cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paths to Protection: A Comparison of Federal Protections Based on Disability and Sexual Orientation

Over the past three decades, social movements in both the disability community and in the lesbian and gay community have taken a foothold in American society. Activists in these two communities have raised awareness about the inequalities and discrimination that their members face. As a result, lawmakers in many jurisdictions, from local councils to the United States Congress, have enacted statutory protections for these two groups. This Article focuses on federal protections based on disability and sexual orientation by comparing and contrasting the protections accorded these two groups by the federal government. Although these two groups may seem different and incomparable at first glance, the history of discrimination and oppression suffered by both groups is quite similar. Both groups have been systematically vilified and isolated from the mainstream of American society. Both groups have been victims of violence based purely on their status as lesbians and gay men or as persons with disabilities. Part II briefly describes equal protection jurisprudence, which is the focus of this Article’s analysis. This part explains the three levels of judicial scrutiny utilized in equal protection cases and discusses these levels vis-a-vis disability and sexual orientation. Parts III and IV then explore the history of the treatment of both of these marginalized groups, including the parallels in the legal developments and where federal protections diverge. Although there are many similarities in the way these groups are viewed by society, and in turn treated by different legislatures, there are some very important differences in how the groups are perceived and treated. Parts III and IV also discuss the current legal trends in each of these areas with a focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)4 and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997 (ENDA)5 as points of divergence of the legal protection afforded these groups. Using these two pieces of legislation as points of reference for the divergence of federal protection for these two groups, Part V analyzes possible reasons for such divergence. Part V explores the possibility of persons with disabilities and lesbians and gay men gaining heightened scrutiny under Equal Protection Clause analysis. This Part recommends that lesbians and gay men receive suspect classification, while recommending that persons with disabilities receive quasi-suspect classification. Part VI concludes with a discussion about the probability of such classifications, given the constitution of the current United States Supreme Court.
Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a common complaint that always warrants investigation. The patient’s history and preliminary testing can help differentiate between the two types of dysphagia: oropharyngeal or esophageal. Specific treatments for either of these types of dysphagia depend on the underlying etiology. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is often associated with a neuromuscular disorder and is treated with swallowing rehabilitation. Esophageal dysphagia is usually due to an anatomic defect or a motility disorder. Anatomic defects can often be corrected with endoscopic or surgical procedures. Motility disorders often benefit from pharmacologic treatment. Achalasia may be corrected with an endoscopic procedure with pneumatic dilation or, more recently, with injection of botulinum toxin.
Role of Renewable Hydrogen in Global Energy-Environment-Economic System

The energy language method has been used to develop a dynamic model which generated intersubstitution of energy sources and energy currencies in the energy market, and provided information on complex interactions between energy, environment and economics. Substitution of the fossil fuel system by the solar hydrogen energy system has been analyzed, with particular attention given to effects on economic growth and on the environment. The results have shown that an early transition to the solar hydrogen energy system would provide long term benefits to economy and to the environment.
A Comparrison of Two Emergency Departments

Urosepsis accounts for approximately 25% of all cases of sepsis in the developed world. The mortality from urosepsis is high and the financial burden is exorbitant. Research has established that a patient’s survivability from sepsis is inversely proportional to time to antibiotic administration. The initial care of patients with urosepsis often occurs in the chaotic setting of the Emergency Department and obtaining a urine specimen is a key element of patient care. The purpose of the project was to compare two emergency departments door-to-urine time with a focus on urine procurement technique. Urine procurement may occur by straight catheterization, Quik ®catheterization, indwelling urinary catheterization, or mid stream clean catch collection. One department has access to Quik ®catheterization technology that is unavailable to the other department. Exclusion criteria are patients already diagnosed with UTI and patients taking antibiotics on arrival to the emergency room. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 60 records. Data collected included gender, age, chief concern, method of urine procurement, door-to-urine collection time, door-to antibiotic administration time and urinalysis results. Results showed that catheterization was not always faster than mid stream clean catch collection. There were an insufficient number of Quik ®catheterizations performed during the time frame of the study to establish a link between the technology and expedited urine collection or antibiotic administration. The study does suggest that greater awareness and more research is needed concerning care of the uroseptic patient in the ED.
Procurement and culture of Ascidian embryos

Publisher Summary Ascidians are marine invertebrate chordates, with a tadpole larva that metamorphoses into a sessile adult. Ascidian embryos have been used for embryological experiments for over 100 years and are still an important molecular model system for understanding chordate evolution and development. Gametes are readily obtained from gravid adults, development is rapid, and the eggs and embryos can be experimentally manipulated. Cleavage is bilateral, determinant, and invariant, and the cell lineage is completely known. Ascidian cell lineages can be followed with simple enzymatic stains, and gene expression can be observed with in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Functional experiments are carried out by overexpression of ribonucleic acid (RNA) constructs, and knockout studies are possible with morpholinos. Ascidians have evolved a number of different larval types, making them excellent species with which to study the evolution of larval morphology. This chapter helps in working with ascidian embryos, culturing and metamorphosing them while performing experiments to understand their development and evolution. Ascidians are filter feeders as adults and thus prefer fresh seawater from the oceans. They are best studied at marine labs near the ocean.
Distinguishing HCO3- from CO3= transport by the electrogenic Na/HCO3 cotransporter NBCe1 (SLC4A4) (1098.7)

Theoretically, the electrogenic NBCe1 (SLC4A4), could operate by five thermodynamically equivalent mechanisms: (1) 1 Na+ + 2 HCO3-, (2) 1 Na+ + 1 CO3=, (3) NaCO3- ion pair uptake, (4) 1 Na+ + 1 HCO3- uptake with 1 H+ extruded, and (5) CO2/HCO3--stimulated extrusion of 2 H+. We obtained current-voltage (I-V) relationships from NBCe1 expressing oocytes superfused with out-of-equilibrium (OOE) solutions that vary extracellular pH (pHo) from 9.0 to 6.0 at a constant [CO2]o and [HCO3-]o. Ignoring direct pHo effects on NBCe1, #1 predicts under constant [CO2]o & [HCO3-]o, Erev will not change. #4 & #5 predict graded decreases in pHo produce steep graded decreases in H+ efflux that manifest as steep graded decreases in slope conductance (GNBC) and inward rectification. #2 & #3 predict pHo decreases will act by lowering [CO3=]o and [NaCO3-]o, thereby reducing GNBC as predicted by the Michaelis-Menten equation; the I-V relationship will remain linear. We find that Erev shifts appropriately for pHo 9.0-6...
Use of thermal dissipation probes to estimate water loss of containerized landscape trees

Granier style thermal dissipation probes (TDPs) have been used to estimate whole plant water use on a variety of tree and vine species. However, studies using TDPs and load cells (gravimetric water loss) to estimate water use of landscape tree species are rare. This research compared gravimetric water loss (estimated with load cells) of four containerized landscape tree species with water loss estimated with TDPs. Over a 66 day period, an experiment compared water loss of three established, 5.0 cm (2 in) caliper poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’) trees in 75-liter (20 gal) containers on load cells to TDP estimated water loss. Each tree had a single 30 mm (1.2 inch) TDP inserted into the trunk at four heights above soil level (15, 30, 45, and 60 cm (6, 12, 18, and 24 in, respectively)). Data revealed TDP estimated water loss was less than load cell estimated water loss regardless of TDP height, but TDP estimated water loss at the 30 cm height was closest to actual load cell estimated tree water loss. Over the next three years, similar sized Bradford pear ( Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’), English oak (Quercus robur x Q. bicolor ‘Asjes’), poplar ( Populus deltoides ‘Siouxland’), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba’) trees in containers were placed on load cells and one 30 mm TDP was placed into the trunk of each tree 30 cm above soil level. Over an extended time period, tree water loss was estimated using load cells and TDPs. Hourly TDP water loss estimates for each species over a three day period indicate TDP estimated water loss followed similar trends as load cell estimated water loss. However, TDP estimates were generally less than load cell estimates, especially during peak transpiration periods. For each species, mean total daily water loss estimates were less for TDP estimated water loss when compared to load cell estimated water loss. Although TDP estimated water loss has been correlated with actual tree water loss for many species, these data suggest errors may arise when using TDPs to estimate water loss of small, containerized landscape tree species.
Generic Data Modeling for Clinical Repositories

I~~~,~~~~~~ ~ Abstract Objective: To construct a large-scale clinical repository that accurately captures a detailed understanding of the data vital to the process of health care and that provides highly efficient access to patient information for the users of a clinical information system. Des&n: Conventional approaches to data modeling encourage the development of a highly specific data schema in order to capture as much information as possible about a given domain. In contrast, current database technology functions most effectively for clinical databases when a generic data schema is used. The technique of "generic data modeling" is presented as a method of reconciling these opposing views of clinical data, using formal operations to transform a detailed schema into a generic one. Results: A complex schema consisting of hundreds of entities and representing a rich set of constraints about the patient care domain is transformed into a generic schema consisting of roughly two dozen tables. The resulting database design is efficient for patient-oriented queries and is highly flexible in adapting to the changing information needs of a health care institution, particularly changes involving the collection of new data elements. Conclusion: Conventional approaches to data modeling can be used to develop rich, complex models of clinical data that are useful for understanding and managing the process of patient care. Generic data modeling techniques can successfully transform a detailed design into an efficient generic design that is flexible enough to meet the needs of an operational clinical information system.
Are all ICUs the same

The ability to compare intensive care units (ICUs) and determine whether they provide the same level of care with regard to efficacy, efficiency, and quality is a cornerstone of understanding critical care and improving the quality of that care. Without collecting high-quality data, adjusted for severity of illness and analyzed in a comparative fashion, it would not be possible to describe best practices objectively, to identify which ICUs are doing a good job or to learn from those units that are. This review article discusses how and why ICUs are compared. Particular attention is focused on the severity of illness scores, standardized mortality, and comparative reporting. A data collecting network, Virtual Pediatric Systems, limited liability corporation (VPS, LLC), designed for the purposes of determining where differences in critical care can be identified and the value that this adds in improving quality is discussed. Finally, results from this large data sharing collaborative describing the practice of pediatric critical care are included for the purpose of pediatric intensive care units practice benchmarks.
Sequential Auctions with Endogenously Determined Reserve Prices

This paper models an auction game in which two identical licenses for participating in an oligopolistic market are sold in a sequential auction. There is no incumbent. The auction for the fi rst license is as tandard first-price, sealed-bid type with an exogenously set reserve price, while the second uses the price of the first unit as the reserve price. This auction rule mimics the license auction for the Turkish Global Mobile Telecommunications in 2000. For some parameter values of the model, this auction setup generates less or equal revenue as selling the monopoly right with the second-price, sealed-bid auction. However, for other parameter values, the seller may get higher revenues.
Spectroscopic properties of Er-doped Y2O3 ceramic related to mid-IR laser transition

We have recently demonstrated efficient high power CW laser operation in Er doped Y 2 O 3 at cryogenic temperature. The selection of laser host was based on the low-phonon nature of Y 2 O 3 , where the 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 13/2 transition is highly radiative. Further increases in mid-IR power scaling and efficiency require in-depth study and analysis of basic spectroscopic properties of the 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 13/2 laser transition, such as laser emission cross- sections, fluorescence quantum efficiency, fluorescence branching ratios and inter-ionic interactions in a wide dopant-concentration and temperature range. In this work, we report the results of experimental measurements of quantum efficiency and branching ratio of the erbium initial laser state of 4 I 11/2 in Y 2 O 3 ceramic at the temperature range of 10 - 300 K. A series of Er:Y 2 O 3 samples with dopant concentration between 0.2-10 at.% were used for fluorescence and absorption measurements. The fluorescence from the energy states corresponding to the visible, IR, and mid-IR transitions were studied under shortpulsed diode laser excitation. Spectrally-narrowed fiber-coupled semiconductor laser modules emitting at ~ 808, 980, and 1530 nm with variable power density were used for fluorescence excitation of three different Er states. The energy transfer processes for both down- and up-conversion, affecting the Er:Y 2 O 3 mid-IR laser operation, were analyzed. A comparison between the experimental and simulation results are presented as well.
Energy trade-offs in the IBM wristwatch computer

We recently demonstrated a high function wrist watch computer prototype that runs the Linux operating system and also XII graphics libraries. In this paper we describe the unique energy related challenges and tradeoffs we encountered while building this watch. We show that the usage duty factor for the device heavily dictates which of the powers, active power or sleep power, needs to be minimized more aggressively in order to achieve the longest perceived battery life. We also describe the energy issues that percolate through several layers of software all the way from device usage scenarios, applications, user interfaces, system level software to device drivers. All of these need to be systematically addressed to achieve the battery life dictated by the hardware components and the capacity of the battery in the device.
Capsule Commentary on Trowbridge et al., Development and Impact of a Novel Academic Primary Compensation Model

T he observational study by Trowbridge et al. relates to a novel academic primary care physician compensation model. The institution faced a crisis in retaining academic general internists using a compensation model based on RVUs (relative value units). It responded by stabilizing salaries for a year and engaging consultants to prioritize needs and empower the stakeholders. Focus groups were created to identify the most important aspects of compensation. Using this information, the leadership came up with three compensation models which were voted upon by the faculty, with an overwhelming majority choosing a compensation plan which had a 50 % salary base, with an additional 25 % coming from panel size and an additional 25 % coming from patient visit productivity. In addition to improving retention, internal medicine academic physicians had greater satisfaction with the payment plan structure and annual salary. Panel sizes increased, lining up with the need for population health priorities, though there was a drop in overall RVUs. Interpretation of the findings is hampered by the fact that the comparison group comprised family practitioners and pediatricians at their institution rather than academic internists at other institutions, and by the lack of an examination of their data before and after changes were instituted. Nevertheless, this study addresses a timely issue in general internal medicine at academic centers: How do you reconcile quality of care without affecting volume, productivity, salaries and physician compensation and satisfaction, while improving patient care? The physician model discussed by the authors appears to be successful at their institution, but came at a financial cost to the institution, making it less likely that it can be widely applied. For clinicians and administrators, this study provides a good example of how to respond to an unfavorable situation. It demonstrates the importance of obtaining buy-in at all levels by involving outside help through consultants and internal creative physician panel discussions in order to come up with innovative solutions. It also demonstrates the benefit of a democratic process through voting on the best plan of action. All in all, an excellent lesson in teamwork.
Simultaneous determination of ethyl carbamate and 4-(5-)methylimidazole in yellow rice wine and soy sauce by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry.

We developed a new method, based on alkaline diatomite solid-phase extraction followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, for the simultaneous determination of the toxic contaminants ethyl carbamate (EC) and 4-(5-)methylimidazole (4-MEI) in yellow rice wine and soy sauce. The optimal extraction conditions were defined. With the application of alkaline diatomite solid-phase extraction, damage to the capillary column by organic acids was greatly reduced. With deuterated EC used as the internal standard, the linearity of the calibration curves for EC and 4-MEI was good with correlation coefficient above 0.99. In a spiked experiment with EC and 4-MEI in yellow rice wine and soy sauce, recovery of the added EC was 80.5–102.5% and that of 4-MEI was 78.3–92.8%. The limit of quantification and limit of detection for EC were 6.0 and 2.0 μg/kg, respectively, and for 4-MEI were 15.0 and 5.0 μg/kg, respectively. The validation results demonstrate that the method is fast, simple, and selective, and therefore is suitable for simultaneously determining the presence of EC and 4-MEI in fermented food.
Certain pleasures, ambiguous grounds: the etymology and evolution of the pleasure garden

‘Pleasure garden’ and ‘pleasure ground’ are two terms with ambiguous meanings in the landscape historian's vocabulary. While they are used to describe spatial patterns designed for human usage from the seventeenth century to the present, their specific characteristics are not constant, resulting over time in at least three different, even contradictory, definitions. Multiple uses lead to confusion in which the terms and the spaces they represent are largely irrelevant as open space models in discussions of designed landscapes. Seeking a way through which the etymology of these terms might be better understood, the author first examines references and their evolutionary uses from the seventeenth century to the present. Then the different ways that recent landscape historians have used the terms_as a means through which present-day designers and landscape historians might become better acquainted with this typology's evolution—are explored.
Accounting for the Effects of Environment on the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle

Abstract The maintenance requirements of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System were revised to evaluate the effects of activity, temperature, and humidity. Four dairy heifer situations were simulated (1 = clean and dry, 2 = moderately matted hair coat, 3 = condition 2 plus 10-cm lot mud from November to March, and 4 = condition 1 plus 16-kph wind) to represent typical conditions of the northern and southwestern US. In the northern condition, predicted daily gain was 0.88, 0.60, 0.53, and 0.68 kg/ d for the four environmental situations; corresponding values for the Southwest were 0.88, 0.88, 0.78, and 0.88. Environmentally neutral daily gain was 0.94 kg/ d to a BW of 603 kg at first calving at 20.3 mo of age. Calving age was increased when environmental stress extended the age at which puberty weight was reached. Calving weight was decreased when environmental stress occurred after conception. Twelve environmental conditions (variable temperature, humidity, and housing) for lactating dairy cows were simulated. At 30°C and no night cooling, predicted milk production decreased 2.6 and 11.9 kg/d at 20 and 80% humidity, respectively. Increased activity reduced predicted milk production to 0.4 to 1.3 kg/d in confinement scenarios and to 0.9 to 7.5 kg in grazing scenarios.
Reflection and transmission coefficients of a periodic dielectric slab

The plane-wave reflection and transmission coefficients of a dielectric slab having a sinusoidal variation of its permittivity are deduced from the solution of the full electromagnetic boundary-value problem and compared with the results of the approximate procedure based on the coupled-mode equations for the slowly varying amplitudes.
An architecture for adaptive intelligent systems

Our goal is to understand and build comprehensive agents that function effectively in challenging niches. In particular, we identify a class of niches to be occupied by ''adaptive intelligent systems (AISs)''. In contrast with niches occupied by typical AI agents, AIS niches present situations that vary dynamically along several key dimensions: different combinations of required tasks, different configurations of available resources, contextual conditions ranging from benign to stressful, and different performance criteria. We present a small class hierarchy of AIS niches that exhibit these dimensions of variability and describe a particular AIS niche, ICU (intensive care unit) patient monitoring, which we use for illustration throughout the paper. To function effectively throughout the range of situations presented by an AIS niche, an agent must be highly adaptive. In contrast with the rather Stereotypie behavior of typical AI agents, an AIS must adapt several key aspects of its behavior to its dynamic situation: its perceptual strategy, its control mode, its choices of reasoning tasks to perform, its choices of reasoning methods for performing chosen tasks; and its meta-control strategy for global coordination of all its behavior. We have designed and implemented an agent architecture that supports all of these different kinds of adaptation by exploiting a single underlying theoretical concept:An agent dynamically constructs explicit control plans to guide its choices among situation-triggered behaviors. The architecture has been used to build experimental agents for several AIS niches. We illustrate the architecture and its support for adaptation with examples from Guardian, an experimental agent for ICU monitoring.
A Decade of Geomorphic and Hydraulic Response to the La Valle Dam Project, Baraboo River, Wisconsin

We investigate stream response to the La Valle Dam removal and channel reconstruction by estimating channel hydraulic parameter values and changes in sedimentation within the reservoir. The designed channel reconstruction after the dam removal included placement of a riffle structure at the former dam site. Stream surveys undertaken in 1984 by Federal Emergency Management Agency and in 2001 by Doyle et al. were supplemented with surveys in 2009 and 2011 to study the effects of the instream structure. We created a model in HEC-RAS IV and surface maps in Surfer© using the 1984, 2009, and 2011 surveys. The HEC-RAS IV model for 2009 channel conditions indicates that the riffle structure decreases upstream channel shear stress and velocity, causing renewed deposition of sediment within the former reservoir. We estimate by 2009, 61% of former reservoir sediments were removed during dam removal and channel reconstruction. Between 2009 and 2011 renewed sedimentation within the former reservoir represented approximately 7.85% of the original reservoir volume. The HEC-RAS IV models show the largest impacts of the dam and riffle structure occur at flood magnitudes at or below bankfull. Thus, the riffle and the dam similarly alter channel hydraulics and sediment transport. As such, our models indicate that the La Valle Dam project was a dam replacement rather than a removal. Our results confirm that channel reconstruction method can alter channel hydraulics, geomorphology, and sediment mobility.
Nanoporous Polytetrafluoroethylene/Silica Composite Separator as a High-Performance All-Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Membrane

A novel low-cost nanoporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/silica composite separator has been prepared and evaluated for its use in an all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRB). The separator consists of silica particles enmeshed in a PTFE fibril matrix. It possesses unique nanoporous structures with an average pore size of 38 nm and a porosity of 48%. These pores function as the ion transport channels during redox flow battery operation. This separator provides excellent electrochemical performance in the mixed-acid VRB system. The VRB using this separator delivers impressive energy efficiency, rate capability, and temperature tolerance. In additon, the flow cell using the novel separator also demonstrates an exceptional capacity retention capability over extended cycling, thus offering excellent stability for long-term operation. The characteristics of low cost, excellent electrochemical performance and proven chemical stability afford the PTFE/silica nanoporous separator great potential as a substitute for the Nafion membrane used in VRB applications.
International convergence in regulation: The case of measurable standards

Recent literature on competition in regulation concludes that the iterative adjustment that may start with mutual recognition is an open-ended process. This paper shows that, even without acceptance of reciprocal minimum standards, a process of iterative adjustment may be triggered by the coexistence of foreign goods with high standard levels and domestic goods with relatively low standard levels. Focusing on the case of international heterogeneity of levels of a specific standard, the paper offers an intuitive counter-argument to the fear that free trade necessarily implies a “race to the bottom“ of standard levels.
Determination of Peanut Maturity Using a Hunter Colorimeter

Abstract Peanut maturity has previously been correlated with the color of the mesocarp of the peanut hull going from light to dark as the peanut matures. In this study, peanuts were sorted into maturity classes of yellow, orange A, orange B, brown and black based on the hull scrape method of Williams and Drexler. The Hunter L*, a*, and b* values were also measured on the dry pods for each class. The color of the mesocarp of freshly harvested peanuts was determined using a Hunter colorimeter. Hunter L*, a*, and b* values on individual peanuts, representative of each class using wet and dry hulls, were reproducibly determined with standard deviations of less than 0.8%. Yellow peanut pods had a median L* value of 70.0, while mature black peanut pods had a median L* value of 51.7 and median values for orange A, orange B and brown pods were, 68.0, 63.7, 57.0, respectively. A similar inverse relationship was observed for the b* value and maturity, while the a* value reached a maximum at orange A. No correlation...
The radiation grafting of vinyl monomers to cotton fabrics—II Diethylphosphatoethyl methacrylate to cotton flannelette for fire retardancy

Abstract Cobalt 60 γ and electron beam radiation were used to graft diethylphosphatoethyl methacrylate, pure and in 90:10 methanol solution, to cotton cloth. This monomer, with an 11.64% phosphorus content, was especially developed by the Scott Paper Co. to develop fire retardancy. A simple pad and squeeze application followed by direct irradiation under a nitrogen atmosphere was used. Although excess monomer could be removed by washing with water, no solvent for the polymer was found so only the total “add-ons” could be measured. With 60 Co irradiation, total polymerization was obtained with more than 1 Mrad but with electron beam irradiation only about 50% conversion was obtained even with 10 Mrad. No acceleration in the rates could be achieved with the viscous pure monomer as opposed to in solution. Yields adequate to impart reasonable fire retardancy could, however, be obtained with about 3 Mrad with electrons. No noticeable degradation of the polymer occured at the doses used.
Predicting Protein-Protein Interaction Based on Fisher Scores Extracted from Domain Profiles

In this work, we propose a machine learning method to identify protein-protein interacting partners based on domain level knowledge that can take into account information about the interaction sites. The general approach is to use the profile hidden Markov models of protein domains and the known interactions between domains to train a support vector machine. Proteins are characterized by the vectors of fisher scores that are obtained from comparing the protein sequences to the hidden Markov model for a given domain. Protein pairs, represented by concatenation of their respective fisher score vectors, are classified as interacting partners and non interacting partners by a trained SVM. By selecting the fisher scores based on a profile hidden Markov model that differentiates the interaction sites from other residues within the domain, we demonstrated that the prediction accuracy was significantly improved, as measured in a series of cross validation experiments.
Signal inpainting on graphs via total variation minimization

We propose a novel recovery algorithm for signals with complex, irregular structure that is commonly represented by graphs. Our approach is a generalization of the signal inpainting technique from classical signal processing. We formulate corresponding minimization problems and demonstrate that in many cases they have closed-form solutions. We discuss a relation of the proposed approach to regression, provide an upper bound on the error for our algorithm and compare the proposed technique with other existing algorithms on real-world datasets.
Free phenolic substances in blood plasma.

SummaryA detailed examination of the free estrone fraction of alumina column chromatograms of extracts of blood plasma has shown that when elution is performed with 0.25, 0.50 and then 1% ethanol in benzene instead of only using 1% ethanol in benzene, the free “estrone” fraction actually consisted of a substance slightly less polar than estrone. Free “estrone” is seldom found in plasma. Two of 15 samples contained 7.6 and 2.3 μg/ 100 ml plasma. The fraction which presumably contained estradiol-17β contained other material. The so-called estradiol-17β fraction averaged 6.5 μg/100 ml plasma.
Note on Owner's Estimate of Housing Value

Abstract This study compares owner's estimates of house value and professional appraisals for a sample of owner occupied single family and multifamily units in St. Louis. It confirms the findings of an earlier study by Kish and Lansing that: (1) the errors of estimate are quite large for individual properties, but, (2) the errors are largely offsetting for reasonably sized samples. In addition, the analysis indicates errors of estimate are systematically related to the socioeconomic characteristics of the owner-occupants and that knowledge of these biases can be used to improve the accuracy of both the individual and aggregate estimates of market value.
IS THERE A BASIS FOR TELEOLOGY IN PHYSICS

. The basic laws of physics for particles and fields can be formulated in terms of variational principles. The initial development of a variational principle had distinct teleological implications. The formulation of physical laws in terms of variational principles is outlined with specific reference to classical and quantum mechanics and field theory. Because of time irreversibility no variational principle exists for thermodynamics. In order to obtain time irreversibility molecular trajectories must be abandoned in the lowest-level description of complex multicomponent systems. A more open set of possibilities results. I suggest that this may be more consistent with a modern teleology.
Three Dimensional Perception Produced By Two 2 Dimensional Geometric Patterns Presented With Brief Exposure Times And Time Intervals

This paper examines the three dimensional perception of human subjects who observe two 2 dimensional geometric patterns at brief exposure times and time intervals without the aid of a stereoscope. In general, presenting two 2 dimensional geometric patterns at the proper spacing, exposure times, and time intervals produces two dimensional movement perception in human observers. The observer sees a set of patterns moving in a lateral direction, from its first location to its second. The lateral two dimensional movement perception occurs over a wide range of exposure times and time intervals of stimulus patterns. Some geometric patterns presented at certain limited exposure times and time intervals, however, produce three dimensional patterns. The present research investigates the range of the conditions necessary for producing three dimensional pattern recognitions while presenting two dimensional patterns. The research may provide an understanding of human pattern recognition processes and aid in improving man-machine systems.© (1975) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Analysis of affinity based routing in multi-system data sharing

Abstract The rapid growth in the transaction rate requirement of high volume database systems has forced users and vendors to (a) couple multiple database systems to run against a common database, and (b) to implement each single system with faster processors. Multiple system coupling incurs performance degradation due to inter-system interference: inter-system (global) lock contention and database buffer invalidation. At high transaction rates, the level of inter-system interference can have a severe impact on performance. In this paper, we exploit transaction routing as a means of reducing inter-system interference and quantify its effect. A methodology, employing an integer linear programming technique, is developed to classify incoming transactions into affinity groups based on their database call reference pattern. The key idea of affinity based routing is to determine affinity groups and route transactions in the same affinity group to the same system. Based on traces from two of IBM's high volume single system customers, we find that, at high transaction rates, affinity based routing significantly reduces lock contention probability and leads to a substantial reduction in transaction response time. Improvement in hierarchical locking by taking advantage of affinity based routing is demonstrated. Further, the reduction in inter-system data contention produces a large impact on the performance of an optimistic type concurrency control strategy.
The gauge invariant supersymmetric nonlinear sigma model

Abstract We construct the gauge invariant supersymmetric nonlinear sigma model. Our results are expressed in the language of Kahler geometry. They lead to a new interpretation of the Fayet-Iliopoulos D-term.
Rapid induction of Thy-1 antigenic markers on keratinocytes and epidermal immune cells in the skin of mice following topical treatment with common preservatives used in topical medications and in foods

Earlier experiments from our laboratory revealed that the medication most commonly used for depigmenting patients with vitiligo, monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone (MBEH), when applied to the skin of DBA/2 mice caused an increase in the population density (cells/mm2) of identifiable Ia+ and ATPase+ Langerhans cells. Further, this increase in Langerhans cell density could be correlated with an increase of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reactivity to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). The current experiments demonstrated that other compounds chemically similar to MBEH, such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), which are used as preservatives/antioxidants in many topical medications, cosmetics, food, and rubber products, can in five days significantly increase the population density of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells. These compounds had no effects on Ia + cells. This observation suggests that the Thy-1+ DEC cells may be more mobile and/or their surface markers may be readily expressed and are not a slowly mobile (trafficking) population of cells as suggested by the results of previous work. In addition, these parasubstituted phenolic compounds behaved like pertussis toxin and induced Thy-1 and Ia expression on keratinocytes. These changes in Thy-1 immune markers were not accompanied by functional alterations in the immune response to contact allergens as measured by the ear swelling technique.
Where has experimental petrology gone

Experimental petrology has now spread throughout Japan. New, exciting high-pressure petrology experiments, with innovative instruments that have names like “MAX-80,” “MASS,” and the “Photon Factory,” are being conducted at more than 20 Japanese laboratories. The purpose of the experiments has been to map out the research area encompassing conditions that duplicate those of the earth's upper mantle, extending through the transition zone (1 bar-225 kbar, or 0.0001-22.5 GPa). The experimental techniques in these studies are second in importance only to the broad and extensive scientific issues. There are numerous efforts to determine phase relations, melting phenomena, calorimetric values, and elastic properties of mantle mineral assemblages at the corresponding pressures and temperatures. The results of these efforts were in considerable evidence at the recent U.S.-Japan conference on High-Pressure Research Applications in Geophysics and Geochemistry, which was held in Kahuku, Hawaii, January 13–16, 1986. Papers in experimental petrology were presented by researchers from 12 Japanese universities and nine Japanese national research institutes, and from 11 U.S. universities, three U.S. National Laboratories. In addition, papers were presented by researchers from individual universities in Australia, Canada, and West Germany.
Framework Support For Knowledge-Based Software Development

The advent of personal engineering workstations has brought substantial information processing power to the individual programmer. Advanced tools and environment capabilities supporting the software lifecycle are just beginning to become generally available. However, many of these tools are addressing only part of the software development problem by focusing on rapid construction of self-contained programs by a small group of talented engineers. Additional capabilities are required to support the development of large programming systems where a high degree of coordination and communication is required among large numbers of software engineers, hardware engineers, and managers. A major player in realizing these capabilities is the framework supporting the software development environment. In this paper we discuss our research toward a Knowledge-Based Software Assistant (KBSA) framework. We propose the development of an advanced framework containing a distributed knowledge base that can support the data representation needs of tools, provide environmental support for the formalization and control of the software development process, and offer a highly interactive and consistent user interface.
Femtosecond laser irradiation enhanced room temperature tin oxide nanostructure gas sensor

Tin oxide (SnO 2 ) thin film gas sensors that function at room temperature have been fabricated on nanostructured substrates. After femtosecond laser irradiation of the surface of the SnO 2 , the sensitivity to gases, for example, carbon monoxide, increased noticeably. The dependence of the sensitivity on the number of laser pulses has been investigated. It is believed that the femtosecond laser pulses generate defects in a thin layer on the SnO 2 sensor surface. These defects may result in a potential energy well creating surface bound states for electrons to move on the surface, which increases the sensitivity to gases.
The platform- and hardware-in-the-loop simulator for multi-robot cooperation

This paper presents a platform- and hardware-in-the-loop simulator (PHILS), which was developed for the evaluation of cooperative performance of multiple autonomous robots and their testing in virtual environments. The simulator consists of computers each with a graphics processing unit (GPU), monitors, a network switch that links the computers, and a server-client simulation software system installed on the computers. The cooperative performance of multiple autonomous robots can be evaluated by linking computers each to be mounted on a robot to the network and running and testing autonomous robots in a virtual environment. Unlike the conventional hardware-in-the-loop simulators or multi-robot simulators, the primary advantage of the PHILS is that it can test cooperative autonomous robots and analyze their cooperative performance as well as hardware performance in a real-time virtual environment, enabling the implementation of synchronous and asynchronous communication strategies and the control of communication delay and loss.
VEGF gene transfer mobilizes endothelial progenitor cells in patients with inoperable coronary disease.

Abstract Background . Direct transfection of ischemic myocardium with naked plasmid DNA encoding for vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (VEGF 165 ) has been shown to mobilize endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). This study examined the kinetics of circulating EPCs isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells after gene transfer, and their role in neovascularization of ischemic myocardium. Methods . The mononuclear cell population was isolated from peripheral venous blood samples of patients with functional class III or IV angina receiving intramyocardial VEGF 165 gene transfer. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined by an in vitro EPC culture assay and fluorescent-activated cell sorting. The data were compared with a control group consisting of patients who had undergone off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting without receiving gene transfer. Results . Coinciding with a rise in VEGF levels, mobilization of EPCs increased significantly over base line for 9 weeks after the treatment (121 ± 14 cells/mm 2 versus 36.8 ± 8 cells/mm 2 , p v β 3 ], CD62E [E-selectin], CD34, and KDR. The control group failed to show significant mobilization of EPCs. Conclusions . Mobilization of EPCs with resultant postnatal vasculogenesis, may play a role in revascularizing ischemic myocardium following human gene transfer with VEGF 165 .
AIDS communication: what predicts health professionals' decisions?

Theoretical models from the persuasion/health communication literature have identified many components such as message appeal, audience attributes and channel characteristics that need to be addres...
The dissociation of ATP from hsp70 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is stimulated by both Ydj1p and peptide substrates.

hsp70 proteins of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes possess both ATPase and peptide binding activities. These two activities are crucial for the chaperone activity of hsp70 proteins. The activity of DnaK, the primary hsp70 of Escherichia coli, is modulated by the GrpE and DnaJ proteins. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the predominant cytosolic hsp70, Ssa1p, interacts with a DnaJ homologue, Ydj1p. In order to better understand the function of the Ssa1p/Ydj1p chaperone, the effects of polypeptide substrates and Ydj1p on Ssa1p ATPase activity were assessed using a combination of steady-state kinetic analysis and single turnover substrate hydrolysis experiments. Polypeptide substrates and Ydj1p both serve to stimulate ATPase activity of Ssa1p. The two types of effector are biochemically distinct, each conferring a characteristic K+ dependence on Ssa1p ATPase activity. However, in single turnover ATP hydrolysis experiments, both polypeptide substrates and Ydj1p destabilized the ATP·Ssa1p complex through a combination of accelerated hydrolysis of bound ATP and accelerated release of ATP from Ssa1p. The acceleration of ATP release by Ydj1p is a previously unidentified function of a DnaJ homologue. In the case of Ydj1p-stimulated Ssa1p, steady-state ATPase activity is increased less than 2-fold at physiological K+ concentrations, despite a 15-fold increase in the hydrolysis of bound ATP. The primary effect of Ydj1p appears to be to disfavor an ATP form of Ssa1p. On the other hand, peptide stimulation of Ssa1p ATPase activity was enhanced at physiological K+ concentrations, supporting the idea that cycles of ATP hydrolysis play an important role in the interaction of hsp70 with polypeptide substrates. The enhanced ATP dissociation caused by both polypeptide substrates and Ydj1p may play a role in the regulation of Ssa1p chaperone activity by altering the relative abundance of ATP- and ADP-bound forms.
Analysis of surfaces and thin films

Abstract The aim of this review is to provide a guide for the occasional user of would-be user to the readily available and best-documented techniques that have been used or may be used to supplement the data from other experimental methods. The following types of technique are described: techniques utilizing an incident beam of electrons; techniques utilizing an incident beam of ions; techniques utilizing an incident beam of photons. Acoustic microscopy and spark source mass spectrometry are also mentioned.