cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic data selection to mine concept-drifting data streams

One major problem of existing methods to mine data streams is that it makes ad hoc choices to combine most recent data with some amount of old data to search the new hypothesis. The assumption is that the additional old data always helps produce a more accurate hypothesis than using the most recent data only. We first criticize this notion and point out that using old data blindly is not better than "gambling"; in other words, it helps increase the accuracy only if we are "lucky." We discuss and analyze the situations where old data will help and what kind of old data will help. The practical problem on choosing the right example from old data is due to the formidable cost to compare different possibilities and models. This problem will go away if we have an algorithm that is extremely efficient to compare all sensible choices with little extra cost. Based on this observation, we propose a simple, efficient and accurate cross-validation decision tree ensemble method.
OASIS: an EOSDIS science computing facility

In the course of global change studies, a scientist would often like to efficiently store, retrieve, analyze and interpret selected data sets from a large collection of scientific information scattered across heterogeneous computational environments, Earth observing system data repositories, and to share the gleaned information with other scientific communities. To facilitate the above activities, we have developed OASIS, a flexible, extensible, and seamless environment for scientific data analysis, knowledge discovery, visualization, and collaboration.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
In Situ Synthesis of ZrN(ZrO2)/Si2N2O Composite Materials from Zircon by Carbothermal Reduction-Nitridation Process

ZrN(ZrO2)/Si2N2O composite materials were synthesized by in-situ carbothermal reduction-nitridation process, with zircon and carbon black as raw materials. The influences of heating temperature and carbon content on synthesis process were investigated, the phase composition and microstructure of the synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscope. It was found that the decomposition of ZrSiO4 as well as the formation of ZrN and Si2N2O could be promoted by increasing heating temperature and carbon content. ZrN(ZrO2)/Si2N2O composite materials could be synthesized at 1480°C for 6h by heating the sample with ZrSiO4/C mass ratio of 100/40. The ZrN and Si2N2O in the synthesized materials existed in particle shape with an average grain size of about 1–2μm. Introduction Recently, an important research trend of refractories is to develop non-oxides materials such as nitrides, carbides, borides and silicides as well as their composites [1,2]. Among them, zirconium nitride (ZrN) and Silicon oxynitride (Si2N2O) display many outstanding properties, such as high melting points, hardness and strength, excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance [3-5]. zirconium oxide (ZrO2) also exhibits high toughness and strength, excellent corrosion and thermal shock resistance[6]. It is believed that combining ZrN, ZrO2 and Si2N2O into composite materials might yield excellent high temperature combination properties. In the present work, ZrN(ZrO2)/Si2N2O composite materials were synthesized by in-situ carbothermal reduction-nitridation process, with zircon and carbon black as raw materials. The influences of heating temperature and carbon content on synthesis process of the materials were investigated. The carbothermal reduction-nitridation reaction process was also discussed.
Metrics for comparing explicit representations of interconnected biological networks

One of the major goals in biomedical image processing is accurate segmentation of networks embedded in volumetric data sets. Biological networks are composed of a meshwork of thin filaments that span large volumes of tissue. Examples of these structures include neurons and microvasculature, which can take the form of both hierarchical trees and fully connected networks, depending on the imaging modality and resolution. Network function depends on both the geometric structure and connectivity. Therefore, there is considerable demand for algorithms that segment biological networks embedded in three-dimensional data. While a large number of tracking and segmentation algorithms have been published, most of these do not generalize well across data sets. One of the major reasons for the lack of general-purpose algorithms is the limited availability of metrics that can be used to quantitiatively compare their effectiveness against a pre-constructed ground-truth. In this paper, we propose a robust metric for measuring and visualizing the differences between network models. Our algorithm takes into account both geometry and connectivity to measure network similarity. These metrics are then mapped back onto an explicit model for visualization.
THE RELATIVE PHOTOSYNTHETIC EFFICIENCY OF ASTERIONELLA FORMOSA HASS. (BACILLARIOPHYTA) IN NATURAL PLANKTON ASSEMBLAGES1

The relative photosynthetic efficiencies of net vs. nanoplankton and diatom vs. non-diatom plankton were estimated weekly in Woodcock Creek Reservoir, Pennsylvania, from April to November 1979, using carbon-14 in conjunction with size fractionation and germanium as a diatom inhibitor. The nanoplankton contributed a proportionally greater share of the community carbon assimilation than their share of the community biomass would indicate. Diatoms, specifically Asterionella formosa Hass. were photosynthetically inefficient and contributed significantly less than expected. The mechanism of periodic diatom dominance in lakes remains unexplained.
Analyzing the transmission of wildfire exposure on a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

We develop the idea of risk transmission from large wildfires and apply network analyses to understand its importance on a 0.75 million ha US national forest. Wildfires in the western US frequently burn over long distances (e.g., 20–50 km) through highly fragmented landscapes with respect to ownership, fuels, management intensity, population density, and ecological conditions. The collective arrangement of fuel loadings in concert with weather and suppression efforts ultimately determines containment and the resulting fire perimeter. While spatial interactions among land parcels in terms of fire spread and intensity have been frequently noted by fire managers, quantifying risk and exposure transmission has not been attempted. In this paper we used simulation modeling to quantify wildfire transmission and built a transmission network consisting of land designations defined by national forest management designations and ownership. We then examined how a forest-wide fuel management program might change the transmission network and associated metrics. The results indicated that the size, shape, and fuel loading of management designations affected their exposure to wildfire from other designations and ownerships. Manipulating the fuel loadings via simulated forest fuel treatments reduced the wildfire transmitted among the land designations, and changed the network density as well. We discuss how wildfire transmission has implications for creating fire adapted communities, conserving biodiversity, and resolving competing demands for fire-prone ecosystem services.
Reflective Practice as “Enrichment”: How New Early Childhood Teachers Enact Preservice Values in Their Classrooms

This article is part of a larger exploratory study that followed preservice early childhood teachers through their program and into their first year of practice, giving voice to their understandings of quality teaching and learning, and insight into the ways their preservice program prepared them for the challenges of teaching in diverse settings. Analyses of our graduates’ first-year interviews revealed participants’ perceptions on those elements of the program which best guided their decisions in practice, such as reflective thinking about their daily work and child observation and inquiry. Findings support the importance of engaging in differentiated instruction, reflective practice, and collaboration through a variety of experiences in the field, and illuminate everyday practices that bring richness to teaching and learning in early childhood education. Emergent questions about the best ways to provide quality early childhood teacher preparation are discussed in relation to the dilemmas early childhoo...
A Two-Dimensional Numerical Model for Current Seismicity in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

In order to understand the mechanics of intraplate earthquakes better, a simple 2D numerical model was developed to try to explain current seismicity in the New Madrid seismic zone, using a distinct element method. The model comprises a block geometry representing the structural framework of the New Madrid seismic zone, consisting of intersecting faults with elastic properties corresponding to the known geology. The blocks were subjected to tectonic loading for four days along the direction of the maximum horizontal stress field and the resulting patterns of stress and strain distributions were studied. The results of the modeling showed that shear stresses were higher within the Reelfoot Rift than outside it. In this 2D model the shear stresses on the horizontal plane gave a sense of rotation of the modeled blocks, and an implied sense of movement on the faults. They duplicated the right-lateral strike-slip movement along the Blytheville Fault zone and New Madrid North Fault, and left-lateral strike-slip movement along the Reelfoot Fault. Due to the two-dimensional nature, however, results of modeling do not show the observed reverse motion along the Reelfoot Fault. The observed seismicity pattern was consistent with the amplitudes and signs of the maximum shear stresses along the major faults located within the Reelfoot Rift. A linear extrapolation of model results gave an annual strain rate consistent with geodetic observations. The results of modeling support the idea that in a localized volume of pre-existing weak crust, fault intersections act as stress concentrators and cause anomalous stress build-up in their vicinity, resulting in observed seismicity.
Large-area graphene for sensor applications

Graphene represents an important new material with potential Department of Defense sensor applications. At the Naval Research Laboratory we have developed three techniques to produce large-area graphene films. We have used this material to construct chemical and radio-frequency electromagnetic sensors. Here we report the initial results of this effort.
Two Parasites of Threespine Stickleback from Amchitka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Abstract From 1,760 freshwater threespine stickleback examined, plerocercoids of Schistocephalus solidus and parasitic copepods, Thersitina gasterostei, were found on 22% and 21%, respectively. The former was more common in pond fish (29%) than stream fish (4%), and conversely the latter was more common in stream fish (56%) than pond fish (7%). Fish infested with S. solidus were hindered in speed and agility; those with T. gasterostei had hypertrophied gill filaments.
PROMOTER ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN SUCCINATE DEHYDROGENASE IRON-PROTEIN GENE BOTH NUCLEAR RESPIRATORY FACTORS NRF-1 AND NRF-2 ARE REQUIRED

The iron-sulfur subunit of succinate dehydrogenase is one of the four subunits of complex II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Its gene, SDH2, is one of the four nuclear-encoded genes for this complex. Reporter gene analysis of the human SDH2 promoter indicates that it is transcriptionally regulated by the nuclear respiratory factors NRF-1 and NRF-2. Their binding sites reside immediately upstream (within 90 bp) of the transcription start site. Site-directed mutagenesis of either site lowers the reporter gene activity by tenfold to a basal level. Gel shift experiments and competition experiments with the authentic NRF-1 and NRF-2 DNA oligomers from previously characterized nuclear respiratory genes strengthen the proposed role of these two transcriptional regulators. These experiments extend the proposed regulatory role of these two transcription factors to complex II of the respiratory chain. The expression of three of the four genes of complex II was also examined when mouse myoblast C2C12 cells were induced to differentiate into myotubes. Up-regulation upon differentiation in tissue culture is only modest, 2-3 fold over the myoblast cells.
ADRENOCORTICAL BLOCKADE AND THE TRANSAMINASE RESPONSE TO EXERCISE.

Abstract A study was made to determine the importance of the adrenocortical hormones in mediating the elevated glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) activity previously reported in heart and skeletal muscle of rats following exercise. In experimental animals the adrenal cortex was either blocked pharmacologically or removed surgically prior to exercise by swimming. No change was observed in GOT activity in the tissues studied when the adrenal cortex was blocked or removed. This data suggests the adrenal corticoids are essential for the rise in GOT activity in heart and skeletal muscle following exercise.
Detection of ventricular shunt malfunction in the ED: relative utility of radiography, CT, and nuclear imaging

The study objective was to determine the relative diagnostic utility of the radiographic shunt series (SS), head computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging performed in our Emergency Department (ED) for evaluating ventricular shunt malfunction. We retrospectively reviewed medical records, head CT (if performed), and nuclear imaging (if performed) for all ED patients with suspected shunt malfunction from 2002 to 2007 who underwent plain film shunt evaluation (296 cases/186 individuals) to determine if surgical shunt revision was performed. Logistic regression analysis was applied. Four percent (12/296) of radiographic SS were abnormal. Only 0.3% (1/296) underwent surgical revision in the absence of an abnormal head CT or nuclear imaging. Eighteen percent (51/282) of head CT exams were positive and 19% (24/128) of nuclear imaging exams were positive for shunt malfunction. Twenty-three percent (67/296) underwent surgical shunt revisions. Statistical analysis demonstrated that SS evaluation was not significantly associated with surgical shunt revision (OR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.7–1.2; p = 0.47). Head CT demonstrated a significant association with surgical revision (OR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2–1.5; p < 0.001), as did nuclear imaging (OR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2–1.6; p < 0.001). Patients with suspected ventricular shunt malfunction frequently require surgical revision. Abnormal radiographic SS was not associated with progression to surgical shunt revision, whereas abnormal head CT and abnormal nuclear imaging were significantly associated with surgical revision. We conclude that radiographic SS in the ED is of low diagnostic utility and that patients with suspected shunt malfunction should instead initially undergo CT and/or nuclear imaging.
Dopaminergic neuron B20 generates rhythmic neuronal activity in the feeding motor circuitry ofAplysia

We have identified a buccal neuron (B20) that exhibits dopamine-like histofluorescence and that can drive a rhythmic motor program of the feeding motor circuitry of Aplysia. The cell fires vigorously during episodes of patterned buccal activity that occur spontaneously, or during buccal programs elicited by stimulation of identified cerebral command-like neurons for feeding motor programs. Preventing B20 from firing, or firing B20 at inappropriate times, can modify the program driven by the cerebral feeding command-like neuron CBI-2. When B20 is activated by means of constant depolarizing current it discharges in phasic bursts, and evokes a sustained coordinated rhythmic buccal motor program. This program incorporates numerous buccal and cerebral neurons associated with aspects of feeding responses. The B20-driven program can be reversibly blocked by the dopamine-antagonist ergonovine, suggesting that dopamine may be causally involved in the generation of the program. Although firing of B20 evokes phasic activity in cerebral command-like neurons, the presence of the cerebral ganglion is not necessary for B20 to drive the program. The data are consistent with the notion that dopaminergic neuron B20 is an element within the central pattern generator for motor programs associated with feeding.
Division stages of the mitochondria in normal and actinomycin-treated plasmodia ofPhysarum polycephalum

Die Form der Mitochondrien und das Verhalten des Mitochondrien-Nukleoids im SchleimpilzPhysarum polycephalum werden durch Behandlung mit Actinomycin C in einer Weise modifiziert, die darauf schliessen lasst, dass die Mitochondrien einen regelmassigen Teilungszyklus durchlaufen, der mit der Teilung des Nukleoids korreliert ist.
Game theoretical signal classification: Application to imperfect or non-cooperative learning

Abstract This paper studies in theory, and gives a solution to, the following concerns: (1) obtain alternative classification decisions, ranked by some decreasing order of class membership probabilities; (2) imperfect teacher at the learning stage, or effect of labelling errors due to unsupervised learning; (3) non-cooperative teacher manipulating the a-priori class probabilities; (4) unknown a-priori class probabilities. This is carried out by considering a game between the recognition system and the teacher, in a game theoretical framework. Both players will ultimately select “mixed strategies” which are probability distributions over the set of N pattern classes. Within the context of signal classification, these N classes are N alternate signal classes e.g., sources, modelled by autoregressive processes. This approach, and the concerns (1)–(4) are especially relevant for the performance enhancement of a number of acoustic signal classification systems (e.g., seismic exploration, intrusion detection, sonar).
An improved method for predicting seasonal and annual shadowing from cooling tower plumes

Abstract An improved model developed at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois (ANL/UI) for predicting long-term shadowing due to cooling tower plumes is presented, and its assumption are compared with those used in previous models. The model is based on a method for the selection of representative categories of similar plumes developed by Dunn and Policastro (Dunn, 1980, Proc. IAHR Cooling Tower Workshop, San Francisco; Policastro et al., 1984, Report EPRI CS-3403-CCM). At a given site this method reduces the large number of meteorological data cases in a season or year to a much smaller number (≈35) of representative cases, each of which will have a predicted plume substantially different from the others. Plume predictions for the reduced set of category representative cases are then made with the validated ANL/UI plume model. With category representative plume shape, wind speed, wind direction and sun angles available for each hour, full effects of sun angles for the latitude and longitude of the site to be studied are included. The ANL/UI model yields seasonal and annual isopleths of hours of additional shadowing or of percentage reduction in total and direct solar energy arriving at the ground on a horizontal surface. Results for two hypothetical sites with 500 MWe generating capacity are presented and contrasted, one at Syracuse, NY, and the other at Spokane, WA.
NiCl2 on γ-Alumina as Selective Adsorbents for Acetylene over Ethylene

It has been found that previous results on selective adsorption of acetylene over ethylene and ethane reported by Yang et al. were influenced to a significant extent by acetone impurities (in acetylene). This work reports corrected adsorption isotherm results with acetone carefully removed on γ-alumina and monolayer NiCl2/γ-alumina. For both sorbents, adsorption strengths followed the rank order acetylene > ethylene. The selectivity towards acetylene of NiCl2/γ-alumina is higher compared to the bare γ-alumina.
Intestinal necrosis from congenital hypercoagulopathy

Abstract Protein-S deficiency is a rare congenital disorder that results in a hypercoagulable state, typically presenting as recurrent venous thrombosis in adults. Few cases have been reported in children. A 2-year-old girl presented in septic shock. During laparotomy, ischemic necrosis of the intestine was noted, which extended from the gastroesophageal junction to the midjejunum. Total gastrectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, and partial resection of the small intestine were performed. She was left with 140 cm of distal small bowel, and had reconstruction with a single limb for the pancreatico-jejunostomy, choledochojejunostomy, and esophagojejunostomy to preserve intestinal length. Postoperative evaluation eventually disclosed a previously unrecognized protein-S deficiency. The hypercoagulopathy of protein-S deficiency can be complicated by catastrophic thrombotic events that require surgery. This congenital disorder should be considered in any child who has an unexplained thrombotic episode, because failure to recognize protein-S deficiency may have potentially fatal consequences.
Absence of antiferromagnetic correlations in YNi2B2C.

The normal-state magnetic and electronic properties of Y${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$C single crystals have been investigated by detailed $^{11}\mathrm{B}$ NMR and magnetic-susceptibility measurements. The data are found to be consistent with band theory, with no evidence of Ni local magnetic moments or antiferromagnetic correlations.
Bacterias en la hemolinfa de Argopecten purpuratus (Lamark, 1819) (Bivalvia: Pectinidae)

Twenty three strains of bacteria were isolated from the hemolymph of Argopecten purpuratus. Our results point out to the predominance of asporogenous Gram-negative rods. We suggest that the presence of these bacteria in the hemolymph is a natural phenomenon.
Critical role of histidine residues in cyclohexanone monooxygenase expression, cofactor binding and catalysis

Cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CMO) is a member of the flavin monooxygenase superfamily of enzymes that catalyze both nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions involving a common C4a hydroperoxide intermediate. To begin to probe structure-function relationships for these enzymes, we investigated the roles of histidine residues in CMO derived from Acinetobacter NCIB 9871, with particular emphasis on the wholly conserved residue, His163 (H163). CMO activity was readily inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC), a selective chemical modifier of histidine residues. Each of the seven histidines in CMO was then individually mutated to glutamine and the mutants expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. Only the H59Q mutant failed to express at significant levels. The H96Q enzyme was found to have a greatly reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) content, indicative of compromised cofactor retention. The only significant effect on kcat occurred with the H163Q mutant, which exhibited an approximately 10-fold lower turnover of the prototypical substrate, cyclohexanone. This was accompanied by a doubling in the Km [NADPH] compared to the wild-type enzyme, suggesting that the functional decrement in H163Q is probably not solely a reflection of impaired NADPH binding. These data establish a critical role for H163 in CMO catalysis and prompt the hypothesis that this conserved residue plays a similarly important functional role across the flavin monooxygenase family of enzymes.
The motions of a floating slender torus

The motions of a floating torus oscillating in response to incident waves are analysed under the assumptions that the incident wavelength is comparable with the radius of the body section and small compared with the larger radius of the torus. This problem serves to illustrate certain features of the strip theory for ship motions, but the axisymmetric geometry and absence of body ends greatly simplify the analysis. Matched asymptotic expansions are used, with the inner solution close to the body section composed of suitable radiation and scattering problems for the two-dimensional circular cylinder. Resonant standing-wave modes in the internal basin have a singular effect upon the hydrodynamic forces acting on the body, and its response to incident waves.
Packing lines, planes, etc.: packings in Grassmannian spaces

We addressthe question: How should N n-dimensional subspaces of m-dimensional Euclidean space be arranged so that they are as far apart as possible? The resuIts of extensive computations for modest values of N, n, m are described, as well as a reformulation of the problem that was suggested by these computations. The reformulation gives a way to describe n-dimensional subspaces of m-space as points on a sphere in dimension ½(m–l)(m+2), which provides a (usually) lowerdimensional representation than the Plucker embedding, and leads to a proof that many of the new packings are optimal. The results have applications to the graphical display of multidimensional data via Asimov's grand tour method.
Structural and photophysical properties of visible- and near-IR-emitting tris lanthanide(III) complexes formed with the enantiomers of N,N'-bis(1-phenylethyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide.

The enantiomers of N,N′-bis(1-phenylethyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide (L), namely, (R,R)-1, and (S,S)-1, react with LnIII ions to give stable [LnL3]3+ complexes in an anhydrous acetonitrile solution and in the solid state, as evidenced by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, NMR, luminescence titrations, and their X-ray crystal structures, respectively. All [LnL3]3+ complexes [LnIII = Eu, Gd, Tb, and Yb; L = (R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1] are isostructural and crystallize in the cubic space group I23. Although the small quantum yields of the LnIII-centered luminescence clearly point to the poor efficiency of the luminescence sensitization by the ligand and the intersystem crossing and ligand-to-metal energy transfers, the ligand triplet-excited-state energy seems relatively well suited to sensitize many LnIII ion's emission for instance, in the visible (Eu and Tb), near-IR (Nd and Yb), or both regions (Pr, Sm, Dy, Er, and Tm).
Emerging Data with Antiangiogenic Therapies in Early and Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy have a 5-year survival rate of 25% to 70% depending on stage, whereas those with advanced disease have a median survival of approximately 8 months when treated with standard platinum-based therapy. Improvements in our understanding of cancer biology have led to the development of novel agents that more precisely affect the target of interest, allowing for a more rational approach to clinical trial design. Angiogenesis, the growth of new vessels from preexisting vessels, is a fundamental step in tumor growth and progression. Inhibition of tumor-related angiogenesis has become an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is the most studied antiangiogenic agent in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There was an improvement in overall survival when bevacizumab was combined with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with advanced NSCLC that was not seen when bevacizumab was combined with cisplatin and gemcitabine. Studies with bevacizumab in the adjuvant and advanced setting are ongoing in patients with NSCLC. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting the VEGF receptor and the tyrosine kinase receptor have also shown promise when combined with standard chemotherapy, but their role in the treatment of patients with NSCLC remains to be determined. This article reviews clinical trials that have incorporated antiangiogenic agents in the treatment of patients with NSCLC.
Green algal extracellular products regulate antialgal toxin production in a cyanobacterium

Many bacterial genes and virulence factors are regulated by interbacterial and/or host-parasite chemical signals. We demonstrate that toxin production by a free-living freshwater cyanobacterium is regulated in part by the presence of extracellular products of a eukaryotic green alga. In growth experiments, extracellular products made by the cyanobacterium Anabaena flos-aquae contained both anatoxin and microcystin, and significantly reduced the yield of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green alga. Based on experiments in which we added purified toxins to C. reinhardtii cultures, we believe that microcystin was responsible for the growth reduction. A. flos-aquae produced anatoxin constitutively when grown alone, but anatoxin concentration increased in the presence of C. reinhardtii elicitors. Microcystin accumulation depended on the growth phase; however, high concentrations of C. reinhardtii extracellular products completely inhibited microcystin accumulation. Our results demonstrate that cyanobacterial toxin production may be regulated by complex growth phase-dependent and environmental chemical cues, and suggest that secreted chemicals can mediate the outcome of competition between the cyanobacterium A. flos-aquae and the green alga C. reinhardtii.
Self-consistent electronic structure of tantalum (001): Evidence for the primary role of surface states in driving reconstructions on tungsten (001)

The surface linearized augmented-plane-wave method is used to perform self-consistent scalar-relativistic local-density-functional calculations for the Ta(001) surface. Essentially, all of the surface states and resonances which were found on W(001) are also found on Ta(001), except that on Ta(001) most of these surface states are unoccupied; most differences between W and Ta can be described by rigid-band behavior. Unlike tungsten, where the Fermi energy falls in the center of a large surface-state peak in the surface-atom $d$-band projected density of states, this same peak in tantalum lies well above the Fermi energy. The sensitivity of surface states to the potential is demonstrated by the existence on Ta(001) of a highly localized and occupied ${\stackrel{-}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}}_{1}$ surface state at the center of the Brillouin zone. This state is virtually identical, in all of its properties, to one found on the W(001) surface. On the basis of this calculation for Ta(001) and earlier W(001) calculations, it is concluded that surface states on W do indeed play a role in destabilizing W(001) against the observed reconstructions. The experimental observation that Ta(001) does not reconstruct is explained in this calculation by the fact that the relevant surface states are unoccupied. This is also evident in the absence of $d$-band "dangling bonds" in the contour plots of the Ta charge density near the surface. The theoretical work function for Ta(001) is 4.3 eV, in good agreement with the experimental value of 4.15 eV. The theoretical value for the surface core-level shift is 0.96 eV to greater binding energy, which is about 0.5 eV larger than the experimental value of van der Veen et al. obtained for Ta(111), but the sign of the shift agrees with experiment.
Induction of Atrioventricular Node Reentrant Tachycardia With Adenosine: Differential Effect of Adenosine on Fast and Slow Atrioventricular Node Pathways

Abstract Objectives. This study sought to evaluate the sensitivity of fast and slow atrioventricular (AV) node pathways to incremental doses of adenosine in patients with typical AV node reentrant tachycardia. Background. Although adenosine is known to depress conduction through the AV node, the relative sensitivity to adenosine of the anterograde fast and slow pathways in patients with dual AV node pathways and typical AV node reentrant tachycardia has not previously been studied. Methods. Sixteen patients with dual AV node physiology and typical AV node reentrant tachycardia and 10 control patients were given incremental doses of adenosine during atrial pacing. Results. In 14 of 16 patients with dual-AV node physiology, administration of small doses of adenosine during atrial pacing led consistently to transient block of impulse conduction in the fast pathway before block in the slow pathway, resulting in abrupt prolongation of the AH interval with continued 1:1 AV conduction. The mean (±SD) doses of adenosine required to cause conduction block in the fast and slow pathways were 2.7 ± 3.0 and 7.2 ± 4.7 mg, respectively (p = 0.004). In 9 of 16 patients, administration of low dose adenosine led to initiation of AV node reentrant tachycardia. The control patients showed no abrupt increases in AH interval with administration of adenosine during atrial pacing. Conclusions. In most patients with dual AV node pathways and typical AV node reentrant tachycardia, the fast pathway is more sensitive than the slow pathway to the effects of adenosine.
SU11248 (SUNITINIB) SENSITIZES PANCREATIC CANCER TO THE CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION

Purpose SU11248 (sunitinib) is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor which targets VEGFR and PDGFR isoforms. In the present study, the effects of SU11248 and ionizing radiation on pancreatic cancer were studied. Methods and Materials For in vitro studies human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells lines were treated with 1 μM SU11248 1 h before irradiation. Western blot analysis was used to determine the effect of SU11248 on radiation-induced signal transduction. To determine if SU11248 sensitized pancreatic cancer to the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation, a clonogenic survival assay was performed using 0–6 Gy. For in vivo assays, CAPAN-1 cells were injected into the hind limb of nude mice for tumor volume and proliferation studies. Results SU11248 attenuated radiation-induced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK at 0, 5, 15, and 30 min. Furthermore, SU11248 significantly reduced clonogenic survival after treatment with radiation ( p In vivo studies revealed that SU11248 and radiation delayed tumor growth by 6 and 10 days, respectively, whereas combined treatment delayed tumor growth by 30 days. Combined treatment with SU11248 and radiation further attenuated Brdu incorporation by 75% ( p = 0.001) compared to control. Conclusions SU11248 (sunitinib) sensitized pancreatic cancer to the cytotoxic effects of radiation. This compound is promising for future clinical trials with chemoradiation in pancreatic cancer.
Novel cysteine-rich motif and homeodomain in the product of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell lineage gene lin-II

THE genelin-11 is required for the asymmetric division of a vulval precursor cell type in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Putative lin-11 complementary DNAs were sequenced and found to encode a protein that contains both a homeodomain and two tandem copies of a novel cysteine-rich motif: C-X2-C-X17–19-H-X2-C-X2-C-X2-C-X7–11-(C)-X8-C. Two tandem copies of this motif are also present amino-terminal to the homeodomains in the proteins encoded by the genes mec-3, which is required for C. elegans touch neuron differentiation1, and isl-1, which encodes a rat insulin I gene enhancer-binding protein2. The arrangement of cysteine residues in this motif, referred to as LIM (for lin-11 isl-1 mec-3), suggests that this region is a metal-binding domain. The presence in these three proteins of both a potential metal-binding domain and a homeodomain distinguishes them from previously characterized proteins.
Transport Equations for Superconductors

Using the microscopic theory of superconductivity due to Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer, transport equations, analogous to the Boltzmann transport equation for normal metals, are developed for superconductors. The damping is assumed to arise from collisions of the electrons with randomly distributed impurities. The collisions are treated in the Born approximation. By making suitable assumptions about the solutions to the transport equation, the two-fluid model of a superconductor is derived. The response of a superconductor to various driving forces is investigated, giving expressions for the phenomenological relations and thermal conductivity of a superconductor.
Writing Orthotic Device for the Management of Writer's Cramp.

Background: Oral therapies and chemodenervation procedures are often unrewarding in the treatment of focal, task-specific hand disorders such as writer's cramp or primary writing tremor. Methods: A portable writing orthotic device was evaluated on fifteen consecutively recruited writer's cramp and primary writing tremor subjects. We measured overall impairment at baseline and after two weeks of at-home use with the Writer’s Cramp Rating Scale (range = 0-8, higher is worse) and writing quality and comfort with a visual analog scale (range = 0-10). Results: Compared to regular pen, the writing orthotic device improved the Writer's Cramp Rating Scale scores at first-test (p=0.001) and re-test (p=0.005) as well as writing quality and device comfort in writer's cramp subjects. Benefits were sustained at two weeks. Primary writing tremor subjects demonstrated no improvements. Conclusions: Writing orthotic devices exploiting a muscle-substitution strategy may yield immediate benefits in patients with writer's cramp.
Model Checking Human–Human Communication Protocols Using Task Models and Miscommunication Generation

Human–human communication is critical to safe operations in air transportation systems. For example, airlines develop and train pilots to use communication protocols designed to ensure that verball...
When the Future Feels Worse Than the Past: A Temporal Inconsistency in Moral Judgment

Logically, an unethical behavior performed yesterday should also be unethical if performed tomorrow. However, the present studies suggest that the timing of a transgression has a systematic effect on people's beliefs about its moral acceptability. Because people's emotional reactions tend to be more extreme for future events than for past events, and because such emotional reactions often guide moral intuitions, judgments of moral behavior may be more extreme in prospect than in retrospect. In 7 studies, participants judged future bad deeds more negatively, and future good deeds more positively, than equivalent behavior in the equidistant past. In addition, participants thought that future unfair actions deserved more punishment than past unfair actions, and were more willing to sacrifice their own financial gain to be treated fairly in the future compared with in the past. These patterns were explained in part by the stronger emotions that were evoked by thoughts of future events than by thoughts of past events. Taken together, the results suggest that permission for actions with ethical connotations may be harder to get than forgiveness for those same actions, and demonstrate a systematic way in which moral judgments of the same action are inconsistent across time.
The Implementation of a Personnel Training and Assessment Program for New Standards in the US Pharmacopeia General Chapter Pharmaceutical Compounding of Sterile Preparations

PurposeThe US Pharmacopeia (USP) general Chapter sets standards for personnel training and assessment of aseptic manipulation skills. We describe the implementation of a training and assessme...
Problems in the use of plastic scintillators in intense radiation fields

Abstract Annual doses in the SDC End Cap Calorimeter, and possible design decisions in the use of radiation resistant scintillators are discussed. Some candidates for base radiation tolerant scintillators and wave length shifters are discussed. Absorption and emission spectra of one of them are represented.
Comment on “Phonons and specific heat in high-Tc Tl1(2)Ba2Can−1CunO2n+3(4) superconductors”

Abstract Agrawal et al. report results for phonons and phonons specific heat of the thallium-based high-temperature superconductors, obtained from lattice dynamical calculations, based on a model involving only-short-range interactions (Born model). The authors claim that their results are in overall better agreement with experiment than those obtained with the shell model. It is argued here that the Born model neglects important physical characteristics of the high-temperature superconducting compounds and that if phonon dispersion and specific heat data are taken into account, the claim of “better agreement” is unjustified.
US Latina age of sexual debut: long-term associations and implications for HIV and drug abuse prevention

This cross-sectional study explored associations among (a) age of sexual debut; (b) drug abuse; and (c) sexual risk behaviors among an urban community-based sample of 158 predominantly immigrant, Latina adults. Time in the USA and having a mother who used drugs during the participants' childhood or adolescence were significantly related to age of sexual debut. In turn, younger ages of sexual debut were associated with drug abuse and more sexual risk behaviors (greater number of sexual partners, more frequent alcohol and drug use before or during sex, greater levels of intoxication from alcohol or drugs during sex). Implications for HIV/AIDS and drug abuse clinical services and future research with US Latina populations are discussed.
EFFECTIVE COLLISION STRENGTHS FOR ELECTRON-IMPACT EXCITATION OF Fe VIII

New extensive calculations are reported for electron collision strengths, rate coefficients, and transition probabilities for the astrophysically important lines of Fe VIII. The collision strengths have been calculated in the close-coupling approximation using the B-spline Breit-Pauli R-matrix method. The multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock method with term-dependent non-orthogonal orbitals is employed for an accurate representation of the target wave functions. The close-coupling expansion includes 102 fine-structure levels of Fe VIII covering all possible terms of the ground 3p 63d and singly excited 3p 53d 2, 3p 64l, 3p 53d4s, 3s3p 63d 2, and 3p 65l configurations. The present calculations are more extensive than the previous ones, leading to a total 5151 transitions between fine-structure levels. The effective collision strengths are obtained by averaging the electron collision strengths over a Maxwellian distribution of velocities and these are tabulated for all fine-structure transitions at electron temperatures in the range from 5 × 103 to 5 × 106 K. There is an overall good agreement with the previous 77-state calculations by Griffin, Pindzola, & Badnell, but significant differences are also noted for some transitions.
Metallic-Nanostructure-Enhanced Fluorescence of Single Flavin Cofactor and Single Flavoenzyme Molecules

The enzyme cofactors are intrinsically fluorescent and participate directly in the single molecule enzymology studies. Due to photobleaching, one cannot follow kinetics continuously by cofactor fluorescence for more than several minutes typically. Modification of spectral properties of fluorophores, such as the amplification of emission intensity, can be achieved through coupling with surface plasmons in close proximity to metallic nanostructures. This process, referred to as metal-enhanced fluorescence, offers promise for a range of applications, including bioassays, sensor technology, microarrays, and single-molecule studies. Here, we demonstrated up to a 100-fold increase in the emission of the single cofactors and flavoenzymes near silver nanostructures. Amplified fluorescence of different types of flavins and flavoenzymes has been interpreted by using time-resolved single molecule fluorescence data. The results show considerable promise for the studies of enzyme kinetics using the intrinsic fluorescence from the cofactors.
Perceived and actual competence and ethnic identity in heritage language learning: a case of Korean-American college students

Abstract A growing body of literature has explored issues surrounding the maintenance and development of a minority heritage language among immigrants and their children in relation to their ethnic identities in multi-ethnic societies. However, most of the studies either have alluded to heritage learners' language competence by way of their attitudes and ideologies toward their heritage and language maintenance or have addressed their competence by way of self-assessment measures alone. This study examines the interrelationship between Korean heritage learners' perceived and actual competence in Korean vis-a-vis their ethnic identity orientation. Thirty second-generation Korean-American participants completed questionnaires on their language background, ethnic identity orientation, and self-assessment of their speaking and writing skills in Korean. Their speech and writing samples in Korean were elicited with picture stimuli. Results suggest that there was a strong correlation among the subjective and obj...
Achievement of client-centred goals by persons with acquired brain injury in comprehensive day treatment is associated with improved functional outcomes

Objectives: To study the relationship between goal achievement and vocational and independent living at discharge and 1-year follow-up in persons with acquired brain injury (ABI) participating in a Comprehensive Day Treatment (CDT) programme.Design: A retrospective review of longitudinal data.Methods: One hundred and fifty-four participants with ABI were included in the analyses. Personal, short-term and graduation goals were generated for each participant. A graduation goal was generated in each of four primary domains of the intervention (Orientation, Cognitive, Social Awareness and Communication). Participants who achieved all graduation goals at discharge were classified as ‘goals met’, while those who did not meet all goals were classified as ‘goals unmet’.Results: Forty-eight percent of participants were classified into the goals met group and 52% were classified into the goals unmet group. There were no group differences at programme admission. A significantly greater percentage of individuals in t...
Localizing the adhesive and signaling functions of plakoglobin.

Plakoglobin (PKG) is a major component of cell-cell adhesive junctions. It is also closely related to the Drosophila segment polarity gene product armadillo and can induce a WNT-like neural axis duplication (NAD) phenotype in Xenopus [Karnovsky and Klymkowsky, 1995].* To define the regions of PKG involved in cell adhesion and inductive signaling, we examined the behavior of mutated forms of PKG in Xenopus. Deletion of amino acids 22 through 39 (in the Xenopus. PKG sequence) increased the apparent stability of the polypeptide within the embryo and increased its ability to induce a WNT-like, NAD phenotype when expressed in the vegetal hemisphere. The N-terminal “head” and first 6 “ARM” repeats of PKG, or the C-terminal “tail” and the last 3 “ARM” repeats, could be removed without destroying the remaining polypeptide's ability to induce a NAD phenotype. The nuclear localization of mutant PKGs, however, was not strictly correlated with the ability to induce a NAD phenotype, i.e., some inactive polypeptides still accumulate in nuclei. Removal of PKG's head and first ARM repeat, which includes its α-catenin binding site, resulted in a polypeptide that, when expressed in the embryo, generated a dramatic cell adhesion defect. Removal of the next three ARM repeats abolished this adhesion defect, suggesting that the polypeptide no longer competes effectively with endogenous catenins for binding to cadherins. Expression of a form of PKG truncated after the 5th ARM repeat produced a milder cell adhesion defect, whereas expression of a polypeptide truncated after the 8th ARM repeat had little apparent effect on cellular adhesion. Based on these observations, we conclude that functions related to stability and cellular adhesion reside in the N-terminal region of the polypeptide, whereas the ability to induce a NAD phenotype lies within repeats 6–10 of the central region. The function(s) of the C-terminal domain of PKG remain uncertain at this time. Dev. Genet. 20:91–102, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.