cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Calculated Turbulence Parameters for Use in Hybrid Broadband Fan Noise Calculations

The ability to predict the broadband noise due to fluid-structure interaction in the fan-stage of a turbofan engine could enhance engine design. Currently, fully computational hybrid schemes for coupling RANS flow simulations and linearized Euler acoustic simulations offer a potential broadband noise prediction methodology. The success of the hybrid method depends partly on the ability of RANS to accurately predict the turbulent kinetic energy and the integral length scale. The impact of the accuracy of a RANS simulation on the broadband noise prediction is explored. NASAs Source Diagnostic Test (SDT), a 1/5th scale model representation of the bypass stage of a turbofan engine provides the basis for the computations and validations. The RSI (rotor-stator interaction) code is utilized to compute the fan exit guide vane response and exhaust noise due to the interaction with inflow turbulence. The experimental data for the baseline vane SDT case at the approach condition are analyzed using structure functions to obtain the turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation rate, and integral length scale. These results are compared to the solutions provided by four proprietary CFD codes that employ two-equation turbulence models. The CFD simulations are shown to predict the turbulent kinetic energy well, over-predict mean dissipation rate, and capture the integral length scale moderately well. The broadband exhaust noise computed with RSI based on input derived from the various CFD simulations differ and it is shown that the differences are most strongly dependent upon the variation in the estimation of the integral length scale.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Coronary angioplasty for coronary stenosis after the arterial switch procedure

Coronary balloon angioplasty seems to be an adequate therapy for proximal coronary stenoses developing after the arterial switch operation, with adequate medium-term results. Overexpansion of the lesion seems to be necessary.
Thiazide diuretic monotherapy for hypertension: Diuretic's dark side just got darker

Diuretic monotherapy is the current recommendation of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure for initial antihypertensive therapy. There is mounting concern, however, that the benefits of diuretic's superior blood pressure control may be offset by its multiple metabolic disturbances that increase cardiovascular risk. Reungjui et al. document a new concern, nephrotoxicity by thiazide monotherapy. This and other recently published evidence of diuretic's 'dark side' is discussed.
Synthesis and biological evaluation at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of N-arylalkyl- and N-aryl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes.

A new series of N-arylalkyl-substituted 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and N-aryl-substituted 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes were synthesized and evaluated as potential ligands for neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The in vitro binding affinities (Ki) of the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives were measured by inhibition of [3H]cytisine binding to rat brain tissue. The most potent ligand of the series was found to be N-(3-pyridylmethyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (5b, Ki = 98 nM). The chloro analogue (5a, Ki = 245 nM) 5a and epibatidine (1) produced dose-dependent analgesia in both hotplate and tail-flick tests when administered subcutaneously. However, when compounds 1 and 5a,b were administered intrathecally, all produced analgesia in the tail-flick test but only 5a produced analgesia in the hotplate test.
Transient Analysis of Cryotron Networks by Computer Simulation

A general method is derived for transient analysis of complicated nonlinear dynamical systems by use of a digital computer programmed to perform tensor transformations and numerical integration. Tensor methods, adapted from Kron's techniques, are used for converting circuit data into a form for transient simulation by numerical integration. An IBM 704 program has been written for simulation of cryotron networks. This simulator has been used to study switching speeds of cross-latched cryotron flip-flops; five-stage, free-running, ring circuits; and a three-bit, self-timing, self-checking, binary, parallel adder. The adder circuit contains 233 circuit elements, including 93 cryotrons arranged in 55 meshes. Results of these studies are included.
Visual orienting deficits in frogs with various unilateral lesions

We have studied the visual prey acquisition behavior of frogs with unilateral optic nerve section, unilateral tectal lobe ablation, and unilateral transverse hemisection at a level between the tectum and the cerebellum. The first two groups of animals oriented normally to stimuli throughout the region of visual field overlap and failed to respond to more peripheral stimuli on one side. Hemisected animals responded to stimuli at all positions in the visual field. For stimuli located contralateral to the lesion, the frogs oriented normally. For ipsilateral stimuli, the frogs oriented forward.
Film morphology and ultrafast photoexcitation dynamics in polyfluorene

We study the effect of sample morphology on ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited species in poly(9,9-dioctyl)fluorene (PFO). We show that within 200 fs both excitons and geminate polaron pairs with distinctly different absorption bands in the visible-near infrared spectral range are photogenerated in PFO solutions, pristine films, thermal and vapor treated films. However the branching ratio between the excitons and polaron pairs, as well as the polaron pair recombination kinetics depends on film morphology; polaron pair generation is enhanced and their recombination kinetics is faster in a solid phase, called the β phase, where the polymer chains are more planar.
Low-frequency oscillations on the outer shelf in the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight

Abstract Current meter data collected during the SEEP-II spring experiment off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia were analyzed to examine the low-frequency phase propagation on the outer shelf and upper slope. In the low frequency band (periods between 24 and 12 days), there was a distinct offshore phase propagation in the data. The amplitude was nearly constant on the shelf and decreased offshore on the slope. In the vertical direction, there was an upward phase propagation on the shelf. These oscillations were probably topographic waves generated near the shelf-slope front. In the synoptic band (periods between 8 and 4.8 days), oscillation amplitudes were higher on the slope than on the shelf; the phase was nearly constant across the shelf and slope. The coherent motions were probably associated with the oscillations of the shelf-slope front. In the wind band with periods shorter than 4 days, the amplitude decreased rapidly offshore, similar to coastally trapped waves. Offshore veering of curents in the bottom boundary layer was observed at the 400 and 1000 m isobaths and was probably related to low-frequency oscillations at mid-depths.
A comparison between hormone levels and T lymphocyte function in young and old rats.

Abstract There is growing evidence that changes in hormone secretion during aging can alter some functions of the thymus. In order to identify further relationships between changes in endocrine and thymic function during aging we measured the circulating levels of prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH) thyrotropin (TSH) thyroxine (T 4 ) and triiodothyronine (T 3 ), and determined their relation to a number of T lymphocyte functional indices in 20 young (4 months) and 20 old (28–30 months) Long-Evans male rats. Half of the young and old rats were chronically cannulated in order to obtain sequential plasma samples for measuring PRL, GH and TSH by RIA. Total T 4 and T 3 were measured by RIA in the trunk serum of all animals. Thymus and spleen cell cultures from each rat were established and used to assess the ability of thymocytes to respond to mitogens and lymphokines as well as to measure the levels of IL-2 production by splenic lymphocytes. Mean plasma GH and serum T 4 were significantly lower in old as compared to young rats ( P P 4 , respectively), while PRL, TSH and T 3 did not show significant age changes. Thymic cell number showed a 100-fold decrease in old as compared to young animals (if10.6 ± 3.0) x 10 6 vs. (898 ± 98) x 10 6 cells, respectively) whereas no age change was detected in spleen cell numbers. The proliferative response of thymocytes exposed to Con A, IL-1, Con A + IL-1 or Con A + IL-2, was consistently higher in yuong than in old animals while the capacity of splenocytes to release IL-2 in response to Con A was not statistically different in young and old rats. The age changes in serum T 4 showed a significant correlation with those in thymocyte count as well as with those in IL-1 + Con A- and IL-2 + Con A-induced thymocyte proliferation. Plasma GH showed a significant inverse correlation with splenocyte
EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF NONCOGNITIVE VARIABLES ON THE INTENTION OF MINORITY BACCALAUREATE NURSING STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR PROGRAM OF STUDY

Retention of minority baccalaureate nursing students is imperative to resolving the absence of minority representation within the nursing profession and to aid in the elimination of health disparities among minority health care recipients. Improving minority nursing student retention requires a closer examination of the impact of noncognitive variables that contribute to attrition. This study explored the predictive value of select noncognitive variables on the intention of minority baccalaureate nursing students to complete their degree. A survey was sent to 1,519 students enrolled in generic, prelicensure baccalaureate nursing programs in the North Carolina University System. Unique data characteristics required the use of both parametric and nonparametric statistical analyses. The regression model included variables of age, race, gender, academic development, faculty interaction, peer interaction, hours worked, and faculty concern and accounted for 29% of the variation in student intention to complete their degree.
Time-resolved infrared spectroscopic study of the orientation behavior of liquid crystalline molecules in the presence of an electric field

Abstract Time-resolved Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy is used to follow the changes induced by electric field in molecular orientation of a 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal. At an electric field strength greater than 600 V cm−1, the long axis of a 5CB molecule orientates to the direction of the electric field. The orientation function, however, saturates at a field strength greater than 1000 V cm−1. The relaxation time of the rise amd decay processes was in the range of 0.04–0.24 s and a decreased with increasing field strength. The orientation/relaxation process is discussed on the basis of the motion of liquid crystal domains.
Comparison of Day and Night Shoreline Seine Catches in Two South Dakota Glacial Lakes

ABSTRACT Shoreline seining was completed in South Dakota monthly (May through October) during the day and night at Lake Kampeska (a basin with simple morphometry) in 1995 and 1997 and at Lake Enemy Swim (a complex basin) in 1996 and 1997. Within lake comparisons were made between median day and night catches. The few significant differences between night and day catches at Lake Kampeska likely were attributed to higher water turbidity. Richness and diversity values were similar between day and night seining at Lake Kampeska. Conversely, relative abundance and species diversity and richness were typically higher for nighttime samples from Lake Enemy Swim. Turbidity appeared to have the largest effect on seine catches in these glacial lakes. Thus, when sampling fishes with seines in clear glacial lakes, nighttime seining should be considered.
Extended line positions, intensities, empirical lower state energies and quantum assignments of NH3 from 6300 to 7000 cm−1

Abstract Nearly 4800 features of ammonia between 6300 and 7000 cm−1 with intensities ≥4×10−24 cm−1/(molecule·cm−2) at 296 K were measured using 16 pure NH3 spectra recorded at various temperatures (296–185 K) with the McMath–Pierce Fourier Transform Spectrometer at Kitt Peak National Observatory, AZ. The line positions and intensities were retrieved by fitting individual spectra based on a Voigt line shape profile and then averaging the values to form the experimental linelist. The integrated intensity of the region was 4.68×10−19 cm−1/(molecule·cm−2) at 296 K. Empirical lower state energies were also estimated for 3567 absorption line features using line intensities retrieved from 10 spectra recorded at gas temperature between 185 and 233 K. Finally, using Ground State Combination Differences (GSCDs) and the empirical lower state energy estimates, the quantum assignments were determined for 1096 transitions in the room temperature linelist, along with empirical upper state energies for 434 levels. The assignments correspond to seven vibrational states, as confirmed from recent ab initio calculations. The resulting composite database of 14NH3 line parameters will provide experimental constraints to ab initio calculations and support remote sensing of gaseous bodies including the atmospheres of Earth, (exo)planets, brown dwarfs, and other astrophysical environments.
Crystal Structure of Bovine Coronavirus Spike Protein Lectin Domain

The spike protein N-terminal domains (NTDs) of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) and mouse hepatitis coronavirus (MHV) recognize sugar and protein receptors, respectively, despite their significant sequence homology. We recently determined the crystal structure of MHV NTD complexed with its protein receptor murine carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), which surprisingly revealed a human galectin (galactose-binding lectin) fold in MHV NTD. Here, we have determined at 1.55 A resolution the crystal structure of BCoV NTD, which also has the human galectin fold. Using mutagenesis, we have located the sugar-binding site in BCoV NTD, which overlaps with the galactose-binding site in human galectins. Using a glycan array screen, we have identified 5-N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid as the preferred sugar substrate for BCoV NTD. Subtle structural differences between BCoV and MHV NTDs, primarily involving different conformations of receptor-binding loops, explain why BCoV NTD does not bind CEACAM1 and why MHV NTD does not bind sugar. These results suggest a successful viral evolution strategy in which coronaviruses stole a galectin from hosts, incorporated it into their spike protein, and evolved it into viral receptor-binding domains with altered sugar specificity in contemporary BCoV or novel protein specificity in contemporary MHV.
Features, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

As the global incidence of obesity has increased, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a worldwide health concern. NAFLD occurs in children and adults of all ethnicities and includes isolated fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Patients with NASH are at risk for developing cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma and have increased all-cause mortality. NAFLD is associated with a variety of clinical conditions and is an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of NAFLD and the specific steps that lead to NASH and advanced fibrosis are not fully understood, although researchers have found that a combination of environmental, genetic, and metabolic factors lead to advanced disease. There have been improvements in noninvasive radiographic methods to diagnose NAFLD, especially for advanced disease. However, liver biopsy is still the standard method of diagnosis for NASH. There are many challenges to treating patients with NASH, and no therapies have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; multimodal approaches are being developed and becoming the standard of care. We review pathogenesis and treatment approaches for the West's largest liver-related public health concern.
Complete genomic sequences of the GP5 protein gene of bluetongue virus serotype 11 and 17

The complete nucleotide sequences of full-length copies of genomic segment 6 or M3 of US bluetongue virus serotype 11 and 17 consisted of 1638 nucleotides. The plus-strand contained an open reading frame for a protein of 526 amino acids which was equivalent to about 59,000 Da, similar to the molecular weight of GP5 as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. This long open reading frame was flanked by a 5' non-coding region of 29 nucleotides and a 3' non-coding region of 28 bases. When the predicted amino acid sequences of GP5 of BTV-11 and -17 were aligned and compared with those of BTV-2, -10, -13, -1AU and -1SA, four major highly conserved domains interrupted by several variable regions were detected. The potential significance of these discrete domains is discussed. Evolutionary and phylogenetic characteristics of these US BTV serotypes were consistent with our finding concerning BTV-1AU and -1SA.
A simple method for the simultaneous measurement of sodium and chloride fluxes across transporting epithelia.

A simple tecynique for the separation of22Na and35Cl radioactivity in the same solution is described. Two samples were taken from a solution containing both22Na and36Cl. One sample was precipitated with AgNO3 and the other was untreated. Samples were assayed for radioactivity by liquid scintillation spectrophotometry. Precipitation with AgNO3 removed 100% of the36Cl activity from solution while having no effect on the22Na radioactivity. Thus precipitated samples contained only22Na radioactivity. Subtraction of the radioactivity in the supernatants of precipitated samples (i. e.22Na) from the total radioactivity of untreated samples (i. e.22Na &36Cl) yielded the level of36Cl activity in these samples.
Extracellular sodium and potassium levels modulate cardiac conduction in mice heterozygous null for the Connexin43 gene

Several studies have disagreed on measurements of cardiac conduction velocity (CV) in mice with a heterozygous knockout of the connexin gene Gja1—a mutation that reduces the gap junction (GJ) protein, Connexin43 (Cx43), by 50 %. We noted that perfusate ionic composition varied between studies and hypothesized that extracellular ionic concentration modulates CV dependence on GJs. CV was measured by optically mapping wild-type (WT) and heterozygous null (HZ) hearts serially perfused with solutions previously associated with no change (Solution 1) or CV slowing (Solution 2). In WT hearts, CV was similar for Solutions 1 and 2. However, consistent with the hypothesis, Solution 2 in HZ hearts slowed transverse CV (CVT) relative to Solution 1. Previously, we showed CV slowing in a manner consistent with ephaptic conduction correlated with increased perinexal inter-membrane width (W P) at GJ edges. Thus, W P was measured following perfusion with systematically adjusted [Na+]o and [K+]o in Solutions 1 and 2. A wider W P was associated with reduced CVT in WT and HZ hearts, with the greatest effect in HZ hearts. Increasing [Na+]o increased CVT only in HZ hearts. Increasing [K+]o slowed CVT in both WT and HZ hearts with large W P but only in HZ hearts with narrow W P. Conclusion: When perinexi are wide, decreasing excitability by modulating [Na+]o and [K+]o increases CV sensitivity to reduced Cx43. By contrast, CV is less sensitive to Cx43 and ion composition when perinexi are narrow. These results are consistent with cardiac conduction dependence on both GJ and non-GJ (ephaptic) mechanisms.
Abstract 3939: Hypoxia-induced BRCA1 phosphorylation and degradation

Hypoxia is a key feature of tumor microenviroment. We have demonstrated that hypoxia downregulates BRCA1 at the transcriptional level through promoter binding by E2F4/p130 complexes and that hypoxia can produce BRCA1 gene silencing via epigenetic modifications. We also demonstrated that downregulation of BRCA1 by hypoxia leads to decreased DNA repair capacity, establishing a mechanism by which hypoxia can drive genetic instability in cancer cells. In addition to transcriptional regulation, BRCA1 has been found to be phosphorylated at S988 in a Chk2-dependent manner by both ionizing radiation and hypoxia exposure. In this study, we have been able to confirm that other residues of BRCA1 are phosphoylated during hypoxia exposure, including S1387, S1423, S1466, and S1524. Intriguingly, the phosphoryation of BRCA1 only happens under severe hypoxic condition, such as 0.01% oxygen, but not under moderate hypoxia (1% oxygen condition). Furthermore, the BRCA1 phosphoylation events induced by hypoxia can be attenuated by an ATM inhibitor, KU55933, indicating that ATM is playing a role in hypoxia-induced BRCA1 phosphorylation at multiple sites. We also observed that the decrease in BRCA1 protein levels in hypoxia is partially blocked by MG132, a proteasome inhibitor. Consistent with this, by transient transfection of exogenous BRCA1, we found that hypoxia induces BRCA1 unbiquitination in MCF-7 cells. Together, our data suggest that hypoxia-induced downregulation of BRCA1 is in part mediated through the ubiqutin-proteasome pathway. Our findings indicate a new mechanism of hypoxia induced regulation of BRCA1 by modulating its stability, suggesting that hypoxia-induced downregulation of BRCA1 is through multiple mechanisms. Future studies will investigate the mechanism of hypoxia-induced BRCA1 phophorylation and the relation between hypoxia-induced BRCA1 phosphorylation and BRCA1 degradation. To understand more about regulation of BRCA1 by hypoxia could lead to new therapies to target hypoxic tumors. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3939. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3939
The Effect of Hydrogenation on the Nutritive Value of the Fatty Acid Fractions of Butter Fat and of Certain Vegetable Oils

Studies on the comparative nutritive value of butter fat and certain vegetable oils (1) showed that butter fat homogenized into raw skimmed milk with ample fat soluble vitamins and minerals added and fed ad libitum to weanling rats gave better growth than did corn oil, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, and soybean oil fed in a like manner. Further study disclosed that the factor (or factors) responsible for the superior growth of rats on butter fat milk did not lie in the non-saponifiable fraction of butter fat (1), nor did such compounds as egg lecithin, sphingomyelin, sphingosin, or ethanol amine have any effect on the nutritive value of the vegetable oils used in our experiments. Choline was also tried and showed slight growth promoting effects on the females (2). Later experiments (unpublished) have shown that the addition of choline (30mg. per day) has had no growth promoting effect when added to butterfat or any of the vegetable oils fed in skimmed milk.
Chetate toxicity with transplant solutions containing Zn, Mn and Fe chelates for tomatoes

Abstract A combination of ZnEDTA (19 mg Zn), MnEDTA (14 mg Mn) and FeHEDTA (7 mg Fe) was applied to soil in pots (1000 g soil) with tomato plants to simulate a transplant solution. Severe injury occurred on one set of plants, especially for a 2 × application when the soil was allowed to dry out but not enough to wilt plants. Warm weather contributed to the results. Injury was less intense when soil moisture was maintained near ‐1/3 bar.
U.S. Historical Statistics: New Estimates of Union Membership the United States, 1880–1914

(1999). U.S. Historical Statistics: New Estimates of Union Membership the United States, 1880–1914. Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History: Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 75-86.
Using a computer model to explore impairments of acquisition processes following ingestion of diazepam.

Hypotheses about the information processes impaired in diazepam-induced amnesia were tested by fitting the output from a computer simulation of list learning to observed serial position curves and to overt rehearsal protocols. Twenty-four subjects received an average weight-relative dosage of 0.18 mg/kg oral diazepam; 24 subjects received placebo. Immediate free recall of 16-word lists was examined at 2- and 8-s presentation times. Subjects receiving diazepam recalled significantly fewer words than placebo subjects (diazepam=6.77 ± 2.39 words; placebo=9.29 ± 1.42 words); their memory impairment was greater at the 8-s than 2-s presentation time. Tests of nonlinear regression models based on computer simulations of list learning performance were consistent with the hypothesis that diazepam reduces rehearsal capacity and disrupts the formation or utilization of contextual and inter-item associations. Among these causes of diazepam-induced amnesia, the disruption of contextual associations appears most important. The results further suggest that quantitative modeling of memory data may complement traditional methods of inferring relationships between brain processes and cognitive dysfunction in amnesic states.
A Perspective on Embedded Software Agents in Software Security Assurance

Software agents are programs written to execute autonomously and accomplish the exact tasks of the developer. Software agent is a widely used technique in web and mobile computing. This technique plays even more important role in the cloud computing today. Evidences from current events have shown that, in addition to virus and hacker attacks, many software systems have been embedded with “agents” that pose security threats such as allowing someone to “unauthorized access” to computers with such software installed. This will eventually grow into a more serious problem when Cluster and Cloud Computing becomes popular. In this paper, we first discuss the issue of software security breaches resulting from embedded sleeping agents. We then investigate some patterns of embedded sleeping agents utilized in software industry. In addition, we review these patterns and propose a software security assurance model that identifies different scenarios. This software security assurance model will provide a foundation for further study on how to detect and prevent such patterns from becoming security breaches.
MxB binds to the HIV-1 core and prevents the uncoating process of HIV-1

The IFN-α-inducible restriction factor MxB blocks HIV-1 infection after reverse transcription but prior to integration. Genetic evidence suggested that capsid is the viral determinant for restriction by MxB. This work explores the ability of MxB to bind to the HIV-1 core, and the role of capsid-binding in restriction. We showed that MxB binds to the HIV-1 core and that this interaction leads to inhibition of the uncoating process of HIV-1. These results identify MxB as an endogenously expressed protein with the ability to inhibit HIV-1 uncoating. In addition, we found that a benzimidazole-based compound known to have a binding pocket on the surface of the HIV-1 capsid prevents the binding of MxB to capsid. The use of this small-molecule identified the MxB binding region on the surface of the HIV-1 core. Domain mapping experiments revealed the following requirements for restriction: 1) MxB binding to the HIV-1 capsid, which requires the 20 N-terminal amino acids, and 2) oligomerization of MxB, which is mediated by the C-terminal domain provides the avidity for the interaction of MxB with the HIV-1 core. Overall our work establishes that MxB binds to the HIV-1 core and inhibits the uncoating process of HIV-1. Moreover, we demonstrated that HIV-1 restriction by MxB requires capsid binding and oligomerization.
Atomic Layer Deposition of CdS Quantum Dots for Solid‐State Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

This publication was based on work supported by the Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics (Award No. KUS-C1-015-21), made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The development of the CdS ALD process was supported as part of the Center on Nanostructuring for Efficient Energy Conversion, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Award No. DE-SC0001060. T. P. B. is supported by an Albion Walter Hewlett Fellowship. We would like to thank the Stanford Nanocharacterization Laboratory (SNL) staff and the staff of the Center for Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA) for their support.
Reply to Guntheroth

to the editor: We thank Dr. Guntheroth (4a) for his interest in our paper and how our finding might apply to the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In this paper we test the hypothesis that reduced brain stem 5-HT compromises autoresuscitation during a critical period of postnatal life. This is
Scalable Recognition with a Vocabulary Tree

A recognition scheme that scales efficiently to a large number of objects is presented. The efficiency and quality is exhibited in a live demonstration that recognizes CD-covers from a database of 40000 images of popular music CDs. The scheme builds upon popular techniques of indexing descriptors extracted from local regions, and is robust to background clutter and occlusion. The local region descriptors are hierarchically quantized in a vocabulary tree. The vocabulary tree allows a larger and more discriminatory vocabulary to be used efficiently, which we show experimentally leads to a dramatic improvement in retrieval quality. The most significant property of the scheme is that the tree directly defines the quantization. The quantization and the indexing are therefore fully integrated, essentially being one and the same. The recognition quality is evaluated through retrieval on a database with ground truth, showing the power of the vocabulary tree approach, going as high as 1 million images.
Optimal time scale for spike-time reliability: Theory, simulations and experiments

Use of spike timing to encode information requires that neurons respond with high temporal precision and with high reliability. Fast fluctuating stimuli are known to result in highly reproducible s...
Pulse oximetry and peak flow as indicators of wheezing severity in children and improvement following bronchodilator treatments

This study examined the changes from the initial peak flows and oxygen saturations (OSAT) of wheezing children at presentation to the emergency department through their treatment in the emergency department. Data was collected prospectively on 785 patients 5 to 20 years of age during an 11-month period from November 1, 1990, to September 30, 1991. Both the initial OSAT and peak flows were correlated with the number of bronchodilator treatments required in the emergency department and with the need for hospitalization. Both the initial OSAT and the peak flows had a limited ability to predict the need for hospitalization. Oxygen saturation appears to be a valid measure of wheezing severity and is more easily obtained in children of all ages. Following bronchodilator treatment, peak flow results in a larger quantitative improvement than OSAT; however, this difference does not appear to have any significant advantage. Aerosolized albuterol and subcutaneous epinephrine resulted in a similar degree of improvement as measured by peak flow and by oxygen saturation, with clinically similar changes in heart rate.
Automatic identification of speaker role and agreement/disagreement in broadcast conversation

We present supervised approaches for detecting speaker roles and agreement/disagreement between speakers in broadcast conversation shows in three languages: English, Arabic, and Mandarin. We develop annotation approaches for a variety of linguistic phenomena. Various lexical, structural, and social network analysis based features are explored, and feature importance is analyzed across the three languages. We also compare the performance when using features extracted from automatically generated annotations against that when using human annotations. The algorithms achieve speaker role labeling accuracy of more than 86% for all three languages. For agreement and disagreement detection, the algorithms achieve precision of 63% to 92% and 55% to 85%, respectively, across the three languages.
Does Community Type Moderate the Relationship between Parent Perceptions of the Neighborhood and Physical Activity in Children

Abstract Purpose. To examine whether residing in a community designed to promote physical activity moderates the relationship between parent perceptions of the neighborhood and general physical activity or active commuting to school in their children. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. San Bernardino County, California. Subjects. Three hundred sixty-five families (one parent and one child in grades four through eight). Eighty-five reside in a smart growth community designed to be more conducive to physical activity. Measures. Parent perceptions assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). General child physical activity was measured using accelerometers, and active commuting was self-reported by children. Analysis. Two sets of regressions were performed: one for general physical activity, and one for active commuting. Separate models were run in the two sets for each of the 14 NEWS factors, while controlling for demographics. Results. For general physical activity, walking infrastr...
A calibration method for four-terminal-pair high-frequency resistance standards

A calibration method for four-terminal-pair (4TP) resistance standards (4TP-R-STDs) is developed for frequencies up to about 10 MHz. The calibration is performed using an error-correction equation for a 4TP system. This is derived from analysis of an eight-port error adapter. The derivation of the uncertainties is also discussed. >
Skeletal muscle weakness in osteogeneis imperfecta mice

Exercise intolerance, muscle fatigue and weakness are often-reported, little-investigated concerns of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). OI is a heritable connective tissue disorder hallmarked by bone fragility resulting primarily from dominant mutations in the proα1(I) or proα2(I) collagen genes and the recently discovered recessive mutations in post-translational modifying proteins of type I collagen. In this study we examined the soleus (S), plantaris (P), gastrocnemius (G), tibialis anterior (TA) and quadriceps (Q) muscles of mice expressing mild (+/oim) and moderately severe (oim/oim) OI for evidence of inherent muscle pathology. In particular, muscle weight, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), fiber type, fiber histomorphology, fibrillar collagen content, absolute, relative and specific peak tetanic force (P(o), P(o)/mg and P(o)/CSA respectively) of individual muscles were evaluated. Oim/oim mouse muscles were generally smaller, contained less fibrillar collagen, had decreased P(o) and an inability to sustain P(o) for the 300-ms testing duration for specific muscles; +/oim mice had a similar but milder skeletal muscle phenotype. +/oim mice had mild weakness of specific muscles but were less affected than their oim/oim counterparts which demonstrated readily apparent skeletal muscle pathology. Therefore muscle weakness in oim mice reflects inherent skeletal muscle pathology.
Biological suicide research: outcome and limitations.

Empirical study of suicide began early in this century from the sociological (Durkheim 1951) and psychological (Freud 1956) perspective. A decade ago, a biological dimension was added, focusing on two major issues, i.e., are disturbances in brain functioning instrumental in the occurrence of suicidal behavior and/or do such disturbances increase the likelihood of suicidal behavior in an individual exposed to stressful events? Biological suicide research has developed as an offshoot of biological depression research. This is a logical development, as depression is a major precursor of both attempted (Weissman et al. 1973; van Praag 1982a) and completed (Guze and Robins 1970; Miles 1977) suicide. The major biochemical research targets are similar: monoamines and hormones. This paper will review the main findings in suicidal behavior, discuss the methodological shortcomings of this research, and indicate ways of avoiding them.
Difference Methods for Problems With Different Time Scales

The use of difference methods for weakly nonlinear systems of ordinary differential equations with rapidly oscillating solutions is considered, and a general approach which depends only on the smoothness of the coefficients and the nonlinearities is developed. In particular, one is led to a strategy which is suitable for the detection and resolution of turning points in such systems. A computational example is presented.
Modeling the Nonlinear Response of Multitones With Uncorrelated Phase

Traditional simulation approaches for predicting the frequency-domain response of nonlinear devices to multiple tone excitation enforce correlation of the phases of the individual tones. This is the case with time-domain simulators and transform-based schemes such as Harmonic balance as the waveform must be single valued, thus enforcing correlation. Previous efforts in frequency-domain simulators using the arithmetic operator method (AOM) also produced results in good agreement with measurements for correlated-phase input signals. Here, the AOM is applied to directly determine the spectral response of nonlinear systems to excitation by multiple uncorrelated tones in a single simulation. Verification is provided using measurements of a nonlinear amplifier excited by 15 independent tones and comparison to the average of the ensemble of results from multiple correlated-phase simulations.
Quantitative estimates of the volatility of ambient organic aerosol

Abstract. Measurements of the sensitivity of organic aerosol (OA, and its components) mass to changes in temperature were recently reported by Huffman et al.~(2009) using a tandem thermodenuder-aerosol mass spectrometer (TD-AMS) system in Mexico City and the Los Angeles area. Here, we use these measurements to derive quantitative estimates of aerosol volatility within the framework of absorptive partitioning theory using a kinetic model of aerosol evaporation in the TD. OA volatility distributions (or "basis-sets") are determined using several assumptions as to the enthalpy of vaporization (ΔHvap). We present two definitions of "non-volatile OA," one being a global and one a local definition. Based on these definitions, our analysis indicates that a substantial fraction of the organic aerosol is comprised of non-volatile components that will not evaporate under any atmospheric conditions; on the order of 50–80% when the most realistic ΔHvap assumptions are considered. The sensitivity of the total OA mass to dilution and ambient changes in temperature has been assessed for the various ΔHvap assumptions. The temperature sensitivity is relatively independent of the particular ΔHvap assumptions whereas dilution sensitivity is found to be greatest for the low (ΔHvap = 50 kJ/mol) and lowest for the high (ΔHvap = 150 kJ/mol) assumptions. This difference arises from the high ΔHvap assumptions yielding volatility distributions with a greater fraction of non-volatile material than the low ΔHvap assumptions. If the observations are fit using a 1 or 2-component model the sensitivity of the OA to dilution is unrealistically high. An empirical method introduced by Faulhaber et al. (2009) has also been used to independently estimate a volatility distribution for the ambient OA and is found to give results consistent with the high and variable ΔHvap assumptions. Our results also show that the amount of semivolatile gas-phase organics in equilibrium with the OA could range from ~20% to 400% of the OA mass, with smaller values generally corresponding to the higher ΔHvap assumptions. The volatility of various OA components determined from factor analysis of AMS spectra has also been assessed. In general, it is found that the fraction of non-volatile material follows the pattern: biomass burning OA
Its all about delivery: interview with M. N. V. Ravi Kumar

M. N. V. Ravi Kumar is interviewed by Stella Bennett, Commissioning Editor. He is the Professor at Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas AM University of Navarra (Spain); University of Torino (Italy) and Shandong University, (China). Since 2003, he supervised about 41 students that include MS: 20; PhD: 7; Postdocs: 10 and Visitors: 4.
To Test or Not? Singular or Multiple Heritage?

DNA ancestry testing may seem frivolous, but it points to two crucial questions: First, what is the relationship, if any, between biology and race? Second, how much and why do people prefer clear, singular racial identities over blurred, mixed racial self-understandings, or the reverse? We posit that individuals of different racial or ethnic backgrounds will have different levels of support for this new technology. In particular, despite the history of harm caused by the biologization of race, we theorize that African Americans will be receptive to the use of DNA ancestry testing because conventional genealogical searches for ancestral roots are mostly unavailable to them. This “broken chain” theory leads to two hypotheses, of disproportionately high Black interest in DNA ancestry testing—thus an implicit acceptance of a link between biology and race—and high acceptance among Blacks of multiple heritages despite a preference for evidence of roots in Africa. To test these hypotheses, we analyze two databases of U.S. newspaper articles, one with almost 6,000 items and a second with 700. We also analyze two new public opinion surveys of nationally representative samples of adult Americans. Most of the evidence comes from the second survey, which uses vignettes to obtain views about varied results of DNA ancestry testing. We find that the media increasingly report on the links between genetic inheritance and race, and emphasize singular racial ancestry more than multiple heritages. The surveys show, consistent with our theory, that Blacks (and Hispanics, to some degree) are especially receptive to DNA ancestry testing, and are pleased with not only a finding of group singularity but also a finding of multiple points of origin. Qualitative readings of media reports illuminate some of the reasons behind these survey findings. We conclude with a brief discussion of the broader importance of DNA ancestry testing.
Mapping the Geography of Karl Marx’s Capital

Presented here is a geovisual reading of all three volumes of Karl Marx's Capital. Marx's seminal treatise on political economy is normally treated as a work of abstract conceptualization. However, Marx names hundreds of geographic locations in Capital, usually in a highly relational and dynamic fashion. It seemed to me there was enough geographic information contained in the volumes to produce a geovisually rich map, presenting the themes, places, and relationships in this text in a new and revealing way.
Chitin Stimulates Expression of Acidic Mammalian Chitinase and Eotaxin-3 by Human Sinonasal Epithelial Cells in Vitro:

BackgroundSinonasal epithelial cells participate in host defense by initiating innate immune mechanisms against potential pathogens. Antimicrobial innate mechanisms have been shown to involve Th1-l...
Threshold Temperature and Heat Unit Summations for Seedcorn Maggot Development under Controlled Conditions

The development of the seedcorn maggot, Hylemya platura (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), was studied in controlled-temperature chambers, and threshold temperatures and heat unit summations for egg, larval, and pupal development were determined. X-intercept estimates of the threshold temperatures for the egg, larval, and pupal stages were 2.42, 5.85, and 3.17°C, respectively. Similar results were obtained by using a least-variability method. An overall threshold temperature for egg-to-adult development was estimated to be 3.9°C. Heat unit summations above 3.9°C averaged 30, 204, and 142 for the egg, larval, and pupal stages, respectively; summations for egg-to-adult development were 376.
Linking North Slope of Alaska climate, hydrology, and fish migration

Arctic grayling ( Thymallus arcticus ) have a life-history strategy specifically adapted to the extreme climate of the North. These fish migrate to spawning grounds just after breakup in the spring, then migrate to feeding sites in early summer, and finally in the fall migrate back to their overwintering sites. The Kuparuk River is a perennial stream originating in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range on the North Slope of Alaska. Sections of the Kuparuk are periodically intermittent in that, during low flows in the system, these channel reaches appear dry. The flow varies between surface and subsurface in this permafrost-dominated environment, with subsurface flow being limited to the unfrozen thaw bulb around the stream. These dry reaches create a barrier to fish migration due to the lack of surface channel flow. The impacts of a warming Arctic may have implications for the partitioning of flow within the Kuparuk and consequently affect the ability of fish to move within the system at critical times. The timing and duration of these barriers are sporadic, occurring with almost equal probability throughout the summer, with fall dry spells creating the biggest impact on Arctic grayling fitness.
Performance or Profit: A Dilemma for Major League Baseball

Team owners and general managers in Major League Baseball (MLB) must balance high quality players and a chance to win with soaring player salaries and stable or smaller profit margins. We examine the effects of team payrolls on the revenues, profits, and winning percentage of MLB teams. Our study finds a strong positive association between high revenues and high player salaries for MLB teams. Further, MLB teams with higher player salaries tend to have higher winning percentages. However, the relationship between gross profit margin and player salaries is negative.
Remote collaborative pseudo-dynamic tests on a geographically distributed bridge model

To solve the contradiction between the increase of complexity of modern engineering structures and the scale and capability of single laboratories,the principle,integration algorithm,and development of application programs for remote collaborative pseudo- dynamic tests in bridge structures were presented. Aiming at MTS system which was widely used in structural testing,two different ways were put forward to realize the canection between testing program and MTS system. Using networked structural laboratories system,remote collaborative pseudo- dynamic tests of a six- span bridge system were carried out among the University of Southern California and three universities in China. The results show that the system enables the shared use of testing resources by integrating single structural laboratories into a powerful and networked structive laboratory to perform remote pseudo- dynamic tests of large- scale bridge system so as to improve the comprehensive experimental ability.