cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anomalous X-ray scattering study of early-stage precipitation in AlZnAg

Abstract Initial stages of phase separation in an Al14%Zn4%Ag alloy was studied by anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering. Although the three partial structure functions could not be determined individually, it was observed that composition tie-lines rotated in the course of aging time. The rotation was interpreted in terms of a change of the Ag/Zn concentration ratio within the evolving precipitates. An early stage stability analysis was also performed based on an approximate sub-regular solution model for the coherent AlZnAg ternary miscibility gap.
Nonspecific immune modulating effects of ascites fluid and hyperimmune sera in vivo.

Abstract To determine whether the appearance of interferon (IFN) and the modulation of humoral responses observed following injection of irradiated tumor cells were mediated by suppressor cells, the effects of in vivo injection of I–Js specific antibodies were studied. We found that anti-I–J-containing, as well as normal ascites fluids, obtained after repeated ip injection of complete Freund's adjuvant, contain a factor which (a) induces the appearance of serum IFN, (b) enhances the response to SRBC, and (c) suppresses the response to TNP-Ficoll, when injected 1 day before antigen. This effect is not immunologically specific, is probably not caused by intact Ig, and does not appear to be mediated by T cells. Although the nature of the factor(s) responsible for the observed results has not been fully clarified, we report these findings now as a cautionary note for the interpretation of studies where in vivo injection of unfractionated ascites fluids containing monoclonal antibodies are used.
Spatiotemporal vibratory dynamics of vocal fold scar using high-speed digital imaging

A new application of high-speed imaging to measure spatiotemporal vibratory behaviours of a vocal fold scar is investigated in excised larynx experiments. Eigenmode analysis reveals that pathologically scarred vocal folds produce spatiotemporal asymmetry and spread energy across high-order eigenmodes. The global entropy of scarred vocal folds is statistically higher than the normal vocal folds. This study suggests that spatiotemporal analysis may provide a valuable tool for describing the spatiotemporal dynamics of vocal fold scars.
Electrospinning of Biosyn(®)-based tubular conduits: structural, morphological, and mechanical characterizations.

Abstract Electrospinning has garnered special attention recently due to its flexibility in producing extracellular matrix-like non-woven fibers on the nano-/microscale and its ability to easily fabricate seamless three-dimensional tubular conduits. Biosyn®, a bioabsorbable co-polymer of glycolide, dioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate, was successfully electrospun into tubular conduits for the first time for soft tissue applications. At an electric field strength of 1 kV cm−1 over a distance of 22 cm (between the Taylor cone and the collector) and at a flow rate of 1.5 ml h−1 different concentrations of Biosyn/HFP solutions (5–20%) were spun into nanofibers and collected on a rotating mandrel (diameter 4 mm) at 300 and 3125 r.p.m. Scaffolds were characterized for structural and morphological properties by differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy and for mechanical properties by uniaxial tensile testing (in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions). Biosyn® tubular scaffolds (internal diameter 4 mm) have been shown to exhibit a highly porous structure (60–70%) with a randomly oriented nanofibrous morphology. The polymer solution concentration directly affects spinnability and fiber diameter. At very low concentrations (⩽5%) droplets were formed due to electrospraying. However, as the concentration increased the solution viscosity increased and a “bead-on-string” morphology was observed at 10%. A further increase in concentration to 13% resulted in “bead-free” nanofibers with diameters in the range 500–700 nm. Higher concentrations (⩾20%) resulted in the formation of microfibers (1–1.4 μm diameter) due to increased solution viscosity. It has also been noted that increasing the mandrel speed from 300 to 3125 r.p.m. produced a reduction in the fiber size. Uniaxial tensile testing of the scaffolds revealed the mechanical properties to be attractive for soft tissue applications. As the fiber diameters of the scaffold decrease the tensile strength and modulus increase. There is no drastic change in tensile properties of the scaffolds tested under hydrated and dry conditions. However, a detailed study on the biodegradation and biomechanics of electrospun Biosyn conduits under physiological pressure conditions is required to ensure potential application as a vascular graft.
Growth and composition of cabbage as affected by nitrogen nutrition

Abstract The effect of cultivar and rate of N application on nitrate accumulation in cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata, L.) was investigated in a field study. At harvest, significant differences in nitrate accumulation among cultivars occurred, with the greatest differences occurring at the highest rate of N applied, 450 kg N/ha. Two of three straight‐leaved varieties, Market Prize and Market Victor, accumulated more nitrate than three savoy‐leaved varieties, Savoy Ace, Savoy King, and Chieftain Savoy. The third straight‐leaved variety studied, Harris Resistant Danish, accumulated the least nitrate. Pattern of nitrate accumulation was closely correlated with date of maturity, with the earliest‐maturing variety, Market Victor, accumulating the highest levels of nitrate, and the latest‐maturing variety, Harris Resistant Danish, accumulating the least nitrate. For all six varieties, outer wrapper‐leaf samples showed higher nitrate levels than head samples. In a second study, the effect of cultivar, N sourc...
The Impact of Industrial Process Innovation among Small Manufacturing Firms: Empirical Evidence from Western New York

In this paper the impact of the adoption of new technology upon the market performance of small and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMFs) is explored. Data from a six-sector survey of western New York SMFs are presented. The results suggest a series of relationships between the incidence of successful process innovation, new product development, and market performance. Data from the survey are explored in the context of recent perspectives on the economic role of flexible specialisation, new product launch, and regional SMF development. A major finding is that modern production technologies can assist the competitive efforts of small industrial firms, especially those that serve export markets. A further finding is that SMFs in import-sensitive industries can partially counteract external competition by adopting new manufacturing methods. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the academic and regional policy implications that flow from the survey results.
Risk of unfavorable long-term outcome in older adults with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage and anticoagulant or antiplatelet use

Abstract Study objective The objective was to compare neurological outcomes at 6 months in older patients with preinjury warfarin or clopidogrel use and mild traumatic intracranial hemorrhage with those without prior use of these medications. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted at a Level 1 trauma center from April 2009 to July 2010. Patients older than 55 years with isolated mild head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score 13-15 and Abbreviated Injury Score Results Seventy-seven eligible patients were identified: 27 (35%) with preinjury warfarin or clopidogrel use and 50 (65%) without. Baseline characteristics (sex, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Injury Severity Score, computed tomography score, and in-hospital mortality) were similar between cohorts, although the preinjury warfarin or clopidogrel cohort was older than the control group ( P P = .05). Conclusion Older adults with preinjury warfarin or clopidogrel use and mild traumatic intracranial hemorrhage may be at an increased risk for unfavorable long-term neurological outcomes compared with similar patients without preinjury use of these medications.
A Functional Model Related to Cytochrome c Oxidase and Its Electrocatalytic Four-Electron Reduction of O2

A cytochrome c oxidase model that consists of a cobalt(II) porphyrin with a copper(I) triazacyclononane macrocycle fastened on the distal face and an imidazole covalently attached to the proximal face has been synthesized and characterized. Redox titrations with molecular oxygen (O2) and cobaltocene were carried out, and O2 was found to bind irreversibly in a 1:1 ratio to the model compound. This O2 adduct (a bridged peroxide) can be fully reduced to the deoxygenated form with four equivalents of cobaltocene. The model compound was adsorbed on an edge-plane graphite electrode, and rotating ring-disk voltammetry was used to monitor the electrocatalytic reduction of O2. Four-electron reduction of O2 was observed at physiological pH.
Olfactory Bulb Units: Activity Correlated with Inhalation Cycles and Odor Quality

Single olfactory bulb units were studied in two macrosmatic species of rodents under conditions intended to preserve the cyclical stimulation which normally accompanies nasal breathing. Patterns of unit activity related to the inhalation cycle were observed in all animals, often in the absence of specific stimuli, and could not be explained in simple mechanical terms. Distinctive changes in these patterns occurred in response to certain odors, and were generally independent of changes in the overall firing frequency. These findings indicate that a change in the overall firing frequency of unit discharges is neither a necessary nor sufficient measure of responsiveness to odors in the rodent olfactory bulb, and that stimulus-specific temporal distributions of unit firing may be involved in olfacto-endocrine activities.
FRESHMAN TO SENIOR YEAR : A FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF IDENTITY, NARCISSISM, AND DEFENSE MECHANISMS

Abstract The identity status, narcissism, and use of defense mechanisms of 89 college seniors who had previously been assessed as they entered college (Cramer, 1995) was determined. As compared to earlier follow-up studies, fewer students were found in the Foreclosed status, and more students remained in Moratorium. Support was found for the previously made predictions that change in identity status would be associated with change in defenses and narcissism. Students who advanced to higher identity statuses made less use of defenses and showed higher narcissism.
The Influence of Sweetened Drink Consumption on the Likelihood of Meeting the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamins and Minerals

Per capita consumption of regular (sugared) soft drinks increased 86% between 1970 and 1997. It has been suggested that they may pose health risks if they replace more nutrient-dense foods and beverages. The probability of meeting the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) threshold for vitamins and minerals is modeled as a function of individual characteristics including the proportion of food energy received from sweetened drinks. For all vitamins and minerals studied, an increase in consumption of food energy from sugared drinks was significantly associated with a reduced probability of meeting the RDA. Results suggest a tendency to substitute sugared drinks for more nutrient-dense foods and beverages, leading to an overall reduction in micronutrients.
Genetic diversity and relationships among Dutch elm disease tolerant Ulmus pumila L. accessions from China.

Elm breeding programs worldwide have relied heavily on Asian elm germplasm, particularly Ulmus pumila, for the breeding of Dutch elm disease tolerant cultivars. However, the extent and patterning of genetic variation in Asian elm species is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the extent of genetic diversity among 53 U. pumila accessions collected throughout the People’s Republic of China. Using 23 microsatellite loci recently developed in the genus Ulmus, a total of 94 alleles were identified in 15 polymorphic and 4 monomorphic loci. The average number of alleles per locus was 4.9, with a range of 1–11 alleles. Gene diversity estimates per locus ranged from 0.08 to 0.87, and the non-exclusion probability for the 15 polymorphic loci combined was 0.7 × 10−9. Nineteen region-specific alleles were identified, and regional gene diversity estimates were moderately high (0.48–0.57). The genetic relationships among accessions and regions were estimated by UPGMA and principal coordi...
A hardware architecture for real-time image compression using a searchless fractal image coding method

In this paper we present a novel hardware architecture for real-time image compression implementing a fast, searchless iterated function system (SIFS) fractal coding method. In the proposed method and corresponding hardware architecture, domain blocks are fixed to a spatially neighboring area of range blocks in a manner similar to that given by Furao and Hasegawa. A quadtree structure, covering from 32 × 32 blocks down to 2 × 2 blocks, and even to single pixels, is used for partitioning. Coding of 2 × 2 blocks and single pixels is unique among current fractal coders. The hardware architecture contains units for domain construction, zig-zag transforms, range and domain mean computation, and a parallel domain-range match capable of concurrently generating a fractal code for all quadtree levels. With this efficient, parallel hardware architecture, the fractal encoding speed is improved dramatically. Additionally, attained compression performance remains comparable to traditional search-based and other searchless methods. Experimental results, with the proposed hardware architecture implemented on an Altera APEX20K FPGA, show that the fractal encoder can encode a 512 × 512 × 8 image in approximately 8.36 ms operating at 32.05 MHz. Therefore, this architecture is seen as a feasible solution to real-time fractal image compression.
Enzymatic and functional correction along with long-term enzyme secretion from transduced bone marrow hematopoietic stem/progenitor and stromal cells derived from patients with Fabry disease

Abstract Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder that is due to a deficiency in α-galactosidase A (α-gal A). Previously we have shown that a recombinant retrovirus synthesized for the transfer of the human α-gal A coding sequence was able to engineer enzymatic correction of the hydrolase deficiency in fibroblasts and lymphoblasts from Fabry patients. The corrected cells secreted α-gal A that was taken up and utilized by uncorrected bystander cells, thus demonstrating metabolic cooperativity. In separate experiments we used transduced murine bone marrow cells and successfully tested and quantitated this phenomenon in vivo. In the present studies, which were designed to bring this therapeutic approach closer to clinical utility, we establish that cells originating from the bone marrow of numerous Fabry patients and normal volunteers can be effectively transduced and that these target cells demonstrate metabolic cooperativity. Both isolated CD34 + -enriched cells and long-term bone marrow culture cells, including nonadherent hematopoietic cells and adherent stromal cells, were transduced. The transferred gene generates increased intracellular α-gal A enzyme activity in these cells. Further, it causes functional correction of lipid accumulation and provides for long-term α-gal A secretion. Collectively, these results indicate that a multifaceted gene transfer approach to bone marrow cells may be of therapeutic benefit for patients with Fabry disease.
Embedding virtual topologies in networked clouds

Embedding virtual topologies in physical network infrastructure has been an area of active research for the future Internet and network testbeds. Virtual network embedding is also useful for linking virtual compute clusters allocated from cloud providers. Using advanced networking technologies to interconnect distributed cloud sites is a promising way to provision on-demand large-scale virtualized networked systems for production and experimental purposes.In this paper, we study the virtual topology embedding problem in a networked cloud environment, in which a number of cloud provider sites are connected by multi-domain wide-area networks that support virtual networking technology. A user submits a request for a virtual topology, and the system plans a low-cost embedding and orchestrates requests to multiple cloud providers and network transit providers to instantiate the virtual topology according to the plan. We describe an efficient heuristic algorithm design and a prototype implementation within a GENI control framework candidate called ORCA.
Potential role of leukotriene modifiers in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive, irreversible airflow limitation coupled with an abnormal inflammatory process. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Leukotriene modifiers, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as treatment for asthma and allergic rhinitis, may also alleviate the abnormal inflammatory response seen in patients with COPD. To explore the outcomes of research in this area, we conducted a literature search from 1950-2007, using the PubMed database. We found no published studies that provided conclusive evidence that the available leukotriene modifiers benefit patients with COPD. However, data do suggest that leukotriene modifiers may offer benefits to patients with COPD, including effects that pertain to airflow limitation, neutrophil and lymphocyte chemotaxis, and neutrophil longevity. Added to conventional treatment, these agents appear to reduce symptoms, improve objective measures of disease, and control inflammation. Further studies are needed to determine the precise role of leukotriene modifiers in the treatment of COPD.
The Saturn V F-1 engine revisited

This paper describes how the Saturn V F-1 engine could be resurrected for potential use in a new heavy lift launch vehicle (HLLV). Performance, history, and reliability of the F-1 will be discussed and a 1990s F-1 engine configuration presented. The status of residual hardware, production capability, test-stand availability, and a general program plan to accomplish this restart will be presented. Similarities between restarting the F-1 program and restarting the Atlas and Delta engine programs will be discussed.
A system for controlling the root and shoot environment for plant growth studies

Abstract A growth chamber-based system was developed for controlling an array of shoot and root environmental factors for plant growth studies. A data acquisition and control system continuously monitors and regulates environmental conditions in each chamber as specified by a computer program. Shoot environmental factors which can be independently varied include air temperature, light intensity and photoperiod, relative humidity, and CO2 and SO2 gas concentrations. Root environment is controlled by regulating the temperature, pH and nitrate level of the hydroponic nutrient medium. Initial growth experiments have been conducted in which nitrate concentration in the hydroponic solution was held constant at levels from 5 mmol/m3 to 1000 mmol/m3, spanning a wide range of nitrogen limitation. Plants also have been raised either with or without SO2 (0–0.4 cm3/m3). Results of these studies show the degree of environmental control achieved, indicate the variation in plant growth response, and suggest the potential for experiments with combinations of controlled environmental stresses.
Guest Editorial Novel Interferometry

This special issue on novel interferometry results from a suggestion by John DeVelis, over a year ago, that we attempt to find a number of papers on novel interferometers. This sounded intriguing, but what is a "novel interferometer"? Novelty implies uniqueness, which in turn leads to finding new interferometers that are somehow different from the commonplace interferometers widely used today. Of course, we would have to search out not one, but many "novel interferometers" to fill this special issue. Seeing this as a formidable task, we decided to broaden the scope of this special issue to include: unique applications of interferometry, truly novel interferometric instrumentation, and the integration of interferometry with other technologies. Thus we could pursue developments which incorporate new technology to the now familiar interferometers developed through the years, as well as informing the reader of new applications of interferometry in other disciplines. In keeping with the purpose of Optical Engineering, our intent was to seek papers stressing instrumentation and application as opposed to purely analytical treatments.
Characterization of essential arginyl residues in sheep kidney (Na+ + K+) -ATPase.

Abstract Treatment of highly purified sheep kidney medulla (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with 2,3-butanedione results in a rapid inactivation of the enzyme. Contrary to a previous report using rabbit kidney enzyme (DePont et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1977) 482, 213) , the inactivation is biphasic under a variety of experimental conditions, with a rapid, initial inactivation which is followed by a slower loss of activity. The second, slower phase of the inhibition obeys pseudo-first order kinetics, with a second order rate constant for inhibition of 20 min−1M−1. ATP and ADP provide no protection in the initial phase of the inhibition, but protect the enzyme completely from the second phase of the inhibition. AMP, while less effective than ATP and ADP, provides a partial protection of the enzyme activity from inhibition by 2,3-butanedione. Inorganic phosphate provides partial protection in both phases of the inactivation. Adenosine alone is without effect, but adenosine plus inorganic phosphate provides a greater protection than phosphate alone. The results indicate that either (1) two or more active site residues or (2) a single arginine, experiencing different reactivities in two different active site conformations, are essential to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity.
Investigation of fatigue anisotropy in an extruded magnesium alloy

Abstract This work presents an investigation on the fatigue behavior of magnesium AM30 alloy in the extruded and transverse directions. Experimental results from strain-controlled fatigue tests showed that the extruded direction exhibited a lower low-cycle fatigue life but a better high-cycle fatigue life compared to the transverse direction. Differences in the cyclic stress–strain response between the two directions were also observed. Lastly, scanning electron microscopy revealed that fatigue cracks predominantly initiated at cracked intermetallic particles.
Pool patterning in a northern peatland: Geophysical evidence for the role of postglacial landforms

A hydrogeophysical study conducted in a 2200-ha peatland in central Maine shows evidence that a laterally continuous esker deposit extends below the peat soil following the direction of glacier retreat and coinciding with the presence of a pool system. Ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity (ER) imaging and terrain conductivity measurements were constrained with limited hydrological measurements, direct sampling of inorganic sediments and radiocarbon dating of peat soils to develop a conceptual model for pool formation that could explain the unique pool patterning observed in other northern peatlands. GPR profiles revealed three-dimensional images of two esker crests below the easternmost edge of the pool area. GPR data was supported by ER imaging and terrain conductivity data and allowed for facies differentiation to infer processes related to esker formation during the glacier front retreat. Hydrologic data showed preferential flow of groundwater towards the esker, suggesting that pools may persist as a result of enhanced peat decomposition and carbon loss due to oxygenation and/or upward supply of alternative electron acceptors from the mineral soil along narrow, permeable inorganic esker crests. Variations in pool depths and radiocarbon dating of peat samples from the pool bottom support a model whereby pools originate at a focus centered along the two esker crests and subsequently spread laterally outwards.
Relationship between wildfire, salvage logging, and occupancy of nesting territories by northern spotted owls†

This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by The Wildlife Society and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jwmg.v77.4/issuetoc. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work.
Coping with packet replay attacks in wireless networks

In this paper, we consider a variant of packet replay attacks wherein, an attacker simply replays overheard frames as they are, or with minor manipulations in the packet header; we refer to this as the copycat attack. When routers forward such replayed packets, the levels of congestion and interference increase in large portions of the network. Our experiments indicate that even a single attacker can degrade the route throughput by up to 61%. While simple to use techniques such as digitally signing every packet can stem the dissemination of such packets, they are resource intense. Thus, we design a lightweight detection and prevention system, COPS (for Copycat Online Prevention System), that intelligently uses a combination of digital signatures and Bloom filters to cope with the attack. With our system, the task of identifying and discarding replayed packets is distributed across a plurality of nodes on a route. We implement COPS on real hardware and perform experiments on our 42 node wireless testbed. Our measurements indicate that COPS achieves its objective; it can efficiently contain the effects of replayed packets to a local neighborhood without incurring high resource consumption penalties. Specifically, we show that COPS reduces the route throughput degradation by up to 66%.
Force-position-velocity control with self-tuning for robotic manipulators

The force-path control of a robotic manipulator is presented here in the joint and in the Cartesian coordinate systems. An autoregressive model with external excitation (ARX-model) is introduced for designing an adaptive controller with self-tuning. The controller minimizes the conditional expectation of the sum of a quadratic position (velocity) error and a quadratic force error while satisfying the constraint of the ARX-model with the estimates substituted for the unknown parameters. The basic approach is used to obtain an adaptive controller which operates on the variables expressed in the joint coordinates. Another adaptive controller is similarly determined for the system variables of the Cartesian coordinate system. The adaptive controller for force-path control introduced here has the form similar to that of hybrid force/position controller of [5], but with time varying gains.
Achieving delay and throughput decoupling in distributed fair queueing over ad hoc networks

This paper describes an algorithm that achieves delay and throughput decoupling in distributed fair scheduling in multihop ad-hoc wireless networks. The solution allows to support both low-bandwidth, low-delay and high-bandwidth, high delay applications in a single framework, without wasting much bandwidth to realize the low-delay requirement. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in servicing various types of applications through ns-2 simulations.
A prototype for including simulation of IS dynamics in CASE environments

Describes a method to integrate information systems (IS) design performance evaluation with the IS development process. The nature and cost of an information system is shaped by decisions about where to provide computer support, the hardware platform, and the database management system (DBMS) architecture-decisions influenced largely by how quickly work must be done. A prototype system has been developed which produces simulation results automatically from data flow diagrams (DFDs) augmented with information regarding the performance of system components. The objective is to make the evaluation of IS design dynamics a common and integral part of the development process by producing simulation results directly from computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool data dictionaries. The prototype reads DFDs from a custom DFD-drawing tool and formulates a corresponding simulation model. The prototype provides model-based expert advice in the use of the simulation model and in the interpretation of its output. The use of the prototype is illustrated through its application to a proposed research clinic information system. >
Vessel Boundary Delineation on Fundus Images Using Graph-Based Approach

This paper proposes an algorithm to measure the width of retinal vessels in fundus photographs using graph-based algorithm to segment both vessel edges simultaneously. First, the simultaneous two-boundary segmentation problem is modeled as a two-slice, 3-D surface segmentation problem, which is further converted into the problem of computing a minimum closed set in a node-weighted graph. An initial segmentation is generated from a vessel probability image. We use the REVIEW database to evaluate diameter measurement performance. The algorithm is robust and estimates the vessel width with subpixel accuracy. The method is used to explore the relationship between the average vessel width and the distance from the optic disc in 600 subjects.
Thinking about the unknown

A long tradition of research suggests that children and adults with no formal education are prone to reason only on the basis of their first-hand experience, and do not encode and reason from novel generalizations supplied by other people. However, recent research reveals that when given simple prompts, even pre-school children can reason from adults’ unfamiliar claims. A radical implication of these findings is that young children arrive at school with a pre-existing capacity for thinking and reasoning about the unknown. The assumption that early learning should be rooted in children's own empirical experience could be mistaken.
Control of the shear layer above a supersonic cavity using energy deposition

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of pulsed energy deposition as a means of active flow control for the shear layer above a supersonic cavity in the open configuration. The excitation pulse was generated with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and was applied as a spanwise oriented line along the leading edge of a cavity. The study was conducted at a freestream Mach number of 1.4 and for a cavity length-to-depth ratio of 5.29. The flowfield was analyzed over a range of delay times from the excitation laser pulse using schlieren photography and particle image velocimetry. Analysis of phase-averaged schlieren images suggested the formation and growth of a coherent large-scale structure (consisting of two adjoining vortices) in the wake of the generated disturbance. This result was confirmed through two-component velocity field data obtained from particle image velocimetry measurements. The velocity information was also used to determine the instantaneous convective velocity and define characteristic scales for the large-scale structure.
Delayed systemic Nogo-66 receptor antagonist promotes recovery from spinal cord injury

Traumatized axons possess an extremely limited ability to regenerate within the adult mammalian CNS. The myelin-derived axon outgrowth inhibitors Nogo, oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein, and myelin-associated glycoprotein, all bind to an axonal Nogo-66 receptor (NgR) and at least partially account for this lack of CNS repair. Although the intrathecal application of an NgR competitive antagonist at the time of spinal cord hemisection induces significant regeneration of corticospinal axons, such immediate local therapy may not be as clinically feasible for cases of spinal cord injury. Here, we consider whether this approach can be adapted to systemic therapy in a postinjury therapeutic time window. Subcutaneous treatment with the NgR antagonist peptide NEP1-40 (Nogo extracellular peptide, residues 1-40) results in extensive growth of corticospinal axons, sprouting of serotonergic fibers, upregulation of axonal growth protein SPRR1A (small proline-rich repeat protein 1A), and synapse re-formation. Locomotor recovery after thoracic spinal cord injury is enhanced. Furthermore, delaying the initiation of systemic NEP1-40 administration for up to 1 week after cord lesions does not limit the degree of axon sprouting and functional recovery. This indicates that the regenerative capacity of transected corticospinal tract axons persists for weeks after injury. Systemic Nogo-66 receptor antagonists have therapeutic potential for subacute CNS axonal injuries such as spinal cord trauma.
Bone Marrow–Imprinted Gut-Homing of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (pDCs) in Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Results in Massive Accumulation of Hyperfunctional CD4+ pDCs in the Mucosae

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), a primary source of interferon α (IFN-α), provide a first line of innate immune defense against human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, their kinetics and functions during acute infection are poorly understood. In mucosal tissues of normal rhesus macaques, we found CD4(+) pDCs to be the subset responsible for most IFN-α and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 stimulation, compared with relatively anergic CD4(-) pDCs. During acute simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, gut homing was imprinted on pDCs in the bone marrow, resulting in a decline in pDCs from circulation and secondary lymphoid tissues. Although the accumulated pDCs in the gut mucosae had robust cytokine responses to TLR7/8 stimulation in vitro, pDC gut migration occurred after infection and detection of SIV in plasma. Our data suggest that innate pDC responses do not control initial SIV seeding and dissemination but instead may contribute to ongoing immune activation in the gut.
Vibrating interventional device detection using real-time 3-D color Doppler

Ultrasound image guidance of interventional devices during minimally invasive surgery provides the clinician with improved soft tissue contrast while reducing ionizing radiation exposure. One problem with ultrasound image guidance is poor visualization of the device tip during the clinical procedure. We have described previously guidance of several interventional devices using a real-time 3-D (RT3-D) ultrasound system with 3-D color Doppler combined with the ColorMark technology. We then developed an analytical model for a vibrating needle to maximize the tip vibrations and improve the reliability and sensitivity of our technique. In this paper, we use the analytical model and improved radiofrequency (RF) and color Doppler filters to detect two different vibrating devices in water tank experiments as well as in an in vivo canine experiment. We performed water tank experiments with four different 3- D transducers: a 5 MHz transesophageal (TEE) probe, a 5 MHz transthoracic (TTE) probe, a 5 MHz intracardiac catheter (ICE) transducer, and a 2.5 MHz commercial TTE probe. Each transducer was used to scan an aortic graft suspended in the water tank. An atrial septal puncture needle and an endomyocardial biopsy forceps, each vibrating at 1.3 kHz, were inserted into the vascular graft and were tracked using 3-D color Doppler. Improved RF and wall filters increased the detected color Doppler sensitivity by 14 dB. In three simultaneous planes from the in vivo 3-D scan, we identified both the septal puncture needle and the biopsy forceps within the right atrium using the 2.5 MHz probe. A new display filter was used to suppress the unwanted flash artifact associated with physiological motion.
Satisfying Programmers' Information Needs in API-Based Programming

Programmers encounter many difficulties in using an API to solve a programming task. To cope with these difficulties, they browse the Internet for code samples, tutorials, and API documentation. In general, it is time-consuming to find relevant help from the plethora of information on the web. While programmers can use search-based tools to help locate code snippets or applications that may be relevant to the APIs they are using, they still face the significant challenge of understanding and assessing the quality of the search results. We propose to investigate a proactive help system that is integrated in a development environment to provide contextual suggestions to the programmers as the code is being read and edited in the editor.
New search spaces for sequencing problems with application to job shop scheduling

In this paper search heuristics are developed for generic sequencing problems with emphasis on job shop scheduling. The proposed methods integrate problem specific heuristics common to Operations Research and local search approaches from Artificial Intelligence in order to obtain desirable properties from both. The applicability of local search to a wide range of problems, and the incorporation of problem-specific information are both properties of the proposed algorithms. Two methods are proposed, both of which are based on novel definitions of solution spaces and of neighborhoods in these spaces. Applications of the proposed methodology are developed for job shop scheduling problems, and can be easily applied with any scheduling objective. To demonstrate effectiveness, the method is tested on the job shop scheduling problem with the minimum makespan objective. Encouraging results are obtained.
Vaccination levels associated with lack of measles transmission among preschool-aged populations in the United States, 1989-1991.

Knowledge of the minimum level of vaccination capable of preventing measles transmission in an age group is helpful for establishing program targets for measles elimination. In 1990, during the measles resurgence in the United States, one-half of cases occurred in children aged !5 years. Although estimated population immunity among persons 6 years of age was 93%, immunity was lower and varied widely among preschoolaged children. To examine the association of vaccine coverage at 2 years of age and measles incidence among preschool-aged children, we analyzed ecological studies of measles incidence in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) census tracts, Dallas (Texas) ZIP code areas, and selected cities during the 1989–1991 measles resurgence. In each study area, measles incidence decreased rapidly with increasing measles vaccine coverage and became low or negligible when coverage was 80%. Regression analysis also suggested that measles would not be transmitted when vaccine coverage was at least 79%. A minimum vaccine coverage of ∼80% at the second birthday in census tracts, ZIP code areas, and cities in the United States may be sufficient to prevent measles transmission among preschool-aged children if population immunity is 93% among persons 6 years of age.
Empirically determined finite frequency sensitivity kernels for surface waves

SUMMARY We demonstrate a method for the empirical construction of 2-D surface wave phase traveltime finite frequency sensitivity kernels by using phase traveltime measurements obtained across a large dense seismic array. The method exploits the virtual source and reciprocity properties of the ambient noise cross-correlation method. The adjoint method is used to construct the sensitivity kernels, where phase traveltime measurements for an event (an earthquake or a virtual ambient noise source at one receiver) determine the forward wave propagation and a virtual ambient noise source at a second receiver gives the adjoint wave propagation. The interference of the forward and adjoint waves is then used to derive the empirical kernel. Examples of station‐station and earthquake‐station empirical finite frequency kernels within the western United States based on ambient noise and earthquake phase traveltime measurements across USArray stations are shown to illustrate the structural effects on the observed empirical sensitivity kernels. We show that a hybrid kernel constructed from the empirical kernel and the kernel for a reference model can be used to compute traveltimes accurate to second order in model perturbations for an earth-like model. A synthetic test demonstrates the application of such hybrid kernels to predict surface wave phase traveltimes.
HDAC6 is overexpressed in cystic cholangiocytes and its inhibition reduces cystogenesis.

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is a member of the cholangiopathies, a group of liver diseases in which cholangiocytes, the epithelia lining of the biliary tree, are the target cells. PLDs are caused by mutations in genes involved in intracellular signaling pathways, cell cycle regulation, and ciliogenesis, among others. We previously showed that cystic cholangiocytes have abnormal cell cycle profiles and malfunctioning cilia. Because histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) plays an important role in both cell cycle regulation and ciliary disassembly, we examined the role of HDAC6 in hepatic cystogenesis. HDAC6 protein was increased sixfold in cystic liver tissue and in cultured cholangiocytes isolated from both PCK rats (an animal model of PLD) and humans with PLD. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of HDAC6 by Tubastatin-A, Tubacin, and ACY-1215 decreased proliferation of cystic cholangiocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and inhibited cyst growth in three-dimensional cultures. Importantly, ACY-1215 administered to PCK rats diminished liver cyst development and fibrosis. In summary, we show that HDAC6 is overexpressed in cystic cholangiocytes both in vitro and in vivo, and its pharmacological inhibition reduces cholangiocyte proliferation and cyst growth. These data suggest that HDAC6 may represent a potential novel therapeutic target for cases of PLD.
Managed Flood Effects on Beaver Pond Habitat in a Desert Riverine Ecosystem, Bill Williams River, Arizona USA

The ecological effects of beaver in warm-desert streams are poorly documented, but potentially significant. For example, stream water and sediment budgets may be affected by increased evaporative losses and sediment retention in beaver ponds. We measured physical attributes of beaver pond and adjacent lotic habitats on a regulated Sonoran Desert stream, the Bill Williams River, after ≥11 flood-free months in Spring 2007 and Spring 2008. Neither a predicted warming of surface water as it passed through a pond nor a reduction in dissolved oxygen in ponds was consistently observed, but bed sediment sorted to finest in ponds as expected. We observed a river segment-scale downstream rise in daily minimum stream temperature that may have been influenced by the series of ~100 beaver ponds present. Channel cross-sections surveyed before and after an experimental flood (peak flow 65 m3/s) showed net aggradation on nine of 13 cross-sections through ponds and three of seven through lotic reaches. Our results indicate that beaver affect riverine processes in warm deserts much as they do in other biomes. However, effects may be magnified in deserts through the potential for beaver to alter the stream thermal regime and water budget.
You Take the High Road and I'll Take the Low Road? The Interplay of Attack Strategies and Tactics in Presidential Campaigns

Formal models and conventional wisdom converge on the idea that the strategy and tactics of major-party opponents in presidential campaigns should vary as a function of the competitive situation in which the two sides find themselves. That idea forms the core of our interpretation of the circumstances underlying negative campaigning. We test it by analyzing the statements of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 1960 through 2000 campaigns. The data are consistent with our interpretation. Strategically, tickets were most likely to go on the attack in races in which they were running far behind. Tactically, vice-presidential candidates were most likely to out-attack their presidential running mates in races in which their ticket was running far ahead. Close contests in which neither side enjoyed a clear or enduring lead seemed to complicate strategic choices for both tickets and thereby to confound the tactics of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
SEDIMENT DYNAMICS AND PROFILE INTERACTIONS: DUCK94

Beach profiles and sediment samples were collected on a daily basis along three crossshore transect lines during the DUCK94 nearshore experiment lasting for 18 days in October 1994. Conditions ranged from near calm during the first week of the experiment to full storm conditions during the second and third weeks, with a two day initiation of beach recovery at the end of the experiment. The profiles responded with similar elevation change, with little morphologic variability during the calm period. During the storm, the bar migrated seaward 70 to 100 m, but the foreshore exhibited little change. The bar began to migrate shoreward at initiation of recovery. Sediment grain-size distributions vary in the cross-shore direction, with medium size grains on the upper foreshore, coarse gravel deposits on the lower foreshore and progressively finer sands in the offshore direction. After the storm, the foreshore and bar/trough samples were coarser with little change in the nearshore sediment distributions.
Energy efficient comparators for superscalar datapaths

Modern superscalar datapaths use aggressive execution reordering to exploit instruction-level parallelism. Comparators, either explicit or embedded into content-addressable logic, are used extensively throughout such designs to implement several key out-of-order execution mechanisms and support the memory hierarchy. The traditional comparator designs dissipate energy on a mismatch in any bit position. As mismatches occur with a much higher frequency than matches in many situations, considerable improvements in energy dissipation are to be gained by using comparators that dissipate energy predominantly on a full match and little or no energy on partial or complete mismatches. We make two contributions. First, we introduce a series of dissipate-on-match comparator designs, including designs for comparing long arguments. Second, we show how comparators, used in modern datapaths, can be chosen and organized judiciously based on the microarchitectural-level statistics to minimize the energy dissipation. We use the actual layout data and the realistic bit patterns of the comparands (obtained from the simulated execution of SPEC 2000 benchmarks) to show the energy impact from the use of the new comparator designs. For the same delay, the proposed 8-bit comparators dissipate 70 percent less energy than the traditional designs if used within issue queues and 73 percent less energy if used within load-store queues. The use of the proposed 6-bit comparators within the dependency checking logic is shown to increase the energy dissipation by 65 percent on the average compared to the traditional designs. We also find that the use of a hybrid 32-bit comparator, comprised of three traditional 8-bit blocks and one proposed 8-bit block, is the most energy-efficient solution for the use in the load-store queue, resulting in 19 percent energy reduction compared to the use of four traditional 8-bit blocks used to implement a 32-bit comparator.