cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A theoretical study of a thermosyphon solar turbine

In this paper, we study the feasibility of generating power with very tall solar collectors and the thermosyphon effect. The vertical collectors are heated by sunlight and open to the atmosphere at the top and bottom, resulting in rapid air flows through the collectors. This moving air can then be used to drive turbines for generating electric power. We find that the efficiency of such a device increases with its height, and that the length of the unit does not affect efficiency. We also find that, to achieve an acceptable level of efficiency, the device must be extremely tall; we calculate a conversion efficiency (percentage of the solar radiation received that can be converted to mechanical power) of 0.2% for collectors 100 meters in height, and 1.6% for 500-meter tall collectors. We calculate that a 500-meter tall collector, 160 meters in length, could generate about 1 MWatt of power if 800 W/m{sup 2} of solar radiation are absorbed by the collector. The efficiency of the collector also depends on the number and size of the turbines - there is an optimal combination of these for a given solar intensity, collector length, and collector height. We find that the solar intensitymore » has little effect upon efficiency power generated is directly proportional to solar intensity. 7 refs., 5 figs.« less
Transplacental passage of iohexol

We describe the appearance of an iodinated, low molecular weight radiographic contrast agent, iohexol, in the intestines of twin neonates after administration to a pregnant mother during angiography. Nonionic contrast agents cross the human placenta and enter the fetus in significant concentrations and in this case facilitated identification of an omphalomesenteric duct cyst in one twin.
Platelet Transfusion Therapy

This article provides guidelines for the appropriate use of platelet transfusions to reduce unnecessary transfusions, thereby avoiding transfusion-related risks to the patients and the costs of platelet therapy. Platelet products available for transfusion are whole blood derived platelet concentrates and apheresis platelets. Leukoreduced platelets can be used to reduce platelet alloimmunization, cytomegalovirus transmission, and febrile transfusion reactions, while gamma irradiation prevents transfusion-associated graftversus-host disease. Other topics discussed are the expected response to transfused platelets and reasons for poor responses related to alloimmunization, underlying disease state, clinical conditions, and drugs. Appropriate transfusion guidelines based on pretransfusion platelet count, platelet dose, and whether the transfusion is prophylactic or therapeutic are outlined. Identification, prevention, and management of adverse consequences of platelet transfusions and platelet refractoriness are discussed.
The PIX–GIT complex: A G protein signaling cassette in control of cell shape

Arf and Rho GTP-binding proteins coordinately regulate membrane dynamics and cytoskeletal rearrangements. The Cdc42/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor PIX and the Arf GTPase-activating protein GIT form a stable complex in cells. The PIX-GIT complex functions to integrate signaling among Arf, Cdc42, and Rac proteins in response to cues emanating from integrins, heterotrimeric G proteins, receptor tyrosine kinases, and cell-cell interactions. A concept that emerges from the literature is that the PIX-GIT complex serves as a cassette to elicit changes in cell shape essential for polarized cell responses in a wide range of biological contexts.
Modeling hyperspectral imaging data

Developing proper models for hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data allows for useful and reliable algorithms for data exploitation. These models provide the foundation for development and evaluation of detection, classification, clustering, and estimation algorithms. To date, real world HSI data has been modeled as a single multivariate Gaussian, however it is well known that real data often exhibits non-Gaussian behavior with multi-modal distributions. Instead of the single multivariate Gaussian distribution, HSI data can be model as a finite mixture model, where each of the mixture components need not be Gaussian. This paper will focus on techniques used to segment HSI data into homogenous clusters. Once the data has been segmented, each individual cluster can be modeled, and the benefits provided by the homogeneous clustering of the data versus non-clustering explored. One of the promising techniques uses the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm to cluster the data into Elliptically Contoured Distributions (ECDs). A larger family of distributions, the family of ECDs includes the mutlivariate Gaussian distribution and exhibits most of its properties. ECDs are uniquely defined by their multivariate mean, covariance and the distribution of its Mahalanobis (or quadratic) distance metric. This metric lets multivariate data be identified using a univariate statistic and can be adjusted to more closely match the longer tailed distributions of real data. This paper will focus on three issues. First, the definition of the multivariate Elliptically Contoured Distribution mixture model will be developed. Second, various techniques will be described that segment the mixed data into homogeneous clusters. Most of this work will focus on the EM algorithm and the multivariate t-distribution, which is a member of the family of ECDs and provides longer tailed distributions than the Gaussian. Lastly, results using HSI data from the AVIRIS sensor will be shown, and the benefits of clustered data will be presented.
Prolongation of cardiac graft survival with anti-CD4Ig plus hCTLA4Ig in primates

Background.The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of combined immunotherapy with a brief course of humanized anti-CD4Ig and hCTLA4Ig would prolong heterotopic cardiac allograft survival in primates (rhesus monkeys). This model was based on work in “high responder” rats where a brief course of depletive anti-CD4 mAb plus hCTLA4Ig was successful in inducing transplantation tolerance. Methods.Heterotopic cardiac transplants were performed in rhesus recipients. Donor/recipient pairs between groups were confirmed to be reactive prior to transplantation by MLR matching. Humanized anti-CD4Ig, a recently developed anti-CD4 mAb, was given at a dose of 20 mg/kg i.v. on days −3, −2, −1, and 0. hCTLA4Ig was administered at 6 mg/kg/dose i.v. on days 0 and 2 for the first recipient and days 0, 2, 4, and 6 for the second recipient. No further immunosuppression was administered. The treated (n= 2) or untreated (n= 5) recipients were followed for graft function by daily palpitation. Results.Treatment with anti-CD4Ig plus hCTLA4Ig resulted in a significant prolongation of heart graft survival (42 days for the first recipient and 52 days for the second recipient) compared to untreated recipients (7 days × 4, 11 days × 1). FACS analysis demonstrated CD4 depletion of anti-CD4 treated animals to <2% on posttransplant day 1. The CD4+T cells gradually repopulated to 50–70% pretransplant levels just prior to rejection. No adverse responses (fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, infections) were observed. Conclusions.These are the first results demonstrating that a brief course of combined specific induction immunotherapy with humanized anti-CD4Ig plus hCTLA4Ig, in the absence of adjuvant posttransplant immunosuppression, was well tolerated and resulted in marked prolongation of cardiac allograft survival in primates.
Oxidative coupling of carboxylic acid dianions

Abstract The conditions, scope, and stereochemical consequences of a versatile approach to succinic acid derivatives are described.
Eigenstructure approach for array processing and calibration with general phase and gain perturbations

An eigenstructure approach for array processing with imperfect sensors is presented. Each sensor is modeled as having an unknown angularly independent gain error with an unknown angularly dependent phase error. The technique is capable of compensating for many sources of error: sensor location error, channel mismatch, unknown sensor phase patterns, and types of environmental inhomogeneities. The algorithm first determines estimates of the perturbed steering vectors, and then uses these to obtain angle of arrival (AOA) estimates. It can be used in calibration applications since the sensor perturbations are estimated in addition to the AOA of the sources. Each iteration of the algorithm consists of a Newton minimization step, but first a constraint is enforced by a mapping into the feasible set. Computer simulations are presented to illustrate the performance of the algorithm. >
Emphasizing Principles for a Moral Foreign Policy

In Security First, Amitai Etzioni insightfully diagnoses the problems with existing American foreign policy and prescribes creating security and valuing life as corrective guiding principles. Peacebuilding scholars would welcome Etzioni's focus, arguing that an efficacious state and a sense of nation help achieve his goals. In addition, developing respect for the dignity of all citizens in war-torn societies is an important ingredient to moving forward. Etzioni's stress on developing a “moral culture,” which emerges from the dominant indigenous religion, is more problematic, however. Frequently, major religions have threatened the security and life chances of religious and other minorities, as well as of women and girls. Since using religion as a cornerstone undermines the idea of Security First and the Primacy of Life, the U.S. would be better served and more ethical advocating the inclusion of liberal principles in states' founding documents, even if those promises cannot be immediately realized.
Reversal learning and attentional set-shifting in mice.

Abstract Schizophrenia is a complex developmental disorder that presents challenges to modern neuroscience in terms of discovering etiology and aiding in effective treatment of afflicted humans. One approach is to divide the constellation of symptoms of human neuropsychiatric disorders into discrete units for study. Multiple animal models are used to study brain ontogeny, response to psychoactive compounds, substrates of defined behaviors. Frontal cortical areas have been found to have abnormal anatomy and neurotransmitter levels in postmortem brains from schizophrenic patients. The mouse model has the advantage of rather straightforward genetic manipulation and offers numerous genetic variations within the same species. However, until recently, the behavioral analyses in the mice lagged behind the primate and rat, especially with respect to testing of frontal cortical regions. Current reports of mouse prefrontal anatomy and function advocate the mouse as a feasible animal model to study prefrontal cortical function. This review highlights the most recent developments from behavioral paradigms for testing orbital and medial prefrontal cortical function in pharmacological and genetic models of human schizophrenia. This article is part of a special issue entitled ‘Schizophrenia’.
Real-time structural health monitoring of live loads on a flat commercial roof

There is an increased interest in sensing technologies to meet the challenges in the engineering and construction fields. These technologies will help us better monitor and evaluate structural performance and health. This research presents a framework for a stochastic design of an early warning system for buildings by introducing a risk measure as the reference variable that encapsulates the different effects retrieved by the monitoring instruments. Bayesian Network was implemented to develop the proposed early warning system. Within a decision-making framework, the risk measure serves as the index for defining the system warning thresholds. In order to develop the framework, it is necessary to build a sensor equipped monitoring system first. This paper addresses development of a structural health monitoring system for Katherine Harper Hall at Appalachian State University, NC, USA as a very useful approach to improve the safety of the building. It proposes a framework for a stochastic design of an early warning system to avoid, or at least mitigate the impact posed to building occupants by a threat related to live loads.
Optimal wireless scheduling with interference cancellation

Interference cancelation (IC) can provide significant gains in wireless networks with strong interference, that arise, for example, in emerging femto- and picocellular deployments. This paper consider the problem of optimal downlink rate selection in networks where each mobile can perform IC on up to one interferer. When mobiles are capable of IC, it is argued that rate selection can play an analogous roles as power control by permitting a tradeoff between rates on the desired link with “cancellability” on interfering links. A utility maximizing scheduler based on loopy belief propagation is presented that enables computationally-efficient local processing and low communication overhead. It is shown that the fixed points of the method are provably globally optimal for arbitrary (potentially non-convex) rate and utility functions. In addition, the result applies to an arbitrary networks where the interference is determined by a single dominant interferer, for which the IC problem is a special case. Simulations are presented in industry standard femtocellular network models.
Fiber optic sensors for health monitoring of morphing airframes : I. Bragg grating strain and temperature sensor

Fiber optic sensors are being developed for health monitoring of future aircraft. Aircraft health monitoring involves the use of strain, temperature, vibration and chemical sensors to infer integrity of the aircraft structure. Part 1 of this two part series describes sensors that will measure load and temperature signatures of these structures. In some cases a single fiber may be used for measuring these parameters. Part 2 will describe techniques for using optical fibers to monitor composite cure in real time during manufacture and to monitor in-service integrity of composite structures using a single fiber optic sensor capable of measuring multiple chemical and physical parameters. The facilities for fabricating optical fiber and associated sensors and the methods of demodulating Bragg gratings for strain measurement will be described.
Induction of a 70kD protein associated with the selective cytotoxicity of beta-carotene in human epidermal carcinoma

Beta-carotene and canthaxanthin at concentrations of 70 or 300 microM were shown to inhibit the proliferation of cultured human squamous cells (SK-MES lung carcinoma and SCC-25 oral carcinoma) in a 5 hr cell density assay. Responses were similar for both tumor cell lines, ranging from 71-84% inhibition. In contrast, equimolar concentrations of alpha-tocopherol gave only 19-36% inhibition of SCC-25, but 50-75% inhibition of SK-MES cell density. Equimolar reduced glutathione resulted in 4-15% stimulation of SCC-25 and 22-25% inhibition of SK-MES cell proliferation. With cultured normal keratinocytes, treated final cell densities did not differ significantly from those of controls. Two additional assays measuring the metabolic generation of formazan (MTT assay) and [5-3H]thymidine incorporation were in substantial agreement with the growth inhibition pattern. Thus both continuous and cyclic cellular processes are involved in the tumor-specific response. Onset of the response to beta-carotene alone or in combination with alpha-tocopherol is signalled within 1-2 hours of treatment by the appearance of a unique 70 kD heat-shock protein.
Characterization of nanophase materials by x-ray diffraction and computer simulation

X-ray diffraction experiments on nanophase Pd have been performed with the primary goal of determining the nature of grain boundary structures in nanophase materials. A kinematical diffraction analysis has been developed to interpret x-ray θ-2θ data by comparing actual scans with scans produced by computer simulation. This simulation program has been used to explore the effects on diffracted intensity of a variety of microstructural and grain boundary structural parameters such as void concentration, grain size, grain boundary width, and changes in interplanar spacing and density in grain boundary regions. It has been found that a reasonable match to experimental data is produced by at least two model structures; in one, the material contains randomly positioned voids or vacancies, while in the other, the interplanar spacings in grain boundary regions are varied with respect to the spacings found in the grain interiors.
Comparison of immunomagnetic separation/adenosine triphosphate rapid method to traditional culture-based method for E. coli and enterococci enumeration in wastewater.

Untreated wastewater samples from California, North Carolina, and Ohio were analyzed by the immunomagnetic separation/adenosine triphosphate (IMS/ATP) method and the traditional culture-based method for E. coli and enterococci concentrations. The IMS/ATP method concentrates target bacteria by immunomagnetic separation and then quantifies captured bacteria by measuring bioluminescence induced by release of ATP from the bacterial cells. Results from this method are available within 1 h from the start of sample processing. Significant linear correlations were found between the IMS/ATP results and results from traditional culture-based methods for E. coli and enterococci enumeration for one location in California, two locations in North Carolina, and one location in Ohio (r values ranged from 0.87 to 0.97). No significant linear relation was found for a second location in California that treats a complex mixture of residential and industrial wastewater. With the exception of one location, IMS/ATP showed promise as a rapid method for the quantification of faecal-indicator organisms in wastewater.
Reducing cytotoxicity induced by Sindbis viral vectors.

Sindbis virus has been recognized as a potentially useful virus vector for gene therapy. In an effort to improve its utility and provide cell-targeting capability to gene therapy vectors, we recently developed Sindbis virus vectors possessing chimeric envelopes with cell-specific targeting ability [K. Ohno et al. Nature Biotechnol 15:763-767, 1997; K. Sawai et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 248:315-323, 1998]. However, a residual problem associated with Sindbis virus vectors is the apoptotic effect of this virus on infected cells. To address this issue, we have studied the possible role of bcl-2 expression. Bcl-2 expression has been postulated to facilitate the establishment of persistent Sindbis viral infection by blocking virus-induced apoptosis. In this study we produced a Sindbis virus vector capable of expressing human bcl-2 and the reporter gene, lacZ. This chimeric virus (SinRep/lacZ/bcl-2/DH-BB) showed a marked reduction in induced apoptosis in infected cells. For example, after infection with this vector, cell proliferation of BHK cells was 55% of that of uninfected cells 2 days after infection and 40% 3 days after infection. While this reflected a significant degree of apoptosis, the effect was much less pronounced than that seen with wild-type Sindbis virus. Cell proliferation was reduced to 26% 2 days after wild-type virus infection of BHK cells and to only 7% 3 days after infection. Although additional work will be required to eliminate apoptosis induced by Sindbis virus vectors, the studies reported here suggest that such a goal may be achievable after additional modification of the vectors.
Could a continuous measure of individual transmissible risk be useful in clinical assessment of substance use disorder? Findings from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

Objective Toward meeting the need for a measure of individual differences in substance use disorder (SUD) liability that is grounded in the multifactorial model of SUD transmission, this investigation tested to what degree transmissible SUD risk is better measured using the continuous Transmissible Liability Index (TLI) (young adult version) compared to alternative contemporary clinical methods.
Stabilization of a stochastic nonlinear economy

Abstract Methodology for dynamical systems described by nonlinear stochastic differential equations is applied to economic systems, particularly the Phillips-Turnovsky model, generalizing the model further to nonlinear terms and stochastic coefficients and inputs, to determine expectations and correlation matrices for the variables which represent solution processes of a set of coupled equations. The theory is quite general and will apply if the model is changed to use different nonlinear forms, e.g., for taxes as a function of income, or different statistics for fluctuations (which need not be stationary or Gaussian or small), or, to include retarded effects.
The impact of a stress induction task on tic frequencies in youth with Tourette Syndrome.

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Tic fluctuations are common and thought to be attributable in part, to contextual variables. Stress is one such variable, but its effects and mechanism of action are poorly understood. The current study measured the effects of a stress induction task on tic frequencies during periods of suppression and non-suppression of tics. Ten youth with TS between the ages of 9 and 17 were exposed to four conditions in random sequence: free-to-tic baseline (BL), reinforced tic suppression (SUP), reinforced tic suppression plus a stress induction task (SUP + STRESS), and a stress induction task alone (STRESS). Tic frequencies did not differ during STRESS and BL. Tic frequencies were greater in SUP + STRESS than SUP. Stress may impact tics through disrupting suppression efforts. Clinically, results suggest that interventions designed to improve tic inhibition in the presence of acute stressors may be beneficial.
Acoustic analyses of speech changes after maxillectomy and prosthodontic management.

Abstract Acoustic speech patterns of five maxillofacial surgery patients were examined before and after prosthodontic reconstruction to determine the effectiveness of a maxillary prosthesis for eliminating (or reducing) nasal resonances. Vowel formant frequencies were measured for /i/ (as in seep) and /u/ (as in soup). Within-subject, across test-session comparisons were made by using analysis of variance techniques. Prosthodontic restoration significantly reduced the nasal resonances in all patients by either (1) completely eliminating the resonances, (2) reducing the amplitude of the resonances, or (3) changing the frequency of the resonances to more nearby regions of the vowels.
The Effect of Sexual Integration of a Reform Institution on Adolescent Females' Perceptions of Adolescent Males

Abstract Three days prior to sexual integration of a residential school for delinquent adolescent females, 85 students participated in a survey of attitudes towards boys. Factor analysis of the 21 item survey yielded eight factors. The Ss also completed a semantic differential (SD) for “myself,” “boy,” and “girl.” Ss were assigned to one of three gender-identity groups for male identification, female identification, and uncertain identification based on SD profile matching. A second survey was conducted two months after sexual integration of the school. Data were collected on 49 of the original sample. Results showed significant changes for the male identity group toward rejection of the male role. The uncertain identity group increased identification with the feminine role. As anticipated, no changes appeared for the female identity group. Findings suggest that sexual integration of adolescent reform institutions is effective in avoiding sex-role diffusion.
Do Gabor functions provide appropriate descriptions of visual cortical receptive fields?: comment

In a recent paper [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A7, 1362 ( 1990)], Stork and Wilson claim that Gaussian derivatives are the real-valued functions that minimize the uncertainty product (Δx)(Δω) and that therefore this series provides a plausible description of single cortical receptive fields. However, there are errors in their analysis, and therefore the claim is wrong.
The politics of hydropower: developing the Mekong

Abstract With renewed economic interest in the Southeast Asian region following the `peace dividend' of the early 1990s, numerous hydrodevelopment plans have been initiated in the Mekong basin. The river-as-resource, in a glibly bioregional metaphor, has been transformed from a Cold War `front line' into a `corridor of commerce', drawing six riparian states together in the pursuit of sustainable development through economic and infrastructural integration and cooperation, promoted by multi- and bilateral donors and lending institutions. Through a brief examination of the discursive framing of Mekong hydrodevelopment, this paper uncovers some of the implications of an emerging regional geopolitical imagination centred on the naturalising metaphor of the watershed. Through a discussion of the increasing involvement of private capital, and the politicisation of resource use, the implications of hydrodevelopment for Laos, an upstream state currently undergoing major hydrodevelopment, and Cambodia, a downstream state, are explored.
Patient source of learning about health technologies and ratings of trust in technologies used in their care.

In order to design effective health technologies and systems, it is important to understand how patients learn and make decisions about health technologies used in their care. The objective of this study was to examine patients' source of learning about technologies used in their care and how the source related to their trust in the technology was used. Individual face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted with 24 patients. Altogether, 13 unique sources of information about technology were identified and three major themes emerged: outside of the work system vs. inside the work system; when the health information was provided; the medium used. Patients used multiple sources outside of the healthcare work system to learn about technologies that will be used in their care. Results showed a relationship between learning about technologies from web sources and trust in technologies but no relationship between learning about technologies from healthcare providers and trust in technologies. Statement ...
Existence and convergence theorems for doubly nonlinear partial differential equations of elliptic-parabolic type

Here T> 0, V,U = (&/ax,, au/ax,, . . . . au/ax,), and B, is a map from RN x (0, T) x R x RN into R for each i = 1, . . . . N, satisfying certain conditions to be specified at a later time. A precise formulation of (1.1) is given in Section 3. For given u0 and f we study the existence of weak solutions of (1.1). Although doubly nonlinear equations of the type (1.1) are of mathematical interest in their own right, they arise as a model for a variety of diffusion problems. In particular, they comprise in a unifying scheme, free-boundary problems of different natures. An example situation is nonstationary saturated-unsaturated flow of an incompressible fluid through a porous medium in the case of time-dependent water levels. A weak formulation of this problem leads to equations of the type (1.1); see [2]. However, a large held of application for our results is the diffusion problem involving a solid-liquid phase change of the Stefan type. An architypical example is heat transfer during solidification in a nonhomogeneous 205
Waterbird use of coastal impoundments and management implications in east-central Florida

Monthly surveys were conducted on Kennedy Space Center for one year to determine densities of waterbirds within impounded salt marshes that were predominantly open water with little emergent vegetation. The objective was to assess the importance of these impoundments to waterbirds, particularly wading birds, which are species of special conservation concern. Water-level management for mosquito control and waterfowl provided habitat for an abundance of ducks, shorebirds, coots, and wading birds. Average densities throughout the year for these groups were 5.26, 4.12, 2.80, and 2.20 birds/ha, respectively. The majority of waterfowl were present during the winter. Shorebirds were most common during spring migration. Wading bird densities increased with declining water level. Due to the extensive alteration and development of coastal wetlands in central Florida, properly managed impoundments may provide important feeding areas for maintaining certain waterbird populations.
Leaf photosynthesis and carbon isotope discrimination of cotton in response to potassium deficiency

Abstract Leaf photosynthesis and stable carbon isotope composition in response to potassium (K) deficiency was determined with cotton. Cotton plants were grown in sand-filled 8-l pots under two K treatments in a growth chamber at the Altheimer Laboratory in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Plants were watered every second day with nutrient solution and with deionized water on alternate days. At 14 days after planting (the fourth true leaf stage) the treatments were established consisting of (1) continued complete nutrient solution, and (2) nutrient solution containing no K. Leaf photosynthesis and related gas exchange measurements were taken 13, 19, and 26 days later. Leaf samples from each analysis date were then dried and reserved for nutrient and carbon isotope analyses. Photosynthesis declined as the K deficiency developed in the no-K treatment. Decreased ∂A/∂ci and increased Γ also resulted from declined leaf K concentration, which is attributed to changes in A and respiration in the light. Potassium deficiency also resulted in increased stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to A. Gas exchange studies showed stomatal conductance was most limiting to A at 13 days after treatment establishment (DATE), whereas instantaneous measurements at 19 and 26 DATE indicated non-stomatal conductances were most limiting. However, carbon isotope analyses, which integrated stomatal and non-stomatal conductances over the entire analysis period, indicated that the most limiting resistance to A was stomatal. We conclude from these studies that, during a mild K deficiency, increased stomatal resistance is first to result in a decrease in A and, as the deficiency becomes more acute, biochemical factors also contribute.
Collision of two black holes: An analytic nonlinear approximation technique

Using geodesical and antisymmetric slicing we calculate in lowest order the three-metric for the problem of two colliding black holes. We also show how the appropriate choice of the lapse and shift functions influences the coordinate shear and the smoothness of the three-metric.
Poverty Among Adults with Disabilities: Barriers to Promoting Asset Accumulation in Individual Development Accounts

Adults with disabilities disproportionally experience poverty. We examine one novel strategy to promote economic well-being among adults with disabilities living in or near poverty, namely Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs are designed to help individuals save money and subsequently accumulate assets. Although adults with disabilities account for the majority of IDA participants, scant attention has been paid to their IDA saving performance. We describe the significance of accumulating assets, particularly as it relates to adults with disabilities. We then map the nature of IDA programs and analyze barriers to participation in IDAs and asset accumulation related to conflicting federal policies and a lack of sensitivity to disability-specific needs. We conclude by offering policy recommendations from our analysis, including the need to eliminate the means-tests used in welfare policies, de-linking participation in IDAs from employment status, and involving people with disabilities in designing and evaluating asset accumulation policies and programs.
Ikaros in hemopoietic lineage determination and homeostasis

Studies on the molecular mechanisms that control hemopoietic differentiation have focused on signaling cascades and nuclear effectors that drive this complex developmental system in a regulated fashion. Here we review the role of Ikaros, the founding member of a unique family of zinc finger transcription factors in this developmental process. Studies on an Ikaros null mutation have revealed an essential role for this factor in lymphoid cell fate determination and at subsequent branch points of the T cell differentiation pathway. Differences in the phenotypes of a null and a dominant negative (DN) Ikaros mutation provide insight into a regulatory network through which Ikaros proteins exert their effects in development. In addition a comparative analysis of the hemopoietic stem cell and precursor compartment resulting from the two Ikaros mutations reveals a profound yet not absolute requirement for Ikaros in the production and differentiation of these populations.
An investigation into the cause of poor breeding performance in a beef suckler herd

The reproductive performance of beef suckler herds is a critical factor in determining their profitability. It can be affected by many factors, including nutrition, physical factors and infectious disease - often acting in complex combination. Careful herd-health planning and herd management, incorporating biosecurity and preventative medicine strategies, will assist in maximizing performance. Despite this, however, problems which require careful investigation to diagnose may still arise and, however unlikely, all possibilities should be considered.
Rab GTPases as regulators of endocytosis, targets of disease and therapeutic opportunities

Rab GTPases are well-recognized targets in human disease, although are underexplored therapeutically. Elucidation of how mutant or dysregulated Rab GTPases and accessory proteins contribute to organ specific and systemic disease remains an area of intensive study and an essential foundation for effective drug targeting. Mutation of Rab GTPases or associated regulatory proteins causes numerous human genetic diseases. Cancer, neurodegeneration and diabetes represent examples of acquired human diseases resulting from the up- or downregulation or aberrant function of Rab GTPases. The broad range of physiologic processes and organ systems affected by altered Rab GTPase activity is based on pivotal roles in responding to cell signaling and metabolic demand through the coordinated regulation of membrane trafficking. The Rab-regulated processes of cargo sorting, cytoskeletal translocation of vesicles and appropriate fusion with the target membranes control cell metabolism, viability, growth and differentiation. In this review, we focus on Rab GTPase roles in endocytosis to illustrate normal function and the consequences of dysregulation resulting in human disease. Selected examples are designed to illustrate how defects in Rab GTPase cascades alter endocytic trafficking that underlie neurologic, lipid storage, and metabolic bone disorders as well as cancer. Perspectives on potential therapeutic modulation of GTPase activity through small molecule interventions are provided.
A Simplified Technique for Producing an Ischemic Wound Model

One major obstacle in current diabetic wound research is a lack of an ischemic wound model that can be safely used in diabetic animals. Drugs that work well in non-ischemic wounds may not work in human diabetic wounds because vasculopathy is one major factor that hinders healing of these wounds. We published an article in 2007 describing a rabbit ear ischemic wound model created by a minimally invasive surgical technique. Since then, we have further simplified the procedure for easier operation. On one ear, three small skin incisions were made on the vascular pedicles, 1-2 cm from the ear base. The central artery was ligated and cut along with the nerve. The whole cranial bundle was cut and ligated, leaving only the caudal branch intact. A circumferential subcutaneous tunnel was made through the incisions, to cut subcutaneous tissues, muscles, nerves, and small vessels. The other ear was used as a non-ischemic control. Four wounds were made on the ventral side of each ear. This technique produces 4 ischemic wounds and 4 non-ischemic wounds in one animal for paired comparisons. After surgery, the ischemic ear was cool and cyanotic, and showed reduced movement and a lack of pulse in the ear artery. Skin temperature of the ischemic ear was 1-10 °C lower than that on the normal ear and this difference was maintained for more than one month. Ear tissue high-energy phosphate contents were lower in the ischemic ear than the control ear. Wound healing times were longer in the ischemic ear than in the non-ischemic ear when the same treatment was used. The technique has now been used on more than 80 rabbits in which 23 were diabetic (diabetes time ranging from 2 weeks to 2 years). No single rabbit has developed any surgical complications such as bleeding, infection, or rupture in the skin incisions. The model has many advantages, such as little skin disruption, longer ischemic time, and higher success rate, when compared to many other models. It can be safely used in animals with reduced resistance, and can also be modified to meet different testing requirements.
Molecular Dynamics Studies: The Effect of Phosphorylation in Saccharide Transporter System

Saccharides have a crucial role in our body not only as nutrition but also as recognition markers by forming glycoconjugates. Thus, the transport of absorbed saccharides into the cell is important to maintain the vital activity of all living organisms. In bacteria, saccharides are transported into cytosol through the cell membrane by phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS). Before the saccharides release into the cell, the saccharides are phosphorylated by phospho-transferase, and the phosphorylation prevents the saccharides from diffusing back across their transporter. The crystal structure of the membrane protein EIIC, which is the most important component of phosphotransferase, was identified by Zhou, et al. (2011) However, the transport mechanism of saccharides remains unclear. In this study, we explore the effect of the phosphorylation in the saccharide transport system by using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. To investigate the effect of the phosphorylation, we performed three simulations with no saccharide, saccharide, and phosphorylated saccharide in the binding sites. Thus, the simulations suggest that the phosphate group of phosphorylated saccharide affects the conformations of the gate region, resulting in opening the gate of EIIC. This study provides insights into the saccharide transport mechanism, and it could be a base for finding the reasonable mechanism of the saccharide transport and further experiments.
The seronegative spondyloarthropathies

The four seronegative spondyloarthropathies can be divided into two main groups by their pattern of sacroiliitis and spondylitis (Table 1). The axial skeletal changes of ankylosing spondylitis and enteropathic arthropathy are often indistinguishable, as are those of psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome. Early proximal appendicular joint involvement in ankylosing spondylitis is a poor prognostic sign except in women where peripheral arthritis is more common, but has a more benign course. Peripheral joint destruction in enteropathic arthropathy is rare because treatment of the bowel disease also treats the arthritis. Distal appendicular involvement is characteristic of psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome. Proliferative erosions and enthesitis, periostitis, and normal mineralization aid in differentiating psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome from rheumatoid arthritis. The distribution of arthritis also differs from that seen in classic rheumatoid arthritis, with asymmetry and involvement of the distal interphalangeal joints more common in psoriatic disease and Reiter's syndrome.
A model of kin-migration in plants

Migrants between plant populations may represent a random sample of the donor population or may be related, being identical in the extreme. There is considerable potential for kin-structured migration in many plant species through the co-dispersal of seeds from single individuals. Through simulation experiments we have shown that the greater the level of relatedness of migrants, the less a given level of migration counterbalances the effect of genetic drift among populations.
Fascination with the tiny: social negotiation through miniatures in Hellenistic Babylonia

AbstractThe tremendous diversity and variety of miniature objects in Hellenistic Babylonia reflects a social environment of intensive cross-cultural interaction and widespread change. Considering the aspect of miniaturization itself reveals how tiny things participated in this social transformation. Through their appealing and non-threatening materiality, miniatures established an intimate connection with their users that encouraged identity sharing and illusions of power over the outside world. Miniatures of performing bodies, such as musicians and theatrical masks, induced users to experiment with new enactments of Greek cultural identities. Soldiers, deities and other powerful bodies in miniature enabled fantasies of control over the wars and political upheavals endemic to Hellenistic Babylonia. Display-oriented figurines depicting interpersonal relationships encouraged self-identification and shaped new ideals of social behaviour. The miniature objects of Hellenistic Babylonia were more than just witn...
Synthetic aperture radar-moving target indicator processing of multi-channel airborne radar measurement data

Coherent signal processing methods for combining the data that are collected via a multi-channel airborne radar system for moving target detection and image formation, are examined. Methods that convert multi-channel radar data into dual along-track monopulse synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signals of the radiated scene, are studied. A two-dimensional adaptive filtering method that projects the data in one synthesised SAR channel into the signal subspace of the other, is used for blind calibration of the monopulse SAR signals and generation of the moving target indication statistic. The merits of these algorithms are studied using the data from the multi-channel airborne radar measurement system that has been developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Rome, New York.
Surface-emitting circular DFB, disk- and ring- Bragg resonator lasers with chirped gratings: a unified theory and comparative study

We have developed a theory that unifies the analysis of the modal properties of surface-emitting chirped circular grating lasers. This theory is based on solving the resonance conditions which involve two types of reflectivities of chirped circular gratings. This approach is shown to be in agreement with previous derivations which use the characteristic equations. Utilizing this unified analysis, we obtain the modal properties of circular DFB, disk-, and ring- Bragg resonator lasers. We also compare the threshold gain, single mode range, quality factor, emission efficiency, and modal area of these types of circular grating lasers. It is demonstrated that, under similar conditions, disk Bragg resonator lasers have the highest quality factor, the highest emission efficiency, and the smallest modal area, indicating their suitability in low-threshold, high-efficiency, ultracompact laser design, while ring Bragg resonator lasers have a large single mode range, high emission efficiency, and large modal area, indicating their suitability for high-efficiency, large-area, high-power applications.
Pathologic Response to Preoperative Systemic Therapy: The New Biological Paradigm for Predicting Outcome and Planning Therapy

Although breast cancer staging of the primary tumor (T stage) and lymph nodes (N stage) remains the single best predictor of relapse and survival, these staging studies are at best indirect measures of what we really need to know about the cancers we are treating. Breast cancer mortality is due neither to the presence of cancer in the breast nor in the axilla. Death is due to metastatic progression of drug-resistant cancer to distant organs, where gross disease burden ultimately overwhelms host defenses. As was shown in the breast conservation trials of the 1980s, systemic dissemination of invasive cancer occurs early in the course of progression, typically before the patient is ever diagnosed. 1 Thus, tumor size and nodal staging of cancer really are in vivo markers of biological aggression, representing the biological properties of micrometastatic cells already disseminated through the lymphatic and hematogenous circulations. Restated, the ultimate determinant of outcome for breast cancer patients is (1) the underlying biological aggressiveness of the cancer, counterbalanced by (2) the degree to which systemic therapy down-regulates or kills micrometastatic cancer cell clones. Unfortunately, we lack the technology to test for the presence of viable micrometastatic disease in distant organs and also lack the ability to conclusively predict before treatment which drug regimens will eradicate which cancers. Thus, one significant benefit of preoperative systemic therapy is that it provides direct in vivo evidence of chemosensitivity or chemoresistance for a given cancer and drug regimen within the host. In this issue of the Annals of Surgical Oncology , Newman and colleagues 2 reaffirm the emerging recognition that the underlying determinant of final outcome, beyond stage of cancer at presentation, is response of that cancer to systemic chemotherapy. Among node-positive patients, improved outcome is predicted by the degree of response to systemic therapy, as measured by evidence of disease regression in lymph nodes. These results suggest that, in addition to staging at diagnosis, we should also consider pathologic evidence of disease regression, indicating that the systemic treatment has been effective, at least for a significant portion of the primary tumor and nodal metastases.
Hydrolysis of Microcrystalline Cellulose in Subcritical and Supercritical Water in a Continuous Flow Reactor

For cellulosic ethanol production, efficient hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose to easily fermentable sugars is important. The focus of this study is to maximize the yield of cellulose hydrolysis in subcritical and supercritical water at practically achievable reaction times. Microcrystalline cellulose is treated with subcritical and supercritical water in a temperature range of 302−405 °C, at a pressure of 27.6 MPa, and residence times of 2.5−8.1 s. Cellulose−water slurry of 2.7 wt % after mixing with preheated water is rapidly heated to the reaction temperature and then the reaction product is rapidly cooled in a continuous reactor. Cellulose partially dissolves in subcritical water at 302 °C and completely dissolves at 330 °C. About 65% of cellulose converts to the oligomers and monomers at 335 °C in 4.8 s and also at 354 °C in 3.5 s. Upon increase in the reaction time or temperature to supercritical region, oligomers and monomers partially degrade to glycoaldehyde dimer, d-fructose, 1,3-dihydroxyacet...