cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wide Binaries: Probes of The Galaxy’s Dark Matter Content

Photometric parallaxes derived from B, V, R, I photometry of wide binaries with white dwarf components were used to set a firm lower limit to the age of the Galactic disk (see Oswalt et al. 1996 and the article by Wood elsewhere in these proceedings). Here we show the distribution of projected semi-major axes derived from new B, V, R, I data for over 200 wide pairs. Like clusters, wide binaries are gradually disrupted, primarily by the gentle but cumulative effects of encounters with the denser parts of giant molecular clouds (see Wasserman & Wienberg 1991 for a review). A sharp cut-off in semi-major axes > 0.1 pc was one of the predictions of competing models. Wood & Oswalt (1992) showed that additional orbital expansion occurs in wide pairs which have experienced isotropic post-MS mass loss. Can we see the signatures of these events in the wide binary sample?
On the Detection of Heavy Primaries Above 1014 eV

Knowledge of the chemical composition is fundamental to understanding the origin, acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays. At energies much above 1014 eV, however, the detection of single primary cosmic rays is at present impossible because of their low flux, and the only source of information is from the cascades initiated by energetic primary particles in the atmosphere--the extensive air showers (EAS). A similar situation exists for the study of hadronic interactions above 1015 eV. A recent EAS experiment (Goodman et al., 1979) suggests the possibility that the spectrum becomes increasingly rich in heavy nuclei as the total energy per nucleus approaches 1015 eV. Above that energy the overall spectrum steepens and the question of composition is almost completely open.
National survey of psychologists' training and practice in breaking bad news: a mixed methods study of the MUM effect.

Research on breaking bad news has involved undergraduates, medical students, and physicians. However, to date, no studies have examined how, or whether, psychologists are trained to break bad news, as well as their current practice of breaking bad news. This mixed methods study explored the training and practice of 329 licensed psychologists/APA members in breaking bad news, using the MUM effect as a theoretical backdrop. Results suggest (1) psychologists are, as hypothesized, significantly more reluctant to break bad news than good news, (2) anxiety accounts for 30.6% of the variance in their reluctance, and (3) three-out-of-four psychologists break bad news “to some extent” or more, most typically related to a patient’s psychological health, major Axis I diagnosis, or learning disability. Results also suggest most psychologists are not trained to break bad news, with only 2.7% being familiar with existing recommendations and guidelines; and anxiety, concerns for self/other, context, and norms play an important role in the bad news breaking process. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed and a training model is proposed.
Public Organization Environments: Constituents, Clients, and Urban Governance

Analytic confusion between the concepts "organizational constituent" and "organizational client " has prevented students of public administration from fully understanding one of the fundamental nor...
Toxicity Evaluation of a Conservation Effects Assessment Program Watershed, Beasley Lake, in the Mississippi Delta, USA

Beasley Lake was assessed monthly in 2005 for biological impairment from 17 historic and current-use pesticides in water and leaf litter using Hyalella azteca (Saussure). Sixteen pesticides were detected in both water and leaf litter with peak detections in spring and summer. Detections ranged from 1–125 ng L−1 in water and 1–539 ng g−1 OC in leaf litter. Ten-day H. azteca survival and growth (mg dw) bioassay results indicated no adverse effects on survival or growth in H. azteca exposed to water or leaf litter. Rather, enhanced growth occurred in both lake water and leaf litter exposures for 8 and 6 months, respectively.
Dynamic analysis of finitely stretched and rotated three-dimensional space-curved beams

Abstract The problem of transient dynamics of highly flexible three-dimensional space-curved beams, undergoing large rotations and stretches, is treated. The case of conservative force loading, which may also lead to configuration-dependent moments on the beam, is considered. Using the three parameters associated with a conformal rotation vector representation of finite rotations, a well-defined Hamilton functional is established for the flexible beam undergoing finite rotations and stretches. This is shown to lead to a symmetric tangent stiffness matrix at all times. In the present total Langrangian description of motion, the mass-matrix of a finite element depends linearly on the linear accelerations, but nonlinearly on the rotation parameters and attendant accelerations; the stiffness matrix depends nonlinearly on the deformation; and an ‘apparent’ damping matrix depends nonlinearly on the rotations and attendant velocities. A Newmark time-integration scheme is used to integrate the semi-discrete finite element equations in time. Several examples of transient dynamic response of highly flexible beam-like structures, including those in free flight, are presented to illustrate the validity of the theoretical methodology developed in this paper.
Improving System Predictability and Performance via Hardware Accelerated Data Structures

In Dynamic Data-Driven Application Systems, applications must dynamically adapt their behavior in response to objectives and conditions that change while deployed. One approach to achieve dynamic adaptation is to o er middleware that facilitates component migration between modalities in response to such dynamic changes. The triggering, planning, and cost evaluation of adaptation takes place within a scheduler. Scheduling overhead is a major limiting factor for implementing dynamic scheduling algorithms with high frequency timer-tick resolution in real time systems. In this paper, we present a scalable hardware scheduler architecture for real time systems that reduces processing overhead and improves timing predictability of the scheduler. A new hardware priority queue design is presented, which supports insertions in constant time, and removals in O(logn) time. The hardware scheduler supports three (Rate Monotonic Scheduling (RMS), Earliest Deadline First (EDF), and priority based) scheduling algorithms, which can be configured during run-time. The interface to the scheduler is provided through a set of custom instructions as an extension to the processors instruction set architecture. We also report on our experience migrating between two implementations of an ordered-set implementation, with the goal of providing predictable performance for real-time applications.
Adoptive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: Requirement for macrophages in activation of spleen cells in vitro by concanavalin A or myelin basic protein

Abstract Adoptive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats is markedly enhanced when sensitized spleen cells are incubated in vitro with either concanavalin A (Con A) or myelin basic protein (MBP). This phenomenon permits more detailed analysis of the inductive phase of EAE than has heretofore been possible. We have now demonstrated that macrophages are essential for the process to occur, and that they probably act by different means depending on whether activation is carried out with the mitogen or the specific antigen. Depletion of macrophages by passage through G-10 Sephadex columns prevented activation of spleen cells by either Con A or MBP. The effect of Con A could be partially restored with 2-mercaptoethanol, while activation by MBP could not. Reconstitution of macrophage-depleted cultures with peritoneal exudate cells from either immune or normal rats fully restored activation by both Con A and MBP. Supernatants taken from spleen cell cultures were unable to restore the transfer activity of macrophage-depleted cells, indicating that activation probably is not mediated by a soluble factor released by macrophages. Depletion of macrophages after incubation with Con A slightly reduced transfer activity, but depletion after incubation with MBP abolished it. Thus the mechanisms of activation appear to differ in the two systems, and in the case of MBP the macrophage-mediated portion of the process may be incomplete prior to adoptive transfer.
Bank Loans, Self-Financing, and Grants in Chinese SOEs: Optimal Policy under Incomplete Information

Abstract This paper offers a model of the allocation of fund in Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOE) and provides an empirical test of the theory using firm-level data. The paper explains why bank loans and grants coexist with self-financing, which SOEs take out loans, and why subsidies on loan interest payments exist. The model is based on heterogeneous SOEs, asymmetric information, sales taxes, and quota requirements. The results show that reforms of enterprise finance must come as a package, suggesting that the interlocking nature of reform measures should be considered in deciding the direction of further policy modification. J. Comp. Econom., April 1997, 24 (2), pp. 140–160. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.
Centrifugal oscillator as a self-consistent model for treating bending anharmonicities in nearly linear triatomic complexes

Abstract A disadvantage of the approach describing overall rotations of a nearly linear molecular system using a rotating frame with two “loose” axes is that out-of-line vibrations degenerate in the harmonic approximation are strongly coupled through anharmonic bending terms in the potential. For triatomic systems one can overcome this difficulty by directing one of the rotating axes perpendicular to the plane of the triatom. Use of the “least-squares” body-fixed frame based on a linear rigid model, a collinear reaction path or Carrington-Miller's collinear reaction surface leads us then to the Schrodinger equation for the rotating 1-D centrifugal oscillator respectively in the neighborhood of the saddle point, along the reaction path or in any nearly linear configuration. This makes the “least-squares surface” set of coordinates applicable to both generalized transition-state theory of Garrett and Truhlar and bending-corrected rotating linear model of Walker and Hayes.
Bioactive glass coatings affect the behavior of osteoblast-like cells

Abstract Functionally graded coatings (FGCs) of bioactive glass on titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) were fabricated by the enameling technique. These innovative coatings may be an alternative to plasma-sprayed, hydroxyapatite-coated implants. Previously we determined that a preconditioning treatment in simulated body fluid (SBF) helped to stabilize FGCs [Foppiano S et al. Acta Biomater 2006;2(2):133–42]. The primary goal of this work was to assess the in vitro cytocompatibility of preconditioned FGCs with MC3T3-E1.4 mouse pre-osteoblastic cells. We evaluated cell adhesion, proliferation and mineralization on FGCs in comparison to uncoated Ti6Al4V and tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). No difference in cell adhesion was identified, whereas proliferation was significantly different on all materials, being highest on FGCs followed by TCPS and Ti6Al4V. Qualitative and quantitative mineralization assays indicated that mineralization occurred on all materials. The amount of inorganic phosphate released by the mineralizing layers was significantly different, being highest on TCPS, followed by FGC and uncoated Ti6Al4V. The secondary objective of this work was to assess the ability of the FGCs to affect gene expression, indirectly, by means of their dissolution products, which was assessed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The FGC dissolution products induced a 2-fold increase in the expression of Runx-2, and a 20% decrease in the expression of collagen type 1 with respect to TCPS extract. These genes are regulators of osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that preconditioned FGCs are cytocompatible and suggest that future work may allow composition changes to induce preferred gene expression.
Adaptivity and approximation for stochastic packing problems

We study stochastic variants of Packing Integer Programs (PIP) --- the problems of finding a maximum-value 0/1 vector x satisfying Ax ≤ b, with A and b nonnegative. Many combinatorial problems belong to this broad class, including the knapsack problem, maximum clique, stable set, matching, hypergraph matching (a.k.a. set packing), b-matching, and others. PIP can also be seen as a "multidimensional" knapsack problem where we wish to pack a maximum-value collection of items with vector-valued sizes. In our stochastic setting, the vector-valued sizes of each item is known to us apriori only as a probability distribution, and the size of an item is instantiated once we commit to including the item in our solution.Following the framework of [3], we consider both adaptive and non-adaptive policies for solving such problems, adaptive policies having the flexibility of being able to make decisions based on the instantiated sizes of items already included in the solution. We investigate the adaptivity gap for these problems: the maximum ratio between the expected values achieved by optimal adaptive and non-adaptive policies. We show tight bounds on the adaptivity gap for set packing and b-matching, and we also show how to find efficiently non-adaptive policies approximating the adaptive optimum. For instance, we can approximate the adaptive optimum for stochastic set packing to within O(d1/2), which is not only optimal with respect to the adaptivity gap, but it is also the best known approximation factor in the deterministic case. It is known that there is no polynomial-time d1/2-e approximation for set packing, unless NP = ZPP. Similarly, for b-matching, we obtain algorithmically a tight bound on the adaptivity gap of O(λ) where λ satisfies Σ λbj+1 = 1.For general Stochastic Packing, we prove that a simple greedy algorithm provides an O(d)-approximation to the adaptive optimum. For A ∈ [0, 1]dxn, we provide an O(λ) approximation where Σ 1/λbj = 1. (For b = (B, B,..., B), we get λ = d1/B.) We also improve the hardness results for deterministic PIP: in the general case, we prove that a polynomial-time d1-e-approximation algorithm would imply NP = ZPP. In the special case when A ∈ [0,1]dxn and b = (B,B,...,B), we show that a d1/B-∈-approximation would imply NP = ZPP. Finally, we prove that it is PSPACE-hard to find the optimal adaptive policy for Stochastic Packing in any fixed dimension d ≥ 2.
TRESOR-HUNT: attacking CPU-bound encryption

Hard disk encryption is known to be vulnerable to a number of attacks that aim to directly extract cryptographic key material from system memory. Several approaches to preventing this class of attacks have been proposed, including Tresor [18] and LoopAmnesia [25]. The common goal of these systems is to confine the encryption key and encryption process itself to the CPU, such that sensitive key material is never released into system memory where it could be accessed by a DMA attack.In this work, we demonstrate that these systems are nevertheless vulnerable to such DMA attacks. Our attack, which we call Tresor-Hunt, relies on the insight that DMA-capable adversaries are not restricted to simply reading physical memory, but can write arbitrary values to memory as well. Tresor-Hunt leverages this insight to inject a ring 0 attack payload that extracts disk encryption keys from the CPU into the target system's memory, from which it can be retrieved using a normal DMA transfer.Our implementation of this attack demonstrates that it can be constructed in a reliable and OS-independent manner that is applicable to any CPU-bound encryption technique, IA32-based system, and DMA-capable peripheral bus. Furthermore, it does not crash the target system or otherwise significantly compromise its integrity. Our evaluation supports the OS-independent nature of the attack, as well as its feasibility in real-world scenarios. Finally, we discuss several countermeasures that might be adopted to mitigate this attack and render CPU-bound encryption systems viable.
Undergraduate industrial marketing: Content and methods

Abstract Business marketing is taking a more prominent place in marketing education. Faculty members unfamiliar with business marketing may need to develop and teach business marketing courses. We provide the background information and suggest the resources needed for such a course at the undergraduate level. First, we address the growing importance of business marketing education and the nature of the students as a business product. Next, we discuss our perspectives on course philosophy, goals, and topical coverage. Subsequently, we review the use of pedagogical tools, including the role of the textbook, casebook, reading book, and the secondary sources of business information. Finally, our general thoughts for course execution are presented. Our purpose is to promote further dialogue concerning the development of this important area of undergraduate marketing study.
Hot Hardness of Selected Borides, Oxides, and Carbides to 1900°C

The hot hardness of TiB2, W2B5, ZrB2, HfB2, ZrO2, Al2O3, NbC, Tic, TaC1-x, HfG1+x, (Ta0.8Hf0.2)C1+x, W2C, and (W0.65Cr0.14Re0.14Ta0.07)2C of <95% density was determined to temperatures approaching 1900°C. In all cases, the hardness decreased rapidly with increasing temperature. The data are compared to those available in the literature.
INTERMEDIATE-AGE CLUSTERS IN A FIELD CONTAINING M31 AND M32 STARS

Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys fields toward M31 and M32 were examined for the presence of possible star clusters. On the basis of stellar photometry, two intermediate-age clusters were found in the field that contains both M31 and M32 stars. One is approximately 200 Myr of age with a mass {approx}400 M {sub sun}, and the other is 1 Gyr old with mass {approx}8 x 10{sup 4} M {sub sun}. Several other cluster candidates are identified, but their stellar populations are more similar to the field: old and slightly metal-poor.
3DP process for fine mesh structure printing

Three dimensional printing (3DP) is a unique technique for creating complex shapes. However, printing feature sizes at less than 500 μm with high integrity and intricate structures have not been possible. In this study, TiNiHf shape memory alloy (SMA) powder was printed into 3D mesh structures of 300 μm wire width. Effects of printing layer thickness and binder saturation level on the integrity and dimensional accuracy of the 3D mesh structures were evaluated. 35 μm printing layer thickness and 170% binder saturation level offer the highest mesh structure integrity. Also, 35 μm printing layer thickness results in the smallest dimensional deviation from the designed 200 μm mesh width with the smallest standard deviation. Overall, 35 μm printing layer thickness and 170% binder saturation level are the most preferred printing condition for the designed 3D mesh structure.
The necessity argument

Jerrold Katz and Paul Postal (this issue) present three positive arguments for their 'Realist', non-psychological conception of linguistics. One of these, the Necessity Argument, is based on considerations that are special to semantics. Unfortunately, the version of the argument given in the text is flawed, and can be quite misleading. Although there is a modified version of the argument for which a qualified measure of success can be claimed, its significance for advancing 'Realism' and undermining 'Con ceptualism' seems to me to be highly restricted. Moreover, getting clear about what is, and what is not, established by this argument is useful in illustrating that there are defensible conceptions of linguistics which do not fit neatly into either the category of Chomskian Conceptualism or that of Katz-Postal Realism. The Necessity Argument given in the text by Katz and Postal is based on the observation that a semantic theory for a natural language must issue in claims of the sort illustrated by (1) and (2).
London Bridge: Late 20th Century British Art and the Routes of ‘National Culture’

(2013). London Bridge: Late 20th Century British Art and the Routes of ‘National Culture’. Critical Interventions: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 91-105.
Variables affecting endodontic recall.

Aim To determine the recall rate in an endodontic practice and to evaluate specified variables as to their effect on the rate of patients returning for recall. Methodology The records of 7105 patients treated by one endodontist between 1975 and 1998 were reviewed. Recorded variables included chart number, patient gender and age, treated tooth number, pulp status, presence of spontaneous pain at initial visit, history of trauma to treated tooth, previous root canal treatment in the treated tooth, and presence of endodontic recall. Results The recall rate was 49% for the 5641 patients who completed endodontic treatment. Odds ratio analysis showed that females returned for recall at a rate that was significantly higher than males (52% vs. 44%). Odds ratio and chi square analysis revealed that a diagnosis of pulp necrosis or previous root filling resulted in a higher than expected recall rate while a diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis resulted in a lower than expected recall rate (p < 0.001). Patients aged 6–40 years of age returned at a lower rate than expected and those aged 41–80 returned at a higher rate than expected (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in recall rate for patients reporting spontaneous pain or history of trauma with the treated tooth. The type of treated tooth had no effect on patient recall rate. Conclusions Forty-nine per cent of patients returned for recall after a minimum of 6 months with patient age, patient gender and pulp status affecting the rate of recall significantly.
Integrated seismic-electromagnetic workflow for sub-basalt exploration in northwest Saudi Arabia

A project involving magnetotellurics, shallow EM and gravity acquisition was carried out in northwest Saudi Arabia to improve the imaging of a basalt-covered section of the Al Jawf graben where seismic is particularly noisy. The Al Jawf graben extends from Jordan to Saudi Arabia. Mesozoic and Paleozoic sections contained within the structure have the potential to host multiple oil reservoirs. The lack of reliable seismic data in this area motivated the use of a multi-geophysics exploration approach. Electromagnetic (EM) techniques were identified as the optimal complementary geophysical data set. In fact, the EM signal propagates through the resistive basalt cover with minimal attenuation, providing information about the underlying conductive sedimentary section. A combination of active-source time-domain EM (TDEM) and broadband magnetotelluric (MT) techniques imaged the base of the shallow basalt cover and its internal variations as well as larger-scale faults that control the graben structure. Integrati...
Murine neuroblastoma attenuates dendritic cell cysteine cysteine receptor 7 (CCR7) expression.

Abstract Background/Purpose Dendritic cell (DC) migration from tumors to T-cell priming sites is critical in developing antitumor cytotoxicity. Cysteine cysteine receptor 7 (CCR7), a promigratory chemokine receptor, regulates DC recruitment to secondary lymphoid organs. Tumors may inhibit CCR7 expression to evade immunodetection. Previous work implicates impaired DC migration as a critical defect in immunity to neuroblastoma (NB). However, the mechanism has yet to be defined. We hypothesize that NB abrogates DC CCR7 expression and signaling, leading to decreased antitumor immunity. Methods A/J mice (N = 36) were injected with saline (control) or murine NB (TBJ) and bone marrow–derived DC were isolated at 7, 14, and 28 days. CCR7 expression was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and flow cytometry. Cytometry data were analyzed using the paired Student's t test. Results Dendritic cells isolated from mice with NB had a 60% increase in CCR7 protein expression by flow cytometry compared with control mice at day 7. However, there was a 43% downregulation of CCR7 expression by DC from tumor-bearing mice compared with controls 2 weeks postinoculation ( P Conclusion Neuroblastoma initially upregulates CCR7 expression by DC. However, with tumor progression, this chemokine is downregulated, likely leading to impaired DC migration. Immunotherapeutic strategies to bypass or augment CCR7-dependent DC trafficking may improve survival for patients with aggressive disease.
Nonlinear subdivision through nonlinear averaging

We investigate a general class of nonlinear subdivision algorithms for functions of a real or complex variable built from linear subdivision algorithms by replacing binary linear averages such as the arithmetic mean by binary nonlinear averages such as the geometric mean. Using our method, we can easily create stationary subdivision schemes for Gaussian functions, spiral curves, and circles with uniform parametrizations. More generally, we show that stationary subdivision schemes for e^p^(^x^), cos(p(x)) and sin(p(x)) for any polynomial or piecewise polynomial p(x) can be generated using only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and square roots. The smoothness of our nonlinear subdivision schemes is inherited from the smoothness of the original linear subdivision schemes and the differentiability of the corresponding nonlinear averaging rules. While our results are quite general, our proofs are elementary, based mainly on the observation that generic nonlinear averaging rules on a pair of real or complex numbers can be constructed by conjugating linear averaging rules with locally invertible nonlinear maps. In a forthcoming paper we show that every continuous nonlinear averaging rule on a pair of real or complex numbers can be constructed by conjugating a linear averaging rule with an associated continuous locally invertible nonlinear map. Thus the averaging rules considered in this paper are actually the general case. As an application we show how to apply our nonlinear subdivision algorithms to intersect some common transcendental functions.
Multivariate control charts based on loss functions

A new method is given for designing multivariate control charts based on loss functions. The average run length contours of the proposed procedure correspond closely to the contours of the expected loss. The approach is much more efficient in terms of resulting statistical properties than the method of Mohebbi and Hayre (1989). Several bivariate examples are considered.
A flume for handling arrays at sea

A large radius (4') flume has been built for deploying and recovering a long (1.5km) hydrophone array contained inside a Kevlar braid strength member. The flume is made of stainless steel and is polished to protect the Kevlar braid from abrasion. It is designed so that the deployment ship can still maneuver even with the array parallel to the stern in the horizontal plane. Details are be presented about the first use of this flume with the array under adverse circumstances.
Are attention lapses related to d-amphetamine liking?

A rich literature suggests that both impulsiveness and drug-induced euphoria are risk factors for drug abuse. However, few studies have examined whether sensitivity to the euphoric effects of stimulants is related to attention lapses, a behavioral measure of inattention sometimes associated with impulsivity. The aim of the study was to examine ratings of d-amphetamine drug liking among individuals with high, moderate, and low attention lapses. Ninety-nine healthy volunteers were divided into three equal-sized groups based on their performance on a measure of lapses of attention. The groups, who exhibited low, medium, and high attention lapses (i.e., long reaction times) on a simple reaction time task, were compared on their subjective responses (i.e., ratings of liking and wanting more drug) after acute doses of d-amphetamine (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg). Subjects who exhibited high lapses liked 20 mg d-amphetamine less than subjects who exhibited low lapses. These subjects also tended to report smaller increases in “wanting more drug” after d-amphetamine. The findings suggest that participants who exhibit impaired attention may be less sensitive to stimulant-induced euphoria.
Teaching Parallel & Distributed Computing with MPI (Abstract Only)

CS2013 brings parallel and distributed computing (PDC) into the CS curricular mainstream. The Message Passing Interface (MPI) is a platform independent, industry-standard PDC library that includes support for C, C++, and Fortran; third parties have created implementations for Python and Java. This hands-on workshop introduces MPI basics using parallel patterns, including the single program multiple data (SPMD), send-receive message passing, master-worker, parallel loop, broadcast, reduction, scatter, gather, and barrier patterns. Participants will explore 12 short programs designed to help students understand MPI and PDC basics, plus longer programs that use MPI to solve significant problems. The intended audience is CS educators who want to learn about how message passing can be used to teach PDC. No prior experience with PDC or MPI is required; familiarity with a C-family language and the command-line are helpful but not required. The workshop includes: (i) self-paced hands-on experimentation with the working MPI programs, and (ii) a discussion of how these may be used to achieve the goals of CS2013. Participants will work on a remote Beowulf cluster accessed via SSH, and will need a laptop or a tablet with an SSH client (e.g., BitVise, iSSH), or a laptop with both a recent C/C++ compiler and MPI (e.g., OpenMPI or MPICH) installed. See http://csinparallel.org.
Neonatal herpes simplex virus infections: is there a role for immunoglobulin in disease prevention and therapy?

Neonatal herpes simplex virus infections cause significant morbidity and mortality among infected babies, despite the availability of antiviral therapy. These infections manifest in one of three forms : skin, eye, and mouth involvement ; encephalitis ; or disseminated infection. The latter two forms of disease account for more than 50% of babies with neonatal herpes and are associated with mortality and severe morbidity rates that exceed 75% in infected children. Thus future therapeutic efforts must be directed toward improved disease outcome. One such effort is the evaluation of immunoglobulin products (humanized monoclonal antibodies, human monoclonal antibodies and hyperimmune globulin) as part of a concomitant therapeutic regimen for babies with encephalitis and disseminated infection. The logic for such an approach becomes especially apparent for babies with disseminated disease because little transplacental maternal antibody is received at the time of birth. Thus concomitant administration of antiviral therapy with antibody may improve disease outcome.
InGaAsP/InP single photon avalanche photodetectors for 1.06 μm free-running photon counting

We demonstrate large area InP-based single photon avalanche diodes capable of free-running operation at 1.06 μm with dark count rates below 1000 Hz, detection efficiencies greater than 10%, and single photon count rates exceeding 1 MHz.
Spinal cord ischemia following operations on the abdominal aorta

Abstract Spinal cord ischemia following operations on the abdominal aorta is considered an unpredictable event attributable to variations in spinal cord blood supply. Our experience with seven cases of spinal cord ischemia contradicts this hypothesis. All patients had a bifurcation graft implanted. Three patients had bilateral interruption of hypogastric circulation. Each had gluteal necrosis and two had left colon ischemia. Two patients had unilateral hypogastric ligation. In both of these patients, early postoperative hypotension preceded recognition of spinal cord ischemia. Two patients without known interruption of hypogastric flow had proximal side-to-end anastomoses placed in an atheromatous aorta. Intraoperative peripheral emboli occurred in one and postoperative visceral emboli occurred in the other patient. In the latter case spinal cord ischemia occurred late concomitantly with embolization. The surmised important details in patients' courses with spinal cord ischemia are (1) interference with pelvic blood flow (five of seven patients) severe enough in three cases to cause gluteal necrosis and (2) a high incidence of perioperative complications. Interruption of an anomalous spinal artery was probably not a factor as cord lesions were mostly distal and no case of spinal cord ischemia occurred after a cylinder graft was placed. Spinal cord ischemia is potentially preventable. Our experience reemphasizes the importance of hypogastric perfusion, the dangers of handling the atheromatous aorta, and the necessity for avoiding postoperative hypotension. (J VASC SURG 1986;3:94-103.)
Leveraging Legacy Software in Clean-Slate Network Architectures

To address shortcomings of the current Internet, many researchers are taking a clean-slate approach toward re-designing the Internet. These so-called clean-slate approaches discard the old assumptions, design principles, and constraints of the current Internet, set aside concerns about compatibility with existing software, and rebuild the entire network from scratch. Clean-slate approaches have the potential to produce a completely new Internet with new features and applications. However, clean-slate approaches are rarely backward compatible, thereby rendering existing legacy software and applications useless. Rewriting huge numbers of existing legacy applications to run in a clean-slate environment is simply not practical. This paper attempts to address this challenge of running legacy software on a clean-slate network architecture. We propose a general framework that supports a translation and policy interface by which users and administrators (or applications) can map legacy software onto emerging clean-slate networks. Using the framework, users are able to take advantage of the features of a clean-slate network while running existing applications. To check the correctness and completeness of our framework, we implemented an initial prototype and applied it in the context of our clean-slate Postmodern (PoMo) Internet Architecture. Using our system we show how existing applications can make use of, and benefit from, PoMo's multi-path routing capabilities.
Hinge Atlas: relating protein sequence to sites of structural flexibility

Relating features of protein sequences to structural hinges is important for identifying domain boundaries, understanding structure-function relationships, and designing flexibility into proteins. Efforts in this field have been hampered by the lack of a proper dataset for studying characteristics of hinges. Using the Molecular Motions Database we have created a Hinge Atlas of manually annotated hinges and a statistical formalism for calculating the enrichment of various types of residues in these hinges. We found various correlations between hinges and sequence features. Some of these are expected; for instance, we found that hinges tend to occur on the surface and in coils and turns and to be enriched with small and hydrophilic residues. Others are less obvious and intuitive. In particular, we found that hinges tend to coincide with active sites, but unlike the latter they are not at all conserved in evolution. We evaluate the potential for hinge prediction based on sequence. Motions play an important role in catalysis and protein-ligand interactions. Hinge bending motions comprise the largest class of known motions. Therefore it is important to relate the hinge location to sequence features such as residue type, physicochemical class, secondary structure, solvent exposure, evolutionary conservation, and proximity to active sites. To do this, we first generated the Hinge Atlas, a set of protein motions with the hinge locations manually annotated, and then studied the coincidence of these features with the hinge location. We found that all of the features have bearing on the hinge location. Most interestingly, we found that hinges tend to occur at or near active sites and yet unlike the latter are not conserved. Less surprisingly, we found that hinge residues tend to be small, not hydrophobic or aliphatic, and occur in turns and random coils on the surface. A functional sequence based hinge predictor was made which uses some of the data generated in this study. The Hinge Atlas is made available to the community for further flexibility studies.
Application of a Dynamic Model to Assess Controls on Age-0 Colorado Pikeminnow Distribution in the Middle Green River, Colorado and Utah

Abstract Analysis of field data and development and application of a dynamic model indicate that the processes that control the number and distribution of age-0 Colorado pikeminnow in the middle Green River are poorly understood. Colorado pikeminnow are a federally endangered species endemic to the Colorado River basin that utilize backwaters during their larval stage. The present agency-mandated field sampling program for backwater habitats may be inadequate because it takes place at a time when the model predicts that most larval fish have drifted beyond the study area. The model predicts that water releases from Flaming Gorge Dam have a large potential effect on larval drift, because high releases at the time of drift greatly increase the proportion of the population transported beyond the study area to unfavorable river environments. Development of the model shows that the role of the geomorphic and hydraulic attributes that control larval drift and transport into backwaters, and that were parameteriz...
Definitive irradiation in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease : Analysis of outcome, prognostic factors, and long term complications

BACKGROUND. In the curative treatment of Hodgkin's disease, many institutions give doses above 40 Gray (Gy). To assess the effectiveness of treating patients with 35 Gy, data from a single institution regarding survival, prognostic factors, patterns of failure, and secondary complications were reviewed. METHODS. Data for a total of 172 patients with Hodgkin's disease were reviewed. All patients received definitive irradiation between 1971 and 1994. Median follow-up was 110 months. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate survival, relapse-free survival, and complication rates. RESULTS. Relapse-free survival was 83% at 5 years and 76% at 10 years. The only two prognostic factors related to relapse-free survival were the stage of disease and the number of sites. The involved infield control rate was 96%. The 10-year estimates of hypothyroidism and second malignancies were 14% and 10%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. Doses of 35 Gy are adequate for treating Hodgkin's disease. The stage of disease and the number of sites are predictive of relapse-free survival. The incidence of late complications necessitates long term surveillance of these patients.
From Fear to Loathing? How Emotion Influences the Evaluation and Early Use of Innovations:

Abstract Innovation adoption is rarely a short process for consumers; accordingly, recent research has explored adoption as a dynamic process that is characterized by changing patterns, or diffusion, of consumer use of the innovation. This research suggests that adoption is rarely a neutral process and that consumers can experience strong emotions in the initial use of innovations. However, given such emotions, two opposing arguments can be made as to whether the inclusion of emotional responses increases the predictive power of traditional models of diffusion. On the one hand, experienced emotion may simply be a function of gained benefits and, as such, may already be captured in extant models through cognitive assessments of net benefits. On the other hand, and as data from two empirical and longitudinal studies demonstrate, the learning process is potentially emotion generating (independent of net benefits), and this emotion colors product evaluations. The emotional influence is sizable and, importantl...
Isometric and Eccentric Force Generation Assessment of Skeletal Muscles Isolated from Murine Models of Muscular Dystrophies

Critical to the evaluation of potential therapeutics for muscular disease are sensitive and reproducible physiological assessments of muscle function. Because many pre-clinical trials rely on mouse models for these diseases, isolated muscle function has become one of the standards for Go/NoGo decisions in moving drug candidates forward into patients. We will demonstrate the preparation of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and diaphragm muscles for functional testing, which are the predominant muscles utilized for these studies. The EDL muscle geometry is ideal for isolated muscle preparations, with two easily accessible tendons, and a small size that can be supported by superfusion in a bath. The diaphragm exhibits profound progressive pathology in dystrophic animals, and can serve as a platform for evaluating many potential therapies countering fibrosis, and promoting myofiber stability. Protocols for routine testing, including isometric and eccentric contractions, will be shown. Isometric force provides assessment of strength, and eccentric contractions help to evaluate sarcolemma stability, which is disrupted in many types of muscular dystrophies. Comparisons of the expected results between muscles from wildtype and dystrophic muscles will also be provided. These measures can complement morphological and biochemical measurements of tissue homeostasis, as well as whole animal assessments of muscle function.
Interaction of atomic hydrogen with the surface methyl group on Si(100) — removal of surface carbon

Abstract : The interaction of atomic hydrogen with an overlayer derived from methyl Iodide on the Si(100) surface has been studied using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) mass spectroscopy. Efficient removal of surface iodine by reaction with atomic hydrogen is observed. However, experiments with large exposures of atomic hydrogen also show the depletion of surface carbon. In contrast to the almost non-activated behavior observed for the extraction of halogen by an Eley-Rideal process producing the hydrogen halides, the carbon removal rate decreases with increasing temperatures (T > or - 450 K). The depletion of surface carbon by atomic hydrogen correlates well with H-etching on the Si 100) surface in which SiH4(g) is evolved, and is shown to be due to CH3SiH3(g) production during H- etching. In addition, isotopic exchange of the deuterium from CD3(a) with hydrogen atoms supplied from the gas phase is also observed; this is found to be the most rapid kinetic process for the interaction of atomic hydrogen with the surface methyl group on Si(100). Finally, the selectivity of the H-induced reaction for two types of adsorbates, the methyl group and the halogen, is discussed.
Trafficking itineraries of G protein-coupled receptors in epithelial cells do not predict receptor localization in neurons.

Abstract These studies explored whether the localization and differential trafficking itineraries of G protein-coupled receptors in polarized renal epithelial cells might predict their localization in neurons, as suggested previously. The A1 adenosine receptor is preferentially localized apically, whereas the three α2-adrenergic receptor (α2AR) subtypes are localized on the lateral subdomain of Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. The α2A AR and α2C AR subtypes achieve this localization by direct targeting; α2B AR is randomly delivered but preferentially retained basolaterally. Despite their differing itineraries in renal epithelial cells, all three epitope-tagged α2-adrenergic receptor subtypes were found in neuronal cell bodies and along the entire length of the neuronal processes following transfection into long term primary cultures of mouse embryonic spinal cord neurons. In a small fraction of neuronal cells, expression of A1 adenosine receptor was limited to a short segment of their processes, otherwise it too was distributed in the soma and neuronal processes. A mutant α2A AR that exhibits an accelerated turnover on the surface of epithelial cells nonetheless has a localization pattern indistinguishable from the wild-type α2A AR in spinal cord neurons. Thus, unlike examples for GPI-anchored apical proteins that distribute along axons or single transmembrane-spanning basolateral proteins that localize to the soma of neurons, similar predictions do not appear to apply for polytopic G protein-coupled receptors.
Natural resource scarcity: Empirical evidence and public policy

Abstract This study updates and expands the empirical analysis of natural resource scarcity published in 1963 by Harold Barnett and Chandler Morse (“Scarcity and Growth: The Economics of Natural Resource Availability,” Johns Hopkins Press). Unit extraction costs are measured for all extractive products, four major subgroups (agriculture, minerals, forestry, and fishing), and selected individual commodities. The efficacy of the unit cost measure of resource scarcity is addressed and a critique of alternative scarcity indicators is provided. Unit cost appears to be the most practical scarcity index because there are adequate checks against its theoretical shortcomings and data are readily available which contain fewer deficiencies than other indexes. On the basis of the Barnett and Morse definition of relative scarcity, the empirical evidence does not support the need for public actions justified solely on the basis of increasing resource scarcity.
Improving software quality through formal inspections

Abstract The software inspection process was created for the dual purpose of improving software quality and increasing programmers productivity. This paper puts forward formal inspections as an alternative to and a better method than technical walkthroughs in the software life cycle reviewing process. Examples of benefits gained in the development of defect-free software by utilizing formal inspections are cited.
In situ time-resolved X-ray diffraction of iron sulfides during hydrothermal pyrite growth

Abstract Pyrite formation under hydrothermal conditions has been studied using in situ time-resolved X-ray diffraction (XRD). This study employed two different synchrotron X-ray sources (National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS), Advanced Photon Source (APS); Brookhaven and Argonne National Laboratories, USA, respectively) and two types of reaction cells (capillary and hydrothermal autoclave type) to examine reactions in the Fe–S system under both anoxic and controlled oxic conditions. Starting materials were mackinawite slurries equilibrated in reduced, H 2 S (aq) solutions and heated to a maximum of 190°C. The results show that under fully anoxic conditions, mackinawite persists to at least 120°C, while aerated (oxic) slurries transform rapidly to greigite, pyrite, magnetite and goethite. Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed in light of these results. These experiments are the first application of previously described in situ reaction cells to anoxic and oxic reactions in the Fe–S system. Finally, the capabilities of each cell type and their applicability to other systems are discussed.