cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical and biological consequences of a climate event in the central North Pacific

Climatic changes over the North Pacific which began in the mid 1970s, peaked in the early 1980s, and ended by the late 1980s, appear to have altered productivity at various trophic levels in the marine ecosystem in the central North Pacific. The climatic change resulted in increased mixed layer depth and the frequency of deep mixing events, particularly during January-March. A number of biological time series for species ranging from primary to apex levels in the North-western Hawaiian Islands, show corresponding declines in productivity of 30–50% from the early 1980s to the present. We hypothesize that during the early 1980s, increased mixing due to the climate event resulted in greater nutrient input into the euphotic zone and ultimately increased ecosystem productivity. Productivity over a range of trophic levels declined when the climate event ended.
The Aging Ovary—A Preliminary Note

THE INITIAL plan for studying the menopausal ovary called for an extensive review of 500 case histories from patients 45 years of age and older, with a clinico-pathologic study of their ovaries. Such a study was more than half completed before the routine teaching and hospital duties, complicated by war-time lack of personnel, made it impossible to finish the work in time for this publication. The brief remarks to follow are therefore based on the day-to-day observations of a pathologist who sees the aging ovary as a part of a considerable volume of routine pathological material from a clinic devoted to elective gynecologic surgery. It appears that the human female is endowed at birth with a certain ovarian “capital,” namely, the primordial ova. In this author's experience, there are no new additions to such “capital” by way of oogenesis, either from the germinal epithelium or any other structures in the ovary.
P-SIGMA: security aware paging in end-to-end mobility management scheme

Mobile users need to maintain end-to-end connections when changing subnets. Handoff across networks often causes delay and loss of packets and make end users vulnerable to security threats that may lead to disruptions. In this paper, we design P-SIGMA , a delay and security-hardened, disruption-tolerant and signalling cost-effective end-to-end mobility management scheme by incorporating paging in SIGMA , an internet protocol diversity-based end-to-end transport layer mobility management scheme. P-SIGMA can detect and mitigate disruptions against two most common security threats: session hijacking and freeloading. We also propose a signalling cost analysis model for paging and a recovery-time model for attacks. To demonstrate performance improvement, we compare P-SIGMA with SIGMA and show the speed at which P-SIGMA can detect attacks (security breaches). We observe that P-SIGMA has lower signalling than SIGMA while maintaining all the benefits of a transport layer mobility management scheme. P-SIGMA can also detect paging related security threats with a small detection time without incurring any additional signalling.
Electrogastrography: measuremnt, analysis and prospective applications

Electrogastrography (EGG), the cutaneous recording of the myoelectrical activity of the stomach using surface electrodes, is attractive due to its non-invasiveness and its correlation with gastric motility. Since the first measurement of the EGG, a great deal of research effort has been expended on investigating its relationship with specific activities of the stomach in question. In this review, we discuss how to measure the EGG, what information is available in the EGG, how to extract useful information from the EGG and the prospective applications of the EGG. After a brief historic evolution of the EGG, we first discuss the measurement of the EGG, the importance of localisation of the stomach and the characteristics of the EGG. The most commonly used EGG data-analysis methods, both power spectral analysis and waveform analysis, are then outlined. Some of prospective applications of the EGG in clinical diagnosis and medical research are described, mainly concerning the correlation between EGG amplitude and gastric motility and that between EGG rhythmic variations and motility disorders. Specifically, we present studies on pre- and postprandial EGGs, observation of the propagation direction of the gastric slow wave and gastric electrical dysrhythmias and their correlation with gastric motility.
Computed tomographic appearance of giant cell reparative granuloma of a tarsal bone

A case of a rare giant cell lesion of a tarsal bone, giant cell reparative granuloma, is presented with CT correlation. CT is useful in pre-operative management both in defining the extent of involvement of adjacent structures and demonstrating soft tissue abnormality.
Functional reconstitution of lens gap junction proteins into proteoliposomees

Membranes rich in junction complexes were prepared from bovine lens, and the fragments of the membranes were reconstituted into proteoliposomes with a large excess of phosphatidylcholine and dicetylphosphate. The osmotic swelling behavior of these liposomes showed that the lens junction membranes contributed protein components that produced channels with a nominal diameter of 1.4 nm. Most preparations of lens junctions produced rates of osmotic swelling much slower than those found in proteoliposomes containing equivalent amounts ofEscherichia coli porin, and we discuss several possible explanations for this observation.
AhR- and ERK-dependent pathways function synergistically to mediate 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ1 expression and subsequent adipocyte differentiation

Activation of the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by pretreatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) blocks hormone (IDM/BRL)-induced adipocyte differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells in proportion to the suppression of the elevation of the key mediator, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARgamma1). Inhibition of MEK-induced ERK phosphorylation had no effect on adipogenesis but prevented this TCDD suppression. Initiation of MEK inhibition up to 6 h after IDM/BRL stimulation in combination with serum addition completely reversed the TCDD-mediated suppression but declined to ineffectiveness when delayed to 24 h after stimulation. This period occurs well after the decline of serum-induced ERK activation, at a time when ERK phosphorylation is low, and prior to the onset of IDM/BRL-stimulated PPARgamma1 expression. This temporal separation of ERK activation from the affected PPARgamma1 expression suggests that ERK does not act directly on either PPARgamma1 transcription or receptor function. Thus, ERK activation and TCDD/AhR stimulation work synergistically to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. Nonrenewal of serum at the time of IDM/BRL addition removed most of the ERK activation and also the TCDD-mediated suppressions of PPARgamma1 expression and adipocyte differentiation. Transfection of a vector expressing constitutively active MEK1 generated a constant, high level of phosphorylated ERK comparable to the peak serum-induced level and fully restored TCDD suppression without a TCDD-mediated effect on ERK phosphorylation. We conclude that low levels of activated MEK and ERK cooperate with AhR-induced factor(s) to generate a suppressor that prevents PPARgamma1 transcription and then differentiation.
Development of cross-tolerance to 5-hydroxytryptamine in organotypic cultures of mouse spinal cord-ganglia during chronic exposure to morphine.

Abstract Exposure of organotypic explants of mouse spinal cord with attached dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) to low concentrations (∼10nM) of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) markedly depressed sensory-evoked dorsal-horn network responses, resembling the acute effects of opioids in these cultures. Attenuation of cord responses by 5-HT was not prevented by exposure to the 5-HT antagonists, methysergide and cyproheptadiene, nor to the opiate antagonist, naloxone. Explants that had become tolerant to morphine after chronic exposure (1 μM) for > 2 days often developed cross-tolerance to 5-HT. Acute exposure of morphine-tolerant explants to naloxone (1 μM) further attenuated the effects of 5-HT so that the minimum depressant levels of 5-HT were often increased up to 30-fold. Increasing the extra-cellular Ca ++ concentration (to 5 mM) and/or introduction of 4-aminopyridine markedly antagonized the depressant effects of 5-HT on DRG-evoked cord responses, so that 5-HT levels comparable to those used on morphine-tolerant explants were required to depress naive explants. These depressant effects of 5-HT on cord-DRG explants are consonant with antinociceptive actions of 5-HT administered to dorsal cord in situ . Our data suggest that 5-HT may block neuronal components of dorsal horn networks at similar regions to those that are depressed by opiates, e.g. presynaptic DRG nerve terminals where abundant opiate receptors are located. The marked attenuation of the depressant effects of both 5-HT and opiates on cord-DRG explants by high Ca ++ raises the possibility that cross-tolerance to 5-HT in morphine-tolerant explants may result from the same neuronal alterations that render dorsal-horn networks tolerant to opiates. Furthermore, the increased degree of cross-tolerance to 5-HT after acute introduction of naloxone in morphine-tolerant cultures may be an expression of opiate dependence.
Time-Dependent Simulations of Sub-Continuum Heat Generation Effects in Electronic Devices Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), which accounts for electron-phonon scattering, is used to investigate heat generation effects on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors. The wave nature of the LBM is shown and its influence on subcontinuum dynamics is discussed. The implementation of boundary conditions for constant temperature and constant heat flux is described. SOI devices are modeled as thin films in one dimension. The LBM simulation results for diffusive, transitional, and ballistic regimes are compared with Fourier equation solutions and literature results. For transitional and ballistic regimes, Fourier equation results underpredict the temperature levels obtained by the LBM, which is consistent with the findings previously reported by different authors.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Enhanced Stroop interference for threat in social phobia

Socially anxious individuals are characterized by an attentional bias for threat-related information. However, this attentional bias to threat may be attenuated [Behav. Res. Ther. 34 (1996) 945] when these individuals are anxious. In the present study, we attempted to increase subjects' Stroop interference by changing the frequency of words to nonwords. We hypothesized that when the ratio of words to nonwords was low, individuals with social phobia (SPs) would show increased Stroop interference, but only for words related to social threat. Results were consistent with this hypothesis.
Tautomerism of histamine

Abstract Both ab initio and INDO molecular orbital calculations on histamine show that the histamine N(3)H tautomer is preferred for the monocationic form, whereas in the neutral state the N(1)H tautomer is favored. This implies that upon neutralization of the protonated histamine which is predominant in the neutral aqueous solution the tautomeric shift occurs from the N(3)H to the N(1)H form. Although the total electronic energy term makes the N(1)H tautomer of the monocation more favorable, it is the nuclear repulsion term that results in the N(3)H tautomer for the monocation being more stable. The tautomeric energy difference for both the neutral and protonated histamines is independent of the side chain conformations.
Extremely fast hydrogen exchange of ribonuclease-(1-118) as compared with native RNase A and its implication for the conformational energy state.

RNase-(1-118) containing native disulfide bonds is similar in fold to native RNase A but not of lowest Gibbs energy as compared with the isomers containing non-native disulfide bonds. The present n.m.r. studies have indicated a dramatic increase in the exchange rate of all of the 'protected' amide protons of RNase-(1-118) over RNase A. A calculation shows a large increase in the rate of 'opening' of the structure. The exchange rate of the protected amide protons of RNase-(1-120) is slower than RNase-(1-118) but much faster than RNase A. Binding with a synthetic complementing fragment (114-124) markedly reduces the exchange rate of 20 to 25 amide protons of RNase-(1-118). It has previously been shown that binding with a complementing fragment of RNase-(1-118) generates a lowest Gibbs energy state. Thus, using available thermodynamic information for interpretation, we suggest that a) removal of six carboxy terminal residues of RNase A would disrupt coupling between these residues and those distant in the structure (loss of extra stabilizing energy), b) this would, in turn, alter the enthalpy-entropy compensation in such a way that the magnitude of Gibbs energy change favoring folding is significantly reduced without a large change of fold and c) in this activated state the molecule would be highly motile.
Primordial Superheavy Element 126

Based on the shell corrections obtained from an extrapolated potential, the superheavy nucleus 126 in a spherical configuration does not appear to have a half-life as long as the age of the universe. Hartree-Fock calculations with Skyrme interactions do not reveal extra stability for element 126 (A=354). There is thus the possibility that the primordial superheavy element 126 observed by Gentry et al. may not be spherical. The distinction between spherical and toroidal shapes can be made by measuring the mass number of the observed superheavy element. (AIP)
Convergence of the dynamic load balancing problem to Nash equilibrium using distributed local interactions

Load balancers distribute workload across multiple nodes based on a variation of the round robin algorithm, or a more complex algorithm that optimizes a specified objective or allows for horizontal scalability and higher availability. In this paper, we investigate whether robust load balancing can be achieved using a local co-operative mechanism between the resources (nodes). The local aspect of the mechanism implies that each node interacts with a small subset of the nodes that define its neighborhood. The co-operative aspect of the mechanism implies that a node may offload some of load to its neighbor nodes that have lesser load or accept jobs from neighbor nodes that have higher load. Each node is thus only aware of the state of its neighboring nodes and there is no central entity that has the knowledge of the state of all the nodes. We model the overall mechanism of load balancing based on local interactions as a congestion game and show that convergence to the Nash equilibrium is possible using only local interactions. We derive worst case bounds on the number of transfers (time) required to achieve global load balancing under this setup. We also include simulation results to demonstrate emergent global load balancing based only on local interactions and local information.
A Method of Computing the Gravitational Field of an Axially Symmetric Flat Galaxy

A method has been developed for computing the gravitational force field of an axially symmetric flat galaxy from its surface mass density. The method is simple to program, fast, and accurate. An inversion formula is derived that allows computation of surface density from rotation curves by use of any method that converts density to force. The method is compared with a method of Clutton-Brock that utilizes Hankel transforms of Laguerre functions.
Carbon dioxide sequestration through novel use of ion exchange fibers (IX-fibers)

Abstract Electrical power generation and metal removal processes are practiced globally and share two common attributes that make them ideal candidates to be incorporated in a novel carbon dioxide sequestration scheme using ion exchange fibers (IX-fibers). First, the softening of boiler feed water used in power generation and the removal of metals from finishing wastewaters often employs the use of ion exchange for the purpose of selective separation. Second, both processes represent significant point source CO 2 emissions. This investigation demonstrated that using IX-fibers it is possible to sequester a portion of the CO 2 produced in these practices as carbonate alkalinity during the regeneration step of both the water softening and the trace heavy metal removal processes. Weak acid IX-fibers were used for hardness removal while hybrid cation exchange fibers (HCIX-F) loaded with hydrated Zr(IV) oxide (HZO) were used to remove toxic heavy metals such as zinc, cadmium and copper. IX-fibers offer the unique capability to use and consume CO 2 during the efficient regeneration of IX-fibers, whereas commercial ion exchange resins are not amenable to regeneration with CO 2 . A much shorter intraparticle diffusion path length in cylindrical IX-fibers as compared to resin beads is the underlying reason for a highly efficient regeneration of the fibers. In addition to sequestering carbon dioxide, no hazardous or aggressive chemicals/brine solutions are present in the regenerant wastes as compared with traditional ion exchange processes.
The science of literacy: From the laboratory to the classroom

Finding out “why Johnny can't read,” in addition to being of increasing social concern, has become a focus of scientific research. Although initially the domain of educational research, more recently a growing interest in the neurobiological basis of higher cortical functions, especially language and reading (and the sensory, perceptual, and cognitive systems that subserve these functions), has captured the attention of neuroscientists.
Inversion climatology at San Jose, California

Month-to-month variations in the early morning surface-based and near-noon elevated inversions at San Jose, Calif., were determined from slow rise radiosondes launched during a four-year period. A high frequency of shallow, radiative, surface-based inversions were found in winter during the early morning hours, while during the same period in summer, a low frequency of deeper based inversions arose from a combination of radiative and subsidence processes. The frequency of elevated inversions in the hours near noon was lowest during fall and spring, while inversion bases were highest and thicknesses least during these periods.
Leaderless transcripts of the crenarchaeal hyperthermophile Pyrobaculum aerophilum.

Abstract We mapped transcription start sites for ten unrelated protein-encoding Pyrobaculum aerophilum genes by primer extension and S 1 nuclease mapping. All of the mapped transcripts start at the computationally predicted translation start codons, two of which were supported by N-terminal protein sequencing. A whole genome computational analysis of the regions from −50 to +50 nt around the predicted translation starts codons revealed a clear upstream pattern matching the consensus sequence of the archaeal TATA box located unusually close to the translation starts. For genes with the TATA boxes that best matched the consensus sequence, the distance between the TATA box and the translation start codon appears to be shorter than 30 nt. Two other promoter elements distinguished were also found unusually close to the translation start codons: a transcription initiator element with significant elevation of C and T frequencies at the −1 position and a BRE element with more frequent A bases at position −29 to −32 (counting from the translation start site). We also show that one of the mapped genes is transcribed as the first gene of an operon. For a set of genes likely to be internal in operons the upstream signal extracted by computer analysis was a Shine-Dalgarno pattern matching the complementary sequence of P. aerophilum 16 S rRNA. Together these results suggest that the translation of proteins encoded by single genes or genes that are first in operons in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon P. aerophilum proceeds mostly, if not exclusively, through leaderless transcripts. Internal genes in operons are likely to undergo translation via a mechanism that is facilitated by ribosome binding to the Shine-Dalgarno sequence.
Symposium on Paleohydrogeology

A full-day special session was held at the 1988 AGU Spring Annual meeting in Baltimore on “Paleohydrology: Evolution of Groundwater Flow Systems.” The symposium was cosponsored by the Groundwater Committee of the Hydrology Section of AGU and by the U.S. Committee of the International Association of Hydrogeologists. The symposium focused on how and why long-term changes in groundwater flow systems can influence the modern distributions of hydraulic head, temperature, and solutes in regional aquifers. Most groundwater investigations today are on problems associated with recent human impacts on present-day hydrogeologic conditions. For example, groundwater flow and transport models are commonly calibrated using historical data collected during a few years or decades. When models are calibrated, it generally is assumed that the aquifer system is in a natural steady state condition prior to human influence. Papers presented during this symposium demonstrate the fallacy of this assumption in many situations.
Obscuration Of Light By Resonance-Sized, Nonspherical Particulates

A selected number of our microwave extinction measurement results on preferentially/randomly oriented nonspherical particles are presented. These particles span in size near the first major resonance, possess refractive indexes characteristic of natural aerosols, and have axisymmetry in shape, such as spheroids, cylinders and dumbbells. Subtle dependence of light obscuration on particle orientation is shown in our standardized form of P,Q plots. Such a P,Q plot is a cartesian display of the complex scattering amplitude S(0) versus particle orientation (X,ψ) at scattering angle 0 = 0 and contains detailed information on the single-particle obscuration process in perhaps the most comprehensive form. We also routinely deduce C ext , the extinction cross section ext' averaged over random particle orientations, from such a P,Q plot. The ensuing, vivid overall pictures of obscuration by a number of randomly oriented nonspherical particles are also depicted in graphs of Q ext,v versus ρv, showing the volume-equivalent extinction - efficiency averaged over random orientations versus the volume-equivalent phase-shift parameter of each particle. Comparisons with theoretical predictions, where applicable, are also shown in these graphs.
Evolution of treatment strategies for calciphylaxis.

Treatment strategies for calciphylaxis are limited by inadequate understanding of its pathophysiology. Mortality reaches 80%, due to progressive skin ischemia, necrosis and infections. In addition to
Unique presentation of a metastatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed pre-operatively by C. T. Scan

Ublicherweise stellt sich die Metastase eines Mamma-Karzinoms im Gehirn in der computerisierten axialen Tomographie des Schadels als ein Bezirk mit verminderter Dichte dar. Diese nimmt nach Injektion von Kontrastmedium nennenswert zu. Im vorliegenden Fall wird erstmals ein rein zystisches metastatisches Adeno-Ca. geschildert mit geringfugigem umgebenden Oedem und nur einem schmalen Saum von peripherer Dichtevermehrung nach Kontrastmittelinjektion.
Highway Usage, Needs and Pollution as a Function of City Size and Population Density

. Using the data for 1990 urbanized areas from the 1972 Highway Needs Study, the effects of city size and population density on per capita vehicle use, miles of road, highway needs and “optimal”highway investment needs were investigated. The regressions showed that the miles of road per capita decrease with city population and population density. The vehicle miles of travel were found to increase with the land area of a city and its population. Although travel, and hence pollution increases in total as a city becomes more spread out, the suburban sprawl lowers the concentration of automotive pollutants in the atmosphere. Highway needs per capita decrease with population density, but increase with city size. Similar results are obtained when an approximation to optimal investment is used as the dependent variable.
On the elastic free energy of solid solutions—II. Influence of the effective modulus on precipitation from solution and the order-disorder reaction

Abstract The reciprocal space representation of the microscopic elasticity theory described in part I is used in reconsidering the role that lattice strain energy plays in precipitation and order-disorder transformations. The results are stated in terms of the effective elastic modulus M(h) where h denotes the reciprocal space variable. The elastic energy of a single defect is shown to be proportional to the average value of the effective modulus, M, and it follows that the energy of a random distribution of solute atoms is also proportional to M. Neither of these energies are found to differ significantly from those obtained from continuum elasticity theory. The change in elastic energy in going from a random solute distribution to an ordered structure is shown to be proportional to the difference, M(h′) − M , where (h′) denotes the position of the superlattice reflection. Only a slight change in elastic energy occurs on forming the ordered Cu3Au structure contrasting with the result, presented in I, of a complete removal of elastic energy on forming the ordered β-brass structure. The method of Cahn and Hilliard for calculating the “chemical” gradient energy coefficients is extended to solid solutions in which there is a significant contribution to the heat of mixing from the elastic energy. The “elastic” gradient energy coefficient, however, is found to contribute significantly to the total gradient energy only for large size differences, greater than 10 per cent. The microscopic theory is also used to explore the paradoxical role that the elastic energy has in precipitation in which it contributes to the formation of a miscibility gap but inhibits coherent phase separation by lowering the spinodal.
Spatial clustering in childhood leukemia

Abstract Cases of childhood leukemia occur extraordinarily near one another in space, but they do not occur near one another in time. This suggests that if the disease is infectious it does not spread as a function of the geographic proximity of cases.
Aharonov-Casher-effect suppression of macroscopic tunneling of magnetic flux.

We suggest a system in which the amplitude of macroscopic flux tunneling can be modulated via the Aharonov-Casher effect. The system is an rf SQUID with the Josephson junction replaced by a Bloch transistor---two junctions separated by a small superconducting island on which the charge can be induced by an external gate voltage. When the Josephson coupling energies of the junctions are equal and the induced charge is $q\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}e$, destructive interference between tunneling paths brings the flux tunneling rate to zero. The device may also be useful as a qubit for quantum computation.
Viscosity solutions of a class of degenerate quasilinear parabolic equations with Dirichlet boundary condition

Abstract This paper is concerned with viscosity solutions for a class of degenerate quasilinear parabolic equations in a bounded domain with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition. The equation under consideration arises from a number of practical model problems including reaction–diffusion processes in a porous medium. The degeneracy of the problem appears on the boundary and possibly in the interior of the domain. The goal of this paper is to establish some comparison properties between viscosity upper and lower solutions and to show the existence of a continuous viscosity solution between them. An application of the above results is given to a porous-medium type of reaction–diffusion model which demonstrates some distinctive properties of the solution when compared with the corresponding semilinear problem.
Two-Dimensional Generalized Moment Representations and Padé Approximations for Some Humbert Series

By extending Dzyadyk’s method of generalized moment representations to the case of two-dimensional number sequences, we construct and study Pade approximants for some confluent Humbert hypergeometric series.
Strain differences in basal metabolism of behaviorally defined rats

Oxygen basal metabolism using a closed-circuit chamber system was obtained for 549 rats from 12 inbred strains: ACI, A990, A35322, F344, INR, IR, MNR/Har, MNRA, MR/Har, TS1, TS3, WAG. The results provide parametric data for methodological use and add to the standardization of these strains as behaviorally defined lines.
Development of neural responsivity to vocal sounds in higher level auditory cortex of songbirds.

Like humans, songbirds learn vocal sounds from “tutors” during a sensitive period of development. Vocal learning in songbirds therefore provides a powerful model system for investigating neural mechanisms by which memories of learned vocal sounds are stored. This study examined whether NCM (caudo-medial nidopallium), a region of higher level auditory cortex in songbirds, serves as a locus where a neural memory of tutor sounds is acquired during early stages of vocal learning. NCM neurons respond well to complex auditory stimuli, and evoked activity in many NCM neurons habituates such that the response to a stimulus that is heard repeatedly decreases to approximately one-half its original level (stimulus-specific adaptation). The rate of neural habituation serves as an index of familiarity, being low for familiar sounds, but high for novel sounds. We found that response strength across different song stimuli was higher in NCM neurons of adult zebra finches than in juveniles, and that only adult NCM responded selectively to tutor song. The rate of habituation across both tutor song and novel conspecific songs was lower in adult than in juvenile NCM, indicating higher familiarity and a more persistent response to song stimuli in adults. In juvenile birds that have memorized tutor vocal sounds, neural habituation was higher for tutor song than for a familiar conspecific song. This unexpected result suggests that the response to tutor song in NCM at this age may be subject to top-down influences that maintain the tutor song as a salient stimulus, despite its high level of familiarity.
Spatial Multiplexing in the Single-Relay MIMO Channel

This work considers the problem of relaying spatially multiplexed signals between a source and a destination using a non-regenerative relay equipped with multiple antennas. In addition to the usual power amplification, the relay is assumed to process the received data vector before forwarding it to the destination. We present two linear filtering techniques that perform this processing in an optimal manner when channel state information (CSI) on the backward and forward channels is available at the relay. Firstly, we derive the relay filter that minimizes the pairwise error probability (PEP) assuming maximum-likelihood (ML) detection at the destination. Secondly, we simultaneously optimize the relay and destination filters in the mean-square error (MSE) sense. The proposed relaying techniques are shown to achieve error performance improvements, especially when the number of antennas at the relay is increased.
Representing patient preference-related concepts for inclusion in electronic health records

In recent years shared decision making between patients and their health care providers and the inclusion of patient preferences in patient care have been, in theory, embraced as models for good clinical practice. Patients' experiences, values, and preferences are increasingly acknowledged as important pieces of evidence for appropriate health care decision making. To effectively use information about patient preferences in patient care, this information, which is gathered through a process of preference elicitation, needs to be integrated with other types of information, e.g., diagnoses, treatments, and patient status indicators within the context of a longitudinal electronic health record. This integration requires that patient preference-related concepts be represented nonambiguously and in a manner that renders them suitable for computer rather than human processing. In this article, the authors describe important patient preference-related concepts and illustrate the use of the LOINC semantic structure as a terminology model to create fully specified names for a sample of 15 preference elicitations from 8 published research articles.
Risk-taking as a situationally sensitive male mating strategy

Evolutionary theorists suggest that men engage in risk-taking more than women do in part because, throughout human evolutionary history, men have faced greater sexual selection pressures. We build on this idea by testing the hypothesis that risk-taking reflects a male mating strategy that is sensitive to characteristics of a potential mate. Consistent with this hypothesis, the current experiment demonstrated a positive relationship between mating motivation and risk-taking, but only in men who had been exposed to images of highly attractive females. Moreover, risk-taking in men was associated with enhanced memory for attractive female faces, indicating enhanced processing of their attractive facial characteristics. No relationship between mating motivation and risk-taking was observed in men exposed to images of unattractive women, nor was any such relationship observed in women. This experiment provides evidence that psychological states associated with mating may promote risk-taking, and that these effects are sex specific and are sensitive to situational context.
ON THE EFFECT OF PERSISTENT SLIP BAND (PSB) PARAMETERS ON FATIGUE LIFE

— An examination of PSB data pertaining to the effects of an air-excluding environment and electric current on the fatigue life of polycrystalline Cu and 316 stainless steel in rotating bending reveals that the spacing and width of the PSBs are smaller throughout the fatigue test for those conditions which lead to increased fatigue life. Moreover, the life correlates directly with the square of the product of the surface area fraction of PSB patches and the density of the PSBs contained therein. These results suggest that in these cases slip-homogenization is responsible for the increased fatigue life and not a consequence of it. A model is proposed for the observed relationship between slip band parameters and fatigue life, which is based on the strain concentration that exists at or near the PSB-matrix interface. The mechanisms by which an air-excluding environment or an electric current can increase slip homogenization are considered.
An algorithm to compute ω -primality in a numerical monoid

Let M be a commutative, cancellative, atomic monoid and x a nonunit in M. We define ω(x)=n if n is the smallest positive integer with the property that whenever x∣a1⋅⋅⋅at, where each ai is an atom, there is a T⊆{1,2,…,t} with |T|≤n such that x∣∏k∈Tak. The ω-function measures how far x is from being prime in M. In this paper, we give an algorithm for computing ω(x) in any numerical monoid. Simple formulas for ω(x) are given for numerical monoids of the form 〈n,n+1,…,2n−1〉, where n≥3, and 〈n,n+1,…,2n−2〉, where n≥4. The paper then focuses on the special case of 2-generator numerical monoids. We give a formula for computing ω(x) in this case and also necessary and sufficient conditions for determining when x is an atom. Finally, we analyze the asymptotic behavior of ω(x) by computing \(\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}\frac{\omega(x)}{x}\).
Numerical Analysis of the Flow Within a Clark Turbocharger Compressor

The flow field within a Clark turbocharger compressor has been thoroughly analyzed by numerical simulation. The numerical simulation was validated with experimental data collected from field test sites. The numerical results are found to closely match the experimental data. Once validated, the numerical simulation was used to investigate the flow field within the turbocharger compressor under a variety of operating conditions. Several regions of flow recirculation were identified that restrict flow through the turbocharger.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
A non-destructive field assay for soybean nitrogen fixation by acetylene reduction

A system for employing open-ended root chambers to measurein situ acetylene reduction rates under field conditions is described. Gas mixtures containing about 2 mbar acetylene were continuously flowed through the chambers providing a continuous record of acetylene reduction. These chambers have been used to measure acetylene reduction rates of soybeans during three growing seasons. The system has proved to be reliable with a high degree of precision. The large amount of plant-to-plant variability observed in N2 fixation research has been confirmed by the data collected with this system. However, such variability in physiological studies can be reduced by using a non-destructive system to compare the response of an individual plant with its rates before treatment.
Experimental Determination of the Low-Temperature Grüneisen Parameter of Silicon from Pressure Derivatives of Elastic Constants

Pressure derivatives of the elastic constants of Si are obtained in fluid and gaseous He at 4 and 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K on samples in the resistivity range 150-500 \ensuremath{\Omega} cm. The doping level was found to have no effect on these derivatives, and the 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K values were essentially indistinguishable from those at 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Thus the disparity between the low-temperature limit of the Gr\"uneisen parameter determined from thermal-expansion measurements from 2 to 15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K by Sparks and Swenson and from the 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K elastic-constant work of McSkimin and Andreatch is not resolved.
Histology/cytology discrepancies in HIV-infected obstetric patients with normal pap smears

Abstract Objective. To estimate the frequency of cervical cytologic/histologic discrepancies in a group of obstetric patients diagnosed as HIV infected by routine prenatal screening. Also, to determine if serum CD4 levels or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are associated with the occurrence of preinvasive cervical disease in these women. Method. Thirty-two women who presented for routine prenatal care to Medical Center of Louisiana were diagnosed as HIV infected by ELISA and Western blot testing and had normal Pap smears. These patients then agreed to undergo the following: colposcopy with directed biopsies; chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis screening; and serum CD4 level. Results. No patients had AIDS-defining diagnoses other than CD4 3 . Ten of 32 (31%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) despite normal cytology. Six of 32 (19%) had STDs. One of 10 in the group with CIN had a STD. The mean CD4 level in those patients with CIN was 249/mm 2 (range 1–524) vs 501/mm 2 (range 210–979) in those without CIN. ( P = 0.0118) Conclusions. Newly diagnosed HIV-infected pregnant women without clinical evidence of AIDS are noted to have CIN at a rate similar to nonpregnant HIV-infected women. The Pap smear appears to have a significant false-negative rate in this group. STDs, while common, were not directly associated with false-negative Pap smears. CIN is associated with immunosuppression, as measured by low CD4 counts.
Effect of dexamethasone, indomethacin, and lipopolysaccharide on the secretion of interstitial collagenase and type V collagenase by cultured macrophages

Abstract The rabbit alveolar macrophage secretes at least two collagenolytic metalloproteinases in vitro including an interstitial collagenase and a type V collagenase. Using assays previously shown to discriminate between these two activities, the secretion of these two enzyme activities was investigated. Both enzyme activies accumulated in culture over 11 days and the release of both were similarly inhibited by cycloheximide. Collagenolytic activity was negligible in cell lysates. The interstitial collagenase was found in a latent form but the type V collagenase activity was active in the culture medium. When cultured in the presence of dexamethasone, the secretion of both the enzymes were identically inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Indomethacin was an effective inhibitor of secretion of both collagenases at a concentration of 10 −5 M but not at lower concentrations. Finally, bacterial lipopolysaccharide stimulated the secretion of both type V and interstitial collagenase by these cells. These studies indicate that, like the interstitial collagenase, the type V collagenase is released from the cell as synthesized and is not stored intracellularly. Protein synthesis is necessary for the release of both these collagenases. Furthermore, the relese of type V collagenase responded to dexamethasone, indomethacin, and lipopolysaccharide in a manner identical to the secretion of the interstitial collagenase suggesting that synthesis and secretion of these two enzymes are regulated in a similar manner.
Fostering 21st century skill development by engaging students in authentic game design projects in a high school computer programming class

This study used technology-rich ethnography (TRE) to examine the use of game development in a high school computer programming class for the development of 21st century skills. High school students created games for elementary school students while obtaining formative feedback from their younger clients. Our experience suggests that in the teaching of computer science in high schools, the development of games that include common game features such as dynamic feedback systems, backstory, levels, cheats, and compelling graphics challenges students and engages them in learning. Incorporating real client feedback is also useful for improving their work and connecting it to the “real” world. This article reports findings from the second year of a research project with a high school computer programming class. The authors argue that such approaches that leverage video games, design, programming, authenticity, and cooperation mobilize multiple 21st century skills that must be nurtured among contemporary young people so that they may grow to be part of a productive citizenry.
How environmental stress affects the impacts of parasites

Parasites occur in nearly every population. They often interact in complex ways with other stressors. In some cases, the interaction may lead to a disproportionately negative effect on the host population. In other cases, the stressor may ameliorate the effects of parasitism. Here we illustrate intersections of four types of environmental stressors with infectious diseases. First, pollutants may increase parasitism by increasing host susceptibility or by increasing the abundance of intermediate hosts and vectors. Pollutants can also decrease parasitism if infected hosts suffer differentially high mortality, parasites are more susceptible to pollution than their hosts, or if pollutants negatively affect intermediate hosts or vectors. These effects vary depending on the particular parasite and pollutant that interact. Second, habitat alterations such as impounding water or development can affect both intermediate host and vector populations such that the abundance of their attendant parasites is either increased or reduced. Third, fisheries can impact populations already stressed by disease. However, they may act to lower the density of a host population below the threshold for sustained transmission to such an extent that the parasite population can no longer persist. Fourth, introduced species may introduce new diseases to susceptible native populations or they may gain an advantage if they invade without the parasites from their native range. The complexity and ubiquity of these interactions are good arguments for considering parasitism when evaluating stressors of aquatic systems.
Estimation of induction machine parameters from standstill time domain data

A step-by-step approach to identifying the parameters of an induction machine from standstill time-domain test data is presented. A step voltage disturbance is applied across the stator terminals while the machine is in standstill condition, and the resulting stator voltage and current responses are measured. The initialization of the transfer function model parameters is achieved by the Laplace transformation of the recorded time-response data, and the maximum likelihood method is used for both the transfer function and the equivalent circuit model parameter estimation. Based on the identified models, simulation studies are performed and compared to the measured standstill time-domain response, the standstill frequency response, and the free acceleration response to validate the identified models. A three-phase wound rotor induction machine rated at 5 hp and 220 V was tested at standstill, and its parameters were estimated. >
TDMA/FDMA PCN systems: an advanced channel borrowing strategy

In this paper, we propose a new channel borrowing technique employing power control and antenna diversity to increase system usage in TDMA/FDMA based personal communications. This technique allows borrowing of spare channels in an aggressive way. To achieve a desired quality level, a cluster center gives to its base stations estimated information on the quality of spare channels. The base station selects the best channel in its list of spare channels. We also develop a distance-specific model for indoor propagation which is suitable for analyzing an indoor PCN system. Using this model, the performance of the channel borrowing system with various antenna diversities is evaluated. Simulation experiments show a significant reduction in blocking probability compared to the fixed channel assignment strategy. >
Neurturin Suppresses Injury-Induced Neuronal Activating Transcription Factor 3 Expression in Cultured Guinea Pig Cardiac Ganglia

Cultured guinea pig atrial whole mounts containing the intrinsic cardiac ganglia were used as an in vitro model to investigate the induction of the stress/injury marker activating transcription factor 3 (ATF-3). ATF-3 expression was quantified by using immunocytochemical labeling and real-time PCR. In freshly isolated ganglia, no neuronal or Schwann cell nuclei exhibited ATF-3 immunoreactivity. In 2-hour cultures, the induction of ATF-3 expression was evident in many Schwann cell nuclei, whereas no neuronal nuclei were ATF-3 immunoreactive. Beginning at 4 hours, the percentage of neurons with ATF-3-immunoreactive nuclei increased progressively, and, by 48 hours in culture, approximately 95% of the cardiac neurons had ATF-3-immunoreactive nuclei. Neurturin significantly suppressed ATF-3 expression in 48-hour-cultured neurons without effect on ATF-3 expression in Schwann cell nuclei. Neuturin also could reverse neuronal ATF-3 expression after its induction. The suppression of ATF-3 induction by neurturin was mediated by activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) also suppressed neuronal ATF-3 induction during culture. However, culture in serum-free media, presence of nerve growth factor, or addition of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide had no effect on ATF-3 induction in the 48-hour-cultured cardiac neurons. By 4 hours in culture, there was a significant increase in ATF-3 transcript levels, and neurturin partially suppressed ATF-3 transcript levels in 48-hour cultures. It is proposed that the loss of target-derived neurturin is a potential mechanism stimulating injury-induced expression of ATF-3 in cardiac neurons.