cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Causality and Bayesian Network PDEs for multiscale representations of porous media

Abstract Microscopic (pore-scale) properties of porous media affect and often determine their macroscopic (continuum- or Darcy-scale) counterparts. Understanding the relationship between processes on these two scales is essential to both the derivation of macroscopic models of, e.g., transport phenomena in natural porous media, and the design of novel materials, e.g., for energy storage. Microscopic properties exhibit complex statistical correlations and geometric constraints that present challenges for the estimation of macroscopic quantities of interest (QoIs), e.g., in the context of global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of macroscopic QoIs with respect to microscopic material properties. We present a systematic way of building correlations into stochastic multiscale models through Bayesian Networks. The proposed framework allows us to construct the joint probability density function (PDF) of model parameters through causal relationships that are informed by domain knowledge and emulate engineering processes, e.g., the design of hierarchical nanoporous materials. These PDFs also serve as input for the forward propagation of parametric uncertainty thereby yielding a Bayesian Network PDE. To assess the impact of causal relationships and microscale correlations on macroscopic material properties, we propose a moment-independent GSA and corresponding effect rankings for Bayesian Network PDEs, based on the differential Mutual Information, that leverage the structure of Bayesian Networks and account for both correlated inputs and complex non-Gaussian (skewed, multimodal) QoIs. Our findings from numerical experiments, which feature a non-intrusive uncertainty quantification workflow, indicate two practical outcomes. First, the inclusion of correlations through structured priors based on causal relationships informed by domain knowledge impacts predictions of QoIs and has important implications for engineering design. Second, structured priors with non-trivial correlations yield different effect rankings than independent priors; these rankings are more consistent with the anticipated physics.
Contact Tracing with a Real Time Location System: A Case Study of Increasing Accuracy and Timeliness in the Emergency Department

Purpose: Children, especially neonates and infants, are the most vulnerable group to pertussis infection with adolescent and adults being the major source of infection. Pertussis may result in hospitalization with significant morbidities like pneumonia and acute respiratory distress. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control provide extensive guidelines for early identification of potential pertussis exposures with proper contact tracing and subsequent management in healthcare settings. However, conventional contact tracing methods are time and resource consuming especially …
Timing of Heparin Administration Modulates Arterial Occlusive Thrombotic Response in Rats.

Background: The timing for initiation of effective antithrombotic therapy relative to the onset of arterial thrombosis may influence outcomes. This report investigates the hypothesis that early administration of heparin anticoagulation relative to the onset of thrombotic occlusion will effect a reduction in occlusion. Methods: A standard rat model of experimental thrombosis induction was used, injuring the carotid artery exposure with FeCl3-saturated filter paper, followed by flow monitoring for onset of occlusion and subsequent embolization events. Intravenous heparin administration (200 units/mL) was timed relative to the initiation of injury or onset of near occlusion, compared with controls (no heparin administration). Results: No occlusion was found for delivery of heparin 5 min prior to thrombus induction, whereas all vessels occluded without heparin. Unstable (embolic) thrombi were seen with heparin given at or shortly after initial occlusion. Only 9% (1/11) of the vessels had permanent occlusion when heparin was given at the time of thrombotic onset (p 0.05). Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that antithrombotic therapy may need to be administered prior to the onset of anticipated loss of patency, with less effectiveness when given after occlusion has occurred.
Energy Consumption Modeling of 4D Printing Thermal-responsive Polymers with Integrated Compositional Design for Material

Abstract The emergence of 4D printing has revolutionized the additive manufacturing industry by enabling dynamic shape memory effects ensured by the use of smart materials. In addition to 3D fabrication, 4D printed products need to undergo shape programming and recovery cycles to achieve desired shape memory effects. Due to the new process and material characteristics, energy consumption models established for 3D printing are no longer applicable for 4D printing. In current literature, the environmental sustainability for 4D printing has not yet been evaluated, leading to unknown environmental impacts that could be caused by 4D printing processes and/or materials. In this research, theoretical models for quantifying the energy consumption in 4D printing thermal-responsive polymers are established by jointly considering the compositional design for materials. Experiments and case studies are performed to validate the proposed models and further investigate some critical factors that can affect energy consumption, e.g., values of process parameters like layer thickness, and thermo-temporal conditions in shape memory cycles. The case study results show that overall energy consumption can be reduced by 1) increasing the concentrations of multi-functional crosslinkers in material composition, and 2) setting the shape programming and recovery temperatures as 10 to 15 ℃ above the material glass transition temperature without compromising the shape fixity and recovery ratios. In addition, by adjusting the influential parameters throughout different stages in 4D printing, the total energy consumption can be reduced by 37.33 % , which corresponds to a reduction of 259.52 pounds of CO2 emissions per kilogram methacrylate resin.
An Empirical Evaluation of a Summer Bridge Program on College Graduation at a Small Liberal Arts College

This longitudinal study evaluated the efficacy of a summer bridge program (SBP) and other support services on college graduation rates at a small liberal arts school in Purchase, NY. Financially di...
ITEval: A Framework for Information Technology Evaluation

We present a framework of an integrated model, referenced as ITEval, to comprehensively assess and quantitatively compare products of information technology. In this model, we assume that the adoption of technology by an organization is determined by user's willingness to use it, the total cost to own it and its environmental influence. Approaches to quantifying these factors are discussed. Different methods are proposed to analyze and integrate these determinants for assessment and comparison. An example study is employed to demonstrate its application.
Capturing Customer Browsing Insights through RFID Tag Motion Detection in High Tag Density Environments

Retail industry is moving into the era of "responsive retail" where real-time detection and data analytics of customeritem interactions and preferences are becoming critical differentiators for brick-and-mortar retail stores to compete with increasing online alternatives. As RFID tag deployments in retail stores continue to grow, RFID technology is positioned to be one of the best means to capture customer-item interactions. This can generate insights retailers use to optimize store layout, shop floor item arrangements and even the placement of associated items in close proximity to increase the chances of sales. Generation of such key insights in a retail environment starts with the capability of detecting motion of a few tags among thousands of stationary tags, which is still an open research problem. We have created a fully FCC compliant UHF RFID testbed with individually tagged 1000 clothing items. By collecting data for customer-item interaction use cases relevant to realistic retail environments, we show why existing algorithms that work for low tag density environments (i.e. 90% accuracy in real-world retail environments.
Physiological variation reflects bioclimatic differences in the Drosophila americana species complex

Abstract Background Disentangling the selective factors shaping adaptive trait variation is an important but challenging task. Many studies—especially in Drosophila—have documented trait variation along latitudinal or altitudinal clines, but frequently lack resolution about specific environmental gradients that could be causal selective agents, and often do not investigate covariation between traits simultaneously. Here we examined variation in multiple macroecological factors across geographic space and their associations with variation in three physiological traits (desiccation resistance, UV resistance, and pigmentation) at both population and species scales, to address the role of abiotic environment in shaping trait variation. Results Using environmental data from collection locations of three North American Drosophila species—D. americana americana, D. americana texana and D. novamexicana—we identified two primary axes of macroecological variation; these differentiated species habitats and were strongly loaded for precipitation and moisture variables. In nine focal populations (three per species) assayed for each trait, we detected significant species-level variation for both desiccation resistance and pigmentation, but not for UV resistance. Species-level trait variation was consistent with differential natural selection imposed by variation in habitat water availability, although patterns of variation differed between desiccation resistance and pigmentation, and we found little evidence for pleiotropy between traits. Conclusions Our multi-faceted approach enabled us to identify potential agents of natural selection and examine how they might influence the evolution of multiple traits at different evolutionary scales. Our findings highlight that environmental factors influence functional trait variation in ways that can be complex, and point to the importance of studies that examine these relationships at both population- and species-levels.
Enlarging localized polynomial rings while preserving their prime ideal structure

Abstract Let n be an integer greater than 1 and let x 1 , … , x n be indeterminates over a countable field k. In this paper, we employ techniques of Heitmann and Nagata to show there exists an uncountable regular local ring S between the localized polynomial ring k [ x 1 , … , x n ] ( x 1 , … , x n ) and the power series ring k [ [ x 1 , … , x n ] ] such that the prime ideal spectrum of S is homeomorphic to the prime ideal spectrum of k [ x 1 , … , x n ] ( x 1 , … , x n ) as topological spaces with the Zariski topology ( Theorem 3.17 ). Thus S is a local n-dimensional Noetherian domain and the cardinality of the set of prime ideals of S is strictly less than the cardinality of S. We also show that every Noetherian ring A with infinitely many prime ideals has a Noetherian subring B such that the prime ideal spectrum of B is homeomorphic to the prime ideal spectrum of A and the cardinality of the set of prime ideals of B equals the cardinality of B.
A novel quantitative forecasting framework in energy with applications in designing energy-intelligent tax policies

Abstract Energy, monetary and fiscal policies are going to play a crucial role towards the broad transformation of global energy. The design and optimization of these policies as well as the efficacy in achieving the desirable results require quantitative approaches. In this study, we extend the methodology of our novel quantitative framework, the Energy Price Index (EPIC) that represents the average price of energy in the US, to the design, optimization and assessment of energy-intelligent tax policies. The non-availability of actual energy demand and price data for the recent months is addressed with the introduction of a rolling horizon methodology that demonstrates excellent forecasting ability over a testing period of 181 months. The mean absolute percentage error of the initial and the 2nd adjusted EPIC are just 2.71% and 1.02% respectively over this period, with the forecasting framework demonstrating excellent robustness even during the unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19. The same framework can be used to forecast the energy demands for the next four years. Two case studies for energy-intelligent tax policies are presented, investigating parametrically the effects that a gasoline tax hike and a carbon tax could have retrospectively and prospectively. A hypothetical gasoline tax hike of 15 cents per gallon would increase EPIC by 1.6%, with the greatest increase of 3.67% being associated with the transportation sector (TEPIC). This policy would result in an estimated annual average revenue of $20.253 billion. Likewise, a hypothetical incremental carbon tax hike over the next 10 years would lead in substantial reductions in CO 2 emissions, while the average price of energy would increase by just $1.5/MMBtu, generating though more than $110 billion in annual revenue.
Methods to Study Drug Transport in Isolated Choroid Plexus Tissue and Cultured Cells

The choroid plexuses, which comprise the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier, are situated within the third, fourth, and lateral cerebral ventricles (Fig. 1). The choroid plexus functions in the secretion and reabsorption of a variety of compounds and is similar in morphology to other epithelia that are involved in such transport processes (i. e., kidney and intestine) (Spector and Johanson, 1989). The choroid plexus villi are composed of a single layer of simple columnar or cuboidal epithelial cells that rest on a basement membrane. Similar to other epithelia, the choroid plexus cell is polar, having distinct brush border (faces the CSF) and basolateral (faces the blood) surfaces. Each polar membrane has distinct characteristics, and, in particular, transporters are uniquely distributed between the two surfaces. This polar arrangement allows for the net secretion of solutes and water from the blood to the CSF as well as the net reabsorption of other compounds in the opposite direction, from CSF to blood. In addition, the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus are laterally joined to each other by a continuous band of tight junctions (zonulae occludens) located near the brush border surface. This prevents significant paracellular movement of solutes into and out of the CSF via the choroid plexus.
Loaded Words in the Courtroom

Historically, loaded words like "victim" were common in courtrooms. Even today, states like New Jersey use the word "victim" to refer to the complainant for crimes in which consent is a defense (e.g., sexual assault). Concerned that defendants will be prejudiced, judges recently have banned such loaded words from their courtroom. Others, however, argue that such steps are counterproductive and have no empirical justification. In this paper, I examine the existing psychology literature regarding loaded words. I conclude that loaded words like "victim" can bias individual jurors in some criminal cases. If judges use the word "victim" in situations in which jurors may think the judge is referring to the person allegedly injured, the jurors may be more likely to find the defendant guilty, at least before deliberation with other jurors. To test this conclusion, I conducted a web experiment to determine whether jurors were more likely to find the defendant guilty when the complaining witness was described as a "victim" than a "complainant" in the judge's closing instructions. Participants in the experiment were shown a video of a simulated sexual assault trial, which concluded with a judge reading the New Jersey model instructions mentioning the word "victim" about ten times (participants in the control group saw a video in which the judge used the word "complainant").
The circulating red cell volume and body hematocrit in normal pregnancy and the puerperium by direct measurement using radioactive red cells.

Dieckmann and Wegner,l Thomson, 2 McLennan and Thouin and Caton, Roby and associates,4 have all measured and reported plasma, whole blood, and red cell volumes during pregnancy. The studies reviewed agree that there is a progressive increase in plasma volume into the third trimester. Indirectly calculated red cell volumes revealed the same progressive increase. There are differences of opinion, however, as to whether there is a statistically significant reduction in plasma and total blood volume prior to delivery. The length of time for plasma and total blood volume to return to normal also varies in the different reports. No doubt part of the disagreement has been the result of too few determinations on the same individual. The lack of a significant number of postpartum observations, especially late postpartum determinations as compared to the prepartum period, adds to the difficulty in interpreting the gestational data. Perhaps if more investigators had used late postpartum observations for a norm rather than a nonpregnant group, the data might have been better evaluated. Rather wide variations in results were also reported. These inconsistencies were due in part to the technical limitations of the dye technique. Also, in a small series extreme individual variations, especially when compared to nonpregnant control groups, are of sufficient degree to affect an arithmetic mean. Indirectly calculated red cell volumes are subject to known inherent errors, and in individual determinations this error may be considerable. The use of nonpregnant groups as controls for comparison limits the evaluation of the data in quantitative terms.
Input Elimination and Abstraction in Model Checking

Symbolic model checking, while gaining success in the industry as a valuable tool for finding hardware design bugs, is still severely limited with respect to the size of the verifiable designs. This limitation is due to the nonlinear memory consumption of the data structure (namely, BDD and its variants) used to represent the model and the explored states. Input elimination is a known method that reduces the size of the model by existential quantification of the inputs. In this paper, we improve this technique in several dimensions: we present a novel re-encoding of the model that results in a much large set of quantifiable inputs, we introduce a new greedy algorithm for early quantification of the inputs during the transition relation build, and we suggest a new algorithm to reconstruct the input values in an error trace. Model abstraction is a semiautomatic method that requires the user to provide an abstraction mapping, and can dramatically reduce the size of models with large data-path. We show that data abstraction can be reduced to input elimination using few simple manipulations of the hardware netlist description. Model abstraction is a wellknown technique and our contribution is a novel technique that generates the minimal transition relation with respect to a given abstraction mapping.
A universal figure of merit for stochastic first order filters

The focal point of this paper is a new result on the probabilistic robustness of a stochastic first order filter. For a first order filter transfer function, G(s,/spl tau/), we allow a class of probability distributions /spl phi/ for the time constant /spl tau/ and consider the following question: Given frequency /spl omega//spl ges/0 and unknown probability distribution f /spl isin/ F, to what extent can the expected filter gain g(/spl omega/,/spl tau/)=|G(j/spl omega/,/spl tau/)| deviate from some desired nominal value, g(/spl omega/, /spl tau//sub 0/)? It turns out that the deviations of concern are surprisingly low. For example, with 20% variation in /spl tau/, the expected filter gain deviates from g(/spl omega/,/spl tau//sub 0/) by no more than 0.4% of the zero frequency gain. In addition to performance bounds such as this, we also provide a so-called universal figure of merit. The word "universal" is used because the performance bound attained holds independently of the nominal /spl tau//sub 0/. The frequency /spl omega//spl ges/0 and the admissible probability distributions d/spl isin/F.
Magnetoelectric effect in NdCrTiO 5

We have measured the dielectric constant and the pyroelectric current of orthorhombic (space group $Pbam$) NdCrTiO${}_{5}$ polycrystalline samples. The dielectric constant and the pyroelectric current show features associated with ferroelectric transitions at the antiferromagnetic transition temperature (${T}_{N}$ $=$ 21 K). The effect of magnetic fields is to enhance the features almost linearly up to the maximum measured field (7 T) with a spontaneous polarization value of $\ensuremath{\sim}$3.5 $\ensuremath{\mu}$C/m${}^{2}$. Two possible scenarios, the linear magnetoelectric effect and multiferroicity (antiferromagnetism plus ferroelectricity), are discussed as possible explanations for the observations.
What ought a program committee to do

When the Internet was initially constructed it was a defacto playground for researchers. The research community built the Internet and refined it by monitoring traffic and tinkering with protocols and applications. The days of the Internet being a research sandbox are clearly over. Today, society at-large depends on the Internet as a crucial piece of infrastructure for communication and commerce. As such, experimenting with and monitoring today’s Internet is a much more thorny endeavor than in the past because researchers must consider the impact of their experiments on users. The community has started to face questions about the propriety of certain experiments and will no doubt continue to struggle with such issues going forward. In this note, we ponder the role of a program committee when faced with submissions that involve a potentially unacceptable experimental methodology. We note that the community already charges program committees with dealing with a number of ethical issues such as plagiarism, simultaneous submissions and conflicts of interest. Should dealing with questions about the ethics of a particular experimental methodology also be on the PC’s plate? Certainly we are aware of PCs that have taken it upon themselves to include such issues in the debate over particular submissions. Are such considerations “in bounds” for PC consideration? Or, should PCs stick to the technical aspects of submissions? To give the reader a concrete flavor of the sorts of questions that might arise during PC deliberations we sketch possible reactions to several recently published paper as examples.
A Case Study of Cloud Seeding to Reduce Hail Damage

A large tornadic hail-producing supercellar thunderstorm developed in northwest Kansas on the afternoon of 29 June, 2000. This storm was observed by a network of meteorological research polarimetric radars. It was seeded by the Western Kansas Weather Modification Program for more than 2 hours as it transitioned from a multicellular to a supercellular mode, produced an F2 tornado, and produced copious hail ranging in diameter up to 4.5 cm for over 1½ hours. Published studies based on the research radar observations provide a time history of this storm’s hail production in terms of volumes of the storm containing hail, graupel, and other precipitation types, as well as volume containing significant updraft. Using these analyses, it is shown that the storm invigorated, and the volume of the storm containing hail increased dramatically shortly after seeding began. Of course, it is not known how the storm would have developed and how much and how big would have been the hail had it not been seeded. It is suggested that a large sample of similar storms, both seeded and unseeded, be analyzed by these or similar polarimetric radar-based techniques in order to better understand the impact of seeding on hail development in thunderstorms. Such analysis could be done inexpensively using National Weather Service radar data. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Multiprocessor scheduling by mean field theory

The authors develop an optimization scheme based on mean field theory (MFT) to solve the task scheduling problem. The algorithm combines characteristics of the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm and the Hopfield neural network. The temperature behavior of MFT for the task scheduling problem is shown to possess a critical temperature below which an optimal solution may be achieved. The algorithm has been applied to various task graphs, and promising results have been obtained. >
Should kidney donors be genotyped for APOL1 risk alleles

Clinical nephrology has advanced rapidly as a result of recent breakthroughs in genomic medicine. Several forms of nephropathy heretofore labeled ‘idiopathic’ now have a well-defined genetic basis; more will follow. Whereas it was once taboo to suggest that population ancestry-based genetic variation contributes to ethnic-specific risk for end-stage kidney disease, the identification of impressive genetic association between two coding variants in the apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) and a spectrum of nondiabetic nephropathies in individuals with recent African ancestry unequivocally proves this to be the case.1 This finding is a striking and unusual example where variation in a single gene associates with pronounced risk for a complex disease. The two nephropathy-risk variants include G1, a non-synonymous coding variant, and G2, a 6-base pair deletion. Each chromosome 22 typically possesses only a G1 or a G2 APOL1 allele (alleles are mutually exclusive on a single chromosome). About 13% of African Americans have two APOL1 nephropathy-risk variants, and 49% lack a risk variant.1 Possession of two APOL1 nephropathy-risk variants (G1/G1, G1/G2, or G2/G2) is associated with markedly increased risk for progressive chronic kidney disease due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), focal global glomerulosclerosis, primary and secondary forms of FSGS-collapsing variant (notably HIV-associated nephropathy), sickle-cell nephropathy, and severe lupus nephritis.2 Although these disorders are primarily classified on the basis of glomerular pathology, they manifest pronounced interstitial and vascular changes that potentially relate to APOL1. The mechanism(s) by which an APOL1 variant may cause this renal injury remains undefined. Individuals of European, Asian, and Hispanic descent virtually lack APOL1 G1 and G2 nephropathy-risk alleles. Selection for nephropathy-associated risk variants likely occurred about 10,000 years ago in sub-Saharan Africa due to protection from infection with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, a cause of African sleeping sickness. This benefit requires the presence of only one APOL1 variant. Possession of two variants (versus zero or one variant; autosomal recessive inheritance) in APOL1 fully explains the majority of the excess risk of nondiabetic chronic kidney disease in African Americans relative to European Americans. These same APOL1 variants in deceased African-American organ donors predispose to shortened allograft survival after kidney transplantation. Translating the APOL1 molecular breakthrough in the clinic will ultimately improve risk prediction and lead to novel therapies to prevent kidney failure. This Editorial makes the case that considering APOL1 risk variants in kidney transplantation will likely be an important clinical application that transforms current practice.
Does systemic isotretinoin inhibit healing in a porcine wound model

Background: Within the plastic surgery community, it is widely believed that waiting a minimum of 6 to 12 months after patient cessation of systemic retinoid therapy is necessary before proceeding with elective surgery. Objective: The authors investigate partial- and full-thickness wound healing after treatment with systemic isotretinoin in a porcine model. Methods: Following institutional approval, 2 Hanford miniature pigs were obtained. One pig received isotretinoin at a dose of 2 mg/kg/d, administered orally along with pig feed over a 60-day period; the other (control) pig received only pig feed over the same time period. After the treatment period ended, a total of 24 full-thickness wounds and 24 partial-thickness wounds were made on each pig. The wounds were evaluated by photographic and histological analysis at 7, 14, and 28 days. Results: The average full-thickness wound size in the control animal was 0.4346 cm2 at 14 days and 0.0689 cm2 at 28 days. The average full-thickness wound size in the isotretinoin-treated animal was 0.4685 cm2 at 14 days and 0.0363 cm2 at 28 days. The differences were not statistically significant between the 2 animals at either time point. On histological analysis, the healing characteristics of partial- and full-thickness wounds were similar at 7, 14, and 28 days for both animals. Conclusions: Invasive surgery might be safely performed even in the presence of recent isotretinoin therapy. This finding challenges the current practice of waiting longer than 6 months after completion of therapy to perform surgery.
Optimum Current Control in the Field-Weakened Region for Permanent Magnet AC Machines

This paper presents current regulation algorithm for permanent magnet AC machines that provides smooth transition in the entire field-weakened region. The algorithm offers robust and simple current regulation with maximum torque capability for permanent magnet AC machines despite significant changes in the voltage source and machine parameters. The algorithm identifies when the machine enters field-weakened region and determines the optimum d-axis and q-axis current command for the machine. In addition, the algorithm identifies when the machine reached the maximum torque per flux and it regulates current accordingly. Simulation and experimental results are presented, which prove the algorithm functionality.
Bioidentical hormone therapy: a review of the evidence.

Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) uses bioidentical hormones (BHs), derivatives of plant extracts chemically modified to be structurally indistinguishable from human endogenous hormones. BHTs are available commercially or can be compounded into different dosages and for different routes of administration. Typically, compounded preparations of BHs may include estriol, estrone, estradiol, testosterone, micronized progesterone, and occasionally dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is generally accepted that estrogen-based hormone therapies share similar efficacies as well as risks. Many FDA-approved and regulated pharmaceutically manufactured and branded conventional hormone therapies (CHTs) employ BHs. Since the publication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial results publicizing an increased risk of stroke, venous thrombosis, and breast cancer and no beneficial effect on coronary heart disease (CHD), use of CHT has declined, and there has been increased interest in alternative approaches. This review...
Volume changes upon addition of Ca2+ to calmodulin: Ca2+-calmodulin conformational states.

Measurement of the volume change by a rapid density method upon sequential addition of calcium ion to calmodulin showed relatively large, nonuniform increases for the first 4 moles Ca2+ per mole calmodulin. Substantially larger volume increases (≈15 ml/mol protein) were observed upon addition of the second and fourth moles Ca2+ relative to the first and third moles added per mole calmodulin. A total volume increase of ≈ 170 ml/mol protein attended the addition of 4 moles Ca2+, as expected for multidentate carboxylate coordination to metal ion. Marginal changes in volume were observed upon further additions, the data showing a remarkably sharp transition after [Ca2+][calmodulin] = 4. The results are consistent with an ordered binding of Ca2+ in which pair-wise additions produce similar volume changes; the volume change behavior, however, does not indicate an absence of distinct conformational states for a Ca12+-calmodulin and a Ca32+-calmodulin complex as has been proposed on the basis of 1H-NMR evidences.
A numerical model for the formation of saline waters due to diffusion of dissolved NaCl in subsiding sedimentary basins with evaporites

Abstract Numerical modeling by a finite difference method incorporating the effects of vertical variations in pressure, temperature, salinity, and porosity shows that mass transport by diffusion may be a major brine-forming process in sedimentary basins containing halite beds. Vertical fluxes of dissolved NaCl are greatest when the subsidence rate is slow. At subsidence rates of 20 m m.y. −1 more than 250 m of salt can be dissolved over 150 m.y. At rapid subsidence rates, such as 500 m m.y. −1 , pore waters are advected downward so rapidly that although a diffusion front develops above the evaporite, this front moves downward as the evaporite subsides, and diffusive fluxes at shallow depths are thus low. However, under such conditions, the pore water column becomes gravitationally unstable as a result of thermally-induced density inversions and the potential for convective overturn is enhanced with accompanying advective salt flux upward. Although dissolution and diffusion of NaCl are important processes in the burial history of evaporites, they are not adequate by themselves to produce the regional salinity versus depth profiles that are actually observed in some sedimentary basins. Diffusion-induced gradients progressively increase with depth whereas gradients actually observed in sedimentary basins tend to decrease with depth. The difference is presumably due to the activity of other mass transport mechanisms such as advection, convection and dispersion.
A long-term data set of globally averaged thermospheric total mass density

[1] We present a long-term data set, available on the CEDAR Data System, of globally averaged thermospheric total mass density derived from the orbits of ∼5000 objects. The data cover the years 1967–2007 at heights from 200 to 600 km. The data have a temporal resolution of 3–6 days, a typical short-term precision of ±2%, and a long-term accuracy of 5–10%. We describe in detail the procedure used to generate the data set, provide an example of its scientific use, and discuss its limitations.
Use of Corn Gluten Feed and Cottonseed Meal to Replace Soybean Meal and Corn in Diets for Pond‐Raised Channel Catfish

Abstract The prices of soybean meal and corn—the two most commonly used, traditional feed ingredients in channel catfish diets—have increased dramatically in recent years. Using less-expensive alternative feed ingredients to partially replace soybean meal and corn would reduce feed cost. The present study evaluated the use of corn gluten feed and cottonseed meal, two promising alternative feedstuffs, as replacements for soybean meal and corn in diets for pond-raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Five isonitrogenous (28% crude protein) diets that used corn gluten feed and cottonseed meal (approximately 1:1 ratio) to replace 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the soybean meal in the control diet were evaluated. The level of corn in the diet decreased as those of corn gluten feed and cottonseed meal increased. Stocker-size channel catfish (mean initial weight = 0.175 kg/fish) were stocked into twenty 0.05-ha earthen ponds at a rate of 14,830 fish/ha. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation over a growin...
The d3-growth hormone (GH) receptor polymorphism is associated with increased responsiveness to GH in Turner syndrome and short small-for-gestational-age children.

Context: A protein polymorphism of the GH receptor (GHR) based on the genomic deletion of exon 3 (d3-GHR) has recently been linked to the magnitude of growth response to high-dose recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy of short children without GH deficiency. Objective: This study tests the novel association in two distinct groups of rhGH-treated patients, short girls with Turner syndrome and short children born small for gestational age (SGA). Design: The retrospective study included all children who were treated with rhGH during the last 18 yr at our hospital. Patients: Patients with Turner syndrome were defined by the specific karyotype (n = 53), short children born SGA were determined by birth length and/or weight less than −2.0 sd score and a height at start of rhGH therapy less than −2.0 sd score (n = 60). Exclusion criteria were puberty, an age less than 3.5 or more than 14 yr, and GH deficiency. Materials and Methods: Growth prediction for the first year of therapy was calculated on the basis of rhGH...
Culture of cells from the urine and bladder washings of adults

Cell cultures were attempted from the urine of 5 adults. Of the 28 cultures which were initiated, 21 resulted in the formation of one or more colonies of epithelial cells. Growth could be maintained up to 2 transfers. Poor colony formation was evident in 2 of 4 samples of a saline irrigation of the bladder. This technique may prove to be useful for short-term studies when venipuncture or biopsy are impractical and when epithelial cells are desirable.
Tetraoxygen on Reduced TiO 2 ( 110 ) : Oxygen Adsorption and Reactions with Bridging Oxygen Vacancies

Oxygen adsorption on reduced ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}(110)$ is investigated using temperature programed desorption and electron-stimulated desorption. At low temperatures, 2 ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ molecules can be chemisorbed in each oxygen vacancy. These molecules do not desorb upon annealing to 700 K. Instead, for $200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}lTl400\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$, the 2 ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ convert to another species, which has four oxygen atoms, i.e., tetraoxygen, that decomposes at higher temperatures. In contrast, when only 1 ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ is adsorbed in an oxygen vacancy, the molecule dissociates upon annealing above $\ensuremath{\sim}150\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$ to heal the vacancy in agreement with previous results.
Multivariate adaptive control for a class of nonlinear systems

This paper is concerned with multivariable adaptive control for a class of nonlinear stochastic systems with backlash inputs. A simple weighted adaptive control algorithm is presented for the control of such systems whose linear part possesses an arbitrary interactor matrix and is not necessarily minimum phase. The global convergence of the algorithm is established. Simulation results show that the algorithm has good control performances.
Comparative Cytotoxicity of Monocrotaline and Its Metabolites in Cultured Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells

Abstract Metabolites of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline cause progressive development of pulmonary hypertension in rats. The putative reactive intermediate monocrotaline pyrrole (MCTP) has been shown to cause cytotoxicity, hypertrophy, decreased proliferation, and altered synthetic capability in cultured pulmonary endothelial cells. We compared effects of monocrotaline (MCT) at 60 μg/ml (0.185 m m ) with previously identified metabolites, MCTP 10 μg/ml (0.031 m m ) and glutathione-conjugated dihydropyrrolizine (GSH-DHP) 60 μg/ml (0.135 m m ), in cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs). To determine whether endothelial metabolism might contribute to the mechanism of this toxicity, we used markers of cytotoxicity (LDH release), synthetic activity (PGI 2 synthesis), hypertrophy (planimetry), cell density (cell count/area), and Evans blue albumin (EBA) transudation as a marker for loss of fluid barrier integrity. We found changes in all endothelial markers with MCTP only. MCTP caused increased LDH release by 48 hr, augmented PGI 2 synthesis by 96 hr, and resulted in hypertrophy and decreased cell density by 48 hr that persisted at least 21 days. There was increased EBA transudation at 24 hr posttreatment. We concluded that, based on markers of endothelial damage, BPAECs showed no apparent ability to metabolize MCT to a reactive intermediate nor to further metabolize GSH-DHP to a toxic species. We also concluded that MCTP can cause a direct effect on fluid barrier integrity of endothelial cell monolayers in the absence of inflammation.
MeCP2-Chromatin Interactions Include the Formation of Chromatosome-like Structures and Are Altered in Mutations Causing Rett Syndrome

hMeCP2 (human methylated DNA-binding protein 2), mutations of which cause most cases of Rett syndrome (RTT), is involved in the transmission of repressive epigenetic signals encoded by DNA methylation. The present work focuses on the modifications of chromatin architecture induced by MeCP2 and the effects of RTT-causing mutants. hMeCP2 binds to nucleosomes close to the linker DNA entry-exit site and protects ∼11 bp of linker DNA from micrococcal nuclease. MeCP2 mutants differ in this property; the R106W mutant gives very little extra protection beyond the ∼146-bp nucleosome core, whereas the large C-terminal truncation R294X reveals wild type behavior. Gel mobility assays show that linker DNA is essential for proper MeCP2 binding to nucleosomes, and electron microscopy visualization shows that the protein induces distinct conformational changes in the linker DNA. When bound to nucleosomes, MeCP2 is in close proximity to histone H3, which exits the nucleosome core close to the proposed MeCP2-binding site. These findings firmly establish nucleosomal linker DNA as a crucial binding partner of MeCP2 and show that different RTT-causing mutations of MeCP2 are correspondingly defective in different aspects of the interactions that alter chromatin architecture.
Prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents: The importance of a socio-ecological perspective - A commentary

The sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemic among adolescents in the USA is inextricably tied to individual, psychosocial and cultural phenomena. Reconceptualizing the epidemic within an expanded socio-ecological framework may provide an opportunity to better confront its challenges. In this article, we use a socio-ecological framework to identify determinants of adolescents' sexual risk and protective behaviours as well as antecedents of their STI acquisition. The goal is to provide a synthesis of several discrete categories of research. Subsequently, we propose an integrated strategy that addresses the STI epidemic among adolescents by promoting a socio-ecological perspective in both basic research and intervention design. This approach may expand the knowledge base and facilitate the development of a broader array of intervention strategies, such as community-level interventions, policy initiatives, institutionally based programmes, and macro-level societal changes. Although there are inherent challenges associated with such an approach, the end result may have reciprocal and reinforcing effects designed to enhance the adoption and maintenance of STI-preventive practices among adolescents, and further reduce the rate of STIs.
The Large Binocular Telescope primary mirror support control system description and current performance results

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) is built around two lightweight borosilicate honeycomb mirrors which, at 8.4 meters in diameter, are the largest operational examples of this technology. Since the mirrors are relatively stiff, the LBT mirror support system relies on passive position control and active force control. Passive position control is performed by six extendable hardpoints organized as a truncated hexapod, which may be positioned as required by the active optics control loop. The hardpoints rely on their axial stiffness to maintain the mirror position against residual external disturbances. The active force control system minimizes the force exerted by the hardpoints on the glass. Additionally, the axial component of the nominally uniform active support forces can be perturbed to distort the mirror as required by the active optics control loop. Because of the relatively large CTE of borosilicate glass, the differential temperature of the mirror is critical. Thus, the force control system must support a 16 metric ton mirror using less than 100 Watts of electrical power. The authors present a description of the primary mirror support system as implemented at the LBT. Initial stability problems made the mirrors nearly unusable in freezing temperatures. The authors explain the reason for this instability and describe the solutions implemented. Data demonstrating the current performance of the primary mirror support system are also presented.
Political Protest, Ethnic Media, and Latino Naturalization:

In the spring of 2006, anti-immigrant legislation triggered historic immigrant rights protests in cities throughout the United States. In places like California, protest of immigrant-targeting legi...
Iron overload nephropathy in rats.

Summary Adult, female rats were given repeated intraperitoneal injections of iron-dextran to total doses of iron ranging from 0.55 g to 1.13 g, spread over periods of 87 to 192 days. In one group of rats the spleens were removed before injections of iron were started. All iron-overloaded rats had proteinuria, the severity of which was roughly correlated with the total dose of iron given, but not with splenectomy. Examination of the kidneys by light and electron microscopy revealed a diffuse nephropathy, with striking lesions in glomeruli and proximal tubules: heavily iron-loaded mesangial cells and podocytes, lightly iron-loaded glomerular endothelial cells, greatly increased numbers of phagolysosomes (“absorption droplets”) in the epithelium of proximal convoluted tubules. The droplets contained PAS-positive material and often Fe III as well. The lumens of many proximal tubules contained extruded droplets, sloughed-off epithelial cells, and — occasionally — iron-loaded macrophages. There was much material with the appearance of ferritin FeOOH cores in the cytoplasmic matrix (cytosol) and in siderosomes of mesangial cells, podocytes, and epithelial cells lining proximal convoluted tubules. Polymorphic phagolysosomes in such cells were often densely packed with FeOOH micelles ranging from35 to 100 A. In many glomeruli of heavily iron-loaded rats some of the mesangial matrix was thickened; the lamina densa of glomeruli showed only focal fusiform or nodular thickening. It is proposed (1) that polycationic iron derived from iron-dextran increased the permeability of the glomerular ultrafilters to proteins and to itself, (2) that excess iron taken up by various cells in glomeruli and tubules stimulated synthesis of ferritin and was at least in part incorporated into ferritin, and (3) that much of this ferritin was digested in phagolysosomes so that its FeOOH became part of “hemosiderin”.
Prosody and the syntax of indeterminates

Abstract I will extend Kitagawa and Deguchi's (2003) prosodic study of wh-question constructions to indeterminate constructions in general. I will generalize the Watanabe paradigm ( Watanabe, 1992a ) originally defined for wh-interrogatives to indeterminates in general. I will show that the Watanabe paradigm once lost in a narrower perspective is regained in a broader perspective.