laboratory facilities is both expensive and technically challenging. Hence, there is an extremely important role for computational models in the development of hypersonic vehicles. In the continuum regime flows around hypersonic vehicles can be accurately simulated using traditional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) by solving either the Euler or preferably the Navier-Stokes (NS) equations. These continuum methods assume small perturbations from local thermodynamic equilibrium. In the rarefied flow regime the flow can be computed using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. 1 The DSMC method does not depend on assumptions involving a small perturbation from equilibrium and hence is more accurate than CFD methods for non-equilibrium flows. Generally speaking, CFD methods for solving the NS equations are about an order of magnitude faster than the DSMC method. Note that in continuum regimes, locally a flow may behave like a rarefied flow if the local characteristic length scale is very small. Previous work by the authors comparing CFD and DSMC focused purely on numerical results, with CFD simulations being compared directly to DSMC simulations. 7-10 In particular, the walls were assumed to be fully diffusive; that is, the gas molecules colliding with the wall were assumed to accommodate fully to the wall conditions. Hence, an accommodation coefficient of unity was used for the CFD slip boundary conditions. In this paper, two-dimensional CFD solutions are compared with experimental measurements of a hypersonic flow of nitrogen over a flat plate. 4 Several different values for the accommodation coefficient are evaluated. In addition, the CFD solutions are also indirectly compared to DSMC solutions of the same flow. 11 Thus, the relative accuracy of CFD and DSMC can be evaluated against a realistic flow.
Effect of age and race/ethnicity on HbA1c levels in people without known diabetes mellitus: Implications for the diagnosis of diabetes

Abstract Aims To determine if age and race/ethnicity affect HbA1c levels independent of glycemia. Methods We analyzed 2712 individuals from the NHANES III population 40–74 years old without diabetes history. Results HbA1c levels increased by 0.10% per decade in people with NGT and 0.07% in those with IFG and/or IGT, independent of fasting and 2-h glucose on OGTT's. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, HbA1c levels increased by 0.12% (NGT) and 0.10% (IFG/IGT) in Mexican-Americans and 0.21% (NGT) and 0.35% (IFG/IGT) in non-Hispanic blacks, independent of glycemia. At HbA1c levels of ≥6.5%, ≥7.0% and 6.5–6.9%, diabetes diagnosed by current FPG/OGTT criteria occurred in 82%, 94% and 65%, respectively. In non-Hispanic blacks with HbA1c levels of 6.5–6.9%, 68% of those 40–74 years old and 87% of those over 64 years old would not have diabetes by FPG/OGTT criteria. Over 90% of all race/ethnicity groups would have diabetes with HbA1c levels ≥7.0%. Conclusions Because many people, especially older non-Hispanic blacks, with HbA1c levels of 6.5–6.9% would not have diabetes by current FPG/OGTT criteria and clinical retinopathy and nephropathy are very unusual in patients whose HbA1c levels are kept
Environmental influence on the formation of α-FeOOH on the surface of weathering steel

A CEMS and XMS study of the surface oxidation of weathering steel, ASTM A242 Type 1, has shown that after exposure times of 5 1/2 years in a marine or industrial environment, the steel has not yet reached a stage at which the surface is fully protecting the substrate from further corrosion. The formation of α-FeOOH, an intermediate stage of protection, occurs mainly in the form of small particles, the properties of which exhibit an appreciable amount of superparamagnetic relaxation. For the steel exposed to a more moist marine environment, α-FeOOH exists only in the form of small particles. However for the steel exposed to a much dryer and corrosive industrial environment, more α-FeOOH is present. The formation of bulk α-FeOOH is more complete. The temperature dependence of the superparamagnetic hyperfine field and also the field distributions indicate that, in a marine environment, the clusters of α-FeOOH are both smaller in size and have a larger distribution of particle size. The XMS results indicate that α-FeOOH is present below a layer of γ-FeOOH and ferrihydrite which are generally accepted to constitute the early oxidation phases observed on steels.
Ascorbic acid and erythorbic acid metabolism in nonpregnant women.

Ascorbic acid (AA) metabolism and requirements were studied in 1 1 adult nonpregnant women maintained in a metabolic unit and fed a formula diet devoid of AA for 54 d. After depletion for 24 d, the subjects received increasing supplements ofAA in the pres- ence or absence of600 mg/d oferythorbic acid (EA). Various analytical procedures were used to measure AA concentrations in blood components. The depletion period resulted in a marked decrease in AA in all blood indices. During the study scorbutic signs developed in some ofthe subjects. AA supplements of 30 mg/d for 10 d failed to increase plasma ascorbate concentrations; 60 mg/d for 10 d produced a small increase; 90 mg/d resulted in a mean AA concentration of 29 �imol/L. EA did not present any adverse effects, but rather had a small sparing effect. Vitamin C requirements for adult nonsmoking, nonpregnant women would be marginally met by an intake of 60 mg/d of AA whereas 90 mg/d would provide an allowance for body storage. Am J Clin Nutr l989;50: 1039-49.
Biofouling ascidians on aquaculture gear as potential vectors of harmful algal introductions

Abstract Biofouling ascidians are ubiquitous in coastal ecosystems and are among the main colonizers of aquaculture gear. Our study tested the hypothesis that the transport, removal, and transfer of fouling ascidian species by aquaculturists provide a mechanism for concentration and distribution of harmful-algal cells to new areas. Wild-caught specimens of common, biofouling ascidian species ( Styela clava , Ciona intestinalis , Molgula manhattensis , Botrylloides violaceus , Didemnum vexillum , and Botryllus schlosseri ) were exposed individually to cultured strains of co-occurring harmful algae ( Prorocentrum minimum , Alexandrium fundyense , Alexandrium monilatum , Karenia brevis , Aureococcus anophagefferens , or Heterosigma akashiwo ) at simulated bloom cell densities of each HAB species. After feeding, ascidians were transferred to ultrafiltered seawater. Immediately after exposure, and after 24 and 48 h in ultrafiltered seawater, biodeposits were collected and observed microscopically for the presence of intact, potentially viable cells. Subsamples of biodeposits were transferred into culture tubes with ultrafiltered seawater and monitored for algal growth during 8 weeks. Cells of all HAB species were found to pass intact through the ascidian digestive system, remained viable, and in many cases were capable of re-establishing populations at least 48 h post-ingestion. The results of our study will inform industry and managers of the potential threat and ecological impact of spreading biofouling ascidians, and practices to mitigate adverse impacts. Additionally, these management practices have been formally incorporated into a new cost-share program developed to help shellfish producers prevent the further spread of ascidians and associated HAB species.
Rapid solar-thermal dissociation of natural gas in an aerosol flow reactor

A solar-thermal aerosol flow reactor process is being developed to dissociate natural gas (NG) to hydrogen (H2) and carbon black at high rates. Concentrated sunlight approaching 10 kW heats a 9.4 cm long x 2.4 cm diameter graphite reaction tube to temperatures ~ 2000K using a 74% theoretically efficient secondary concentrator. A pure methane feed has been dissociated to greater than 75% for residence times less than 0.1 s. The resulting carbon black is 20 – 40 nm in size, amorphous, and pure. A 5 million (M) kg/yr carbon black / 1.67 M kg/yr H2 plant is considered for process scale-up. The total permanent investment (TPI) of this plant is $12.7 M. A 15% IRR after tax is achieved when the carbon black is sold for $0.66/kg and the H2 for $13.80/GJ. This plant could supply 0.06% of the world carbon black market. For this scenario, the solar-thermal process avoids 277 MJ fossil fuel and 13.9 kg-equivalent CO2/kg H2 produced as compared to conventional steam-methane reforming and furnace black processing.
The hormonal coordination of behavior and physiology at adult ecdysis in Drosophila melanogaster.

In insects, ecdysis is thought to be controlled by the interaction between peptide hormones; in particular between ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH) from the periphery and eclosion hormone (EH) and crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) from the central nervous system. We examined the behavioral and physiological functions of the first two of these peptides in Drosophila melanogaster using wild-type flies and knockout flies that lacked EH neurons. We used ETH from Manduca sexta (MasETH) to induce premature ecdysis and compared the responses of the two types of flies. The final release of EH normally occurs approximately 40 min before ecdysis. It is correlated with cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production in selected neurons and tracheae, by an elevation in the heart rate and by the filling of the new tracheae with air. Injection of developing flies with MasETH causes all these events to occur prematurely. In EH cell knockouts, none of these changes occurs in response to MasETH, and these flies show a permanent failure in tracheal filling. This failure can be overcome in the knockouts by injecting them with membrane-permeant analogs of cGMP, the second messenger for EH. The basis for the 40 min delay between EH release and the onset of ecdysis was examined by decapitating flies at various times relative to EH release. In flies that had already released EH, decapitation was always followed within 1 min by the start of ecdysis. Immediate ecdysis was never observed when the EH cell knockout flies were decapitated. We propose that EH activates both ventral central nervous system elements necessary for ecdysis (possibly the CCAP cells) and descending inhibitory neurons from the head. This descending inhibition establishes a delay in the onset of ecdysis that allows the completion of EH-activated physiological processes such as tracheal filling. A waning in the inhibition eventually allows ecdysis to begin 30–40 min later.
Progress in the Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease

A search of the recent literature reveals a number of significant advances in peripheral vascular surgery. However, today's surgeon continues to find him self battling a disease process he does not understand with diagnostic tools which need improvement. The purpose of this paper is to outline progress in three areas; 1) diagnosis, 2) pathophysiology and 3) surgical therapy. The advances in diagnostic techniques have focused on three questions—(1) what is the nature of the vascular lesion so that an appropriate operation can be designed, (2) what is the status of the disease post-operatively, and (3) in the unreconstructable limb, what amputation may be successfully performed?The second section deals with our increasing knowledge of the underlying disease—atherosclerosis—and its modification through pharmacology. The final section is devoted to improvements in surgical therapy, from pre operative management to the technical details of the operation and post operative care. Concurrently, new ideas in graft...
Biogenesis of the cytochrome bc1 complex and role of assembly factors

The cytochrome bc1 complex is an essential component of the electron transport chain in most prokaryotes and in eukaryotic mitochondria. The catalytic subunits of the complex that are responsible for its redox functions are largely conserved across kingdoms. In eukarya, the bc1 complex contains supernumerary subunits in addition to the catalytic core, and the biogenesis of the functional bc1 complex occurs as a modular assembly pathway. Individual steps of this biogenesis have been recently investigated and are discussed in this review with an emphasis on the assembly of the bc1 complex in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Additionally, a number of assembly factors have been recently identified. Their roles in bc1 complex biogenesis are described, with special emphasis on the maturation and topogenesis of the yeast Rieske iron–sulfur protein and its role in completing the assembly of functional bc1 complex. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Biogenesis/Assembly of Respiratory Enzyme Complexes.
Antibodies to the CD4-binding site of HIV-1 gp120 suppress gp120-specific CD4 T cell response while enhancing antibody response

Background: The binding of Abs to the CD4-binding site (CD4bs) of HIV-1 envelope gp120 has been shown to obstruct the processing and generation of helper epitopes from this antigen, resulting in poor presentation of various gp120 epitopes by MHC class II to CD4 T cells. However, the physiologic significance of these inhibitory anti-CD4bs Abs in vivo has remained unclear. In this study, we evaluated the immunologic effects of anti-CD4bs Abs in vivo using a murine model. Results: Animals were immunized with recombinant envelope proteins with or without CD4binding activity (designated CD4bs + Env and CD4bs – Env, respectively). As expected, anti-CD4bs Abs were generated only after immunization with CD4bs+ Env and not with CD4bs – Env. The presence of anti-CD4bs Abs was associated with lower levels of envelope-specific lymphoproliferation in animals immunized with CD4bs+ Env. To further determine the specific role of the anti-CD4bs Abs, we immunized mice with gp120 in the presence of an inhibitory anti-CD4bs mAb or a non-inhibitory anti-gp120 mAb. The data show that the presence of anti-CD4bs mAb reduced CD4 T cell responses to gp120. However, we also detected significantly higher titers of anti-gp120 Abs following immunization with gp120 and the anti-CD4bs mAb. Conclusion: Anti-CD4bs Abs can exert discordant effects on the gp120-specific CD4 T cell and Ab responses in vivo, indicating the importance of these particular Abs in influencing both the cellular and the humoral immune responses against HIV-1.
Pharmacogenomics: the inherited basis for interindividual differences in drug response.

It is well recognized that most medications exhibit wide interpatient variability in their efficacy and toxicity. For many medications, these interindividual differences are due in part to polymorphisms in genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and/or drug targets (e.g., receptors, enzymes). Pharmacogenomics is a burgeoning field aimed at elucidating the genetic basis for differences in drug efficacy and toxicity, and it uses genome-wide approaches to identify the network of genes that govern an individual's response to drug therapy. For some genetic polymorphisms (e.g., thiopurine S-methyltransferase), monogenic traits have a marked effect on pharmacokinetics (e.g., drug metabolism), such that individuals who inherit an enzyme deficiency must be treated with markedly different doses of the affected medications (e.g., 5%-10% of the standard thiopurine dose). Likewise, polymorphisms in drug targets (e.g., beta adrenergic receptor) can alter the sensitivity of patients to treatment (e.g., beta-agonists), changing the pharmacodynamics of drug response. Recognizing that most drug effects are determined by the interplay of several gene products that govern the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medications, pharmacogenomics research aims to elucidate these polygenic determinants of drug effects. The ultimate goal is to provide new strategies for optimizing drug therapy based on each patient's genetic determinants of drug efficacy and toxicity. This chapter provides an overview of the current pharmacogenomics literature and offers insights for the potential impact of this field on the safe and effective use of medications.
Network analysis of endogenous gene expression profiles after polyethyleneimine-mediated DNA delivery

Background DNA delivery systems, which transport exogenous DNA to cells, have applications that include gene therapy, tissue engineering and medical devices. Although the cationic nonviral DNA carrier polyethyleneimine (PEI) has been widely studied, the molecular factors and pathways underlying PEI-mediated DNA transfer remain largely unknown, preventing the design of more efficient delivery systems. Methods HEK 293 T cells were treated with polyplexes formed with PEI and pEGFPLuc encoding for green fluorescent protein (GFP). Transfected cells expressing GFP were flow-separated from treated, untransfected cells. Gene expression profiles were obtained using Affymetrix HG-U133 2.0 microarrays and differentially expressed genes were identified using R/Bioconductor. Gene network analysis using EGAN (exploratory gene association network) bioinformatics tools was then used to find interaction among genes and enriched gene ontology (GO) terms related to transfection. Genes identified by this method were perturbed using pharmacologic activators or inhibitors to assess their effect on DNA transfer. Results Microarray analysis comparing transfected cells to untransfected cells revealed 215 genes to be differentially expressed, with the majority enriched to GO processes including metabolism, response to stimulus, cell cycle, biological regulation and cellular component organization or biogenesis pathways. Gene network analysis revealed a coordinated induction of RAP1A, SCG5, PGAP1, ATF3 and NEB genes implicated in cell stress, cell cycle and cytoskeletal processes. Altering pathways with pharmacologic agents confirmed the potential role of RAP1A, SCG5 and ATF3 in transfection. Conclusions Microarray and gene network analyses of the sorted, transfected cell population can identify potential mediators of transfection, providing a basis for the design of improved delivery systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Layer-by-layer nanoassembly of copper indium gallium selenium nanoparticle films for solar cell applications

Thin films of CIGS nanoparticles interdigited with polymers have been fabricated through a cost-effective nonvacuum film deposition process called layer-by-layer (LbL) nanoassembly. CIGS nanoparticles synthesized by heating copper chloride, indium chloride, gallium chloride, and selenium in oleylamine were dispersed in water, and desired surface charges were obtained through pH regulation and by coating the particles with polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). Raising the pH of the nanoparticle dispersion reduced the zeta-potential from +61mV at pH 7 to -51mV at pH 10.5. Coating the CIGS nanoparticles with PSS (CIGS-PSS) produced a stable dispersion in water with -56.9mV zeta-potential. Thin films of oppositely charged CIGS nanoparticles (CIGS/CIGS), CIGS nanoparticles and PSS (CIGS/PSS), and PSS-coated CIGS nanoparticles and polyethylenimine (CIGS-PSS/PEI) were constructed through the LbL nanoassembly. Film thickness and resistivity of each bilayer of the films were measured, and photoelectric properties of the films were studied for solar cell applications. Solar cell devices fabricated with a 219nm CIGS film, when illuminated by 50W light-source, produced 0.7 V open circuit voltage and 0.3mA/cm2 short circuit current density.
A new receiver architecture for multiple-antenna systems

A low-IF receiver architecture translates two antenna signals to positive and negative frequencies in complex domain, thus reducing the number of baseband A/D converters by a factor of two. A dual-receiver prototype designed and fabricated in 0.18-mum CMOS technology provides a sensitivity of -72 dBm with EVM of -25 dB for 64QAM signals while drawing 60.2 mW from a 1.8-V supply
Physiology of ventilation-perfusion matching

T he matching of respiratory ventilation to pulmonary perfusion is essential for the organisms viability and is a phenomena that is highly conserved across species. For ventilation/perfusion (WQ) matching to be efficient requires either 1) a linkage between the 2, whereby ventilation modifies (and thus matches) perfusion or vice versa; 2) a third independent factor (or set of factors), which modulates both ventilation and perfusion in parallel fashion, such that both are efficiently matched; or 3) a combination of both. It is unlikely that any 1 specific influence exclusively controls and thus optimizes V/Q matching. Hence, although hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) has rightly been assigned a pivotal role in matching V/Q, it is also highly likely that other factors may be important. For example, although hypoxic blood causes pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction, ~ it can also change pulmonary mechanics (eg, lung impedance). 2 Similarly, changes in the gaseous mix in the alveolus can induce changes not only in the respiratory tree (hypocapnic-induced bronchoconstriction3), but also in the adjacent puImonary vascular tree (influence of alveolar hypoxia on pulmonaryvessels and the magnitude of the HPV response). 4 Moreover, several passive influences may have a profound influence on the distribution of both ventilation and perfusion and thus on V/Q matching. An understanding of WQ matching requires a clear understanding of the principles determining the distribution of both ventilation and perfusion. Each of these will be discussed under the subheadings Passive and Active determinants of their regional distributions.
Progress in analysis and prediction of dynamic stall

Nomenclature c = chord CD =drag coefficient, D/qA CL =lift coefficient, L/qa CP = pressure coefficient, P-PW /q CM = pitching-moment coefficient, M/qA D =drag, Ib k = reduced frequency, wc/2U L =lift, Ib M =Mach number; pitching moment, ft-lb P = pressure, lb/in. q = dynamic pressure, 1 /2p U R, Re, Re, Rn = Reynolds number t time U,V = freestream velocity, ft/s x = distance a. = angle of attack, deg f =nondimensional chord length, x/c $tr transition location co = rotational frequency, rad/s p = density, lb/ft A = sweep angle, deg
Visceral Leishmania as Unusual Cause of Splenic Peliosis in the United States.

A 3-year-old female presented with splenomegaly and hypersplenism manifestations, including anemia, thrombocytopenia, and abdominal pain/distention. All common metabolic, hematologic, gastrointestinal, and infectious etiologies for splenomegaly were excluded. Diagnosis of idiopathic splenic peliosis was made and splenectomy was recommended. History revealed that the patient’s mother had acquired a nonspecific skin infection during a visit to the Middle East 2 years prior. Serum antibodies and confirmatory PCR testing for visceral leish maniasis were positive. After treatment with liposomal amphotericin, at 6-month follow-up her hypersplenism manifestations had resolved and her splenomegaly had significantly decreased. Visceral leishmaniasis should be considered in cases of marked splenomegaly, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, especially with a history of visiting an endemic area.
Intelligent robot trends for 1998

An intelligent robot is a remarkably useful combination of a manipulator, sensors and controls. The use of these machines in factory automation can improve productivity, increase product quality and improve competitiveness. This paper presents a discussion of recent technical and economic trends. Technically, the machines are faster, cheaper, more repeatable, more reliable and safer. The knowledge base of inverse kinematic and dynamic solutions and intelligent controls is increasing. More attention is being given by industry to robots, vision and motion controls. New areas of usage are emerging for service robots, remote manipulators and automated guided vehicles. Economically, the robotics industry now has a 1.1 billion-dollar market in the U.S. and is growing. Feasibility studies results are presented which also show decreasing costs for robots and unaudited healthy rates of return for a variety of robotic applications. However, the road from inspiration to successful application can be long and difficult, often taking decades to achieve a new product. A greater emphasis on mechatronics is needed in our universities. Certainly, more cooperation between government, industry and universities is needed to speed the development of intelligent robots that will benefit industry and society.
A Comprehensive Device Collaboration Model for Integrating Devices with Web Services under Internet of Things

As the rapid development of Internet of things, a large number of devices, instruments and sensors will connect and collaborate to achieve Smart Planet. One of the key challenges is to integrate devices into business process. SOA is an ideal infrastructure for business process management as applications are invoked using standard interfaces and protocols. It's convenient to use device-oriented web services (doWS) to encapsulate devices functions. A doWS may conflict with other doWS because devices can't be controlled by more than one client at the same time. This brings additional complexity to web service composition. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive device collaboration model to doWS choreography. This model includes device layer, doWS layer, compatible resource layer and process layer, where device layer represent devices, doWS layer encapsulates devices functions, compatible resource layer abstracts compatible device operations as resource and avoid of conflict, process layer describes the collaboration process. Analysis shows that, this model can integrate devices with Web Services, and can achieve the conflict detection of doWS. This model is effective in the Internet of things.
Continuing Education Needs of Pediatricians Across Diverse Specialties Caring for Children With Medical Complexity

Objective. Care for children with medical complexity (CMC) relies on pediatricians who often are ill equipped, but striving to provide high quality care. We performed a needs assessment of pediatricians across diverse subspecialties at a tertiary academic US children’s hospital about their continuing education needs regarding the care of CMC. Methods. Eighteen pediatricians from diverse subspecialties were asked to complete an online anonymous open-ended survey. Data were analyzed using modified grounded theory. Results. The response rate was 89% (n = 16). Of participants, 31.2% (n = 5) were general pediatricians, 18.7% (n = 3) were hospitalists, and 50% (n = 8) were pediatric subspecialists. Pediatricians recognized the need for skills in care coordination, giving bad news, working in interprofessional teams, and setting goals of care with patients. Conclusions. Practicing pediatricians need skills to improve care for CMC. Strategically incorporating basic palliative care education may fill an important ...
Two new Actinopterygii (Vertebrata, Osteichthyes) with cosmine from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Heath Fm., Serpukhovian, Mississippian) of Montana USA

ABSTRACT. The osteology and histology of two new actinopterygians, Paphosiscus circulocaudus new genus and species, and P. scalmocristus new species, are described from the Upper Mississippian Serpukhovian Bear Gulch Member of the Heath Formation of Montana (USA). These small fish (ca 50–58mm standard length) exhibit head bones and scales with cosmine, the first report of this in any actinopterygian. Other features of Paphosiscus are dorsal, anal and caudal fin margins round posteriorly, dorsal fin long with horizontal dorsal margin and achieving its greatest height immediately before its rounded posterior margin, tall unpaired predorsal ridge scales/fulcra, premaxillae not sutured to other bones, single postrostral bone, one otic canal bone (dermopterotic), dermosphenotic absent as distinct bone, mandibular articulation level with mandibular tooth row, a coronoid process, marginal teeth pleurodont, coronoid teeth with blunt crowns on a single coronoid bone. Species differ in size and features of cranial ...
A First Assessment of Lichen Diversity for One of North America's ‘Biodiversity Hotspots’ in the Southern Appalachians of Virginia

Although the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia, United States, are known to represent a major 'hotspot' of biodiversity for North America, no significant survey of overall lichen diversity has been conducted in the region thus far. Presented here is a list of 221 distinct taxa of lichens, lichenicolous fungi, and 'lichen allies' collected during the 2008 Hugo L. Blomquist Bryological and Lichenological Foray in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. Collections were made from diverse habitats, primarily in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (MRNRA), and yielded 41 potential state records. Particularly noteworthy collections include: Sphaerellothecium coniodes (a lichenicolous fungus that was not previously known to exist in North America), Hypotrachyna lividescens (a primarily neotropical macrolichen that has not previously been reported from North America), Pycnora praestabilis (a lignicolous crust not previously reported from any other location in eastern North America), Heterodermia erecta (a foliose lichen previously known in the world only from a single small region of Georgia/North Carolina), and Psilolechia clavulifera (a crustose lichen taxon previously reported from only one other location in eastern North America). The sheer diversity of lichens, along with the number of rare and/or potentially endangered taxa, highlights the need for continued preservation efforts in MRNRA and the southern Appalachian Mountains in general.
Identification of a Minimal Size Requirement for Termination of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus mRNA: Implications for the Mechanism of Transcription

The nonsegmented negative-strand RNA (NNS) viruses have a single-stranded RNA genome tightly encapsidated by the viral nucleocapsid protein. The viral polymerase transcribes the genome responding to specific gene-start and gene-end sequences to yield a series of discrete monocistronic mRNAs. These mRNAs are not produced in equimolar amounts; rather, their abundance reflects the position of the gene with respect to the single 3′-proximal polymerase entry site. Promoter-proximal genes are transcribed in greater abundance than more distal genes due to a localized transcriptional attenuation at each gene junction. In recent years, the application of reverse genetics to the NNS viruses has allowed an examination of the role of the gene-start and gene-end sequences in regulating mRNA synthesis. These studies have defined specific sequences required for initiation, 5′ modification, termination, and polyadenylation of the viral mRNAs. In the present report, working with Vesicular stomatitis virus , the prototypic Rhabdovirus , we demonstrate that a gene-end sequence must be positioned a minimal distance from a gene-start sequence for the polymerase to efficiently terminate transcription. Gene-end sequences were almost completely ignored in transcriptional units less than 51 nucleotides. Transcriptional units of 51 to 64 nucleotides allowed termination at the gene-end sequence, although the frequency with which polymerase failed to terminate and instead read through the gene-end sequence to generate a bicistronic transcript was enhanced compared to the observed 1 to 3% for wild-type viral mRNAs. In all instances, failure to terminate at the gene end prevented initiation at the downstream gene start site. In contrast to this size requirement, we show that the sequence between the gene-start and gene-end signals, or its potential to adopt an RNA secondary structure, had only a minor effect on the efficiency with which polymerase terminated transcription. We suggest three possible explanations for the failure of polymerase to terminate transcription in response to a gene-end sequence positioned close to a gene-start sequence which contribute to our emerging picture of the mechanism of transcriptional regulation in this group of viruses.
Time‐dependent heat capacity in the glass transition region

Time-dependent, apparent heat capacities of glucose, poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene, selenium, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) in the glass transition region were determined by differential thermal analysis. The thermal history was set by linear cooling at rates between 0.007 and 160°C/min. Linear heating for analysis was carried out at rates between 0.3 and 600°C/min. Average activation energies of 52, 81, 90, 54, 77, and 108 kcal/mole, respectively, were evaluated by using the hole theory of glasses previously developed. Within experimental limitations all data could be described quantitatively by the theoretical expressions using only one parameter, the number of frozen-in holes, to described the thermal history. Experimental and theoretical limitations are discussed.
Comparison of hooded and albino rats on the visual cliff

Fifteen hooded and fifteen albino rats were tested on a visual cliff. The results clearly demonstrated the significantly inferior visual depth perception of the albinos. These results contrast with those of Walk & Gibson (1961).
Severe elder obesity and 1-year diminished lower extremity physical performance in homebound older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether severe obesity in older people is independently associated with diminished lower extremity physical performance (LEP) in a random sample of homebound older adults that were considered ambulatory. DESIGN: Prospective cohort with 1 year of follow-up (2000-02). SETTING: In-home assessments of homebound older adults in four North Carolina counties. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 282 home-delivered meal recipients aged 60 and older who completed both in-home assessments (n = 253) or were nursing home residents (n = 29) at the 1-year follow-up assessment of the Nutrition and Function Study. MEASUREMENTS: Objective measures were selected for baseline and 1-year LEP (timed walking, static and dynamic balance, and chair rise) and baseline body mass index (BMI, based on measured weight and knee height). BMI was categorized as underweight/normal (<25.0 kg/m 2 ), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m 2 ), moderately obese (30.0-34.9 kg/m 2 ), and severely obese (≥35.0 kg/m 2 ). Based on scores, overall LEP was categorized as poor, intermediate, or good. Sample characteristics included depressive symptomatology, fear of falling, medical conditions, and medication use. RESULTS: Almost 23% of participants were moderately obese and 15% severely obese. Only severe obesity independently increased the odds (odds ratio 2.9-7.0) for diminished performance at 1 year in individual tests and in overall LEP performance. Severe obesity was independently associated with poor LEP at both assessments or with decline in LEP at 1 year. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need to distinguish between moderate and severe obesity in older people in terms of relationships with key functional outcomes. The findings identify severe obesity in older people as an important target for future interventions. In particular, this calls for greater understanding of intervention goals, whether to primarily target weight reduction or improvement in physical performance.
Correlations Among Social‐Cognitive Skills in Adolescents Involved in Acting or Arts Classes

Empathy, theory of mind, and adaptive emotion regulation are critical skills for social functioning. However, the ways in which these skills may co- or differentially develop has thus far been understudied. We explored how these social-cognitive skills converge and diverge across a year of development in early adolescence, and with different kinds of arts training: the visual arts or music, and acting. Results show differential effects of acting versus other arts training, with the expected convergence for the artists and musicians but less convergence than predicted for the actors. Results are discussed in light of the cognitive effects of arts and acting training and social cognition as a field.
Vibro-acoustography imaging applications for the prostate

Vibro-acoustography (VA) is a novel modality that has shown significant features in imaging hard inclusions and inhomogeneities within biological tissue. Here we focus on its applications for prostate imaging as well as some of its related feasibility studies to guide minimally-invasive therapies such as brachytherapy and cryosurgery.
Proximal humerus allograft prosthetic composites: technique, outcomes, and pearls and pitfalls

The proximal humerus is the second most common location of primary bone sarcomas and a frequent location of benign locally aggressive primary osseous tumors. In contrast to other locations, tumors in this region impose significant challenges for local control and reconstruction. This is due to glenohumeral joint anatomic characteristics such as lack of intrinsic stability and dependence on dynamic and static stabilizers. In addition, the close proximity of the axillary nerve and axillary vascular bundle places these at risk of resection when attaining local control. Allograft prosthetic composites (APCs) of the proximal humerus are one of the methods for mobile reconstruction. This modality presents lower fracture rates when compared to osteoarticular allografts and lower rates of subluxation and instability than endoprosthesis. Recent literature documents a trend for superior functional outcome at comparable complication rates. APC reconstruction is an important tool in the orthopedic oncologist armamentarium.
Interparticle Interaction Effects in Nonmiscible CoAg Thin Films With High Co Concentration

A series of Co-rich CoAg heterogeneous thin films, with Co concentrations greater than 65 % volume fraction and film thickness in the range 5 nm - 50 nm, was prepared by dc magnetron sputtering. Annealing in high vacuum (P < 3x10-7 Torr) above 400°C was necessary to promote phase separation between the two elements. Maximum room temperature coercivities, Hc ∼ 900 Oe, were obtained at a thickness of 20 nm for CoAg 70:30 vol % films. These coercivities are almost two orders of magnitude larger than the values observed in as-deposited films. The concentration of maximum coercivity, that is usually associated to the threshold for magnetic percolation, is much higher than the 40-50 vol % commonly observed in bulk granular materials. The shift in the magnetic percolation limit was related to the reduced dimensionality of the very thin films. Coercivity was found to vary both with film composition and with thickness. Delta M curves and time decay (magnetic viscosity) measurements were done to determine the interparticle interactions and the activation volumes. A maximum in the remanent coercivity (coincident with the maximum inHc) was found for a film thickness φ ∼ 15-20 nm in all the alloys. At this same thickness a negative minimum in the interparticle interaction parameter α (indicating that the particle interactions favor the demagnetized state) was observed. The absolute value of a increases for larger Co concentrations. The irreversible susceptibility is an increasing function of film thickness and the magnetic viscosity has a minimum for φ ∼ 15-20 nm. The activation volume also increases with thickness, changing from (15 nm)3 to (40 nm)3 for the more diluted alloys, values similar to the average particle size determined by transmission electron microscopy.
Effects of dehydrating agents on phosphatases in the lymphatic nodules of the rabbit appendix.

Summary and ConclusionsAlkaline phosphatase in the rabbit appendix is almost as well preserved by fixation in chilled acetone as by the freezing drying technic. Acid phosphatase on the other hand is distinctly better preserved by dehydration in the frozen state than after acetone fixation. Acid phosphatase activities are maximal when determined promptly on fresh homogenates. Frozen tissues dehydrated in the frozen state and stored dry at −20°C gave acid phosphatase activities equal to 85% of fresh values and for homogenates stored at 5°C for 24-96 hours the values of fresh and frozen preparations were identical. Acetone and alcohol fixation gave marked reduction in acid phosphatase activity. Alkaline phosphatase activity of fresh tissue is reduced to about 75% of the fresh value by treatment with acetone or absolute alcohol at room temperature. The effects of temperature of fixation, storage in the dry state and embedding in paraffin are noted.
Learning from History: Case Studies of the Weapons Acquisition Process

This review article presents three case studies of the U.S. strategic weapons acquisition process: the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Polaris fleet ballistic missile (FBM), and the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV). By considering programs that stretch from the 1950s to the 1970s, the essay provides a record of the changing environment of American weapons choices over the past 25 years. After a description of research methods and major arguments, each study is assessed in terms of bureaucratic politics and of its relevance to contemporary policy. Conclusions are drawn about the most fruitful approach to the study of weapons acquisition, about the lessons of these cases for the development of weapons in an age of arms control, and about the challenges of future studies.
In-service Preload Monitoring of Bolted Joints Subjected to Fatigue Loading Using a Novel ‘MoniTorque’ Bolt

Bolted fastening is one of the oldest, most important, and most neglected aspects in engineering design of machines and structures. One of the biggest concerns is the bolt preload control and monitoring during and after the joint assembly. A survey of automobile service managers in the United States has shown that one-quarter of all service problems were traced to loose fasteners. Therefore, fatigue behavior of in-service bolted joints is of special interest for predicting structural integrity and residual lifetime of the structure. In this work, a novel technique ‘MoniTorque’ (Monitoring Torque) that embeds fiber Bragg-grating (FBG) sensors within the bolt shaft using temporary adhesives is used to monitor pre-load changes during fatigue tests of bolted joints. The inherent small size of the FBG allows precise monitoring without affecting the intrinsic properties of the bolt. Furthermore, temporary adhesives allow easy installation, removal and reuse of FBG sensor, thus converting a simple bolt into a reliable sensing element. Results show good correlation between the number of loading cycles and preload reduction. Overall, the ‘MoniTorque’ technique demonstrated in this work shows promise in cost-effective and reliable health monitoring of in-service bolted joints.
Towards Moment of Learning Accuracy.

Models of student knowledge have occupied a significant portion of the literature in the area of Educational Data Mining. In the context of Intelligent Tutoring Systems, these models are designed for the purpose of improving prediction of student knowledge and improving prediction of skill mastery. New models or model modifications need to be justified by marked improvement in evaluation results compared to prior-art. The standard evaluation has been to forecast student responses with an N-fold student level cross-validation and compare the results of prediction to the prior-art model using a chosen error or accuracy metric. The hypothesis of this often employed methodology is that improved performance prediction, given a chosen evaluation metric, translates to improved knowledge and mastery prediction. Since knowledge is a latent, the estimation of knowledge cannot be validated directly. If knowledge were directly observable, would we find that models with better prediction of performance also estimate knowledge more accurately? Which evaluation metrics of performance would best correlate with improvements in knowledge estimation? In this paper we investigate the relationship between performance prediction and knowledge estimation with a series of simulation studies. The studies allow for observation of the ground truth knowledge states of simulated students. With this information we correlate the accuracy of estimating the moment of learning (mastery) with a host of error metrics calculated based on performance.
Effects of methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone on aggregation of rabbit platelets induced by arachidonic acid and other aggregating substances.

The effects of methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone on platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid (AA), collagen, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), prostaglandin (PG) H2, and a stable PGH2 analog, were studied in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from the rabbit. Incubation of either steroid in PRP inhibited AA-, collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration-related manner. The dose of methylprednisolone required to inhibit 0.02 mM AA-induced aggregation was lower than that required to inhibit either 0.08 microgram/ml collagen or 0.2 microM ADP-induced aggregation. Methylprednisolone produced a dose-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by PGH2 and the stable PGH2 analog. In washed platelets methylprednisolone was more effective in inhibiting AA-induced aggregation than ADP- or collagen-induced aggregation; however, the difference in effect was less than in PRP. Platelet responses to AA in PRP from rabbits treated with hydrocortisone or methylprednisolone, 100 mg/kg i.v., were inhibited in a transient manner, whereas aggregation induced by ADP under similar conditions was unchanged. Since inhibition of aggregation elicited by AA occurred at concentrations which do not influence PGH2-, PGH2 analog-, collagen- or ADP-induced aggregation, the present data suggest that the steroids may inhibit the incorporation, the release, or the metabolism of arachidonic acid in platelets. The actual mechanism of this relatively specific inhibition of AA-induced aggregation by anti-inflammatory steroids is uncertain but may be related to the membrane "stabilizing" properties of methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone.
Two novel methods to assess ulnar nerve conduction across the elbow.

Abstract Purpose Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are used as an electrodiagnostic method for diagnosing ulnar neuropathy of the elbow (UNE). The purpose of this study was to determine normal and reliability values of across elbow ulnar nerve conduction velocity using two novel methods. Methods Ulnar nerve conduction studies were performed on both upper extremities of 104 healthy subjects. Two different techniques were used to evaluate ulnar nerve function at the elbow: Technique 1 (W-BE-AE) determined mixed NCV across the elbow indirectly while Technique 2 (BE-AE) measured conduction time directly. Twenty subjects returned within one week for re-testing to generate reliability data. Results The mean NCV for the BE-AE segment using Technique 1 was 59.68 m/s (±8.91 m/s). The mean peak latency for the BE-AE segment using Technique 2 was 2.03 ms (±0.24 ms). The interrater and intrarater reliability intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for Technique 1 was 0.454 and 0.756, respectively. For Technique 2, the interrater and intrarater reliability ICC was 0.76 and 0.814, respectively. Conclusion This study identified normal values for ulnar nerve conduction across the elbow with reliability ranging from poor to good, depending on the technique. These two novel techniques provide alternative methods to traditional techniques to measure ulnar nerve conduction across the elbow.