cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Memory bank disambiguation using modulo unrolling for Raw machines

We present modulo unrolling, a code transformation technique for enabling array references to be accessed through the fast static network on a Raw machine. A Raw machine comprises of a mesh of simple, replicated tiles connected by an interconnect which supports fast, static near-neighbor communication. Like all other resources, memory is distributed across the tiles. Management of the memory can be performed by well known techniques which generate the requisite communication code on distributed address-space architectures. On the other hand, the fast, static network provides the compiler with a simple interface to optimize such communication. This paper addresses the problem of taking advantage of such static communication for memory accesses. The requirement for static memory communication is the compile-time knowledge of the exact communication required for each memory reference. This knowledge, in turn, can be obtained if a memory reference refers exclusively to memory residing on a single processing tile. We introduce modulo unrolling as a technique which allows the static communication of a large class of array accesses. We show how this technique achieves the goal of static communication by using a relatively small unroll factor. For a set of dense matrix scientific applications, we are able to access all the array references on the static network, enabling scalable speedups on the Raw machine.
Microphysics: Equation of State

The equation of state is one of the three fundamental ingredients used to construct stellar models. The plasma of the interiors of stars such as the Sun is only slightly non-ideal. However, the extraordinary accuracy of the helioseismological data requires refined equations of state. It turned out to be necessary to include a Coulomb correction, commonly evaluated in the Debye-Huckel approximation. Higher-order non-ideal effects have implications as well, both for plasma physics and for solar physics. As a typical example, the recently studied thermodynamic consequence of excited states in compound particles is discussed. This effect is of considerable relevance in the helioseismic determination of the helium abundance in the solar convection zone.
Wavelet domain filtering for nuclear medicine imaging

The authors propose a new filtering/estimation method for nuclear medicine imaging. The statistical method of cross-validation is used to design optimal wavelet domain filters for improved image estimation. The quality of the resulting images is much better than standard image estimates, in both visual and mean square error senses. Moreover, experiments have shown that, using the new estimate, one can reduce the acquisition time by a factor of two and still retain high image quality.
Dissection of two quantitative trait loci for grain weight linked in repulsion on the long arm of chromosome 1 of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract Grain weight is a key determinant of grain yield in rice. Three sets of rice populations with overlapping segregating regions in isogenic backgrounds were established in the generations of BC 2 F 5 , BC 2 F 6 and BC 2 F 7 , derived from Zhenshan 97 and Milyang 46, and used for dissection of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain weight. Two QTL linked in repulsion phase on the long arm of chromosome 1 were separated. One was located between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers RM11437 and RM11615, having a smaller additive effect with the enhancing allele from the maintainer line Zhenshan 97 and a partially dominant effect for increasing grain weight. The other was located between SSR markers RM11615 and RM11800, having a larger additive effect with the enhancing allele from the restorer line Milyang 46 and a partially dominant effect for increasing grain weight. When the two QTL segregated simultaneously, a residual additive effect with the enhancing allele from Milyang 46 and an over-dominance effect for increasing grain weight were detected. This suggests that dominant QTL linked in repulsion phase might play an important role in heterosis in rice. Our study also indicates that the use of populations with overlapping segregating regions in isogenic backgrounds is helpful for the dissection of minor linked QTL.
On the radio-sensitivity of rat liver.

Les lobes anterieurs du foie de rats ont ete preleves et exposes aux rayons-X jusqu'a des doses de 91 kR et en employant comme indicateur biochimique de survivance l'incorporation de3H-leucine. Une dose de 45 kR fit diminuer l'incorporation au cours des 3 premiers jours suivant l'exposition; ce type de blessure de radiation necessite donc plusieurs jours pour se manifester. Ces resultats montrent qu'au commencement de l'interphase l'hepatocyte est extremement resistant a la mort par radiation.
Adapting Motivational Interviewing Strategies to Increase Posttreatment 12-Step Meeting Attendance

Abstract Recent twelve-step (TS) program research has suggested a dose threshold consisting of minimum weekly TS meeting attendance that is necessary to derive substantial benefit. Unfortunately, other research has observed the vast majority of patients do not attend meetings or attend sporadically in the period following treatment. As another example of research advancing our understanding of recovery processes, numerous studies have refined adaptations of Motivational Interviewing (MI) into a change theory with proven practice methods. This paper reviews related literature and provides rationale for the use of a brief motivational intervention to increase TS program attendance. The paper concludes by addressing two possible problems to implementing such an intervention: (1) Resistance within the culture of the addiction counseling field and (2) a lack of objective and normative TS program feedback data. We respond to this latter gap in the literature by advancing possible specimen feedback data.
Polarization properties of a 2-D split ring resonator and rod type metamaterial lens

The polarization state of microwave (MW) radiation transmitted through a 2-D split ring resonator and rod metamaterial (MTM) lens is investigated. At a resonance frequency of 3.63 GHz, the 2-D lens modifies the polarization state of the incident radiation. For Ey incident polarization, the transmitted wave exhibits elliptical polarization as well as a tilt in the principal axis. The ellipticity is dependent on the incident polarization angle. A Ex polarized incident MW is unaffected. Transformation of polarization properties plays an important role for manipulation and control of MW radiation, impacting existing applications and providing opportunities for novel MTMs-based sensors and other applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2146–2150, 2014
High‐Performance and Environmentally Stable Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells Based on a Solution‐Processed Copper‐Doped Nickel Oxide Hole‐Transporting Layer

An effective approach to significantly increase the electrical conductivity of a NiOx hole-transporting layer (HTL) to achieve high-efficiency planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells is demonstrated. Perovskite solar cells based on using Cu-doped NiOx HTL show a remarkably improved power conversion efficiency up to 15.40% due to the improved electrical conductivity and enhanced perovskite film quality. General applicability of Cu-doped NiOx to larger bandgap perovskites is also demonstrated in this study.
Electrophoretic and Immunochemical Characterization of Lipopolysaccharide of Edwardsiella ictaluri from Channel Catfish

Abstract Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was purified from 40 isolates of Edwardsiella ictaluri by two methods: (1) enzyme digestion and hot aqueous phenol extraction and (2) enzyme digestion and gel exclusion chromatography. Purified LPS was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and by immunoblot analysis. Both methods of purification yielded smooth LPS as evidenced by a ladderlike pattern of more than 40 LPS bands. With silver staining, both low- and high-molecular-mass LPS bands were seen. Lower-molecularmass LPS stained more intensely than higher-molecular-mass LPS bands, indicating a preponderance of lower-molecular-mass LPSs. Lipopolysaccharide bands from the 40 isolates migrated similarly within SDS-PAGE gels, indicating a high degree of structural similarity among the isolates examined. The ladderlike array was more easily seen with immunoblot analysis than with silver staining of SDS-PAGE gels. Additionally, immunoblot analysis revealed a high degree of antigen...
Head in the clouds or feet on the ground? CEO perspectives and the international business research agenda

In response to recent articles examining the current state and future direction of international busi-ness (IB) research, this article directly surveys CEOs of the largest Fortune 500 companies to solicit their views about university-based IB research and to identify the most significant IB problems their firms encounter. Results suggest a consistently low appreciation by CEOs for university-based IB research over an extended period of time. Data also suggest a window of opportunity to capture a constituency among those companies that anticipate a significant increase in their international ac-tivity. To capture a practitioner constituency, however, research should focus on key problem areas that have been identified in this article, and the findings should be presented in accessible forms and venues. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigation of Low-Temperature Proton Transport in Nafion Using Direct Current Conductivity and Differential Scanning Calorimetry

The proton conductance of Nafion 117 was measured as a function of water content and temperature and compared to changes in the phase state of water. Conductance was measured using a direct current four-point probe technique, while the water phase was determined from differential scanning calorimetry of the melting transitions. Arrhenius plots of conductance show a crossover in the activation energy for proton transport for temperatures coinciding with the melting and freezing of water. This crossover temperature depends on the membrane's water content per acid group, λ, and displays hysteresis between heating and cooling. Using calorimetry to estimate the fraction of the frozen water phase, both the crossover temperature and the hysteresis are found to correlate with the phase state of the water. For membranes starting with water contents above λ ∼ 8, the calorimetry and conductivity curves merge at low temperature, suggesting the formation of a common acid hydrate with similar network connectivity; for lower starting water contents, the low-temperature conductivity drops rapidly with λ. Based on Poisson-Boltzmann models, differences between the conductivity and calorimetry are attributed to gradients in the proton concentration that result in a proton-depleted core in the hydrated pores, which freezes first and contributes minimally to conductivity.
A theory for the ultrasonic modulation of incoherent light in turbid medium

A diffusion approximation to the radiative transfer in a medium with varying refractive index has been proposed as a theoretical model for the ultrasonic tagging of fluorescence or FluoroSound, in a scattering medium. It has been found that the diffuse modulation is a defocusing effect. Defocusing is related to scatter - more the scatter, more the defocusing and there exists a component of the defocusing effect of scatter at the ultrasonic frequency. This is in contrast to the modulation for ballistic photons that originates in the focusing effect of the acoustic lens created by the ultrasonic wave. Simulations with circular phantoms of 1.5 and 2.0cm radius have shown that defocusing is minimum when the acoustic lens is midway between the source and the detector. These results are consistent with physics and demonstrate the capability of the model to function as a predictive tool for FluoroSound instrument design. Both ballistic and diffuse FluoroSound signatures can help in the simultaneous localization of the anomaly and determination of its optical properties. As an adjunct, optimally designed ultrasound beams can be also used to enhance diffuse photon modulation signal through acoustic guidance. Optical properties provide a way to discriminate between normal and diseased tissue. FluoroSound could therefore potentially achieve a fusion of anatomical and functional information non-invasively in a single measurement. The additional information made available by this method will improve the speed and accuracy of optical imaging as a tool in the identification and validation of targets.
Transvaginal ultrasonography and transabdominal embryoscopy in the first-trimester diagnosis of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, type II

Objective: Our goal was to demonstrate the efficacy of transabdominal embryoscopy in the first trimester of pregnancy. Study Design: A patient at risk for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, type II, was referred for prenatal diagnosis at 11 weeks 5 days of gestation. Results: A transvaginal ultrasonographic examination revealed the presence of a nuchal membrane and bilateral polydactyly. A transabdominal embryoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of polydactyly. The patient had an unremarkable postprocedure course before termination of pregnancy 5 days later. In a second pregnancy embryoscopy revealed a normal fetal hand despite a suggestion on transvaginal ultrasonography that there was polydactyly. On the basis of this information the patient elected to continue the pregnancy, and a normal baby was delivered at 35 weeks. Conclusion: This case validates the efficacy of noninvasive and invasive techniques, used adjunctively, in the first-trimester diagnosis of a lethal fetal condition composed of subtle phenotypic manifestations.
Nausea and Vomiting as Major Complications of Cancer Chemotherapy

Significant advances in the treatment of certain disseminated malignancies have been accompanied by an increased awareness of the consequences of inadequate antiemetic therapy. Nausea and vomiting are predisposing factors to patient non-compliance with treatment regimens and impose mental and physical suffering that diminishes the quality of life. The extent of medical complications associated with vomiting depends on its severity and duration and can include oesophageal tears, bone fractures, malnutrition and major metabolic derangements.
The relationships among three habitat scales and stream benthic invertebrate community structure

1. The relationships between three habitat scales and lotic invertebrate species composition were investigated for the 15 540 km2 Yakima River basin in south-central Washington, U.S.A. 2. The three spatial scales were sample (the sampled riffle), reach (a length of ten–twenty stream widths) and segment (a length of stream of nearly uniform slope and valley form having no change in stream order). 3. Physical variables were highly correlated between scales and expressed a relationship between altitude, basin form and small-scale physical structure. 4. Multiple discriminant function analyses indicated that segment- and reach-scale variables discriminated among species-defined groups better than sample-scale variables. 5. Species composition varied along a complex altitudinal gradient of changing basin form and resultant land use. 6. There was no clear relationship between species richness and altitude on a site basis. However, when viewed at the basin scale, maximum richness was observed at the transition between montane and valley sites.
Comparison of solid sampling media for Aroclor 1254 vapor under dry and humid conditions

Chromosorb 102 (60/80 mesh) was as good a sampling sorbent for Aroclor 1254 vapor as deactivated Florisil (30/60 mesh), but recoveries were less precise when vapor collection occurred at 90% relative humidity. Tenax-GC (35/60 mesh) and XAD-2 (20/60 mesh) are probably also acceptable based on spiking experiments. The phenomenon of vapor phase enrichment of the most volatile PCBs in Aroclor 1254 was noted and was allowed for by'the Webb-McCall method of quantitation. An inexpensive generator of PCB vapor to produce a 300 µg/m3 volatilization rate over a two-week period also was developed.
Using the EPQ for coordinated planning of a product with partial backordering and its components

While there has been considerable work over the years on multistage lot-sizing models, particularly in an MRP environment, there has been relatively little work on systems recognizing the WIP effects when there is gradual conversion of the components into the final product, as in production planning using the EPQ model for planning the final product. Here we consider lot-sizing planning for a two-stage system in which the final product is planned using an EPQ model with partial backordering and the production of the components is controlled using basic EPQ models without backordering.
A comparison of the method of frozen coefficients with Newton's method for quasilinear two-point boundary-value problems

Comparaison de la methode des coefficients figes a la methode de Newton pour la resolution des problemes a deux points limites quasi lineaires
Assessment of depression in patients with brain pathology: The case of stroke.

The assessment of depression in patients with brain pathologies--a topic of considerable clinical and research interest--is complicated by a variety of factors. Among the most problematic are cognitive consequences of brain injury that can diminish the reliability and validity of information used to diagnose depression, determine its severity, ascertain its predictors, and evaluate its impact. In this article, the authors examine the challenges to depression assessment in patients who have had a stroke, the neurologically impaired population in which it has been most frequently studied. Focusing on poststroke depression research, they describe methodological limitations that may contribute to conflicting outcomes and conclusions and offer suggestions for improving the specificity, consistency, validity, and reliability of assessment methods and procedures when investigating depression in patients with brain pathologies.
Lamb wave propagation in Z-pin reinforced co-cured composite pi-joints

This paper presents an initial study on Lamb wave propagation characteristics in z-pin reinforced, co-cured composite pi-joints for the purposes of structural health monitoring (SHM). Pi-joint test articles were designed and created to replicate a co-cured, all composite skin-spar joint found within a typical aircraft wing structure. Because pi-joints exhibit various complex damage modes, formal studies are required if SHM systems are to be developed to monitor these types of joints for potential damage. Experiments were conducted on a undamaged (healthy) and damaged test articles where Lamb waves were excited using one lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducer. A three-dimensional (3D) scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) was used to collect high-density scans of both the in-plane and out-of-plane velocity measurements. In the damaged test article, where delamination, matrix cracking, and fiber breakage can clearly be seen, changes in both the fundamental antisymmetric A0 and symmetric S0 Lamb wave modes are apparent. In both test articles, the effects of narrow geometry, discontinuity due to the attachment of the web, and thickness has detectable effects on Lamb wave propagation. From the comparisons between Lamb waves propagating through the undamaged and damaged test articles, it is clear that damage can be detected using Lamb waves in z-pin reinforced, co-cured composite pi-joints for this case of extensive damage.
Solving the micro-to-macro spatial scale problem with milliprobe x-ray fluorescence/x-ray spectrum imaging

Milliprobe x-ray fluorescence (mXRF) with x-ray spectrum imaging (XSI) enables elemental mapping over centimeter lateral distances with a resolution of 40-150 μm. While highly complementary to classic elemental mapping scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS), mXRF has several advantages: (1) The lack of electron bremsstrahlung in the XRF spectrum, except for the elastic scattering of the primary continuum, means that the inherent detection sensitivity of mXRF is better. (2) The broad continuum excitation of mXRF enables sensitive access to secondary x-rays with photon energies in the range 10 keV to 40 keV, which are either not efficiently excited or are completely inaccessible with SEM. (3) The range of penetration of x-rays (with minimal sideways scatter) is typically 10 to 100 times the range of an electron beam, enabling deeper probing into the specimen or even viewing the specimen through protective covering such as glass or plastic. (4) The vacuum requirements of mXRF are much less than even environmental SEM, and primary excitation and secondary detection can occur through an atmospheric gas path if required. The scale of mXRF-XSI mapping is particularly useful for attacking problems that require following compositional structures over a wide spatial scale, the classic "micro-to-macro" spatial scale challenge.
The First, The Biggest, and Other Such Considerations

We investigate the relation between the underlying dynamics of randomly evolv ing systems and the extrema statistics for such systems. Independent processes, Fokker-Planck processes and Levy processes are considered.
Simultaneous laser-induced fluorescence and Rayleigh scattering measurements of structure in partially premixed flames

Laser-induced fluorescence and Rayleigh scattering measurements were made in well-stabilized, laminar partially premixed Bunsen-type methane/air flames. Simultaneous Rayleigh scattering (temperature) and laser-induced fluorescence (flame radical concentration) enable precise determination of the position of CH and OH radical structures in the gradient of the flame temperature. The OH and CH structures in the straight walls of the premixed inner flame cone are well described by models incorporating detailed flame chemistry and one-dimensional transport. Near the tip of the inner cone in regions of increased flame stretch, at richer stoichiometries of the premixed portion of the flames, and in flames perturbed by a metal insert, the measured structure of CH and OH deviates from this simple description. CH concentrations predicted by the model depend on flow rate, thus suggesting the importance of strain rate to prompt NOx formation in these flames.
Studien über Adsorption. III

Bei der allmahlichen Zufugung von Alkali zu einer Mischung von FeCl3 und Glyzerin oder Zucker durchlauft das Kolloid drei definierte Stadien: zuerst ist es positiv geladen, dann tritt bei der Neutralisation der Ladung Koagulation ein und endlich geht es in ein negativ geladenes Kolloid uber.
Buenos Aires, capital of tango: tourism, redevelopment and the cultural politics of neoliberal urbanism

In this paper, I problematize the connections between global tourism, urban redevelopment and cultural policy in Buenos Aires. Market-oriented approaches to urban growth have continued after Argentina’s economic collapse of 2001–2002. Devaluation produced unprecedented international affordability, which triggered a tourism boom. City government capitalized on this through cultural initiatives. Yet tourist-oriented cultural entrepreneurialism promoted forms of disjointed redevelopment that exacerbate socio-spatial inequality and fragmentation. Moreover, Mayor Macri has been advancing a cultural politics of scale that recasts Buenos Aires as a world-class city, while mobilizing localist identities to oppose national efforts towards income redistribution and intercultural recognition. Particularly important have been the recent appropriations of tango as a cultural commodity. Deployed for city marketing and selective reinvestment, tango also emboldens Eurocentric narratives of cosmopolitan urbanity that legi...
Video shot retrieval using a kernel derived from a continuous HMM

In this paper, we propose a discriminative approach for retrieval of video shots characterized by a sequential structure. The task of retrieving shots similar in content to a few positive example shots is more close to a binary classification problem. Hence, this task can be solved by a discriminative learning approach. For a content-based retrieval task the twin characteristics of rare positive example occurrence and a sequential structure in the positive examples make it attractive for us to use a learning approach based on a generative model like HMM. To make use of the positive aspects of both discriminative and generative models, we derive Fisher and Modified score kernels for a Continuous HMM and incorporate them into SVM classification framework. The training set video shots are used to learn SVM classifier. A test set video shot is ranked based on its proximity to the positive class side of hyperplane. We evaluate the performance of the derived kernels by retrieving video shots of airplane takeoff. The retrieval performance using the derived kernels is found to be much better compared to linear and RBF kernels.
Separation of germinal cells from immature rat testes by sedimentation at unit gravity

Abstract Early spermatogenic cells from the testes of 10-, 13-, 15-, 18-, 20- and 25-day-old rats were purified by sedimentation at unit gravity. Cell dissociation was accomplished in 5 mM EDTA or 0.1% trypsin in Ca-Mg-free phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.35). Dissociation with trypsin resulted in more viable cells than with EDTA, while EDTA was more efficient for the dissociation of spermatogonia. The differential effects of the two dissociation media were particularly evident in cell preparations from the 10-day-old animal. Maximum purity of different cell types was obtained in different aged animals (spermatogonia, 98%, 10 days; preleptotene spermatocytes, 98%, 10 days; leptotene spermatocytes, 75%, 13 days; zygotene spermatocytes, 68%, 18 days; pachytene spermatocytes, 75%, 25 days). Purity of particular types was correlated with the age of the animal. Earlier stages were purified to a greater extent in younger animals and later stages to a greater extent in older animals. Later stages exhibited increasing sedimentation at unit gravity in correlation with the increase in cell size as differentiation proceeded to pachytene spermatocyte. Two early germinal cell types, spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes, were greatly purified with this technique.
Secondary primary malignancies in multiple myeloma: an old NEMESIS revisited.

The treatment of myeloma has undergone extraordinary improvements in the past half century. These advances have been accompanied by a concern for secondary primary malignancies (SPMs). It has been known for decades that extended therapy with alkylating chemotherapy agents, such as melphalan, carries an increased risk of therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and/or acute myeloid leukemia (t-MDS/AML), with a cumulative risk as high as 10–15%. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support became widely accepted for myeloma in the 1990s. Despite the use of high doses of melphalan, the risk of t-MDS/AML with this procedure is estimated to be less than 5%, with much of this risk attributable to pretransplant therapy. Recently, lenalidomide has come under scrutiny for its possible association with SPMs. It is too soon to declare a causal relationship at this time, but there appears to be an increased number of SPMs in reports from several studies using lenalidomide maintenance. Current studies should be amended and future studies planned to better define the risk of SPMs and the risk factors and mechanisms for its development. Patients should be educated regarding this potential concern but the current use of lenalidomide should not generally be altered until further data are available.
Disseminated toxoplasmosis in marrow recipients: a report of three cases and a review of the literature

Toxoplasma infection following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is infrequently reported. We report three cases of disseminated toxoplasmosis in BMT recipients documented during an 8-year period at our institution: one after an unrelated marrow transplant in a toxoplasma-seronegative patient, the second complicating syngeneic marrow transplantation, and the third following allogeneic, related BMT. The disease is extremely rare in seronegative patients and has not been previously reported in syngeneic recipients. Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed at autopsy in two of the three cases. We also present a review of all reported cases of toxoplasmosis in marrow recipients from North American and other BMT centers. Heightened awareness of the occurrence of toxoplasmosis in marrow recipients and early diagnostic/therapeutic measures are needed for a better outcome.
Sea ice pressure ridge study: An airphoto analysis

Abstract Tested and proven techniques of terrain analysis using conventional aerial photography were applied to interpret the patterns associated with a sea ice environment. Ages and relative thicknesses of sea ice masses were determined from stereoscopic aerial photography. A classification scheme of sea ice pressure ridges is developed based upon their linear surface trace, their relative ages, their heights, widths and lengths, their location relative to recent ice movement, and the size of the material composing the ridges. The significance of sinuous ridges with respect to straight ridges is discussed relative to the forces involved in their formation. Estimates as to the underwater components of pressure ridges are deduced based upon elements of their surface configuration and pattern.
Incremental adaptation of XPath access control views

Materialized XPath access-control views are commonly used for enforcing access control. When access control rules defining a materialized XML access-control view change, the view must be adapted to reflect these changes. The process of updating a materialized view after its definition changes is referred to as view adaptation. While XPath security views have been widely reported in literature, the problem of view adaptation for XPath security views has not been addressed. View adaptation results in view downtime during which users are denied access to security views to prevent unauthorized access. Thus, efficient view adaptation is important for making XPath security views pragmatic. In this work, we show how to adapt an XPath access-control view incrementally by re-using the existing view, which reduces computation and communication costs significantly, and results in less downtime for the end-user. Empirical evaluations confirm that the incremental view adaptation algorithms presented in this paper are efficient and scalable.
Nitric oxide signaling in the cardiovascular system: implications for heart failure.

Purpose of review The role played by nitric oxide (NO) in cardiovascular physiology remains highly controversial. Following the discovery that NO is the prototypic endothelium-derived relaxing factor, this signaling molecule was implicated as possessing many other biological actions within the cardiovascular system, including effects on cardiac contraction, relaxation, and energetics. Here, we discuss new concepts regarding NO signaling, its effector pathways, and interactions between NO and the redox milieu within a framework of cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. Recent findings Major recent insights that have advanced understanding of the mechanisms of NO bioactivity include the following. (1) NO acts in subcellular signaling compartments or modules. (2) S-nitrosylation (covalent modification of cysteine thiol moieties) of proteins represents a prototypic second messenger signaling mode in biologic systems. (3) Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species work together to facilitate signaling. (4) Disruption of physiologic signaling can occur by either increased formation of reactive oxygen species or decreased production of reactive nitrogen species, a situation of nitroso-redox imbalance. Summary These insights, which challenge classically held views that NO acts as a freely diffusible molecule regulated primarily by concentration and exerting signaling primarily through cyclic GMP production, offer a new perspective on the pathophysiology and treatment of congestive heart failure.
Flock size, food dispersion, and the feeding behavior of crossbills

Feeding rates of five captive red crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) were measured when they were foraging alone, and in flocks of two or four on three seed dispersion patterns. On the most strongly clumped seed dispersion, individuals had higher mean feeding rates and the smallest probability of starvation when in flocks of two than when alone or in flocks of four. Individuals in flocks of four had higher feeding rates on the weakly clumped seed dispersion than on the uniform and more clumped seed dispersions; there were no food finding benefits gained from flocking on the uniform seed dispersion and aggression increased as food became more clumped. Most recent work has assumed that flocking results in higher feeding rates only because time spent vigilant is reduced. Crossbills, however, did not visit more cones per unit time as flock size increased, as would be expected if less time was spent vigilant. Thus, any reductions in vigilance as flock size increased were countered by increases in other behaviours, such as those related to aggression. Consequently, the higher mean feeding rates of crossbills in flocks than when solitary is not attributable to reduced vigilance. The increase in mean and the decline in variance of feeding rates occurred because crossbills in flocks found good patches earlier, and possible by spending less time assessing poor patches.
Benefits of protective fencing to plant and rodent communities of the western Mojave Desert, California

Human disturbance in the western Mojave Desert takes many forms. The most pervasive are livestock grazing and off-highway vehicle use. Over the past few decades several areas within this region have been fenced to preclude human disturbance. These areas provide opportunities to study the impact of human activities in a desert ecosystem. This paper documents the response of plant and small mammal populations to fencing constructed between 1978 and 1979 at the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area, Kern County, California. Aboveground live annual plant biomass was generally greater inside than outside the fenced plots during April 1990, 1991, and 1992. The alien grassSchismus barbatus was a notable exception, producing more biomass in the unprotected area. Forb biomass was greater than that of alien annual grasses inside the fence during all three years of the study. Outside the fence, forb biomass was significantly higher than that of alien grasses only during spring 1992. Percent cover of perennial shrubs was higher inside the fence than outside, while no significant trend was detected in density. There was als more seed biomass inside the fence; this may have contributed to the greater diversity and density of Merriam's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami), long-tailed pocket mice (Chaetodipus formosus), and southern grasshopper mice (Onychomys torridus) in the protected area. These results show that protection from human disturbance has many benefits, including greater overall community biomass and diversity. The significance and generality of these results can be further tested by studying other exclosures of varying age and configurations in different desert regions of the southwestern United States.
β-keratin expression in avian tongue cell aggregates

Rotation-mediated aggregation was used to test the capacity of early embryonic tongue cells from different regions of the tongue to reorganize histotypically and terminally differentiate in vitro. Cells dissociated from the anterior ventral (AV) or posterior ventral (PV) surface of the 12 day embryonic tongue were cultured 6 days, fixed, and embedded in paraffin. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy was used to demonstrate the occurrence and distribution of beta-keratins, the presence of which represented regional and differentiation specific markers of late tongue development. Aggregates of AV cells were organized into a beta-keratin-producing stratified epithelium. Similar PV aggregates formed only an alpha-keratin-producing stratified epithelium. The epithelial cells of these tongue tissues constructs expressed alpha- and beta-keratins in a manner consistent with the temporal and histotypical expression of keratins observed in vivo.
Determination of Reflected and Transmitted Fields by Geometrical Optics

By an extension of ordinary geometrical optics (or acoustics) the intensity of the reflected and transmitted fields due to a point source in the presence of an arbitrary interface between two media is found. Particular consequences of the solution are the general lens and mirror law and the equations for the caustic surfaces.
Interleukin‐10 suppresses hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice: Implications of a central role for nuclear factor κB

Ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver requires the participation of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, many of which are regulated by the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB). The anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10) affects inflammatory reactions, at least in part, through inhibitory effects on the transcription factor, NFkappaB. The objective of the current study was to determine whether IL-10 could suppress hepatic ischemia/reperfusion-induced NFkappaB activation and the ensuing inflammatory liver injury. C57BL/6 mice underwent partial hepatic ischemia and reperfusion with or without intravenous injections of recombinant murine IL-10. Hepatic NFkappaB activation was induced in a time-dependent fashion. IL-10 suppressed NFkappaB activation as well as messenger RNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2). In addition, IL-10 reduced serum levels of TNF-alpha and MIP-2. Hepatic neutrophil recruitment, liver edema, and hepatocellular injury were all significantly reduced by IL-10. The data suggest that IL-10 protects against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing NFkappaB activation and subsequent expression of proinflammatory mediators.
A study of factors influenced by swallowing among chronic stroke patients

AIM The purpose of this study was to investigate the related to swallowing function among chronic stroke patients with dysphagia in nursing home. METHODS Using a cross-sectional survey design, the subjects were 60 chronic stroke patients (22 men and 38 women, mean age of 82.6+/-8.3SD) who had given approval for participation in the study. Expert nurses and physical therapists examined swallowing function by Modified Water Swallow Test (MWST) and Repetitive Salvia Swallowing Test (RSST), oral function (oral sense, dry mouth, mouth opening), pulmonary function (respiration, blowing, ability to blow), motor and cognitive function (positioning, range of neck, dementia). RESULTS There was significant relationship between MWST and RSST (0.64; p<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the independent factors related to MWST were oral sense, dry mouth, and position of chin. These three factors could explain 49% of MWST variance (adjusted R(2)=0.49). The independent factors related to RSST were revealed to be dementia and oral sense. These two factors could explain 44% of RSST variance (adjusted R(2)=0.44). CONCLUSION These findings indicate that the independent factors related to reflexive swallowing are different from these related to volitional swallowing. The result of the present study suggested that improvement of oral function is important for promoting reflexive swallowing, and that improvement of cognitive activity is important for promoting volitional swallowing from viewpoint of swallowing rehabilitation for chronic stroke patients.
GPLEXUS: enabling genome-scale gene association network reconstruction and analysis for very large-scale expression data

The accurate construction and interpretation of gene association networks (GANs) is challenging, but crucial, to the understanding of gene function, interaction and cellular behavior at the genome level. Most current state-of-the-art computational methods for genome-wide GAN reconstruction require high-performance computational resources. However, even high-performance computing cannot fully address the complexity involved with constructing GANs from very large-scale expression profile datasets, especially for the organisms with medium to large size of genomes, such as those of most plant species. Here, we present a new approach, GPLEXUS (http://plantgrn.noble.org/GPLEXUS/), which integrates a series of novel algorithms in a parallel-computing environment to construct and analyze genome-wide GANs. GPLEXUS adopts an ultra-fast estimation for pairwise mutual information computing that is similar in accuracy and sensitivity to the Algorithm for the Reconstruction of Accurate Cellular Networks (ARACNE) method and runs ~1000 times faster. GPLEXUS integrates Markov Clustering Algorithm to effectively identify functional subnetworks. Furthermore, GPLEXUS includes a novel ‘condition-removing’ method to identify the major experimental conditions in which each subnetwork operates from very large-scale gene expression datasets across several experimental conditions, which allows users to annotate the various subnetworks with experiment-specific conditions. We demonstrate GPLEXUS’s capabilities by construing global GANs and analyzing subnetworks related to defense against biotic and abiotic stress, cell cycle growth and division in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Heparin and the inactivation of thrombin by antithrombin III

Abstract We confirm a catalytic role for heparin in the inhibition of thrombin by antithrombin III, i.e., formation of the inactive thrombin-antithrombin complex is accelerated by a less-than-stoichiometric amount of heparin. Assuming an ordered bireactant process in which heparin forms a complex with antithrombin that then binds thrombin, we observed the expected direct dependence of the rate of thrombin inactivation on thrombin concentration. The dependence of this rate on antithrombin concentration was anomolous, however, and we attribute this behavior to a kind of “substrate inhibition”.
Three-dimensional imaging of a turbulent jet using shearing interferometry and optical tomography

The 3-D density field of a round, neutrally buoyant turbulent jet is obtained using a finite-fringe, shearing interferometer. A He–Ne laser beam (λ=632.8 nm) is subdivided into six beams of equal intensity, which intersect a helium–argon jet flowing from a vertical nozzle. Two-dimensional projection data of the jet are captured simultaneously from six viewing directions distributed over 140°. The desired phase is removed from the spatial carrier using the Fourier transform method. A tomographic reconstruction technique, using a truncated Fourier–Bessel expansion is performed to obtain the complete 3-D density field. The Reynolds number, based on the exit mean velocity and the nozzle diameter, is 5890.
The host range of Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea in the United States

This study was performed to determine the host range ofSpongospora subterranea f. sp.subterranea on common crops and weeds in the northeastern United States. Seedlings of the plants were grown in nutrient solutions and inoculated with spore balls ofS. subterranea. The roots were microscopically examined for the presence of plasmodia or zoosporangia 14 days after inoculation. The plants were then transferred to a greenhouse and grown in a soilless mix. The roots were examined for the presence of symptoms and spore balls after 4 months. Of 26 species within 10 families from monocotyledons and dicotyledons tested, 16 species were found to be susceptible toS. subterranea. Twelve species were newly recorded hosts forS. subterranea. Gall symptoms were observed on the roots of six species and spore balls were found on three species. Evidence is presented for the first time that galls and spore balls ofS. subterranea might form on non-Solanaceous species. This investigation is important for the cultural management of potato powdery scab disease because there currently are no effective controls.
Statin use and survival in elderly patients with endometrial cancer

Abstract Background Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. Statins have demonstrated anti-cancer effects in other tumor types, such as the breast and lung cancers. Aim The objective of our study was to determine the association between statin use and endometrial cancer survival in a nationally-representative elderly population with endometrial cancer in the U.S. Methods We employed the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries and Medicare claims files to collect data from 2987 patients who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer between 2007 and 2009 and who received a hysterectomy. The association between statin use and overall survival was examined using Cox regression models adjusting for follow-up time, age, race, neighborhood income, cancer stage, tumor grade, hysterectomy type, chemotherapy, radiation, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, dyslipidemia and diabetes. Results The mortality rate was lower in statin users compared to non-users for both type I (4.6 vs. 5.7 deaths/100 person-years, p = 0.08) and type II (11.2 vs. 16.5 deaths/100 person-years, p = 0.01) cancer types. However, after adjustment for the time from surgery to statin use and confounding, statin use after a hysterectomy was not significantly associated with a reduction in hazard of death for both type I (hazard ratio [HR] 0.92, 95%CI 0.70,1.2) and type II (HR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.65, 1.29, p = 0.62) endometrial cancer patients. Conclusion Accounting for all confounders and biases considered, statin use on or after a hysterectomy was not associated with survival in those with type I or type II disease.
Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Shigella flexneri on spinach leaves by X-ray

Several recent foodborne disease outbreaks associated with leafy green vegetables, including spinach, have been reported. X-ray is a non-thermal technology that has shown promise for reducing pathogenic and spoilage bacteria on spinach leaves. Inactivation of inoculated Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Shigella flexneri on spinach leaves using X-ray at different doses (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kGy) was studied. The effect of X-ray on color quality and microflora counts (mesophilic counts, psychrotrophic counts and yeast and mold counts) of untreated and treated spinach was also determined. A mixture of three strains of each tested organism was spot inoculated (100 microl) onto the surface of spinach leaves (approximately 8-9 log ml(-1)), separately, and air-dried, followed by treatment with X-ray at 22 degrees C and 55-60% relative humidity. Surviving bacterial populations on spinach leaves were evaluated using a nonselective medium (tryptic soy agar) with a selective medium overlay for each bacteria; E. coli O157:H7 (CT-SMAC agar), L. monocytogenes (MOA), and S. enterica and S. flexneri (XLD). More than a 5 log CFU reduction/leaf was achieved with 2.0 kGy X-ray for all tested pathogens. Furthermore, treatment with X-ray significantly reduced the initial inherent microflora on spinach leaves and inherent levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the control sample throughout refrigerated storage for 30 days. Treatment with X-ray did not significantly affect the color of spinach leaves, even when the maximum dose (2.0 kGy) was used.
Poly[aqua(μ-vinyl-phospho-nato)cadmium].

The title compound, [Cd(C2H3O3P)(H2O)]n, was obtained from vinyl­phospho­nic acid and cadmium nitrate. The vinyl groups project into the inter­lamellar space and the structure is held together via van der Waals forces. The Cd2+ ion is six-coordinate and the geometry is best described as distorted octa­hedral, with O—Cd—O angles falling within the range 61.72 (13)–101.82 (14)°. Five of the coordinated oxygen atoms originate from the phospho­nate group and the sixth from a bound water molecule. Cd—O distances lie between 2.220 (3) and 2.394 (2) A. The water mol­ecule is hydrogen bonded to a phospho­nate oxygen atom.