cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amiloride inhibits murine erythroleukemia cell differentiation: evidence for a Ca2+ requirement for commitment

Abstract The effect of amiloride (an inhibitor of passive Na+ transport in many tissues) on the differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells was investigated. Amiloride completely blocked the dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO)-induced erythroid differentiation of cells at a concentration (10 microgram/ml) that did not affect cell proliferation. Amiloride also prevented the decrease in cell volume normally observed afte a 20-hr exposure to Me2SO. The ratio of total cell Na+ to total cell water was essentially the same for control cells, Me2SO-treated cells, and cells treated with Me2SO plus amiloride. However, cells treated for 24 hr with Me2SO had a rate of Ca2+ uptake that was twice that of untreated cells and a similarly higher Ca2+ content. Addition of amiloride plus Me2SO prevented both the increase in Ca2+ uptake rate and the increase in Ca2+ content. Cells grown in the presence of Me2SO plus amiloride initiated differentiation immediately after removal of amiloride or addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (1 microgram/ml). Addition of sufficient ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid to reduce free extracellular Ca2+ to submicromolar levels prevented Me2SO-induced differentiation while only slightly affecting cell proliferation. These results suggest that an increase in in the Ca2+ level is an essential step in Me2SO induction, that amiloride either directly or indirectly inhibits this process, and that Me2SO has an early effect on cells that is necessary for differentiation and is not mimicked by A23187.
Correlation enhancement of the electron-impact ionization cross section for excited-state Ne-like ions

The electron-impact ionization cross section is calculated in the distorted-wave approximation for the Ne-like ions ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{8+}$, ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{12+}$, ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{16+}$, ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{20+}$, and ${\mathrm{Se}}^{24+}$. For ionization from the 2${p}^{6}$ ground state, the contributions from inner-shell excitation followed by autoionization are negligible. However, when these ions are initially in the 2${p}^{5}$3s excited configuration, contributions arising from the inner-shell excitations 2${p}^{5}$3s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2${p}^{4}$3snl and 2${p}^{5}$3s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2s2${p}^{5}$3snl are large. The overall branching ratio for autoionization of the 2${p}^{4}$3snl and 2s2${p}^{5}$3snl levels increases when the atomic-structure calculations are extended beyond the single-configuration approximation to include the configuration interaction. The resulting correlation enhancement of the excited-state ionization cross section is found to increase as a function of Z. For ${\mathrm{Se}}^{24+}$ the correlation enhancement of the total ionization cross section is found to be 42%.
CARE OF THE CHILD WITH TYMPANOSTOMY TUBES

Over two million tympanostomy tubes are placed annually in the United States, 48 primarily in children with chronic or recurrent otitis media refractory to nonsurgical management. Traditionally, the operating otolaryngologist has been responsible for the care of these patients, including the confirmation of middle ear disease, assurance of tube patency, control of refractory otorrhea, and management of complications, such as tympanic membrane perforation or cholesteatoma. In response to pressures from a changing health care system, pediatricians are less able to refer children back to the otolaryngologist for routine tube surveillance and, therefore, must perform it themselves, often with incomplete instrumentation and training. This article provides an overview of the applications of tympanostomy tubes for the treatment of otitis media in childhood. The indications for tube placement (including the controversies surrounding their possible overuse in the United States) are discussed; a visual guide for managing children with tympanostomy tubes is presented; an approach to dealing with tube complications is outlined; and guidelines for referral to a pediatric otolaryngologist are suggested.
Seasonal variability of dissolved oxygen, percent oxygen saturation, and apparent oxygen utilization in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Using objectively analyzed seasonal fields of dissolved oxygen content, percent oxygen saturation, and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), we describe the large-scale seasonal variability of oxygen for the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the upper 400 m. The winter minus summer basin zonal averages of AOU reveal a two-layer feature in both the Atlantic and the Pacific, for both hemispheres. Biological activity and seasonal stratification in the summer give the upper 50–75 m of the water column in each basin a lower AOU in summer than winter. Greater mixing of upper ocean waters in winter gives the 75–400 m layer lower AOU values in that season. The basin integral seasonal volumes of oxygen for both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific mirror what is occurring in the atmosphere, indicating that there is a seasonal flux of oxygen across the air–sea interface. Winter total O2 volume in the ocean is above the annual mean; the summer volume is below. Larger seasonal differences in the total O2 content are observed in the North Atlantic Ocean than the North Pacific Ocean. A seasonal net outgassing (SNO) of 8.3×1014 moles O2 is calculated from basin means, which is 25% higher than previous results.
OPTICAL PHASE CONJUGATION IN LASER RESONATORS

The use of phase conjugating “mirrors” in oscillating optical structures has been a subject of recent interest, both experimentally and theoretically. One of the attractive features of a phase conjugate resonator, PCR, is its ability to provide an output wave whose wavefront depends only on the quality of the output coupler and is essentially independent of intracavity aberrations. Several concepts for PCR’s will be presented in which either degenerate four-wave mixing or stimulated Brillouin scattering is employed as the phase conjugate mirror; advantages and drawbacks of each will be discussed.
Probing the stoichiometry of the nitrification process using the respirometric approach.

Abstract Quantifying oxygen demand and nitrifier yield are important in the design and operation of advanced wastewater treatment systems. However, the accurate stoichiometry of the autotrophic nitrification process has not been fully developed. In this research, stoichiometric links between nitrifier yield, ammonia and nitrite oxidization, ammonia assimilation, and oxygen uptake for each step of the nitrification process were determined. A pulse-flow respirometer was used to measure the oxygen uptake for complete nitrification and nitrite oxidation reactions. Results indicated that the specific oxygen uptake was 4.23 mg-O 2 /mg-N oxidized for complete nitrification, with 3.17 mg-O 2 /mg-N oxidized for ammonia oxidation (first step nitrification) and 1.06 mg-O 2 /mg-N oxidized for nitrite oxidation (second step nitrification). For the complete nitrification, fractions of ammonia used for electron donation, synthesis of ammonia oxidizers, and synthesis of nitrite oxidizers were 97.1%, 2.2%, and 0.7%, respectively. The fractions of electrons transferred into cell synthesis were approximately 7.5% for ammonia oxidation and 7.3% for nitrite oxidation. Biomass yield coefficients for ammonia oxidizers and nitrite oxidizers were 0.18 and 0.06 g-VSS/g-N oxidized, respectively. These parameters are critical when calculating oxygen needs and nitrifier biomass concentrations during the design of advanced wastewater treatment processes.
The joint neurotoxic action of inhaled methyl butyl ketone vapor and dermally applied O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate in hens: potentiating effect.

Abstract The neurotoxic action of inhaled technical grade methyl butyl ketone and dermally applied ( O -ethyl O -4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) was studied. Three groups of five hens each were treated 5 days/week for 90 days with a dermal dose of 1.0 mg/kg of EPN (85%) on the unprotected back of the neck. These groups were exposed simultaneously to 10, 50, or 100 ppm of technical methyl butyl ketone (MBK; methyl n -butyl ketone:methyl isobutyl ketone, 7:3) in inhalation chambers. A fourth group was treated only with the dose of EPN and a fifth group with only 100 ppm MBK. The control consisted of a group of five hens treated with a dose of 0.1 ml acetone. Treatment was followed by a 30-day observation period. Simultaneous exposure to EPN and MBK greatly enhanced the neurotoxicity produced when compared to the neurotoxicity produced by either chemical when applied alone. Continued exposure to EPN and MBK resulted in earlier onset and more severe signs of neurotoxicity than exposure to either individual compound. The severity and characteristics of histopathologic lesions in hens given the same daily dermal dose of EPN in combination with inhaled MBK depended on the MBK concentration. Histopathologic changes were more severe and prevalent in the 100 ppm MBK:1 mg/kg EPN group than in the others. In this group, Wallerian-type degeneration was seen along with paranodal axonal swellings. The morphology and distribution of these lesions were characteristic of those induced by MBK. In the 50 ppm MBK:1 mg/kg EPN group axonal swelling was evident but not clearly identifiable as paranodal. Hens treated with 10 ppm MBK:1 mg/kg EPN had minimal lesions with low incidence of axonal swellings. These were not as large as those seen in MBK neurotoxicity, but instead resembled the histopathologic lesions caused by EPN. The results indicate that the combined treatment gave a value for neurotoxicity coefficient which was two times the additive neurotoxic effect of each treatment alone. Pretreatment with three daily ip doses of 5 mmol/kg technical grade MBK or methyl n -butyl ketone (M n BK), equally increased chicken hepatic microsomal cytochrome P -450 content. Also, hepatic microsomes from MBK-treated hens metabolized [ 14 C]EPN in vitro to [ 14 C]EPN oxon to a much greater extent than those from control hens. These results suggest that MBK potentiates the neurotoxic effect of EPN, at least in part, by increasing the metabolic activation of EPN to the more neurotoxic metabolite EPN oxon. A similar mechanism may account for the potentiating effect of EPN on MBK neurotoxicity, by increasing the formation of the more neurotoxic agent 2,5-hexanedione.
The Distribution of an Oil, Carbohydrate, and Protein Food Source to Members of the Imported Fire Ant Colony

Using a dye technique, the distribution of sugar, oil, and protein food sources among the colony of Solenopsis saevissima richteri Ford was studied. The protein was primarily distributed to larvae. The sugar was distributed to the various castes more uniformly than the oil. Larvae received a greater proportion of Sugar than the other castes. Males contained a larger percentage of sugar than workers in 24 hours but had less than workers based on body weight. Some dye and sugar was found to be regurgitated by the workers when feel sugar, thus reducing the sugar available to the colony. All castes received more oil than sugar or protein. Larvae received the greatest percentage of the oil. Males received only a small maintenance amount.
A technique for estimating candidate and voter locations

Abstract This paper develops a simple technique for locating voters and candidates in two-party US elections. Such a procedure is attractive because it overcomes the limitations of existing techniques that fail to place incumbents, challengers, and constituents on the same scale. The method is demonstrated using data from the 1988 presidential and congressional elections. The new data are then used to reevaluate spatial theories of candidate competition.
Interplay between electron-electron interactions and impurities in one-dimensional rings.

The persistent current and charge stiffness of a one-dimensional Luttinger liquid on a ring threaded by a magnetic flux are calculated by Monte Carlo simulation. By changing the random impurity potential strength and the electron-electron interaction, we see a crossover behavior between weak and strong impurity limits. For weak impurity potentials, interactions enhance impurity effects, that is, interactions decrease the current and the stiffness. On the other hand, interactions tend to screen impurities when the impurity potential is strong. Temperature dependence of the persistent current and the charge stiffness shows a peak at a characteristic temperature, consistent with a recent single impurity study.
Thyroxine-binding prealbumin. Conformation in urea and guanidine.

Abstract The effects of urea and guanidine on the stability of thyroxine-binding prealbumin have been evaluated by absorption and fluorescence measurements on the native protein and by fluorescence and polarization measurements on the dansyl-conjugated protein. Thyroxine-binding prealbumin neither dissociates into subunits nor unfolds in concentrations of urea as large as 8 m or in guanidine solutions less than 6 m . On the basis of the stability toward these two denaturants, thyroxine-binding prealbumin appears to be one of the most stable globular proteins yet examined. It is also clear that 6 m guanidine cannot be considered as a universal denaturant in dissociating and unfolding native proteins.
Crystallite size dependence of volatilization in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization

During the desorption and ionization processes in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization MALDI , the laser beam interacts with different areas of the polycrystalline sample surface varying in crystal size and structure. CCD imaging of dried-droplet and electrospray deposited MALDI samples was used to explore the effect of laser exposure on surface morphology at atmospheric pressure. Crystal size distributions of the sinapinic acid target were examined prior to and after laser irradiation. Image processing and analysis of the difference images revealed the morphological changes in the sample. . The results indicate that near-threshold irradiance smaller crystals ; 2 mm are completely volatilized by the laser shot, . whereas larger crystals undergo layer-by-layer evaporation peeling . Heat conduction simulations in a finite slab have demonstrated that under similar conditions, the surface temperature of small crystallites increases markedly compared to their larger counterparts. These higher surface temperatures can lead to the selective volatilization of smaller crystallites. This study points to the influence of sample preparation on the crystal size distribution and its consequence on volatilization . in MALDI-mass spectrometry MS . q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. .
Patterns of Asthma Control Perception in Adolescents: Associations with Psychosocial Functioning

Objective. The purpose was to identify and describe the patterns of asthma control perception in relation to actual symptom reports in adolescents and to compare the group with accurate control perception with those of inaccurate perception in relationship to sociodemographic characteristics, illness-related factors, and psychosocial factors. Methods. A sample of 126 adolescents from 13 through 20 years of age participated in the study. Patterns of control perception were constructed based on participants' rating of their perception of asthma control and self-reported asthma symptoms using Latent Class Analysis. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and multinomial logistic regressions were computed for group comparisons. Results. Participants were classified into four groups according to the patterns of control perception. Accurate groups were divided into either the well-controlled (62%) or the poorly-controlled group (7%), and inaccurate groups were manifested inaccuracy either with nighttime symptoms (25%) or...
Grid portal solutions: a comparison of GridPortlets and OGCE

SUMMARY In this paper we discuss two of the major Grid portal solutions, the Open Grid Computing Environments Collaboratory (OGCE) and GridPortlets, both of which provide basic tools that portal developers can use to interact with Grid middleware when designing their own custom or application-specific Grid portals. We investigate and compare what each of these packages provides, discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and identify missing features vital for Grid portal development. The main purpose of this paper is to identify what current toolkits provide, reveal some of their limitations, and provide motivation for the evolution of Grid portal solutions. Application groups should find this paper useful in helping to choose an appropriate Grid portal toolkit for building their Grid portals rapidly in a flexible and modular way. Copyright c � 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synchrotron ultraviolet radiation facility (SURF II) radiometric instrumentation calibration facility

Spectrometer calibrations have been performed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards) for over 10 yr using the calculable synchrotron radiation from the SURF II electron storage ring. SURF II is now a high-performance storage ring that can operate at electron energies up to 300 MeV and with over 250 mA of stored current. One beam line, operationally supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is dedicated for use as a radiometric instrumentation calibration facility for outside users.
Aminozuckersynthesen, XI Die Inversion mit Thionylchlorid als Weg vom Glucosamin zu Allosamin‐Derivaten

Benzyl-N-benzoyl-β-D-glucosaminid wird durch Inversion mit Thionylchlorid in Dioxan in Benzyl-N-benzoyl-β-D-allosaminid (60% Gesamtausbeute) umgewandelt.
Reducing congestion in wireless network

This paper proposes a congestion control model for wireless networks. Wireless communication can cause congestion in high-speed switching networks depending on the volume of calls, their origination and the network architecture. In congested areas where wireless services are extensively used, the switching network can become congested. In addition, the quality of wireless communication can decrease because of the frequency range that allows for limited number of calls made within the cell. The congestion control model allows for evaluation of those limitations and for choosing the best possible solution.
The comparative science of "self-control": what are we talking about?

There has been great interest in comparative cognitive science in a suite of behaviors that have come to be subsumed under the term “self-control.” Historically in comparative psychology self-control was defined behaviorally as the choice of a larger or better but more delayed reinforcer over a smaller or less preferred but less delayed reinforcer (Rachlin and Green, 1972; Ainslie, 1974; Grosch and Neuringer, 1981; Logue, 1988). More recently, however, self-control has been discussed more in terms of being a capacity or ability rather than a behavioral pattern, even to the extent of some researchers suggesting that self-control may be a limited capacity resource that can be depleted, strengthened, or improved with practice (e.g., Baumeister et al., 2007). A terminological morass has emerged in this area, with varying definitions of this term, as well as other perhaps related terms such as patience, willpower, delay of gratification, and intertemporal choice. The goal here is not to untangle that mess of terminology, but to comment on two recent papers in comparative psychology that attempted to provide insights into the “evolution of self-control,” with varying degrees of success. I also will provide the beginnings of a framework for a terminology for assessing these behavioral forms of self-regulation and inhibition.
An Extension of the Hurtley Reaction to Heterocyclic Nucleophiles

Abstract The condensation of N-methylisoquinoline-1,3-dione with bromoarenecarboxylic acids under copper catalysis is described.
Scaling of electrical and thermal conductivities in an almost integrable chain

Many low-dimensional materials are well described by integrable one-dimensional models such as the Hubbard model of electrons or the Heisenberg model of spins. However, the small perturbations to these models required to describe real materials are expected to have singular effects on transport quantities: integrable models often support dissipationless transport, while weak nonintegrable terms lead to finite conductivities. We use matrix-product-state methods to obtain quantitative values of spin/electrical and thermal conductivities in an almost integrable gapless ($XXZ$-like) spin chain. At low temperatures, we observe power laws whose exponents are solely determined by the Luttinger liquid parameter. This indicates that our results are independent of the actual model under consideration.
On the derivatives of the homomorphic transform operator and their application to some practical signal processing problems

The derivatives of the homomorphic transform operator and its inverse are obtained with Banach algebra techniques. The derivatives can be applied to two important practical problems. The first problem involves a standard method for designing recursive multidimensional digital filters. The method uses spectral factorization or Hilbert transform methods to stabilize a given weighting sequence without changing its magnitude response in the frequency domain. The derivatives of the stabilization process are required by the design algorithm. The derivatives of the homomorphic transform, together with the chain rule for Frechet derivatives, can be used to calculate the derivatives of stabilization analytically. The second problem is the analysis of homomorphic deconvolution techniques in the presence of additive disturbances. The fact that the homomorphic transform maps convolution to addition makes it very useful in certain blind deconvolution problems. However, the highly nonlinear nature of the homomorphic transform complicates analysis of the effects of additive disturbances. In most practical applications, the presence of additive measurement noise is to be expected. The derivatives obtained in this paper are shown to be very useful in obtaining approximations of the effects of additive disturbances. >
Does No Child Left Behind Place a Fiscal Burden on States? Evidence from Texas.

Abstract The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires states to establish goals for all students and for groups of students characterized by race, ethnicity, poverty, disability, and limited English proficiency and requires schools to make annual progress in meeting these goals. In a number of states, officials have argued that increased federal education funding is not sufficient to cover the costs imposed by the new legislation. In this article, we use data from Texas to estimate the additional costs of meeting the new student performance standards. We find that these costs substantially exceed the additional federal funding. The article concludes with a discussion of whether NCLB should be considered an underfunded federal mandate and a brief discussion of the appropriate federal role in the financing of K–12 education.
The Real World of Cost-Benefit Analysis: Thirty-Six Questions (and Almost as Many Answers)

Some of the most interesting discussions of cost-benefit analysis focus on exceptionally difficult problems, including catastrophic scenarios, “fat tails,” extreme uncertainty, intergenerational equity, and discounting over long time horizons. As it operates in the actual world of government practice, however, cost-benefit analysis usually does not need to explore the hardest questions, and when it does so, it tends to enlist standardized methods and tools. It is useful to approach cost-benefit analysis not in the abstract but from the bottom up, that is, by anchoring the discussion in specific scenarios involving trade-offs and valuations. Thirty-six stylized scenarios are presented here, alongside an exploration of how they might be handled in practice. Open issues are also discussed.
Loss in Coupling Due to Crack in Piezoelectric Wafer Based Sensors and Actuators

oand 90 o domain switching, and the other addressing the energy required to overcome the cracks in piezoelectric materials. By modeling piezoelectric materials as tetragonal crystallites with dipole moments, evolution of polarization due to applied electric filed is derived. Furthermore, dielectric, mechanical, and electromechanical losses due to the inclusions of cracks in piezoelectric solids are investigated. The influence of the existence of a crack is described through the characterization of the perturbation to stress and strain distribution. The strain energy release rates are used to determine the energy dissipation due to the crack. Correspondence principle is then applied to determine loss factors such that the constitutive laws governing the energy loss in dielectric, mechanical, and piezoelectric domains can be quantified. Therefore, the complex electromechanical coupling relations can be expressed by using a phase lag, which indicates the property degradation of piezoelectric materials. Nomenclature a = crack half-length ij B = dielectric constants D = electric displacement E = electric field c E = coercive electric field ) (P E = function represents hysteresis relation between polarization and electric field ERR = energy release rate ijk G = linear piezoelectric constants i p e = direction of the i-th dipole P = total polarization d P = polarization required to align dipoles in P = polarization required to overcome inclusions r P = remnant polarization s P = saturation polarization i p = moment vector of the i-th dipole ijkl S = elastic compliance m e U U , = pure dielectric and elastic energies stored, respectively em U = electric energy stored and induced by applied electric field me U = mechanical energy stored and induced by applied mechanical load
The Social, Geographic, and Organizational Determinants of Access to Civil Legal Aid Services: An Argument for an Integrated Access to Justice Model

I propose an integrated method for evaluating the accessibility of civil legal aid services, one that is able to simultaneously account for spatial, social, and organizational accessibility determinants. Specifically, I use this study to empirically evaluate several core assumptions of accessibility research. First, I challenge the argument that gaps in the accessibility of civil legal aid services are driven by spatial mismatches and/or disconnects between supply and demand. Although these two factors are important, they only provide a partial explanation of the observed variation in the accessibility of civil legal aid services. Second, I challenge the commonplace assumption in accessibility research that the effects of accessibility determinants, including the spatial relationship between client and provider location, are consistent across social and geographic space. In addition to raising these issues, I also propose and develop a hierarchical linear model that attempts to bridge methodological approaches that limit our understanding of the interactions of the spatial, social, and organizational dimensions of civil legal aid services accessibility . Perhaps most importantly, the proposed accessibility model begins to offer providers novel insights into how to better allocate program resources to best serve their client population.
Intergenerational Relationships and Elderly Care in China A Global Perspective

Based on a review of recent research literature, major value-practice conflicts toward elderly care in China are explored, some commonalities and differentiations of real practices with traditional values are presented, the emerging new values in intergenerational relationships are discussed, and the theoretical underpinnings of interdependency are examined. Some sociologists had predicted a continuing decrease in family interdependence and caregiving. In the current globalization of economic development and concurrent trends in demography, family formation and life course, families interact and support each other over extremely long periods of time. Intergenerational relationships reflect both values and practice. There have been remarkable differences between values of people in different societies and yet some similarities of practice. Examples from the People’s Republic of China are given to illustrate the dynamics of expectation, interaction and assessment of interdependence. Implications for future ...
The Effect of Storage on Ammonia Concentration in Canine Packed Red Blood Cells.

Objective: To determine the effect of storage on ammonia concentration in canine packed red blood cell (pRBC) units. Design: In vitro and in vivo study. Setting: University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Interventions: Ammonia concentration was measured in 7 units of canine pRBC prepared in citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) and Adsola on Days 1 and 35 of storage. Ammonia was measured in 4 additional units of canine pRBC on Days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. Plasma ammonia was also determined in 5 anemic dogs receiving pRBC. Measurements and Main Results: Ammonia concentration increased from 73 ± 15 mmol/L (mean ± SD) on Day 1 to 800 ± 275 mmpl/L on Day (p<0.001). When measured every 7 days in 4 units of canine pRBC, ammonia concentration increased from 23 ± 8 mmol/L on Day 0 to 179 ± 13 mmol/L (Day 7), 276 ± 56 mmol/L (Day 14). 383 ± 47 mmol/L (Day21), 466 ± 30 mmol/L (Day 28), and 562 ± 27 mmol/L (Day 35) (p<0.05 for all comparisons). In a preliminary study, plasma ammonia concentration measured in blood samples from 5 anemic dogs without primary liver disease immediately before and after transfusion with 5–10 ml/kg of stored pRBC remained in the normal reference range. Conclusions: The ammonia concentration in stored canine pRBC increased markedly with time. In this preliminary study, ammonia concentrations in dogs without primary liver disease did not increase above the reference range after transfusion with pRBC.
Pathologic quiz case: a 52-year-old woman with a liver mass.

52-year-old woman presented with rectal bleeding and was admitted for further evaluation. Colonoscopy was performed, and multiple biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract were obtained. Colonoscopy showed no masses or polyps. The colonic biopsies were negative for dysplasia and tumor on histopathologic examination. A computed tomographic scan of her abdomen and pelvis was obtained. The abdominal computed tomographic scan was striking for the finding of an irregular 7-cm hypodense mass near the junction of the left and right hepatic lobes. Additionally, there was a 2.5-cm round hypodense lesion in posterior right hepatic lobe and a 5.0-cm round slightly hyperdense mass in the posterior right hepatic lobe (Figure 1, arrow). A serum a-fetoprotein was obtained, which was within normal limits (6 ng/mL). A fine-needle aspiration of the mass in the posterior right hepatic lobe was performed under ultrasound guid
Effect of hydroxamate siderophores on Fe release and Pb(II) adsorption by goethite

Abstract Hydroxamate siderophores are biologically-synthesized, Fe(III)-specific ligands which are common in soil environments. In this paper, we report an investigation of their adsorption by the iron oxyhydroxide, goethite; their influence on goethite dissolution kinetics; and their ability to affect Pb(II) adsorption by the goethite surface. The siderophores used were desferrioxamine B (DFO-B), a fungal siderophore, and desferrioxamine D1, an acetyl derivative of DFO-B (DFO-D1). Siderophore adsorption isotherms yielded maximum surface concentrations of 1.5 (DFO-B) or 3.5 (DFO-D1) μmol/g at pH 6.6, whereas adsorption envelopes showed either cation-like (DFO-B) or ligand-like (DFO-D1) behavior. Above pH 8, the adsorbed concentrations of both siderophores were similar. The dissolution rate of goethite in the presence of 240 μM DFO-B or DFO-D1 was 0.02 or 0.17 μmol/g hr, respectively. Comparison of these results with related literature data on the reactions between goethite and acetohydroxamic acid, a monohydroxamate ligand, suggested that the three hydroxamate groups in DFO-D1 coordinate to Fe(III) surface sites relatively independently. The results also demonstrated a significant depleting effect of 240 μM DFO-B or DFO-D1 on Pb(II) adsorption by goethite at pH > 6.5, but there was no effect of adsorbed Pb(II) on the goethite dissolution rate.
Interferometric study of two-dimensional Benard convection cells

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer was used to stud two-dimensional Benard convection cells. The experiments were performed with distilled water and sea water in the region where density is a linear function of temperature. Two-dimensional convection rolls were formed with Rayleigh numbers as great as 23400. Reversal in the temperature profile was obtained for R/Rc ≥ 3·8, and an overshoot of about 6% was observed at R/Rc = 9·2 and 13·8. This agrees with the values predicted theoretically by Veronis (1966) for stress-free boundaries and Royal (1969) for rigid boundaries. This disagrees with the experimental results of Gille (1967), who reports an overshoot of only 1 ½% at R/Rc = 16. Many of the other results agree with those of other experimenters, such as the relation between the cell height-to-width ratio and Rayleigh number, the relation between the Nusselt number and Rayleigh number, and the value of the critical Rayleigh number.
Microbiome, Metagenomics, and High-Dimensional Compositional Data Analysis

The human microbiome is the totality of all microbes in and on the human body, and its importance in health and disease has been increasingly recognized. High-throughput sequencing technologies have recently enabled scientists to obtain an unbiased quantification of all microbes constituting the microbiome. Often, a single sample can produce hundreds of millions of short sequencing reads. However, unique characteristics of the data produced by the new technologies, as well as the sheer magnitude of these data, make drawing valid biological inferences from microbiome studies difficult. Analysis of these big data poses great statistical and computational challenges. Important issues include normalization and quantification of relative taxa, bacterial genes, and metabolic abundances; incorporation of phylogenetic information into analysis of metagenomics data; and multivariate analysis of high-dimensional compositional data. We review existing methods, point out their limitations, and outline future research...
Study of the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose for Production of Fuel Ethanol by the Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation Process

The biochemical conversion of cellulosic biomass to ethanol, a promising alternative fuel, can be carried out efficiently and economically using the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process. The SSF integrates the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose, catalyzed by the synergistic action of cellulase and beta-glucosidase, with the fermentative synthesis of ethanol. Because the enzymatic step determines the ethanol. Because the enzymatic step determines the availability of glucose to the ethanologenic fermentation, the kinetic of cellulose hydrolysis by cellulase and beta-glucosidase and the susceptibility of the two enzymes to inhibition by hydrolysis and fermentation products are of significant importance to the SSF performance and were investigated under realistic SSF conditions. A previously developed SSF mathematical model was used to conceptualize the depolymerization of cellulose. The model was regressed to the collected data to determine the values of the enzyme parameters and was found to satisfactorily predict the kinetics of cellulose hydrolysis. Cellobiose and glucose were identified as the strongest inhibitors of cellulase and beta-glucosidase, respectively. Experimental and modeling results are presented in light of the impact of enzymatic hydrolysis on fuel ethanol production.
Nicholas Gray: The More Things Change... (B)

Can you really change your behavior at work? What if you believe your approach has served you well in the past and helped you succeed to where you are today? This series of cases features Nicholas Gray, a Norfolk Southern Railroad (NS) executive and his experiences in implementing change from a middle manager position. The A case (UVA-OB-0773) begins with Gray identifying a change effort to build a better relationship with colleagues in other departments at NS. As the story unfolds, Gray's management style and some challenges he faces take shape. In the B case, Gray works through his action plan and the implementation of his change initiative. These cases provide an insight into the challenges of being a change agent at both personal and organizational levels.
Responding to Critical Infrastructure Threats of Reliability and Security: Economic, Organizational and Technical Perspectives for a Next Generation US Electric Grid

AbstractThe US electricity grid is a central piece of critical infrastructure, extremely vulnerable to exogenous attacks, and requiring an enhanced command and control system to be prepared for emergencies. The current economic climate of deregulation of the electricity industry has made this objective of grid emergency preparedness simultaneously more imperative and more difficult to achieve. This paper outlines essential components of an information systems-based technical command and control solution for the US grid and discusses the current and future economic, regulatory and organizational factors surrounding the grid that would ensure its reliability should an emergency situation arise.
Streamlining Shor's algorithm for potential hardware savings

We constructed a virtual quantum computer by running a complete, scaling, quantum-gate\char21{}by\char21{}quantum-gate implementation of Shor's algorithm on a 128-core classical cluster computer. In mode A [quantum period finding (PF) only, supplied with classical results for the modular exponentiation (ME) part of Shor's algorithm], factoring semiprimes up to $N=557\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}993$ with up to $n=39$ qubits, we confirm earlier, smaller-$n$ results concerning the performance scaling of Shor's algorithm equipped with a truncated (banded) quantum Fourier transform. Running our virtual quantum computer in mode B (full quantum implementation of ME and PF), we find that a large number of gates may be discarded in a scalable way in both the ME and PF parts of Shor's algorithm in exchange for only a small reduction in performance. We explicitly state the associated scaling laws. Implying significant savings in quantum gates, we suggest that these results are of importance for future experimental and technical large-$n$ implementations of quantum computers.
Simultaneous Tracking of Multiple Ground Targets from a Single Multirotor UAV

An algorithm for autonomous multirotor tracking of an arbitrary number of ground targets is formulated and evaluated through simulation. The algorithm consists of a particle filter to predict target motion, trajectory generator, and model predictive controller operating over a finite time horizon. Furthermore, a target selection algorithm is included to reject targets that preclude accurate tracking of the main target set. Performance of the guidance algorithm is evaluated through simulation using real-world target data. Simulation results show that targets can be kept within the camera’s field of view when using either a gimbaled or non-gimbaled camera, but performance may be substantially degraded in the non-gimbaled case when target dynamics occur on time scales similar to tracking vehicle dynamics.
Mirror Orientation in Hohokam Designs and the Chronology of Early Hohokam Phases

ABSTRACTInterlocking scrolls, painted on sherds and vessels from the Hohokam Pioneer period, have been examined with reference to (1) clockwise or counterclockwise orientation and (2) pattern development. The preference for the counterclockwise orientation is substantially more pronounced in the Pioneer period than in the Hohokam Colonial period. Furthermore, banded decorations of interlocking scrolls from the Pioneer period are shown to be precursors to bands from the Colonial period. These observations represent new traits for characterizing ceramic decorations of the Snaketown phase of the Pioneer period. The data presented support the assignment of the Snaketown phase as a distinct phase preceding the Gila Butte phase.
Nitric Oxide and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in the Newborn

Publisher Summary The transition of pulmonary circulation from a high-resistance, low-flow circulation in the fetus to a low-resistance, high-flow circulation in the newborn is a complex process that involves the simultaneous downregulation of vasoconstrictor mediators and upregulation of vasodilatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO). In a vast majority of infants, this process occurs spontaneously and quickly, and does not require any intervention. Occasionally, however, the transition may be difficult or abnormal. It might require prompt and effective resuscitation to ensure a successful adaptation to the extrauterine environment. This chapter stresses the role of NO in normal fetal circulation, transition of the circulation at birth, and the etiology and treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborns (PPHN). Multiple factors, in addition to NO, contribute to both the normal transition and the pathophysiology of PPHN.
Attitudes Toward Lesbians of Practicing Social Workers and Social Work Students

In addressing the extent of sexual prejudices among the profession, two strands of research have emerged. One strand explores heterosexism among practicing social workers whereas another explores student attitudes. As these separate bodies of literature have developed, there has been an absence of studies comparing the sexual prejudices of these aggregates. To address this shortcoming, this article merges data from recent studies on employed social workers, master's and bachelors' students (n=3,197). When comparing the responses on Herek's Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gays subscale, this work delivers some sobering results. Every population contained individuals who rebuked homosexuality, but the amount of homophobia varied by group. The undergraduate students condemned homosexuals the most, the employed social workers did so the least.
The quest to burn fat, effortlessly and safely

Treatment of obesity and obesity-associated diseases has been challenging, with the first potential cure claimed in 1934 with the protonophore 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). This chemical dissipates mitochondrial membrane potential into heat production and is extremely effective in boosting metabolic rate and promoting weight loss ( 1 ). However, severe side effects, including cataract formation, cardiotoxicity, overheating, and death, prevented its further use ( 2 ). In a recent study, Long et al. ( 3 ) report that a secreted enzyme called peptidase M20 domain containing 1 (PM20D1) converts fatty acids and amino acids into N -acyl amino acids, which directly uncouple mitochondrial membrane potential in a way similar to that of DNP, to increase energy expenditure without physical movement. Might these endogenous metabolites be a safe alternative to chemical uncouplers, facilitating effortless fat burning without a fatal consequence?
A New Urban Agenda for the 21st century: The role of urbanisation in sustainable development

This chapter discusses why urbanisation is a necessary tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It proposes a strategic and pragmatic framework for how governments at all levels, across all regions, can activate a positive pattern of urbanisation to improve the lives and livelihoods of all human settlements. UN-Habitat is advocating for a transformative model of urbanisation in the New Urban Agenda (NUA), set for adoption at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016. This chapter first offers an overview of trends and challenges for sustainable urbanisation, which provide the basis for understanding why a New Urban Agenda is needed. The second section explains how quality urbanisation and the role of cities are critical to achieving the aims of all post-2015 global agendas. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the strategic actions needed to implement the New Urban Agenda.
Meniscal Repair Outcomes: Isolated Versus Combined with Other Procedures

The meniscus plays an important function in knee load bearing, shock absorption, joint lubrication, and joint stability. In light of the important functions of the meniscus, a number of studies have shown that a lack of a functional meniscus may accelerate progression to osteoarthritis. As such, every reasonable effort is made to preserve the meniscus by repairing it, when indications are appropriate.
Micro/Nanorobots for Biomedicine: Delivery, Surgery, Sensing, and Detoxification.

Micro- and nanoscale robots that can effectively convert diverse energy sources into movement and force represent a rapidly emerging and fascinating robotics research area. Recent advances in the design, fabrication, and operation of micro/nanorobots have greatly enhanced their power, function, and versatility. The new capabilities of these tiny untethered machines indicate immense potential for a variety of biomedical applications. This article reviews recent progress and future perspectives of micro/nanorobots in biomedicine, with a special focus on their potential advantages and applications for directed drug delivery, precision surgery, medical diagnosis, and detoxification. Future success of this technology, to be realized through close collaboration between robotics, medical, and nanotechnology experts, should have a major impact on disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Socioeconomic Convergence in Europe One Decade After the EU Enlargement of 2004: Application of Self-Organizing Maps

This article uses self-organizing maps (SOMs) to examine convergence between European states, giving special attention to the states of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) that joined the European Union (EU) during its monumental expansion in 2004. To augment the literature on income convergence, the robust conceptual framework employed here is based upon Terry Jordan’s much broader socioeconomic and political definition of Europe. Using associated variables, the study applies the Kohonen data visualization technique to highlight statistical clustering and movement of countries across three time periods from 2001 to 2013. Kohonen U-matrix and component maps reveal several distinct clusters of countries that remain stable over time, including Europe’s industrialized core and Scandinavia, as well as a cluster of laggard Soviet successor states at the opposite extreme. The eleven new EU countries that had been part of the eastern bloc show evidence of real (β-) convergence toward the European core, but at vario...
Waveform inversion for attenuation estimation in anisotropic media

ABSTRACTRobust estimation of attenuation coefficients remains a challenging problem, especially for heterogeneous anisotropic media. Here, we apply waveform inversion (WI) to perform attenuation analysis in heterogeneous VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) media. A time-domain finite-difference algorithm based on the standard linear solid model simulates nearly constant quality-factor values in a specified frequency band. We employ the adjoint-state method to derive the gradients of the objective function based on the Born approximation. Four parameters describing the attenuation coefficients of P- and SV-waves are updated simultaneously with a quasi-Newton optimization algorithm. To remove the time shifts between the modeled and observed data caused by velocity errors, we apply a local similarity technique. The inversion still requires a sufficiently accurate velocity model to minimize the trade-off between the contributions of velocity and attenuation to amplitudes. The inversion ...