cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steel Bridge Girder Strengthening Using Postinstalled Shear Connectors and UHM CFRP Laminates

A number of steel girder-RC bridges built in the past have noncomposite bridge decks. Many currently have load postings because of increased traffic loads. The main objective of this case study was the performance evaluation of a single span steel girder bridge with a noncomposite RC deck before and after strengthening using postinstalled shear studs and ultra high modulus (UHM) carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. The postinstalled shear studs were used to obtain a partial composite action between the concrete deck and steel girders to increase the load-carrying capacity and utilize the UHM CFRP laminates more efficiently. An AASHTO load-rating analysis carried out for an interior girder under an HS25 truck load showed an inventory level rating factor of 0.46 for the noncomposite bridge. Field tests were conducted before and after the installation of the shear studs and UHM CFRP laminates to determine the increase in the load-carrying capacity and reduction in maximum deflection. A finite-element model of the bridge was developed to validate the experimental data and analyze the bridge under varying wheel loads. Postinstalled shear studs are found to be capable of significantly increasing the load-carrying capacity of noncomposite bridges. The use of UHM CFRP laminates strengthened the steel bridge girders, reduced overall deflections, and increased the load-carrying capacity. The postinstalled shear studs and UHM CFRP laminates increased the load rating and removed the load posting on the bridge.
College Students' Technology Arc: A Model for Understanding Progress

This article introduces the Student Technology Arc, a model that evaluates college students ‘technology literacy, or how they operate within an education system influenced by new technologies. Student progress is monitored through the Arc's 5 interdependent stages, which reflect growing technological maturity through levels of increasing cognitive complexity. These stages track students’ functional and perceptual knowledge of technology and their abilities to gain plural perspectives from conducting multiple tasks. Additionally, they measure students ‘synthetic awareness of technological and manual (nontechnological) processes, competence in using technology, and capacity to work with multiple dimensions of technological applications. Furthermore, the Arc gages faculty and institutional development by highlighting how new technology literacies should be taught, and how schools should support faculty and student needs. The article concludes with the results of a study undertaken at a U.S. university, where...
Maintenance of a minimum spanning forest in a dynamic planar graph

Abstract : We give efficient algorithms for maintaining a minimum spanning forest of a planar graph subject to on-line modifications. The modifications supported include changes in the edge weights, and insertion and deletion of edges and vertices. To implement the algorithms, we develop a data structure called an edge-ordered dynamic tree, which is a variant of the dynamic tree data structure of Sleator and Tarjan. Using this data structure, our algorithms run in O(log n) time per operation and O(n) space. The algorithms can be used to maintain the connected components of a dynamic planar graph in O(log n) time per operation.
Simulated Extensive Air Showers with a Medium-Strong Interaction

It is proposed that anomalous measurements of cosmic-ray pions and muons above a characteristic energy of ${10}^{12}$ eV can be explained, at least in part, by the presence of the medium-strong contact interaction between protons. That has been suggested by Abarbanel, Drell, and Gilman. The results of a programmed simulation of extensive air showers in a simple model have the correct behavior to explain the pion measurements, and they show a slight tendency in the correct direction for an explanation of the measurements of muons. Some remarks are made on the difficulties associated with theories of direct production of muons.
A middleware framework for market-based actuator coordination in sensor and actuator networks

Sensor and actuator networks (SANETs) are a growing class of distributed systems combining sensors for environmental monitoring with actuators for reacting to environmental changes and controlling its dynamic processes. As SANETs evolve to accommodate complex large-scale deployments, there is an increasing probability that sensors' and actuators' attempted tasks may impact those of other sensors and actuators; for example by collectively exceeding the amount of available resources. Hence, there is a need for new tools that can autonomously coordinate the execution of SANETs for the benefit of the entire system. This need is especially important in case of actuators since they actually affect the environment. This paper advocates the use of market-based methods as the basis for distributed actuator coordination within the Sentire SANET framework. We demonstrate that auction-based distributed actuator coordination in an HVAC system leads to efficient, temporal and fair allocation of energy even when the desired temperature cannot be sustained in all locations simultaneously. We also discuss how this approach can be generalized to similar SANET resource allocation problems and what other challenges auction mechanism design faces when applied to SANETs.
A physical map of belomycin-specific fragmentation sites on PM2 bacteriophage DNA

Bleomycin treatment of PM2 DNA results in fragmentation of the genome at several specific sites. Application of restriction endonuclease digestion followed by bleomycin treatment has provided the basis for constructing a physical map of bleomycin fragmentation sites. Eleven sites have been located on the physical map relative toHpa II,Pst I, andHindIII cleavage sites. The fragmentation sites are not clustered in a particular region of the PM2 genome but 3 of the 11 sites do occur between theHpa II andPst I cleavage sites, a segment of DNA which comprises 14% of the PM2 DNA length.
Accuracy of ROPtool vs Individual Examiners in Assessing Retinal Vascular Tortuosity

Objective To prospectively determine if tortuosity assessment by a computer program (ROPtool) that traces retinal blood vessels and measures their tortuosity was more accurate than that of individual pediatric ophthalmologists. Methods One hundred eighty-five high-quality RetCam images from premature infants were circulated to 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) experts and 3 other pediatric ophthalmologists (“examiners”) who graded the tortuosity in each quadrant as normal, pre-plus, or plus. These same images were analyzed using ROPtool. Results Using expert consensus as the standard, ROPtool's overall accuracy of 95% (175 of 185) for identifying tortuosity sufficient for plus disease was similar to that of examiner 1 (93%; 172 of 185; P = .50), examiner 2 (93%; 172 of 185; P = .50), and examiner 3 (91%; 168 of 185; P = .10). ROPtool's sensitivity of 97% (36 of 37) compared favorably with that of examiner 1 (65%; 24 of 37; P P P = .06). Conclusion Computer-assisted analysis of retinal images can potentially reduce subjectivity in the diagnosis of plus disease and optimize timing of follow-up and treatment for ROP.
The maximum entropy approach in production frontier estimation

Abstract The information theory approach develops a non-parametric method of estimating the true probability distribution underlying a given set of statistical data. It has been applied frequently in econometric research in estimating lag distributions and in choosing prior distributions in a Bayesian framework. Here it is applied in the context of estimating an efficient production surface from a set of input–output data.
Analysis of responses to angiotensin I and angiotensin I-(3–10) in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat

Responses to angiotensin I and antiogensin I-(3-10), the precursors for angiotensin II and IV, were investigated in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat. Under constant-flow conditions, injections of precursors and the active peptides into the mesenteric arterial perfusion circuit caused dose-related increases in receptor antagonist that were attenuated by the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist DuP532 (2-propyl-4-pentafluorethyl-1-[2'-(2H-tetrazol-5-YL)-1,1'-bi phenyl-4-YL methyl]1H-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid), but not by the angiotensin AT2 receptor antagonist PD123,319 ((S)1-[[4-(dimethylamino)-3-methylphenyl]methyl]-5-(diphenylacetyl )-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-1H-imadazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid, ditriflouroacetate]). Responses to angiotensin I and II were similar as were responses to angiotensin I-(3-10) and angiotensin IV, and these responses were not altered by the presence of a time-delay coil in the perfusion circuit. Responses to angiotensin I and angiotensin I-(3-10) were decreased by the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalaprilat in a dose of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor that had no effect on responses to angiotensin II and IV and that enhanced vasodilator responses to bradykinin. The putative angiotensin AT2 receptor agonist, p-aminophenylalanine6-angiotensin II, produced dose-related increases in mesenteric arterial perfusion pressure that were reduced by DUP532, suggesting that they are mediated by angiotensin AT1 receptors. These results suggest that angiotensin I and angiotensin I-(3-10) are rapidly and efficiently converted by an angiotensin converting enzyme-dependent pathway into active peptides that induce vasoconstriction by activating angiotensin AT1 receptors in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat.
Consumption of a high dietary dose of monosodium glutamate fails to affect extracellular glutamate levels in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of adult rats

We examined the effects of systemic or oral ad libitum monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration on glutamate levels in plasma, and on glutamate release from the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (estimated using brain microdialysis). Systemic MSG administration (0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2 g/kg, i.p.) to adult rats caused dose-dependent increases in glutamate levels within arcuate nucleus dialysates. These levels increased during the initial 20 min after systemic MSG administration, and peaked during the second 20-min interval (maximally to 116 +/- 7%, 146 +/- 15%, 790 +/- 191% and 1230 +/- 676% of basal values, respectively). Plasma glutamate levels, measured simultaneously, were increased maximally during the initial 20 min after MSG administration. These increases were 10-, 13-, 76- and 163-fold after doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg, i.p., respectively. In feeding experiments, consumption of 2.3 g/kg of MSG by previously-trained rats during an 1-h period increased plasma glutamate levels to 352 +/- 61% of basal values 140 min after the start of the feeding period. No changes were observed in glutamate levels of arcuate nucleus dialysates. These findings may explain why ad libitum dietary consumption of MSG apparently lacks neurotoxic potential.
An aid for identification of dermatoglyphic patterns in subjects difficult to fingerprint.

The author's in vivo microscopic technique, initially developed for observation of capillaries in human skin, can be helpful for detecting fingerprint patterns in subjects in whom an abnormal skin surface makes it difficult to record or even observe these patterns by the usual techniques.
Relationships between brain catecholamine synthesis, pituitary adrenal function and the production of hypertension during prolonged exposure to environmental stress.

Abstract Male rats were subjected to environmental stresses consisting of flashing lights, audiogenic stimulation and oscillation for 20 weeks on a randomized schedule. The mean systolic blood pressure in the stressed animals rose to 150mm Hg±1.01 by week 8 and ranged between 150 and 160 mm Hg for the remaining 12 weeks, whereas the mean systolic pressure of the non-stressed animals fluctuated between 110 and 120mm Hg throughout this same period of time. Serum corticosterone level in the stressed animals were approximately 3 times higher than controls for the first 4 weeks of exposure; however, by the end of week 5. serum corticosterone declined dramatically in the stressed group and was significantly lower than controls, after which serum corticosterone levels exhibited a cyclic pattern at approximately 6-week intervals. No significant alterations were observed in brain NE and DA and serum FFA throughout the 20-week stress exposure. In a second study, rats received 100 mg kg p.o. of L -α-methyltyrosine. At the end of weeks 2 and 4, brain NE was depleted by more than 80° in the stressed treated group, whereas brain NE in the non-stressed treated animals was depleted by approximately 45°. indicating a significant increase in the turnover of brain NE The elevated turnover of brain NE returned to control values by the end of the 6th week. In addition, a-MT prevented the stress-induced elevation in systolic blood pressure. These data indicate a close temporal relationship between brain NE synthesis rate and adrenocortical steroid secretion as well as demonstrating that a-MT is an effective antihypertensive agent in stress-induced hypertension.
Le MACS, un système de classification des capacités manuelles pour enfants paralysés cérébraux. Développement de l’échelle et preuves de validité et de fiabilité

Resume Le MACS est un nouveau systeme de classification fonctionnelle des activites manuelles quotidiennes elabore par des professionnels canadiens et suedois allant du chirurgien de la main aux reeducateurs en passant par un neuropediatre et un psychologue. Ce systeme actuellement valide, comprend cinq niveaux. Le MACS est destine aux enfants paralyses cerebraux âges de quatre a 18 ans, qu’ils soient legerement atteints dans leur motricite ou dans l’impossibilite d’agir quelles que soient les formes d’aides mises a leur disposition et ou des diverses adaptations susceptibles de faciliter l’usage des mains. Le MACS n’est pas un systeme concurrent mais complementaire au GMFCS ou d’autres systemes actuellement utilises. Ayant le meme nombre de niveaux que le GMFCS, il n’a pas pour objectif de proposer un examen clinique, mais de considerer et classer chaque sujet uniquement selon ses performances dans les manipulations d’objets definis au cours des activites quotidiennes et dans son espace de vie ou les objets sont a sa portee. Les evaluations ne font pas intervenir les aptitudes motrices aux deplacements. Toutefois, les precisions indispensables a l’evaluation dans chaque niveau sont apportees par les questions posees aux personnes connaissant tres bien l’enfant dans la vie de tous les jours. L’usage du MACS facilite les echanges et la comprehension entre les professionnels et les parents de l’enfant, comme avec le personnel des organismes sociaux mis au courant de projets objectifs. Il complete les informations donnees par la GMFCS en apportant des informations plus precises aux professionnels pour planifier leurs actions. Des fiches sont disponibles pour proceder aux classifications et traduites dans de nombreuses langues. Elles peuvent etre commandees au Centre ou exerce l’auteur a Stockholm.
Effects of Soluble Cadmium Salts Versus CdSe Quantum Dots on the Growth of Planktonic Pseudomonas aeruginosa

With their increased use, engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) will enterthe environment where they may be altered by bacteria and affect bacterial processes. Metallic ENMs, such as CdSe quantum dots (QDs), are toxic due to the release of dissolved heavy metals, but the effects of cadmium ions versus intact QDs are mostly unknown. Here, planktonic Pseudomonas aeruginosa PG201 bacteria were cultured with similar total cadmium concentrations as either fully dissolved cadmium acetate (Cd(CH3COO)2) or ligand capped CdSe QDs, and cellular morphology, growth parameters, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), along with the metal and metalloid fates were measured. QDs dissolved partially in growth media, but dissolution was less in biotic cultures compared to sterile controls. Dose-dependent growth effects were similar for low concentrations of either cadmium salts or QDs, but effects differed above a concentration threshold of 50 mg/L(total cadmium basis) where (1) the growth of QD-treated cells was more impaired, (2) the membranes of QD-grown cells were damaged, and (3) QD-grown cells contained QD-sized CdSe cytoplasmic inclusions in addition to Se0 and dissolved cadmium. For most concentrations, intracellular ROS were higher for QD-versus cadmium salts-grown bacteria. Taken together, QDs were more toxic to this opportunistic pathogen than cadmium ions, and were affected by cells through QD extracellular stabilization, intracellular enrichment and cell-associated decay.
Identifying online communities of interest using side information

This research investigates the potential to identify communities and individuals of interest in a weighted network by incorporating side information corresponding to the prior probability of engaging in a specific activity. A brief review of community detection techniques is presented followed by a discussion of a proposed probabilistic model for identifying communities using seeds with side information. A simulation of the model demonstrates the required parameters to detect individuals in the network who are likely to engage in a specific activity. Results highlight the ability of the model to identify small social communities by accounting for the affinity or strength of the relationships between individuals of interest and other individuals in the network.
Mutagenic and Cytotoxic Properties of 6-Thioguanine, S6-Methylthioguanine, and Guanine-S6-sulfonic Acid

Thiopurine drugs, including 6-thioguanine (SG), 6-mercaptopurine, and azathioprine, are widely employed anticancer agents and immunosuppressants. The formation of SG nucleotides from the thiopurine prodrugs and their subsequent incorporation into nucleic acids are important for the drugs to exert their cytotoxic effects. SG in DNA can be methylated by S-adenosyl-l-methionine to give S6-methylthioguanine (S6mG) and oxidized by UVA light to render guanine-S6-sulfonic acid (SO3HG). Here, we constructed single-stranded M13 shuttle vectors carrying a SG, S6mG, or SO3HG at a unique site and allowed the vectors to propagate in wild-type and bypass polymerase-deficient Escherichia coli cells. Analysis of the replication products by using the competitive replication and adduct bypass and a slightly modified restriction enzyme digestion and post-labeling assays revealed that, although none of the three thionucleosides considerably blocked DNA replication in all transfected E. coli cells, both S6mG and SO3HG were highly mutagenic, which resulted in G→A mutation at frequencies of 94 and 77%, respectively, in wild-type E. coli cells. Deficiency in bypass polymerases does not result in alteration of mutation frequencies of these two lesions. In contrast to what was found from previous steady-state kinetic analysis, our data demonstrated that 6-thioguanine is mutagenic, with G→A transition occurring at a frequency of ∼10%. The mutagenic properties of 6-thioguanine and its derivatives revealed in the present study offered important knowledge about the biological implications of these thionucleosides.
Growth, gas exchange, leaf nitrogen and carbohydrate concentrations in NAD-ME and NADP-ME C4 grasses grown in elevated CO2

Plants with the C4 photosynthetic pathway have predominantly one of three decarboxylation enzymes in their bundle sheath cells. Within the grass family (Poaceae) bundle sheath leakiness to CO2 is purported to be lowest in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme (NADP-ME, EC 1.1.1.40) group, highest in the NAD-ME (EC 1.1.1.39) group and intermediate in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK, EC 4.1.1.32) group. We investigated the hypothesis that growth and photosynthesis of NAD-ME C4 grasses would respond more to elevated CO2 treatment than NADP-ME grasses. Plants were grown in 8-1 pots in growth chambers with ample water and fertilizer for 39 days at a continuous CO2 concentration of either 350 or 700 µl l−1. NAD-ME species included Bouteloua gracilis Lag. ex Steud (Blue grama), Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm. (Buffalo grass) and Panicum virgatum L. (Switchgrass) and the NADP-ME species were Andropogon gerardii Vittman (Big bluestem), Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (Little bluestem), and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash (Indian grass). Contrary to our hypothesis, growth of the NADP-ME grasses was generally greater under elevated CO2 (significant for A. gerardii and S. nutans), while none of the NAD-ME grasses had a significant growth response. Increased leaf total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) was associated with greater growth responses of NADP-ME grasses. Decreased leaf nitrogen in NADP-ME species grown at elevated CO2 was found to be an artifact of TNC dilution. Assimilation (A) vs intercellular CO2 (Ci) curves revealed that leaf photosynthesis was not saturated at 350 µl l−1 CO2 in any of these C4 grasses. Assimilation of elevated CO2-grown A. gerardii was higher than in plants grown in ambient CO2. In contrast, B. gracilis grown in elevated CO2 displayed lower A, a trait more commonly reported in C3 plants. Photosynthetic acclimation in B. gracilis was not related to leaf TNC or nitrogen concentrations, but A:Ci curves suggest a reduction in activity of both phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.1.39). Some adaptation of stomatal functioning was also seen in B. gracilis and A. gerardii leaves grown in elevated CO2. Our study shows that C4 grasses have the capacity for increased growth and photosynthesis under elevated CO2 even when water and nutrients are non-limiting. While it was the NADP-ME species which had significant responses in the present study, we have previously reported significant growth increases in elevated CO2 for B. gracilis.
Predictors of utilization of an IVR self-monitoring program by problem drinkers with recent natural resolutions.

Abstract Background As part of a randomized controlled trial, problem drinkers who recently initiated natural recovery on their own were offered access to an interactive voice response (IVR) self-monitoring (SM) system as a sobriety maintenance tool during early recovery when relapse risk is high. Because observed IVR utilization was variable, predictors of utilization were evaluated to inform knowledge of populations likely to access and use IVR services. Methods Participants were 87 untreated community-dwelling adults who recently initiated sobriety following longstanding high-risk drinking practices and alcohol-related problems ( M = 16.58 years, SD = 10.95). Baseline interviews assessed pre-resolution drinking practices and problems, and behavioral economic (BE) measures of reward preferences (delay discounting, pre-resolution monetary allocation). Participants had IVR access for 24 weeks to report daily drinking and to hear weekly recovery-focused messages. Results IVR use ranged from 0 to 100%. Frequent ( n = 28), infrequent ( n = 42), and non-caller ( n = 17) groups were identified. Non-callers tended to be younger and to report heavier pre-resolution drinking. Frequent callers (≥70% of IVR days) tended to be older, male non-smokers with higher/stable socio-economic status and lower delay discounting compared to infrequent callers. Premature drop-out typically occurred fairly abruptly and was related to extended binge drinking. Conclusions Characteristics common in the untreated problem drinker population were associated with higher IVR utilization. This large under-served population segment can be targeted for lower intensity alcohol interventions using an IVR platform.
AMROEBA: computational astrophysics modeling enabled by dynamic lambda switching

Many data and compute intensive Grid applications, such as computational astrophysics, may be able to benefit from networking supported by dynamically provisioned lightpaths. To date, the majority of high performance distributed environments have been based on traditional routed packet networks, provisioned as external services rather than as integrated components within those environments. Because this approach often cannot provide high performance capabilities required by these applications, an alternative distributed infrastructure architecture is being designed based on dynamic lightpaths, supported by optical networks. These designs implement communication services and infrastructure as integral components of distributed infrastructure. The resultant environments resemble large scale specialized instruments. Presented here is one such architecture, implemented on a wide-area, optical Grid test bed, featuring a closely integrated dedicated lightpath mesh. The test bed was used to conduct a series of experiments to explore its potential for supporting adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) astrophysics simulations. While preliminary, the results of these experiments indicate that this architecture may provide the deterministic capabilities required by a wide range of high performance distributed services and applications, especially for computational science.
Structural Determinants of Substrate Recognition in the HAD Superfamily Member d-glycero-d-manno-Heptose-1,7-bisphosphate Phosphatase (GmhB) .

The haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase (HAD) enzyme superfamily is the largest family of phosphohydrolases. In HAD members, the structural elements that provide the binding interactions that support substrate specificity are separated from those that orchestrate catalysis. For most HAD phosphatases, a cap domain functions in substrate recognition. However, for the HAD phosphatases that lack a cap domain, an alternate strategy for substrate selection must be operative. One such HAD phosphatase, GmhB of the HisB subfamily, was selected for structure−function analysis. Herein, the X-ray crystallographic structures of Escherichia coli GmhB in the apo form (1.6 A resolution), in a complex with Mg2+ and orthophosphate (1.8 A resolution), and in a complex with Mg2+ and d-glycero-d-manno-heptose 1β,7-bisphosphate (2.2 A resolution) were determined, in addition to the structure of Bordetella bronchiseptica GmhB bound to Mg2+ and orthophosphate (1.7 A resolution). The structures show that in place of a cap domain, the ...
Quantum ergodicity for time-dependent wave-packet dynamics

The dynamics of nonstationary wave packets in model quantum-mechanical systems are studied for the properties of ergodicity and instability. The long-time-average Wigner phase-space distribution is calculated for each wave packet and analyzed for uniformity on a surface of section. A mild transition from nonergodic to ergodic behavior is observed with increasing energy. These results are compared to long-time averages of the wave-function probability density. The "stability" of each packet is also analyzed by several methods, including the "survival" of the initial state and a new measure of "separation" of similar wave packets. The relationships between the wave-packet ergodicity and instability and the corresponding classical dynamics are developed. Comparisons to other quantum-ergodic studies, and implications for intramolecular energy transfer and classical-ergodic studies are discussed.
Electron Density Distribution near Large Air Shower Axes at Sea Level

A large, multiple-wire ionization chamber has been used to sample 20 separate areas of the plane of observation to obtain detailed "profiles" of the structure of large air showers within about 2 meters of their axes. Interpretation of the data is based on (1) quantitative calculations of the transition effect in 0.305 radiation lengths of dural, and (2) a semiquantitative discussion of the fluctuations in the lateral-distribution function. Lateral distribution functions for electrons and photons of various energies have been calculated for $rl10$ meters at the shower maximum and the function for electrons of all energies turns out to be essentially equal to the one given by Moli\`ere. No drastic revision of the calculated distribution function is indicated by the data, but a flatter distribution than that calculated is not ruled out. Evidence for a multiple-core structure in a small percentage of cases is presented.
Broken symmetry, strong correlation, and splitting between longitudinal and transverse optical phonons of MnO and NiO from first principles

We propose a first-principles scheme, using the distorted structure, to obtain the phonons of the undistorted parent structure for systems with both broken symmetry as well as the splitting between longitudinal optical and transverse optical (TO) phonon modes due to long-range dipole-dipole interactions. Broken symmetry may result from antiferromagnetic ordering or structural distortion. Applications to the calculations of the phonon dispersions of NiO and MnO, the two benchmark Mott-Hubbard systems with the TO mode splitting for MnO, show remarkable accuracy.
The Morphological Mix of Field Galaxies to mI = 24.25 Magnitudes (bJ ~ 26 Magnitudes) from a Deep Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 Image

We determine the morphological mix of field galaxies down to mI 24.25 mag (mB ~ 26.0 mag) from a single ultradeep Hubble Space Telescope wide field planetary camera (WFPC2) image in both the V606 and the I814 filters. In total, we find 227 objects with mI ? 24.5 mag and classify these into three types: ellipticals (16%), early-type spirals (37%), and late-type spirals/irregulars (47%). The differential number counts for each type are compared with simple models in a standard flat cosmology. We find that both the elliptical and the early-type spiral number counts are well described by little-or-no-evolution models, but only when normalized at bJ = 18.0 mag. Given the uncertainties in the luminosity function (LF) normalization, both populations are consistent with a mild evolutionary scenario based on a normal/low rate of star formation. This constrains the end of the last major star formation epoch in the giant galaxy populations to z ? 0.8. Conversely, the density of the observed late-type/irregular population is found to be a factor of 10 in excess of the conventional no-evolution model. This large population might be explained by a modified local dwarf-rich LF and/or strong evolution acting on the local LF. For the dwarf-rich case, a steep faint-end Schechter slope (? -1.8) is required, plus a fivefold increase in the dwarf normalization. For a purely evolving model based on a flat Loveday et al. LF (? -1.0), a ubiquitous starburst of ?I ~ 2.0 mag is needed at z 0.5 for the entire late-type population. We argue for a combination of these possibilities, and show that for a steep Marzke et al. LF (? -1.5) a starburst of ~1.3 mag is required at z 0.5 in the entire late-type population, or ~2.0 mag in ~20% of the population.
Using projected dynamics to plan dynamic contact manipulation

This paper addresses the planning and control of dynamic contact manipulation. In an earlier paper (Srinivasa et al., 2005), we derived a constraint on the robot joint accelerations that needed to be satisfied to obtain a desired contact mode and a desired dynamic motion of the object. We proposed a technique for trajectory planning which involved planning a path in the system configuration space followed by time-scaling the path to satisfy dynamic constraints. This paper tackles a problem where only a small set of paths can be time-scaled to satisfy the constraints. We note that the dynamic constraints depend only on a subspace of the system state space. Projecting the dynamics and the constraints onto the subspace allows us to compute an analytical solution for the trajectory generation problem. We generate controllable simulations by allowing the user to control the system in the space orthogonal to the projection. We also demonstrate the construction of feedback controllers using dynamic programming.
Therapeutic ultrasound: Surgery and drug delivery

The field of therapeutic ultrasound is emerging with strong potential and broad medical applications. Characterized by its ability to penetrate at depth inside the body without harming intervening tissue, ultrasound has posed the basis for a new array of noninvasive therapies. Al low intensities, important interactions occur in the tissue; wound healing is accelerated, functional recovery is enhanced, and bone growth is more rapid. At moderate intensities, cellular membranes show transient permeability, blood clots dissolution is increased, and gene-transfection is accomplished. At higher intensities, ultrasound produces lesions and stops bleeding by heating the tissue beyond its protein denaturalization threshold and thus provides a noninvasive, bloodless alternative to conventional surgery. This article presents a review of moderate and high intensity applications, including their mechanisms of action and the imaging modalities used for guidance and monitoring.
Renesting by Dusky Canada Geese on the Copper River Delta, Alaska

Abstract The population of dusky Canada geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis; hereafter duskies) breeding on the Copper River Delta (CRD), Alaska, USA, has been in long-term decline, largely as a result of reduced productivity. Estimates of renesting rates by duskies may be useful for adjusting estimates of the size of the breeding population derived from aerial surveys and for understanding population dynamics. We used a marked population of dusky females to obtain estimates of renesting propensity and renesting interval on the CRD, 1999–2000. Continuation nests, replacement nests initiated without a break in the laying sequence, resulted only after first nests were destroyed in the laying stage with ≤4 eggs laid. Renesting propensity declined with nest age from 72% in mid-laying to 30% in early incubation. Between first nests and renests, mean interval was 11.9 ± 0.6 days, mean distance was 74.5 m (range 0–214 m), and clutch size declined 0.9 ± 0.4 eggs. We incorporated our renesting estimates and avai...
Generation of transgenic plants of a potential oilseed crop Camelina sativa by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Camelina sativa is an alternative oilseed crop that can be used as a potential low-cost biofuel crop or a source of health promoting omega-3 fatty acids. Currently, the fatty acid composition of camelina does not uniquely fit any particular uses, thus limit its commercial value and large-scale production. In order to improve oil quality and other agronomic characters, we have developed an efficient and simple in planta method to generate transgenic camelina plants. The method included Agrobacterium-mediated inoculation of plants at early flowering stage along with a vacuum infiltration procedure. We used a fluorescent protein (DsRed) as a visual selection marker, which allowed us to conveniently screen mature transgenic seeds from a large number of untransformed seeds. Using this method, over 1% of transgenic seeds can be obtained. Genetic analysis revealed that most of transgenic plants contain a single copy of transgene. In addition, we also demonstrated that transgenic camelina seeds produced novel hydroxy fatty acids by transforming a castor fatty acid hydroxylase. In conclusion, our results provide a rapid means to genetically improve agronomic characters of camelina, including fatty acid profiles of its seed oils. Camelina may serve as a potential industrial crop to produce novel biotechnology products.
Sea-floor hydrothermal mineralization research advances in China

Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits containing copper, zinc, silver, and gold concentrated by hydrothermal processes have been discovered at submerged plate boundaries and volcanic island arcs. These discoveries, in turn, have made mineralization an exciting field of sea-floor hydrothermal research. Chinese scientists are beginning to join the international community in investigating sea-floor hydrothermal mineralization.
Insulin, glucagon, and glucose exhibit synchronous, sustained oscillations in fasting monkeys

In overnight fasted rhesus monkeys, synchronous, regular oscillations occurred in the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon. The oscillations displayed a period averaging 9 minutes. The amplitudes for insulin and glucagon were ten and five times greater than for glucose. Insulin cycled in and glucagon out of phase with glucose. In baboons, oscillations of glucose and insulin were smaller than in rhesus monkeys, while in man, regular oscillations were not observed.
Cross-undressing in Colette: Performance, gender and music-hall labour practice

Colette’s 1913 memoir, L’Envers du music-hall, documents the behind-the-scenes lives of music-hall performers, contrasting their staged glamour to their private indigence. Generally read as an admi...
Recombining changes to software specifications

Abstract This paper proposes a model of software changes for supporting the evolution of software prototypes. We decompose software evolution steps into primitive substeps that correspond to monotonic specification changes. This structure is used to rearrange chronological derivation sequences into idealized conceptual derivation structures containing only meaning-extending changes, and to automatically combine different changes to a specification. A set of examples illustrates the ideas.
In older adults with breast and colorectal cancer, multimorbidity, but not age, is associated with hospital admissions for chemotherapy-related adverse events

In older adults with breast and colorectal cancer, multimorbidity, but not age, is associated with hospital admissions for chemotherapy-related adverse events S.M. Koroukian, P.M. Bakaki, P.T. Htoo, M. Schluchter, C. Owusu, N.A. Berger. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA
Fetal and postnatal lung defects reveal a novel and required role for Fgf8 in lung development

The fibroblast growth factor, FGF8, has been shown to be essential for vertebrate cardiovascular, craniofacial, brain and limb development. Here we report that Fgf8 function is required for normal progression through the late fetal stages of lung development that culminate in alveolar formation. Budding, lobation and branching morphogenesis are unaffected in early stage Fgf8 hypomorphic and conditional mutant lungs. Excess proliferation during fetal development disrupts distal airspace formation, mesenchymal and vascular remodeling, and Type I epithelial cell differentiation resulting in postnatal respiratory failure and death. Our findings reveal a previously unknown, critical role for Fgf8 function in fetal lung development and suggest that this factor may also contribute to postnatal alveologenesis. Given the high number of premature infants with alveolar dysgenesis and lung dysplasia, and the accumulating evidence that short-term benefits of available therapies may be outweighed by long-term detrimental effects on postnatal alveologenesis, the therapeutic implications of identifying a factor or pathway that can be targeted to stimulate normal alveolar development are profound.
Novel control approach to achieving efficient wireless battery charging for portable electronic devices

Various resonant converter topologies have become popular in wireless power transfer applications. In particular, due to convenience and aesthetics, wireless charging has become very popular for portable electronics. In low power applications such as portable electronics charging, it is desirable to minimize the number of converter components to improve the efficiency. This paper presents a novel control method that exploits the desirable characteristics of the dual active bridge series LCLC resonant converter topology. The result is a wireless charger with several desirable features: it eliminates the need for digital communication between the transmitter and receiver, the design is robust against coupling coefficient and load variations, it operates most of the time at the highest efficiency operating point (the unity gain frequency), it uses synchronous rectification for improved efficiency, it does not require a downstream regulator for battery charging current control, and it provides a fast charging operating mode. In this paper, the series LCLC resonant network is analyzed in detail to describe the notable characteristics that are crucial in making the proposed control method effective. Throughout the analysis, various simulation results are provided to complement the discussion. Finally, the charging process employing the proposed control method is described in detail, and Simulink simulation results are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed control method.
Emotional intelligence correlates with functional responses to dynamic changes in facial trustworthiness

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to a constellation of traits, competencies, or abilities that allow individuals to understand emotional information and successfully navigate and solve social/emotional problems. While little is known about the neurobiological substrates that underlie EI, some evidence suggests that these capacities may involve a core neurocircuitry involved in emotional decision-making that includes the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insula, and amygdala. In a sample of 39 healthy volunteers (22 men; 17 women), scores on the Bar-On EQ-i (a trait/mixed model of EI) and Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT; an ability model of EI) were correlated with functional magnetic resonance imaging responses during brief presentations of moving facial expressions that changed in the level of perceived trustworthiness. Core emotion neurocircuitry was responsive to dynamic changes in facial features, regardless of whether they reflected in...
Maintenance of specificity by sprouting and regenerating peripheral nerves. II. Variability after lesions

In previous studies we showed that collateral sprouting in cat tibialis anterior (TA) muscle was elicited by selective peripheral spinal nerve section sparing L7. After chronic (3 week) section of L5, L6, S1 and S2 spinal nerves in the present study, two different reflex patterns were observed. In some cats, with presumed prefixation of the lumbosacral plexus, the TA tendon reflex was weakened initially and became stronger beginning 2-3 days postoperative. In other cats, with presumed postfixation of the plexus, the TA tendon reflex was abolished for 7-9 days and then returned. The TA muscles were injected with HRP and labeled motor neurons plotted. In the 'prefixed' first group, the number, location and size of motor neurons projecting to TA through the spared L7 nerve were symmetrical when acute and chronic sides were compared. In the 'postfixed' group (reflex abolished then returned) the acute and chronic sides were asymmetrical: the chronic side displayed a significant increase in number of labeled cells and an increase in the rostocaudal extent of the cell column within the L7 segment. These results are consistent with two types of collateral sprouting: homonymous, in which the sprouts arise from nerves within the muscle, and heteronymous, in which the sprouts arise from nerves in adjacent muscles. In animals with very chronic (up to 2 years) spinal nerve section (L5, L6, S1 and S2) regeneration of the cut nerves was superimposed on the spared L7 innervation. Topography was completely disrupted except in the L7 segment. Thus, there appears to be a difference in specificity of motor neurons for target sites depending upon degree and location of denervation. Homonymous sprouting displays strict specificity, regeneration does not and heteronymous sprouting represents an intermediate form in which cells are recruited from adjacent motor neuron pools in the segment of the spared innervation.
Marking Emerging β- and γδ-Selected T Cells

How does signaling through the pre-TCR and γδ TCR generate distinct cell lineages? A new study shows that a cell-surface marker, CD27, identifies the first point of demarcation of these lineages and allows further probing into the critical regulatory factors that control β and γδ selection.
Corrections to test statistics in principal Hessian directions

Li's pHd method uses an asymptotic chi-squared test statistic to evaluate a hypothesized dimensionality of a reduced-dimension space in a largely nonparametric setting. This statistic is based on an assumed normal distribution of the predictors. When the distributional assumption is violated, a mixture chi-squared test proposed by Cook is theoretically more appropriate. However, both tests may not perform well with small or intermediate sized nonnormal samples. We propose two corrections to Li's statistic to enable the chi-squared approximation to be more accurate in such samples. The corrections are based on the mean and variance of the statistic of Cook's mixture distribution. The performance of Li's, Cook's, and the two new statistics are compared in some small simulation studies. Results show that one of the new tests performs about as well as Cook's, while the other performs better than the previously proposed tests.
Single-wire explosion experiments relevant to the initial stages of wire array z pinches

This article reviews the status of experiments directed to understanding the initial phases of exploding wire plasma formation, especially those relevant to the initiation of wire explosions and plasma formation in wire array z-pinch experiments. Thus, although we discuss experiments with ∼100 kA per wire, in which magnetic forces play a major role, our emphasis is on experiments with ∼1 kA per wire, in which magnetic forces appear to be unimportant. With high current (∼100 kA) per wire, the exploding wire consists of a rapidly expanding (1–3 cm/μs) coronal plasma surrounding a dense core that expands much more slowly. The coronal plasma exhibits strong, azimuthally symmetric instabilities driven by the high current, but the dense core appears to be stable, suggesting that it is carrying little of the current. In low-current experiments, the initial wire core expansion rate depends upon the material, the wire size, and whether or not it is coated with an insulator. For bare wires, the core diameter expands at rates which range from ≤0.03 cm/μs (for 25-μm-diameter W) to 0.46 cm/μs (for 25-μm-diameter Ag). This expansion rate increases with the energy deposited resistively in the wire before coronal plasma formation. Furthermore, expansion is more uniform as well as faster for wires in which the deposited energy is comparable to or larger than the vaporization energy. Insulating coatings increase the energy deposition, evidently by forestalling the formation of plasma around a wire. Therefore, wires coated with 1-μm thickness of plastic expand faster (e.g., by a factor of 2 for Ag) than bare wires for all wires tested so far.
The effect of reimbursement of worker's transport costs: The case of urban areas in Japan

Abstract In some economies, workers are compensated for their commuting costs to the workplace. The spatial structure of an urban area is analyzed comparing a transport cost compensated system to one where expenses are borne by workers. Profit maximizing behavior by firms results in lower wages being paid in the city where transport costs are compensated. It is shown that worker renters achieve a higher level of utility in the area where transport costs are not compensated. Numerical examples are constructed using a range of parameter values which yields measures of the increase in spatial size of the city where transport costs are compensated. The loss in welfare is also evaluated.