cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Client and server verification for web services using interface grammars

Web services provide a promising framework for developing interoperable software components that interact with each other across organizational boundaries. For this framework to be successful, the client and the server for a service have to interact with each other based on the published service interface specification. If either the client or the server deviate from the interface specification, the client-server interaction will lead to errors. We present a framework for checking interface conformance for web services. Given an interface specification, we automatically generate web service server stubs (for client verification) and drivers (for server verification) and then use these stubs and drivers to check the conformance of the client and server to the interface specification. We implemented this framework by using interface grammars as the interface specification language. We developed an interface compiler that automatically generates a stub or a driver from a given interface grammar. We conducted a case study by applying these techniques to the Amazon E-Commerce Service.
Diurnal plasma vasopressin and urinary output in adolescents with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis

Plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels, urinary flow and urine osmolality were investigated in a group of adolescents (20 boys and 5 girls), aged 11-21 y, with severe monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis and a control group of healthy adolescents (16M and 4F) with similar age- and sex-distribution. Half of the control group was investigated twice, with an interval of 6 months. AVP samples were taken every fourth hour in all adolescents and half of the control group were also investigated every second hour to achieve more samples during controlled sleep. After the study the enuretic group were put on long-term oral desmopressin (DDAVP). The difference between day and night values of AVP was significant for both groups, but there was no difference in the day/night ratios of plasma-AVP. All the adolescents produced less urine while asleep, but the controls produced significantly more urine than the enuretics during day. The controls also had a significantly larger nocturnal elevation of urine osmolality than the enuretics, thus a tendency towards polyuria was found. We could not find any significant difference between responders to DDAVP treatment and non-responders in any of the parameters studied. AVP is secreted in a pulsatile fashion and with point hormone samples taken every fourth or second hour we were unable to find any difference in the diurnal AVP secretion between enuretics and normal controls.
Problems and priorities: Perceptions of jail custodians and social service providers

Abstract This article contains an analysis of the results of a survey of 39 jail managers and social service providers who attended a workshop in New Jersey. The questionnaire administered to the participants instructed them to rate the seriousness of each of 24 problems in their institution. Overcrowding was considered the most serious problem, followed by innates with psychological problems and lack of activities for prisoners. Conflict among members of the social service staff and staff corruption were seen as relatively minor problems.
Gender Differences on Crime and Punishment

Despite extensive documentation of the gender gap across a range of po litical issues, little is known about gender differences toward issues of crime and punishment. In this study, we systematical...
Effect of progerin on the accumulation of oxidized proteins in fibroblasts from Hutchinson Gilford progeria patients

The mutation responsible for Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) causes abnormal nuclear morphology. Previous studies show that free radicals and reactive oxygen species play major roles in the etiology and/or progression of neurodegenerative diseases and aging. This study compares oxidative stress responses between progeric and normal fibroblasts. Our data revealed higher ROS levels in HGPS cells compared to age-matched controls. In response to oxidative challenge, progeric cells showed increased mRNA levels for mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD) and SOD protein content. However, this did not prevent a drop in the ATP content of progeria fibroblasts. Previous studies have shown that declines in human fibroblast ATP levels interfere with programmed cell death and promote necrotic inflammation. Notably, in our investigations the ATP content of progeria fibroblasts was only approximately 50% of that found in healthy controls. Furthermore, HGPS fibroblast analysis revealed a decrease in total caspase-like proteasome activity and in the levels of two active proteolytic complex subunits (beta(5) and beta(7)). A number of studies indicate that the molecular mechanisms causing accelerated aging in progeric patients also occur in healthy cells of older individuals. Thus, the results of this study may also help explain some of the cellular changes that accompany normal aging.
Detection of Alzheimer's amyloid in transgenic mice using magnetic resonance microimaging

The presence of amyloid-beta (Abeta) plaques in the brain is a hallmark pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transgenic mice overexpressing mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP), or both mutant APP and presenilin-1 (APP/PS1), develop Abeta plaques similar to those in AD patients, and have been proposed as animal models in which to test experimental therapeutic approaches for the clearance of Abeta. However, at present there is no in vivo whole-brain imaging method to detect Abeta plaques in mice or men. A novel method is presented to detect Abeta plaques in the brains of transgenic mice by magnetic resonance microimaging (muMRI). This method uses Abeta1-40 peptide, known for its high binding affinity to Abeta, magnetically labeled with either gadolinium (Gd) or monocrystalline iron oxide nanoparticles (MION). Intraarterial injection of magnetically labeled Abeta1-40, with mannitol to transiently open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), enabled the detection of many Abeta plaques. Furthermore, the numerical density of Abeta plaques detected by muMRI and by immunohistochemistry showed excellent correlation. This approach provides an in vivo method to detect Abeta in AD transgenic mice, and suggests that diagnostic MRI methods to detect Abeta in AD patients may ultimately be feasible.
Mitigation of PHEV charging impact on transformers via a PV-APF harmonic compensation technique: Application to V2G integration

This paper addresses the impacts on distribution transformers due to increasing PHEV loads on the distribution infrastructure, while conducting PV compensation (harmonics compensation). The authors have addressed the utilization of a rapid-prototyping control methodology coupled with a real-time digital simulator to facilitate the integration of a Photovoltaic (PV) inverter with the grid. Multi-string PV modules with a centralized inverter are considered, and the PV inverter is controlled to function as an Active Power Filter (APF). The harmonics on the grid-side are mitigated by the PV inverter and harmonic extraction is done via a novel time-domain technique. All simulations are conducted utilizing PSCAD, and the transformer losses are calculated using MatLab/Simulink. The losses (core-losses and magnetizing current losses), aging, and temperature effects on the distribution transformers due to the increasing PHEV loads, and the utilization of PV compensation to mitigate the impact, are the focus of this work.
Synthesis of new smectic C* liquid-crystalline block copolymers

A series of smectic C* liquid-crystalline (LC) block copolymers were successfully synthesized via the living anionic polymerization of polystyrene with optically active methacrylate monomers containing (S)-2-methylbutyl 4-(4-hydroxyphenylcarbonyloxy)-biphenyl-4′-carboxylate mesogens. These materials are the first reported smectic C* block copolymers. Anionic polymerization in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at −70°C leads to LC block molecular weights of approximately twenty repeating units. The number-average molecular weight of the polystyrene block was varied from 7000 to 20000 to adjust the composition in the block copolymers. Differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy indicate that the smectic C* phase is present in the systems over broad temperature ranges.
Nodal Spin Density Wave and band topology of the FeAs based materials

The recently discovered FeAs-based materials exhibit a $(\ensuremath{\pi},0)$ spin density wave (SDW) in the undoped state, which gives way to superconductivity upon doping. Here we show that due to an interesting topological feature of the band structure, the SDW state cannot acquire a full gap. This is demonstrated within the SDW mean-field theory of both a simplified two-band model and a more realistic five-band model. The positions of the nodes are different in the two models and can be used to detect the validity of each model.
Bounding the probability of error for high precision optical character recognition

We consider a model for which it is important, early in processing, to estimate some variables with high precision, but perhaps at relatively low recall. If some variables can be identified with near certainty, they can be conditioned upon, allowing further inference to be done efficiently. Specifically, we consider optical character recognition (OCR) systems that can be bootstrapped by identifying a subset of correctly translated document words with very high precision. This "clean set" is subsequently used as document-specific training data. While OCR systems produce confidence measures for the identity of each letter or word, thresholding these values still produces a significant number of errors. We introduce a novel technique for identifying a set of correct words with very high precision. Rather than estimating posterior probabilities, we bound the probability that any given word is incorrect using an approximate worst case analysis. We give empirical results on a data set of difficult historical newspaper scans, demonstrating that our method for identifying correct words makes only two errors in 56 documents. Using document-specific character models generated from this data, we are able to reduce the error over properly segmented characters by 34.1% from an initial OCR system's translation.
Interaction of Aminoglycosides with Human Mitochondrial 12S rRNA Carrying the Deafness-Associated Mutation

The mitochondrial 12S rRNA A1555G mutation is one of the important causes of aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss. Here we employed an RNA-directed chemical-modification approach to understanding the pathogenesis of aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss. The patterns of chemical modification of RNA oligonucleotides carrying the A1555G mutation by dimethyl sulfate (DMS) were distinct from those of the RNA oligonucleotides carrying wild-type sequence in the presence of aminoglycosides. In the RNA analogue carrying the A1555G mutation, reduced reactivity to DMS occurred in base G1555 as well as in bases C1556 and A1553 in the presence of paromomycin, neomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, tobramycin, or streptomycin. In particular, base G1555 exhibited marked but similar levels of protection in the presence of 0.1 μM to 100 μM neomycin, gentamicin, or kanamycin. In contrast, the levels of protection in base G1555 appeared to be correlated with the concentration of paromycin, tobramycin, or steptomycin. Furthermore, increasing reactivities to DMS in the presence of these aminoglycosides were observed for bases A1492, C1493, C1494, and A1557 in the RNA analogue carrying the A1555G mutation. These data suggested that the A1555G mutation altered the binding properties of aminoglycosides at the A site of 12S rRNA and led to local conformational changes in 12S rRNA carrying the A1555G mutation. The interaction between aminoglycosides and 12S rRNA carrying the A1555G mutation provides new insight into the pathogenesis of aminoglycoside ototoxicity.
Statistical Mechanical Theory of Ferromagnetism. High Density Behavior

The partition function of the Ising model of ferromagnetism is examined in the limit of high density in the anticipation that in the limit of infinite density one recovers the Weiss molecular field. The formal parameter of expansion is $\frac{1}{z}$ where $z$ is the number of spins in the range of the exchange potential (not restricted to nearest neighbor interactions). In the absence of long-range order, only ring diagrams in the cluster expansion contribute. These give a divergence in the specific heat at $k{T}_{c}=\ensuremath{\Sigma}{j\ensuremath{\ne}i}^{}{v}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ where ${v}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ is the exchange potential. This is the molecular field value for the Curie point ${T}_{c}$. In the presence of a magnetic field the partition function is evaluated for fixed magnetic moment $M$ in the same approximation, $M$ being determined by minimization. This results in a susceptibility differing from the molecular field theory and hence an inconsistency in the theory.
A feed forward circuit comprising Spt6, Ctk1 and PAF regulates Pol II CTD phosphorylation and transcription elongation

The C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II is sequentially modified for recruitment of numerous accessory factors during transcription. One such factor is Spt6, which couples transcription elongation with histone chaperone activity and the regulation of H3 lysine 36 methylation. Here, we show that CTD association of Spt6 is required for Ser2 CTD phosphorylation and for the protein stability of Ctk1 (the major Ser2 CTD kinase). We also find that Spt6 associates with Ctk1, and, unexpectedly, Ctk1 and Ser2 CTD phosphorylation are required for the stability of Spt6-thus revealing a Spt6-Ctk1 feed-forward loop that robustly maintains Ser2 phosphorylation during transcription. In addition, we find that the BUR kinase and the polymerase associated factor transcription complex function upstream of the Spt6-Ctk1 loop, most likely by recruiting Spt6 to the CTD at the onset of transcription. Consistent with requirement of Spt6 in histone gene expression and nucleosome deposition, mutation or deletion of members of the Spt6-Ctk1 loop leads to global loss of histone H3 and sensitivity to hydroxyurea. In sum, these results elucidate a new control mechanism for the regulation of RNAPII CTD phosphorylation during transcription elongation that is likely to be highly conserved.
Hand position effects on precision and speed in telerobotic surgery.

Background Many surgical robotic interfaces allow users to interact with robots over a wide potential range of motion, yet variation in operator performance across a range of motion remains unexamined. This research identifies and explores a new construct, the surgeon's ‘comfortable working envelope’ within the available range of motion, as a factor in surgical robotic interface design. Methods Task accuracy and completion time for a simple aimed movement task were analysed as a function of participant hand positions obtained via infrared motion tracking. Results Hand positions outside the ‘comfortable working envelope’ led to a 20% increase in error magnitude. With respect to the overall input device range of motion, there were large variations in performance, up to 31% difference in error magnitude and 11% difference in movement time. Conclusions These results suggest that advanced surgical robots should have intelligent re-indexing strategies. Alternatively, the robot's control gain should adaptively change with respect to hand position to normalize a surgeon's performance throughout his/her working volume. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interactive exploration of distributed 3D databases over the Internet

Interactive 3D visualization and Internet-based access to information are already common. Their combination is-or soon will be-the primary vehicle for accessing remote databases in fundamental areas of manufacturing, architecture, petroleum, urban planning, tourism, defense, medicine, electronic commerce, and entertainment. Unfortunately, whether based on precise 3D geometry or involving combinations of shapes and images, the complexity of 3D graphic models of airplanes, cities, or virtual stores significantly exceeds the limits of what can be quickly downloaded over popular connections and what can be rendered on personal workstations during interactive exploration. The author reviews recent progress in the compression and simplification of 3D models and in the progressive transmission of these models for interactive graphic exploration, which may combine traditional 3D graphics with image-based rendering. The author proposes an architecture for a 3D server capable of supporting a large number of independent client-users accessing interactively various subsets of a possibly distributed database of complex 3D models.
Mapping Methods Metadata for Research Data

Understanding the methods and processes implemented by data producers to generate research data is essential for fostering data reuse. Yet, producing the metadata that describes these methods remains a time-intensive activity that data producers do not readily undertake. In particular, researchers in the long tail of science often lack the financial support or tools for metadata generation, thereby limiting future access and reuse of data produced. The present study investigates research journal publications as a potential source for identifying descriptive metadata about methods for research data. Initial results indicate that journal articles provide rich descriptive content that can be sufficiently mapped to existing metadata standards with methods-related elements, resulting in a mapping of the data production process for a study. This research has implications for enhancing the generation of robust metadata to support the curation of research data for new inquiry and innovation.
Prostaglandin E2 protects murine lungs from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and lung dysfunction

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a lipid mediator that is produced via the metabolism of arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase enzymes. In the lung, PGE2 acts as an anti-inflammatory factor and plays an imp...
On the Status and Contribution of Westin's and Altman's Theories of Privacy

This article reviews the status and contribution of Alan Westin's and Irwin Altman's theories of privacy. It summarizes, compares, contrasts, and critiques their theories of privacy and summarizes the theory and research that have been a consequence of their theories. It discusses the relationship between privacy and secrecy, an issue raised by Westin, and between privacy and the environment, an issue raised by Altman. Finally, the article considers possible contributions of social-psychological, cultural, and social-development factors to a more complete account of privacy.
Optical properties of surface plasmon resonances of coupled metallic nanorods

We present a systematic study of optical antenna arrays, in which the effects of coupling between the antennas, as well as of the antenna length, on the reflection spectra are investigated and compared. Such arrays can be fabricated on the facet of a fiber, and we propose a photonic device, a plasmonic optical antenna fiber probe, that can potentially be used for in-situ chemical and biological detection and surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
Response surface modeling for hot, humid air decontamination of materials contaminated with Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne and Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam spores

Response surface methodology using a face-centered cube design was used to describe and predict spore inactivation of Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne and Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam spores after exposure of six spore-contaminated materials to hot, humid air. For each strain/material pair, an attempt was made to fit a first or second order model. All three independent predictor variables (temperature, relative humidity, and time) were significant in the models except that time was not significant for B. thuringiensis Al Hakam on nylon. Modeling was unsuccessful for wiring insulation and wet spores because there was complete spore inactivation in the majority of the experimental space. In cases where a predictive equation could be fit, response surface plots with time set to four days were generated. The survival of highly purified Bacillus spores can be predicted for most materials tested when given the settings for temperature, relative humidity, and time. These predictions were cross-checked with spore inactivation measurements.
A low profile X-band active phased array for submarine satellite communications

There is currently a strong desire to achieve a level of connectivity for USA submarines that is comparable to other Naval platforms. To meet this goal, the submarine must support higher data rate communications via satellite. A candidate link is through the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS). The Submarine SHF Phased Array Antenna program, funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR 313), has developed a phased array antenna that will support communications via DSCS while addressing the stringent volumetric and environmental constraints imposed by the submarine. The DSCS operating band is in the low X-band with right-hand circular polarized (RHCP) uplink and left-hand circular polarized (LHCP) downlink and therefore requires a dual-polarized antenna. The high static seawater pressures and other environmental conditions require a very high strength array structure. In order to fit within the existing submarine sail, the antenna must be very thin. Representative test results are shown. The calibration procedures used for the assembly of the array panel are discussed. It is shown that good test results are obtained from a near field probe test and various interesting array patterns can be obtained by adjusting the transmit/receive (T/R) modules.
Physicians and Managed Care: Challenges in the New Environment

To the Editor—We commend the editors of JGIM and Drs. Carolyn M. Clancy and Nicole Lurie for the January 1999 supplemental issue on physicians and managed care. This issue is unique: it looks beyond the organizational and economic aspects of managed care that have been addressed by many previous authors. It examines the relationships affected by the affecting the delivery of health care in a managed environment. In examining these relationships, the authors offer pragmatic solutions for dealing with the problems and pitfalls of managed care and point out the possibilities it affords to improve health care delivery. Specifically, we are struck by how frequently the issue of communication comes up in the articles. We note that the authors of many of the articles underscore the importance of communication in establishing and maintaining relationships between individuals in a managed care setting. For example, an overwhelming majority of items in Pearson’s Table 2, “Duties of Physicians in Consultation and Referral,” rely on good communication skills.1 Dugdale et al.’s article, 2“Time and the Physician patient Relationship,” makes the point that effective communication skills are critical to maintaining patient-centered care when visit times are shortened. Three of the eleven articles 3–5 are specifically devoted to the physician-patient relationship and acknowledge communication as its underlying foundation. Many of the articles note that the pressure of managed care carries the potential to diminish continuity, patient contact time, public trust in the medical profession, and to create tension between generalist and specialist physicians in health networks. Communication skills are important for managing all of these tensions. The physician who can effectively identify and manage barriers to communication, negotiate priorities, and examine issues from the perspectives of others will be more effective in providing high quality care. As Goold et al.3 point out, most current physicians have not been trained in communication skills. As health care becomes increasingly more managed, student physicians need to be educated not only in the clinical and organizational aspects of care but also in the communication skills that will facilitate more effective relationships and care. We argue that these skills as behaviors can best be learned through continuous reinforcement throughout the medical school and residency curricula.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Deficiency Impairs Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Activity and Disrupts Leukocyte Migration in Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a critical mediator of leukocyte migration in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. To test the relevance of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression on the regulation of MMP-9 activity in liver I/R injury, our experiments included both iNOS-deficient mice and mice treated with ONO-1714, a specific iNOS inhibitor. The inability of iNOS-deficient mice to generate iNOS-derived nitric oxide (NO) profoundly inhibited MMP-9 activity and depressed leukocyte migration in livers after I/R injury. While macrophages expressed both iNOS and MMP-9 in damaged wild-type livers, neutrophils expressed MMP-9 and were virtually negative for iNOS; however, exposure of isolated murine neutrophils and macrophages to exogenous NO increased MMP-9 activity in both cell types, suggesting that NO may activate MMP-9 in leukocytes by either autocrine or paracrine mechanisms. Furthermore, macrophage NO production through the induction of iNOS was capable of promoting neutrophil transmigration across fibronectin in a MMP-9-dependent manner. iNOS expression in liver I/R injury was also linked to liver apoptosis, which was reduced in the absence of MMP-9. These results suggest that MMP-9 activity induced by iNOS-derived NO may also lead to detachment of hepatocytes from the extracellular matrix and cell death, in addition to regulating leukocyte migration across extracellular matrix barriers. These data provide evidence for a novel mechanism by which MMP-9 can mediate iNOS-induced liver I/R injury.
Implementing an evidence-based practice protocol for prevention of catheterized associated urinary tract infections in a progressive care unit

Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are common, painful, and potentially life threatening to hospital patients. Nurses implemented an evidence-based project to determine if a new protocol would decrease the incidence of CAUTIs. The project included a point prevalence study, healthcare team education and a prompt communicating catheter insertion date, time and removal recommendations. This project was successful as evidenced by post data collection showing CAUTI rate decreases of 1.1/1000 catheter days and a device duration decrease of 0.2 device days/patient days.
Screening of Candidate Chemosterilants Against the Japanese Beetle

Twenty-five compounds were screened for chemosterilant activity against adult Popillia japonica Newman. More than 90% sterility was induced by 8 of 12 aziridine compounds and 1 of 8 s -triazine derivatives. One other compound, 3,5-bis(diethylamino)-1,2,4-dithiazolium chloride, reduced fertility nearly as much.
Effect of Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate in Combination with Sodium Nitrite or Sodium Nitrite/Potassium Sorbate on Clostridium botulinum Growth and Toxin Production in Beef/Pork Frankfurter Emulsions

Combinations of sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP) with added sodium nitrite and/or potassium sorbate were tested at various pH levels to determine effectiveness in delaying Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin production in frankfurter emulsions. Formulations containing sodium nitrite (40 ppm), potassium sorbate (0.26%) and SAPP (0.4%) resulted in a greater delay of toxin production (12–18 days) than other combinations (6–12 days) having similar pH values. Treatments containing 0.4% SAPP appeared to be more inhibitory than their counterparts without SAPP, displaying less numbers of toxic samples during the 53-day storage period at 27°C. Aerobic mesophilic colony counts and residual nitrite data showed little difference among treatments.
Regulated bidirectional motility of melanophore pigment granules along microtubules in vitro

Although many types of membrane-bound organelles rely upon microtubule-based transport for their proper placement within the cytoplasm, the molecular mechanisms that regulate intracellular motility remain largely unknown. To address this problem, we have studied the microtubule-dependent dispersion and aggregation of pigment granules from an immortalized Xenopus melanophore cell line. We have reconstituted pigment granule motility along bovine brain microtubules in vitro using a microscope-based motility assay. Pigment granules, or melanosomes, move along single microtubules bidirectionally; however, analysis of the polarities of this movement shows that melanosomes that have been purified from dispersed cells exhibit mostly plus end-directed motility, while movement of organelles from aggregating cells is biased toward the minus end. Removal of all soluble proteins from the melanosome fractions by density gradient centrifugation does not diminish organelle motility, demonstrating that all the components required for transport have a stable association with the melanosome membranes. Western blotting shows the presence of the plus end-directed motor, kinesin-II, and the minus end-directed motor, cytoplasmic dynein in highly purified melanosomes. Therefore, purified melanosomes retain their ability to move along microtubules as well as their regulated state. Direct biochemical comparison of melanosomes from aggregated and dispersed cells may elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate organelle transport in melanophores.
Using the computer as a tool in engineering technology programs

Computers are becoming increasingly important tools in engineering as the pressure to produce world class products in the United States expands. Computers are revolutionizing the way engineers "do" engineering. Concepts such as concurrent engineering, solids modeling, design for manufacturability and assembly, statistical process control, total quality management, injection molding simulation and finite element analysis all use the computer to assist engineers in the creation of better quality products in a much shorter cycle time than was previously possible. Many companies in the USA now rely on products that are less than two years old to produce much of their income. Unfortunately, this push to educate engineers who can compete in this new world class market comes at the same time when universities are facing shrinking budgets and increasing class sizes. Yet, the engineering students of today must acquire the skills that they will need upon graduation to compete in that world class market. This paper discusses the challenges that engineering educators face in using the computer as an increasingly important tool in the curriculum in a academic world where shrinking resources seems to be the rule rather than the exception. The paper also discusses the problems of finding room in already too crowded programs to integrate these computer tools.
Generation of neural crest progenitors from human embryonic stem cells

The neural crest (NC) is a transient population of multipotent progenitors arising at the lateral edge of the neural plate in vertebrate embryos, which then migrate throughout the body to generate diverse array of tissues such as the peripheral nervous system, skin melanocytes, and craniofacial cartilage, bone and teeth. The transient nature of neural crest stem cells make extremely challenging to study the biology of these important cells. In humans induction and differentiation of embryonic NC occurs very early, within a few weeks of fertilization giving rise to technical and ethical issues surrounding isolation of early embryonic tissues and therefore severely limiting the study of human NC cells. For that reason our current knowledge of the biology of NC mostly derives from the studies of lower organisms. Recent progress in human embryonic stem cell research provides a unique opportunity for generation of a useful source of cells for basic developmental studies. The development of cost-effective, time and labor efficient improved differentiation protocols for the production of human NC cells is a critical step toward a better understanding of NC biology.
Controls on alluvial fan long-profiles

Water and debris flows exiting confined valleys have a tendency to deposit sediment on steep fans. On alluvial fans where water transport of gravel predominates, channel slopes tend to decrease downfan from ~0.10–0.04 to ~0.01 across wide ranges of climate and tectonism. Some have argued that this pattern reflects grain-size fining downfan such that higher threshold slopes are required just to entrain coarser particles in the waters of the upper fan, whereas lower slopes are required to entrain finer grains downfan (threshold hypothesis). An older hypothesis is that slope is adjusted to transport the supplied sediment load, which decreases downfan as deposition occurs (transport hypothesis). We have begun to test these hypotheses for alluvial fan long-profiles using detailed hydraulic and particle-size data in sediment transport models. On four alluvial fans in the western U.S., we find that channel hydraulic radiiare largely 0.5–0.9 m at fan heads, decreasing to 0.1–0.2 m at distal margins. We find that median gravel diameter does not change systematically along the upper 60%–80% of active fan channels as slope declines, so downstream gravel fining cannot explain most of the observed channel slope reduction. However, as slope declines, channel-bed sand cover increases systematically downfan from areal fractions of <20% above fan heads to distal fan values in excess of 70%. As a result, entrainment thresholds for bed material might decrease systematically downfan, leading to lower slopes. However, current models of this effect alone tend to underpredict downfan slope changes. This is likely due to off-channel gravel deposition. Calculations that match observed fan long-profiles require an exponential decline in gravel transport rate, so that on some fans approximately half of the load must be deposited off channel every ~0.20–1.4 km downfan. This leads us to hypothesize that some alluvial fan long-profiles are statements about the rate of overbank deposition of coarse particles downfan, a process for which there is currently no mechanistic theory.
Factors Influencing Restaurant Selection in South Florida: Is Health Issue One of the Factors Influencing Consumers' Behavior When Selecting a Restaurant?

The purpose of the present study was to find factors influencing consumers when selecting a restaurant in South Florida. Respondents were asked to rate provided attributes in a 5-point Likert scale according to their preferences in selecting a restaurant when dining out. Respondents were also asked to indicate on a 5-point scale the importance of healthy food for choosing a restaurant when dining out. Based on the results of one-way ANOVA and factor analysis, the study found that reasons for choosing a restaurant with concerning health issues differed according to consumers' knowledge of health issues, annual income level, budget for dining out, and weight concern.
OOPIC: object oriented particle-in-cell code

OOPIC is an object oriented particle-in-cell (PIC) code framework designed as a testbed for PIC algorithms. OOPIC consists of three principal components: the graphical user interface (GUI), the expect advisor, and the physics kernel. The GUI includes a geometry editor, an interactive, windowing visualization system, printing and file output capability, and simulation control capability. The expert advisor handles parsing parameter input files, saving modified parameter sets, and applying rules and constraints to ensure the consistency of the simulation. The physics kernel is a framework for diverse models which can be selected dynamically at run time. OOPIC currently includes electrostatic and electromagnetic field solvers, a Boltzmann electron option (m/sub c//spl rarr/0), Cartesian and cylindrical non-uniform grids in two-dimensions. Particle modeling includes relativistic and non-relativistic optimizations, a number of models for collecting charge and current densities, and current corrections including full Poisson and Marder corrections. Boundary conditions in the electrostatic model include dielectrics and equipotential surfaces connected to ground via external RLC circuits. Electromagnetic boundary conditions include TEM, TE and TM wave launchers, a number of wave absorbing models, conductors, and surface impedance models. A number of particle emission models and symmetry boundaries work in both EM and ES, and any boundaries can be configured as complex internal structures. OOPIC runs under the Windows operating system on 80/spl times/86 computers. The advisor and physics kernel also run under XGrafix, a basic visualization system, on Unix workstations.
Some Geophysical Implications of the Satellite-Determined Geogravity Field

Summary Possible locations for the sources of the low-degree gravity harmonics are examined in the context of the interrelationships of the geogravity field with the geomagnetic field and its drifting and non-drifting parts as well as certain other geophysical controls. The available evidence does not support the westward drift of the gravity field. The hypothesis that the upper mantle is the most probable location for a bulk of the mass anomalies which produce the low-degree gravity harmonics, seems to be most acceptable at this stage of our knowledge. A bulk of the mass anomalies is believed to be generated by lateral compositional and thermal variations in the asthenosphere. These variations also seem to be responsible for a major part of the observed correlation between the geogravity field and the geomagnetic secular variations by dint of their property of affecting both the density and electrical conductivity of materials. Lateral heterogeneities of the asthenosphere seem to be closely associated with relative motions in the asthenosphere and seem to play an important role in the tectonic model which explains continental drift as a result of sea-floor spreading.
Shape Ontogeny of the Distal Femur in the Hominidae with Implications for the Evolution of Bipedality

Heterochrony has been invoked to explain differences in the morphology of modern humans as compared to other great apes. The distal femur is one area where heterochrony has been hypothesized to explain morphological differentiation among Plio-Pleistocene hominins. This hypothesis is evaluated here using geometric morphometric data to describe the ontogenetic shape trajectories of extant hominine distal femora and place Plio-Pleistocene hominins within that context. Results of multivariate statistical analyses showed that in both Homo and Gorilla, the shape of the distal femur changes significantly over the course of development, whereas that of Pan changes very little. Development of the distal femur of Homo is characterized by an elongation of the condyles, and a greater degree of enlargement of the medial condyle relative to the lateral condyle, whereas Gorilla are characterized by a greater degree of enlargement of the lateral condyle, relative to the medial. Early Homo and Australopithecus africanus fossils fell on the modern human ontogenetic shape trajectory and were most similar to either adult or adolescent modern humans while specimens of Australopithecus afarensis were more similar to Gorilla/Pan. These results indicate that shape differences among the distal femora of Plio-Pleistocene hominins and humans cannot be accounted for by heterochrony alone; heterochrony could explain a transition from the distal femoral shape of early Homo/A. africanus to modern Homo, but not a transition from A. afarensis to Homo. That change could be the result of genetic or epigenetic factors.
Buckling Analysis of Curvilinearly Stiffened Composite Panels with Cracks

STIFFENERS attached to composite panels may significantly increase the overall buckling load of the resultant stiffened structure. First, buckling analysis of a composite panel with attached longitudinal stiffeners under compressive loads is performed using Ritz method with trigonometric functions. Results are then compared to those from ABAQUS FEA for different shell elements. The case of composite panel with one, two, and three stiffeners is investigated. The effect of the distance between the stiffeners on the buckling load is also studied. The variation of the buckling load and buckling modes with the stiffeners’ height is investigated. It is shown that there is an optimum value of stiffeners’ height beyond which the structural response of the stiffened panel is not improved and the buckling load does not increase. Furthermore, there exist different critical values of stiffener’s height at which the buckling mode of the structure changes. Next, buckling analysis of a composite panel with two straight stiffeners and a crack at the center is performed. Finally, buckling analysis of a composite panel with curvilinear stiffeners and a crack at the center is also conducted. ABAQUS is used for these two examples and results show that panels with a larger crack have a reduced buckling load. It is shown also that the buckling load decreases slightly when using higher order 2D shell FEM elements.
Aerobatic Maneuvers of a Conventional and Compound Rotorcraft - Flight Path Generation and Dynamic Simulation

A flight path generation algorithm was developed to calculate control inceptor commands required for a rotorcraft in complex aerobatic maneuvers. This algorithm was used to compare the performance of a conventional and compound rotorcraft in dynamic simulations and to assess performance of a dynamic inversion control law. A non-linear dynamic inversion (NLDI) based controller was developed for the conventional rotorcraft (H-60) and a compound variant. The inner loop of the H-60 NLDI controller regulates bank angle, pitch attitude, vertical speed, and yaw rate, while the outer loop commands airspeed. The inner loop of the compound H-60 NLDI controller regulates bank angle, pitch attitude, and yaw rate, while the outer loop commands longitudinal and vertical acceleration. Redundant controls on the compound rotorcraft are scheduled with airspeed and load factor to minimize power in sustained maneuvers and enhance quickness in transient flight regimes. Three aerobatic maneuvers for both the H-60 and compound H-60 are examined in simulation: Pitch-Back Turn (PBT), Combat Ascent Turn (CAT), and Combat Descent Turn (CDT). This study seeks to illustrate the following: the development and testing of tools to generate aerobatic maneuver commands to use for non-piloted simulations, the assessment of NLDI controller performance in tracking commands, and the development of an appropriate methodology for comparing the performance of a compound and conventional rotorcraft in complex maneuvers.
Nickel Oxide Hole Injection/Transport Layers for Efficient Solution-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Solution-processed nickel oxides (s-NiOx) are used as hole injection and transport layers in solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). By increasing the annealing temperature, the nickel acetate precursor fully decomposes and the s-NiOx film shows larger crystalline grain sizes, which lead to better hole injection and transport properties. UV–ozone treatment on the s-NiOx surface is carried out to further modify its surface chemistry, improving the hole injection efficiency. The introduction of more dipolar species of nickel oxy-hydroxide (NiO(OH)) is evidenced after the treatment. Dark injection–space charge limited (DI–SCL) transient measurement was carried out to compare the hole injection efficiency of s-NiOx and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole injection layers (HIL). The UV–ozone treated s-NiOx shows significantly better hole injection, with a high injection efficiency of 0.8. With a p-type thin film transistor (TFT) configuration, the high-tem...
IL-17A deficiency promotes periosteal bone formation in a model of inflammatory arthritis

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) plays a pathogenic role in several rheumatic diseases including spondyloarthritis and, paradoxically, has been described to both promote and protect from bone formation. We therefore examined the effects of IL-17A on osteoblast differentiation in vitro and on periosteal bone formation in an in vivo model of inflammatory arthritis. K/BxN serum transfer arthritis was induced in IL-17A-deficient and wild-type mice. Clinical and histologic inflammation was assessed and periosteal bone formation was quantitated. Murine calvarial osteoblasts were differentiated in the continuous presence of IL-17A with or without blockade of secreted frizzled related protein (sFRP)1 and effects on differentiation were determined by qRT-PCR and mineralization assays. The impact of IL-17A on expression of Wnt signaling pathway antagonists was also assessed by qRT-PCR. Finally, regulation of Dickkopf (DKK)1 expression in murine synovial fibroblasts was evaluated after treatment with IL-17A, TNF, or IL-17A plus TNF. IL-17A-deficient mice develop significantly more periosteal bone than wild-type mice at peak inflammation, despite comparable severity of inflammation and bone erosion. IL-17A inhibits calvarial osteoblast differentiation in vitro, inducing mRNA expression of the Wnt antagonist sFRP1 in osteoblasts, and suppressing sFRP3 expression, both potentially contributing to inhibition of osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, a blocking antibody to sFRP1 reduced the inhibitory effect of IL-17A on differentiation. Although treatment with IL-17A suppresses DKK1 mRNA expression in osteoblasts, IL-17A plus TNF synergistically upregulate DKK1 mRNA expression in synovial fibroblasts. IL-17A may limit the extent of bone formation at inflamed periosteal sites in spondyloarthritis. IL-17A inhibits calvarial osteoblast differentiation, in part by regulating expression of Wnt signaling pathway components. These results demonstrate that additional studies focusing on the role of IL-17A in bone formation in spondyloarthritis are indicated.
Peroxidative damage to cell membranes following cerebral ischemia. A cause of ischemic brain injury

Definitive evidence of oxygen radical-mediated lipid peroxidation as a cause of tissue injury in the setting of brain ischemia has proven elusive. We review the experimental data from our own and other laboratories on this subject. Spectroscopic detection of the conjugated diene structure, the earliest structural alteration produced by fatty acid radicalization, is an inconstant and highly focal observation in the recirculated ischemic brain. Alterations of lipid-soluble antioxidants offer an indirect indication of possible free radical reactions. Other inferences of lipid peroxidation have derived from studies of selective disappearance of free fatty acids. Recent studies of tissue conjugated diene in two rat models of thrombotic infarction with acute reperfusion yielded inconsistent evidence for lipid peroxidation, and in rats subjected to 25 min of diffuse forebrain ischemia, no evidence of conjugated diene formation was observed during early recirculation. We conclude that evolving parenchymal injury in these settings is unlikely to derive from spectroscopically observable lipid autoxidation.
Proton Magnetic-Resonance Absorption in Solid Methane

From properties of the nuclear magnetic-resonance absorption lines in molecular crystals, conclusions can be drawn about the symmetry of the crystalline field at the sites of the resonant nuclei and about the motion of their molecules. We here report some results of a continuing study of the proton resonance in solid methane, CH4, and three deuterated modifications CH3D, CH2D2, and CHD3. The principal objective of this research is to obtain information about the dynamical states of the molecules above and below the A-points, with the expectation that such knowledge will contribute toward an elucidation of the mechanisms of the phase transitions in these solids.