cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing response latency and self‐report methods for estimating levels of certainty in knowledge elicitation for rule‐based expert systems

Many practitioners and theoreticians feel uncomfortable in using classic self-report, knowledge acquisition methods for assessing an expert’s feelings of confidence or certainty about rules, choices or decisions. This paper proposes and tests an alternative approach using response latency, or the time it takes an expert to respond to a paired choice inquiry. The question is to learn if there is any merit in considering the response latency approach as a replacement for the classic method. This investigation is concerned with using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to compare two methods for estimating a subject’s feeling of certainty or confidence about their rule, choice or decision. One method is the older or classic method where a subject self-reports both the choice selected and the level of certainty associated with a choice-pair on the 1-to-9 scale used with the AHP. The second is proposed by the authors and based on using only the choice and decision time or response latency. In the second case, the inverse of response latency is used to estimate a subject’s degree of certainty or confidence in the selected choice in a paired comparison experiment. The response latency method has the advantage of being unobtrusive, less prone to conscious censure, quicker to perform, requiring less effort, and possibly being less expensive to administer. Employing AHP methodology, priorities are used to represent the degree of confidence among choices or rules, and consistency ratios are used to estimate the degree of consistency detected by each method. To compare the two methods, 21 subjects were evaluated in a paired sample design. Employing a computer-administered questionnaire, subjects expressed relative levels of confidence for a set of potential recommendations and the time for each subject to respond was recorded unobtrusively. Using paired sample t tests, sufficient evidence was found to reject the null hypothesis (α= 0.025) that the mean of the difference in the priorities between the two methods was zero (p < 0.0001). In a second test, there was sufficient evidence to be at least 95% confident of accepting an alternative hypothesis that response latency produces a lower consistency ratio (higher consistency of the reports) than the self-report method (p < 0.0001). In addition to the tests of significance, the results were found to be practically significant and are discussed in the paper.
Indentation of Metallic and Cermet Thermal Spray Coatings

Indentation methods are presented by which the elastic and inelastic stress-strain characteristics of metallic thermal spray (TS) coatings on substrates may be extracted. The methods are based on existing techniques for brittle solids, and adapted for the finite geometry associated with coatings. Basic assumptions and derivations are given, along with guidelines for experimental measurement. Using these, indentation inelastic stress-strain curves are generated for NiCrAlY and Ni-Al bondcoats, as well as WC-Co cermet coatings. Elastic moduli are extracted for CoNiCrAlY coatings. Results are briefly discussed in the context of the effect of feedstock material, process and post-process heat treatment on the intrinsic properties of splats as well as their in-coating cohesion. The methods presented are attractive, particularly for the TS industry, due to the minimal specimen preparation and lack of intricate equipment required for measurement.
Requirements for Jag1-Rbpj mediated Notch signaling during early mouse lens development

Background: During vertebrate lens development, the lens placode in the embryonic ectoderm invaginates into a lens vesicle, which then separates from the surface epithelium, followed by two waves of fiber cell differentiation. In the mouse, multiple labs have shown that Jag1-Notch signaling is critically required during the second wave of lens fiber cell formation. However, Notch signaling appears to play no obvious role during lens induction or morphogenesis, although multiple pathway genes are expressed at these earlier stages. Results: Here, we explored functions for Notch signaling specifically during early lens development, by using the early-acting AP2α-Cre driver to delete Jag1 or Rbpj. We found that Jag1 and Rbpj are not required during lens induction, but are necessary for proper lens vesicle separation from the surface ectoderm. Conclusions: We conclude that precise levels of Notch signaling are essential during lens vesicle morphogenesis. In addition, AP2α-Cre-mediated deletion of Rbpj resulted in embryos with cardiac outflow tract and liver deformities, and perinatal lethality. Developmental Dynamics 241:493–504, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluating and Sentencing a Defendant as a Function of His Salience and the Perceiver's Set

A videotaped mock trial was employed to examine the effects of perceivers' cognitive set and the salience of a defendant upon perceivers' evaluations and sentencing of him. Cognitive set influenced both the range and the direction of salience effects. The defendant was seen as more responsible for the crime by perceivers who were set to watch a trial and to determine his guilt than by those who were set to watch a social interaction and to form an impression of him. Given a trial set, the more visibly salient the defendant, the more negatively he was evaluated. However, the defendant's salience did not influence the recommended sentence. Given an impression set, the more visibly salient the defendant, the more positively he was evaluated, and the more lenient the recommended sentence.
Nonequilibrium transport in very high Landau levels

Low temperature transport properties of high mobility two-dimensional electron systems placed in a weak perpendicular magnetic field can be modified dramatically by microwave or dc electric fields. This paper surveys recent experimental developments which include zero-differential resistance states, Hall field-induced resistance oscillations in tilted magnetic fields, nonlinear response of the Shubnikov-de Haas Oscillations, and a novel microwave photoconductivity peak near the second harmonic of the cyclotron resonance.
Along Came a Spider: Using Live Arthropods in a Predator-Prey Activity

ABSTRACT We developed a predator–prey activity with eighth-grade students in which they used wolf spiders (Lycosa carolinensis), house crickets (Acheta domestica), and abiotic factors to address how (1) adaptations in predators and prey shape their interaction and (2) abiotic factors modify the interaction between predators and prey. We tested student understanding with pre- and postquizzes, written observations, and interpretations of graphical results.
Absolute Line Intensities for the ν2 Band of 12CH3D

Abstract Absolute line intensities from the ν 2 fundamental vibration-rotation band of 12 CH 3 D were measured using an infrared tunable diode laser spectrometer. Selected P - and R -branch lines were studied in the spectral region from 2170 to 2235 cm −1 . A squared vibrational transition dipole matrix element was determined to be (8.427 ± 0.220) × 10 −4 (debye) 2 based upon these measured line intensities. Also, an estimate of the ν 2 band intensity of 19.2 (cm −1 /cm-atm) was obtained at a temperature of 297.4 K. These parameters compared favorably with previously determined values.
QT dispersion in alpha-myosin heavy-chain familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mice.

Patients with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) are at risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Regional variability in the QT interval [QT dispersion (QTd)] is significantly increased in humans with FHC and ventricular arrhythmias. A mouse model of FHC resulting from a mutation in the α-myosin heavy-chain (Arg403Gln) was used to study the electrophysiologic phenotype of this disease. Cardiac electrophysiology studies and surface ECGs were performed in FHC mice and wild-type controls to evaluate the feasibility and significance of QTd measurements in predicting the risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Atrial and ventricular pacing electrodes were placed by either a transvenous or epicardial approach. Standard pacing and extrastimulus protocols were followed. The QT interval was measured in six surface ECG leads. QTd was defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum measured QT intervals. Male FHC mice had greater QTd than wild-type controls (37.1 ± 3.0 ms versus 23.9 ± 1.9 ms, p = 0.001). There was also a significant gender difference in QTd within each genotype; female wild-type mice had greater QTd than male wild-type mice (37.4 ± 5.3 ms versus 23.9 ± 1.9 ms, p = 0.005), and male FHC mice had greater QTd than female FHC mice (37.1 ± 3.0 ms versus 27.2 ± 2.0 ms, p = 0.02). Twelve of 23 FHC mice had inducible ventricular arrhythmias, whereas only 2 of 32 wild-type mice were inducible (p = 0.004). Although a significantly increased number of FHC mice had arrhythmias compared with wild-type mice, QTd did not correlate with arrhythmia inducibility. The importance of this study is that it validates the mouse model for further investigation of arrhythmogenic risk and gender differences in the electrophysiologic phenotype in FHC. It also suggests that although gender- and genotype-specific QTd values are increased, they do not predict arrhythmia risk in FHC mice.
Developing a scientific basis for radiation risk estimates: goal of the DOE Low Dose Research Program.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Low Dose Radiation Research Program is a 10 y activity currently funded at $21 million per year. It focuses on biological responses to low doses (<0.1 Gy) of low-LET ionizing radiation. The overall goal of this program is to provide a sound scientific basis for the radiation protection standards. The program supports basic research that combines modern genomic, molecular, and cellular techniques with recent advances in scientific instrumentation. These combinations make it possible to detect responses and test paradigms associated with the mechanisms of low dose radiation action not previously measurable or testable. Research to date is briefly reviewed and suggests the need for some major paradigm shifts. Exposure of the extracellular matrix can modify both the pattern of gene expression and the phenotype of the cells which result in cell transformation without direct mutation. Low dose radiation exposure results in a range of dose-response relationships for changes in the number, types, and patterns of gene expression. Such studies suggest an increased role for gene expression relative to single mutations for radiation induced cancer. Low dose research using microbeams demonstrated that cells do not require a direct hit to result in significant biological alterations. These bystander effects demonstrate that non-hit cells respond with changes in gene expression, DNA repair, chromosome aberrations, mutations, and cell killing. Research to link genomic instability with cancer is also being conducted and will be discussed. Detection of radiosensitivity genes as markers of genetic susceptibility in individuals and populations can be used in epidemiological studies to determine how molecular changes may impact risk. It is not possible to determine how this research will influence current radiation standards. However, the Low Dose Research Program will help ensure that radiation standards are set using the best scientific data available, and that they are adequate and appropriate for the protection of workers and the public.
Mechanical properties, density and quantitative CT scan data of trabecular bone with and without metastases.

Pathologic fracture of the hip due to metastatic lesions in bone is a serious problem. This study examined the effect of metastatic lesions on the material properties and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) data of trabecular bone. Twelve distal femora were obtained, four with lytic and/or blastic metastatic lesions (group L), four without lesions but from donors who died from breast, prostate, or lung cancer (group NL), and four from donors with no cancer (group NC). Each specimen was CT scanned, and 56, 15x15x15-mm cubes of trabecular bone were cut. QCT density (rho(QCT)), compressive elastic modulus (E), compressive yield and ultimate strengths (S(y) and S(u)), and ash density (rho(ash)) of each cube were determined. Regression analysis was performed between rho(ash) and E, S(y), S(u) and rho(QCT), and analysis of covariance was used to identify differences between groups. Power relationships that did not depend on group (p >/= 0.1) were found between E and rho(ash) (0.74 /= 0.94; p /= 0.99; p<0.001). These results indicate that metastatic disease does not significantly impair the ability of QCT to provide an accurate and precise estimate of rho(ash) that can be used to estimate mechanical properties of trabecular bone with and without metastases.
Integral equations of the first kind in the theory of oscillating plates

A modified matrix of fundamental solutions is used to derive and solve first-kind integral equations for the problem of high-frequency harmonic oscillations of an infinite elastic plate with a hole when Dirichlet or Neumann conditions are prescribed on the boundary curve.
A role for the cytoplasmic tail of the β chain of CD8 in thymic selection

Abstract The CD8 coreceptor plays a critical role in the recognition of foreign antigens by mature T cells and in the development of class I-restricted T cells. CD8 can be expressed on the surface of T cells as either a heterodimer composed of an aand β chain, orasa homodimer composed of two a chains. In this report, we show that a CD8β transgene that lacks a cytoplasmic domain can suppress expression of wild-type endogenous CD8β and act as a dominant negative mutation. We show that this dominant negative CD8β transgene interferes with the development of mature CD8 T cells to different extents depending on the individual class I-restricted TCR. These data suggest CD8β plays a role in thymic development, and that different class I-restricted TCRs differ in their dependence on the cytoplasmic tail of CD8β.
The CESR-CLEO program: Present and future

The research program of the Cornell Electron-positron Storage Ring and the CLEO experiment concentrates on heavy quark and lepton physics near the e+e− → bb threshold. Since progress in b weak interaction physics is paced by the size of the data samples, the storage ring is now being upgraded to provide higher luminosity and the detector is being upgraded for improved sensitivity. A possible future upgrade now under consideration would bring CESR to a peak luminosity of 3 × 1034 /cm2sec.
Spatial neglect and paradoxical lesion effects in the cat — A model based on midbrain connectivity

Abstract Spatial visual attention in humans and mammals is severely disrupted after deactivation of specific cortical or subcortical regions. Such dysfunction has frequently been associated with impaired unilateral cortical mechanisms. Alternatively, I propose that essential mechanisms of spatial attention are based on the bilateral competition between subcortical midbrain structures. Consequently, visuospatial hemineglect and hemi-extinction arise from unbalanced bilateral competition. I present a simple mathematical model, based on known connectivity of the cat midbrain, that exemplifies the principle of competition through mutual inter-hemispheric inhibition. The model represents a linear, topographic integration of several cortical and subcortical inputs in the two halves of the feline superior colliculus. Such a system reproduced a variety of neglect symptoms and also explained the paradoxical effects observed in some lesion experiments where the consequences of a primary lesion could be reversed through a secondary lesion in structures of the contralateral hemisphere. The model generated predictions for future experiments.
Antitumor Agents XXIX: Effects of Eupahyssopin on Nucleic Acid, Protein, Anaerobic, and Aerobic Metabolism of Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells

Abstract Evidence is presented that the antitumor agent eupahyssopin, a germacranolide, inhibits deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, protein, and cholesterol synthesis of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in CF 1 male mice. Eupahyssopin appears to bind to nucleotide bases of deoxyribonucleic acid. The drug also inhibits deoxyribonucleic acid and messenger ribonucleic acid polymerase activities and, marginally, thymidylate synthetase activity. Template activity, as regulated by phosphorylation of histones and nonhistones, and cyclic 3ʹ,5ʹ-adenosine monophosphate levels also were affected by drug therapy. Lysosomal enzymes, e . g ., deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease, and cathepsin activities were inhibited by eupahyssopin administration. A number of sulfhydryl-bearing enzymes of the glycolytic and Krebs cycles were inhibited by drug treatment, as were enzymes required for glycogen synthesis and breakdown and for phosphatase hydrolysis. Eupahyssopin also inhibited both basal respiration and coupled oxidative phosphorylation processes of the tumor cell. It was proposed that eupahyssopin, which contains the O=CC=CH 2 as an α-methylene γ-lactone moiety within its allylic ester side chain, has the ability to undergo a rapid Michael-type addition with sulfhydryl groups of these enzymes and thus to inhibit their activities in a manner analogous to that described for other sesquiterpene antitumor agents containing the O=CC=CH 2 moiety.
Spin-diffusion couples proton relaxation rates for proteins in exchange with a membrane interface.

Abstract Changes in nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rates that are induced by a freely diffusing paramagnetic relaxation agent are examined for a protein in solution and compared to the case where the protein binds to a membrane. In the solution case, the intramolecular cross-relaxation rates are modest and large differences are observed in the oxygen induced protein–proton relaxation rates. In the case where a dynamic equilibrium between solution and membrane-bound environments is established, the intramolecular 1 H cross-relaxation rates for the protein protons increase dramatically because of the slow reorientational motion in the membrane-bound environment. As a consequence, all protein protons relax with nearly the same spin-lattice relaxation rate constants when bound to the membrane, and site specific relaxation effects of the diffusing paramagnet are suppressed. Slowly reorienting sites or rotationally immobilized sites sampled by observable molecules in vivo will demonstrate similar relaxation leveling effects.
Determination of isotope composition in protic solvents by cobal-59 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry

Abstract The very large chemical shift range provided by cobalt-59 yields well resolved lines for each of the nineteen isotopic species in the series of complexes ranging from Co(NH 3 ) 3+ 6 to Co(ND 3 ) 3+ 6 and each of the thirteen isotopic species in the similar series of tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) complexes. The relative intensily distribution of these n.m.r. signals at equilibrium is related directly to the proton isotope composition of the solvent. This n.m.r. method of quantifying the isotope composition is examined with respect to the equilibrium isotope and the application to determination in aquerous and non-aqueous solvents.
Mineral ion contents and cell transmembrane electropotentials of pea and oat seedling tissue.

The relationships of concentration gradients to electropotential gradients resulting from passive diffusion processes, after equilibration, are described by the Nernst equation. The primary criterion for the hypothesis that any given ion is actively transported is to establish that it is not diffusing passively. A test was made of how closely the Nernst equation describes the electrochemical equilibrium in seedling tissues. Segments of roots and epicotyl internodes of pea (Pisum sativum var. Alaska) and of roots and coleoptiles of oat (Avena sativa var. Victory) seedlings were immersed and shaken in defined nutrient solutions containing eight major nutrients (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, NO3−, H2PO4− and SO42−) at 1-fold and 10-fold concentrations. The tissue content of each ion was assayed at 0, 8, 24, and 48 hours. A near-equilibrium condition was approached by roots for most ions; however, the segments of shoot tissue generally continued to show a net accumulation of some ions, mainly K+ and NO3−. Only K+ approached a reasonable fit to the Nernst equation and this was true for the 1-fold concentration but not the 10-fold. The data suggest that for Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ the electrochemical gradient is from the external solution to the cell interior; thus passive diffusion should be in an inward direction. Consequently, some mechanism must exist in plant tissue either to exclude these cations or to extrude them (e.g., by an active efflux pump). For each of the anions the electrochemical gradient is from the tissue to the solution; thus an active influx pump for anions seems required. Root segments approach ionic equilibrium with the solution concentration in which the seedlings were grown. Segments of shoot tissue, however, are far removed from such equilibration. Thus in the intact seedling the extracellular (wall space) fluid must be very different from that of the nutrient solution bathing the segments; it would appear that the root is the site of regulation of ion uptake in the intact plant although other correlative mechanisms may be involved.
Using LEGOs to Teach Product Design and Team-Based CAD Modeling

Team-based CAD modeling projects offer an opportunity for students to experience the challenge of building a model using inputs from several designers. Such projects are however difficult to formulate in a manner that requires each team member to make an equitable contribution and for the level of complexity across different teams to be similar. Often, realism and the opportunity to use the more advanced modeling features are sacrificed for the sake of expediency. In the Engineering Design Graphics II (EDG II) course at Western Washington University (WWU) a LEGO® based CAD modeling project has been introduced that is designed to encourage students to use more advanced techniques, such as sweep and loft, while at the same time providing a means to achieve realism and better consistency in effort across teams. This paper summarizes the experience of running this type of project. Results show that while some variability exists on how the approach promotes increased usage of advanced part modeling techniques and improved consistency in project complexity across teams, the potential to manage these is greatly enhanced. Further, as the examples show, the approach is rich enough to motivate innovative concept development. Students are able to fully exercise the design process leading to a functioning, physical prototype that closely matches their CAD work.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Selection of antimicrobial agents in periodontal therapy.

Background: The recognition over the past 3 decades of microbial specificity in periodontitis has afforded dental practitioners the ability to prevent and treat the disease with a variety of antimicrobial drugs. These include systemic antibiotics, topical antibiotics and topical antiseptics. Results: Systemic antibiotic therapy can be essential in eliminating pathogenic bacteria that invade gingival tissue and in helping control periodontal pathogens residing in various domains of the mouth from where they may translocate to periodontal sites. Frequently used periodontal combination antibiotic therapies are metronidazole-amoxicillin (250–375 mg of each 3 × daily for 8 days) and metronidazole-ciprofloxacin (500 mg of each 2 × daily for 8 days). Microbiological analysis helps determine the optimal antibiotic therapy and effectiveness of treatment. Topical antibiotics that are commercially available as controlled release devices suffer from several potential problems, including insufficient spectrum of antimicrobial activity in some periodontal polymicrobial infections, risks of producing an antibiotic resistant microbiota, and high acquisition costs. Topical antiseptics of relevance in periodontal treatment include 10% povidone-iodine placed subgingivally by a syringe for 5 min, and 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution applied subgingivally by patients using an irrigation device. Clinical implications: The present paper recommends periodontal treatment that includes a battery of professionally and patient-administered antimicrobial agents (properly prescribed systemic antibiotics, povidone-iodine and sodium hypochlorite subgingival irrigants, and chlorhexidine mouthrinse). Available chemotherapeutics can provide effective, safe, practical and affordable means of controlling subgingival colonization of periodontal pathogens and various types of periodontal disease.
Endothelial function, endothelin-1, and fibrinogen in young women using the vaginal contraceptive ring.

Objective To assess the effects of the vaginal contraceptive ring cycle on indices of cardiovascular health and risk by studying healthy women during the active hormone phase compared with the ring-free phase of a standard 21/7-day cycle. Design Observational prospective cohort; 4 weeks' duration. Setting Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon. Patient(s) Twenty healthy women. Intervention(s) Endothelial function testing using standard flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery and sublingual nitroglycerin administration. All participants underwent venous blood collection. Main Outcome Measure(s) Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation of the brachial artery using Doppler ultrasound imaging. Baseline levels of high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, total cholesterol, endothelin-1, and fibrinogen. Result(s) The active hormone phase of the vaginal ring cycle showed significantly higher vasodilation compared with the ring-free phase. The active hormone phase also showed increased fibrinogen levels compared with the ring-free phase. Low-density lipoprotein lipid levels also fluctuated and were significantly higher during the ring-free phase. Conclusion(s) Preliminary study observations of improved endothelial function and lowered low-density lipoprotein levels during the active hormone phase versus the ring-free phase suggest that the vaginal contraceptive ring has beneficial effects on vascular health in women.
Ionisation cavity theory: a formal derivation of perturbation factors for thick-walled ion chambers in photon beams

Ionisation cavity theory for thick-walled chambers in photon beams is considered. Mathematically rigorous expressions based upon energy conservation are derived that equate the dose to the cavity to the product of the collision kerma, Bragg-Gray or Spencer-Attix stopping power ratios evaluated with idealised equilibrium spectra and correction factors. These correction factors account for photon attenuation and scatter and centre of electron production. They appear naturally in the derivation and differ only slightly from those used in the cavity-gas calibration factor, Ngas, in the AAPM 'Protocol for the Determination of Absorbed from High-Energy Photon and Electron Beams'. Additionally, a factor that corrects for the perturbation of the electron fluence by the cavity is derived. The expressions derived are formal only in the sense that analytical methods for calculating the fluences involved are not given. However, they may be evaluated in Monte Carlo calculations and they provide for analytical calculations.
Robust polymer microfluidic device fabrication via contact liquid photolithographic polymerization (CLiPP)

Microfluidic devices are commonly fabricated in silicon or glass using micromachining technology or elastomers using soft lithography methods; however, invariable bulk material properties, limited surface modification methods and difficulty in fabricating high aspect ratio devices prevent these materials from being utilized in numerous applications and/or lead to high fabrication costs. Contact Liquid Photolithographic Polymerization (CLiPP) was developed as an alternative microfabrication approach that uniquely exploits living radical photopolymerization chemistry to facilitate surface modification of device components, fabrication of high aspect ratio structures from many different materials with numerous covalently-adhered layers and facile construction of three-dimensional devices. This contribution describes CLiPP and demonstrates unique advantages of this new technology for microfabrication of polymeric microdevices. Specifically, the procedure for fabricating devices with CLiPP is presented, the living radical photopolymerization chemistry which enables this technology is described, and examples of devices made using CLiPP are shown.
Effects of chronic high-fat feeding on skeletal muscle mass and function in middle-aged mice

Background and aims Increased adipose tissue may promote catabolic events in skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to test whether high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity would accelerate the onset of muscle wasting in middle-aged mice.
Erythropoietin promotes neuronal replacement through revascularization and neurogenesis after neonatal hypoxia/ischemia in rats.

Background and Purpose— Erythropoietin (EPO) has been well characterized and shown to improve functional outcomes after ischemic injury, but EPO may also have unexplored effects on neurovascular remodeling and neuronal replacement in the neonatal ischemic brain. The current study investigates the effects of exogenous administration of EPO on revascularization and neurogenesis, 2 major events thought to contribute to neuronal replacement, in the neonatal brain after hypoxia/ischemia (H/I). Methods— Seven-day-old rat pups were treated with recombinant human EPO or vehicle 20 minutes after H/I and again on postischemic days 2, 4, and 6. Rats were euthanized 7 or 28 days after H/I for evaluation of infarct volume, revascularization, neurogenesis, and neuronal replacement using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, immunohistochemistry, and lectin labeling. Neurological function was assessed progressively for 28 days after H/I by gait testing, righting reflex and foot fault testing. Results— We demonstrate that exo...
Modeling Groundwater Flow under Transient Nonlinear Free Surface

This article presents a procedure to simulate groundwater flow subject to a nonlinear moving boundary resulting from periodic recharge and significant vertical hydraulic gradients. Under these conditions the Dupuit assumptions are not valid, and the governing equation is an elliptic partial differential equation that reduces to Laplace’s equation in homogeneous isotropic aquifers. This equation is subject to a transient nonlinear free-surface boundary condition. To overcome the mathematical difficulties of this boundary-value problem with a nonlinear moving boundary condition, the method of decomposition in combination with successive approximations is proposed. Decomposition series provide a simple systematic approach to the approximate solution of the nonlinear boundary-value problem without linearization or discretization. Components of the decomposition solution are shown to converge fast to an exact solution and are compared with corresponding linearized and finite-difference solutions with good agre...
Single-layer terahertz metamaterials with bulk optical constants

We investigate the conditions under which single layer metamaterials may be described by bulk optical constants. Terahertz time domain spectroscopy is utilized to investigate two types of geometries, both with two different sizes of embedding dielectric---cubic and tetragonal unit cells. The tetragonal metamaterials are shown to yield layer dependent optical constants, whereas the cubic metamaterials yielded layer independent optical constants. We establish guidelines for when $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ and $\ensuremath{\mu}$ can be used as material parameters for single layer metamaterials. Experimental results at terahertz frequencies are presented and supported by full wave three-dimensional electromagnetic simulations.
Synthesis of N-alkyl derivatives of 4-(2′-aminoethyl)indole

N-Substituted 4-(2′-aminoethyl)indoles are attainable in good yields from indole-4-acetic acid (2). Several methods of preparation for 2 were tried or considered. A new sequence involving Arndt-Eistert homologation of indole-4-carboxylic acid has been devised, which is no more laborious than a literature homologation sequence involving indole-4-acetonitrile, and which provides somewhat better overall yields than the literature method.
Imperfect competition in two-sided matching markets ✩

Abstract This paper considers a simple equilibrium model of an imperfectly competitive two-sided matching market. Firms and workers may have heterogeneous preferences over matches on the other side, and the model allows for both uniform and personalized wages or contracts. To make the model tractable, I use the Azevedo and Leshno (2013) framework, in which a finite number of firms is matched to a continuum of workers. In equilibrium, even if wages are exogenous and fixed, firms have incentives to strategically reduce their capacity, to increase the quality of their worker pool. The intensity of incentives to reduce capacity is given by a simple formula, analogous to the classic Cournot model, but depends on different moments of the distribution of preferences. I compare markets with uniform and personalized wages. For fixed quantities, markets with personalized wages always yield higher efficiency than markets with uniform wages, but may be less efficient if firms reduce capacity to avoid bidding too much for star workers.
Deficiency in Bre1 impairs homologous recombination repair and cell cycle checkpoint response to radiation damage in mammalian cells.

Abstract The pathway involving Bre1-dependent monoubiquitination of histone H2B lysine 123, which leads to Dot1-dependent methylation of histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79me2), has been implicated in survival after exposure to ionizing radiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that depletion of mammalian homologs of Bre1 compromises the response to ionizing radiation, leading to increased radiosensitivity and a G2/M checkpoint defect. The deficiency in Bre1a/b function was also associated with increased sensitivity to crosslinking drugs and defective formation of Rad51 foci in mouse cells, suggesting a defect in homologous recombinational repair analogous to that seen in Saccharomyces. In budding yeast, H3K79me2 is important for the recruitment of the checkpoint signaling protein Rad9 to sites of double-strand breaks (DSBs). However, in mammalian cells, 53BP1 (the Rad9 ortholog) in addition to H3K79me2 recognizes a different residue, H4K20me2, and some studies argue that it is H4K20me2 and not H3K79me2 tha...
Coupled morphological and thin film instabilities generated by inclusions in crystal growth

The interaction of a foreign particle that is suspended in the melt with a planar solidifying interface may induce the onset of morphological instabilities provided that its distance from the interface falls below a critical value. This distance, which is of the order of the particle’s radius, depends on the governing processing and physical parameters. When the particle is in nearcontact with the solid-liquid interface, the disjoining pressure in the melt film that separates the particle from the interface influences the interaction. We derive an expression for the film thickness at which rupture occurs. The critical film thickness, which depicts the competition between the stabilizing influence of surface tension and thermal gradients and the destabilizing influence of the intermolecular forces, varies as (Sh)1/4, where Sh is the Scheludko number that is modifed by the imposed thermal gradients. We note the existence of a critical value for the particle’s radius below which the stabilizing effects are primarily due to surface tension and above which they are due to the thermal gradients.
Negative Reinforcement and Positive Punishment

The concept of negative reinforcement is notoriously difficult to teach to introductory students. Reasons for this difficulty include: surplus meanings associated with the terms negative and punish...
Metropolis Monte Carlo simulation of fluids with multiparticle moves

Abstract For fluids of 32 Lennard-Jones atoms in periodic boundary conditions we show that Metropolis Monte Carlo simulation may be performed by moving M ⩽ 32 particles when creating a trial configuration. For these small systems the probability of accepting such a trial configuration does not become prohibitively low. We present some general results for optimum parameters in Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations.
An ultrastructural study of isolated rat skeletal muscle mitochondria in various metabolic states

An electron microscopic examination was made of isolated rat skeletal muscle mitochondria in various functional states. Shifts in the inner membrane ultrastructure of populations of mitochondria were observed under certain conditions. However, ultrastructural transformations reported by others during rapid changes in biochemical states were not observed in skeletal muscle mitochondria. There does not appear to be a strict correlation between metabolic states and ultrastructural states in isolated rat skeletal muscle mitochondria as has been observed in isolated mitochondria from several other tissue types.
CanProVar: A Human Cancer Proteome Variation Database

Identification and annotation of mutated genes or proteins involved in oncogenesis and tumor progression are crucial for both cancer biology and clinical applications. We have developed a human Cancer Proteome Variation Database (CanProVar) by integrating information on protein sequence variations from various public resources, with a focus on cancer-related variations (crVAR). We have also built a user-friendly interface for querying the database. The current version of CanProVar comprises 8,570 crVARs in 2,921 proteins derived from existing genome variation databases and recently published large-scale cancer genome resequencing studies. It also includes 41,541 non-cancer specific variations (ncsVARs) in 30,322 proteins derived from the dbSNP database. CanProVar provides quick access to known crVARs in protein sequences along with related cancer samples, relevant publications, data sources, and functional information such as Gene Ontology (GO) annotations for the proteins, protein domains in which the variation occurs, and protein interaction partners with crVARs. CanProVar also helps reveal functional characteristics of crVARs and proteins bearing these variations. Our analysis showed that crVARs were enriched in certain protein domains. We also showed that proteins bearing crVARs were more likely to interact with each other in the protein interaction network. CanProVar can be accessed from http://bioinfo.vanderbilt.edu/canprovar.
Excitotoxic and excitoprotective mechanisms: abundant targets for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Activation of glutamate receptors can trigger the death of neurons and some types of glial cells, particularly when the cells are coincidentally subjected to adverse conditions such as reduced levels of oxygen or glucose, increased levels of oxidative stress, exposure to toxins or other pathogenic agents, or a disease-causing genetic mutation. Such excitotoxic cell death involves excessive calcium influx and release from internal organelles, oxyradical production, and engagement of programmed cell death (apoptosis) cascades. Apoptotic proteins such as p53, Bax, and Par-4 induce mitochondrial membrane permeability changes resulting in the release of cytochrome c and the activation of proteases, such as caspase-3. Events occurring at several subcellular sites, including the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and nucleus play important roles in excitotoxicity. Excitotoxic cascades are initiated in postsynaptic dendrites and may either cause local degeneration or plasticity of those synapses, or may propagate the signals to the cell body resulting in cell death. Cells possess an array of anti-excitotoxic mechanisms including neurotrophic signaling pathways, intrinsic stress-response pathways, and survival proteins such as protein chaperones, calcium-binding proteins, and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. Considerable evidence supports roles for excitotoxicity in acute disorders such as epileptic seizures, stroke and traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, as well as in chronic age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A better understanding of the excitotoxic process is not only leading to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative disorders, but also to unexpected insight into mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.
Ethnic disparities in disability among middle-aged and older israeli adults: the role of socioeconomic disadvantage and traumatic life events.

Objectives: We examined the contribution of socioeconomic disadvantage and traumatic life events to ethnic disparities in disability among Israeli adults. Method: We used data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-Israel), a sample of Israeli adults aged 50 or older (N = 1,546). Disability measures included functional limitations, limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), and limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Results: Arabs and immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) experienced higher rates of functional limitations and limitations in IADLs compared to veteran Jews. The rate of having limitations in ADLs was similar for Arabs and veteran Jews, but was higher for FSU immigrants compared to veteran Jews. Inclusion of education, income, and traumatic life events attenuated, but did not eliminate ethnic disparities in disability. Discussion: Identifying factors driving ethnic health disparities in Israel is imperative if we hope to achieve ...
Upper limits to fusion rates of isotopic hydrogen molecules in Pd.

We have calculated upper bounds for {ital p}-{ital d} and {ital d}-{ital d} fusion rates at octahedral and tetrahedral sites in saturated PdH. Our molecular potentials include Thomas-Fermi screening for two centers and realistic Pd crystal potentials. Accurate numerical techniques were used to solve for radial wave functions down to {ital r}=0. From these wave functions we find rates that are considerably enhanced over those for the free molecules, but 10--20 orders of magnitude lower than the claims of early experiments.
Parameter estimation in Poisson processes (Corresp.)

Accuracy achievable in estimation of an unknown parameter \theta is considered when the intensity function of an observed Poisson process is given as \alpha + \beta f(t - \theta) , where \alpha and \beta are known positive constants and f is a step function or a rectangular pulse.
Dynamic, output-feedback, gain-scheduling control of an electric variable valve timing system

In this paper, a discrete-time, linear parameter-varying (LPV) system representing the electric variable valve timing (VVT) system is developed with engine oil viscosity as the time-varying parameter. A gain-scheduled, dynamic, output-feedback controller is then designed such that the closed-loop system will have a guaranteed l2 to l∞ gain, which is very closely related to the physical performance hard constraints. This is done by first constructing a set of linear matrix inequality constraints and then performing a convex optimization to obtain the controller matrices which satisfy the constraints. Simulation study results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Cataract-Related Acute Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome:

PurposeTo report the acute and transient (within 10 days) presentation of vitreomacular traction following routine cataract surgery.MethodsThis is a case series of 5 patients with no evidence of po...
Computer Simulations of Diffraction Effects due to Stacking Faults in β-SiC: I, Simulation Results

X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns from nominally β-SiC specimens often differ from those expected for the cubic crystal structure. These differences include the presence of additional peaks, enhanced background intensities, peak broadening, changes in relative peak heights, and shifts in peak positions. It has long been recognized that they are due to the presence of stacking faults, and models relating the experimental observations to stacking fault population have continued to evolve. The presence and relative magnitude of these features vary among different β-SiC specimens. In this work, computer simulations were used to show that the variations are closely related to differences in the type and spatial distribution of stacking faults in each specimen. In these simulations, stacking sequences were generated using a selectively activated 1-D Ising model with a Boltzmann-type probability function for specifying errors, which allows a wide variety of fault configurations to be generated. Direct correlations between different features in the XRD data to the underlying fault population are demonstrated, which are discussed in this paper. It is also shown that this computer model is general, in the sense that many of the models presented in prior work can be interpreted as limiting cases of it.
Endurance training-induced increases in expiratory muscle oxidative capacity.

Recent evidence demonstrates that endurance exercise training improves the oxidative capacity of the major mammalian inspiratory muscle (e.g., costal diaphragm). In contrast, no data exist concerning the effects of exercise training on abdominal expiratory muscles. We tested the hypothesis that 12 wk of endurance exercise training would significantly increase the activity of selected beta oxidation and Krebs cycle enzymes of abdominal expiratory muscles of the rat. To test this hypothesis two groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: group 1, continuous exercise training (n = 13); and group 2, sedentary control (n = 6). Exercise trained animals ran 5 d.wk-1 on a motorized treadmill for 45 min.d-1 at approximately 75-80% VO2max. When compared with controls, exercise training resulted in elevated (P less than 0.05) activities of 3-hydroxy-acyl-Co-A dehydrogenase (HADH) and citrate synthase (CS) in two abdominal expiratory muscles (rectus abdominus and external obliques). In contrast, training did not alter (P greater than 0.05) CS or HADH activity in the internal obliques/transversus abdominus muscles. In general, the training-induced increases in expiratory muscles CS activity were relatively small (approximately 10-13%) when compared with the training-induced increase in CS activity in the plantaris muscle (approximately 44%). These data demonstrate that continuous exercise training results in small but statistically significant improvements in the oxidative and beta oxidation capacities of expiratory muscles.
Response of a sampling calorimeter to low energy pions, muons, and positrons

Abstract Measurements of the response of the participant calorimeter to 250–400 MeV/c π+, μ−, and e+ are described. The participant calorimeter is a Pb/Fe/scintillator sampling calorimeter with a novel wavelength shifting fiber optic readout which is used in experiment 814 at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The e+/π+ response ratio at 250–400 MeV/c is larger than it is at higher momenta. Previous measurements of the e/π response ratio with sampling calorimeters found that the value decreased as the particle energies were reduced below about 1 GeV. This difference is attributed to the different absorption probabilities for π+ and π− at low momentum.