cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Late Type A Dissection After Transfemoral Aortic Valve Replacement

Abstract An 87-year-old woman had residual moderate to severe aortic insufficiency following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. A year later, she developed extensive Stanford type A aortic dissection originating at the supra-annular aortic edge of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement nitinol frame. Dissection repair, frozen elephant trunk with exclusion of prior insufficiency while preserving the transcatheter aortic valve replacement valve was performed. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.)
Neoadjuvant Treatment Is Associated With Superior Outcomes in T4 Lung Cancers With Local Extension.

Background Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is associated with improved survival of superior sulcus cancers, but little data exists regarding clinical T4 lung cancers with mediastinal invasion. We hypothesized that neoadjuvant treatment would be associated with improved survival in T4 lung cancer patients with mediastinal invasion. Methods Clinical T4-N0/1-M0 non-small cell lung cancers from 2006-2015 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Patients with T4 extension to mediastinal structures undergoing lobectomy, bilobectomy, or pneumonectomy were included. Neoadjuvant treatment was defined as preoperative chemotherapy and/or radiation. Patients receiving surgery >120 days after radiation were excluded. Study endpoints were pathologic margin status and overall survival. To adjust for heterogeneity, a 1:1 propensity match analysis was performed. Results A total of 1101 patients with cT4N0/1M0 cancers were analyzed; 595 (54.0%) received primary surgery and 506 (46.0%) received neoadjuvant treatment. Neoadjuvant therapy was associated with fewer positive surgical margins (46 of 506 [9.3%] vs 186 of 595 [33.1%], P Conclusions In the NCDB, T4N0/1 mediastinal invasion patients who receive neoadjuvant treatment have decreased rates of positive surgical margins and improved overall survival. The use of neoadjuvant treatment should be considered in these patients.
Association of the Gut Microbiota with Weight-Loss Response within a Retail Weight-Management Program

Retail programs offer popular weight-loss options amid the ongoing obesity crisis. However, research on weight-loss outcomes within such programs is limited. This prospective-cohort observational study enrolled 58 men and women between ages 20 and 72 years from a retail program to assess the influence of client features on energy-restriction induced weight-loss response. DESeq2 in R-studio, a linear regression model adjusting for significantly correlating covariates, and Wilcoxon signed-rank and Kruskal–Wallis for within- and between-group differences, respectively, were used for data analyses. An average 10% (~10 kg) reduction in baseline-weight along with lower total-, android-, gynoid-, and android:gynoid-fat were observed at Week 12 (all, p < 0.05). Fifty percent of participants experienced a higher response, losing an average of 14.5 kg compared to 5.9 kg in the remaining low-response group (p < 0.0001). Hemoglobin-A1C (p = 0.005) and heart rate (p = 0.079) reduced in the high-response group only. Fat mass and A1C correlated when individuals had high android:gynoid fat (r = 0.55, p = 0.008). Gut-microbial β-diversity was associated with BMI, body fat%, and android-fat (all, p < 0.05). Microbiota of the high-response group had a higher baseline OTU-richness (p = 0.02) as well as differential abundance and/or associations with B. eggerthi, A. muciniphila, Turicibacter, Prevotella, and Christensenella (all, p/padj < 0.005). These results show that intestinal microbiota as well as sex and body composition differences may contribute to variable weight-loss response. This highlights the importance of various client features in the context of real-world weight control efforts.
A memristor-based hybrid analog-digital computing platform for mobile robotics

Algorithms for mobile robotic systems are generally implemented on purely digital computing platforms. Developing alternative computational platforms may lead to more energy-efficient and responsive mobile robotics. Here, we report a hybrid analog-digital computing platform enabled by memristors on a mobile inverted pendulum robot. Our mobile robotic system can tune the conductance states of memristors adaptively using a model-free optimization method to achieve optimal control performance. We implement sensor fusion and the motion control algorithms on our hybrid analog-digital computing platform and demonstrate more than one order of magnitude enhancement of speed and energy efficiency over traditional digital platforms.
The role of interparental conflict in adolescent siblings’ distress: A multi-informant study of military families

Abstract Military families navigate a combination of normative and military-specific stressors, and thereby may be at greater risk for experiencing interparental conflict (IPC). Using the ABCX Model, IPC was conceptualized as a family stressor associated with adolescent siblings’ distress outcomes (i.e., greater anxiety, lower positive adjustment), and siblings’ appraisals of IPC were conceptualized as the linking mechanism in this relationship. Within 117 military families, a service member parent, a civilian parent, and two siblings each individually reported on IPC in their family and the siblings reported on their own distress. Civilian parents’ reports of IPC were positively associated with their children’s IPC appraisals, but service member parents’ reports were not associated with their children’s IPC appraisals. Siblings who appraised greater IPC showed higher anxiety and lower positive adjustment outcomes. The indirect link between parent IPC reports and sibling outcomes, via sibling IPC appraisals, was significant for civilian but not service member parents across all outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for the health of the larger family system when working with adolescents and assessing the potential disconnect between parental accounts of IPC and adolescent appraisals of conflict when working with these families.
Robust Dynamic Average Consensus for a Network of Agents with Time-varying Reference Signals

This paper presents a continuous dynamic average consensus (DAC) algorithm for a group of agents to estimate the average of their time-varying reference signals cooperatively. We propose a consensus algorithm that is robust to agents joining and leaving the network, at the same time, avoid the chattering phenomena and guarantee zero steady-state consensus error. Our algorithm is an edge-based protocol with smooth functions in its internal structure to avoid the chattering effect. Furthermore, each agent can only perform local computations and can only communicate with its local neighbors. For a balanced and strongly connected underlying communication graph, we provide the convergence analysis to determine the consensus design parameters that guarantee the estimate of the average to asymptotically converge to the average of the time-varying reference signals. We provide simulation results to validate the proposed consensus algorithm and perform a performance comparison of the proposed algorithm to existing algorithms in the literature.
Failure of Cyclomorphic Features to Deter Size-Dependent Predation by Leptodora kindti on Daphnia lumholtzi

ABSTRACT Crustacean zooplankton exhibit a variety of defenses which deter predation by gape-limited (e.g., planktivorous fish) and size-dependent (e.g., invertebrate) predators. Cyclomorphic changes in morphology of a prey item, such as production of head and tail spines, presumably decrease the likelihood of capture and consumption by either class of predator. Daphnia lumholtzi exhibits extreme cyclomorphic features throughout its life history. We investigated the vulnerabilities of different size classes of D. lumholtzi and the non-spined Daphnia pulex to the invertebrate predator Leptodora kindti. In trials with single prey species, L. kindti consumed D. lumholtzi neonates at a higher rate than D. pulex neonates, medium D. pulex, and large D. pulex. When the daphnids were offered together in equal numbers, L. kindti selected D. lumholtzi at a faster rate than D. pulex in all size classes. Our results suggest that instead of providing protection, D. lumholzi's helmet and tail spine may increase likeliho...
Arterial and venous injuries: the combined injury conundrum.

A 35-year-old man presented to the trauma center with two gunshot wounds to the left thigh that were reportedly from a handgun. Prehospital transport time was about 15 minutes and he received 1 L of intravenous crystalloid fluid for hypotension. It was reported that the patient fell after he was shot and that he hit his head and lost consciousness. The patient was pale and diaphoretic on arrival at the trauma center. His blood pressure was 83/53, heart rate was 82 beats per minute, respiratory rate was 18 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation was 98% on room air. There was a missile wound in the proximal lateral left thigh and another in the distal posterior thigh. He had hard signs of an arterial injury in the left thigh, including arterial bleeding from the distal gunshot wound, an expanding hematoma, and a pulseless left foot, as well as decreased motor function and sensation in the left foot. A massive transfusion protocol was initiated as X-rays of the left lower extremity were completed (no fracture). After pressure dressing was applied to the site of hemorrhage in the left thigh (distal gunshot wound), the patient was taken to the CT scanner to evaluate for a traumatic brain injury and then to the operating room emergently for exploration of the left thigh. Skin preparation was applied from the umbilicus to the toes bilaterally and was circumferential on the lower extremities. An incision was made along the left medial thigh to expose the superficial femoral artery (SFA). Nearly circumferential injuries to the distal SFA and popliteal vein at the adductor hiatus (Hunter’s canal) were identified. Proximal and distal control with the application of vascular clamps to both vessels was obtained, and systemic heparin (7000 units, or approximately 100 U/kg) was administered …
Raman Spectroscopy Can Distinguish Glyphosate-Susceptible and -Resistant Palmer Amaranth ( Amaranthus palmeri)

The non-judicious use of herbicides has led to a widespread evolution of herbicide resistance in various weed species including Palmer amaranth, one of the most aggressive and troublesome weeds in the United States. Early detection of herbicide resistance in weed populations may help growers devise alternative management strategies before resistance spreads throughout the field. In this study, Raman spectroscopy was utilized as a rapid, non-destructive diagnostic tool to distinguish between three different glyphosate-resistant and four -susceptible Palmer amaranth populations. The glyphosate-resistant populations used in this study were 11-, 32-, and 36-fold more resistant compared to the susceptible standard. The 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene copy number for these resistant populations ranged from 86 to 116. We found that Raman spectroscopy could be used to differentiate herbicide-treated and non-treated susceptible populations based on changes in the intensity of vibrational bands at 1156, 1186, and 1525 cm-1 that originate from carotenoids. The partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model indicated that within 1 day of glyphosate treatment (D1), the average accuracy of detecting herbicide-treated and non-treated susceptible populations was 90 and 73.3%, respectively. We also found that glyphosate-resistant and -susceptible populations of Palmer amaranth can be easily detected with an accuracy of 84.7 and 71.9%, respectively, as early as D1. There were relative differences in the concentration of carotenoids in plants with different resistance levels, but these changes were not significant. The results of the study illustrate the utility of Raman spectra for evaluation of herbicide resistance and stress response in plants under field conditions.
Partial volume correction analysis for 11C-UCB-J PET studies of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Purpose 11C-UCB-J PET imaging, targeting synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A), has been shown to be a useful indicator of synaptic density in Alzheimer's disease (AD). For SV2A imaging, a decrease in apparent tracer uptake is often due to the combination of gray-matter (GM) atrophy and SV2A decrease in the remaining tissue. Our aim is to reveal the true SV2A change by performing partial volume correction (PVC). Methods We performed two PVC algorithms, Muller-Gartner (MG) and ‘iterative Yang’ (IY), on 17 AD participants and 11 cognitive normal (CN) participants using the brain-dedicated HRRT scanner. Distribution volume VT, the rate constant K1, binding potential BPND (centrum semiovale as reference region), and tissue volume were compared. Results In most regions, both PVC algorithms reduced the between-group differences. Alternatively, in hippocampus, IY increased the significance of between-group differences while MG reduced it (VT, BPND and K1 group differences: uncorrected: 20%, 27%, 17%; MG: 18%, 22%, 14%; IY: 22%, 28%, 17%). The group difference in hippocampal volume (10%) was substantially smaller than any PET measures. MG increased GM binding values to a greater extent than IY due to differences in algorithm assumptions. Conclusion 11C-UCB-J binding is significantly reduced in AD hippocampus, but PVC is important to adjust for significant volume reduction. After correction, PET measures are substantially more sensitive to group differences than volumetric MRI measures. Assumptions of each PVC algorithm are important and should be carefully examined and validated. For 11C-UCB-J, the less stringent assumptions of IY support its use as a PVC algorithm over MG.
Cyber-Communication Network for Microgrids

Cyber-communication network for microgrid systems is introduced. Typical categories of the communication network is presented, including local area network, metropolitan area network,, wide area network, wireless, and Internet. The designed microgrid system is used to demonstrate the outputs of DERs can be dispatched remotely via the communication network by MCC. The time-domain simulation results verify the importance of communication network in the dynamic operations of cyber-physical microgirds.
Ecohydrology and the Critical Zone: Processes and Patterns Across Scales

Abstract Ecohydrology is concerned with the effects of hydrological processes on the distribution, structure, and function of ecosystems, and with the effects of biotic processes on elements of the water cycle (Nuttle, 2002). At the heart of ecohydrology is soil and soil moisture. Thus, only by understanding how the distribution and patterns of plants within the soil affect soil moisture-driven, Critical Zone processes will it be possible to decipher the Earth System. This effort begins with the root–soil–rock interface at the pore scale and extends to the vegetation–atmosphere boundary at global scales. This chapter focuses on the ecohydrology of both energy- and water-limited environments and on the feedbacks between vegetation and water across patch, hillslope, and catchment scales.
Direct Calculation of Pressure Distribution on Blunt Hypersonic Nose Shapes With Sharp Corners

1) Introduction The method of Belotserkovskii for calculating hypersonic flow fields past a circular cylinder is extended to deal with axiallysymmetric flow past sharp-cornered nose shapes, in particular, spherical segments and flat-headed cylinders. Results on spheres are also included. In the present paper Belotserkovskii's first approximation is considered, and comparison of calculated pressure distribution and shock shape with experimental results shows very good agreement.
Studies on avian erythrocyte metabolism. IX. Relationship of changing organic phosphate composition to whole blood oxygen affinity during development of the ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus).

(1) 2,3-Diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG) is present in erythrocytes (RBC) of the 37-day ostrich embryo at a concentration of 3.7 μmole/ml RBC, representing 23.5% of the cell phosphate. (2) Inositol tetraphosphate (inositol-P4) is absent in red cells of the 37-day embryo, appears in the RBC about 63 days after hatch, and thereafter gradually accumulates to a level of 2.8 μmole/ml RBC in the adult bird, representing 30–35% of the cell phosphate. (3) Inositol pentaphosphate (inositol-P5) is present in the erythrocytes of the 37-day embryo at a concentration of 0.8 μmole/ml RBC, reaches a peak level of 2.9 μmole/ml RBC by Day 63 after hatch, and thereafter declines to a level of 1.1 μmole/ml RBC in the adult bird. (4) The crossover time where the molar concentrations of inositol-P5 and inositol-P4 are equal in the erythrocyte appears to be about 150 days after hatch. (5) The p50 of whole blood from the 37-day ostrich embryo, 5-day ostrich chick, and adult ostrich was 15.4, 31.8, and 24.9 Torr. The p50 of whole blood immediately after hatch correlates best with an abrupt rise in ATP concentration but after 54 days posthatch correlates best with the appearance of increasing concentrations of inositol-P4 and the decrease in concentrations of ATP and inositol-P5. (6) The appearance of inositol-P4 in the cells could be an adaptive mechanism for regulating oxygen supply by switching to a modulator which maintains a higher oxygen affinity than would a predominance of inositol-P5.
Dc Magnetron Reactive Sputtering of Low Stress Ain Piezoelectric Thin Films for Mems Application

Many MEMS devices require piezoelectric excitation and readout to actuate and sense motion of mechanical structures. Aluminum nitride is advantageous for MEMS fabrication because it is compatible with silicon integrated circuit foundry impurity contamination requirements, can be deposited at low temperatures, provides a high piezoelectric coefficient, and is easily patterned using conventional photolithographic techniques. In this work, AIN thin films were deposited on silicon substrates for use in a MEMS silicon membrane ultrasonic resonator. The ultrasonic resonator is configured as a gravimetric sensing device for chemical detection. Issues of concern with regard to device performance and yield include the maximization of the electromechanical coupling constant (k 2), film stress control, and film uniformity; these issues were addressed through a central composite design set of experiments to resolve the film property responses as a function of the deposition parameters. Film characterization was conducted with x-ray diffraction, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and surface profilometry. Optimization of film deposition parameters improved sensor performance and enabled further device miniaturization with the use of thinner films.
Abstract 3966: PLK1 regulates PAX3-FOXO1 stability and its inhibition mediates regression of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft tumors

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Oncogenic addiction provides an opportunity to develop new treatment options, especially for childhood cancers. Pediatric tumors contain a lower number of oncogenic mutations compared to most adult cancers, suggesting stronger dependency on individual oncogenes, such as chimeric transcription factors that have the ability to control multiple oncogenic pathways. Taking advantage of this addiction, targeting of oncogenic transcription factors becomes a new powerful strategy for therapy of translocation positive pediatric tumors like alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS), which is characterized by a very dismal prognosis. As transcription factors are considered to be difficult to target, we developed an approach to screen for druggable upstream regulators like kinases. In two parallel activity reporter assays, using a kinome siRNA library and a small molecule library, we identified PLK1 to contribute to the activity of PAX3-FOXO1, the oncogenic transcription factor specific to aRMS. Mechanistically, we were able to demonstrate a direct interaction of the two proteins by co-immunoprecipitation. PLK1 silencing or inhibition increased degradation of PAX3-FOXO1, which suggests a stabilization of PAX3-FOXO1 due to phosphorylation by PLK1. Candidate phosphorylation sites were identified by in vitro kinase assays and mass spectrometric analysis and site-specific mutagenesis is currently utilized to validate the impact of these sites on fusion protein turnover. To highlight PLK1 as therapeutic target in aRMS, in vivo treatment studies using the PLK1 inhibitor BI 2536 resulted in complete tumor regression in two aRMS xenograft mouse models. Finally, tissue microarray analysis of human aRMS tumor biopsies showed PLK1 to be overexpressed and predictive of overall survival. Hence, our preclinical studies validate PLK1 as highly relevant drug target in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, similar to recent findings in other pediatric tumors. Our data suggests that PLK1 inhibitors warrant further investigations to evaluate the potential to be translated into a clinical setting. Citation Format: Verena Thalhammer, David Herrero-Martin, Regina Hecker, Dominik Laubscher, Laura Lopez-Garcia, Marco Wachtel, Peter Bode, Beat Schafer. PLK1 regulates PAX3-FOXO1 stability and its inhibition mediates regression of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3966. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3966
src-homology 2 (SH2) domain ligation as an allosteric regulator: modulation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C gamma 1 structure and activity.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C gamma 1 (PI-PLC gamma 1) catalyses the hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 to generate the second messengers diacylglycerol and Ins(1,4,5)P3. PI-PLC gamma 1, an src-homology 2/3 (SH2/SH3)-domain-containing enzyme, is activated in response to growth-factor-induced tyrosine phosphorylation, and, in vivo, is translocated from the cytosol to the particulate cell fraction. Here we report the bacterial expression of rat brain PI-PLC gamma 1 under the control of the T7 promoter. Production of the active enzyme in amounts suitable for structure-function analysis depended on coupling the translation of PLC gamma 1 to the expression of the phage-phi 10 coat protein. Purification of the enzyme was facilitated by the presence of a three-amino-acid C-terminal antibody epitope tag (Glu-Glu-Phe) engineered into the cloned PLC gamma 1. Examination of the specific activity, pH-rate profile, [Ca2+]-dependence and substrate specificity of bacterially expressed PLC gamma indicated that it had kinetic properties similar to those of PLC gamma isolated from bovine brain. The substrate specificity was dependent on [Ca2+]: at low [Ca2+] (1-10 microM) PtdIns(4,5)P2 was a better substrate than PtdIns. Addition of phosphotyrosine-containing peptides (12-mers) with the cognate sequence of the high-affinity binding site for PLC gamma 1 on the activated epidermal-growth-factor (EGF) receptor (Tyr-992) increased enzyme activity (up to 85%) in vitro. Cognate non-phosphorylated peptides had no effect on activity. When c.d. spectroscopy was used to monitor the effect of added phosphotyrosine-containing peptide on the structure of recombinant PLC gamma 1, significant spectral shifts, indicative of a conformational change, were observed upon complexation with the EGF-receptor phosphotyrosine-containing 12-residue peptide (Tyr*-992). How SH2 domains from PLC gamma 1 can mediate structural rearrangements and modulate enzymic activity on their ligation by growth-factor receptors is discussed.
ICP-MS analysis of metal accumulation by macroinvertebrates

Results of the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) output for both the contaminated and reference site macroinvertebrates collected from 2 Alabama high conductivity coal mine streams and 1 ultra low conductivity reference stream are presented here. These insects were taxonomically identified at the genus level. It was found that the amount of metals in the tissues vary between macroinvertebrates of common names such as stone flies, caddis flies, may flies, dragon flies, snails, clams, and sow bugs. Also found is that the metal accumulation by the insects from the contaminated sites is larger in more than half of the elements tested (Cd, Se, Ni, K, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ca, Al, Mg, and Na) than that from the resident sites in this study.
Social support and low-income, urban mothers: longitudinal associations with adolescent delinquency.

The current study examined the role of engaged parenting in explaining longitudinal associations between maternal perceptions of social network support and whether youth engage in delinquent behaviors during the transition into adolescence. The sample included 432 low-income, African American and Latino youth (49% female) and their mothers participating in “Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three City Study”. Results from longitudinal SEM analyses demonstrated that social network support was associated positively with mothers’ engaged parenting as youth transitioned into early adolescence. Engaged parenting, which functioned as a mediating variable, was associated with less youth delinquency during transitions into middle adolescence. Taken together, social network supports appeared to facilitate mothers’ abilities to remain engaged with their children and to deter youth from becoming involved in delinquent behaviors.
Tree structures: deducing the principle of mechanical design.

Abstract A statistical description of the branching patterns of trees is proposed in the context of a power-law tapered beam model. Depending on the exponent which describes tapering of the depth of the beam, the model either preserves geometric, elastic, or static stress similarity. A detailed study of the morphometry of three oak, one poplar, one cherry, and one white pine corroborates the stationarity of these branching structures and fits the elastically similar model. A separate study of the natural frequencies of branch segments and whole trees within four species also agrees with the predictions of the elastically similar model.
Elastic properties of polycrystalline minerals: Comparison of theory and experiment

Literature compressional and shear wave velocities measured versus pressure and temperature on dense, isotropic polycrystals of periclase, corundum, forsterite, fayalite, alpha-quartz, rutile, germania, and cassiterite are compared with the Voigt, Reuss, and Hashin-Shtrikman bounds calculated from single-crystal elastic stiffnesses and their first pressure and temperature derivatives. The Hashin-Shtrikman bounds reduce the separation between the Voigt and Reuss bounds by factors of from 3 to 15. There is very good agreement between the Hashin-Shtrikman bounds and the experimental data when errors in the polycrystal data and in the single-crystal elastic stiffnesses are taken into account. This comparison demonstrates that the Hashin-Shtrikman bounds can be used with considerable confidence in modeling velocities in mineral assemblages, particularly mantle assemblages, and are especially useful in problems where sensitivity of the results to the uncertainties in all the input parameters is of interest.
Investigations of the effect of DNA size in transient transfection assay using dual luciferase system

In transient transfection assays deletions, insertions, or truncations are broadly used to define cis regulatory elements, such as promoters, enhancers, and silencers. This application is based on the assumption that size changes of a test fragment have little or no effect on the apparent activity of the reporter genes. While it is known that unusually large size of a construct, such as PAC DNA, substantially reduces transfection efficiency, the size effect of a DNA fragment ranging from a couple of hundred basepairs to a few thousand basepairs, within which most transient transfection assays are performed, has not been rigorously investigated. Here we report a systematic study on the effect of plasmid size on the measurement of promoter/enhancer activity in transient transfection assay based on the dual luciferase reporter system. By inserting various lengths of stuffer DNA into the luciferase parental plasmids, we found an inverse correlation between the relative luciferase activity and the construct size. Furthermore, this size effect can be only partially corrected by inserting the same size of stuffer DNA into both experimental and control plasmids. The results suggest that the effect of DNA size should be taken into consideration for evaluation of transcriptional elements using transient transfection analysis.
An Electrokinetic Study of the Adsorption of Dodecyl Ammonium Amine Surfactants at the Muscovite Mica−Water Interface

The adsorption of dodecyl single chain surfactants with primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary ammonium headgroups at the muscovite mica basal plane−water interface has been investigated usin...
Properties of Dynamically Dead Instructions for Contemporary Architectures

Processor frequency scaling has greatly stagnated over the last few years, making it difficult to continue improving sequential or single-threaded program speed. Hardware and software system developers now need to devise innovative and aggressive schemes to grow sequential software performance. The goal of this work is to assess the potential and feasibility of eliminating dynamically dead instructions (DDI) -- where the results of executed instructions are not used by the program -- to benefit program speed. Specifically, we quantify the ratio of DDI in the dynamic instruction stream for different classes of contemporary programs (general-purpose vs. embedded) and architectures (CISC vs. RISC), and explore characteristics of DDI to assist the design of effective solution mechanisms. To achieve our goal, we develop a robust and portable compiler (GCC) based framework for DDI research, and target this investigation at contemporary x86 and ARM based machines. We find that while a substantial fraction of instructions executed by all classes of programs are dynamically dead, architectural features show a visible impact. Our experiments reveal that a handful of static program instructions contribute a majority of DDI. We further find that DDI are often highly predictable, can be detected within small instruction windows, and a small amount of static context information can significantly benefit DDI detection at run-time. Thus, our research can induce the development and adoption of practical DDI elimination techniques to scale sequential program performance in future processors.
Introducing black pepper into America

Because of the decline of pepper culture in southern Asia and its resulting scarcity, the Section of Plant Introduction of the United States Department of Agriculture has recently procured ten varieties from the Malabar Coast of India for introduction into tropical America. Pepper culture in India is an ancient gardening handicraft. The vine shows considerable genetic variability, making it a pliable prospect tor adaptation to new cultural methods in the New World.
Mechanisms of Franck–Condon breakdown over a broad energy range in the valence photoionization of N2 and CO

Abstract The molecular photoionization of N2 leading to the 3 σ g − 1 , 2 σ u − 1 ion states and CO leading to the valence isoelectronic 5σ−1, 4σ−1 ion states has been studied using both theory and experiment. Vibrational branching ratios have been obtained in the 15–200 eV photoelectron energy range. The analysis of the branching ratios for these processes shows a breakdown in the Franck–Condon approximation in the range of energies studied. Some of the deviations at lower energies are well documented as due to shape resonances, and in such cases we found good agreement between the present work and previous experimental and theoretical investigations of these photoionization channels. For both N2 and CO ionization, we also found that the partial wave cross sections have an interference pattern similar to a Young-type interference, which are related to molecular Cooper minima. Such features were also seen to induce non-Franck–Condon effects in the vibrational branching ratios at higher energies. The comparison of theory and experiment was facilitated by the introduction of an electronic factor (F) that is the logarithmic derivative of the cross section with respect to bond length and which could be directly related to the branching ratios.
HIGH ENERGY pp AND pp FORWARD ELASTIC SCATTERING AND TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS

The present status of elastic pp and pp-bar scattering in the high-energy domain is reviewed, with emphasis on the forward and near-forward regions. The experimental techniques for measuring sigma/sub tot/, rho, and B are discussed, emphasizing the importance of the region in which the nuclear and Coulomb scattering interfere. The impact-parameter representation is exploited to give simple didactic demonstrations of important rigorous theorems based on analyticity, and to illuminate the significance of the slope parameter B and the curvature parameter C. Models of elastic scattering are discussed, and a criterion for the onset of ''asymptopia'' is given. A critique of dispersion relations is presented. Simple analytic functions are used to fit simultaneously the real and imaginary parts of forward scattering amplitudes for both pp and pp-bar, obtained from experimental data for sigma/sub tot/ and rho. It is found that a good fit can be obtained using only five parameters (with a cross section rising as ln/sup 2/s), over the energy range 5 ..infinity are examined critically. The nuclear slope parameters B are also fitted in a model-independent fashion. Examination of the fits reveals a new regularity of the pp-bar and the pp systems.« less
Number and color responses in the young child

Abstract Five-year-old kindergarten children were taken through a successive discrimination task to which they could respond correctly either on the basis of number or color. Subsequently they were shifted to a number-relevant, color-irrelevant; or a color-relevant, number-irrelevant task. The results indicated that S s in the pretransfer trials responded to the number and not to the color dimension. To ensure that S s were responding to the number dimension rather than possible density or form attributes, a second experiment was performed. In Experiment 2 the same aged children learned the Experiment 1 task, with number-only relevant, and the learners were transferred to a much more difficult task with the same dimension still relevant. A control group learned the more difficult task only. All learners in the experimental group transferred successfully, but no S s in the control group reached criterion. It was concluded that (a) S s in Experiment 1 were responding to the number dimension and (b) if S s can respond to the number dimension in a very simple task, they will transfer successfully to the same dimension in a task which is too difficult without the preswitch practice.
Processing-Structure-Property Relations in PEEK/Carbon Composites Made from Comingled Fabric and Prepreg

Although the processability of PEEK/carbon prepreg has received much attention, the effects of processing on the microstructure and performance of the co mingled fabric system is not well known. In...
Iron-regulated outer membrane proteins and non-siderophore-mediated iron acquisition by Paracoccus denitrificans

Deprivation of Paracoccus denitrificans of iron in sodium molybdate-containing medium caused a slower rate of growth and lower final cell yield, in contrast to our previous studies in non-sodium molybdate-containing medium, where iron deprivation had little effect on growth rate. Five high Mr outer membrane proteins and catechol production were induced in iron-deprived cultures. The fifth protein, Mr 72 000, was produced later than the others. Growth of iron-deprived cells in medium containing 20 μM ferric citrate repressed siderophore and iron deprivation-induced protein production, and led to production of an Mr 23 000 outer membrane protein (half maximum production after 5 h). Synthesis of the Mr 23 000 and high Mr proteins appeared to be mutally exclusive, and to be regulated by the cell's iron status. Cells inoculated into medium containing 20 μM ferric citrate took up 92% of the iron within 1 h, suggesting the occurrence of a nonsiderophore mediated, ‘low affinity’ iron uptake pathway.
Polyploidy and gene dosage effects on peroxidase activity in ferns.

Total soluble proteins, peroxidase, and peroxidase isozymes were examined in polyploid series of fern gametophytes and sporophytes. A distinctive pattern of protein bands was associated with gametophytes and sporophytes and the pattern did not vary within each phenotype with increases in the genome. Peroxidase activity per cell increased in direct proportion to increases in the genome and was determined to be gene dosage related. Slight differences in the patterns of peroxidase isozyme bands were associated with increases in the chromosome complement in both series of plants, but major variations were found between gametophyte and sporophyte. Quantitative analysis of peroxidase activity in each band revealed both increases and decreases in individual isozymes as ploidy increased. These findings suggest the involvement of regulatory mechanisms controlling isozyme activity.
An Improved Empirical Model for Radar Sea Clutter Reflectivity

A fundamental characteristic of radar sea clutter, important for radar performance evaluations, is its apparent reflectivity defined a σo (m2/m2). “Apparent” is used as a reminder that any measurement of sea clutter reflectivity includes the effects of propagation and shadowing close to the sea surface. Sea clutter reflectivity depends on many factors, including sea state, wind velocity, grazing angle, polarization, and radar frequency. An empirical sea clutter model proposed by Horst, et al. (1978), the so-called GIT model, has found widespread acceptance in the radar community. However, this model does not always agree with what is the most complete experimental database of sea clutter reflectivity available to the radar systems engineer. The 1991 edition of F. E. Nathanson's book provides seven tables of measured sea clutter reflectivity data summarized from approximately 60 sources. The large deviation between the GIT model and this database, in particular at lower sea states, has prompted NRL to develop an improved model for sea clutter reflectivity based on these tables. The model is a function of radar frequency, polarization, sea state, and grazing angle. The functional form of this empirical model was chosen such that the average absolute deviation (in dB) between the model and the experimental data was minimized.
Incumbents in a dynamic Internet related services market: Does customer and competitive orientation hinder or help performance?

Abstract The Internet challenges many incumbent firms to adapt their marketing strategies by developing and offering new products involving Internet technology. Existing literature on market orientation and performance of services suggests that market orientation, and its components, are likely to facilitate effective adaptation. In contrast, the marketing innovation literature suggests market orientation may be too reactive and inhibit effective adaptation. Our results suggest some merit to both perspectives. Client orientation hindered performance of Internet advertising services, while competitive orientation facilitated performance. In addition, limited support was found that suggested superior performance occurs in an environment with a diverse client base and clients possessing in-house capabilities that “compete” with agencies for Internet advertising services. Implications for incumbents pursuing product growth strategies via new, technology related services in dynamic environments are discussed.
On the Gieseker-Petri map for rank 2 vector bundles

Denote by Wn,dr the set of stable vector bundles of rank n and degree d with at least r+1 sections. We compute the singular locus of Wn,d1. We show that W2,d2 is irreducible and reduced and we characterize the singular locus of Wn,d2.
Interaction of Shear Stress, Myosin II, and Actin in Dynamic Modulation of Endothelial Cell Microrheology

The endothelial cell (EC) cytoskeleton mediates several biological functions such as adhesion, migration, phagocytosis, cell division, and mechanosensitivity. These functions are carried out in part through dynamic cytoskeletal polymerization, modulation of crosslinking, and development of tension between intracellular organelles and the extracellular matrix via focal adhesion plaques. One important component of the cytoskeleton is actin which polymerizes into filaments and is thought to be prestressed by virtue of crosslinking proteins such as α-actinin, filamin and myosin II molecular motors. Additionally, actomyosin interaction has been hypothesized to act as a stress dissipation mechanism by virtue of dynamic crossbridging which facilitates actin diffusion through the polymer network of the cytoplasm (Humphrey et al., 2002).Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Assessing the information environment in intensive care units

This paper describes the development and application of a methodology for evaluating how physicians and nurses view the usefulness of various sources of patient information available within a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). The methodology encompasses semi-structured interviews, task analysis, a simulated case study of a critically ill patient, verbal protocol analysis, questionnaire responses based on both past experiences in the ICU and performance on the simulated task, and a post-task interview. Eleven nurses and six physicians participated in the study. Analysis of the questionnaires revealed significant differences in the rankings of the information sources by both the nurses and the physicians on each of seven evaluation criteria. Significant differences were also found among both the physicians and the nurses in rankings of the relative importance of the individual information sources for meeting task requirements. A framework for describing information gathering applicable to critical care en...
Thermodynamics of urania volatization in steam

Abstract The thermochemistry of urania volatilization as UO 3 obtained from several literature sources was reviewed. The predicted equilibrium pressures of UO 3 over pure UO 2+ x in a gas of known oxygen potential and temperature fall into one of two groups that differ by one order of magnitude at 2000 K and two orders of magnitude at 1500 K. The recent theoretical and experimental work from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is judged to be the most comprehensive and reliable. This work supports the high-UO 3 pressure estimates and gives values about 30% lower than those obtained from the earlier work of Ackermann and Chang. The effects of other factors on urania volatility were investigated: H 2 in steam produces a large reduction in the UO 3 pressure; the other volatile uranium species, UO 2 (OH) 2 , is important only at low temperatures and high steam pressures; fuel burnup has a small effect on the UO 2 pressure. As part of the UO 3 assessment, the oxygen potential models for UO 2+ x of Blackburn and Lindemer/Besmann were compared.
Non-Darcian effects on vertical-plate natural convection in porous media with high porosities

Abstract The present analytical study on the non-Darcian effects on natural convection from a vertical plate embedded in a high-porosity medium shows that the boundary and inertia effects have a significant influence on the velocity profiles and surface heat transfer rate. Both effects are more pronounced in high-porosity media and reduce heat transfer from the heated plate. The boundary effect becomes more noticeable in the region close to the leading edge of the heated plate, while the inertia effect increases with downstream locations on a heated plate. The results also show that as the resistance due to the solid matrix increases, the velocity profile tends toward the conventional exponential form, which results from velocity slip at the boundary.
Spermiogenesis and spermatozoa in sterile mice carrying different lethal T/t locus haplotypes: a transmission and scanning electron microscopic study.

Laboratory Animals; The morphology of spermatids and spermatozoa of mice heterozygous for the tailless lethal genotypes t0 and tw32 was examined by light transmission and scanning electron microscope. Late spermatids showed short broad nuclei microtubules abnormally indented into the nucleus and irregularly shaped acrosomes. Spermatozoa--AN; Chromosome Abnormalities Spermatozoa developed more abnormalities such as spaces between acrosomes and the nuclear membrane absent or misplaced microtubules in about 10% and short angular or amorphous head shapes in 60-75%. These irregularities could be due to defective chromosomal condensation or membrane or microtubule defects.
Temporal dynamics of attentional selection in adult male carriers of the fragile X premutation allele and adult controls.

Carriers of the fragile X premutation allele (fXPCs) have an expanded CGG trinucleotide repeat size within the \emph{FMR1} gene and are at increased risk of developing Fragile X-associated Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS). Previous research has shown that male fXPCs with FXTAS exhibit cognitive decline, predominantly in executive functions such as inhibitory control and working memory. Recent evidence suggests fXPCs may also exhibit impairments in processing temporal information. The attentional blink (AB) task is often used to examine the dynamics of attentional selection, but disagreements exist as to whether the AB is due to excessive or insufficient attentional control. In this study, we used a variant of the AB task and neuropsychological testing to explore the dynamics of attentional selection, relate AB performance to attentional control, and determine whether fXPCs exhibited temporal and/or attentional control impairments. Participants were adult male fXPCs, aged 18--48 years and asymptomatic for FXTAS (\emph{n} = 19) and age-matched male controls (\emph{n} = 20). We found that fXPCs did not differ from controls in the AB task, indicating that the temporal dynamics of attentional selection were intact. However, they were impaired in the letter-number sequencing task, a test of attentional control. In the combined fXPC and control group, letter-number sequencing performance correlated positively with AB magnitude. This finding supports models that posit the AB is due to excess attentional control. In our two-pronged analysis approach, we contribute to the theoretical literature in controls by extending the AB literature, and we enhance our understanding of fXPCs by demonstrating that at least some aspects of temporal processing may be spared.
A World Record Marathon Runner with Silent Ischemia without Coronary Atherosclerosis

A 62-year-old world record marathon runner was found to have silent ischemia manifested by a very abnormal stress test, whereas at autopsy nine months later, there was virtually no coronary atherosclerosis nor other disease of the coronary microvasculature. However, there was focal fibrosis of the papillary muscles consistent with remote ischemia secondary to possible CV. It is postulated that endurance-related high catecholamine levels might have been responsible. (Chest 1991; 99:1306-08)