cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On state of the art in virtual machine security

Data centers and computing service providers are striving to improve the utilization of their computing resources. This is primarily due to the need of resources to be more economical and power efficient. Virtualization is one of the concepts that provide flexibility to host multiple operating system stacks on a single hardware. By effectively partitioning the computing resources, it reduces the total number of physical servers and consolidates several services on a single physical rack. Each virtual machine behaves like an independent machine (may be duplicate of the original one) while the scheduling of hardware resources among different virtual machines is performed with the help of a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM). Proliferation of virtual machines in the enterprise architecture creates need for identification of potential security risks as well as appropriate solutions for the identified risks to ensure the integrity of the underlying applications hosted at the virtual machines. This paper describes available virtualization technologies, corresponding security vulnerabilities, and available solutions.
Predicting the Effect of Moisture on Vapor-Phase Sorption of Volatile Organic Compounds to Soils

Sorption from the vapor phase is an important factor controlling the transport of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the unsaturated zone. Accurate description of sorption from the vapor phase to soil in the unsaturated zone therefore is intrinsic to predicting the ultimate fate of contaminants. Vapor-phase sorption of several VOCs onto seven soils at oven-dried, air-dried, typical field moisture and water-saturated conditions was measured using a batch-equilibrium headspace method. An equilibrium partitioning model was developed to predict the effect of soil moisture content on vapor-phase sorption. The model was based on the soil pore-size distribution and BET isotherm sorption parameters under oven-dried and water-saturated conditions. The model was shown to accurately predict observed experimental results.
Eye stabilization for receptive field mapping without systemic paralysis.

Abstract A method is described for primates which produces ocular stability but does not abolish withdrawal reflexes. Retrobulbar injections of neuromuscular blocking agents reduce residual eye movements to less than 1 min-arc/min, comparable to that obtained with systemic paralysis. The paralysis is readily reversed with paralytic antidotes. The properties of neurons recorded in the optic tract are unaffected by the intraorbital anticholinergics.
A developmental complex including supravalvular stenosis of the aorta and pulmonary trunk.

A developmental complex is described characterized by (1) supravalvular stenosis of the aorta and pulmonary trunk, (2) dysplasia of valves and (3) stenosis of ostia of coronary arteries and branches of the aortic arch. From the four cases described, it is evident that not all of the features of the complex need be present in a given case and, when present, some lesions are not of functional significance. The variations underly the potential for differences in the hemodynamic states of affected subjects.
Analyzing impact of multiple ABB and AVS domains on throughput of power and thermal-constrained multi-core processors

Recently, semiconductor industries have integrated more cores in a single die, which substantially improves the throughput of the processors running highly-parallel applications. However, many existing applications do not have high enough parallelism to exploit multiple cores in a die, slowing the transition to many-core processors with smaller and more cores that benefit future applications with high parallelism. In this paper, we analyze the impact of multiple adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) and adaptive body biasing (ABB) domains on the throughput of power and thermal-constrained multi-core processors when they are combined with per-core power-gating (PCPG). Both AVS and ABB can be effectively used to either increase frequency (thus throughput) or decrease power consumption of the processors. Meanwhile, PCPG can provide extra power and thermal headroom when application's parallelism is limited. First, we analyze the throughput impact of applying AVS, ABB, and PCPG for power and thermal constrained multi-core processors. Second, we investigate the impact of multiple AVS and ABB domains on the throughput, and recommend the most cost-effective number of domains for AVS and ABB in 16 and 8-core processors. Our analysis using the 32nm predictive technology model considering within-die variations suggests that the most cost-effective number of domains for AVS and/or ABB should be one for each when they are combined with PCPG in both 16 and 8-core processors. Since within-die core-to-core variations provide many choices in terms of core frequency and power consumption for limited-parallelism applications, one AVS or ABB domain can leads to the throughput improvement by 1.77~2.49x; more than one AVS and/or ABB domains only improve the throughput marginally.
Temperature-sensitive mutants of influenza A virus. XI. Transfer of ts lesions in the Hong Kong/68-ts-1 [a] virus to the influenza A/Udorn/72 wild type.

The presence of the temperature-sensitive (ts) lesions of complementation-recombination groups 1 and 5 in the Hong Kong/68-ts-l[A] virus was confirmed by genetic analysis of ts recombinants of the Hong Kong/68-ts-l[A] virus and a Udorn/72 wildtype virus. Three classes of Udorn/72-ts recombinants were found. One class possessed both ts genes of the Hong Kong/68-ts-l[A] parent, a second class possessed the ts lesion characteristic of group 1, and a third class possessed the ts lesion of group 5. The Hong Kong/68-ts-l[A] parent and the Udorn/72-ts recombinants exhibited a 10,000-fold or greater restriction of replication in the lungs of hamsters than did the homologous wild-type virus. All isolates from the lungs and nasal turbinates of recipients of two of the four Udorn/72-ts-l[A] recombinants contained only ts virus. These two properties, restricted replication and genetic stability after replication in vivo, suggest that the Udorn/72-is-l[A] recombinants should be considered for evaluation as vaccines for use in humans.
The continuum sensitivity method for the computational design of three-dimensional deformation processes

Although simulation of metal forming processes using modern computational tools has reached an advanced stage, there is still a great need to develop computational techniques for process design. In this work, the continuum sensitivity method (CSM) is extended to three-dimensions (3D) to accurately compute sensitivity fields and in particular changes in the design objectives as a result of infinitesimal perturbations to the design parameters. CSM involves differentiation of the governing field equations of the direct problem (constitutive, contact and kinematic problems) with respect to the design variables and development of the weak forms for the corresponding sensitivity equations. The present 3D developments include a novel regularized approach to the contact sensitivity problem that addresses the non-differentiability of the contact constraints. The computed sensitivity fields are used in a gradient-based optimization framework for process design (optimization) in 3D metal forming applications. A typical design problem at each optimization iteration involves simultaneous solution of a direct problem and a number of sensitivity problems corresponding to each of the design variables. Relevant 3D design problems related to preform and die design for desired properties in the final product are considered highlighting the features and potential of the metal forming design simulator developed.
Extraction of newly immobilized 15n from an illinois mollisol using aqueous phenol

Abstract Studies were conducted on an 15N-enriched Illinois Mollisol (Flanagan silt loam) to determine the extractability of newly immobilized N with aqueous phenol (45%, v/v). In comparison to mild extradants proposed as indexes of plant available N (i.e. 10 mw NaHCO3 and hot 10 m m CaCl2), phenol showed the highest selectivity for the immobilized N, both with regard to the amount of biomass N extracted and the magnitude of the extractability ratio (ER). Aqueous phenol was also more selective in removing the immobilized N than reagents used for extraction of soil organic matter (i.e. 150 m m Na4P2O7 and 100 m m KOH). Results with soils incubated for up to 120 days showed that the amount of 15N extracted with aqueous phenol fluctuated with time and was related to changes in the soil microbial population, e.g. ER was highest when the bacterial population was maximal. Aqueous phenol shows promise as a selective extradant of potentially-available (labile) organic N in soils.
Signs of coupling constants in fluorinated cyclobutenes

Abstract The signs of all the fluorine-fluorine and hydrogen-fluorine coupling constants have been determined by homonuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spin tickling experiments in 1-ethoxy-2-chlorotetrafluorocyclobutene (II), 1,4-dichloro-3,3,4-trifluorocyclobutene (III), 3-chloro-3,4,4-trifluorocyclobutene (IV), 3-iodo3,4,4-trifluorocyclobutene (V), 1,4,4-trifluorocyclobutene (VII), 1-chloropentafluorocyclobutene (IX) and 1,2,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobuten-3-one ethylene ketal (X). Chemical shift calculations on III, IV, and V using electric field theory show that the cis vicinal JFF is negative and the trans JFF is positive in the CFX-CF2 fragment of the cyclobutene ring, for X = CI and X = I. Vicinal JFF across saturated bonds are negative in III and IV and positive in VII relative to the cross ring coupling. The vicinal and cross ring JFF between the vinylic and allylic fluorines is positive, and the cis coupling between the vinylic fluorines is negative in these cyclobutenes.
Strand breakage and decreased molecular weight of DNA induced by specific metal compounds

The effect of various metal compounds on the DNA of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was studied. Both NiCl2 and crystalline NiS caused DNA strand breaks in cultured CHO cells, whereas amorphous NiS did not. Strand breaks were quantitated by determining the number of average molecular weight of DNA following treatment with the metal compounds. Exposure of cells to crystalline NiS, CoS, CdS, AgS, CuS and Ni3S2 at 10 micrograms/ml for 24 h also induced DNA strand breaks. Similar exposure to activated charcoal, which was also actively phagocytosed, failed to cause any effect on the DNA of CHO cells. In the case of NiCl2 and NiS the effect was shown to be both time and dose dependent. Other soluble metal compounds such as HgCl2, CaCrO4, and CdCl2 also decreased the molecular weight of DNA while MnCl2, ZnCl2 and FeCl2 caused no significantly detectable change in DNA molecular weight. These effects, which occur at low metal concentrations suggest that nickel and other metals which cause cellular transformation have a very selective and specific effect upon DNA.
On soil moisture–vegetation feedbacks and their possible effects on the dynamics of dryland ecosystems

[1] Soil moisture is the environmental variable synthesizing the effect of climate, soil, and vegetation on the dynamics of water-limited ecosystems. Unlike abiotic factors (e.g., soil texture and rainfall regime), the control exerted by vegetation composition and structure on soil moisture variability remains poorly understood. A number of field studies in dryland landscapes have found higher soil water contents in vegetated soil patches than in adjacent bare soil, providing a convincing explanation for the observed preferential establishment of grasses and seedlings beneath tree canopies. Thus, because water is the limiting factor for vegetation in arid and semiarid ecosystems, a positive feedback could exist between soil moisture and woody vegetation dynamics. It is still unclear how the strength of such a feedback would change under different long-term rainfall regimes. To this end, we report some field observations from savanna ecosystems located along the south-north rainfall gradient in the Kalahari, where the presence of relatively uniform sandy soils limits the effects of covarying factors. The data available from our field study suggest that the contrast between the soil moisture in the canopy and intercanopy space increases (with wetter soils under the canopy) with increasing levels of aridity. We hypothesize that this contrast may lead to a positive feedback and explore the implications of such a feedback in a minimalistic model. We found that when the feedback is relatively strong, the system may exhibit two stable states corresponding to conditions with and without tree canopy cover. In this case, even small changes in environmental variables may lead to rapid and largely irreversible shifts to a state with no tree canopy cover. Our data suggest that the tendency of the system to exhibit two (alternative) stable states becomes stronger in the more arid regions. Thus, at the desert margins, vegetation is more likely to be prone to discontinuous and abrupt state changes.
Motor neuron disease due to neuropathy target esterase mutation: Enzyme analysis of fibroblasts from human subjects yields insights into pathogenesis

Recently, we identified neuropathy target esterase (NTE) mutation as the cause of an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease (NTE-MND). Subsequently, we showed that NTE-MND mutations reduced specific activity (SA) and altered inhibitory kinetics of NTE catalytic domain constructs. Recent preliminary results showed that NTE is expressed in cultured human skin fibroblasts, and others have used mutant forms of neuronal proteins expressed in fibroblasts as biomarkers of neurogenetic diseases. Therefore, the present study was carried out to test the hypothesis that NTE in cultured skin fibroblasts from NTE-MND subjects also exhibit altered enzymological properties assessed by SA and IC(50) values of mipafox (MIP) and chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO). NTE SA was reduced to 65% of control (wild-type NTE from commercially obtained fibroblasts) in homozygous M1012V fibroblasts and 59-61% of control in compound heterozygous R890H/c2946_2947InsCAGC fibroblasts. MIP IC(50) values were unaffected by the NTE mutations, but the CPO IC(50) increased 4.5-fold in homozygous M1012V fibroblasts. Interestingly, markedly reduced NTE SAs (40-43% of control) were observed in fibroblasts from asymptomatic subjects heterozygous for NTE insertion c2946_2947InsCAGC. This insertion is predicted to produce truncated NTE missing the last 235 residues of its catalytic domain. These observations confirm that NTE-MND mutations reduce NTE SA in vitro. Moreover, to the extent observations made in cultured fibroblasts may be generalized to events in the nervous system, lack of correlation between reduced fibroblast NTE SA and the occurrence of NTE-MND in NTE insertion mutation heterozygotes indicates that reduction of NTE SA alone is insufficient to cause MND.
Tachycardia induced reduction in coronary blood flow distal to a stenosis

Clinical and experimental data indicate that some coronary stenoses can rapidly change shape thereby influencing the hemodynamic severity of the stenosis. In 7 closed chest dogs, we examined the effects of distal coronary arteriolar vasomotor tone and myocardial oxygen demands on a coronary stenosis created by partial intraluminal occlusion, using a small balloon catheter. Myocardial blood flow (ml/g per min) was measured with 15-microns radioactive microspheres. Stenotic resistance was calculated as the mean pressure gradient across the stenosis divided by the mean blood flow through the stenosis. The mean pressure gradient was calculated as the ascending aortic pressure minus the left anterior descending coronary artery pressure distal to the stenosis. Coronary arteriolar vasodilation induced by pacing (170 beats/min) increased stenotic resistance (1.64 +/- 0.27 to 26.48 +/- 13.77 mmHg/ml per min, P less than 0.05) and decreased myocardial blood flow (endocardial 0.42 +/- 0.04 to 0.17 +/- 0.04, P less than 0.05, midcardial 0.35 +/- 0.03 to 0.13 +/- 0.04, P less than 0.05; epicardial 0.22 +/- 0.05 to 0.15 +/- 0.05). Five dogs fibrillated within 10 min of continuous tachycardia and partial arterial occlusion. The change in arteriolar vasomotor tone and decreased aortic pressure induced by pacing altered the severity of the stenosis and resulted in a reduction of blood flow to the myocardium.
The interaction of methanol with modified Ru(001) surfaces: The effects of oxygen and potassium

Abstract The adsorption and decomposition of methanol on a Ru(001) surface modified by preadsorbed potassium and oxygen has been investigated with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and multiple mass thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). On ruthenium precovered with a low coverage of atomic oxygen ( θ o = 0.25), methoxy formation is promoted with respect to the clean surface and is found to occur at 85 K. In contrast, on ruthenium modified by “ionic” potassium ( θ K = 0.10), methoxy formation is inhibited, i.e., oxygen-hydrogen bond breaking does not occur until temperatures reach 240 K. On both surfaces, the decomposition of methanol proceeds via O-H and C-H bond breaking and ultimately leads to the formation of CO and H 2 . The results differ from those obtained on the clean Ru(001) surface, where methoxy formation is observed at 85 K only when exposed to small amounts of methanol, and where a significant C-O bond-breaking decomposition channel leading to the formation of water and surface carbon is also present. The differences in methanol reactivities on these low-coverage potassium- and oxygen-modified surfaces can be attributed largely to electronic modifications of the metal substrate. At higher coverages of the surface additives, a different behavior is encountered. Oxygen at θ O = 0.60 completely inhibits the formation of methoxy due to physical site blocking, while metallic potassiu, ( θ K = 0.33) reacts directly with methanol to form potassium methoxide.
IgE binding to peanut allergens is inhibited by combined d-aspartic and d-glutamic acids

The objective of this study was to determine if D-amino acids (D-aas) bind and inhibit immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding to peanut allergens. D-aas such as D-Asp (aspartic acid), D-Glu (glutamic acid), combined D-[Asp/Glu] and others were each prepared in a cocktail of 9 other D-aas, along with L-amino acids (L-aas) and controls. Each sample was mixed with a pooled plasma from peanut-allergic donors, and tested by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and Western blots for IgE binding to peanut allergens. Results showed that D-[Asp/Glu] (4 mg/ml) inhibited IgE binding (75%) while D-Glu, D-Asp and other D-aas had no inhibitory effect. A higher inhibition was seen with D-[Asp/Glu] than with L-[Asp/Glu]. We concluded that IgE was specific for D-[Asp/Glu], not D-Asp or D-Glu, and that D-[Asp/Glu] was more reactive than was L-[Asp/Glu] in IgE inhibition. The finding indicates that D-[Asp/Glu] may have the potential for removing IgE or reducing IgE binding to peanut allergens in vitro.
Unified description of kaon electroweak form factors

A calculation of the semileptonic decays of the kaon (K{sub l3}) is presented. The results are direct predictions of a covariant model of the pion and kaon introduced earlier by Ito, Buck, Gross. The weak form factors for K{sub l3} are predicted with absolutely no parameter adjustments of the model. The authors obtained for the form factor parameters: f{sub {minus}}(q{sup 2}=m{sub l}{sup 2})/f{sub +}(q{sup 2}=m{sub l}{sup 2})={minus}0.28 and {lambda}{sub +}= 0.028, both within experimental error bars. Connections of this approach to heavy quark symmetry will also be discussed.
Computer support for distributed collaborative writing: defining parameters of interaction

This paper reports research to define a set of interaction parameters that collaborative writers will find useful. Our approach is to provide parameters of interaction and to locate the decision of how to set the parameters with the users. What is new in this paper is the progress we have made outlining task management parameters, notification, scenarios of use, as well as some implementation architectures.
Theories of false memory in children and adults

Abstract Much attention has recently been paid to false-memory effects in children and adults. Attention initially focused on the effects themselves. Most observers now agree that false-memory effects are robust and replicable, although they are subject to constraints (e.g., Lindsay 1990; Reyna & Titcomb 1997; Zaragoza & Lane 1994; Zaragoza, Lane, Ackil & Chambers 1997). Using noncoercive procedures, it is possible to induce people to falsely remember witnessing events that they never experienced (e.g., that they saw a yield sign, rather than a stop sign; Loftus 1979; Loftus, Miller & Burns 1978). Currently, researchers are beginning to examine the origins of such effects: How are false memories created, and what can be done to minimize them? It has become apparent that the key questions of prediction and prevention must be addressed through theory development, i.e., by deepening our understanding of false-memory phenomena. In this article, we explore contemporary explanations for false-memory effects in children and adults, including constructivism, source monitoring, and fuzzy-trace theory. Our discussion is divided into four sections. In the first section, we briefly review the assumptions underlying different theoretical approaches. In the second section, various false-memory effects are described, and their interactions with age, delay, and type of questioning. Laboratory demonstrations of false memories are supplemented by real-life examples from clinical medicine. Then, we examine how each of these effects is explained from different theoretical perspectives. Finally, we take stock of the available evidence favoring different explanations for false-memory effects, and discuss the implications of that evidence for subsequent theorizing and for improving memory performance.
Application of the small‐angle cleavage technique to thickness measurement of TEM samples

In modelling transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images with the dynamical theory of electron diffraction, the sample thickness at the region of interest must be accurately known. A technique of sample preparation for cross-sectional single-crystal samples has been developed to provide this information. This technique, based on the small-angle cleavage technique, can allow a direct measurement of the sample thickness at the region where cross-sectional TEM analysis has been undertaken. Several cross-sectional samples of GaAs-based multiple quantum wells were prepared with parallel cleaved faces and thicknesses in the range of 50 to 200 nm. The samples were initially mounted so that cross-sectional images were obtained, then on suitable samples the mount was adjusted to obtain a plan view image of the same area. With suitable care, this technique provided an accurate thickness measurement of a cross-sectional region of a sample, which allowed subsequent modelling and analysis. Microsc. Res. Tech. 36:372–377, 1997. Published 1997 by Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cholesterol Distribution in the Golgi Complex of DITNC1 Astrocytes Is Differentially Altered by Fresh and Aged Amyloid β-Peptide-(1–42)

The Golgi complex plays an important role in cholesterol trafficking in cells, and amyloid beta-peptides (Abetas) alter cholesterol trafficking. The hypothesis was tested that fresh and aged Abeta-(1-42) would differentially modify Golgi cholesterol content in DINTC1 astrocytes and that the effects of Abeta-(1-42) would be associated with the region of the Golgi complex. Two different methods were used to determine the effects of Abeta-(1-42) on Golgi complex cholesterol. Confocal microscopy showed that fresh Abeta-(1-42) significantly increased cholesterol and that aged Abeta-(1-42) significantly reduced cholesterol content in the Golgi complex. Isolation of the Golgi complex into two fractions using density gradient centrifugation showed effects of aged Abeta-(1-42) similar to those observed with confocal microscopy but revealed the novel finding that fresh Abeta-(1-42) had opposite effects on the two Golgi fractions suggesting a specificity of Abeta-(1-42) perturbation of the Golgi complex. Phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase D activity, cell membrane cholesterol, and apolipoprotein E levels were associated with effects of fresh Abeta-(1-42) on cholesterol distribution but not with effects of aged Abeta-(1-42), arguing against a common mechanism. Extracellular Abeta-(1-42) targets the Golgi complex and disrupts cell cholesterol homeostasis, and this action of Abeta-(1-42) could alter cell functions requiring optimal levels of cholesterol.
Mouse subcutaneous chamber model for in vivo growth of Haemophilus ducreyi

The ability of Haemophilus ducreyi, the causative agent of chancroid, to grow in subcutaneous chambers implanted in mice was studied. All seven H. ducreyi strains tested were able to maintain a long-term infection in ICR mice; one mouse remained infected with strain Hd175 for more than 4 months. Growth curves obtained following the removal of chamber fluid at various time points from infected mice demonstrated that H. ducreyi was growing during the course of the infection. In addition, all three mouse strains tested (ICR, CBA and BALB/c) were able to maintain long-term H. ducreyi infections. This model will be valuable in studying the effects of in vivo growth on the antigenic composition of H. ducreyi as well as for the identification of virulence factors.
Emergency Department Visits for Home Medical Device Failure during the 2003 North America Blackout

Objectives During a widespread North American blackout in August 2003, the authors identified a cluster of patients presenting to their northern Manhattan emergency department (ED) with complaints related to medical device failure. The characteristics of this group with respect to presenting complaint, type of device failure, time spent in the ED, and disposition are described in an effort to better understand the resource needs of this population. Methods This was a retrospective chart review for all patients evaluated in an urban teaching ED during a 24-hour period spanning the duration of regional power failure. Charts for patients presenting with medical device failure as part of their triage complaint were abstracted. Results Twenty-three of 255 patients coming to the ED during the 24-hour period presented with medical device failure. Nineteen of the device failures were due to nonfunctioning oxygen conservers, three to ventilator failure, and two to airway suction device failure (one patient had two devices fail). Thirteen of these patients were admitted to the hospital and accounted for 22% of all admissions during the study interval. Discharged patients spent a mean of 15.1 hours (range: 3.8-24.4 hours) in the ED. Conclusions Patients using electrical medical devices seek care in the ED when power failure occurs, and they require significant ED and hospital resources. Effective disaster planning should anticipate the needs of this population.
Inactivation of the Myocyte Enhancer Factor-2 Repressor Histone Deacetylase-5 by Endogenous Ca2//Calmodulin-dependent Kinase II Promotes Depolarization-mediated Cerebellar Granule Neuron Survival

Cerebellar granule neuron (CGN) survival depends on activity of the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcription factors. Neuronal MEF2 activity is regulated by depolarization via a mechanism that is presently unclear. Here, we show that depolarization-mediated MEF2 activity and CGN survival are compromised by overexpression of the MEF2 repressor histone deacetylase-5 (HDAC5). Furthermore, removal of depolarization induced rapid cytoplasm-to-nuclear translocation of endogenous HDAC5. This effect was mimicked by addition of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) inhibitor KN93 to depolarizing medium. Removal of depolarization or KN93 addition resulted in dephosphorylation of HDAC5 and its co-precipitation with MEF2D. HDAC5 nuclear translocation triggered by KN93 induced a marked loss of MEF2 activity and subsequent apoptosis. To selectively decrease CaMKII, CGNs were incubated with an antisense oligonucleotide to CaMKIIalpha. This antisense decreased CaMKIIalpha expression and induced nuclear shuttling of HDAC5 in CGNs maintained in depolarizing medium. Selectivity of the CaMKIIalpha antisense was demonstrated by its lack of effect on CaMKIV-mediated CREB phosphorylation. Finally, antisense to CaMKIIalpha induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis, whereas a missense control oligonucleotide had no effect on CGN survival. These results indicate that depolarization-mediated calcium influx acts through CaMKII to inhibit HDAC5, thereby sustaining high MEF2 activity in CGNs maintained under depolarizing conditions.
Dynamics beyond the adiabatic approximation

Abstract We explore the dynamics of mixed classical-quantum Hamiltonians, a class of systems that frequently appears in the study of physical systems characterized by both slow and fast modes. Traditionally such systems are studied within the adiabatic approximation and as a rule they display level crossings. We show that level crossings can have peculiar effects on the dynamics and, in the regime between the adiabatic and diabatic limits in both classical and quantum approaches, the full dynamics has a series of non-intuitive features.
Effects of halothane and isoflurane on antigen- and leukotriene-D4-induced constriction of guinea pig trachea

We investigated the mechanism of the action of volatile anesthetics on the airway smooth muscle constricted by an antigen and leukotriene-D4 (LTD4). Excised tracheal rings from ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs were suspended in eight tissue baths. Halothane or isoflurane was aerated into four tissue baths, while the remaining four served as time controls. To assess the antispasmogenic activity of halothane and isoflurane, concentration-response curves for antigen and LTD, were constructed exposed to anesthetics and compared to controls. The spasmolytic activity of halothane and isoflurane was measured in the tracheal rings constricted by a single antigen challenge or by EC50 of LTD. Both halothane and isoflurane produced significant rightward shifts of ovalbumin and LTD, concentration-response curve with corresponding increases in the EC50 values. Halothane increased the EC50 value for LTD, from 5.38 +/- 0.43 x 10-9 M to 1.2 +/- 0.18 x 10-8 M, and for ovalbumin from 1.2 +/- 0.06 x 10-4 mg/ml to 3.03 +/- 0.28 x 10-4 mg/ml. Isoflurane increased the EC50 value for LTD, from 5.17 +/- 0.64 x 10-9 M to 8.98 +/- 1.01 x 10-9 M, and for ovalbumin from 1.21 +/- 0.09 x 10-4 mg/ml to 2.61 +/- 0.19 x 10-4 mg/ml. Furthermore, halothane and isoflurane significantly reduced the magnitude of the antigen-and LTD4-induced constriction. In 30 min intervals, 1% and 2% halothane reduced the magnitude of the ovalbumin-induced constriction by 32% and 50%, respectively, while isoflurane (2% and 4%) caused relaxation of 16% and 35%, respectively. The magnitude of LTD4-induced constriction was reduced by 17% and 24%, with 1% and 2% halothane, respectively. Isoflurane (2% and 4%) reduced this constriction by 25% and 25% respectively. In conclusion, halothane and isoflurane attenuate and prevent the constrictive response of airway smooth muscle to allergen and LTD. A direct, nonspecific dilating effect is suggested as the mechanism responsible for the observed effects.
Emotional Schemas and Resistance to Change in Anxiety Disorders.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment for all anxiety disorders involves exposure to feared situations and feared emotions. Dropout from therapy is a continued problem for final treatment effectiveness. A meta-emotional model of fear of negative emotions (and anxious sensations and thoughts) is advanced that can be used as a transdiagnostic treatment model for anxiety disorders. According to this model, anxious individuals hold theories of anxiety that interfere with effective treatment. Specific treatment recommendations are developed from this model to counter roadblocks in cognitive-behavioral therapy of the various anxiety disorders.
Validated band model for the NO fundamental.

A previously reported transmission model for the 5.3-μm band of NO, whose defining parameters had been developed with line-by-line calculated spectra, is now presented in validated and upgraded form through the use of measured transmittance data. The model consists of a double-exponential function, which approximates homogeneous-path transmittance at 5-cm−1 intervals with a sepctral resolution of 20 cm−1. The use of the proposed model parameters in transmittance calculations yielded an average standard deviation of 0.28% and an overall maximum deviation of 1.48% from the measured transmittance data. This compares favorably with the results obtained with the use of the previous parameters to predict the measurements, which resulted in an average deviation of 1.05% and overall maximum transmittance deviation of 4.94%.
Electrooxidation of methanol and formic acid on PtCu nanoparticles

Abstract Improving the catalytic activity of the anode catalyst is an important task in direct methanol and formic acid fuel cell development. In the present work, catalytic activity of shape-controlled PtCu nanoparticles toward methanol and formic acid oxidation was investigated. The results show that the addition of Cu to Pt increases the catalytic activity of both reactions. In addition, the shape of PtCu nanoparticles plays an important role on improving the reactivity of both reactions. Cubic PtCu nanoparticles are more active for methanol oxidation while spheres are better for formic acid oxidation. The present study demonstrates controlling shape of Pt alloy catalysts is an effective way of improving catalytic activity. Likely mechanisms of the activity enhancement are briefly discussed.
Multiple-Pathway Analysis of Double-Strand Break Repair Mutations in Drosophila

The analysis of double-strand break (DSB) repair is complicated by the existence of several pathways utilizing a large number of genes. Moreover, many of these genes have been shown to have multiple roles in DSB repair. To address this complexity we used a repair reporter construct designed to measure multiple repair outcomes simultaneously. This approach provides estimates of the relative usage of several DSB repair pathways in the premeiotic male germline of Drosophila. We applied this system to mutations at each of 11 repair loci plus various double mutants and altered dosage genotypes. Most of the mutants were found to suppress one of the pathways with a compensating increase in one or more of the others. Perhaps surprisingly, none of the single mutants suppressed more than one pathway, but they varied widely in how the suppression was compensated. We found several cases in which two or more loci were similar in which pathway was suppressed while differing in how this suppression was compensated. Taken as a whole, the data suggest that the choice of which repair pathway is used for a given DSB occurs by a two-stage “decision circuit” in which the DSB is first placed into one of two pools from which a specific pathway is then selected.
Fluoride Fibers For Remote Chemical Sensing

Fluoride glass optical waveguides (ZBLAN) were coupled to a Fourier Transform Infrared Analyzer (FTIR) to execute remote IR chemical sensing. These fibers were used passively for only signal transmission, and the sensing was accomplished by direct or evanescent absorption of the fundamental modes corresponding to the desired chemical species. Due to the poor chemical and physical durability of fluoride glass, a crystal optrode (ZnSe) was used for evanescent wave absorption to isolate the fibers from the sensing environment. Several different types of chemical mixtures were studied to show the flexibility and limitations of such a system: 1) methane gas concentration in nitrogen using the C-H absorption at 3.31 um, 2) alcohol concentration in water using the C-H absorption at 3.36 um, and 3) water concentration in 1,4 dioxane using the 0-H fundamental stretching mode at 2.9 um. The last mixture proved to be the most difficult to analyze due to the low transmission of the fluoride fiber system in the 2.9 um region.
Transportation choices and air pollution effects of telework

Telework has emerged as a possible solution to transportation-related air pollution problems. This paper analyzes, both deterministically and probabilistically, a California-based 1-day telework scenario, and explores how the mode of transportation and other parameters such as vehicle miles traveled, vehicle model, occupancy rate, telecommuting frequency, and season (heating or cooling) affect the air pollution effects of telework programs when energy consumption-related emissions due to heating, cooling, lighting, and the use of electronic and electrical equipment (in the home and company office) are accounted for. Among others, the study found that total telework-related CO2 emissions during the cooling season and SO2, NOX, and hydrocarbon emissions in both seasons appear to be lower than nontelework emissions for all modes of transportation (except for light rail with higher NOX emissions and urban transit buses with roughly equal NOX emissions in the heating season). Light rail also has higher telework N2O and CH4 emissions. However, given the uncertainties in the data, the differences may be negligible. Urban transit buses and commuter express buses were found to be associated with more telework than nontelework CO emissions in both seasons. For these two modes, telework PM10 emissions are higher in the cooling and about the same in the heating season than nontelework emissions. Natural gas-powered ferries have more telework PM10 emissions than nontelework emissions. The study also found that for low-frequency telework programs energy use impacts could overturn transportation-related emission reductions independent of the mode of transportation used. Avoiding more polluting modes of transportation, increasing occupancy rates, substituting longer commutes and especially increasing telecommuting frequency could counteract these negative effects.
Squamous cell cancers and cigarette smoke: a matter of exposure

Most of the malignancies associated with tobacco smoke are squamous cell cancers. Others have suggested that squamous cell epithelium has a particular predisposition to tobacco carcinogenesis. However, other malignancies besides squamous cell cancers also have been associated with cigarettes. I hypothesize that the key factor which predisposes an organ or tissue to carcinogenesis by cigarette smoke is exposure to smoke constituents, either directly or indirectly. Squamous cell epithelium has no special biological susceptibility to these carcinogens.
Mesolimbicocortical dopamine terminal fields are necessary for normal locomotor and investigatory exploration in rats

Summary Rats explore a novel open field or novel object less after denervation of mesolimbicocortical dopaminergic terminal fields produced by bilateral 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA) microinjections into the anterolateral hypothalamus after pretreatment with desmethylimipramine (DMI). These behavioral deficits were correlated with complete or nearly complete loss of fluorescent dopaminergic (DA) terminals in the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral septal nucleus and the deep layers of the frontal and piriform cortices. There were also fewer A10, medial A9, and A8 DA fluorescent cells after the 6-OHDA-DMI injections; this suggests retrograde degeneration of the cells of origin of the mesolimbicocortical DA system. When the DMI pretreatment was omitted, identical bilateral 6-OHDA microinjections also produced severe loss of norepinephrine (NE) fibers in the neocortex, hippocampus, lateral hypothalamus and ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The addition of this noradrenergic damage did not change the exploratory deficits observed after mesolimbicocortical DA denervation alone. Systemic administration of the DA agonist apomorphine, but not the adrenergic agonist clonidine, to the 6-OHDA-DMI rats repaired the deficits in exploration of a novel open field or novel object. The increased locomotion in a novel open field and investigation of a novel object produced by apomorphine in 6-OHDA-DMI rats were blocked by the DA antagonist, pimozide. This is evidence that apomorphine restored exploratory responses by stimulating dopaminergic receptors. The exploratory responses produced by apomorphine were also blocked by testing rats in a familiar open field or with a familiar novel object. This is evidence that apomorphine facilitates exploratory responding to novel stimuli by 6-OHDA-DMI rats, but that the same dose of apomorphine does not increase activity when 6-OHDA-DMI rats are confronted by familiar stimuli. We conclude: (1) that mesolimbicocortical dopaminergic terminals are necessary for normal exploratory behavior in rats; and (2) that DA released by these terminals may facilitate optimal sensorimotor integration in these terminal fields during spontaneous exploratory behavior.
A discourse-based approach to the assessment of readability

Assessing the readability of texts is an important task for many administrative and educational programs. However, current readability measures have serious empirical and theoretical flaws that make their use questionable. In this paper we propose two methods of assessing readability that involve analyzing the referential and cohesive structures of a text. We suggest that such measures are theoretically better motivated and, through reconsideration of some anomalous performance results from Duffy & Kabance (1982), that they promise to be more adequate in predicting actual reading performance.
Subspace-based Inverse Uncertainty Quantification for Nuclear Data Assessment

Safety analysis and design optimization depend on the accurate prediction of various reactor attributes. Predictions can be enhanced by reducing the uncertainty associated with the attributes of interest. An inverse problem can be defined and solved to assess the sources of uncertainty, and experimental effort can be subsequently directed to further improve the uncertainty associated with these sources. In this work a subspace-based algorithm for inverse sensitivity/uncertainty quantification (IS/UQ) has been developed to enable analysts account for all sources of nuclear data uncertainties in support of target accuracy assessment-type analysis. An approximate analytical solution of the optimization problem is used to guide the search for the dominant uncertainty subspace. By limiting the search to a subspace, the degrees of freedom available for the optimization search are significantly reduced. A quarter PWR fuel assembly is modeled and the accuracy of the multiplication factor and the fission reaction rate are used as reactor attributes whose uncertainties are to be reduced. Numerical experiments are used to demonstrate the computational efficiency of the proposed algorithm. Our ongoing work is focusing on extending the proposed algorithm to account for various forms of feedback, e.g., thermal-hydraulics and depletion effects.
Soman intoxication in hypothyroid rats: alterations in brain neuronal RNA, acetylcholinesterase and survival.

Studies were conducted to investigate relationships among soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) induced seizure activity, central metabolic impairments and lethality in normal vs thyroid-deficient rats. Quantitative cytophotometric measurements of individual cerebrocortical (layer V) and striatal neuron RNA contents were made following dosages of 0.5, 0.9 and 1.5 LD(50) soman (LD(50) = 135 ?g/kg, sc). Hypothyroidism was associated with a marked diminution of overt convulsive activity and reduced susceptibility to lethal actions of soman as indicated by enhanced 24- and 48-h survival rates at 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5 LD(50). Hypothyroidism per se produced RNA depletion in both cortical and striatal neurons. Soman treatment diminished cortical RNA to essentially the same extent in thyroid-deficient rats as in euthyroids, whereas there was no further reduction of striatal neuron RNA. It was found that amelioration of convulsive activity and lethal- ity in hypothyroid rats was accompanied by reduced cerebral acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) inactivation, and that plasma cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) and aliesterase (EC 3.1.1.1) levels were significantly higher in hypothyroid than in euthyroid saline-control rats. The overall data indicate that soman- induced central metabolic impairments can occur independent of paroxysmal neural activity and lethal actions of the agent. Resistance to soman observed with thyroid deficiency may be due in large part to increased binding to plasma enzymes and diminished delivery of soman to AChE in vital cholinergic sites.
A carboxyalkanethiol monolayer modified electrode for blocking of ascorbic acid oxidation and its application to a biosensor

Abstract Upon the application of amperometric biosensor to the biological fluid, ascorbic acid interferes the amperometric determination of analytes, because the oxidative potential of ascorbic acid is lower than that of electro active substances such as H 2 O 2 produced by the enzymatic reaction. In this study we propose a method to block ascorbic acid based on the electrostatic interaction with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and its application of the surface modified electrode to biosensor. In order to form SAM on the gold electrode with carboxyl group, 7-carboxy-heptanethiol (7-CHT) was used. The 7-CHT modified electrode did not show anodic response to ascorbic acid, but oxidized phenanthroline cobalt complex [Co(phen) 3 2+ ], which can be used as a mediator of biosensor. Thus, the 7CHT-modified electrode was applied to biosensor mediated with Co(phen) 3 2+ . Fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) was immobilized to the 7-CHT modified electrode. Fructose was determined selectively with the FDH/7-CHT modified electrode at the range of 0.2–2 mM.
Hydrogen embrittlement of commercial purity titanium

This paper presents a study of hydrogen embrittlement of commercial purity titanium. The first part of the results section considers gaseous hydrogen embrittlement of grade 2 titanium. This particular heat of material had been found to be very resistant to hydrogen cracking when tested in acidic salt water conditions. A thick hydride layer would form on the surface but this film had little effect on mechanical properties. However, when exposed to gaseous hydrogen at elevated temperatures this material readily formed hydrides and the material became very brittle. In addition to our discussion of these results we also present results for grade 4 titanium tested in sodium chloride solution and compare it with previously reported results on the grades 2 and 3 titanium. Of these three grades of titanium, only the grade 3 showed susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement when tested in the sodium chloride environment. We suggest that the reason why this material was more susceptible to hydride formation and hydrogen embrittlement was because of the higher iron content of the grade 3 titanium.
Achieving per Node Throughput Fairness in a Single-Branch of Mesh Networks

Providing per node throughput fairness is an important challenge for Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) in order to achieve serviceability of the entire system. However, existing protocols provide poor performance results for nodes located more than one hop away from the gateways when the network load increases. In some cases, single-hop nodes dominate the network causing throughput starvations to multi-hop nodes. In this paper, we propose a novel and efficient Mesh Fairness Algorithm (MFA) to provide per node throughput fairness with very simple-state information that considers the packets’ owners and the parents activity. Our key techniques for MAC coordination is that each node adjust its backoff counter based on activities of its parent and children. Additionally, we utilize scheduling model to establish a benchmark and compare our result with the developed benchmark. The simulation results indicate that the MFA provides per node throughput fairness in a single-branch of mesh networks with a small amount of network throughput degradation and packet overhead