cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vehicular networks in urban transportation systems

Recent results concerning the development and exploitation of wireless vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications in future generation intelligent transportation systems are discussed, as well as simulation techniques and tools used to effectively model such systems. Specifically, new algorithms to disseminate information in vehicle-to-vehicle networks have been developed, and their performance evaluated using simulation modeling of traffic along the I-75 corridor in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Work to validate the simulations models is summarized. Field experiments with wireless communication along I-75 are described, as well as extensions of these results to investigate communication architectures for vehicular networks. Results concerning multi-resolution simulation of urban transportation networks involving the use of aggregated data from regional planning models in microscopic traffic simulations are summarized.
An experimental investigation of trailing vortices behind a wing with a vortex dissipator

An experimental study was carried out on a rectangular wing in the NASA-Ames 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel. Flow visualization studies were made using a tuft grid and smoke. Preliminary studies showed that the introduction of a bluff body into the trailing vortex downstream of the wing resulted in modification of the vortex. Further studies showed that a small vertical panel, termed a vortex dissipater, mounted on the wing upper surface near the wing tip also caused modification of the vortex. Both the smoke and tuft grid visualization studies indicated that the dissipater caused a significant reduction in the maximum tangential velocities in the trailing vortex. Additional studies using a hot wire anemometer showed significant reductions in the magnitude of the tangential velocities, increases in the cross-sectional dimensions of the core of the dissipated vortex and changes in the turbulence structure. Limited flight tests with a dissipater fitted to a Convair 990 wing tip and using a Lear jet aircraft as a probe indicated that the rolling acceleration and the degree of roll control required was less in the modified vortex than in the unmodified vortex.
Thinking About Law and Creativity: On the 100 Most Creative Moments in American Law

In most cultural contexts creativity is viewed as an unalloyed virtue. Law is different: given the inherently conservative and slow-moving pace of legal evolution, innovation in the law is viewed by many observers as problematic. Yet American revolutionaries, constitutionalists, legislators, chief executives, judges, administrators, scholars and activists have creatively changed the law for over two centuries in mostly positive ways with some admittedly questionable innovations. This article makes a bold new proposal designed to energize and clarify our synoptic thinking about the nature of legal creativity. Starting with the opinions of numerous eminent legal historians on the most creative moments in Anglo-American law, we will explore the meaning of creative moments in law, and advance to analytically compare legal creativity with other kinds of creativity (corporate, artistic, military and rhetorical). Then we will heuristically entertain a ranking of the top hundred moments in American law and a justification for the ranking.
Positive eigenvalues of second order boundary value problems and a theorem of M. G. Krein

Conditions are given which guarantee that the least real eigenvalue is positive for certain boundary value problems for the vector-matrix equation -y + p(x)y = γω(x)y. This leads to conditions which guarantee the stable boundedness, according to Krein, for solutions of y + λp(x)y = 0 with certain real values of A. As a consequence, a result first stated by Krein is proven.
Assessment of Sexual Dysfunction and Sexually Related Personal Distress in Patients Who Have Undergone Orthotopic Liver Transplantation for End-stage Liver Disease

ABSTRACT Introduction Sexual dysfunction (SD) status post‐orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) for end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) has long been recognized. To date, there are no studies examining how sexually related personal distress (SRPD) impacts sexual function in this population. Aims To assess SD and SRPD in men and women who have undergone OLT for ESLD and to compare them with previously published reports on subjects without SD. Methods 283 subjects (182 men and 101 women) who underwent OLT since 2005 were mailed a survey. Men received the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Female Sexual Distress Scale—Revised (FSDS‐R). Women received the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the FSDS‐R. All surveys asked about the presence of a current sexual partner. Main Outcome Measures Total and subscale scores on the IIEF, the FSFI, and the FSDS‐R. Results Ninety‐six patients (33.9%) completed and returned the surveys consisting of 34 women (33.7%) and 62 men (34.0%). Also, 83.9% of men and 88.2% of women reported having an available sexual partner. Two‐thirds of men and three‐quarters of women were sexually active. In all domains, IIEF demonstrates that men have mild to moderate SD. FSFI demonstrates that women also have SD. Both genders reported relatively mild SRPD based on FSDS‐R. Compared to previously published controls, all domain values were lower in both genders. Conclusion The IIEF, FSFI, and SDS‐R results demonstrate that men and women who undergo OLT do exhibit mild to moderate SD. Their distress, though, is also mild to moderate, as evidenced by a high rate of continued sexual activity after OLT. Therefore, although SD may be widely prevalent in people who undergo OLT, aggressive intervention may not be warranted so long as the level of sexual distress remains low. Park ES, Villanueva CA, Viers BR, Siref AB, and Feloney MP. Assessment of sexual dysfunction and sexually related personal distress in patients who have undergone orthotopic liver transplantation for end‐stage liver disease. J Sex Med 2011;8:2292–2298.
Electromagnetic fields due to overhead and buried high-voltage power-lines: a quantitative comparison

Possible health hazards due to nonionizing radiations emanating from high-voltage power-lines are addressed. Specifically, the magnetic field due to power-line radiation has been considered as an etiological factor in some form(s) of childhood cancer. An investigation of the possibility of reducing the magnetic field effect nEar the earth's surface by burying the power lines was conducted. The overall electromagnetic field distributions due to buried and overhead lines are elucidated and the explicit advantages (if any) in burying cables are verified quantitatively. It is concluded that it is indeed possible to suppress the magnetic field influence near the Earth's surface by burying the high-voltage cable. The extent of suppression will vary considerably in relation to proximity and stand-off regions. Suppression of magnetic influence near the Earth's surface is effective when the buried cable has minimum conductance leakage of energy into the surrounding medium. >
Critical Media Literacy: Crucial Policy Choices for a Twenty-First-Century Democracy.

The concept of critical media literacy expands the notion of literacy to include different forms of mass communication and popular culture, as well as deepens the potential of literacy education to...
Partial Power, Partial Knowledge: Accounting for the Dis-Integration of a Costa Rican Cooperative

Drawing on the writings of Foucault, we argue that the multiple-service cooperative at the core of a Costa Rican highland municipality failed due to an incomplete transformation from sovereign to governmental regimes at the regional scale. The cooperative challenged sovereign power, held by the local patron and private biological reserves, with a governance model based on the individual as a unit of productivity, principles of democratic participation, and maintenance of social well-being in a market context. The recent institutional disintegration of the cooperative into smaller autonomous organizations stems from the co-op's incomplete enforcement of cooperative codes of accountability in participation and participation in accounting, exacerbated by global-scale factors. The Foucauldian lens illuminates the history of CoopeSantaElena, showing how well-intentioned agents need transparent, enabling structures to shape sustainable trajectories on the economic, social, and biophysical landscape.
Adjuvant effects of lithium chloride on human mononuclear cells in suppressor-enriched and suppressor-depleted systems

Abstract Lithium enhances several in vitro indices of immune function, including thymidine uptake by mitogen-stimulated human mononuclear cells. To further characterize the mechanism of action of lithium and to determine whether it acts by abrogating cell suppressor cell by enhancing helper cell function, we have compared the effects of lithium on the mitogenic response of normal, suppressor-depleted and suppressor-enriched mononuclear cell preparations. In normal cultures, lithium enhanced thymidine uptake in response to concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In the suppressor-depleted cultures, thymidine uptake after Con A stimulation was significantly higher than in normal cultures, and was further enhanced by lithium. In the suppressor-enriched system, response to PHA was significantly lower than in normal cultures, and addition of lithium reversed the observed suppression. These results indicate that lithium may be enhancing thymidine uptake in response to mitogen at least in part by abrogating suppressor cell activity. The observed increase in thymidine incorporation in the suppressor-depleted cultures suggests that lithium may also have a direct stimulatory effect on helper cell activity.
Patient specific proteolytic activity of monocyte-derived macrophages and osteoclasts predicted with temporal kinase activation states during differentiation

Patient-to-patient variability in disease progression continues to complicate clinical decisions of treatment regimens for cardiovascular diseases, metastatic cancers and osteoporosis. Here, we investigated if monocytes, circulating white blood cells that enter tissues and contribute to disease progression by differentiating into macrophages or osteoclasts, could be useful in understanding this variability. Monocyte-derived macrophages and osteoclasts produce cysteine cathepsins, powerful extracellular matrix proteases which have been mechanistically linked to accelerated atherosclerotic, osteoporotic, and tumor progression. We hypothesized that multivariate analysis of temporal kinase activation states during monocyte differentiation could predict cathepsin proteolytic responses of monocyte-derived macrophages and osteoclasts in a patient-specific manner. Freshly isolated primary monocytes were differentiated with M-CSF or RANKL into macrophages or osteoclasts, respectively, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt, p38 MAPK, JNK, c-jun, and IκB-α were measured at days 1, 3, 6, and 9. In parallel, cell diameters and numbers of nuclei were measured, and multiplex cathepsin zymography was used to quantify cathepsins K, L, S, and V activity from cell extracts and conditioned media. There was extensive patient-to-patient variability in temporal kinase activation states, cell morphologies, and cathepsin K, L, S, and V proteolytic activity. Partial least squares regression models trained with temporal kinase activation states successfully predicted patient-specific morphological characteristics (mean cell diameter and number of nuclei) and patient-specific cathepsin proteolytic activity with predictability as high as 95%, even with the challenge of incorporating the complex, unknown cues from individual patients' unique genetic and biochemical backgrounds. This personalized medicine approach considers patient variability in kinase signals to predict cathepsin activity. Such analyses may provide beneficial tools for personalized kinase and protease inhibitor therapies for tissue destructive diseases.
A novel MEMS nano-tribometer for dynamic testing in-situ in SEM and TEM

We present the design and fabrication of a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) tribometer with normal and lateral force resolutions of 100 and 1 nano-Newton, respectively and bandwidth of 50 kHz. The small size of the tribometer (2 × 2 × 0.3 mm) allows simultaneously quantitative and qualitative dynamic testing in electron microscopes.
Effect of heparin on edema after second- and third-degree burns.

Heparin has been reported to decrease wound edema as well as improve the clearance of excess fluid after thermal injury. No quantitative data on burn edema are available to support these statements. We studied the effect of heparin in therapeutic doses on edema formation and resorption in the sheep hind limb after deep second (85°C)- or third (95°C)-degree burns. Heparin was given as a continuous infusion for 24 hr to increase clotting time 2.5-fold. We used dichromatic absorptiometry, a noninvasive, sensitive method for measuring tissue fluid, to quantitate edema. We found that heparin did not decrease the quantity of edema produced after a second-degree burn or increase the rate of resorption. In a variable third-degree burn, heparin treatment resulted in a significant increase in tissue edema (P < 0.005). Clearance of edema was markedly decreased after a third-degree burn as compared to second degree. Heparin did not improve this process.
Complementary and alternative medicine: evidence-based resources for consumers.

While the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing among consumers, in many cases its use is not adopted or accepted by practitioners of Western medicine or by the health care system. Therapies should be accepted on the basis of scientific evidence of benefit or efficacy of the particular therapy when used for treating a specific condition or illness. A selected list of evidence-based CAM resources is provided in this article.
Immune‐challenged house wren broods differ in the relative strengths of their responses among different axes of the immune system

Single components of the immune system are widely used to assess immune function in free-living vertebrates. However, as different immunological components are triggered by different types of threats and may be regulated independently, there is little reason to assume that they should respond similarly if challenged. We investigated whether three commonly assayed immune responses, cutaneous immune activity (phytohaemagglutinin assay), antibody response (tetanus toxoid immunization), and plasma bactericidal activity (Escherichia coli killing) are positively related in nestling house wrens (Troglodytes aedon). Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in overall immune responsiveness among broods (i.e. nests), primarily attributable to differences in plasma bactericidal activity. Among broods, humoral immune response was negatively related to cutaneous immune activity and positively related to plasma bactericidal activity. We found no significant relationships among these measures of immunity among individual nestlings within broods. Our results suggest that different broods (i.e. families) invest differentially in the various branches of the immune system. Further study is needed to characterize the roles of maternal, genetic and environmental effects on the expression of this physiological bias.
Measurement of the isotope enrichment of stable isotope-labeled proteins using high-resolution mass spectra of peptides.

Stable isotope-enriched molecules are used as internal standards and as tracers of in vivo substrate metabolism. The accurate conversion of measured ratios in the mass spectrometer to mole ratios is complicated because a polyatomic molecule containing enriched atoms will result in a combinatorial distribution of isotopomers depending on the enrichment and number of “labeled” atoms. This effect could potentially cause a large error in the mole ratio measurement depending on which isotope peak or peaks were used to determine the ratio. We report a computational method that predicts isotope distributions over a range of enrichments and compares the predicted distributions to experimental peptide isotope distributions obtained by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Our approach is accurate with measured enrichments within 1.5% of expected isotope distributions. The method is also precise with 4.9, 2.0, and 0.8% relative standard deviations for peptides containing 59, 79, and 99 atom %...
Nonlinear Force-free Modeling of a Long-lasting Coronal Sigmoid

A study of the magnetic configuration and evolution of a long-lasting quiescent coronal sigmoid is presented. The sigmoid was observed by Hinode/XRT and Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) between 2007 February 6 and 12 when it finally erupted. We construct nonlinear force-free field models for several observations during this period, using the flux-rope insertion method. The high spatial and temporal resolution of the X-Ray Telescope (XRT) allows us to finely select best-fit models that match the observations. The modeling shows that a highly sheared field, consisting of a weakly twisted flux rope embedded in a potential field, very well describes the structure of the X-ray sigmoid. The flux rope reaches a stable equilibrium, but its axial flux is close to the stability limit of about 5 × 1020 Mx. The relative magnetic helicity increases with time from February 8 until just prior to the eruption on February 12. We study the spatial distribution of the torsion parameter α in the vicinity of the flux rope, and find that it has a hollow-core distribution, i.e., electric currents are concentrated in a current layer at the boundary between the flux rope and its surroundings. The current layer is located near the bald patch separatrix surface (BPSS) of the magnetic configuration, and the X-ray emission appears to come from this current layer/BPSS, consistent with the Titov and Demoulin model. We find that the twist angle Φ of the magnetic field increases with time to about 2π just prior to the eruption, but never reaches the value necessary for the kink instability.
A dynamic injection operator in a multigrid solution of convection-diffusion equations†

SUMMARY A multigrid method is studied for the solution of a linear system resulting from the high-order nine-point discretization of the convection-diffusion equations. The residual injection operator is used as a substitute for the usual full-weighting in the multigrid process. A heuristic analysis is given to obtain a dynamic injection operator that is cost-effective for both diffusion- and convection-dominated problems. Numerical experiments are employed to test the stability and efficiency of the proposed method. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ribosomal proteins S3, S6, S8 and S10 of Escherichia coli localized on the external surface of the small subunit by immune electron microscopy☆

The three-dimensional locations of Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins S3, 86, S8 and S10 on the surface of the small subunit were determined by immune electron microscopy. All four proteins are located on the “external surface” of the small subunit; i.e. on the side of the subunit in contact with the cytosol in the 70 S ribosome. Proteins S3, S6, S8 and S10 map at single sites, although the S3 site is extended approximately 40A along the long axis of the subunit. S8 is located near the base of the cleft separating the platform from the upper one-third or head; protein S10 is located in the head, near the site previously mapped for S14; S3 extends from the level of the constriction to near the top of the head in the vicinity of S10; and S6 is located on the platform of the small subunit near the site previously mapped for S11. The locations of these proteins correlate well with other information on their spatial relationships obtained from assembly interactions, neutron diffraction, crosslinking and protein associations.
Balancing Work and Family After Childbirth: A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract Background In the United States, women with young children have dramatically increased their participation in the workforce, resulting in greater potential conflict between work and family roles. However, few studies have examined postpartum work–family conflict. This study examined associations between work–family conflict and women’s health after childbirth. Methods Employed women, 18 years of age and older, were recruited while hospitalized for childbirth and followed for 18 months ( n = 541; 66% response rate). Health outcomes were measured using the Short Form 12, version 2. Longitudinal fixed-effects models estimated the associations between work–family conflict (modeled as job and home spillover) and health. Results Women who reported high levels of job spillover to home had mental health scores slightly, but significantly, worse than women who reported low levels of spillover (β = −1.26; SE = 0.47). Women with medium and high levels of home spillover to job also reported worse mental health (β = −0.81, SE = 0.30; and β = −1.52, SE = 0.78) relative to those with low spillover. Women who reported medium (versus low) levels of home spillover reported slightly improved physical health (β = 0.64, SE = 0.30). There was no significant association between job spillover and physical health. Conclusion This study focused exclusively on employed postpartum women. Results illustrate that job and home spillover are associated with maternal mental and physical health. Findings also revealed that flexible work arrangements were associated with poorer postpartum mental health scores, which may reflect unintended consequences, such as increasing the amount of work brought home.
Infrared Line Shape of an α-Carbon Deuterium-Labeled Amino Acid

The viability of α-carbon deuterated bonds (Cα−D) as infrared (IR) probes of protein backbone dynamics was explored through a combination of experiment and theory. α-Carbon deuterated alanine (Ala-d1) served as a convenient model system for a comparison of experiment, density functional theory (DFT), and combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations of the Cα−D IR line shape. In addition to the primary Cα−D absorption, the experimental spectrum contains three features that likely result from Fermi resonances. DFT calculations supported the assignments and identified the lower frequency modes participating in the Fermi resonances. A QM/MM simulation of the Ala-d1 line shape was in qualitative agreement with the experiment, including the presence of classical analogues of Fermi resonances. These studies demonstrated that the Cα−D line shape is sensitive, via Fermi resonances, to lower frequency collective vibrations that are expected to play a role in protein dynamics and function, an...
miR-140-3p regulation of TNF-α-induced CD38 expression in human airway smooth muscle cells

CD38, a membrane protein expressed in airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells, plays a role in cellular Ca(2+) dynamics and ASM contractility. In human ASM (HASM) cells, TNF-α induces CD38 expression through activation of MAPKs, NF-κB, and AP-1, and its expression is differentially elevated in cells from asthmatic patients compared with cells from nonasthmatic subjects. The CD38 3'-untranslated region (UTR) has targets for miR-140-3p. We hypothesized that miR-140-3p regulates CD38 expression in HASM cells by altering CD38 mRNA stability. Basal and TNF-α-induced expression of miR-140-3p was determined in nonasthmatic ASM (NAASM) and asthmatic ASM (AASM) cells. NAASM and AASM cells were transfected with control, miR-140-3p mimic, or miR-140-3p antagomirs, and CD38 expression and CD38 mRNA stability were determined. Luciferase reporter assays were used to determine miR-140-3p binding to the CD38 3'-UTR. Activation of p38, ERK, and JNK MAPKs, NF-κB, and AP-1 was determined in miR-140-3p mimic-transfected NAASM. TNF-α attenuated miR-140-3p expression in NAASM and AASM cells, but at a greater magnitude in AASM cells. CD38 mRNA expression was attenuated by miR-140-3p mimic at comparable magnitude in NAASM and AASM cells. Mutated miR-140-3p target on the CD38 3'-UTR reversed the inhibition of luciferase activity by miR-140-3p mimic. CD38 mRNA stability was unaltered by miR-140-3p mimic in NAASM or AASM cells following arrest of transcription. TNF-α-induced activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB was attenuated by miR-140-3p mimic. The findings indicate that miR-140-3p modulates CD38 expression in HASM cells through direct binding to the CD38 3'-UTR and indirect mechanisms involving activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB. Furthermore, indirect mechanisms appear to play a major role in the regulation of CD38 expression.
GENETIC CONTROL OF THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO TYPE III PNEUMOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE IN MICE : II. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IgM IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS AND THE ABILITY TO GIVE AN IgM ANTIBODY RESPONSE

Serum IgM immunoglobulin levels and antibody responses to an optimally immunogenic dose of Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) were assessed for F1, F2, and backcross progeny derived from crosses between high responding BALB/cAnN (B) and low responding CBA/HN (C) mice. The results obtained confirmed our original hypothesis, namely, that a major component, present on the X chromosome, governs the ability to respond to SSS-III in a decisive manner. Although all low responding C mice had low IgM levels, both intermediate and high responders had high IgM levels of the same magnitude. Treatment with bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) resulted in a significant increase in the IgM levels of low responding C mice. While the IgM levels attained were similar to those of high responding B mice, not given LPS, no antibody specific for LPS appeared to be produced. These findings suggest that C mice are unable to make an IgM antibody response to SSS-III and other polysaccharide antigens, despite the fact that they possess the capacity to synthesize normal amounts of IgM immunoglobulin.
One-Phonon Vibronic Transition T 2 g 3 − A 2 g 3 of Ni 2 + in MgO

The near infrared emission of MgO: ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{2+}$ at 77 and 5 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K is reported. At helium temperature the spectrum consists of one sharp zero-phonon line between the ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{3g}(^{3}T_{2g},{t}_{2g}^{5}{e}_{g}^{3})$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{5g}(^{3}A_{2g},{t}_{2g}^{6}{e}_{g}^{2})$ states, and an accompanying vibrational sideband. On the assumption that the perturbation giving rise to this sideband comes from an interaction of the impurity ion with its nearest neighbors, the intensity of the band can be described in terms of a weighted sum of localized Green's functions. A calculation of these functions is made based on a lattice-dynamical shell model. By taking a semiempirical admixture of the various calculated Green's functions, a good comparison with the one-phonon sideband is obtained. The agreement is shown to remain fair when using admixtures determined by considering a model where the ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{2+}$ ion experiences a varying electrostatic potential because of the motion of point-charge nearest neighbors.
Danish records on Ghana in the National Archives of Ghana

No Abstract. Institute of African Studies: Research Review Volume Research Review Supplement 17 2006: pp. 107-110
Opposing Effects of Protein Kinase Cα and Protein Kinase Cϵ on Collagen Expression by Human Lung Fibroblasts Are Mediated via MEK/ERK and Caveolin-1 Signaling *

The roles of MEK, ERK, the epsilon and alpha isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC), and caveolin-1 in regulating collagen expression were studied in normal lung fibroblasts. Knocking down caveolin-1 gave particularly striking results. A 70% decrease caused a 5-fold increase in MEK/ERK activation and collagen expression. The combined data reveal a branched signaling pathway. In its central portion MEK activates ERK, leading to increased collagen expression. Two branches converge on MEK/ERK. In one, increased PKCepsilon leads to MEK/ERK activation. In another, increased PKCalpha induces caveolin-1 expression, which in turn inhibits MEK/ERK activation and collagen expression. Lung fibroblasts from scleroderma patients with pulmonary fibrosis showed altered signaling. Consistent with their overexpression of collagen, scleroderma lung fibroblasts contain more activated MEK/ERK and less caveolin-1 than normal lung fibroblasts. Because cutaneous fibrosis is the hallmark of scleroderma, we also studied dermal fibroblasts. As in lung, there was more activated MEK/ERK in cells from scleroderma patients than in control cells, and MEK inhibition decreased collagen expression. However, the distinctive levels of PKCepsilon, PKCalpha, and caveolin-1 in lung and dermal fibroblasts from scleroderma patients and control subjects indicate that the links between these signaling proteins and MEK/ERK must function differently in the four cell types. Finally, we confirmed the relevance of these signaling cascades in vivo. The combined results demonstrate that a branched signaling pathway involving MEK, ERK, PKCepsilon, PKCalpha, and caveolin-1 regulates collagen expression in normal lung tissue and is perturbed during fibrosis.
Effects of herbivory and herb interference on oak establishment in a semi‐arid temperate savanna

. Early establishment of Quercus emoryi seedlings in the grassland phase of a semi-arid temperate savanna was evaluated in southern Arizona, USA. Controlled-environment experiments indicated that Quercus seedlings are tolerant of frequent clipping, but undipped seedlings produce more biomass than clipped seedlings. Seedlings were much less tolerant of clipping or defoliation in the field than in the growth chamber, and most seedlings died after being clipped or defoliated by herbivores. Invertebrate herbivory, which is rarely mentioned as an important factor limiting seedling establishment, was the leading cause of seedling mortality in the field study. Below-ground interference from herbs had a greater impact on seedling survival and growth than above-ground interference.
A conflict resolution architecture for the comfort of occupants in intelligent office

Improving energy efficiency in intelligent buildings is an important issue in reducing global warming. Real smart energy efficiency is a combination of energy saving and providing for the satisfaction of occupants. However, the comfort of occupants has an uncertainty in prediction and can conflict with preferences of other occupants. So the "Conflict Resolution Architecture" (CRA) is introduced in this paper to solve the conflict among occupants using the integration of RFID systems and sensor network systems. A CRA consists of two control systems that are applied to two separate types of locations. One is the central rule- based control system in a public zone and the other is the individual utility-based control system in a private zone. Two methods that consist of a priority approach and a privilege-average approach are suggested for the CRA control. Then a CRA is able to make conflict resolution among occupants in an intelligent office.
American Media and Deliberative Democratic Processes

Despite the importance of mass media to deliberative democratic processes, few scholars have focused on how market forces, occupational norms, and competition among outlets affect the quality of media discourse in mainstream and political outlets. Here, I argue that field theory, as outlined by new institutionalism and Pierre Bourdieu, provides a useful theoretical framework for assessing the quality of media discourse in different kinds of media outlets. The value of field theory is that it simultaneously highlights the importance of homogeneity and heterogeneity within a field of action, which provides a framework for discussing the roles different kinds of outlets play in deliberate democratic processes and evaluating the quality of discourse in mainstream and political venues. I illustrate the utility of this conceptualization through an analysis of 1,424 stories on abortion in nine U.S. media outlets and interviews with journalists, editors, and producers in these venues. I find that political media outlets provide higher-quality discourse than that of mainstream venues. Additionally, I find that while market pressures may heighten a focus on conflict in the abortion debate, this emphasis is exacerbated by mainstream journalists themselves, who assume that the general public is familiar with, and has taken a firm position on, abortion. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for deliberative democratic processes.
Alteration of fetal pulmonary vasculature by maternal hypoxia

A syndrome of pulmonary vascular obstruction in the newborn human in which massive right to left shunting occurs through the ductus arteriosus has been recently described. In an effort to simulate the syndrome in an animal model, pregnant rats were maintained in atmospheres containing 13%, 40% and 20% oxygen. The remainder of the atmosphere was nitrogen. In all other respects, pregnant rats were treated the same. Pregnant rats were removed from their experimental atmospheres during delivery so that all newborns were delivered into room air. Newborn rats were sacrified at birth, the fourth, fifth, tenth, twelth, thirteenth and twenty-first days of life. The entire lung was sectioned and stained so that intima and media could be easily distinguished. The medial to diameter ratio of all arteries between 50–150 microns (total = 474) were measured according to the technique of Wagenvoort. The mean ratio of neonatal arteries of progency of hypoxic mothers was significantly thicker for each size group than those born of control or hyperoxic mothers. Thickening was most pronounced in the smallest arteries. Control and hyperoxic artery groups were similar. Medial thickness decreased in all vessels with age; this decrease was greatest in the control and hyperoxic groups. This study demonstrates that maternal hypoxia produces quantitative changes in the fetal and newborn pulmonary arteries.
A solid oxide fuel cell system fed with hydrogen sulfide and natural gas

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) occurs naturally in crude petroleum, natural gas, volcanic gases, hot springs, and some lakes. Hydrogen sulfide can also result as a by-product from industrial activities, such as food processing, coke ovens, paper mills, tanneries, and petroleum refineries. Sometimes, it is considered to be an industrial pollutant. However, hydrogen can be decomposed from H2S and then used as fuel for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). This paper presents an examination of a simple hydrogen sulfide and natural gas-fed solid oxide fuel cell system. The possibility of utilization of hydrogen sulfide as a feedstock in a solid oxide fuel cell is discussed. A system configuration of an SOFC combined with an external H2S decomposition device is proposed, where a certain amount of natural gas is supplied to the SOFC. The exhaust fuel gas of the SOFC is after-burned with exhaust air from the SOFC, and the heat of the combustion gas is utilized in the decomposition of H2S in a decomposition reactor (DR) to produce hydrogen to feed the SOFC. The products are electricity and industry-usable sulfur. Through a mass and energy balance, a preliminary thermodynamic analysis of this system is performed, and the system efficiency is calculated. Also in this paper, the challenges in creating the proposed configuration are discussed, and the direction of future work is presented.
The Role of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells in Lupus and Atherogenesis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for the development of premature atherosclerosis. The inflammatory process in both of these diseases is controlled by a variety of cell types of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Recent studies from several groups, including ours, have revealed a critical role of a unique subset of lymphocytes, termed invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, in the development of lupus-like autoimmunity and atherosclerosis in animal models. iNKT cells appear to play complex and divergent roles in the development of SLE and atherosclerosis. Our findings suggest that alterations in iNKT cell functions during the development of SLE may be related to the increased risk of SLE patients to develop atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. We found that iNKT cell activation with the sponge-derived glycolipid α-galactosylceramide generally protects against the development of lupus-like autoimmunity in mice, whereas it exacerbates atherosclerosis. Therefore, while our studies have identified iNKT cells as potential therapeutic targets for SLE, further studies are necessary to design drugs that will avoid the underlying harmful effects of iNKT cell activation on the development of atherosclerosis.
Patient readmission and mortality after colorectal surgery for colon cancer: impact of length of stay relative to other clinical factors.

Background Data on readmission as well as the potential impact of length of stay (LOS) after colectomy for colon cancer remain poorly defined. The objective of the current study was to evaluate risk factors associated with readmission among a nationwide cohort of patients after colorectal surgery. Study Design We identified 149,622 unique individuals from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare dataset with a diagnosis of primary colorectal cancer who underwent colectomy between 1986 and 2005. In-hospital morbidity, mortality, LOS, and 30-day readmission were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results Primary surgical treatment consisted of right (37.4%), transverse (4.9%), left (10.5%), sigmoid (22.8%), abdominoperineal resection (7.3%), low anterior resection (5.6%), total colectomy (1.2%), or other/unspecified (10.3%). Mean patient age was 76.5 years and more patients were female (52.9%). The number of patients with multiple preoperative comorbidities increased over time (Charlson comorbidity score ≥3: 1986 to 1990, 52.5% vs 2001 to 2005, 63.1%; p Conclusions Readmission rates after colectomies have increased during the past 2 decades and mean LOS after this operation has declined. More research is needed to understand the balance and possible trade off between these hospital performance measures for all surgical procedures.
Interaction Test for Three-Dimensional Contingency Tables

Abstract A test for the hypothesis of zero second-order interaction is proposed. The test is obtained by making use of conditional reference sets which are derived in Zelen [17]. This permits the derivation of an exact conditional test of significance for testing the hypothesis of zero second-order interaction. The techniques used, in approximating the large sample distribution of this test, are extensions of those due to Gart [5] and Zelen [17]. The test is applied to a numerical example.
Correlates of prediabetes and type II diabetes in US South Asians: findings from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study

Abstract Purpose In this study, we aim to elucidate the role of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and cultural factors in prediabetes and diabetes in South Asian immigrants to the United States, a population at high risk of type II diabetes. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a community-based cohort of 899 South Asians without known cardiovascular disease from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America study. Glycemic status was determined by fasting glucose, 2-hour postchallenge glucose, and use of diabetes medication. We used multinomial logistic regression models to estimate the independent associations of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and cultural factors with prediabetes and diabetes, adjusting for confounders identified using directed acyclic graphs. Results Approximately 33% of participants had prediabetes and 25% had diabetes. In multivariate analyses, an independent correlate of prediabetes was low exercise. Additional covariates associated with diabetes included lower family income, less education, high chronic psychological burden score, and greater time spent watching television; and fasting monthly or annually was inversely associated with diabetes prevalence. Conclusions We found several modifiable risk factors associated with prediabetes and diabetes that may help guide diabetes prevention interventions for South Asian immigrants to the United States.
A novel approach to ozone ‐ water mass transfer using hollow ‐ fiber reactors

Abstract A novel reactor system based on microporous hollow‐fiber membranes is proposed for ozone‐water systems. Results from experimentation, where ozone transfer is achieved via the hollow fibers into a closed circuit flow‐through reactor configuration, indicate such systems may be superior to existing ozone transfer approaches.
False allegations of sexual abuse by children and adolescents

Abstract The frequency of false allegations of sexual abuse by children and adolescents is of significant legal and clinical importance. The rate of false allegations of sexual abuse is examined in a large sample of Child Protective Services (CPS) cases. The criteria used by CPS workers in judging the validity of allegations are considered, and the relationship between substantiation rates and attitudes about the trustworthiness of child reports of abuse is explored. Many professionals in the field of child sexual abuse are more skeptical of child and adolescent claims of sexual abuse than available research suggests is warranted.
Molecular recognition in a uradinyl-functionalized stable radical.

Stable radical 2-(6-uradinyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-1-oxyl (1) binds to hydrogen-bonding complement 2,6-di(propylamido)pyridine (DAP) in chloroform with Ka = 220 M−1 at 33 °C; ESI-MS shows not only 1∶DAP complementary dyad formation, but also 1∶(DAP)2 formation at higher concentrations of DAP.
Phase retrieval techniques for adaptive optics

We have developed and tested a method for minimizing static aberrations in adaptive optics systems. In order to correct the static phase aberrations, we need to measure the aberrations through the entire system. We have employed various phase retrieval algorithms to detect these aberrations. We have performed simulations of our experimental setup demonstrating that phase retrieval can improve the static aberrations to below the 20 nm rms level, with the limiting factor being local turbulence in the A0 system. Experimentally thus far, we have improved the static aberrations down to the 50 nm level, with the limiting factor being the ability to adjust the deformable mirror. This should be improved with better control algorithms now being implemented.
Locally real states of photons and particles

A locally real representation is derived from projections in Hilbert space without arbitrary constants. The inherent enhancement property of the resultant states removes restriction by Bell's theorem. Exact agreement with quantum mechanics is demonstrated by explicit calculations of photon transmission in Malus's law, joint detection probability for correlated photons, spin $\frac{1}{2}$ particle transmission through successive Stern-Gerlach analyzers, and joint detection probability for correlated spin $\frac{1}{2}$ particles. The representation is experimentally testable with respect to quantum mechanics.
Polymeric phase change composites for thermal energy storage

This article describes a group of thermal energy storage (TES) composites that combine TES and structural functionality. The composites are encapsulations of low melt temperature phase change materials (PCM) such as paraffin waxes in polymer matrices. Room temperature cured bisphenol-A epoxy and styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) polymers are chosen as matrix materials because of their excellent chemical and mechanical properties. The polymeric network structure in the composite encapsulates the PCMs, which transform from the solid to the liquid phase. The PCMs provide the energy storage function via the solid–liquid latent heat effect. The resulting composite exhibits dry-phase transition in the sense that fluid motion of the PCM, when in the liquid phase, is inhibited by the structure of the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix is formulated to provide structural functionality. The latent heat, thermal conductivity and contact conductance, and structural moduli of composites having various PCM-to-matrix volume fractions are measured. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1240–1251, 2004
Solutions to bi-Maxwellian transport equations for SAR-arc conditions

The first subsonic solutions of the bi-Maxwellian-based 16-moment set of transport equations for stable auroral red (SAR) arc conditions are presented. These are compared with the solutions obtained from the Maxwellian-based 13-moment transport equations for the same boundary conditions. Close agreement between the 16-moment and 13-moment solutions was obtained for the drift velocity, total electron temperature, total proton heat flow, and total electron heat flow profiles. On the other hand, significant discrepancies were found. Thus, the 16-moment density profile falls off more rapidly with increasing altitude than that computed with the 13-moment equations; the total proton temperature is less in the 16-moment case than in the 13-moment case by several thousand degrees at most altitudes; and differences exist in the ratios of the proton and electron temperature anisotropies with the altitude. A simplified set of transport equations was obtained by dropping terms which remain relatively small at all altitudes.
The role of constituent structure in the induction of an artificial language

Subjects were exposed to a small sample of sentences from an artificial linguistic system and tested on their knowledge of the linear and hierarchical structures of the language. Four reference world conditions were included in order to evaluate the effects of providing semantic encoding of the following types of information: (1) class membership of words, (2) an arbitrary grouping of successive words, (3) phrasal (i.e., constituent) grouping of successive words, and (4) linguistic dependencies among successive words. Results showed, first, that presence of constituent structure information was the effective variable in facilitating the learning of complex aspects of syntax, particularly linguistic dependencies; providing an explicit semantic representation of these dependencies did not significantly improve syntax learning. Second, only those subjects receiving constituent structure information succeeded in inducing phrase structure grammars. These results suggest that it is only when the input contains a rich set of correlated cues to constituent organization that learners uniformly succeed in inducing coherent grammatical systems; in these circumstances, both linguistic dependencies and hierarchical structure are represented.
Nightside ionosphere of Mars studied with local electron densities: A general overview and electron density depressions

altitude of about 275 km, we measured the maximum average densities as 1000 cm −3 on the nightside. The electron density profiles on the nightside are highly variable. An inverse exponential relationship is observed between the electron density and the altitude. At low altitudes, the median electron density decreases with increasing solar zenith angle (SZA). However, at high altitudes no dependence on SZA is observed. Steep electron density gradients, similar to the ionopause at Venus, are also observed in 15% of the passes in the nightside ionosphere. A commonly encountered structure on the nightside is an ionospheric density depression, which is a deep trough in the electron density. Nightside density depressions are large features, with an average width of 950 km. In some cases, the depressions in MARSIS data are associated with ion flow features in the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA‐3) data. In other cases, the depressions correspond to density depletion regions. Half of the depressions are aligned with the edge of the dayside‐generated photoelectrons. It is concluded that several different conditions can cause the electron density depressions.