cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient Monte Carlo probability estimation with finite element response surfaces built from progressive lattice sampling

The concept of ``progressive Lattice Sampling`` as a basis for generating successive finite element response surfaces that are increasingly effective in matching actual response functions is investigated here. The goal is optimal response surface generation, which achieves an adequate representation of system behavior over the relevant parameter space of a problem with a minimum of computational and user effort. Such is important in global optimization and in estimation of system probabilistic response, which are both made much more viable by replacing large complex computer models of system behavior by fast running accurate approximations. This paper outlines the methodology for Finite Element/Lattice Sampling (FE/LS) response surface generation and examines the effectiveness of progressively refined FE/LS response surfaces in decoupled Monte Carlo analysis of several model problems. The proposed method is in all cases more efficient (generally orders of magnitude more efficient) than direct Monte Carlo evaluation, with no appreciable loss of accuracy. Thus, when arriving at probabilities or distributions by Monte Carlo, it appears to be more efficient to expend computer model function evaluations on building a FE/LS response surface than to expend them in direct Monte Carlo sampling. Furthermore, the marginal efficiency of the FE/LS decoupled Monte Carlo approach increases as the size of the computer model increases, which is a very favorable property.
Leucine and arginine regulate trophoblast motility through mTOR-dependent and independent pathways in the preimplantation mouse embryo

Uterine implantation is a critical element of mammalian reproduction and is a tightly and highly coordinated event. An intricate and reciprocal uterine-embryo dialog exists to synchronize uterine receptivity with the concomitant activation of the blastocyst, maximizing implantation success. While a number of pathways involved in regulating uterine receptivity have been identified in the mouse, less is understood about blastocyst activation, the process by which the trophectoderm (TE) receives extrinsic cues that initiate new characteristics essential for implantation. Amino acids (AA) have been found to regulate blastocyst activation and TE motility in vitro. In particular, we find that arginine and leucine alone are necessary and sufficient to induce TE motility. Both arginine and leucine act individually and additively to propagate signals that are dependent on the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). The activities of the well-established downstream targets of mTORC1, p70S6K and 4EBP, do not correlate with trophoblast motility, suggesting that an independent-rapamycin-sensitive pathway operates to induce trophoblast motility, or that other, parallel amino acid-dependent pathways are also involved. We find that endogenous uterine factors act to induce mTORC1 activation and trophoblast motility at a specific time during pregnancy, and that this uterine signal is later than the previously defined signal that induces the attachment reaction. In vivo matured blastocysts exhibit competence to respond to an 8-hour AA stimulus by activating mTOR and subsequently undergoing trophoblast outgrowth by the morning of day 4.5 of pregnancy, but not on day 3.5. By the late afternoon of day 4.5, the embryos no longer require any exposure to AA to undergo trophoblast outgrowth in vitro, demonstrating the existence and timing of an equivalent in vivo signal. These results suggest that there are two separate uterine signals regulating implantation, one that primes the embryo for the attachment reaction and another that activates mTOR and initiates invasive behavior.
Early Visions of Interactivity: The In(put)s and Out(put)s of Real-Time Computing

Analyzing technical and other texts of the late 1960s and early 1970s, this paper explores the early discourses of interactivity—including writings by Charles Csuri, J.C.R. Licklider, Michael Noll, Ivan Sutherland and other notable figures—via the intersecting fields of computing and the arts, with a particular emphasis on the dynamic (in this instance, a disjuncture) between visionary ideas and the technical preconditions necessary for their realization.
Ceka extracoronal attachments

Summary Many precision attachments are available for use with removable restorations. The Ceka extracoronal attachment is described in this article. The economy, simplicity of care, ease of insertion and removal, and comfort in function make this type of prosthesis acceptable to patients. The ease of fabrication, esthetics, and strength make the Ceka attachment a necessary adjunct to the armamentarium of modern prosthetic dentistry.
The convergence of telecommunications and computing: what are the implications today?

As has been widely recognized for some time, the computing and telecommunications technologies are converging. This has meant different things at different times. In this review paper, we describe the current stare of convergence, and speculate about what it may mean in coming years. In particular, we argue that as a result of the horizontal integration of all media (voice, audio, video, animation, data) in a common network and terminal infrastructure, telecommunications and networked-computing applications are no longer distinguishable. Considering that the old terminology is no longer meaningful, we attempt to codify networked applications in accordance with their functionality and immediacy. As application functionality is increasingly defined in software, with commensurate cost-effective programmable terminals and means for distribution of applications over the network itself, we argue that user-to-user applications will be greatly impacted, moving into the rapid-innovation regime that has characterized user-to-information-server applications in the recent past. Finally we identify a number of areas where different technical approaches and design philosophies have characterized telecommunications and computing, and discuss how these technical approaches are merging and identify areas of needed research. We do not address complementary forms of convergence at the application or industrial level, such as convergence of the information and content-provider industries, but rather restrict attention to the infrastructure and technology.
Polychlorinated biphenyl-induced alteration of biologic parameters in the rat☆☆☆

the Rat. BRUCKNER, J. V., KHANNA, K. L. AND CORNISH, H. H. (1974). Toxicol. Appl. Phurmacol. 2-8, 189-199, Aroclor 1242, a commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture, was administered ip to rats for 10 weeks. Principal findings included: loss of body weight; hepatic and renal damage, with some animals exhibiting renal papillary epithelial hyperplasia; slight reduction in erythrocyte count, diameter, and hemoglobin content, with an elevation in serum iron; diminished plasma corticosteroid and glucose concentrations; increased urinary excretion of protein, sugars, and coproporphyrin. The effect of PCBs on several hepatic microsomal enzymatic parameters was also evaluated. Maximal hydroxylation and N-demethylation activities were observed 3-10 days following a single ip injection (100 mg/kg). Each remained significantly higher than control values after 20 days, with hydroxylation activity still 150 o/0 of controls after 40 days. The minimal effective single dose for induction of hydroxylation activity was approximately 5 mg/kg. Induction of hydroxylation activity was found to be dose-dependent; however, a smaller degree of correlation was noted between N-demethylation activity and dose. Values for cytochromes PbsO and b5 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity were observed to roughly parallel hydroxylation and N-demethylation activities, the highest degree of correlation was manifest between enzymatic activity and cytochrome Pb5” values. Commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) products consist of mixtures of PCB isomers, differing from one another in extent of chlorination. Although their use has recently been voluntarily restricted in the United States to closed-system heat transfer applications, global environmental contamination and accumulation in food chains has been demonstrated (Risebrough and delappe, 1972). Humans have been exposed to PCBs, either via accidental contamination of foodstuffs by quantities large enough to elicit toxic symptoms (Kuratsune et al., 1972), or via PCB residues in everyday foods. The latter mode of exposure has apparently resulted in deposition of detectable concentrations (al ppm wet weight) of PCBs in human adipose tissue within the general population of the United States (Price and Welch, 1972).
Regulation of adipocyte gene expression and differentiation by peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ

Abstract Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) γ is an orphan member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and is expressed at high levels specifically in adipose tissue. Recent data suggest that this factor is a central regulator of adipocyte gene expression and differentiation. Fibroblastic cell lines that express PPARγ ectopically can be induced to differentiate into fat cells by a variety of lipids and lipid-like activators of PPARs, suggesting that this protein may function to link adipogenesis with systemic lipid metabolism.
Spread of zoster virus in human embryonic lung cells and the inhibitory effect of iododeoxyuridine

Abstract Zoster virus infects human embryonic lung cells, but subsequently no free virus appears in the culture. When seeded onto cellular monolayers infected cells produce plaques under agar. A linear relationship has been established between the number of infected cells seeded and the number of plaques that develop. The spread of zoster virus has been followed by calculating the production of plaque-forming cells and correlating this with immunofluorescent detection of zoster antigen. Eight to sixteen hours are required for the virus to infect neighboring cells. The virus then spread from cell to cell throughout the culture; maximum infection was obtained 40–48 hours after inoculation. This spread was accompanied by cytopathic changes typical of zoster infection. Iododeoxyuridine prevents spread of zoster virus from cell to cell, but does not eradicate the infection since virus antigen and plaque-forming cells can be detected as long as 5 days after inoculation of the cultures in the presence of 100 μg of IUDR per milliliter.
Pinch force and forearm-muscle load during routine colonoscopy: a pilot study

Background and Objective Overuse injuries of the hand, wrist, forearm, and shoulder are common among endoscopists and may be from repetitive pinching and gripping forces or awkward posturing. In this pilot study, we evaluated distal upper-extremity musculoskeletal load during colonoscopy (1) to confirm the feasibility of performing ergonomic measurements in endoscopists and (2) to identify tasks that may contribute to overuse injuries. Design and Subjects Three experienced gastroenterologists were evaluated during 3 colonoscopies each. Setting Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California. Main Outcome Measurement Right-thumb pinch force using a thumb-force sensor and bilateral forearm-muscle activity using electromyography. Results The mean duration of the 9 colonoscopies was 19.5 minutes. The highest mean (SD) right-thumb peak pinch forces occurred during left (10.4 [4.1] N) and right (10.1 [4.5] N) colon insertion, which exceeded the injury threshold of 10 N. Mean peak forearm-muscle activity was also greatest during left and right colon insertion. Activity of the left abductor pollicis longus, left extensor carpi radialis, and right extensor carpi radialis exceeded the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) hand activity level (HAL) action limit. The left extensor carpi radialis was at the ACGIH HAL threshold limit. Limitations The small sample size, no force measurement for the left thumb, and all the gastroenterologists were men. Conclusion The pinch forces and forearm-muscle loads applied during routine colonoscopy may pose a risk for overuse injuries at the elbow and wrist.
An assay for protein kinase activity on polyacrylamide gels

Abstract A method for localizing protein kinase activity in polyacrylamide gels has been described. It may prove useful in (1) detecting different forms of protein kinase in various tissues, (2) distinguishing cyclic nucleotide-dependent and -independent forms of the enzyme, and (3) studying the dissociation of protein kinase by cyclic nucleotides.
Management of avulsion wounds with exposed bone

Lacerations and degloving injuries are common in horses. Because of the small amount of soft tissue covering the bones of the distal extremities, lacerated tendons, joint capsules, and exposed bone are a common sequella to traumatic wounds. Further, more wounds in this region are often associated with extensive soft tissue loss, crush injury, and may be severely contaminated leading to the necessity for open wound management and second intention healing. Exposed bone in open wounds can delay second intention healing indirectly and directly. Desiccation of the superficial layers of bone may lead to infectious osteitis and sequestrum formation. The rigid nature of bone indirectly inhibits contraction of granulation tissue and can prolong the inflammatory phase of wound healing. Skin grafts can be applied to fresh wounds that are vascular enough to produce granulation tissue rapidly, but graft survival is poor over areas of exposed bone because revascularization is slow or absent. Therefore, a healthy, uniform granulation tissue bed over exposed bone is required before skin grafting procedures can be utilized.
In vitro stimulation of monocyte tissue factor activity by autologous platelets

Washed human platelets were found to enhance phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated tissue factor (TF) synthesis when incubated with autologous mononuclear cell cultures. Furthermore, platelets increased TF synthesis even when no other stimulator was present during the incubation. Experiments utilizing similar cultures derived from blood of patients with Glanzmann's disease, von Willebrand's disease, and platelet storage pool disease indicated that platelets with each of these genetic defects possessed the capacity to enhance the synthesis of this initiator of coagulation by unstimulated cells as did normal platelets. The degree of platelet enhancement varied between individuals, but for any given donor, the extent of the effect depended on the concentration of platelets used. The effect was demonstrable at platelet/monocyte ratios ranging from a low of approximately 15 to the highest ratio used, about 300. For comparison the ratio of these two cellular elements in normal human blood is estimated to be approximately 1,000. These findings may reflect a relationship between these two cell types that can occur in vivo.
Rainfall Estimation by the WSR-88D for Heavy Rainfall Events

Abstract Storms that produce extreme flooding present a special challenge for the WSR-88D rainfall algorithms. The authors assess the utility of weather radar in the investigation of extreme rain-producing storms through both climatological analyses of long-term radar datasets and case studies of storm events. Climatological analyses are presented for long records of WSR-88D volume scan reflectivity observations, for hourly radar rainfall accumulations products (WSR-88D and WSR-57D), and for radar–rain gauge intercomparisons. These analyses provide a context for interpreting case study assessments of WSR-88D rainfall estimates. Case studies are presented of five storms that produced extreme floods in the United States. Events include 1) the orographically enhanced Rapidan storm in the Blue Ridge region of Virginia, which resulted in more than 600 mm of rain during a 6-h period on 27 June 1995; 2) the southeast Texas storms of 16–17 October 1994 in which approximately 750 mm of rain fell during a 6-h time ...
Generation of Leptin Receptor Bone Marrow Chimeras: Recovery From Irradiation, Immune Cellularity, Cytokine Expression, and Metabolic Parameters

Leptin regulates appetite and metabolism but also immunity and inflammation. Although functional leptin receptors (LepR) are expressed on hematopoietic cells, the role of these receptors in regulating immune function in vivo remains controversial. To clarify this issue, we performed bone marrow (BM) transplantation between obese db/db mice, lacking LepR, and wild-type (WT) mice. Results indicate that expression of LepR on BM-derived cells directly, though partially, regulates spleen and thymus cellularity, although the environment of db mice contributes to maintaining reduced cellularity of these organs. Selective expression of LepR on BM-derived cells also modulates leptin and adiponectin levels, with induction of a more favorable adipokine environment in the WT→db/db group. However, LepR signaling in BM-derived cells is not involved in regulation of body weight (BW) and composition, glycemia, hepatosteatosis or adipose tissue inflammation, although it modulates expression of interleukin (IL)-1β in the brain. Finally, data indicate that db mice have an increased susceptibility to irradiation compared to WT mice in terms of BW loss and recovery of leukocyte counts in peripheral blood. Therefore, interpretation of results obtained using BM chimeras between WT and db mice should take into account the difference in radiation sensitivity between the two types of animals.
Differing Forage Fish Assemblages Influence Trophic Structure in Neighboring Urban Lakes

Abstract Lakes Sammamish and Washington are two large, urban lakes in close proximity to Seattle, Washington. The two lakes have similar assemblages of apex predators, but differences in lake size, species richness, and forage fish assemblages contribute to contrasting trophic relationships. We used stable isotope and diet analyses to assess lake-specific differences in the trophic structure of fish and invertebrates from these lakes. Estimates of δ15N-based trophic elevation revealed that the food web in Lake Sammamish was truncated by approximately one complete trophic level relative to that of Lake Washington. The shorter food chain in Lake Sammamish reflected the absence of longfin smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys and minimal consumption of threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, emphasizing the importance of these species as primary forage fishes and trophic links between invertebrates and piscivores in Lake Washington. As two highly 15N-enriched and 13C-depleted energy sources, longfin smelt and...
Geographic Variation In Medical Costs: Evidence From HMOs

Abstract: This DataWatch presents data on geographic variation in medical costs across a sample of forty-six cities, using enrollment-weighted average Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEH...
Boundary element analysis of cracks in thermally stressed planar structures

Abstract The evaluation of stress intensity factors is important for the assessment of structural integrity of flawed structures. The boundary element method is used in the present work for the computation of steady-state and time-dependent stress intensity factors of cracks in thermally loaded structures. While many boundary and volume integral based formulations are available for the treatment of thermoelastic problems in solids, the present analysis is based on a recently developed boundary-only formulation. Crack-tip elements that accurately model the behavior of displacement, temperature fields and singularity of traction, flux fields are used for the accurate evaluation of stress intensity factors.
Association between major depressive disorder and physical illness

The association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and self-reported histories of specific physical illnesses was investigated in 320 controls and 1968 first-degree relatives and 254 spouses of probands in the NIMH Collaborative Depression study. The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version was used to assign Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) diagnoses and a structured self-report instrument was used to assess lifetime medical history. Lifetime MDD was diagnosed in 914 subjects, 402 of whom had been hospitalized or received somatic treatment ('treated' MDD). Strong associations were observed between MDD (either treated or untreated) and both frequent/severe headaches and migraine headaches. There was a marked gender effect such that the relative odds for a woman with treated MDD to report migraine were over 5:1. Other associations were found between MDD and skin infections, respiratory illness, ulcer, hypotension, and diabetes. This is the largest non-patient sample using standardized assessment of mental disorders by direct interview in which associations between specific physical illnesses and MDD have been demonstrated. Implications for clinical practice and neurobiological research in depression are discussed.
Three carbon annelation reagents: unsaturated alpha aminonitriles as homoenolate equivalents

Abstract α-Aminonitriles and (R = Me) can react as either acyl anion or β-homoenolate equivalents on varying the reaction conditions. Both modes of reaction are potentially useful in three carbon annelations.
Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Written Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

We examined the extent to which cognitive emotion-regulation (ER) strategies moderated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment outcome among 40 motor vehicle accident survivors. Participants were randomly assigned to either a brief written exposure therapy (WET) condition or a waitlist condition and were assessed pre- and posttreatment and at a 3-month follow-up. Positive-reappraisal and putting-into-perspective strategies at baseline interacted with condition to predict symptom change over time. Both strategies predicted greater reductions in PTSD in the waitlist group, suggesting facilitation of natural recovery. However, positive reappraisal was associated with smaller reductions in PTSD in the WET group, suggesting that this strategy may interfere with treatment. Treatment also reduced use of the maladaptive ER strategy of rumination. These results provide evidence that putting-into-perspective and positive-reappraisal strategies are beneficial in the absence of treatment and that certain types of ER strategies may reduce response to WET, highlighting the importance of future research examining ER during treatment.
Alcohol, neural stem cells, and adult neurogenesis

Recent research demonstrates that neural stem cells divide throughout life and give rise to new neurons, a process known as neurogenesis. This article addresses two principal questions concerning alcohol and adult neurogenesis: To what extent are neurogenesis in the adult brain and the risk for alcoholism governed by similar factors? And, to what extent and through what mechanisms do alcohol use and alcoholism affect adult neurogenesis? This article also discusses genetic and environmental influences on risk for alcoholism and on regulation of neurogenesis; the possibility that modulation of neurogenesis contributes to alcoholic pathology; and the evidence that alcohol disrupts neurogenesis in the adult brain, and the neurochemical processes by which this may occur.
Public Health Training Center Evaluation: A Framework for Using Logic Models to Improve Practice and Educate the Public Health Workforce

The nation's 37 public health training centers (PHTCs) provide competency-based trainings and practice-based opportunities to advance the current and future public health workforces. The Emory PHTC, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has developed a comprehensive evaluation plan to address the many evaluation-related questions that must be answered to inform decisions that improve practice. This plan, based on the center's logic model, includes formative assessment, outcome evaluation, process evaluation, and programmatic evaluation. Rigorous evaluation has been used to (a) assess what is working, what is not working, and why; (b) guide decision making about program improvement; and (c) ensure efficient use of resources, such as time and money. This article describes how the Emory PHTC uses its logic model to guide development of a comprehensive evaluation plan and to create specific data collection tools. It also explains the process used to analyze data and make decisions to maximize effectiveness and ensure the best use of resources. Simply conducting trainings and providing opportunities for real-world application are not enough; it is critical to assess whether or not these educational opportunities are, in fact, educating.
The contribution of spontaneous mutation to variation in environmental responses of Arabidopsis thaliana: responses to light.

Although the evolutionary importance of spontaneous mutation is evident, its contribution to the evolution of ecological specificity remains unclear, because the environmental sensitivity of effects of new mutations has received little empirical attention. To address this issue, we report a greenhouse in which we grew plants from 20 mutation-accumulation (MA) lines, advanced by selfing and single-seed descent from a single common founder to generation 17, as well as plants from five lines representing the founder, in high and low nutrient conditions. We examined 11 traits throughout life history, including germination, survivorship, bolting date, flowering date, leaf number, leaf size, early and late height, mean fruit size, total seed weight, and reproductive biomass. Comparison of trait means between the two generations did not support the commonly held view that new mutations affecting fitness in these MA lines are strongly biased toward deleterious effects. We detected significant variance among MA lines for one fitness component, mean fruit size, but we did not detect a significant contribution of mutations accumulated in these MA lines to genotype by environment interaction (GEI). These results suggest that other evolutionary mechanisms play a more important role than spontaneous mutation alone in establishing the GEI found for wild collections and lab accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana in previous studies.
The Evolution and Distribution of Species Body Size

The distribution of species body size within taxonomic groups exhibits a heavy right tail extending over many orders of magnitude, where most species are much larger than the smallest species. We provide a simple model of cladogenetic diffusion over evolutionary time that omits explicit mechanisms for interspecific competition and other microevolutionary processes, yet fully explains the shape of this distribution. We estimate the model's parameters from fossil data and find that it robustly reproduces the distribution of 4002 mammal species from the late Quaternary. The observed fit suggests that the asymmetric distribution arises from a fundamental trade-off between the short-term selective advantages (Cope's rule) and long-term selective risks of increased species body size in the presence of a taxon-specific lower limit on body size.
Protection of cucumber pickle quality by CaNa2EDTA

The effects of calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (CaNa2EDTA) on color, texture and lipid oxidation of fermented and nonfermented cucumber pickles stored in light or dark conditions were investigated. Color (L and hue angle values) of pickles exposed to light was protected against bleaching by CaNa2EDTA. Also, CaNa2EDTA suppressed production of TBA-reactive substances and ethylene indicating protection against lipid oxidation. Force (N) required to penetrate exocarp (peel) tissues of fermented pickles was reduced by CaNa2EDTA. Measurements of residual CaNa2EDTA indicated that it was stable in fermented and nonfermented pickles. Treatments with at least 100ppm CaNa2EDTA were necessary to achieve maximum protection against loss of color and oxidation.
Do Religious Coping Styles Moderate or Mediate the External and Internalized Racism-Distress Links?

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential moderating and mediating roles of positive and negative religious coping styles in the relationship between external and internalized racism and African American persons’ psychological distress. Participants included 269 African Americans who completed a web-based Internet survey. Results revealed that negative religious coping styles partially mediated the relationships between racist events and internalized racism and psychological distress. No support was found for the mediating role of positive religious coping or for the moderating roles of positive and negative religious coping in the links between racist events and internalized racism and psychological distress. Research and practice implications are discussed.
Use of a modified version of the Overt Aggression Scale in the measurement and assessment of aggressive behaviours following brain injury

Aggressive behaviour creates a significant challenge in neurorehabilitation. Despite the success in using behaviour modification principles in the treatment of post-acute behavioural problems, psychopharmacological approaches to the management of aggression are more frequently reported. However, inconsistencies apparent in the literature hinder inter-study comparisons of treatment methods. These include severity of brain injury, neuropsychological status and rigour of experimental methodology used. Data about aggression is also inconsistently reported, especially with regard to classification and severity. Descriptions of how aggressive behaviour responded to pre-treatment is also generally absent. In this paper an observational rating scale is described in an attempt to address these inconsistencies. The Overt Aggression Scale has been modified by increasing the range of interventions to reflect current practice in neurorehabilitation, and by changing the language to make it suitable for UK users. A range of antecedents has also been added to make the scale useful in behavioural analysis. Preliminary results indicate inter-rater reliability is good, and it is a valid indicator of type and severity of aggression. Antecedents and interventions used in the management of aggressive behaviours in neurorehabilitation are also illustrated. Clinical use of the scale is also discussed.
Ab-Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Molten Ni-Based Superalloys

Variations in composition and temperature of the liquid-phase molar volume (V(c,T)) play a critical role in driving convective instabilities during the casting of single-crystal turbine blades. These instabilities have long been associated with the formation of large highly mis-oriented grains (i.e., freckle defects) that produce significant degradation in materials properties of these critical aerospace components. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations have been performed for elemental, binary and ternary alloys of Ni with Al, W, Re, and Ta, as well as a RENE-N4 multi-component superalloy, to compute equations of state at 1830 and 1750 K. Where comparisons with measurements are available, AIMD-calculated volumes agree to within 0.6-1.8% of experiment. Results are compared with recently published parameterizations of V(c,T) developed using binary experimental data from a narrow range of compositions. Also, structural analysis of the AIMD results based on radial distribution functions augmented with common-neighbor analysis and bond angle distributions reveal a strong tendency for icosahedral short range order for Ni-W and Ni-Re alloys. Finally, a new constant pressure methodology was added to the AIMD package that has allowed the efficient simulation of highly complex alloys, such as an eight component model of a RENE-N4 Ni-based superalloy.
Binary Search in Graphs

We study the following natural generalization of Binary Search to arbitrary connected graphs and nite metric spaces. In a given and known undirected positively weighted graph, one vertex is a target. The algorithm’s task is to identify the target by adaptively querying vertices. In response to querying a node q, the algorithm learns either that q is the target, or is given an edge out of q that lies on a shortest path from q to the target. Our main positive result is that in undirected graphs, and hence in nite metrics, log 2 n queries are always sucient to nd the target. This result extends to directed graphs that are \almost undirected" in the sense that each edge e with weight !e is part of a cycle of total weight at most c !e: here, c ln(n) queries are sucient. On the negative side, for strongly connected directed graphs, deciding whether K queries are sucient to identify the target is PSPACE-complete. This result also applies to undirected graphs with non-uniform query costs. We also show hardness in the polynomial hierarchy for a \semi-adaptive" version of the problem: the algorithm gets to query r vertices each in k rounds. This version is 2k 5-hard and in 2k 1 in the polynomial hierarchy.
Oomoldic porosity experimentally developed in Mississippian oolitic limestone

ABSTRACT Secondary fabric-selective porosity has been experimentally produced in the Ste Genevieve Limestone (Upper Valmeyeran, Mississippian, Illinois). Jacketed cylindrical specimens of the limestone were placed in a specially designed triaxial apparatus that permits circulation of pore fluid (CO2-charged water) under constant pressure while subjecting the rock specimen to constant vertical pressure, lateral confining pressure, and temperature. Burial conditions of about 10,000 ft (3,050 m) were simulated by an axial pressure of 10,150 psi (70 MPa), a lateral confuting pressure of 8,700 psi (60 MPa), and a pore pressure of 5,800 psi (40 MPa). All pressures were held constant throughout the tests and the temperature was maintained at 75° F (24° C). The results obtained indicate that fabric-selective secondary porosity can be developed in carbonate rocks by circulating fluids under conditions characteristic of deep burial, i.e., after pervasive cementation and after mineralogic stability have occurred. In the tested oolitic calcarenite, secondary porosity was developed and permeability was enhanced significantly by the centripetal preferential dissolution of the microporous cortical layers of the ooids, development of pore throats at the point contacts between ooids. and, ultimately, by the removal of nuclei to produce oomoldic porosity. Differences in CO2 concentration and flow rate of the fluid and in test specimen configuration had no observable influence on the dissolution effects, only on the solution rates.
Efficient incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins in Escherichia coli

We have developed a single-plasmid system for the efficient bacterial expression of mutant proteins containing unnatural amino acids at specific sites designated by amber nonsense codons. In this system, multiple copies of a gene encoding an amber suppressor tRNA derived from a Methanocaldococcus jannaschii tyrosyl-tRNA (MjtRNATyrCUA) are expressed under control of the proK promoter and terminator, and a gene encoding the desired mutant M. jannaschii tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (MjTyrRS) is expressed under control of a mutant glnS (glnS') promoter.
A Review of Virology: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis

Review of : Virology: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis, 1st ed.; Leonard C. Norkin; (2010). ASM Press, Washington DC. Hardcover, 725 pages. ISBN-10: 1555814530.
National Science Foundation-Sponsored Workshop Report: "The 2010 Project" functional genomics and the virtual plant. A blueprint for understanding how plants are built and how to improve them.

Although future developments in a rapidly emerging field can be difficult to predict, some projections and evaluations are helpful in planning for the development of community resources and other initiatives that may facilitate progress. To make these projections and evaluations, a group of
Learning ability and memory monitoring

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if learning ability (defined as fast and slow learners based on recall performance on a pretest) was related to memory-monitoring performance (indexed by the validity of feeling-of-knowing (FOK) and confidence-of-recognition (COR) judgments). A total of 289 undergraduate subjects participated in the study. A five-stage FOK experimental procedure was used: (a) learning, (b) immediate cued-recall test, (c) FOK rating, (d) recognition test, and (e) COR rating. The results revealed that fast and slow learners did not differ in the magnitude of FOK or COR. The validity of FOK was significantly higher for fast learners than for slow learners. The validity of COR was significantly higher than the validity of FOK but did not significantly differ for fast and slow learners.
Effect of Estrogen and Anti-estrogen on Reproductive Function in Neonatally Androgenized Female Rats

Estradiol benzoate (EB) and ethamoxytriphetol (MER-25)2 were administered during puberty in an attempt to influence time of occurrence of the anovulatory syndrome and degree of receptivity in neonatally androgenized rats. When 5 days old, Sprague-Dawley female rats were injected with either oil or 3, 5, 10 or 50 tig testosterone propionate (TP) and, when 26 days old, with either 20 μg EB for 5 or 10 successive days or 5.0 mg MER-25 or oil for 10 days. All subjects were ovariectomized between 81 and 90 days of age and after 1 week received the first of 3 weekly receptivity tests with vigorous males. Heat was induced by injecting 10 μg EB followed 44 hr later by 0.5 mg progesterone. For the most part, the effect of EB and MER-25 on age of vaginal opening was independent of neonatal androgen treatment. EB advanced by approximately 5 days and MER-25 delayed by 6 days onset time of vaginal canalization. Age of onset of persistent vaginal estrus (PVE) was inversely related to neonatal TP dosage. EB increased by...
Father Involvement, Nurturant Fathering, and Young Adult Psychosocial Functioning: Differences Among Adoptive, Adoptive Stepfather, and Nonadoptive Stepfamilies

The present study was conducted to investigate differences in nurturant fathering, father involvement, and young adult psychosocial functioning among small samples of three nontraditional family forms. A total of 168 young-adult university students from three family forms (27 adoptive, 22 adoptive stepfather, 119 nonadoptive stepfather) completed retrospective measures of nurturant fathering and father involvement and measures of current psychosocial functioning. Results indicated that adoptive fathers were rated as the most nurturant and involved and that nonadoptive stepfathers were rated as the least nurturant and involved. In adoptive families, young adults’ ratings of paternal nurturance and involvement were strongly and positively correlated with their reports of current psychosocial functioning. The relationships of family form to reports of fathering appeared to be moderated by the child's age at father entry and the number of years of involvement in the child's life.
Backward versus forward chaining in the acquisition of a keyboard skill

Although backward chaining has been found superior to whole-task training, the effect might depend on the ordering of difficult and easy segments of the task, and forward chaining requires investig...
The Ethics of Vaginal Birth after Cesarean

The decline in providers and facilities that will allow a trial of labor after cesarean forces many women to choose a repeat cesarean. The choice is frequently not much of a choice, however, since the full range of options are often not on the table. This limited “choice” violates obstetricians' obligations both to respect patients' autonomy and to offer them good care. There has been a vigorous but so far not very fruitful debate in the last few years about the lack of access to a trial of labor after cesarean. Some recently released documents express concern about the limited access women have to clinicians and facilities willing to offer a trial of labor after cesarean. But access is likely to remain a problem for the foreseeable future.
Developmental consequences of the renin-angiotensin system

Molecular, cellular, and physiological studies indicate that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is highly expressed during early kidney development. We propose that a major function of the RAS during early embryonic development is the modulation of growth processes that lead the primitive kidney into a properly differentiated and architecturally organized organ suited for independent extrauterine life. As development progresses, the RAS acquires new and overlapping functions such as the endocrine and paracrine regulation of blood pressure and renal hemodynamics. Disease states in adult mammals often result in expression of RAS genes and phenotypic changes resembling the embryonic pattern, emphasizing the importance of undertaking developmental studies. Because of their importance in health and disease, the immediate challenge is to identify the mechanisms that regulate the unique development of the RAS and its role(s) in normal and abnormal growth processes.
Copolyether-urethanes as materials for artificial hearts.

A method has been developed for constructing artificial hearts from Biomer elastomer solution and from a segmented copolyether-urethane (PU 1025). Durability and function tests of Biomer hearts are quite promising.
Hospitalizations Attributable to Respiratory Infections among Children with Neurologic Disorders

Objectives To characterize respiratory infection hospitalizations in children with neurologic disorders and to compare them with those of the general pediatric population. Study design We analyzed claims data from commercial insurance and Medicaid enrollees International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnosis code for a neurologic disorder. We identified hospitalizations with primary diagnosis codes indicating a respiratory infection and compared hospitalization rates with random samples of children from the commercial and Medicaid databases (comparison groups). Results Among 33 651 923 children, 255 046 (0.76%) had ≥1 neurologic condition. Among children with neurologic conditions, 8249 of 68 717 hospitalizations (12%) were attributed to a respiratory infection (rate: 21/1000 person-years), although rates varied by disorder. Children with neurologic disorders had greater rates than children in comparison groups (relative rate: Commercial Claims 7.4 [95% CI 7.1-7.7]; Medicaid 5.0 [95% CI 4.8-5.2]). Children Conclusions Children with neurologic disorders are at 5- to 7-fold greater risk for hospitalization from respiratory infections compared with all children, although rates vary widely by disorder type, age, and comorbidities. Children with specific neurologic disorders and those who had co-occurring conditions have the highest rates.
The Cobb-Douglas Production Function

(1980). The Cobb-Douglas Production Function. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 44-48.
Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles show high efficacy and specificity at DNA delivery to human glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo.

Current glioblastoma therapies are insufficient to prevent tumor recurrence and eventual death. Here, we describe a method to treat malignant glioma by nonviral DNA delivery using biodegradable poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs), with a focus on the brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs), the tumor cell population believed to be responsible for the formation of new tumors and resistance to many conventional therapies. We show transfection efficacy of >60% and low biomaterial-mediated cytotoxicity in primary human BTICs in vitro even when the BTICs are grown as 3-D oncospheres. Intriguingly, we find that these polymeric nanoparticles show intrinsic specificity for nonviral transfection of primary human BTICs over primary healthy human neural progenitor cells and that this specificity is not due to differences in cellular growth rate or total cellular uptake of nanoparticles. Moreover, we demonstrate that biodegradable PBAE/DNA nanoparticles can be fabricated, lyophilized, and then stored for at least 2 years witho...
Synthesis of Fluoroalkyl Palladium and Nickel Complexes via Decarbonylation of Acylmetal Species

The synthesis and characterization of a series of fluoroalkyl palladium(II) and nickel(II) complexes via decarbonylation of the corresponding acylmetal species is reported. At palladium(II), labile supporting ligands such as tri-o-tolylphosphine are required to achieve decarbonylation within 30 min at 85 °C. In contrast, decarbonylation at (PPh3)2Ni(C(O)RF)(OCORF) (RF = fluoroalkyl) complexes proceeds rapidly at or below room temperature.
The illusionist and the folk: On the role of conscious planning in intentionality judgments

AbstractIllusionism is a prominent hypothesis about action control, according to which acts that we consider voluntary are nevertheless caused by unconscious brain events, and thus our subjective experience of consciously willing them is ultimately illusory. Illusionism can be understood as either an ontological thesis or a phenomenological claim, but both versions are vulnerable to a line of attack based on the role of long-term planning (distal intentions) in action control. According to this objection, the evidence upon which illusionism rests is confined to short-term (proximal) intentions, so it is not sufficient to justify broader conclusions on the causal inefficacy of conscious will. In this essay we reconstruct the logic of this objection against illusionism, clarify why surveying folk intuitions on conscious distal intentions is essential to the debate, and present a study in which the role of conscious planning in intentionality judgment is clearly revealed. We also present other relevant findi...
Ecological Factors Affecting Access to General Education Content and Contexts for Students With Significant Disabilities

In this review, we applied Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to examine factors that support or restrict access to the general curriculum for students with significant disabilities. We organize the literature in relationship to factors within the micro-, meso-, macro-, exo-, and chronosystems that influence decisions about access to the general curriculum for individual students. We discuss these factors in relationship to placement, instructional contexts, and instructional content. Implications for research and practice are provided.