cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wireless sensor and actuator networks with delayed noisy feedback (WiSAN)

Various control applications such as aerospace vehicles and automotive control systems can benefit from lower weight and cost. Replacing wired feedback control with wireless sensor and actuator networks (WiSAN) offers attractive features by improving upon the weight and cost problems, while posing new challenges due to the delayed noisy feedback links. Addressing these challenges requires modeling and simulation of WiSAN with noise and delay implemented in the feedback path. A model with Additive White Gaussian Noise and Constant Delay (AWGN-CD) is used in this research. This study provides insight for designing WiSAN for a variety of scenarios, where weight and cost is of concern.
A familial case of Alzheimer's disease without tau pathology may be linked with chromosome 3 markers

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia that occurs in later years. The diagnosis is confirmed by the pathological findings of βA4-amyloid-containing neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the former being present in sufficient quantity commensurate with age. Other forms of dementia are more difficult to diagnose clinically; their pathology is noted for the lack of plaques and tangles. A patient with a family history of dementia presented with the clinical signs of Alzheimer's disease which lasted for 13 years. At autopsy the brain tissue had βA4-amyloid-containing neuritic plaques, but no neurofibrillary tangles (i.e., the tissue was negative for staining with the tau antibody). Genetic analysis of DNA from family members revealed no linkage with chromosome 17 markers, indicating that this was not frontotemporal dementia. However, there was linkage with chromosome 3 markers. Thus, this form of Alzheimer's disease with a pathology of plaques only is linked with markers on chromosome 3.
Imaging Adsorbate O−H Bond Cleavage: Methanol on TiO2(110)

We investigated methanol adsorption and dissociation on bridge-bonded oxygen vacancies of the TiO2(110)-(1×1) surface using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy. We provide the first direct evidence that methanol dissociates on oxygen vacancies via O−H bond scission rather than C−O scission. For CH3OH coverages lower than the oxygen vacancy concentration, stationary methoxy−hydroxyl pairs form. At CH3OH coverages close to the oxygen vacancy concentration undissociated mobile CH3OH interacts with methoxy−hydroxyl pairs and facilitates the movement of hydroxyl away from the methoxy group.
Study of intracellular collagen precursors using DNA-cellulose chromatography.

PREVIOUS communications1,2 have described the synthesis in cultured cells of proteins with affinity for columns of denatured DNA-cellulose3. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the proteins eluted from such columns by 0.15 M NaCl has shown differences between the DNA-cellulose binding proteins synthesized by growing and resting fibroblasts1,2. One protein, P-6, later shown to have a molecular weight in SDS of 40,000, was synthesized only by growing cells, while P-1 and P-1′, much larger proteins, were very prominent only in cells resting due to serum limitation and contact inhibition. Investigation of the nature and role of P-6 and other proteins synthesized by growing cells is continuing; as for the DNA binding proteins synthesized by resting cells, we report here that P-1 and P-1′ do not seem to be related to growth control, as suggested by the earlier experiments, but are collagen type molecules, probably larger molecular weight protocollagen precursors of the α1 and α2-chains respectively.
“Thinking About It for Somebody Else”: Alzheimer's Disease Research and Proxy Decision Makers' Translation of Ethical Principles Into Practice

Objectives Ethical guidelines suggest that, when enrolling patients with dementia in research, alterative decision makers (proxies) should base their decision on a "substituted judgment" of how the patient would have decided. If unable to make a substituted judgment, proxies are asked to decide on the basis of the patient's best interests. This mixed-methods study is the first to examine explicitly whether and to what degree proxies differentiate between these two approaches and what considerations influence their mode of decision making. Design Interview study regarding enrollment of relative in hypothetical clinical trial of an investigational drug for Alzheimer disease. Participants were randomized to respond to questions about one of four hypothetical clinical trials that differed by levels of described risk and potential benefit. Participants Proxy decision makers (N = 40). Measurements Open-ended and rating-scaled items. Results Half of the proxies agreed with both of two rating-scaled items asking about different approaches to decision making—that is, agreeing that they would decide on the basis of how their relative would have decided and agreeing that they would decide on the basis of what they believed was in their relative's best interests. Narrative responses elaborated on themes within the following three major domains: Substituted judgment, best interests, and weighing substituted judgment and best interests. Substituted judgment was framed as honoring the patient's wishes and values. Best interests was described as a perceived duty to maintain quality of life and avoid burdens or risks. Weighing the two standards emerged as a challenging yet important, way of honoring wishes while maintaining quality of life. An unexpected theme was the attempt by alternative decision makers to discern their loved one's current versus premorbid research preferences. Conclusions Tensions exist between abstract ethical principles regarding decision-making "standards" and their translation into research decisions.
The asymptotic structure of premixed methane-air flames with slow CO oxidation

Abstract The asymptotic structures of methane-air flames, for equivalence ratios from 0.5 to 1.4 and pressures from 1 to 70 atm, are analyzed on the basis of a reduced four-step chemical-kinetic mechanism that has previously predicted burning velocities with reasonable accuracy. The rates of these four steps are related to the rates of elementary reactions appearing in the C 1 -chain mechanism for oxidation of methane. In the analysis, the overall flame structure is subdivided into four zones—a preheat zone with thickness of order unity, an inner fuel-consumption layer with thickness of order δ, a H 2 -oxidation layer with thickness of order ϵ, and a CO-oxidation layer with thickness of order ν. It is presumed here that δ ⪡ ϵ ⪡ ν 2 -oxidation layer, the variations of the concentrations of CO and O 2 are presumed to be negligible, leading to a new asymptotic analysis, and the H atoms are presumed to be in steady state. In the CO-oxidation layer, H 2 and H are both presumed to be in steady state, again requiring a new analysis. Analytical expressions are obtained for the burning velocity and for the characteristic temperature at which the hydrocarbon chemistry related to the fuel consumption occurs. The predictions are in good agreement with results of full numerical integrations and experiment for fuel-lean flames but give burning velocities somewhat too high for stoichiometric and rich flames.
Solid State Property–Bonding Electron Density–Volume Plasmon Energy Scaling Relationships: Novel AEM Technique for In Situ Diagnostics of Material Properties at the Nanoscale

Quantized high-frequency (~10 16 Hz) correlated longitudinal electron excitations (plasmons) generated in the energy-loss range 0-50 eV by fast electrons passing through any solid enable one to probe various states of matter. Their energy, Ep, is directly related to the density of valence electrons, thus allowing determination of solid-state properties that are governed by ground-state densities. Universal features and scaling in relations between Ep and the cohesive energy per atomic volume, bonding electron density and elastic constants have been established. The resulting correlations follow the universal binding energy relationship, thus providing new insights into the fundamental nature of structure-property relationships. They allow direct in situ determination of local material properties in an analytical electron microscope, as illustrated by examples utilizing Al- and Ti-based structural alloys.
A cellular system for quantitation of vitamin K cycle activity: structure-activity effects on vitamin K antagonism by warfarin metabolites.

Warfarin and other 4-hydroxycoumarins inhibit vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) by depleting reduced vitamin K that is required for posttranslational modification of vitamin K–dependent clotting factors. In vitro prediction of the in vivo potency of vitamin K antagonists is complicated by the complex multicomponent nature of the vitamin K cycle. Here we describe a sensitive assay that enables quantitative analysis of γ-glutamyl carboxylation and its antagonism in live cells. We engineered a human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293–derived cell line (HEK 293-C3) to express a chimeric protein (F9CH) comprising the Gla domain of factor IX fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions of proline-rich Gla protein 2. Maximal γ-glutamyl carboxylation of F9CH required vitamin K supplementation, and was dose-dependently inhibited by racemic warfarin at a physiologically relevant concentration. Cellular γ-glutamyl carboxylation also exhibited differential VKOR inhibition by warfarin enantiomers (S > R) consistent with their in vivo potencies. We further analyzed the structure-activity relationship for inhibition of γ-glutamyl carboxylation by warfarin metabolites, observing tolerance to phenolic substitution at the C-5 and especially C-6, but not C-7 or C-8, positions on the 4-hydroxycoumarin nucleus. After correction for in vivo concentration and protein binding, 10-hydroxywarfarin and warfarin alcohols were predicted to be the most potent inhibitory metabolites in vivo.
Chisel edge and cutting lip shape optimization for improved twist drill point design

This paper investigates the optimization of twist drill point geometries in order to minimize thrust and torque in drilling. A point geometry parameterization based on the drill grinding parameters is used to ensure manufacturability of the optimized geometry. Three commonly used drill point geometries, namely, conical, Racon® and helical, are optimized for drilling forces while maintaining the inherent characteristics of each of the profiles. A significant reduction is shown in the drilling forces for the optimized drills. Drills with the optimized conical point profile are produced and tests run to validate the reduction in thrust and torque.
Domain swapping in the low‐similarity isomerase/hydratase superfamily: The crystal structure of rat mitochondrial Δ3, Δ2‐enoyl‐CoA isomerase

Two monofunctional Δ3, Δ2-enoyl-CoA isomerases, one in mitochondria (mECI) and the other in both mitochondria and peroxisomes (pECI), belong to the low-similarity isomerase/hydratase superfamily. Both enzymes catalyze the movement of a double bond from C3 to C2 of an unsaturated acyl-CoA substrate for re-entry into the β-oxidation pathway. Mutagenesis has shown that Glu165 of rat mECI is involved in catalysis; however, the putative catalytic residue in yeast pECI, Glu158, is not conserved in mECI. To elucidate whether Glu165 of mECI is correctly positioned for catalysis, the crystal structure of rat mECI has been solved. Crystal packing suggests the enzyme is trimeric, in contrast to other members of the superfamily, which appear crystallographically to be dimers of trimers. The polypeptide fold of mECI, like pECI, belongs to a subset of this superfamily in which the C-terminal domain of a given monomer interacts with its own N-terminal domain. This differs from that of crotonase and 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphtoyl-CoA synthase, whose C-terminal domains are involved in domain swapping with an adjacent monomer. The structure confirms Glu165 as the putative catalytic acid/base, positioned to abstract the pro-R proton from C2 and reprotonate at C4 of the acyl chain. The large tunnel-shaped active site cavity observed in the mECI structure explains the relative substrate promiscuity in acyl-chain length and stereochemistry. Comparison with the crystal structure of pECI suggests the catalytic residues from both enzymes are spatially conserved but not in their primary structures, providing a powerful reminder of how catalytic residues cannot be determined solely by sequence alignments.
Are Breech Rates for Pedicle Screws Higher in the Upper Thoracic Spine

Abstract Study Design A case-control study. Objectives To evaluate pedicle screw placement in pediatric patients with various etiologies of scoliosis, and to identify predictors of misplacement. Summary of Background Data Accuracy of placement of pedicle screws has not been well documented for posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion performed in the non-idiopathic population. Methods A total of 54 patients (29 idiopathic, 16 neuromuscular, and 9 congenital/syndromic scoliosis), ages 5–19 years, were included. Computed tomography scans were obtained on patients postoperatively to assess screw position. Three pediatric orthopedic surgeons evaluated screw placement, and risk factors for misplacement were examined. Results Of 1,042 pedicle screws, 8.3% were misplaced. Among all etiologies, screws placed at T1 (28.6%) and T2 (18.2%) had higher misplacement rates. T2 screws and curve correction greater than 75% had higher misplacement rates in congenital/syndromic patients; screws at T3, screws at upper end of construct, and proximal screws had significantly higher misplacement rates in neuromuscular patients; and no variables predicted misplacement in idiopathics. Screws placed at the most proximal end of the screw/rod construct also had a higher misplacement rate (14.1%) compared with all remaining levels (7.8%). Nonidiopathic patients had higher anterior misplacement compared with idiopathic. No screws were removed or revised, and no screw-related complications were observed. Conclusions Pedicle screw instrumentation in the thoracolumbar spine was safe for pediatric patients. We found that pedicle screws placed at top levels are at higher risk for misplacement among all pediatric scoliosis patients. Nonidiopathic patients are at higher risk for anterior screw misplacement, and the predictive effect of vertebral level is more profound in nonidiopathic patients. Because of these findings, we routinely use fluoroscopic guidance for the placement of T1 and T2 screws, and screws at the proximal end of construct.
Iterative inverse factor analysis—A rapid method for clustering persons

By interchanging persons and items, iterative inverse factor analysis provides a relatively inexpensive way of clustering persons according to their patterns of response to the items. In addition to permitting the clustering of large numbers of persons, the technique enables one to determine the bases for such clustering. The items of behavior used can be heterogeneous in content and form.
Proteins and calcium in egg yolk.

Abstract Certain proteins of egg yolk—X 1 , a phosphoprotein, and X 2 , a lipoglycoprotein—were compared to their serum precursors with the aid of chemical, electrophoretic and ultracentrifugal techniques. The X 1 -X 2 components were found only within the egg yolk granules. The X 1 phosphoprotein was composed largely of serine and bound approximately 75 per cent of the calcium of egg yolk, thus displaying a capacity for calcium which far exceeds that of casein in milk. The X 2 lipoglycoprotein was comprised of 20 per cent lipid, which is mainly phospholipid, and a lesser amount of polysaccharide. It did not seem to bind calcium to any appreciable extent. (Serum X 1 and X 2 displayed very similar properties to their yolk counterparts.) The extragranular or fluid compartment of the egg yolk contained a protein resembling ovalbumin and a lipoprotein floating at a constant of Sf 21. X 1 and X 2 proteins co-precipitated when diluted greatly with distilled water. The precipitate could be dissolved by the addition of 2 per cent NaCl, a lesser amount of CaCl 2 , or by adjustment of the pH to approximately 9 or greater. Making the assumption that the axial ratios of these molecules were comparable to that of serum albumin, the molecular weight of X 1 phosphoprotein was calculated to be 77,000 (s 4.75) and that of X 2 lipoglycoprotein to be 200,000 (s 10). When the same axial ratio was accorded the serum precursors of these molecules, it became apparent that the serum X 1 and X 2 proteins may have been reduced to half their molecular weight before, during or after transfer from the plasma to the egg yolk. 1
Chronic sublethal effects of the water soluble fractions of no. 2 fuel oils on the marine isopod, Sphaeroma quadridentatum☆

Abstract Two series of experiments were carried out to assess the long-term effects of the water soluble fractions (WSF) of fuel oils on the marine isopod, Sphaeroma quadridentatum . In one experiment, juvenile isopods (one month old) were exposed to sublethal concentrations (0·1% to 15% WSF) of a fuel oil (Baytown, Exxon) at room temperatures of 24 ± 1–6°C for nine months. These isopods survived to maturity and reproduced. However, growth rate was adversely affected at concentration ≥ 3% WSF and fecundity was depressed at concentrations ≥ 1% WSF. Survival of offspring in clean seawater was dependent to a large extent on the history of the previous generation. Offspring from groups exposed to ≥ 1% WSF experienced high mortality (> 70% within five weeks) even in clean seawater. This may imply that a population of Sphaeroma exposed to WSF as low as 0·2 ppm may eventually disappear, although animals can grow to maturity and reproduce at concentrations In another experiment, adult Sphaeroma (three months old) were subjected to the WSFs of four fuel oils (Baton Rouge, Baytown, Montana and New Jersey) for one month. Fecundity was depressed at a concentration > 15% WSF, regardless of the kind of fuel oil. On the other hand, the number of young produced bythe surviving females varied with the type of fuel oil for the same level of WSF. This may be attributed to different relative amounts of toxic components present in the WSF.
Focused ion beam lithography of multiperiod gratings for a wavelength‐division‐multiplexed transmitter laser array

Wavelength‐division multiplexing with closely spaced multiple wavelengths is of great interest for high‐capacity data transmission. One major and very critical requirement of such a system is the fabrication of a laser array with very small wavelength separations (∼2 nm). In this paper, the design, fabrication, and performance of an integrated eight‐channel system is described. Focused ion beam lithography, with the beam deflection sensitivity modified from its calibrated value, is used to write the critical stepped‐period distributed‐Bragg‐reflector gratings required to provide the tightly controlled multiple laser frequencies. The outputs of the lasers are combined via curved waveguides into a single optical output.
Reconstructing the Materials and Technology of Egyptian Faience and Frit

This paper presents a research project undertaken at the Cleveland Museum of Art to study and characterize its collection of more than one hundred and fifty Egyptian artifacts made from faience or frit. An overview of the project is presented here, followed by a summary of faience technology that draws upon other published studies as well as the insights gained during this project. Where appropriate, this technological discussion will be illustrated using examples of Egyptian artifacts studied during this project. For some objects discussion will be limited to one or two aspects of manufacture. However, the proposed manufacturing sequence of several key artifacts will be described more fully. A multi-faceted approach to the study of these materials was designed. Examination procedures used to study the collection included microscopy (surface examination using a lowpowered microscope, and microstructural characterization of exposed fracture surfaces or small samples using a scanning electron microscope), structural analysis using Xero-radiography, and nondestructive qualitative compositional analysis of glazes and pastes using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Hardness testing using fine metal points graded to the Moh’s scale, Munsell color evaluations and qualitative gloss determinations were also employed. Replication experiments were used extensively to understand visual features remaining on the surfaces of objects, to provide comparison standards for examination of fracture surfaces with magnification, and to test the validity of theories on paste recipes and forming practices. The primary goal of the project was to provide accurate descriptions of the materials and technology of each object as possible. This included characterization of technological features such as glaze (probable application method, composition, color, and gloss), paste (grain size, color, hardness, composition, and extent of vitrification) and forming methods (modeling, molding, template, cores, wet working and/or dry working). Careful documentation of these features enabled detailed technological descriptions to be prepared for each artifact. This work also elucidated many aspects of faience production as it may have been practiced in ancient Egypt, and suggested directions for further study. It is hoped that in the future, technological criteria for dating artifacts that cannot be securely dated using traditional typological art historical criteria can be developed by the careful documentation of characteristics of the paste, glaze and forming processes.
Network-based comparison of temporal gene expression patterns

Motivation: In the pursuits of mechanistic understanding of cell differentiation, it is often necessary to compare multiple differentiation processes triggered by different external stimuli and internal perturbations. Available methods for comparing temporal gene expression patterns are limited to a gene-by-gene approach, which ignores co-expression information and thus is sensitive to measurement noise. Methods: We present a method for co-expression network based comparison of temporal expression patterns (NACEP). NACEP compares the temporal patterns of a gene between two experimental conditions, taking into consideration all of the possible co-expression modules that this gene may participate in. The NACEP program is available at http://biocomp.bioen.uiuc.edu/nacep. Results: We applied NACEP to analyze retinoid acid (RA)-induced differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. The analysis suggests that RA may facilitate neural differentiation by inducing the shh and insulin receptor pathways. NACEP was also applied to compare the temporal responses of seven RNA inhibition (RNAi) experiments. As proof of concept, we demonstrate that the difference in the temporal responses to RNAi treatments can be used to derive interaction relationships of transcription factors (TFs), and therefore infer regulatory modules within a transcription network. In particular, the analysis suggested a novel regulatory relationship between two pluripotency regulators, Esrrb and Tbx3, which was supported by in vivo binding of Esrrb to the promoter of Tbx3. Availability: The NACEP program and the supplementary documents are available at http://biocomp.bioen.uiuc.edu/nacep. Contact: szhong@illinois.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Compensation of Infinite-Dimensional Actuator and Sensor Dynamics

The PDE backstepping approach is a potentially powerful tool for advancing design techniques for systems with input and output delays. Three key ideas are presented in this article. The first idea is the construction of backstepping transformations that facilitate treatment of delays and PDE dynamics at the input, as well as in more complex plant structures such as systems in the lower triangular form, with delays or PDE dynamics affecting the integrators. The second idea is the construction of Lyapunov functionals and explicit stability estimates, with the help of direct and inverse backstepping transformations. The third idea is the connection between delay systems and an array of other classes of PDE systems, which can be approached in a similar manner, each introducing a different type of challenge. All the results presented here are constructive. The constants and bounds that are not stated explicitly, such as the robustness margin 8 in Theorem 3 and the convergence speeds in all the theorems, are estimated explicitly in the proofs of these theorems. However, these estimates are conservative and have limited value as guidance on the achievable convergence speeds or robustness margins.
Emergence of position-independent detectors of sense of rotation and dilation with Hebbian learning: an analysis

We previously demonstrated that it is possible to learn position-independent responses to rotation and dilation by filtering rotations and dilations with different centers through an input layer with MT-like speed and direction tuning curves and connecting them to an MST-like layer with simple Hebbian synapses (Sereno and Sereno 1991). By analyzing an idealized version of the network with broader, sinusoidal direction-tuning and linear speed-tuning, we show analytically that a Hebb rule trained with arbitrary rotation, dilation/contraction, and translation velocity fields yields units with weight fields that are a rotation plus a dilation or contraction field, and whose responses to a rotating or dilating/contracting disk are exactly position independent. Differences between the performance of this idealized model and our original model (and real MST neurons) are discussed.
Confluence, synnovation, and depauperons in plant diversification.

Summary We review the empirical phylogenetic literature on plant diversification, highlighting challenges in separating the effects of speciation and extinction, in specifying diversification mechanisms, and in making convincing arguments. In recent discussions of context dependence, key opportunitiesandlandscapes,andindirecteffectsandlagtimes,weseeadistinctshiftawayfrom single-point/single-cause 'key innovation' hypotheses toward more nuanced explanations involving multiple interacting causal agents assembled step-wise through a tree. To help crystalize this emerging perspective we introduce the term 'synnovation' (a hybrid of 'synergy' and 'innovation') for an interacting combination of traits with a particular consequence ('key synnovation' in the case of increased diversification rate), and the term 'confluence' for the sequential coming together of a set of traits (innovations and synnovations), environmental changes, and geographic movements along the branches of a phylogenetic tree. We illustrate these concepts using the radiation of Bromeliaceae. We also highlight the generality of these ideas by considering how rate heterogeneity associated with a confluence relates to the
A Symmetric Electromagnetic-Circuit Simulator Based on the Extended Time-Domain Finite Element Method

A symmetric hybrid electromagnetic-circuit simulator based on the extended time-domain finite element method (FEM) is presented for the simulation of microwave devices embedded with linear/nonlinear lumped circuits. The distributive portion of the device is modeled by the time-domain FEM to generate an electromagnetic subsystem, while the embedded lumped circuits are analyzed by a SPICE-like transient circuit solver to generate a circuit subsystem. A symmetric global system for both the electromagnetic and circuit unknowns is then established by combining the two fully discretized subsystems through coupling matrices to model their interactions. For active devices, the resulting global electromagnetic-circuit system usually includes nonlinear equations, and thus is solved by a solution algorithm carefully designed to handle nonlinearity. The proposed simulator significantly extends the capability of the existing time-domain finite element solver to model more complex and active devices such as microwave amplifiers. Numerical examples are presented to validate the algorithm and demonstrate its accuracy and applications.
Heat Transfer Enhancement Under Various Orientations Resulting From Attraction Mode Induction Electrohydrodynamic Pumping

An induction electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pump in an axisymmetric configuration was designed and built to examine the heat transfer enhancement that accompanies fluid pumping. The apparatus was operated at several tilt angles between 0 (horizontal) and 90 while the augmentation of heat transfer was measured and compared to typical forced pumping and natural circulation. The increase in the overall conductance value for EHD pumping compared to typical forced pumping under turbulent flow conditions was as high as 71 percent. This corresponds to a much higher increase in the inside convection coefficient, which is the only resistance to heat transfer being affected by induction pumping
The effect of elevated-temperature neutron irradiation on fracture toughness of ceramics

Single-crystal forms of MgAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/, Y/sub 3//Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/, and Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ were irradiated in the EBR-II fast fission reactor to a fluence of 0.3 x 10/sup 26/ n/m/sup 2/ at 1015/sup 0/K, and to /sup -/1 to 2 x 10/sup 26/ n/m/sup 2/ at 925 and 1100/sup 0/K. Fracture toughness was subsequently measured at room temperature by an indentation technique, and radiation-induced defect aggregates were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. A slight increase in toughness of MgAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/ was observed, and attributed to interaction of cracks with strain fields around dislocation loops. No significant change was noted for Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/, despite the presence of a high concentration of unresolved defect clusters. Fracture toughness of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was markedly increased, with the enhancement apparently attributable in large part to impedance of crack propagation by interaction with the irradiation-induced void lattice.
Electronic Tuning of Ruthenium Complexes by 8-Quinolate Ligands

A series of Ru(II) complexes were synthesized with the deprotonated forms of the ligands 8-hydroxyquinoline (quo(-)) and 5-NO(2)-8-hydroxyquinoline (5-NO(2)-quo(-)) as analogs to the prototypical complex [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Electrochemistry, spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations were utilized to investigate the electronic tuning of the occupied t(2g)-type orbitals of the metal center with variation in the ligation sphere. The maximum of the lowest energy absorption of complexes containing one, two and three 8-quinolate ligands progressively redshifts from 452 nm in [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) to 510 nm in [Ru(bpy)(2)(quo)](+), 515 nm in [Ru(bpy)(quo)(2)] and 540 nm in [Ru(quo)(3)](-) in water. This bathochromic shift results from the increase in energy of the occupied t(2g)-type orbital across the series afforded by coordination of each subsequent quo(-) ligand to the Ru(II) center. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations along with electrochemical analysis reveals that the lowest energy transition has contributions in the highest occupied molecular orbital from both the quo(-) ligand and the metal, such that the lowest energy transition is not from an orbital that is purely metal-centered in character as in [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+).
Financial Information Failure: Redrawing the Boundary Between Lawyer and Accountant Responsibility

When public firms collapse amid allegations of financial information failure - such as misleading financial statements - society looks beyond the role of accountants to see who else should be held responsible. Increasingly, lawyers advising the firm are charged with responsibility, perhaps because modern financial complexity, as well as rules that make accounting determinations turn in part on legal conclusions, has blurred the boundary between legal and accounting duties. Lawyers should want to satisfy this responsibility not only to avoid liability but also to safeguard their reputation and integrity. The difficult question, which this article attempts to answer, is what that responsibility should be. In that context, this article confronts the larger question: To what extent should non-experts monitor experts on matters of their expertise?
Identifying Keystone Threats to Biological Diversity

Human beings have become the dominant force for environmental change and the task of conservation planning is to counter those changes most threatening biodiversity by identifying key areas providing resiliency and refuge. Landscape-scale conservation planners need to dissect those ‘threats’ (human activities that have driven ecological processes beyond the range of natural variability) to understand exactly what anthropogenic activities are influencing which aspects of ecosystem pattern and process. This chapter reviews two aspects of land use/land cover change (disaggregated and aggregated transitions), and introduces other anthropogenic activities that are treated in more depth in other chapters (i.e., pollution, disease, and climate change) before describing an ecoregional threat assessment project focused on identifying, mapping, and forecasting ‘keystone threats.’ Keystone threats are those strongly-interacting human activities – e.g., land use/land cover change – that if captured and modeled with some degree of accuracy can provide insights into where and when to protect habitats. The chapter suggests that in more wild or pristine areas, pollution or disease may be keystone threats while land use/land cover change will be the primary driver of biodiversity loss elsewhere. Given enough information any of these threats can be mapped and modeled to assist conservation planners in making decisions.
Envisioning Multicultural Education Development in U.S. Islamic Schools in Light of Reviewed Literature

In his most recent book, Black Muslims in the U.S.: History, Politics, and the Struggle of a Community, Rashid (2013) stated, “The average American knows more about Islam and Muslims abroad (e.g., ...
Utility of a Simple Algorithm to Grade Diastolic Dysfunction and Predict Outcome After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Background Inclusion of a measure of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) may improve risk prediction after cardiac surgery. Current LVDD grading guidelines rely on echocardiographic variables that are not always available or aligned to allow grading. We hypothesized that a simplified algorithm involving fewer variables would enable more patients to be assigned a LVDD grade compared with a comprehensive algorithm, and also be valid in identifying patients at risk of long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Methods Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography data were gathered on 905 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, including flow and tissue Doppler-based measurements. Two algorithms were constructed to categorize LVDD: a comprehensive four-variable algorithm, A, was compared with a simplified version, B, with only two variables—transmitral early flow velocity and early mitral annular tissue velocity—for ease of grading and association with MACE. Results Using algorithm A, only 563 patients (62%) could be graded, whereas 895 patients (99%) received a grade with algorithm B. Over the median follow-up period of 1,468 days, Cox modeling showed that LVDD was significantly associated with MACE when graded with algorithm B ( p = 0.013), but not algorithm A ( p = 0.79). Patients with the highest incidence of MACE could not be graded with algorithm A. Conclusions We found that an LVDD algorithm with fewer variables enabled grading of a significantly greater number of coronary artery bypass graft patients, and was valid, as evidenced by worsening grades being associated with MACE. This simplified algorithm could be extended to similar populations as a valid method of characterizing LVDD.
Constrained adaptive CMA for desired-user synchronization and detection in asynchronous DS-CDMA systems

A technique for estimation of desired-user bits in asynchronous DS-CDMA systems is developed without an explicit bit synchronization between the receiver and the transmitter. A bit value is estimated based on the observation window of size 2N-1, where N is the length of bit period. The window shifts for N in order to estimate a new bit. A constrained adaptive constant modulus algorithm (CMA) is used to estimate bits. The constraint limits the maximum elevation angle a weight vector that multiplies the observations can have with respect to the hyperplane defined by shifted copies of the desired-user spreading sequence. The constraint is parameterized so that monitoring is not needed. The constrained CMA is compared with the unconstrained CMA. In addition to the bit estimation, the constrained CMA can estimate the desired-user signal delay.
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase-2 reduces the severity of mouse hepatitis virus-induced demyelination: implications for NOS2/NO regulation of chemokine expression and inflammation.

Infection of C57BL/6 mice with mouse hepatitis virus strain V5A13.1 (MHV-V5A13.1) results in an acute encephalitis followed by a chronic, progressive demyelinating disease with clinical and histological similarities to the human demyelinating disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Studies were undertaken to evaluate the contribution of NOS2 generated NO in demyelination in MHV-infected mice. MHV-infected animals were treated daily with either 8 mg of aminoguanidine (AG), a selective inhibitor of NOS2 activity, or PBS by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. MHV-infection ofmice resulted in 20% mortality in both groups with surviving mice clearing virus below levels of detection, as measured by plaque assay, by day 12 postinfection (p.i.). A significant decrease in the severity of clinical disease was observed in AG-treated animals as compared to mice receiving PBS at days 7 and 12 p.i. (P≤0.001 and 0.003, respectively) however, by day 21 p.i. AG-treated mice exhibited the same severity of clinical disease as control animals. Examination of brain and spinal cords from infected mice revealed a pronounced reduction in the severity of inflammation at day 7 p.i. in mice treated with AG as compared to control mice. By day 12 p.i. there was a significant decrease (P<0.02) in the severity of demyelination in AG-treated mice as compared to control animals yet both PBS and AG treated mice had a similar degree of demyelination by day 21 p.i. Analysis of chemokine mRNA transcripts by RNase protection assay revealed that AG-treated mice had significantly lower levels (P≤ 0.007) of transcripts for the C-C chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) at day 7 p.i. as compared to control animals. By day 12 p.i., AG-treated mice and control mice had similar levels of chemokine transcripts. Together, these data suggest that inhibition of NOS2/NO slows the progression of MHV-induced demyelination. One potential mechanism by which this may occur is through controlling inflammation through modulation of chemokine expression in the CNS.
Airplane Performance and the Small Airport

Discussion of effect of aircraft performance on design of small airport runway length and runway approaches; statistical data on small aircraft are presented; list of types and number of prevalent active general aircraft in United States, is given; takeoff distance for various general aircraft.
Governing of Contractual Relations in Agriculture

This paper incorporates the interdisciplinary New Institutional and Transaction Costs Economics (combining Economics, Organization, Law, Sociology, Behavioral and Political Sciences) and suggests a holistic framework for analysis of agrarian contracts. First, it specifies type and importance of different mechanisms of governance of agrarian activity. Second, it defines the essence, and classifies types and features of agrarian contracts. Next, it identifies technological, institutional, behavioral, dimensional, and transaction costs factors for contractual choice, and specifies effective modes for contractual arrangements in agriculture. Finally, it determines the effective boundaries and sustainability of farm and agrarian organizations.
The Uncorporation and Corporate Indeterminacy

William Carney and George Shepherd argue that Delaware's success in corporate law is a "mystery" when one considers the high transaction costs engendered by the indeterminacy and instability of Delaware law. This paper shows that the mystery is clarified by analyzing Delaware law on "uncorporate" cases - that is, limited partnerships and limited liability companies. In this setting, parties can rely on specific contractual incentive and disciplinary devices rather than on open-ended fiduciary duties. Delaware lawmakers provide substantial coherence by focusing on the parties' contracts. It follows that the problems of Delaware law seem to be mainly a function of the corporation rather than of Delaware lawmakers.
Angiotensin II receptors in SFO but not in OVLT mediate isoproterenol-induced thirst

Thirst elicited by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol in rats depends in part on the secretion of renin, the consequent synthesis of angiotensin II (ANG II), and the binding of circulating ANG II to dipsogenic receptors in the brain. These receptors probably reside in either of two forebrain circumventricular organs, the subfornical organ (SFO) or organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT). Experiments determined that lesions of the SFO, but not of the OVLT, reduced drinking induced by isoproterenol treatment. Competitive ANG II-receptor antagonism with sarthran reduced isoproterenol-induced drinking when the blocker was infused into the SFO but not when it was infused into the OVLT or into the lateral ventricles at a 25-fold greater dose. The findings confirm the widely held belief that renin-dependent thirst elicited by isoproterenol relies on ANG II binding to receptor sites at a circumventricular organ in the brain. The results demonstrate that this site is the SFO and not the OVLT.
Hyperpigmented Reticulated Patch in an Older Man.

A67-year-oldman receiving rituximab formembranous nephropathy was admitted to the hospital with volume overload. On initial physical examination,a large,nonblanchable, reticulated,hyperpigmented,graybrownpatchwas observed on the patient’s mid and lower back (Figure). He had no pain,pruritus,ordiscomfortonthispatch.He stated that his sister first noticed this patch severalmonths prior to admission. On further questioning, he acknowledged using heating pads frequently for the past 40 years to relieve chronic back pain he has experienced since amotor vehicle crash in 1975. He denies any history of burns or thermal trauma as a result of heating pad use. Quiz at jama.com Figure.Hyperpigmented cutaneous eruption onmid and lower back of patient.
Sums of Reciprocals of Integers Missing a Given Digit

(1979). Sums of Reciprocals of Integers Missing a Given Digit. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 86, No. 5, pp. 372-374.
Neck lift my way: an update.

Background The author updates prior descriptions of an approach to the surgical neck lift that aims for a maximum degree of control over the size, shape, and position of every anatomical feature of the neck that is negatively affecting its appearance. Methods A 38-year clinical experience guided the development of the operative tactics that define the strategy. Data collected from a records review of 522 consecutive neck lifts performed during the 10-year period 2004 through 2013 further inform the report. The approach has eight features: (1) nearly routine use of open submental access to all tissue layers of the central neck, including a regimen that curbed the problems that may attend an extensive tissue dissection; (2) management of lax neck skin by lateral excision using a specific postauricular incision, or by using the nonexcisional method of redistribution; (3) open lipectomy for precise removal of excess subcutaneous neck and jawline fat; (4) individualized modifications to subplatysmal fat, perihyoid fascia, and anterior digastric muscles; (5) treatment of large, ptotic, or malpositioned submandibular salivary glands by partial excision using a transcutaneous traction suture; (6) the current version of the corset platysmaplasty, which is used to treat static paramedian platysma muscle bands, and to avoid contour imperfections following subplatysmal maneuvers; (7) an approach that facilitates an isolated neck lift; and (8) durable results. Results Case examples demonstrate outcomes. Conclusion Although the updated approach remains relatively complex and invasive, the author believes that the ends justify the means.
Randomly phase-locked microlaser arrays with “fuzzy” stationary eigenmodes

Random parameter deviations yield phased locked arrays with randomly distributed phasing, radiation intensities and carrier densities. Self-regulated NL frequency pulling overcomes random detuning. A tolerance threshold for the existence of fuzzy stationary eigenmodes is derived.
Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing TRUEX-CCI4 Process Solvent

Methode chromatographique en phase gazeuse utilisant une colonne capillaire a phase liee, pour l'analyse quantitative du phosphate tributyl et de l'oxyde octy(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine dans un solvant du procede TRUEX-CCl 4 (extraction transuranique-tetrachlorure de carbone)
Partially Precast-Prestressed Intake Structure

Duke Power Company is building a partially precast-prestressed concrete intake structure at an estimated savings of 36% of the cost of a traditional poured-in-place reinforced concrete intake structure. The structure is a combination of precast concrete columns, precast-prestressed concrete wall panels, structural steel beams and bracing, and poured-in-place concrete slabs. The structure is designed to meet certain loading conditions and hydraulic criteria and has been model tested to insure satisfactory pump performance. In addition, the structure has almost the same degree-of-freedom from underwater maintenance as a poured-in-place reinforced concrete intake structure.
Detection of bla_(NDM-1) genne and drug resistance of three Enterobacter cloacae strains isolated in Hebei province

Objective To detect New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1(blaNDM-1) gene sequence and drug resistance of three Enterobacter cloacae strains isolated in Hebei province in 2012.Methods The isolated strains were identified by biochemical identification and blaNDM-1gene was detected by PCR,then sequenced and the drug susceptibility test was conducted for the strains.Results The three strains were identified as Enterobacter cloacae carrying blaNDM-1by all the tests.The DNA sequences exhibited complete identity with the sequences that had been identified in other countries.The results of drug resistance test showed that all the three strains were sensitive to aminogly coside antibiotics and the tw o strains(12280010 P1 and 12280010 P2) were sensitive to fluoroquinolones antibiotics.Conclusion The results indicate the prevalence of Enterobacter cloacae carrying blaNDM-1gene and with serious drug resistance,and the surveillance on the bacterium is necessary.