cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Particle transport in a small square enclosure in laminar natural convection

Abstract The transport of particles with diameters in the range of 50 nm to 1 μm in laminar free convection of air in square enclosures was numerically investigated by an Eulerian–Lagrangian method. Two-dimensional square enclosures with widths from 2.5 mm to 5 cm, with two adiabatic surfaces and 100 and 200 °C temperature difference between the other two surfaces, were considered. The Rayleigh numbers varied from 100 to 8×105. The air flow was simulated in Eulerian frame using a commercial CFD software, whose predictions were compared with published benchmark results. Lagrangian particle transport calculations were carried out by tracking 1000 particles that were initially randomly distributed in the flow field, and assuming one-way coupling between the particles and the carrier gas. Particle motion mechanisms considered included gravity, drag, lift force, thermophoresis and Brownian dispersion. The results showed that at Rayleigh numbers lower than about 10 000 the entire flow field was dominated by a single recirculation pattern. For these low Rayleigh number cases most of the particles disperse towards the walls, while a fraction of particles were trapped in a quasi-steady recirculation zone. Inside this recirculation zone the particles were at quasi-equilibrium with respect to the hydrodynamic and dispersive forces that acted on them, and left the zone due to Brownian dispersion only at a very low rate. This quasi-equilibrium zone was not observed at the higher Rayleigh numbers where a single recirculation pattern no longer governed the entire flow field. The results also confirmed the important role of thermophoresis and Brownian dispersion, in particular for submicron size particles.
Mosquito larvicidal and pupicidal activity of aminimides.

Aminimides (amino-imides) are a relatively new class of fatty acid derivatives, of general formula R1-CO-N−-+N(CH3)2-R2. that are surface-active and exist as bipolarions. They have been found to be active against microorganisms (Kabara, McKillip & Sedor, 1975, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 52 : 316–17; Kabara & Haitsma, 1975, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 52 : 444–47). Since biological activity against mosquito larvae and pupae has been shown by amines (Mulla, 1967, J. Econ. Entomol. 60 : 515–22; Mulla & Darwazeh, 1975, Mosq. News 35 : 57–62) and by amides (Alexander & Beroza, 1963, J. Econ. Entomol. 56 : 58–60), tests were made of 34 aminimides on larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens .
Democracy, Action, and the Internet After 9/11:

This study examines the role of the Internet in challenging the state after 9/11. Drawing on interview data with members of the Internet-based group MoveOn.org and participant observation data collected at MoveOn events, the authors argue that the Internet provides citizens an opportunity to lodge democratic challenges against the state during hostile political climates. There are at least three features of the Internet that make it a useful tool for challengers after political shocks such as 9/11: (a) it provides a free space for challengers to form oppositional points of view away from dominant groups; (b) it allows individuals to participate anonymously and, thus, buffers challengers from the high costs of activism; and (c) it moves challenges from the virtual to the real world by engaging citizens in intermediary forms of activism. In short, the Internet engages individuals in a broader range of activities—and this has important implications for democratic processes.
Multi-agent equilibria with market share and ranking objectives

A model of nonprice unidimentional spatial competition between firms or between political candidates is studied. Typically in such models agents are assumed to maximize their shares of customers (as a proxy for profits) by firms, or of voters by candidates. This paper derives conditions for the existence, and characterization, of equilibrium outcomes when there are more than two agents, all of whom are assumed to minimize their rank as well as maximize their shares. The rank of an agent is defined as the sum of the number of agents with greater shares and a fraction of the number of agents with equal shares. It is shown that rank minimization tends to require more symmetry in location than share maximization, that the greater the weight on agents with equal shares in defining rank, the more extreme are the requirements for equilibrium until, for weights greater than 1/3, no equilibrium exists for more than three competing agents, and that when agents care about both rank and shares, the relative weights put on each is irrelevant in determining the equilibrium locations.
Cognitive Function and Prediction of Dementia in Old Age.

Longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning were examined for a sample of aging twins, some of whom developed dementia while others did not. Individuals who were judged to be demented at a mean age of eighty-five years had achieved lower scores on most tests twenty years prior to diagnosis, and experienced greater declines in vocabulary and forward digit span over time, than those surviving to a comparable age without dementia. These trends were observed for individuals with mild, as well as moderate-to-severe, dementia and were unrelated to physical health status or premorbid activity patterns. It is suggested that dementing illness may develop very slowly, and that the likelihood of exhibiting clinically significant dementia may vary with premorbid intellectual level.
Terrestrial and freshwater pulmonate gastropods from the Early Cretaceous Kuwajima Formation, Tetori Group, Japan

Five species of pulmonate gastropods are described from the fluvial deposits of the Early Cretaceous Kuwajima Formation (Tetori Group) of Shiramine district, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan. Gyraulus sp., Aplexa kasekikabe sp. nov. and Zaptychius kuwajimaensis sp. nov. appear to be inhabitants of the marginal zone in shallow lakes. Pseudarinia wangyingensis and Tetoripupa costata gen. et sp. nov. are land snails that probably inhabited vegetated swamps located near shallow lakes. T. costata is the earliest record of the stylommatophoran pulmonate clade Pupilloidea. This fauna contains a common and closely related species to the Jehol molluscan fauna from the Early Cretaceous of northern China, and also appears to be utilizable for paleoenvironmental analysis of terrestrial to freshwater microhabitats.
Representing geographical objects with scale-induced indeterminate boundaries: A neural network-based data model

The degree of uncertainty of many geographical objects has long been known to be in intimate relation with the scale of its observation and representation. Yet, the explicit consideration of scaling operations when modeling uncertainty is rarely found. In this study, a neural network-based data model was investigated for representing geographical objects with scale-induced indeterminate boundaries. Two types of neural units, combined with two types of activation function, comprise the processing core of the model, where the activation function can model either hard or soft transition zones. The construction of complex fuzzy regions, as well as lines and points, is discussed and illustrated with examples. It is shown how the level of detail that is apparent in the boundary at a given scale can be controlled through the degree of smoothness of each activation function. Several issues about the practical implementation of the model are discussed and indications on how to perform complex overlay operations of fuzzy maps provided. The model was illustrated through an example of representing multi-resolution, sub-pixel maps that are typically derived from remote sensing techniques.
Characterization of Cation-Ordering Induced Structures in Ba(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-BazrO3 Microwave Ceramics

Compositions in the Ba(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-BazrO3 (BMN-BZ) pseudo-binary system were prepared to evaluate the effect of BaZrO3 on the B-site cation ordering. While pure BMN adopts a 1:2 ordered structure, space group p3ml, 5 to 15 mole% additions of BZ stabilize a cubic (Fm3m) 1:1 ordered phase with a doubled perovskite repeat. At higher levels of substitution (>25 mole% BZ), the B-site cations are disordered. Analytical TEM studies revealed that the 1:1 ordering is limited to nanometer-sized domains and the microstructure was found to strongly depend on the thermal history of the ceramics. For example, a cooling rate of 300°C/hr from a sintering temperature of 1640°C produced a partially ordered microstructure comprised of 4-5nm 1:1 domains dispersed in a disordered matrix. A completely ordered structure with 30-40 nm domains could be achieved when the cooling rate was reduced to 10°C/hr. The structure of the ordered 1:1 phases is interpreted using a “random layer” model in which one site is occupied exclusively by Nb, and the second contains a random distribution of all the remaining cations. Similar thermal annealing experiments were also conducted in an attempt to grow the 1:1 ordered domains in PMN-type (PbMg1/3Nb2/303) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics. Through experiments on PbZr03 (PZ)-doped PMT (PbMg1/3Ta2/3O3), the first observation of thermally induced domain growth in this class of relaxor ceramics are presented. These results cannot be explained by the widely accepted “space charge” model for relaxor ferroelectrics, but instead favor a charge-balanced random layer model for the 1:1 cation order.
High-Speed Modulation of Optical Injection-Locked Semiconductor Lasers

We review the recent high-speed advances in optical injection-locked lasers, focusing on high resonance frequencies (> 70 GHz) and maximum bandwidth (> 40 GHz). Experimental and theoretical direct modulation and master amplitude and phase modulation are presented.
Solder joint reliability of fine pitch surface mount technology assemblies

The reliability of fine pitch solder joint interconnection has been studied. It consists of two different fine pitch surface mount components (SMCs), namely, the EIAJ (Electronic Industry Associates of Japan) 160-pin quad flat pack (QFP) and the JEDEC (Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council) 132-pin plastic quad flat pack (PQFP). Each has a lead-spacing (from lead-center to lead-center) of approximately 0.025 in. For comparison purposes the conventional JEDEC 68-pin plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) and the 84-pin PLCC have also been used in the same manufacturing process. The solder joint reliability of these four SMCs has been quantified for the mechanical shock, mechanical vibration, and thermal environmental stress factors. The results show that all the solder joints under consideration will survive 10 million cycles according to the general military practice. Reliability design charts for the solder joints of these assemblies have also been developed. From these charts, the reliability of solder joints at a given statistical confidence level can be estimated. >
Evaluation of global ocean data assimilation experiment products on south florida nested simulations with the hybrid coordinate ocean model

The South Florida Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (SoFLA-HYCOM) encompasses a variety of coastal regions (the broad Southwest Florida shelf, the narrow Atlantic Keys shelf, the shallow Florida Bay, and Biscayne Bay) and deep regions (the Straits of Florida), including Marine Protected Areas (the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary and the Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve). The presence of the strong Loop Current/Florida Current system and associated eddies connects the local and basin-wide dynamics. A multi-nested approach has been developed to ensure resolution of coastal-scale processes and proper interaction with the large scale flows. The simulations are free running and effects of data assimilation are introduced through boundary conditions derived from Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment products. The study evaluates the effects of boundary conditions on the successful hindcasting of circulation patterns by a nested model, applied on a dynamically and topographically complex shelf area. Independent (not assimilated) observations are employed for a quantitative validation of the numerical results. The discussion of the prevailing dynamics that are revealed in both modeled and observed patterns suggests the importance of topography resolution and local forcing on the inner shelf to middle shelf areas, while large scale processes are found to dominate the outer shelf flows. The results indicate that the successful hindcasting of circulation patterns in a coastal area that is characterized by complex topography and proximity to a large scale current system requires a dynamical downscaling approach, with simulations that are nested in a hierarchy of data assimilative outer models.
Toric structures on bundles of projective spaces

Recently, extending work by Karshon et al., Borisov and McDuff showed in The topology of toric symplectic manifolds that a given closed symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$ has a finite number of distinct toric structures. Moreover, in The topology of toric symplectic manifolds McDuff also showed that a product of two projective spaces $\mathbb{C}P^r \times \mathbb{C}P^s$ with any given symplectic form has a unique toric structure provided that $r, s \geq 2$. In contrast, the product $\mathbb{C}P^r \times \mathbb{C}P^1$ can be given infinitely many distinct toric structures, although only a finite number of these are compatible with each given symplectic form $\omega$. In this paper, we extend these results by considering the possible toric structures on a toric symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$ with $\dim H^2(M) = 2$. In particular, all such manifolds are $\mathbb{C}P^r$ bundles over $\mathbb{C}P^s$ for some $r, s$. We show that there is a unique toric structure if $r \lt s$, and also that if $r, s \geq 2$, $M$ has at most finitely many distinct toric structures that are compatible with any symplectic structure on $M$. Thus, in this case the finiteness result does not depend on fixing the symplectic structure. We will also give other examples where $(M,\omega)$ has a unique toric structure, such as the case where $(M,\omega)$ is monotone.
Timing in synaptic plasticity: from detection to integration.

Timing of cellular and subcellular events contributes to spiking-induced modification of synapses in a variety of ways. Initially, the timing of presynaptic and postsynaptic action potentials must be translated into signals that can initiate intracellular processes. Recent experimental and computational findings suggest that the spatiotemporal details of such signals, in particular the time courses and locations of postsynaptic Ca 2+ transients, might themselves be crucial for driving potentiation and depression modules that interact in a time-dependent way to determine plasticity outcomes. On longer timescales, the effects of multiple spikes are integrated in a nonlinear manner, yielding non-intuitive plasticity results that are likely to be sensitive to local conditions and, finally, additional elements must be called into action to stabilize changes in synaptic strengths. This review is part of the TINS Synaptic Connectivity series .
Time-varying techniques for multisensor signal detection

In source detection and localization, the presence of a common but unknown signal can be detected from several noisy sensor measurements using the generalized coherence (GC) estimate. We propose to improve the performance of the GC estimate for multisensor detection using noise-suppressed signal estimates obtained from time-varying techniques. If one of the sensors has a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than the other sensors, then it could be preprocessed prior to the GC estimate to improve detection performance for the remaining, lower SNR sensors. We perform this processing by estimating time-varying signals of interest with nonlinear phase functions using two methods: a) a modified matching pursuit decomposition (MMPD) algorithm whose dictionary is similar, in time-frequency structure, to the signal and b) an instantaneous frequency (IF) estimation method using highly localized time-frequency representations. The MMPD can yield signal estimates with lower mean square errors than the IF estimation technique but at the expense of higher computational cost and memory requirements. Using simulations, we compare the performance of the GC estimate with the significantly improved performance of the GC estimate that employs the signal estimate from the high SNR sensor. For the two-sensor detection, the estimated signal is also used with a generalized likelihood ratio test statistic to further improve performance
A comparative study of ranking methods, similarity measures and uncertainty measures for interval type-2 fuzzy sets

Ranking methods, similarity measures and uncertainty measures are very important concepts for interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FSs). So far, there is only one ranking method for such sets, whereas there are many similarity and uncertainty measures. A new ranking method and a new similarity measure for IT2 FSs are proposed in this paper. All these ranking methods, similarity measures and uncertainty measures are compared based on real survey data and then the most suitable ranking method, similarity measure and uncertainty measure that can be used in the computing with words paradigm are suggested. The results are useful in understanding the uncertainties associated with linguistic terms and hence how to use them effectively in survey design and linguistic information processing.
Use of a SCID mouse/human lymphoma model to evaluate cytokine-induced killer cells with potent antitumor cell activity.

C.B-17 severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice, which lack functional B and T lymphocytes, allow xenografts and, therefore, can be used to study the biology of human malignancies. Two different human B cell lymphoma cell lines, SU-DHL-4 and OCI-Ly8, which both harbor the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation, were injected into C.B-17 SCID mice. Mice injected intravenously or intraperitoneally developed tumors and died in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of tumor cells in various murine tissues could be demonstrated by a clonogenic tumor assay, staining of frozen sections with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a human B cell antigen (CD19), and with the polymerase chain reaction technique. A protocol using cytotoxic effector cells was developed and used to selectively deplete the tumor cells from bone marrow. These cells were developed by growing peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), anti-CD3 mAb, and interleukin 2 (IL-2). The timing of IFN-gamma treatment was critical and optimal if IFN-gamma was added before IL-2 treatment. The cells that were stimulated by IFN-gamma, followed by IL-2, could be expanded by treatment with a mAb directed against CD3. These cells could be further activated by IL-1, but not by tumor necrosis factor alpha. With this protocol, a tumor cell kill of 3 logs was obtained as measured by a clonogenic assay. Interestingly, despite their high cytotoxic activity against lymphoma cells, these cells had little toxicity against a subset of normal human hematopoietic precursor cells (granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units). These cells were further tested by treating murine bone marrow contaminated with the human lymphoma cell line SU-DHL-4, and injecting these cells into SCID mice to assay for tumor growth in vivo. The animals injected with bone marrow contaminated with SU-DHL-4 cells had enhanced survival if the bone marrow was treated with the cytokine-induced killer cells before infusion. The SCID mouse provides a useful in vivo model for evaluation of new therapeutic approaches for lymphoma treatment. The cytokine-induced killer cells generated as described here could have an important impact on bone marrow purging for autologous bone marrow transplantation as well as for adoptive immunotherapy.
The Actin Cytoskeleton and Signaling Network during Pollen Tube Tip Growth

The organization and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton play key roles in many aspects of plant cell development. The actin cytoskeleton responds to internal developmental cues and environmental signals and is involved in cell division, subcellular organelle movement, cell polarity and polar cell growth. The tip-growing pollen tubes provide an ideal model system to investigate fundamental mechanisms of underlying polarized cell growth. In this system, most signaling cascades required for tip growth, such as Ca(2+)-, small GTPases- and lipid-mediated signaling have been found to be involved in transmitting signals to a large group of actin-binding proteins. These actin-binding proteins subsequently regulate the structure of the actin network, as well as the rapid turnover of actin filaments (F-actin), thereby eventually controlling tip growth. The actin cytoskeleton acts as an integrator in which multiple signaling pathways converge, providing a general growth and regulatory mechanism that applies not only for tip growth but also for polarized diffuse growth in plants.
A message passing approach to Side Chain Positioning with applications in protein docking refinement

We introduce a message-passing algorithm to solve the Side Chain Positioning (SCP) problem. SCP is a crucial component of protein docking refinement, which is a key step of an important class of problems in computational structural biology called protein docking. We model SCP as a combinatorial optimization problem and formulate it as a Maximum Weighted Independent Set (MWIS) problem. We then employ a modified and convergent belief-propagation algorithm to solve a relaxation of MWIS and develop randomized estimation heuristics that use the relaxed solution to obtain an effective MWIS feasible solution. Using a benchmark set of protein complexes we demonstrate that our approach leads to more accurate docking predictions compared to a baseline algorithm that does not solve the SCP.
Erratum to: Sex, drugs and sports: Prostaglandins, epitestosterone and sexual development [Med Hypotheses 2007;69:829–835]

The second paragraph of column 1, page 830 should read: In boys and girls, the ratio of T/EpiT in plasma is 6 1 in childhood, but increases dramatically in males during prepuberty and puberty, remaining constant in adulthood [2]. Unlike T or 5a-dihydrotestosterone (5a-DHT), there is no discernible decrease in EpiT levels in males after age 50 [1]. It has been said that this points to some significance of EpiT in males before puberty when it may attenuate the effects of T [2]. Although the pathway of EpiT production in females is unknown, as in males, a sharp increase in the T/EpiT ratio occurs before puberty [2]. From puberty until
RADULAR PRODUCTION RATES IN TWO SPECIES OF LACUNA TURTON (GASTROPODA: LITTORINIDAE)

The moUuscan radula is a dynamic organ, both m terms of its use and production. New rows of teeth are constantly produced at the posterior end of the radula, while older, worn teeth are shed anteriorly, producing a dynamic equilibrium. We used a coldshock to mark the radular ribbon and measure tooth row production rates in two gastropod species, Lacuna vmcta (Montagu) and L. vanegata Carpenter. We found that the average tooth row production rate at 10-ll°C did not differ between these two species, and was 2.94 (SE = 0.002) rows per day for Lacuna vmcta and 2.97 (SE = 0 002) for L. vanegata Inter-individual variability in production rate was very low, and was correlated with shell length, smaller individuals had slightly higher production rates. The total length of the radular nbbon varied greatly among individuals, ranging from 47 to 94 (2.57 to 5.68 mm) rows in L vincta and 53 to 99 rows (2.80 to 7.14 mm) in L vanegata, and was only somewhat correlated with the length of the shelL This great variability will result in large differences among individuals in the time it takes to replace the radula totally, from 14.96 to 35.44 days in L vincta and from 17 43 to 39 69 days in L. vanegata.
Anti-egalitarians for Obama? Group-dominance motivation and the Obama vote

The election of the first Black president was a watershed moment in American race relations, and many Obama voters saw their choice as affirming and furthering the dream of racial equality. However, the present study provides evidence that Obama also garnered votes from an unlikely source: those wishing to maintain racial disparities. Data from a longitudinal study of the election suggest that, while some anti-egalitarian voters opposed Obama due to his perceived “foreignness,” others voted for him in order to underwrite the hierarchy-enhancing claim that US racism has been eliminated. Anti-egalitarianism was only associated with an increased tendency to vote for Obama among individuals who claimed that his victory signals the end of racism.
Typical Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) was first described in Japan in 1967 by Tomisaku Kawasaki [1]. It is an acute, systemic, self-limited vasculitis, whose targets are medium diameter vessels in each organ and apparatus. It is a vasculitis of unknown aetiology, probably multifactorial, that occurs predominantly in infants and young children. The most important complications are coronary arteries aneurysms or ectasia, that develop in 15% to 25% of untreated patients, but only in 5% of patients treated with immunoglobulins within ten days following onset of fever [2,3]. Typical Kawasaki disease is characterized by signs and symptoms which are defined as “diagnostic clinical criteria”, and are: – ≥5 days of fever – bilateral non-exudative conjunctivitis – erythema of the lips and oral mucosa – changes in the extremities (i.e. erythema of the palms and soles or firm, sometimes painful induration of the hands or feet, erythema of the perineal region) – cutaneous rash – cervical lymphadenopathy [3,4]. Diagnosis of KD is based on clinical criteria [3,4]: there are neither typical clinical features nor diagnostic tests. An increasing number of children is reported in literature, having coronary artery aneurysms or ectasia, but who do not fulfill all diagnostic criteria. These cases are defined as incomplete KD and atypical KD. Typical KD is diagnosed if: – fever ≥ 5 days associated with ≥ 4 diagnostic criteria, even before performing echocardiography – fever ≥ 5 days associated with < 4 diagnostic criteria and possible coronary arteries lesions – fever at fourth day with ≥ 4 diagnostic criteria and possible coronary arteries lesions. Finally, other clinical findings may be present in KD: – Cardiac: coronaritis, pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, mitral regurgitation, aortic and tricuspidal regurgitation (in the acute phase), aortic dilatation (in the later phase), cardiac failure, shock, arrhythmia, coronary artery involvement (in the sub acute phase) – Vascular: Raynaud phenomenon, peripheral gangrene – Joints: arthritis or arthralgia – Nervous System: irritability, aseptic meningitis, sensor-neural hearing loss, transient unilateral peripheral facial nerve palsy – Gastrointestinal: diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, acute surgical abdomen, hepatic enlargement and jaundice, acute acalculous distention of the gallbladder (hydrops) – Urinary: aseptic pyuria, urethritis, testicular swelling – Skin: erythema and induration at the site of a previous vaccination with Bacille Calmette-Guerin, Beau lines – Respiratory: cough, rhinorrea, pulmonary nodules and infiltrates.
Induction of apoptosis in human tumor cells after exposure to Auger electrons: comparison with γ-ray exposure

Abstract To clarify the contribution of apoptosis to cell death in four human solid tumor cell lines, clonogenic cell survival (indicator of radiosensitivity) and induction of caspase-3 (CASP-3)/caspase-3-like proteases (CASP-3LP) and the production of DNA fragmentation (markers for apoptosis) were studied in RKO, LS174T, MCF7 and TE671 cells exposed to DNA-incorporated Auger-electron-emitting 125 I (5-[ 125 I]iodo-2′-deoxyuridine) or γ-radiation. Clonogenic survival was assessed by colony-forming assay, CASP-3/CASP-3LP induction with a fluorogenic substrate and DNA fragmentation by ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction. For 125 I, log dose–survival curves had no shoulder [high-linear-energy-transfer (LET)-like] and decreased exponentially at different rates in various cell lines. Induction of CASP-3/CASP-3LP in radiosensitive RKO and LS174T cells was threefold greater than that in radioresistant TE671 and MCF7 cells. Nucleosomal laddering in 125 I-radiosensitive cell lines was dose-dependent, and no laddering was detected in radioresistant lines. For γ-radiation, the survival curve for LS174T cells was monoexponential and that for the other lines exhibited a distinct shoulder (low-LET-like). The most radiosensitive cell line, LS174T, showed the highest induction of CASP-3/CASP-3LP, and the most radioresistant line, TE671, showed the lowest induction. Although DNA laddering was not detectable in TE671 cells, it was observed in other lines, being most prominent in LS174T cells. We conclude that apoptosis initiated by DNA-incorporated 125 I is dose-dependent, correlates with cell radiosensitivity and takes place through a CASP-3-mediated pathway, whereas that after γ-irradiation probably occurs via a CASP-3-independent pathway and/or a CASP-3-mediated pathway and does not correlate with cell radiosensitivity.
Making the professionalism curriculum for undergraduate medical education more relevant.

Background: This study was an assessment of the professionalism curriculum at a community-based medical school from the perspective of undergraduate medical students.Aims: The goal of this study was to ascertain the perspectives of faculty and students on their interpretations of professionalism and its role in medical education to improve and expand existing professionalism curricula.Method: An online survey was created and sent to all students (n = 245) and selected faculty (n = 41). The survey utilized multiple choice and open-ended questions to allow responders to provide their insights on the definition of professionalism and detail how professionalism is taught and evaluated at their institution. A content analysis was conducted to categorize open-ended responses and the resulting themes were further examined using SPSS 20.0 for Windows (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) frequency analyses.Results: Students and faculty respondents were similar in their definitions of medical professionalism and their perceptio...
Young Children's Learning With Digital Media

This article reviews a selection of studies on digital media and learning for young children ages 3 to 6. The range of digital media for this age group is growing and includes computer-delivered and online activities; console video games; handheld media, occasionally with GPS or an accelerometer, in cell phones and other wireless mobile devices; electronic toys and learning systems; dolls and robots that move and talk; physically active games using dance pads, sports equipment, or stationary bikes as the interface to the game; and online communities and social networks; among others. Research has tested the effectiveness of several digital media products for young children's learning and has found, for example, improvements in children's knowledge and skills for thinking, planning, observing, problem-solving, reading, language, mathematics, hypothesis formation and testing, creativity, and collaborative learning. However, many of the most popular commercially available digital media products for young chi...
A programmable piecewise linear large-signal CMOS amplifier

A high-speed CMOS piecewise linear approximation circuit is presented that can be programmed for correction of nonlinearity after fabrication. The basic building block generates a linear segment, for which slope and position can be adjusted. Adjustments to adapt to arbitrary functions are done with floating gate devices fabricated in standard CMOS technology. The circuit is a voltage-to-current converter with an input range of the full power-supply voltage swing. In an implementation with 18 linear segments less than 0.15% error over rail-to-rail input range was achieved for a linear transfer function. Examples of strongly nonlinear transfer functions approximated to 0.5% accuracy are shown. The large-signal 3-dB frequency is 10 MHz. The implementations are done solely with 2- mu m channel length devices. >
User-based testing of GUI sequences and their interactions

Testing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) is difficult, involving many states, inputs and events. We have previously reported a new method for testing GUIs that is scalable and concentrates on user sequences of GUI objects and selections that collaborate, called complete interaction sequences (CIS) and that produce the desired response for the user called the responsibility. In this paper we extend this approach by investigating the use of memory tools to detect missing effects and CIS sequences, investigating interactions between CIS sequences, and providing empirical studies of five different GUI systems.
Modeling of Combined Processing Steps for Reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Populations in Apple Cider

Probabilistic models were used as a systematic approach to describe the response of Escherichia coli O157:H7 populations to combinations of commonly used preservation methods in unpasteurized apple cider. Using a complete factorial experimental design, the effect of pH (3.1 to 4.3), storage temperature and time (5 to 35°C for 0 to 6 h or 12 h), preservatives (0, 0.05, or 0.1% potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate), and freeze-thaw (F-T; −20°C, 48 h and 4°C, 4 h) treatment combinations (a total of 1,600 treatments) on the probability of achieving a 5-log10-unit reduction in a three-strain E. coli O157:H7 mixture in cider was determined. Using logistic regression techniques, pH, temperature, time, and concentration were modeled in separate segments of the data set, resulting in prediction equations for: (i) no preservatives, before F-T; (ii) no preservatives, after F-T; (iii) sorbate, before F-T; (iv) sorbate, after F-T; (v) benzoate, before F-T; and (vi) benzoate, after F-T. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant (P < 0.0001) effect of all four variables, with cider pH being the most important, followed by temperature and time, and finally by preservative concentration. All models predicted 92 to 99% of the responses correctly. To ensure safety, use of the models is most appropriate at a 0.9 probability level, where the percentage of false positives, i.e., falsely predicting a 5-log10-unit reduction, is the lowest (0 to 4.4%). The present study demonstrates the applicability of logistic regression approaches to describing the effectiveness of multiple treatment combinations in pathogen control in cider making. The resulting models can serve as valuable tools in designing safe apple cider processes.
The Evolution of the Motor Control of Feeding in Amphibians

Based on studies of a few model taxa, amphibians have been considered stereotyped in their feeding movements relative to other vertebrates. However, recent studies on a wide variety of amphibian species have revealed great diversity in feeding mechanics and kinematics, and illustrate that stereotypy is the exception rather than the rule in amphibian feeding. Apparent stereotypy in some taxa may be an artifact of unnatural laboratory conditions. The common ancestor of lissamphibians was probably capable of some modulation of feeding movements, and descendants have evolved along two trajectories with regard to motor control: (1) an increase in modulation via feedback or feed-forward mechanisms, as exemplified by ballistic-tongued plethodontid salamanders and hydrostatic-tongued frogs, and (2) a decrease in variation dictated by biomechanics that require tight coordination between different body parts, such as the tongue and jaws in toads and other frogs with ballistic tongue projection. Multi-joint coordination of rapid movements may hamper accurate tongue placement in ballistic-tongued frogs as compared to both short-tongued frogs and ballistic tongued-salamanders that face simpler motor control tasks. Decoupling of tongue and jaw movements is associated with increased accuracy in both hydrostatic-tongued frogs and ballistic-tongued salamanders.
RIGIDIZABLE MEMBRANES FOR SPACE INFLATABLE STRUCTURES

Space inflatable structures are being researched and developed to construct large, lightweight structures that are also low-cost. Rigidizing a space inflatable structure after inflation allows it to resist thermal deformation due to temperature variation and the damage caused by space debris or meteoroids. This presaged the need for lightweight and high-flexible rigidizable inflatable structures with good preservability before inflation. This paper proposes two types of rigidizable membranes, both are easy to fold and both retain their properties in storage. One is a one-layer rigidizable membrane that uses triaxial woven fabric impregnated with a long-shelf-life matrix resin. The other is a rigidizable membrane that has very long-term shelf life over a wide temperature range that uses cowoven fabrics. Inflatable structures are fabricated for trial purposes using the two proposed rigidizable membranes. It is confirmed that the inflatable structures achieve inflation deployment and rigidization. To clarify the situations of packing and deployment, inflatable tubes about 9.6 m long are manufactured that are creased specifically to ensure uniform deployment.
The Response of Two-Dimensional Granular Superconducting Films to Light

We have examined the photoresponse of two-dimensional granular superconducting films of high Tc superconductors (Y-Ba-Cu-O). We see evidence for the existence of a two dimensional Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. The photoresponse and resistance have been measured as a functions of temperature, excitation power, bias current, and photon energy. The response to photons having energies above and below the superconducting energy gap(s) has been measured. Photoresponse features have been observed that are not explainable in terms of a conventional phonon bolometric mechanism. Comparison will be made with similar observations made on low temperature superconducting films (NbN-BN).
A survey of the research on network attack technologies

Aim Provide a literature basis for research strategy of the network attack technology.Methods Literature analysis.Results Network attacks include password attack,invasion,protocol loophole attack,Trojan horse,buffer overflow attack,and so on.The research on network attack aims mostly at the attack models and prototypes,attack categorizing,attack detecting techniques,attack responding and defending,as well as evaluating the impact of attack.Conclusion In the next 5 to 10 years,the research on network attack will mainly focus on the fields such as description of attack model,attack detecting and defending,strategy of attack responding,attack evolvement,and evaluating the effect of attack,with the emphasis on Worms and Trojans.
Novel Processing Method of High-Precision Heterodyne Interference Signals Based on PLL Frequency-Mixing

A novel high-precision heterodyne interference signals processing method based on frequency mixing with phase locked loop(PLL) is proposed.This method employs the PLL to realize the conversion of beat frequency signal,the high-frequency beat frequency interference signal is transferred to a low-frequency(1.0 kHz) signal,and the measured phase shift is achieved by filling pulse.The experimental results show that a high accuracy with a phase shift of 0.078°is obtained and this method has the advantages of simple electronic circuit,high frequency stability and stable phase tracking.
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE HYDRANLIC SYSTEM OF THREE-ROLL PIERIER

Problems of hydraulic, system of three-roll pierier in production are analyzed. Results show that, the low drive moment causes the cover hard to open; the problem of equilibrium oil cylinder is due to that the liquid press to return back is too big; the leaks of the quickly oil cylinder is caused by that the cylinder has a hut to suffer the moment directly. Corresponding methods for improvement are presented.
Induction of 16α-hydroxylase in cultured human lymphocytes

Lymphocytes grown for 72 hr in the presence of mitogenic agents exhibited a nine-fold increase in 16α-hydroxylase activity over a 24-hr period following the addition of 17β-estradiol as an inducing agent. The major metabolite of 17β-estradiol produced by induced lymphocytes showed a chromatographic mobility indistinguishable from that of estriol. Enzymatic activity increased linearly with cell numbers, was inhibited by CO, and exhibited no induced increase in the presence of cycloheximide. A population survey indicated about 68% of a randomly selected Caucasian group to be essentially uninducible for 16α-hydroxylase.
Interactions and Coupling of Reservoir Fluid, Completion, and Formation Damages

The performance (productivity or injectivity) of the wells in petroleum reservoirs is discussed in view of the combined effects of the damages occurring to reservoir formation, completion, and fluids. The relevant transport processes are formulated for modeling and simulation purposes. Applications involving the coupling of the reservoir, completion, and wellbore transport processes and the damage treatment fluid injection are illustrated.
Vancomycin MIC Does Not Predict 90-Day Mortality, Readmission, or Recurrence in a Prospective Cohort of Adults with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a tremendous health burden. Previous studies examining the association of vancomycin MIC and outcomes in patients with SAB have been inconclusive. This study evaluated the association between vancomycin MICs and 30- or 90-day mortality in individuals with SAB. This was a prospective cohort study of adults presenting from 2008 to 2013 with a first episode of SAB. Subjects were identified by an infection surveillance system. The main predictor was vancomycin MIC by MicroScan. The primary outcomes were death at 30 and 90 days, and secondary outcomes included recurrence, readmission, or a composite of death, recurrence, and readmission at 30 and 90 days. Covariates included methicillin susceptibility, demographics, illness severity, comorbidities, infectious source, and antibiotic use. Cox proportional-hazards models with propensity score adjustment were used to estimate 30- and 90-day outcomes. Of 429 unique first episodes of SAB, 11 were excluded, leaving 418 individuals for analysis. Eighty-three (19.9%) participants had a vancomycin MIC of 2 μg/ml. In the propensity-adjusted Cox model, a vancomycin MIC of 2 μg/ml compared to <2 μg/ml was not associated with a greater hazard of mortality or composite outcome of mortality, readmission, and recurrence at either 30 days (hazard ratios [HRs] of 0.86 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.41, 1.80] [P = 0.70] and 0.94 [95% CI, 0.55, 1.58] [P = 0.80], respectively) or 90 days (HRs of 0.91 [95% CI, 0.49, 1.69] [P = 0.77] and 0.69 [95% CI, 0.46, 1.04] [P = 0.08], respectively) after SAB diagnosis. In a prospective cohort of patients with SAB, vancomycin MIC was not associated with 30- or 90-day mortality or a composite of mortality, disease recurrence, or hospital readmission.
Outcomes With Cerclage Alone Compared With Cerclage Plus 17α-hydroxyprogesterone Caproate.

OBJECTIVE:To examine the differences in perinatal outcomes among women with a prior preterm birth who received cerclage compared with cerclage plus 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate.METHODS:Women with transvaginal cerclage placement and a prior delivery between 16 and 36 weeks of gestation were ident
A refined DNA methylation detection method using MspJI coupled quantitative PCR

DNA methylation is a highly conserved epigenetic modification with critical roles ranging from protection against phage infection in bacteria to the regulation of gene expression in mammals. DNA methylation at specific sequences can be measured by using methylation dependent or sensitive restriction enzymes coupled to semi- or quantitative PCR (MD-qPCR). This study reports a refined MD-qPCR method for detecting gain or loss of DNA methylation at specific sites through the specific use of MspJI or HpaII, respectively. By employing varying concentrations of DNA with methylation ranging from 0 to 100%, our data provide evidence that compared to HpaII, MspJI increases the sensitivity and accuracy of detecting relative DNA methylation gains by MD-qPCR. We also show that the MspJI-coupled MD-qPCR can accurately determine the percent gain in DNA methylation at the Sall4 enhancer and is more sensitive than HpaII in detecting relative gains in DNA methylation at the Oct4 proximal enhancer during embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation. The high specificity and sensitivity of this targeted approach increases its potential as a diagnostic tool to detect relatively smaller gains in DNA methylation at specific sites from limited amounts of sample.
Alkali Atoms on Semiconductor Surfaces: The Dynamics Of Desorption and Of Surface Phase Transitions

Beams of alkali atoms incident on heated surfaces of semiconductors produce ions by losing electrons to the surfaces. Potassium atoms on surfaces of Si (100) and graphite serve as examples of how surface ionization can provide information about the surfaces and their interactions with the atoms. The Si surface appears to undergo a phase transition at Tc = 980 ± 20K. At higher temperatures the atoms move freely over what we presume is a relatively smooth surface. At lower temperatures the atoms collect in a small number of special sites where they are bound more tightly and concentrated so they interact with each other but remain essentially in equilibrium with a small fraction that move over the remaining surface. On highly oriented pyrolytic graphite K ions are bound on at least three different kinds of sites between which the ions move at an appreciable rate but not rapidly enough to reach equilibrium.
L-Type Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels Regulate Synaptic Activity-Triggered Recycling Endosome Fusion in Neuronal Dendrites

The repertoire and abundance of proteins displayed on the surface of neuronal dendrites are tuned by regulated fusion of recycling endosomes (REs) with the dendritic plasma membrane. While this process is critical for neuronal function and plasticity, how synaptic activity drives RE fusion remains unexplored. We demonstrate a multistep fusion mechanism that requires Ca2+ from distinct sources. NMDA receptor Ca2+ initiates RE fusion with the plasma membrane, while L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (L-VGCCs) regulate whether fused REs collapse into the membrane or reform without transferring their cargo to the cell surface. Accordingly, NMDA receptor activation triggered AMPA-type glutamate receptor trafficking to the dendritic surface in an L-VGCC-dependent manner. Conversely, potentiating L-VGCCs enhanced AMPA receptor surface expression only when NMDA receptors were also active. Thus L-VGCCs play a role in tuning activity-triggered surface expression of key synaptic proteins by gating the mode of RE fusion.
Shear-wave anisotropy reveals pore fluid pressure–induced seismicity in the U.S. midcontinent

Seismicity in the U.S. midcontinent has increased by orders of magnitude over the past decade. Spatiotemporal correlations of seismicity to wastewater injection operations have suggested that injection-related pore fluid pressure increases are inducing the earthquakes. We present direct evidence linking earthquake occurrence to pore pressure increase in the U.S. midcontinent through time-lapse shear-wave (S-wave) anisotropy analysis. Since the onset of the observation period in 2010, the orientation of the fast S-wave polarization has flipped from inline with the maximum horizontal stress to inline with the minimum horizontal stress, a change known to be associated with critical pore pressure buildup. The time delay between fast and slow S-wave arrivals exhibits increased variance through time, which is common in critical pore fluid settings. Near-basement borehole fluid pressure measurements indicate pore pressure increase in the region over the earthquake monitoring period.