cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of 2-mercaptoethylamine on proliferation and lifespan of WI-38 cells.

Abstract The antioxidant 2-mercaptoethylamine (MEA) was added to the culture medium of WI-38 cells throughout their lifespan. MEA concentrations of 0.5μM, 5μM and 50μM were used. The presence of 5μM or 50μM MEA decreased the fraction of rapidly dividing cells and slightly reduced cell density at confluence, whereas 0.5μM MEA had no significant effect on these parameters. All MEA-treated cultures had somewhat reduced plating efficiency. Cultures treated with 0.5μM, 5μM and 50μM MEA attained population doubling levels of 72.80, 78.35 and 70.92, respectively, compared to 73.55 for untreated controls. Cells growtn in 5μM MEA underwent 4.8 more population doublings, in six weeks more time in culture, compared to controls. This is a 12.2% increase in the portion of the lifespan examined and a 6.5% increase in total lifespan. These results are consistent with the free radical theory of aging.
NUMERICAL EVALUATION OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER TO A MOVING LIQUID DROP EXPERIENCING CONDENSATION

An efficient numerical procedure is described for solving the problems of flow and heat/mass transfer associated with a moving liquid drop experiencing condensation. The drop environment is taken to consist of a condensable and a noncondensable. The Reynolds number of drop motion is O(100), and a wide range of condensation rates has been studied. The hybrid numerical scheme used involves central differencing near the drop surface and upwind differencing in the far field. It provides accurate results near the drop while guaranteeing numerical stability in the far field.
Environmental chamber study of maximum incremental reactivities of volatile organic compounds

Abstract The effects of 26 individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on ozone formation, NO oxidation, and OH radical levels were measured by adding them to reactive organic gas (ROG)-NOx-air environmental chamber irradiations representing a simplified model photochemical smog system. These experiments had relatively low ROG NO x ratios to represent conditions where ozone formation is most sensitive to VOC additions. The compounds studied included representative alkanes, alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, and CO. The addition of formaldehyde, methylbenzenes, alkenes and methanol all caused increased integrated OH radical concentrations, and caused the most NO oxidation and ozone formation per molecule reacted. The C6+ n-alkanes had the most inhibiting effects on OH radicals, and caused reduced NO oxidation and ozone formation in these experiments. The other compounds had smaller negative effects on OH radicals, but moderate positive effects on ozone formed and NO oxidized. The implications of these results in terms of the atmospheric reaction mechanisms of these compounds are discussed.
Constraint-based modeling analysis of the metabolism of two Pelobacter species

Pelobacter species are commonly found in a number of subsurface environments, and are unique members of the Geobacteraceae family. They are phylogenetically intertwined with both Geobacter and Desulfuromonas species. Pelobacter species likely play important roles in the fermentative degradation of unusual organic matters and syntrophic metabolism in the natural environments, and are of interest for applications in bioremediation and microbial fuel cells. In order to better understand the physiology of Pelobacter species, genome-scale metabolic models for Pelobacter carbinolicus and Pelobacter propionicus were developed. Model development was greatly aided by the availability of models of the closely related Geobacter sulfurreducens and G. metallireducens. The reconstructed P. carbinolicus model contains 741 genes and 708 reactions, whereas the reconstructed P. propionicus model contains 661 genes and 650 reactions. A total of 470 reactions are shared among the two Pelobacter models and the two Geobacter models. The different reactions between the Pelobacter and Geobacter models reflect some unique metabolic capabilities such as fermentative growth for both Pelobacter species. The reconstructed Pelobacter models were validated by simulating published growth conditions including fermentations, hydrogen production in syntrophic co-culture conditions, hydrogen utilization, and Fe(III) reduction. Simulation results matched well with experimental data and indicated the accuracy of the models. We have developed genome-scale metabolic models of P. carbinolicus and P. propionicus. These models of Pelobacter metabolism can now be incorporated into the growing repertoire of genome scale models of the Geobacteraceae family to aid in describing the growth and activity of these organisms in anoxic environments and in the study of their roles and interactions in the subsurface microbial community.
Predicting the impact of quenching on mechanical properties of complex-shaped aluminum alloy parts

The mechanical properties of age-hardenable aluminum alloy extrusions are critically dependent on the rate at which the part is cooled (quenched) after the forming operation. The present study continues the development of an intelligent spray quenching system, which selects the optimal nozzle configuration based on part geometry and composition such that the magnitude and uniformity of hardness (or yield strength) is maximized while residual stresses are minimized. The quenching of a complex-shaped part with multiple, overlapping sprays was successfully modeled using spray heat transfer correlations as boundary conditions within a finite element program. The hardness distribution of the heat-treated part was accurately predicted using the quench factor technique; that is, the metallurgical transformations that occur within the part were linked to the cooling history predicted by the finite element program. This study represents the first successful attempt at systematically predicting the mechanical properties of a quenched metallic part from knowledge of only the spray boundary conditions. 26 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.
N-alkyl perfluoroalkanamides as low molecular-mass organogelators.

A new class of low molecular-mass organogelators (LMOGs), N-alkyl perfluoroalkanamides, F(CF2)nCONH(CH2)mH, is described. The molecules are designed to exploit the incompatibilities of their three molecular parts, and the results demonstrate that this strategy can be used to tune molecular aggregation and gel stability. The gelating properties of these LMOGs have been examined in a wide variety of organic liquids (including alkanes, alcohols, toluene, n-perfluorooctane, CCl4, and DMSO) as a function of the N-alkyl and perfluoroalkyl chain lengths by X-ray diffraction, polarizing optical microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The gels are thermally reversible and require generally very low concentrations (<2 wt %) of LMOG. Several of the gels are stable for very long periods at room temperature. The incompatibility of the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon segments causes the LMOGs to aggregate, probably into lamellae within the fibrils th...
Integers without large prime factors

Let u > 3 and β > √e/(√e−1) be real numbers and let β0=β−√e/(√e−1). Let a and q be relatively prime positive integers. Let Ψa(X, Y) denote the number of positive integers ⩽ X and ≡ a (mod q), whose largest prime factor is ⩽ Y. There exists a computable q0(u, β) such that, for q > q0, ψa(quβ,qβ)>quβ−1exp {−2uββ−1)√e(log u+6+t)} where T = max {log log u, 4 + log (ββ0)}.
Stratigraphy of Upper Silurian Cayugan Evaporites

The stratigraphy of the Cayugan series strongly contrasts classical terminology of the basin margins with subsurface relationships of the basin centers. Both lithofacies and paleontological facies are sharply defined and narrowly restricted so that the few outcrops in the basin margin carbonate facies serve poorly to define a proper framework for Cayugan stratigraphy. Basinal rocks are exposed only in New York state and in the Appalachian fold-belt in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia where the rocks are largely atypical of the bulk of the Cayugan series. A review of the evolution of Cayugan stratigraphic terminology, and the nature and distribution of the faunas demonstrates the provincial nature of knowledge concerning correlation among the regions of classical study. A different stratigraphic terminology is used in New York, Pennsylvania-Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan-Ontario. In most regions the terminology of the basin margins is inappropriate for the basin centers. Moreover, in the faunas reported, out of a total of 243 species, 199 (82 per cent) are reported from only one locality, and 225 (93 per cent) are reported from one or two localities. To solve some of these problems a regional framework of sedimentation is established so that there can be a standard of reference within which stratigraphic classification and correlation over the entire Cayugan depositional basin can be made. The framework of sedimentation establishes general stratigraphic relations between disconnected outcrops, outcrop and subsurface, and subsurface units within and between basins. It is prescribed from regional lithofacies analyses of the distribution of evaporite rock types, limestone-dolomite relations, terrigenous detrital debris, and thicknesses of rock units. The sedimentary framework for Cayugan rocks involves the development and growth of Niagaran reef platforms around the Michigan and Ohio basins which prevented free interchange of oceanic brine between the open sea and the basin, and which formed the ultimate control on subsequent evaporite deposition. In the eastern part of the Appalachian basin evaporites were deposited in New York and northern Pennsylvania while open marine limestone and shale were being deposited in southern Pennsylvania and Maryland in the Wills Creek-Tonoloway sea. Oceanic brine flow between the southern open ocean and the northern evaporite basin was restricted by the distal end of the Bloomsburg-Vernon delta complex, deposited by westward flowing streams carrying red terrigenous debris onto the eastern shelf of the Appalachian basin.
Cell Accelerated Cryoablation Simulation

Tumor cryoablation is a clinical procedure where supercooled probes are used to destroy cancerous lesions. Cryoablation is a safe and effective palliative treatment for skeletal metastases, providing immediate and long term pain relief, increasing mobility and improving quality of life. Ideally, lesions are encompassed by an ice ball and frozen to a sufficiently low temperature to ensure cell death. ''Lethal ice'' is the term used to describe regions within the ice ball where cell death occurs. Failure to achieve lethal ice in all portions of a lesion may explain the high recurrence rate currently observed. Tracking growth of lethal ice is critical to success of percutaneous ablations, however, no practical methods currently exist for non-invasive temperature monitoring. Physicians lack planning tools which provide accurate estimation of the ice formation. Simulation of ice formation, while possible, is computationally demanding and too time consuming to be of clinical utility. We developed the computational framework for the simulation, acceleration strategies for multicore Intel x86 and IBM Cell architectures, and performed preliminary validation of the simulation. Our results demonstrate that the streaming SIMD implementation has better performance and scalability. Both accelerated and non-accelerated algorithms demonstrate good agreement between simulation and manually identified ice ball boundaries in phantom and patient images. Our results show promise for the development of novel cryoablation planning tools with real-time monitoring capability for clinical use.
Predictors of the emergence of transformational leadership in virtual decision teams

Abstract This study examined the etiology of transformational leadership in virtual team contexts. First, we compared 127 members of virtual decision-making teams with 135 members of traditional face-to-face teams in terms of the relationship between aspects of personality and the emergence of transformational leadership. The type of communication media (face-to-face versus “pure” virtual) was found to interact with extraversion and emotional stability in the prediction of emerging transformational leadership. In line with prior findings, we showed how these personality characteristics were relevant to transformational leadership emergence in our face-to-face teams. However, they were largely unrelated to such leadership in the virtual team context. We also focused specifically on the virtual context by analyzing the content of team interactions. After accounting for the effect of degree of activity level, the linguistic quality in one's written communication was found to predict the emergence of transformational leadership in virtual teams.
Destabilization of leidenfrost boiling by a sudden rise of ambient pressure

Abstract The contact of two liquids, one at a temperature significantly above the boiling point of the other, can lead to fast vapor formation on an explosive time scale causing mechanical damage. Such an event, generally termed a “vapor explosion”, has been recognized as the cause of accidents in a wide variety of smelting and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries. The increase of awareness of the problem, especially in hypothetical accidents in liquid metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBR), has resulted in a broad research effort to investigate the sequence of events and the necessary conditions leading to a vapor explosion. A key step in the explosion scenario has been identified as the destabilization of film boiling, resulting in liquid-liquid contact over a large area. It is found experimentally that, when the ambient pressure is suddenly increased around an evaporating volatile drop suspended above a hot liquid surface, the vapor film may or may not collapse. A theory is developed here in which instability corresponds to resonance between the oscillations in the creeping-flow vapor film thickness and the capillary waves on the underside of the drop surface. Two separate estimates are made of the critical vapor film thickness at which instability occurs, one by a creeping flow model of the film thickness oscillation, and the other by a Taylor-Helmholtz instability model. The two models are in agreement with each other and with the data.
Heat and Mass Transfer From Platinum-Coated Cylinders in Axisymmetric Hydrogen-Air Boundary Layers

Catalytic combustion of hydrogen-air mixtures involves the adsorption of the fuel and oxidant into a platinum surface, chemical reactions of the adsorbed species and the desorption of the resulting products. Re-adsorption of some produced gases is also possible. The catalytic reactions can be beneficial in porous burners that use low equivalence ratios. In this case the porous burner flame can be stabilized at low temperatures to prevent any substantial gas emissions, such as nitric oxide. The present paper is concerned with the numerical computation of heat transfer and chemical reactions in flowing hydrogen-air mixtures axisymmetrically around a platinum-coated thin cylinder. Chemical reactions are included in the gas phase and in the solid platinum surface. In the gas phase 8 species are involved in 24 elementary reactions. On the platinum hot surface, additional surface species are included that are involved in 14 additional surface chemical reactions. The platinum surface temperature is fixed, while the properties of the reacting flow are computed. The flow configuration investigated here is the parallel boundary layer reacting flow over a cylinder. Finite-volume equations are obtained by formal integration over control volumes surrounding each grid node. Up-wind differencing is used to ensure that the influence coefficients are always positive to reflect the physical effect of neighboring nodes on a typical central node. The finite-volume equations are solved iteratively for the reacting gas flow properties. On the platinum surface, surface species balance equations, under steady-state conditions, are solved numerically by an under-relaxed linear algorithm. A non-uniform computational grid is used, concentrating most of the nodes near the catalytic surface. Surface temperatures, 1150 K and 1300 K, caused fast reactions on the catalytic surface, with very slow chemical reactions in the flowing gas. These slow reactions produce mainly intermediate hydrocarbons and unstable species. The computational results for the chemical reaction boundary layer thickness and mass transfer at the gas-surface interface are correlated by non-dimensional relations, taking the Reynolds number as the independent variable. Chemical kinetic relations for the reaction rate are obtained which are dependant on reactants concentrations and surface temperature.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Improving the content uniformity of a low-dose tablet formulation through roller compaction optimization

In this investigation, the potency distribution of a low-dose drug in a granulation was optimized through a two-part study using statistically designed experiments. The purpose of this investigation was to minimize the segregation potential by improving content uniformity across the granule particle size distribution, thereby improving content uniformity in the tablet. Initial operating parameters on the Gerteis 3-W-Polygran 250/100/3 Roller Compactor resulted in a U-shaped potency function (potency vs. granule particle size) with superpotent fines and large granules. The roller compaction optimization study was carried out in two parts. Study I used a full factorial design with roll force (RF) and average gap width (GW) as independent variables and Study II used a D-optimal response surface design with four factors: RF, GW, granulating sieve size (SS), and granulator speed (GS). The planned response variables for Study I were bypass weight % and potency of bypass. Response variables for Study II included mean granulation potency with % relative standard deviation (% RSD), granulation particle size, sieve cut potency % RSD, tablet potency with % RSD, compression force at 7 kP crushing strength, and friability of 7-kP tablets. A constraint on GW was determined in Study I by statistical analysis. Bypass and observations of ribbon splitting were minimized when GW was less than 2.6 mm. In Study II, granulation potency, granulation uniformity, and sieve cut uniformity were optimized when the SS was 0.8 mm. Higher RF during dry granulation produced better sieve cut uniformity and tablets with improved uniformity throughout the run, as measured by stratified tablet samples taken during compression and assayed for potency. The recommended optimum roller compaction and milling operating parameters that simultaneously met all constraints were RF = 9 kN, GW = 2.3 mm, SS = 0.8 mm, and GS = 50 rpm. These parameters became the operating parameter set points during a model confirmation trial. The results from the confirmation trial proved that the new roller compaction and milling conditions reduced the potential for segregation by minimizing the granulation potency variability as a function of particle size as expressed by sieve cut potency % RSD, and thus improved content uniformity of stratified tablet samples.
Fabless-foundry partnership: models and analysis of coordination issues

The fabless-foundry partnership for integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing business is expected to grow from 12% in 1995 to approximately 17% (i.e., $45B) of the total IC market in 2000. The growth of this market will be even more significant for subquarter micron technologies-whose growth is driven by the multimedia industry. The customer base will extend beyond traditional fabless IC companies into vertically integrated IC manufacturers and system vendors. Given the rate of growth and the high technology profile of products, substantial investments in capital, technology, and skilled workforce have to be dedicated and managed effectively for ensuring a successful partnership. In this paper, we outline the potential coordination problems that may arise in such partnerships, and propose a framework for analyzing issues related to yield information sharing and yield improvement. Our analysis indicates that fabless-foundry contracts that are based on a fixed number of good dies, and better yield information are more profitable.
RNA Structure and Packaging Signals in the 5′ Leader Region of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Genome

The leader region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome has a highly folded structure, comprising at least two RNA stem-loops [the transactivation response (TAR) and poly(A) hairpins] near its 5′ end and four others (SL1 to SL4) downstream. Each of these stem-loops contributes to the function of the HIV-1 packaging signal, which efficiently targets genomic RNA into nascent virions. The central 140-base region of the leader, which includes the U5 and primer binding site (PBS) sequences, is also believed to adopt a complex structure, but the nature of this structure and its possible role in RNA packaging have not been extensively explored. Here we report a mutational analysis identifying at least three separate loci within the U5-PBS region which, when mutated, impair both HIV-1 packaging specificity and infectivity in a single-round proviral assay. In common with those of all previously described packaging signals in the leader, the function of one of these loci appeared to depend on secondary structure rather than on sequence alone. By contrast, the activity of the other two loci did not correlate with any predicted conformations. Moreover, unlike SL1 to SL4, the TAR, poly(A), and U5-PBS hairpins were not bound with high affinity by the nucleocapsid portion of the HIV-1 Gag protein in vitro, implying that they contribute to packaging through a mechanism distinct from that of SL1 to SL4. Our findings confirm the existence and importance of secondary structure around the PBS and demonstrate that functional packaging signals are distributed across the entire HIV-1 leader.
Gene expression profiling of monocyte-derived macrophages following infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium (MAA) represent two closely related intracellular bacteria with vastly different associated pathologies. MAA can cause severe respiratory infections in immune compromised humans but is nonpathogenic in ruminants and is more readily controlled by the bovine immune system than MAP. MAP causes a fatal wasting syndrome in ruminants, typified by granulomatous enteritis localized in the small intestine. MAP has also been cited as a potential cause of human Crohn's disease. We used a bovine immune-specific microarray (BOTL-5) to compare the response of mature bovine monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM cells) to MAP and MAA. Statistical analysis of microarray data revealed 21 genes not appreciably expressed in resting MDM cells that were activated following infection with either MAA or MAP. Further analysis revealed 144 genes differentially expressed in MDM cells following infection with MAA and 99 genes differentially expressed following infection with MAP. Of these genes, 37 were affected by both types of mycobacteria, with three being affected in opposite directions. Over 41% of the differentially expressed genes in MAA and MAP infected MDM cells were members of, regulated by, or regulators of the MAPK pathways. Expression of selected genes was validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR and in several key genes (i.e., IL-2 receptor, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1, and Fas-ligand) MAA was found to be a stronger activating factor than MAP. These gene expression patterns were correlated with prolonged activation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 by MAA, relative to MAP.
Optical and electrical characteristics of semiconductor nanocrystals

Nanometer size crystals of inorganic semiconductors display a wealth of size dependent optical and electrical characteristics. Such nanocrystals (CdS, CdSe, InP, InAs), with well controlled interfaces, can now be fabricated by colloidal chemistry techniques. The resulting particles are extremely flexible chemically. Examples where nanocrystals have been incorporated into LEDs, photovoltaics, transistors, and on cell surfaces are described.
Choices More Ethical Than Legal: The International Committee of the Red Cross and Human Rights

It may come as a surprise to many that the ICRC was the first agency established representing the International Red Cross and Red Crescent network to protect and assist victims of war and victims of politics. This article explores the ineffective consequences of international laws overseeing such victims and argues that proper implementation of these laws requires policy, without which laws can never be executed. ICRC has often coordinated relief for victims in such places as Somalia and Bosnia, in fact more than all the UN agencies combined, when the rest of the world was still ignoring them. When law is silent, and often during war time it is, human rights policies must be built on ethical choice.
Degrees of dysplasia and the use of cidofovir in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

Objectives/Hypothesis: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a benign disease characterized by recurrent lesions in the airway. The prevalence and degree of dysplasia that is present in the natural course of RRP is not well established. Adjuvant therapies, such as cidofovir, have been tried with the goal of decreasing the interval between repeat surgical treatments, the mainstay of therapy. Although, the off-label use of cidofovir to treat RRP has been common, there have been concerns regarding carcinogenic transformation following the use of cidofovir. This study aims to explore the association between increasing degree of papilloma dysplasia and the use of cidofovir in the context of the natural progression of dysplasia in RRP. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Demographic data and surgical history were obtained through chart reviews for this retrospective case series of 13 patients with RRP who had histopathologic biopsies done before and after exposure to cidofovir. Pathologic data collected over 10 years from serial excisions at the University of Iowa Hospitals were reviewed by a single pathologist, and the highest degree of dysplasia was noted per excision time. Results: Of the 176 specimens collected in these 13 patients with serial papilloma biopsies, 5.7% had no dysplasia, 57.4% had mild dysplasia (grade 1), 28.4% had moderate dysplasia (grade 2), and 8.5% had severe dysplasia (grade 3). A comparison of each patient's multiple biopsies across time suggested that the dysplastic grade was worse in two patients, better in four patients, and virtually unchanged in seven patients. There was no clear-cut pattern between the use of cidofovir and the degree of dysplasia over time. Conclusions: These results strongly suggest that intralesional cidofovir therapy does not correlate with worsening dysplastic progression. Dysplasia is relatively common in the setting of RRP; however, the prognostic significance of this finding is unknown. Additional research is needed to delineate the natural progression of dysplasia and its clinical significance in RRP, as well as the efficacy of cidofovir.
Metastatic melanoma imaging with an 111In-labeled lactam bridge-cyclized α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone peptide

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine whether a novel lactam bridge-cyclized 111 In-labeled 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid-Gly-Glu-c[Lys-Nle-Glu-His- d -Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Arg-Pro-Val-Asp] {DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH} could be an effective imaging probe for metastatic melanoma detection. Methods 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH was prepared and purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The internalization and efflux of 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH were examined in B16/F10 melanoma cells. The biodistribution of 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH was determined in B16/F10 pulmonary metastatic melanoma-bearing and normal C57 mice. Pulmonary metastatic melanoma imaging was performed by small-animal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT (Nano-SPECT/CT) using 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH as an imaging probe and compared with 2-[ 18 F]fluoro-2-deoxy- d -glucose ([ 18 F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Results 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH was readily prepared with greater than 95% radiolabeling yield. 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH displayed rapid internalization and extended efflux in B16/F10 cells. 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH exhibited significantly ( P 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH 2 h post-injection rather than with [ 18 F]FDG 1 h post-injection. Conclusions 111 In-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH exhibited favorable metastatic melanoma-targeting and -imaging properties, highlighting its potential as an effective imaging probe for metastatic melanoma detection.
Syntaxin Modulation of Calcium Channels in Cortical Synaptosomes As Revealed by Botulinum Toxin C1

When the presynaptic membrane protein syntaxin is coexpressed inXenopus oocytes with N- or P/Q-type Ca2+ channels, it promotes their inactivation (Bezprozvanny et al., 1995; Wiser et al., 1996, 1999; Degtiar et al., 2000) (I. B. Bezprozvanny, P. Zhong, R. H. Scheller, and R. W. Tsien, unpublished observations). These findings led to the hypothesis that syntaxin influences Ca2+channel function in presynaptic endings, in a reversal of the conventional flow of information from Ca2+ channels to the release machinery. We examined this effect in isolated mammalian nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Botulinum neurotoxin type C1 (BoNtC1), which cleaves syntaxin, was applied to rat neocortical synaptosomes at concentrations that completely blocked neurotransmitter release. This treatment altered the pattern of Ca2+ entry monitored with fura-2. Whereas the initial Ca2+ rise induced by depolarization with K+-rich solution was unchanged, late Ca2+ entry was strongly augmented by syntaxin cleavage. Similar results were obtained when Ca2+ influx arose from repetitive firing induced by the K+-channel blocker 4-aminopyridine. Cleavage of vesicle-associated membrane protein with BoNtD or SNAP-25 with BoNtE failed to produce a significant change in Ca2+ entry. The BoNtC1-induced alteration in Ca2+ signaling was specific to voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, not Ca2+ extrusion or buffering, and it involved N-, P/Q- and R-type channels, the high voltage-activated channels most intimately associated with presynaptic release machinery. The modulatory effect of syntaxin was not immediately manifest when synaptosomes had been K+-predepolarized in the absence of external Ca2+, but developed with a delay after admission of Ca2+, suggesting that vesicular turnover may be necessary to make syntaxin available for its stabilizing effect on Ca2+ channel inactivation.
Flight Control with Distributed Efiectors

Recent developments in actuator technology have resulted in small, simple devices capable of afiecting the ∞ow fleld over ∞ight vehicles su‐ciently to generate control forces. One of the devices which has been under investigation is the Miniature-Trailing Edge Efiector (MiTE), which consists of a small, 1-5% chord, moveable surface mounted at the wing trailing edge. The high bandwidth and good control authority make the device an ideal candidate for control of both the rigid body and ∞exible modes of a ∞ight vehicle. Unfortunately traditional control techniques do not address the non-linear nature of the device or the competing performance goals arising from large numbers of distributed devices. Novel approaches to control design are therefore required. To demonstrate the potential of this type of ∞ight control architecture and to explore suitable control synthesis techniques, a remotely piloted ∞ight vehicle has been developed. This paper details the ∞ight vehicle including a distributed ∞ight control system based upon MiTEs. The latter system includes distributed sensing, logic, and actuation. This paper also describes an applicable novel control synthesis technique based upon the theory of collectives. The theory and its application to the design of distributed ∞ight control systems is presented. Results of ∞ight tests with conventional control surfaces and with a MiTE based control system are provided.
Prediction of rehospitalization and death in severe heart failure by physicians and nurses of the ESCAPE trial.

Abstract Background The predictive accuracy of physician investigators and nurse coordinators in estimating the risk of rehospitalization and death was determined for 373 hospitalized patients with severe advanced heart failure enrolled in the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness trial. Methods and Results Estimates were made at discharge, and patients were followed for 6 months after hospitalization. A statistical prognostic model was developed from clinical and laboratory data for the end points of rehospitalization and death. Both nurse and physician predictions of death were generally associated with the observed deaths (c-indices of 0.675 and 0.611), although the nurses' prediction was significantly better (chi-square = 4.75, P = .029). The prediction ability of the prognostic model was similar to the physicians' model (c-index = 0.603). The predictions of rehospitalization were much weaker for nurse, physician and prognostic models. Conclusions Nurses' estimations of survival in discharged, advanced-stage heart failure patients were superior to either physicians' or model-based predictions. Not nurses, physicians, or the prognostic model provided useful predictions for rehospitalizations, but this may have resulted from the fact that the rehospitalization estimates did not include the death risk.
The network protocol evaluation with the Hybrid Operational Protocol Evaluation tool

The Hybrid Operational Protocol Evaluation (HOPE) tool, allows users to: ldr Compare performance metrics of various communication protocols against realistic operational scenarios ldr Visualize motion and communication activities in a mobile network. Designing a distributed mobile communication architecture, which may involve hundreds of mobile nodes, requires the evaluation of various communication protocols. In order to select the appropriate protocol, each protocolpsilas performance should be compared across realistic missions with different traffic profiles, terrain, and atmospheric conditions. The HOPE tool is a framework that combines terrain maps, simulation models of communication protocols, and link budget calculations. This framework allows communication protocol models from various simulations to be visualized on one user interface. The user interface allows a user to easily create, configure, and execute a scenario that includes 3D geographical map, network nodes, node motion and communication profiles. HOPE refines the result of the scenario execution with terrain and atmospheric conditions, visualizes the scenario execution over the 3D map, and provides the user with the scenario performance statistics. To ensure realism in urban environments, HOPE extracts road coordinates from Google Maps web service and overlays them on 3D maps to ensure vehicles follow roads. HOPE is capable to execute and visualize more than one simulation model using different execution environments within one scenario.
Scalar dark matter search at the LHC through flavor-changing neutral current top decay

We discuss an extended standard model electroweak sector which contains a stable scalar dark matter particle, the D boson. To search for the D boson at the LHC we exploit the flavor-changing neutral current top quark decay, t{yields}cDD, mediated by the lightest standard model-like Higgs h{sup 0} in a two Higgs doublet model framework. The branching ratio for t{yields}cDD in this case can be as high as 10{sup -3}, after taking into account constraints arising from the D boson relic abundance. With an integrated luminosity of 10(100) fb{sup -1}, the 14 TeV LHC can explore values of this branching ratio that are one (two) order of magnitude smaller in tt production with tt{yields}cbl{sup -}(cbl{sup +})+Ee{sub T}. For a D boson mass < or approx. 60 GeV, m{sub h}{sup 0} < or approx. 2M{sub Z}, 10 fb{sup -1} luminosity and a branching ratio BR(t{yields}cDD){approx}10{sup -4}, the estimated number of signal events at the 14 TeV LHC is of order 80.
Integral operators for parabolic equations and their application

Abstract : It is the purpose of this paper to outline some recent progress that has been made in the construction of integral operators for parabolic equations in one space variable and to indicate some of the possible applications of these operators. Considerable progress has also been made in the area of parabolic equations in two space variables, and the author hopes to provide a survey of these results at a future date.
Interdiffusion in Pt-Containing γ-Ni and γ′-Ni 3 Al Alloys at 1150°C

Ternary interdiffusion coefficients in the γ-Ni and y'-Ni 3 Al phases of the Ni-Al-Pt system at 1150°C were experimentally determined by applying a Boltzmann-Matano method at a common composition in the time-invariant diffusion paths for a given two couples. The variation of the main-term interdiffusion coefficients of Al, ?Ni AlAl , with increasing of Pt content was different for the y and y' phases. In y ?Ni AlAl generally increased with increasing Pt content, but it decreased with increase in Pt in y' phase. By contrast, the main-term coefficients for Pt, ? Ni PtPt apparently increased monotonically with increasing Pt content in both phases, but there was little dependency on Al content. The cross-term interdiffusion coefficients, ? Ni AlPt and ? Ni PtAl , were negative in both y and y', showing that the chemical interaction between Al and Pt in these phases is negative. ? Ni AlPt values were larger than those of ? Ni PtAl ; however, there was no clear dependence of ? Ni AlPt and ? NiPtAl on Pt and Al contents within the composition ranges studied. The cross-term interdiffusion coefficients were comparable to the main-term coefficients in y and within an order of magnitude of each other in y'. The significance of these findings are discussed and quantitatively assessed.
Basic Theory and Clinical Applications of Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry (FC) has become an important component in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with a diverse array of diseases. While the basic principals underlying FC remain relatively unchanged, the technology and array of available reagents have continued to evolve, thus expanding the list of applications in laboratory medicine. This review provides an overview of the basic theory of FC including instrumentation, sample processing, and analysis. Additionally, current and future clinical applications of FC are discussed. Among these, applications of FC in solid organ and hematopoeitic stem-cell transplantation, transfusion medicine, hematopathology, and infectious diseases are presented. Finally, applications employed primarily in clinical research are presented in anticipation of their eventual use in the clinical laboratory setting.
Hot-spot prediction and alleviation in distributed stream processing applications

Many emerging distributed applications require the real-time processing of large amounts of data that are being updated continuously. Distributed stream processing systems offer a scalable and efficient means of in-network processing of such data streams. However, the large scale and the distributed nature of such systems, as well as the fluctuation of their load render it difficult to ensure that distributed stream processing applications meet their Quality of Service demands. We describe a decentralized framework for proactively predicting and alleviating hot-spots in distributed stream processing applications in real-time. We base our hot-spot prediction techniques on statistical forecasting methods, while for hot-spot alleviation we employ a non-disruptive component migration protocol. The experimental evaluation of our techniques, implemented in our Synergy distributed stream processing middleware over PlanetLab, using a real stream processing application operating on real streaming data, demonstrates high prediction accuracy and substantial performance benefits.
Riccia crystallina Verified in North America, North of Mexico

Abstract Previously published accounts of Riccia crystallina in North America, north of Mexico have all been found to represent plants referable to R. cavernosa. This note represents the first verified report of R. crystallina for this geographic region.
Logic programs with intensional functions

The stable model semantics treats a logic program as a mechanism for specifying its intensional predicates. In this paper we discuss a modification of that semantics in which functions, rather than predicates, are intensional. The idea of the new definition comes from nonmonotonic causal logic.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

This chapter examines the clinical and laboratory presentations of the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and describes the clinical and laboratory findings that define an emergency situation in assisted ovarian stimulation. The initial approach to emergency treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation is presented. The differential diagnosis of the syndrome is tabulated, and the importance of distinguishing between the various diagnostic possibilities and its impact on the ongoing management of the condition is emphasized. The pathophysiology of the most common causes of ovarian hyperstimulation is explored in detail.
Policy Climates, Enforcement, and the Differences in the Migratory Behavior of Legal and Illegal Immigrants in the US

Scholars have made a significant effort to understand how temporal variation in federal policy has altered the migratory behavior of immigrants. Little is known about the effect of spatial variation in modern day federal enforcement. The role of subnational policies pertaining to immigration is likewise unclear even as states have become increasingly active in the domain of immigration policy over the past few years. In the paper, we provide empirical evidence on the effect of increased enforcement and negative policy environments on the behavior of documented and undocumented immigrants. We draw on the Mexican Migration Project, government data on federal enforcement obtained from Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Customs and Enforcement and Hero and Preuhs’s (2007) state multiculturalism index. Our findings suggest that higher rates of enforcement and the establishment of negative policy environments do not encourage illegal immigrants to self-deport in at a higher rate than their legal counterparts. Rather, negative policy contexts exaggerate the differences between legal and illegal migrant behavior, with illegal migrants staying longer in such areas.
Socioeconomic and Political Change in Communist Europe

In this article, the author tests an hypothesis central to comparative politics and, increasingly, to the study of communist systems—namely, that political change covaries with socioeconomic changes often called “development” and “modernization.” Nine European communist states are ranked according to their socioeconomic levels and rates of socioeconomic change on the basis of aggregate data for a 20-year period. Five political variables are then tested at an ordinal level for correlation with both socioeconomic measures. Minimal support is found for an hypothesis which would link socioeconomic and political change in communist Europe, although several bivariate relationships are found to be moderately strong (e.g., between the frequency of conflictual events and socioeconomic levels).
Spatially Resolved Local Atomic Structure from Exelfs

EXELFS, extended energy loss fine structure, is one of the spectroscopic techniques provided by electron energy loss spectrometer in the transmission electron microscope. Here, EXELFS is described for its potential use for determining nanoscale physical properties of complex materials. It is demonstrated that EXELFS analysis, like EXAFS, extended X-ray absorption fine structure in bulk materials, provides short-range structural information such as atomic nearest-neighbors and their distances in amorphous an crystalline samples. Some of the problems that hindered the development and wide use of EXELFS were discussed and their solutions are presented. Further solutions and future prospects are discussed.
Methane Leak and Loss Audits of Natural Gas Fueled Compressor

Natural gas reserves within the United States continue to rise. According to the Energy Information Administration, dry natural gas reserves increased by ten percent from 2010 to 2011, while wet natural gas reserves increased by 38% in 2011. Natural gas consumption also increased from 24.09 trillion cubic feet (TCF) to 24.48 TCF over the same period. As the natural gas supply, demand, and industry continue to grow methane losses across the supply chain will be inevitable. Since methane is a potent greenhouse gas, many studies are currently analyzing the loss of methane from the wells to the end user. As natural gas transmission systems grow there must be an increase in natural gas compressor and storage facilities.Currently, there is not a detailed inventory describing the emissions associated with natural gas compressor system engines in terms of the emissions resulting from engine unit losses and leaks. Researchers from West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines, and Emissions (CAFEE) recently conducted methane leak and loss audits at five compressor stations with a special focus placed on the engine and compressor units. These audits focused on identifying and quantifying the leaks and losses associated with the engines and compressor units of a typically operating site. A micro dilution high volume sampling system was used in conjunction with a portable methane analyzer to quantify leaks and losses. Bag samples of exhaust gas and engine operating parameters were used to calculate the methane flow rate from the reciprocating engines and turbines used to operate compressors at these sites. Leaks are defined as unintended methane releases from components not designed to emit methane. Losses are defined as methane releases that are known to exist or exist by design.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Character Development within Youth Development Programs: Exploring Multiple Dimensions of Activity Involvement.

We examined links among three dimensions of youth involvement (intensity, duration, and engagement) in Boy Scouts of America (BSA), an international out-of-school time (OST) youth development program designed to promote moral and performance character in boys. Using data from 737 youth and their parents who participated in one of 40 BSA program sites (commonly referred to as "packs"), we first considered how individual- and pack-level measures of program involvement were differentially linked with character development. Next, we examined whether pack-level involvement characteristics moderate individual-level involvement characteristics, hypothesizing that highly involved packs would serve to further enhance the positive effects of high levels of individual involvement. Results indicated engagement was the strongest, most frequent predictor of increases in both moral and performance character. Although there were no direct effects of pack-level intensity, duration, or engagement, the effects of individual-level engagement were moderated by pack-level engagement, suggesting that the largest increases in moral and performance character occurred among highly engaged youth who were enrolled in highly engaged packs. These results highlight the need to examine multiple dimensions of OST program involvement simultaneously, and suggest that strengthening youth engagement in programming may provide a means for enhancing the positive effects of high-quality youth programming.