cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Intersection Between Economics and Sociology: An Interview with Professor Mark Granovetter

Professor Mark Granovetter earned his A.B. in Modern History at Princeton College in 1965, and went on to earn his Ph.D. in sociology at Harvard University in 1970. He has taught sociology at several institutions, including State University of New York at Stony Brook and Northwestern University, before arriving at Stanford University as a professor of sociology in 1995. He has been the Joan Butler Ford Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences since 1997, and currently serves as an affiliated professor for the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program on Environment and Resources and for the Woods Institute for the Environment. Professor Granovetter is the current Department of Sociology chair at Stanford.Mark Granovetter’s work primarily focuses on the impact of social networks on macro-economies. One notable example of his work is his ground-breaking work The Strength of Weak Ties, cited over 30,000 times (according to Google Scholar), which specifically examines the impacts that weak ties between tightly knit social groups have on economies. Another notable work is Economic action and social structure: the problem of embeddedness, cited over 25,000 times (again according to Google Scholar) which examines the influence that social relations have on economic actions. Professor Granovetter is currently working on a two-volume book, titled Society and Economy.
Chapter 3 Images are Both Depictive and Descriptive

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the relation between the depictive and descriptive aspects of images. Images, like pictures, are depictive in that they represent size, spatial layout, a specific viewing position, and so on. However, images are also descriptive, representing a specific view of a scene or object. This specificity is accomplished by organizational properties such as orientation, figure-ground relations, unit formation, configuration in depth, and by the aspects of a scene or object that are depicted in the image. It is clear from the data presented in the chapter that both the depictive and descriptive aspects of images play a role in what is represented in images and, subsequently, what can be discovered from images. For an image to remind of a new object, both the description and depiction must be congruent. The chapter also focuses on the limitations of learning from images. In the chapter, by using paradigms that demonstrate both failures and successes in image discovery, the importance of both the depictive and descriptive aspects of images is revealed. However, this focus on the limitations of image discovery should not overshadow imagers' ability to learn from their images. Images, like all other forms of thought, can lead to new ideas.
Rhinencephalic activity during acquisition and performance of conditional behavior and its modification by pharmacological agents.

Publisher Summary The purpose of this chapter is to record and measure in brain wave recordings bioelectric signals correlated with the acquisition of a conditional behavior, with the performance of a stabilized conditioned behavior and with alteration of the behavior induced by pharmacological agents. Such studies should allow recognition of patterns of electrical activity which covary in a variety of brain structures. Cats with chronically implanted electrodes were conditioned either to discriminate light intensity differences between identical geometric forms or to discriminate between different forms of the same intensity projected on translucent panels. Cats with chronically implanted electrodes were conditioned either to discriminate light intensity differences between identical geometric forms or to discriminate between different forms of the same intensity projected on translucent panels. The course of change in evoked responses is studied over the conditioning period, during stabilization of the behavioral response and following the administration of drugs.
Current management and outcome of chronic type B aortic dissection: results with open and endovascular repair since the advent of thoracic endografting

Background: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the preferred treatment for chronic type B aortic dissection (CTBAD) at our institution. However, it remains incapable of treating all patients with CTBAD. The present study aims to review our contemporary results with open and endovascular CTBAD repairs since the advent of thoracic endografting. Methods: The records of all patients undergoing index repair of CTBAD (chronic DeBakey type IIIA, IIIB and repaired type I) at our institution between June 2005 and December 2013, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 107 patients underwent CTBAD repair, of whom 70% (n=75) underwent endovascularbased procedures [44 TEVAR, 27 hybrid arch and four hybrid thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair] and 30% (n=32) underwent open procedures (nine open descending and 23 open TAAA). Connective tissue disease (CTD), prior aortic surgery and DeBakey dissection type were strongly associated with the choice of operation. The rates of stroke, paraplegia and operative mortality following endovascular-based repairs were 0%, 0% and 4% (n=3), respectively. Adverse neurologic events were higher following open repair, and rates of stroke, paraplegia, and operative mortality were 16% (n=5), 9% (n=3), and 6% (n=2), respectively. However, 1- and 5-year survival rates were similar for endovascular-based repairs (86% and 65%, respectively), and open repairs (88% and 79%, respectively). Over a median follow-up interval of 34 months, the rate of descending aortic reintervention was 24% (n=18) following endovascularbased repairs and 0% following open repairs (P=0.001). Forty-four percent (n=8) of descending aortic reinterventions were required to treat stent graft complications (five endoleak, two stent graft collapse and one stent graft-induced new entry tear) and the remainder were required to treat metachronous pathology (n=2) or progressive aneurysmal disease related to persistent distal fenestrations (n=8). Conclusions: Endovascular repair of CTBAD was associated with excellent procedural and survival outcomes, but at the expense of further reinterventions. Open repair remains relevant for patients who are not candidates for endovascular repair and was associated with higher procedural morbidity but similar overall survival and fewer reinterventions.
Energy metabolism in isolated rat embryo hearts: effect of metabolic inhibitors.

Hearts isolated from 11- and 12-day rat embryos were incubated in a simple salt solution to which was added the metabolic inhibitors iodoacetate, malonate, 2, 4-dinitrophenol or trypan blue. Comparisons were made between the two age-groups and it was observed that both 11- and 12-day hearts exhibited depressed contractile activity with the glycolytic inhibitor iodoacetate. Malonate did not depress contraction rate in the younger hearts but significantly depressed the rate in the older hearts. A greater inhibitory action on the older hearts as compared with the younger hearts was also produced by 2, 4-dinitrophenol. These results were interpreted as further evidence of a shift in dependence on pathways other than glycolysis between days 11 and 12 of development. The teratogenic agent trypan blue was shown to depress contraction rate when added to the incubation medium. This effect could be reversed by adding glycolytic intermediates such as fructose-1, 6-diphosphate or alpha glycerophosphate. These results were suggestive of a direct inhibitory effect of trypan blue either on glucose uptake or its complete catabolism.
Trend of statistical characteristics of evoked potentials in modality-specific brain structures during defensive conditioning.

1. The study of interdependence between integrative processes in relays of the analyzer of the conditioned stimulus shows that significant coefficients of correlation between EP parameters in these brain structures are determined by the stage of formation of behavior. 2. In stage 1 of defensive conditioning, before independent effector responses are present, significant coefficients of correlation are not found between EP parameters recorded in the structures of the analyzer. 3. In stage 2 of defensive conditioning significant coefficients of correlation for the first positive component of EP (latent period, amplitude, and duration) are found for different areas of the auditory and visual cortical projection zone, but for parameters of the negative component of EP (amplitude and duration), they are found for all relays of the analyzer in the brain. 4. During the stage of stabilization of the defensive reflex significant coefficients of correlation are found only between EP parameters in different areas within the auditory or visual projection cortex. 5. The results are examined from the point of view of adaptation of analyzer activity to the demand of formation of adaptive behavior at each stage of conditioning and the role of motivational excitation in the organization of intra-analyzer integration.
High resolution 50 nm linear displacement macroscale meander-line PZT actuator

A high resolution < 50 nm piezoelectric meander-line actuator is experimentally demonstrated using a macroscale model made of 22 bars of PZT. The high resolution displacement measurements are taken using a Michelson optical interferometer. Linear, stable, displacement behaviour with no hysteresis is demonstrated for low (< 100 V) applied voltages.
Both traits and phylogenetic history influence community structure in snakes over steep environmental gradients

Assemblages of closely related organisms are generated on axes of deep time diversification, biogeographic processes related to dispersal and habitat filtering, and competition. Using models that account for phylogeny, ecology, and traits, we examine how the interaction among biogeography, habitat filtering, and trait convergence influences community assemblage in Nearctic snakes. With 122 community surveys, environmental niche, trait data including size, diet, parity and habitat preference, and a nearly complete phylogeny of snakes from the United States, we ask 1) do phylogenetic species variability (PSV) and traits change in predictable and correlated ways given ecology and geographic distance, 2) are the measured traits variable within and across communities and how is this related to PSV at local scales, and 3) is there evidence of habitat filtering or trait divergence? Following a general trend of western to eastern North American origin and dispersal of major groups, we similarly show a significant decrease in PSV in this direction but unexpectedly with stable trait variance, showing that traits and phylogenetic variability are disconnected at the community level. We also demonstrate that trait variability and not PSV dominates local communities. Finally, regardless of phylogeny, we show that certain traits, such as reproductive mode (parity) frequency, change within communities in response to steep ecological gradients.
Theory of the Self-Trapped Hole in the Alkali Halides

Combining the self-consistent-field molecular-orbital results for the wave functions and energies of ${\mathrm{F}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ with a classical calculation of the lattice distortion and polarization energies, we have obtained the ground- and excited-state potential curves of the ${V}_{K}$ center in several of the alkali halides. The widths and peak values of the optical-absorption bands have been calculated from these potential curves and are found to be in reasonable agreement with, but somewhat smaller than, the experimental results. The hyperfine constants are obtained as a function of internuclear distance and compared with the experimental results using the internuclear distance at the minimum of the configurational coordinate curves. The significance of the remaining discrepancies between theory and experiment for interpreting still unresolved aspects of the structure of ${V}_{K}$ centers is pointed out.
Long-term adverse effects of radiation inhibition of restenosis: radiation injury to the aorta and branch arteries in a canine model.

Abstract Purpose: To determine the long-term effects of irradiation on large arteries in view of the possible use of radiation to prevent restenosis after angioplasty. Methods and Materials: Groups of dogs received 10–55 Gy single-dose alone, or in combination with 50 Gy in 2-Gy fractions, or 50–80 Gy in 2–2.7-Gy fractions to an 8-cm length of aorta and branch arteries. Single doses were delivered intraoperatively. Two or 5 years after irradiation, aortas and branch arteries were evaluated histomorphometrically to determine areas of intima, media, and adventitia, and qualitatively to determine other adverse effects. Results: Intimal area increased at single doses 20 Gy 2 years after irradiation. Intimal area was greater at 5 years than at 2 years after irradiation. Adventitial area increased with increasing dose at 2 and 5 years after irradiation. Thrombosis of the aorta and branch arteries occurred at 4–5 years after irradiation with ED 50 s of 29.7 Gy and about 25 Gy, respectively, but did not occur after fractionated irradiation. Conclusion: Intimal proliferation is inhibited at single doses > 20 Gy, but may be stimulated at single doses of 20 Gy to an 8-cm vessel length.
MIXED CONVECTIVE BURNING OF A VERTICAL FUEL SURFACE IN THE PRESENCE OF A HORIZONTAL CROSS FLOW

Diffusion flame adjacent to a burning vertical surface exposed to a horizontal fluid flow parallel to the surface is analyzed. It is assumed that the combustion process is steady and the burning surface is in equilibrium vaporization. A fast gas phase reaction is assumed to occur between the fuel and the oxidizer. The flame sheet approximation is used to describe the reacting flow. The governing equations describing the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and species concentrations were solved numerically along with appropriate boundary conditions. Sckvab-Zektovich variables were used to eliminate the mass and energy generation terms from the governing equations. A single-step, second-order Arrhenius reaction was assumed. Calculations were done for two different fuels and for a variety of Reynolds numbers. Computed results included the distributions of velocity components, enthalpy, and concentration of fuel, oxidizer, products, and inert gas in the entire boundary layer region.
The theory of the left ventricular aneurysm.

A spherical model for the human left ventricle with two different types of aneurysms, circular and rectangular-square, is proposed and meaningful relations are derived between the parameters of the aneurysms and ventricle. Such ventricular parameters as stroke volume, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume are given normal human values to compute values for end-systolic radius and percentage shortening of muscle for various sized circular and rectangular-square aneurysms.
A review of selected methods for the detection of degradative fungi

The primary decomposers of wood in non-aquatic environments are the brown and white rot fungi. These are basidiomycetous fungi which possess the appropriate enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems to allow them to degrade the wood lignocellulose. Many current methods for the detection of these organisms within the wood are unreliable or necessitate extensive destructive sampling. Our laboratory has focused on serological and molecular assays for the detection of degradative fungi. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to specific fungal metabolites have been used with TEM immunolabelling and ELISA for the detection of decay agents. More recently we have developed a polymerase chain reaction assay which can allow us to reliably detect basidiomycete DNA in small wood samples. When used to examine fungi in wood, these primers are specific for basidiomycetes and do not react with non-degradative wood-inhabiting ascomycetes. Fungal colonization of wood can be detected early in the degradation process. Restriction digests can be used to confirm the identity of the amplified DNA. These assays are of potential utility for the detection and identification of wood degrading fungi.
Integrated optical coherence tomography, ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging for ovarian tissue characterization

Ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of the gynecologic cancers because it is predominantly diagnosed in Stages III or IV due to the lack of reliable symptoms, as well as the lack of efficacious screening techniques. Detection before the malignancy spreads or at the early stage would greatly improve the survival and benefit patient health. In this report, we present an integrated optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) prototype endoscopy system for ovarian tissue characterization. The overall diameter of the prototype endoscope is 5 mm which is suitable for insertion through a standard 5-12.5mm endoscopic laparoscopic port during minimally invasive surgery. It consists of a ball-lensed OCT sample arm probe, a multimode fiber having the output end polished at 45 degree angle so as to deliver the light perpendicularly for PAI, and a high frequency ultrasound transducer with 35MHz center frequency. System characterizations of OCT, US and PAI are presented. In addition, results obtained from ex vivo porcine and human ovarian tissues are presented. The optical absorption contrast provided by PAI, the high resolution subsurface morphology provided by OCT, and the deeper tissue structure imaged by US demonstrate the synergy of the combined endoscopy and the superior performance of this hybrid device over each modality alone in ovarian tissue characterization.
Multichannel wavelength conversion of DPSK signals using four-wave mixing in highly-nonlinear fiber without crossgainmodulation penalty

We demonstrate simultaneous wavelength conversion of multiple DPSK channels using four-wave mixing in highly-nonlinear fiber. We achieve 20 nm converter bandwidth with 85% maximum efficiency. Three 10 Gb/s channels are converted without cross-modulation penalty
Phonon spectra from short non-thermally equilibrated molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract A novel method for extracting vibrational frequencies and eigenvectors from short non-thermally equilibrated molecular dynamics trajectories is presented. A first global estimation of the frequencies is followed by the determination of the eigenvectors through a least squares fit of the trajectory including orthogonality constraints. Then, the trajectory is projected onto each of the normal modes. At that point each projected trajectory contains mainly one frequency component, which is re-estimated. The frequency estimation is performed using the MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) algorithm. The scheme is iterated until self-consistency in the frequencies is achieved. This constitutes a great improvement over the standard MUSIC procedure. The fact that no thermal equilibration is needed makes this method well suited for ab initio molecular dynamics. A calculation of the vibrational spectrum of the C 60 molecule is provided as an example of the power of this new method.
Lipid management: Current diet and drug treatment options

Diet and drug therapy are two of the principal approaches to lipid management. The aim of both is to reduce low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to goal levels established by the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel in its second report, based on a patient's short-term risk of a coronary event. In prescribing diet therapy, it is important to determine patients' willingness to initiate and adhere to dietary modifications, their skill at reading nutritional labels, adapting recipes, and ordering "heart-healthy" foods when eating out. Diet therapy should be directed at modifying dietary factors known to adversely influence blood cholesterol-saturated fats, cholesterol, and obesity. Diet therapy (with exercise) is not always adequate. High risk individuals with no overt coronary artery disease but with >/=2 risk factors, as well as patients with coronary artery disease, are potential candidates for drug therapy, depending on their LDL cholesterol levels. The "statins" are the drug of choice for patients with coronary disease and elevated LDL cholesterol or familial LDL-cholesterol abnormalities. These drugs increase high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduce LDL cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and total mortality. Bile acid resins lower LDL cholesterol and are often used to augment the effects of the statins and niacin. Niacin is particularly useful in the management of patients with combined hyperlipidemia and low HDL cholesterol levels. Gemfibrozil is effective in familial dysbetalipoproteinemia and is the drug of choice for patients with severely elevated serum triglycerides.
Library and Information Science Education: Preparing Librarians for a Multicultural Society

For more than a decade, the demographic prognosticators have been saying that the racial, ethnic, and cultural makeup of the United States is on the verge of a major shift; and that not long after the turn of the new century, segments of the population that had previously been in the minority will collectively become the majority, with Hispanics being the largest minority group. The implications of such an unprecedented event have prompted private- and public-sector institutions to question whether they will be equipped to work with their “new” constituencies. Schools of library and information science (LIS) are not exempt from such self-examination and must make every effort to prepare all their graduates to work in larger multicultural environments. However, such preparation may mean altering several courses in a school’s curriculum. These kinds of changes are likely to meet with greater success when all parties involved, both inside and outside the classroom, hold a committed and vested interest in the reorganization efforts. This article discusses issues of diversity in LIS education programs and how these efforts can be addressed positively to better serve students and their future users.
EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE ON THE GLYCOLIC ACID OXIDASE LEVELS IN MALE AND FEMALE RAT LIVER.

The liver levels of glycolic acid oxidase and a-hydroxy acid oxidase were approximately 30% higher in adult male rats than in adult female rats. However, no sex difference in enzyme levels occurred until after puberty. No sex-related difference in liver levels was observed with either aldehyde oxidase or xanthine oxidase. The latter, however, was not detected in either male or female rat liver until 19 days after birth. Castration of adult male rats caused a drop in liver levels of glycolic acid oxidase and α-hydroxy acid oxidase, but had no effect on xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase levels. Subcutaneous administration of testosterone (0.1 mg/100 g rat wt) to castrated adult male rats significantly maintained their glycolic acid oxidase levels. Prepuberty castration of male rats prevented the induction of glycolic acid oxidase. This effect was not reversed by subcutaneous administration of testosterone (0.1 mg/100 g rat wt). Castration of adult female rats had no effect on the liver levels of the enz...
An integer programming approach to school district financial management

The management of school districts is big business. It is not unusual for a school district to have an operating budget of over $1 million and many large school districts have budgets exceeding $25 million. Corporations in the private sector with budgets of this magnitude require sizeable business staffs to plan and manage the entities’ fiscal operations. Because of economic incentives, efficiency in the financial management arena is very important, not only for the private sector, but for the public sector as well. School districts cannot go out of business but there are still important reasons for promoting efficiencies in financial management and planning. Increasingly important is the need to ease the tax burden of the residents of the district. This paper focuses on the issue of school district financial management and planning. It shows how an optimization technique, integer programming, may be used to aid in the development of a sound and efficient financial package for the school district.
Narrow linewidth, highly stable, tunable diode laser system

Abstract We describe a simple method for long term stabilization and tuning of a diode laser which is locked to an external cavity by optical feedback. The cavity-locked laser is stabilized to a saturated absorption resonance in rubidium which is modulated and shifted by a combination of ac and dc magnetic fields. We achieve a linewidth of 15 kHz, long term stability of 10 kHz, and tunability over 80 MHz with no laser frequency modulation.
TH‐D‐VaIB‐01: Correction of Couch Artifacts in KV Cone‐Beam CT From An On‐Board Imaging System

Purpose: To evaluate artifacts caused by treatment couch attenuation on 3D image reconstruction for a new kV on‐board‐imager (OBI) and cone beam CT(CBCT) system and to develop an algorithm that filters couch effects from two‐dimensional radiographic projections prior to inputting to the 3D reconstruction algorithm. Material and methods: A standard quality assurance phantom was scanned in air and on couch top using both full and half fan cone‐beam scanning modes with and without bowtie filter combination. A spatial domain filter algorithm was developed to remove couch attenuation from each radiographic projection. This filter is based on a pixel‐by‐pixel subtraction technique of radiographic projections of cone‐beam scans of the couch from the corresponding radiographic projections of scans with phantom on top of the couch. The net couch‐filtered radiographic projections were used to reconstructCTimages.Results:CT numbers for scans of the phantom on couch top are less uniform than for scans of the phantom in air. The couch artifacts vary the linearity of the CT numbers by 5–15%, depending on the density of the material. Noise of the scans with phantom on couch top (3.5%) is higher than that with phantom in air (1.5%). The increased noise hinders the ability of the CBCT system to resolve low‐contrast regions when the couch is present. Pre‐reconstruction processing of the couch suppresses noise (< 1.5%) improves uniformity by a factor of 2 and removes ring and streak artifacts in the couch‐filtered reconstructedCBCTimages.Conclusion: The treatment couch produces streaking artifacts, enhances noise, and causes drifting of CT numbers in the reconstructed OBI CBCTimages. The developed couch pre‐processing algorithm suppresses noise, improves CT number uniformity by a factor of 2 and removes ring and streak artifacts in the couch‐filtered reconstructedCBCTimages. Conflict of Interest: Supported by NCI Grant P01‐CA59017.
MGDPs and DSDPS-Two Stages of an Early Operating System

The purpose of these recollections is to describe an operating system(called MGDPS, then DSDPS) that made possible the efficient and timely processing of missile test data by the General Electric Company for the Atlas Missile program in the late 1950s.
Spectroscopy, Structure, and Ionization Energy of BeOBe†

Electronic transitions of BeOBe have been investigated using laser-induced fluorescence and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization techniques in the 27000−33000 cm−1 range. Vibronic progressions observed in these spectra were assigned to the symmetric and antisymmetric stretching vibrations in the excited electronic state. The nuclear spin statistics of the ground state, observed in the intensity patterns of rotationally resolved spectra, confirmed that the molecule is symmetric (BeOBe) and has 1Σg+ symmetry. Analysis of the rotational structure yielded a value of 1.396(3) A for the BeO bond length. Ground state vibrational frequencies were determined using stimulated emission pumping. Photoionization efficiency curves were recorded that yielded a value of 8.119(5) eV for the BeOBe ionization energy. Multireference electronic structure calculations have been used to predict molecular constants and explore the orbital compositions of the ground and excited states.
Accumulation of isoflavonoids and isoflavone glucosides after inoculation of soybean leaves with Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines and pv. campestris and a study of their role in resistance

Abstract Pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines (causal agent of bacterial pustule disease of soybean) or a strain of the soybean nonpathogen X. campestris pv. campestris were tested for their ability to grow and induce accumulation of isoflavonoids (glyceollin, coumestrol, daidzein, formononetin and genistein) and isoflavone glucosides (daidzin, genistin and ononin) in leaves of soybean cv. Clark (susceptible to bacterial pustule) and cv. Clark 63 (resistant to bacterial pustule due to the presence of the recessive rpx gene pair). Growth in vivo of nonpathogenic strains of pv. glycines and the strain of pv. campestris was highly restricted in cv. Clark while bacterial growth kinetics of a pathogenic strain of pv. glycines in the susceptible cv. Clark and in the resistant cv. Clark 63 were similar. No or very low levels (
New molecular insights into cognitive and autistic-like disabilities

Intellectual disabilities and autism correlate with human adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) heterozygous gene deletions, but APC's function in the brain is poorly defined. The article by Mohn et al., in this issue, demonstrates that APC conditional knockout (cKO) mice display cognitive impairments and autistic-like behaviors (increased repetitive behaviors, reduced social interest), compared with wildtype (WT) littermates. Additionally, APC loss leads to structural, functional and molecular changes. The micrographs above of hippocampal and cortical pyramidal neuron apical dendrites show the increased spine density and predominance of less-mature stub-shaped spines in APC cKOs, whereas mushroom spines predominate in WTs (Golgi-Cox stained brightfield images, left panels; IMARIS reconstructions of confocal stacks of apical dendrite (red) and spines (blue), right panels). APC cKOs also exhibit excessive β-catenin levels and associated changes in canonical Wnt target gene expression and N-cadherin synaptic adhesion complexes, including reduced levels of presenilin1. The data identify a novel role for APC in linking to and regulating synaptic adhesion complexes and signal transduction pathways that are essential for normal learning and behavior. For more information on this topic, please refer to the article by Mohn et al. on pages 1133–1142.
T cell state transition produces an emergent change detector.

We model the stages of a T cell response from initial activation to T cell expansion and contraction using a system of ordinary differential equations. Results of this modeling suggest that state transitions enable the T cell population to detect change and respond effectively to changes in antigen stimulation levels, rather than simply the presence or absence of antigen. A key component of the system that gives rise to this emergent change detector is initial activation of naive T cells. The activation step creates a barrier that separates the long-term, slow dynamics of naive T cells from the short-term, fast dynamics of effector T cells. This separation allows the T cell population to compare current, up-to-date changes in antigen levels to long-term, steady state levels. As a result, the T cell population responds very effectively to sudden shifts in antigen levels, even if the antigen were already present prior to the change. This feature provides a mechanism for T cells to react to rapidly expanding sources of antigen stimulation, such as viruses, while maintaining tolerance to constant or slowly fluctuating sources of stimulation, such as healthy tissue during growth. In addition to modeling T cell activation, we also formulate a model of the proliferation of effector T cells in response to the consumption of positive growth signal, secreted throughout the T cell response. We discuss how the interaction between T cells and growth signal generates an emergent threshold detector that responds preferentially to large changes in antigen stimulation while ignoring small ones. As a final step, we discuss how the de novo generation of adaptive regulatory T cells during the latter phase of the T cell response creates a negative feedback loop that controls the duration and magnitude of the T cell response. Hence, the immune network continually adjusts to a shifting baseline of (self and non-self) antigens, and responds primarily to abrupt changes in these antigens rather than merely their presence or absence.
Interfacial area concentration in gas–liquid bubbly to churn-turbulent flow regime

Abstract There are very few established correlations to predict the interfacial area concentration beyond the bubbly flow regime in cap-slug and churn-turbulent flow regimes. Present study shows a systematic approach to estimate the interfacial area concentration in bubbly, cap-slug and churn-turbulent flow regimes. Ishii and Mishima’s (1980) formulation and the two group approach for categorizing bubbles (Group-1: spherical or distorted bubble, Group-2: cap bubble) are used to estimate the interfacial area concentration. The key parameters in this framework are the estimation of Group-1 bubble size and the amount of void in the liquid slug, which is a function of Group-1 void fraction. Hibiki and Ishii’s (2002) correlation is utilized to predict the size of the Group-1 bubbles. A correlation is developed to estimate the Group-1 void fraction. The developed model for the estimation of interfacial area concentration is compared with the three existing datasets. These are data for air–water flow taken in annular geometry and round tube and also for air–NaOH solution taken in round tube. The estimation accuracies for these data sets are ±36.4%, ±26.5% and ±37.4%, respectively. These datasets cover a wide range of flow regimes and different physical properties.
Science and Mathematics Equity Issues at a Local School District Level.

Many reports to the nation have revealed differences in the educational experiences of males and females. This is especially true in mathematics and science where females are not receiving the necessary educational background to develop the skills and understanding required to be citizens and employees in today's technological world. As a result, females are underrepresented in science, mathematics, and engineering professions. This study compares one school district's data with the data in national reports and then attempts to analyze what factors exist in the community and school district that reinforce and perpetuate inequitable situations for females. This study also provides a model for other school districts to conduct a self-study of gender equity education issues.
Tumorigenicity and liver tumor ras-protooncogene mutations in CD-1 mice treated neonatally with 1- and 3-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene and their trans-7,8-dihydrodiol and aminobenzo(a)pyrene metabolites

The environmental pollutants 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (1- and 3-NBaP) are metabolized by mammalian microsomes through ring oxidation to 1-NBaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol and 3-NBaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol, and by nitroreduction to 1- and 3-aminobenzo[a]pyrene. To determine if these compounds are tumorigenic, 1- and 3-NBaP, along with several of their metabolites and the parent benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and its trans-7,8-dihydrodiol metabolite, were tested in the neonatal CD-1 mouse bioassay. Male mice were administered i.p. injections at a total dose of 100 or 400 nmol per mouse on 1, 8 and 15 days after birth. While the liver tumor incidences for BaP, BaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol, and the positive control 6-nitrochrysene (6-NC) were significantly higher than in the solvent control animals, all the other tested compounds exhibited no tumorigenicity. The frequency of Ha- and Ki-ras mutations in liver tumors of mice treated with BaP, BaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol, and 6-NC were higher than in the few liver tumors isolated from control mice or mice treated with the NBaPs or their metabolites. Since 1- and 3-NBaP and their metabolites are potent mutagens in the Salmonella assay and moderate mutagens in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) mammalian mutagenicity assay, our results indicate that the in vitro mutagenicity of these compounds does not correlate with their tumorigenicity.
An apparent contradiction: increasing variability to achieve greater precision?

To understand the relationship between variability of foot placement in the frontal plane and stability of gait patterns, we explored how constraining mediolateral foot placement during walking affects the structure of kinematic variance in the lower-limb configuration space during the swing phase of gait. Ten young subjects walked under three conditions: (1) unconstrained (normal walking), (2) constrained (walking overground with visual guides for foot placement to achieve the measured unconstrained step width) and, (3) beam (walking on elevated beams spaced to achieve the measured unconstrained step width). The uncontrolled manifold analysis of the joint configuration variance was used to quantify two variance components, one that did not affect the mediolateral trajectory of the foot in the frontal plane (“good variance”) and one that affected this trajectory (“bad variance”). Based on recent studies, we hypothesized that across conditions (1) the index of the synergy stabilizing the mediolateral trajectory of the foot (the normalized difference between the “good variance” and “bad variance”) would systematically increase and (2) the changes in the synergy index would be associated with a disproportionate increase in the “good variance.” Both hypotheses were confirmed. We conclude that an increase in the “good variance” component of the joint configuration variance may be an effective method of ensuring high stability of gait patterns during conditions requiring increased control of foot placement, particularly if a postural threat is present. Ultimately, designing interventions that encourage a larger amount of “good variance” may be a promising method of improving stability of gait patterns in populations such as older adults and neurological patients.
Air Emissions from Broiler Houses in California

The emission rates (ER) of ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and particulate matter (PM) (PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended particulate, TSP) were monitored at two broiler houses in California from September 2007 to October 2009. Each of the two identical buildings housed an average of 21,000 broilers raised in 46 d growth cycles with a space allowance of 1430 cm2 bird-1 and an average market weight of 2.65 kg. The litter in each house was partially replaced after the first and second flocks and completely replaced after the third flock in a three-flock litter management cycle. The environment of each house was controlled by 11 single-speed ventilation fans, two evaporative cooling cells, and 17 heaters. The average daily mean (±SD) ERs of ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide were 0.503 ±0.436, 78.3 ±47.5, and 0.00289 ±0.00251 g d-1 bird-1, respectively. The average daily mean ER of PM10 was 45.0 ±39.0 mg d-1 bird-1. The influences of environmental conditions and other factors on ERs were assessed. The ERs were influenced by broiler weight or age, ambient temperature, and litter status, with the exception of PM, which was not influenced by litter status.
Three cases of the juvenile form of amaurotic family idiocy (Vogt-Spielmeyer Disease) with electroencephalographic findings

Summary Three cases of the juvenile form of cerebral lipidosis have been described, the disease occurring in three siblings, a fourth sibling being unaffected. Consanguinity in the parents was not known to be present. The cases provide a demonstration of three stages in the progression of the disease in regard to retinal changes and visual acuity, mental deterioration, and convulsive attacks. The electroencephalograms of these patients are described and provide a further evidence that the disease process is a progressive and diffuse destruction of functioning cerebral tissue.
Molybdenum Imido Alkylidene Complexes that Contain a β-Diketiminate Ligand

The molybdenum β-diketiminate complexes Mo(NR)(CHCMe2R‘)(Ar-nacnac)(OTf) (R = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 1-adamantyl, 2,6-dichlorophenyl, or 2-tert-butylphenyl; Ar = 2,6-dichlorophenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, or 2,6-difluorophenyl; R‘ = Me or Ph; Ar-nacnac = [ArNC(Me)]2CH; OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) have been prepared from Mo(NR)(CHCMe2R‘)(OTf)2(DME) by metathesis with the corresponding Li{Ar-nacnac} salt. Reaction of Mo(NR)(CHCMe2R‘)(Ar-nacnac)(OTf) with NaBArf4 (Arf = 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3) in the presence or absence of THF affords the cationic species {Mo(NR)(CHCMe2R‘)(Ar-nacnac)(THF)n}{BArf4} (n = 0 or 1) depending on the nature of Ar. The reactivity of the cationic β-diketiminate (nacnac) complexes toward olefins has been examined, as has the thermal decomposition modes of the neutral and cationic nacnac complexes. Results demonstrate that the cationic species have short catalyst lifetimes and that decomposition modes dominate the chemistry of several of the nacnac com...
Detail-preserving noise filtering using binary index

While high compression ratio has been achieved using recently developed image coding algorithm, the image restoration is considered as an important subject. We have attempted to restore the images coded by discrete cosine transform (DCT) based coding such as JPEG and MPEG. Some of the conventional adaptive filters are designed to seek a homogeneous region among the predetermined polygonal subregions, then to apply a smoothing operation within the selected subregion. It shall be noted, however, that sometimes the predetermined subregions may be heterogeneous. This fact leads us to a novel idea; instead of examining the predetermined regions, define a lot more flexible region likely to be homogeneous. In order to achieve this, we introduce the binary index: each pixel is classified into either the lower intensity group or higher intensity group based on local statistics. Then a smoothing operation is applied within the pixels having the same group index as the pixel to be processed. Thus our scheme can seek a homogeneous region appropriately. Another advantage is that it can be realized with significantly low computations. It is shown that this approach can suppress the visible artifacts while retaining the fine details such as edge and texture.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Decreasing transactional distance in a Web-based course.

The Horizon Wimba online Web-conferencing voice system was used to facilitate dialogue and decrease transactional distance in a Web-based course. Small-group (≤6)discussion sessions were held and addressed topics pertinent to clinical practice. Students were asked to evaluate the synchronous voice d
Adherence to Warfarin Assessed by Electronic Pill Caps, Clinician Assessment, and Patient Reports: Results from the IN-RANGE Study

Background Patient adherence to warfarin may influence anticoagulation control; yet, adherence among warfarin users has not been rigorously studied.
Analytical characterization of a planar magnetron radio frequency glow-discharge source

Abstract The analytical characteristics of a radio frequency (rf) planar magnetron glow-discharge source were determined with a high-resolution echelle spectrometer. Two sample configurations (both with flat-cathode geometry) were studied. Smaller samples were mounted on a 5 cm square copper plate, whereas samples of diameter 2.6 cm or greater were placed directly upon the pressure seal. The source was optimized for maximum signal. At all pressures (0.05–0.6 Torr) and power levels (10–100 W) studied here, the precision was detector-readout-noise-limited. The analyte-emission drift, short-term precision, and detection limits for the source were measured. Warm-up time was around 5–7 min (with a conducting cathode), after which the rsd of the signal was 0.29%. The relative signal drift was 10% over a 5 min interval during this warm-up time. Detection limits for elements in conducting matrices ranged from 0.04 to 3 ppm, roughly an order of magnitude better than for elements in insulating matrices. The shape of the sputtering track was measured in order to determine the viability of the source for depth profiling. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Use of the Pannell-Milstein roller bottle apparatus to produce high concentrations of the CSF-1, the mouse macrophage growth factor.

Abstract A simple roller bottle apparatus for growing B cell hybridomas in dialysis tubing yields high concentrations of monoclonal antibodies (Pannell and Milstein, J. Immunol. Methods (1992) 146, 43–48). Here we describe an adaptation of this apparatus for the simple production of high concentrations of the mouse macrophage specific growth factor, CSF-1. This apparatus appears to have general applicability for the production of other secreted cytokines.
Change in fatigue after bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease

Background: Bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) improves motor function in patients with medically intractable Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the effects of STN DBS on fatigue are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of STN DBS on fatigue scores in patients with PD. Methods: Twenty PD patients underwent bilateral STN DBS surgery at our institution from 2007 to 2009. Onlydatafromthe17patientswhocompletedtheParkinsonFatigueScale(PFS)andUnifiedPDRatingScale (UPDRS) before and approximately 6 months after surgery were analyzed. Other evaluations included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Results: When the cohort was analyzed as a whole, there was no significant change in the mean or binary PFS score from baseline to the 6 month evaluation. However, the fatigue response of individual subjects was variable. Six of 12 subjects with fatigue before surgery were not fatigued post-operatively, while 3/5 subjects without fatigue before surgery became fatigued after DBS surgery. Fatigue in 8 subjects remained unchanged. Change in fatigue scores correlated significantly with change in the motor UPDRS, GDS and AES. Improvement in PFS also correlated with a higher PFS baseline score and higher baseline UPDRS motor off score. Conclusions: Changes in fatigue severity were not observed in our cohort as a whole, but there were changes in fatigue on an individual level. These changes appear to be related to the effects of STN DBS on motor improvement and mood.