cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The orange arc bands of CaO. Analysis of a D,d 1,3Δ–a 3Π system

The orange and green arc bands of CaO are shown to arise from Ca+ centered (4p,3d)‐4s transitions analogous to the CaF A 2Π–X 2Σ+ and B 2Σ+–X 2Σ+ systems. The tremendous complexity of these Ca+O− systems is a consequence of the sixfold degeneracy of the O− p‐hole, as compared to the nondegenerate F−(1S). The 0, 0 and 1, 1 bands of a D,d 1,3Δ–a 3Π transition are recorded by intermodulation spectroscopy and assigned (vibration, rotation, absolute parity) by nonstandard techniques. The D 1Δ state is found to lie below the isoconfigurational d 3Δ1 state and D∼d spin‐orbit perturbation causes the d 3Δ state to become irregular (3Δ2≳3Δ1≳3Δ3). Two perturbation effects provide the key to the orbital interpretation of the orange and green arc bands: lambda doubling in a 3Π indicates that a π4σσ3Σ+ state lies 1500 cm−1 above a 3Π; D, d 1,3Δ∼B 1Π perturbations suggest recurrence of this 1500 cm−1 interconfigurational splitting which is the O−pσ/pπ splitting induced by the Ca+ ligand.
Reversible modification of amino groups in aspartate aminotransferase.

Abstract Amino groups in the pyridoxal phosphate, pyridoxamine phosphate, and apo forms of pig heart cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase ( l -aspartate:2-oxglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) have been reversibly modified with 2.4-pentanedione. The rate of modification has been measured spectrophotometrically by observing the formation of the enamine produced and this rate has been compared with the rate of loss of catalytic activity for all three forms of the enzyme. Of the 21 amino groups per 46 500 molecular weight, approx. 16 can be modified in the pyridoxal phosphate form with less than a 50% change in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. A slow inactivation occurs which is probably due to reaction of 2,4-pentanedione with the enzyme-bound pyridoxal phosphate. The pyridoxamine phosphate enzyme is completely inactivated by reaction with 2,4-pentanedione. The inactivation of the pyridoxamine phosphate enzyme is not inhibited by substrate analogs. A single lysine residue in the apoenzyme reacts approx. 100 times faster with 2,4-pentanedione than do other amino groups. This lysine is believed to be lysine-258, which forms a Schiff base with pyridoxal phosphate in the holoenzyme
Stop Logs for Emergency Spillway Gate Dewatering

Emergencies resulting in uncontrolled flow through spillway gates often lead to millions of dollars lost to repairs, lack of dam productivity, property damages, and risks to public health and safety. A considerable need exists for reliable emergency dewatering systems to prevent these consequences. Stop logs are the most commonly used dewatering system for spillway gates but are typically designed for maintenance purposes only. They have been found in most cases to be unreliable for emergency closure under flowing conditions. Considering the economic advantages a dewatering system would provide were it functional for the dual purposes of maintenance as well as emergency closure, a new stop log design was developed. This study assesses the design that enables deployment under no-flow conditions as well as flowing, or emergency conditions. The information found in this study provides dam owners, operators, and engineers with options to reduce damages resulting from uncontrolled releases owing to partial or complete failure of spillway gates, including the failure of gates to close after having been raised.
Isolation and Description of the Pectinase‐Inhibiting Tannins of Grape Leaves

SUMMARY Studies were continued on the tannin in Muscadine grape leaves previously reported to have inhibitory activity toward peetinase and cellnlase. The tannin was isolated and purified by precipitation with caffeine and recovery by chloroform extraction. The material is a light tan, and in the freeze-dried form is quite bulky. It is a condensed tannin of high molecular weight, producing a large percentage of phlobaphenes upon acid treatment. The soluble portion after acid treatment was shown to contain gallic acid and glucose in small amounts.
Human α6 AChR subtypes: subunit composition, assembly, and pharmacological responses

Many nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunits are known to be co-expressed with the α6 subunit in neurons. Because α6β4 AChRs assemble inefficiently and α6β2 AChRs not at all, more complex mixtures of human subunit cDNAs were tested for their abilities to form functional AChRs when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. α6β4β3 AChRs produced the largest and most consistent responses. α6α3β2 AChRs exhibited reduced potency for ACh and increased potency and efficacy for nicotine compared to α3β2 AChRs, but similar resistance to functional inactivation after prolonged exposure to nicotine. α6α4β2 AChRs differed little in potency or efficacy for ACh or nicotine compared to α4β2 AChRs, and had similarly high sensitivity to inactivation by prolonged exposure to nicotine. Co-expression of α6 and β2 cRNAs resulted in large numbers of 3H-epibatidine binding sites in the form of large aggregates but not in functional pentameric AChRs. Co-expression of α6, β2, and α5 resulted in assembly of some functional pentameric AChRs. Chimeras with the large extracellular domain of α6 and the rest from either α3 or α4 efficiently formed functional AChRs. Thus, the extracellular domain of α6 efficiently assembles with β2 to form ACh binding sites, but more C-terminal domains cause difficulties in forming pentameric AChRs. Chimeric α6/α3 and α6/α4 AChRs containing either β2 or β4 subunits were blocked by α-conotoxin MII which had previously been reported to be specific for α3β2 AChRs.
Noise-induced effects on a non-linear oscillator

We examine various phenomena induced by white Gaussian random perturbations in the response of non-linear dynamical systems. In the first part of this work digital and analog experiments are conducted on a simple single-degree-of-freedom oscillator with a piecewise linear restoring force and harmonic forcing. They reveal that small noise perturbations can give rise to large deviations of the response which ultimately lead to transitions between the coexisting attractors of the unperturbed system. These transitions are analyzed probabilistically by determining the mean time spent by the trajectories to exit from the basin of a given attractor. By determining the relationship between mean first-exit time and noise intensity, it is found that each attractor can be characterized by an activation energy which yields a measure of its relative stability. We also find that, even in the case of a single attractor, weak noise can induce large excursions to sets of the state space (chaotic semi-attractor) which are otherwise globally repelling in the absence of noise. In the second part of this work, some results obtained numerically are shown to be predicted theoretically by the use of asymptotic analyses of the randomly perturbed response of dynamical systems in the limit of weak noise. These techniques provide a generalization of the notion of potential to non-potential, non-equilibrium systems. In particular, the notion of activation energy is verified theoretically, and its determination may be possible without massive computer simulations.
Effect of exercise on glucocorticoids and other cellular components of blood.

Abstract The effect of exercise during the dry period on glucocorticoids, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, total leucocytes, and differential leucocyte count was examined with 87 Holstein cows. Cows were divided randomly into groups: 1) control, 2) 3.2km at 3.5 km/h, 3) 9.6km at 3.5 km/h, and 4) 3.2km at 5.5 km/h. Sampling for blood analysis was at weekly intervals pre-exercise and immediately postexercise. Both glucocorticoids and hemoglobin concentrations were increased by exercise. Correlations between glucocorticoids and most other traits were practically zero. No eosinopenia was noted with increasing glucocorticoids. Lymphocyte numbers were correlated negatively with all traits measured. Glucocorticoid concentration increased from pre- to post-exercise with both distance and speed. Although glucocorticoid concentration varied among cows, neither day sampled, days dry, weight, nor age affected glucocorticoids. Increased hemoglobin of post-exercise cows could not be attributed to speed or distance exercised. Traits measured in this study, other than glucocorticoid concentration, are ineffective in evaluating response to increased exercise.
Dopamine inhibits pulmonary edema through the VEGF-VEGFR2 axis in a murine model of acute lung injury

The neurotransmitter dopamine and its dopamine receptor D2 (D2DR) agonists are known to inhibit vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis and vasc...
Cadmium modification of nucleolar ultrastructure and RNA synthesis in Physarum polycephalum

Exposure of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum to cadmium resulted in distortion of nucleolar structure and in inhibition of RNA synthesis. The extent of these lesions was dependent on concentration of cadmium, as well as duration and timing of exposure in the cell cycle. A 30-min exposure to 5 × 10 −4 m CdSO 4 , initiated just as DNA synthesis began, inhibited RNA synthesis by 50% and caused subtle nucleolar changes: eccentric placement of nucleoli in nuclei, and the appearance of multiple nucleolar bodies in low incidence. Exposure to either 5 × 10 −4 m or 1.5 × 10 −3 m CdSO 4 for 4 hr depressed RNA synthesis to 20–25% of control values and caused ring-shaped nucleoli. In electron micrographs of cadmium-treated cells, nucleoli appeared as electron dense rings of nucleolar material enclosing less intensely staining central zones, in contrast to control nucleoli which appeared as uniformly dense, nearly spherical bodies. Three-dimensional reconstructions showed that the “ring” was, in actuality, a sphere of nucleolar material completely surrounding a central cavity. A 4-hr exposure to 5 × 10 −4 or 1.5 × 10 −3 m CdSO 4 after postmitotic reconstruction was complete and DNA synthesis had been underway for 2 hr or more inhibited RNA synthesis by 50%, but nucleolar rings were not formed. These observations identify the nucleus as a target for cadmium, or for effectors which mediate cadmium toxicity, and they suggest that disruption of nucleolar function (i.e., synthesis of RNA) and/or of nucleolar structure may be underlying mechanisms of cadmium toxicity.
Effects of the dynamic cross-interaction in the seismic analysis of multiple embedded foundations

A boundary element formulation of the substructure deletion method is presented for the seismic analysis of the dynamic cross-interaction between multiple embedded foundations. This approach is particularly suitable for three-dimensional foundations of any arbitrary geometrical shape and spatial location, since it requires only the discretization of the foundations' surfaces. The surrounding soil is represented by a homogeneous viscoelastic half-space while the foundations are assumed to be rigid and subjected to incoming SH-, P-, and SV-waves arbitrarily inclined in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The proposed methodology is tested for the case of two identical embedded square foundations for different values of the foundations' embedment and distance. The effects of the cross-interaction are outlined in the components of the impedance matrix and of the foundation input motion.
Virus-Induced Peliosis Hepatis in Rats

Inoculation of newborn Fischer, W/Fu, or Lewis rats with the 9H virus recently isolated from leukemic rat tissues resulted in the development of peliosis hepatis. The virus was recoverable from the peliotic livers. The cystic lesions were of the parenchymal peliosis type and appeared to be the result of focal hepatic necrosis followed by hemorrhage.
Effect of sire, diet and week of spawning on volume of eggs retained by artificially spawned rainbow trout

Abstract Based on the performance of 223 mature, artificially spawned, 2-year-old rainbow trout females, consisting of progeny from 26 sires and 52 dams, the average volume of eggs retained in the ovary and the body cavity (35.9 ml) represented 14.7% of the average of 244.2 ml of eggs spawned per female. Although not specifically measured, it was observed that the majority of the retained eggs were held in the ovary. The variability among females was very large; the standard deviation was 18.7 ml with a coefficient of variation of 52.1%. In terms of number of eggs, an average of 357.4 eggs (14.5%) out of a total of 2453.8 were retained by the female. Diet had a significant effect on eggs retained. Fish reared on a high-protein, high-energy diet retained an average of 41.5 ml which was significantly higher than the 29.4 ml retained by females reared on a low-protein, low-energy diet. The volume of eggs retained by females reared on a commercial control diet (intermediate levels of protein and energy) was intermediate (36.5 ml). Differences in volume of eggs retained among weeks of the spawning season were not significant. The distribution of genetic effects for volume of eggs retained was evaluated by estimating breeding values for daughters from each sire, using data corrected for diet effects. The estimated breeding values ranged from a low of 23.9 ml to a high of 62.2 ml. The average values for paternal half-sib groups ranged from 26.8 to 45.4 ml, with a mean of 35.5 and standard deviation of 5.1 ml. The estimated heritability of volume of eggs retained was 0.34±0.22.
Study of yield stress anomaly of Fe2MnAl single crystal by in situ TEM straining

L21-structured Fe59Mn17Al24 shows a yield stress anomaly with a peak yield stress at 700 K. The aim of the work reported here was to determine the dislocation mechanisms involved in this anomalous behaviour by performing in situ straining on Fe59Mn17Al24 single crystals in a transmission electron microscope at 300–900 K. Cross-slip of ⟨111⟩ dislocations was frequently found to occur between {110} and {211} planes at all temperatures tested. At 300 K, dislocations were four-fold dissociated and the partials moved together under stress. At 700–800 K, partial dislocations with a Burgers vector of a/2⟨111⟩ dominated the deformation. These partial dislocations moved independently in the ordered matrix in a jerky manner, with rapid motion between long periods of locking. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the degree of L21-order slightly decreased with increasing temperature in the range 300–700 K, and dropped rapidly above 700 K. At 900 K, the material was B2-ordered. The increased yield stress at elev...
Delayed-leaf-senescence and heat-tolerance traits mainly are independently expressed in cowpea

Reproductive activity in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is characterized by two separate flushes of pod production. Grain yield from the second flush strongly depends on extent of plant death due to soil pathogens after the first flush is completed. A delayed-leaf-senescence (DLS) trait enhances the extent of plant survival but may reduce first-flush grain yield. Heat tolerance during reproductive development can increase first-flush grain yield and has been incorporated into cowpea but may reduce plant survival after the first flush is completed. Interactive effects when combining DLS and heat-tolerance traits were evaluated. A cross was made between a DLS heat-susceptible line and a non-DLS heat-tolerant line. Evaluation and selection for these traits were carried out over several generations and a set of 40 lines with 10 each of the four combinations of DLS +/- heat tolerance and non-DLS +/- heat tolerance was developed. These lines were evaluated in contrasting field environments. Under senescence-inducing conditions, the DLS trait greatly increased plant survival and individual seed size, and it only caused a small reduction in first-flush grain yield that would have been off-set several fold by an enhanced second-flush grain yield. The heat-tolerance trait increased first-flush grain yield in very hot environments and only slightly enhanced the tendency for premature plant death in non-DLS lines with no effect on lines having the DLS trait. The DLS and heat-tolerance traits can be effectively incorporated into cowpea and would have beneficial effects on grain yield in specific circumstances with only small detrimental interactive effects.
Malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses.

Between October 1964 and December 1983, 48 patients with malignant tumors of the nasal cavity (31), ethmoid sinus (13), or sphenoid sinus (4) were treated with curative intent by radiation therapy. There were 21 squamous cell carcinomas, 14 minor salivary gland tumors (adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma), 3 malignant melanomas, 2 soft tissue sarcomas, and 8 esthesioneuroblastomas. Forty-two patients were treated with irradiation alone and six with planned combined irradiation and surgery. The 10-year actuarial local control rate for Stage I (limited to site of origin; 7 patients) was 100%; for Stage II (extension to adjacent sites, e.g., adjacent sinuses, orbit, pterygomaxillary fossa, nasopharynx; 19 patients) was 53%; and for Stage III (destruction of skull base or pterygoid plates, or intracranial extension; 22 patients) was 30%. Of 24 failures at the primary site, 10 occurred greater than 24 months after completion of irradiation. With the exception of adenoid cystic carcinoma (17% local control at 15 years), the ultimate local control rates for all histologies were in the range of 40% to 60%. Of 7 patients with documented intracranial extension, 3 (43%) remained free from local recurrence 3.5, 4, and 9 years after treatment. The 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year uncorrected actuarial survival rates for all 48 patients were 52%, 30%, 22%, and 22%, respectively. Continuous disease-free survival according to stage at 10 years was 86% for Stage I, 42% for Stage II, and 22% for Stage III. The single failure in a patient with Stage I disease was a lymph node metastasis that was successfully managed by radical neck dissection. The orbit was grossly invaded by tumor prior to treatment in 22 patients (46%). Sixteen (33%) of 48 patients developed unilateral blindness secondary to radiation retinopathy or optic neuropathy; in the majority of these patients the complication was anticipated because the ipsilateral eye was irradiated to a high dose. Four patients (8%) unexpectedly developed bilateral blindness 17, 35, 46, and 90 months following treatment owing to optic nerve injury. A discussion of possible means of avoiding this latter, unacceptable complication is included.
Looking for the magic formula: evaluating our it communication mix

Our communication audit of IT publications used a survey by the Higher Education TechQual+ Study (www.techqual.org) as a first step. The survey results identified engagement as a key principle for changing our communication mix. Both students and faculty indicated a desire for opportunities to make suggestions to IT and be part of the decision-making process. While characteristics of Gen Y include expectations for communicating across a flattened hierarchy, new faculty expressed this same desire. This session describes how department reorganization into teams has facilitated communication changes and how our findings have changed our newsletters, web site, campaigns, and information guides. How we hope new media (podcasts, blogs, wikis, social networking tools, etc.) will help us provide more engagement will also be included.
LASER UVULOPALATOPLASTY: TECHNIQUES AND RESULTS

Snoring is a common human ailment. Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty is an outpatient surgical procedure used for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. The uvula and soft palate are reduced and reshaped with the laser to increase the oropharyngeal airway size and reduce the vibratory soft tissue. Over the past 10 years, various surgical techniques have been described. The purpose of this article is to review the original description as well as the alternative laser-assisted uvulopalatopalasty surgical techniques being performed in the United States.
The delamination theory of wear and the wear of a composite surface

Abstract The delamination theory of wear postulates that there is a “nonworkhardening” soft surface layer which deforms continuously due to the instability of dislocations, and that the low speed sliding wear of metals is caused by the subsurface crack nucleation and propagation nearly parallel to the surface. A corollary of the theory is that when hard metal surfaces are plated with a soft metal to reduce the coefficient of friction and the wear rate, the soft metal layer must be thinner than a critical thickness so as to prevent the accumulation of dislocations in the plated layer and the formation of the delaminated layer. This corollary was investigated by plating annealed AISI 1018 steel with cadmium. The wear rate of the steel specimen plated with 0.1 μm cadmium on both of the contacting surfaces was three orders of magnitude smaller than the unplated specimen when they were tested in argon. In the case of thicker coatings, the cadmium layer wears by the delamination process which occurs within the plated layer. The very thin cadmium plate is also effective in reducing wear in inert oil, but not effective in an oxidizing atmosphere. The coefficient of friction of the 0.1 μm Cd plated steel was less than the unplated steel under all test conditions.
Java active extensions: Scalable middleware for performance-isolated remote execution

We present the design and implementation of a highly scalable and easily deployed middleware system that provides performance-isolated execution environments for client and server application functionality. The Java Active Extensions system allows clients or servers to 'extend' their operation by hosting portions of their codes, called extensions, at network vantage points for improved performance and reliability, and by providing them with quality of service via rate-based resource reservations. This system is especially useful for wireless resource-limited clients, which can remotely locate filters, caches, monitors, buffers, etc., to act on their behalf and improve interactions with servers. Servers also benefit by moving some of their services close to their clients (e.g. those near a common base station) to reduce latency and improve bandwidth. In both cases, the client's or server's extended functionality executes with a specified fraction of the (remote) system's processor. The system design is based on a scalable distributed architecture that allows for incremental hardware growth, and is highly deployable as it runs entirely at user level, including its rate-based scheduling system.
Combining NSE and S100B with clinical examination findings to predict survival after resuscitation from cardiac arrest

Background Neuron specific enolase (NSE) and astroglial protein S100B are associated with outcome following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. We tested whether NSE and S100B levels are associated with illness severity on hospital arrival, and whether levels are independently associated with survival to hospital discharge after adjusting for initial illness severity.
Situational and hormonal determinants of courtship, aggressive and incubation behavior in male ring doves (Streptopelia risoria)

Abstract Previous experiments with ring doves ( Streptopelia risoria ) suggested that neither gonadal nor adrenal steroids play an essential role in causing the transition from courtship to incubation behavior in males. The present experiments were designed to (a) test whether any endogenous change is required in male doves before they become capable of displaying incubation behavior and (b) determine what environmental factors may operate in effecting such an endogenous change. The results show that a male taken from isolation does not immediately incubate when paired with a female who is already at the incubatory stage of her cycle. Of the environmental factors tested, previous exposure to nesting material and to a female partner were most important for inducing endogenous changes required for display of incubation behavior upon pairing with an incubating female. However, neither of these factors is absolutely essential. Environmental factors can apparently act in an additive fashion with each other and with hormones to facilitate the transition from courtship to incubation.
Comparison of local and global angular interpolation applied to spectral-spatial EPR image reconstruction.

Spectral-spatial imagesreconstructed from a small number of projections suffer from streak artifacts that are seen as noise, particularly in the spectral dimension. Interpolation in projection space can reduce artifacts in the reconstructed images. The reduction of background artifacts improves lineshape fitting. In this work, we compared the performances of angular interpolation implemented using linear, cubic B-spline, and sinc methods. Line width maps were extracted from 4-D EPRimages of phantoms using spectral fitting to evaluate each interpolation method and its robustness to noise. Results from experiment and simulation showed that the cubic B-spline, angular interpolation was preferable to either sinc or linear interpolation methods.
The rhetoric of eugenics: expert authority and the Mental Deficiency Bill

'We greatly want a brief word to express the science of improving stock ... especially in the case of man', the influential English scientist Francis Galton wrote in 1883. 'The word eugenics sufficiently expresses the idea. " During the ensuing half century, Galton's new word and the underlying theories that he had already begun developing from the evolutionary concepts advanced by his cousin, Charles Darwin, spread throughout the Western world. With Galton's blessing these theories spawned a political movement advocating the enactment of statutes designed to encourage the propagation of eugenically fit human beings and discourage the propagation of eugenically unfit ones. Yet, while such laws were commonly adopted throughout North America and Northern Europe, the British homeland of Galton and Darwin proved reluctant to act by statutory fiat in the field of eugenics. Historians have offered a variety of political, cultural, social, and economic interpretations of British eugenics, and undoubtedly many factors were involved in shaping British government policy in this sensitive and complex area.2 One such factor, which has received little attention in the historical literature, was suggested by Daniel J. Kevles in his definitive history of eugenics in Britain and the United States. 'To account for the legislative difference' between the relative success of the eugenics political movement in America and its relative failure in Britain, Kevles wrote, 'it also bears keeping in mind that the eugenics movement depended on the authority of science'. He then examined the leading role American scientists played in promoting eugenic legislation, contrasting it with the contemporaneous political inaction of their British counterparts.3 The task of promoting eugenic laws in Britain fell to civic-minded activists drawn largely from the professional classes. David Barker has found that these self-proclaimed 'eugenicists' so mixed scientific and social concerns that 'policies were, in fact, often rejected for moral rather than eugenic reasons'.4 As a result, British eugenicists may not have been able to
Abrasion resistant polymer reflectors for solar applications

Abstract One of the major concerns associated with the use of metallized polymers as solar reflectors is their susceptibility to abrasion from wind blown sand and cleaning operations. In this study, three approaches to the attainment of an abrasion resistant metallized polymer were evaluated. First, a developmental abrasion resistant coating was applied to an aluminized acrylic film. The abrasion resistance, solar reflectance, weatherability and dust accumulation properties of the material were excellent. Second, an abrasion resistant cast acrylic sheet was aluminized by an ion plating process. Althoughthe abrasion resistance of the material was excellent, its solar reflectance was lower than that of the other reflectors and the aluminum delaminated when exposed to simulated weathering conditions. Third, a first surface reflector consisting of an aluminized high temperature polymer protected with a conventional abrasion resistant coating was evaluated. Altough the solar reflectance and weatherability were excellent, the specular reflectance was substantially reduced by an abrasion test.
Auditory stimulation alters the pattern of 2-deoxyglucose uptake in the inner ear.

Abstract The 2-deoxy- d -glucose (2-DG) autoradiographic technique was adapted for application to the inner ear. The uptake of [14C]2-DG during silence was compared with that observed during exposure to wide band noise (WBN) or pure tones at an intensity level of 85 dB SPL. In silence, the highest levels of 2-DG uptake were observed in the spiral ligament, spiral prominence and stria vascularis, with approximately equal levels of uptake in each structure. The high levels of 2-DG uptake observed in the ligament and prominence are suprising, and suggest a more active role for these structures in cochlear function than has previously been suspected. Levels of uptake in the organ of Corti, spiral ganglion and VIIIth nerve were much lower, although well above background. During exposure to WBN, 2-DG uptake increased markedly in the VIIIth nerve, and spiral ganglion throughout the cochlea, and in the organ of Corti in the lower basal turn. 2-DG uptake did not change significantly in the spiral ligament or stria vascularis. During pure tone exposure, increased 2-DG uptake was noted in localized regions of the VIIIth nerve and spiral ganglion.
Satisficing vs exploring when learning a constrained environment

Satisficing is an efficient strategy for applying existing knowledge in a complex, constrained, environment. We present a set of agent-based simulations that demonstrate a higher payoff for satisficing strategies than for exploring strategies when using approximate dynamic programming methods for learning complex environments. In our constrained learning environment, satisficing agents outperformed exploring agent by approximately six percent, in terms of the number of tasks completed.
Efficacy of Combined Coronary Revascularization and Valve Procedures in Octogenarians

From January 1982 to October 1991, 42 consecutive patients 80 years of age and older underwent a combined cardiac procedure with coronary revascularization and valve repair or replacement. There were 20 women and 22 men. Mean age at operation was 82.8 years (range, 80 to 89.7 years). Twenty-seven patients (64%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV preoperatively. Six patients (14.3%) had undergone previous cardiac procedures. There were six hospital deaths (14.3%). The only significant preoperative risk factor identified for the event hospital death was aortic insufficiency (p=0.005). The 36 hospital survivors were followed up at a mean of 21.1 months after hospital discharge. There were nine (21%) late deaths occurring at a mean of 21.3 months postoperatively: two from acute myocardial infarctions and seven from chronic heart failure. Survival analysis indicated that higher preoperative NYHA class (p=0.0003), hypertension (p=0.015), hypercholesterolemia (p=0.03), and elevated left atrial/left ventricular gradient (p=0.04) were incremental risk factors for overall mortality. The actuarial survival at 40 months was 51.9%, with no significant difference as compared with an age-, sex-, and race-matched population. Of the 27 late survivors, 26 were in NYHA class I or II. We conclude that octogenarians may undergo complex cardiac surgical procedures with an expectation of an acceptable mortality rate and significant improvement in their functional status. These results must be taken into consideration in light of reported strategies to ameliorate health-care costs by limiting availability of complex medical care to the elderly.
Quantified comparison of frontal sinus patterns by means of computed tomography

Abstract The observation of frontal sinus patterning is a well-established technique of personal identification in forensic anthropology. Variations in size, shape, symmetry, border outline, and the presence and number of septa and cells are compared using antemortem and postmortem radiographs. Traditionally, a standard frontal view is utilized. Computed tomography produces contiguous radiographic images of the cranium at predetermined increments. Multiple comparisons of the sinus configuration can therefore be made at different levels. The use of different ‘window’ settings (attenuation coefficient ranges) for the production of CT scans is discussed. A scoring system is described for the precise and quantified comparison of frontal sinuses in antemortem to postmortem CT scans. The application of these procedures to actual cases is described.
Visual framework for development and use of constitutive models

Advanced constitutive relations are used in geotechnical engineering to capture measured soil and rock behaviour in the laboratory, and in numerical models to represent the material response. These constitutive relations have traditionally been difficult to use, understand, and develop except by a limited number of specialists. This paper describes a framework for transforming the representation of constitutive relations, as well as stress and strain quantities from a series of mathematical equations and matrix quantities to multidimensional geometric/visual objects in a dynamic interactive colour-rich display environment. The paper proposes a shift in current approaches to the development of constitutive equations and their use in numerical simulations by taking advantage of rapid advancements in information technology and computer graphics. A novel interactive visualization development and learning environment for material constitutive relations referred to as VizCoRe is presented. Visualization examples of two constitutive relations, the linear elastic with von Mises failure criteria and the Modified Cam Clay (MCC) are shown. These include two- and three-dimensional renderings of stress states and paths and yield and failure surfaces. In addition, the environment allows for the visualization of the implicit integration algorithm used for the numerical integration of both constitutive models. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental and Numerical Validation of the Total Trapping Number for Prediction of DNAPL Mobilization

The total trapping number (NT), quantifying the balance of gravitational, viscous, and capillary forces acting on an entrapped dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) droplet, was originally developed as a criterion to predict the onset and extent of residual DNAPL mobilization in porous media. The ability of this approach to predict mobilization behavior, however, has not been rigorously validated in multidimensional systems. In this work, experimental observations of residual tetrachloroethene (PCE) mobilization in rectangular columns are compared to predictions obtained using a multiphase compositional finite-element simulator that was modified to incorporate the dependence of entrapped residual, flow, and transport parameters on the total trapping number. Consistent with calculated NT values (1.21 × 10−3–1.10 × 10−2), residual PCE-DNAPL was mobilized immediately upon contact with a low-interfacial tension (IFT) surfactant solution and rapidly migrated downward to form a bank of mobile DNAPL. The numeric...
Fabrication of tapered, strain-gradent chirped fibre Bragg gratings

Chirped fibre Bragg gratings have been fabricated using a novel process in which the outer diameter of the fibre is tapered with a computer-controlled acid etching process. The strain gradient formed along the grating when the fibre is held under tension produces a varying shift in the Bragg spacing, resulting in a tunable, chirped grating.
Test of the Independence Postulate in the Bohr Theory of Compound-Nucleus Decay: Cr*50 System

Excitation functions for the production of $^{48}\mathrm{V}$ and $^{48}\mathrm{Cr}$ from incident ions $^{3}\mathrm{He}$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, $^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{18}\mathrm{O}$, and $^{22}\mathrm{Ne}$ involving the compound system $^{50}\mathrm{Cr}^{*}$ have been measured. Test of the independence postulate was performed in a Ghoshal type of experiment. Effects of the nuclear Coulomb barrier and high reaction $Q$ value upon the two-nucleon evaporation excitation functions were noted. For all the reaction pairs, the $^{48}\mathrm{V}$ production is more than a factor of 10 bigger than the corresponding $^{48}\mathrm{Cr}$ cross section. This phenomenon can be explained by the effect of odd-even nucleon number of the product nucleus. Simple calculations of the angular momentum and rotational energy of the compound nucleus were performed. The energy shift of the excitation function can be explained by the effect of angular momentum. The reactions involved were found to be generally consistent with the compound-nucleus model.
Programming as problem solving: a participatory theater approach

Spatial and temporal metaphors can play an important role in making the task of programming serve problem-solving processes. Visual programming research hopes to capitalize on innate human perceptual skills to make the programming task easier by using visualization to simplify program construction at the syntactic level. Instead, we advocate that the role of visualizations, and the consequent use of spatial metaphors, is not to simplify programming per se but instead to support the problem-solving process. To that end, environments endorsing spatial metaphors should support: creating and changing external representations of the problem, and opportunistic design strategies necessary for exploring problem spaces. We discuss problems with human-computer interaction schemes arising from the use of temporal metaphors. Direct-manipulation, on the one hand, can be too direct for controlling a number of autonomous processes such as cooperating agents. The complete delegation of tasks to agents, on the other hand, can leave users entirely in the role of passive observers. We propose a new approach, called the participatory theater metaphor, which combines the advantages of human computer interaction schemes based on direction manipulation and delegation and provides users with a continuous spectrum of control over their program behaviors.
Pterin chemistry and its relationship to the molybdenum cofactor

The molybdenum cofactor is composed of a molybdenum coordinated by one or two rather complicated ligands known as either molybdopterin or pyranopterin. Pterin is one of a large family of bicyclic N-heterocycles called pteridines. Such molecules are widely found in Nature, having various forms to perform a variety of biological functions. This article describes the basic nomenclature of pterin, their biological roles, structure, chemical synthesis and redox reactivity. In addition, the biosynthesis of pterins and current models of the molybdenum cofactor are discussed.
Ethinyl estradiol acutely attenuates abnormal coronary vasomotor responses to acetylcholine in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUNDEstrogen administration in postmenopausal women is associated with a 50% reduction in the clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease. The mechanisms are not known, although one potential explanation is estrogen-induced modulation of coronary vasoreactivity. Acetylcholine is an endothelium-dependent vasodilator that may be used to assess coronary vasoreactivity and elicits coronary responses that parallel those found with common daily vasomotor stimuli. Therefore, we tested whether estrogen attenuates abnormal coronary vasomotor responses to acetylcholine in postmenopausal women.METHODS AND RESULTSAcetylcholine-induced changes in coronary flow, resistance, and cross-sectional area were determined before and 15 minutes after intravenous administration of ethinyl estradiol (EE, 35 micrograms) in 15 postmenopausal women. The influence of estrogen on basal coronary flow, resistance, and epicardial cross-sectional area was also assessed by measuring these parameters before and after EE or plac...
Threshold voltage and DIBL variability modeling for SRAM and analog MOSFETs

A physically-based variability model is developed to explain threshold voltage (V T ) and drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) variations, and their correlations. Inputs to the model rely on forward (F) and reverse (R) data of measured transistor pair mismatch. Positionally asymmetric and symmetric random dopant fluctuation components of V T and DIBL variability are identified for SRAMs and analog devices from a 32nm HKMG technology and their correlations explained.
Abstract 1127: Bcr-Abl inhibition in leukemia cells creates metabolic addictions

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitors are the standard therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). While effective in controlling disease in chronic phase, these inhibitors often fail to completely eliminate Bcr-Abl+ CML cells and also fail to achieve durable remissions for advanced CML and Bcr-Abl+ acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL). Our lab employed a large-scale synthetic lethal shRNA screen to identify genes involved in CML survival upon treatment with the Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor imatinib (IM) [Cancer Cell. 2010;18(1):74-87]. This screen identified several genes involved in energy utilization including a component of pyruvate dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase. CML proliferation depends on Bcr-Abl-driven glycolysis for energy production. Upon IM treatment, we hypothesized that these cells are forced to rely on other sources of energy including the TCA cycle and the electron transport chain, and that targeting alternative energy production pathways will enhance IM-mediated elimination of CML cells. Thus, we predicted that inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition would cooperate with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) to eliminate Bcr-Abl+ leukemia. Indeed, our experiments have shown that knocking down pyruvate dehydrogenase in human blast crisis Bcr-Abl+ CML cells (K562) greatly sensitized cells to IM in vitro. Conversely, supplementing the cell culture media with increasing concentrations of methyl-pyruvate protected K562 cells from IM treatment. Moreover, we found that the mitochondrial ATP-synthase inhibitor Oligomycin A (OA) also synergized with IM to kill CML cells in vitro. Interestingly, the doses of OA are far below the IC50 and do not affect the oxygen consumption rates, indicating that mitochondrial respiration is not inhibited. These OA doses alter mitochondrial transmembrane potential and increasing superoxide levels. In addition, OA enhanced elimination of Bcr-Abl+ cells by a Bcr-Abl TKI in vivo and prolonged disease-free survival in a mouse model of Bcr-Abl+ B-ALL. Notably, drug doses of OA used had no apparent adverse effects on these mice. Targeting mitochondrial metabolism as an adjuvant drug therapy may prevent the survival of residual Bcr-Abl+ CML cells upon tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. This project is supported by pre-doctoral fellowship number F31CA157166 from the National Cancer Institute, and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Grant Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1127. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1127
Animation of Java linked lists

Linked lists are an important component of the computer science curriculum. JVALL is a software package that provides an animation of linked list operations that is fully compatible with the Java LinkedList class. The animations are driven by a client program that can be either an applet or standalone application. It provides an effective way for students to learn, experiment with, and debug linked list based classes.
CDMA physical layer built-in security enhancement

Served as one of the most widely used wireless airlink interface, CDMA has been identified as a major technique for 3G wireless communications. The current IS-95 CDMA provides a near-satisfactory security solution to voice centric wireless communications, since generally each voice conversation only lasts a very short period of time. However, the security features provided by IS-95 CDMA are far from adequate and being acceptable when used for data communications. In this paper, the security weakness of the existing CDMA airlink interface is analyzed. Encrypted key stream based on advanced encryption standard (AES) is proposed to be used in the scrambling process, instead of using the scrambling sequence generated from the 42-bit linear feedback shift register (LFSR) as in IS-95. Ensured by AES, physical layer built-in security of the proposed scheme is much stronger than that of the IS-95 system.
Knee joint kinematics and kinetics during a lateral false-step maneuver.

Abstract Context: Cutting maneuvers have been implicated as a mechanism of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in collegiate female basketball players. Objective: To investigate kn...
Studies of Radiative and Implosion Characteristics From Brass Planar Wire Arrays

Experiments with single-planar wire arrays (SPWA) and double PWAs (DPWAs) with brass 310 wires were carried out on the 1-MA Zebra generator at the University of Nevada, Reno. Brass 310 (70% Cu and 30% Zn) PWAs have either 10 or 16 wires with diameters of 10.9 or 7.62 ?m, respectively. The diagnostic suite included a bolometer, fast X-ray detectors, an axially resolved time-integrated spectrometer, a time-gated spectrometer, a time-gated pinhole camera, and a streak camera. A wire dynamic model was applied to study implosion characteristics, and non-LTE Cu and Zn kinetic models were used to model L-shell radiation from brass. The analysis of the time-gated spectra showed a correlation between the modeled electron temperature and the X-ray signal, and it agrees well with the maximum values from the time-integrated spatially resolved spectra. Modeling of time-gated and time-integrated spectra from brass PWAs indicates stronger opacity effects in L-shell lines for DPWAs.
Continuous blending models for free radical polymerization systems

The dynamics of change of molecular weight distribution in free radical polymerization systems was modelled using a continuous blending concept which recognizes that the changes of molecular weight distribution are caused by continuous blending of increments of new polymer formed by the reaction into the already existing polymer, continuous blending of polymer at various parts of reactor by diffusion and convection, and continuous blending of polymer from various parts of reactor into the final product. The models have been applied to the analysis of both lumped and distributed-parameter systems using either empirical or mechanistic relations for molecular weight of new polymer. On a modele la dynamique du changement de distribution du poids moleculaire dans des systemes de polymerisation de radicaux libres, en employaut un concept dc melange continu qui reconnait que les changements de distribution du poids moleculaire sont causes par: (a) lc melange eontinu, dans le polymere deja existant, des particules d'un nouveau polymere forme par la reaction; (b) melange eontinu du polymere, par diffusion et convection, dans diverses parties du reacteur; (c) melange continu, dans le produit final, du polymere provenant de differentes parties du reacteur. On s'est servi des modeles pour l'analyse conjointe des systemes a parametres en bloc ou distribues, en utilisant soit des relations empiriques soit des relations mecanistiques pour le poids moleculaire du nouveau polymere.