cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A versatile diffractive maskless lithography for single-shot and serial microfabrication

We demonstrate a diffractive maskless lithographic system that is capable of rapidly performing both serial and single-shot micropatterning. Utilizing the diffractive properties of phase holograms displayed on a spatial light modulator, arbitrary intensity distributions were produced to form two and three dimensional micropatterns/structures in a variety of substrates. A straightforward graphical user interface was implemented to allow users to load templates and change patterning modes within the span of a few minutes. A minimum resolution of ~700 nm is demonstrated for both patterning modes, which compares favorably to the 232 nm resolution limit predicted by the Rayleigh criterion. The presented method is rapid and adaptable, allowing for the parallel fabrication of microstructures in photoresist as well as the fabrication of protein microstructures that retain functional activity.
Real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry from 1.5 to 6.5 eV

Abstract A rotating polarizer multichannel ellipsometer has been optimized for operation well into the ultraviolet (UV) spectral range. Key modifications to previous instrument designs include (i) a tandem in-line Xe/D 2 source configuration for usable spectral output from 1.5 (827 nm) to 6.5 eV (191 nm), (ii) MgF 2 Rochon polarizers for high transmission in the UV and (iii) a spectrograph with a grating blazed at 250 nm and two stages of internally-mounted order-sorting filters. The resulting multichannel ellipsometer provides 132 point spectra in the ellipsometric parameters ( ψ , Δ) over the range from 1.5 to 6.5 eV with a minimum acquisition time of 24.5 ms. As an example of the application of this instrument, real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is reported for the analysis of a hexagonal boron nitride thin film deposition by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering onto a silicon wafer substrate.
Synthesis of 5-methylaminomethyl-2-selenouridine in tRNAs: 31P NMR studies show the labile selenium donor synthesized by the selD gene product contains selenium bonded to phosphorus

An enzyme preparation from Salmonella typhimurium catalyzes the conversion of 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine in tRNAs to 5-methylaminomethyl-2-selenouridine when supplemented with selenide and ATP. Similar preparations from a Salmonella mutant strain carrying a defective selD gene fail to catalyze this selenium substitution reaction. However, supplementation of the deficient enzyme preparation with the purified selD gene product (SELD protein) restored synthesis of seleno-tRNAs. In the absence of the complementary enzyme(s), the SELD protein catalyzes the synthesis of a labile selenium donor compound from selenide and ATP. 31P NMR studies show that among the products of this reaction are AMP and a compound containing selenium bonded to phosphorus. The reaction is completely dependent on the addition of both selenide and magnesium. The dependence of reaction velocity on ATP concentration shows sigmoidal kinetics, whereas dependence on selenide concentration obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics indicating a Km value of 46 microM for selenide.
Surface patterns in the reproductive tracts of the rabbit observed by scanning electron microscopy.

The ultrastructure of cell surface and tissue organization of reproductive tracts of female rabbits were observed by scanning electron microscopy. In the vagina, straight and shallow longitudinal folds were observed. Complex, very deep, narrow folds with small crypts were observed in the cervix uteri. Two types of cells were recognized: ciliated cells and secretory non-ciliated cells. The internal os area contained more ciliated cells than the external os area. In the uterus, two different patterns of fold formations were observed: shallow fold formation in a random direction or mosaic pattern in the lower part of the uterus, and wave-like folds in the middle or upper part of the uterus. The lower part of the uterus contained more ciliated cells than the mid and upper part of the uterus. At the uterotubal junction, four large folds and four small folds from the isthmus are projected into the uterine lumen forming a rosette-like structure. In the oviduct, longitudinal fold formations were observed through the isthmus to ampullae. The number of ciliated cells gradually increased from the isthmus to the ampullae. The fimbriae, made of several mucosal folds arranged like flower petals, were composed of a high percentage of ciliated cells.
Sustainability of US Organic Beef and Dairy Production Systems: Soil, Plant and Cattle Interactions

In 2010, the National Organic Program implemented a rule for the US stating that pasture must be a significant source of feed in organic ruminant systems. This article will focus on how the pasture rule has impacted the management, economics and nutritional value of products derived from organic ruminant systems and the interactions of grazing cattle with pasture forages and soils. The use of synthetic fertilizers is prohibited in organic systems; therefore, producers must rely on animal manures, compost and cover crops to increase and maintain soil nitrogen content. Rotational and strip grazing are two of the most common grazing management practices utilized in grazing ruminant production systems; however, these practices are not exclusive to organic livestock producers. For dairy cattle, grazing reduces foot and leg problems common in confinement systems, but lowers milk production and exposes cows to parasites that can be difficult to treat without pharmaceuticals. Organic beef cattle may still be finished in feedlots for no more than 120 days in the US, but without growth hormones and antibiotics, gains may be reduced and illnesses increased. Grazing reduces the use of environmentally and economically costly concentrate feeds and recycles nutrients back to the soil efficiently, but lowers the rate of beef liveweight gain. Increased use of pasture can be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable if forage use efficiency is high and US consumers continue to pay a premium for organic beef and dairy products.
A dual-sided coded-aperture radiation detection system

Abstract We report the development of a large-area, mobile, coded-aperture radiation imaging system for localizing compact radioactive sources in three dimensions while rejecting distributed background. The 3D Stand-Off Radiation Detection System (SORDS-3D) has been tested at speeds up to 95 km/h and has detected and located sources in the millicurie range at distances of over 100 m. Radiation data are imaged to a geospatially mapped world grid with a nominal 1.25- to 2.5-m pixel pitch at distances out to 120 m on either side of the platform. Source elevation is also extracted. Imaged radiation alarms are superimposed on a side-facing video log that can be played back for direct localization of sources in buildings in urban environments. The system utilizes a 37-element array of 5×5×50 cm3 cesium-iodide (sodium) detectors. Scintillation light is collected by a pair of photomultiplier tubes placed at either end of each detector, with the detectors achieving an energy resolution of 6.15% FWHM (662 keV) and a position resolution along their length of 5 cm FWHM. The imaging system generates a dual-sided two-dimensional image allowing users to efficiently survey a large area. Imaged radiation data and raw spectra are forwarded to the RadioNuclide Analysis Kit (RNAK), developed by our collaborators, for isotope ID. An intuitive real-time display aids users in performing searches. Detector calibration is dynamically maintained by monitoring the potassium-40 peak and digitally adjusting individual detector gains. We have recently realized improvements, both in isotope identification and in distinguishing compact sources from background, through the installation of optimal-filter reconstruction kernels.
Combined Gravity Gradient and Jitter Accelerations Acting on Liquid-Vapor Interface Oscillations in Reduced Gravity

Abstract The dynamical behavior of fluids affected by the asymmetric combined gravity gradient and jitter accelerations, in particular the effect of surface tension on partially-filled rotating fluids applicable to a full-scale Gravity Probe-B Spacecraft dewar tank, have been investigated. Three different cases of accelerations, one gravity gradient-dominated, one equally weighted between gravity gradient and jitter, and the others gravity jitter-dominated are studied. Results of slosh wave excitation along the liquid—vapor interface induced by gravity gradient-dominated acceleration indicate that the gravity gradient-dominated acceleration is equivalent to the combined effect of a twisting force and torsional moment acting on the spacecraft. Results of the slosh wave excitation along the liquid—vapor interface induced by gravity jitter-dominated acceleration indicate that the gravity jitter-dominated acceleration is equivalent to time-dependent oscillatory forces which push the bubble in the combined directions of down-and-up and sideward -and-middleward as the bubble is rotating with respect to rotating dewar axis. This study discloses the slosh wave excitation along the liquid—vapor interface driven by the combined effects of gravity gradient and jitter accelerations which are two major driving forces affecting the stability of the fluid system in microgravity.
Modeling silicon emitters for VLSI transistors

Abstract The accuracy and reliability of predictions from numerical simulations of advanced bipolar transistors for VLSI applications depend on model input parameters. These parameters include the variations with doping and carrier concentrations in both n-type and p-type silicon of (1) the valance and conduction band edges, (2) the effective intrinsic carrier concentrations, (3) the minority carrier mobilities, and (4) the minority carrier lifetimes. This paper reviews recent advances in device physics for modeling the emitters of bipolar transistors with submicrometer dimensions and high concentrations of dopant ions and carriers.
Inferring personality of online gamers by fusing multiple-view predictions

Reliable personality prediction can have direct impact on many adaptive systems, such as targeted advertising, interface personalization and content customization. We propose an algorithm to infer a user's personality profile more reliably by fusing analytical predictions from multiple sources including behavioral traces, textual data, and social networking information. We applied and validated our approach using a real data set obtained from 1,040 World of Warcraft players. Besides behavioral and social networking information, we found that text analysis of character names yields the strongest personality cues.
Approximations to optimal nonlinear filters

Let the signal and noise processes be given as solutions to nonlinear stochastic differential equations. The optimal filter for the problem, derived elsewhere, is usually infinite dimensional. Several methods of obtaining possibly useful finite dimensional approximations are considered here, and some of the special problems of simulation are discussed. The numerical results indicate a number of useful features of the approximating filters and suggest methods of improvement. The paper is concerned with problems where the noise and nonlinear effects are much too large for the use of "linearization" methods, which for the simulated problem, at least, were useless.
Post Landsat-D advanced concept evaluation /PLACE/

The aim of the Post Landsat-D Advanced Concept Evaluation (PLACE) program was to identify the key technology requirements of earth resources satellite systems for the 1985-2000 period. The program involved four efforts: (1) examination of future needs in the earth resources area, (2) creation of a space systems technology model capable of satisfying these needs, (3) identification of key technology requirements posed by this model, and (4) development of a methodology (PRISM) to assist in the priority structuring of the resulting technologies.
Assessing brittle volume-gain and pressure solution volume-loss processes in quartz arenite

Abstract Quartz arenite of the Tuscarora Sandstone has been deformed by dislocation flow, pressure solution and microfracturing of which the last two are most important. Pressure solution involved shortening with no extension. Most samples have approximately 20% shortening normal to bedding interpreted to be compaction, and a few have up to 20% layer-parallel shortening of tectonic origin. Because there is no extension, these shortenings resulted in an equivalent amount of bulk volume loss. Multiple sets of microfractures in the form of fluid inclusion planes and microveins account for up to 10% extension and bulk volume increases up to 17%. When both microfracture volume gains and pressure solution volume losses are considered together, all samples show a net bulk volume loss ranging from 14 to 35%. Changes in material volume are different than bulk volume because of the presence of porosity at the time of pressure solution. Whereas all samples show bulk volume losses, most samples show net material volume gains of up to 16% with only those having experienced both compactional and tectonic pressure solution showing material volume losses. Pressure solution during compaction can account for most but not all cement. Compactional pressure solution surfaces do not extend into pore-filling cement suggesting that much of the cement was externally derived after compaction. Therefore, the flux of material may have been considerably greater than the material volume changes would indicate.
Protection from radiation-induced pneumonitis using cerium oxide nanoparticles

In an effort to combat the harmful effects of radiation exposure, we propose that rare-earth cerium oxide (CeO(2)) nanoparticles (free-radical scavengers) protect normal tissue from radiation-induced damage. Preliminary studies suggest that these nanoparticles may be a therapeutic regenerative nanomedicine that will scavenge reactive oxygen species, which are responsible for radiation-induced cell damage. The effectiveness of CeO(2) nanoparticles in radiation protection in murine models during high-dose radiation exposure is investigated, with the ultimate goal of offering a new approach to radiation protection, using nanotechnology. We show that CeO(2) nanoparticles are well tolerated by live animals, and they prevent the onset of radiation-induced pneumonitis when delivered to live animals exposed to high doses of radiation. In the end, these studies provide a tremendous potential for radioprotection and can lead to significant benefits for the preservation of human health and the quality of life for humans receiving radiation therapy.
TJTC and the promise and reality of redistributive vouchering and tax credit policy

The Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC) is a representative redistributive incentive. Initially, proponents saw TJTC as an elegant program, efficiently promoting labor market behavior that would solve the employment problems of many disadvantaged job seekers. However, interest groups distorted the credit into a windfall for businesses that hire large numbers of low wage workers. The policy theories incorporated into TJTC, which emphasized continual program reform and minimized program management by public administrators, provided a setting conducive to interest group distortion. Because few representatives of the disadvantaged participated in the oversight process, special interests undermined TJTC being reformed through empirical evaluation. This experience indicates that without major changes in the policy process, narrowly targeted rzdistributive policies should be avoided.
Accuracy of Stop-Cursor Method for Determining Systolic and Pulse Pressure Variation

BACKGROUND Functional hemodynamic indicators (systolic pressure variation [SPV and SPV%] and pulse pressure variation [PPV%]) are sensitive and specific indicators of fluid responsiveness. It was unknown if these indicators could be accurately measured directly from the bedside monitor. OBJECTIVE Determine the accuracy of SPV, SPV%, and PPV% measurements by using a stop-cursor method compared with a digitized analog strip (gold standard). METHODS A prospective observational study using a convenience sample of 30 adult patients in a medical-surgical intensive care unit who were receiving mechanical ventilation and had no spontaneous breaths during 3 sequential ventilator breaths and had an optimized arterial catheter. The peak and nadir arterial pressure values for a ventilator cycle were simultaneously obtained by using the stop-cursor method on the bedside monitor and a hardcopy strip. The indicators were averaged over 3 breaths, and the difference between methods was calculated. RESULTS Data were analyzed from 29 patients (1 patient excluded) on assist control ventilation (mean [SD] for tidal volume, 7.5 [2] mL/kg; positive end-expiratory pressure, 7 [4] cm H2O). For SPV, the mean bias was 0.4 (SD, 0.9) mm Hg (95% limits of agreement [LOA], -1.4 to 2.2 mm Hg); for SPV%, 0.3 (SD, 0.9; 95% LOA, -1.5% to 2.1%); for PPV%, 1.0 (SD, 3.3; 95% LOA, -5.5% to 7.5%). In only 1 case (PPV%) was there disagreement on fluid response characterization. CONCLUSIONS Statistically significant small differences in SPV and SPV% were detected. The differences in SPV, SPV%, and PPV% were not clinically significant, suggesting that functional hemodynamic indicators can be obtained accurately with the stop-cursor method.
The Epidemiology of Stroke in Native Americans

Background and Purpose Because of the paucity of published information, this report seeks to better characterize the pattern of stroke occurrence and risk factors among Native Americans in the United States. Methods Data from the US Vital Statistics System and two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed. Results Stroke was a leading cause of death among US Native Americans in 1990. In persons aged 45 and over, stroke was the cause of 6% of deaths in Native Americans and 7% of deaths in whites. The percentage of stroke deaths due to hemorrhagic stroke was higher in Native Americans than whites. In 1988 through 1990, stroke death rates were similar in Native Americans and whites under age 65 but lower in Native Americans at ages 65 years and over. High prevalence of diabetes, smoking, and obesity may contribute to stroke mortality in Native Americans. Conclusions Targeted research, innovative analyses of existing data, and use of ongoing surveys and the Census should be considered in the study of the epidemiology of stroke, other leading causes of death, and risk factors in Native Americans. Continued hypertension detection and treatment efforts are needed for Native Americans as for other groups. Smoking cessation and prevention should receive high priority in Native American populations.
The time-optimal control of discrete-time linear systems with bounded controls

The discrete-time, time-optimal control of high-order, linear systems with bounded controls is formulated as a problem in linear programming. The solution obtained requires a certain minimum number of controls to be on their bounds. Numerical results are obtained for a system with controls bounded on one and both sides and extensions indicated for state variable constraints. The method proves to be extremely fast and simple to solve on a high-speed digital computer.
Intention and awareness in perceptual identification priming

We show that inferences can be made about differences in retrieval intentionality between direct and indirect tests, even when those tests involve different physical cues. When the presence of old items was not mentioned (indirect test condition), we observed a crossed double dissociation between perceptual identification priming and recognition memory as a function of a manipulation of data-driven versus conceptually driven processing at encoding. When subjects were instructed to use their memory to help them identify test items (intentional retrieval condition), priming could be expressed as a monotonically increasing function of recognition memory performance. Thisreversed association (Dunn & Kirsner, 1988) between priming and recognition memory cannot be accommodated by a model that views intentional retrieval as common to the tests and attributes the crossed double dissociation to an intertest difference in physical cues and associated processes. A posttest questionnaire measure indicated that awareness of the presence of previously encountered items was ubiquitous among indirect test subjects. Crossed double dissociations between direct and indirect measures can therefore be ascribed to differences in retrieval intentionality but not necessarily to differences in subjective awareness of the past.
Maintaining consistency of data in mobile distributed environments

To deal with the frequent, foreseeable and variable disconnections that occur in a mobile environment, we introduce a flexible, two-level consistency model. Semantically related or closely located data are grouped together to form a cluster. While all data inside a cluster are mutually consistent, degrees of inconsistency are allowed among data at different clusters. To take advantage of the predictability of disconnections, and to accommodate mobility, the cluster configuration is dynamic. We allow transactions to exhibit certain degrees of tolerance for inconsistencies by introducing strict and weak operations. Weak operations are operations that can be executed under weaker consistency requirements. We define correctness criteria for schedules that involve weak operations and compare them with traditional serializability criteria. Finally, we argue that our model is appropriate for a variety of other environments including very large databases and multidatabases.
Positive and Negative Motivation in Nucleus Accumbens Shell: Bivalent Rostrocaudal Gradients for GABA-Elicited Eating, Taste “Liking”/“Disliking” Reactions, Place Preference/Avoidance, and Fear

Microinjection of the GABAA agonist muscimol in the rostral medial accumbens shell in rats elicits appetitive eating behavior, but in the caudal shell instead elicits fearful defensive treading behavior. To further test the hypothesis that rostral shell muscimol microinjections produce positive motivational states, whereas caudal shell muscimol produces negative states, we measured behavioral place preference/avoidance conditioning and affective hedonic and aversive orofacial expressions of taste-elicited “liking” and “disliking” (gapes, etc.) in addition to fear and feeding behaviors. Farthest rostral muscimol microinjections (75 ng) caused increased eating behavior and also caused positive conditioned place preferences and increased positive hedonic reactions to the taste of sucrose. By contrast, caudal shell microinjections elicited negative defensive treading and caused robust negative conditioned place avoidance and negative aversive reactions to sucrose or quinine tastes. Intermediate rostral microinjections elicited effects of mixed positive/negative valence (positive appetitive eating behavior but negative place avoidance and negative taste reactions at mid-rostral sites, and sometimes positive eating simultaneously with fearful defensive treading more caudally). These results indicate that GABAergic neurotransmission in local microcircuits in nucleus accumbens mediates motivated/affective behavior that is bivalently organized along rostrocaudal gradients.
Structural Features for Functional Selectivity at Serotonin Receptors

Drugs active at G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can differentially modulate either canonical or noncanonical signaling pathways via a phenomenon known as functional selectivity or biased signaling. We report biochemical studies showing that the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide, its precursor ergotamine (ERG), and related ergolines display strong functional selectivity for β-arrestin signaling at the 5-HT2B 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor, whereas they are relatively unbiased at the 5-HT1B receptor. To investigate the structural basis for biased signaling, we determined the crystal structure of the human 5-HT2B receptor bound to ERG and compared it with the 5-HT1B/ERG structure. Given the relatively poor understanding of GPCR structure and function to date, insight into different GPCR signaling pathways is important to better understand both adverse and favorable therapeutic activities.
Experimental Investigation of Corner Flows in Rectangular Supersonic Inlets with 3D Shock-Boundary Layer Effects

In a rectangular supersonic inlet the first oblique shock wave will interact with both the sidewall boundary layers and with the corner flows. This can create large, complex 3-D separation zones that reduce the effective flow area and can lead to the unstart of the inlet. Experiments were conducted in the Michigan Glass Wind Tunnel at Mach 2.75 and at Mach 2.0 to quantify these flow separation patterns. Video was recorded of the unsteady formation of separation zones as the inlet starts. Oil streak patterns and Schlieren images indicate that the downward flow caused by the oblique shock forces some of the flow near the corner to move upstream. This flow moving upstream in the corner creates a sidewall separation bubble, which significantly deflects the free stream upstream of the shock wave. Using a six-degree wedge, a "small" corner flow-shock boundary layer interaction (CF-SBLI) separated region was created which was found to be optimum for CFD simulation. Using a ten-degree wedge generated a stronger shock and a "large" CF-SBLI separated region, but the flow area was reduced so much that the inlet was too close to unstart to allow for stable experimental measurements or CFD simulation.
Pre- and Postzygotic Barriers to Reproduction Between Two Host-Foodplant Complex Sources of the Parasitic Wasp, Cotesia congregata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

ABSTRACT Parasitic wasps are among the most speciose of all animals yet the drivers and mechanisms underlying their remarkable diversity are not well understood. Cotesia congregata (Say) and host, Manduca sexta (L.), have long-served as a model system for host-parasite and tritrophic interactions at multiple levels, as well as the evolution of symbiotic coevolved bracoviruses that suppress host defenses to parasitism. We investigated potential barriers to reproduction between two genetically differentiated host-foodplant complex sources of C. congregata originating from caterpillar hosts, M. sexta on tobacco (“MsT wasps”) or Ceratomia catalpae (Boisduval) on catalpa (“CcC wasps”). Both MsT and CcC wasps displayed ∼30% lower responses to cuticular washes of females from the alternate complex. Male courtship songs differed with respect to frequency, absolute amplitude, and duration of song elements. Despite differences in courtship behaviors, MsT and CcC wasps mated and produced offspring in the laboratory....
Long-lasting, experience-dependent alcohol preference in Drosophila.

To understand the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying alcohol addiction, many models ranging from vertebrates to invertebrates have been developed. In Drosophila melanogaster, behavioral paradigms from assaying acute responses to alcohol and to behaviors more closely modeling addiction have emerged in recent years. However, both the CAFE assay, similar to a two-bottle choice consumption assay, as well as conditioned odor preference, where ethanol is used as the reinforcer, are labor intensive and have low throughput. To address this limitation, we have established a novel ethanol consumption preference assay, called FRAPPE, which allows for fast, high throughput measurement of consumption in individual flies, using a fluorescence plate reader. We show that naive flies do not prefer to consume ethanol, but various pre-exposures, such as ethanol vapor or voluntary ethanol consumption, induce ethanol preference. This ethanol-primed preference is long lasting and is not driven by calories contained in ethanol during the consumption choice. Our novel experience-dependent model of ethanol preference in Drosophila-a highly genetically tractable organism-therefore recapitulates salient features of human alcohol abuse and will facilitate the molecular understanding of the development of alcohol preference.
EFFECTS OF SNOW-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION ON BREEDING SCHEDULES AND PRODUCTIVITY OF A HIGH-ALTITUDE POPULATION OF DUSKY FLYCATCHERS (EMPIDONAX OBERHOLSERI)

ABSTRACT. Reproductive schedules of Dusky Flycatchers (Empidonax oberholseri) at Tioga Pass, in the central Sierra Nevada of California, varied considerably among years. Dates of earliest laying ranged from 29 May to 1 July and varied with snow depth, melt dates, and other factors associated with snowpack. A small apparent advance in laying date over the course of the study (0.52 days year-1 over 15 years) was associated with extremes in winter snowpack and spring melt that were related to wet—dry cycles in the Sierra Nevada. Spring snowpack acted on reproductive timing through direct and indirect effects of temperature, melt schedule, and phenological changes in habitat availability. The influence of these variables on laying dates was greatest on the first females to lay (most in early June) and declined through mid-July, when breeding terminated. Clutch size and fledgling production varied between years of heavy and light snowpack as a direct consequence of delayed egg laying in years of heavy snow. In...
Oxidative Stress and Aromatic Hydrocarbon Response of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Exposed to Petro- or Biodiesel Exhaust Treated with a Diesel Particulate Filter

The composition of diesel exhaust has changed over the past decade due to the increased use of alternative fuels, like biodiesel, and to new regulations on diesel engine emissions. Given the changing nature of diesel fuels and diesel exhaust emissions, a need exists to understand the human health implications of switching to "cleaner" diesel engines run with particulate filters and engines run on alternative fuels like biodiesel. We exposed well-differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells to fresh, complete exhaust from a diesel engine run (1) with and without a diesel particulate filter and (2) using either traditional petro- or alternative biodiesel. Despite the lowered emissions in filter-treated exhaust (a 91-96% reduction in mass), significant increases in transcripts associated with oxidative stress and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon response were observed in all exposure groups and were not significantly different between exposure groups. Our results suggest that biodiesel and filter-treated diesel exhaust elicits as great, or greater a cellular response as unfiltered, traditional petrodiesel exhaust in a representative model of the bronchial epithelium.
Altered proteolytic events in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis discovered by iTRAQ shotgun proteomics analysis of spinal cord

Background: Abnormal activation of protease activities during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats, a rodent model of multiple sclerosis, have been implicated in either the direct destruction of myelin components or the intracellular signal transduction pathways that lead to lymphocyte infiltration, oligodendrocyte destruction, neuronal dysfunctions and axonal degeneration. The identification of changes in regulated proteolytic events during EAE is crucial for uncovering activated proteases that may underline the pathological features such as inflammation and demyelination. We searched for either non-tryptic or semi-tryptic peptides from a previous shotgun proteomics study using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) to compare the proteomes of normal and EAE rat lumbar spinal cords. Results: We discovered that several proteins, such as α1-macroglobulin, a protease inhibitor, α1Bglycoprotein, β 2 -microglobulin, neurofilament light polypeptide and sulfated glycoprotein 1 had non-tryptic peptide iTRAQ ratios that were substantially different from the overall protein iTRAQ ratios, suggesting that such peptides may be markers for the proteolytic products generated by the protease(s) altered during EAE. Indeed, subsequent Western blotting confirmed the dysregulation of specific protein cleavages in EAE tissues. Additional proteolytic changes in α 2 -macroglobulin, another protease inhibitor similar to α 1 -macroglobulin was also observed. Conclusion: The results from this study revealed changes among both neuronal protein processing and endogenous proteolysis modulators in EAE animals. This information may provide a rationale for protease inhibitor-based therapeutic interventions for multiple sclerosis.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE INITIATION AND PROGRESSION OF DAMAGE IN COMPRESSIVELY LOADED COMPOSITE LAMINATES IN THE PRESENCE OF A CIRCULAR CUTOUT

A series of experiments have been performed to determine the mechanisms of failure in compressively loaded laminated plates in the presence of stress gradients generated by a circular cutout. Real time holographic interferometry and in-situ photomicrography of the hole surface, along with strain gage measurements are used to study the progression of failure. The test specimens are multi-layered composite flat plates which are loaded in compression. The laminates are made up of two material systems, T300/BP907 and Ih17/8551-7. Two different lay-ups of T300/BP907 and two different lay-ups of IM7/8551-7 are investigated. The experimental results reveal that the failure is initiated as a localized instability in the 0' plies at the hole surface approximately at right angles to the loading direction. This instability emanating at the hole edge and propagating into the interior of the specimen within the 0' plies is found to be fiber microbuckling. Subsequent to the 0' ply failure, extensive delamination cracking is observed with increasing load. The delaminted portions spread to the undamaged areas of the laminate by a combination of delamination buckling and growth, the buckling further enhancing the growth. When the delaminated area reaches a critical size, about 75-100% of the hole radius in extent, an accelerated growth rate
An intelligent system for accelerating parallel SVM classification problems on large datasets using GPU

Support Vector Machine (SVM) is one of the most popular tools for solving general classification and regression problems because of its high predicting accuracy. However, the training phase of nonlinear kernel based SVM algorithm is a computationally expensive task, especially for large datasets. In this paper, we propose an intelligent system to solve large classification problems based on parallel SVM. The system utilizes the latest powerful GPU device to improve the speed performance of SVM training and predicting phases. The memory constraint issue brought by large datasets is addressed through either data reduction or data chunking techniques. The complete system includes multiple executable modules and all of them are managed through a main script, which reduces the implementation difficulty and offers platform portability. Empirical results have shown that our system achieves an order of magnitude speed up compared to the classic SVM tool, LIBSVM. The speed performance is further improved to two orders of magnitude by slightly compromising on the predicting accuracy.
Effect of chemistry and transport properties on near-limit flames at microgravity

Abstract The role of chemical kinetics in the behavior of near-limit flames at rnicrogravity (μg) was investigated experimentally by comparison of the properties of these flames in mixtures having varying chemistry but similar diffusive transport properties. Conversely, the importance of unequal rates of diffusion of thermal energy and mass was evaluated by comparison of flames in mixtures having similar chemistry but varying Lewis numbers, It was found that the characteristics of near-limit flames at μg were affected much more by Lewis number effects than chemistry. It is concluded that there are at least three regimes of near-limit behavior at μg, depending upon the Lewis number (Le): (1) cellular flames, which are highly resistant to extinguishment, for mixtures with Le≪l, (2) self-extinguishing flames and well-defined flammability limits for mixtures with Le≃ 1, and (3) ignition energy limited flame propagation for Le ≪ 1, Gradual rather than abrupt transitions between regimes were observed.
Stimulant use under a prison treatment protocol for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Although stimulant medications are the mainstay of effective intervention for attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), their use presents a daunting scenario for psychiatry, nursing, and custody staff in correctional settings, where reported prevalence rates range from 9% to 45%. The reported rates, however, may overestimate actual prevalence in general and need for treatment in particular. Under a monitored protocol that required documentation of history, diagnosis, lack of response to nonstimulant treatment, and significant functional impairment, less than 1% of male inmates in the Massachusetts state prison system met criteria for treatment with stimulants. Although this protocol did not attempt to determine overall ADHD prevalence rates, the relatively low number of inmates with compelling reasons for stimulant treatment may provide a more realistic idea of the likely consequences of allowing access to this intervention.
Attribution And Accountability: Voting for roads in Ghana

Do voters in Africa use elections to hold governments accountable for their performance in office? In contexts of limited information and weak state capacity, it can be difficult for citizens to attribute the provision of public goods and services to political action. As a result, voters often have little information about government performance on which to condition their electoral support. Such contexts are frequently characterized by clientelism or ethnic politics, and there is a widespread impression that African elections are little more than contests in corruption or ethnic mobilization. Using an original panel data set containing electoral returns and detailed information on road conditions throughout Ghana, the author provides robust evidence that when a public good can be attributed to political action, as is the case with roads in Ghana, electoral support is affected by the provision of that good. The author also uses data on a variety of educational inputs to test the claim that votes are conditioned only on attributable outcomes.
Lipid reserves and immune defense in healthy and diseased migrating monarchs Danaus plexippus

Recent studies suggest that the energetic demands of long-distance migration might lower the pool of resources available for costly immune defenses. Moreover, migration could amplify the costs of parasitism if animals suffering from para- site-induced damage or depleted energy reserves are less able to migrate long distances. We investigated relationships between long-distance migration, infection, and immunity in wild fall-migrating monarch butterflies Danaus plexippus. Monarchs migrate annually from eastern North America to central Mexico, accumulating lipids essential for migration and winter survival as they travel southward. Monarchs are commonly infected by the debilitating protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE). We collected data on lipid reserves, parasite loads, and two immune measures (hemocyte concentration and phenoloxidase activity) from wild monarchs migrating through north GA (USA) to ask whether (1) parasite infection negatively affects lipid reserves, and (2) greater investment in lipid reserves is associated with lower immune measures. Results showed that monarchs sampled later in the fall migration had lower but not significantly different immune measures and significantly higher lipid reserves than those sampled earlier. Lipid measures correlated negatively but only nearly significantly with one measure of immune defense (phenoloxidase activity) in both healthy and infected monarchs, but did not depend on monarch infection status or parasite load. These results provide weak support for a trade-off between energy reserves and immune defense in migrants, and suggest that previously-demonstrated costs of OE infection for monarch migration are not caused by depleted lipid reserves (Current Zoology 59 (3): 393-402, 2013).
Scavenging of Superoxide Anion by Phosphorylethanolamine: Studies in Human Neutrophils and in a Cell Free System

On the basis of previous observations, we attempted to characterize the effects of various products of phospholipid hydrolysis on neutrophil (PMN) respiratory burst activity. We studied the effects of phos- phorylcholine (PC) and phosphorylethanoline (PE) on superoxide anion production in PMN and in a cell free system. We found that PE but not PC inhibited measured superoxide anion, but that this was not due to inhibition of cellular superoxide generation but to scavenging of generated superoxide anion. Further, utilizing a system based upon the photo-oxidation of O-dianisidine sensitized by riboflavin, we were able to determine that the scavenging effect of PE was not superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like but rather a general scavenging or glutathione (GSH)-like effect. These data underscore the importance of identifying the mechanism of inhibition of superoxide generation by putative inhibitors as being due to a direct cellular effect or to a scavenging property.
Sparse Representation for 3D Shape Estimation: A Convex Relaxation Approach

We investigate the problem of estimating the 3D shape of an object defined by a set of 3D landmarks, given their 2D correspondences in a single image. A successful approach to alleviating the reconstruction ambiguity is the 3D deformable shape model and a sparse representation is often used to capture complex shape variability. But the model inference is still challenging due to the nonconvexity in the joint optimization of shape and viewpoint. In contrast to prior work that relies on an alternating scheme whose solution depends on initialization, we propose a convex approach to addressing this challenge and develop an efficient algorithm to solve the proposed convex program. We further propose a robust model to handle gross errors in the 2D correspondences. We demonstrate the exact recovery property of the proposed method, the advantage compared to several nonconvex baselines and the applicability to recover 3D human poses and car models from single images.
Change or Be Changed: The Impact of Outside Forces on Campus Risk Management

This article, which is part of a series on campus risk-management and liability issues, encourages universities to embrace a proactive culture of risk management. Crises tend to spur change. But when change does not occur quickly enough from within, outside forces often step in to impose change. This article discusses how campuses can be positive, proactive change agents; the steps include providing a reasonably safe living and learning environment, embracing environmental management strategies, and building coalitions with these outside forces.
Comparison of chicory and annual ryegrass for spring stockering of beef steers1

ABSTRACT The perennial forage herb, ‘Puna II’ chicory (Cichorium intybus L.; CHY) was evaluated as an alternative to ‘Marshall’ annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.; ARG) for spring stocker cattle grazing. Replicated (n = 4) 0.81-ha ARG and CHY pastures were established in September 2004 in a randomized complete block design. British-Continental crossbred steers (mean BW = 215 kg; 5 testers/paddock) were rotationally stocked (14-d grazing, 14-d rest) for a 56-d period starting in mid-April, for 3 yr. Forage IVDMD and ADF concentrations were not different between ARG and CHY pastures in April or May, but were lesser (P
Upper extremity arterial thrombus presenting at birth

We report a 36-week neonate born to a 31-year-old G2P0 woman by emergency c-section due to decreased fetal movement. The pregnancy had been uncomplicated up to that point and the mother had no significant medical history. Birth weight was 2.49 kg. Apgars were 6 and 5. Superficial skin loss and dark blue discolouration were noted along the left upper extremity and hand immediately after delivery. Fluid resuscitation …
Oxidative Degradation of Aminosilica Adsorbents Relevant to Postcombustion CO2 Capture

Coal-fired power plant flue gas exhaust typically contains 3–10% oxygen. While it is known that the monoethanolamine (MEA) oxidative degradation rate is a critical parameter affecting liquid amine ...
Notes on the Biology of Gnophomyia Luctuosa Osten Sacken, With Descriptions of the Immature Stages

Gnophomyia luctuosa is. a characteristic crane-fly of mesophytic hardwood forests of the southeastern United States. Its known range extends from the vicinity of Washington, D. C, westward to southern Indiana and southern Illinois and south to southwestern Oklahoma and throughout Florida. Outside of the United States this same species has been reported from Central America and Colombia.
Eutectic liquid alloys for plasmonics: theory and experiment.

We report a method based on density functional theory molecular dynamics that allows us to calculate the plasmonic properties of liquid metals and metal alloys from first principles with no a priori knowledge of the system. We show exceptional agreement between the simulated and measured optical constants of liquid Ga and the room temperature liquid In–Ga eutectic alloy (Tm = 289 K). We then use this method to analyze the plasmonic properties of various alloy concentrations in the In–Ga system. The plasmonic performance of the In–Ga system decreases with increasing In concentration. However, the benefits of a room-temperature plasmonic liquid are likely to outweigh the minor reduction in plasmonic performance when moving from pure Ga to the eutectic composition. Our results show that density functional theory molecular dynamics can be used as a predictive tool for studying the optical properties of liquid metal systems amenable to plasmonics.
William James and the Art of Popular Statement, by Paul Stob: East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2013. 339 pp. $42.95 (paper).

To write on William James, you must become like William James. By this, I mean that one must embody his sort of pluralistic attitude and literary artfulness to do justice to this pragmatist thinker...
Radiative Heating During Mars Science Laboratory Entry: Simulation, Ground Test, and Flight

The heat shield of the Mars Science Laboratory was equipped with thermocouple stacks to measure in-depth heating of the thermal protection system during atmospheric entry. The heat load derived from the thermocouples in the stagnation region was found to be 33% lower than corresponding postflight predictions of convective heating alone. It was hypothesized that this difference could be attributed to radiation from the shock-heated gas, a mechanism not considered in preflight analyses of flowfields. To test the hypothesis and quantify the contribution of shock-layer radiation to total surface heating, ground tests and simulations (both flow and radiation) were performed at several points along the best-estimated entry trajectory of the Mars Science Laboratory. The present paper provides an assessment of the quality of the radiation model and its impact to stagnation point heating. The impact of radiative heating is shown to account for 43% of the heat load discrepancy. Additional possible factors behind th...
Estimated functional diameter of alveolar septal microvessels in zone 1

To estimate the functional diameter of alveolar septal microvessels in zone 1, we perfused isolated rat lungs with fluorescent latex particles of specific diameters (0.24, 0.49, 1.05, or 4.0 micron...