cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A seven-detector angular-correlation apparatus for the study of short-lived nuclei

Abstract A seven-detector γ-γ angular-correlation apparatus has been constructed to study short-lived fission product nuclei produced by the TRISTAN on-line isotope separator system. The apparatus employs either seven NaI(Tl) detectors or six NaI(Tl) detectors and one Ge(Li) detector. A 16 384-channel analyzer may be used in conjunction with a series of single-channel discriminators to measure correlations simultaneously on all cascades involving a single γ-ray transition. Alternatively, a buffer tape system may be used to record data simultaneously on all cascades in a decay scheme. The apparatus has been tested on cascades in 138 Ba from the decay of 138 Cs. The results for three direct and two skip cascades are consistent with the known spins of 2 + , 4 + , 4 + , and 3 + for the levels at 1436, 1899, 2308, and 2446 keV in 138 Ba, respectively. In addition mixing ratios of 0.01±0.03, 0.05 −0.12 +0.20 , and 0.10±0.03 have been obtained for the transitions at 1009, 409, and 547 keV in this nucleus.
Cross-Cultural Analysis of Blogs and Forums with Mixed-Collection Topic Models

This paper presents preliminary results on the detection of cultural differences from people's experiences in various countries from two perspectives: tourists and locals. Our approach is to develop probabilistic models that would provide a good framework for such studies. Thus, we propose here a new model, ccLDA, which extends over the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) (Blei et al., 2003) and cross-collection mixture (ccMix) (Zhai et al., 2004) models on blogs and forums. We also provide a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the model on the cross-cultural data.
The effects of the April 2011 tornado outbreak on personal preparedness in Jefferson County, Alabama.

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a tornado disaster on the personal preparedness of local residents to determine (1) to what extent the tornado outbreak experience had altered preparedness awareness, willingness to act, and levels of personal preparedness of residents as measured by possession of a preparedness kit; and (2) what effect this experience had on the variables associated with having a complete disaster preparedness kit. DESIGN:: Two random digit-dialed surveys were completed following the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System protocols. The pre-tornado survey was conducted between October and December 2010 and the post-tornado survey was conducted between January and March 2012. RESULTS:: After the April 2011 tornado outbreak, 86.08% of the respondents (n = 1364) reported that they had thought more about personal or family preparedness and 59.65% (n = 907) reported that they had taken actions to increase their level of preparedness. Overall, general awareness of preparedness media campaigns increased significantly (almost 24%; P Language: en
ICESat measurements of sea ice freeboard and estimates of sea ice thickness in the Weddell Sea

[1] Sea ice freeboard heights in the Weddell Sea of Antarctica are derived from the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) laser altimeter measurements, which have a unique range precision to flat surfaces of 2 cm within 70 m footprints spaced at 172 m along track. Although elevations of flat surfaces can be obtained to an accuracy of � 10 cm (1s) per footprint, direct determination of freeboard heights is precluded by errors in knowledge of the geoid and temporal variability of the ocean surface. Therefore freeboards are determined relative to an ocean reference level detected over areas of open water and very thin ice within the sea ice pack using an along-track filtering method. The open water/thin ice selections show good agreement in the combined analysis of ICESat segments and Envisat Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. The average residual between the ICESat-measured ocean level and the EGM96 geoid is 1.4 m. Estimates of snow depth on the sea ice from AMSR-E passive microwave data along with nominal densities of snow, water, and sea ice are used to estimate sea ice thickness. Four periods of ICESat data in May–June (fall) and October–November (late winter) of 2004 and 2005 between longitudes 298E and 360E are analyzed. In the fall the mean freeboards are 0.28 m in 2004 and 0.29 m in 2005, and the mean thicknesses are 1.33 m in 2004 and 1.52 m in 2005. In late winter the freeboards grew to 0.37 m in 2004 and 0.35 in 2005, and the thicknesses grew to 2.23 m in 2004 and 2.31 m in 2005. The interannual differences in freeboard are small, and the larger interannual change in estimated thickness mainly represents differences in the snow depth estimates. Seasonal changes in the spatial patterns of freeboard and thickness over the 4 months correlate with the expected circulation of sea ice in the Weddell Sea, as indicated by sea ice velocity fields.
3.5.0 Systems Science

We will provide reports on current projects of the Systems Science Working Group: - System Pathologies - Unified Systems Science Theory - Unified Ontology of Scientific Method & Systems The purpose of this working group is to promote the advancement and understanding of Systems Science and its application to SE. Our are objectives are to: (1) Encourage advancement of Systems Science principles and concepts as they apply to Systems Engineering, (2) Promote awareness of Systems Science as a foundation for Systems Engineering, and (3) Highlight linkages between Systems Science theories and empirical practices of Systems Engineering.
BLADE TENDERIZATION EFFECTS ON BEEF LONGISSIMUS SENSORY AND INSTRON TEXTURAL MEASUREMENTS

Blade tenderization effects on longissimus steaks from 112 steers fed rations differing in energy levels and feeding times were studied using Instron measurements and sensory evaluations for detecting textural changes. Ribeye steaks were removed before tenderization and after one pass through a blade tenderizer. Sensory panel scores for myofibrillar and overall tenderness significantly increased and detectable amounts of connective tissue decreased with blade tenderization. Juiciness and flavor scores were not significantly affected by tenderization. Cooking loss increased 2% for blade tenderized steaks. Blade tenderization had little effect on textural differences of steaks from cattle fed different nutritional regimens other than improving connective tissue and overall tenderness scores for steaks from the control and submaintenance cattle groups. Blade tenderization significantly lowered Instron adhesion peak force and numerous Instron Warner-Bratzler measurements (e.g., initial-yield force, peak force, initial-yield angle, total work done). Instron compression values were reduced by blade tenderization, but the differences were not significant. Adhesion values were more highly correlated with compression values than with Warner-Bratzler measures. Correlations between different factors of the same Instron test were high, indicating that not all of them would have to be measured. To test the effects of blade tenderization on muscles low in connective tissue, the measurement of Warner-Bratzler peak force, adhesion peak force, compression chewiness, and cohesiveness may be sufficient. Correlations between Instron and sensory measures of meat texture were significant, but were relatively low.
Quantitative gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of disaturated lecithins in blood plasma

Abstract The potential usefulness of disaturated lecithin titer in plasma as an indicator of the presence of atherosclerosis has led to the development of a quantitative analytical method for the 16:0 16:0 , 16:0 18:0 , and 18:0 18:0 lecithins in plasma. The method employs extensive sample preparation to form diglyceride acetate derivatives, which are then separated by capillary column gas-liquid chromatography. The precision of the method is ±5% or better. Suggestions for large sample population analyses are included.
Disturbance of freshwater habitats by anadromous salmon in Alaska

High densities of habitat modifiers can dramatically alter the structure of ecosystems. Whereas spawning sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) dig nests that cover over 2 m2 and are at least 20 cm deep, and can spawn at high densities, relatively little attention has been devoted to investigating the impacts of this disturbance. We hypothesized that this temporally and spatially predictable bioturbation has large impacts on the coastal aquatic habitats used by sockeye. We experimentally investigated the impacts of disturbance caused by spawning sockeye in two streams and two lakes in Alaska by excluding salmon from 2.25 m2 plots where they traditionally spawn. We sampled exclusions and control plots before, during, and after spawning. During sockeye spawning, fine sediment accumulated in areas where sockeye were excluded from spawning. In addition, sockeye spawning significantly decreased algal biomass by 80% compared to exclusion plots. We found mixed effects of spawning on the invertebrate assemblage. Tricladida and Chironomidae densities increased by 3x in exclusion plots relative to control plots in one creek site. However, for most taxa and sites, invertebrate densities declined substantially as spawning progressed, regardless of experimental treatment. Habitat modification by spawning salmon alters both community organization and ecosystem processes.
Appalachian gypsy-moth integrated pest-management project

Abstract The USDA Forest Service was directed by Congress, through the 1987 Supplemental Appropriation, to initiate an integrated pest-management special project, Appalachian Gypsy Moth IPM (AIPM) Project, to minimize the spread and adverse effects of the gypsy moth. The overall five-year objectives of the Project are to: (1) minimize the spread and adverse effects of the gypsy moth within the Project area; (2) develop a general prototype IPM structure; (3) evaluate the use of the intervention activities for the management of isolated infestations; and (4) assess the feasibility of a coordinated County, State and Federal gypsy-moth program.
The mechanical properties of latex-treated papers

The effect of the amount and type of latex on the mechanical properties of the paper-polymer combinations is described in detail. The treatment with latex increases the wet and dry strength properties of the paper considerably, together with improving the folding and tearing resistance. If the polymer in latex is below its film-forming temperature, however, the beneficial effects of latex treatment are absent. Limitations to varying the rheological properties of plasticpaper combinations are imposed by the comparatively inextensible nature of the paper matrix. Methods of improving the extensibility of paper, including the use of synthetic fiber papers, are discussed, and the time-dependent nature of the properties are outlined.
Graded porous inorganic materials derived from self-assembled block copolymer templates

Graded porous inorganic materials directed by macromolecular self-assembly are expected to offer unique structural platforms relative to conventional porous inorganic materials. Their preparation to date remains a challenge, however, based on the sparsity of viable synthetic self-assembly pathways to control structural asymmetry. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of graded porous carbon, metal, and metal oxide film structures from self-assembled block copolymer templates by using various backfilling techniques in combination with thermal treatments for template removal and chemical transformations. The asymmetric inorganic structures display mesopores in the film top layers and a gradual pore size increase along the film normal in the macroporous sponge-like support structure. Substructure walls between macropores are themselves mesoporous, constituting a structural hierarchy in addition to the pore gradation. Final graded structures can be tailored by tuning casting conditions of self-assembled templates as well as the backfilling processes. We expect that these graded porous inorganic materials may find use in applications including separation, catalysis, biomedical implants, and energy conversion and storage.
Applying bioinformatics to proteomics: Is machine learning the answer to biomarker discovery for PD and MSA?

Bioinformatics tools are increasingly being applied to proteomic data to facilitate the identification of biomarkers and classification of patients. In the June, 2012 issue, Ishigami et al. used principal component analysis (PCA) to extract features and support vector machine (SVM) to differentiate and classify cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from two small cohorts of patients diagnosed with either Parkinson's disease (PD) or multiple system atrophy (MSA) based on differences in the patterns of peaks generated with matrix-assisted desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). PCA accurately segregated patients with PD and MSA from controls when the cohorts were combined, but did not perform well when segregating PD from MSA. On the other hand, SVM, a machine learning classification model, correctly classified the samples from patients with early PD or MSA, and the peak at m/z 6250 was identified as a strong contributor to the ability of SVM to distinguish the proteomic profiles of either cohort when trained on one cohort. This study, while preliminary, provides promising results for the application of bioinformatics tools to proteomic data, an approach that may eventually facilitate the ability of clinicians to differentiate and diagnose closely related parkinsonian disorders.
Identification of downstream targets of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein pathway in the Drosophila nervous system

Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling mediated by the receptor Wishful thinking (Wit) is essential for nervous system development in Drosophila. Mutants lacking wit function show defects in neuromuscular junction development and function, specification of neurosecretory phenotypes, and eclosion behavior that result in lethality. The ligand is Glass bottom boat, the Drosophila ortholog of mammalian BMP-7, which acts as a retrograde signal through the Wit receptor. In order to identify transcriptional targets of the BMP pathway in the Drosophila nervous system, we have analyzed the gene expression profile of wit mutant larval central nervous system. Genes differentially expressed identified by microarray analysis have been verified by quantitative PCR and studied by in situ hybridization. Among the genes thus identified, we find solute transporters, neuropeptides, mitochondrial proteins, and novel genes. In addition, several genes are regulated by wit in an isoform-specific manner that suggest regulation of alternative splicing by BMP signaling. Developmental Dynamics 239:2413–2425, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The influence of pulleys on the quantitative characteristics of medial rectus muscle recessions: the torque vector model.

Purpose: To develop a new pulley–based torque vector mathematical model for medial rectus muscle recessions and compare it based on known clinical characteristics, to the currently accepted nonpulley length–tension model. Methods: The following quantitative characteristics of the results of bilateral medial rectus muscle recessions were chosen for study to see whether the new torque vector model or the classic length–tension model would better predict these characteristics: (1) larger bilateral medial rectus muscle recessions produce more effect per millimeter, with the dose–response curve approximating an exponential shape; (2) the exact location of the preplaced medial rectus muscle suture prior to muscle disinsertion in recessions has minimal effect on the postoperative ocular alignment; and (3) medial rectus muscle recessions of more than eight mm are likely to produce an early consecutive exotropia. Results: Based on the documented location of the medial rectus muscle pulley, the change in the torque vector per millimeter of medial rectus muscle recession was calculated and shown to have an exponential shape. For all three of the quantitative characteristics chosen, the torque vector model appears to better predict the results of medial rectus muscle recessions when compared with the length–tension model. Conclusions: Many quantitative characteristics of medial rectus muscle recessions are better explained by the torque vector model, instead of the classical length–tension model, and support the presence, location, and function of the medial rectus muscle pulley. This new understanding of ocular motility mechanics may influence surgical technique and introduce new surgical considerations for correction of ocular motility disorders.
Phonon confinement effects in the Raman spectrum of nanodiamond

Nanodiamonds (ND) exhibit unique properties due to their small size and high surface-to-volume ratio compared to bulk diamonds. A reduction in crystal size also affects ND Raman spectra. The confinement of optical phonons in nanocrystals $(l10\text{ }\text{nm})$ results in asymmetrically broadened Raman lines, which are shifted toward lower wavenumbers. The phonon confinement model (PCM) relates the observed changes in the Raman spectra to the crystal size and can be used for size characterization at the nanoscale. While the PCM was successfully applied to a variety of materials including Si and BN, results remained unsatisfactory in the case of ND. In order to improve the agreement between the predictions of the model and experimental Raman spectra of ND, effects such as crystal size distribution, lattice defects, and the energy dispersion of the phonon modes were taken into consideration and incorporated into the PCM. This work has shown that phonon wave vectors from small vibrational domains lead to a broad shoulder peak at $\ensuremath{\sim}1250\text{ }{\text{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, that is often observed in the Raman spectrum of ND.
Dansylation of tyrosine: Hindrance by N-ethylmorpholine and photodegradation of O-dansylated derivatives

Dansylation of free tyrosine or of rat brain hexokinase (ATP:d-hexose 6-phosphotransferase: EC 2.7.1.1), which contains an N-terminal tyrosine residue, yields both the didansyl and N-monodansyl derivatives if N-ethylmorpholine is used in the dansylation procedure [W. R. Gray (1972)in Methods in Enzymology (Hirs, C. H. W., and Timasheff, S. N., eds.), Vol. 25, pp. 121–138, Academic Press, New York]. If the N-ethylmorpholine is replaced by NaHCO3 buffer (pH 9.5), the didansyl derivative is formed almost exclusively, and the ambiguity resulting from the formation of two derivatives from a single N-terminal residue is thereby eliminated. Therefore, a slightly modified dansylation procedure, using NaHCO3 buffer is recommended; the validity of the modified procedure was demonstrated by its successful application to six different proteins having previously known N-terminal amino acids. The didansyl and O-monodansyl derivatives of tyrosine are remarkably photolabile as compared to the N-dansyl derivatives. Unless specific precautions against unnecessary irradiation are observed, photolytic degradation of the didansyl tyrosine derivatives could occur during experimental manipulations; loss of the didansylated compound and formation of photolysis products complicates the interpretation of experiments in which a single didansyl derivative (of the N-terminal residue) is expected.
An engage or retreat differential game with an escort region

This paper is motivated by the desire to develop optimal defensive strategies that discourage an attacker from engaging a high-value target. We analyze an Engage or Retreat Differential Game in which one player represents an attacker and the other player represents a defender. The attacker is capable of terminating the game in engagement or retreat. The defender attempts to manipulate the attacker's choice through the strategic maximization or minimization of the attacker's cost function. Both players are free to switch strategies at any point during the game. We show that for certain conditions, the defender should cooperate with the attacker so that retreat becomes the most attractive option. A value function constraint prevents the attacker's retreat trajectory from passing into a region in which engagement would become optimal. This leads to certain regions of constrained retreat which may be thought of as escort regions. In these escort regions, the defender cooperates with the attacker so long as the attacker maintains appropriate separation from the regions of engagement. The theory is illustrated with a numerical example.
An SVD reconstruction algorithm using a natural pixel representation of the attenuated Radon transform

The purpose of this work was to investigate the use of natural pixels to reconstruct attenuation corrected emission data using attenuation factors calculated from a natural pixel representation of the reconstructed transmission data. The reconstruction algorithm for both transmission and emission reconstructions is based on the assumption that a continuous image can be obtained by backprojecting the discrete array q, which is the least squares solution to Mq=p, where p is the array of discrete measurements. The M matrix represents the operator obtained from the backprojection operator followed by the projection operator using the natural pixel basis. A singular value decomposition was used to solve the equation Mq=p, and the final image was obtained by sampling the continuous backprojection of the solution q at a discrete array of points. Computer simulations showed that accurate attenuation corrected reconstructions could be obtained using a natural pixel representation of the attenuated Radon transform for a variable attenuator.
Elevated CO2 influences the responses of two birch species to soil moisture: implications for forest community structure

Increased levels of atmospheric CO2 may alter the structure and composition of plant communities by affecting how species respond to their physical and biological environment. We investigated how elevated CO2 influenced the response of paper birch ( Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) seedlings to variation in soil moisture. Seedlings were grown for four months on a soil moisture gradient, individually and in mixed species stands, in controlled environment facilities at ambient (375 μL L–1) and elevated (700 μL L–1) atmospheric CO2. For both individually and competitively grown paper birch seedlings, there was a greater CO2 growth enhancement for seedlings watered less frequently than for well-watered seedlings. This differential change in CO2 responsiveness across the moisture gradient reduced the difference in seedling growth between high and low water levels and effectively broadened the regeneration niche of paper birch. In contrast, for yellow birch seedlings, elevated CO2 only produced a significant growth enhancement at the wet end of the soil moisture gradient, and increased the size difference between seedlings at the two ends of the gradient. Gas exchange measurements showed that paper birch seedlings were more sensitive than yellow birch seedlings to declines in soil moisture, and that elevated CO2 reduced this sensitivity. Additionally, elevated CO2 improved survival of yellow birch seedlings growing in competition with paper birch in dry stands. Thus, elevated CO2 may influence regeneration patterns of paper birch and yellow birch on sites of differing soil moisture. In the future, as atmospheric CO2 levels rise, growth of paper birch seedlings and survival of yellow birch seedlings may be enhanced on xeric sites, while yellow birch may show improved growth on mesic sites.
Mass-producible microholographic tags

Microtags are microscopic computer-generated holograms with 130-nm features and are mass- producible with EUVL. This fabrication method renders microtags difficult to counterfeit. Applications include tagging and tracking of microprocessors, memory chips, currency, and credit cards.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reference Values for the Augmentation Index and Pulse Pressure in Apparently Healthy Korean Subjects

Background and Objectives: Arterial stiffness is a precursor to premature cardiovascular disease. The augmentation index (AI) and pulse pressure (PP) are cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to define the diagnostic values of the AI and PP from the peripheral arterial and central aortic waveforms in healthy subjects. Subjects and Methods: We recruited 522 consecutive subjects (mean age 46.3±9.6 years, 290 males) who came to our facility for a comprehensive medical testing. We measured the body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, peripheral and central PP, and a pulse wave analysis that included the central and peripheral AI. Results: The peripheral and central AIs in the female subjects were significantly higher than that in the male subjects (p<0.001). The peripheral and central PPs in the subjects with hyperlipidemia were significantly higher than subjects with normal lipid profiles (p<0.001). The peripheral and central PPs and peripheral and central AIs significantly increased with age. Conclusion: Pending validation in prospective outcome-based studies, a peripheral PP of 70 mmHg, central PP of 50 mmHg, peripheral AI of 100%, and central AI of 40% may be preliminary values in adult subjects. (Korean Circ J 2010;40:165-171)
Regulation of the sol Locus Genes for Butanol and Acetone Formation in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 by a Putative Transcriptional Repressor

A gene (orf1, now designated solR) previously identified upstream of the aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase gene aad (R. V. Nair, G. N. Bennett, and E. T. Papoutsakis, J. Bacteriol. 176:871‐885, 1994) was found to encode a repressor of the sol locus (aad, ctfA, ctfB and adc) genes for butanol and acetone formation in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. Primer extension analysis identified a transcriptional start site 35 bp upstream of the solR start codon. Amino acid comparisons of SolR identified a potential helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif in the C-terminal half towards the center of the protein, suggesting a regulatory role. Overexpression of SolR in strain ATCC 824(pCO1) resulted in a solvent-negative phenotype owing to its deleterious effect on the transcription of the sol locus genes. Inactivation of solR in C. acetobutylicum via homologous recombination yielded mutants B and H (ATCC 824 solR::pO1X) which exhibited deregulated solvent production characterized by increased flux towards butanol and acetone formation, earlier induction of aad, lower overall acid production, markedly improved yields of solvents on glucose, a prolonged solvent production phase, and increased biomass accumulation compared to those of the wild-type strain.
AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Activators Not Just for Diabetes?

See related articles, pages 403–411 A patent inability to properly use glycolytic and fatty acid substrates and progressive insulin resistance characterize non–insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Curiously, the failing myocardium may also share these unfavorable characteristics. Insights from the clinical arena indicate a significant relationship between insulin resistance and New York Heart Association heart failure classification.1 In fact, insulin resistance may beget heart failure and heart failure may beget insulin resistance.2 Fueled by a recent resurgence in studies of the metabolic derangements contributing to cardiovascular disease, we are beginning to comprehend the complexities of metabolism or at least appreciate the bounds of our ignorance. Our understanding of such issues surrounding diabetes and heart failure is predicated on identifying the proximal regulators of substrate availability, sensing, and utilization. One potentially satisfying candidate appears to be AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK)3,4 and is the focus of the study by Gundewar et al in this issue of Circulation Research .5 AMPK has emerged as a principal figure in the story of metabolic regulation and dysregulation in diabetes, exercise, and, to a lesser extent, myocardial ischemia. AMPK activation appears to be beneficial in the context of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, at least in terms of infarct size reduction. Such findings are confirmed by the present5 and previous studies.6 However, the intriguing element of the present study5 is the significant effect of chronic, postischemic treatment with the AMPK-activating biguanide metformin in the context of the failing heart (Figure). Despite a prior contraindication for heart failure because of concerns about the generation of lactic acidosis, interest has been renewed (although it actually never waned for some determined investigators) for the potential use of the insulin “sensitizer” metformin in diabetics with heart failure. Such interest is based not simply on the …
Ethnicity and Integration: Dynamics of Change and Resilience in Contemporary Ghana

Traditional, diverse communities in Africa have largely been viewed as impediments to the integration of the new and broader post-1960 political arrangements. This view has been sustained by the su...
PcrV Immunization Enhances Survival of Burned Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Infected Mice

Burned Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected mice immunized against PcrV, a type III virulence system translocating protein, showed significantly enhanced survival compared to controls. Survival was non-O serotype specific and correlated with a reduced systemic microbial load. Infection with a high-level toxin A-producing strain required supplemental antitoxin treatment to enhance survival.
Unsteady state gas‐liquid slug flow through vertical pipe

Macroscopic mass and momentum balances have been used to predict the unsteady behavior of gas-liquid slug flow through vertical pipe. Equations have been developed to predict the time-dependent pressure drop along the pipe as well as the time-averaged pressure drop. The results of the analysis indicate that the gas bubble lengths and frequencies of generation must be known before the pressure drop can be predicted as a function of time. In this work the bubble generation was specified in two ways: by experimental measurement of the bubble lengths and frequencies of generation from an optical technique developed for this purpose, and by assuming a periodic generation of gas bubbles of uniform length. The comparisons between predicted and measured pressure drops (both time dependent and time averaged) are satisfactory and appear to support the theoretical model. An extension of the results obtained in light of the published information on solid-gas and immiscible liquid-liquid systems in slug flow permits the introduction of generalized concepts of slug flow behavior in two-phase systems.
Schwannoma of the facial nerve in the cerebellopontine angle presenting with hearing loss

Schwannomas of the facial nerve in the cerebellopontine angle are unusual. The authors describe a 43-year-old woman with progressive hearing loss and dizziness who had a small schwannoma of the facial nerve in the cerebellopontine angle without extension into the internal auditory canal. The tumor was completely removed with preservation of facial nerve function. The diagnosis and management of facial nerve schwannomas are discussed.
Environmental Interventions to Promote Healthy Eating: A Review of Models, Programs, and Evidence

Environmental interventions are an important part of efforts to improve health in populations. With respect to strategies to encourage positive nutrition behavior, environmental approaches help create opportunities for action by removing barriers to following a healthy diet. This article reviews the rationale, conceptual models, program examples, and recent empirical evidence regarding the extent and effects of environmental interventions to promote healthy eating. The state of the art is described for five types of interventions: (1) changes in the food supply; (2) point of choice nutrition information; (3) collaboration with private sector food vendors; (4) worksite nutrition policies and incentives; and (5) changes in the structure of health and medical care related to nutrition. Environmental approaches to dietary behavior change can reach large segments of the population through increased availability of nutritious foods, provision of quality nutrition services in workplace and health care settings, and accessible information about healthful food choices. Nutrition intervention can also serve as a model for other types of health promotion initiatives using multidimensional environmental and educational technologies.
Minimal climatic control on erosion rates in the Sierra Nevada, California

Climate is widely thought to regulate erosion rates, but the relationships among precipitation, temperature, and erosion rate have remained speculative, because long-term erosion rates have been difficult to measure. We used cosmogenic nuclides to measure long-term erosion rates at climatically diverse sites in the Sierra Nevada, California, spanning 20‐180 cm/yr in annual precipitation and 4‐15 8C in mean annual temperature. Average erosion rates vary by only 2.5 fold across these sites and are not correlated with climate, indicating that climate only weakly regulates nonglacial erosion rates in mountainous granitic terrain.
SWARM: Scheduling Large-Scale Jobs over the Loosely-Coupled HPC Clusters

Compute-intensive scientific applications are heavily reliant on the available quantity of computing resources. The Grid paradigm provides a large scale computing environment for scientific users. However, conventional Grid job submission tools do not provide a high-level job scheduling environment for these users across multiple institutions. For extremely large number of jobs, a more scalable job scheduling framework that can leverage highly distributed clusters and supercomputers is required. In this paper, we propose a high-level job scheduling Web service framework, Swarm. Swarm is developed for scientific applications that must submit massive number of high-throughput jobs or workflows to highly distributed computing clusters. The Swarm service itself is designed to be extensible, lightweight, and easily installable on a desktop or small server. As a Web service, derivative services based on Swarm can be straightforwardly integrated with Web portals and science gateways. This paper provides the motivation for this research, the architecture of the Swarm framework, and a performance evaluation of the system prototype.
A draft genome of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) provides tools for the domestication of a new winter biofuel crop

Field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is being domesticated as a new winter cover crop and biofuel species for the Midwestern United States that can be double-cropped between corn and soybeans. A genome sequence will enable the use of new technologies to make improvements in pennycress. To generate a draft genome, a hybrid sequencing approach was used to generate 47 Gb of DNA sequencing reads from both the Illumina and PacBio platforms. These reads were used to assemble 6,768 genomic scaffolds. The draft genome was annotated using the MAKER pipeline, which identified 27,390 predicted protein-coding genes, with almost all of these predicted peptides having significant sequence similarity to Arabidopsis proteins. A comprehensive analysis of pennycress gene homologues involved in glucosinolate biosynthesis, metabolism, and transport pathways revealed high sequence conservation compared with other Brassicaceae species, and helps validate the assembly of the pennycress gene space in this draft genome. Additional comparative genomic analyses indicate that the knowledge gained from years of basic Brassicaceae research will serve as a powerful tool for identifying gene targets whose manipulation can be predicted to result in improvements for pennycress.
Insurance status, but not race, predicts perforation in adult patients with acute appendicitis.

Background Delay in treatment is a strong risk factor for perforation during acute appendicitis. In addition, lower socioeconomic status has been linked to impaired access to surgical care. We sought to examine the relationships among race, insurance status, and perforation in a recent, adult population with acute appendicitis. Study Design Data on adult patients with acute appendicitis were abstracted from the New York State Statewide Planning and Cooperative Systems Database for the years 2003 and 2004. A multiple logistic regression model, which adjusted for patient, community, and hospital factors, was used to examine the independent effects of both race and insurance status on likelihood of perforation. Results A total of 29,637 patients had acute appendicitis; 7,969 (26.9%) of these were perforated. Although Caucasian patients were more likely to perforate compared with minority patients, by univariate analysis, adjustment for age alone eliminated this disparity. In addition, by multivariable analysis, no difference existed in odds of perforation for Caucasian patients compared with African-American (odds ratio [OR]=1.03, 95% CI [0.93, 1.15], p=0.52), Hispanic (OR=0.99, 95% CI [0.90, 1.08], p=0.82), or Asian patients (OR=0.85, 95% CI [0.73, 1.00], p=0.05). But compared with privately insured patients, uninsured patients (OR 1.18, 95% CI [1.07 to 1.30], p=0.0005), Medicaid patients (OR=1.22, 95% CI [1.12 to 1.33], p Conclusions Race does not appear to be an important variable in predicting perforation in adult patients with acute appendicitis, but the likelihood of perforation varies significantly according to insurance status. Future research is necessary to both understand and have an impact on this socioeconomic disparity.
Deciphering the appropriateness of defaults: the need for domain-specific evidence

In this issue of The Journal of Medical Ethics, xxx and colleagues report a randomized trial of the influence of default options on delivery room management of an extremely premature infant. They report that among respondents to the hypothetical vignette, those who received the resuscitation default were significantly more likely to choose resuscitation compared with those who were told that the default was comfort care. While the results warrant attention and further investigation, several methodological shortcomings limit the conclusions that can be drawn from this study.
Reservoir Characterization Through Synthetic Logs

Magnetic resonance logs provide the capability of in-situ measurement of reservoir characteristics such as effective porosity, fluid saturation, and rock permeability. This study presents a new and novel methodology to generate synthetic magnetic resonance logs using readily available conventional wireline logs such as spontaneous potential, gamma ray, density, and induction logs. The study also examines and provides alternatives for situations in which all required conventional logs are unavailable for a particular well. Synthetic magnetic resonance logs for wells with an incomplete suite of conventional logs are generated and compared with actual magnetic resonance logs for the same well. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept being introduced here, the methodology is applied to a highly heterogeneous reservoir in East Texas. The process was verified by applying it to a well away from the wells used during the development process. This technique is capable of providing a better image of the reservoir properties (effective porosity, fluid saturation, and permeability) and more realistic reserve estimation at a much lower cost.
Electrical engineering vs. computer engineering vs. computer science: developing three distinct but interrelated curricula

In 1993, the University of Kansas merged the Department of Computer Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the School of Engineering. The resulting department, called the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), resides in the School of Engineering and brings together the broad fields of electrical technology computing, telecommunications and information science. Among other things, the merger enabled the consolidation of courses, enhanced classroom experiences for the students, and expanded research opportunities. The EECS Department now offers three Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science, as well as masters and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. This paper first describes the philosophy we applied in developing the three programs as they now stand. We then describe the curricula themselves. We point out where the curricula are the same, where they are only similar and where they are distinctly different. Finally, we discuss future changes that we anticipate in the programs. We feel that the merger has created the opportunity for significantly improved teaching and research. This paper shares some of our experience and ideas.
Imagining the Future of the Anthropology of Education if We Take Laura Nader Seriously

The large corpus of scholarship of cultural anthropologist Laura Nader is relevant to the contemporary practice of the anthropology of education. In particular, her work is relevant to contemporary debates about methodology and what constitutes “scientifically based” education research; to the prospect and need for more crossfertilization within the discipline of anthropology; and for the proud assertion of anthropology's distinctive suitability for understanding and responding to many contemporary educational challenges, including how to have anthropologically derived insights more favorably compete in the “marketplace of ideas” against less empirically grounded claims and strategies.
The protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 promotes D2-like dopamine receptor signaling

Protein arginine methylation regulates diverse functions of eukaryotic cells, including gene expression, the DNA damage response, and circadian rhythms. We showed that arginine residues within the third intracellular loop of the human D2 dopamine receptor, which are conserved in the DOP-3 receptor in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans , were methylated by protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). By mutating these arginine residues, we further showed that their methylation enhanced the D2 receptor–mediated inhibition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling in cultured human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells. Analysis of prmt-5 –deficient worms indicated that methylation promoted the dopamine-mediated modulation of chemosensory and locomotory behaviors in C. elegans through the DOP-3 receptor. In addition to delineating a previously uncharacterized means of regulating GPCR (heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein–coupled receptor) signaling, these findings may lead to the development of a new class of pharmacological therapies that modulate GPCR signaling by changing the methylation status of these key proteins.
Species Richness of the Campopleginae and Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) Along a Latitudinal Gradient in Eastern North American Old-Growth Forests

We ran 10 Malaise traps along a latitudinal gradient in five old-growth forests: San Felasco Hammock, FL (30° N, 82° W); Tall Timbers Research Station, FL (31° N, 84° W); Hitchiti Experimental Forest, GA (33° N, 84° W); Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, MD (39° N, 77° W), and Shaw Woods, Ontario (46° N, 77° W). Of 18,791 ichneumonid wasps collected, 1,487 campoplegines and 4,494 ichneumonines were sorted to 241 species (95 species of Campopleginae and 146 of Ichneumoninae). Campoplegine species richness was highest at the Georgia site: San Felasco (20 species), Tall Timbers (32), Hitchiti (49), Patuxent (35), and Shaw Woods (12). Ichneumonine species richness was highest at the Maryland site: San Felasco (47), Tall Timbers (30), Hitchiti (44), Patuxent (68), and Shaw Woods (37). The results confirm reported trends that peak North American ichneumonid species richness lies at midlatitudes. However, they document greater biodiversity in the southern states and a broader peak than previously reported.
Future perspectives in target-specific immunotherapies of myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by complement-fixing antibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChR); antigen-specific CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper (Th) 17+ cells are essential in antibody production. Target-specific therapeutic interventions should therefore be directed against antibodies, B cells, complement and molecules associated with T cell signaling. Even though the progress in the immunopathogenesis of the disease probably exceeds any other autoimmune disorder, MG is still treated with traditional drugs or procedures that exert a non-antigen specific immunosuppression or immunomodulation. Novel biological agents currently on the market, directed against the following molecular pathways, are relevant and specific therapeutic targets that can be tested in MG: (a) T cell intracellular signaling molecules, such as anti-CD52, anti-interleukin (IL) 2 receptors, anti- costimulatory molecules, and anti-Janus tyrosine kinases (JAK1, JAK3) that block the intracellular cascade associated with T-cell activation; (b) B cells and their trophic factors, directed against key B-cell molecules; (c) complement C3 or C5, intercepting the destructive effect of complement-fixing antibodies; (d) cytokines and cytokine receptors, such as those targeting IL-6 which promotes antibody production and IL-17, or the p40 subunit of IL-12/1L-23 that affect regulatory T cells; and (e) T and B cell transmigration molecules associated with lymphocyte egress from the lymphoid organs. All drugs against these molecular pathways require testing in controlled trials, although some have already been tried in small case series. Construction of recombinant AChR antibodies that block binding of the pathogenic antibodies, thereby eliminating complement and antibody-depended-cell-mediated cytotoxicity, are additional novel molecular tools that require exploration in experimental MG.
Induction of endogenous tumor necrosis factor-α: suppression of centrally stimulated gastric motility

Gastric stasis is frequently seen in conjunction with critical infectious illness, chronic inflammatory disorders, radiation sickness, and carcinogenesis. These conditions are associated with elevated circulating levels of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The present studies examined the relationship between endogenously produced TNF-α and the central neural mechanisms that augment gastric motility. Systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was employed to induce TNF-α production in thiobutabarbital-anesthetized rats. Sixty minutes after intravenous LPS injection, gastric motility could not be stimulated by a potent centrally acting gastrokinetic stimulant, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). This failure to elicit gastric motility via central mechanisms coincided with high circulating levels of TNF-α. However, intravenous injections of bethanecol, a peripherally acting cholinergic agonist with direct gastrokinetic effects, were still able to elicit normal increases in gastric motility in the presence of TNF-α and LPS. Therefore, the inability to stimulate gastric motility via central TRH could not be attributed to the direct inhibitory effects of either LPS or TNF-α on the stomach. If the production of endogenous TNF-α was suppressed via the use of urethan as the anesthetic agent, then intravenous injections of LPS were no longer effective in suppressing gastric motility. Thus these effects on gastric motility are not directly attributable to LPS nor are they due to direct effects on the gastric smooth muscle. Our previous study demonstrated that microinjection of femtomole quantities of TNF-α in the brain stem dorsal vagal complex (DVC) can modulate gastric motility. This central TNF-α effect on gastric motility was dose dependent and required an intact vagal efferent pathway. The results from these two studies suggest that systemically produced TNF-α may gain access to the DVC to modulate gastric function.