cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calculation of specific heat and susceptibilities with the use of the Trotter approximation.

The Trotter approximation has been used extensively in quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We consider here different ways of calculating the general zero-field susceptibility \ensuremath{\chi} and the specific heat C when a Trotter approximation is used, deriving analytically the error dependence on the imaginary-time increment \ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\tau} as well as the low-temperature behavior. We find that certain definitions of \ensuremath{\chi} and C exhibit spurious divergences at low temperatures, and suggest the most appropriate ways to extract these quantities. We test our general predictions on two models, and discuss the implications of our results for numerical simulations.
Development of recombinant cationic polymers for gene therapy research

Cationic polymers created through recombinant DNA technology have the potential to fill a void in the area of gene delivery. The recombinant cationic polymers to be discussed here are amino acid based polymers synthesized in E. coli with the purpose to not only address the major barriers to efficient gene delivery but offer safety, biodegradability, targetability and cost-effectiveness. This review helps the readers to get a better understanding about the evolution of recombinant cationic polymers; and the potential advantages that they could offer over viral and synthetic non-viral vectors for gene delivery. It also discusses some of the major challenges that must be addressed in future studies to turn recombinant polymers into clinically effective gene delivery systems. Recent advances with the biopolymer design suggest that this emerging new class of gene delivery systems has the potential to address some of the major barriers to efficient, safe and cost-effective gene therapy.
Eigenvalue distributions from impacts on a ring

We consider the collision dynamics produced by three beads with masses (m 1, m 2, m 3) sliding without friction on a ring, where the masses are scaled so that m 1 = 1/ɛ, m 2 = 1, m 3 = 1 − ɛ, for 0 ⩽ ɛ ⩾ 1. The singular limits ɛ = 0 and ɛ = 1 correspond to two equal mass beads colliding on the ring with a wall, and without a wall respectively. In both these cases, all solutions are periodic and the eigenvalue distributions (around the unit circle) associated with the products of collision matrices are discrete. We then numerically examine the regime which parametrically connects these two states, i.e. 0 < ɛ < 1, and show that the eigenvalue distribution is generically uniform around the unit circle, which implies that the dynamics are no longer periodic. By a sequence of careful numerical experiments, we characterize how the uniform spectrum collapses from continuous to discrete in the two singular limits ɛ → 0 and ɛ → 1 for an ensemble of initial velocities sampled uniformly on a fixed energy surface. For the limit ɛ → 0, the distribution forms Gaussian peaks around the discrete limiting values ± 1, ± i, with variances that scale in power law form as σ 2 ∼ αɛ β. By contrast, the convergence in the limit ɛ → 1 to the discrete values ±1 is shown to follow a logarithmic power-law σ 2 ∼ log(ɛ β).
Diphenidol treatment of arrhythmias.

The antiarrhythmic activity of diphenidol, an antiemetic, has been demonstrated both in electrophysiologic studies of patients and in experimental arrhythmias in animals. Accordingly, 18 patients with tachyarrhythmias were treated with intravenous diphenidol in doses of 0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg. In six patients with atrial arrhythmias, there was no notable effect. Similarly, 12 patients with premature ventricular contractions were treated and studied. In six of them, ectopic beats were abolished, at least transiently; in three the number of ventricular premature contractions decreased; in two there was no effect; and in one, the number of premature beats was increased. Of the total number of 18 patients, 14 suffered adverse effects related to the central nervous system. These adverse effects were of such severity as to suggest that further studies with diphenidol as an antiarrhythmic are not warranted.
Correlations between female sex roles and attitudes toward male sexual dysfunction in thirty women

This paper reports correlations between female sex role and attitudes toward male sexual dysfunction in a sample of 30 women. The findings mirror those of a related much larger study. Mechanisms that might explain these findings are explored.
Automatic Orientation Mapping with Synchrotron Radiation

Synchrotron radiation can be utilized to obtain Laue back reflection patterns of microscopic areas with very short exposure time. A method is presented to fully automatically evaluate Laue patterns. The experimental setup and procedure are outlined to determine the orientations of a large number of contiguous grains, and consequently to enable orientation mapping. Preliminary experimental results are presented.
Generation of the photoacoustic effect through heat diffusion: Transient grating measurements in reverse micellar solutions

We report the application of the transient grating method to measurement of radii of inverse micelles. A theoretical model is used to calculate the time evolution of the grating as a function of the solution thermal properties and the radii of the micelles. The method is based on the large difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between water and organic solvents: energy deposited in the aqueous interior of the micelles by the optical exciting beams does not result in sizable photoacoustic effect until heat diffuses into the surrounding organic solvent. The time profile of the transient grating signal is shown to be a function of the micellar radius, and the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the aqueous and organic subphases. For water-in-alkane reverse micelles, heat deposition is limited to the aqueous interior of the micelles through the use of ionic dyes. Experiments are reported using 1-3 GHz acoustic waves in solutions containing micelles with diameters in the range 10-30 nm. The correspondence between radii determined by the thermal diffusion method and those from dynamic light scattering measurements is discussed. 34 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.
Selected Common Poisonous Plants of the United States’ Rangelands

Selected Common Poisonous Plants of the United States’ Rangelands DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v31i1_davis
Dual Markov processes: Construction of a useful auxiliary process

The concept of dual, or adjoint, Markov processes was first introduced and studied by Hunt [6]. The idea seems to have been motivated by the fact that the Markov property is preserved if the direction of time is reversed: intuitively, one thinks of the dual of a Markov process as that process run "backwards" in time. This interpretation, while suggestive, remained for the most part unexploited for many years, while the analytic relationship between the semigroups of dual processes and the associated potential theoretic structure were explored. Duality is usually defined in terms of the resolvents (U ~) and (U s) of two processes with state space E: two resolvents are in duality relative to a a-finite measure ~ if for each c~>0 there exist functions u~(x, y) on E x E with the properties (i) us(x, ely)=u~(x, y) ~(dy), ~(dx, y)= 4(dx) u~(x, y), (ii) x~u~(x, y) is c~-excessive relative to (U~), and y ~u'(x, y) is c~-excessive relative to ([7").
Effects of antibodies against odorant binding proteins on electrophysiological responses to odorants

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies against two olfactory mucosal proteins, one with affinity for anisole-like and the other for benzaldehyde-like compounds, were applied to mouse olfactory epithelium. Responses to three odorants (anisole, benzaldehyde and amyl acetate) were measured. Of 26 antibodies, three (12%) inhibited responses only to the odorant with affinity for the antigen, nine (35%) inhibited responses to all three odorants, and 14 (54%) were without effect. None reduced responses by as muas 50%. The data support the hypothesis that there is a class of related proteins in olfactory neuronal cell membranes that function as receptor molecules and that other mechanisms also mediate odorant stimulation.
Impact of bubble and free surface oxygen transfer on diffused aeration systems.

The primary location of oxygen transfer in a diffused aeration system is examined by separately determining the surface air-water and bubble-water mass transfer coefficients. The mass transfer model developed to determine the mass transfer coefficients advances the McWhirter and Hutter (A.I.Ch.E. J. 35(9) (1989) 1527) model by tracking oxygen and nitrogen transfer into and out of the bubbles as they rise to the water surface. The resulting vertical profiles of the liquid-phase equilibrium concentration inside the bubble and the gas-phase oxygen composition give insight into how the bubble-water concentration gradient changes over depth. The surface mass transfer coefficient, k(Ls)a(s), is 59-85% of the bubble mass transfer coefficient, k(L)a(b), and the driving concentration difference is smaller for surface transfer. Surface transfer and bubble transfer both contribute significantly to oxygen transfer; however, bubble transfer is the primary mode of oxygen transfer for this system at the air flow rates used. Further experiments demonstrate that most of the surface transfer occurs above the bubble plume.
Multisensory Narrative Tracking by a Profoundly Deaf Subject Using an Electrocutaneous Vocoder and a Vibrotactile Aid

A congenitally, profoundly deaf adult who had received 41 hours of tactual word recognition training in a previous study was assessed in tracking of connected discourse. This assessment was conduct...
Microstructure of Coal and Its Influence on Flow of Gas

Abstract This article discusses the results of an investigation carried out to study the microstructure of coal enhancing the understanding of the phenomena involved in release of methane and its movement in coalbeds. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to obtain information about the structure of bituminous coal and its surface properties tike roughness, size and distribution of pores, and presence of microfractures and cleats. Micrographs obtained clearly showed the highly porous nature of coal. Most of the pores, however, appeared to have a very small volume and large surface area, which explains the large quantities of methane that are retained in adsorbed form in coalbeds. On the surface of coal, a network of microfractures and cracks was seen, indicating that it is these fractures that are chiefly responsible for flow of gas. The results illustrate the use of physical models for simulation of gas flow in coalbeds, involving dual flow behavior. Once the gas des...
Anomalous decrease of the specific heat capacity at the electrical and thermal conductivity percolation threshold in nanocomposites

We report an unusual specific heat variation in nanotube/polymer composites, related to a reduction in its value at the electrical and the thermal conductivity percolation threshold, with a concomitant increase in the crystallinity. The reduction has been interpreted in terms of the partition of the total number of nanostructures into isolated or clustered/connected entities, the numbers of which vary as a function of the nanotube filler fraction, and the consequent modulation of the entropic characteristics as well as the conductivity.
Expression and functional role of the Id HLH family in cultured astrocytes

Abstract The Id family of helix-loop-helix factors (Id1, Id2, and Id3) expressed in many types of cells has been reported to negatively regulate myoblast differentiation and is required for G1/S progression of arrested fibroblasts. Our previous studies have indicated that Id1, Id2, and Id3 mRNA expression appear in the subventricular zone of 1-day-old rat brains. At later ages, Id3 mRNA was only expressed in astrocytes. We now report that Id1 and Id3 mRNA expression increased in astrocytes during the first hour of serum stimulation. Subsequently, the Id1 and Id3 mRNA levels gradually declined to basal level as observed in cultures without serum stimulation. However, there was no significant difference in Id2 mRNA expression between serum-treated and control astrocyte cultures within 1 h of serum induction. In addition, a strong nuclear immunostaining for Id2 and Id3 proteins was observed 24 h after serum stimulation. This observation is consistent with our results that show an increase in Id2 and Id3 protein levels following 24 h serum induction. Furthermore, DNA synthesis in FCS-stimulated astrocytes was blocked by antisense oligonucleotides against Id3 mRNA. The addition of Id3 antisense oligonucleotides caused ≈50% reduction in Id3 mRNA and protein levels when compared to that in sense-treated cultures. The results indicate that the inhibition of DNA synthesis in FCS-stimulated astrocytes is due to a decrease in Id3 levels by the antisense. These observations suggest that Id3 may play an important role in the regulation of astrocyte proliferation.
Adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), a mediator of estradiol-induced apoptosis in long-term estrogen deprived breast cancer cells

Estrogens stimulate growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer but paradoxically induce tumor regress under certain circumstances. We have shown that long-term estrogen deprivation (LTED) enhances the sensitivity of hormone dependent breast cancer cells to estradiol (E2) so that physiological concentrations of estradiol induce apoptosis in these cells. E2-induced apoptosis involve both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways but precise mechanisms remain unclear. We found that exposure of LTED MCF-7 cells to E2 activated AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). In contrast, E2 inhibited AMPK activation in wild type MCF-7 cells where E2 prevents apoptosis. As a result of AMPK activation, the transcriptional activity of FoxO3, a downstream factor of AMPK, was up-regulated in E2 treatment of LTED. Increased activity of FoxO3 was demonstrated by up-regulation of three FoxO3 target genes, Bim, Fas ligand (FasL), and Gadd45α. Among them, Bim and FasL mediate intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis respectively and Gadd45α causes cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. To further confirm the role of AMPK in apoptosis, we used AMPK activator AICAR in wild type MCF-7 cells and examined apoptosis, proliferation and expression of Bim, FasL, and Gadd45α. The effects of AICAR on these parameters recapitulated those observed in E2-treated LTED cells. Activation of AMPK by AICAR also increased expression of Bax in MCF-7 cells and its localization to mitochondria, which is a required process for apoptosis. These results reveal that AMPK is an important factor mediating E2-induced apoptosis in LTED cells, which is implicative of therapeutic potential for relapsing breast cancer after hormone therapy.
DEFINITION OF AND TRAINING IN THE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROCESS – A NASA PERSPECTIVE

The need to capture the systems engineering knowledge base at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and make it available to the next generation of systems engineers gave rise to the development of a systems engineering handbook to help foster the systems engineering philosophy in MSFC's numerous young engineers. This paper will detail the development of the MSFC handbook, its history, and of special interest, will be a detailed discussion of the lessons-learned while developing the handbook. In addition, MSFC has included this handbook as a training tool in conjunction with organized, formal, on-site systems engineering training. The methodology and approach to this training effort will be delivered. The paper will also describe the updating and eventual integration of the MSFC systems engineering process into the NASA-wide standard for systems engineering.
Introduced Predators Transform Subarctic Islands from Grassland to Tundra

Top predators often have powerful direct effects on prey populations, but whether these direct effects propagate to the base of terrestrial food webs is debated. There are few examples of trophic cascades strong enough to alter the abundance and composition of entire plant communities. We show that the introduction of arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) to the Aleutian archipelago induced strong shifts in plant productivity and community structure via a previously unknown pathway. By preying on seabirds, foxes reduced nutrient transport from ocean to land, affecting soil fertility and transforming grasslands to dwarf shrub/forb-dominated ecosystems.
Identity resolution: 23 years of practical experience and observations at scale

Identity Resolution is a semantic reconciliation activity as applied to people and organizations. Identity resolution is most frequently quantified in terms of accuracy (false positives and false negatives), however, there are additional metrics by which to evaluate identity resolution algorithms including: methodology, persistence, streaming versus batch, data survivorship, operationalizing historical data, transaction/window size, ingestion speed, end-to-end latency, sequence neutrality, handling of ambiguous conditions, reconcilability, scalability, sustainability, and operational characteristics at scale. As well, a technique for "analytics in the anonymized data space" will be presented that makes it possible to resolve identities in a more privacy-preserving manner.
Effect of Acute Stress on Hippocampal Glutamate Levels and Spectrin Proteolysis in Young and Aged Rats

Aging in rats is associated with a loss of hippocampal neurons, which may contribute to age-related cognitive deficits. Several lines of evidence suggest that stress and glucocorticoids may contribute to age-related declines in hippocampal neuronal number. Excitatory amino acids (EAAs) have been implicated in the glucocorticoid endangerment and stress-induced morphological changes of hippocampal neurons of young rats. Previously, we have reported that acute immobilization stress can increase extracellular concentrations of the endogenous excitatory amino acid, glutamate, in the hippocampus. The present study examined the effect of an acute bout of immobilization stress on glutamate levels in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex of young (3-4-month) and aged (22-24-month) Fischer 344 rats. In addition, the effect of stress on spectrin proteolysis in these two brain regions was also examined. Spectrin is a cytoskeleton protein that contributes to neuronal integrity and proteolysis of this protein has been proposed as an important component of EAA-induced neuronal death. There was no difference in basal glutamate levels between young and old rats in the hippocampus or medial prefrontal cortex. During the period of restraint stress a modest increase in glutamate levels in the hippocampus of young and aged rats was observed. After the termination of the stress procedure, hippocampal glutamate concentrations continued to rise in the aged rats, reaching a level approximately five times higher than the young rats, and remained elevated for at least 2 h after termination of the stress. A similar pattern was also observed in the medial prefrontal cortex with an augmented post-stress-induced glutamate response observed in the aged rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of Substrate Misorientation Direction on Strain Relaxation at InGaAs/GaAs(001) Interfaces

We have investigated the effects of substrate misorientation direction on strain relaxation at InGaAs/GaAs(001) interfaces. Calculations of the shear stresses due to the misfit strain, resolved on the glide plane in the glide direction, suggest that the dislocation glide force and the activation energy for dislocation nucleation are essentially identical for the α and β slip systems. However, experimental results indicate that asymmetries in strain relaxation are sensitive to A-type misorientation and/or step-edge densities. Thus, a dislocation nucleation source or glide velocities sensitive to step densities or local roughness may explain these results.
William Fisk Harrah: An Innovator

(2005). William Fisk Harrah: An Innovator. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 9-15.
An improved conditional maximum-likelihood detector for noncoherent UWB communication

A noncoherent UWB demodulation and detection algorithm has been proposed that circumvents the problems of timing synchronization and channel estimation for impulse based UWB systems. Originally two detection algorithms were offered, a maximum-likelihood sequence detector and a reduced complexity conditional ML detector. We offer an improvement to the conditional ML detector based on the observation that for this algorithm it does not matter whether or not the bursts are detected in forward or reverse order. Our algorithm improves performance by roughly 0.8 dB over the previous conditional ML detector.
Femtosecond pulsed laser deposition of Si on Si(100)

Femtosecond pulsed laser deposition of Si(100) homoepitaxy is studied by in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and ex-situ atomic force microscopy. Step flow occurs on the reconstructed Si(100)-2/spl times/1, while Volmer-Weber growth occurs on the nonreconstructed surface.
Nucleotide sequence of the FokI restriction-modification system: separate strand-specificity domains in the methyltransferase.

SUMMARY The genes for FokI, a type-IIS restriction-modification system from Flavobacterium ok6anokoite.s (asymmetric recognition sequence: 5’-GGATG/3’-CCTAC), were cloned into Escherichia coli. Recombinants carrying the fokZR and fokZA4 genes were found to modify their DNA completely, and to restrict lambdoid phages weakly. The nt sequences of the genes were determined, and the probable start codons were confirmed by aa sequencing. The FokI endonuclease (R - FokI) and methyltransferase (M * FokI) are encoded by single, adjacent genes, aligned in the same orientation, in the order A4 then R. The genes are large by the standards of type-II systems, 1.9 kb for the it4 gene, and 1.7 kb for the R gene. Preceding each gene is a pair of FokI recognition sites; it is conceivable that interactions between the sites and the FokI proteins could regulate expression of the genes.
The tooth enamel protein, porcine amelogenin, is an intrinsically disordered protein with an extended molecular configuration in the monomeric form

Amelogenins make up a class of proteins associated with the formation of mineralized enamel in vertebrates, possess highly conserved N- and C-terminal sequence regions, and represent an interesting...
Why Are Nonprofits Exempt From the Corporate Income Tax

This article considers the nonprofit exemption from the corporate income tax (CIT), which has typically been justified with either subsidy or base-defining reasons. A different rationale is introdu...
A 12-bit vernier ring time-to-digital converter in 0.13μm CMOS technology

A novel 12-bit Vernier ring time-to-digital converter (TDC) with 8ps of time resolution for digital-phase-locked-loop applications is presented. The TDC achieves a large detectable range of 32ns. The core of the TDC occupies 0.75 × 0.35 mm2 in a 0.13um CMOS technology. The total power consumption for the entire TDC chip is only 7.5mW with a 1.5V power supply at a sample rate of 15MSps.
Transcriptional Regulation of CD1D1 by Ets Family Transcription Factors

CD1 molecules are MHC class I-like glycoproteins specialized in presenting lipid/glycolipid Ags to T cells. The distinct cell-type specific expression of CD1D1 plays an important role in the development and function of NKT cells, a unique subset of immunoregulatory T cells. However, the mechanisms regulating CD1D1 expression are largely unknown. In this study, we have characterized the upstream region of the CD1D1 gene and identified a minimal promoter region within 200 bp from the translational start site of CD1D1 that exhibits cell-type specific promoter activity. Analysis of this region revealed an Ets binding site critical for CD1D1 promoter activity. Gel shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that Elf-1 and PU.1 bind to the CD1D1 promoter. Furthermore, we found that gene disruption of Elf-1 resulted in decreased CD1D1 expression on B cells but not other cell types, whereas conditional activation of PU.1 negatively regulated CD1D1 expression in PU.1-deficient myeloid cells. These findings are the first to demonstrate that Ets proteins are involved in the transcriptional regulation of CD1D1 and that they may function uniquely in different cell types.
A Survey of Linear Cost Multicommodity Network Flows

This exposition presents a state-of-the-art survey of results and algorithms for linear multicommodity network flow problems.
Discussion of the role of 5-hydroxyindoles in the carcinoid syndrome.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a review of the present status of the knowledge concerning the mechanism of the carcinoid flush. Patients with the carcinoid syndrome often show an extreme sensitivity to alcohol and ingestion of a moderate amount may produce a deep and long-lasting flush. The major metabolic route for 5-HT in man is oxidative deamination and the resulting 5-hydroxyindoleacetaldehyde is predominantly oxidized further to 6-HIAA. Several reports have indicated that ethanol ingestion interferes with this major route of 5-HT metabolism in man. It is demonstrated that serotonin- 14 C metabolism in normal subjects and in patients with carcinoid tumors is markedly altered by ethanol ingestion. In patients with the carcinoid syndrome and marked overproduction of 5-HT, alcohol ingestion results in greatly increased and prolonged local levels of 5- hydroxyindoleacetaldehyde and 5-hydroxytryptophol. These studies demonstrate that ethanol ingestion diverts the metabolism of the aromatic aldehydes derived by oxidative deamination of the corresponding biogenic amines from the normal predominantly oxidative route to a reductive pathway.
A new trick for an old dog: TraY binding to a homopurine-homopyrimidine run attenuates DNA replication.

The effects of the d(GA)(n).d(TC)(n) repeat on plasmid replication in Escherichia coli cells were analyzed using electrophoretic analysis of replication intermediates. This repeat appeared to stall the replication fork progression in E. coli strains carrying F' episomes. The potency of replication stalling increased with the repeat's length but did not depend on its orientation relative to the replication origin, or transcription through the repeat. Treatment of E. coli cells with the protein synthesis inhibitor chloramphenicol abolished replication blockage, indicating that protein binding might be responsible for the repeat-caused replication blockage. Concordantly, dimethylsulfate footprinting in vivo revealed methylation protection of all guanine residues within the d(GA)(n).d(TC)(n). Gel retardation assays with crude cell extracts confirmed the presence of a d(GA)(n).d(TC)(n) -binding activity in F', but not F(-), strains. Further, strains cured from the F' episome lost this activity, while F(-) strains that acquired the F' factor via conjugation, acquired d(GA)(n).d(TC)(n)-binding activity as well. Thus, this d(GA)(n).d(TC)(n)-binding protein is encoded by the F' factor. Purification of this protein by affinity chromatography revealed a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 15.2 kDa. Microsequencing of its two tryptic peptides revealed two perfect matches with the TraY protein, which is encoded by the F factor. Overexpression of an individual TraY protein in the F(-) E. coli strain conveyed d(GA)(n).d(TC)(n)-binding activity in vitro and replication stalling at d(GA)(n).d(TC)(n) repeats in vivo. We conclude that TraY binding to a homopurine-homopyrimidine repeat is responsible for stalling DNA replication. Biological applications of this phenomenon are discussed.
Emergency Helicopter Support System

Hardly a day passes by without a news headline giving an account of a portion of the national landscape stricken with disaster. In order to effectively combat the increasing complexity and frequency of disasters, such as hurricanes, storms, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks; there exists a need for an emergency helicopter support system (EHS) that assimilates seamlessly into a network centric information management structure (CIMS). The CIMS is necessary for the purpose of coordinating the dispatch and communication between civilian and military ground and air forces and maximizing the utilization of the scarce emergency response resources. The CIMS will furnish reports to the appropriate law enforcement organization and stakeholders regarding the emergency operations and recommendations for the future. Because our project significantly relies on deployment of helicopters, EHS must comply with all safety regulations so that the frequency of accidents diminishes with the implementation of a successful emergency helicopter support system. EHS will need to make specific information available to helicopter operators and crews including: incident location, nature and scale of incident, local weather conditions, and any dangerous conditions or other vital landing zone information. Ensuring that our system adheres to the above safety regulations will result in increased probability of successful rescue missions. Our model output focuses on our project's outmost figure of merit, the response time. EHST analysis incorporates two alternative designs of the EHS using the modeling and simulation software, ARENA. Design alternatives will include size of jurisdiction and placement of emergency support command centers. In addition, analysis will include the cost and benefit of implementing mobile landing surfaces versus the use of landing zones already available. The combined calculations will determine the most efficient organizational structure for the emergency helicopter support system. All modeling scenarios will be done to focus on the occurrence of an earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area with a magnitude above 6.7 on the Richter scale
The Bering Strait's grip on the northern hemisphere climate

The last 10,000 years have been characterized by distinctly stable climates. For the earlier glacial period (up to 125,000 years ago), climate records show long-lasting large-amplitude oscillations, generally known as Dansgaard– Oeschger (D/O) or Heinrich events. These fluctuations are believed to be a result of freshwater anomalies in the North Atlantic which dramatically reduce the transport of the meridional overturning cell (MOC). They are followed by a recovery of the MOC. Here, we propose that such long lasting instabilities in the meridional circulation are only possible during glacial periods when the Bering Strait (BS) is closed. An analytical ocean model which includes both wind and thermohaline processes) is used to show that, during interglacial periods (when the BS is open) perturbations in North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation are quickly damped out. This new mechanism involves the strong winds in the Southern Ocean (SO) which, with an open BS, quickly [O(1–10 years)] flush any large low salinity anomalies out of the Atlantic and into the Pacific Ocean. During glacial periods, the stabilizing effect is prevented by the closure of the BS which traps the anomalies within the Atlantic, causing long lasting perturbations. We also show that no continuous fresh-water flux is needed in order to keep the collapsed MOC froma recovery in the closed basin case, but a relatively large continuous flux of 0:19 Sv is required in order to keep the collapsed state in the open BS case. With a smaller freshwater transport, the open MOC quickly recovers. This also indicates that an open BS is more stable than the closed BS case. Process-oriented numerical simulations using idealized geometry in a two-layer ocean support our analytical solutions and show that the flushing mechanism is active even when the shallow BS sill is included. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Trefoil peptide expression and secretion is regulated by neuropeptides and acetylcholine

Trefoil peptides are a family of small proteins expressed by goblet cells that are secreted onto the apical gastrointestinal mucosal surface, where they are present in high concentrations. These peptides appear to both protect the epithelium and promote healing after injury. However, the factors regulating the expression and secretion of these proteins contributing to mucosal defense have not been characterized. To determine the mechanisms controlling production of trefoil peptides, the human colon cancer-derived model cell line HT-29 was exposed to a variety of potential secretagogues. Expression and secretion of human intestinal trefoil factor (hITF) as well as the intestinal apomucin MUC2 were assessed by Northern and Western blot analysis. Carbachol, an analog of acetylcholine, and the neuroendocrine peptides somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) stimulated increased expression of hITF mRNA within 5 min. These same factors stimulated parallel secretion of the hITF peptide, with maximal stimulation observed at concentrations ranging from 10(-6) M (carbachol and somatostatin) to 10(-7) M (VIP). Expression and secretion of hITF in response to carbachol, VIP, and somatostatin was independent of production of apomucin. hITF was not regulated by other neuroendocrine transmitters including histamine and substance P. Similarly, hITF expression and secretion was not modulated by peptide growth factors (epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, and keratinocyte growth factor), cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-7, and IL-11], or arachidonic acid metabolites (prostaglandin E1/E2 and leukotriene B4). In conclusion, trefoil peptides appear to be integrated into mechanisms of mucosal defense and repair through the enteric neuroendocrine system and independent of the classical mucosal immune cytokine network.
SPECIES OCCURRENCE OF MARSH BIRDS AT CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE, MASSACHUSETTS

We initiated an inventory and a field test of a protocol that could be used for monitoring marsh birds at the Cape Cod National Seashore in eastern Massachusetts during 1999 and 2000, as part of a more comprehensive national effort. Using cassette tapes during call broadcast surveys, we visited a total of 78 survey points at freshwater, brackish, and salt marsh sites three times on the ground or in canoes during the breeding season (May-June), fall migra- tion (September to November), and twice during winter (December-January). Observer bias on our marsh bird surveys appeared negligible. Although both auditory and visual detection of most species was low (mean < 0.3 birds per replicate-survey point), we confirmed the presence of seven marsh species, including American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), American Coot (Fulica americana), King Rail (Rallus elegans), Pied- billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), Sora (Porzana carolina), and Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola). We suspected breeding of Least Bitterns and Soras at Great Pond in Provincetown, and for Virginia Rails at Hatches Harbor, Provincetown. The most frequently detected species were Soras, Pied-billed Grebes, and Vir- ginia Rails. We recommend using call broadcast surveys for these cryptic species to enhance their probabilities of detection.
Systematics, cranial morphology, and taphonomy of the eomyid rodent Adjidaumo minimus (Matthew, 1903) from the Chadronian (late Eocene), Flagstaff Rim area, Wyoming

ABSTRACT A collection of Adjidaumo minimus (Matthew, 1903) from the middle Chadronian (late Eocene) of Natrona County, Wyoming, consists of approximately 150 specimens, the largest sample of Adjidaumo from anywhere. The sample includes several partial to nearly complete crania, the most complete cranial material known for the genus. This large sample of a single species allows an examination of the variability in dental and cranial morphology of the species and a more complete description of the skull. The general morphology of the cranium is similar to that of other eomyids and differs most markedly in having a relatively shorter rostrum, an opening for the sphenopalatine vacuity, and a distinct groove on the alisphenoid. Additional topotypic specimens of A. burkei (Russell, 1954) show that it is a distinct species, rather than a synonym of A. minimus as some authors have suggested. Based on age profiles, the population of Adjidaumo from Jenny's Pocket appears to have been attritionally accumulated, wher...
Transition of dominant peak flow source from snowmelt to rainfall along the Colorado Front Range: Historical patterns, trends, and lessons from the 2013 Colorado Front Range floods

The Colorado Front Range has a large elevation gradient with deep seasonal snowpack in the mountains and limited snow accumulation in the foothills and plains. This study examines how the sources of annual peak flows (snowmelt, rainfall, mixed) change with the fraction of time snow persists on the ground, snow persistence (SP), and whether these sources have changed over time. Sources of peak flows for 20 gaging stations are estimated using a gridded rain and snow model forced with PRISM daily precipitation and both PRISM and TopoWx temperature. The mean snowmelt contribution to peak flow is highly correlated with SP (r2 = 0.86–0.90). Watersheds with SP 0.7 (persistent snow, elevation >3100 m) are mostly snowmelt-dominated, with mixed sources between these thresholds. Rainfall runoff peak flows are possible at all elevations, but their likelihood declines with increasing SP. Rainfall runoff from an extreme storm in September 2013 produced the highest annual peaks at many stations, including some snowmelt-dominated watersheds. Regional Kendall trend tests indicate that the contributions of snowmelt to peak flows and total annual inputs have declined in the mixed source zone. These changes may affect hydrographs, as analyses confirm that snowmelt runoff generally produces more attenuated peaks than rainfall runoff. Discrimination of peak flow source is sensitive to input data and model structure for mixed rain and snowmelt events, and both observation and modeling research are needed to help understand potential runoff changes in these conditions.
Identification of Best Practices for Resident Aesthetic Clinics in Plastic Surgery Training: The ACAPS National Survey

Introduction:Resident aesthetic clinics (RACs) have demonstrated good outcomes and acceptable patient satisfaction, but few studies have evaluated their educational, financial, or medicolegal components. We sought to determine RAC best practices.Methods:We surveyed American Council of Academic Plast
A critical review of theS/L reliability index

The meaning and properties of a commonly used index of reliability, S/L,were examined critically. It was found that the index does not reflect any conventional concept of reliability. When used for an identical behavioral observation session, it is not statistically correlated with other reliability indices. Within an observation session, the standardizing measure of Lis beyond the control of the investigator. Furthermore, the reason for the choice of Las the standard is unclear. The role of chance agreement in S/Lis not known. The exact interpretation of the index depends on which observer reports L.Overall the conceptual and mathematical meaning of S/Lis dubious. It is suggested that the S/Lindex should not be used until its nature is shown to be a measure of reliability. Other approaches such as the intraclass correlations and generalizability coefficients should be used instead.
A Case Report of Extra-abdo minal Desmoid

Extra-abdominal desmoid defined as progressive, locally invasive lesions composed of uniform fibroblasts forming abundant collagen and arising within the skeletal muscle or its fascial covering.It does not form regional or distant metastasis, but the rate of recurrence is high.The basic principle of treatment of desmoids is adequate local excision and local persistence, even after multiple operative procedure, should be controlled by adequate local excision.A extra-abdominal desmoid that appeared in the gastrocunemius and flexor hallucis longus muscles of the leg was reported.
Digital inclusion and social exclusion: The political economy of value in a networked world

Current debates around user-generated content and its role in wealth generation can be understood as attempts to apply or develop a theory of exploitation or, more broadly, a theory of value. This article seeks to provide a theory based on the network asymmetries of late capitalism, which tend to unevenly distribute network resources through a logic of “digital inclusion.” The mechanisms that enable this asymmetric situation are introduced, and the historical displacements that have given rise to those mechanisms are briefly discussed. The conceptual model that emerges from the analysis reveals the salient features of the contemporary connexionist world that transcend, but do not erase, class boundaries.
Discussion on Condition Monitoring Contents of Secondary Equipment in Power Grid

The information integration system in the master dispatching station of the power grid will contain the condition monitoring contents of secondary equipment in the near future.According to the running condition of the secondary equipment operating in the stations in the current stage and the development tendency of the intelligent secondary equipment in the future, this paper describes the types and status of the secondary equipment,and summarizes the specific contents of condition monitoring of the secondary equipment system.The method for secondary equipment condition monitoring based on power consumption data of secondary equipment is proposed,as is the method for the relevant monitoring based on multi-source related data.Finally,application suggestions for the secondary equipment condition monitoring data are summed up according to the requirements of the master station.
Prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of COPD exacerbation

Continuous prophylactic antibiotic therapy significantly decreases COPD exacerbations for up to three years. However, it does not decrease mortality, and it puts the patient at risk of antibiotic-resistant colonization and infection.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND CASE STUDIES: Unique Landfill Restoration Designs Increase Opportunities to Create Urban Open Space

The majority of humans now live in cities where access to usable open space is often limited, causing a reexamination of current practices and values related to reuse of available urban lands. Clos...
Methodological considerations for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in feathers

In recent years, researchers have begun to use corticosteroid metabolites in feathers (fCORT) as a metric of stress physiology in birds. However, there remain substantial questions about how to measure fCORT most accurately. Notably, small samples contain artificially high amounts of fCORT per millimetre of feather (the small sample artefact). Furthermore, it appears that fCORT is correlated with circulating plasma corticosterone only when levels are artificially elevated by the use of corticosterone implants. Here, we used several approaches to address current methodological issues with the measurement of fCORT. First, we verified that the small sample artefact exists across species and feather types. Second, we attempted to correct for this effect by increasing the amount of methanol relative to the amount of feather during extraction. We consistently detected more fCORT per millimetre or per milligram of feather in small samples than in large samples even when we adjusted methanol:feather concentrations. We also used high-performance liquid chromatography to identify hormone metabolites present in feathers and measured the reactivity of these metabolites against the most commonly used antibody for measuring fCORT. We verified that our antibody is mainly identifying corticosterone (CORT) in feathers, but other metabolites have significant cross-reactivity. Lastly, we measured faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in house sparrows and correlated these measurements with corticosteroid metabolites deposited in concurrently grown feathers; we found no correlation between faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and fCORT. We suggest that researchers should be cautious in their interpretation of fCORT in wild birds and should seek alternative validation methods to examine species-specific relationships between environmental challenges and fCORT.
Convention (An Excerpt on Coordination and Higher-Order Expectations)

Use of language belongs to a class of situations with a conspicuous common character: situations I shall call coordination problems. I postpone a definition until we have seen a few examples. We begin with situations that might arise between two people-call them “you” and “I.”
Genetic Issues with Male Fertility

Male factor reproductive deficiency is wholly or ­partially contributory to the inability of many couples to achieve their goal of natural conception. As such, the evaluation of the male with history, physical examination, semen analyses, and other appropriate tests is mandatory when a couple presents with infertility. The failure to conceive should never be presumed to result from an isolated or obvious factor in one partner. Both the man and the woman should be looked at as individuals and undergo the assessment when initially presenting. In this chapter, we focus on several genetic mishaps and aberrations known to be causal in precipitating severe male factor infertility. In whom do we look, what are the tests that can be done, what does a positive result mean, and what we might be able to do about it are the questions we focus on from a clinical standpoint.
Laparoscopic Gastric Band: Early and Late Complications

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), although a good option for weight loss, does have its associated complications.
HazMatMapper: an online and interactive geographic visualization tool for exploring transnational flows of hazardous waste and environmental justice

ABSTRACTHazMatMapper is an online and interactive geographic visualization tool designed to facilitate exploration of transnational flows of hazardous waste in North America (http://geography.wisc.edu/hazardouswaste/map/). While conventional narratives suggest that wealthier countries such as Canada and the United States (US) export waste to poorer countries like Mexico, little is known about how waste trading may affect specific sites within any of the three countries. To move beyond anecdotal discussions and national aggregates, we assembled a novel geographic dataset describing transnational hazardous waste shipments from 2007 to 2012 through two Freedom of Information Act requests for documents held by the US Environmental Protection Agency. While not yet detailing all of the transnational hazardous waste trade in North America, HazMatMapper supports multiscale and site-specific visual exploration of US imports of hazardous waste from Canada and Mexico. It thus enables academic researchers, waste regu...
Lead Content of Sindoor, a Hindu Religious Powder and Cosmetic: New Jersey and India, 2014–2015

Objectives. To assess the extent of lead content of sindoor, a powder used by Hindus for religious and cultural purposes, which has been linked to childhood lead poisoning when inadvertently ingested.Methods. We purchased 95 samples of sindoor from 66 South Asian stores in New Jersey and 23 samples from India and analyzed samples with atomic absorption spectrophotometry methods for lead.Results. Analysis determined that 79 (83.2%) sindoor samples purchased in the United States and 18 (78.3%) samples purchased in India contained 1.0 or more micrograms of lead per gram of powder. For US samples, geometric mean concentration was 5.4 micrograms per gram compared with 28.1 micrograms per gram for India samples. The maximum lead content detected in both US and India samples was more than 300 000 micrograms per gram. Of the examined US sindoor samples, 19% contained more than 20 micrograms per gram of lead (US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] limit); 43% of the India samples exceeded this limit.Conclusions. Re...