cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phospholipase C effect on water, sodium, potassium content and amino acid transport of kidney cortex slices.

SummaryTreatment of rat kidney cortex slices with phospholipase C at high concentrations leads to increased total tissue water, inulin space, reduced a-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) uptake as well as increased efflux. These observations are concluded to represent alterations in permeability characteristics of the slices. Treatment with doses of phospholipase C that cause no alteration in distribution of water or sodium is associated with reduction in potassium content of slices and reduction in AIB accumulation which is not associated with altered efflux. The relationships of the role of phospholipids to renal tubule transport systems for monovalent cations and amino acids are discussed.
Factor analysis of the substance abuse attitude survey with college undergraduates.

Few standardized instruments measure attitudes and beliefs towards substance abuse. The Substance Abuse Attitude Survey, developed for measuring drug attitudes in medical education, was administered to 598 college undergraduates, and a factor analysis was performed. Three coherent and stable factors were identified, e.g., Stereotypes and Moralism, Treatment, and Permissiveness. Internal consistency and 6-wk. test-retest measures indicated moderate to high reliability factor structure. Results are discussed in terms of sample differences between this effort and a previous validation.
Tracking TRALI in target populations

A prospective, case-controlled study in cardiac surgery reveals a high incidence (2.4%) of TRALI despite the introduction of plasma from male donors, indicating a need for additional interventions in susceptible populations.
Continuous nucleolar DNA synthesis after inhibition of mitosis in Physarum polycephalum.

Wird bei einem kunstlich synchronen Plasmodium des MyxomycetenPhysarum polycephalum die Mitose promitotischer Kerne durch deren Verlagerung in postmitotische (=S phase) Zonen des gleichen Plasmodiums verhindert, so behalt die nucleolare DNS, im Gegensatz zur extranukleolaren DNS, weiterhin die Fahigkeit,3H-Thymidin einzubauen. Es wird die Hypothese vorgeschlagen, dass die Synthese der nukleolaren DNS einem anderen Kontrollmechanismus unterliegt als die der extranukleolaren DNS.
The earliest known fully quadrupedal sirenian

Modern seacows (manatees and dugongs; Mammalia, Sirenia) are completely aquatic, with flipperlike forelimbs and no hindlimbs1,2. Here I describe Eocene fossils from Jamaica that represent nearly the entire skeleton of a new genus and species of sirenian—the most primitive for which extensive postcranial remains are known. This animal was fully capable of locomotion on land, with four well-developed legs, a multivertebral sacrum, and a strong sacroiliac articulation that could support the weight of the body out of water as in land mammals. Aquatic adaptations show, however, that it probably spent most of its time in the water. Its intermediate form thus illustrates the evolutionary transition between terrestrial and aquatic life. Similar to contemporary primitive cetaceans3, it probably swam by spinal extension with simultaneous pelvic paddling, unlike later sirenians and cetaceans, which lost the hindlimbs and enlarged the tail to serve as the main propulsive organ. Together with fossils of later sirenians elsewhere in the world1,4,5,6,7, these new specimens document one of the most marked examples of morphological evolution in the vertebrate fossil record.
Dual Phase Separation for Synthesis of Bimodal Meso-/Macroporous Carbon Monoliths

Polymerization-induced spinodal decomposition was conducted in glycolic solutions of phloroglucinol/formaldehyde copolymer and poly(ethylene oxide)−poly(propylene oxide)−poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO−PPO−PEO) to synthesize bicontinuous macroporous morphologies with microdomains from 0.5 to 6 μm. The polymeric materials were further carbonized at elevated temperature to yield bimodal meso-/macroporous carbon monoliths after the thermal decomposition of the PEO−PPO−PEO template. The bimodal porous nature of the resultant carbon monoliths was derived from the dual phase separation in which spinodal decomposition and microphase separation occurred simultaneously. We demonstrated the tunability of macropores without alteration of mesopore sizes.
Unhealthy aggression: intermittent explosive disorder and adverse physical health outcomes.

Objective: To examine the relationship between Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED; a psychiatric diagnosis characterized by episodes of affective aggression) and adverse physical health outcomes. Design: A large epidemiological sample drawn from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiological Surveys (N = 10,366), was used to compare participants with a lifetime diagnosis of IED (n = 929) to those without any history of IED (n = 9,437) on demographic variables (age, education, gender, race) common risk factors (smoking status, body mass index, substance use disorders, past accident or injury requiring treatment, major depression) and the presence of 12 adverse health outcomes. Main Outcome Measures: History of heart attacks, coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, back/neck pain, ulcer, headaches, and other chronic pain. Results: Logistic regression analysis controlling for demographic and other risk factors indicated that IED was associated with 9 of the 12 adverse physical health outcomes (coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, back/neck pain, ulcer, headaches, and other chronic pain). Only cancer, heart attacks, and lung disease were not significantly related to IED. Conclusion: IED may be a risk factor for several significant adverse physical health outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Analysis of a platform for thermal management studies of microelectronics cooling methods

Abstract This study describes the demonstration and analysis of a platform for thermal management studies of microelectronics cooling methods. The platform consists of an aluminum base with a heater cartridge inserted to simulate the microelectronics heat source. Over the last decade, several promising methods for next generation cooling of microelectronics have been proposed and studied using various testing platforms. However, it is difficult to compare results obtained for different platforms. The platform presented in this study is applicable for testing several different cooling methods thereby eliminating the difficulty in comparing results across methods. In this study, the platform is first demonstrated for testing of phase change materials as a cooling method for microelectronics. Then, results obtained from the demonstration guide further analysis of the platform using experimental, analytical and computational approaches. The results of the analysis indicate the applicability of a lumped parameter model for platforms of the type presented in this study. Furthermore, the results quantify the applicability of the zero flux boundary condition often assumed for thermal management studies and also show that, as the area of the insulated portion of the platform increases, the thermal response time increases due to the decrease in the surface area for heat transfer. Finally, overall, the study confirms the utility of the platform for thermal management studies and provides insight into its performance.
MITE VACCINATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF SPIDER MITES IN VINEYARDS

We have successfully released phytophagous Willamette mites into Zinfandel vineyards that have had chronic problems with the economically more damaging Pacific spider mites. These releases induced resistance in the grapevines, causing smaller populations of Pacific mites and higher berry sugar concentrations. This study addresses the sustainability of our techniques. We define a sustainable technique as one that (1) is effective, (2) requires low inputs of resources, (3) is self-perpetuating, (4) produces minimal pollution, (5) produces minimal effects on non-target organisms, and (6) is compatible with other agronomic practices. Most of these criteria are met by our inoculation techniques; here we seek to determine the persistence of Willamette mites from one season to the next, and to evaluate effects of several commonly used agronomic practices on our vaccinations. Our data suggest that Willamette mites can be introduced a single time into a vineyard; they will reduce populations of Pacific mites and persist from year to year in the absence of miticides or other disruptions. We observed Willamette mites overwintering commonly on the grapevines and on box elder (Acer negundo) foliage adjacent to vineyards. Pacific mites were not observed overwintering in vineyards, and we surmise that they generally blow into vineyards during each growing season. We did not observe Willamette mites overwintering on cover crops although other phytophagous mites and predatory mites were found. In preliminary observations, we found no strong effects (positive or negative) associated with cover-cropping in terms of mite management. Vineyards with Pacific mites are often treated with miticides, either dicofol or propargite. We found that dicofol (but not propargite) was extremely disruptive to mite populations; after an initial kill, applications of dicofol were consistently associated with resurgences of mites that exceeded numbers found in unsprayed controls. Unlike applications of miticides, introductions of Willamette mites to control Pacific mites satisfy our criteria for sustainable agriculture. Here we demonstrated that they are self-perpetuating at low numbers from one season to the next. Furthermore, releasing Willamette mites for control of Pacific mites is compatible with some, but not all, management practices.
Evaluation of alternate multimedia for web-based asynchronous learning

Choosing the appropriate multimedia for the learning modules or systems is critical to designing an efficient web-based asynchronous learning systems or modules. In response to this need, a study was conducted to gauge the effectiveness of different multimedia combinations, namely: text; audio and synchronized text; audio, video and synchronized text, for procedural-based tasks to support web-based learning for a senior-level Production, Planning and Control Course. Data were collected on performance, process and subjective measures. Analyses of these learning systems throw new light on the effectiveness of the different multimedia combinations to improve web-based learning of procedural tasks. The most salient finding of the study is that user performance is dependent on the type of multimedia combination and the type of learning task in terms of complexity. Interestingly, for low difficulty procedural tasks, the choice of multimedia is not critical for either performance or process efficiency. However, when the procedural tasks are complex, a combination of audio, video and synchronized text yields the best results both in terms of learning performance and process efficiency measured in terms of amount of time spent viewing the modules and the module accessing frequency. Another important finding is that an easy-to-use system does not imply an efficient learning system. The study helps recommend design guidelines for the most appropriate type of multimedia to be used in designing web-based asynchronous learning systems for different levels of procedural tasks.
Renaissance Historical Fiction: Sidney, Deloney, Nashe

Alex Davis offers two crucial correctives in his study of Renaissance prose fiction and its engagement with history. First, he ably rectifies critical neglect of the “historical orientation of earl...
Blood concentrations and clinical findings following overdose of chlordiazepoxide alone and chlordiazepoxide plus ethanol

Blood concentrations and clinical findings in 25 cases of overdose involving chlordiazepoxide (CDZ) alone ("pure") were compared with those in 23 cases of overdose involving ethanol in addition to CDZ ("mixed"). Both groups consisted predominantly of men who were chronic alcoholics. The mean blood CDZ concentrations did not show statistically significant difference between the two groups ("pure," 5 mg/L; "mixed," 6 mg/L). Following "pure" ingestion, patients were usually alert, and the level of consciousness showed no statistically significant correlation with the blood CDZ concentration. In contrast, after "mixed" ingestion patients were usually lethargic, and the level of consciousness correlated significantly with the blood CDZ concentration (P less than 0.05) but not with the blood ethanol concentration. In neither group was coma noted. For both groups the most common physical findings were tachycardia and dysarthria. Nystagmus was much more common following "mixed" ingestion while seizures, hyperreflexia, and hypertension were more frequent after CDZ overdose alone. Most patients were seen only in the emergency room and were discharged. The implications of these findings are discussed.
On the Relationship Between Deformation-Induced Surface Roughness and Plastic Strain in AA5052—Is it Really Linear?

Three different heat treatments of aluminum alloy AA5052 were subjected to various levels of uniaxial plastic strain. The resulting surfaces were then evaluated using both scanning laser confocal microscopy (SLCM) and stylus profilometry. Three regression approaches were used to assess the quality of a linear and a curvilinear fit for the roughness data as a function of true plastic strain. While there were differences among the regression results, the analyses revealed that a linear model was more statistically appropriate for the finest grain size. As the grain size increased, the surface morphology became more complex and a quadratic model became more suitable. Since the relative area fractions of grain boundary–localized roughness and slip-induced roughness are grain size dependent, the higher order fit between the roughness and plastic strain reflects substantial changes in the ratio of these areas. The differences between the SLCM and profilometry results were attributed to the natural filtering that occurs during contact profilometry. This filtering skewed the roughness data toward the largest surface displacements, thereby reducing the measurement fidelity to the point where the only possible outcome was the linear relationship.
Small oscillations of a viscous incompressible fluid with a large number of small interacting particles in the case of their surface distribution

We study the asymptotic behavior of solutions of the problem that describes small motions of a viscous incompressible fluid filling a domain Ω with a large number of suspended small solid interacting particles concentrated in a small neighborhood of a certain smooth surface Γ ⊂ Ω. We prove that, under certain conditions, the limit of these solutions satisfies the original equations in the domain Ω\Γ and some averaged boundary conditions (conjugation conditions) on Γ.
Congenital achromatopsia; a report of 19 cases.

Studies were made of the visual functions of subjects with complete and incomplete achromatopsia, with particular emphasis on measurements of the rates of dark adaptation in a parafoveal region of the retina and at the fovea. When adequate preadaptation to a high luminance is achieved, the dark-adaptation curves reveal the presence of some form of photopic receptors in addition to the normal scotopic rods. Both types of receptor are present, not only in the paracentral retina, but also at the fovea.
The conversion of protoporphyrin-C14 to heme compounds and bilirubin in dogs.

Abstract C14-labeled protoporphyrin administered intravenously to bile fistula dogs was rapidly converted in part to bilirubin. On the average, 15 per cent of the label appeared in the bile bilirubin, nearly all in the first 24 hours. Labeling of the circulating hemoglobin protoporphyrin was quite small, 1 per cent or less of the administered dose. The pattern of labeling of bilirubin and of hemoglobin proto-after proto-C14- was very similar to that which has been observed after ALA-4-C14. Evidence is presented that nonhemoglobin hemes, especially in the liver, are probably intermediary between the administered protoporphyrin C14 and the labeled bilirubin excreted in the bile, again analogous to what has been observed after ALA-4-C14.
Characterization of Input/Output Bandwidth Performance Models in NUMA Architecture for Data Intensive Applications

Data-intensive applications frequently rely on multicore computer systems, in which Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) is a dominant architecture. To transfer data into and out from these high-performance computers becomes a bottleneck, and thus it is crucial to understand their I/O performance characteristics. However, the complexity in NUMA architecture presents a new challenge in modeling its I/O access cost, and thus lead to difficulties in configuring proper processor and memory affinity. In this paper, we show that existing NUMA experimental methods and metrics are inappropriate on contemporary high-end systems. We characterize a state-of-the-art NUMA host, and propose, to the best of our knowledge, the first methodology to simulate I/O operations using memory semantics, and model the I/O bandwidth performance. Our methodology is thoroughly tested and validated by mapping multiple parallel I/O streams to different sets of hardware components (CPU, memory, network cards, and SSDs) and by measuring the performance of each mapping. The experimental results and analysis reveal that our methodology can dramatically reduce characterization workload, accurately estimate the overall I/O performance, and effectively mitigate resource contention among I/O tasks.
Clinical research histomarkers for objectively estimating premorbid vagal tone chronology in Gulf War Veterans' illnesses and in acute stress reaction

While laboratory techniques for estimating genetic susceptibility for adult psychopathology have received much recent attention, laboratory techniques for objectively estimating a person's early stress related autonomic nervous system perturbations have been under-researched. Biological psychiatric research on heart rate variability suggests that early life episodes of low vagal tone may predict poor stress resilience in adults. This chapter will detail a research technique for retrospectively estimating in adults the chronology of low vagal tone episodes experienced prior to age ten. This technique makes use of the developing enamel matrix, one of very few tissues that cannot recover after being stressed. This is likely to be clinically useful in understanding the etiology of several disorders, especially Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as post-deployment disorders of unclear etiology such as Gulf War Veterans' Illness (GWVI). Finally, our proposed technique may be useful in the research on Acute Stress Reaction, Acute Stress Disorder, and on stress resilience (hardiness) in populations expected to be exposed to high levels of cumulative stress (e.g., special forces and other active duty personnel during deployment).
Structural and biochemical basis for misfolded RNA recognition by the Ro autoantigen

The Ro autoantigen is ring-shaped, binds misfolded noncoding RNAs and is proposed to function in quality control. Here we determine how Ro interacts with misfolded RNAs. Binding of Ro to misfolded precursor (pre)-5S ribosomal RNA requires a single-stranded 3' end and helical elements. As mutating most sequences of the helices and tail results in modest decreases in binding, Ro may be able to associate with a range of RNAs. Ro binds several other RNAs that contain single-stranded tails. A crystal structure of Ro bound to a misfolded pre-5S rRNA fragment reveals that the tail inserts into the cavity, while a helix binds on the surface. Most contacts of Ro with the helix are to the backbone. Mutagenesis reveals that Ro has an extensive RNA-binding surface. We propose that Ro uses this surface to scavenge RNAs that fail to bind their specific RNA-binding proteins.
Chemical treatment of fused silica with xenon difluoride

Abstract The chemical treatment of fused silica and pressed silica pellets with xenon difluoride has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal desorption mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy. The two types of silica were cleaned in oxygen and dehydroxylated prior to fluorination. The experimental results indicate that this process produces a surface in which the silicon atoms are capped by fluorine and a portion of the surface oxygen atoms has been removed. These results are compared with existing literature on thermally grown oxides on silicon and silica gels.
Evidence for increased volume transport of the Florida current in the Pliocène and Pleistocene

Abstract Results from biostratigraphy and sedimentology of five cores from the Yucatan Channel indicate a possible minor increase in current winnowing 3.7 m.y. ago, a large, significant increase in winnowing 3.1 m.y. ago and numerous cycles in winnowing throughout the latest Pliocene and Pleistocene. These episodes correlate with winnowing events on the Blake Plateau and are attributed to increased volume transport of the Florida Current due to closure of the mid-America seaway and glacial cycles of the late Pliocene and Pleistocene Epochs.
Multi-atlas based segmentation of multiple organs in breast MRI

Automatic segmentation of the breast, chest wall and heart is an important pre-processing step for automatic lesion detection of breast MR and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR studies. In this paper, we present a fully automatic segmentation procedure of multiple organs in breast MRI images using multi-atlas based methods. Our method starts by reducing the image inhomogeneity using anisotropic fusion method. We then build multiple atlases with labels of breast, chest wall and heart. These atlases are registered to a target image to obtain warped organ labels that are aligned to the target image. Given the warped organ labels, segmentation is performed via label fusion. In this paper, we evaluate various label fusion methods and compare their performance on segmenting multiple anatomical structures in breast MRI.
Complete storm identification algorithms from big raw rainfall data using MapReduce framework

In our previous work, we described various aspects of our approach in converting big raw rainfall data into meaningful storm concepts. Three concepts were defined: local, hourly, and overall storms. The latter describes overall spatio-temporal characteristics of a storm as it progresses over time. We previously described MapReduce-based algorithms for local and hourly storm identification. Overall storms are the most complex to identify, and are at the core of the storm identification system. Multiple consecutive hourly storms that have spatial overlap are combined to create storm-centric characteristics of the whole storm, which could not be captured in most existing hydrology research. In this paper, we propose a MapReduce-based overall storm identification algorithm, which is based on iteration on MapReduce framework. This greatly improves performance when compared to the depth-first search (DFS) graph traveling approach as introduced in our previous work. In addition, additional essential storm characteristics of hourly and overall storms are introduced in this paper. Examples include storm center concepts for hourly storms and storm track and speed for overall storms.
A noble gas technique for the identification of mantle and crustal materials and its application to the Kuroko deposits

In this paper, we propose to use noble gas abundance patterns and isotopic ratios to distinguish between mantle and crustal origin of different types of geological samples. The Kuroko deposits were selected as our first application. The mantle, the crust, and the atmosphere have different noble gas abundance patterns and isotopic ratios. The relative abundances of He and Ne are high in the mantle. The heavy noble gases-Ar, Kr and Xe-are enriched in seawater and seawater-related products. The 3He/4He and 129Xe/130Xe isotopic ratios are usually higher for the mantle than for the atmosphere and the crust. These properties may be used to distinguish the source of geological samples. In this work, the abundances of Ne, Ar and Xe and the isotopic ratios of Ar and Xe were determined for 18 Kuroko ore samples. The concentrations of Ne, Ar, and Xe in the Kuroko ores are like those of magmatic rocks. The abundance pattern of noble gases in the Kuroko ores parallels that of mantle-derived samples. Distribution coefficients of noble gases were calculated from two submarine diabase samples that equilibrated with seawater. Assuming these solid-liquid distribution coefficients can be applied to Kuroko and other magmatic rocks, we calculated the noble gas concentrations of their hypothetical source fluids. The results were used to compute the relative contributions of magmatic source fluid and seawater to the Kuroko ore-forming fluid. Based on Xe data, the relative contributions of magmatic source and seawater to the Kuroko ore fluid are calculated to be 75% and 25%, respectively.
Molecular Imaging Reveals a Progressive Pulmonary Inflammation in Lower Airways in Ferrets Infected with 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Virus

Molecular imaging has gained attention as a possible approach for the study of the progression of inflammation and disease dynamics. Herein we used [18F]-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]-FDG) as a radiotracer for PET imaging coupled with CT (FDG-PET/CT) to gain insight into the spatiotemporal progression of the inflammatory response of ferrets infected with a clinical isolate of a pandemic influenza virus, H1N1 (H1N1pdm). The thoracic regions of mock- and H1N1pdm-infected ferrets were imaged prior to infection and at 1, 2, 3 and 6 days post-infection (DPI). On 1 DPI, FDG-PET/CT imaging revealed areas of consolidation in the right caudal lobe which corresponded with elevated [18F]-FDG uptake (maximum standardized uptake values (SUVMax), 4.7–7.0). By days 2 and 3, consolidation (CT) and inflammation ([18F]-FDG) appeared in the left caudal lobe. By 6 DPI, CT images showed extensive areas of patchy ground-glass opacities (GGO) and consolidations with the largest lesions having high SUVMax (6.0–7.6). Viral shedding and replication were detected in most nasal, throat and rectal swabs and nasal turbinates and lungs on 1, 2 and 3 DPI, but not on day 7, respectively. In conclusion, molecular imaging of infected ferrets revealed a progressive consolidation on CT with corresponding [18F]-FDG uptake. Strong positive correlations were measured between SUVMax and bronchiolitis-related pathologic scoring (Spearman’s ρ = 0.75). Importantly, the extensive areas of patchy GGO and consolidation seen on CT in the ferret model at 6 DPI are similar to that reported for human H1N1pdm infections. In summary, these first molecular imaging studies of lower respiratory infection with H1N1pdm show that FDG-PET can give insight into the spatiotemporal progression of the inflammation in real-time.
Agricultural development and institutional innovation: A view of early Japan

Agriculture’s role in economic development has been a much debated topic. Historically, agricultural revolutions have played an important role in explaining the industrial revolution in Europe and, in particular, England. In terms of today’s developing countries, agriculture is thought to be a prime source of savings, food, and foreign exchange necessary for the expansion of manufacturing.l Others have stressed this sector’s role as a market for manufactured goods. * Finally, since the bulk of poor people in developing countries earn their living in agriculture, productivity increases here are thought to be the key to dramatically reducing poverty. Agricultural productivity has, however, lagged in many areas of the world and for much of human history. Given that it is generally assumed that poor farmers would like to have more, higher incomes, one must wonder what is it that holds back agricultural productivity. Of course, the lack of adequate natural resources (fertile soil, etc.) is certainly part of the answer, but it would seem that an institutional environment conducive to rapid productivity growth also seems to be missing. From a historical point of view, in certain parts of Europe agricultural revolutions failed to occur as the institutional environment posed obstacles to the elimination of feudal relationships.3 In today’s developing countries there are many instances of stagnant agricultural sectors. This stagnation is not due to the unavailability of new technologies, since high-yielding varieties and techniques are now commonplace.4 However, many countries have failed to make the investments necessary to operationalize the technology. There would again seem to be a problem with the institutional environment . Economists have increasingly become concerned with analyzing the process of institutional innovation or change .5 However, until recently much of this literature has tended to conclude that inefficient (growth-blocking) institutions cannot persist over long periods of time .6 Thus, the invisible hand appears within a new context. In this article these new theories of institutional innovation are reviewed and critiqued.
A spectrophotometric study of the acidity of some solid acids

Weakly basic Hammett and HR indicators were used to characterize the strongest sites of some solid acids. A spectrophotometric method was devised because it was demonstrated that conclusions reached by observing color changes can be very misleading. The method provided a means to measure the amounts of indicator adsorbed and the rates and efficiency of the adsorption. The data suggested that adsorption equilibrium with all of the surface cannot be achieved and that in some cases the pore mouths of zeolites become blocked by irreversibly adsorbed molecules. Nevertheless the results obtained ranked the catalysts correctly in order of increasing acidity as judged by catalytic measurements. The strongest acid found was an H-mordenite showing sites with Ho < −12.4. Some of the problems encountered in making meaningful acidity measurements and in their interpretation are discussed.
Therapeutic strategies using monoclonal antibodies in autoimmune disease.

Drug-induced broad-scope immunosuppression is the current treatment of autoimmunity. These agents render the patient vulnerable to neoplasia and infections. To avoid these complications, we need to design more speciIic therapies that selectively eliminate the undesired pathogenic self-responses, while leaving required irnmune functions intact. This is a complex problem. The etiology of autoimmunity is multifactorial. We now appreciate that permissive major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked genes, cytokine defects, and autoreactive T cells are probably all required to promote autoimmune clones. Therefore, an ideal strategy to halt an undesired, autoimmune response would be to block the presenta tion of a speciftc antigen, repair the cytokine defect or specifically target autoreactive T and B cell clones via their unique antigen receptors. Such therapeutic approaches are impractical since: (1) the number of possible ini tiating antigens is enormous and unidentified; (2) the cytokine defects are undefined; and (3) the number of possible cell receptor targets are unknown.
Comparing barrier algorithms

A barrier is a method for synchronizing a large number of concurrent computer processes. After considering some basic synchronization mechanisms, a collection of barrier algorithms with either linear or logarithmic depth are presented. A graphical model is described that profiles the execution of the barriers and other parallel programming constructs. This model shows how the interaction between the barrier algorithms and the work that they synchronize can impact their performance. One result is that logarithmic tree structured barriers show good performance when synchronizing fixed length work, while linear self-scheduled barriers show better performance when synchronizing fixed length work with an imbedded critical section. The linear barriers are better able to exploit the process skew associated with critical sections. Timing experiments, performed on an eighteen processor Flex/32 shared memory multiprocessor that support these conclusions, are detailed.
Perceptual distinctness and long-distance laryngeal restrictions*

In this paper, I present an analysis of the typology of laryngeal co-occurrence restrictions based on contrast markedness. The key ingredient of the analysis, for which I provide experimental support, is that laryngeal co-occurrence phenomena reflect a preference for maximising the perceptual distinctness of contrasts between words (Flemming 1995, 2004). An AX discrimination task finds that the contrast between an ejective and a plain stop is less accurately perceived in the context of another ejective in the word than in the context of another plain stop in the word. Pairs of words like [k'ap'i] and [k'api], which contrast 2 vs. 1 ejectives, are less reliably distinguished than pairs of words like [kap'i] and [kapi], which contrast 1 vs. 0 ejectives. The unifying factor of all laryngeal co-occurrence patterns is the neutralisation of the contrast between words with one and two laryngeally marked segments, exactly the contrast that is shown to be relatively perceptually weak.
Analytic Modeling of Impermeable and Resistant Barriers

Superpositioned analytic functions are used to efficiently and accurately model ground-water flow fields containing thin barriers such as slurry walls and sheet-pile walls. Barriers are modeled as a series of straight-line segments strung together to create irregularly shaped open or closed boundaries with zero thickness. The complex analytic functions employed provide perfect continuity of flow across the boundary while approximating normal flux boundary conditions along the boundary. Along an impermeable boundary the normal flux is specified as zero, and along a resistant (leaky) barrier the normal flux is proportional to a specified resistance parameter and the potential difference across the boundary. Solution of a given flow problem requires solving a system of equations with one equation per boundary corner. These equations are linear for impermeable boundaries and for resistant boundaries in confined aquifers or single-strata unconfined aquifers. In other cases, the boundary condition equations associated with resistant barriers can be nonlinear and a new technique for iterative solution is employed. Implementation of these techniques in a computer program is tested and it is demonstrated by modeling various configurations of flow funneled into a gap between two barriers.
The Development and Validation of the Educational Attitudes Inventory

Fifty-six items describing various aspects of the educational process were rated by 290 teachers and subsequently subjected to a factor analysis. The four scales derived through this procedure were combined to form the Educational Attitudes Inventory, a 35-item, self-report instrument. Scales labeled Affective and Cognitive assess commitment to emotional development and inductive learning, respectively. The Directive Scale assesses attitudes toward authority and control in the classroom, whereas the Interpretive Scale focuses on relevancy in learning. Construct validity and split-half reliabilities are reported for the scales.
The Intermodal Representation of Speech in Infants

Infants' abilities to detect auditory-visual correspondences for speech were tested in two experiments. Infants were shown two visual images side-by-side of a talker articulating, in synchrony, two different vowel sounds, while a sound matching one of the two vowels was auditorially presented. Infants' visual fixations to the two faces were video-recorded and scored by an independent observer who could neither see the faces nor hear the sounds. The results of Experiment 1 showed that the auditory stimulus systematically influenced infants' visual fixations. In- fants looked longer at the face that matched the sound. In Experiment 2, the same visual stimuli were presented, but the auditory stimuli were altered so as to remove the spectral information contained in the vowels while preserving their temporal characteristics. Performance fell to chance. Taken together, the experiments suggest that infants recognize the correspondences between speech information presented auditorially and visually, and moreover, that this correspondence is based on the spectral information contained in the speech sounds. This suggests that infants represent speech information intermodally.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of BaWO4 and Ba2CaWO6

Abstract XPS reference spectra for Ba 2 CaWO 6 and BaWO 4 are presented, including high resolution spectra of the Ba 3d, W 4f, C 1s, Ca 2p, and O 1s lines. The peak locations and full widths at half maximum are also given. The binding energies of the Ba 3d and W 4f lines are 0.7 eV higher for BaWO 4 than for Ba 2 CaWO 6 . The Ca 2p spectrum contains two sets of Ca 2p doublets that were attributed to Ba 2 CaWO 6 and CaCO 3 .
A microcomputer interface for applications requiring large numbers of subjects

While most small microcomputers are powerful enough to control intricate experiments, a major limitation of many is their limited I/O capability. An interface for the KIM-1 or similar small microcomputer is described that provides for up to 128 or more inputs. The basic components of the interface are a series of shift registers through which the incoming data are manipulated and read by the microcomputer. Provisions are also made to latch the incoming data, allowing detection of very high rates of or even simultaneous data input. The interface is modular in design and can be expanded by increments of eight inputs. Use of the system to monitor a large number of running wheels is discussed.
Mildred S. Seelig, M.D., MPH, MACN (1920-2005).

Mildred Sylvia Seelig was born in New York City August 20, 1920 to Boris and Clara Glassman. Her parents were from the Ukraine. Her father had immigrated to New York prior to World War I, while her...
Parameter estimation of unknown air exchange rates and effective mixing volumes from tracer gas measurements for complex multi-zone indoor air models

Abstract The steepest descent and simulated annealing optimization techniques are used to simultaneously estimate the effective mixing volumes and air exchange rates of a large partitionless building exhibiting heterogeneous spatial air flow conditions. The optimization is conducted using varying quantities and qualities of simulated tracer gas measurements. A simulated three-compartment system is numerically investigated to assess the performance of the parameter estimation methods. When simulated tracer gases are released in each zone, both techniques estimate actual parameter values within 10–35 percent. When tracers are released in selected zones, reasonable estimates were obtained for those zones in which a simulated gas was released, but significant errors are evident for the non-release zones.
The responses of soil and rhizosphere respiration to simulated climatic changes vary by season

Responses of soil respiration (Rs) to anthropogenic climate change will affect terrestrial carbon storage and, thus, feed back to warming. To provide insight into how warming and changes in precipitation regimes affect the rate and temperature sensitivity of Rs and rhizosphere respiration (Rr) across the year, we subjected a New England old-field ecosystem to four levels of warming and three levels of precipitation (ambient, drought, and wet treatments). We measured Rs and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) monthly (in areas of the plots with and without plants, respectively) and estimated Rr by calculating the difference in respiration between Rs and Rh. Even in this mesic ecosystem, Rs and Rr responded strongly to the precipitation treatments. Drought reduced Rs and Rr, both annually and during the growing season. Annual cumulative Rs responded nonlinearly to precipitation treatments; both drought and supplemental precipitation suppressed Rs compared to the ambient treatment. Warming increased Rs and Rr in ...
Perceptions Seeking Consciousness: A Developmental Model for Interpreting the Origins of Reality

Abstract A repertoire of developmental capacities facilitates the infant's understanding of reality, including: categorization, amodal perception, effectance motivation, attachment behavior, primary and secondary processes. A newly described developmental phenomenon—previewing is the strategy by which the caregiver introduces the infant to upcoming developmental skill and the interpersonal implications this skill will have for the dyadic relationship. Through previewing, the infant comes to understand that seemingly uncontrollable developmental changes as well as changes in subjective perception can be mastered. Because it is derived from early life experience, previewing may also contribute to our understanding of perceptions of adults. This paper discusses the developmental proclivities that characterize the perception of reality.
Population-Based Analysis of Invasive Nontypeable Pneumococci Reveals That Most Have Defective Capsule Synthesis Genes

Since nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococcus precedes invasive pneumococcal disease, characteristics of carriage isolates could be incorrectly assumed to reflect those of invasive isolates. While most pneumococci express a capsular polysaccharide, nontypeable pneumococci are sometimes isolated. Carriage nontypeables tend to encode novel surface proteins in place of a capsular polysaccharide synthetic locus, the cps locus. In contrast, capsular polysaccharide is believed to be indispensable for invasive pneumococcal disease, and nontypeables from population-based invasive pneumococcal disease surveillance have not been extensively characterized. We received 14,328 invasive pneumococcal isolates through the Active Bacterial Core surveillance program during 2006–2009. Isolates that were nontypeable by Quellung serotyping were characterized by PCR serotyping, sequence analyses of the cps locus, and multilocus sequence typing. Eighty-eight isolates were Quellung-nontypeable (0.61%). Of these, 79 (89.8%) contained cps loci. Twenty-two nontypeables exhibited serotype 8 cps loci with defects, primarily within wchA. Six of the remaining nine isolates contained previously-described aliB homologs in place of cps loci. Multilocus sequence typing revealed that most nontypeables that lacked capsular biosynthetic genes were related to established non-encapsulated lineages. Thus, invasive pneumococcal disease caused by nontypeable pneumococcus remains rare in the United States, and while carriage nontypeables lacking cps loci are frequently isolated, such nontypeable are extremely rare in invasive pneumococcal disease. Most invasive nontypeable pneumococci possess defective cps locus genes, with an over-representation of defective serotype 8 cps variants.
High-efficiency pulsed laser transmitters for deep-space communication

Highly efficient laser sources are required for deep space optical telecommunication. This paper investigates the efficiency components for pulsed diode pumped solid state laser transmitters and determines the overall wall-plug efficiency applicable to a space-borne system. Thermal control of the pump diodes is critical to achieving optimum photon efficiency. Hence, a thermal model involving either a thermo-electric cooler or loop heat pipes is applied to the efficiency calculations. The electro-optical conversion efficiency for an optimized bulk design is expected to be up to 28% with the overall wall-plug efficiency being in the 12 - 16% range depending on the radiator temperature. A fiber based master-oscillator power-amplifier design is also investigated with passively cooled pumped diodes and promises high efficiency operation. Preliminary results from an evaluation model are also discussed.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Adaptive tunable laser spectrometer for space applications

An architecture and process for the rapid prototyping and subsequent development of an adaptive tunable laser absorption spectrometer (TLS) are described. Our digital hardware/firmware/software platform is both reconfigurable at design time as well as autonomously adaptive in real-time for both post-integration and post-launch situations. The design expands the range of viable target environments and enhances tunable laser spectrometer performance in extreme and even unpredictable environments. Through rapid prototyping with a commercial RTOS/FPGA platform, we have implemented a fully operational tunable laser spectrometer (using a highly sensitive second harmonic technique). With this prototype, we have demonstrated autonomous real-time adaptivity in the lab with simulated extreme environments.
Nonparametric estimation of spatial distributions

The indicator approach, whereby the data are used through their rank order, allows a nonparametric approach to the data bivariate distribution. Such rich structural information allows a nonparametric risk-qualified, estimation of local and global spatial distributions.
Enhancing multi-disciplinary collaboration through semantically rich representation

The growing complexity of the built environment requires increased professional specialization to master each one of the many issues involved in designing buildings. This specialization is transforming the construction process into a highly de-centralized operation, involving an ever-growing number of collaborating professionals. Habitual modes of collaboration among the participating professionals suffer from low-grade communication, leading to misunderstanding and resulting in design and construction errors, cost and schedule overruns, and ultimately, dissatisfaction of the users with the performance of the finished products. This paper explores the roots of misunderstanding in multi-disciplinary design and presents a solution based on explicit representation of reference and frame-of-reference through three connected databases and a set of inference tools.
Effect partitioning under interference in two-stage randomized vaccine trials

In the presence of interference, the exposure of one individual may affect the outcomes of others. We provide new effect partitioning results under interferences that express the overall effect as a sum of (i) the indirect (or spillover) effect and (ii) a contrast between two direct effects.
Thermocouples from Electrodeposited Submicrometer Wires Prepared by Electrochemical Step Edge Decoration

We describe the preparation of three types of silver/nickel thermocouples (TCs) based upon electrodeposited wires with diameters at, or just below, 1.0 μm: Type 1—wire/thin film TCs consisting of an electrodeposited submicrometer diameter wire and an evaporated metal thin film; Type 2—wire-wire TCs consisting of end-butted and electrochemically welded silver and nickel submicrometer wires; Type 3—wire-wire TCs for which the silver wires were electrochemically etched prior to the electrodeposition of the nickel wires. The metal wires in all devices were prepared using the electrochemical step edge decoration method. The properties of these TCs for measuring temperature in the range from ambient to 110 °C were evaluated. Output voltage, VTC, versus temperature was linear for these devices yielding Seebeck coefficients of 19-22 μV/°C—within 95% of the expected bulk value. Temperature excursions across a 90 °C range caused no measurable hysteresis in VTC for these devices. All three types of devices retained ...