cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weather Station History and Introduced Variability in Climate Data

This chapter presents station histories as an important reference from which to identify or eliminate causes of variability and to explain or confirm the behavior of climatic data. Some apparent variability in climate data was introduced by changes in the weather station that recorded them. Significant changes in the observation rules occurred as the different networks evolved: the Surgeon General’s, the Smithsonian’s, the Signal Service’s, the Weather Bureau’s and the National Weather Service’s. Each of them established rules for what to observe, what time to observe, how often to observe, and how to record. Location of stations, both initial and subsequent, changed in response to those rules. The resulting moves from frontier to populated areas, rural to urban, surface to roof top, and manual to automated produced changes in the data. Instrumentation changes and the exposures of those instruments caused differences in the measurements they made. In all of the networks, there were frequent changes in the observers. Their qualifications varied and in later years the observations became a corporate effort instead of an individual one. Each observer change presented an opportunity for the data to be unintentionally but systematically altered.
Development of Nanoporous Polyurethane Hydrogel Membranes for Cell Encapsulation

Cell encapsulation for treatment of diseases like type 1 diabetes (T1D) has great potential when used in combination with development of insulin responsive beta cells. However, for translation of this therapy into clinical practice, there is a need for suitable encapsulation devices. Here, we report development of polyurethane-zwitterionic acrylate double network-based membranes for macro device-based cell encapsulation. Polyurethane hydrogels with 60 to 90% water content (WC) were evaluated for permeability and hydrogels with 80 and 90% WC were found to have highest permeability. Structural characterization of these hydrogels’ samples prepared cryogenically by scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) revealed that 90% WC hydrogels were nanoporous with large interconnected pores. Tuning of porosity and structure was achieved by blending of hydrogels with varying WC resulting in pores of ~ 200 nm size. These membranes supported viability of encapsulated cells after removal of cytotoxic leachables by ethanol treatment. Double network formation was performed by UV polymerization and incorporation of zwitterionic groups was confirmed by ATR and WC of hydrogels. Varying of zwitterion type is allowed for tuning of WC of hydrogels. Gene expression of RAW 264.7 macrophages on exposure to the hydrogels found the zwitterionic double network hydrogels to be less stimulating than the bare hydrogel. To determine translational potential of the hydrogel, sterilization of the hydrogels using supercritical carbon dioxide was evaluated. Survivor enumeration testing revealed that the kill rate for the process ~ 1 log10 per 8 min and 2-h treatment is sufficient for sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10−6. Thus, we have developed hydrogel polyurethane membranes suitable for cell encapsulation in macro devices. We want to develop a device for cell encapsulation which is needed for treating diseases like T1D. In these devices, cells will be loaded and implanted in the body. These encapsulated cell secretions would provide the function of various endocrine organs. We have developed a hydrogel-based nanoporous membrane which would hold the cells and allow for exchange of nutrients and cell secretions. After the development of membrane, future studies will focus on evaluating the immune response to the hydrogel as well as long term delivery of immune modulatory drugs to prevent fibrosis. Various drug encapsulation and delivery designs will be evaluated for controlled localized delivery of the drugs. The optimum combination would then be combined with the hydrogels device and test their efficacy in regulating cell viability and immune response in animal models.
Speech Emotion Detection using IoT based Deep Learning for Health Care

Human emotions are essential to recognize the behavior and state of mind of a person. Emotion detection through speech signals has started to receive more attention lately. This paper proposes the method for detecting human emotions using speech signals and its implementation in real-time using the Internet of Things (IoT) based deep learning for the care of older adults in nursing homes. The research has two main contributions. First, we have implemented a real-time system based on audio IoT, where we have recorded human voice and predicted emotions via deep learning. Secondly, for advance classification, we have designed a model using data normalization and data augmentation techniques. Finally, we have created an integrated deep learning model, called Speech Emotion Detection (SED), using a 2D convolutional neural networks (CNN). The best accuracy that was reported by our method was approximately 95%, which outperformed all state-of-the-art approaches. We have further extended to apply the SED model to a live audio sentiment analysis system with IoT technologies for the care of older adults in nursing homes.
Biochemical and structural characterization of analogs of MRE11 breast cancer-associated mutant F237C

The MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) protein complex plays a vital role in DNA double strand break sensing, signaling, and repair. Mutation in any component of this complex may lead to disease as disrupting DNA double strand break repair has the potential to cause translocations and loss of genomic information. Here, we have investigated an MRE11 mutation, F237C, identified in a breast cancer tumor. We found that the analogous mutant of Pyrococcus furiosus Mre11 diminishes both the exonuclease and endonuclease activities of Mre11 in vitro. Solution state NMR experiments show that this mutant causes structural changes in the DNA-bound Mre11 for both exo- and endonuclease substrates and causes the protein to become generally more rigid. Moreover, by comparing the NMR data for this cancer-associated mutant with two previously described Mre11 separation-of-nuclease function mutants, a potential allosteric network was detected within Mre11 that connects the active site to regions responsible for recognizing the DNA ends and for dimerization. Together, our data further highlight the dynamics required for Mre11 nuclease function and illuminate the presence of allostery within the enzyme.
Impact of destination-based visual cues on gait characteristics among adults over 75 years old: A pilot study.

Abstract Background Visual information is a contributing factor affecting human gait and balance, especially in low lit environments. To mitigate the adverse effects of poor lighting conditions and help older adults perceive their positions in a community-dwelling setting, destination-based visual perceptual cues were designed as a specific lighting intervention and the effectiveness of the lighting intervention was tested in this study. Research Questions 1) Does the designed lighting intervention improve older adults’ walking performance? 2) Does the designed lighting intervention change older adults’ walking strategy? Methods Fifteen community-dwelling older adults (165.5 ± 9.3 cm, 6 males, 9 females) were recruited. Participants were instructed to walk from their bed to the bathroom repeatedly in two lighting conditions, their usual nightlight condition and a novel LED strip lighting condition. Human motion patterns, including walking performance, lower-limb kinematics, and trunk motions, were recorded and analyzed. To investigate the effect of visual cues on walking behaviors, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed with lighting conditions as the within-subject factor. Results Destination-based visual perceptual cues induced less walking time among adults over 75 years old, compared to the usual nightlight condition. The decrease in walking time was accompanied by changes in other walking behaviors, including decreased hip flexion, increased ankle flexion, larger trunk planar acceleration RMS, and smoother trunk log dimensionless jerk. Significance This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the designed lighting intervention upon the changes in older adults’ walking performance and strategies. With the help of destination-based visual perceptual cues, the older adults spent a shorter period of time walking to their destination (i.e., walking faster), with an improvement in their walking strategies, such as mitigated lower-body biomechanical plasticity and smoother trunk movement.
Hybrid Guiding in a Multi-mode Slab Waveguide

We demonstrate the hybrid guidance of a pulsed field endowed with precise spatio-temporal structure in a 25-mm-long multi-mode thin-film waveguide. Group delay measurements confirm that the modal indices can be tuned independently of the waveguide parameters.
Mastery vs. Profit as Motivation for the Entrepreneur: How Crony Policies Shape Business

Desire for mastery is an important human motive distinct from the profit motive. In business, mastery involves a product or service, and validation occurs through comparison with other entrepreneurs' products. Consumers' choices validate entrepreneurs' performance. We term an entrepreneur's intrinsic desire to produce a good product mastery seeking, and we contrast mastery seeking with profit seeking. Success often coincides with profit, but the two motives are different and can diverge. We explore mastery seeking's implications for the economics and politics of government privileges and favors for business. Crony polices can disrupt the consumer choice process and the validation of performance. Crony policies may increase profit but reduce realized performance for entrepreneurs, reducing the labor supply of entrepreneurs motivated by competition. A nation's level of cronyism could affect the types of individuals who become entrepreneurs, with a high level of government intervention pushing success seekers to pursue mastery in other endeavors, with adverse implications for innovation and growth in the economy.
A rare earth metallocene containing a 2,2′-azopyridyl radical anion

Introducing spin onto organic ligands that are coordinated to rare earth metal ions allows direct exchange with metal spin centres. This is particularly relevant for the deeply buried 4f-orbitals of the lanthanide ions that can give rise to unparalleled magnetic properties. For efficacy of exchange coupling, the donor atoms of the radical ligand require high-spin density. Such molecules are extremely rare owing to their reactive nature that renders isolation and purification difficult. Here, we demonstrate that a 2,2′-azopyridyl (abpy) radical (S = 1/2) bound to the rare earth metal yttrium can be realized. This molecule represents the first rare earth metal complex containing an abpy radical and is unambigously characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR, UV-Vis-NIR, and IR spectroscopy. In addition, the most stable isotope 89Y with a natural abundance of 100% and a nuclear spin of ½ allows an in-depth analysis of the yttrium–radical complex via EPR and HYSCORE spectroscopy. Further insight into the electronic ground state of the radical azobispyridine-coordinated metal complex was realized through unrestricted DFT calculations, which suggests that the unpaired spin density of the SOMO is heavily localized on the azo and pyridyl nitrogen atoms. The experimental results are supported by NBO calculations and give a comprehensive picture of the spin density of the azopyridyl ancillary ligand. This unexplored azopyridyl radical anion in heavy element chemistry bears crucial implications for the design of molecule-based magnets particularly comprising anisotropic lanthanide ions.
Uplink Massive MIMO Functional Split for C-RAN System Under Rapid User Mobility Conditions

Uplink massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) improves network spectral efficiency by enabling simultaneous transmission from multiple users through spatial multiplexing. Although the centralized radio access network (C-RAN) architecture can meet the increased signal processing requirements, the large number of used antenna elements creates challenges for the fronthaul (FH) links required to transport a large amount of traffic from remote radio units (RRUs) to the centralized baseband unit (BBU). To reduce the FH link load, different baseband splitting options between RRUs and BBU are considered in practical C-RAN networks. More specifically, low complexity maximum ratio combining (MRC) beamforming at the RRU can be used to reduce the number of spatial dimensions of the received signals before transporting them to the BBU for further baseband processing. Despite the high compression efficiency of the MRC-based approach, we find that its performance is not sufficiently robust under channel varying conditions due to rapid user mobility. In this paper, we propose a functional split based on an extension of MRC compression at the RRU which provides better uplink performance for scenarios with high mobility, while guaranteeing moderate FH link throughput and low signal processing complexity.
On Taking a Pragmatic Attitude Toward Truth

Educational theorists and practitioners who are inclined to associate ways of thinking about schooling, learning, and related issues with ways of thinking about truth and knowledge face at least two dangers. One is that they will adopt a traditional approach that identifies truth with direct correspondence between the distinct realms of “ideas” and “reality.” While this approach has a long history and perhaps some intuitive appeal, the course of philosophy over the last century has revealed a much more complicated situation that makes straightforward correspondence theories largely untenable. That history, and associated developments in science and social theory, has led directly to the second danger: the temptation to dismiss talk about truth and knowledge as outdated, trivial, or otherwise irrelevant to educational thought and practice. The principal objective of this paper is to recover and describe a way of thinking about truth that (1) acknowledges and incorporates current trends in the fields of epistemology and philosophy of mind; (2) retains a meaningful concept of truth; and (3) suggests implications for the field of education.
Behavioural responses by Rhagoletis indifferens (Dipt., Tephritidae) to sweet cherry treated with kaolin‐ and limestone‐based products

Kaolin- and limestone-based products were compared for their effects on two behavioural responses, landing and oviposition, to sweet cherry by Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Dipt., Tephritidae). Surround (95% calcined kaolin), Cocoon (100% hydrous kaolin), Eclipse (>97% limestone) and Purshade (62.5% limestone) were studied. Overall, in choice and no-choice tests, Surround reduced landing and oviposition more than Cocoon, Eclipse and Purshade. However, all products significantly reduced landing and oviposition compared with untreated controls. In choice tests, high fly density increased the proportion of eggs laid in cherries treated with Surround, Cocoon, or Eclipse vs. cherries that were untreated when compared with low fly density. Applications of 3% followed by 6% Surround reduced landings and oviposition more than two applications of 10% Cocoon, Eclipse, or Purshade. Surround caused higher mortality than Cocoon and Eclipse. In the field, Surround reduced production of puparia from cherries by 32.3% to 100%, depending on the trees sprayed. Surround provided the best protection for cherries against R. indifferens, but limestone-based products potentially might be modified to be oviposition deterrents. Consideration should be given to fly densities when using particle films to protect fruit.
Manifest chiral symmetry preservation in the 1N-expanded SU(N) Thirring model☆

Abstract By utilizing manifestly chiral-invariant auxiliary field operators, it is demonstrated that continuous chiral symmetry is preserved explicitly in the 1 N expansion of 2-dimensional theories whose fermions have a Gross-Neveu type of potential. The effective lagrangian derived in the 1 N limit describes a massless scalar field whose derivative coupling to the fermions vanishes as N → ∞, and a decoupled massive scalar field.
Making sense of thermoelectrics for processor thermal management and energy harvesting

A thermoelectric (TE) device can be used as a heat pump that consumes electric power to cool a processor chip, or it can be used as a heat engine that generates electricity from the heat dissipated during processor operation. To better understand the use of TE devices, we develop a fully instrumented processor-based system with controllable TE devices. We first examine the use of TE devices for energy harvesting. We identify a pitfall in previous works that can lead to wrong conclusions for TEG use by demonstrating that TEGs increase the processor's leakage power which offsets their harvested power. For thermoelectric cooling (TEC), we elucidate the intricate relationships between the processor power, thermoelectric power, and fan power. We propose a dynamic thermal management scheme (DTM) that maximizes performance under thermal constraints and given total power budgets by controlling the processor's dynamic frequency and voltage scaling (DVFS), TEC current, and fan speed. For the evaluated thermal constraints, our results demonstrate good improvements to performance at the cost of additional cooling power compared to standard DVFS+fan DTM techniques.
Abstract 20041: Human CD34+ Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Mediate the Paracrine miRNA-Crosstalk with Cardiomyocytes and Endothelial Cells Promoting Repair of the Ischemic Heart

Introduction: Locally transplanted human CD34+ stem cells have been shown to improve exercise tolerance in patients with myocardial ischemia and promote angiogenesis in animal models. Earlier in a study, first of its kind, we have demonstrated a novel mechanism that CD34+ cells secrete membrane bound nano-vesicles called exosomes (CD34Exo) into their paracrine secretion. CD34Exo are angiogenic and constitute a critical component of the pro-angiogenic paracrine activity of the cells. Hypothesis: Cell-free CD34Exo may mimic the beneficial effects of the cells, and promote angiogenesis and ischemic tissue repair via transferring pro-angiogenic microRNAs. Methods and Results: We used a murine model of myocardial ischemia to determine the therapeutic efficacy of CD34Exo. Cell-free CD34Exo replicated the therapeutic activity of their parent cells by significantly improving myocardial ischemia (ejection fraction, 42±4 v 22±6%; capillary density, 113±7 v 66±6/HPF; fibrosis, 27±2 v 48±7%; p<0.05, n=7-12) compared ...
Reflections on the Philosophy of Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schrödinger

Many of the pioneers of quantum mechanics — notably Planck, Einstein, Bohr, de Broglie, Heisenberg, Schrodinger, Born, Jordan, Lande, Wigner, and London — were seriously concerned with philosophical questions. In each case one can ask a question of psychological and historical interest: was it a philosophical penchant which drew the investigator towards a kind of physics research which is linked to philosophy, or was it rather that the conceptual difficulties of fundamental physics pulled him willy-nilly into the labyrinth of philosophy? I shall not undertake to discuss this question, but shall cite an opinion of Peter Bergmann, which I find congenial: he learned from Einstein that “the theoretical physicist is a philosopher in workingman’s clothes” ([1],q.v).
Diffusion tensor imaging based network analysis detects alterations of neuroconnectivity in patients with clinically early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Although it is inarguable that conventional MRI (cMRI) has greatly contributed to the diagnosis and assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS), cMRI does not show close correlation with clinical findings or pathologic features, and is unable to predict prognosis or stratify disease severity. To this end, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with tractography and neuroconnectivity analysis may assist disease assessment in MS. We, therefore, attempted this pilot study for initial assessment of early relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Neuroconnectivity analysis was used for evaluation of 24 early RRMS patients within 2 years of presentation, and compared to the network measures of a group of 30 age-and-gender-matched normal control subjects. To account for the situation that the connections between two adjacent regions may be disrupted by an MS lesion, a new metric, network communicability, was adopted to measure both direct and indirect connections. For each anatomical area, the brain network communicability and average path length were computed and compared to characterize the network changes in efficiencies. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) loss of communicability was revealed in our RRMS cohort, particularly in the frontal and hippocampal/parahippocampal regions as well as the motor strip and occipital lobes. Correlation with the 25-foot Walk test with communicability measures in the left superior frontal (r = -0.71) as well as the left superior temporal gyrus (r = -0.43) and left postcentral gyrus (r = -0.41) were identified. Additionally identified were increased communicability between the deep gray matter structures (left thalamus and putamen) with the major interhemispheric and intrahemispheric white matter tracts, the corpus callosum, and cingulum, respectively. These foci of increased communicability are thought to represent compensatory changes. The proposed DTI-based neuroconnectivity analysis demonstrated quantifiable, structurally relevant alterations of fiber tract connections in early RRMS and paves the way for longitudinal studies in larger patient groups.
The kinetics of competitive antagonism by cisatracurium of embryonic and adult nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Competitive antagonists to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are clinically used as muscle relaxants. Previously, we reported the kinetics of inhibition (in the absence of acetylcholine) by (+)-tubocurarine and pancuronium on embryonic receptors. Here, we examine cisatracurium, a commonly used muscle relaxant. Outside-out patches were equilibrated with cisatracurium before application of 300 μM acetylcholine. cisatracurium inhibited the initial peak current, but the decay of these currents displayed a pronounced biphasic behavior. The IC50 value was 54 ± 2 nM and 115 ± 4 nM for adult and embryonic receptors, respectively. We designed a rapid perfusion system to apply or remove cisatracurium for various times before application of acetylcholine. We determined the association (embryonic, 3.4 ± 0.4 × 108 M−1 s−1; adult, 1.8 ± 0.3 × 108 M−1 s−1) and dissociation (embryonic, 34 ± 6/s; adult: 13 ± 5/s) rates for cisatracurium. Association was 2.9- and 1.3-fold greater than that of (+)-tubocurarine and pancuronium, respectively. Dissociation was 6- and 16-fold higher than (+)-tubocurarine and pancuronium, respectively. These measurements correspond to dissociation of cisatracurium from receptors in the absence of acetylcholine. Physiologically, acetylcholine interacts with receptors equilibrated with antagonist. We developed a mathematical technique that removes the effect of desensitization and determined dissociation (embryonic, 52 ± 9/s; adult, 33 ± 5/s) in the presence of acetylcholine. These data suggest that presence of acetylcholine on one binding site of the receptor increases the dissociation rate of antagonist from the other binding site. We incorporated all of these rates into a computer simulation of a comprehensive 11-state Markov model. There was excellent agreement (without curve fitting) between simulated and experimental currents.
80 RESPONSE TO PROSTACYCLIN (PGI2) PREDICTS RESPONSE TO SUBSEQUENT VASODILATOR THERAPY IN PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PPH)

Nine patients with PPH (9 mos to 23 yrs) were studied with PGI2 to assess pulmonary vasoreactivity. A positive response to PGI2 was defined as a 20% or greater decrease in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) with no change or an increase in cardiac
Revisiting the Anatomy and Physiology of the Grid

A domain-specific software architecture (DSSA) represents an effective, generalized, reusable solution to constructing software systems within a given application domain. In this paper, we revisit the widely cited DSSA for the domain of grid computing. We have studied systems in this domain over the last ten years. During this time, we have repeatedly observed that, while individual grid systems are widely used and deemed successful, the grid DSSA is actually underspecified to the point where providing a precise answer regarding what makes a software system a grid system is nearly impossible. Moreover, every one of the existing purported grid technologies actually violates the published grid DSSA. In response to this, based on an analysis of the source code, documentation, and usage of eighteen of the most pervasive grid technologies, we have significantly refined the original grid DSSA. We demonstrate that this DSSA much more closely matches the grid technologies studied. Our refinements allow us to more definitively identify a software system as a grid technology, and distinguish it from software libraries, middleware, and frameworks.
Being human: Conflict: Altruism's midwife.

Generosity and solidarity towards one's own may have emerged only in combination with hostility towards outsiders, says Samuel Bowles. The historical and archaeological records reveal that humans became especially good at killing 'outsiders' from other groups, tribes or nations. Some animals do engage in such conflicts, but humans excel. We are also uniquely receptive to socialization and learning, and can achieve the heights of altruistic behaviour. Economist Samuel Bowles argues that these two extremes may be related: generosity and solidarity towards one's own may have emerged only in combination with hostility towards outsiders. Both may be part of what it is to be human. All essays in the 'Being human' series are available free via http://tinyurl.com/55ncjj .
Matrix metalloproteinase-1 takes advantage of the induced fit mechanism to cleave the triple-helical type I collagen molecule.

The collagenases are members of the matrix metalloproteinase family (MMP) that degrade native triple-helical type I collagen. To understand the mechanism by which these enzymes recognize and cleave this substrate, we studied the substrate specificity of a modified form of MMP-1 (FC) in which its active site region (amino acids 212−254) had been replaced with that of MMP-9 (amino acids 395−437). Although this substitution increased the activity of the enzyme toward gelatin and the peptide substrate Mca-PLGL(Dpa)AR-NH2 by ∼3- and ∼11-fold, respectively, it decreased the type I collagenolytic activity of the enzyme to 0.13%. The replacement of Gly233, the only amino acid in this region of FC that is conserved in all collagenase family members, with the corresponding Glu residue in MMP-9 resulted in a substantial decrease in the type I collagenolytic activity of the enzyme without affecting its general proteolytic activities. The kinetic parameters of the FC/G233E mutant for the collagen substrate were simila...
Current Perspectives on the Lake Erie Water Balance

Abstract An analysis was conducted of the Lake Erie water balance for 1940–79, based upon the individual hydrologic components, including thermal expansion and consumptive use. Particular emphasis was given to the continuity of the system. Annual and monthly statistics are presented for each of the water balance components. While the Detroit River contributed 87 percent of the Lake Erie total water supply, the variability of the net basin supplies was also found to be of importance in explaining annual water level fluctuations. A major step function was found to occur in the annual water balance between 1958 and 1959, which illustrates the large discontinuities that can occur when calculating the net basin supplies from residuals rather than directly from precipitation, runoff, and evaporation. The annual water balance for 1959–79 was found to be well satisfied with an average annual residual of about 0.5 percent of the Detroit River or Niagara River flow. A distinct seasonality was noted in the mass continuity of the monthly water balance. Also on a seasonal basis, the change in storage due to thermal expansion was significant during the late spring and early fall months.
Detection of a novel three component complex consisting of starch, protein, and free fatty acids.

A water soluble three way complex composed of starch, whey protein, and free fatty acid (FFA) was detected in a dilute three component system after heating. In high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) profiles of the starch−protein−FFA system, the three way complex eluted between amylopectin and amylose. The molecular mass of the complex, based on multiangle laser light scattering/HPSEC and pullulan standards, was estimated to be ∼(6−7) × 106 Da. Carbohydrate measurement by the phenol−sulfuric acid method clearly showed that the starch amylose fraction shifted to a higher molecular weight elution volume following complexation. Whey protein existed as large disulfide-linked aggregates and is speculated to be the organizer of the three way complex. Differential scanning calorimetry of the freeze-dried complex showed the presence of an amylose−FFA melting endotherm, thus proving that FFA was the third component in the three way complex and that the amylose−FFA complex was one of the structural ...
Three years of using robots in an artificial intelligence course: lessons learned

We have been using robots in our artificial intelligence course since fall 2000. We have been using the robots for open-laboratory projects. The projects are designed to emphasize high-level knowledge-based AI algorithms. After three offerings of the course, we paused to analyze the collected data and to see if we could answer the following questions: (i) Are robot projects effective at helping students learn AI concepts? (ii) What advantages, if any, can be attributed to using robots for AI projects? (iii) What are the downsides of using robots for traditional projects in AI? In this article we discuss the results of our evaluation and list the lessons learned.
Effect of coley's toxins and irradiation on the A. Melanoma #3 tumor in the golden hamster

The effect of the combination of bacterial toxin and x-ray therapy was studied in the golden hamster using the A. melanoma #3 tumor. The implanted tumor was irradiated with a „tumoricidal” dose of x-ray therapy in two groups—with and without pretreatment with bacterial toxins. Other groups received smaller doses of irradiation and two groups served as controls receiving either toxin treatment alone or no therapy. Findings revealed that (1) toxin therapy does not affect survival; (2) toxin pretreatment potentiates x-ray therapy; (3) metastases are not affected; (4) normal tissues show no increased radiosensitivity; (5) toxins plus x-ray therapy do not affect the prognosis or survival of the host; (6) toxins plus x-ray therapy show a synergistic effect. This treatment may be useful for lesions which have not metastasized or for control of a symptomatic primary or secondary lesion in the face of incurable metastases.
On the externalization of sound images

Listeners perceive the sounds of the real world to be externalized. The sound images are compact and correctly located in space. The experiments reported in this article attempted to determine the characteristics of signals appearing in the ear canals that are responsible for the perception of externalization. The experiments used headphones to gain experimental control, and they employed a psychophysical method whereby the measurement of externalization was reduced to discrimination. When the headphone signals were synthesized to best resemble real‐world signals (the baseline synthesis) listeners could not distinguish between the virtual image created by the headphones and the real source. Externalization was then studied, using both discrimination and listener rating, by systematically modifying the baseline synthesis. It was found that externalization depends on the interaural phases of low‐frequency components but not high‐frequency components, as defined by a boundary near 1 kHz. By contrast, interaural level differences in all frequency ranges appear to be about equally important. Other experiments showed that externalization requires realistic spectral profiles in both ears; maintaining only the interaural difference spectrum is inadequate. It was also found that externalization does not depend on dispersion around the head; an optimum interaural time difference proved to be an adequate phase relationship.
The gravity field, orientation, and ephemeris of Mercury from MESSENGER observations after three years in orbit

We have analyzed 3 years of radio tracking data from the MESSENGER spacecraft in orbit around Mercury and determined the gravity field, planetary orientation, and ephemeris of the innermost planet. With improvements in spatial coverage, force modeling, and data weighting, we refined an earlier global gravity field both in quality and resolution, and we present here a spherical harmonic solution to degree and order 50. In this field, termed HgM005, uncertainties in low-degree coefficients are reduced by an order of magnitude relative to earlier global fields, and we obtained a preliminary value of the tidal Love number k2 of 0.451 ± 0.014. We also estimated Mercury's pole position, and we obtained an obliquity value of 2.06 ± 0.16 arcmin, in good agreement with analysis of Earth-based radar observations. From our updated rotation period (58.646146 ± 0.000011 days) and Mercury ephemeris, we verified experimentally the planet's 3:2 spin-orbit resonance to greater accuracy than previously possible. We present a detailed analysis of the HgM005 covariance matrix, and we describe some near-circular frozen orbits around Mercury that could be advantageous for future exploration.
The physical: Empirical, not metaphysical

Intuitively, physicalism is the thesis that there's nothing 'over and above' the physical. Going beyond this intuitive formulation requires an account of what it is for a property, kind, relation, or object to be a physical one. Here I defend an unfamiliar implementation of the familiar strategy of defining physical properties, etc. as those posited by the complete and ideal physical theory. That implementation ties being a physical theory to being a theory with the hallmarks of scientific theories and then identifies physical theories among the scientific ones by their characteristic subject matter, roughly, the world's relatively fundamental elements. I then argue that, fully fleshed out, such an account is able to satisfy an array of constraints on any account of the physical, as well as avoid a number of prima facie objections, without imposing Wilson's No Fundamental Mentality Constraint.
Chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of 1,3-dithiolane-1-oxides

Abstract The enantiomers of 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dithiolane- 1 -oxides (type 1 and 2) are separable by direct high-performance liquid chromatography on commercially available chiral stationary phases derived from the N-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl derivatives of α-amino acids. The chromatographic data for a series of dithiolane oxides is presented. Two chiral recognition models are advanced to account for the structure—enantio-selectivity relationships observed for these series. Using these models, absolute configurations of the enantiomers are assigned on the basis of chromatographic elution order. These assignments are consistent with those determined by independent chemical and spectroscopic means. Resolutions of the enantiomers are compared on nine different chiral stationary phases.
Structural properties of Markov chains with weak and strong interactions

Abstract Markov chains have been frequently used to characterize uncertainty in many real-world problems. Quite often, these Markov chains can be decomposed into a vector consisting of fast and slow components; these components are coupled through weak and strong interactions. The main goal of this work is to study the structural properties of such Markov chains. Under mild conditions, it is proved that the underlying Markov chain can be approximated in the weak topology of L2 by an aggregated process. Moreover, the aggregated process is shown to converge in distribution to a Markov chain as the rate of fast transitions tends to infinity. Under an additional Lipschitz condition, error bounds of the approximation sequences are obtained.
The Effects of Message Intensity on Receiver Evaluations of Source, Message and Topic.

This study investigated the consequences of increased levels of expressed message intensity on receivers' subsequent evaluations of the source and topic of the message, in addition to their perceptions of the message itself. A basic message was prepared in which a previously neutral source attacked a relatively low-salience topic. The intensity with which the source stated his attitudinal position was systematically varied by the alternative insertion of verbs and modifiers of known intensive value. This created two experimental messages, one of low intensity, the other of high intensity. Subjects read one of the messages and responded via rating scales. Obtained results provided partial support for the experimental hypotheses, in that the high intensity message was judged as clearer and its source as more dynamic than the low intensity message. A secondary analysis based solely on perceived message intensity conformed even more closely to the experimental predictions. Messages rated as being highly intense were also rated as clearer and more logical, and having sources who were judged to be more trustworthy, more qualified and more dynamic.
Some Aspects of Our Puritan Inheritance

An Impressive thing is happening in these days. We are observing the Tercentenary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The common verdict has been for a long time rather against the Puritans. Their civil administration is declared to have been at times tyrannical, their ecclesiastical order prejudiced, even bigoted. Individuals among them appear to us fanatical. Such accusations have become almost traditional. At the present moment however the mind of our country and in some measure of the world has turned again to the contemplation of the Puritan history. We recall their deeds and suffering. It is realized how one-sided is the judgment alluded to. There is a disposition to recognize how great was their service to our country and to modern men. This is the mind of some who by no means share the solemn earnestness, the rigidity, the zealotry of the typical Puritan character. Perhaps no generation of our countrymen has ever been further removed than is our own from Puritan standards. Yet there is this widespread feeling that justice is not always done them. We may owe to them something of the larger liberty and more comfortable existence which, coming generations after them, we now enjoy and which apparently we might not have enjoyed had we lived among them.
Assessment of the wideband infrared scene projector (WISP) using conventional IR seekers

The Wideband Infrared Scene Projector (WISP) was developed to project dynamic, detailed scenes to imaging infrared (IR) missile seekers. However, the vast majority of IR seekers currently in inventory are nonimaging and pseudo-imaging reticle-based seekers. Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Dynamic Infrared Missile Evaluator (DIME) Facility is interested in the response of these conventional seekers to detailed IR scenes, as would be encountered in the final phase of a missile engagement. Conventional seekers have different scene projection requirements than the imaging seekers for which the WISP was designed. To assess the applicability of an IR scene projector for testing conventional seekers, DIME Facility personnel used two reticle-based seekers to measure spatial and temporal characteristics of the WISP. A description of the testing performed and the results obtained are presented in this paper.
Pineal serotonin is resistant to depletion by serotonergic neurotoxins in rats

Administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or para-chloroamphetamine (pCA) to adult rats is neurotoxic to serotonin (5HT) nerve terminals and cell bodies. MDMA (10 mg/kg) reduces 5HT levels in the frontal cortex, medial basal hypothalamus, and striatum acutely and 17 days after a series of multiple injections. The acute reductions occur within 1-2 hr after injection of doses greater than 3 mg/kg. A single injection of pCA reduces 5HT levels in the above mentioned brain regions as well as in the brain stem. However, none of these treatments are able to alter 5HT levels in the pineal gland. It appears that the pineal does not contain the 5HT reuptake system that is thought to be necessary for the neurotoxicity of MDMA and pCA.
Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide is Suitable to Label Tendon Stem Cells and Track Them In Vivo with MR Imaging

Tendon stem cells (TSCs) may be used to effectively repair or regenerate injured tendons. However, the fates of TSCs once implanted in vivo remain unclear. This study was aimed to determine the feasibility of labeling TSCs with super-paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nano-particles to track TSCs in vivo using MRI. Rabbit TSCs were labeled by incubation with 50 μg/mL SPIO. Labeling efficiency, cell viability, and proliferation were then measured, and the stemness of TSCs was tested by quantitative real time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. We found that the labeling efficiency of TSCs reached as high as 98%, and that labeling at 50 μg/mL SPIO concentrations did not alter cell viability and cell proliferation compared to non-labeled control cells. Moreover, the expression levels of stem cell markers (Nucleostemin, Nanog, and Oct-4) did not change in SPIO-labeled TSCs compared to non-labeled cells. Both labeled and non-labeled cells also exhibited similar differentiation potential. Finally, labeled TSCs could be detected by MRI both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, the findings of this study show that labeling TSCs with SPIO particles is a feasible approach to track TSCs in vivo by MRI, which offers a non-invasive method to monitor repair of injured tendons.
Water: A Topic for All Sciences

The authors illustrate an effective lessonplanning technique known as unpacking for the broad topic of water. Interconnections among science disciplines are shown for numerous possible subtopics. Two lesson sets are included, the first dealing with properties of water and the second dealing with water as a resource.
Origin and significance of lateral meltwater channels formed along a temperate glacier margin, Glacier Bay, Alaska

Pleistocene lateral meltwater channels are commonly used as evidence of cold-based or polythermal ice. However, lateral meltwater channel formation has been observed for >40 years along the margins of a rapidly thinning temperate glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Flights of nested linear lateral meltwater channels and in-and-out channels have formed on the sides of emerging nunataks. Nested channels at Burroughs Glacier are up to 200 m long; they are good proxies for the slope of the ice margin along the land surface and are terminated by subglacial chutes. A perched water table associated with precipitation and high ablation rates in the temperate ice causes surface meltwater to flow toward the margin above less permeable ice. The water flows along the margin and erodes lateral meltwater channels until a subglacial chute carries the water into the subglacial water system. Rates of channel formation range from 0 to 8 channels/year. Spacing and rates of channel formation are controlled by the land-surface slope, ablation rate, erodibility of the substrate and stream discharge. Because lateral meltwater channels have been observed forming along a temperate glacier margin, care must be exercised when using the presence of lateral meltwater channels as definitive evidence of cold-based or polythermal ice.
Kinetics of sorption of methane in glassy polystyrene

In this work, the diffusion rates of CH4 in glassy polystyrene were measured, over a range of temperatures from 25°C. to 45°C. and pressures from 3 atm. to 30.5 atm. By testing these data with a “dual mode” sorption model and comparing the results with previous work, a consistent picture of gas diffusion in a glassy polymer has emerged which features companion modes of sorption in compact amorphous regions and microvoids with weak dispersion forces binding the solutes to the polymer matrix. The intensity of this binding is greater in the microvoids, perhaps owing to the focusing of force fields of polymer chain segments which compose the hole periphery. The diffusion process is controlled by the activated jumping of penetrant molecules down the concentration gradient of gas dissolved in the compact amorphous regions with the microvoids acting as sinks to trap diffusing molecules and impede the penetration of a diffusion front. Finally, it is felt that polymer micromotions contribute significantly to the diffusion process in a glassy polymer but may be of lower frequency or amplitude than in normally rubbery systems.
Lattice dynamics of silver bromide

Abstract Lattice dynamical calculations for AgBr using the deformation dipole model are presented. Significantly better agreement with experiment is obtained for the q ≈ 0 optical phonons and with specific heat data when next nearest neighbor and three body forces are included.
The Effect of Ankle Stabilizers on Athletic Performance A Randomized Prospective Study

The ankle is the site of more than one third of all injuries that occur to male basketball players. Although ankle bracing may prevent injury, many players believe that braces restrict athletic performance. This belief discourages use of braces and obviates the injury protection that bracing provides. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine whether athletic performance (in four basketball-related activities) was affected by three ankle brace designs (Universal, Kallassy, and Air-Stirrup ankle training brace), 2) determine whether specific braces are better for specific athletic activities, and 3) determine whether athletic performance changes with brace use. Twelve high school basketball players wore each brace type while vertical jumping, standing long jumping, cone running, and 18.3-meter shuttle running at two test times (initially and after 1 week of acclimation). Our data showed that these braces had no significant effects on athletic performance. No brace affected athletic performance in one specific activity more than another, and athletic performance did not change with brace use. We concluded that prophylactic ankle bracing does not inhibit athletic performance.
Abstract B71: Segmental analysis of colorectal cancer in California by race/ethnicity, 2001–2008

Purpose: This study seeks to identify the independent predictive roles of selected demographic variables for invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) sub-sites. Methods: Demographic and sub-site variables were extracted from the California Cancer Registry (CCR) for 117,354 invasive colon cancer cases diagnosed from 2001–2008. Stratified and Logistic regression analyses were used to distinguish individual predictive effects of demographic variables on odds of CRC in contrasting bowel segments. Results: Multivariable odds ratios (OR) for binary bowel segment categories contrasting Conclusions: Younger than age 50–74; male gender; Asian/Other or Hispanic ethnicity, and lower SES were each independent predictors of left to non-left CRC. Progressively lower SES showed an inverse dose-response relationship with odds of left to non-left CRC, independent of other covariates. These findings reveal demographic predictors of CRC bowel segment origin that may influence screening success. Funding: The California Department of Public Health, National Cancer Institute (Grant N01-PC-35136 and N01-PC-35139), and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) (Grant N02-PC-54404) funded cancer surveillance necessary for this study. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):B71.