cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enceladus's ice shell structure as a window on internal heat production

Abstract Its extraordinary level of geologic activity, its potential for habitability, and the prospects of returning samples from its plume of erupting water ice make Saturn's small (∼500 km diameter) moon Enceladus a high priority target for future exploration and a key to our developing understanding of icy ocean worlds. The structure of its outer ice shell is particularly important as it relates to the global heat budget, the global-scale response to tidal forces, and the nature of the ongoing eruptions. It is also diagnostic of how and where heat is dissipated internally. Here, using the most recent shape model and a new approach to modeling isostasy, we obtain a shell structure that simultaneously accommodates the shape, gravity, and libration observations and suggests that tidal dissipation near the base of the ice shell is likely an important mode of internal heating. The implied conductive heat loss is greater than the heat loss associated with the eruptions but is nevertheless compatible with the condition of steady state.
Identification, diagnosis, treatment, and in-hospital outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism: Results from a single integrated health system.

Background Although the high-risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) population has been described, little is known about the contemporary inpatient experience and practice patterns of the PE population as a whole. Methods All patients with a diagnosis of acute PE from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017 within our academic, multihospital health system were retrospectively identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, codes, and data were manually abstracted by 2 clinical investigators. Descriptive analyses were performed according to clinical risk stratification categories from the European Society of Cardiology. Results Of 829 total patients, 372 (44.8%) patients had intermediate or high-risk PE. Mean age was 62.1 years old, and 42.1% of patients had a history of malignancy. One hundred fifty-three (18.5%) patients had an acute PE during a hospitalization for another indication. A total of 6.0% underwent invasive PE therapies, 26.1% required intensive care unit admission, and 9.0% experienced in-hospital death or hospice discharge. In a subgroup description, patients who developed acute PE during a hospitalization for another indication had a higher incidence of incomplete risk stratification and a higher mortality (9.8%) than the primary cohort. Mortality was attributed to PE in 48.4% of cases. Conclusions This contemporary description of acute PE managed at a single large, multihospital academic health system highlights substantial health care utilization and high mortality despite the available of advanced therapeutics. Additional work is needed to standardize care for the heterogeneous PE population to ensure appropriate allocation of resources and improved outcomes for all PE patients.
Experimentally Modifiable Parameters and Their Relation to the Tonic Vibration Reflex in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke

The tonic vibration reflex (TVR), a reflexive muscle contraction resulting from muscle or tendon vibration, is a useful tool in assessing spinal motoneuron excitability, particularly in hyperexcitable conditions, such as in chronic hemiparetic stroke. The influence of experimental parameters, for example the type of vibratory stimulus and limb configuration, and their interactions on the TVR response in chronic stroke is unknown, yet this knowledge is crucial for designing experiments with reliable TVR responses. Therefore, we conducted a screening experiment of six potential driving factors affecting the TVR response, with a D-optimal split plot fractional design matrix consisting of thirty-two combinations for each of the four participants with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Our results suggest that pre-vibration muscle activation level, vibration frequency, and stimulus application force, are all significant contributors to the TVR response in chronic hemiparetic stroke, along with an interaction between elbow flexion angle and muscle activity level. This investigation highlights the sensitivity of the TVR response in chronic hemiparetic stroke and motivates future designed experiments in understanding this reflex as it relates to motoneuron excitability.
Putting it all together: summary of the NHLBI Workshop on the Epidemiology of Hypertension in Hispanic American, Native American, and Asian/Pacific Islander American Populations.

Abstract THE AUTHORS OF THIS PAPER SUMMARIZED the major themes that emerged from a 2-day workshop entitled Epidemiology of Hypertension in Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in Washington, DC. Data from the papers were synthesized using seven points: similarities, variability within and between groups, lost prevention opportunities, emergence of explanatory variables, differences in types of data collected, missing or inconsistently reported data, and socioeconomic characteristics. Virtually all of the population groups demonstrated rises in blood pressure with age. These rises appear to be largely attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors, for example, high body mass index (BMI). Despite high levels of awareness, the levels of control of high blood pressure were poor in each population studied. Based on the themes that emerged from the data, we presented several recommendations to the workshop. One was that data be collected on these population groups repeatedly and in a standardized fashion. Another called for increased efforts aimed at control of high blood pressure in these groups. A third recommended major nationwide programmatic efforts aimed at the prevention and control of high blood pressure.
Complete Genome Sequence of Proteus mirabilis Phage Myduc.

ABSTRACT Proteus mirabilis as a nosocomial pathogen is often the cause of urinary tract infections. This announcement describes the complete genome sequence of a P. mirabilis myophage named Myduc. Phage Myduc is related to Enterobacteria phage phiEcoM-GJ1, which belongs to a group of myophages with small genome sizes (52,000 to 56,000 bp) possessing a T7-like RNA polymerase.
Multinormativity in Western Arguments Regarding Punishment of the Boxers and their Patrons, 1900-1901

Westerners applied multiple normative frameworks in debating policy toward China in the wake of the Boxer Uprising in 1900 and 1901. They variously claimed that treatment of China should be governed by the rules of international law, a code of honor, Christian teachings, the judgment of history, or ill-defined norms of civilization. At other times, however, Westerners called for violence against the Chinese without any meaningful normative basis. The law and the legal discipline have an imperializing character, as the law conceptually tends to subordinate other normative frameworks to itself and integrate them into its own normative order, dubbed law. The debate concerning China in 1900 illustrates that legal norms were inextricably and complexly entangled with other norms. It suggests that legal historians, if they are to grasp the past in its full richness, should attend to multiple normative frameworks beyond the law, since legal history cannot be divorced from its wider context. Moreover, scholars applying the lens of multinormativity should recognize that, at some point, norms end and a-normative arguments begin.
Abstract PR04: STING and TLR-independent activation of T-cell responses against pancreatic cancer using agonistic CD40 antibody

Immunotherapy is increasingly used in combination with current standard-of-care treatments such as chemotherapy that likely provides danger signals via immunogenic tumor cell death and activation of STING or TLR pathways. However, both the toxicity and immunosuppressive effects of chemotherapy risks hindering clinical benefit. Agonistic CD40 antibody is a potent activator of immune responses, acting upstream of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) by driving T-cell priming. Here, we show that anti-CD40 is sufficient to drive potent T-cell responses against murine KPC (KrasG12D;Trp53R172H;Pdx-Cre) pancreatic tumors if combined with ICB. CD40/ICB was more effective than CD40/ICB/chemotherapy (median overall survival 76 days vs. 44 days in CD40/ICB vs. CD40/ICB/chemotherapy-treated mice, p This abstract is also being presented as Poster B08. Citation Format: Katelyn T. Byrne, Alexander H. Morrison, Robert H. Vonderheide. STING and TLR-independent activation of T-cell responses against pancreatic cancer using agonistic CD40 antibody [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PR04.
13.3 A 22nm 32Mb Embedded STT-MRAM with 10ns Read Speed, 1M Cycle Write Endurance, 10 Years Retention at 150°C and High Immunity to Magnetic Field Interference

STT-MRAM is a promising solution for next-generation embedded non-volatile memory (NVM), supporting a wide range of applications. Compared to traditional embedded Flash [1]–[2], STT-MRAM is a CMOS-compatible low-temperature back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) memory, requiring only 2-to-5 extra masks. It is a byte-alterable NVM with excellent write speed, write endurance (>1M cycles), and high-temperature data retention capability. In this work, a 32Mb STT-MRAM using a 0.0456µm2 bit cell is fabricated using a 22nm ultra-low leakage (ULL) CMOS process. A WL-voltage generation system, with distributed local constant-current kickers, and power-gating switches is used to overdrive the WL to achieve a higher read margin, while maintaining low-standby current and fast wake-up. Sense amplifiers (SAs) with segment trimming and adaptive timing control are designed to support reliable reads from −40 to 125°C. A smart write, with multiple write pulses controlled by adaptive write-verify and a temperature compensated write bias, is used for efficient write operation. Magnetic field interference is reduced by six orders of magnitude by adding a shielding film to the packaged die.
Blazar-IceCube Neutrino Association Revisited

The reported association of high-energy neutrino event IceCube-170922A and blazar TXS $0506+056$ has sparked discussion about blazars as sources of cosmic neutrinos. In this paper, we use publicly released IceCube data and blazar locations from Roma-BzCat to test spatial correlation between neutrino events and blazar locations. We also scrutinize the correlation between the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray flux and neutrino flux of blazars by applying a temporal filter onto the data based on the Fermi monitored source list. We find no compelling evidence to prove blazars as the main source of cosmic neutrinos, as known before the detected IceCube-170922A/TXS $0506+056$ association. While we do not rule out the association between IceCube-170922A and TXS $0506+056$, the significance level we obtained is not high enough to claim a strong association. If such an association is real, a special physical condition is desired to allow a small fraction of blazars to become bright neutrino sources.
Solar Flare Intensity Prediction With Machine Learning Models

We develop a mixed Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) regression model to predict the maximum solar flare intensity within a 24-hour time window 0$\sim$24, 6$\sim$30, 12$\sim$36 and 24$\sim$48 hours ahead of time using 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of data (predictors) for each Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) Active Region Patch (HARP). The model makes use of (1) the Space-weather HMI Active Region Patch (SHARP) parameters as predictors and (2) the exact flare intensities instead of class labels recorded in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) data set, which serves as the source of the response variables. Compared to solar flare classification, the model offers us more detailed information about the exact maximum flux level, i.e. intensity, for each occurrence of a flare. We also consider classification models built on top of the regression model and obtain better results in solar flare classifications. Our results suggest that the most efficient time period for predicting the solar activity is within 24 hours before the prediction time using the SHARP parameters and the LSTM model.
Association of Human Plasma Metabolomics with Delayed Dark Adaptation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between plasma metabolite levels and dark adaptation (DA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This was a cross-sectional study including patients with AMD (early, intermediate, and late) and control subjects older than 50 years without any vitreoretinal disease. Fasting blood samples were collected and used for metabolomic profiling with ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Patients were also tested with the AdaptDx (MacuLogix, Middletown, PA, USA) DA extended protocol (20 min). Two measures of dark adaptation were calculated and used: rod-intercept time (RIT) and area under the dark adaptation curve (AUDAC). Associations between dark adaption and metabolite levels were tested using multilevel mixed-effects linear modelling, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking, race, AMD stage, and Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation supplementation. We included a total of 71 subjects: 53 with AMD (13 early AMD, 31 intermediate AMD, and 9 late AMD) and 18 controls. Our results revealed that fatty acid-related lipids and amino acids related to glutamate and leucine, isoleucine and valine metabolism were associated with RIT (p < 0.01). Similar results were found when AUDAC was used as the outcome. Fatty acid-related lipids and amino acids are associated with DA, thus suggesting that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction likely play a role in AMD and visual impairment in this condition.
Balloon atrial septostomy as initial therapy in pediatric pulmonary hypertension

Balloon atrial septostomy is a palliative procedure currently used to bridge medically refractory pulmonary hypertension patients to lung transplantation. In the current report, we present balloon ...
Flipping the substrate preference of Hazara virus ovarian tumour domain protease through structure-based mutagenesis.

Nairoviruses are arthropod-borne viruses with a nearly global geographical distribution. Several are known causative agents of human disease, including Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), which has a case fatality rate that can exceed 30%. Nairoviruses encode an ovarian tumour domain protease (OTU) that can suppress the innate immune response by reversing post-translational modifications by ubiquitin (Ub) and/or interferon-stimulated gene product 15 (ISG15). As a result, the OTU has been identified as a potential target for the development of CCHFV therapeutics. Despite sharing the same general fold, nairoviral OTUs show structural and enzymatic diversity. The CCHFV OTU, for example, possesses activity towards both Ub and ISG15, while the Hazara virus (HAZV) OTU interacts exclusively with Ub. Virology studies focused on the OTU have mostly been restricted to CCHFV, which requires BSL-4 containment facilities. Although HAZV has been proposed as a BSL-2 alternative, differences in the engagement of substrates by CCHFV and HAZV OTUs may present complicating factors when trying to model one using the other. To understand the molecular underpinnings of the differences in activity, a 2.78 A resolution crystal structure of HAZV OTU bound to Ub was solved. Using structure-guided site-directed mutagenesis, HAZV OTUs were engineered with altered or eliminated deubiquitinase activity, including one with an exclusive activity for ISG15. Additionally, analysis of the structure yielded insights into the difference in inhibition observed between CCHFV and HAZV OTUs with a Ub-based inhibitor. These new insights present opportunities to utilize HAZV as a model system to better understand the role of the OTU in the context of infection.
What Do Short-Term and Long-Term Relationships Look Like? Building the Relationship Coordination and Strategic Timing (Recast) Model

Close relationships research has extensively examined exclusive committed couples (e.g., dating relationships, marriages). But a substantial proportion of people’s real-life sexual experiences take place (a) before committed relationships “officially” form and (b) in short-term relationships; the intensive methods characteristic of the close relationships literature have rarely been applied to these contexts. In this article, we adapted a classic technique of recording participants’ relationship trajectories to generate the first empirical comparisons between the features of people’s real-life short-term and long-term relationships across their entire timespan. In four studies, we compared long-term and short-term relationships in terms of the timing of relationship milestones (e.g., flirting, first sexual intercourse, first major disagreement) and the occurrence/intensity of important relationship experiences (e.g., romantic interest, strong sexual desire, attachment). As romantic interest was rising and partners were getting to know each other, long-term and short-term relationships were indistinguishable. Eventually, romantic interest in short-term relationships tended to plateau and decline while romantic interest in long-term relationships continued to rise, ultimately reaching a higher peak. Over the course of the relationship, participants evidenced more features characteristic of the attachment-behavioral system (e.g., attachment, caregiving, self-disclosure) in long-term than short-term relationships but similar levels of other features (e.g., sexual desire, self-promotion, intrasexual competition). These data inform a new synthesis of close relationships and evolutionary psychological perspectives called the Relationship Coordination and Strategic Timing (ReCAST) model. ReCAST depicts short-term and long-term relationships as partially overlapping trajectories that differ in their progression along a normative relationship development sequence.
Dual-Band Dual-Polarized Slot Antenna Arrays with Wide Bandwidth

A novel slot antenna array, which are able to operate at both $\boldsymbol{S}$ and $\boldsymbol{C}$ bands with dual polarizations in each band and wide bandwidth, is presented in this paper. This shared antenna aperture can operate as a $\mathbf{2}\times \mathbf{2}\ \boldsymbol{S}$ -band array covering 2.65 to 4.05 GHz and a $\mathbf{4}\times \mathbf{4}\ \boldsymbol{C}$ -band array covering 4.65 to 7.57 GHz at the same time. The antenna arrays at both bands exhibit dual polarizations by using a diagonal feeding method. By properly controlling the relative phase of each port, either vertical or horizontal polarization can be realized. The isolation between the ports for different bands is better than 15 dB in most of the frequency range.
Closed-form evaluations and open-ended comment options: How do they affect customer online review behavior and reflect satisfaction with hotels?

Abstract The online review systems of digital platforms feature a variety of designs. This study examines how closed-form evaluations and open-ended textual comment options affect customers' online review writing behaviors and reflect satisfaction with hotels. We find that direct and spillover effects exist. These refer to the effects of customers' closed-form evaluations of a product or service attribute on their reviews of the same attribute and other attributes in their open-ended comments, respectively. Regarding the direct effect, positive closed-form evaluations of attributes reduce customers' behaviors of writing details about the same attributes in open-ended comments, but negative closed-form evaluations of attributes increase that behavior. The increasing effect is greater than the reducing effect. Regarding the spillover effect, closed-form evaluations of certain attributes increase customers' behaviors of writing details about other attributes in open-ended comments. Additionally, we find that the heterogeneity effect lies in the different roles of closed-form evaluations and open-ended textual comments in reflecting customers' overall satisfaction. Open-ended comments about the advantages of the attributes have a more significant effect than the closed-form evaluations of the same attributes in reflecting overall customer satisfaction, but closed-form evaluations better reflect customers' low overall satisfaction with the disadvantages of the attributes. The direct, spillover, and heterogeneity effects on customers' evaluations and comments regarding independent hotels are higher than those effects on evaluations and comments regarding chain hotels. The findings provide insights for companies to design review systems, understand customer perceptions, and use the positive electronic word-of-mouth effect.
A Partnership Commitment During a Global Pandemic

Riane Eisler challenges us to identify and embrace partnership relationships in every aspect of our lives — personal, social, cultural, environmental, and economic. Her trove of written work and public appearances shape a vision of our greater selves working together to achieve more than the sum of our separate lives. Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality of overwhelming separation, grief, loss, and social distancing begs the question: Is it truly possible to achieve partnership values? Sometimes, we need to step away from news reports and social media to seek comfort in the stories that make positive differences in our lives. In this article, the author shares a story, more than three decades in the making, of a small group of committed volunteers who tackle a most difficult and disturbing form of oppression — child sexual abuse. An annual camp program, first requested by child survivors themselves, is deeply linked to partnership system ideologies. The Victory Over Child Abuse (VOCA) Camp story actualizes partnership values by firmly wrapping them around a tenacious vision of intentionally safe community. When communities commit to partnership systems, healing and non-violence become the norm, social transformation is possible, and children are safe.
Factors affecting intracellular calcium influx in response to calcium ionophore A23187 in equine sperm

BACKGROUND Exposure to the calcium ionophore A23187 may present a "universal" sperm treatment for IVF, as it bypasses capacitation pathways. However, success in utilizing A23187 is variable, especially in equine spermatozoa. Notably, albumin is used during A23187 treatment but paradoxically is thought to suppress A23187 action. Essentially no critical data are available on the effects of A23187 and albumin concentrations, ratios, or addition protocols on changes in intracellular calcium ([Ca]i ) in any cell type. OBJECTIVE To determine factors that affect the action of A23187 on [Ca]i in equine and murine spermatozoa. METHODS Spermatozoa were loaded with Fluo-4 and changes in fluorescence after A23187 treatment were measured under various conditions using a microplate reader. RESULTS Concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and A23187, type of BSA, makeup of A23187 stock solutions (i.e., 1° stock (DMSO) or 2° stock made with medium, water or DMSO), order of addition of spermatozoa and A23187, incubation of media before sperm addition, species of spermatozoa, and time of addition of BSA all affected [Ca]i in response to A23187 treatment. In equine spermatozoa already exposed to 10 µM A23187, addition of BSA to 33 mg/ml to "quench" the A23187 did not affect [Ca]i . When this concentration of BSA was added to spermatozoa exposed to 1 µM A23187, [Ca]i in murine spermatozoa returned to baseline, however, equine spermatozoa continued to exhibit increased [Ca]i . Addition of BSA to 33 mg/ml to media containing 1 µM A23187, prior to addition of spermatozoa, completely inhibited change in [Ca]i in both murine and equine spermatozoa. CONCLUSION These results represent some of the first critical data on the effects of albumin and other procedural factors on A23187-induced changes in [Ca]i in any cell type. Our findings help to explain the variability in reported response of spermatozoa to A23187 among species and among laboratories.
Translational biophotonics with Raman imaging: clinical applications and beyond

Clinical medicine continues to seek novel rapid non-invasive tools capable of providing greater insight into disease progression and management. Raman scattering based technologies constitute a set of tools under continuing development to address outstanding challenges spanning diagnostic medicine, surgical guidance, therapeutic monitoring, and histopathology. Here we review the mechanisms and clinical applications of Raman scattering, specifically focusing on high-speed imaging methods that can provide spatial context for translational biomedical applications.
A Coordinate Transformation for Unsteady Boundary Layer Equations

This paper presents a new coordinate transformation for unsteady, incompressible boundary layer equations that applies to both laminar and turbulent flows. A generalization of this coordinate transformation is also proposed. The unsteady boundary layer equations are subsequently derived. In addition, the boundary layer equations are derived using a time linearization approach and assuming harmonically varying small disturbances.
Inhibition of ribosomal ribonucleic acid maturation in rat liver by 5-fluoroorotic acid resulting in the selective labeling of cytoplasmic messenger ribonucleic acid.

Both orotate and 5-fluoroorotate are precursors of hepatic RNA. Whereas [6-14C]orotate was extensively incorporated into ribosomal RNA after a 3-hour period, 5-fluoro[2-14C]-orotate was selectively incorporated into nonribosomal ribonucleoprotein particles. These analogue-labeled RNA-protein complexes were released from polyribosomes by EDTA treatment and were distinctly different from ribosomal subunit particles, based on their polydisperse sedimentation in sucrose gradients, relatively lower buoyant density in CsCl gradients, and insensitivity to actinomycin D. Orotic acid and 5-fluoroorotic acid were incorporated equally well into nuclear mRNA-containing ribonucleoprotein particles. These results suggested that the analogue was selectively incorporated into an RNA which exists in the cell as a relatively low density RNA-protein complex. Analysis of microsomal RNA showed little or no incorporation of 5-fluoroorotic acid into either 18 S or 28 S rRNA for at least 3 hours. A small level of incorporation into rRNA was observed 24 hours after the administration of labeled analogue. Electrophoretic analysis of nuclear RNA demonstrated that the analogue was rapidly incorporated into 45 S ribosomal precursor RNA but that its subsequent incorporation into mature 18 S and 28 S rRNA was significantly inhibited. The kinetics of labeling of the various nuclear and cytoplasmic rRNA species was identical whether one labeled with 5-fluoroorotate alone, or with labeled orotate simultaneously with an equimolar dose of unlabeled analogue. Based on these results, and its relative nontoxicity at the dose levels employed, it is proposed that 5-fluoroorotic acid may in mammalian systems be useful for the selective inhibition of rRNA synthesis, resulting in the selective incorporation of a labeled precursor into a cytoplasmic RNA having several properties of mRNA.
Radar Echoes from Birds and their Effects on Radar Performance

The first observation of a radar echo from a bird was apparently that made with the 200-MHz XAF radar on the U.S.S. New York off Puerto Rico in 1939. A number of reports of radar echoes due to birds were made subsequently during World War II, and by 1957–58 radar was being used to study bird migration. A good treatment of the subject of radar ornithology has been provided by Eastwood (1967). The concern of this paper, however, is primarily for the effects of birds on radar system performance rather than for the use of radar to study birds.
Energy and Sediment Budgets of the Global Coastal Zone

ENERGY AND SEDIMENT BUDGETS OF THE GLOBAL COASTAL ZONE Douglas L. Inman Coastal Morphology Group Integrative Oceanography Division Scripps Institution of Oceanography dinman@ucsd.edu Scott A. Jenkins Coastal Morphology Group Integrative Oceanography Division Scripps Institution of Oceanography sjenkins@ucsd.edu 20 June 2003 Preprint from Encyclopedia of Coastal Science (M. Schwartz, editor), The Earth Sciences Encyclopedia Online , with permission from Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Analysis of Irregular Single-Indexed Array Accesses and Its Applications in Compiler Optimizations

Many compiler techniques require analysis of array subscripts to determine whether a transformation is legal. Traditional methods require the array subscript expressions to be expressed as closed-form expressions of loop indices. Most methods further require the subscript expressions to be linear. However, in sparse/ irregular programs, closed-form expressions of array subscripts are not available. More powerful methods to analyze array subscripts are needed. Array accesses with no closed-form expressions available are called irregular array accesses. In real programs, many irregular array accesses are single-indexed. In this paper, we present techniques to analyze irregular single-indexed array accesses. We show that single-indexed array accesses often have properties that are useful in compiler analysis. We discuss how to use these properties to enhance compiler optimizations. We also demonstrate the application of these techniques in three real-life programs to exploit more implicit parallelism.
Examining vegetation feedbacks on global warming in the Community Earth System Model

[1] Leaves close their stomates in response to increases of CO2. Such a rapid physiological response is included in the land component of comprehensive climate models. However, observational studies have shown that they can further close their stomates as a consequence of “down-regulation,” further reducing canopy conductance. However, they may also increase the area of their leaves, hence increasing their canopy conductance. Changes of canopy conductance change surface ET, a reduction leading to surface warming. A simulation considering these mechanisms of modifying canopy conductance is carried out for the assumption of a doubled atmospheric CO2concentration, using the Community Earth System model. It finds that down-regulation as formulated in previous studies could have as large a warming impact on land temperatures as the standard leaf physiological response. Increases in LAI, if they were to occur, appear to have but a small cooling effect. The reduction of latent cooling in the model is amplified by a reduction of low-level cloud cover, hence enhanced net absorption of solar radiation. Reduction of low level cloudiness appears to be necessary to maintain global radiation balance as reported in a previous study. Over mid to high latitudes, decreases in surface albedo associated with reduced snow cover also contribute to amplifying the warming. The physiological feedbacks of leaf stomates in the simulation increase warming by 0.6 ± 0.2°C over land and 0.3 ± 0.1°C globally, not inconsistent with previous studies. Enhanced interhemispheric temperature differences weaken the southward shift of the ITCZ associated with CO2radiative warming. Regions with relatively high LAI tend to have greater vegetation feedback; but increases in large-scale precipitation may weaken this local warming effect.
New tools in project planning: An introduction to the Rodenbeck Project Tower

Gantt and PERT charts are well known and widely used among project managers. However, these tools have seen little change in past decades, even as the environment in which they function has changed dramatically. Globalization, the computer age, virtual teaming, and contracting technology cycles - these elements have permanently altered project environments. A great need now exists for innovation in project planning to better suit the modern project environment. This paper introduces the Rodenbeck Project Tower (RPT) - an innovative new tool and framework for project planning. The RPT is a 3D graphic that represents project tasks as elements of a physical building. It is composed of pillars, bridges, and floors representing work tasks, dependencies, and milestones, respectively. These building elements are displayed in three dimensions: Criticality, Resourcebility, and Time. Criticality - a measure of importance and difficulty - and Resourcebility - a measure of dedicated resources - define the width and length of pillar and floor elements while the height of the RPT is defined by Time (project duration). Through this structure, RPT communicates information on core competencies, cross-functional need and support, the suitability of resource allocations, the critical set of tasks, general project stability, and many other insights previously unavailable through PERT or Gantt tools.
Measurement of the Spectral Response of Silicon Solar Cells Under Highly Illuminated Conditions

The spectral response of several silicon solar cells was measured under illumination levels varying from approximately 1 mW/cm2 (0.01 sun) up to 12,500 mW/cm2 (125 suns) for 11 wavelengths distributed over the solar spectrum. The spectral response was found to increase with incrasing concentration for each of the wavelengths. The spectral response for the shorter wavelengths increased by 1 to 40% while for the longer wavelengths it increased by 4 to 90%.
Advanced glycosylation: chemistry, biology, and implications for diabetes and aging.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the biochemical basis of advanced glycosylation and discusses the diverse effects of advanced glycosylation products in biology and medicine. The chemical and biological conception of the advanced glycosylation process has evolved considerably since early studies on the formation of HbA 1c . Despite difficulties in the structural elucidation of advanced glycosylation products, the ensuing years have yielded much insights into the biochemistry of AGEs, in large part assisted by consideration of related pathways in the Maillard reaction. Studies of biological processes have been motivated by the multiorgan pathology that occurs during chronic hyperglycemia. The basis of much of this pathology is still poorly understood. Related investigations of normal, age-related processes are only now beginning to bear insight into some of the clinicopathological sequalae that characterize normal aging. Given the slow, progressive nature of AGE accumulation in vivo and the active cell-mediated processes that appear to be required for AGE removal, it is likely that the investigation of advanced glycosylation mechanisms will continue to provide insight into a variety of additional biological and pathological processes that are characterized by long-term, age-related, and degenerative changes.
Controversial Issues in the Legal Writing Classroom: Risks and Rewards

Using controversial issues as the basis for writing assignments in legal writing can be an effective way of energizing students to improve their writing because they care about the subject matter. Yet there are risks involved when introducing controversial issues into the legal writing classroom. This article offers suggestions on how to maximize the benefit and reduce the risk when using controversial issues for writing problems. It urges professors to reveal their position on controversial issues and argues for a “constrained vision” of professors’ power to impose their views on students. The article provides helpful guidance on how to pick a controversial issue, and then how to foster a range of opinions on the issue selected to improve the marketplace of ideas. The article’s thesis is that legal writing professors should use controversial issues not to advance an agenda but to evoke interest in order to improve student writing.
Synthesis and characterization of a trans-1 hexakis-fullerene linker that forms crystalline polymers with silver salts.

A new flexible hexakis-fullerene adduct with two bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)malonate groups located at trans-1 positions was synthesized. Via reaction with Ag(PF6) under two different conditions, two new 1D coordination polymers were obtained; under a nitrogen atmosphere, the silver ions are connected by argentophilic interactions but under an ambient atmosphere, the silver ions exhibit no interaction between them but coordination to the (H2PO4)− ions.
Entropy and melt fracture

The onset of a well-known flow instability commonly called “melt fracture” has remained one of the fundamental unsolved problems of polymer rheology. This work attempts to explain this phenomenon via a criterion based upon limitations to configurational entropy as dicated by the second law of thermodynamics. It is shown that the molecular orientation resulting from a sustained stress-deformation rate field may be sufficient to affect the entropy balance of the system to the point of violation of the second law. The flow field then spontaneously changes, producing the condition called melt fracture, in a manner such as to prevent the violation of this law. Other theories on the mechanism of melt fracture are discussed in the context of the above criterion.
The Impact of a Negative 111Indium-Capromab Pendetide Scan Before Salvage Radiotherapy

Purpose: We determined the prognostic role, if any, of the ProstaScint™ 111indium-capromab pendetide scan before salvage radiotherapy for biochemical recurrence after RP for localized prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 649 patients who underwent a ProstaScint™ scan from 1998 to 2004. A total of 44 patients were identified who had biochemical recurrence after RP and underwent a ProstaScint™ scan immediately before salvage radiotherapy. All patients received salvage radiotherapy to the prostatic bed unless pelvic lymph node uptake was identified on the scan, resulting in initial whole pelvic radiotherapy with 45 Gy, followed by a conformal boost to the prostate bed in 6. The median salvage radiotherapy dose to the prostate bed was 72 Gy. Patient demographics, pathological information, PSA values and ProstaScint™ results were collected retrospectively. The majority of ProstaScint™ scans were digitally fused with noncontrast pelvic computerized tomography images for interpretati...
A cross-cultural comparison of services for young children with disabilities using the ACEI Global Guidelines Assessment (GGA).

Because young children with special needs frequently experience unequal access to quality education worldwide, understanding characteristics of services currently provided to them is critical to identifying practices that work as well as gaps in services and the reasons behind these trends. Two studies were conducted using the ACEI Global Guidelines Assessment (GGA) to investigate the access to and quality of special education services in early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs across eight countries in the Americas and Asia. Study I included 138 participants in 69 programs across five Latin American countries and Study II included 336 participants in 168 programs across four countries and six sites. Results from both studies indicate that ECCE programs strive to provide equal access to young children regardless of ethnicity, religion, language, gender, and socio-economic status. However, insufficient resources and policies were cited as a barrier to services for children with disabilities. This situation was especially true in rural communities. Therefore, national policies are needed to improve the quality of service and to make funds consistently available for services for young children with special needs. This finding is congruent with international reports.
Are fluorescence-detected sedimentation velocity data reliable?

Abstract Sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation is a classical biophysical technique that is commonly used to analyze the size, shape, and interactions of biological macromolecules in solution. Fluorescence detection provides enhanced sensitivity and selectivity relative to the standard absorption and refractrometric detectors, but data acquisition is more complex and can be subject to interference from several photophysical effects. Here, we describe methods to configure sedimentation velocity measurements using fluorescence detection and evaluate the performance of the fluorescence optical system. The fluorescence detector output is linear over a concentration range of at least 1 to 500 nM fluorescein and Alexa Fluor 488. At high concentrations, deviations from linearity can be attributed to the inner filter effect. A duplex DNA labeled with Alexa Fluor 488 was used as a standard to compare sedimentation coefficients obtained using fluorescence and absorbance detectors. Within error, the sedimentation coefficients agree. Thus, the fluorescence detector is capable of providing precise and accurate sedimentation velocity results that are consistent with measurements performed using conventional absorption optics, provided the data are collected at appropriate sample concentrations and the optics are configured correctly.
Mathematical model for the prediction of cycle-time distributions for the wurster column-coating process

The application of functional and nonfunctional coatings in the agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries is commonly carried out in the Wurster process, which is essentially a bottom-sprayed coating process occurring in a fluidized bed containing a central draft tube or partition. To predict the variability in the distribution of coating mass in a batch operation, information on the cycle-time distribution (CTD) of particles in the bed is required. The current work presents a compartment model to describe the CTD for the Wurster process. The basic model uses a plug flow compartment with dispersion, a mixed tank, and a second mixed tank with bypass, all connected in series. The resulting CTD is asymmetric with a sharp leading edge and a broader trailing edge with a significant tail. The addition of other compartments is used to model some of the anomalous results seen in published results from this type of equipment.
Against the grain: Agricultural trade policies of the US, the European Community and Japan at the GATT

Abstract US, European Community and Japanese agricultural trade policies are examined from an institutional framework, which positions the state at the center of analysis, as mediator of the global economy and domestic politics. My argument is that there is a similarity between the farm trade policies of many industrial states. Evidence from traditional measures of openness such as tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as well as producer subsidies paid to farmers supports this reasoning. In addition to strong state involvement in the agricultural arena, the persistence of the ‘agrarian myth’ and similarities in the institutional policy process are found across states. The conclusion drawn is that the role of the state is very important in agricultural policy-making, and it is premature to discuss a transnational state in the agricultural arena.
Seismic Reflection Characteristics of Naturally-Induced Subsidence Affecting Transportation

High-resolution seismic reflections have been used effectively to investigate sinkholes formed from the dissolution of a bedded salt unit found throughout most of Central Kansas. Surface subsidence can have devastating effects on transportation structures. Roads, rails, bridges, and pipelines can even be dramatically affected by minor ground instability. Areas susceptible to surface subsidence can put public safety at risk. Subsurface expressions significantly larger than surface depressions are consistently observed on seismic images recorded over sinkholes in Kansas. Until subsidence reaches the ground surface, failure appears to be controlled by compressional forces evidenced by faults with reverse orientation. Once a surface depression forms or dissolution of the salt slows or stops, subsidence structures are consistent with a tensional stress environment with prevalent normal faults. Detecting areas of rapid subsidence potential, prior to surface failure, is the ultimate goal of any geotechnical survey where the ground surface is susceptible to settling. Seismic reflection images have helped correlate active subsidence to dormant paleofeatures, project horizontal growth of active sinkholes based on subsurface structures, and appraise the risk of catastrophic failure.
Fourier transform infrared studies on the thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile

Fourier transform infrared studies of the thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) conducted at 200°C in air and under reduced pressure are presented. The spectra are markedly superior to those published previously. A mechanism consistent with the infrared results obtained under reduced pressure is advanced, and assignments for the infrared bands occuring in the spectrum of both the reduced pressure and air degraded PAN are given.
Eosinophilic esophagitis: Pathophysiology and optimal management

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly recognized disease characterized by esophageal symptoms accompanied by increased esophageal mucosal eosinophilia. The reasons for the increasing prevalence and understanding of the pathogenesis of EoE are areas of active investigation. Food and environmental allergy, host immunologic predisposition, and interactions with gastroesophageal reflux disease have emerged as important aspects of the disease. The optimal management of EoE is controversial and evolving. Therapeutic options include medical therapy with acid suppression, corticosteroids, and biologic agents. Elimination diets and endoscopic esophageal dilation have shown effectiveness. Management strategies for individual patients range from clinical observation to multimodal therapy, depending on the clinical presentation.
The Formation of Deuterons by Proton Combination

The probability of the astrophysically important reaction $\mathrm{H}+\mathrm{H}=\mathrm{D}+{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{+}$ is calculated. For the probability of positron emission, Fermi's theory is used. The penetration of the protons through their mutual potential barrier, and the transition probability to the deuteron state, can be calculated exactly, using the known interaction between two protons. The energy evolution due to the reaction is about 2 ergs per gram per second under the conditions prevailing at the center of the sun (density 80, hydrogen content 35 percent by weight, temperature 2\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}${10}^{7}$ degrees). This is almost but not quite sufficient to explain the observed average energy evolution of the sun (2 ergs/g sec.) because only a small part of the sun has high temperature and density. The reaction rate depends on the temperature approximately as ${T}^{3.5}$ for temperatures around 2\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}${10}^{7}$ degrees.