cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model biomimetic studies of templated growth and assembly of nanocrystalline FeOOH

We studied biomimetic mineralization of self-assembling polymer matrices in order to develop a model for biomineralization of iron oxides in nature. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), rheology, and fluorescence probe analyses show self-assembly of acidic polysaccharide alginic acid (Alg) to form fibrils in dilute solutions. The resulting Alg fibrils are subsequently mineralized by FeOOH in a biomimetically controlled process. Experiments were conducted in pH 9.2 solutions containing millimolar concentrations of iron at 38°C. The unperturbed state of the hybrid mineral- organic structures was studied by characterization of samples of interfacial films collected from an inorganic- organic interface. Progress of mineralization over a 4-week period was followed by HRTEM, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and selected area electron diffraction. Morphologies of hybrid structures determined by HRTEM, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and selected area electron diffrac- tion suggest formation of iron (III) oxyhydroxide phases and their assembly through a variety of mechanisms, possibly occurring simultaneously. An initial step involves precipitation of nanometer-scale amorphous particles and two-line ferrihydrite in bulk solution. Some nanoparticles assemble into chains that recrystallize to form akaganeite (-FeOOH), presumably via a solid-state transformation pathway. Small organic molecules may mediate this process by stabilizing the akaganeite structure and controlling particle assembly. Ferrihydrite particles also bind to acidic polysaccharide fibrils and are transformed to ordered arrays of akaganeite. The parallel orientation of adjacent akaganeite nanocrystals may be inherited from the orientation of precursor ferrihydrite, possibly conferred during attachment of ferrihydrite to the polyacid fibrils. Alternatively, particle-particle interactions may induce orientation, leading to recrystallization. Subsequently, akaganeite is transformed to goethite that is characterized by nanoscale porosity and fine-scale twinning on {021}. Dislocation, twin, and nanopore microstructures are consistent with coarsening by nanoparticle assembly, possibly templated by the substrate. Nanoparticle assembly to generate biomimetic hybrid materials may be relevant to formation of complex natural biominerals in natural systems where mineral nanoparticles, small organic molecules, and more complex polymers coexist. Copyright © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd
A computer-aided procedure for measuring discrimination learning☆

A computer program is described for a two-choice black-white T-maze discrimination task involving 10 trials per day for 5 days. A Gellerman series of 44 semirandom L/R sequences is included within the program to specify the location of the reinforcing stimulus on each trial. A picture of the T-maze appears on the screen, and the experimenter tracks the animals's movements as it goes through the maze. At the end of the 10 trials, the following statistical information is obtained: number of initial choices into the left alley, number of correct choices, number of trials in which no choice was made, median time to make a choice, and a learning score based upon the path taken by the animal. These data are then sent to Excel for statistical processing.
The superblock approach for the analytic element method

An approach, the superblock approach, is presented for increasing computational efficiency of analytic element models. The approach is based on computing the combined effect of functions using both asymptotic expansions and Taylor Series expansions. The superblocks are used to reduce both the computational effort required to determine the coefficients in the analytic element model and to reduce the effort expended in generating contour plots and streamlines. An application of flow is presented in an aquifer with one hundred thousand circular impermeable objects. The errors in the simulation are within the machine accuracy.
The methodology of testing naive beliefs in the physics classroom.

Many undergraduates harbor a variety of misbeliefs about physical objects in motion—for instance, that a bomb will fall straight down when dropped from a moving airplane. The evidence that these misbeliefs are resistant to correction by college-level physics courses, however, has often been based on methodologies that lack adequate internal validity. We used a quasi-experimental “before and after” design to assess the impact of two college physics courses, and we examined selection-bias, test-retest, and task-format factors directly. Initial accuracy and significant improvements due to instruction varied considerably by problem category and subject group; thus, in several ways, the results refute the general conclusion that conventional physics instruction does little to correct students’ misbeliefs. We conclude by advocating the quasi-experimental approach for studies of naive beliefs in physics as well as for other situations in which the impact of classroom instruction is of interest.
Erecting closets and outing ourselves: Uncomfortable reflexivity and community-based research

Feminist scholars and community psychologists have argued that reflexivity is a necessary component to conducting socially conscious research. Reflexivity, however, is rarely evident in community psychology. In this article, we share the uncomfortable realities that surfaced during a community-based research project in which we adapted and implemented an HIV prevention intervention for young Black sexual minority women. We each describe how aspects of our identities, values, and socialization affected our engagement in the research and our interactions with and feelings towards participants. In doing so, we hope to call attention to the messiness of community-based work, as well as to promote a community of scholars who are open to self-appraisal and willing to share their least comfortable examples of conducting community-based work in diverse communities. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dynamic measurements of forces between thrombus-inducing proteins using optical tweezers

Both hemostasis and thrombosis occur as a result of platelet adhesion to the subendothelial matrix, platelet activation, and platelet aggregation. The first stage in hemostasis and thrombosis is the binding of the platelet membrane receptor, glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex, to its ligand, von Willebrand factor (VWF), in the subendothelium. In particular, the A1 domain of VWF is responsible for binding GP Ib-IX. After immobilizing A1 on a 2.0 μm diameter polystyrene bead, we optically trapped the bead using a titanium-sapphire laser tuned to 830 nm. The A1-coated bead was then moved towards a transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell which expressed the GP Ib-IX complex, and allowed to adhere to the cell. We subsequently detached the cell from the bead at different constant loading rates, ranging over three orders of magnitude, by using a piezoelectrically-driven translational stage. Displacement of the bead was simultaneously monitored from the trapping center using a quadrant photodetector to determine the force required to detach A1 from GP Ib-IX. These dynamic measurements of unbinding force emphasize the important role that shear rate plays in the initial stage of thrombus formation.
Modifier cation (Ba, Ca, La, Y) field strength effects on aluminum and boron coordination in aluminoborosilicate glasses: the roles of fictive temperature and boron content

The field strength of modifier cations has long been known to have important effects on oxide glass properties, but effects on network structure can be complex. For two series of barium, calcium, lanthanum and yttrium aluminoborosilicates with two different B/Si ratios, we report systematic variations in boron and aluminum coordination determined by NMR, and glass transition and heat capacities from differential scanning calorimetry. Data on glasses with different fictive temperatures allow B and Al speciation to be compared on an isothermal basis, rather than as conventionally done for as-quenched structures. Temperature and compositional effects can thus be isolated. These data and comparison to previous studies on glasses with lower B/Si ratios clearly show that higher modifier cation field strength increases the fraction of five- and six-coordinated Al in all compositions. In contrast, the previously documented trend towards more three-coordinated boron (and hence more non-bridging oxygens, NBO) in low B/Si glasses with higher field strength cations reverses in high B/Si and in high NBO compositions. Al and B coordination numbers both decrease with higher fictive temperature in the glasses studied here, suggesting a simple mechanism of coupled structural change.
Rolling dry-coupled transducers for ultrasonic inspections of aging aircraft structures

Some advanced aircraft materials or coatings are porous or otherwise sensitive to the application of water, gel, or some other ultrasonic couplants. To overcome the problems associated with the liquid coupling medium, dry-coupled rolling modules were developed at Northwestern University for the transmission of both longitudinal and transverse ultrasonic waves at frequencies up to 10 MHz. Dry-coupled ultrasonic modules contain solid core internal stators and solid or flexible external rotors with the flexible polymer substrates. Two types of the dry-coupled modules are under development. Cylindrical base transducer modules include solid core cylindrical rotors with flexible polymer substrates that rotate around the stators with ultrasonic elements. Dry-coupled modules with elongated bases contain solid core stators and flexible track-like polymer substrates that rotate around the stators as rotors of the modules. The elongated base modules have larger contact interfaces with the inspection surface in comparison with the cylindrical base modules. Some designs of the dry-coupled rolling modules contain several ultrasonic elements with different incident angles or a variable angle unit for rapid adjustments of incident angles. The prototype dry-coupled rolling modules were integrated with the portable ultrasonic inspection systems and tested on a number of Boeing aircraft structures.
The Zonally Averaged Transport Characteristics of the GFDL General Circulation/Transport Model

Abstract The GFDL general circulation/tracer model has been used to generate the transport coefficients required in two-dimensional (zonally averaged) transport formulations. This was done by assuming a flux-gradient relationship and then, given gradient and flux statistics from two independent (and contrived) model tracer experiments, to derive the coefficients by inversion of this relation. Given the mean meridional circulation from the GCM, the antisymmetric and symmetric parts of the coefficients tensor determine the advective and diffusive contributions to the net meridional transport in the model. The effective transport circulation thus defined differs substantially from the Lagrangian mean and residual circulations and is in fact a simpler representation of the model circulation than either of these. The diffusive component is coherently structured, comprising the following components: (i) Strong quasi-horizontal mixing (Dyy ∼ 1 × 106 m2 s−1) in the midlatitude lower troposphere, apparently associ...
Molecular orientation of a commercial thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer in simple shear and complex flow

In-situ X-ray scattering methods have been used to measure the average degree of molecular orientation in the commercial thermotropic copolyesteramide, Vectra B. Experiments were conducted in both homogeneous shear flow and in extrusion-fed channel flows that provided mixed shear/extensional deformations. In the channel flows, extension has a dramatic effect on the average orientation state in the vicinity of stagnation points or expansions/contractions in cross-sectional area. Of particular note, a temporary increase and subsequent decay in orientation observed in a 4:1 slit-contraction flow provides additional indirect evidence supporting the hypothesis that Vectra B exhibits director tumbling. This is consistent with results from other fully aromatic copolyesters but contrasts with findings in “model” thermotropes incorporating flexible spacers. Thus, it seems that the stiffer backbone of commercial main chain LCPs is the main feature which, apparently, leads to tumbling. Measurements of average molecular orientation in transient shear flows show some connections with the corresponding mechanical response, but fail to show the distinctive characteristics that have previously been associated with either tumbling or aligning in LCPs using similar procedures. These experiments might be adversely affected by the comparatively slow rate of data acquisition, which leads to lengthy experiments in which the sample is more prone to degradation.
Nonresident birds in tropical wet sclerophyll forest, northeast Queensland, Australia

Ten bird species were quantified as nonresidents in tropical wet sclerophyll forest, northeast Queensland, Australia: the banded honeyeater Certhionyx pectoralis (Gould, 1841), leaden flycatcher Myiagra rubecula (Latham, 1801), white-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus (Latham, 1802), black-faced monarch Monarcha melanopsis (Vieillot, 1818), shining bronze-cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus (Gmelin, 1788), satin flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca (Vieillot, 1818), spangled drongo Dicrurus bracteatus (Gould, 1842), slender-billed cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris (Jardine, 1831), satin bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Vieillot, 1816), and mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum (Shaw & Nodder, 1792). These nonresident species comprised 23% of the abundant and common bird species (n = 44) in the tropical wet sclerophyll forest during our study period (September 1995–October 1997). The greatest density of nonresident birds (0.674 individuals/ha) was during January–February (mid–late summer, wet season) when nine of...
Integrable potentials with quadratic invariants

Abstract A class of time-independent two-dimensional potentials V ( x, y ) is found for which there exists an invariant of motion quadratic in the momenta.
Biochemical and genetic improvement of Zymomonas mobilis

Abstract Zymomonas mobilis offers many advantages for alcohol production including three- to five-fold higher rates of substrate conversion. Current progress and approaches are discussed for the biochemical and genetic improvement of this organism. These include the isolation of salt-resistant mutants and low pH-tolerant mutants. Gene banks of Lactobacillus heterohiochi are being screened for genes encoding alcohol resistance which can be subsequently introduced into Z. mobilis . In addition, an enteric lactose operon has been inserted into Z. mobilis and is expressed. These new strains are being further modified to increase the substrate range of Z. mobilis to include lactose. This lactose operon serves as a model system to investigate the expression of foreign genes in Z. mobilis .
The Person with a Learning Disability as a Minority Group Member

Last semester, while concluding an autobiography for a class assignment, the author came to the realization that being a person with a learning disability constitutes a strong connection to people of other minority groups. This article will develop that theme, searching relevant issues through applied sociological principles and utilizing personal commentaries by members of those groups.
Cucurbitacins: potential candidates targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway for treatment of melanoma

Cucurbitacins (Cucs) have been classified as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 inhibitors. Kinase inhibition has been a validated drug target in multiple types of malignancies. B-RAF mutations are highly expressed in the melanoma. Our hypothesis is the Cucs can be a potential candidate to inhibit the signaling kinase pathway. The research presented is the evaluation of Cucs, as B-RAF and MEK1 kinase inhibitors. Virtual screening methods were employed to identify lead compounds. The hypothesis was tested on mutant B-RAF cell lines, A-375 and Sk-Mel-28 cell lines to determine the activity toward melanoma. A series of natural Cucs show an improved activity toward Sk-Mel-28 and A-375 cell lines. Cucs show potential inhibition for the total and phosphorylated ERK using ELISA kits. Cucs could be potential candidate for inhibiting cell growth.
Local field theory for solitons

A method is developed for constructing the Lagrangian that describes the interaction of classical soliton solutions. We apply it to the Abelian Higgs model in 2 + 1 dimensions and the Georgi-Glashow model in 3 + 1 dimensions, and various features of the relevant Lagrangians are investigated.
Contributions of resonant excitation double autoionization to the electron-impact ionization of Fe15+

Electron-impact ionization cross sections for ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{15+}$ have been calculated using relativitsic distorted-wave methods. We have performed the most comprehensive calculation to date by including more than 10 000 autoionizing levels for resonant-excitation double-autoionization (REDA) processes. The total cross sections exhibit many strong narrow resonances. The REDA process contributes about 30% to the average total cross sections. General good agreement between theory and experiment is attained, but new experimental investigations are needed to search for the predicted resonances.
IDH1 MUTATIONS AS A IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR BRAIN TUMORS

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy promises an exquisitely precise therapeutic approach, and substantial evidence suggests that activated T cells can eradicate large tumors, even within the “immunologically privileged” brain. EGFRvIII and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations are two of the only consistent tumor-specific mutations that have been described. IDH1 is an evolutionarily-conserved enzyme essential to cell function. Greater than 90% of all IDH1 mutations occur from a substitution of histidine for arginine at codon 132, resulting in the highly conserved and tumor-specific mutation, IDH1R132H. IDH1R132H is homogeneously expressed in all tumor cells in tumors that express this mutation, including single infiltrating tumor cells but is absent in normal cells. The high frequency, specificity, and homogeneous expression of the IDH1 mutation make it an ideal target for therapeutic intervention. METHODS: To assess IDH1R132H as an immunotherapeutic target, we have developed a series of peptides of various lengths that span the IDH1R123H mutation and that are homologous in mice and humans. The murine homologue of IDH1R123H was cloned and transfected into murine glioma lines to be used as a therapeutic target. For immunogenicity experiments mice received 3 weekly intradermal immunizations with 100 µg of peptide. One week following the third vaccination spleen cells were analyzed for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production by ELISPOT. Adjuvants investigated included CFA/IFA/IFA, IFA x3, IFA + GM-CSF, and IFA x3 following pretreatment with Imiquimod. For efficacy experiments C57BL/6 mice received three i.d. vaccinations with PEPIDH1M in IFA every seven days or no treatment. Seven days after the third vaccination, mice received IC implantation of 5x104 IDH1R132H positive KR158B tumor cells. RESULTS: Lymphocytes from mice immunized with peptides of various lengths containing the IDH1R123H mutation produced IFN-γ by ELISPOT in response to stimulation with the mutant peptide, PEPIDH1M but not wild type. This was true for four different strains of mice and transgenic HLA-A2 mice. The 25mer PEPIDH1M induced the most robust immune response. Lymphocytes derived from PEPIDH1M immunized mice co-cultured with IDH1R132H positive glioma secrete significantly higher levels of IFN-γ than lymphocytes co-cultured with IDH1R132H negative tumor cells. Mice immunized with the 25mer PEPIDH1M mixed with GM-CSF or after treating the skin site with Imiquimod produce a greater IFN-γ response to PEPIDH1M alone. Mice immunized with 25mer PEPIDH1M and challenged 7 days later with KR158B-IDH1R132H tumors showed a statically significant increase in median survival (P = 0.0385, Wilcoxon). CONCLUSIONS: The 25mer PEPIDH1M is capable of inducing a therapeutically effective immune response against intracranial tumors. SECONDARY CATEGORY: Preclinical Experimental Therapeutics.
Estimates of Duck Breeding Populations in the Nebraska Sandhills using Double Observer Methodology

Abstract. The Nebraska Sandhills are an important area for breeding ducks in the Great Plains, but reliable estimates of breeding populations are unavailable. Double-observer methodology was used to estimate abundance of breeding duck populations in the Nebraska Sandhills. Aerial transect surveys were conducted using methodology similar to the cooperative Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service. Observations by two front-seat observers and one rear-seat observer were used to account for incomplete detectability. Transect-specific population size and detection probabilities were estimated using program SURVIV; estimates were species-specific by type of social grouping. Regional population sizes were obtained by extrapolating transects' estimates to the Sandhills. Detection probabilities were high (>0.75) for all species, but highest for Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) and Gadwall (A. strepera). Detection probabilities ...
Complicating Culture and Difference: Situating Asian American Youth Identities in Lisa Yee’s Millicent Min, Girl Genius and Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time

This review situates how culture, difference, and identity are discursively constructed in Millicent Min, Girl Genius and Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, two award-winning books written by critically acclaimed Asian American author Lisa Yee. Using contextual literacy approaches, the characters, cultural motifs, and physical settings in these texts are deconstructed to explore the nuances of Asian American youth identities that intersect along the lines of class, gender, and race. This review ends by offering teaching strategies for explicating Asian American young adult literature to critically investigate the representations of Asian American counter-narratives, experiences, and youth cultures.
Reading research critically: Results-group data II

The readers of this journal are frequently confronted with statistical analysisthat includes analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). This article discusses what the authors are really telling you when they use these techniques.
Modulatory effects of hypercapnia on in vitro and in vivo pulmonary endothelial-neutrophil adhesive responses during inflammation.

Abstract Reducing tidal volume as a part of a protective ventilation strategy may result in hypercapnia. In this study, we focused on the influence of hypercapnia on endothelial–neutrophil responses in models of inflammatory-stimulated human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) and in an animal model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury. Neutrophil adhesion and adhesion molecules expression and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were analyzed in TNF-α and LPS-treated HMVEC exposed to either eucapnia or hypercapnia. In the in vivo limb, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell counts and differentials, adhesion molecule and chemokine expression were assessed in LPS-treated rabbits ventilated with either low tidal volume ventilation and eucapnia or hypercapnia. In both the in vitro and in vivo models, hypercapnia significantly increased neutrophil adhesion and adhesion molecule expression compared to eucapnia. Activity of NF-κB was significantly enhanced by hypercapnia in the in vitro experiments. IL-8 expression was greatest both in vitro and in vivo under conditions of hypercapnia and concomitant inflammation. CD11a expression was greatest in isolated human neutrophils exposed to hypercapnia + LPS. Our results demonstrate that endothelial–neutrophil responses per measurement of fundamental molecules of adhesion are significantly increased during hypercapnia and that hypercapnia mimics conditions of eucapnia + inflammation.
Adaptation of POS Tagging for Multiple BioMedical Domains

Part of Speech (POS) tagging is often a prerequisite for tasks such as partial parsing and information extraction. However, when a POS tagger is simply ported to another domain the tagger's accuracy drops. This problem can be addressed through hand annotation of a corpus in the new domain and supervised training of a new tagger. In our methodology, we use existing raw text and a generic POS annotated corpus to develop taggers for new domains without hand annotation or supervised training. We focus in particular on out-of-vocabulary words since they reduce accuracy (Lease and Charniak. 2005; Smith et al. 2005).
An improved Si(Li) detector response function

Abstract An improved Si(Li) detector response function model over the range from 5 to 60 keV has been developed. The values of the model parameters are obtained by least-squares fitting of the pulse-height spectra from a number of pure-element samples excited by 109 Cd or 241 Am sources. Simple functional forms of the separable parts of the detected X-ray pulse-height spectrum as functions of incident energy are summed to produce the generalized response function. Compared to previous work [Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A243 (1986) 121, ref. [1]] the following changes and improvements have been made: (1) the entire useful energy range of the Si(Li) detector from 5 to 60 keV is treated rather than the previous upper limit of about 20 keV, (2) a Compton-scattering continuum function from both the detector and the surrounding material has been added to account for the additional features observed with high-energy X-rays, (3) consideration of radiative Auger satellite X-ray lines has been found to account for the previously observed discrepancy in the model parameters for K α and K β X-rays, (4) the resulting generalized detector response function has a much simpler and more consistent form than the previous one, ref. [1] and (5) the new model parameters expressed as functions of energy are more consistent with physical phenomena than before and are not just fitted polynomials. Applications of the new Si(Li) detector response function are discussed.
ANATOMY OF THE NEUROVASCULAR BUNDLE: IS SAFE MOBILIZATION POSSIBLE?

Purpose: We have previously defined the anatomy of the neurovascular bundle in the normal and hypospadiac penis. Historical experience suggests that mobilization of the neurovascular bundle is anatomically possible. We attempt to prove whether mobilization of the neurovascular bundle is safe and theoretically sound. Specific questions that will be addressed are does the neurovascular bundle send perforating branches into the corporal bodies; how far lateral does the dissection need to be before nerves are injured and exactly how deep into Buck’s fascia must one go.Materials and Methods: A total of 35 normal human fetal penile specimens, gestational age 8 to 35 weeks, and 3 hypospadiac specimens, 33 to 41 weeks of gestation, were serially sectioned and stained with Mason’s trichrome and the neuronal markers PGP 9.5 or S100. Computer reconstruction using commercial software and National Institutes of Health imaging allowed 3-dimensional analysis of the nerves, corporal bodies and glans.Results: Perforating ...
Assessment of psychosexual adjustment after insertion of inflatable penile prosthesis

Objectives. To evaluate the psychosexual benefit obtained from multicomponent penile implant surgery in patients with erectile dysfunction. Methods. A psychosexual questionnaire was given to 35 patients undergoing penile prosthesis implantation before surgery and at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. The questionnaire consisted of 13 questions scored on a scale from 1 through 5. Results of the questionnaire were statistically analyzed for differences among the preoperative, 3-month postoperative, 6-month postoperative, and 1-year postoperative period. Results. The general linear model evaluation showed a significant difference for each overall combination of the following pairs: preoperative versus 3 months postoperative (P = 0.0005) and 3 months postoperative versus 6 months postoperative (P = 0.002). There was no overall difference between psychosexual total score at 6 months after surgery and 1 year after prosthesis implantation (P = 0.85). The patients perceived improvement in their erectile ability and libido. Concern about obtaining and maintaining an erection during intercourse was significantly alleviated. There was an increase in the frequency of sexual activity and an improvement in satisfaction with sex life. A decrease in feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety, anger, frustration, and embarrassment related to sexual activity was also noted. Conclusions. The current study demonstrates significant improvement in the psychosexual well being of multicomponent penile implant recipients, with attainment of a high level of patient satisfaction up to 1 year after surgery.
An improved NASA Scatterometer geophysical model function for tropical cyclones

The NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) has been used to infer ocean surface wind vectors in tropical cyclones, but these measurements have generally under-estimated the high winds. This research provides an improved relationship, between the radar backscatter and the ocean surface wind vector, known as the geophysical model function (GMF). Satellite and airborne scatterometer backscatter measurements, obtained during tropical cyclones, are used to develop a neural network based GMF. NSCAT wind retrievals in a Pacific typhoon are presented that yield higher surface wind speeds for this GMF than produced using the current NSCAT GMF (NSCATI).
Preferences for ascending and descending hierarchical organization in spatial communication

People prefer to order spatial information in a hierarchy of decreasing size of spatial unit when giving directions for finding objects and in a hierarchy of increasing size of spatial unit when providingescriptions of object locations (Plumert, Carswell, DeVet, & Ihrig, 1995). In five experiments, we examined whther people have a preference for ascending or descending organization when the task does not involve conveying spatial information to others. In Experiments 1-3, people learned the locations of objects in a model house and then verified statements describing those locations. People verified statements faster when spatial units were organized in an ascending (i.e., small to large) than in a descending (i.e., large to small) or random order. In Experiment 4, people first performed a sentence verification task and afterward wrote down directions for finding the objects. People again exhibited a preference for ascending organization in the verification task but exhibited a preference for descending organization when giving directions for finding the same objects. Experiment 5 demonstrated that the ascending advantage was not due to the link between the object and small landmark. Discussion focuses on the role of pragmatics and memory retrieval in preferences for ascending versus descending hierarchical organization.
Housing Code Enforcement as Law in Action

This document presents a description and analysis of housing codes and the enterprise of enforcing them. The origin of cases, the roles of complainants, inspectors, supervisors, and others in their processing, as well as the outcomes, are explored. Housing code enforcement produces law in action which, as with other similar enterprises, is simplified and liberal compared with the formal rules, and which contains a variety of formally arbitrary outcomes.
Distributed Dynamic Routing, Wavelength and Timeslot Assignment for Bandwidth on Demand in Agile All-Optical Networks

In emerging agile all-optical networks, the next generation time division multiplexing technique in the optical domain is implemented on top of wavelength-division multiplexing to increase channel utilization and to support dynamic bandwidth demands. However, the corresponding dynamic routing, wavelength and timeslot assignment (DRWTA) problem has not yet been well addressed with respect to appropriately handling the bandwidth available. In this paper, we use dynamic programming and take the bottom-up approach to solve the DRWTA problem with the objective of minimizing blocking probability. We consider the ring topology and apply a distributed scheme to accommodate dynamic bandwidth requests in order to enhance network survivability and to decrease the degree of coordination among nodes. The proposed dynamic programming method decreases the runtime and improves time-related performance of the network.
A 71dB SFDR open loop VCO-based ADC using 2-level PWM modulation

A highly linear calibration free VCO-based ADC uses a two-level modulator to eliminate distortion caused by tuning non-linearity of the VCO. The proposed architecture does not require a multi-level feedback DAC and eases anti-aliasing requirements. Fabricated in 90nm CMOS process, the prototype ADC achieves better than 71dB SFDR and 59.1dB SNDR in 8MHz signal bandwidth and consumes 4.3mW.
Iterative space-time processing for multiuser detection in multipath CDMA channels

Space-time processing and multiuser detection are two promising techniques for combating multipath distortion and multiple-access interference in code division multiple access (CDMA) systems. To overcome the computational burden that rises very quickly with increasing numbers of users and receive antennas in applying such techniques, iterative implementations of several space-time multiuser detection algorithms are considered here. These algorithms include iterative linear space-time multiuser detection, Cholesky iterative decorrelating decision-feedback space-time multiuser detection, multistage interference canceling space-time multiuser detection, and expectation-maximization (EM)-based iterative space-time multiuser detection. A new space-time multiuser receiver structure that allows for efficient implementation of iterative processing is also introduced. Fully exploiting various types of diversity through joint space-time processing and multiuser detection brings substantial gain over single-receiver-antenna or single-user-based methods. It is shown that iterative implementation of linear and nonlinear space-time multiuser detection schemes discussed in this paper realizes this substantial gain and approaches the optimum performance with reasonable complexity. Among the iterative space-time multiuser receivers considered in this paper, the EM-based (SAGE) iterative space-time multiuser receiver introduced here achieves the best performance with excellent convergence properties.
Making Carbon–Chlorine Bonds by Dipalladium Electrocatalysis

[(Benzo[h]quinolinyl)Pd^(II)(μ-OAc)]_2 and [(2-phenylpyridinyl)PdII(μ-OAc)]_2 undergo one-electron oxidation to afford mixed-valent (Pd^(II)–Pd^(III)) species. Electrochemical oxidation of the Pd^(II)–Pd^(II) complexes in the presence of chloride at the Pd^(III)–Pd^(II)/Pd^(II)–Pd^(II) potential results in a two-electron loss with addition of two chlorides to form [(benzo[h]quinolinyl)Pd^(III)Cl(μ-OAc)]_2 and [(2-phenylpyridinyl)Pd^(III)Cl(μ-OAc)]_2, respectively. When both excess benzo[h]quinoline and chloride are present, [(benzo[h]quinolinyl)Pd^(II)(μ-OAc)]2 electrocatalyzes the chlorination of the substrate to afford 10-chlorobenzo[h]quinoline with high chemical and Faradaic yields.
Food Items of Channel Darters (Percina copelandi) Collected from the Ohio River

ABSTRACT The food items of 13 channel darters collected from the Ohio River below the Belleville Lock and Dam, West Virginia, consisted primarily of chironomid larvae and pupae, with ostrocods as incidental. This diet differs from that previously reported for the channel darter, and may be a function of different habitats and macroinvertebrate communities, and morphological constraints of channel darters.
Restoring native understory to a woodland invaded by Euonymus fortunei: multiple factors affect success

Invasive species are capable of causing change in native plant communities, but invasion is often associated with other anthropogenic impacts on natural areas, such as habitat fragmentation and associated dispersal limitation for native species. Consequently, invasive species removal alone may not always be sufficient to meet restoration objectives. We tested if invasion and dispersal limitation interact to limit plant community restoration within a forest fragment invaded by Euonymus fortunei. Removal of Euonymus alone did not lead to the recolonization of native plant species. However, planting seedlings increased total native cover in invaded, Euonymus removal, and uninvaded control treatments. The consistent establishment of native plant seedlings across all treatments indicates that Euonymus invasion may have limited ability to displace established plants. In contrast, plant species that we added as seed were unable to establish in invaded plots, indicating that Euonymus invasion limits recruitment of native plant species from seed. Over the course of our experiment, a number of setbacks and surprises occurred, including high levels of herbivory, a windstorm, and extreme drought, all of which likely limited restoration success. Overall, our results indicate that Euonymus may contribute to native species declines, but other factors are important. Thus, invasive species removal alone may not be sufficient to reestablish a diverse native plant community. Instead, impacts on natural areas may need to be mitigated along with invasive species removal for restoration to be successful.
Dementia in the oldest old: a multi-factorial and growing public health issue

The population of oldest old, or people aged 85 and older, is growing rapidly. A better understanding of dementia in this population is thus of increasing national and global importance. In this review, we describe the major epidemiological studies, prevalence, clinical presentation, neuropathological and imaging features, risk factors, and treatment of dementia in the oldest old. Prevalence estimates for dementia among those aged 85+ ranges from 18 to 38%. The most common clinical syndromes are Alzheimer's dementia, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia from multiple etiologies. The rate of progression appears to be slower than in the younger old. Single neuropathological entities such as Alzheimer's dementia and Lewy body pathology appear to have declining relevance to cognitive decline, while mixed pathology with Alzheimer's disease, vascular disease (especially cortical microinfarcts), and hippocampal sclerosis appear to have increasing relevance. Neuroimaging data are sparse. Risk factors for dementia in the oldest old include a low level of education, poor mid-life general health, low level of physical activity, depression, and delirium, whereas apolipoprotein E genotype, late-life hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and elevated peripheral inflammatory markers appear to have less relevance. Treatment approaches require further study, but the oldest old may be more prone to negative side effects compared with younger patients and targeted therapies may be less efficacious since single pathologies are less frequent. We also highlight the limitations and challenges of research in this area, including the difficulty of defining functional decline, a necessary component for a dementia diagnosis, the lack of normative neuropsychological data, and other shortcomings inherent in existing diagnostic criteria. In summary, our understanding of dementia in the oldest old has advanced dramatically in recent years, but more research is needed, particularly among varied racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, and with respect to biomarkers such as neuroimaging, modifiable risk factors, and therapy.
Association between inflammatory airway disease of horses and exposure to respiratory viruses: a case control study.

Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) in horses, similar to asthma in humans, is a common cause of chronic poor respiratory health and exercise intolerance due to airway inflammation and exaggerated airway constrictive responses. Human rhinovirus is an important trigger for the development of asthma; a similar role for viral respiratory disease in equine IAD has not been established yet. In a case–control study, horses with IAD (n = 24) were compared to control animals from comparable stabling environments (n = 14). Horses were classified using pulmonary function testing and bronchoalveolar lavage. PCR for equine rhinitis virus A and B (ERAV, ERBV), influenza virus (EIV), and herpesviruses 2, 4, and 5 (EHV-2, EHV-4, EHV-5) was performed on nasal swab, buffy coat from whole blood, and cells from BAL fluid (BALF), and serology were performed. Categorical variables were compared between IAD and control using Fisher’s exact test; continuous variables were compared with an independent t-test. For all analyses, a value of P <0.05 was considered significant. There was a significant association between diagnosis of IAD and history of cough (P = 0.001) and exercise intolerance (P = 0.003) but not between nasal discharge and IAD. Horses with IAD were significantly more likely to have a positive titer to ERAV (68 %) vs. control horses (32 %). Horses with IAD had higher log-transformed titers to ERAV than did controls (2.28 ± 0.18 v.1.50 ± 0.25, P = 0.038). There was a significant association between nasal shedding (positive PCR) of EHV-2 and diagnosis of IAD (P = 0.002). IAD remains a persistent problem in the equine population and has strong similarities to the human disease, asthma, for which viral infection is an important trigger. The association between viral respiratory infection and development or exacerbation of IAD in this study suggests that viral infection may contribute to IAD susceptibility; there is, therefore, merit in further investigation into the relationship between respiratory virus exposure and development of IAD.
Shade responses of five grasses native to southwestern U.S. Pinus ponderosa forests

Recent increases in Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. forest density in the southwestern United States have severely reduced understory herbaceous biomass and altered understory species composition. To examine whether changes in graminoid species composition are caused by increased shading, we studied the effects of shade on leaf gas exchange, biomass, and reproductive characteristics of five grass species native to Arizona P. ponderosa forests in a greenhouse study. Blepharoneuron tricholepis (Nash) Torr., Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers., Festuca arizonica Vasey, Muhlenbergia montana(Nutt.) Hitchc., and Sitanion hystrix (Nutt.) J.G. Smith were grown under three light levels representative of photosynthetic photon flux densities and red/far-red ratios that occur beneath P. ponderosa canopies. In general, all species grew better under unshaded conditions, but all survived and flowered even under the dense shade treatment. Reduction of net assimilation rate by shading was the strongest during early reproductive shoot growth for all species except K. cristata, whose assimilation rate was unaffected by shading. Biomass allocation and reproductive responses to shading varied among species. Biomass of S. hystrix was the least affected by shading of all species, and it showed no response in biomass allocation to reproduction but increased height and weight of individual flower stalks under shade. Overall, S. hystrix and K. cristata, species that occur in dense P. ponderosa stands, were least affected by experimental shading, which suggests that shade is a contributing factor to the distribution of grass species in Arizona P. ponderosa forests.
Role of protease-activated receptor-1 in brain injury after experimental global cerebral ischemia.

Background and Purpose—Evidence suggests that the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), a thrombin receptor, mediates neuronal injury in experimental cerebral ischemia. The present study investigated whether PAR-1 plays a role in brain injury after global cerebral ischemia. Methods—Adult male wild-type or PAR-1 knockout mice underwent a 20-minute bilateral common carotid artery occlusion or a sham operation. Behavior tests were performed before ischemia and 1, 2, and 3 days after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Mice were euthanized at different time points for thrombin activity, brain edema, Western blot analysis, and brain histology. Results—Thrombin activity and PAR-1 expression were increased in the brain after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Compared with wild-type mice, PAR-1 knockout mice had less brain edema formation, neuronal death, and behavior impairment after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. In addition, bilateral common carotid artery occlusion-induced activat...
Youth Leadership Development Self-Efficacy: An Exploratory Study Involving a New Construct.

Supported by Bandura’s social cognitive theory, our study examined personal factors and environmental factors that impact adults’ ability to assist youth in developing leadership. We introduce youth leadership development self-efficacy (YLD-SE) as a new construct for use in leadership research. A 7-item scale to measure YLD-SE was developed and its psychometric properties were established through exploratory factor analysis. The study sought to investigate the YLD-SE of agricultural education teachers, determine the relationship that YLD-SE has with selected variables, and determine the predictors of YLD-SE. Participants were agricultural education teachers (N = 177) in [Midwestern state] who taught during the 2005-2006 school year. Results showed that teachers perceive they have a high level of YLD-SE, and hierarchical regression analysis revealed that transformational and laissez-faire leadership style were significant predictors of YLD-SE. The full model explained 25% of the variance in YLD-SE.
Ambient gold-catalyzed O-vinylation of cyclic 1,3-diketone: A vinyl ether synthesis

Gold-catalyzed O-vinylation of cyclic 1,3-diketones has been achieved for the first time, which provides direct access to various vinyl ethers. A catalytic amount of copper triflate was identified as the significant additive in promoting this transformation. Both aromatic and aliphatic alkynes are suitable substrates with good to excellent yields.
Avoidance of a potential tracheoinnominate fistula by innominate artery re-implantation in a four year old girl with tracheostomy dependence and Pfeiffer syndrome

A 4 year old tracheostomy dependent girl with Pfeiffer syndrome was noted on bronchoscopy to have a pulsatile tracheostomal mass. CT chest angiography was consistent with the innominate artery crossing anterior to the trachea and superior to the sternal notch. The patient underwent reimplantation of the innominate artery via a median sternotomy approach. Tracheoinnominate fistula is a potentially devastating complication of tracheostomy. We report discovery of a near tracheoinnominate fistula in order to highlight the importance of regular interval surveillance endoscopy in tracheostomy dependent children and to discuss a preventative surgical intervention employed in prevention of this potentially devastating complication.