cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coronary artery fistula after heart transplantation: A disappearing entity?

A high incidence of coronary artery fistulas has been observed angiographically after heart transplantation. To determine the present incidence of this finding and the natural history of fistulas in this setting, we reviewed coronary angiograms and clinical course on all patients (n = 480) transplanted from 1980 to 1990 who survived until the first annual coronary angiogram and compared the incidence of coronary artery fistulas in the early (patients #1-160), middle (patients #161-320), and late transplant (patients #321-480) groups. The 3-yr coronary artery fistula incidence for the early group was 3.5%, 6.9% for the middle group, and 2.9% in the late group (P < 0.05, early vs late). Patients who developed fistulas were followed longitudinally. Angiographic follow-up data (median duration: 6 yr) were available in 14 patients having 17 fistulas. No fistula increased in size, and in 10 of 14 patients (71%), fistulas became angiographically undetectable. No patient had any clinical complication related to the fistula. In summary, the incidence of coronary artery fistulas is presently lower than previously reported, which may in turn be related to refinements in heart biopsy technique. The lack of long-term clinical sequelae and the relatively high rate of disappearance favor a conservative approach of "watchful waiting."
Integration of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in pre-procedural planning and electroanatomical mapping for catheter ablation after a Fontan-Bjork correction of tricuspid atresia.

A 26-year-old woman with tricuspid atresia repair in childhood was referred after electrical cardioversion for symptomatic atrial flutter. A free-breathing, gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced (Multihance®, Bracco Diagnostics, Inc., Singen, Germany) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) angiography was performed on a 3-T system (Tim Trio, Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) using an electrocardiogram triggering to ventricular end-systole, respiratory-gated, inversion recovery prepared, 3D volume whole-heart acquisition segmented gradient sequence (time echo: 1.4 ms, flip angle 20°, time to inversion = 200 ms, readout bandwidth = 698 …
Livestock Production, Age, and Gender Among the Keiyo of Kenya'

This article is based on a study of time allocation and decision making patterns among the Keiyo in three ecological zones of Elgeyo-Marakvet District, Kenya. It finds that age and gender are important factors to consider when examining livestock production among African smallholder farmers. This is especially true where males are absent from home for wage labor. In these situations women, young males between the ages of 6–15, and persons of both sexes aged 65 and over spend considerable amounts of time engaged in livestock-related activities. These women are also more actively involved in decision making concerning the marketing of milk. The results indicate that there is a definite need to consider the contributions of these other persons when efforts are being made to improve elements of the livestock sector.
Simulations on the thermal decomposition of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) polymer using the ReaxFF reactive force field.

To investigate the failure of the poly(dimethylsiloxane) polymer (PDMS) at high temperatures and pressures and in the presence of various additives, we have expanded the ReaxFF reactive force field to describe carbon−silicon systems. From molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using ReaxFF we find initial thermal decomposition products of PDMS to be CH_3 radical and the associated polymer radical, indicating that decomposition and subsequent cross-linking of the polymer is initiated by Si−C bond cleavage, in agreement with experimental observations. Secondary reactions involving these CH_3 radicals lead primarily to formation of methane. We studied temperature and pressure dependence of PDMS decomposition by following the rate of production of methane in the ReaxFF MD simulations. We tracked the temperature dependency of the methane production to extract Arrhenius parameters for the failure modes of PDMS. Furthermore, we found that at increased pressures the rate of PDMS decomposition drops considerably, leading to the formation of fewer CH_3 radicals and methane molecules. Finally, we studied the influence of various additives on PDMS stability. We found that the addition of water or a SiO_2 slab has no direct effect on the short-term stability of PDMS, but addition of reactive species such as ozone leads to significantly lower PDMS decomposition temperature. The addition of nitrogen monoxide does not significantly alter the degradation temperature but does retard the initial production of methane and C_2 hydrocarbons until the nitrogen monoxide is depleted. These results, and their good agreement with available experimental data, demonstrate that ReaxFF provides a useful computational tool for studying the chemical stability of polymers.
THE EFFECTS OF CHLOROPHENOXYISOBUTYRATE WITH AND WITHOUT ANDROSTERONE ON THE SERUM LIPIDS, FAT TOLERANCE, AND URIC ACID.

Abstract Chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (CPIB) with or without androsterone, is an effective lipid-lowering agent producing significant reductions in the cholesterol and triglycerides in 75 to 80 per cent of those treated. Additional favorable therapeutic results demonstrated include improvement in fat tolerance and a decrease in the uric acid, both of which are secondary to the fall in the triglyceridemia that occurs. The drug produces no side effects and toxicity has not been seen.
CD4 + T cells are required for the maintenance, not programming, of memory CD8 + T cells after acute infection

Immunization in the absence of CD4+ T cell help results in defective CD8+ T cell memory, deficient recall responses and diminished protective immunity. Here we investigated at what stage during the immune response to pathogen CD4+ T cells are essential in the promotion of functional CD8+ T cell memory. Memory CD8+ T cell numbers decreased gradually in the absence of CD4+ T cells despite the presence of similar numbers of memory cell precursors at the peak of the effector phase. Adoptive transfer of effector or memory CD8+ T cells into wild-type or CD4+ T cell–deficient mice demonstrated that the presence of CD4+ T cells was important only after, not during, the early CD8+ T cell programming phase. In the absence of CD4+ T cells, memory CD8+ T cells became functionally impaired and decreased in quantity over time. We conclude that in the context of an acute infection, CD4+ T cells are required only during the maintenance phase of long-lived memory CD8+ T cells.
First Layer Formulas for Characters of SL(n, C)

Some problems concerning the decomposition of certain characters of SL( n, C) are studied from a combinatorial point of view. The specific characters considered include those of the exterior and symmetric algebras of the adjoint representation and the Euler characteristic of Hanlon's so-called "Macdonald complex." A general recursion is given for computing the irreducible decomposition of these characters. The recursion is explicitly solved for the first layer representations, which are the irreducible representations corresponding to partitions of n. In the case of the exterior algebra, this settles a conjecture of Gupta and Hanlon. A further application of the recursion is used to give a family of formal Laurent series identities that generalize the (equal parameter) q-Dyson Theorem.
Choking flow modeling with mechanical and thermal non-equilibrium

The mechanistic model, which considers the mechanical and thermal non-equilibrium, is described for two-phase choking flow. The choking mass flux is obtained from the momentum equation with the definition of choking. The key parameter for the mechanical non-equilibrium is a slip ratio. The dependent parameters for the slip ratio are identified. In this research, the slip ratio which is defined in the drift flux model is used to identify the impact parameters on the slip ratio. Because the slip ratio in the drift flux model is related to the distribution parameter and drift velocity, the adequate correlations depending on the flow regime are introduced in this study. For the thermal non-equilibrium, the model is developed with bubble conduction time and Bernoulli choking model. In case of highly subcooled water compared to the inlet pressure, the Bernoulli choking model using the pressure undershoot is used because there is no bubble generation in the test section. When the phase change happens inside the test section, two-phase choking model with relaxation time calculates the choking mass flux. According to the comparison of model prediction with experimental data shows good agreement. The developed model shows good prediction in both low and high pressure ranges.
Late Detection of Asymptomatic Chronic Perigraft Aortic Pseudoaneurysm A Case Report

A fifty-five-year-old man presented with pseudoaneurysm five years after composite aortic graft replacement for aortic dissection. The transthoracic echocardiogram appeared to show a right atrial mass. Transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging correctly delineated the pseudoaneurysm. Cardiac catheterization and superior vena cavagraphy were confirmatory The diagnostic features and natural history of this complication are discussed.
Idiopathic Hypercalciuria: Hydrochlorothiazide Decreases Urinary Calcium without Altered Renal Response to Parathyroid Hormone

Hydrochlorothiazide (HTZ) therapy reduces the urinary excretion of calcium (UCa V) in patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH). To test the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH), namely the possibility that HTZ sensitizes the kidney to PTH as the sole or contributory cause of decreased UCa V associated with HTZ therapy, we measured urinary excretion of calcium (UCa V) and cAMP (UcAMP V), the tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TRP), plasma immunoreactive PTH, and the renal response to infused PTH (change in UcAMP V and TRP) in 10 patients with IH. Patients were studied before (control) and after 4 weeks of treatment with HTZ (100 mg/day). HTZ therapy significantly reduced UCa V (mean change, -122 +/- 19 mg/24 h). The UcAMP V, TRP, and plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, and immunoreactive PTH were initially within the normal range and did not change significantly during HTZ therapy. PTH infusion resulted in a significant increase in the UcAMP V and a significant decrease in TRP during both control and HTZ therapy studies. There was, however, no significant difference in the degree of these renal responses to PTH infusion during the control vs. HTZ therapy studies. We conclude that the hypocalciuric effect of HTZ in patients with IH is independent of changes in PTH secretion, and that HTZ does not cause general sensitization of the nephron, namely proximal tubules, to PTH, as assessed by an increase in UcAMP V and a decrease in TRP.
The measurement of dissolved organic carbon released by phytoplankton

The effects of applied filtration vacuum and incubation time on the release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by natural phytoplankton populations dominated by diatoms were examined. The rate of primary production and release of DOC remained reasonably constant during a 5 hour incubation period. The measured release of DOC was found to be quite sensitive to the applied filtration vacuum, ranging from near 2 percent of fixed carbon (neglecting respiration) for gravity-filtered samples to 36 percent for samples filtered at 40 cm Hg vacuum.
Accurate color measurement methods for medical displays.

Purpose: The necessity for standard instrumentation and measurements of color that are repeatable and reproducible is the major motivation behind this work. Currently, different instrumentation and methods can yield very different results when measuring the same feature such as color uniformity or color difference. As color increasingly comes into play in medical imagingdiagnostics, display color will have to be quantified in order to assess whether the display should be used for imaging purposes. The authors report on the characterization of three novel probes for measuring display color with minimal contamination from screen areas outside the measurement spot or from off-normal emissions. They compare three probe designs: A modified small-spot luminance probe and two conic probe designs based on black frusta. Methods: To compare the three color probe designs, spectral and luminance measurements were taken with specialized instrumentation to determine the luminance changes and color separation abilities of the probes. The probes were characterized with a scanning slit method, veiling glare, and a moving laser and LED arrangement. The scanning slit measurement was done using a black slit plate over a white line on an LCD monitor. The luminance was measured in 1 mm increments from the center of the slit to ± 15 mm above and below the slit at different distances between the probe and the slit. The veiling glare setup consisted of measurements of the luminance of a black spot pattern with a white disk of radius of 100 mm as the black spot increases in 1 mm radius increments. The moving LED and laser method consisted of a red and green light orthogonal to the probe tip for the light to directly shine into the probe. The green light source was moved away from the red source in 1 cm increments to measure color stray-light contamination at different probe distances. Results: The results of the color testing using the LED and laser methods suggest a better performance of one of the frusta probes at shorter distances between the light sources, which translates to less contamination. The tails of the scans indicate the magnitude of the spread in signal due to light from areas outside the intended measurement spot. The measurements indicate a corresponding glare factor for a large spot of 140, 500, and 2000 for probe A, B1, and B2, respectively. The dual-laser setup suggests that color purity can be maintained up to a few tens of millimeters outside the measurement spot. Conclusions: The comparison shows that there are significant differences in the performance of each probe design, and that those differences have an effect on the measured quantity used to quantify display color. Different probe designs show different measurements of the level of light contamination that affects the quantitative color determination.
Financial incentives: alternatives to the altruistic model of organ donation.

Improvements in transplantation techniques have resulted in a demand for transplantable organs that far outpaces supply. Present efforts to secure organs use an altruistic system designed to appeal to a public that will donate organs because they are needed. Efforts to secure organs under this system have not been as successful as hoped. Many refinements to the altruistic model have been or are currently being proposed, such as "required request," "mandated choice," "routine notification," and "presumed consent." Recent calls for market approaches to organ procurement reflect growing doubts about the efficacy of these refinements. Market approaches generally use a "futures market," with benefits payable either periodically or when or if organs are procured. Lump-sum arrangements could include donations to surviving family or contributions to charities or to funeral costs. Possibilities for a periodic system of payments include reduced premiums for health or life insurance, or a reciprocity system whereby ...
CHROMATIN CONTEXT DOMINATES ESTROGEN REGULATION OF pS2 GENE EXPRESSION

Chromatin structure and transcription factor activity collaborate to set the transcription level of a gene. Our understanding of the relative contributions of each of these factors at a specific gene is limited. We studied the effects of an altered chromatin environment on the activity of the estrogen-responsive pS2 promoter. We created stable cell lines with the pS2 promoter situated in an alternative chromatin site in addition to it being in its native site. Both promoters were estrogen-responsive for estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) recruitment, but transcription was inducible only at the native site. At the recombinant site, transcription was high and constitutive. Higher histone H3 and H4 acetylation (acH3 and acH4), as well as trimethylated lysine 4 on histone H3 levels, was observed at the recombinant site compared to the native site in vehicle treated cells. Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) resulted in increased acH4, but only modest increases in acH3, ERalpha binding and basal transcription at the native pS2 site. Inhibiting HDACs had no effect on transcription from the recombinant site. These data suggest that highly active chromatin is not only permissive for transcription, but can override the requirement for the transcription factor at an inducible promoter.
Caught in the spotlight: the 1858 comet and late Tokugawa Japan

Abstract In the fall of 1858 a large comet crossed the skies of Japan. Casting its light over a society in turmoil, torn apart by political factionalism and threatened by a virulent cholera epidemic, economic collapse, and foreign encroachment, the 1858 comet quickly became the centerpiece of diverging interpretations on the state of society, the country, or the world in general. To some, the ‘strange star’ was an ominous symbol of impending catastrophe, while others saw it as the broom that would sweep away the misery of old and usher in a much-needed world renewal. Through an examination of personal diaries, official records, astronomers’ reports, and popular literature, this article argues that the 1858 comet served as versatile metaphor for all that was frightening, puzzling, or inspiring about life at the twilight of the Tokugawa era.
The role of Cl- in photosynthesis. I. The Cl- requirement of electron transport.

Abstract 1. 1. Non-cyclic electron flow in isolated chloroplasts at high pH is dependent on Cl − or on some other monovalent anion derived from an inorganic acid with ionization constant of approx. 0.01. 2. 2. Whole chloroplasts generally do not show a Cl − requirement until the internal Cl − is released by some treatment to damage the outer membrane and promote swelling. 3. 3. The basal component of non-cyclic electron flow is much less dependent on Cl − than the uncoupled or coupled components. Cl − effects have been observed after uncoupling by ammonia, chloroquine and carbonyl cyanide m -chlorophenylhydrazone. 4. 4. The Cl − effect is associated closely with a photochemical reaction (Photosystem II). 5. 5. Photoinactivation in red light is potentiated by Cl − deficiency, but is not in itself the cause of the Cl − effect. 6. 6. The role of Cl − is discussed with reference to the chemi-osmotic coupling hypothesis.
Loss of glial fibrillary acidic protein results in decreased glutamate transport and inhibition of PKA-induced EAAT2 cell surface trafficking.

Loss of the astrocyte-specific intermediate filament protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) results in an increased susceptibility to ischemic insult, enhanced hippocampal LTP, and decreased cerebellar long-term depression (LTD). Because glutamate receptor activation plays a key role in cell death and cellular plasticity responses, we wanted to determine if alterations in glial glutamate transport could contribute to the GFAP null phenotype. To address functional changes in glutamate transport, we measured glutamate uptake in cortical, cerebellar, and hippocampal synaptosomal preparations from age-matched adult wild type and GFAP null mice and demonstrated a 25–30% reduction in the Vmax for d-aspartate uptake in the cortex and hippocampus of GFAP null animals. Western blot analysis of cortical synaptosomal fractions from wild type and GFAP null animals demonstrated that loss of GFAP results in decreases in both astrocytic (EAAT1) and neuronal (EAAT3) glutamate transporter subtypes. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a region-specific modification of neuronal glutamate transporter, EAAT3 trafficking in the GFAP null phenotype. Analysis of primary cortical astrocyte cultures prepared from GFAP null and wild type mice demonstrated that loss of GFAP results in an inability to traffic the glial glutamate transporter, EAAT2, to the surface of the cell following protein kinase A (PKA) stimulation by dibutyryl cAMP. Taken together, these results suggest that the intermediate filament protein, GFAP plays a key role in modulating astrocytic and neuronal glutamate transporter trafficking and function.
Shear resistance and continuity of subglacial till: hydrology rules

The field observations of G.S. Boulton stimulated widespread interest in deformable beds. Shear resistance of till in its critical state is insensitive to strain rate and increases linearly with effective pressure. During unsteady deformation, pseudo-viscous shear resistance can be caused by dilation of consolidated tills and resultant pore-pressure decline. This effect is probably uncommon, however, because susceptible tills of low hydraulic diffusivity are also those least likely to consolidate significantly during effective-pressure transients. Stick-slip motion at Whillans Ice Stream, Antarctica, indicates that its basal till must weaken during rapid slip and strengthen during longer periods of slower slip. Recurrence intervals for rapid-slip episodes there (6-18 hours) indicate that till-strength variations, if driven by changes in pore pressure either related or unrelated to basal freezing, are focused in the uppermost several centimeters of the bed. Ploughing of grains at the bed surface and associated excess pore pressures in adjacent till can account for rate-weakening during rapid slip, with pore-pressure decay causing strengthening between slip episodes. By promoting shallow, sluggish subglacial water flow and low effective pressure, soft beds may help sustain themselves by slowing their own transport. Soft-bed shear resistance, kinematics and continuity are problems rooted in subglacial hydrology.
Technology Integration: Do They or Don't They? A Self-Report Survey from PreK through 5th Grade Professional Educators.

The practice of integrating technology into classroom instruction is mandated by the State of Texas (TEA, 2005, http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/index.html). Using a selfreport survey, this study investigated technology integration practices on two elementary campuses in a suburban, smalltown independent school district, which resides on the outskirts of a large southeastern metropolitan city. Results indicated that the professional educators were not implementing technology within their classroom learning environments at the instructor-centered level, with the exception of gathering information for lesson planning. Results also indicated that professional educators were not implementing technology within the classroom-learning environment at the learner-centered level.
Identification and characterization of genes required for early Myxococcus xanthus developmental gene expression.

Starvation and cell density regulate the developmental expression of Myxococcus xanthus gene 4521. Three classes of mutants allow expression of this developmental gene during growth on nutrient agar, such that colonies of strains containing a Tn5 lac Ω4521 fusion are Lac+. One class of these mutants inactivates SasN, a negative regulator of 4521 expression; another class activates SasS, a sensor kinase-positive regulator of 4521 expression; and a third class blocks lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen biosynthesis. To identify additional positive regulators of 4521 expression, 11 Lac− TnV.AS transposon insertion mutants were isolated from a screen of 18,000 Lac+ LPS O-antigen mutants containing Tn5 lac Ω4521 (Tcr). Ten mutations identified genes that could encode positive regulators of 4521 developmental expression based on their ability to abolish 4521 expression during development in the absence of LPS O antigen and in an otherwise wild-type background. Eight of these mutations mapped to the sasB locus, which encodes the known 4521 regulators SasS and SasN. One mapped to sasS, whereas seven identified new genes. Three mutations mapped to a gene encoding an NtrC-like response regulator homologue, designated sasR, and four others mapped to a gene designated sasP. One mutation, designated ssp10, specifically suppressed the LPS O-antigen defect; the ssp10 mutation had no effect on 4521 expression in an otherwise wild-type background but reduced 4521 developmental expression in the absence of LPS O antigen to a level close to that of the parent strain. All of the mutations except those in sasP conferred defects during growth and development. These data indicate that a number of elements are required for 4521 developmental expression and that most of these are necessary for normal growth and fruiting body development.
Mechanism of asymmetric polymerase assembly at the eukaryotic replication fork

Eukaryotes use distinct polymerases for leading- and lagging-strand replication, but how they target their respective strands is uncertain. We reconstituted Saccharomyces cerevisiae replication forks and found that CMG helicase selects polymerase (Pol) ɛ to the exclusion of Pol δ on the leading strand. Even if Pol δ assembles on the leading strand, Pol ɛ rapidly replaces it. Pol δ-PCNA is distributive with CMG, in contrast to its high stability on primed ssDNA. Hence CMG will not stabilize Pol δ, instead leaving the leading strand accessible for Pol ɛ and stabilizing Pol ɛ. Comparison of Pol ɛ and Pol δ on a lagging-strand model DNA reveals the opposite. Pol δ dominates over excess Pol ɛ on PCNA-primed ssDNA. Thus, PCNA strongly favors Pol δ over Pol ɛ on the lagging strand, but CMG over-rides and flips this balance in favor of Pol ɛ on the leading strand.
Tracking Vocal Tract Resonances Using a Quantized Nonlinear Function Embedded in a Temporal Constraint

This paper presents a new technique for high-accuracy tracking of vocal-tract resonances (which coincide with formants for nonnasalized vowels) in natural speech. The technique is based on a discretized nonlinear prediction function, which is embedded in a temporal constraint on the quantized input values over adjacent time frames as the prior knowledge for their temporal behavior. The nonlinear prediction is constructed, based on its analytical form derived in detail in this paper, as a parameter-free, discrete mapping function that approximates the “forward” relationship from the resonance frequencies and bandwidths to the Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) cepstra of real speech. Discretization of the function permits the “inversion” of the function via a search operation. We further introduce the nonlinear-prediction residual, characterized by a multivariate Gaussian vector with trainable mean vectors and covariance matrices, to account for the errors due to the functional approximation. We develop and describe an expectation–maximization (EM)-based algorithm for training the parameters of the residual, and a dynamic programming-based algorithm for resonance tracking. Details of the algorithm implementation for computation speedup are provided. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness of our new paradigm for tracking vocal-tract resonances. In particular, we show the effectiveness of training the prediction-residual parameters in obtaining high-accuracy resonance estimates, especially during consonantal closure.
Measurement and Implications of the Cosmic Microwave Background Spectrum

The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) was developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to measure the diffuse infrared and microwave radiation from the early universe. It also measured emission from nearby sources such as the stars, dust, molecules, atoms, ions, and electrons in the Milky Way, and dust and comets in the Solar System. It was launched 18 November 1989 on a Delta rocket., carrying one microwave instrument and two cryogenically cooled infrared instruments. The Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS) mapped the sky at wavelengths from 0.01 to 1 cm, and compared the CMBR to a precise blackbody. The spectrum of the CMBR differs from a blackbody by less than 0.03%. The Differential Microwave Radiometers (DMR) measured the fluctuations in the CMBR originating in the Big Bang, with a total amplitude of 11 parts per million on a 10° scale. These fluctuations are consistent with scale-invariant primordial fluctuations. The Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) spanned the wavelength range from 1.2 to 240 μm and mapped the sky at a wide range of solar elongation angles to distinguish foreground sources from a possible extragalactic Cosmic Infrared Background Radiation (CIBR). In this paper we summarize the COBE mission and describe the results from the FIRAS instrument. The results from the DMR and DIRBE were described by Smoot and Hauser at this Symposium.
Linking phenology and biomass productivity in South Dakota mixed-grass prairie

Abstract Assessing the health of rangeland ecosystems based solely on annual biomass production does not fully describe the condition of the plant community; the phenology of production can provide inferences about species composition, successional stage, and grazing impacts. We evaluated the productivity and phenology of western South Dakota mixed-grass prairie in the period from 2000 to 2008 using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The NDVI is based on 250-m spatial resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery. Growing-season NDVI images were integrated weekly to produce time-integrated NDVI (TIN), a proxy of total annual biomass production, and integrated seasonally to represent annual production by cool- and warm-season species (C 3 and C 4, respectively). Additionally, a variety of phenological indicators including cool-season percentage of TIN were derived from the seasonal profiles of NDVI. Cool-season percentage and TIN were combined to generate vegetation classes, which served as proxies of the conditions of plant communities. TIN decreased with precipitation from east to west across the study area. However, the cool-season percentage increased from east to west, following patterns related to the reliability (interannual coefficient of variation [CV]) and quantity of midsummer precipitation. Cool-season TIN averaged 76.8% of the total TIN. Seasonal accumulation of TIN corresponded closely ( R 2 > 0.90) to that of gross photosynthesis data from a carbon flux tower. Field-collected biomass and community composition data were strongly related to TIN and cool-season percentage. The patterns of vegetation classes were responsive to topographic, edaphic, and land management influences on plant communities. Accurate maps of biomass production, cool- and warm-season composition, and vegetation classes can improve the efficiency of land management by facilitating the adjustment of stocking rates and season of use to maximize rangeland productivity and achieve conservation objectives. Further, our results clarify the spatial and temporal dynamics of phenology and TIN in mixed-grass prairie.
Logical analysis and control of time Petri nets

The authors introduce an approach to logical analysis and control of timed systems modeled by controlled time Petri nets (CTPNs), an extension of time Petri nets (TPNs). They extend an enumerative technique for TPNs to include control inputs, resulting in the control class graph (CCG), a complete representation of the logical behavior of the timed system. They show that under event feedback every state trajectory for a CTPN corresponds to a path in the CCG, and for any path in the CCG there exists some event feedback policy for the CTPN that generates the corresponding state trajectory. They illustrate the application of these results for an example of supervisory coordination in a simple manufacturing system. >
Model-based matching of line drawings by linear combinations of prototypes

We describe a technique for finding pixelwise correspondences between two images by using models of objects of the same class to guide the search. The object models are "learned" from example images (also called prototypes) of an object class. The models consist of a linear combination of prototypes. The flow fields giving pixelwise correspondences between a base prototype and each of the other prototypes must be given. A novel image of an object of the same class is matched to a model by minimizing an error between the novel image and the current guess for the closest model image. Currently, the algorithm applies to line drawings of objects. An extension to real grey level images is discussed. >
Reactive Redundancy and Listener Comprehension in Direction-Giving

We explore the role of redundancy, both in anticipation of and in response to listener confusion, in task-oriented dialogue. We find that direction-givers provide redundant utterances in response to both verbal and non-verbal signals of listener confusion. We also examine the effects of prior acquaintance and visibility upon redundancy. As expected, givers use more redundant utterances overall, and more redundant utterances in response to listener questions, when communicating with strangers. We discuss our findings in relation to theories of redundancy, the balance of speaker and listener effort, and potential applications.
Conversion Therapies for Same-Sex Attracted Clients in Religious Conflict Context, Predisposing Factors, Experiences, and Implications for Therapy

Despite a long history of viewing homosexuality as pathological and in need of change, the majority of mental health professions have, during the past 30 years, adopted statements that have depathologized lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. However, concurrent with these advances has been a rise in religious and therapeutic approaches to sexual reorientation (conversion or “reparative”) therapies. Recent scholarship highlights these controversies and the benefits and harms experienced by clients who have sought such interventions. This major contribution extends extant scholarship to include predisposing environmental and personality variables that lead same-sex attracted individuals in religious conflict to conversion therapies, an understanding of the journey to and through such therapies, and clinical implications and recommendations for working with these clients in a manner that does not contribute to further conflict.
Designing and Managing Data centers Powered by Renewable Energy

On-site renewable energy has the potential to reduce datacenters' carbon footprint and power and energy costs. The authors built Parasol, a solar-powered datacenter, and GreenSwitch, a system for scheduling workloads, to explore this potential in a controlled research setting.
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Microscopy: Physics-Based Image Reconstruction from Optical Coherence Tomography Data

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical ranging technique analogous to radar - detection of back-scattered light produces a signal that is temporally localized at times-of-flight corresponding to the location of scatterers in the object. However the interferometric collection technique used in OCT allows, in principle, the coherent collection of data, i.e. amplitude and phase information can be extracted. Interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy (ISAM) adds phase-stable data collection to OCT instrumentation and employs physics-based processing analogous to that used in synthetic aperture radar (SAR). That is, the complex nature of the coherent data is exploited to give gains in image quality. Specifically, diffraction-limited resolution is achieved throughout the sample, not just within focal volume of the illuminating field. Simulated and experimental verifications of this effect are presented. ISAM's computational focusing obviates the trade-off between lateral resolution and depth-of-focus seen in traditional OCT.
Property (D) and the Lavrentiev phenomenon

In 1926 Lavrentiev gave an example of a free problem in the calculus of variations for which the infimum over the class of functions in satisfying prescribed endpoint conditions was strictly less than the infimum over the dense subset of admissible functions in . This property is now referred to as the Lavrentiev phenomenon. After Lavrentiev’s discovery, Tonelli and Mania gave sufficient conditions under which this phenomenon does not arise. After these results, the study of the Lavrentiev phenomenon lay dormant until the 1980s when a series of papers by Ball and Mizel and by Clarke and Vinter gave a number of new examples for which the Lavrentiev phenomenon occurred. Also in 1979, Angell showed that the Lavrentiev phenomenon did not occur if the integrands satisfy a certain analytic property known as property (D). Moreover, he showed that the conditions of Tonelli and Mania insured that the analytic property (D) was satisfied. Since Angell’s result there have been several papers that have discussed the n...
Introducing the Model-Based Aerospace Challenge (MACH)

The Model-Based Aerospace Challenge (MACH) was created to provide engineering students with a real-world design challenge in guidance, navigation, and control. The MACH is intended to grow into a more substantial design competition requiring actual deliverables beyond design reports. This paper describes the development of the MACH and the design challenge problem for the first year (control system simulation and design for a Mars airplane vehicle) and also discusses the development of the MACH competition.
Sport Culture of Hong Kong: Recent Development and Prospects

Hong Kong is well-known for its beautiful natural harbor, vibrant nightlife, as well as tremendous entertainment and shopping opportunities. It is a paradise for outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, fishing, and water sports. Throughout the city, there are extensive hiking trails that are over 30 miles long and navigate through beautiful scenic areas and parks. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the sport culture of Hong Kong, including the development and administration of sports and sporting events. After a thorough review on the sports development of Hong Kong, it was found that the following three main themes would guide the direction of future sports development: (a) promoting “Sports for All,” (b) fostering high performance sports, and (c) equipping Hong Kong to host international sports events. In this regard, the Hong Kong Government provides a wide range of sports facilities and funding to support the development of sports. In addition, sport development is also supported by the business sector in Hong Kong. Among those different departments, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) takes an active role in promoting sports in the community and administers funding support for relevant organizations under the established sports policy. The LCSD not only develops and manages a wide range of sports and recreational facilities for use by the general public, but also supports and organizes sports and recreational programs for the community. For instance, the most exciting projects people cannot wait to see their completion are the HK$19.7 billion Kai Tak Sports Complex and the Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre that is supported with a grant of HK$133 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Prostate Capsule Sparing Cystectomy

While an effective local therapy for organ confined bladder cancer, radical cystoprostatectomy is also associated with significant morbidity in terms of urinary and sexual function in addition to body image. Orthotopic urinary diversion addresses some but not all of these issues. Prostate capsule sparing is an alternative approach which leaves the peripheral zone capsule for anastomosis to a neobladder. While the literature has reported excellent functional outcomes for this approach, concerns over residual prostate cancer, local recurrence and metastatic disease necessitate appropriate selection of the patient for this procedure. However, careful selection has the potential to improve functional outcomes without compromising cancer control.
2D and 3D all dielectric metamaterials made from III-V semiconductors

We present all-dielectric 2D and 3D metamaterials that are monolithically fabricated from III-V semiconductor nanostructures. The active/gain and high optical nonlinearity properties of the metamaterials can lead to new classes of active devices.
O15-1 Bayesian analysis of silica exposure and lung cancer, incorporating prior information from animal studies and a model for measurement error

Introduction Bayesian methods can be used to combine human and animal data for exposure-response analyses. We apply a framework recommended in a recent National Academies report on the US EPA risk assessment process, extending the method to adjust for exposure measurement error. Methods We used epidemiological data from a pooled mortality analysis of silica and lung cancer (n = 65,980), and animal data from pooled analysis of chronic silica inhalation studies of rats. Bayesian analyses were conducted with either diffuse or informative priors based on the animal data, several different cross-species extrapolation factors, and human exposure measurement error corrections in the absence of a gold standard, assuming Berkson-type error that increased with increasing exposure (which can induce bias in Cox models). Analyses were conducted using untransformed and log transformed cumulative exposure. Results With 3-fold or 10-fold uncertainty in the cross-species extrapolation factor, the animal prior had little effect on results for pooled epidemiological analyses and only modest effects for some individual epidemiological studies. In contrast, assuming 1-fold uncertainty produced markedly different results for both pooled and individual epidemiological studies. Measurement error correction had little effect in pooled analyses using log exposure. Using untransformed exposure, measurement error correction caused a 5% decrease in the exposure-response coefficient for the pooled analysis and more marked changes for some individual studies. Measurement error correction had little effect on the exposure-response coefficient when exposure was log transformed or when the sample size was large. Conclusions The Bayesian framework is a principled method for combining human and animal data, with posterior effect estimates reflecting a weighted average of the animal and human results. It may be particularly useful when human data are sparse.
Data Mining Applications in the Hospitality Industry

Some people say that “success or failure often depends not only on how well you are able to collect data but also on how well you are able to convert them into knowledge that will help you better manage your business (Wilson, 2001, p. 26).” It is said the $391 billion restaurant industry generates a massive amount of data at each purchase (Wilson, 2001), and once collected, such collected data could be a gigantic tool for profits. In the hospitality industry, knowing your guests in terms of where they are from, how much they spend money, and when and what they spend it can help hospitality managers formulate marketing strategies, enhance guest experiences, increase retention and loyalty and ultimately, maximize profits. Data mining techniques are suitable for profiling hotel and restaurant customers due to their proven ability to create customer value (Magnini, Honeycutt, & Hodge, 2003; Min, Min & Emam, 2002). Furthermore, if the hospitality industry uses such data mining processes as collecting, storing, and processing data, the industry can get strategic competitive edge (Griffin, 1998). Unfortunately, however, the hospitality industry and managers are behind of using such data mining strategies, compared to the retail and grocery industries (Bogardus, 2001; Dev & Olsen, 2000). Therefore, there is a need for learning about such data mining systems for the hospitality industry. The purpose of this paper is to show the applications of data mining systems, to present some successes of the systems, and, in turn, to discuss some benefits from the systems in the hospitality industry.
“The Worst Offense Here Is the Misrepresentation”: Thug Kitchen and Contemporary Vegan Discourse

The language we use to conceive of and communicate about ourselves and our environments has material implications for the ways we navigate the world and interact with others, because, as Lakoff and Johnson write, “we act according to the way we conceive of things.”1 Given the increasing public attention to conscientious food consumption, it is imperative to examine the language surrounding, and consequently, the conceptual system structuring, cultural food habits, especially for those who, by nature of their “vegan” designation, are attentive to food practices. Thug Kitchen (TK), a popular vegan blog that frequently uses aggressive and racialized language to popularize its recipes, prompted controversy when the food and cooking website epicurious revealed the bloggers to be a young white couple—Michelle Davis and Matt Holloway—in September 2014.2 In the months since the epicurious article, various writers, bloggers, and other commentators have discussed the implications of TK’s caricatured use of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) throughout its posts. In spite of this controversy, TK has become one of the most popular vegan blogs. If, as Lakoff and Johnson argue, the metaphors that govern the language we use to communicate—here we highlight veganism—are bound up in a broader conceptual system,3 then, even though TK has attracted new audiences to vegan practices, the language it uses to promote veganism needs to be examined because the tropes imbricated in that language point to broader cultural issues concerning power, oppression, and patterns of consumption.
Automation for Rapid Identification of Salmonellae in Foods 1

Salmonella isolation and identification follow an inseparable continuum of steps from beginning to end. This paper, therefore, encompasses both aspects of the problem. The importance of recovering injured cells is mentioned, and problems in automating the isolation process are described. Rapid serological tests for identification of salmonellae directly in enrichment media are discussed. Suggestions are made for improvements in antiserum preparation and for automating certain serological tests. Various kits, procedures and automated equipment on sale or under development for the rapid and convenient physiological characterization of salmonellae and other Enterobacteriaceae are described. Examples are given of comparative efficiencies and potential problems that might be encountered. Finally, a prediction is made about the possible nature of future generations of highly efficient and inexpensive automated systems for Salmonella identification.
Sensors for motor neuroprostheses

Abstract: This chapter discusses the use of sensors in motor neuroprostheses, with a focus on the use of implantable sensors and sensor networks. The chapter reviews the unique requirements that motor neuroprostheses place on the use of sensors. The variety of sensor modalities that have been utilized are reviewed, including sensors used for command control and feedback control. Control algorithms and sensor signal processing techniques are covered. The chapter provides an in-depth review of implantable sensors in motor neuroprostheses. Neuroprosthetic system architecture is reviewed in view of the expanding use of sensors in motor neuroprostheses. A brief look at future trends concludes the chapter.