cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The bacteriology of dog bite wounds on initial presentation

Four hundred twenty patients with open dog bite wounds on initial presentation to the emergency department had Gram stains, aerobic and anerobic cultures, and antibiotic sensitivities of the bacterial isolates of each wound. Forty-eight percent of the wounds evidenced no bacterial growth. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common isolate (20.5%). Multiple bacteria were isolated in 15.5% of patients. Fifty percent of clinically infected wounds showed multiple pathogenic organisms, on both culture and Gram stain. The predominant pathogenic bacteria in clinically infected wounds were, in order, Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Staphyloccus aureus, Bacillus subtilis , and beta-Streptococcus . Gram stains were useful in determining specific antibiotic therapy in only 6% of infected cases and in 2% of uninfected cases. Statistical differences appeared between initially clinically infected and uninfected dog bite wounds, in both the types of bacteria and frequency of occurrence. Clinical infections were treated effectively with cephradine in more than 95% of cases. Infected wounds growing multiple pathogenic bacteria and/or Gram stains that showed multiple bacterial types were covered by a cephalosporin or penicillinase-resistant penicillin. Six percent of isolates could require an aminoglycoside for treatment.
Predication of salt effects on rates of single-ion crossings in ities experiments

Abstract Two proposed models for the kinetics of ion transfers across immiscible liquid/liquid interfaces are analyzed in detail. The first attributes all potential-dependence of rates to changing surface concentrations within the space charge regions. The second permits, in addition, potential dependence of the rate constants to yield doubly potential dependent effects as in Butler-Volmer kinetics. Inters salt concentration terms can be factored and expressed quantitatively using the Gouy-Chapman theory. By adjusting concentrations to the pzcs, rate constants for four quaternary ammonium ions were evaluated.
Portal vein embolization prior to right hepatectomy using sodium tetradecyl sulfate foam: technique and initial results

Purpose Portal vein embolization (PVE) prior to right hepatectomy (RH) has become an integral part of the treatment algorithm for patients with resectable liver tumors. Many techniques and embolic agents have been used for this procedure; however there is no consensus on the ideal agent. We evaluate the safety and efficacy of sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) foam as the sole embolic agent for right portal vein (RPV) embolization. Materials and Methods Over a 12 month period, PVE with STS foam was performed in 17 consecutive patients(15 male, 2 female; mean age 60) prior to undergoing RH. Tumor pathology included hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 11) and metastases (n = 7). Preoperative liver volume was performed with CT or MRI using a 3D workstation. Ipsilateral percutaneous RPV access was obtained in all patients and a 7F sheath was placed. A 14mm Python occlusion balloon (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) was inflated in the RPV just distal to the portal bifurcation. STS foam was prepared using the Tessari method with 3% STS. Foam was slowly injected through the sheath to fill the entire RPV. Mean volume injected was 43mL (range 30-65). This was left to dwell for 40 minutes. The balloon was then removed. Follow up venogram confirmed complete occlusion of the RPV and patency of the left portal vein (LPV). Future liver remnant (FLR) and total estimated liver volume (TELV) measurements were obtained with CT or MRI pre and post PVE. 30 day major and minor adverse events were evaluated. Results 100% technical success was demonstrated by complete occlusion of the RPV branches and continued patency of the LPV and its branches. Median hospital stay was 1 day. Mean time to followup imaging was 26d ± 12d. FLR volume increased 46.1% ± 24.2%. FLR/TELV ratio increased 13.1% ± 9.6%. There were no major or minor complications. Fifteen (88.2%) patients went on to RH. Two (11.8%) patients had progression of disease into the left hepatic lobe (LHL) during the follow-up period after PVE precluding RH. Mean time from PVE to RH was 52d ± 32.6d. Conclusion PVE with STS foam is safe and effective at achieving LHL hypertrophy prior to RH. Larger scale studies are needed to further demonstrate the efficacy of this technique.
GaAsInSb graded-gap heterojunction

Abstract The interface-alloy technique has been used to produce heterojunctions between GaAs and InSb. X-ray and Kossel line patterns show that, despite the relatively large 14 percent lattice mismatch between the semiconductors, these heterojunctions are single-crystal. Photocurrent and I–V measurements are explained by a model for the heterojunction band structure in which the salient feature is a region of the order of 60 A long which has a linearly-graded energy gap joining the GaAs to the InSb. In addition, interface states ‘fix’ the location of the GaAs bands at the heterojunction interface such that, at room temperature, the conduction band extrapolates to a value approximately 0.93 eV above the Fermi level. The photocurrent occurs via hot carriers generated in the graded-gap region which traverse this region (with a mean free path of approx. 20 A) to the heterojunction barrier maximum. As predicted by the model, incident monochromatic radiation of energy smaller than the GaAs bandgap produces a photocurrent which varies exponentially with photon energy as I0 exp[C(hν − Eg)], where C is a positive parameter which decreases for increasing reverse bias on the heterojunction, and I0 is the extrapolated response at the GaAs bandgap, which is independent of applied bias. The forward current of units fabricated with n-type GaAs varies as exp ( qV ηkT ) , and, except at lower temperatures where tunneling becomes important, the values of η as a function of the GaAs impurity doping concentration can be explained in terms of the increase in the heterojunction barrier height with voltage, since part of the depletion layer potential is across the graded-gap region. Similarly, the voltage dependence of the reverse current is quantitatively explained by this model. The results of the C–V measurements are consistent with the I–V and photocurrent measurements evaluated in terms of the graded-gap heterojunction model.
Dynamics of iterated-map neural networks.

We analyze a discrete-time neural network with continuous state variables updated in parallel. We show that for symmetric connections, the only attractors are fixed points and period-two-limit cycles. We also present a global stability criterion which guarantees only fixed-point attractors by placing limits on the gain (maximum slope) of the sigmoid nonlinearity. The iterated-map network has the same fixed points as a continuous-time analog electronic neural network and converges to an attractor after a small number of iterations of the map.
Signal-to-noise performance of a short-wave infrared nanoinjection imager

We report on the signal-to-noise performance of a nanoinjection imager, which is based on a short-wave IR InGaAs/GaAsSb/InP detector with an internal avalanche-free amplification mechanism. Test pixels in the imager show responsivity values reaching 250A/W at 1550nm, −75°C, and 1.5V due to an internal charge amplification mechanism in the detector. In the imager, the measured imager noise was 28 electrons (e−) rms at a frame rate of 1950frames/s. Additionally, compared to a high-end short-wave IR imager, the nanoinjection camera shows 2 orders of magnitude improved signal-to-noise ratio at thermoelectric cooling temperatures primarily due to the small excess noise at high amplification.
Stimulus probability and sequential effect in recognition memory

The bias for reporting “old” in a recognition-memory task varied inversely with the probability of presenting a previously studied item. The bias for an “old” response is also greater when the stimulus on the preceding trial was a new item. These results invalidate the assumptions of the theory of signal detection for recognition memory and indicate a need for sequential analysis of recognition memory data to obtain unambiguous measures of bias and retention.
MRS imaging using anatomically based K-space sampling and extrapolation

A comprehensive strategy for the acquisition, reconstruction, and postprocessing of MR spectroscopic images is presented. The reconstruction algorithm is the most critical component of this strategy. It is assumes that the desired image is spatially bounded, meaning that the desired image contains an object that is surrounded by a background of zeros. The reconstruction algorithm relies on prior knowledge of the background zeros for k-space extrapolation. This algorithm is a good candidate for proton MR spectroscopic image reconstruction because these images are often spatially bounded and prior knowledge of the zeros is easily obtained from a rapidly acquired high resolution conventional MRI. Although the reconstruction algorithm can be used with the standard 3DFT k-space distribution, a distribution that relies on anatomical features that are likely to occur in the spectroscopic image can produce better results. Prior knowledge of these anatomical features is also obtained from a conventional MRI. Finally, the postprocessing component of this strategy is valuable for reducing subcutaneous lipid contamination. Overall, the comprehensive approach presented here produces images that are better resolved than standard approaches without increasing acquisition time or reducing SNR. Examples using NAA data are provided.
A Measurement of Mechanical Interests

*Recommended by Donald G. Paterson, and received for publication by Carl Murchison of the Editorial Board, February 28, 1928. †This study was reported in preliminary form at a graduate student session of the American Psychological Association, in December, 1926. The work was made possible by the cooperation of Dr. L. J. Brueckner, Director of the Bureau of Research in the Minneapolis public schools, and of the principals of the school buildings. Mr. L. D. Anderson and others of the mechanical ability research staff have been very kind in loaning records from their office. To Professor D. G. Paterson, under whose direction the work was done, the writer is indebted for many helpful suggestions, criticisms and encouragements. The original study, of which this. is an abridgment, was submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Minnesota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The original study is on file in the Library of the University of Minnesota under ...
Evidence that conserved residues Cys‐62 and Cys‐154 within the Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase MoFe protein α‐subunit are essential for nitrogenase activity but conserved residues His‐83 and Cys‐88 are not

Metallocluster extrusion requirements, interspecies MoFe-protein primary sequence comparisons and comparison of the primary sequences of the MoFe-protein subunits with each other have been used to assign potential P-cluster (Fe-S cluster) domains within the MoFe protein. In each β unit of the MoFe protein, subunit domains, which include potential Fe-S cluster ligands Cys-62, His-83, Cys-88 and Cys-154, and β-subunit domains, which include potential Fe-S cluster ligands Cys-70, His-90, Cys-95 and Cys-153, are proposed to comprise nearly equivalent P-cluster environments located adjacent to each other in the native protein. As an approach to test this model and to probe the functional properties of the P clusters, amino acid residue substitutions were placed at the α- subunit Cys-62, His-83, Cys-88 and Cys-154 positions by site-directed mutagenesis of the Azotobacter vinelandii nifD gene. The diazotrophic growth rates. MoFe-protein acetylene-reduction activities, and whole-cell S 3/2 electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of these mutants were examined. Results of these experiments show that MoFe-protein α-submit residues, Cys-62 and Cys-154, are probably essential for MoFe-protein activity but that His-83 and Cys-88 residues are not. These results indicate either that His-83 and Cys-88 do not provide essential P-cluster ligand or that a new cluster-ligand arrangement is formed in their absence.
Conceptual Scoring of Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Measures in Simultaneous and Sequential Bilingual Children

Purpose The authors examined the effects of conceptual scoring on the performance of simultaneous and sequential bilinguals on standardized receptive and expressive vocabulary measures in English a...
Prorenin and Other Large Molecular Weight Forms of Renin

PRORENIN is a completely inactive form of renin that circulates in human plasma in concentrations close to 10 times that of active renin. A similar inactive form of renin appears to be secreted from the kidney, but an extrarenal source can also contribute to the plasma level. Prorenin should not be confused with large molecular weight forms of renal renin that have intrinsic enzymatic activity. These appear to be, at least in part, the result of binding of renin to a renal cortical protein. Plasma prorenin can be activated by the techniques of cryoactivation and acid activation. It can also be converted to active renin by neutral serine proteases such as trypsin, glandular kallikrein, plasma kallikrein, and plasmin, and by acid proteases such as pepsin and cathepsin D. Both cryoactivation and acid activation appear to be mediated, in part, by endogenous plasma kallikrein which converts prorenin to renin in plasma in vitro after either cold inactivation or acid destruction of plasma kallikrein inhibitors. ...
Chemically regulated zinc finger transcription factors.

Ligand-dependent transcriptional regulators were generated by fusion of designed Cys2-His2 zinc finger proteins and steroid hormone receptor ligand binding domains. To produce novel DNA binding domains, three-finger proteins binding specific 9-base pair sequences were constructed from modular building blocks. Fusion of these zinc finger proteins to a transcriptional activation domain and to modified ligand binding domains derived from either the estrogen or progesterone receptors yielded potent ligand-dependent transcriptional regulators. Together with optimized minimal promoters, these regulators provide 4-hydroxytamoxifen- or RU486-inducible expression systems with induction ratios of up to 3 orders of magnitude. These inducible expression systems are functionally independent, and each can be selectively switched on within the same cell. The potential use of zinc finger-steroid receptor fusion proteins for the regulation of natural promoters was also explored. A gene-specific six-finger protein binding an 18-base pair target sequence was converted into a ligand-dependent regulator by fusion with either two estrogen receptor ligand binding domains or one ecdysone receptor and one retinoid X receptor ligand binding domain. These single-chain receptor proteins undergo an intramolecular rearrangement, rather than intermolecular dimerization and are functional as monomers. Thus, the ability to engineer DNA binding specificities of zinc finger proteins enables the construction of ligand-dependent transcriptional regulators with potential for the regulation of virtually any desired artificial or natural promoter. It is anticipated that the novel chemically regulated gene switches described herein will find many applications in applied and basic research, where the specific modulation of gene expression can be exploited.
MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE IN DETAINEE OPERATIONS

Abstract ‘On or about XX1100XXX2009 … I arrived at Compound XX, TIF Defender, Camp Bucca Iraq and discovered that SFC XXXX and CPL XXXX had, in contravention of standard operating procedure and the requirements of Combined Joint Task Force 134 General Orders, entered Compound XX without first securing all detainees in the Salat, and walked to the rear fenceline through the occupied Compound, many times within deadspace [outside the] guard force's line of sight, and back through the sally port.1 SFC XXXX and CPL XXXX were unmolested during this entry. No prior coordination was performed with the other members of the guard force, other than PFC XXXX who was ordered by SFC XXXX to open the sally port to allow entry. SFC XXXX and CPL XXXX were in a Compound occupied at the time by approximately 1038 Iraqi Security Detainees, and could have been harmed or taken hostage with little warning, leaving the guard force few options other than to attempt to defend SFC XXXX and CPL XXXX by lethal means, as these were t...
Transmission of force and velocity in the feeding mechanisms of labrid fishes (Teleostei, Perciformes)

The feeding mechanisms of four species of the teleostean family Labridae (Cheilinus fasciatus, C. trilobatus, Oxycheilinus bimaculatus, and O. unifasciatus) were modeled using four-bar linkage theory from mechanical engineering. The predictions of four-bar linkage models regarding the kinematics of feeding were compared to the movements observed with high speed cinematography (200 frames/s). A four-bar linkage was an accurate model of the mechanism by which upper jaw protrusion, maxillary rotation, and gape increase occur in each species. A four-bar mechanism of hyoid depression was an accurate predictor of hyoid depression when simultaneous cranial elevation and sternohyoideus contraction were simulated. Morphometrics of the linkage systems of the jaws and hyoid were collected for 12 labrid species. These data were used to calculate the transmission of force and motion through the musculoskeletal linkages. Several measures of mechanical advantage and displacement advantage were compared, including both traditional lever ratios and transmission coefficients of four-bar linkages. Alternative designs of the feeding mechanisms maximize force or velocity for the capture of different prey types. High velocity transmission of both the jaw and hyoid systems is characteristic of those species that feed on evasive prey, whereas species that feed on benthic invertebrates favor increased force transmission in both systems. Quantitative models of biomechanical systems supply criteria for functionally relevant morphometrics, and aid in calculating the capacity for transmission of force and velocity in musculoskeletal systems.
Comparison of breast tissue measurements using magnetic resonance imaging, digital mammography and a mathematical algorithm.

Women with mostly mammographically dense fibroglandular tissue (breast density, BD) have a four- to six-fold increased risk for breast cancer compared to women with little BD. BD is most frequently estimated from two-dimensional (2D) views of mammograms by a histogram segmentation approach (HSM) and more recently by a mathematical algorithm consisting of mammographic imaging parameters (MATH). Two non-invasive clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols: 3D gradient-echo (3DGRE) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) were modified for 3D volumetric reconstruction of the breast for measuring fatty and fibroglandular tissue volumes by a Gaussian-distribution curve-fitting algorithm. Replicate breast exams (N = 2 to 7 replicates in six women) by 3DGRE and STIR were highly reproducible for all tissue-volume estimates (coefficients of variation 0.75 indicating that all four methods were reliable for measuring BD and that the mathematical algorithm and the two complimentary non-invasive MRI protocols could objectively and reliably estimate different types of breast tissues.
Extension of a theorem of Whitney

Abstract It is shown that every planar graph with no separating triangles is a subgraph of a Hamiltonian planar graph; that is, Whitney’s theorem holds without the assumption of a triangulation.
Fault Detection by Output Response Comparison of Identical Circuits Using Half-Frequency Compatible Sequences

When multiple copies of the same functional unit are available in a design, fault detection can be achieved by comparing the output responses of two copies (or two identical circuits). This obviates the need for storing test responses or for computing signatures of test responses. The paper proposes the testing of identical circuits using a deterministic test sequence by running the circuits at different speeds. This allows the detection of delay faults even if the two copies are affected by similar faults. The proposed method is particularly suitable in applications where functional sequences are used to bin products or to detect delay faults. The case where one of the copies is run at the full circuit speed while the other copy is run at half the full frequency was considered. To allow output response comparison under these conditions, a procedure for designing an input sequence that produces identical output vectors from the two copies every second time unit was described, assuming that both copies are fault free. It was shown that the existence of such input sequences depends on the initial state. Moreover, it is advantageous to start the two copies from different initial states. Experimental results show that very high fault coverage can be achieved by using such sequences
“The End of Autocracy”: Analysing Representations of the Austro-Hungarian Dissolution as the Foundation of US Hegemonic Discourse

This paper investigates the manner in which the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was represented to the US public using a qualitative content analysis of articles from three major US newspapers in October and November, 1918. Against a geopolitical backdrop of the increasing global presence of the United States and assertion of its influence in international affairs, the analysis shows that three key themes were emphasised in the popular US political narratives at the end of World War I: national self-determination, legitimacy of governance, and the role of Eastern European diasporas and representatives in the United States. Throughout the essay, these themes are connected to key discussions of US hegemony in political geography. The critical geopolitics approach highlights how the articles signposted boundary markers of identity at a crucial, transitional point in US history, helping to crystallise an American sense of ‘Self’ increasingly based upon world leadership, and sending compelling messages...
The impact of sexual orientation and gender role on evaluations of men.

The current study examined whether negative evaluations by predominantly heterosexual males, against gay males, is based on gay men's sexual orientation, per se, or on their real or perceived general gender role violations. Participants were 177 undergraduate, male students at an urban, private, Jesuit institution. Respondents read vignettes that described either masculine or feminine acting males of gay, heterosexual, or unspecified sexual orientation. Then participants were asked to rate the targets on a series of evaluative questions. Results revealed significant main effects for gender role and sexual orientation, indicating that feminine targets were rated more negatively than masculine targets, and gay targets were rated more negatively than heterosexual and unspecified targets. These findings support the conclusion that femininity and homosexuality act independently in the negative ratings of men.
Fossil Occurrence of Murine Rodent (Nesokia indica) in the Sudan

A specimen of the murid rodent Nesokia indica has been recovered from a late Paleolithic archeological site in the Sudan. This is a range 1200 km south of the site of any known occurrences, and it indicates a different environment near the Nile River than that which exists at the present time. The late Paleolithic water table is inferred to have been more stable, allowing for permanent moist soil.
Glucagon-Induced Vasospasm of Hepatic Artery Branches During Visceral Angiography

Glucagon is often used in radiology to decrease bowel motility for enhanced imaging, including visceral digital subtraction angiography. We present a case in which branch hepatic artery vasospasm followed the intravenous administration of glucagon during visceral angiography.
A point collocation method based on reproducing kernel approximations

A reproducing kernel particle method with built-in multiresolution features in a very attractive meshfree method for numerical solution of partial differential equations. The design and implementation of a Galerkin-based reproducing kernel particle method, however, faces several challenges such as the issue of nodal volumes and accurate and efficient implementation of boundary conditions. In this paper we present a point collocation method based on reproducing kernel approximations. We show that, in a point collocation approach, the assignment of nodal volumes and implementation of boundary conditions are not critical issues and points can be sprinkled randomly making the point collocation method a true meshless approach. The point collocation method based on reproducing kernel approximations, however, requires the calculation of higher-order derivatives that would typically not be required in a Galerkin method, A correction function and reproducing conditions that enable consistency of the point collocation method are derived. The point collocation method is shown to be accurate for several one and two-dimensional problems and the convergence rate of the point collocation method is addressed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
WWOX: A fragile tumor suppressor

WWOX, the WW domain-containing oxidoreductase gene at chromosome region 16q23.3–q24.1, spanning chromosomal fragile site FRA16D, encodes the 46 kDa Wwox protein, a tumor suppressor that is lost or reduced in expression in a wide variety of cancers, including breast, prostate, ovarian, and lung. The function of Wwox as a tumor suppressor implies that it serves a function in the prevention of carcinogenesis. Indeed, in vitro studies show that Wwox protein interacts with many binding partners to regulate cellular apoptosis, proliferation, and/or maturation. It has been reported that newborn Wwox knockout mice exhibit nascent osteosarcomas while Wwox+/− mice exhibit increased incidence of spontaneous and induced tumors. Furthermore, absence or reduction of Wwox expression in mouse xenograft models results in increased tumorigenesis, which can be rescued by Wwox re-expression, though there is not universal agreement among investigators regarding the role of Wwox loss in these experimental models. Despite this ...
USING INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS FOR MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

This study examines whether there is a role for microenterprise development as an anti-poverty strategy in the United States. This question is important because skeptical views exist regarding whether, generally, poor Americans would have the enthusiasm to undertake the risk of dealing with small-businesses, especially given that the United States has a public welfare system to take care of the poor and "abundant jobs" for those with the skills. Using data from 14 community-based programs promoting small-business investment through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), this study finds that, overall, there is a considerable level of interest in saving for and investing in small-businesses among poor Americans, including those who are less advantaged in terms of income poverty and employment. Policy makers should thus consider promoting IDAs/subsidized savings for small-businesses development as a potentially viable strategy to address income poverty and inequality in the United States.
Morphological aspects of the third instar larva of Haematobia irritans.

. The main morphological features of the cephalic region of the larva of Haematobia irritans (L.) are the oral grooves, tripartite labium and the antennomaxillary protuberances that have the dorsal, terminal and ventral sensory organs. The total number of sensilla that are found on the terminal organ differs from other cyclorrhaphous-fly larvae. The fan-shaped anterior spiracles usually consist of seven bulbous digits that are unequal in length. The creeping welts consist of notched, convex plates that split into two separate plates as they approach the midline of the venter. This characteristic has not been described previously for this species or other, higher, dipterous larvae. There are two posterior spiracles with an ecdysial scar, four fan-shaped and branching spiracular hairs and irregularly-shaped spiracular openings. The longitudinal anal opening is situated in the cuticular band that is known as the anal organ.
Organic diode implementations in configurable architectures and temperature sensors

In this paper, we report organic semiconductor based diodes, the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) integration technique with organic field effect transistors (OFET) for configurable diode arrays and sensors. We utilize the vertical organic diode approach, in which a layer of organic semiconductor (pentacene) is sandwiched between Au- and Al-electrodes such that one of the electrodes (Au) creates a homojunction with pentacene layer and permits the hole injection, on the other hand Al electrode and pentacene couple creates a heterojunction because of their work function difference and this junction blocks the injection of holes. Proposed design flow relies on only basic microfabrication processes such as photolithography and physical vapor deposition and the novel fabrication technique allows patterning of conductive silicon gate islands on the SOI subtrate and eases the via and interconnect patterning and deposition for a bottom-gate OFET configuration.
Time spent in the goal box: Effects of frequency and schedule of reinforcement

Running times showed a typical partial reinforcement effect in a runway which allowed S to retrace from goal to stem. Retrace times on nonreward trials agreed with frustration theory, in that (a) during training, partially rewarded Ss spent less time in the goal box than continuously nonrewarded Ss, and (b) during extinction, time spent in the goal box was a decreasing function of the frequency of prior reward.
Scheduling And Path Planning Of Multiple Robots In A Factory

This paper describes the work in progress for scheduling and planning paths for map-guided robots (AGVs) maneuvering in a dynamic factory floor environment. A schedule of a group of robots consists of a set of paths to be traversed and the start, stop and wait time at each point of a single robot's path segment. The optimal schedule will minimize the finish time of all the robots's tasks. We will show that the optimal routing problem for multiple robots is computationally intractable (NP-Complete). Our methodology is to generate reasonably good schedules in time by combining techniques from two different disciplines. We use a time map management system from artificial intelligence (AI) research to generate an initial schedule quickly, then we pass the initial schedule to an iterative refinement loop (or local search) to gradually improve it locally using an optimization process from operations research (OR). We will briefly recount the basic principles for map-guided autonomous navigation, which has been published in [Meng88b].
Embracing the Divine: Passion and Politics in the Christian Middle East. By Akram Fouad Khater. (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2011. Pp. xi, 238. $39.95.)

As so often happens in historical research, some of the best treasures are found by accident. Such is the case with Akram Fouad Khater's Embracing the Divine. During a break from tedious archival d...
How significant is the impact of irrigation on the local hydroclimate in California’s Central Valley? Comparison of model results with ground and remote-sensing data

[1] The effect of irrigation on regional climate has been studied over the years. However, in most studies, the model was usually set at coarse resolution, and the soil moisture was set to field capacity at each time step. We reinvestigated this issue over the Central Valley of California's agricultural area by: (1) using the regional climate model at different resolutions down to the finest resolution of 4 km for the most inner domain, covering California's Central Valley, the central coast, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and water; (2) using a more realistic irrigation scheme in the model through the use of different allowable soil water depletion configurations; and (3) evaluating the simulated results against satellite and in situ observations available through the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS). The simulation results with fine model resolution and with the more realistic irrigation scheme indicate that the surface meteorological fields are noticeably improved when compared with observations from the CIMIS network and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data. Our results also indicate that irrigation has significant impacts on local meteorological fields by decreasing temperature by 3°–7°C and increasing relative humidity by 9–20%, depending on model resolutions and allowable soil water depletion configurations. More significantly, our results using the improved model show that the effects of irrigation on weather and climate do not extend very far into nonirrigated regions.
First‐principles‐derived dynamics of F2 reactive scattering on Si(100)‐2×1

We have simulated via molecular dynamics the interaction of F2 with the clean Si(100)‐2×1 reconstructed surface. Using a Stillinger–Weber‐type many‐body potential with the Si–F interactions refit to ab initio data, we find that both vibrational and translational excitation of the incident F2 can lead to increased reactivity, but they do so in different ways. The dominant reaction channels are (a) F‐atom abstraction, leading to the formation of one Si–F bond while the remaining fluorine atom is ejected away from the surface, and (b) dissociative chemisorption, where both fluorine atoms in the incident F2 molecule form Si–F bonds on the surface. Nonreactive scattering is almost never observed. As a result, enhanced reactivity is mainly characterized by an increase in dissociative chemisorption at the expense of F‐atom abstraction and by a corresponding increase in the initial reaction probability S0. We find S0 ranges from 0.57±0.04 for the lowest excitation energies to 0.78±0.04 for the largest translation...
Catfish hepcidin gene is expressed in a wide range of tissues and exhibits tissue-specific upregulation after bacterial infection

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immune response against microbial invasion. The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidin have been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfish is unknown. As a first step, we sequenced a hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfish and blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfish hepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids. The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and other organisms. In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channel catfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain. Its expression was detected early during embryonic and larval development, and induced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. The upregulation was observed in the spleen and head kidney, but not in the liver. The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1--3 days after challenge, but returned to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expression profile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those of inflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.
Regulation of expression of apolipoprotein A-I by selenium status in human liver hepatoblastoma cells

Cardiomyopathy is common to areas with low selenium (Se) intake and in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition. Although controversial, a few studies have suggested a protective role for Se in coronary heart disease on the basis of modulation of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). In this study, the role of Se as a positive regulator of expression of a key HDL, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), has been evaluated in human hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cell culture model. We further examined if the transcription of apoA-I, driven by the nuclear hormone receptor, peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor, PPARα, was trans-repressed by the presence of the oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor, NF-κB. Modulation of expression of apoA-I and activation of nuclear NF-κB subunit p65 and PPARα by Se status were evaluated by Western blot and luciferase-based assays. Interaction of p65 with PPARα was evaluated by immunoprecipitation. HepG2 cultured in media with Se (100 nM) demonstrated an increase in the expression of apoA-I when compared to Se-deficient cells. A similar trend was also seen in mice that were supplemented with 0.4 ppm of Se as sodium selenite. Treatment of Se-supplemented cells with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed induction of apoA-I. Supplementation of hepatocytes with Se decreased the nuclear levels of p65, which prevented its interaction with PPARα to modulate apoA-I transcription. Our results suggest that supplementation of hepatocytes with Se mitigates oxidative stress-dependent repression of apoA-I expression by suppressing the NF-κB pathway, which allows PPARα to effectively drive the expression of apoA-I.
A search for infrared emission from intracluster dust in Abell 2029

We have searched for IR emission from the intracluster dust (ICD) in the galaxy cluster A2029. Weak signals of enhanced extended emission in the cluster are detected at 24 and 70 μm. However, the signals are indistinguishable from the foreground fluctuations. The 24 μm versus 70 μm color map does not discriminate the dust emission in the cluster from the cirrus emission. After excluding the contamination from the point sources, we obtain upper limits for the extended ICD emission in A2029, 5 × 103 Jy sr-1 at 24 μm and 5 × 104 Jy sr-1 at 70 μm. The upper limits are generally consistent with the expectation from theoretical calculations and support a dust deficiency in the cluster compared to the interstellar medium (ISM) of our Galaxy. Our results suggest that even with the much improved sensitivity of current IR telescopes, a clear detection of the IR emission from ICD may be difficult due to cirrus noise.
Understanding and Fostering Family Resilience

Family resilience can be defined as the ability of a family to respond positively to an adverse situation and emerge from the situation feeling strengthened, more resourceful, and more confident than its prior state. This article presents a succinct literature review on family resilience, including its dimensions, working models, and the individual and family characteristics that contribute to family resilience. Borrowing largely from solution-focused principles and techniques, numerous practical applications of a resilience orientation to family-related assessment and treatment are described. The article concludes with a call for additional research and training in the area of family resilience.
Imaging mesenchymal stem cell migration and the implications for stem cell-based cancer therapies

Mesenchymal stem cells are promising cellular vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic proteins to sites of cancer growth upon transplantation. To better understand the physiology and biology of the transplanted stem cells, it is necessary and desirable to track the fate of stem cells noninvasively and longitudinally. Reporter gene imaging is a powerful tool to monitor live stem cells in vivo. In this special report, we review currently investigated reporter genes used for tracking stem cells in vivo by optical, radionuclide, magnetic resonance and multimodality imaging techniques. We also discuss the possibility and feasibility of applying reporter gene imaging to monitor stem-cell-based therapeutic gene delivery efficiency and treatment efficacy.
A Note on Huynh's Normal Approximation Procedure for Estimating Criterion-Referenced Reliability.

Among the existing methods for assessing the reliability of a mastery test, Huynh's (1976) approach has received much attention (see Subkoviak, 1980). Some of the reasons for its popularity are that Huynh's method requires only one test administration; it produces reliability estimates involving little bias or error (see Huynh & Saunders, 1979, 1980; Subkoviak, 1978); and it is based on an elegant mathematical model. Yet a practical inconvenience arises in actual computation; the extensive calculations involved generally require a computer, which may not be accessible to classroom teachers and other practitioners. Thus, Huynh also suggested an alternative approximation whose accuracy has not yet been fully scrutinized. The present study seeks to examine the accuracy of Huynh's approximation procedure as well as that of a second, somewhat simpler approximation. Specifically, the two approximation procedures were studied using both simulated and real data; the simpler procedure generally proved to be more accurate for the cases considered. The next section introduces Huynh's exact method and the two approximations mentioned above.
Bayh-Dole: if we knew then what we know now

More than 25 years after the US Bayh-Dole Act was passed to encourage technology transfer from universities, is it time to reexamine and revamp this key legislation?
Inhibition of von Willebrand factor binding to platelets by two recognition site peptides: the pentadecapeptide of the carboxy terminus of the fibrinogen gamma chain and the tetrapeptide arg-gly-asp-ser.

Abstract When platelets are stimulated by thrombin or ADP, von Willebrand factor (vWf) binds to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa). Two recognition sites for vWf binding have been identified on the GPIIb/IIIa. One is a tetrapeptide, arg-gly-asp-ser (RGDS), and the second is a dodecapeptide with the sequence HHLGGAKQAGDV. We used these purified peptides to analyze the recognition specificities for the platelet binding of vWf. The RGDS and the pentadecapeptide totally inhibited 125 I-vWf in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 was 8 μM for the RGDS and 40 μM for the pentadecapeptide. These results indicate that the RGDS binds with higher affinity to a vWf binding site on GPIIb/IIIa than does the pentadecapeptide site. When the two peptides were incubated together, they augmented the inhibition of vWf binding. These data support the evidence that the GPIIb/IIIa has two distinct binding sites for vWf binding. The RGDS site appears to have a higher affinity for the vWf binding site than does the pentadecapeptide site.
The influence of hydrazine reduction on metal dispersion and support morphology in bimetallic Ru---Au/MgO catalysts

The influence of hydrazine reduction on metal dispersion, particle size distribution, and support morphology was investigated for a series of bimetallic Ru-AuiMgO catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation of MgO with chlorine-containing precursor salt solutions. Hydrazine reduction significantly lowered the residual chlorine content of the catalysts and allowed the formation of high-surface-area MgO. This, in turn, led to much higher Ru metal dispersions as compared to that obtained after HZ reduction alone. X-Ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) proved that bimetallic Ru-Au aggregates were confined to a particle size range of less than 5 nm. Particles larger than 10 nm contained without exception monometallic Au. The hydrazine-treated catalysts did not show the suppression in catalytic activity for CO hydrogenation that was observed in HZ-reduced Ru/MgO catalysts. The increased metal dispersion and restored catalytic activity of Ru in the hydrazine-treated catalysts may be linked to the absence of chlorine contamination of the support.
Responsibilities of a Good Reviewer: Lessons Learned from Kindergarten

It also goes without saying that a good reviewer has a responsibility to the discipline—ensuring that work published in high-quality outlets is competently executed and worthy of readers’ attention. Most reviewers would also agree that the reviewer has a responsibility to the editor, making sure he or she does not embarrass the editor by publishing an article unworthy of the readers’ attention. Less obvious, however, is the responsibility of the reviewer to the authors (for exceptions, see Holbrook 1986; Lynch 1998). As reviewers, we are responsible for serving the editor and discipline while helping and not demoralizing our colleagues. Unfortunately, evidence of demoralization can be seen on multiple fronts, from casual conversations with colleagues; heated debates in editorial board meetings; and, ironically, publications on the difficulty of getting published (e.g., Holbrook 1986). BEING RESPONSIBLE TO AUTHORS
A hybrid level set-volume constraint method for incompressible two-phase flow

A second-order hybrid level set-volume constraint method (HLSVC) for numerically simulating deforming boundaries is presented. We combine the HLSVC interface advection algorithm with a two phase flow solver in order to numerically capture deforming bubbles and drops whose actual volume (s) fluctuate about fixed ''target'' volume (s). Three novel developments are described: (1) a new method for enforcing a volume constraint in which the number of bubbles and drops can change due to merging or splitting, (2) a new, second order, semi-lagrangian narrow band level set reinitialization algorithm, and (3) validation of a two-phase flow numerical method by comparison with linear stability analysis results for a co-flowing liquid jet in gas. The new interface capturing method is tested on benchmark problems in which the velocity is prescribed (passive advection of interfaces) and in which the velocity is determined by the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations for two-phase flow. The error in interface position when using the hybrid level set-volume constraint method is reported for many benchmark problems in polar coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, and on an adaptive grid in which one criteria of adaptivity is the magnitude of the interface curvature.
L 2 gain verification for interconnections of locally stable systems using integral quadratic constraints

The paper establishes conditions which certify a local L 2 gain for interconnections of locally stable systems. The approach involves improvements to local L 2 gain estimation using reachability calculations. From these improved calculations, families of local integral quadratic constraints (IQCs) can be obtained for a fixed nonlinear dynamical system. Finally, the local IQCs are used to establish a local L 2 gain using a state-space formulation of the IQC robust performance theorem.