cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineering Decision: An Important Issue in Engineering Education

A decision is a conscious, irrevocable allocation of resources with the purpose of achieving a desired objective Skinner 1999 . As individuals, people make decisions hundreds of times a week; most decisions have little lasting effect. As managers of the Coca-Cola Company, their decision to change formulas in the mid-1980s invited massive customer rebellion. The decision could have been a marketing disaster, but the company actually gained market share when the original formulation was brought back because of all the negative publicity. From a decisionmaking point of view, introducing “New Coke” was an interesting decision one cannot say it was good or bad with a positive outcome. As engineers we face myriad decisions every day, such as design challenges, production risks, and construction alternatives, within the constrains of limited resources. Often engineering decisions affect future generations. While good engineering decisions improve our civilization and protect the environment, poor engineering decisions have the potential to harm thousands or have long-lived effects that often far surpass current understanding. Poor decisions relating to the environment can result in dangerous and almost completely unexpected by-products. When making high-stake decisions, people should choose alternatives in an optimal fashion due to limited information and uncertainties. Due to the complexity of decision making, fundamental knowledge on methodology and framework for optimizing decisions is needed. Therefore, it is important for our students to receive education relating to decision making. Unfortunately, most of our engineering curricula do not include specific courses to systematically educate students about decision making. Engineering students take courses to learn fundamentals and engineering design, but they seldom have time to take courses related to decision making. For most engineering students, the only course they take is statistics or operations research that is close to decision making. The concept and theory of decision making are often replaced by trade-offs, risk analysis, and cost analysis. “Because so few engineering decisions turn out poorly, engineering decision-making is a little-known and rarely discussed process” Vesilind and Morgan 2004 . For most engineering endeavors, decision making does not have a high priority. However, the destruction, heartbreak, and family separation that resulted from Hurricane Katrina is a wake-up call for all of us. High-impact decisions often involve significant investment e.g., upgrading the levee systems in New Orleans to withstand a Category 5 hurricane would cost billions of dollars , high complexity e.g., decision to launch the Space Shuttle Challenger STS 51-L stretched from technical to ethical , and elements of uncertainty e.g., the Missouri River had several 100-year floods
Soft QCD and the underlying event at CDF

Presented are the latest results of jet fragmentation studies at the Tevatron using the CDF Run II detector. Studies include indirectly global event shapes in p p ¯ collisions, the distribution of transverse momenta ( k T ) of particles in jets, the underlying event studies and two-particle momentum correlations. Results are compared to parton shower Monte Carlos and recent NLLA calculations as well as earlier experimental results from the Tevatron and e + e − colliders.
Amyloid myopathy: an underdiagnosed entity

Amyloidosis can involve multiple organs, including kidney, heart, peripheral nerve, skin, joints, and skeletal muscle, but rarely presents as a myopathy. We studied 13 adults with muscle weakness for between 3 months and 4 years in whom the diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis was unsuspected before or until just before the time of the muscle biopsy. All muscle specimens demonstrated congophilic deposits around blood vessels and muscle fibers, some necrotic and regenerating fibers, and signs of mild denervation. Immunostains in 10 patients revealed immunoglobulin amyloidosis in 7 and gelsolin amyloidosis in 1. Apolipoprotein E co-localized with the congophilic deposits in all 10, and a C-terminal epitope of the beta-amyloid precursor protein was detected in 6. The frequency of the diagnosis of amyloid myopathy increased 10-fold when we adopted the fluorescent Congo red stain as a routine procedure in assessing muscle biopsy specimens.
Blockade of the preovulatory surge of LH and FSH and of ovulation by anti-LH-RH serum in rats.

An injection of 1 ml of a rabbit anti-LH-RH serum at 9 AM on the day of proestrusprevented the usual preovulatory surge of LH andFSH and blocked ovulation in cycling female rats.Injection of 1 ml of normal rabbit serum did notprevent the preovulatory surge of LH and FSH anddid not block ovulation. The results suggest thatantiserum to the LH-RH decapeptide, exogenouslyadministered, neutralized endogenous LH-RH andthereby prevented the preovulatory surge ofgonadotropin release. The LH-RH decapeptide mayrepresent the physiological FSH-RH, as well as theLH-RH, or alternately LH-RH and FSH-RH mayboth possess a common antigenic determinant,Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2, to the anti-LH-RH serumused in this experiment. (Endocrinology 95:323, 1974)
Rates of weathering and chemical depletion in soils across a chronosequence of Lake Michigan sand dunes

Abstract Accumulation of soil organic matter and depletion of base cations and trace metals were measured in surface soils (i.e., O horizon and upper 15 cm of mineral soil) across a ∼4150-year soil chronosequence of dune-capped beach ridges bordering northern Lake Michigan. Within 400 years of beach-ridge formation, coniferous forest develops, soil C and N accumulate to steady-state levels of ∼40 and ∼1.3 Mg ha−1, respectively, and the pH of the upper mineral soil decreases from 8.5 to 4.3 as carbonate minerals dissolve. After substantial proportions of Ca and Mg have been removed, an incipient spodic horizon can be observed, the upper surface of which progressively deepens with increasing soil age. Analysis of soil strain of the upper mineral soil showed gradual dilation reaching 121% after several centuries of soil development. After accounting for soil dilation, quantities of Ca, Mg, P, Zn, Mn, Fe, and V in the upper 15 cm of mineral soil decreased exponentially to low asymptotic levels representing quantities contained in weathering-resistant minerals. Mass balance modeling indicated weathering and elemental losses in the order of decreasing decay constant as: Ca>Mg>Mn>Zn=P>V>Fe>Al>K>Na, Ti. This sequence is consistent with weathering of carbonates, then ferromagnesian minerals, then feldspars. P levels are tightly coupled with Ca losses in soils older than 200 years, suggesting that Ca, rather than Fe or Al, stabilizes P. High concentrations of heavy metals in the organic horizon relative to the upper mineral soil indicate atmospheric inputs of industrial pollutants.
Backmixing in multistage agitated contactors‐‐‐a correlation

A generalized correlation is presented for the backmix ratio in multistage agitated contactors. The backmix ratio is shown to be a function of the ratio of impeller tip speed to superficial flow velocity, and of the column configuration and impeller design. For single-phase flow and for the continuous phase in two-phase flow, the following expression is recommended:
Global well-posedness of the Cauchy problem for the Navier-Stokes equations of nonisentropic flow with discontinuous initial data

Abstract We prove the global existence, uniqueness, and continuous dependence on initial data for discontinuous solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for nonisentropic, compressible flow in one space dimension. A great deal of information is obtained concerning the qualitative behavior of the solution, including an analysis of the convection and evolution of jump discontinuities, the derivation of sharp rates of smoothing, and the L ∞ asymptotic behavior.
Transcriptional activation of the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene promoter III by dopamine signaling in NT2/N neurons

We have identified a functional cAMP-response element (CRE) in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene promoter III and established that it participated in the modulation of BDNF expression in NT2/N neurons via downstream signaling from the D1 class of dopamine (DA) receptors. The up-regulation of BDNF expression, in turn, produced neuroprotective signals through receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) and promoted cell survival under the conditions of oxygen and glucose deprivation. To our knowledge this is the first evidence showing the presence of a functional CRE in the human BDNF gene and the role of DA signaling in establishing transcriptional competence of CRE in post-mitotic NT2/N neurons. This ability of DA to regulate the expression of the BDNF survival factor has a profound significance for the nigrostriatal pathway, because it indicates the existence of a feedback loop between the neutrophin, which promotes both the maturation and survival of dopaminergic neurons, and the neurotransmitter, which the mature neurons ultimately produce and release.
The Crotyl Alcohol Dianion: Addition Reactions

Abstract Conditions are developed for the generation and subsequent addition of crotyl alcohol dianion.
Dimensional reduction, covariance modeling, and computational complexity in ASR systems

We study acoustic modeling for speech recognition using mixtures of exponential models with linear and quadratic features tied across all context dependent states. These models are one version of the SPAM models introduced by Axelrod, Gopinath and Olsen (see Proc. ICSLP, 2002). They generalize diagonal covariance, MLLT, EMLLT, and full covariance models. Reduction of the dimension of the acoustic vectors using LDA/HDA projections corresponds to a special case of reducing the exponential model feature space. We see, in one speech recognition task, that SPAM models on an LDA projected space of varying dimensions achieve a significant fraction of the WER improvement in going from MLLT to full covariance modeling, while maintaining the low computational cost of the MLLT models. Further, the feature precomputation cost can be minimized using the hybrid feature technique of Visweswariah, Olsen, Gopinath and Axelrod (see ICASSP 2003); and the number of Gaussians one needs to compute can be greatly reducing using hierarchical clustering of the Gaussians (with fixed feature space). Finally, we show that reducing the quadratic and linear feature spaces separately produces models with better accuracy, but comparable computational complexity, to LDA/HDA based models.
Does the outcome of a first pregnancy predict depression, suicidal ideation, or lower self-esteem? Data from the National Comorbidity Survey.

This study examines the risk of depression, suicidal ideation, and lower self-esteem following an abortion versus a delivery, with and without adjusting for important correlates. Using the National Comorbidity Survey, we tested how first pregnancy outcome (abortion vs. delivery) related to subsequent major depression, suicidal ideation, and self-esteem. Models controlling for risk factors, such as background and economic factors, prepregnancy violence experience, and prepregnancy mental health, as well as a model with all risk factors, were examined. When no risk factors were entered in the model, women who had abortions were more likely to have subsequent depression, OR = 1.53, 95% CI [1.05-2.22], and suicidal ideation, OR = 2.02, 95% CI [1.40-2.92], but they were not more likely to have lower self-esteem, B = -.02. When all risk factors were entered, pregnancy outcome was not significantly related to later depression, OR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.54-1.37], and suicidal ideation, OR = 1.19, 95% CI [0.70-2.02]. Predictors of mental health following abortion and delivery included prepregnancy depression, suicidal ideation, and sexual violence. Policies and practices implemented in response to the claim that abortion hurts women are not supported by our findings. Efforts to support women's mental health should focus on known risk factors, such as gender-based violence and prior mental health problems, rather than abortion history. Language: en
“Alcohol Dependence” and Death: Survival Analysis of the Baltimore ECA Sample from 1981 to 1995

Objective: Evidence is provided about the association between “alcohol-use disorders” and the 14-year risk of death in a community sample. Most prior descriptions of this association come from trea...
Feedback control of surface roughness of GaAs [001] thin films using kinetic Monte-Carlo models

We follow the methodology presented in Y. Lou and P.D. Christofides (2003) to study estimation and control of surface roughness of gallium arsenide (GaAs) [001] thin films during deposition in a horizontal-flow quartz reactor using triisobutylgallium (TIBGa) and tertiarybutylarsine (TBAs) as precursors and H/sub 2/ as the carrier gas. The adsorption of TIBGa onto the surface and the migration of Ga atoms on the surface are considered as the two rate-limiting steps in the film growth and are explicitly modelled within a kinetic Monte-Carlo simulation framework. The energy barriers and the pre-exponential factor of the migration rates of Ga atoms on the surface used in the simulations are initially determined by fitting the simulation results to experimental data reported in D.C. Law, et al, (2000). Then, a roughness estimator is constructed that allows computing estimates of the surface roughness of the GaAs thin films at a time-scale comparable to the real-time evolution of the process using discrete on-line roughness measurements. The roughness estimates are fed to a proportional-integral (PI) feedback controller, which is used to control the surface roughness to a desired level by manipulating the substrate temperature. Application of the proposed estimator/controller structure to the process model based on a large-lattice kinetic Monte-Carlo simulator demonstrates successful regulation of the surface roughness to the desired level. The proposed approach is shown to be superior to PI control with direct use of the discrete roughness measurements. The reason is that the available measurement techniques do not provide measurements at a frequency that is comparable to the time-scale of evolution of the dominant film growth dynamics.
Heat-induced phase behavior of β-lactoglobulin/polysaccharide mixtures

The influence of polysaccharides on the thermal stability of β-lactoglobulin at pH 6.8 was investigated regarding polysaccharide type, concentration and size. Two kinds of polysaccharides, sulfate-containing polysaccharides (carrageenans and dextran sulfate with different molecular mass) and neutral polysaccharides (dextran with different molecular mass), were investigated. At low ratios of sulfate-containing polysaccharide to β-lactoglobulin, heat-induced aggregation was decreased as shown by lower turbidity. Increasing the ratio induced a significant increase in turbidity, leading to segregative phase separation. Phase diagrams were established by centrifugation, chemical assays and visual observation for β-lactoglobulin/kappa-carrageenan and β-lactoglobulin/dextran sulfates. Significant phases (stable, separated and gel) were found, indicating the varieties of phase behavior and a strong competition between phase separation and gelation caused by thermal treatment. Moreover, gelation was reversible in β-lactoglobulin/dextran sulfate systems depending on the polysaccharide concentration.
Pedagogical utilization and assessment of the statistic online computational resource in introductory probability and statistics courses

Technology-based instruction represents a new recent pedagogical paradigm that is rooted in the realization that new generations are much more comfortable with, and excited about, new technologies. The rapid technological advancement over the past decade has fueled an enormous demand for the integration of modern networking, informational and computational tools with classical pedagogical instruments. Consequently, teaching with technology typically involves utilizing a variety of IT and multimedia resources for online learning, course management, electronic course materials, and novel tools of communication, engagement, experimental, critical thinking, and assessment. The NSF-funded Statistics Online Computational Resource (SOCR) provides a number of interactive tools for enhancing instruction in various undergraduate and graduate courses in probability and statistics. These resources include online instructional materials, statistical calculators, interactive graphical user interfaces, computational and simulation applets, tools for data analysis and visualization. The tools provided as part of SOCR include conceptual simulations and statistical computing interfaces, which are designed to bridge between the introductory and the more advanced computational and applied probability and statistics courses. In this manuscript, we describe our designs for utilizing SOCR technology in instruction in a recent study. In addition, present the results of the effectiveness of using SOCR tools at two different course intensity levels on three outcome measures: exam scores, student satisfaction and choice of technology to complete assignments. Learning styles assessment was completed at baseline. We have used three very different designs for three different undergraduate classes. Each course included a treatment group, using the SOCR resources, and a control group, using classical instruction techniques. Our findings include marginal effects of the SOCR treatment per individual classes; however, pooling the results across all courses and sections, SOCR effects on the treatment groups were exceptionally robust and significant. Coupling these findings with a clear decrease in the variance of the quantitative examination measures in the treatment groups indicates that employing technology, like SOCR, in a sound pedagogical and scientific manner enhances overall the students' understanding and suggests better long-term knowledge retention.
A surgeon to remember: Notes about vladimir demikhov

Vladimir Demikhov, first to transplant an auxiliary heart into the chest of a warm-blooded animal, first to replace the heart with a homograft, first to carry out a pulmonary transplantation, first to perform a complete heart and lung replacement, and first to perform a successful internal mammary-coronary anastomosis, deserves a place among the great experimental surgeons of all times. He has not had the widespread recognition he earned.
Predatory Bacteria as Natural Modulators of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in Seawater and Oysters

This study shows that naturally occurring Vibrio predatory bacteria (VPB) exert a major role in controlling pathogenic vibrios in seawater and shellfish. The growth and persistence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus were assessed in natural seawater and in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. The pathogens examined were V. vulnificus strain VV1003, V. parahaemolyticus O1:KUT (KUT stands for K untypeable), and V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 and corresponding O3:K6 mutants deficient in the toxRS virulence regulatory gene or the rpoS alternative stress response sigma factor gene. Vibrios were selected for streptomycin resistance, which facilitated their enumeration. In natural seawater, oysters bioconcentrated each Vibrio strain for 24 h at 22°C; however, counts rapidly declined to near negligible levels by 72 h. In natural seawater with or without oysters, vibrios decreased more than 3 log units to near negligible levels within 72 h. Neither toxRS nor rpoS had a significant effect on Vibrio levels. In autoclaved seawater, V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 counts increased 1,000-fold over 72 h. Failure of the vibrios to persist in natural seawater and oysters led to screening of the water samples for VPB on lawns of V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 host cells. Many VPB, including Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs; Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and Bacteriovorax stolpii) and Micavibrio aeruginosavorus-like predators, were detected by plaque assay and electron microscopic analysis of plaque-purified isolates from Atlantic, Gulf Coast, and Hawaiian seawater. When V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 was added to natural seawater containing trace amounts of VPB, Vibrio counts diminished 3 log units to nondetectable levels, while VPB increased 3 log units within 48 h. We propose a new paradigm that VPB are important modulators of pathogenic vibrios in seawater and oysters.
Optimal and reduced complexity receivers for M-ary multi-h CPM

We present an optimal maximum likelihood sequence estimating (MLSE) receiver which is based on the pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) representation of multilevel multi-h continuous phase modulation (CPM). We also give four different approaches to constructing suboptimal receivers which use a significantly reduced number of signal terms. We apply these techniques to two multi-h schemes in current use and evaluate receiver performance with computer simulations. In one instance we reduce the number of trellis states from 512 to 32, and the number of matched filters from 96 to 3, with a degradation of 0.7 dB. The simulations also show that the complexity reductions preserve the performance advantage multi-h CPM schemes have over single-index schemes.
The electronic structure of oriented poly [2-methoxy-5-(2’-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene]

Poly[2-methoxy-5-(2’-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene] (MEH-PPV) adopts a preferential orientation on indium tin oxide. Although the basic building block of this polymer provides a negligible overall point-group symmetry, the polymer MEH-PPV packs with sufficient order to exhibit band structure. The polymer is fragile with bond cleavage evident following both argon-ion impact and ultraviolet radiation, but annealing leads to the restoration of much of the bond order.
Unconstrained via minimization for topological multilayer routing

A theoretical study which allows determination of the minimum number of vias for realizable multilayer channel routing under a topological model is presented. The theory is sufficiently general to solve a variety of problems under different technological constraints, e.g. VLSI multilayer switchbox and channel routing, through-hole printed circuit board (PCB) channels, and single-layer routing. Topological routing is concerned with wire intersection but not area, zero-width wires and zero-area vias being assumed. Unconstrained via minimization (UVM) is not constrained to a prerouted topology. This paper presents restrictive cases of UVM, finding most to be NP-hard, but the case resulting from constraints of traditional switchbox or channel routing to be solvable in O(kn/sup 2/), where k is the maximum number of pins of a net layer and n is the number of pins. The minimum number of vias for various switchbox and channel routing benchmarks are reported. >
As It Is in Zion: Seeking the Rastafari in Ghana, West Africa

AbstractBased on the author's ethnographic fieldwork in Ghana in 2000 and 2001, this essay highlights the endlessly changing nature of Rastafarian faith and practice in this West African country. Here we see that Rastas in different Ghanaian communities seem to hold distinct and frequently conflicting beliefs in three major areas: Haile Selassie's divinity, Ethiopia's significance, and involvement in Ghanaian politics. Differences among Rastas in Ghana are seen as indicative of change among Rastafari in many global contexts. An interview with Rocky Dawuni, a prominent Ghanaian Rasta musician, whose work highlights the internationalization of the Rastafarian movement, concludes the article.
Maximizing reliability in multi-hop wireless networks

Distributed space-time block coding is a diversity technique to mitigate the effects of fading in multi-hop wireless networks, where multiple relay stages are used by a source to communicate with its destination. This paper proposes a new distributed space-time block code called the cascaded orthogonal space-time block code (COSTBC) for the case where the source and destination are equipped with multiple antennas and each relay stage has one or more single antenna relays. Each relay stage is assumed to have receive channel state information (CSI) for all the channels from the source to itself, while the destination is assumed to have receive CSI for all the channels. To construct COSTBC, multiple orthogonal space-time block codes are used in cascade by the source and each relay stage. COSTBC is shown to achieve the maximum diversity gain in a multi-hop wireless network with flat Rayleigh fading channels. An explicit construction of COSTBCs is also provided. It is also shown that COSTBC requires minimum decoding complexity thanks to the connection to orthogonal space-time block codes.
Strength and Absorbed Energy in Instrumented Impact Tests of Al2O3

By use of strain-gage instrumentation to record impact loads as a function of time, the flexural strength at high strain rates and the energy absorbed in Charpy impact fracture of an alumina were measured. The energy absorption by Al2O3 impact specimens is shown to result principally from elastic mechanical loading. Extraneous energy losses in the Charpy test can easily exceed the magnitude of this mechanical specimen-loading energy and are shown to be inherent sources of error in impact testing of brittle materials.
Robust mobile computing framework for visualization of simulated processes in augmented reality

Visualization of engineering processes can be critical for validation and communication of simulation models to decision-makers. Augmented Reality (AR) visualization blends real-world information with graphical 3D models to create informative composite views that are difficult to replicate on the computer alone. This paper presents a robust and general-purpose mobile computing framework that allows users to readily create complex AR visual simulations. The technical challenges of building this framework from the software and hardware perspective are described. SMART is a generic and loosely-coupled software application framework for creating AR visual simulations with accurate registration and projection algorithms. ARMOR is a modular mobile hardware platform designed for user position and orientation tracking and augmented view display. Together, SMART and ARMOR allow the creation of complex AR visual simulations. The framework has been validated in several case studies, including the visualization of underground infrastructure for applications in excavation planning and control.
Specification and refinement of a message router

The paper considers a variant of the message router problem discussed during the Concurrency and Distribution sessions of IWSSD-6 by H.C. Cunningham and J.T. Udding (1992). First, it presents a high-level specification of the router as a reactive system expressed in the UNITY logic. Second, it refines the interface of the router using a new approach called the reactive envelope heuristic. Third, it decomposes the router into a grid of switches. In closing, the paper analyzes the specification and refinement techniques used in the study and proposes future research. >
A 64 Channelprogrammable closed-loop deep brain stimulator with 8 channel neural amplifier and logarithmic ADC

We describe a 64 channel closed-loop deep brain stimulator IC for use in research and treatment of Parkinsonpsilas disease. The system generates programmable stimulation currents and senses and filters neural activity recorded with an 8 channel preamplifier and 200 kS/s 8 bit logADC. The entire system implemented in 0.18 mum CMOS, occupies 2.67 mm2, and consumes 271 muW from a 1.8 V supply. In-vivo test data is presented.
Automated Diagnostics and Visualization of Potential Energy Performance Problems in Existing Buildings Using Energy Performance Augmented Reality Models

AbstractQuick and reliable identification of energy performance problems in buildings is a critical step in improving their efficiency. The current practice of building diagnostics typically involves nonintrusive data collection using thermal cameras. This requires large amounts of unordered and nongeo-tagged two-dimensional (2D) imagery to be manually analyzed at a later stage, which makes the analysis time-consuming and labor-intensive. Because of the absence of a benchmark for energy performance, identification of performance problems also heavily relies on the auditor’s knowledge, and consequently may lead to subjective and error-prone inspections. As a step towards rapid and objective identification of performance problems, this paper presents a new method for automated analysis and visualization of deviations between buildings’ actual and simulated energy performances. The proposed method is based on the recently developed energy performance augmented reality (EPAR) environments. In the EPAR modelin...
Sulfate reduction in the salt marshes at Sapelo Island, Georgia1

Sulfate reduction rates were measured in stands of Spartina dternijh-a at Sapelo Island, Georgia, in November 1980 by injecting tracer amounts of ‘%04’- into cores, incubating overnight, and analyzing for the incorporation oi ‘% into reduced sulfur compounds. Qualitatively, sulfate reduction in the Georgia marsh is very similar to that in the Massachusetts marshes we have studied: FeS, (pyrite or marcasite) is the major end product. Lesser amounts of soluble sulfides, iron monosulfides, and elemental sulfur are also formed. The rate of sulfate reduction (determined by the same method) is significantly lower during November in Georgia than in the Great Sippewissett Marsh in Massachusetts, 0.090 vs. 0.27 moles S042-*m--2* cl-l in stands of short Spartina. The lower rates in Georgia may reflect a lower rate of organic carbon input by belowground production. Sulfate reduction appears to be the major form of respiration in the sediments of salt marshes in Georgia as well as in Massachusetts.
Brain histamine regulates pressor responses to peripheral hyperosmolality

The role of brain histamine (HA) in the pressor response to peripheral hyperosmolality was investigated in the conscious Sprague-Dawley rat. Increased mean arterial pressure was observed during a 30-min intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline (HTS; 10 microliters.100 g body wt-1 x min-1) in vehicle-treated controls (20.1 +/- 3.8 mmHg) and in animals centrally pretreated with the specific H2-antagonist, cimetidine (15.0 +/- 3.7 mmHg). However, this pressor response was abolished in a dose-dependent manner after intracerebroventricular injection of the H1 antagonist promethazine. In other experiments, brain tissue microdissected from the supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and posterior hypothalamic region showed significantly lower levels of total tissue HA after 60 min of intravenous HTS infusion compared with tissue taken from control animals receiving an isotonic infusion. Microdialysis in the region of the PVN or SON before and during HTS infusion showed increased extracellular concentrations of HA in the SON (24.4 +/- 10.9%) during infusion. No change in extracellular HA concentration was seen in the PVN during HTS infusion. These results support the conclusion that endogenous brain HA is involved in the pressor response to peripheral hyperosmolality.
Permanent Draft Genome Sequences for Two Variants of Frankia sp. Strain CpI1, the First Frankia Strain Isolated from Root Nodules of Comptonia peregrina.

ABSTRACT Frankia stains CpI1-S and CpI1-P are members of Frankia lineage Ia that are able to reinfect plants of the Betulaceae and Myricaceae families. Here, we report two 7.6-Mbp draft genome sequences with 6,396 and 6,373 candidate protein-coding genes for CpI1-S and CpI1-P, respectively.
Accelerated weathering studies on the bioplastic, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)

Abstract The effect of accelerated weathering exposure time on the bioplastic, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) was studied. The chemical structure and thermophysical property changes of solvent cast PHBV films were examined by a combination of optical microscopy, size exclusion chromatography, FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopies, tensile testing, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The exposed PHBV surfaces experienced surface crazing upon weathering. The molar mass of weathered PHBV was shown to decrease due to chain scission which was dominant over the crosslinking reaction mechanism, and compositional analysis showed the polymer degradation was non-random between the hydroxybutyrate-hydroxyvalerate units. The degree of crystallinity for PHBV was shown to increase significantly (by about 20%) upon weathering. Tensile tests showed that the weathered PHBV exhibited reduced ultimate strength and elongation to break, while the Young's modulus increased ascribing to an increase in crystallinity. Different degradation mechanisms (Norrish I/II, radical initiation, crosslinking, and hydrolysis) of PHBV are proposed and confirmed based on the experimental findings. This study provides degradation insight for PHBV exposed to both UV radiation and moisture.
Ambiguity vs. Generality: Removal of a Logical Confusion

things, but so are general terms, since a general kind (e.g., 'animal') may include various species. Thus a bank may be the side of a river or a certain kind of financial institution, and an animal may be a dog or a cat. Similarly, an ambiguous sentence is true in different kinds of situations, and so is a general sentence in that different specific situations may make the same general sentence true. Thus the sentence, The bank collapsed yesterday,' can be true of different varieties of banks, and the sentence, The animal is untrained,' can be true of different varieties of animals. These similarities of ambiguity and generality have led many linguists and philosophers to confuse the two. Basic to this confusion is a failure to notice a difference in the scopes of disjunctions involved in ambiguity and generality. In the first two parts of this paper, I will show how the scope confusion appears in arguments for the general point that it is difficult to distinguish ambiguity from generality, and in arguments that
The biosynthesis and processing of neuroendocrine peptides: identification of proprotein convertases involved in intravesicular processing.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses recent advances in the understanding of how proinsulin and other precursor proteins are processed into their biologically active products. The newly-formed secretory vesicles derived from the golgi complex appear to be the main site of precursor processing in both β cells and peptidergic neurones. The insulin-producing β cells are highly specialized secretory cells that share many properties with other neuroendocrine cells and have a number of additional specialized features attributable to their unique chemosensory functions. The chapter proposes to isolate two complementary DNAs (cDNAs) from a human insulinoma and mouse pituitary AtT20 cells that encode serine proteases (PC2 and PC3) having catalytic domains homologous to those of the bacterial substilisins and Kex2, a yeast proα-factor processing endoprotease. These enzymes appear to be designed to function in an acidic environment enriched in calcium ions as is believed to exist in maturing neuroendocrine secretory vesicles. Available evidence suggests that PC2 and PC3 as well as furin, a trans Golgi associated Kex2-like protease, are members of a hitherto unrecognized and ancient superfamily of subtilisin-related proteinases in eukaryotic cells that are involved in the intracellular processing of precursor proteins.
On the definition of active transport

A reappraisal of recently proposed definitions and criteria of active transport in terms of experimentally accessible parameters leads to the conclusion that it is in principle impossible to give a rigorous quantitative defintion of the active component of the flux of a specific molecular species across a membrane without prior knowledge of the mechanism. The attempted distinctions between various types of “non-passive” transport (coupled, forced, facilitated, etc.) are thus of necessity operationally ambiguous. The essential equivalence of formulations based on classical thermodynamics and on thermodynamics of irreversible processes is pointed out, and the significance of Curie’s theorem to any theoretical formulation is discussed.
Understanding and Controlling the 1,4-Phenylene Diisocyanide–Gold Oligomer Formation Pathways

The pathways for the spontaneous self-assembly of one-dimensional oligomeric chains from the adsorption of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanide (PDI) on Au(111) surface are explored using density functional theory. It has been shown previously that the chain comprises repeating −(Au–PDI)– structures. The results show that the chains form from mobile Au–PDI adatom complexes and that chains propagate by the adatom complex coupling to a terminal isocyanide group which lies close to parallel to the surface and the activation barrier for this propagation step is ∼28 kJ/mol. It is also found that the Au–PDI adatom complex is attracted to the terminal isocyanide, thereby facilitating the oligomerization process. The insights into the oligomerization pathway are used to explore whether an external electric field applied to diisocyanide functionalized molecules that contain a dipole moment can be used to align them. It is found that molecules with dipole moments of ∼1 D show significant alignment with an electric field of ∼...
Glucosamine Acetoacetate Condensate II. Isolation and Identification from Human Diabetic Urines

ConclusionGlucosamine acetoacetate condensate or its salt form was isolated and identified by ultraviolet and infrared spectra and by gas chromatography from 12 out of 14 human diabetic urines; the condensate was not found in any of the 14 normal3 urines. The isolated condensate preparations were also subjected to elemental analysis and found to have ratios of C:H:N corresponding with the standard condensate. These results indicate that the pyrrole condensate of glucosamine and acetoacetate occurs as a metabolite in patients with diabetes.
Effect of best management practice implementation on sediment and phosphorus load reductions at subwatershed and watershed scale using SWAT model

Abstract Identification of areas contributing disproportionately high amount of pollutants (i.e., critical source areas (CSAs)) to streams is important to efficiently and effectively target best management practices (BMPs). Process-based models are commonly used to identify CSAs and evaluate the impact of alternative management practices on pollutant load reductions. The objective of this study was to use the Soil and Watershed Assessment Tool (SWAT) to identify CSAs at the subwatershed level and evaluate the impact of alternative BMPs on sediment and total phosphorus (TP) load reductions in the Pleasant Valley watershed (50 km2) in South Central Wisconsin (USA). The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, percent bias, and coefficient of determination ranged from 0.58 to 0.71, −12.87 to 38.33, and 0.67 to 0.79, respectively, indicating that SWAT was able to predict stream flow, sediment and TP loadings at a monthly time-step with sufficient accuracy. Based on the SWAT simulation results, annual average (2006–2012) subwatershed yield for sediment and TP ranged from 0.06 to 3.14 tons ha−1 yr−1 and 0.04 to 1.9 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The croplands were the major source of sediment and TP in this watershed (≥84%). Reduction in sediment and TP loading ranged from 66% to 99% at the subwatershed level after conversion of croplands to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands in subwatersheds identified as CSAs. On the other hand, reduction in sediment and TP loading with implementation of no-till practices ranged from only 14% to 25%. At the watershed outlet, sediment and TP loading reduction was ≤15% after conversion of croplands to CRP grasslands and implementation of no-till practices because only about 8% of the watershed area was targeted for BMPs and/or resuspension of sediment deposited on the stream bed masked the downstream improvements in water quality.
Conflict Management Practice: The Structural Approach

In the Introduction, I referred to peacemaking initiatives in Northern Ireland since 1968, both at the political and the community level. The processes involved at the two levels can be differentiated into structural and cultural processes respectively (Ruane and Todd, 1990).
Cross-Coupling of Amides by N–C Bond Activation

In recent years, significant conceptual advances have taken place in the field of amide bond cross-coupling. Mild and selective functionalization of amides by transition-metal catalysis has an enormous potential for widespread applications in both industry and academia due to the unparalleled prevalence of amide-containing molecules. However, direct metal insertion into the N–C(O) amide bond is extremely difficult as a consequence of amidic resonance. In this account, we summarize our work on the development of new cross-coupling reactions of amides by N–C bond activation, and briefly discuss other modern developments in this area. 1 Introduction 2 Amide Bond Ground-State Distortion 3 Acyl Amide N–C Cross-Coupling 3.1 Suzuki Cross-Coupling 3.2 Negishi Cross-Coupling 3.3 Esterification and Amidation via N–C Cross-Coupling 4 Decarbonylative Amide N–C Cross-Coupling 4.1 Heck Cross-Coupling 4.2 Suzuki Cross-Coupling 4.3 C–H Activation 4.4 Decarbonylative Borylation 5 Transition-Metal-Free Activation of Amide Bonds 6 Mechanistic Studies 7 Conclusions and Outlook
Cyber-Security Issues in Healthcare Information Technology.

In 1999–2003, SIIM (then SCAR) sponsored the creation of several special topic Primers, one of which was concerned with computer security. About the same time, a multi-society collaboration authored an ACR Guideline with a similar plot; the latter has recently been updated. The motivation for these efforts was the launch of Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). That legislation directed care providers to enable the portability of patient medical records across authorized medical centers, while simultaneously protecting patient confidentiality among unauthorized agents. These policy requirements resulted in the creation of numerous technical solutions which the above documents described. While the mathematical concepts and algorithms in those papers are as valid today as they were then, recent increases in the complexity of computer criminal applications (and defensive countermeasures) and the pervasiveness of Internet connected devices have raised the bar. This work examines how a medical center can adapt to these evolving threats.
Abstract A127: The role of macrophages in tissue homeostasis

Organisms maintain homeostasis at the cellular, tissue, and systemic levels in order to survive changing physiological and environmental conditions. While maintenance mechanisms at the cellular and systemic levels are well characterized, the key cell types and signaling components controlling homeostasis in tissue compartments are undefined. Perturbations in homeostasis activate stress response pathways and result in both cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic responses, the latter of which can result in tissue level adaptations. Macrophages are found in almost all tissues and are known to orchestrate tissue level responses to infection and damage. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that these innate immune cells may also perceive more general and subtle changes within the surrounding environment. We hypothesize that macrophages regulate tissue level changes to maintain homeostasis and that this feature may become dysregulated during chronic inflammatory conditions, including cancer. In order to model disrupted homeostasis, we applied a number of diverse stressors to bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in vitro : osmotic stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, amino acid deprivation, glucose deprivation, hypoxia, and heat shock. Next, RNA sequencing at early and late time points was performed to compare gene expression patterns between different stress conditions. We found that each stressor induces a unique transcriptional program in BMDMs, as well as a set of genes shared amongst several stress conditions. To identify potential paracrine signals originating from macrophages and acting on surrounding tissues, we focused on genes encoding secreted proteins, upregulated early after stimulation under multiple conditions, and containing known stress-associated motifs in their promoters. We found that many of the genes fitting these criteria are associated with tissue remodeling, including extracellular matrix components, cell adhesion molecules, factors involved in angiogenesis, and chemokines/cytokines. We are currently developing both in vitro and in vivo models of tissue stress to investigate these molecules as potential regulators of tissue level homeostasis. Citation Format: Ruth A. Franklin, Scott D. Pope, Ruslan Medzhitov. The role of macrophages in tissue homeostasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A127.
Should the Morbidly Obese Patient Be Allowed to Leave the Day of Surgery

A patient with a body mass index (BMI) of 42 just underwent an uneventful hernia repair under sedation. She is a 34-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and anxiety. The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) attending was discussing with his resident his plan to discharge the patient later that day when another attending, who overheard this, commented that it was not appropriate to discharge such a patient. Who is correct?
Sola Protestantism in Economics

Sola scriptura, sola fide, and sola gratia—these are the three sola principles that the Protestant reformers set against the Catholic church of their days. While I leave it to others to discuss the theology of this debate, I confess sympathy for the intellectual liberalism inherent in the Catholic resistance toward these sola principles. As an economist, I believe we have far too long adhered to our own sola principles, which have hurt the discipline. Protestant rigorism should be dead in economics.
Behavioral Stability: Sex-Role Stereotypy and Cognition

Sex-role appropriateness of a behavior and four cognitive variables were studied as predictors of variability in behavior. Behavioral observations were made on 12 male and 13 female undergraduate subjects interacting with a female accomplice in two experimental situations. Analyses of the data showed that sex-role appropriateness did not relate consistently to behavioral variability. Some support was found, however, for a relationship between cognitive abilities and variability across situations in certain behaviors. The implications of the data for operationalizing cognitive abilities and for using artificially constructed situations in interaction research are discussed.