cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of moving boundaries interacting with compressible reacting flows using a second-order adaptive Cartesian cut-cell method

Abstract A high-order adaptive Cartesian cut-cell method, developed in the past by the authors [1] for simulation of compressible viscous flow over static embedded boundaries, is now extended for reacting flow simulations over moving interfaces. The main difficulty related to simulation of moving boundary problems using immersed boundary techniques is the loss of conservation of mass, momentum and energy during the transition of numerical grid cells from solid to fluid and vice versa. Gas phase reactions near solid boundaries can produce huge source terms to the governing equations, which if not properly treated for moving boundaries, can result in inaccuracies in numerical predictions. The small cell clustering algorithm proposed in our previous work is now extended to handle moving boundaries enforcing strict conservation. In addition, the cell clustering algorithm also preserves the smoothness of solution near moving surfaces. A second order Runge–Kutta scheme where the boundaries are allowed to change during the sub-time steps is employed. This scheme improves the time accuracy of the calculations when the body motion is driven by hydrodynamic forces. Simple one dimensional reacting and non-reacting studies of moving piston are first performed in order to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method. Results are then reported for flow past moving cylinders at subsonic and supersonic velocities in a viscous compressible flow and are compared with theoretical and previously available experimental data. The ability of the scheme to handle deforming boundaries and interaction of hydrodynamic forces with rigid body motion is demonstrated using different test cases. Finally, the method is applied to investigate the detonation initiation and stabilization mechanisms on a cylinder and a sphere, when they are launched into a detonable mixture. The effect of the filling pressure on the detonation stabilization mechanisms over a hyper-velocity sphere launched into a hydrogen–oxygen–argon mixture is studied and a qualitative comparison of the results with the experimental data are made. Results indicate that the current method is able to correctly reproduce the different regimes of combustion observed in the experiments. Through the various examples it is demonstrated that our method is robust and accurate for simulation of compressible viscous reacting flow problems with moving/deforming boundaries.
Computer-Assisted Motivational Interviewing Intervention to Facilitate Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Fitness Behavior Changes: A Randomized Trial for Young Men

Abstract Purpose Despite recent declines, teen unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in the United States remain at levels higher than comparable nations. Initiatives to prevent teen pregnancy have focused primarily on female adolescents; how to effectively engage young men to reduce their risk of fathering a teen pregnancy has not been well studied. We proposed to adapt an innovative computer-assisted motivational interviewing (CAMI) intervention, originally designed and tested with young women, for use with young men, aged 15–24 years, to reduce their risk of fathering a teen pregnancy. This manuscript describes the design of a CAMI intervention for young men aimed at preventing teen pregnancy and improving fitness. Methods This randomized controlled trial will recruit 945 sexually active young men between the ages of 15 and 24 years from three health centers in New York City. Participants will be assigned by permuted block randomization to two study arms: one aimed at reducing involvement in unintended teen pregnancy (CAMI-teen pregnancy prevention) and the other at improving overall fitness (CAMI-Fitness). Except for topic, both intervention arms will provide four sessions of Motivational Interviewing coaching and use a mobile app to track behavior and set goals. We will assess young men's sexual and reproductive health behaviors and fitness at baseline, 12, 24, 36, and 64 weeks using a mobile device app created for the study. Results Pending ongoing study. Conclusions Results from the study are expected to enhance our understanding of the efficacy of CAMI to enhance young men's reproductive health and fitness behaviors.
The Vienna Stalemate

Before Wellington left London, the allied sovereigns and their ministers had begun their talks in Vienna. Already in the Austrian capital were Sir Charles Stewart (Lord Londonderry), the British ambassador, the Marquis Victor-Louis Charles de Caraman, the French ambassador, Prince Franz Ludwig von Hatzfeldt, the Prussian ambassador, and, of course, Prince Metternich and Friedrich von Gentz, the Austrian publicist and the chancellor’s colleague and secretary. On September 7, both Montmorency and the Prussian delegation arrived, the latter composed of Foreign Minister Bernstorff and Baron Friedrich Alexander von Humboldt. Assisting the French foreign minister and Caraman, was Count Pierre-Louis Ferron de La Ferronnays, ambassador at St. Petersburg, who arrived with the tsar. The Austrian delegation was completed by the addition of Count Stephan Zichy. ambassador at Berlin, who came with the Prussians, Baron Ludwig von Lebzeltern, who traveled with the Russians, and Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy von Galantha, ambassador at London. Having departed from St. Petersburg on August 15, Alexander reached Vienna on September 9. In his entourage were Count Nesselrode, his foreign minister, Count Dmitri Tatischev, Count Charles Andre Pozzo di Borgo, ambassador at Paris, and numerous princes and generals. Conspicuous by his absence was Count Capo d’Istria, who had resigned at the end of July on the issue of war with Turkey. His departure delighted Metternich, for he detested the Greek’s liberal views. Lord Stewart and Sir Robert Gordon, secretary of the Vienna embassy, looked after British interests until the arrival of Lord Strangford on September 24 and Wellington on the 29th.2
Available Computer Packages

Many computer programs have been developed for meteorological and air quality simulations. Some of them, generally the simplest, are well documented and relatively easy to use. Most of them, however, require users with good technical skills and, often, the supervision of the developers of the codes.
Intraoperative neurophysiology of the corticospinal tract

Interventions that directly or indirectly put the spinal cord at risk are considered as particularly challenging for the neurosurgeon, the interventional neuroradiologist, the orthopedic surgeon, the vascular surgeon and the clinical neurophysiologist. In this context the objective of intraoperative neurophysiology is threefold: first, to prevent injury to the spinal cord, second, to document time and nature of injury any, and third, to “guide” the surgeon during the procedure according to continuously updated neurophysiologic data.
Chloroacetate esterase positivity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Chloroacetate esterase (CAE) reactivity is associated with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and, to the author's knowledge, has not been reported in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The authors have identified a single patient whose blasts displayed CAE reactivity from a review of 400 newly diagnosed patients with ALL. The diagnosis of ALL in this case was based upon morphologic evaluation (FAB:L1), presence of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), the absence of reactivity with myeloperoxidase, and the failure of leukemic blasts to mark with a panel of anti-myeloid monoclonal antibodies. Remission was induced promptly with standard ALL therapy. This case demonstrates that punctate CAE positivity rarely can occur in ALL, and, therefore, CAE is not entirely specific for ANLL. The authors conclude that CAE positivity should not be used as a sole criterion to diagnose ANLL in the absence of supporting morphologic, cytochemical, immunocytologic, or clinical information.
Epigenetic targeting for acute kidney injury

In recent years, epigenetics has emerged as important mechanisms for the regulation of pathogenesis in many diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Numerous studies have demonstrated that AKI is associated with the changes in epigenetics, including histone modifications, DNA methylation and the expression of various non-coding RNAs. Through utilizing histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, studies have demonstrated that increase of histone acetylation either protects kidney from injury or potentiates this process, depending on which HDAC (s) isform is suppressed, whereas inhibition of histone methyltransferase, generally provides a protective effect in AKI. Although AKI is also associated with changes in DNA methylation, the role of DNA methylation in kidney injury remains unclear. In this article, we discuss the role and mechanism of histone acetylation and methylation in the pathogenesis of AKI.
Social Services Professionals' Views of Barriers to Supporting Homeless Noncustodial Fathers.

Objective To investigate barriers to service for homeless non-custodial fathers from the perspective of social service professionals who work directly to assist men with securing housing while meeting the demands of fatherhood. Background The population of homeless fathers in the United States is increasing. Longitudinal studies show that although homeless noncustodial fathers and mothers face similar risk factors and barriers to services, research on minimizing risk factors and barriers for noncustodial fathers is limited compared with that for noncustodial mothers. Method The sample included 7 administrators and 12 direct service professionals engaged with fathers transitioning from homelessness. Data were collected via face-to-face, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a qualitative inductive approach. Multiple cycle coding was employed to capture emerging themes. Results Three major themes, encompassing emotional, relational, and systemic factors, emerged regarding participants' experiences serving homeless noncustodial fathers. Conclusion Effective approaches to supporting fathers require empathy, relationship building, and collaboration between service providers and policymakers. Implications Future policies and interventions should be based on input from direct service professionals and homeless noncustodial fathers themselves, with the aim of best supporting their efforts toward securing housing while meeting the demands of fatherhood.
Locational Strategy of Professional Hosts: Effect on Perceived Quality and Revenue Performance of Airbnb Listings

Professional hosts usually invest in properties at various locations. Our study aims to investigate the effect of their locational strategy (clustering vs. diversification) on the perceived quality...
Targeting checkpoint kinases in prostate cancer cells resistant to poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors.

e16543Background: The identification of DNA damage response (DDR) gene abnormalities in various cancers has provided potential therapeutic targets including the poly ADP-ribose polymerase enzyme (P...
Comparison of Satellite Passive Microwave With Modeled Snow Water Equivalent Estimates in the Red River of the North Basin

The Red River of the North basin (RRB) is vulnerable to spring snowmelt flooding because of its flat terrain, low permeability soils, and the presence of river ice jams resulting from the river's northward flow direction. The onset and magnitude of major flood events in the RRB have been very difficult to forecast, in part due to limited field observations of snow water equivalent (SWE). Coarse-resolution (25-km) passive microwave observations from satellite instruments are well suited for the monitoring of SWE. Despite routine use in the Earth sciences community to document the impacts of climate change, the use of passive microwave observations in operational flood forecasting is rare. This paper compares daily satellite passive microwave SWE observations from special sensor microwave/imager (SSM/I) and special sensor microwave imager/sounder (SSMIS), advanced microwave scanning radiometer for earth observing system (AMSR-E), and advanced microwave scanning radiometer 2 (AMSR2) from 2003 to 2016 to modeled output from the SNOw Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) and Global Snow Monitoring for Climate Research -2 (GlobSnow-2) in the RRB to determine the differences between the remotely sensed SWE estimates and the model products currently used in flood forecasting. Results show statistically significant differences between the satellite observations and SNODAS in the northern region of the basin that were not evident in the southern region. Satellite estimates of peak SWE in the forecast subbasins in the northern region were 40–125% higher than the model results which points to the lack of ground observations used to constrain the model simulations. This paper recommends that satellite SWE observations should be considered for improving operational snowmelt forecasting in the RRB.
Safety and Efficacy of Bilateral Flow Diversion for Treatment of Anterior Circulation Cerebral Aneurysms.

Abstract Background Nearly 20% of individuals with an aneurysm will harbor multiple aneurysms—these individuals are at increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Treatment of bilateral aneurysms with flow diverters (FD), Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) has not yet been established as an effective therapy. Our aim is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a two-stage treatment of bilateral aneurysms with PEDs placed 6 months apart. Methods This study is a retrospective review analyzing the clinical and angiographic outcomes of 16 individuals with bilateral aneurysms who were treated with a two-stage flow diversion treatment at a tertiary referral center between January 2010 and July 2018. Results 16 individuals with 33 aneurysms who were treated with flow diversion bilaterally; one patient had two aneurysms treated with a single FD on the contralateral side. The aneurysms treated were either ophthalmic, superior hypophyseal, posterior communicating, or cavernous segment aneurysms with an average size of 6.5 mm. There were no major complications such as in-stent stenosis, thromboembolic events, distal intra-parenchymal hemorrhage, re-rupture, stent migration, or neurological death. All patients had good functional outcomes. At 24 months follow-up, 81% of aneurysms showed complete occlusion of all treated aneurysms. No aneurysm required re-treatment. Conclusions This study demonstrates that a two-stage flow diversion treatment of bilateral aneurysms is both safe and efficacious. Timing of the contralateral flow diverter stent is critical. We found that 6 months allows for adequate neurological recovery and stent endothelization.
Linking beliefs to collective action: Politicized religious beliefs and the civil rights movement

Are religious ideological antecedents factors in the emergence of African American social protest? If so, how do these factors translate African American discontent into political action? Rather than proceed from standard renditions of social movement analysis that argue structural opportunities motivate people to act, this paper contends that culture motivates many people to become and remain involved in collective action. The civil rights movement in Arkansas is examined to explain how religious ideas enable movements to emerge and endure in the face of tremendous opposition and uncertain prospects for movement success. Findings suggest that in the context of oppression ideas can help motivate, guide, and give meaning to protest.
Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youths’ Emotions: The Appraisal, Valence, Arousal Model:

Increased scientific understanding explains why transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth report more mental health concerns than their cisgender peers. However, the emotional processes of ...
The Contact (Hageman Factor) System in Inflammation

Injury of the glomerulus results from the accumulation of immunologic reactants along the basement membrane. Intermediate factors exist that interact after antigen and antibody combine that produce injury. These intermediates are the humoral and cellular mediators that are activated either directly or indirectly by the interaction of antigen and antibody at the site. Several of these mediator pathways have been uncovered. One involves the activation of the complement system along the glomerular basement membrane(GBM), followed by the accumulation of circulating neutrophils. The neutrophils are stimulated to release injurious constituents such as proteolytic enzymes and basic proteins by the discharge of lysosomal granules, which induce injury of the structure of the GBM. The neutrophilic constituents and fragments of the GBM appear in the urine during the development of injury and proteinuria (reviewed by Cochrane, 1968).
Utilizing Outpatient Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant strain on the medical system, creating resource scarcity. We sought to demonstrate the reduction in hospital room utilization after implementation of outpatient pelvic reconstructive surgery. METHODS: We included all minimally invasive reconstructive surgical procedures in this retrospective cohort study within a large managed care organization of 4.5 million members (2008-2018). We queried the system-wide medical record for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes for all included procedures and patient perioperative data. Categorical variables were compared using χ2 test for categorical variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of the 13,445 patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery, 5,506 were discharged the same day, whereas 7,939 were discharged the next day. Over the 10-year period, patients without hysterectomy had outpatient surgery rates increase from 31.2% to 76.4% (+45.2%), whereas those with hysterectomy increased from 3% to 56.4% (+53.4%). Hospital room utilization decreased by 45,200 room days/100,000 reconstructive procedures without hysterectomy and 53,400 room days/100,000 reconstructive procedures with hysterectomy. When compared to 2008, in 2018 after more widespread adoption of outpatient elective surgery, for the 738 patients undergoing surgery without hysterectomy, 334 less room days were used, whereas 335 less room days were used among the 640 patients who had a surgical procedure with hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of outpatient pelvic reconstructive procedures leads to a significant reduction in hospital room utilization. Same-day discharge decreases hospital resource utilization, therefore improving hospital access, which may be essential for the delivery of routine care during times of resource scarcity such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lessons learned through listening to biology students during a transition to online learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

During the Spring Semester of 2020, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the illnesses it caused (COVID-19) led to widespread cancelling of on-campus instruction at colleges and universities in the United States and other countries around the world. Response to the pandemic in university settings included a rapid and unexpected shift to online learning for faculty and students. The transition to teaching and learning online posed many challenges, and the experiences of students during this crisis may inform future planning for distance learning experiences during the ongoing pandemic and beyond. Herein, we discuss the experiences of first- and second-year university students enrolled in a biology seminar course as their classes migrated to online environments. Drawing on reported student experiences and prior research and resources, we discuss the ways we will adjust our own teaching for future iterations of the course while offering recommendations for instructors tasked with teaching in online environments.
Ties that Bond and Bridge: Exploring Social Capital Among College Students with Foster Care Histories Using a Novel Social Network Instrument (FC-Connects)

College students with foster care backgrounds have demonstrably lower graduation rates than peers, and resources obtained through their social networks are vital to their college success. Our study explores the social networks and social capital among a sample of first-year college students with foster care histories who were participating in a campus-based support program (CSP) at a Midwestern university (n = 26, response rate = 93%). Data were collected from a novel social network instrument called FC-Connects, which was designed for students with foster care histories. We find that, early in their college career, students have ample bonding capital (emotional support, practical support, and personal advice) but bridging capital (college advice and academic support) is in shorter supply. Consistent with social capital theory, bonding support was commonly accessed through close relationships with family and peers, while bridging support was leveraged through distant relationships with professionals. Diverging from theory, professionals and mentors from the CSP were key sources of bridging capital but also had close relationships with students. About three-fifths of all nominated individuals provided more than one type of social capital. Our whole-network analysis identified a small number of students who were important connectors in the network and found that roughly one-in-three students were isolates, having no connections to their classmates in the CSP. Finally, students high in avoidant attachment (emotional guardedness and self-reliance) were less likely than their peers to report having enough emotional support and viewed their support nominees as less dependable.
Lane-change-aware connected automated vehicle trajectory optimization at a signalized intersection with multi-lane roads

Abstract Trajectory smoothing is an effective concept to control connected automated vehicles (CAVs) in mixed traffic to reduce traffic oscillations and improve overall traffic performance. However, smoother trajectories often lead to greater gaps between vehicles, which may incentivize human driven vehicles (HVs) from adjacent lanes to make cut-in lane changes. Such cut-in lane changes may compromise the expected performance from CAV trajectory smoothing. To figure out the reasons behind the issue, this paper designs a mixed traffic framework at a signalized intersection with multi-lane roads considering detailed trajectory control, car following and lane changing maneuvers all together. Based on the framework, this paper proposes a decentralized lane-change-aware CAV trajectory optimization model including discretionary lane change restraining and mandatory lane change yielding strategies. Riding comfort and traffic mobility are considered as a joint objective. And the complex non-linear lane-change-aware constraints are linearized to convert the proposed problem to a quadratic optimization problem. The linearization allows the investigated problem to be easily fed into a commercial solver. Numerical experiments are conducted to study the performance of the proposed model and to compare it with other models (e.g., a cooperative lane change model and a trajectory optimization model without the lane-change-aware mechanism) in different scenarios. First, results show that the HV lane changes cause reduction of half or more expected benefits of trajectory smoothing along a multi-lane segment adjacent to a signalized intersection. Then, we find that the proposed model outperforms the other models. Especially, the proposed model yields extra benefits in the system joint objective (10–25%), riding comfort (10–25%), travel time (1–8%), fuel consumption (3–15%) and safety (5–25%) compared with the trajectory optimization model without the lane-change-aware mechanism when CAV market penetration rate is not high. Sensitivity analyses on road segment lengths, signal cycle lengths, traffic saturation rates and through-vehicle rates show that the proposed model yields better system performance under most scenarios, e.g., 20% extra benefit at a short road segment length, 30% extra benefit at a long signal cycle length, 25% extra benefit at a high traffic saturation rate, and 25% extra benefit at a high through-vehicle rate.
The Interplay Between Frugal Science and Chemical and Biological Weapons: Investigating the Proliferation Risks of Technology Intended for Humanitarian, Disaster Response, and International Development Efforts

The attempt to create cheap, easy-to-use scientific equipment made for anyone, anywhere has made significant progress in the last decade in what innovators call frugal science. The emerging technology developed by frugal science to increase access to the experimental practice of the physical sciences through low cost and low electricity equipment and to lower the cost of medical devices so as to expand their application to impoverished areas is a subject of concern along with most other emerging technologies. While designed to help both kids generally and scientists in impoverished areas reach parity with their experimentalist counterparts in the developed world, the question remains: Will terrorists exploit such technology to develop chemical or biological weapons (CBW)? In order to address this question, we develop an analytical framework that assesses the overall threat of CBW terrorism. Through evaluation of terrorist motivations, capabilities, and other influencing factors, this framework analyses how emerging technologies, such as frugal science, affect motivated terrorist organizations in their pursuit of CBW. We use as a case study al-Qaeda’s CBW programs in the 1990s and early 2000s to demonstrate the small effect frugal science would have on the significant sociotechnical barriers faced by terrorist organizations. Results not only inform intelligence practitioners, law enforcement, and policy makers about the dual-use implications of emerging technologies, but also indicate the utility of this framework in future analyses and studies.
Rates of Opioid Prescriptions Obtained After Mohs Surgery: A Claims Database Analysis From 2009 to 2020

Importance To curtail the opioid epidemic, physicians have been advised to limit opioid prescriptions. Objective To characterize the frequency and changes over time (2009-2020) of opioid prescriptions following Mohs micrographic surgery. Design, setting, and participants This cross-sectional study using Optum Clinformatics DataMart (Optum CDM), a nationally representative insurance claims database, included patients aged 18 years and older who had Mohs micrographic surgery insurance claims in the Optum CDM database from 2009 to 2020. Data were analyzed from November 11, 2020, to March 30, 2021. Exposures Opioid prescription following Mohs surgery. Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who underwent Mohs surgery and obtained an opioid prescription within 2 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes included type and opioid quantity prescribed. Results Among 358 012 patients with Mohs micrographic surgery claims (mean [SD] age, 69 [13] years; 205 609 [57.4%] were men), the proportion of patients obtaining an opioid prescription after Mohs micrographic surgery increased from 2009 (34.6%) to 2011 (39.6%). This proportion then declined each year, reaching a low of 11.7% in 2020 (27.9% absolute decrease from 2011 to 2020). Hydrocodone, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol were the 4 most commonly prescribed opioids. By 2020, hydrocodone was obtained less (2009: 47.5%; 2011: 67.1%; 2020: 45.4%; 21.7% absolute decrease from 2011 to 2020) and tramadol was obtained more (2009: 1.6%; 2020: 27.9%; 26.3% absolute increase from 2009 to 2020). Conclusions and relevance In this cross-sectional study of Mohs micrographic surgery claims, patients obtained fewer postsurgery opioid prescriptions over the study period, suggesting responsiveness of patients and dermatologic surgeons to public health concerns regarding the opioid epidemic. During this decline, prescriptions for hydrocodone decreased and tramadol increased.
Somatoform Disorders, Including Neurasthenia

This chapter focuses on various somatoform disorders. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the diagnostic term somatoform disorder appeared in DSM-IV (1994). It refers to psychiatric conditions characterized primarily by multiple and chronic somatic symptoms, which cannot be fully explained by the patient's general medical condition or the existing medical disorders. It is based on the unspoken assumption that a psychiatric disorder is usually manifested with psychic symptoms or complaints, namely psychicform disorder. If the psychiatric disorder is presented mainly with symptoms of somatic nature, the disorder is regarded as a somatoform disorder. The term "neurasthenia" was originally applied in 1869 by an American neuropsychiatrist, George M. Beard, to describe a clinical syndrome with core symptoms of mental fatigue, associated with poor memory, poor concentration, irritability, headaches, tinnitus, insomnia, and other vague somatic complaints. There is a possibility that people living in relatively less desirable environmental settings from a physical health perspective m are more vulnerable to various undesirable physical conditions or illnesses that may manifest numerous neurasthenia-like somatic conditions. Malnutrition, anemia, parasites, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and chemical intoxication are some physical conditions or disorders that tend to be associated with a general malaise, lack of energy, or fatigue, the core symptoms of conceptualized neurasthenia.
Femtosecond Synchronization of RF-Signals with Optical Pulse Trains

A synchronization scheme for extraction of low jitter RF-signals from optical pulse trains, which is robust against photodetector nonlinearities, is described. Sub-100 fs timing jitter between the extracted RF-signal and the pulse train is demonstrated.
Last Conflict based Reasoning

In this paper, we propose an approach to guide search to sources of conflicts. The principle is the following: the last variable involved in the last conflict is selected in priority, as long as the constraint network can not be made consistent, in order to find the (most recent) culprit variable, following the current partial instantiation from the leaf to the root of the search tree. In other words, the variable ordering heuristic is violated, until a backtrack to the culprit variable occurs and a singleton consistent value is found. Consequently, this way of reasoning can easily be grafted to many search algorithms and represents an original way to avoid thrashing. Experiments over a wide range of benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.
Progesterone-binding Components of Chick Oviduct V. EXCHANGE OF PROGESTERONE-BINDING CAPACITY FROM TARGET TO NONTARGET TISSUE CHROMATINS

Abstract Progesterone, when forming a complex with a specific protein receptor molecule, interacts in vitro with intact chick oviduct chromatin. In the present study, a series of experiments was performed to elucidate the nature of the chromatin "acceptor sites" of oviduct responsible for binding the progesterone receptor. The proteins of chromatin from various chick tissues were dissociated from DNA and reconstituted back to the DNA of either the same or different tissue. The chemical analysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrate that the histones are quantitatively reintegrated into the chromatin without detectable degradation when protease inhibitors are present during the reconstitution. Comparison of the chemical composition and immunochemical analysis of the untreated and reconstituted chromatins indicates that non-histone (acidic) proteins also can be switched from oviduct chromatin to the DNA of other tissues to form "hybrid" chromatins. The transfer of the acidic proteins from the chromatin of one tissue to that of another results in a corresponding exchange of the template capacity so that the hybrid chromatin resembles the chromatin serving as the source of the acidic proteins. These data suggest that the acidic proteins are involved in maintaining open template. Reconstituted chick oviduct chromatin maintains the capacity to bind the progesterone-receptor complex. This tissue-specific binding is transferred to chromatins of non-target organs by exchanging the acidic chromatin proteins during reconstitution. Moreover, quantitative microcomplement fixation assays using antisera specific for the oviduct DNA-acidic protein complex indicate that the conformation of acidic proteins following transfer is similar to that found in the native oviduct chromatin. A subfraction of the acidic proteins of oviduct chromatin has been found to contain the acceptor molecules which are responsible for the binding with the progesterone-receptor complex. These tissue-specific acceptor proteins thus appear to be the molecules responsible for the binding of progesterone-receptor complex to oviduct chromatin.
Global Multispectral Cloud Retrievals from MODIS

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was developed by NASA and launched onboard the Terra spacecraft on December 18,1999 and Aqua spacecraft on May 4,2002. It achieved its final orbit and began Earth observations on February 24, 2000 for Terra and June 24, 2002 for Aqua. A comprehensive set of remote sensing algorithms for cloud masking and the retrieval of cloud physical and optical properties has been developed by members of the MODIS atmosphere science team. The archived products from these algorithms have applications in climate change studies, climate modeling, numerical weather prediction, as well as fundamental atmospheric research. In addition to an extensive cloud mask, products include cloud-top properties (temperature, pressure, effective emissivity), cloud thermodynamic phase, cloud optical and microphysical parameters (optical thickness, effective particle radius, water path), as well as derived statistics. We will describe the various cloud properties being analyzed on a global basis from both Terra and Aqua, and will show characteristics of cloud optical and microphysical properties as a function of latitude for land and ocean separately, and contrast the statistical properties of similar cloud types in various parts of the world.
The association between high-risk behavior and central nervous system injuries: Analysis of traffic-related fatalities in a large coroner's series

High-risk behaviors leading to traffic fatalities are often a result of severe traumatic brain and spine injuries. The objective of the study was to analyze patterns of behavior in drivers and motorcyclists that are associated with central nervous system (CNS)-related prehospital deaths that may serve as a basis for future prevention initiatives. Our study group comprised 514 fatalities with severe CNS injuries documented at autopsy. The majority (n = 491) was the result of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). In this group, male drivers predominated and the majority, 80 per cent, wore seatbelts. Toxicology analysis revealed 53 per cent of drivers with a mean concentration of ethanol above the legal limit. Texting while driving comprised 45 per cent of the study group. Less than 5 per cent of the fatalities were the result of road or weather conditions. In the motorcycle group (n = 23), 100 per cent of the victims were unhelmeted. We report a large autopsy series of CNS-related deaths with analysis of behavioral factors associated with the fatalities. Substance abuse and distracted driving are dominant patterns of high-risk behavior in MVCs and not wearing a motorcycle helmet is deadly for victims of motorcycle crashes. Language: en
Water Resources Research in the 21st Century

In 2001, the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Research Council published a report entitled: Envisioning the Agenda for Water Resources Research in the Twenty-First Century (NRC 2001). The report was the result of a series of discussions held by the Board about the need for a cohesive national water resources research vision for the twenty-first century. That vision included research agenda setting, the coordination of research, and appropriate levels of public investment in water resources research. The Board developed a list of 43 high priority research topics which were cast broadly in recognition of the fact that the specific focus and emphases of resulting studies ought to reflect both the circumstances and the knowledge available at the time the research is undertaken. The Board arrayed these 43 topics in three broad categories: 1) water availability; 2) water use; and 3) water institutions. The categories were structured so as to be interrelated, with the notion of water availability emphasizing the fact that water quantity and water quality jointly determine water availability, while water use includes all of the factors that affect wants and demands for water. Water institutions were treated separately to highlight the importance of research on institutions and to acknowledge that institutional questions fall within the purview of a different set of disciplines than do questions of water availability and water use. The report also examined a range of issues related to how the nation should organize for water resources research (NRC 2001). Congressional interest in the findings of this report developed soon after its release. The fiscal year 2002 Interior Appropriations Bill was based upon a Conference Committee report which concluded, in part: The managers concur with the House direction to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to examine water resources research funded by all Federal agencies and by significant non-Federal organizations.
Photopatterned oil-reservoir micromodels with tailored wetting properties

Micromodels with a simplified porous network that represents geological porous media have been used as experimental test beds for multiphase flow studies in the petroleum industry. We present a new method to fabricate reservoir micromodels with heterogeneous wetting properties. Photopatterned, copolymerized microstructures were fabricated in a bottom-up manner. The use of rationally designed copolymers allowed us to tailor the wetting behavior (oleophilic/phobic) of the structures without requiring additional surface modifications. Using this approach, two separate techniques of constructing microstructures and tailoring their wetting behavior are combined in a simple, single-step ultraviolet lithography process. This microstructuring method is fast, economical, and versatile compared with previous fabrication methods used for multi-phase micromodel experiments. The wetting behaviors of the copolymerized microstructures were quantified and demonstrative oil/water immiscible displacement experiments were conducted.
Genetics, Epigenetics, and Genomics of Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of skin and internal organs, as well as vasculopathy and immune dysregulation. SSc is a clinically heterogeneous disease and presents with 3 distinct subphenotypes, limited, diffuse and “sine” based on the severity of skin involvement. This classification also reflects internal organ involvement which can range from minimal to rapidly progressive disease resulting in premature death. Finally, SSc is characterized by the production of mutually exclusive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) subtypes that are associated with different clinical manifestations, disease phenotypes and prognosis. SSc is a complex disease that entails abnormalities in several different pathways. Its pathogenesis is not well understood but several studies have established that SSc occurs in a genetically susceptible host presumably after encountering environmental exposures or other external triggers.1-3 Genetic studies performed so far reveal that multiple genetic loci contribute to disease susceptibility in SSc.4 The purpose of this review is to discuss the current knowledge of SSc genetics by exploring the observational evidence, the different genetic studies performed to date as well as the most relevant genes discovered by these. We will also explore the concept of gene expression variation and the recently discovered field of epigenetics.
Correlates of bone mineral density in the postmenopausal estrogen/progestin interventions trial

We assessed the cross-sectional relationship of age, menopausal years, body mass, previous estrogen use, and ethnic background to bone mineral status in a sample of 875 healthy postmenopausal women at the time they were recruited from the community to participate in a multicenter clinical trial. The women were 1-10 years postmenopause, 45-64 years of age, and had not received estrogen replacement therapy within 3 months of enrollment. Of the participants, 89% were white, 69% had a spontaneous menopause, and 53% had a history of previous estrogen replacement therapy. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-4) and proximal femur was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results were consistent with a significant negative linear regression of BMD on age or years from menopause. Body mass index (BMI) correlated significantly with BMD at all sites (L 2-4 r = 0.28; femoral neck r = 0.34, p < 0.0001). BMD adjusted for age and BMI were higher at both sites in women who had taken estrogen versus those who had not (L2-4 0.976 +/- 0.009 versus 0.932 +/- 0.01; femoral neck 0.740 +/- 0.006 versus 0.708 +/- 0.008, p < 0.05). Adjusted BMD also increased with duration of ERT. Parity was negatively associated with L2-4 BMD (p = 0.03) but did not correlate significantly with BMD at the femoral neck. Black women had the highest L2-4 BMD, and Hispanic women had the highest femoral neck BMD, even when results were adjusted for age and BMI. When data were corrected for differences in bone size, these interethnic differences were no longer significant. We conclude that increased body mass is positively correlated with BMD, and this may confer a degree of skeletal protection to heavier postmenopausal women. Exposure for 5 years to exogenous estrogen is associated with significantly increased age- and BMI-adjusted BMD.
The discovery of Santorini Minoan tephra in western Turkey

Dispersal of volcanic ash from the violent Bronze Age (Minoan) eruption of the Santorini volcano in the southern Aegean has been the subject of much research1–6. A sediment core taken from a small mountain lake in western Turkey contains a layer of tephra from the Minoan eruption. The Santorini origin is established by refractive index, major glass chemistry, and stratigraphic position. The lake is located north of the recognized dispersal area for the tephra. This deposit provides evidence for dispersal of the Minoan tephra well to the northeast of Santorini, and implies that the west coast of Asia Minor must have experienced heavy tephra fallout from the Bronze Age eruption. The Minoan tephra has not previously been identified from sites in Turkey.
Vitamin A deficiency leads to increased cell proliferation in olfactory epithelium of mature rats.

We have shown previously that vitamin A deficiency (VAD) leads to the decreased expression of gene products that are specifically synthesized by mature neurons in the olfactory epithelium (OE) of adult rats. These results support the hypothesis that retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, is required for neurogenesis and neuron replacement in vivo. VAD does not cause gross degeneration of the OE, raising the question: what types of cells continue to populate VAD OE? In this study, we compared the cell densities of VAD and VA-sufficient (VAS) OE and investigated whether cell proliferation is upregulated in VAD OE. The results show that (1) total cell number in VAD and VAS OE are comparable; (2) localized areas of hyperplasia are present in the basal regions of VAD, but not VAS, OE; (3) there is a substantial increase in the number of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) positive cells in the basal region of VAD OE relative to VAS OE; and (4) there is a relative increase in the levels of mRNA encoding the transcription factor, MASH I, in VAD OE. We conclude that reduced availability of vitamin A derivatives, such as retinoic acid, leads to a loss of control over proliferation, hyperplasia, and increased numbers of pro-neural cells in vivo.
Ti-Zr-Ni and Ti-Hf-Ni quasicrystals and approximants as hydrogen storage alloys

Abstract X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data previously collected from the Ti–Zr–Ni quasicrystal have been analyzed. The data were modeled by an 8/5 rational approximant (RA) that was constructed using the known structure of the 1/1 RA and then refined. Ab initio total energy calculations were made for small structures with between 81 and 123 atoms, in which atomic positions were allowed to vary while minimizing the energy. The final structure is in good agreement with that obtained from the scattering data. Interstitial sites in which H is stable in the 1/1 model, and the H binding energies, were identified. An excellent fit to existing pressure-composition isotherms was obtained, but those data cannot be inverted to obtain experimental site binding energies. At 250 °C the Ti–Hf–Ni alloy can be loaded with H without the formation of any detectable crystal hydride phase, which is always found in similarly loaded Ti–Zr–Ni alloys.
Responses of monkey optic tract fibers to monochromatic lights.

Abstract The responses of monkey optic tract fibers to equal-energy flashes of monochromatic lights of different areas were recorded with microelectrodes. The cone inputs to these units were studied by chromatic adaptation. Six types of fibers were found which appeared to be functionally indentical to previously identified types of LGN cells: Opponent fibers responded with excitation to some regions of the spectrum and with inhibition to others. Non-opponent fibers responded in a single fashion to all wavelengths tested. Chromatic adaptation revealed that opponent fibers received inputs from one cone type in the RF center and from a second type in the RF surround. Inconclusive results were obtained from adaptation studies on non-opponent fibers. Results suggested little change in the processing of chromatic information from the ganglion cell to the LGN cell levels.
An investigation on room temperature synthesis of vertically oriented arrays of iron oxide nanotubes by anodization of iron

Abstract Formation of iron oxide nanotubes on to pure iron substrate by an electrochemical anodization method was investigated in fluoride containing electrolytes. Anodization of iron foil in fluoride containing borate solution resulted in stacked nano-ring type oxide morphology. Nanoporous oxide layer was observed at low pH and a granular oxide layer was formed at higher pH of phosphate + fluoride solutions. Formation of either nanoporous or nanotubular oxide layer was observed in ethylene glycol (EG) solution containing 0.05–0.1 M fluoride + 1.5–3.0 vol.% water. Transition from nanoporous structure to nanotubular structure was critically controlled by anodization potential, water addition and fluoride concentration of the EG solution. The potential required for this transition decreased with increase in the water content up to 7 vol.% beyond which enhanced dissolution occurred. Annealing of the nanotubes at 500 °C resulted in predominantly α-Fe2O3 crystal structure. The annealed Fe2O3 samples consisting of a single layer of nanotubular structure showed a photo current density of 0.4 mA/cm2 at 0.5 V Ag/AgCl in 1 M KOH solution under simulated solar light illumination.