cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical studies of face centered cubic (FCC) Ti14C13+ and Ti13C13+ clusters: can met-cars form from these FCC structures?

Abstract The face centered cubic (FCC) Ti14C13+ structure was calculated by applying the intermediate neglect of differential overlap self-consistent field unrestricted Hartree-Fock method (INDO SCF UHF) after proper parametrization. The optimized Ti13C13+ structure, derived by removing a Ti atom from the corner of the FCC structure, is significantly more stable (by about 220 kcal/mol) than the one derived by removing a Ti atom from the middle of the face. This result implies that the Ti8C13+ met-car cannot form by photodissociation of six Ti atoms from the middle of the FCC faces. An alternative structure for the Ti14C13+ cluster is presented.
Automation and group structures in certain economic adjustment mechanisms

Abstract It is shown that the economic adjustment mechanism developed by Hurwicz and his associates has the structure of automata. It is then shown that certain price adjustment mechanisms, having an acceptability condition, impose a group structure upon the automaton. This condition is a bilinear invariance implied by a budget constraint. Then the automaton is defined by a subgroup, depending on agents' tastes, technologies and strategies, and by the representations of the subgroup imposed by the automaton.
A GOMS-based granular computing model for human-computer interaction design

This paper is to propose to combine the granular computing into the cognitive model GOMS (Goals-Operators-Methods-Selection) to design the HCI (human-computer interactions/interfaces). The principles of GOMS and its related cognitive models are introduced, and granular computing as a problem-solving strategy is presented. The focus will be on the application of granular computing in the GMOS model, especially for the user's goals and operators granulation. The selection rules of the GOMS model can be utilized to search methods from the AND-OR tree generated by the granular computing. An example is illustrated to demonstrate how the combination of the GOMS model with granular computing works.
Vertically oriented single-wall carbon nanotube/enzyme on silicon as biosensor electrode

Thin films of vertically aligned individual single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were deposited on silicon using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Oriented SWNT growth was achieved by employing two methods of catalyst precursor self-assembly followed by ethanol CVD. Using the silicon substrate as the working electrode in an electrochemical cell and the enzyme β-NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) synthetase dissolved in a buffered electrolyte solution, the enzyme was attached at the nanotube ends. This was shown using scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Enzyme immobilization on the 1 nm to 2 nm diameter tube ends of the individual SWNTs will allow for dense packing of the enzyme and utilization of the electrode as an enzymatic sensor in a biofuel cell configuration.
Thermal expansion coefficient of sheet molding compound

Abstract The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of sheet molding compound (SMC) was determined. The experimental determination was accomplished by measuring directly the changes in length of specimens induced by temperature changes. The theoretical derivation was completed by using existing formulae for unidirectional composites and then applying the averaging procedure to obtain the TEC for randomly oriented chopped-fiber composites (SMC). Based on the results of this paper, we observed that SMC tested exhibited strong non-homogeneity and anisotropy. The in-plane TEC was close to that of aluminum, but in the direction normal to the panel was about three times that of aluminum.
Superconducting critical temperatures of niobium recovered from megabar dynamic pressures

Abstract Nb was processed and recovered intact from high dynamic pressures in the range 0.6–1.2 Mbar. Pressure and effective-plastic-strain histories were calculated using a finite-element hydrodynamic computer code. Recovered specimens were characterized by X-ray diffraction, metallography, Vicker's hardness, and electrical resistivity ratio. The superconducting transition temperature Tc was found to be weakly sensitive to shock-induced defects. The maximum change observed in Tc was a decrease of 0.035 K in the specimen shocked to a maximum pressure of 0.6 Mbar. Shock processing of V3Si at 1 Mbar was recently reported by Stewart et al. to depress Tc 1.8 K from the initial value of 16.4 K. These results indicate that shock-induced defects and disorder have a relatively weak effect on the Tc of equilibrium phases and suggest that shock-synthesized metastable superconductors might have Tc's close to intrinsic values for the ordered material.
Excitation for Masing by Water in X-irradiated Environments at the Nuclei of Active Galaxies

Recent calculations have demonstrated that the absorption of infrared, spectral line radiation by dust grains can increase significantly the pumping of the 22 GHz water masers under conditions that may be appropriate for the circumnuclear environment of active galaxies. As a result, improved agreement with the observed maser luminosities is achieved. A key ingredient is a significant difference between the temperatures of the gas and the grains, a difference that is expected in the presence of irradiation by X-rays. In our own galaxy, strong maser emission is observed also for a number of other transitions of the water molecule at higher frequencies. Calculations are presented here to delineate in some detail the maser luminosities that can be expected for both these and the 22 GHz transition when the influence of dust grains is included. Dust grains play a major role when the column density of hydrogen divided by the dispersion velocity for the masing gas exceeds about 1022 cm-2 (km s-1)-1. Beyond this depth, the pumping (and hence the emissivity for saturated masing) is independent of the optical depth to the surface of the cloud. Without dust grains, the pumping is quenched at high optical depths due to trapping of the infrared, spectral line radiation of the water molecule. Calculated luminosities for the water masers at higher frequencies can be comparable with the calculated luminosity of the 22 GHz masers. The calculations here are restricted to the ortho-water configuration.
Spontaneous development of concentric layering in a solidified siliceous dike, East Greenland

Abstract A meter-wide rhyolitic dike near the eastern margin of the Skaergaard Intrusion developed fine concentric layering in a small section where a fault appears to have fractured the dike and enhanced its interaction with meteoric water. Layers two or three millimeters thick consist of quartz alternating with low-temperature albite and potassium feldspar around a core of radiating clots of the same minerals. The layering seems to have resulted from late-stage crystallization and “self-organization” during devitrification in a warm hydrous environment. The development of fine-scale layering can be modeled quantitatively using the model for competitive particle growth (CPG) of Ortoleva and co-workers. Owing to the small differences of surface energy of grains of differing sizes, large crystals tend to grow at the expense of smaller ones, and a repetitive pattern of layering develops from a small initial perturbation of grain size. The spacing of layers predicted by a numerical model using reasonable estimates for the physical parameters, such as diffusivity and the rate of cooling, is in good agreement with the observed geometry and dimensions.
Affect and cognition in autism.

Abstract An array of six photographs of the same woman was used to assess the ability of 18 autistic, 14 nonautistic mentally retarded, and 18 normal preschool subjects to use affect - and activity -related concepts in the solution of cognitive tasks. The Total Performance Level of the autistic and mentally retarded subjects did not differ significantly. Autistic subjects performed imitation, directed action, and description tasks less well in the affect mode. The findings are consistent with other studies, suggesting an impairment in the expression of emotion in autism.
Bleomycin toxicity simulating metastatic nodules to the lungs

Pulmonary nodules may develop following bleomycin therapy, a previously undescribed entity that may simulate metastatic disease. Two asymptomatic patients are reported with nodules that developed following low dose bleomycin treatment for testicular tumors. One patient had previously documented pulmonary metastases that had resolved after chemotherapy. The other patient had nodular-appearing densities on routine chest examination without a history of previous metastatic lung involvement.
Detection of botulinum neurotoxin A in a spiked milk sample with subtype identification through toxin proteomics.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) causes the disease botulism, which can be lethal if untreated. Rapid determination of exposure to BoNT is an important public health goal. Previous work in our laboratory focused on the development of Endopep-MS, a mass spectrometry-based endopeptidase method for detecting and differentiating BoNT in buffer. This method can rapidly determine the presence of BoNT in a sample and differentiate the toxin type of BoNT present but does not yield additional information about the subtype. We now describe here the application of Endopep-MS to detect BoNT A in a spiked milk sample. This work also describes subtype identification achieved through mass spectrometric analysis of the protein toxin itself and does not require the presence of DNA from the toxin-producing bacteria. Tryptic digests of A1 and A2 subtypes of BoNT were analyzed by mass spectrometry, and peptides unique to either the A1 or A2 subtype were subjected to tandem mass spectrometry analysis to confirm their identities. F...
GaN Heterodimensional Schottky Diode for THz Detection

The performance of conventional Schottky diodes used for detecting THz radiation is limited by the RC product. Heterodimensional diodes have a smaller capacitance and series resistance. In this paper, we present the first experimental demonstration of THz detection by AlGaN/GaN heterodimensional Schottky diodes (HDSD) that exhibited reasonable performance up to at least 2.24 THz.
The Basis of Translational Physiology: From Molecules to Humans, a Wide Arc of Scientific Inquiry

large multicenter clinical trial (ACENDHF) indicated that nesiritide is ineffective in a general heart failure population (5). The doubling back of arc BA is one of the contributing factors in the development of neutral endopeptidase inhibitors. This is also a clear example of the bidirectionality of translational physiology, as well as the unpredictable nature of research. Identification of translational arcs in retrospect is quite simple. Observing an arc in real time is essentially impossible since one cannot unequivocally determine the future results of any experiment, and the time scale can be nearly as long as one’s career. Therefore, using the term translational physiology to label current research can be probalmatic. How then do we identify and promote translational
Venous stenosis in a pig arteriovenous fistula model--anatomy, mechanisms and cellular phenotypes.

Background. Haemodialysis vascular access dysfunction is currently a huge clinical problem. Although arteriovenous (AV) fistulae are the preferred mode of dialysis access, they have significant problems with both early (failure to mature) and late fistula failure. Both are characterized radiologically as a stenosis of the venous segment. Despite the magnitude of the clinical problem, the exact pathogenesis of AV fistula failure remains unclear. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a pig model of AV fistula stenosis and then use it to dissect out the mechanisms responsible for this lesion. Methods. AV fistulae were created between the femoral artery and vein of Yorkshire Cross pigs. Animals were sacrificed at 2 days, 7 days, 28 days and 42 days postsurgery. At the time of sacrifice the entire specimen was divided into four regions; the arterial (AV-A) and venous (AV-V) portions of the AV anastomosis, the juxta-anastomotic segment (JA) and the proximal vein (PV), and assessed for the degree of intima-media thickening and the presence of specific cellular phenotypes. Haemodynamic parameters were not measured in this set of experiments. Results. Significant luminal stenosis and intima-media thickening were present as early as 28 days and 42 days post-surgery in the pig model. In addition, within specimens from a single time point, these two parameters were maximal within the proximal vein and juxta-anastomotic segment as compared to the AV anastomosis (P < 0.0001). The vast majority of cells within the region of intima-media thickening were myofibroblasts. Conclusions. These studies suggest that early and aggressive intima-media thickening (which is made up primarily of myofibroblasts) plays an important role in AV fistula stenosis in a pig model of AV fistula placement. Interventions that target the mechanisms and cellular phenotypes described in this model, may be effective in reducing the very significant morbidity and economic costs currently associated with AV fistula failure.
Zorach V. Clauson : The Impact of a Supreme Court Decision.

It has become a commonplace that the Constitution is what the Supreme Court says it is. Scholars of American constitutional law have, therefore, focused their studies largely on the Court's opinions as indices of the Constitution's current meaning. But however well established may be the Court's role as the expounder of the constitutional document, the impact of a decision will depend on many individuals and circumstances far beyond the confines of the Court. This paper will examine the effects of the decision in Zorach v. Clauson on public policy in the seven years since its announcement. It will attempt to follow the repercussions of one Supreme Court decision through the entire political process within one area of political conflict—in this case the conflict over church-state relationships.
Rindopepimut: an evidence-based review of its therapeutic potential in the treatment of EGFRvIII-positive glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and is universally fatal. Despite surgical resection, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy, the median overall survival is less than 15 months. As current therapies are not tumor-specific, treatment commonly results in toxicity. The epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is a naturally occurring mutant of EGFR and is expressed on approximately 20% to 30% of GBMs. As it is not expressed on normal cells, it is an ideal therapeutic target. Rindopepimut is a peptide vaccine which elicits EGFRvIII-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Phase I and II clinical trials have demonstrated significantly higher progression-free and overall survival times in vaccinated patients with EGFRvIII-expressing GBM tumors. Side effects are minimal and mainly consist of hypersensitivity reactions. Due to the efficacy and safety of rindopepimut, it is a promising therapy for patients with GBM. Currently, rindopepimut is undergoing clinical testing in an international Phase III trial for newly diagnosed GBM and a Phase II trial for relapsed GBM.
Evolving neural networks through augmenting topologies

An important question in neuroevolution is how to gain an advantage from evolving neural network topologies along with weights. We present a method, NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT), which outperforms the best fixed-topology method on a challenging benchmark reinforcement learning task. We claim that the increased efficiency is due to (1) employing a principled method of crossover of different topologies, (2) protecting structural innovation using speciation, and (3) incrementally growing from minimal structure. We test this claim through a series of ablation studies that demonstrate that each component is necessary to the system as a whole and to each other. What results is significantly faster learning. NEAT is also an important contribution to GAs because it shows how it is possible for evolution to both optimize and complexify solutions simultaneously, offering the possibility of evolving increasingly complex solutions over generations, and strengthening the analogy with biological evolution.
Towards combining UAV and sensor operator roles in UAV-enabled visual search

Wilderness search and rescue (WiSAR) is a challenging problem because of the large areas and often rough terrain that must be searched. Using mini-UAVs to deliver aerial video to searchers has potential to support WiSAR efforts, but a number of technology and human factors problems must be overcome to make this practical. At the source of many of these problems is a desire to manage the UAV using as few people as possible, so that more people can be used in ground-based search efforts. This paper uses observations from two informal studies and one formal experiment to identify what human operators may be unaware of as a function of autonomy and information display. Results suggest that progress is being made on designing autonomy and information displays that may make it possible for a single human to simultaneously manage the UAV and its camera in WiSAR, but that adaptable displays that support systematic navigation are probably needed.
Long-term urinary excretion of methaqualone in a human subject

The urinary excretion rates of methaqualone and of one of its metabolites, 6-hydroxymethaqualone (free and conjugated), were determined in a normal male subject over a 30-day period by stable isotope dilution analysis using field ionization mass spectrometry. The excretion rates for methaqualone were fitted by computer to three-and four-exponential functions. The estimated terminal halflife for the drug was approximately 74 hr. 6-Hydroxymethaqualone excretion in the elimination phase was fitted to a single exponential decay curve. Estimated halflives obtained for the free and total (primarily conjugated) metabolite were 78 and 70 hr, respectively. The apparent difference between the latter two values was not statistically significant. The close similarity between the halflives of methaqualone and 6-hydroxymethaqualone indicates that elimination of these compounds is ratelimited by the same pharmacokinetic process. A similarly long halflife, 50 hr, was estimated in a previous study (5) of another subject in which excretion of the compounds was followed over an 11-day period. These results demonstrate that the half-life of methaqualone can be much longer than has been indicated by relatively short-term investigations.
Bacterial attachment on reactive ceramic ultrafiltration membranes

Bacterial attachment is an initial stage in biofilm formation that leads to flux decline in membrane water filtration. This study compares bacterial attachment among three photocatalytic ceramic ultrafiltration membranes for the prevention of biofilm formation. Zirconia ceramic ultrafiltration membranes were dip-coated with anatase and mixed phase titanium dioxide photocatalysts to prevent biofilm growth. The membrane surface was characterized in terms of roughness, hydrophobicity, bacterial cell adhesion, and attached cell viability, all of which are important factors in biofilm formation. The titanium dioxide coatings had minimal impact on the membrane roughness, reduced the hydrophobicity of membranes, prevented Pseudomonas putida attachment, and reduced P. putida viability. Degussa P25 is a particularly promising reactive coating because of its ease of preparation, diminished cell attachment and viability in solutions with low and high organic carbon concentrations, and reduced flux decline. These reactive membranes offer a promising strategy for fouling resistance in water filtration systems.
Broadband Operation of Nanophotonic Router for Silicon Photonic Networks-on-Chip

A nonblocking four-port bidirectional multiwavelength message router for use in photonic network-on-chip (NoC) architectures implementing two-dimensional mesh or torus topologies is fully characterized with bit-error-rate measurements and eye diagrams using three wavelength-parallel 10-Gb/s channels. The experiments demonstrate the feasibility of using this advanced switching subsystem within dynamically routed multiwavelength photonic NoCs.
SEROTONIN SUPPRESSION OF LUTEINIZATION IN GONADOTROPHIN-TREATED, IMMATURE RATS.

Effects of serotonin on the ovulatory cycle have been studied in immature female rats treated with pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin (PMS). In 24-day-old rats a single injection of PMS causes follicular development, ovulation and luteinization. Injections of either 12.5 or 25.0 mg/kg body weight of serotonin daily for 5 days after PMS treatment inhibited luteinization and ovarian weight increases. A single injection of 25.0 mg/kg serotonin administered at 51 hr after PMS caused a similar inhibition. Subcutaneous injections of PMS and human chorionic gonadotropin, which has LH-like activity, caused ovulation and luteinization in the ovary, even after serotonin treatment. These findings are interpreted as indicating a serotonin inhibition of luteinization, not on the ovary directly, but through the suppression of the mechanisms involving LH release either in the hypophysis or in the central nervous system. (Endocrinology 74: 885, 1964)
Processor scheduling and concurrency control in real-time main memory databases

Databases are increasingly being used in real-time applications where timeliness of a result is part of the correctness criterion. Time constrained resource scheduling is one of the critical issues for real-time systems. The paper proposes new CPU scheduling and locking-based concurrency control algorithms for RTDBSs. Furthermore, a real-time timestamp-based concurrency is also presented, to compare its performance with locking-based algorithms in the real-time environment. >
Influence of pore residues on permeation properties in the Kv2.1 potassium channel. Evidence for a selective functional interaction of K+ with the outer vestibule.

The Kv2.1 potassium channel contains a lysine in the outer vestibule (position 356) that markedly reduces open channel sensitivity to changes in external [K+]. To investigate the mechanism underlying this effect, we examined the influence of this outer vestibule lysine on three measures of K+ and Na+ permeation. Permeability ratio measurements, measurements of the lowest [K+] required for interaction with the selectivity filter, and measurements of macroscopic K+ and Na+ conductance, were all consistent with the same conclusion: that the outer vestibule lysine in Kv2.1 interferes with the ability of K+ to enter or exit the extracellular side of the selectivity filter. In contrast to its influence on K+ permeation properties, Lys 356 appeared to be without effect on Na+ permeation. This suggests that Lys 356 limited K+ flux by interfering with a selective K+ binding site. Combined with permeation studies, results from additional mutagenesis near the external entrance to the selectivity filter indicated that this site was located external to, and independent from, the selectivity filter. Protonation of a naturally occurring histidine in the same outer vestibule location in the Kv1.5 potassium channel produced similar effects on K+ permeation properties. Together, these results indicate that a selective, functional K+ binding site (e.g., local energy minimum) exists in the outer vestibule of voltage-gated K+ channels. We suggest that this site is the location of K+ hydration/dehydration postulated to exist based on the structural studies of KcsA. Finally, neutralization of position 356 enhanced outward K+ current magnitude, but did not influence the ability of internal K+ to enter the pore. These data indicate that in Kv2.1, exit of K+ from the selectivity filter, rather than entry of internal K+ into the channel, limits outward current magnitude. We discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the structural basis of channel conductance in different K+ channels.
Cardiac myosin induces myocarditis in genetically predisposed mice.

After infection with coxsackie virus B3 (CB3), H-2 congenic mice on an A- background develop immunologically mediated myocarditis associated with an increased titer of myosin autoantibody, part of which is specific for the cardiac myosin isoform. The present study demonstrates that cardiac myosin itself induces severe myocarditis and high titers of myosin autoantibodies in A/J, A.SW/SnJ, and A.CA/SnJ mice. As in CB3-induced myocarditis, one population of these autoantibodies was specific for cardiac myosin. A.BY/SnJ and B10.A/SgSnJ mice also developed the disease after immunization, but the prevalence and the myosin autoantibody titers were lower. In contrast, C57BL/6J and C57BL/10J mice were resistant to myocarditis induced by cardiac myosin and did not develop increased myosin autoantibodies or cardiac myosin-specific autoantibodies. Immunization with skeletal muscle myosin had no effect compared with controls injected with complete Freund's adjuvant, thereby suggesting that the immunogenic epitopes are unique to the cardiac myosin isoform. Furthermore, we found that susceptibility to myocarditis induced by cardiac myosin is influenced by the major histocompatibility complex and by genes not closely linked to the major histocompatibility complex. Because there are parallels between myocarditis induced by cardiac myosin and that induced by CB3, this new animal model can be used to analyze the pathologic mechanisms in autoimmune heart disease.
Comparative Hydrogeology: An Example of Its Use

As a start toward needed classifications of hydrogeologic settings, a type of setting is described. The setting includes areas where soluble materials are exposed to considerable recharge from precipitation and where both the topographic relief and permeability are inappreciable. Typical areas of this setting are (1) the Black Belt of the Coastal Plain of Alabama and Mississippi, underlain by chalk of the Selma Group, and (2) a 25-sq-mi area near Harrisburg, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, underlain by gabbro in the Piedmont province. Hydrologic conditions that may be inferred and that are easily discernible from this type of setting include: excessive evapotranspiration, low water-table gradient, water table near land surface, thin soils, ground-water movement being almost inappreciable, and the zone of movement being almost limited to a thin zone that includes the contact between the soil and rock, inappreciable ground-water discharge to streams leading, in turn, to a low base flow in streams, low drainage density, and subsurface water relatively high in dissolved mineral matter. Evaluation of the hydrogeologic setting described leads inductively into the undeveloped field of comparative hydrology, which represents a quick useful means of discerning the significance of processes and principles in particular environments. The setting reveals the significance of solution by subsurface water in developing some plains. Comparative hydrology, using the described setting and typical karst settings as examples, allows an advanced analysis of some pertinent factors.
Long-term influences of shrub removal and lagomorph exclusion on Chihuahuan Desert vegetation dynamics

Abstract Cover of perennial species in long-term experimental plots in a creosotebush ( Larrea tridentata Sess. & Moc. Ex DC.) dominated community in the Chihuahuan Desert was monitored for 56 years. Sixteen 21·3×21·3 m plots were established in 1938–39 to evaluate the effects of lagomorph exclusion and shrub removal. Major dominant shrubs were individually severed at ground level and removed by hand in 1939, and this process was repeated after measuring plant cover in 1947, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1989, and 1995. Lagomorphs were excluded with poultry wire fencing. Shrub removal increased ( p ≤0·05) the basal cover of two major desert grass species, black grama ( Bouteloua eriopoda Torr.) and spike dropseed ( Sporobolus contractus A.S. Hitch.) between 1939 and 1995, but differences were not evident until 50 years after initial treatment. Temporal effects of lagomorph exclusion were less pronounced than shrub removal. Clearly, shrub dominance has an extremely important and lasting role in determining vegetation community structure in this arid environment, even when above-ground shrub structures are periodically removed.
Synthesis and metathesis activity of ruthenium dimethylvinyl carbene complexes

Two new dimethylvinyl carbene complexes, RuCl2(SIMes)(PPh3)CHCHC(CH3)2 and RuCl2(SIMes)(3BP)2CHCHC(CH3)2, were synthesized from RuCl2(PCp3)2CHCHC(CH3)2. Complex RuCl2(SIMes)(3BP)2CHCHC(CH3)2 does not suffer from the problem of incomplete initiation that has been observed for the other dimethylvinyl carbene complexes, as witnessed by complete and rapid reaction with ethyl vinyl ether. Acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of 1,9-decadiene with these complexes was found to give polymers with chemical and thermal properties similar to those obtained with Schrock's molybdenum catalyst. These complexes are also catalysts for ring-opening metathesis polymerization. The parent complex RuCl2(SIMes)(PCp3)CHCHC(CH3)2 was found to give polyoctenamer with high initial heats of fusion, suggesting a dependence of the “as formed” crystallinity of the polymer on the rate of the ROMP reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6134–6145, 2005
STUDIES ON THE TOXICITY OF INFLUENZA VIRUSES II. THE EFFECT OF INTRA-ABDOMINAL AND INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF INFLUENZA VIRUSES

Upon intra-abdominal or intravenous injection of allantoic fluids infected with influenza viruses, mice frequently died within 8 to 96 hours. Similar results were observed upon injection of rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs. Autopsy of the mice revealed widespread necrosis of liver and spleen, hemorrhages into the intestines, pleural exudation, and other occasional findings. Survivors frequently developed pulmonary consolidation or jaundice. The dominant type of lesion depended on the strain of virus used. All attempts to demonstrate propagation of the influenza viruses outside of the respiratory tract failed. It was concluded that the early lesions were the result of toxic activities of the virus and not of virus multiplication in the affected tissues. Injection into chick embryos of highly diluted inocula produced higher titers of virus, hemagglutmin, and toxicity in the allantoic fluids than the use of more concentrated seed culture. Serial passage of various strains in high dilution frequently increased the toxic activity. The infectivity often reached its peak in 24 hours when tests for toxicity were still negative. Maximal toxicity was usually not attained before 48 hours. The toxic activity could not be separated from the infective property by such means as differential centrifugation and adsorption onto and elution from chicken red cells. However, upon heating, formalinization, and irradiation with ultraviolet light, the ability of the agents to propagate was lost at a faster rate than the toxic property. The toxic property remained stable for 2 to 3 months at 4 degrees C. This stability was comparable to that of the infectivity for chick embryos. Specific immune sera neutralized in high dilution the toxic activity of the homologous virus. Non-specific neutralization occurred in low dilutions of normal and heterologous immune sera. Strain differences were indicated by this method of testing. Vaccination of mice by the subcutaneous or intra-abdominal routes protected mice specifically against the toxic effects of intra-abdominally or intravenously injected preparations of virus.
A developmental explanation for the Corallina- and Jania-types of surfaces in articulated coralline red algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta)

Thallus surface features associated with epithallial cells and trichocytes provide systematic characters useful for distinguishing some members of the tribes Janieae and Corallineae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta). Electron microscopical study of representatives of the genera Corallina, Jania, Haliptilon, and Cheilosporum suggests an anatomical basis for these character states. The C-type surface, which is the prevalent type in the subfamily Corallinoideae, is formed by filaments presenting apical (transverse) faces to the thallus surface. In contrast, the longitudinally elongate epithallial profiles and asymmetrical trichocyte bases characteristic of J-type surfaces are both manifestations of the same underlying structure: the more delicate J-type species present the longitudinal face of the filaments to the thallus surface. If these interpretations are correct, it should be possible to infer the surface type from the anatomical information; conversely, some basic anatomical information could be inferred from the surface type. Based on the anatomy of J. pusilla, a C-type surface was predicted and, upon examination, was found. A striking feature of the two species of Jania with a J-type surface was the absence of a layer of intercalary initial cells, a layer that in most coralline algae produces epithallial cells distally and cortex cells proximally. The absence of an initial cell layer may be part of the developmental program that results in a J-type surface. Parallels can be drawn to the anatomy of some nonarticulated species.
Efficient file sharing strategy in DHT based P2P systems

In peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing systems, the participating peers share the files with others. Two steps are needed for file sharing: first, a routing request is generated and sent to other peers by using a routing algorithm. The feedback received by the client contains the location information of the requested files; second, the client retrieves the file from one or more peers which have a copy of that file. Routing algorithms have great impact on the overall system performance, distributed hash table (DHT) based routing algorithms provide an elegant and efficient mechanism and become popular in recent years. However, two problems exist in DHT algorithms. First, to find out the location information, in some cases, the routing request may traverse distant peers around the world; second, in case of multiple copies of the requested file stored on different peers, there's no way to figure out which peer is the topologically closest to the client. Thus, the client may have to download the file from a remote peer and suffer from long retrieve latency. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical routing and retrieving algorithm to relieve these problems. The peers' topological information is utilized. Our algorithm is able to find out the closest copy for any routing requests. The simulation results show our strategy can significantly improve the system routing and retrieval performance.
Hands-on at a Distance: Evaluation of a Temperature and Heat Distance Learning Course

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that all teachers be certified within the content areas that they teach. However, attracting and retaining highly qualified science teachers in rural school districts is particularly difficult due to limited resources and geographic and professional isolation. Science professional development programs could help improve inservice teachers’ understanding of concepts they are expected to teach, but such programs are often limited in rural areas. This study evaluates a unique distance learning, inquiry-based professional development course in physical science developed to meet the needs of central Appalachian middle school teachers. Instruction through hands-on inquiry investigations distinguishes this program from other distance learning programs. Preliminary findings from the pilot study reported in this paper reveal significant growth in 43 teachers’ content knowledge for six of nine temperature and heat concepts assessed in the course. Outcomes from the distance learning project are discussed as they relate to future research goals and implications for science professional development programs in rural regions.
Exact cardinality query optimization for optimizer testing

The accuracy of cardinality estimates is crucial for obtaining a good query execution plan. Today's optimizers make several simplifying assumptions during cardinality estimation that can lead to large errors and hence poor plans. In a scenario such as query optimizer testing it is very desirable to obtain the "best" plan, i.e., the plan produced when the cardinality of each relevant expression is exact. Such a plan serves as a baseline against which plans produced by using the existing cardinality estimation module in the query optimizer can be compared. However, obtaining all exact cardinalities by executing appropriate subexpressions can be prohibitively expensive. In this paper, we present a set of techniques that makes exact cardinality query optimization a viable option for a significantly larger set of queries than previously possible. We have implemented this functionality in Microsoft SQL Server and we present results using the TPC-H benchmark queries that demonstrate their effectiveness.
Assimilation Theory in Meaningful Learning and Retention Processes

Having already described the nature of meaning and the kinds of conditions and processes involved in the meaningful learning of words, concepts, and propositions, we shall want to explore in greater detail the psychological mechanisms whereby large quantities of subject-matter knowledge are retained in cognitive structure over extended periods of time. How is such knowledge assimilated and organized in cognitive structure, and why is it subsequently forgotten? Is there more than one valid explanation for the discrepancy between learned and remembered content, that is, are there different kinds of forgetting? Lastly, how does meaningful learning as a process differ from rote learning, and why does it yield superior learning and retention outcomes?
Physics-model-based nonlinear actuator trajectory optimization and safety factor profile feedback control for advanced scenario development in DIII-D

DIII-D experimental results are reported to demonstrate the potential of physics-model-based safety factor profile control for robust and reproducible sustainment of advanced scenarios. In the absence of feedback control, variability in wall conditions and plasma impurities, as well as drifts due to external disturbances, can limit the reproducibility of discharges with simple pre-programmed scenario trajectories. The control architecture utilized is a feedforward + feedback scheme where the feedforward commands are computed off-line and the feedback commands are computed on-line. In this work, a first-principles-driven (FPD), physics-based model of the q profile and normalized beta () dynamics is first embedded into a numerical optimization algorithm to design feedforward actuator trajectories that steer the plasma through the tokamak operating space to reach a desired stationary target state that is characterized by the achieved q profile and . Good agreement between experimental results and simulations demonstrates the accuracy of the models employed for physics-model-based control design. Second, a feedback algorithm for q profile control is designed following an FPD approach, and the ability of the controller to achieve and maintain a target q profile evolution is tested in DIII-D high confinement (H-mode) experiments. The controller is shown to be able to effectively control the q profile when is relatively close to the target, indicating the need for integrated q profile and control to further enhance the ability to achieve robust scenario execution. The ability of an integrated q profile + feedback controller to track a desired target is demonstrated through simulation.
Guidance for the practical management of the heparin anticoagulants in the treatment of venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious and often fatal medical condition with an increasing incidence. Despite the changing landscape of VTE treatment with the introduction of the new direct oral anticoagulants many uncertainties remain regarding the optimal use of traditional parenteral agents. This manuscript, initiated by the Anticoagulation Forum, provides clinical guidance based on existing guidelines and consensus expert opinion where guidelines are lacking. This specific chapter addresses the practical management of heparins including low molecular weight heparins and fondaparinux. For each anticoagulant a list of the most common practice related questions were created. Each question was addressed using a brief focused literature review followed by a multidisciplinary consensus guidance recommendation. Issues addressed included initial anticoagulant dosing recommendations, recommended baseline laboratory monitoring, managing dose adjustments, evidence to support a relationship between laboratory tests and meaningful clinical outcomes, special patient populations including extremes of weight and renal impairment, duration of necessary parenteral therapy during the transition to oral therapy, candidates for outpatient treatment where appropriate and management of over-anticoagulation and adverse effects including bleeding and heparin induced thrombocytopenia. This article concludes with a concise table of clinical management questions and guidance recommendations to provide a quick reference for the practical management of heparin, low molecular weight heparin and fondaparinux.
Stable biomarker for plastic microglia.

Microglia, central nervous system (CNS) resident mononuclear phagocytes, are broadly distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord. They originate from yolk sac-derived progenitors and colonize the CNS rudiment, where they subsequently expand and differentiate (1, 2). Microglia constitute ∼10% of the cells in the CNS and play critical roles in immune surveillance and clearance of invading pathogens (3, 4). In addition, microglia influence synapse formation (5) and participate in neuronal network refinement through phagocytosis of less active presynaptic boutons (6, 7). During homeostasis, microglia clear the debris that results from neuronal cell loss and glial turnover. Microglia are activated in response to brain injury or disease and may offer therapeutic opportunities for a broad spectrum of CNS disorders, ranging from multiple sclerosis to Alzheimer’s disease and autism (8⇓–10). However, rigorous investigations into the role of microglia, and attempts to manipulate them for therapeutic purposes, have been limited by a lack of biomarkers to distinguish microglia from other closely related myeloid subsets. An ideal microglial marker would be selectively and stably expressed by all microglia, conserved across species, and localized to the cell surface to facilitate antibody-based cell sorting. The search may finally be over. In PNAS, Bennett et al. (11) identify transmembrane protein 119 (Tmem119) as a microglia-specific biomarker specific for mouse and human (Fig. 1). The authors developed anti-Tmem119 mAbs suitable for cell sorting and immunohistological staining. Equipped with anti-Tmem119, they isolated ( i ) developing, ( ii ) resting, and ( iii ) activated microglia and performed deep RNA-sequencing. Data mining of microglia transcriptomes provides rich insights into gene expression, identifies many gene products associated with neurological disorders, and defines transcriptional changes as microglia mature or become “classically” activated. Importantly, Tmem119 immunoreactivity (IR) was carefully examined under various injury paradigms that trigger CNS infiltration by bone marrow (BM)-derived … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: rgiger{at}umich.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Cooperative cell motility during tandem locomotion of amoeboid cells

Streams of migratory cells are initiated by the formation of tandem pairs of cells connected head to tail to which other cells subsequently adhere. The mechanisms regulating the transition from single to streaming cell migration remain elusive, although several molecules have been suggested to be involved. In this work, we investigate the mechanics of the locomotion ofDictyosteliumtandem pairs by analyzing the spatiotemporal evolution of their traction adhesions (TAs). We find that in migrating wild-type tandem pairs, each cell exerts traction forces on stationary sites (∼80% of the time), and the trailing cell reuses the location of the TAs of the leading cell. Both leading and trailing cells form contractile dipoles and synchronize the formation of new frontal TAs with ∼54-s time delay. Cells not expressing the lectin discoidin I or moving on discoidin I-coated substrata form fewer tandems, but the trailing cell still reuses the locations of the TAs of the leading cell, suggesting that discoidin I is not responsible for a possible chemically driven synchronization process. The migration dynamics of the tandems indicate that their TAs' reuse results from the mechanical synchronization of the leading and trailing cells' protrusions and retractions (motility cycles) aided by the cell-cell adhesions.
Modification of the Adhesive Properties of XeF2-Etched Aluminum Surfaces by Deposition of Organic Self-Assembled Monolayers

Removal of Si sacrificial layer from Al surfaces using XeF2 gas results in highly adhesive aluminum (oxy)fluoride surfaces. We describe the preparation and characterization of improved, highly nonstick surfaces modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). High hydrophilicity of the AlFx surfaces is the key factor for attachment of OTS, where the Al−F surface bond is hydrolyzed to form Al−O−Si link with OTS. Infrared absorption data indicate that a dense Si−O−Si network is formed above the AlFx surfaces upon attachment of OTS. Based on the optical modeling of ν(CH2) absorption bands, an average tilt angle of the molecular layer on fluorinated aluminum is estimated to be 27° ± 2° to the surface normal. Owing to the high packing of the grafted OTS layer, the modified surfaces exhibit an excellent hydrophobicity with a contact angle of 105°. The aging and stability of the interface are determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Effect of hypercholesterolemia on digoxin tolerance.

SummaryA significant increase in digitalis tolerance was observed in hypercholesterolemic male rabbits when compared to the normocholesterolemic male rabbit. The explanation, however, is not clear but may be related to the chemical similarity of cholesterol to digitalis.
Percutaneous removal of caliceal and other "inaccessible" stones: results.

AbstractPercutaneous removal of renal stones (percutaneous nephrolithotomy) is becoming an established procedure, especially for stones lying free in the renal pelvis. However, some renal stones, particularly caliceal stones, are less accessible and, therefore, more difficult by the percutaneous route. We removed percutaneously 95 caliceal or otherwise poorly accessible renal stones from 53 patients with a variety of techniques, including percutaneous puncture above the 12th rib, double or Y percutaneous nephrostomy tracts, rigid and flexible endoscopy, and intrarenal cutting with diathermy. Intravenously assisted local anesthesia was used exclusively in 89 per cent of the patients.Status free of stones was achieved in all but 1 patient who retained 2 small fragments. The average number of sessions was 1.89 and the average hospital stay was 7.9 days. Complications were minor except for 1 patient who required tertiary renal artery embolization for bleeding. Illustrative cases are presented. Virtually all r...