cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-resolution neutron scattering with commercial thin silicon wafers as focusing monochromators

Abstract Quasielastic scattering measurements with commercial silicon wafers as focusing monochromator and analyzer in a three-axis spectrometer showed energy-transfer resolutions in the 10–100 μeV range (fwhm). Resolutions were better and intensities higher than in a conventional arrangement with Soller collimators and pyrolytic graphite (PG) monochromator and analyzer. Resolution remained high when extended-plate samples were used in focusing orientation. At cold sources, this technique would give 10–20 μeV resolutions at neutron energies near the peak of the spectrum. Projections of resolution ellipsoids were determined by diffraction from powder samples. The orientations of the ellipsoids are controlled by horizontal curvatures and can be rotated 90° for Q -resolution. A monochromator unit with remote control of horizontal curvature and fixed vertical curvature set to spatial focusing at the sample position was also tested. The strong vertical focusing gave a significant gain in integrated intensities, but worsened the resolution because of second-order aberrations.
Effects of bisensory stimulation on reaction time and the evoked cortical potential

Reaction times and evoked cortical potentials to visual and auditory stimuli alone and to the two in combination (bisensory stimulation) were studied. It was found that bisensory stimulation resulted in significantly faster reaction times than those obtained with visual or auditory stimulation alone. Auditory reaction times were faster than visual. The amplitudes of evoked potentials were significantly higher at both recording sites (O2 and Cz) under conditions of bisensory as compared to unisensory stimulation. Evoked potential latencies were in the expected direction, i.e., all conditions using auditory stimulation resulted in shorter latencies than the visual stimulation alone condition. It was concluded that evidence for sensory interaction (facilitative) had been obtained in this experiment and that the amplitude increases with bisensory stimulation were reflected in faster reaction times. A definitive statement regarding the central nervous system locus of this sensory interaction is not yet possible.
Production and properties of two-phase nanocrystalline FeCu compacts

Abstract Bulk granular nanocrystalline materials have been produced from various combinations of a pair of immiscible metals, iron and copper. Nanocrystalline powders were produced by mechanical ball milling and consolidated by warm compaction. Their microstructures were characterized by x-ray diffraction and their strengths determined both in the as-compacted state and after annealing. Both f.c.c. and b.c.c. phases were present in each state of processing. The as-compacted materials were found to have grain sizes in the range 11–13 nm for the iron and 6–9 nm for the copper and were very strong but brittle. Their strength decreased after annealing due to microstructural coarsening. Differential scanning calorimetry performed on the compacts showed some unusual thermodynamic peaks, some of which could be correlated with magnetic transformations.
Waiting times and hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Long waits for health care are hypothesized to cause negative health outcomes due to delays in diagnosis and treatment. This study uses administrative data to examine the relationship between time spent waiting for outpatient care and the risk of hospitalization for an ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC). Data on the number of days until the next available appointment were extracted from Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. Two methodological issues arose. First, the simultaneous determination of individual health status and wait times due to medical triage was overcome by developing an exogenous wait time measure. Second, selection bias due to unobserved case mix differences was minimized by separating in time the sample selection period from the period when wait times and outcomes were measured. Exogenous facility-level wait time was the main variable of interest in a fixed effects stacked heteroskedastic probit regression model that predicted the probability of ACSC hospitalization in each month of a six-month period. There was a significant and positive relationship between facility-level wait times and the probability of experiencing an ACSC hospitalization, especially for facility-level wait times of 29 days or more. Further research is needed to replicate these findings in other populations and among those with different clinical histories. As well, policymakers and researchers need an improved understanding of the causes of long wait times and interventions to decrease wait times.
Spectrum of Pituitary Alteration with Mild and Severe Thyroid Impairment

Fifty women with known thyroid disease and elevated basal serum TSH concentrations were classified according to reductions in serum T4 concentrations and compared with a control group of healthy women without thyroid or pituitary disease. Control subjects had normal T4 (mean = 7.1 μg/dl) and normal TSH (mean = 1.3 μU/ml). Groups I and II had normal T4 (mean = 7.0 and 4.9 μg/dl, respectively) and elevated basal TSH (mean = 5.3 and 13.3 μU/ml). Groups III and IV had subnormal T4 (mean = 2.8 and 0.9 μg/dl, respectively) and more elevated TSH (mean = 63 and 149 μU/ml). Basal serum T3 was not significantly different from control subjects (115 ng/dl) in Group I (119 ng/dl), Group II (103 ng/dl), or Group III (101 ng/dl), but was low (43 ng/dl) in Group IV. After TRH stimulation, all study groups had peak TSH responses (Group I = 39, Group II = 92, Group III = 196, Group IV = 343 μU/ml) which were significantly greater than control values (mean = 11 μU/ml) and proportional to their basal levels. The basal and pe...
Impact of Host Plant Phenology on the Population Dynamics and Oviposition of Northern Corn Rootworms, Diabrotica barberi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in Field Corn

The population dynamics and oviposition of adult Diabrotica barberi Smith and Lawrence were studied in relation to corn plant phenology from 1984 to 1986 near Ithaca, N.Y. In general, median times of adult emergence of both sexes were delayed, and the overall sex ratio of emerging beetles was progressively female-skewed in plots which flowered later. Males emerged earlier than females and, on a physiological time scale, had a shorter period of emergence; however, the length of the emergence period was not related to plant phenology in either sex. Both planting date and corn variety were shown to contribute to these general patterns. Delayed planting significantly delayed median emergence times of both sexes, reduced the number of beetles emerging, and increased the ratio of female to male emergence, but it did not influence the variance of emergence times. Variety manipulations had similar, but generally weaker, effects on emergence. Beetle flight activity was negatively correlated with the availability of corn flowers, and the ratio of females to males captured on sticky traps increased progressively from within plots to plot perimeters to areas surrounding the study site. Daily rates of adult mortality were significantly related to the availability of corn flowers and did not differ between the sexes. Changes in beetle population densities were closely synchronized with the availability of corn flowers, and seasonal population structure was dramatically influenced by the relative time of flowering. As plots flowered later, a greater percentage of the seasonal population were female and a greater percentage of these were mature. Changes in population structure affected the timing and magnitude of oviposition. Oviposition was completed sooner in plots that flowered earlier and, on a per beetle basis, total egg densities were higher in plots that flowered later.
Study of the non-adiabatic transitions with application to NO

An expression for the non-adiabatic transition probability is derived from the viewpoint of the non-stationary character of the adiabatic approximation. A numerical calculation has been made for the free NO molecule. The non-adiabatic transition probability for the transition (B 2 π ν=0)→(a 4 π ν=9) is estimated to be 10−6 sec−1 by using the wave functions proposed by Moser et al.
Characterization and source identification of respirable particulate matter in Athens, Greece

Abstract Twenty-seven samples of respirable particulate matter (RP) were collected in central Athens during the summer of 1987. The samples were analyzed for the concentration SO 4 2− and NO 3 − (collected with Teflon and nylon filters and analyzed by ion-chromatography); organic and elemental carbon (collected on quartz fiber filters and analyzed with a thermo-optical method); and 20 elements (collected on Teflon filters and analyzed by proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy). Simultaneously collected samples for SO 2 and HNO 3 were also evaluated (collected with annular denuders and analyzed by ion-chromatography). T The average RP concentration measured was 80.7 μg m −3 , well above the USEPA annual standard for PM 10 aerosol. In addition, high levels of organic (16.9 μg m −3 ) and elemental carbon (4.2 μg m −3 ) were found. Correlations between aerosol carbon and Br, Pb, NO and NMHC (all > 0.8) confirm that gasoline and diesel powered vehicles are one of the major sources of pollution in the region. Correlations between RP and Al, Si, K, Ca and Fe also suggest that soil aerosols contribute to the high RP concentrations. Enrichment factors for the RP samples relative to the composition of soil in the Athens basin indentify major contributions from vehicles (Pb and Br) and industrial operations (S, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn). Based on these results, a Chemical Mass Balance receptor model was applied to each of the 27 samples and the contributions to RP from soil (4.5 %), vehicles (20.3 %), steel industries (4.6. %) and cement plant emissions (3.2 %) estimated. Other major components of the RP were SO 4 2− (13.0 %) and organic carbon from non-vehicle and industrial sources (15.5 %).
Geomagnetic Reversal in Brunhes Normal Polarity Epoch

The magnetic stratigraphly of seven cores of deep-sea sediment established the existence of a short interval of reversed polarity in the upper part of the Brunches epoch of normal polarity. The reversed zone in the cores correlates well with paleontological boundaries and is named the Blake event. Its boundaries are estimated to be 108,000 and 114,000 years ago +/- 10 percent.
A comparison of spectrum estimation techniques for sensorless speed detection in induction machines

This paper compares digital spectrum estimation techniques which can be used to extract speed information from rotor slot and eccentricity harmonics contained in the stator current. In previous work, speed-related current harmonics have been shown to improve the performance of existing back-EMF-based sensorless schemes, since these harmonics are parameter independent and exist at virtually any nonzero speed. Digital filtering, however, requires a minimum data sampling time in order to achieve the desired resolution. The contribution of this paper is to determine the optimal method for accurately extracting the speed-related harmonics in the least amount of time. Several digital signal processing algorithms are investigated, including the fast Fourier transform and other traditional methods, as well as parametric techniques which can provide improved spectrum estimation for short data records. Each approach is evaluated on the criteria of accuracy, robustness, and computation time given a short data record.
Outlying Committees in the Statehouse: An Examination of the Prevalence of Committee Outliers in State Legislatures

Informational and partisan theories of legislative organization predict that most committees will be representative of their parent chamber and most committee delegations representative of their parent caucus. Unfortunately, despite the universalistic claims of these theories, the preponderance of evidence comes from only one chamber of one legislature: the U. S. House of Representatives. If informational and partisan theories are generalizable beyond the Congress, outlying committees should be rare in state legislatures as well as in the House of Representatives. We use a variety of measures of member preferences (e.g., roll call measures, surveys, constituency characteristics) and simple difference of means tests to explore the generalizability of these theories by examining the prevalence of committee outliers in the lower houses of a sample of 12 states. Consistent with expectations, outlying committees are rare in the state legislatures we sample, especially among important control committees. This p...
Recent advances in the treatment of tobacco dependence

Abstract Tobacco dependence is the leading preventable cause of adult morbidity and mortality in the world. Despite the magnitude of this global public health problem, relatively few medications (i.e. nicotine replacement therapy and sustained-release bupropion) are currently approved for the treatment of this pandemic. Nicotine and other components in tobacco smoke are more likely to produce a dependence state in cigarette smokers than alcohol and cocaine in regular users of those drugs of abuse. As our understanding of the neurobiology of tobacco dependence increases, so, too, grows the number of potential therapeutic targets by which we can intervene in this devastating addiction. The purpose of this manuscript is to review three novel mechanisms of action that may serve as therapeutic targets for the pharmacologic treatment of tobacco dependence. For each of these therapeutic targets, we discuss medications in development that affect these pathophysiologic mechanisms. First, we examine the role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the development of nicotine dependence and highlight the development of rimonabant, the first selective antagonist of the cannabinoid type 1 (CB-1) receptor. Second, we explore how heterogeneity among various subtypes of nicotinic receptors might be exploited to develop more specific agents acting at these receptors such as varenicline—a partial agonist at the α4β2 nicotinic receptor. Finally, we examine how selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO) such as selegiline might be used as adjunctive medications for the treatment of tobacco dependence.
An Analysis of Factors That Influence the ASCUS/SIL Ratio of Pathologists

In pursuit of physician-specific performance data in cytology, we have been calculating the ASCUS/SIL (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance/squamous intraepithelial lesion) ratio of cytopathologists (CPs) and providing confidential feedback every 6 months. At the same time, thin-layer technology was introduced as an alternative to conventional smears. Thus we analyzed factors that may influence the ASCUS/SIL ratio, particularly the effect of periodic feedback on outliers (defined by a professional benchmark). For 3 years, the mean ASCUS/SIL ratio for all CPs decreased significantly from 2.92 to 1.87. There was great variability in the mean ASCUS/SIL ratio among 12 CPs (range, 1.11-5.89). Of the 6 CPs who worked continuously during this time, 2 showed a statistically significant decrease in their ASCUS/SIL ratio, including the CP with the highest ratio; 1 showed a significant increase. The mean ASCUS/SIL ratio did not correlate well with years of CP experience or with individual annual case volume. The ASCUS/SIL ratio of some CPs can decrease significantly over time. Whether it was due to feedback or the introduction of thin-layer preparations could not be determined.
Purification and characterization of glutamate decarboxylase from cowpea

Abstract Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) was purified 300-fold from green cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L.) pods using a combination of PEG precipitation, DEAE cellulose chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and Q-resin chromatography. The partially purified preparation demonstrated 2 primary bands in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with up to 3 additional minor bands. Cowpea GAD has a pH optimum at between pH 5.5–6.0, and an apparent K M for glutamate of 3.2 mM at pH 5.8. Both crude GAD preparations and preparations partially purified through the hydroxylapatite step can be stimulated by Ca 2+ and calmodulin when assayed at pH 5.8. However, the purified enzyme does not show activation by Ca 2+ and/or calmodulin at pH 5.8 or at pH 7.0. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Patterns of Progression and Markers of Lung Injury in Rodents and Subhuman Primates Exposed to Hyperoxia

Exposure to high concentrations of oxygen causes injury throughout the respiratory tract. Good markers for the earliest stages of injury are not available although the course of tissue and cell responses to injury has been well characterized in a variety of animal models including rats and subhuman primates. Exposure to subacute levels of hyperoxia (40%-60% O2) causes lung injury that is difficult to detect even after exposures of up to 7 days in duration unless animals are subsequently stressed with a second form of lung injury. Rats preexposed to 40% and 60% O2 die sooner when exposed to 100% O2 than do control animals, suggesting an increased susceptibility to a second injury. Rats exposed to 60% O2 are more susceptible to development of pulmonary edema during high tidal volume mechanical ventilation, suggesting an increased susceptibility to mechanical stress. Exposures to 60% O2 may set up chronic progressive inflammatory reactions in the lung interstitium manifested by an increase in interstitial cells and matrix occurring weeks after the hyperoxic exposure. Both rats and baboons show similar responses to acute lethal exposures to hyperoxia, although the time course is more prolonged in the baboon. Both species demonstrate increased numbers of neutrophils in the lung microvasculature as one of the earliest structural evidences of lung injury. Both species demonstrate an increase in interstitial cells, quantitative evidence of injury to alveolar epithelial cells, and a significant fall in the number of capillary endothelial cells during the late phases of hyperoxic lung injury. These changes are associated with significant decreases in the total lung capacity and residual volume, increases in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, and tachycardia. Baboons develop a 30% reduction in cardiac output after 80 h of 100% oxygen exposure because of a diminished ejection fraction. The primary difference in the progression of lung injury between species is in the time course rather than in the basic pattern of morphologic and physiologic responses.
Nine-year-old children exposed to more sociodemographic, physical and psychosocial risks tend to have poorer self-regulatory behaviour and are more likely to show an increase in BMI during the next 4 years.

Commentary on: GW Evans, TE Fuller-Rowell, SN Doan. Childhood cumulative risk and obesity: the mediating role of self-regulatory ability. Pediatrics. 2012 Jan: 129(1): e68–73
Cooper, Nationalism and Imperialism

In his poem to the hesitating purchaser of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson names Cooper among the great romancers he has emulated, describing him as “ Cooper of the wood and wave.” That phrase names both the aspect of Cooper's work which interests me, the adventure novels, and the major subdivision of that aspect. I am not, that is, going to discuss the non-fiction, and among the fiction I am not going to discuss the Effingham or the Littlepage novels, nor even the historical novels as such. I'm going to concentrate upon the Leatherstocking saga, seen as forest books, and upon sea fiction like Afloat and Ashore, The Pilot, and The Sea Lions. I want to point out differences between the two sub-genres in fictional art and fictional success, and to try to explain those differences in terms of social and political forces. But I also want to stress the unity of the two, which is to say Cooper's identity as an adventure novelist. Because we lack a critical vocabulary for that genre, critics have, it seems to me, failed to take proper account of one of the major forms and forces of our literature. And this is particularly unfortunate in American Studies, because adventure has been so large a part of American culture.
Opportunities to Learn in America's Elementary Classrooms

Analysis of elementary school classrooms in the United States returns a discouraging report on the quality of students' experiences.
Surgical site infections: reanalysis of risk factors.

Background. Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most common nosocomial infection in surgical patients, accounting for 38% of all such infections, and are a significant source of postoperative morbidity resulting in increased hospital length of stay and increased cost. During 1986 ‐1996 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system reported 15,523 SSI following 593,344 operations (2.6%). Previous studies have documented patient characteristics associated with an increased risk of SSI, including diabetes, tobacco or steroid use, obesity, malnutrition, and perioperative blood transfusion. In this study we sought to reevaluate risk factors for SSI in a large cohort of noncardiac surgical patients. Methods. Prospective data (NSQIP) were collected on 5031 noncardiac surgical patients at the Veteran’s Administration Maryland Healthcare System from 1995 to 2000. All preoperative risk factors were evaluated as independent predictors of surgical site infection. Results. The mean age of the study cohort was 61 13. SSI occurred in 162 patients, comprising 3.2% of the study cohort. Gram-positive organisms were the most common bacterial etiology. Multiple logistic regression analysis documented that diabetes (insulin- and non-insulin-dependent), low postoperative hematocrit, weight loss (within 6 months), and ascites were significantly associated with increased SSI. Tobacco use, steroid use, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were not predictors for SSI. Conclusion. This study confirms that diabetes and malnutrion (defined as significant weight loss 6 months prior to surgery) are significant preoperative risk factors for SSI. Postoperative anemia is a significant risk factor for SSI. In contrast to prior analyses, this study has documented that tobacco use, steroid use, and COPD are not independent predictors of SSI. Future SSI studies should target early preoperative intervention and optimization of patients with diabetes and malnutrition. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA)
Cis-acting RNA elements at the 5' end of Sindbis virus genome RNA regulate minus- and plus-strand RNA synthesis.

Alphavirus genome replication is a multistep asymmetric process. Several lines of evidence suggest that the template preference of the RNA replicase is regulated by proteolytic cleavage of the viral nonstructural polyprotein. Cis-acting RNA elements in the viral genome also play crucial roles in regulating genome replication and subgenomic RNA transcription. In this report, a series of RNA templates were analyzed in vitro and in vivo to define functional elements in the 59 end of the genome. The 59 UTR was shown to contain distinct core promoter elements for both minus- and plus-strand synthesis. In addition, two conserved stem-loop structures within the nsP1 coding sequence enhanced RNA replication but were not required. Studies with chimeric templates and trans-competition experiments suggest that the 59 determinant for minus-strand initiation can differ among alphaviruses and binds to one or more limiting replicase components. The results provide compelling evidence that the 59 and 39 ends of alphavirus genome RNAs must interact to initiate replication and we propose one model for how this interaction might occur. In addition to providing new insight into the initiation of alphavirus genome replication, these results have implications for the development of improved alphavirus vector systems with reduced recombination potential.
Pediatric cervical spine injuries: a comprehensive review.

Introduction Cervical spine injuries can be life-altering issues in the pediatric population. The aim of the present paper was to review this literature. Conclusions A comprehensive knowledge of the special anatomy and biomechanics of the spine of children is essential in diagnosis and treating issues related to spine injuries.
Advantages of switched reluctance motor applications to EV and HEV: design and control issues

Land vehicles need their drivetrain to operate entirely in constant power in order to meet their operational constraints, such as initial acceleration and gradability, with minimum power rating. The internal combustion engine (ICE) is inappropriate for producing this torque-speed profile. Therefore, multiple gear transmission is necessary with the ICE in a vehicle. Some electric machines, if designed and controlled appropriately, are capable of producing an extended constant power range. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the capabilities of the switched reluctance motor (SRM) for electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle applications. This investigation is carried out in two steps. The first step involves the machine design and the finite-element analysis to obtain the static characteristic of the motor. In the second step, the finite-element field solutions are used in the development of a nonlinear model to investigate the dynamic performance of the designed motor.
ARE AMERICA'S CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS STILL RELEVANT?

The federal government created America’s historic 1964 Civil Rights Act during a period of low immigration. The primary goal was to create equal opportunities for African Americans by ending Jim Crow discrimination in the South. Focusing on the issue of employment discrimination, and specifically employer preferences for immigrants, this article shows how the current period of high immigration from Latin America and Asia has created new challenges and dilemmas for Title VII, the employment discrimination title of the Civil Rights Act. Specifically, sociological evidence indicates that U.S. businesses are engaging in race-conscious employment focused on the perceived value of racial skills (special abilities of certain racial groups at particular jobs) and racial symbolism (organizational benefits from displaying certain races on the work force). Businesses hire Asians and Latinos, and especially immigrant Asians and Latinos, because of the perceived racial skills of these groups at low-status jobs that require strong work ethics and obedient attitudes. Corporate employers seeking skilled workers do not necessarily prefer immigrants. Instead, they seek minorities for the symbolic value of their diversity, for their general racial skills at bringing new ideas to the workplace, and for their racial marketing skills for growing non-White markets. I assess these developments from a legal perspective, showing that a combination of a lack of litigation and some key court decisions have prevented Title VII from regulating racial skills and racial symbolism and0or from offering protection for immigrants themselves.
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmrZ C-terminal domain mediates tetramerization and is required for its activator and repressor functions.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important bacterial opportunistic pathogen, presenting a significant threat towards individuals with underlying diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The transcription factor AmrZ regulates expression of multiple P. aeruginosa virulence factors. AmrZ belongs to the ribbon-helix-helix protein superfamily, in which many members function as dimers, yet others form higher order oligomers. In this study, four independent approaches were undertaken and demonstrated that the primary AmrZ form in solution is tetrameric. Deletion of the AmrZ C-terminal domain leads to loss of tetramerization and reduced DNA binding to both activated and repressed target promoters. Additionally, the C-terminal domain is essential for efficient AmrZ-mediated activation and repression of its targets.
Inflammasome-mediated dysbiosis regulates progression of NAFLD and obesity

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the Western world. Twenty per cent of NAFLD individuals develop chronic hepatic inflammation (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH) associated with cirrhosis, portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma, yet the causes of progression from NAFLD to NASH remain obscure. Here, we show that the NLRP6 and NLRP3 inflammasomes and the effector protein IL-18 negatively regulate NAFLD/NASH progression, as well as multiple aspects of metabolic syndrome via modulation of the gut microbiota. Different mouse models reveal that inflammasome-deficiency-associated changes in the configuration of the gut microbiota are associated with exacerbated hepatic steatosis and inflammation through influx of TLR4 and TLR9 agonists into the portal circulation, leading to enhanced hepatic tumour-necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression that drives NASH progression. Furthermore, co-housing of inflammasome-deficient mice with wild-type mice results in exacerbation of hepatic steatosis and obesity. Thus, altered interactions between the gut microbiota and the host, produced by defective NLRP3 and NLRP6 inflammasome sensing, may govern the rate of progression of multiple metabolic syndrome-associated abnormalities, highlighting the central role of the microbiota in the pathogenesis of heretofore seemingly unrelated systemic auto-inflammatory and metabolic disorders. An expansion of Porphyromonadaceae in the gut is linked to the pathogenesis and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in the mouse. Using a mouse model, Richard Flavell and co-workers study the inflammatory processes associated with progression from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease — the leading cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries — to the more severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which often leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. They find that alterations of the intestinal microbiota associated with the NLRP6 and NLRP3 inflammasomes enhance disease in mice with diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver syndrome. These findings highlight the pivotal role of the microbiota in the development of autoinflammatory and metabolic disorders, and point to the manipulation of host–microflora interactions as a focus for new therapies.
Multithreaded Algorithms for Maximum Matching in Bipartite Graphs

We design, implement, and evaluate algorithms for computing a matching of maximum cardinality in a bipartite graph on multicore and massively multithreaded computers. As computers with larger numbers of slower cores dominate the commodity processor market, the design of multithreaded algorithms to solve large matching problems becomes a necessity. Recent work on serial algorithms for the matching problem has shown that their performance is sensitive to the order in which the vertices are processed for matching. In a multithreaded environment, imposing a serial order in which vertices are considered for matching would lead to loss of concurrency and performance. But this raises the question: {\em Would parallel matching algorithms on multithreaded machines improve performance over a serial algorithm?}We answer this question in the affirmative. We report efficient multithreaded implementations of three classes of algorithms based on their manner of searching for augmenting paths: breadth-first-search, depth-first-search, and a combination of both. The Karp-Sipser initialization algorithm is used to make the parallel algorithms practical. We report extensive results and insights using three shared-memory platforms (a 48-core AMD Opteron, a 32-coreIntel Nehalem, and a 128-processor Cray XMT) on a representative set of real-world and synthetic graphs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of augmentation-based parallel algorithms for bipartite cardinality matching that demonstrates good speedups on multithreaded shared memory multiprocessors.
The Western Maine Coastal Current reduces primary production rates, zooplankton abundance and benthic nutrient fluxes in Massachusetts Bay

Primary production was measured from 1992 – 2010 in Massachusetts Bay and just outside Boston Harbor for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s outfall monitoring program. In 2003, annual primary production decreased by 221 –278 g C m 22 year 21 , with decreased rates continuing through 2010. Based on a conceptual model, oceanographic and meteorological variables were analysed with production rates to determine if concurrent environmental changes were responsible for the reduced primary production in Massachusetts Bay. Results indicated that a stronger influx of low salinity water from the Western Maine Coastal Current (WMCC) in recent years might be responsible for the decreases. The WMCC appeared to have become fresher due to increased river discharge in the western Gulf of Maine. Northeasterly winds in recent years promoted the WMCC intrusion into Massachusetts Bay. Correlation between primary production and surface salinities suggested an impact of the WMCC on production rates. We hypothesized that increased stratification resulted in reduced vertical mixing and reduced nutrient concentrations in surface waters for phytoplankton growth. However, no significant correlations were observed between the annual primary production and nutrient concentrations in Massachusetts Bay. Reduced production rates in Massachusetts Bay have, however, been associated with reduced zooplankton abundances, benthic ammonium fluxes and sediment oxygen demand in summer months.
Extraction of ginsenosides from a blend of wheat flour and ginseng powder

Abstract This study explored conditions for maximum extraction of ginsenosides (G) from a blend of wheat flour (WF) and ginseng powder (GP). WF (0.9 g), GP (0.1 g), or WF–GP (0.9 g WF + 0.1 g GP) was mixed with distilled water (4.5, 0.5, or 5.0 ml, respectively) and heated at temperatures from 25 to 90 °C. Individual G (Rb1, Rc, and Rd) were fractionated and identified by RP-HPLC. Interactions between WF components and G, including interactions between the wheat starch fraction (SF) and G and between the gluten fraction (GF) and G, were observed in WF–GP heated at 90 °C. The degree of interactions between the SF and G was greater than that between the GF and G. The interactions between WF components and G decreased the amounts of G extractable from the heated WF–GP. The interactions between WF components and G could be disrupted by increasing ultrasonic extraction time to 90 min for maximum extraction.
Interpersonal Problem Solving and Information Processing in Schizophrenia

Cognitive models of interpersonal problem solving have been proposed for, but infrequently tested on, samples of schizophrenia subjects. This study undertook to examine the relationships between the receiving, processing, and sending skills that comprise one model of interpersonal problem solving with information processing and social cue perception. Twenty-six patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder completed measures of interpersonal problem solving, social cue perception, visual vigilance, verbal memory, conceptual flexibility, and psychiatric symptoms. Significant and robust relationships were found between sensitivity to social cues and receiving, processing, and sending skills. Only recognition and recall memory, of the various other information-processing measures, were found to be related to any of the three problem-solving skills. Associations between problem solving and cognitive deficits did not seem to be attributable to psychiatric symptoms. Implications of these findings for understanding and remediating the problem-solving deficits of schizophrenia patients are discussed.
A model for Protein Secondary Structure Prediction meta - classifiers

We present here a mathematical model for the Protein Secondary Structure Prediction (PSSP) problems and research. It also represents un effort to build a uniform foundations for PSSP research. The model, and hence the paper, is designed to facilitate and speed up understanding of the long standing PSSP research and its problems also for people who want to get involved in it. We present an abstract definition of a protein and its structures and discuss the Protein Data Banks, and other Proteomic Data Bases as well as three generations of PSSP algorithms and servers (all of them web-accessible). We also discuss the development of most important results, problems and methods of data preparation for PSSP classifiers. Finally, we describe a model for a Meta-Classifier utilizing all, or a subset of PSSP servers and discuss its relationship with the first ever developed, Bayes Network Meta-Classifiers of [13] based on 4 to 6 servers.
A Symbolic Honeynet Framework for SCADA System Threat Intelligence

Current SCADA honeypot technologies present attackers with static or pseudo-random data, and are unlikely to entice attackers to use high value or zero-day attacks. This chapter presents a symbolic cyberphysical honeynet framework that addresses the problem, enhances the screening and coalescence of attack events for analysis, provides attack introspection down to the physics level of a SCADA system and enables forensic replays of attacks. The work extends honeynet methodologies with integrated physics simulation and anomaly detection utilizing a symbolic data flow model of system physics. Attacks that trigger anomalies in the physics of a system are captured and organized via a coalescing algorithm for efficient analysis. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
High-throughput biomimetic 3D gel-island chip for investigating cancer cell heterogeneity

Considerable evidence showing that ECM is an important regulator of cellular behavior including adhesion, metastasis, proliferation, and differentiation. Although hydrogel has been used in the cell culture, previous works focus on the collective cell behaviors rather than single cell heterogeneity. This paper reports a novel gel-islands microfluidic platform enabling single cells tracking in biomimetic three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment. The platform has the advantages of (1) reliable single cell encapsulation in 3D gel-islands, (2) high-throughput single-cell drug screening assays, and (3) automatic single cell lineage tracking. Combining gel-based 3D culture and single cell resolution, the presented platform can monitor cellular behaviors of hundreds of individual cells in 3D ECM microenvironment using small amount of matrix reagents and drugs.
Cap-and-Trade Support Linked to Revenue Use

The Obama Administration’s creation of the Clean Power Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electric power sector has renewed interest in possible state or regional adoption of cap-and-trade programs to meet mandatory reduction targets. The latest version of the National Surveys on Energy and Environment (NSEE) sought to understand Americans’ awareness of existing cap-and-trade programs in their state, and to gauge their receptiveness to this policy option. The survey finds that a large percentage (71%) of Americans do not know whether their state had adopted a cap-and-trade program, and more than a third (38%) of Americans haven’t formed an opinion about whether or not their state should adopt such an approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When provided with more details about various options on how revenues generated through allowance auctions from such a program might be used, more Americans express an opinion, and some options clearly rise to the top. In particular, support is highest amongst both Republicans and Democrats for a cap-and-trade program in which revenues are used to expand energy efficiency programs.
Is the Universe Finite

(1925). Is the Universe Finite? The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 32, No. 5, pp. 213-223.
Effects of Study Guides and Classroom Discussions on Students' Perceptions of Study Habits

t tests for correlated data on pre- and posttest scores on the Effective Study Test for 98 college students, exposed to study guides on effective study habits, quizzes, and class discussions, showed significant gains in effective study techniques. When the group was classified by specific traits, the freshmen, students with low grade-point averages, and those scoring low on a mental ability test did not make significant gains in all areas related to effective study habits.
Transmethylation Reactions in vivo and in vitro in the Young Calf.

Summary1. Using a synthetic milk diet, calves receiving 1.2% DL-methionine exhibited no demonstrable choline requirement, as measured by growth and liver ether extract. On a diet supplying 0.8% methionine, fatty livers developed in the absence of choline. 2. A study was made of the ability of calf liver homogenates to methylate homocysteine to form methionine, when betaine served as methyl donor; to methylate guanidoacetic acid, when methionine served as the methyl donor, and to oxidize choline. It was found that while calf liver homogenates would carry out all of these reactions, the activity of the calf liver enzymes was very much less than that of rat liver homogenates.
Growth and decay of one-dimensional shock waves in multiphase mixtures

We examine the behavior of one-dimensional shock waves in a chemically reacting, nondiffusing multiphase mixture, i.e., one in which the constituents may possess individual microstructure such as porosity and granularity. Essential to this investigation is the introduction of the shock-evolution equation, which determines the local growth or decay of the shock wave in view of the dissipative and enhancive mechanisms involved. This equation accounts for the immiscibility and energy exchange between the constituents as associated with the microstructural properties of the mixture, along with the chemical reactivity at the shock front. Also presented are the constituent Hugoniot properties and associated remarks within the context of a multiphase mixture theory.
Model tests and numerical prediction on resistance of trimaran

Three kinds of model tests were done based on the numerical calculation of wave resistance of a trimaran.Firstly,the residual resistance to the speed of a trimaran with a given longitudinal and transverse distance between the hulls was tested.Secondly,the residual resistance to the longitudinal distance between hulls of the trimaran with a given transverse distance at a given speed was tested.Thirdly,the residual resistance to the transverse distance between hulls of the trimaran with a given longitudinal distance at a given speed was tested.The results of the model tests show that the longitudinal and transverse distances have great influence on the resistance of the trimaran and that the resistance can be calculated and the configuration of the trimaran can be optimized using Noblesse′s slender ship theory.
Why must we always "do something" for the patient?

Sometimes, as the author learned from the tragic case of Mrs. A, doing nothing is a doctors best option.
Community Ecology of Fungal Pathogens on Bromus tectorum

Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass or downy brome) presents a rich resource for soil microorganisms because of its abundant production of biomass, seeds, and surface litter. Many of these organisms are opportunistic saprophytes, but several fungal species regularly found in B. tectorum stands function as facultative or obligate pathogens. These organisms interact dynamically with abiotic factors such as interannual variation in weather, with other soil microorganisms, with their hosts, and with each other to create spatially and temporally varying patterns of endemic or epidemic disease. Five principal soilborne pathogens, Ustilago bullata Berk. (head smut pathogen), Tilletia bromi (Brockm.) Nannf. (chestnut bunt pathogen), Pyrenophora semeniperda (Brittlebank & Adams) Shoemaker (black fingers of death pathogen), Fusarium Link sp. n. (Fusarium seed rot pathogen), and a new species in the Rutstroemiaceae (bleach blonde syndrome pathogen), are known to have sometimes major impacts on B. tectorum seed bank dynamics, seedling emergence, and seed production. These pathogens exhibit niche specialization, so that they are rarely in direct competition. They sometimes interact to increase the total impact on B. tectorum stand structure, which can result in stand failure or “die-off.” Die-offs represent areas where B. tectorum has been controlled by natural processes, suggesting that these areas might be suitable targets for restoration. Naturally occurring fungal pathogens that can have a strong negative impact on B. tectorum success have also been considered as candidate organisms for B. tectorum biocontrol using an augmentative mycoherbicidal strategy.
Iron deprivation and cancer: a view beginning with studies of monoclonal antibodies against the transferrin receptor.

This review provides a perspective on the potential utility of iron deprivation treatments as components of cancer therapy. The perspective began to develop with investigations of the selective inhibitory effects on lymphocyte activation which were produced by monoclonal antibodies against the transferrin receptor. Those investigations led to the unexpected discovery that such antibodies would produce synergistic inhibition of lymphoid tumor growth in vitro when used in combination with the iron chelator deferoxamine . The perspective was further developed when additional studies in vivo indicated that combination iron deprivation treatment could prevent initial tumor outgrowth and cause regressions of established tumors in the 38C 13 murine lymphoma model. The anti-tumor effects were accompanied by significant toxicities, however, and the analysis of the causes of tho se toxicities is now an important issue . The opportunities and problems which these results present are interpreted in the broader context of currently available information concerning the anti-tumor effects of deferoxamine and gallium nitrate in the pre-clinical and clinical settings, and questions for future research are presented .
Teacher Political Disclosure as Parrhesia.

Background/ContextThe traditional stance on teacher political disclosure within K–12 education is that neutrality is the only morally appropriate approach for teachers to take when broaching politi...
Introduction: Rise of Which Global South States?

Since the end of the Cold War, the international system has moved from the unipolar “moment” dominated by the USA to a far more multipolar structure. A major aspect of this is the so-called “rise of the rest,” highlighting the increasing economic strength and deeper involvement of countries other than the traditional “great powers” in global affairs. This chapter introduces the content of this book by discussing the backdrop of this “rise,” the concept of the “global south,” the significance of considering foreign policy and diplomacy, the ideas of leadership and hegemony, and the use of soft power and soft balancing as diplomatic strategies.