cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supernovae Explosions Induced by Pair Production Instability.

Stars with a core mass greater than about 30 M ⊙ become dynamically unstable due to electron-positron pair production when their central temperature reaches 1.5–2.0×109 oK. The colapse and subsequent explosion of stars with core masses of 45, 52, and 60 M ⊙ is calculated. The range of the final velocity of expansion (3400–8500 km/sec) and of the mass ejected (1–40 M ⊙) is comparable to that observed for type II supernovae. A dynamical model of convection is derived and included in the calculations. It was found that the effect of the convection on the explosions is probably not important.
A Two-Column Method for the Separation of Kr and Xe from Process Off-Gases

Radioactive isotopes of xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr) exist in the off-gases from the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. To meet regulations, at least the Kr needs to be removed from these off-gas streams. Two metal organic framework (MOF) materials were investigated to determine the removal efficiency and capacity of MOF materials for krypton recovery from air at noncryogenic temperatures. Our two-column breakthrough measurements on nickel dioxobenzenedicarboxylic acid and a partially fluorinated MOF with copper indicate that these materials can capture and separate parts per million levels of Xe and Kr from air. In a two-column system, the removal efficiency and adsorption capacity for Kr on these two MOFs were further increased upon removal of Xe on the first bed. These results show that there is a promising future for the use of MOFs for the removal of noble gas radionuclides from process off-gases during reactor operation or reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels.
An introduction to this special section AVO: The Next Step

It should not be possible to use amplitude variation with offset to detect hydrocarbons. Any physicist can tell you that the mathematical inversion of even the most perfect AVO data is nonunique. I often take pride in my ability to beautifully model prestack gathers for giant gas fields without requiring VP/VS ratios of the kind expected for gas-bearing rocks. In fact, any AVO anomaly can be explained with an appropriate combination of nonreservoir rocks.
Impaired Surfactant Production by Alveolar Epithelial Cells in a SCID-hu Lung Mouse Model of Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading viral cause of birth defects and life-threatening lung-associated diseases in premature infants and immunocompromised children. Although the fetal lung is a major target organ of the virus, HCMV lung pathogenesis has remained unexplored, possibly as a result of extreme host range restriction. To overcome this hurdle, we generated a SCID-hu lung mouse model that closely recapitulates the discrete stages of human lung development in utero. Human fetal lung tissue was implanted into severe combined immunodeficient (CB17-scid) mice and inoculated by direct injection with the VR1814 clinical isolate of HCMV. Virus replication in the fetal lung was assessed by the quantification of infectious virus titers and HCMV genome copies and the detection of HCMV proteins by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. We show that HCMV efficiently replicated in the lung implants during a 2-week period, forming large viral lesions. The virus productively infected alveolar epithelial and mesenchymal cells, imitating congenital infection of the fetal lung. HCMV replication triggered apoptosis near and within the viral lesions and impaired the production of surfactant proteins in the alveolar epithelium. Our findings highlight that congenital and neonatal HCMV infection can adversely impact lung development, leading to pneumonia and acute lung injury. We have successfully developed a small-animal model that closely recapitulates fetal and neonatal lung development and provides a valuable, biologically relevant tool for an understanding of the lung pathogenesis of HCMV as well as other human respiratory viruses. Additionally, this model would greatly facilitate the development and testing of new antiviral therapies for HCMV along with select human pulmonary pathogens.
Oxygen-induced dynamic strain aging of ZrH2-purified iron during cyclic deformation at intermediate temperatures

Abstract Despite the very low carbon and nitrogen concentrations in ZrH 2 -purified iron, its cyclic saturation stress amplitude versus temperature curve has a “hump”, which is similar to the hump caused by dynamic strain aging due to carbon or nitrogen, at intermediate temperatures. The cyclic deformation of vacuum-annealed MRC-VP iron and ZrH 2 -purified MRC-VP iron was investigated using constant-total-strain-amplitude tests (strain amplitude, 10 −3 and 10 −2 ) in the intermediate temperature range from room temperature to 900 K. On the basis of experimental and theoretical examinations the cause of the hump was discussed and the hump was concluded to result from dynamic strain aging due to oxygen. The hump disappeared in iron specimens zone refined in a dry hydrogen gas atmosphere, confirming the above conclusion.
Decreased host toxicity in vivo during chronic treatment with 5-flourouracil.

Chronic weekly administration of FUra to CD8F1 female mice bearing spontaneous mammary tumors produced body weight loss during the first 2 weeks of treatment, which became less severe during subsequent weeks of therapy. To our knowledge, the development of such a decrease in FUra toxicity in vivo during chronic treatment with the drug has not been described previously, and a study of this phenomenon was therefore underfaken in tumor-free CD8F1 female mice. Weekly administration of FUra at 85 mg/kg resulted in toxicity expressed in body weight loss and in depressed peripheral WBC levels; however, the magnitude of these toxic effects decreased significantly by the 5th week of treatment. Pretreatment of normal mice with FUra for 7 weeks resulted in a dose-related shift in the LD50 of FUra administered as a subsequent challenge. Compared with an LD50 of 240 mg/kg for FUra in normal mice, the LD50 in mice pretreated with FUra at 50 or 85 mg/kg per week was found to be significantly elevated to 370 and 460 mg/kg, respectively. Pretreatment with FUra at 85 mg/kg for 7 weeks did not alter the activity of the enzymes responsible for the activation of FUra, namely uridine kinase or orotate phosphoribosyltransferase, in the intestinal epithelium or bone marrow, but it did decrease the 24-h urinary excretion of intact [3H]FUra by almost 40% (P<0.01). In addition, the FUra pretreatment schedule resulted in a 31% (P=0.14) increase in the activity of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase in the liver. These results suggest that increased degradation of FUra can be induced by chronic treatment with the drug. Finally, knowledge of the development of increased drug catabolism was used to increase the therapeutic effectiveness, of FUra by its incorporation into an increasing-dose regimen. Mice bearing 24-h transplants of the murine breast tumor were treated with a constant dose of FUra for 12 weeks or with a dose that was increased, after 7 weeks, to a dose normally causing a high degree of drug-related mortality. The group receiving the incremented FUra dose had a significantly slower tumor growth rate without an increase in drug-related toxicity. These results are discussed in light of their obvious clinical implications.
The Conformal Factor and the Cosmological Constant

The issue of the conformal factor in quantum gravity is examined for Lorentzian signature spacetimes. In Euclidean signature, the “wrong” sign of the conformal action makes the path integral undefined, but in Lorentzian signature this sign is tied to the instability of gravity and once this is accounted for the path integral should be well-defined. In this approach it is not obvious that the Baum-Hawking-Coleman mechanism for suppression of the cosmological constant functions. It is conceivable that since the multiuniverse system exhibits an instability for positive cosmological constant, the dynamics should force the system to zero cosmological constant.
Ureteral papilla implantation as a technique for neoureterocystostomy in cats.

Objective— To evaluate ureteral papilla implantation for neoureterocystostomy in cats. Study Design— Experimental study. Animals— Five domestic shorthair cats. Methods— The ureteral papilla was resected and the ureter isolated to the level of the renal hilus. The ureter was reimplanted into the apex of the bladder and the contralateral kidney was removed. Serum creatinine concentrations were measured daily for 7 days, then every other day from days 7–14, then every 3rd day until day 35. Ultrasound examination (once during the first 4 days, then again on day 35) and intravenous pyelography (day 35) were performed to assess ureteral patency. Histologic examination of the anastomosis was performed on day 35. Results— Serum creatinine concentration remained within reference range for all cats except for a transient (<24 hour) increase (2.2, 2.3, and 3.6 mg/dL respectively) in 3 cats. Ultrasound examination and intravenous pyelography revealed no evidence of ureteral obstruction. Histologic examination revealed complete mucosal epithelialization of the anastomosis, moderate inflammation localized to residual suture material, and no evidence of vascular compromise of the ureteral papilla. Conclusion— Implantation of the ureteral papilla is a viable technique for neoureterocystostomy in cats. Clinical Relevance— Advantages of ureteral papilla neoureterocystostomy include the technical ease of suturing the ureteral papilla, reduced risk of ureteral obstruction because sutures are not placed directly within the ureteral lumen and a more secure anastomosis because a complete 2-layer closure is performed.
Extinguished cocaine cues increase drug seeking when presented simultaneously with a non-extinguished cocaine cue

Background Previous research with non-drug reinforcers has shown that simultaneously presenting (compounding) an extinguished cue with another cue formerly associated with the same reinforcer can increase rates of cue-controlled behavior. The present study investigated whether an extinguished cocaine cue would energize cocaine seeking when presented simultaneously with another cocaine cue. This study also investigated whether extinction could be enhanced by subjecting an extinguished cocaine cue to further extinction after administration of reinstating injections of cocaine.
Lattice expansion as a measure of surface segregation and the solubility of hydrogen in α-FeTiHx

The lattice expansion of α-FeTiHx as a function of hydrogen content was found to be anomalously small. Samples of α-FeTiHx were prepared by absorbing hydrogen in previously activated strain-relieved FeTi with a specific surface area of 0.5 m2 g−1. The apparent partial molar volume VH of hydrogen was 0.1± 0.1 cm3 (g atom)−1 (FeTiH < 0.03); this is much lower than the accepted range of 2.2-1.4 cm3 (g atom)−1 previously reported for hydrogen-metal solutions. This behavior is attributed to preferential occupation by hydrogen of titanium-rich sites produced by surface segregation effects which are known to occur in activated FeTi. The α-(α + β) phase boundary is estimated to occur at an overall composition equivalent to FeTiH≈0.04. At this composition about 85% of the total hydrogen content is estimated to be associated with surface layers approximately 100 A in depth. Unactivated (low surface area) FeTi behaved quite differently and it is clear that, in the low dilution region, surface segregation effects play a dominant role in the behavior of the system. We also present evidence that strain and dislocations produced by a hydriding-dehydriding cycle increase the hydrogen solubility and shift the phase boundary towards higher hydrogen contents.
An Instrument for Controlled, Automated Production of Micrometer Scale Fused Silica Pipettes

Micropipettes are hollow glass needles with tip openings ranging from less than 1 l mu p to 75 lm. Based on the size of the inner diameter of the micropipettes, they can be used for applications such as patch clamping, microinjection, and cell transfer. In the state-ofthe-art fabrication of micropipettes, a skilled individual is able to produce about 2 � 4 micropipettes per minute. Many labs, which utilize hundreds of pipettes on a weekly basis, would benefit from the increased speed, accuracy, and repeatability of an automated fabrication apparatus. We have designed, built, and tested a working prototype of a fully automated fused silica micropipette puller. Our device pulls pipettes from a continuous spool of capillary glass, which leads to minimized setup time for the operator and the ability to produce 6 micropipettes per minute. Micropipettes were pulled with average lengths ranging from 6‐20 mm and average tip diameters ranging from 18‐175 lm. Standard deviations for length and diameter were calculated to range from 0.24-2.9 mm and 3.5‐12 lm, respectively. Through measurements of the pulled pipettes, a trend has been determined which shows higher pulling velocity increases tip length and decreases tip diameter. A new model for heat transfer and geometrical analysis for the heating and cooling of the pipettes has been developed and matches closely to this experimental data. This can be used to predict pipette geometry. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4004194]
Visible Luminescence in Si/SiO2 Superlattices

Amorphous Si/SiO2 superlattices with periodicities from 2 to 5 nm have been grown on (100) Si wafers by several different techniques: molecular beam epitaxy, magnetron sputtering, and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). With the first two methods little or no hydrogen was incorporated during growth and visible photoluminescence (PL) was obtained at wavelengths from 520 to 800 nm. The shift in the PL peak position with Si layer thickness is consistent with quantum confined emission. Annealing the sputtered superlattices at temperatures up to 1100°C produced a very bright red PL that is similar in intensity to that found in porous Si. The PL was also considerably enhanced by deposition on aluminum-coated glass substrates. For large numbers of periods (e.g., 425) the PL was strongly modulated in intensity owing to optical interference within the superlattice. Similar quantum-confined PL was also observed in the PECVD grown superlattices, where the amorphous Si layers were heavily hydrogenated. The blue—red cathodoluminescence observed from sputtered superlattices is due primarily to defects in the SiO2 layers.
Long-term stability of self-assembled monolayers on 316L stainless steel

316L stainless steel (316L SS) has been extensively used for making orthopedic, dental and cardiovascular implants. The use of phosphonic acid self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on 316L SS has been previously explored for potential biomedical applications. In this study, we have investigated the long-term stability of methyl (-CH(3)) and carboxylic acid (-COOH)-terminated phosphonic acid SAMs on 316L under physiological conditions. The stability of SAMs on mechanically polished and electropolished 316L SS was also investigated as a part of this study. Well-ordered and uniform -CH(3)- and -COOH-terminated SAMs were coated on mechanically polished and electropolished 316L SS surfaces. The long-term stability of SAMs on 316L SS was investigated for up to 28 days in Tris-buffered saline (TBS) at 37 degrees C using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle goniometry. A significant amount of phosphonic acid molecules was desorbed from the 316L SS surfaces within 1 to 7 days of TBS immersion followed by a slow desorption of molecules over the remaining days. The -COOH-terminated SAM was found to be more stable than the -CH(3)-terminated SAM on both mechanically and electropolished surfaces. No significant differences in the desorption behavior of SAMs were observed between mechanically and electropolished 316L SS surfaces.
Singing intervention for preoperative hypertension prior to total joint replacement: A case report

Traditional therapy for pre-operative hypertension consists of pharmacological interventions, including diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, among others. Although these medications typically lower blood pressure to levels acceptable for surgery, a proportion of patients do not respond. In such refractory cases, clinicians may seek alternative forms of hypertension treatment. The salubrious effects of music therapy on both preoperative anxiety and blood pressure management have been reported in prior studies.1-9 Fourteen randomized controlled trials have examined the use of music as an antihypertensive or anti-anxiety therapy (e.g. references 3, 7, 10, 13, 14). Overall, these studies suggest that listening to music can be effective in reducing blood pressure preoperatively by calming or diverting patients, thereby lowering stress and anxiety. We report the case of a 76-year-old female with chronic stable hypertension who experienced severely elevated blood pressure prior to total knee replacement that was unresponsive to aggressive pharmacological therapy. Her blood pressure dropped dramatically when she sang several religious songs. This case adds to prior literature by pointing to the possible therapeutic effects of producing music, as distinct from listening to music, in the preoperative setting.
Influences of knowledge spillover and utilization on the NIS performance: a multi-stage efficiency perspective

The innovation process cannot be completed independently. Research on the national innovation system (NIS) has attracted considerable attention. Such research reveals that it is critically important to understand that the operation of the NIS is both multi-stage and multi-dimensional, and ultimately shows its results in terms of national economic performance. From the multi-stage efficiency perspective, we built a three-stage network data envelopment analysis model to assess the R&D efficiency of knowledge creation fostered by the NIS, the diffusion efficiency of knowledge spillover and the economic efficiency of the economic achievements resulting from knowledge utilization. The study subjects consisted of 41 countries, including China, Brazil and OECD member countries. Finally, the efficiency results of NISs involve both cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling to make efficiency analysis concrete and vivid, as well as to serve as benchmark targets for inefficient NISs.
Quality Improvement Opportunities in Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine

With the advent of blood banks and subsequent advances in collection and preservation of blood, the transfusion of blood allowed the performance of blood-losing surgery and the support of rigorous cancer treatments, as well as the support of patients who have hematologic illnesses. As the life-saving functions of transfusion were realized, so were the associated hazards inherent in this most widely performed type of tissue transplantation. This article reviews the quality initiatives that have been used to make blood transfusion safer and offers suggestions for further quality improvements.
A microcomputer catalog for municipal documents

Abstract A microcomputer and commercially available software were used to catalog a collection of approximately 500 municipal documents at the Lakewood Library of the Jefferson County (Colorado) Public Library system. This approach provided multiple access points with key word retrieval. The classification system devised was based on the Colorado State Publications Classification Schedule and was chosen to interface with the state and federal documents classification systems used in the library. The project required no more work than creating a traditional card shelflist but provides far more accessibility through either online searching or printed indexes.
Diffusion of zinc into GaAs layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low substrate temperatures

We report the diffusion of zinc into low temperature (LT) GaAs grown by MBE at 200° C, the problems associated with using a silicon nitride film directly deposited on the LT GaAs as a Zn diffusion mask, and several schemes to avoid the problems. The Zn diffusion coefficient is measured (sealed-ampoule technique) to be about one order of magnitude higher in the LT GaAs than in normal GaAs, attributed to a large quantity of defects including arsenic antisites (AsGa) in the LT GaAs. The effectiveness of silicon nitride as a Zn diffusion mask depends if the mask is deposited directly on the LT GaAs. The failure of the nitride directly deposited on the LT GaAs to stop the Zn is attributed to arsenic atoms outdiffusing from the As-rich LT GaAs (about 1 at. % excess As) into the nitride. Several structures are introduced including a 100-A thick GaAs layer on the LT GaAs that are effective in preserving the diffusion mask properties of the silicon nitride.
Design and Synthesis of Novel Indole β-Diketo Acid Derivatives as HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors

Diketo acids such as S-1360 (1A) and L-731,988 (2) are potent and selective inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase (IN). A plethora of diketo acid-containing compounds have been claimed in patent literature without disclosing much biological activities and synthetic details (reviewed in Neamati, N. Exp. Opin. Ther. Pat. 2002, 12, 709−724). To establish a coherent structure−activity relationship among the substituted indole nucleus bearing a β-diketo acid moiety, a series of substituted indole-β-diketo acids (4a−f and 5a−e) were synthesized. All compounds tested showed anti-IN activity at low micromolar concentrations with varied selectivity against the strand transfer process. Three compounds, the indole-3-β-diketo acids 5a and 5c, and the parent ester 9c, have shown an antiviral activity in cell-based assays. We further confirmed a keto-enolic structure in the 2,3-position of the diketo acid moiety of a representative compound (4c) using NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Using this structure as a lead for ...
Estimating the impact of satellite observations on the predictability of large-scale hydraulic models

Abstract Large-scale hydraulic models are able to predict flood characteristics, and are being used in forecasting applications. In this work, the potential value of satellite observations to initialize hydraulic forecasts is explored, using the Ensemble Sensitivity method. The impact estimation is based on the Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter, allowing for the forecast error reductions to be computed without additional model runs. The experimental design consisted of two configurations of the LISFLOOD-FP model over the Ohio River basin: a baseline simulation represents a “best effort” model using observations for parameters and boundary conditions, whereas the second simulation consists of erroneous parameters and boundary conditions. Results showed that the forecast skill was improved for water heights up to lead times of 11 days (error reductions ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 m/km), while even partial observations of the river contained information for the entire river’s water surface profile and allowed forecasting 5 to 7 days ahead. Moreover, water height observations had a negative impact on discharge forecasts for longer lead times although they did improve forecast skill for 1 and 3 days (up to 60 m 3 / s / km ). Lastly, the inundated area forecast errors were reduced overall for all examined lead times. Albeit, when examining a specific flood event the limitations of predictability were revealed suggesting that model errors or inflows were more important than initial conditions.
Brugia pahangi: Development in Aedes aegypti reared axenically on a defined synthetic diet

Abstract Adult Aedes aegypti axenically reared on a chemically defined dietary medium had low infectivity to Brugia pahangi , and harbored few third-stage parasitic juveniles. Some of these parasites appeared not to have completed the second molt at the end of 10 days of incubation. Mortality was high in mosquitoes from axenic larval rearings, especially during filarial infection. It appeared probable that adverse effects on the worm resulted from suboptimal host nutrition. Thus, manipulations of the chemically defined dietary medium used to rear A. aegypti may be used to study the influence of specific nutrients on filarial development.
A specific 17β-estradiol receptor in human benign hypertrophic prostrate

Abstract A specific 17β-estradiol receptor has been detected in the cytosol of human benign hypertrophic prostate. Scatchard analysis of the whole cytosol indicates that the receptor(s) has a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.73 × 10−9 m and a binding site concentration of 12 × 10−15 moles/mg of cytosolic protein. Specific nuclear uptake of tritiated estradiol from cytosol is observed in the temperature range 21–35°C but not at 0 or 45°C. Evidence is presented that the observed effects are not due to serum contamination.
Intermediate-temperature ordering in a three-state antiferromagnetic Potts model

We investigate the ordering in a three-state antiferromagnetic Potts model on a simple cubic lattice by using an efficient cluster-flipping Monte Carlo algorithm. By considering the degeneracy due to the sublattices in two different ways, we arrive at two entirely different phases [rotationally symmetric (RS) and permutationally symmetric sublattice (PSS)] for the intermediate temperature region. Each of these phases has been claimed to be the correct phase by different authors in a recent controversy over ordering in this system. We show that the system moves from a broken sublattice symmetry phase at low temperature to the disordered phase by going through the RS phase at intermediate temperature, and that the PSS phase results from taking the sublattice degeneracy into account in an incorrect fashion.
The potential impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on the use of race and ethnicity in the redistricting process

Abstract In June 1996, the US Supreme Court released two decisions which challenge the current wisdom with regard to the creation of electoral districts that incorporate racial criteria for districting. These decisions are examined and the implications for the electoral process in American cities are taken into account.
Tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase do not form heterotetramers

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) both contain a C-terminal tetramerization domain composed of a leucine heptad repeat embedded within a 4,3-hydrophobic repeat. Previous mutagenesis experiments and X-ray crystallographic studies have demonstrated that these repeats are required for tetramer assembly of the hydroxylase enzymes via coiled-coil interactions. The specificity of these particular C-terminal intersubunit binding motifs was investigated by determining if TH and TPH can form heterotetramers when coexpressed in bacteria. Bacterial cells were cotransformed with TH and TPH expression plasmids under kanamycin and ampicillin selection, respectively. Immunoprecipitation of induced bacterial supernatants with a TPH monoclonal antibody demonstrated that, unlike the human TH isoforms, TH and TPH do not form heterotetramers. The data suggest that specificity of oligomerization of the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases may be partially determined by polar amino acids interspersed within the coiled-coil. This finding should be influential in the development of eukaryotic expression systems and ultimately in gene therapy approaches.
Biased Assimilation: Effects of Assumptions and Expectations on the Interpretation of New Evidence

People so readily generalize that they often ‘know’ in advance what they are going to like and what they are going to dislike. They develop assumptions and expectations, which in part determine their future evaluative responses. Biased assimilation occurs when perceptions of new evidence are interpreted in such a way as to be assimilated into preexisting assumptions and expectations. Because this bias may not be deliberate, people suspect the motives of others who do not share their evaluations, and the bias is difficult to overcome. Biased assimilation most likely occurs, however, because acting as though one’s assumptions and expectations are correct is generally more adaptive than acting as though one’s assumptions and expectations might be wrong. Therefore, overcoming a general tendency toward biased assimilation is not necessarily desirable.
Scalable transparent checkpoint-restart of global address space applications on virtual machines over infiniband

Checkpoint-Restart is one of the most used software approaches to achieve fault-tolerance in high-end clusters. While standard techniques typically focus on user-level solutions, the advent of virtualization software has enabled efficient and transparent system-level approaches. In this paper, we present a scalable transparent system-level solution to address fault-tolerance for applications based on global address space (GAS) programming models on Infiniband clusters. In addition to handling communication, the solution addresses transparent checkpoint of user-generated files. We exploit the support for the Infiniband network in the Xen virtual machine environment. We have developed a version of the Aggregate Remote Memory Copy Interface (ARMCI) one-sided communication library capable of suspending and resuming applications. We present efficient and scalable mechanisms to distribute checkpoint requests and to backup virtual machines memory images and file systems. We tested our approach in the context of NWChem, a popular computational chemistry suite. We demonstrated that NWChem can be executed, without any modification to the source code, on a virtualized 8-node cluster with very little overhead (below 3%). We observe that the total checkpoint time is limited by disk I/O. Finally, we measured system-size depended components of the checkpoint time on up to 1024 cores (128 nodes), demonstrating the scalability of our approach in medium/large-scale systems.
Error-corrected AFM: a simple and broadly applicable approach for substantially improving AFM image accuracy.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become an indispensable tool for imaging the topography and properties of surfaces at the nanoscale. A ubiquitous problem, however, is that optimal accuracy demands smooth surfaces, slow scanning, and expert users, contrary to many AFM applications and practical use patterns. Accordingly, a simple correction to AFM topographic images is implemented, incorporating error signals such as deflection and/or amplitude data that have long been available but quantitatively underexploited. This is demonstrated to substantially improve both height and lateral accuracy for expert users, with a corresponding 3–5 fold decrease in image error. Common image artifacts due to inexperienced AFM use, generally poorly scanned surfaces, or high speed images acquired in as fast as 7 s, are also shown to be effectively rectified, returning results equivalent to standard ‘expert-user’ images. This concept is proven for contact mode AFM, AC-mode, and high speed imaging, as well as property mapping such as phase contrast, with obvious extensions to many specialized AFM variations as well. Conveniently, as this correction procedure is based on either real time or post-processing, it is easily employed for future as well as legacy AFM systems and data. Such error-corrected AFM therefore offers a simple, broadly applicable approach for more accurate, more efficient, and more user-friendly implementation of AFM for nanoscale topography and property mapping.
HMI ring diagram analysis I. The processing pipeline

The combination of high resolution, spatial coverage, and continuity of photospheric Doppler and other data from HMI has allowed us to embark on a program of systematic exploration of solar subsurface flows and thermal structure variations using the technique of ring-diagram analysis on an unprecedented scale. Two ring-diagrams pipelines exist: a synoptic program aimed at mapping the evolution of the circulation and local subsurface flows on a global scale from the surface to depths of down to 0.9Rsun, and a targeted program designed to provide a comprehensive view of the thermal structure anomalies associated with loci of magnetic activity over the course of their life cycles. In this paper we describe the analysis techniques implemented in the processing pipelines.
Linear and nonlinear gravity-capillary water waves with a soluble surfactant

Naturally occurring soluble-surfactant slicks influence the properties of water waves. This paper describes results from wave tank experiments involving a soluble surfactant, and linear and nonlinear gravity- capillary waves. Instantaneous surface deflections were measured using optical techniques to determine the damping, phase speed, and the frequency content of the waves for wavemaker frequencies from 4 to 22 Hz. Measured linear-wave phase speed and damping agree well with existing theory at surfactant concentrations away from that leading to maximum damping. Under conditions leading to nonlinear waves, an as-yet-unexplained subharmonic wave with one-sixth the wavemaker frequency was found only with soluble surfactant present.
The role of photo-osmotic adaptation in semi-continuous culture and lipid particle release from Dunaliella viridis

Although great efforts have been made to elucidate the phenotypic responses of alga to varying levels of nutrients, osmotic environments, and photosynthetically active radiation intensities, the role of interactions among these variables is largely nebulous. Here, we describe a general method for establishing and maintaining semi-continuous cultures of the halophilic microalgal production strain, Dunaliella viridis, that is independent of variations in salinity and illumination intensity. Using this method, the cultures were evaluated to elucidate the overlapping roles of photosynthetic and osmotic adaptation on the accumulation and compositional variation of the biomass, photosynthetic productivity, and physiological biomarkers, as well as spectroscopic and morphological details at the single-cell level. Correlation matrices defining the relationships among the observables and based on variation of the illumination intensity and salinity were constructed for predicting bioproduct yields for varying culture conditions. Following maintenance of stable cultures for 6-week intervals, phenotypic responses to photo-osmotic drift were explored using a combination of single-cell hyperspectral fluorescence imaging and flow cytometry. In addition to morphological changes, release of lipid microparticles from the cells that is disproportionate to cell lysis was observed under hypotonic drift, indicating the existence of a reversible membrane permeation mechanism in Dunaliella. This phenomenon introduces the potential for low-cost strategies for recovering lipids and pigments from the microalgae by minimizing the requirement for energy intensive harvesting and dewatering of the biomass. The results should be applicable to outdoor culture, where seasonal changes resulting in variable solar flux and precipitation and evaporation rates are anticipated.
A Regulatory Perspective on Choice of Margin and Statistical Inference Issue in Non‐inferiority Trials

Without a placebo arm, any non-inferiority inference involving assessment of the placebo effect under the active control trial setting is difficult. The statistical risk for falsely concluding non-inferiority cannot be evaluated unless the constancy assumption approximately holds that the effect of the active control under the historical trial setting where the control effect can be assessed carries to the noninferiority trial setting. The constancy assumption cannot be checked because of missing the placebo arm in the non-inferiority trial. Depending on how serious the violation of the assumption is thought to be, one may need to seek an alternative design strategy that includes a cushion for a very conservative non-inferiority analysis or shows superiority of the experimental treatment over the control. Determination of the non-inferiority margin depends on what objective the non-inferiority analysis is intended to achieve. The margin can be a fixed margin or a margin functionally defined. Between-trial differences always exist and need to be properly considered.
DAVIES ON THE MUSICAL EXPRESSION OF EMOTION

Critique de la conception de l'expression musicale des sentiments developpee par S. Davies dans son ouvrage intitule «La signification et l'expression musicales» (1994). Examinant la definition de l'expression musicale en termes d'acte intentionnel faisant reference a des emotions psychologiques, l'A. confronte la position de Davies a plusieurs objections concernant l'expressivite, la qualite dynamique et la sensibilite de la musique. Dans l'article suivant (in Aesthetics» (1999, 3, 39, pp. 282-287), S. Davies repond aux critiques de R. Stecker en reexaminant la question de la ressemblance et de l'apparence des oeuvres instrumentales et des emotions
Engineering non-sintered, metal-terminated tungsten carbide nanoparticles for catalysis.

Transition-metal carbides (TMCs) exhibit catalytic activities similar to platinum group metals (PGMs), yet TMCs are orders of magnitude more abundant and less expensive. However, current TMC synthesis methods lead to sintering, support degradation, and surface impurity deposition, ultimately precluding their wide-scale use as catalysts. A method is presented for the production of metal-terminated TMC nanoparticles in the 1–4 nm range with tunable size, composition, and crystal phase. Carbon-supported tungsten carbide (WC) and molybdenum tungsten carbide (MoxW1−xC) nanoparticles are highly active and stable electrocatalysts. Specifically, activities and capacitances about 100-fold higher than commercial WC and within an order of magnitude of platinum-based catalysts are achieved for the hydrogen evolution and methanol electrooxidation reactions. This method opens an attractive avenue to replace PGMs in high energy density applications such as fuel cells and electrolyzers.
Prey capture in the Venus flytrap: collection or selection?

Charles Darwin first proposed that the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) functions optimally by capturing and digesting large prey, the small prey escaping through openings at the trap margins. This hypothesis, although intui- tively sound in the context of trap mechanics or plant allocation theory, has not been tested adequately with populations of plants growing in the field. Here, with traps collected in the endemic habitat over 9 months, we show that prey capture in the Venus flytrap is opportunistic rather than selective. While there was no effect of trap size on prey capture success, there was a significant but weak positive relationship between trap length and prey length. Prey sizes were well below the theoretical maximum holding capacities of traps and relatively small insects were represented across the range of trap sizes. Our results show that prey capture was not biased toward large invertebrates. Instead, we suggest that nonselective prey capture across the observed range of trap sizes is the best-fit explanation of trap function in the context of relatively limited ability to change allocation in response to sudden increases in resource availability.
A Balanced-Growth Version of the Linkage Hypothesis: A Test

I. Consolidated I-O tables averaged for developed and less developed countries, 159. — II. Linkage indices, 161. — III. The Hirschman-compliance index and the extreme version of the linkage hypothesis, 165. — IV. The balanced-growth version of the linkage hypothesis, 167. — V. Summary' and conclusions, 171.
A Hands-On Exercise Improves Understanding of the Standard Error of the Mean

One of the most difficult concepts for statistics students is the standard error of the mean. To improve understanding of this concept, 1 group of students used a hands-on procedure to sample from small populations representing either a true or false null hypothesis. The distribution of 120 sample means (n = 3) from each population had standard errors that closely approximated those of the theoretical sampling distributions, thereby illustrating how the Central Limit Theorem provides a standard error to use for hypothesis testing. Performance on an exam about the standard error of the mean was significantly better for the students who had completed this exercise than for students in a control group.
Effects of nutritional restriction on nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes in growing seabirds

When using stable isotopes as dietary tracers it is essential to consider eVects of nutritional state on isoto- pic fractionation. While starvation is known to induce enrichment of 15 N in body tissues, eVects of moderate food restriction on isotope signatures have rarely been tested. We conducted two experiments to investigate eVects of a 50-55% reduction in food intake on 15 N and 13 C values in blood cells and whole blood of tufted puYn chicks, a species that exhibits a variety of adaptive responses to nutritional deWcits. We found that blood from puYn chicks fed ad libitum became enriched in 15 N and 13 C compared to food-restricted chicks. Our results show that 15 N enrich- ment is not always associated with food deprivation and argue eVects of growth on diet-tissue fractionation of nitro- gen stable isotopes ( 15 N) need to be considered in stable isotope studies. The decrease in 13 C of whole blood and blood cells in restricted birds is likely due to incorporation of carbon from 13 C-depleted lipids into proteins. EVects of nutritional restriction on 15 N and 13 C values were rela- tively small in both experiments ( 15 N: 0.77 and 0.41‰, 13 C: 0.20 and 0.25‰) compared to eVects of ecological processes, indicating physiological eVects do not preclude the use of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in studies of seabird ecology. Nevertheless, our results demonstrate that physiological processes aVect nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes in growing birds and we caution isotope ecologists to consider these eVects to avoid drawing spurious conclu- sions.
Shifts in air traffic controllers' situation awareness during high altitude mixed equipage operations

Studies of future airspace design often predict that automated tools will be available to assist the controller and sometimes complete tasks independently of controller intervention. How this redistribution of functions will change the role of the controller needs to be considered, as does its impact on the controller’s awareness of aircraft movement in their sector. In a study of high altitude operations in future airspace where aircraft were equipped with different levels of data communications capabilities, it was found that about half of the participants positively attributed the contribution of the automation as assisting their own level of situation awareness (SA) – and hence perceived themselves as being in a better position in terms of SA under more automated / equipped conditions. Whereas the other half of the participants, who did not consider the automation to assist their situation awareness, perceived themselves as having higher SA under conditions that were closer to the current day. With in...
Are ELL Students Underrepresented in Charter Schools? Demographic Trends in New York City, 2006–2008

Analysts of charter school reform have recently begun to investigate the enrollment patterns of special student populations, namely, low-income students, students classified as special education, and those with English language learner status. Using 3 recent years of data from the New York State School Report Cards and analyzing the charter population at the school level, the authors found that English language learners are consistently underrepresented in charter school populations across 3 academic years. Conversely, students who qualify for reduced-price lunch are overrepresented and students eligible for free lunch are approximately proportionally represented. This gap in enrollments of English language learners is confirmed by comparing to a population estimate drawn from data from the 2006–2008 American Community Survey. These patterns remain generally constant for all school years observed, but the distribution changes slightly as the total number of charter schools operating in New York City incre...
Development: Sketch for a Theory of Oct4

Summary How is it that Oct4, a transcription factor that controls pluripotency in stem cells, also controls lineage specification? A recent study investigating common Oct4 targets in vertebrate species indicates an evolutionarily conserved role in mediating cell adhesion. This finding may help decipher Oct4's versatility in governing stem cell behaviors.
Comparison of Plasma B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Single Ventricle Patients With Systemic Ventricle Heart Failure Versus Isolated Cavopulmonary Failure

The measurement of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has emerged as a useful biomarker of heart failure in patients with cardiomyopathy. The pathophysiology of heart failure in single ventricle (SV) circulation may be distinct from that of cardiomyopathies. A distinct pattern of BNP elevation in heart failure in the SV population was hypothesized: it is elevated in heart failure secondary to ventricular dysfunction but not in isolated cavopulmonary failure. BNP was measured prospectively in SV patients at catheterization (n = 22) and when assessing for heart failure (n = 11) (7 normal controls). Of 33 SV subjects (median age 62 months), 13 had aortopulmonary connections and 20 had cavopulmonary connections. Median and mean +/- SD BNP levels by shunt type were 184 and 754 +/- 1,086 pg/ml in the patients with aortopulmonary connections, 38 and 169 +/- 251 pg/ml in the patients with cavopulmonary connections, and 10 and 11 +/- 5 pg/ml in normal controls, respectively (p = 0.004). Median systemic ventricular end-diastolic pressure (8mm Hg, R = 0.45), mean pulmonary artery pressure (14.5 mm Hg, R = 0.62), and mean right atrial pressure (6.5 mm Hg, R = 0.54) were correlated with plasma BNP. SV subjects with symptomatic heart failure from dysfunctional systemic ventricles had median and mean +/- SD BNP levels of 378 and 714 +/- 912 pg/ml (n = 18) compared with patients with isolated failed Glenn or Fontan connections (19 and 23 +/- 16 pg/ml [n = 7, p = 0.001]) and those with no heart failure (22 and 22 +/- 12 pg/ml [n = 8, p = 0.001]). Excluding the group with cavopulmonary failure, the severity of heart failure from systemic ventricular dysfunction was associated with plasma BNP. In conclusion, plasma BNP is elevated in SV patients with systemic ventricular or left-sided cardiac failure. BNP is not elevated in patients missing a pulmonary ventricle with isolated cavopulmonary failure.