cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-Dimensional Inference of Dependent High-Dimensional Data

A growing number of modern scientific problems in areas such as genomics, neurobiology, and spatial epidemiology involve the measurement and analysis of thousands of related features that may be stochastically dependent at arbitrarily strong levels. In this work, we consider the scenario where the features follow a multivariate Normal distribution. We demonstrate that dependence is manifested as random variation shared among features, and that standard methods may yield highly unstable inference due to dependence, even when the dependence is fully parameterized and utilized in the procedure. We propose a “cross-dimensional inference” framework that alleviates the problems due to dependence by modeling and removing the variation shared among features, while also properly regularizing estimation across features. We demonstrate the framework on both simultaneous point estimation and multiple hypothesis testing in scenarios derived from the scientific applications of interest.
Motivational factors in cocaine pharmacotherapy trials with methadone-maintained patients: problems and paradoxes.

Abstract Pharmacotherapy trials for cocaine abuse among methadone-maintained patients have typically reported negative findings as well as high rates of cocaine use during the trial. The contribution of motivational factors to these results is a potentially important, underinvestigated area. This article points out that some methadone-maintained patients may enter a trial for cocaine abuse with little desire for treatment, motivated primarily to continue receiving methadone or to avoid program sanctions for continued cocaine use. Participation in clinical trials may constitute a phase delaying discharge in a cyclic pattern of multiple treatment episodes. Testing a pharmacologic agent in a motivationally inappropriate sample may not provide a good estimate of the agent's effectiveness. In view of the important public health role that methadone maintenance programs play in preventing HIV transmission, and the subversion of this role by intravenous cocaine use, solutions to these problems are urgently needed...
Autoimmunoregulation: differential modulation of CD10/neutral endopeptidase 24.11 by tumor necrosis factor and neuropeptides.

Abstract Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 24.11 appears to be an important enzyme in both vertebrate and invertebrate autoimmunoregulation. Activation of human or invertebrate immunocytes that express NEP with substrates such as monokines and neuropeptides results in its increased expression, in other words, upregulation. However, since certain neuropeptides are also substrates for NEP, these activated immunocytes will respond to neuropeptides only at higher concentrations, thus downregulating the response. Specifically, in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-treated immunocytes, we demonstrate the effects of increased NEP expression on altering the stimulatory activities of the neuropeptides met-enkeohalin, melanocyte-stimulating hormone and substance P. We demonstrate the significance of NEP in modulating these responses through the use of specific enzyme inhibitors such as phosphoramidon, thiorphan and captopril. Furthermore, we present evidence suggesting that the individual variations seen in immunocytes from both different and the same donors to activating substances may reflect fluctuating levels of NEP expressed in response to endogenous stimuli. These results indicate that NEP is a highly significant factor in controlling the response(s) of certain immunocytes in man and higher invertebrates to the influence of biologically active substances such as monokines and neuropeptides.
Tool-Edge Wear and Wavelet Packet Transform Analysis in High-Speed Machining of Inconel 718

Tool-edge wear (i.e., the wear of a tool cutting edge before it is fully worn away) is among significant concerns in high-speed machining because it can result in early tool failure and deteriorated quality of machined parts. Based on extensive experimental results, this paper shows how tool-edge wear is correlated with the cutting forces and vibrations in high-speed turning of Inconel 718. The following research findings are made from the present study: 1) The development of tool-edge wear depends on the initial tool-edge geometry and the cutting conditions employed. 2) The amount of tool-edge wear varies at different measurement points along the tool cutting edge, and increases as the feed rate increases. 3) The effect of tool-edge wear on the cutting forces depends on the initial tool-edge geometry and the cutting conditions employed. 4) The traditional time-domain analysis based on the vibration amplitude is not helpful in explaining and showing the dynamic development of tool-edge wear, and wavelet packet transform helps in identifying the changes in the vibration signals in different frequency bands.
Explaining Individual Communication Processes in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Groups through Individualism-Collectivism and Self-Construal.

The objective of this study is to test the effective decision-making theory's (EDMT) prediction that cultural individualism-collectivism (I-C), self-construal, and group composition influence turn-taking behavior and conflict behavior in small groups. Eighty-six European Americans and 62 Japanese participated in a decision-making activity in either a homogeneous or a heterogeneous group. The major findings of the study include: (a) Independent self-construal is a predictor of the number of turns and competitive conflict tactics in both homogeneous and heterogeneous groups; (b) interdependent self-construal is a predictor of cooperative conflict tactics, but the findings are not consistent for individuals across both group compositions; (c) cultural l-C is a predictor of the number of competitive conflict tactics in both homogeneous and heterogeneous groups; and (d) cultural I-C is a predictor of the number of turns and initiated conflicts only in heterogeneous groups. Implications for the EDMT and future directions are discussed.
Stretching the capability of intel direct material usability (shelf life)

Fluctuating global economic trends impact product demand, which in turn impact assembly materials volume and inventory levels in the factories leading to excessive materials scrap due to shelf life expiry during demand downturns. Therefore, the need to drive for assembly direct materials shelf life extension has become a critical focus area to improve materials inventory management. This paper describes an approach to extend the shelf life of assembly direct materials (epoxy underfill and Flip Chip Ball Grid Array (FCBGA) substrate materials) to minimize the impact of dynamic volume changes on materials scrap and provide flexibility plus cost savings in managing materials inventory. 33% scrap rate reduction was achieved for underfill and significant cost savings were realized for FCBGA substrates.
Languages of Designs: From Known to New

A procedure for defining new languages of designs from known or given ones is presented. It is specified in terms of shape equivalence rules or shape equivalence rule schemata which allow shapes in spatial relations given or inferred from existing design languages to be replaced with other shapes. The new spatial relations so defined can be used to determine a wide variety of new, original languages of designs. The possibility of using shape equivalence rules or rule schemata for characterizing formal compositional aspects of historic styles or languages of designs and relationships between them is also discussed.
Monitoring Faceting on Ceramic Surfaces

Faceting is the transformation of a planar surface into two or more surfaces of lower energy. Metal, semiconductor and ceramic surfaces can all undergo faceting. The evolution of facets formed on the m-plane (1010) of alumina has been monitored using atomic-force microscopy (AFM). When heat-treated, the (1010) surface reconstructs into a hill-and-valley morphology. The present study investigates the manner in which facets originally form and grow to cover a surface. A gravity-loaded indenter (load of 25 grams) was used to mark a 25 μm × 25 μm square area on as-received, polished alumina specimens. An initial heat-treatment of 1400°C for 10 minutes is carried out to initiate faceting. With the indents as guides the same area can be identified and imaged after each subsequent heat-treatment. The morphology of the facets can be described as being comprised of a “simple” and “complex” surface. The simple surface corresponds to the (1102) plane which is stable over the course of heat treatments, whereas the complex surface gradually transforms to a lower energy surface after several heat treatments and acts as a nucleation site for new facet growth.
Orientational phase transitions in solid deuterium bromide

Abstract Phase transition temperatures for solid deuterium bromide are calculated in the effective field approximation. The crystal structure is treated as a two-dimensional lattice of zig-zag chains of DBr molecules. Dipole—dipole and quadrupole-quadrupole interactions are included up to second neighbors, in addition, a repulsive field is introduced to fit the upper transition temperature.
Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health.

Cyberbullying has become an international public health concern among adolescents, and as such, it deserves further study. This paper reviews the current literature related to the effects of cyberbullying on adolescent health across multiple studies worldwide and provides directions for future research. A review of the evidence suggests that cyberbullying poses a threat to adolescents’ health and well-being. A plethora of correlational studies have demonstrated a cogent relationship between adolescents’ involvement in cyberbullying and negative health indices. Adolescents who are targeted via cyberbullying report increased depressive affect, anxiety, loneliness, suicidal behavior, and somatic symptoms. Perpetrators of cyberbullying are more likely to report increased substance use, aggression, and delinquent behaviors. Mediating/moderating processes have been found to influence the relationship between cyberbullying and adolescent health. More longitudinal work is needed to increase our understanding of the effects of cyberbullying on adolescent health over time. Prevention and intervention efforts related to reducing cyberbullying and its associated harms are discussed.
Feeding and selection of saccharin after injections of bombesin, LiCl, and NaCl.

Rats injected with bombesin or LiCl showed similar suppression of food-deprivation-induced liquid diet intake, but only rats receiving LiCl avoided water-deprivation-induced consumption of a novel saccharin solution paired with injection. The data demonstrate that bombesin reduces feeding but does not induced conditioned aversion, and suggest that bombesin does not act to suppress food intake by production of gastrointestinal malaise.
The Paradoxical Nature of Academic Measures and Creativity

This study investigates the relationship between high stakes college admissions tests and creativity. One hundred eighteen college students majoring in education were given the Epstein Creativity Competencies Inventory (ECC-I). We examined the total creativity competency score as well as the four different skill areas: Preserves new Ideas; Seeks Challenges: Broadens Skills and Knowledge; and Changes Physical and Social Environment. The students’ ACT and SAT scores were com- pared with their scores on the ECC-I. Results indicate that students with lower ACT scores, scored higher overall on the creativity survey than students with high ACT scores. There was a negative correlation between the students Capturing creativity scores and their SAT scores. This indicates that students with higher SATs rated themselves lower in paying attention to and preserving new ideas; that is, capturing new ideas as they occur. There is a need in our society for innovative and creative thinkers, however, American colleges and universities are still predicting the ability to succeed in college with traditional measures.
Capacity of Extracts from Prestarved Escherichia coli to incorporate Thymidine into Deoxyribonucleic Acid

THE ability of a polyauxotroph, Escherichia coli strain 15T- (555–7), to synthesize deoxyribonucleic acid is temporarily lost following a period of incubation in a minimal salts–glucose medium containing thymine but no added amino-acids1–4. Moreover, when the starved cells are returned to a medium supplemented with amino-acid, a lag in synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid is observed2–4. The restoration of an active deoxyribonucleic acid synthesizing system in these cells can be prevented by continued suppression of protein synthesis with chloramphenicol3 or by exposure to X-rays5. One possible mechanism considered was that the enzyme or enzymes involved in deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis are lost or destroyed during the starvation period and that chloramphenicol and X-ray exposure prevent resynthesis or reactivation of these components3–5.
Observation of materials processes in liquids by electron microscopy

Materials synthesis and the functioning of devices often involve liquid media. However, direct visualization of dynamic processes in liquids, especially with high spatial and temporal resolution, has been challenging. For solid materials, advances in aberration-corrected electron microscopy have made observations of atomic-level features a routine practice. Here, we discuss the extent to which one can take advantage of the resolution of modern electron microscopes to image phenomena occurring in liquids. We describe the fundamentals of two different experimental approaches that use closed and open liquid cells. We illustrate the capabilities of each approach by considering processes in batteries and nucleation and growth of nanoparticles from solution. Liquid-cell electron microscopy appears to be duly fulfilling its role and promise for in situ studies of nanoscale processes in liquids, revealing physical and chemical processes that are otherwise difficult to observe.
Utility of Basilic Vein Transposition for Dialysis Access

Autologous arteriovenous access is the key to long-term success with hemodialysis and is strongly supported by the National Kidney Foundation's Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. Basilic vein transposition (BVT) fulfills the need for a durable conduit with high patency and maturation rates. This retrospective review examines a single group's experience with this procedure. All patients undergoing BVT for hemodialysis with available follow-up data were reviewed. Telephone interviews were used to supplement clinical data where needed. Functional assisted patency was used as the end point for this procedure, and if the access was never used for dialysis, then the patency was considered zero. Secondary interventions performed while the access remained patent and in use were not considered detrimental to the patency reported. One hundred seventy BVTs in 162 patients were performed between November 1992 and October 2001. There were 87 women (53.7%) and 112 black patients (69.1%); hypertension was present in 138 patients (85.2%) and diabetes in 89 patients (54.9%). Each year, an increasing incidence of BVT was performed in our dialysis population. The BVT was performed as the first access in that extremity in 73 of the procedures (42.9%). Functional patency (primary assisted) was achieved in 40.0% at 2 years and 15.2% at 5 years. The mean assisted patency was 14.6 months. To maintain BVT patency, 40 percutaneous secondary interventions (69.0%) and 18 surgical revisions (31.0%) occurred in 32 patients (19.0%). Ligation for swelling was necessary in 4 patients (2.5%), and steal syndrome occurred in 3 patients (1.9%). BVT is a useful autologous procedure for hemodialysis and the preferred access alternative in patients without an adequate cephalic vein. Although patencies remain poor relative to other conventional arterial vascular procedures, BVT is our most durable hemodialysis access procedure and is often the only available autologous conduit for hemodialysis.
Familial cardiomegaly in association with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Abstract Two cases of familial cardiomegaly in association with the WPW syndrome are recorded. The male sibling died of severe congestive failure at the age of 16 years. Necropsy showed a huge heart weighing 1,000 grams and widespread myocardial fibrosis. His 13-year-old sister has cardiomegaly, but is presently asymptomatic. Other cases of familial cardiomegaly with the WPW syndrome are noted. The etiology of this disease is unknown. The difficulty of differentiating an isolated case of familial cardiomegaly with the WPW syndrome and Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve is briefly discussed.
Application of the Diffusion Approximation to Queueing Networks I: Equilibrium Queue Distributions

The practical value of queueing theory in engineering applications such as in computer modeling has been limited, since the interest in mathematical tractability has almost always led to an oversimplified model. The diffusion process approximation is an attempt to break away from the vogue in queueing theory.The present paper introduces a vector-valued normal process and its diffusion equation in order to obtain an approximate solution to the joint distribution of queue lengths in a general network of queues. In this model, queueing processes of various service stations which interact with each other are approximated by a vector-valued Wiener process with some appropriate boundary conditions. Some numerical examples are presented and compared with Monte Carlo simulation results. A companion paper, Part II, discusses transient solutions via the diffusion approximation.
Surgical Management of Mesenteric Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients Undergoing Rectosigmoid Colectomy for Locally Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma

We sought to determine the incidence of mesenteric lymph node metastases in patients undergoing rectosigmoid resection for epithelial ovarian carcinoma and to evaluate the potential contribution of sigmoid mesocolectomy toward achieving complete surgical cytoreduction. Pathology results for patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma from August 1998 through September 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-three patients with pathological documentation of mesenteric lymph nodes were selected for further review. A focused analysis was performed on cases with an adequate surgical sampling of mesenteric lymph nodes (more than one positive or five total mesenteric lymph nodes) to determine the overall incidence of nodal metastases. χ2 analysis was used to identify clinicopathologic factors associated with mesenteric lymphatic spread. A total of 39 (73.6%) of 53 patients had an adequate mesenteric resection suitable for nodal analysis. In this subgroup, 32 (82.1%) of 39 patients had one or more mesenteric lymph nodes containing metastatic ovarian carcinoma. Invasion beyond the serosa of the rectosigmoid colon was present in 31 (79.5%) of 39 of cases; however, increasing depth of invasion was not associated with risk of mesenteric nodal disease. In addition to bowel wall involvement, the only clinical factor that correlated with mesenteric lymph node involvement was concurrent tumor spread to retroperitoneal lymph nodes (P = .025). Locally advanced ovarian carcinoma involving the rectosigmoid colon is associated with a high incidence of mesenteric nodal metastasis. Standard surgical technique should include a sigmoid mesocolectomy with resection of the associated lymphatic tributaries at the time of rectosigmoid colectomy if the surgical objective is complete cytoreduction of occult nodal disease.
Interaction of CO2 and hypoxic stimuli on ventilation at high altitude.

The interaction of O2 and CO2 on the control of ventilation has been studied by a rebreathing technique in three healthy young male subjects, first under sea level conditions, then following 2 weeks' acclimatization to an altitude of 14,250 ft. The following results were observed: (a) at high altitude the family of response curves were shifted to lower values of alveolar CO2, and all response curves had a steeper gradient δVE/δPAACOACO2 than at sea level; (b) hypoxia potentiated the response to hypercapneic stimulus to about the same extent at sea level and at high altitude; (c) the ventilatory response to hypoxia was identical at sea level and at high altitude when PAACOACO2 was held at the normal air breathing value for the two conditions; but (d) potentiation of ventilatory response to hypoxia at high altitude occurred with smaller increments of CO2 than at sea level. This was interpreted to mean that H+ is an important factor in the mechanism of hypercapneic potentiation of hypoxic stimulus.
A Structural Model of Polyglutamine Determined from a Host-Guest Method Combining Experiments and Landscape Theory

Modeling the structure of natively disordered peptides has proved difficult due to the lack of structural information on these peptides. In this work, we use a novel application of the host-guest method, combining folding theory with experiments, to model the structure of natively disordered polyglutamine peptides. Initially, a minimalist molecular model (CαCβ) of CI2 is developed with a structurally based potential and captures many of the folding properties of CI2 determined from experiments. Next, polyglutamine “guest” inserts of increasing length are introduced into the CI2 “host” model and the polyglutamine is modeled to match the resultant change in CI2 thermodynamic stability between simulations and experiments. The polyglutamine model that best mimics the experimental changes in CI2 thermodynamic stability has 1), a β-strand dihedral preference and 2), an attractive energy between polyglutamine atoms 0.75-times the attractive energy between the CI2 host Go-contacts. When free-energy differences in the CI2 host-guest system are correctly modeled at varying lengths of polyglutamine guest inserts, the kinetic folding rates and structural perturbation of these CI2 insert mutants are also correctly captured in simulations without any additional parameter adjustment. In agreement with experiments, the residues showing structural perturbation are located in the immediate vicinity of the loop insert. The simulated polyglutamine loop insert predominantly adopts extended random coil conformations, a structural model consistent with low resolution experimental methods. The agreement between simulation and experimental CI2 folding rates, CI2 structural perturbation, and polyglutamine insert structure show that this host-guest method can select a physically realistic model for inserted polyglutamine. If other amyloid peptides can be inserted into stable protein hosts and the stabilities of these host-guest mutants determined, this novel host-guest method may prove useful to determine structural preferences of these intractable but biologically relevant protein fragments.
Mass Transfer Enhancement for Improving the Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

The significance of mass transfer enhancement in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) is presented and studied in this work based on experimental investigation. A novel structure of reactant gas distributors in PEFC is proposed for mass transfer enhancement purpose. For the PEFC with novel gas distributors, it is found that the large drop of the cell voltage, generally caused by a weak mass diffusion, is postponed to occur at relatively higher current density even though the same or less amount of air is fed when comparing to a PEFC with gas distributors in conventional structure. As a result, the maximum obtained electrical power in a PEFC and a PEFC stack both are dramatically improved under both free convective and forced convective airflow conditions.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Learning how to survey the Qatari population

Universal surveys—such as the World Values Survey—seek to promote generalizability across contexts. But what if two different cultures interpret and respond to a general question in two different ways (e.g., King et al. 2004)? Using this methodological conundrum as a starting point, over the past year I have a led a research team of four faculty and twelve students—drawn from Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar University, and Georgetown University in Qatar—in creating, translating, and analyzing a context-sensitive survey of the Qatari population, funded through a Qatar National Research Fund UREP (Undergraduate Research Experience Program) grant. The survey was conducted by Qatar University's Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) from January 15 to February 3 for a total of 798 Qatari respondents, making it a professional and valuable addition to the literature. Further, we were able to insert many questions that had never previously been asked of the population, including ones spann...
Iron deficiency affects acoustic startle response and latency, but not prepulse inhibition in young adult rats.

Abstract Iron deficiency is associated with alterations in dopamine and serotonin transporters as well as changes in dopamine receptor (DR) density, monoamine concentrations, and in vivo extracellular contents of monoamines in terminal fields. Human infants with iron deficiency have both delayed maturation as well as lengthened central conduction times in auditory evoked potential studies. The current study utilizes the magnitude of the acoustic startle response (ASR), prepulse inhibition (PPI), and mean latency to maximum startle response ( T max ), to examine the functional integrity of response to environmental cues. Male and female rats consumed iron deficient (ID) or iron adequate (CN) diets from weaning until adulthood. ID rats of both sexes had 20–60% reductions in ASR when compared to CN rats but there was no effect on PPI. T max was significantly longer by 10–20% in females, but not males. Dopamine transporter density was significantly lower in putamen, nucleus accumbens, and olfactory tubercle in males, but not female rats while the serotonin transporter was significantly different from control animal density in five of 14 brain regions. Norepinephrine transporter density was lower in the locus ceruleus of ID male rats but was unaffected in ID female rats. Regression modeling of ASR with brain monoamine transporters and receptors showed hematocrit, norepinephrine transporter (NET) in dentate gyrus, and D 1 R in the nucleus accumbens account for nearly 49% of the variance in ASR. T max was not significantly associated with any of the independent variables. We conclude that iron deficiency affects the startle response, but not the inhibitory circuits involved in prepulse inhibition. Importantly, sex also strongly influenced these behavioral responses. Future studies, perhaps pharmacologic in nature, are necessary to ascertain whether iron deficiency modifies the contribution of monoaminergic systems to responses to environmental stimuli.
A search for coastline effects on the auroras

Abstract A camera on board the Polar spacecraft has provided an unique opportunity to search for coastline effects on the spatial distributions of auroral emissions. This study is motivated by a ground-based report of such shoreline effects on auroral emissions during the Russian Polar Expedition of almost a century ago. This Polar camera, the Low-Resolution Visible Camera of the Visible Imaging System, is capable of obtaining auroral images of the Northern Hemisphere with high spatial and temporal resolutions for extended continuous periods of time, i.e., tens of km, one to several minutes, and many hours, respectively. The entire set of 8588 auroral images at OI 557.7 nm which were gathered during January 1997 were examined for three types of coastal effects, (1) diversion of the auroral arc at the shore, (2) increase of intensity as the arc is followed from sea to land, and (3) decrease of intensity from sea to land. A null test of the results of this auroral survey was conducted by a search of the entire set of images for random coincidences of auroral features in rotated maps of the coastlines. This null test provides support for the occasional transient existence of coastline effects during the onset and early expansion phases of auroral substorms and some auroral intensifications.
Acute and chronic effects of nornicotine on locomotor activity in rats: altered response to nicotine.

Rationale: Nicotine, a tobacco alkaloid, is known to be important in the acquisition and maintenance of tobacco smoking. Nornicotine, an active nicotine metabolite, stimulates nicotinic receptors and may produce psychomotor effects similar to nicotine. Objective: The present study determined the effects of acute and repeated administration of nornicotine on locomotor activity and compared its effects with those of nicotine. Methods: R(+)-Nornicotine (0.3–10 mg/kg), S(–)-nornicotine (0.3–10 mg/kg), S(–)-nicotine (0.1–1 mg/kg) or saline was administered s.c. to rats acutely or repeatedly (eight injections at 48-h intervals). Activity was recorded for 50 min immediately after each injection. Results: S(–)-Nicotine produced transient hypoactivity, followed by dose-related hyperactivity. Repeated S(–)-nicotine administration resulted in tolerance to the hypoactivity and sensitization to the hyperactivity. Subsequent testing following a saline injection revealed evidence of conditioned hyperactivity. Acute administration of 0.3 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg R(+)- or S(–)-nornicotine produced no effect. Transient hypoactivity was observed at 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg R(+)-nornicotine and at 10 mg/kg S(–)-nornicotine. However, rebound hyperactivity was not observed following acute administration of either nornicotine enantiomer, suggesting that nornicotine-induced psychomotor effects differ qualitatively from those of S(–)-nicotine. Repeated R(+)-nornicotine resulted in tolerance to the transient hypoactivity, however hyperactivity was not observed. Repeated S(–)-nornicotine resulted in tolerance to the hypoactivity and the appearance of hyperactivity. Repeated administration of either nornicotine enantiomer resulted in a dose-dependent alteration in response to a 1 mg/kg S(–)-nicotine challenge, suggesting some commonalities in the mechanism of action. Conclusion: Nornicotine likely contributes to the neuropharmacological effects of nicotine and tobacco use.
Methods for comparing effects of various fats on fibrinolysis.

SummaryIn experiments reported herein. 2 new methods have been utilized to compare the biologic effect of 3 dietary fats. (1) In Exp. 1 a study has been made in rabbits of the effect of single meals of butter, corn oil, coconut oil and water on fibrinolytic activity of blood (drawn 3 hours after feeding and measured by a technic utilizing streptokinase to activate profibrinolysin) in vitro under controlled conditions. Lysis time so measured was significantly prolonged in rabbits fed butter as compared with those fed either corn oil, coconut oil or water. Meals of corn oil and coconut oil had no more effect on lysis time than did water. (2) In Exp. 2 the effect of butter, corn oil, coconut oil and saline added in vitro on fibrinolytic activity of clotted human plasma was measured by a technic utilizing streptokinase to activate profibrinolysin under controlled conditions. Under these conditions butter markedly and significantly (p = 0.01) prolonged lysis time of human plasma, whereas corn oil and coconut o...
A multi-anode paper-based microbial fuel cell for disposable biosensors

We report a multi-anode paper-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) capable of generating a power density of 28.4 μW/cm2. This MFC features (i) flexible multilayered carbon anodes for bacterial attachment and (ii) paper reservoirs for holding the anolyte and catholyte for an extended period of time. By using the multi-anode MFC, the power and current densities increased by 5x and 3x, respectively, compared to a single anode one. The paper-based MFC is expected to be a simple and easy-to-use power source for single-use diagnostic biosensors because even sewage or soiled water in a puddle can become an excellent source for operating MFCs and harvesting electricity through bacterial metabolism.
Biogeography of Mesozoic leptosporangiate ferns related to extant ferns

The paleobiogeography of the extant leptosporangiate fern families present in the Mesozoic is reviewed based mainly on data from megafossils that possess enough characters to be assigned to a family. Times of first appearances are discussed for each family, followed by their distribution throughout the Mesozoic. Paleolatitudes and climatic conditions indicate that first appearances of many fern families occur about or above 30° and in conditions of higher moisture. Much of fern distribution in the past was likely due to long-distance dispersal.
An Investigation of Factors Influencing Causal Attributions in Managerial Decision Making

This study investigates factors influencing causal attributions in managerial decision making. Three categories of factors are identified: (i) prior beliefs (ii) background frequencies, and (iii) covariation cues. The impact of factors in each of the above categories on causal attribution are studied in a marketing decision making context. Subjects demonstrated a bias toward assigning causality to variables that occurred infrequently or were controllable. Also, subjects were particularly influenced by the joint-occurrences of cause and effect variables.
Generalised polynomial chaos expansion approaches to approximate stochastic model predictive control

This paper considers the model predictive control of dynamic systems subject to stochastic uncertainties due to parametric uncertainties and exogenous disturbance. The effects of uncertainties are quantified using generalised polynomial chaos expansions with an additive Gaussian random process as the exogenous disturbance. With Gaussian approximation of the resulting solution trajectory of a stochastic differential equation using generalised polynomial chaos expansion, convex finite-horizon model predictive control problems are solved that are amenable to online computation of a stochastically robust control policy over the time horizon. Using generalised polynomial chaos expansions combined with convex relaxation methods, the probabilistic constraints are replaced by convex deterministic constraints that approximate the probabilistic violations. This approach to chance-constrained model predictive control provides an explicit way to handle a stochastic system model in the presence of both model uncertain...
Statistical performance of CO2 leakage detection using seismic travel time measurements

Monitoring for possible CO2 leakage is an important part of a safe and effective geological sequestration program. Seismic monitoring has been implemented in several pilot sequestration sites for site characterization and CO2 leakage detection. This study evaluates the detection power of seismic wave travel time measurements and statistical tests at different CO2 leakage rate levels. A simplified rock physics model is assumed for monitoring zones at sequestration sites and the effects of leakage-induced changes in pressure and CO2 saturation on P-wave travel times are modeled. The empirical distributions of detection power using the P-wave travel time for four regions in the permeability-porosity input space at four leakage levels are obtained from the Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis with a stochastic response surface method. The detection power using the P-wave travel time measurements and test alone is generally not high enough, unless the porosity and the permeability of the monitoring zone are high, and/or a long period of time has elapsed since the leakage occurred. For monitoring layers with lower permeability and porosity, measurements from other monitoring techniques will likely be needed to increase the probability that leakage events are detected and addressed in a timely manner. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Kinetics of pyrolysis of some fire retardants and treated fabrics

Intermediate phases and reactions occurring on decomposing diammonium hydrogen phosphate, ammonium para molybdate, sodium tungstate dihydrate and ammonium meta vanadate were established by thermal analysis and X-ray examination. These salts promote fabric degradation at low temperatures but are effective at high temperatures. Diammonium hydrogen phosphate produced maximum amount of gases, absorbed the highest amount of heat and gave the highest fire retardation above 350°C.
Normalization of CD4+ T cell metabolism reverses lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which autoreactive CD4(+) T cells play an essential role. CD4(+) T cells rely on glycolysis for inflammatory effector functions, but recent studies have shown that mitochondrial metabolism supports their chronic activation. How these processes contribute to lupus is unclear. We show that both glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism are elevated in CD4(+) T cells from lupus-prone B6.Sle1.Sle2.Sle3 (TC) mice as compared to non-autoimmune controls. In vitro, both the mitochondrial metabolism inhibitor metformin and the glucose metabolism inhibitor 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) reduced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production, although at different stages of activation. Metformin also restored the defective interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by TC CD4(+) T cells. In vivo, treatment of TC mice and other lupus models with a combination of metformin and 2DG normalized T cell metabolism and reversed disease biomarkers. Further, CD4(+) T cells from SLE patients also exhibited enhanced glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism that correlated with their activation status, and their excessive IFN-γ production was significantly reduced by metformin in vitro. These results suggest that normalization of T cell metabolism through the dual inhibition of glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism is a promising therapeutic venue for SLE.
Modeling Mandatory Lane Changing Using Bayes Classifier and Decision Trees

A lane changing assistance system that advises drivers of safe gaps for making mandatory lane changes at lane drops is developed. Bayes classifier and decision-tree methods were applied to model lane changes. Detailed vehicle trajectory data from the Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) data set were used for model development (U.S. Highway 101) and testing (Interstate 80). The model predicts driver decisions on whether to merge or not as a function of certain input variables. The best results were obtained when both Bayes and decision-tree classifiers were combined into a single classifier using a majority voting principle. The prediction accuracy was 94.3% for nonmerge events and 79.3% for merge events. In a lane change assistance system, the accuracy of nonmerge events is more critical than merge events. Misclassifying a nonmerge event as a merge event could result in a traffic crash, whereas misclassifying a merge event as a nonmerge event would only result in a lost opportunity to merge. Sensitivity analysis performed by assigning higher misclassification cost for nonmerge events resulted in even higher accuracy for nonmerge events but lower accuracy for merge events.
Deleuze's New Image of Thought, or Dewey Revisited

(2003). Deleuze's New Image of Thought, or Dewey Revisited. Educational Philosophy and Theory: Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 17-29.
Quantum Vacuum Instability of 'Eternal' de Sitter Space

The Euclidean or Bunch-Davies $O(4,1)$ invariant state for quantum fields in global de Sitter space is shown to be unstable to small perturbations, even for a massive free field with no self-interactions. There are perturbations of this state with energy density that is arbitrarily small at early times, is exponentially blueshifted in the contracting phase of ``eternal'' de Sitter space, and becomes large enough to disturb the classical geometry through the semi-classical Einstein equations at later times. In the closely analogous case of a constant, uniform electric field, a time symmetric state equivalent to the de Sitter invariant one is constructed, which is also not a stable vacuum state under perturbations. The role of a quantum anomaly in the growth of perturbations and symmetry breaking is emphasized in both cases. In de Sitter space, the same results are obtained either directly from the renormalized stress tensor of a massive scalar field, or for massless conformal fields of any spin, more directly from the effective action and stress tensor associated with the conformal trace anomaly. The anomaly stress tensor shows that states invariant under the $O(4)$ subgroup of the de Sitter group are also unstable to perturbations of lower spatial symmetry, implying that both the $O(4,1)$ isometry group and its $O(4)$ subgroup are broken by quantum fluctuations. Potential consequences of this result for cosmology and the problem of vacuum energy are discussed.
Distributed asynchronous computation of fixed points

We present an algorithmic model for distributed computation of fixed points whereby several processors participate simultaneously in the calculations while exchanging information via communication links. We place essentially no assumptions on the ordering of computation and communication between processors thereby allowing for completely uncoordinated execution. We provide a general convergence theorem for algorithms of this type, and demonstrate its applicability to several classes of problems including the calculation of fixed points of contraction and monotone mappings arising in linear and nonlinear systems of equations, optimization problems, shortest path problems, and dynamic programming.
Reinterpreting the learning cycle from a social constructivist perspective: A qualitative study of teachers' beliefs and practices

The purpose of this study was to learn whether Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) or more recent interpretations of the learning cycle could be used by teachers to engage students in social constructivist learning. To accomplish this purpose, two university researchers and six science teachers planned, implemented, and reflected upon instruction based on the reciprocal use of language and action within the learning cycle framework. The study examined teachers' changing beliefs and practices as well as issues and problems that emerged. Discrepant case analysis was used to analyze the data, which included transcriptions of instruction, reflection sessions, and teacher and student interviews as well as copies of teachers' written plans and instructional materials. In this paper, we present a case study of one teacher and profiles of five others. The case is organized chronologically and describes Martha, a high school physics teacher, in terms of her instruction and concerns at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. Analysis revealed that several of Martha's beliefs and practices gradually changed across the year. Martha initially expressed the positivistic view that the goal of science instmction was for students to arrive at scientifically acceptable conclusions. As Martha explored social constructivist teaching, she gave her students increasingly more opportunities to test and discuss their ideas during problem solving. Along with this change in practice, Martha experienced a tension between her efforts to give her students opportunities to develop their own understandings and her efforts to present scientific information. As Martha' perspective changed, she became dissatisfied with her existing grading system. Like Martha, each of the other five teachers gave their students more opportunities to explore their own ideas and each experienced tensions in the process. We interpreted these findings within a social constructivist theoretical framework to suggest changes in the learning cycle.
Time Variability and Simmons–Wallace–Branstator Instability in a Simple Nonlinear One-Layer Model

Using a global, one-layer shallow water model, the response of a westerly flow to a localized mountain is investigated. A steady, linear response at small mountain heights successively gives way first to a steady flow in which nonlinearities are important and then to unsteady, but periodic, flow at larger mountain heights. At first the unsteady behavior consists of a low-frequency oscillation of the entire Northern Hemisphere zonal flow. As the mountain height is increased further, however, the oscillatory behavior becomes localized in the diffluent jet exit region downstream of the mountain. The oscillation then takes the form of a relatively rapid vortex shedding event, followed by a gradual readjustment of the split jet structure in the diffluent region. Although relatively simple, the model exhibits a surprisingly high sensitivity to slight parameter changes. A linear stability analysis of the time-averaged flow is able to capture the transition from steady to time-dependent behavior, but fails to capture the transition between the two distinct regimes of time-dependent response. Moreover, the most unstable modes of the time-averaged flow are found to be stationary and fail to capture the salient features of the EOFs of the full time-dependent flow. These results therefore suggest that, even in the simplest cases, such as the one studied here, a linear analysis of the time-averaged flow can be highly inadequate in describing the full nonlinear behavior.
Emotion Knowledge in Young Neglected Children

Young neglected children may be at risk for emotion knowledge deficits. Children with histories of neglect or with no maltreatment were initially seen at age 4 and again 1 year later to assess their emotion knowledge. Higher IQ was associated with better emotion knowledge, but neglected children had consistently poorer emotion knowledge over time compared to non-neglected children after controlling for IQ. Because both neglected status and IQ may contribute to deficits in emotional knowledge, both should be assessed when evaluating these children to appropriately design and pace emotion knowledge interventions.
Automatic phase alignment for a fully integrated CMOS Cartesian feedback power amplifier system

A phase-alignment system is used in the first reported IC to fully integrate a power amplifier, Cartesian feedback linearization circuitry, and a phase-alignment system. The phase-alignment system consumes 8.8 mW from a 2.5-V supply and employs a new technique for offset-free analog multiplication that enables it to function without manual trimming. Phase alignment of better than 9/spl deg/ is maintained for drifts as large as /spl plusmn/90/spl deg/. We demonstrate how the phase-alignment system improves the stability margins of the fully integrated Cartesian feedback system. The power amplifier itself, integrated on the same die, operates at 2 GHz and delivers a maximum of 14.2 dBm of output power into a 50-/spl Omega/ load. The IC was fabricated in a 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS process.
Pondering the Prognosis and Pathology of Cardiac Amyloidosis: Answers Breed Questions.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is part of a systemic disease characterized by the deposition of amyloid in multiple tissues. Although the heart is often the predominant organ involved in systemic amyloidosis, this is not always the case, as CA of varying severity may be present when a patient with
A phase II study of preoperative chemotherapy with irinotecan(CPT) and cisplatin(CIS) for gastric cancer(NCI 5917): FDG-PET/CT predicts patient outcome

4502 Introduction: Preoperative chemotherapy is a standard option for the treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer(GC). FDG-PET scans have been examined to identify early treatment response in ...
Stimulation of total CO2 flux by 10% CO2 in rabbit CCD: role of an apical Sch-28080- and Ba-sensitive mechanism.

These studies examine the effect of ambient PCO2 on net bicarbonate (total CO2) absorption by the in vitro perfused cortical collecting duct (CCD) from K-replete rabbits and the mechanism responsib...