cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in Ad Hoc Network Design - The Network Engineering Design and Analysis Toolset (NEDAT)

This paper describes the input requirements and major attributes of the Network Engineering Design and Analysis Toolset (NEDAT). The NEDAT is an engineering oriented toolset that will produce valid and optimized, mobile ad hoc network designs based on input requirements and goals. The NEDAT prototype is currently at SRL 2/3 and is focused on capacity optimization for mobile ad hoc networks and has achieved excellent performance results for 30 nodes, 100 nodes, and 1000 nodes. During FY07, it is expected that the NEDAT achieve the SRL 4/5 level of maturity for both functional and performance goals.
Seed physiological performance of soybeans with altered saturated fatty acid contents

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seeds with elevated or reduced percentages of palmitate and elevated percentages of stearate were compared with seeds of typical composition in tests for germination, seedling growth rate and leachate conductivity. In general, seeds with altered compositions did well in these physiological tests, but their vigour tended to be negatively correlated with the percentages of stearate and palmitate in various lipid classes.
Effects of calcium on embryogenic induction and the accumulation of abscisic acid, and an early cysteine-labeled metallothionein gene in androgenic microspores of Triticum aestivum

Abstract A cloned cDNA to the wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) early cysteine-labeled metallothionein (EcMt) has been identified as a molecular marker for pollen embryogenesis in this plant. This transcript is not detected in uninucleate microspores at the time of culture or in pollen at any stage during normal ontogeny; its mRNA does increase in embryogenic microspores within 6 h of culture, peaks at around 24 h, declines, then levels off through the next 21 days of development. Additionally, the accumulation of the embryoid-abundant EcMt gene transcript shows a direct and positive correlation with an increase in abscisic acid (ABA) in embryogenic microspores and developing pollen embryoids. External Ca 2+ is required for in vitro pollen morphogenesis, since reduced Ca 2+ concentrations in the medium suppressed EcMt transcript accumulation and the ability of microspores to form embryoids; however, endogenous ABA levels were unaffected my manipulating calcium concentrations in the medium. The calmodulin antagonist, W-7 also suppressed androgenesis and EcMt levels in treated microspores without altering ABA concentrations. These results suggest that ABA alone cannot maintain sporophytic differentiation of microspores and that Ca 2+ may play a role in signal transduction during pollen androgenesis in bread wheat.
CD40-deficient, influenza-specific CD8 memory T cells develop and function normally in a CD40-sufficient environment.

Two models have been proposed to explain the requirement for CD40 signaling in CD8 T cell responses. The first model suggests that CD4 T cells activate antigen-presenting cells (APCs) through CD40 signaling (APC licensing). In turn, licensed APCs are able to prime naive CD8 T cells. The second model suggests that CD154-expressing CD4 T cells activate CD40-bearing CD8 T cells directly. Although the requirement for CD40 in APC licensing can be bypassed by inflammatory responses to pathogens that activate APCs directly, the second model predicts that CD8 responses to all antigens will be dependent on CD40 signaling. Here we determined which model applies to CD8 responses to influenza. We demonstrate that optimal CD8 T cell responses to influenza are dependent on CD40 signaling, however both primary and secondary responses to influenza require CD40 expression on non–T cells. Furthermore, CD40−/− CD8 T cells proliferate and differentiate to the same extent as CD40+/+ CD8 T cells in response to influenza, as long as they have equal access to CD40+/+ APCs. Thus, CD4 T cells do not activate influenza-specific CD8 cells directly through CD40 signaling. Instead, these data support the classical model, in which CD4 T cells provide help to CD8 T cells indirectly by activating APCs through CD40.
A Flexible Parameterization for Shortwave Optical Properties of Ice Crystals

A parameterization is presented that provides extinction cross section se, single-scattering albedo v, and asymmetryparametergof ice crystals for any combination of volume, projected area, aspect ratio, and crystal distortionatanywavelengthintheshortwave.Similartopreviousparameterizations,theschememakesuseof geometric optics approximations and the observation that optical properties of complex, aggregated ice crystals can be well approximated by those of single hexagonal crystals with varying size, aspect ratio, and distortion levels. In the standard geometric optics implementation used here, se is always twice the particle projectedarea.Itisshownthatvislargelydeterminedbythenewlydefinedabsorptionsizeparameterandthe particle aspect ratio. These dependences are parameterized using a combination of exponential, lognormal, and polynomial functions. The variation of g with aspect ratio and crystal distortion is parameterized for one reference wavelength using a combination of several polynomials. The dependences of g on refractive index and v are investigated and factors are determined to scale the parameterized g to provide values appropriate for other wavelengths. The parameterization scheme consists of only 88 coefficients. The scheme is tested for a large variety of hexagonal crystals in several wavelength bands from 0.2 to 4mm, revealing absolute differences with reference calculations of v and g that are both generally below 0.015. Over a large variety of cloud conditions, the resulting root-mean-squared differences with reference calculations of cloud reflectance,transmittance,andabsorptanceare1.4%,1.1%,and3.4%,respectively.Somepracticalapplications of the parameterization in atmospheric models are highlighted.
An unexpected flow abnormality.

A 71-YEAR-OLD woman with a recent history of dyspnea and ascites presented for surgical correction of Ebstein’s anomaly of the tricuspid valve. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization before surgery showed severe tricuspid regurgitation with a dilated hypokinetic right ventricle and moderate pulmonary hypertension. There was no evidence of an intracardiac shunt, and the left ventricle was normal in structure and function. Surgical findings were consistent with Ebstein’s anomaly, and tricuspid valve repair was attempted. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination after trial separation from cardiopulmonary bypass revealed persistent severe tricuspid regurgitation, however, and tricuspid valve replacement with a Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis was subsequently performed. Although separation from cardiopulmonary bypass was uneventful, intraoperative TEE revealed a Doppler color-flow abnormality below the prosthetic tricuspid valve (Fig 1). What is the origin of this color-flow jet?
Progress with diabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

See doi:10.1016/j.ehj.2003.11.002 for the article to which this editorial refers A revolution has taken place. We are witnessing a time when medical intervention is quantitatively improving the clinical outcomes of diabetic patients. As physicians we knew that diabetic patients had a worse natural history than non-diabetics. As interventional cardiologists, we knew that diabetic patients suffer from much higher restenosis rates than non-diabetics. In fact over the past several years, there has been a movement to refer diabetics with multivessel coronary artery disease for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), and away from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).1 In this issue of the European Heart Journal, a very clear forward step has been announced regarding improving outcomes in diabetics undergoing PCI.2 … *Correspondence to: Dr. Marc Cohen, Chief Division of Cardiology, Cardiac Cath Lab Administration, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, 201 Lyons Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07112, USA. Tel: +1 973-926-7852, Fax: +1 973-282-0839 E-mail address: marcohen{at}sbhcs.com
Gallbladder disease in patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

Abstract Background Patients undergoing weight loss surgery may have an increased incidence of subsequent gallbladder disease. Management options include treatment of symptomatic disease only, preoperative ultrasonography and concurrent cholecystectomy in presence of stones, routine concurrent cholecystectomy, and choleretic therapy postoperatively. Here we report our approach to patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and subsequent outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of all consecutive patients undergoing LAGB at our institution was performed. Only symptomatic patients were preoperatively evaluated for cholelithiasis and underwent concurrent cholecystectomy. No choleretics were used postoperatively. Weight loss data were collected when patients returned for band adjustments. All band adjustments were patient-driven and performed under fluoroscopic guidance. Results Between November 2001 and July 2004, 324 patients underwent LAGB. Mean starting weight was 143.6 kg (range, 92.3 to 250.5 kg), and mean body mass index was 50.5 kg/m 2 (range, 35.6 to 80 kg/m 2 ). Fifty-six patients had undergone previous cholecystectomy, and 7 other patients underwent concurrent cholecystectomy. Average follow-up was 12.5 months (range, 1.3 to 31 months). Absolute weight loss for all patients ranged from − 2.7 to 102.3 kg. Of the remaining patients, 3 underwent subsequent uneventful laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis. No independent predictors for post-LAGB gallbladder disease were identified. Conclusion Despite significant weight loss, few patients require cholecystectomy after LAGB. Routine preoperative ultrasonography, empiric cholecystectomy, and choleretic therapy are of questionable value in LAGB patients. Considering the magnitude of weight loss in our patients, empiric cholecystectomy for all bariatric procedures may merit further investigation.
Postdischarge Assessment After a Heart Failure Hospitalization The Next Step Forward

Heart failure (HF) is the most frequent cause of hospitalization for patients >65 years of age.1,–,5 More than 1 million patients are admitted to the hospital with HF each year in the United States, and this number is likely to increase because of aging of the general population, improved survival after acute cardiovascular conditions, and prevention of sudden cardiac death. Hospitalization for HF is one of the most powerful independent risk factors for death among patients with HF. Mortality during the initial hospitalization ranges from 6% to 7% in Europe to 3% to 4% in the United States, depending on the length of hospital stay.1,2 Poor outcomes have universally been shown after discharge, with 60- to 90-day mortality rates of 5% to 15% and hospital readmission rates of 30%.1,6,7 Depending on the duration of the first hospitalization and on the number of previous hospitalizations, the risk of dying after a hospitalization for HF is increased from 4-fold to 16-fold compared with before the hospitalization.8 Article see p 1806 Whereas the prognosis of patients with chronic HF has improved in recent years, there has been no change in the high risk of death or rehospitalization after an HF hospitalization.6,9–11 This has multiple causes. First, the hospitalization for HF may be the expression of end-stage HF. In these patients, all therapies have already been tried and have become ineffective or were not tolerated. There are no chances to improve their symptoms and prognosis except with the use of assist devices or heart transplantation. These patients, however, are only a small proportion, <5%, of all the patients hospitalized for HF. An improvement in outcomes is possible in the others.1,12 In addition …
Does Central Venous Pressure Predict Fluid Responsiveness?: A Systematic Review of the Literature and the Tale of Seven Mares

Background Central venous pressure (CVP) is used almost universally to guide fluid therapy in hospitalized patients. Both historical and recent data suggest that this approach may be flawed. Objective A systematic review of the literature to determine the following: (1) the relationship between CVP and blood volume, (2) the ability of CVP to predict fluid responsiveness, and (3) the ability of the change in CVP (ΔCVP) to predict fluid responsiveness. Data sources MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and citation review of relevant primary and review articles. Study selection Reported clinical trials that evaluated either the relationship between CVP and blood volume or reported the associated between CVP/ΔCVP and the change in stroke volume/cardiac index following a fluid challenge. From 213 articles screened, 24 studies met our inclusion criteria and were included for data extraction. The studies included human adult subjects, healthy control subjects, and ICU and operating room patients. Data extraction Data were abstracted on study design, study size, study setting, patient population, correlation coefficient between CVP and blood volume, correlation coefficient (or receive operator characteristic [ROC]) between CVP/ΔCVP and change in stroke index/cardiac index, percentage of patients who responded to a fluid challenge, and baseline CVP of the fluid responders and nonresponders. Metaanalytic techniques were used to pool data. Data synthesis The 24 studies included 803 patients; 5 studies compared CVP with measured circulating blood volume, while 19 studies determined the relationship between CVP/ΔCVP and change in cardiac performance following a fluid challenge. The pooled correlation coefficient between CVP and measured blood volume was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03 to 0.28). Overall, 56 ± 16% of the patients included in this review responded to a fluid challenge. The pooled correlation coefficient between baseline CVP and change in stroke index/cardiac index was 0.18 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.28). The pooled area under the ROC curve was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.51 to 0.61). The pooled correlation between ΔCVP and change in stroke index/cardiac index was 0.11 (95% CI, 0.015 to 0.21). Baseline CVP was 8.7 ± 2.32 mm Hg [mean ± SD] in the responders as compared to 9.7 ± 2.2 mm Hg in nonresponders (not significant). Conclusions This systematic review demonstrated a very poor relationship between CVP and blood volume as well as the inability of CVP/ΔCVP to predict the hemodynamic response to a fluid challenge. CVP should not be used to make clinical decisions regarding fluid management.
Intragenic suppression of a luxR mutation: Characterization of an autoinducer-independent LuxR

The Vibrio fischeri luminescence genes are activated by the LuxR protein and a diffusible signal termed the autoinducer. LuxR consists of two domains, a C-terminal transcriptional activator domain, and an N-terminal autoinducer-binding domain, which serves to regulate the function of the C-terminal domain. We have isolated and characterized an intragenic suppressor of a mutation that maps to the N-terminal domain and blocks autoinducer binding. The suppressor changes an alanine residue at position-221 in the C-terminal domain to a valine. In Escherichia coli, the suppressor allows partial activation of the V. fischeri luminescence genes although E. coli containing this protein remains unable to bind autoinducer. To further analyze the influence of the second-site mutation on luxR function, we constructed a luxR gene that coded for a protein with a wild-type N-terminal domain and with the ala-221 to val substitution in the C-terminal domain. This protein activated the luminescence genes in the presence or absence of autoinducer, and it bound autoinducer at levels comparable to the wild-type LuxR protein. Apparently, the alanine to valine substitution at position-221 allows activity of the C-terminal domain in a fashion independent of whether autoinducer is bound to the N-terminal domain.
Detectability of lesser prairie‐chicken leks: A comparison of surveys from aircraft

Lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) are traditionally monitored by spring road- based lek surveys and counts of males attending leks. Several weaknesses exist with ground-based monitoring methods such as the bias of restricting surveys to roads, unknown probability of lek detection, and man-hours required to survey large tracts of habitat. We evaluated aerial surveys to locate lesser prairie-chicken leks in Texas and New Mexico using a Cessna 172 airplane (C172), R-22 Beta II helicopter (R-22), and R-44 Raven II helicopter (R-44) during spring 2007-2008. We determined lek activity during surveys with remote cameras placed on leks and cross-referenced time on the photo frame to time on our Global Positioning System flight log. From remote cameras we found that 305 leks were available for detection during survey flights. We determined lek detectability was 32.7% (95% CI ¼ 20.3-47.1%) in the C172, 72.3% (64.50- 79.14%) in the R-22, and 89.8% (82.0-95.0%) in the R-44. We created 16 a priori logistic regression models incorporating aircraft platform, distance to lek, survey date, lek size, and lek type to explain lek detection from aerial surveys. Our top ranked model included platform, distance, and lek type (model weight; wi ¼ 0.288). We had four competitive models and model averaged to draw inferences. Model averaging showed that detectability was generally greatest with the R-44, followed by the R-22, and lowest with the C172, with a slight deviation from this ranking at increased distances. Within our transect width, model averaging also suggested that detectability decreased as distance from the transect to the lek increased during helicopter surveys, and detectability increased as distance from the transect to the lek increased during C172 surveys. Furthermore, man-made leks were more likely to be detected than natural leks and large leks were more likely to be detected than medium or small leks. Aerial surveys effectively locate new leks and monitor lek density, and alleviate weaknesses associated with ground-based monitoring. We recommend using the R-44 to conduct lek surveys while flying at an altitude of 15 m at a speed of 60 km/hr on sunny mornings. 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Investigation of the Effect of Fixed Absorbers on the Reactivity of PWR Spent Nuclear Fuel for Burnup Credit

The effect of fixed absorbers on the reactivity of pressurized water reactor (PWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in support of burnup-credit criticality safety analyses is examined. A fuel assembly burned in conjunction with fixed absorbers may have a higher reactivity for a given burnup than an assembly that has not used fixed absorbers. As a result, guidance on burnup credit, issued by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Spent Fuel Project Office, recommends restricting the use of burnup credit to assemblies that have not used burnable absorbers. This recommendation eliminates a large portion of the currently discharged SNF from loading in burnup credit casks and thus severely limits the practical usefulness of burnup credit. Therefore, data are needed to support the extension of burnup credit to additional SNF. This research investigates the effect of various fixed absorbers, including integral burnable absorbers, burnable poison rods, control rods, and axial power shaping rods, on the reactivity of PWR SNF. Trends in reactivity with relevant parameters (e.g., initial fuel enrichment, burnup and absorber type, exposure, and design) are established, and anticipated reactivity effects are quantified. Where appropriate, recommendations are offered for addressing the reactivity effects of the fixed absorbers in burnup-credit safety analyses.
Time‐based Experience and International Expansion: The Case of an Emerging Economy

Building on the organizational learning theory and international expansion process model, this paper examines the effect of time-based experience on multidimensional performance including return on equity, sales growth, competitive position, and asset efficiency of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in an emerging economy (the People's Republic of China). The analysis, based on a recent survey of FIEs in China, demonstrates that time-based experience has a significantly positive effect on overall and individual dimensions of performance of FIEs. The underlying link between time-based experience and multidimensional performance is, however, moderated by the cultural distance between the host and home countries. Moreover, time-based experience moderates the positive impact of resource contributions, market commitment, and strategic innovativeness on venture performance.
Anti-tumor efficacy of a therapeutic peptide based on thermo-responsive elastin-like polypeptide in combination with gemcitabine

This work describes the effects of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) with the p21Waf1/Cip1-derived cell cycle inhibitory peptide (p21) on pancreatic tumor cells with gemcitabine. The thermo-responsive property of ELP permits use of a mild, local hyperthermia to target tumors for the transport of chemotherapeutics. In this study, a p21-ELP construct with Bac cell penetrating peptide was designed, and its anticancer activities in pancreatic cancer cell lines was examined. In combination with gemcitabine, the peptide demonstrated enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity as well as tumor growth inhibition in an animal model. Our data suggest that this ELP construct, with gemcitabine, may improve pancreatic cancer therapy.
Chronic anterior and posterior uveitis and primary Sjögren's syndrome.

We examined eight patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome and uveitis. In all patients, the uveitis was bilateral, chronic, anterior and posterior, and not associated with active chorioretinitis. Seven of the eight patients were women. The diagnosis of primary Sjogren's syndrome was generally based on results of a Schirmer test, minor salivary gland biopsy, and serologic studies. Frequent findings included keratic precipitates, cataract, a pars plana exudate, an increased sedimentation rate, a positive test for antinuclear antibodies in a speckled pattern, and associated systemic disease compatible with the spectrum of Sjogren's syndrome.
Milrinone Use Is Associated With Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery

Background— Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF), a frequent complication after cardiac surgery, causes morbidity and prolongs hospitalization. Inotropic drugs are commonly used perioperatively to support ventricular function. This study tested the hypothesis that the use of inotropic drugs is associated with postoperative AF. Methods and Results— We evaluated perioperative risk factors in 232 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery. All patients were in sinus rhythm at surgery. Sixty-seven patients (28.9%) developed AF a mean of 2.9±2.1 days after surgery. Patients who developed AF stayed in the hospital longer (P<0.001) and were more likely to die (P=0.02). Milrinone use was associated with an increased risk of postoperative AF (58.2% versus 26.1% in nonusers; P<0.001). Older age (63.4±10.7 versus 56.7±12.3 years; P<0.001), hypertension (P=0.04), lower preoperative ejection fraction (P=0.03), mitral valve surgery (P=0.02), right ventricular dysfunction (P=0.03), and higher mean pulmonary arter...
A New Method for Straightening DNA Molecules for Optical Restriction Mapping

We have developed an improved method of straightening DNA molecules for use in optical restriction mapping. The DNA was straightened on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane-coated glass slides using surface tension generated by a moving meniscus. In our method the meniscus motion was controlled mechanically, which provides advantages of speed and uniformity of the straightened molecules. Variation in the affinity of the silanized surfaces for DNA was compensated by precoating the slide with single-stranded non-target blocking DNA. A small amount of MgCl2 added to the DNA suspension increased the DNA-surface affinity and was necessary for efficient restriction enzyme digestion of the straightened surface-bound DNA. By adjusting the amounts of blocking DNA and MgCl2, we prepared slides that contained many straight parallel DNA molecules. Straightened lambda phage DNA (48 kb) bound to a slide surface was digested by EcoRI restriction endonuclease, and the resulting restriction fragments were imaged by fluorescence microscopy using a CCD camera. The observed fragment lengths showed excellent agreement with their predicted lengths.
Boron Diffusion Coefficient in Diamond

A study of boron diffusion into diamond lattice was performed. Diffusion was made in hydrogen atmosphere at 30 torr. Two type IIa diamonds were heated at 1200 and 1400 °C for 20 hours and 5 minutes, respectively. Boron powder was used as a dopant source. The boron concentration profiles of both samples were measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Based on Fick’s law, the diffusion coefficients were computed.
Evaluating Cybersecurity Education Interventions: Three Case Studies

The authors collaborate with cybersecurity faculty members from different universities to apply a five-step approach in designing an evaluation for education interventions. The goals of this exercise were to show how to design an evaluation for a real intervention from beginning to end, to highlight the common intervention goals and propose suitable evaluation instruments, and to discuss the expected investment of time and effort in preparing and performing the education evaluations.
Towards fusing uncertain location data from heterogeneous sources

Properly incorporating location-uncertainties --- which is, fully considering their impact when processing queries of interest --- is a paramount in any application dealing with spatio-temporal data. Typically, the location-uncertainty is a consequence of the fact that objects cannot be tracked continuously and the inherent imprecision of localization devices. Although there is a large body of works tackling various aspects of efficient management of uncertainty in spatio-temporal data --- the settings consider homogeneous localization devices, e.g., either a Global Positioning System (GPS), or different sensors (roadside, indoor, etc.).In this work, we take a first step towards combining the uncertain location data --- i.e., fusing the uncertainty of moving objects location --- obtained from both GPS devices and roadside sensors. We develop a formal model for capturing the whereabouts in time in this setting and propose the Fused Bead (FB) model, extending the bead model based solely on GPS locations. We also present algorithms for answering traditional spatio-temporal range queries, as well as a special variant pertaining to objects locations with respect to lanes on road segments --- augmenting the conventional graph based road network with the width attribute. In addition, pruning techniques are proposed in order to expedite the query processing. We evaluated the benefits of the proposed approach on both real (Beijing taxi) and synthetic (generated from a customized trajectory generator) data. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed method of fusing the uncertainties may eliminate up to 26 % of the false positives in the Beijing taxi data, and up to 40 % of the false positives in the larger synthetic dataset, when compared to using the traditional bead uncertainty models.
Myogenic response and wall mechanics of arterioles

The magnitude of the arteriolar response to altered intraluminal pressure was assessed in isolated, cannulated vessels of the hamster cheek pouch. Microvessels were studied during various levels of smooth muscle activation, either occurring spontaneously, or resulting from the application of exogenous agonists including potassium (35 or 70 mM) and phenylephrine (1.25 or 2.50 x 10(-6) M). Diameter-pressure curves were obtained by lowering intraluminal pressure from 60 to 0 mmHg in seven steps at 3-min intervals. At an intraluminal pressure of 40 mmHg, spontaneous tone produced an average constriction to 34 +/- 2% of the maximum diameter. Step reductions in pressure typically led to reductions in the level of activation of the muscle, which resulted in a net dilation over a significant pressure range. This “myogenic response” was more effective in modifying spontaneous tone than in modifying exogenous tone. In fact, the data suggest that reduction of the intraluminal pressure to zero can result in complete inactivation of spontaneous tone. Complete inactivation was not observed when contractions were induced by exogenous agonists, however. The magnitude of the myogenic response in arterioles was consistent with a role in autoregulation, which is 2.5-fold greater than that previously reported for small arteries. The data demonstrate that in the analysis of the mechanics of submaximally activated blood vessels one must include considerations of two phenomenon: the classical stress-length behavior as determined under conditions of maximal activation, and a superimposed modification of the activation level induced by stress- or length-dependent processes. Furthermore, the findings indicate substantial differences in response when tone is spontaneous compared with the case when tone is induced by exogenous agonists.
An Autopsy Survey of Aplastic Anemia

A comparative study of three autopsy series of cases of aplastic anemia (Galveston, Texas; Hiroshima; and Vienna) demonstrates the increasing prevalence of this disease. The patients in the series were similar in sex prevalence, age distribution, duration, and type of illness. The Japanese series differed in autopsy prevalence and in greater survivorship with the disease. The series are discordant in the frequencies of recognition of idiopathic cases.
Potential for Integration of Biological and Chemical Control of Greenhouse Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Using Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Abamectin

The compatibility of abamectin with Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) as a part of integrated pest management of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), was assessed in a series of laboratory and greenhouse experiments. In laboratory experiments using commercially formulated abamectin at the concentration recommended for greenhouse use, mortality of the adult parasitoids ranged from 100%, when exposed to 2-h-old abamectin residues on bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the presence of whitefly larvae, to 0% when exposed to 24-h-old residues without whitefly larvae. More than 50% of the E. formosa successfully eclosed from parasitized whitefly pupae on bean leaves dipped in formulated abamectin. In the greenhouse experiment, the combined treatment of abamectin and E. formosa maintained significantly lower densities of whiteflies on poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima (Willdenow), throughout the season with fewer abamectin applications than did abamectin alone. Moreover, the percentage of parasitism did not differ significantly among plants treated with and without abamectin. Abamectin might be used to reduce whitefly numbers on poinsettia without eliminating the parasitoid population when releases of E. formosa are not satisfactory. A possible explanation for the partial selectivity of abamectin to E. formosa is discussed.
Seclusion in Treatment of Adolescents on an Acute Inpatient Unit

Seclusion practices on a unit for adolescent inpatients with acute problems are compared with those in Norway on an innovative unit for adults. Research into the effectiveness of such programs is discussed.
Reduction of wireworm (Coleoptera:Elateridae) damage in sweet potato with insecticides applied by chemigation

Chemigation of insecticides was compared with soil incorporation of granular insecticides to reduce feeding damage of wireworm, Conoderus spp., to sweet potatoes. In 1988, emulsifiable (EC) and oil (EC plus nonemulsifiable oil) formulations of chlorpyrifos chemigated at two water volumes were compared with soil-incorporated chlorpyrifos granules at planting. In 1989 and 1990 EC and oil formulations of chlorpyrifos, chemigated at planting, were followed at root enlargement by chemigated EC and oil formulations of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, ethoprop, or fonofos. These treatments were compared with soil-incorporated chlorpyrifos granules applied at planting followed at root enlargement by soil-incorporated ethoprop or diazinon granules. During all years, there were no significant differences among formulations in total wireworm feeding damage and all treatments resulted in significant reduction of feeding damage compared with the nontreated check. In 1988, chlorpyrifos chemigated in 63.5 kliter/ha of water resulted in significantly less wireworm damage than when applied in 25.4 kliter/ha of water and was as effective as the soil-incorporated granules. In 1989, plots chemigated both at planting and at root enlargement had Significantly less wireworm damage than plots chemigated only at planting. In 1990, when the wireworm population was high, granular chlorpyrifos applied only at planting was more effective than EC of oil formulations of chlorpyrifos chemigated only at planting but was not significantly different from either formulation of chlorpyrifos chemigated at planting followed by EC or oil formulations of ethoprop or diazinon chemigated at root enlargement. Chemigation of insecticides to the soil to control wireworm damage of sweet potato can be an effective, cost-saving alternative to mechanical incorporation of insecticide. Savings include reduction of application costs and less damage to the crop caused by mechanical incorporation of insecticide.
Cerebrospinal fluid absorption in the rabbit. Optic pathways.

Fifteen rabbits were intrathecally perfused with horseradish peroxidase at normal cerebrospinal fluid pressures. Horseradish peroxidase was found in the subarachnoid space around the optic nerve; it permeated the pia and penetrated within the nerve, occupying extracellular spaces between myelinated axons and glial cells up to the area of the lamina cribrosa. Horseradish peroxidase also crossed the perineural sclera and the border tissue of Elschnig to spread into the choroid where it was mostly seen within choriocapillaris, venules, and veins crossing through interendothelial spaces. “Bulk” cerebrospinal fluid absorption in the eye appears to occur through venous drainage in the choroid and SAS.
Spontaneous Partition of Carbon Nanotubes in Polymer-Modified Aqueous Phases

The distribution of nanoparticles in different aqueous environments is a fundamental problem underlying a number of processes, ranging from biomedical applications of nanoparticles to their effects on the environment, health, and safety. Here, we study distribution of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in two immiscible aqueous phases formed by the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran. This well-defined model system exhibits a strikingly robust phenomenon: CNTs spontaneously partition between the PEG- and the dextran-rich phases according to nanotube’s diameter and metallicity. Thermodynamic analysis suggests that this chirality-dependent partition is determined by nanotube’s intrinsic hydrophobicity and reveals two distinct regimes in hydrophobicity-chirality relation: a small diameter ( 1.2 nm) regime, where nanotube’s polarizability renders semiconducting tubes more hydro...
Influence of Tropospheric Ozone Control on Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation at the Surface

Improving air quality by reducing ambient ozone (O3) will likely lower O3 concentrations throughout the troposphere and increase the transmission of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation to the surface. The changes in surface UV radiation between two control scenarios (nominally 84 and 70 ppb O3 for summer 2020) in the Eastern two-thirds of the contiguous U.S. are estimated, using tropospheric O3 profiles calculated with a chemistry-transport model (Community Multi-Scale Air Quality, CMAQ) as inputs to a detailed model of the transfer of solar radiation through the atmosphere (tropospheric ultraviolet-visible, TUV) for clear skies, weighed for the wavelengths known to induce sunburn and skin cancer. Because the incremental emission controls differ according to region, strong spatial variability in O3 reductions and in corresponding UV radiation increments is seen. The geographically averaged UV increase is 0.11 ± 0.03%, whereas the population-weighted increase is larger, 0.19 ± 0.06%, because O3 reductions are...
Nutrient use preferences among soil Streptomyces suggest greater resource competition in monoculture than polyculture plant communities

Nutrient use overlap among sympatric Streptomyces populations is correlated with pathogen inhibitory capacity, yet there is little information on either the factors that influence nutrient use overlap among coexisting populations or the diversity of nutrient use among soil Streptomyces. We examined the effects of plant host and plant species richness on nutrient use of Streptomyces isolated from the rhizosphere of Andropogon gerardii (Ag) and Lespedeza capitata (Lc) growing in communities of 1 (monoculture) or 16 (polyculture) plant species. Growth on 95 carbon sources was assessed over 5d. Cumulative growth was significantly greater for polyculture vs. monoculture isolates, and for Lc vs. Ag isolates. Isolates from monocultures, but not polycultures, exhibited a drop in growth rates between 24 h and 72 h post-inoculation, suggesting resource allocation to non-growth functions. Isolates from high-carbon (polyculture) or high-nitrogen (Lc) soils had larger niche widths than isolates from low-C (monocultures) or low-N (Ag) soils. Sympatric isolates from polycultures were significantly more differentiated from one another in preferred nutrients for growth than sympatric isolates from monocultures. These results suggest that Streptomyces populations respond to selection imposed by plant host and plant community richness and that populations from polyculture but not from monoculture, mediate resource competition via niche differentiation.
Acoustic, hydrodynamic and thermal modes in a supersonic cold jet

Large-eddy simulation data for a Mach 1.3 round jet are decomposed into acoustic, hydrodynamic and thermal components using Doak’s momentum potential theory. The decomposed fields are then analysed to examine the properties of each mode and their dynamics based on the transport equation for the total fluctuating enthalpy. The solenoidal fluctuations highlight hydrodynamic components of the jet and capture the shear layer growth and breakdown process. The acoustic mode exhibits a jittering coherent wavepacket structure in the turbulent region and consequent highly directional downstream radiation. The expected radial decay rates, for hydrodynamic and for acoustic, are recovered and closely follow the universal radiation spectra in the sideline and downstream directions. The scalogram of the acoustic mode in the near-acoustic-field region is consistent with that of the pressure perturbation signal in the acoustic-frequency range, but effectively removes the hydrodynamic and thermal content. The time-resolved and mean behaviour of terms in the total fluctuating enthalpy equation is analysed in detail. A large-scale intermittent event in the near-acoustic field is shown to be associated with an intrusion of vortices from the shear layer into the core of the jet. Acoustic sources are created when the resulting negative fluctuations in the solenoidal component interact with positive fluctuations in the Coriolis acceleration term. The latter are associated with regions of high vorticity on the inner side of the shear layer. In contrast, sinks result from the interaction of solenoidal momentum fluctuations with positive entropy gradients along entrainment streaks.
Transpacific Studies: Framing an Emerging Field

In 1993, Paul Gilroy’s Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness highlighted the Atlantic Ocean as an analytic space offering critical insight into the transnational histories and flows th...
CHAPTER XI – Free-Energy Functions

The leading ideas which I followed in my paper on the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances was to develop the roles of energy and entropy in the theory of thermo-dynamic equilibrium. By means of these quantities the general condition of equilibrium is easily expressed, and by applying this to various cases we are led at once to the special conditions which characterize them.
Effect of sense wire resistance on readout noise of large liquid argon time projection chambers

Large Liquid Argon (LAr) Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) are becoming very attractive for long baseline neutrino and proton decay experiments because of their imaging capabilities and their excellent energy resolution. In the design of large LTPCs, with wire lengths of several meters (~5m, and up to 10-20m for proposed multi-kiloton detectors), the noise generated by the resistance of the wire needs to be taken into account. The wire cannot be modeled simply as a capacitance connected to the preamplifier: its resistance, coupled capacitively to adjacent wires constitutes a distributed RC diffusive line, which injects a noise current into the preamplifier. It will be shown that for most practical cases the noise source can be modeled as an equivalent noise generator corresponding to a resistance of R wire /3, in series to an impedance equal to the wire capacitance. This simple models allows the use the familiar formulas for the noise analysis of capacitive sources. The wire resistance noise for a typical 5m long, 150μm stainless steel wire (3mm wire spacing, and 3mm wire planes separation) increases the total noise by about 20% at 1μs shaping time, and becomes dominant for wire lengths >10m. It can be reduced by plating the stainless steel wire with high electrical conductivity metals.
Two birds, one stone: a fast, yet lightweight, indexing scheme for modern database systems

Classic database indexes (e.g., B+-Tree), though speed up queries, suffer from two main drawbacks: (1) An index usually yields 5% to 15% additional storage overhead which results in non-ignorable dollar cost in big data scenarios especially when deployed on modern storage devices. (2) Maintaining an index incurs high latency because the DBMS has to locate and update those index pages affected by the underlying table changes. This paper proposes Hippo a fast, yet scalable, database indexing approach. It significantly shrinks the index storage and mitigates maintenance overhead without compromising much on the query execution performance. Hippo stores disk page ranges instead of tuple pointers in the indexed table to reduce the storage space occupied by the index. It maintains simplified histograms that represent the data distribution and adopts a page grouping technique that groups contiguous pages into page ranges based on the similarity of their index key attribute distributions. When a query is issued, Hippo leverages the page ranges and histogram-based page summaries to recognize those pages such that their tuples are guaranteed not to satisfy the query predicates and inspects the remaining pages. Experiments based on real and synthetic datasets show that Hippo occupies up to two orders of magnitude less storage space than that of the B+-Tree while still achieving comparable query execution performance to that of the B+-Tree for 0.1% -- 1% selectivity factors. Also, the experiments show that Hippo outperforms BRIN (Block Range Index) in executing queries with various selectivity factors. Furthermore, Hippo achieves up to three orders of magnitude less maintenance overhead and up to an order of magnitude higher throughput (for hybrid query/update workloads) than its counterparts.
Heat capacity of VO2 single crystals

Abstract The heat capacity of VO2 was remeasured both above and below the transition temperature range of 330 – 345 K. For 150
Accessibility as a First-Class Concern in Teaching GUIs and Software Engineering (Abstract Only)

Ensuring that software systems are accessible to users with disabilities is historically neglected but increasingly important for professional software developers. It is imperative that students are familiar with accessible practices to support this often-overlooked form of diversity. We suggest that including accessibility topics when teaching user-interface development skills is a low-effort task that can directly support teaching core software development principles such as "separation of concerns" and "standards compliance." In this lightning talk we describe our initial efforts to integrate accessibility and accessible design as "first-class" topics into our department's required course on web development, including specific examples of concepts covered, classroom activities, and assignments. We also discuss suggestions for how to potentially integrate accessibility topics into other computer science courses which include any kinds of front-end user interfaces. The goal of this talk is to promote awareness of accessibility concerns, demonstrate the ease by which educators can include such material, and encourage discussion about how to engage students in such diversity considerations throughout the curriculum.
Formal synthesis of distributed optimal traffic control policies

We propose a formal methods approach to control traffic signals optimally from specifications described by metric temporal logic (MTL). Since real-time optimization is computationally infeasible beyond small-scale networks, we use a divide and conquer approach. We decompose the network into smaller subnetworks and synthesize assume-guarantee contracts for their interconnections. We show how to exploit mathematical properties of traffic dynamics to find time varying contracts by solving a constraint satisfaction problem. A model predictive control (MPC) approach is used to find local controls for each subnetwork to minimize induced delays, while assume-guarantee contracts and appropriately designed terminal constraints ensure the satisfaction of the specification all over the network. We present a case study on an urban traffic network.
Abstract 257: Urban Teaching and Non-Teaching Hospitals Outcomes: Myocardial Infarction

Background: Patients with myocardial infarction reportedly have different outcomes on discharge according to hospital characteristics. In the present study, we evaluated the differences between urb...
Julio C. Tello: Teoría y práctica en la arqueología andina

The present paper intends to elabora te a review of the anthropological and archaeological thought ofJulio C. Tello, additionally the relationship between him and the government of Augusto B. Leguia will be addressed. Four key works will be discussed: Wira Kocha (1923), Antiguo Peru. Primera Epoca (1929), Origen y Desarrollo de las Civilizaciones Prehistoricas Andinas ( 194 2) and Tite Discovery of tite Chavin Culture in Peru (1943).
Chi-Square Test of Biological Space Curve Affinities

This project attempts a discrimination of craniofacial shape between Pleistocene and recent humans. In this study three-dimensional craniofacial line tracings, referred to here as ridge curves, were surveyed. By means of a chi-square model, ridge curves taken from fossil specimens considered “transitional” were compared with homologous “average” ridge curves generated from Homo erectus and modern humans, H. sapiens sapiens. Results showed that only two of the five ridge curves, the medial brow and the nuchal torus, were useful in discriminating between these forms and determining the transitional specimens’ affinities. For these two ridge curves the Middle Pleistocene forms showed overwhelming similarity with modern humans. The nature of the separation for the two significant ridge curves was studied with a principal coordinates analysis. This study supports the assignment of Middle Pleistocene transitional specimens to “early” H. sapiens rather than to H. erectus (Dean, 1993).