cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rejuvenation of forest trees

Phase change, or maturation, in woody plants not only results in changes in growth behavior, but results in increased difficulty in vegetatively propagating select individuals. The process of maturation in woody plants is discussed, with emphasis on methods for reversal of the process, including use of plant growth regulators and tissue culture. Since maturation is manifested by changes in growth behavior, foliar morphology, phyllotaxy, reproductive competence, in addition to numerous other traits, care must be taken to evaluate the effectiveness of rejuvenation methods in terms of all of these traits. Several hypotheses on the mechanism for phase change are discussed.
EFFECT OF LATITUDE ON PHENOLOGY OF 'COLT' WINTER WHEAT*

Abstract Information is lacking on the effect of latitude, i.e., photoperiod, on winter wheat development rate through heading independent of the effect of temperature. The cultivar ‘Colt’ was grown in identically-conducted trials at Manhattan, KS and Mandan, ND over a 2-year period which also involved nitrogen rates, water levels, and another cultivar. Plant development stage was monitored at least once a week with designations based on the Haun or Zadoks-Chang-Konzak scale. The flag leaf stage on the main-stem was leaf 7 at Manhattan and leaf 8 at Mandan, regardless of whether autumn-grown leaves froze or did not freeze during the winter. Number of growing degree-days per Haun stage through heading was five to ten lower at Mandan than Manhattan, and differed between years at both locations, but number of photothermal units per Haun stage through heading was greater at Mandan than Manhattan. Conclusive evidence is lacking that photoperiod affected winter wheat development rate independent of air temperature between 39° and 47° N latitude.
The inhibition by ouabain of phospholipid turnover in the myocardium of the rabbit.

Abstract The effect of ouabain on phospholipid turnover was studied in vitro in slices of rabbit atria. Tissue strips were incubated in Krebs-Ringer buffer containing [ 33 P]orthophosphate and the transfer of the tracer to intracellular phosphate pools and into phospholipid phosphorous monitored. Tissue phosphatides were isolated by thin layer chromatography and the incorporation of 33 P into phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol determined. Ouabain, 10 −5 m , decreased the specific activity of the precursor phosphate pool by 39%, but also decreased incorporation of 33 P into phosphatidyl ethanolamine by 96%, phosphatidyl choline by 72% and phosphatidyl inositol by 65%. Ouabain thus decreased both total phosphate turnover and the turnover of specific phosphatides. Since the latter effect could not be explained solely on the basis of altered specific activity of the precursor phosphate pool, and the degree of inhibition of incorporation into different phosphatides was not uniform, it is concluded that in rabbit atrium ouabain has a specific inhibitory effect on the intracellular turnover of particular phosphatides.
The Problem With “Proficiency”: Limitations of Statistics and Policy Under No Child Left Behind:

The Percentage of Proficient Students (PPS) has become a ubiquitous statistic under the No Child Left Behind Act. This focus on proficiency has statistical and substantive costs. The author demonstrates that the PPS metric offers only limited and unrepresentative depictions of large-scale test score trends, gaps, and gap trends. The limitations are unpredictable, dramatic, and difficult to correct in the absence of other data. Interpretation of these depictions generally leads to incorrect or incomplete inferences about distributional change. The author shows how the statistical shortcomings of these depictions extend to shortcomings of policy, from exclusively encouraging score gains near the proficiency cut score to shortsighted comparisons of state and national testing results. The author proposes alternatives for large-scale score reporting and argues that a distribution-wide perspective on results is required for any serious analysis of test score data, including “growth”-related results under the re...
Reducing margins of wide local excision in head and neck melanoma for function and cosmesis: 5‐year local recurrence‐free survival

Background The proximity of head and neck (H&N) melanomas to critical anatomical structures requires that surgeons achieve a balance between adequate margins of excision and the functional and cosmetic needs of patients. This study sought to determine the risk associated with reducing margins of wide local excision (WLE) in H&N melanoma and to identify risk factors of recurrence. Methods Seventy-nine cases of primary, invasive H&N melanoma were treated by WLE and followed prospectively for local recurrence. Forty-two WLEs were performed according to current practice guidelines (1cm for lesions 2.0 mm thick). Reduced margins (0.5 cm for lesions ≤1.0 mm thick, 0.5–1.0 cm for lesions 1.01–2.0 mm thick, and 1.0 cm for lesion >2.0 mm thick) were utilized in 37 cases to preserve critical anatomical structures such as the eyelid, nose, mouth and auricle. Results Overall local recurrence rate was 8.9% over a mean follow-up period of 71.3 months and a minimum of 60 months. Reducing margins of WLE did not increase local recurrence rates as demonstrated by local recurrence-free survival (90.4% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.806). Conclusion Margins of WLE may be safely reduced in melanomas in close proximity to structures of the H&N without affecting local recurrence rates. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:795–799. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tortula brevissima Schiffn., New to North America

Tortula brevissima Schiffn, is recognized in coastal California, USA. It is described and distinguished from other local species of Tortula and Crossidium seriatum Crum & Steere, with which it has been confused. Currently known distribution and habitat in California are given. Drawings, reproduced from Cano (2006) are shown.
The code COSY INFINITY

COSY INFINITY is a design and simulation code for particle accelerators, guidance systems, and spectrometers utilizing novel techniques. It allows the computation and manipulation of maps of arbitrary systems including fringe fields and other s-dependent effects to arbitrary order, including the dependence of system parameters. Maps can be analyzed and manipulated in a variety of ways, including normal form techniques. COSY's object-oriented language concept allows very complicated layouts, boundary conditions, optimizations strategies and control requirements to be phrased in a very natural way and also provides a very powerful environment to treat general problems with differential algebraic methods. Besides its analytical power, the code allows a highly interactive graphics-based study and design of systems. >
Analyses for elucidating current question answering technology

In this paper, we take a detailed look at the performance of components of an idealized question answering system on two different tasks: the TREC Question Answering task and a set of reading comprehension exams. We carry out three types of analysis: inherent properties of the data, feature analysis, and performance bounds. Based on these analyses we explain some of the performance results of the current generation of Q/A systems and make predictions on future work. In particular, we present four findings: (1) Q/A system performance is correlated with answer repetition; (2) relative overlap scores are more effective than absolute overlap scores; (3) equivalence classes on scoring functions can be used to quantify performance bounds; and (4) perfect answer typing still leaves a great deal of ambiguity for a Q/A system because sentences often contain several items of the same type.
Web-based curriculum as a pedagogic tool for e-learning, in network security

This research investigates the suitability of a Web based pedagogic tool, for delivering network security courses in an educational framework. Our research is based on the Cisco network academy program, a comprehensive Web-based interactive curriculum, for computer networking. We consider the curriculum usage, and views expressed by lecturers and students, to assess whether this method could be usefully incorporated to include specific sections of information security subject domain. Curriculum usage data was collected, by analysing log files of the Web server, which hosts the pedagogic documents. An on-line survey was administered, within the network academy community, in Europe Middle East and Africa. Results are extrapolated, to assess the suitability of the proposed deployment of network security curriculum. The deviation from current e-learning paradigms is addressed, in relation to the use of new technology such as Internet protocol TV (IPTV) multicasting for distance learning, targeted at combining the social context of learning to content delivery.
A power control scheme for MANETs with improved throughput and energy consumption

We propose a new power-control protocol for medium access control (MAC) in mobile ad hoc networks. Compared with the EEEE 802.11 approach, the proposed protocol achieves significant improvement in both throughput and energy consumption. The protocol relies on dynamic adjustment of the data-packet transmission power, while maintaining a fixed (maximum) transmission power for control (RTS/CTS) packets. Furthermore, it allows nodes to control the transmission power of the route request (RREQ) packets, which indirectly influences the next-hop selection at the upper routing layer. This is done by dynamically computing a node-dependent connectivity set. RREQ packets are broadcasted only to nodes within the connectivity set. The connectivity set guarantees the node's connectivity to the rest of the network, while at the same time enabling a simple (min-hop) routing algorithm to provide power-efficient routes. Channel gain and directional information obtain from overheard RTS/CTS exchanges are used to compute the connectivity set. Our protocol allows for concurrent yet interference-limited transmissions to take place in the vicinity of a receiver. A modified RTS/CTS exchange allows nodes to broadcast their interference margins and requested transmission powers.
System-Type Neural Network Architectures for Power Systems

Neural networks have been applied in various new ways to the manifold problems in power systems. The great majority of neural network designs attempt to model a dynamic mapping with one neural network. Recently, attempts have been made at using system-type neural networks for distributed parameter systems, where the system dynamics is distributed over a spatial-temporal domain. In this paper, system-type neural networks is illustrated, which are designed using semigroup theory. The objective will be either to achieve extrapolation of functional patterns along one axis, or to achieve a forecasting of functional patterns in multiple axes.
Switch cache: a framework for improving the remote memory access latency of CC-NUMA multiprocessors

Cache coherent non-uniform memory access (CC-NUMA) multiprocessors continue to suffer from remote memory access latencies due to comparatively slow memory technology and data transfer latencies in the interconnection network. We propose a novel hardware caching technique, called switch cache. The main idea is to implement small fast caches in crossbar switches of the interconnect medium to capture and store shared data as they flow from the memory module to the requesting processor. This stored data acts as a cache for subsequent requests, thus reducing the latency of remote memory accesses tremendously. The implementation of a cache in a crossbar switch needs to be efficient and robust, yet flexible for changes in the caching protocol. The design and implementation details of a CAche Embedded Switch ARchitecture, CAESAR, using wormhole routing with virtual channels is presented. Using detailed execution-driven simulations, we find that the CAESAR switch cache is capable of improving the performance of CC-NUMA multiprocessors by reducing the number of reads served at distant remote memories by up to 45% and improving the application execution time by as high as 20%. We conclude that the switch caches provide a cost-effective solution for designing high performance CC-NUMA multiprocessors.
Importance of the olfactory sense to migratory sea lampreys Petromyzon marinus seeking riverine spawning habitat

This study tested the hypothesis that the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, a diadromous species of fish, relies on innately discerned odours, including pheromones, to locate riverine spawning habitat. Migratory, sexually immature P. marinus were captured as they entered streams flowing into the Great Lakes, and their olfactory systems were occluded or not by injecting either innocuous dental impression material or a saline control into their nasopores. Animals were then released back into lakes or streams and their recapture rates in stream traps noted. When released into Lake Huron, P. marinus with intact (functional) olfactory systems were very successful in locating rivers (recapture rates ranged up to 65%), while animals with occluded nasopores were virtually unable to do so and had recapture rates five to 20 times lower than intact animals. With few exceptions, intact fish entered the stream closest to their release point within a few days, irrespective of where they had been originally captured; their ability to locate streams is apparently innate and well developed. In contrast, when released within streams, both intact and occluded P. marinus successfully swam upstream to traps for several days although the ability of the former exceeded that of the latter after this period. Migratory P. marinus rely heavily on olfactory cues, of which a larval pheromone is presumably one, to locate river mouths and to a lesser extent to promote upstream movement within rivers.
Facilitating Mental Health Service Use for Caregivers: Referral Strategies among Child Welfare Caseworkers

Unmet needs for mental health care are common among caregivers involved in the child welfare system. Although child welfare caseworkers are well positioned to identify service needs and refer caregivers to treatment, little is known about the types of referral strategies used in practice, or their effectiveness for promoting mental health service use. The current study examined child welfare caseworkers' use of different referral strategies and the extent to which these strategies are associated with caregivers' receipt of mental health services within a national sample of child welfare cases. Analyses of the second cohort of families from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being suggest that child welfare workers more often use informational strategies for referring caregivers, including suggesting treatment or providing information about treatment options. However, social referral strategies such as providing caregivers with direct assistance in completing applications and making and attending appointments were associated with a greater likelihood of caregivers receiving mental health services. Findings support evidence from other service contexts that service use is facilitated by caseworkers' direct support for arranging services. Implications for research and for child welfare managers and administrators are discussed.
How treatable is refractory depression

Abstract Introduction Patients who do not remit following one or more attempts at treatment present a clinical challenge, as well as prolonged suffering and disability. Discouragement is common, so knowledge of likelihood of eventual remission as well as which treatments might ultimately be effective would help patient and clinician alike. Method Thirty-one patients with major depression were recruited, 28 beginning study treatment. All had remained significantly depressed following adequate (4 weeks taking ≥ PDR maximum dose) trials on ≥ two antidepressants having different presumed mechanisms. Patients were begun on tranylcypromine to 60 mg/d, were then treated with up to 120 mg/d and then had dextroamphetamine added. Following two week wash-out, patients were then treated with nortriptyline+lithium, and then phenelzine was added. Each successive phase was entered only if remission had not been achieved, and phases could be skipped. Results Eighteen of the 28 patients (65%) remitted in one of the five phases of the study, plus 5 additional patients with open post-study treatment (total remitting, 82%). By study phase, Eight of 27 (30%) patients remitted with initial dosing of tranylcypromine up to 60 mg/d, 6/18 (33%) remitted with above PDR dosing of tranylcypromine up to 120 mg/d, and 1/6 (17%) to adding dextroamphetamine. With nortriptyline, 1/10 (10%) remitted with nortriptyline+lithium, and 1/5 (20%) when phenelzine was added. Eighteen of the 28 patients (64%), or 78% of those who remitted, maintained their good benefit for at least six months. Discussion The majority of depressed patients refractory to two or more adequately utilized differently acting antidepressant medications can still remit and about half may maintain remission for extended periods. “Refractory depression” appears to be a relative description for many unresponsive depressed patients. 1
IEEE 802.11ac: Dynamic Bandwidth Channel Access

IEEE 802.11ac is enhancing the throughput beyond IEEE 802.11n using the 80 MHz channel bonding technique. In this paper, we first overview the static 40 MHz and the dynamic 20/40 MHz bandwidth channel access schemes defined in 802.11n. We then extend the schemes to the IEEE 802.11ac for the 80 MHz wide channel and study the static and dynamic channel access schemes. The simulation results show that dynamically switching between 20, 40, and 80 MHz bandwidths based on the clear channel assessment (CCA) result of each 20 MHz channel outperforms the static 80 MHz scheme by 85 % in terms throughput when the secondary channels are occupied by the 802.11a stations with moderate traffic loads. The paper also investigates the effects of the secondary channel CCA sensitivity and the primary channel selection on the 802.11ac throughput.
Complementation and Genetic Recombination in Candida lipolytica

Nutritional requirements were introduced into wild-type, heterothallic strains of Candida lipolytica by exposing the cells to X rays. Complementing hybrids were recovered from mixtures of the auxotrophic strains, and genetic recombination was observed in individually isolated ascospores from the hybrid strains.
Critical Role for CXCR4 Signaling in Progenitor Localization and T Cell Differentiation in the Postnatal Thymus

T cell differentiation in the thymus depends on sequential interactions between lymphoid progenitors and stromal cells in discrete regions of the cortex. Here we show that CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling is absolutely required for proper localization of early progenitors into the cortex and thus for successful steady state differentiation. All early progenitors in the thymus express CXCR4, and its ligand (CXCL12) is expressed only by stromal cells in the cortex, where early progenitors are found. Early progenitors migrate in response to CXCL12 in vitro, while thymus-specific deletion of CXCR4 in vivo results in failed cortical localization and developmental arrest. These findings indicate a crucial and nonredundant role for CXCR4 in facilitating localization of early lymphoid progenitors to tissue regions of the thymus, where lineage commitment and proliferation are controlled.
Summer diel activity and movement of adult brown trout in high‐elevation streams in Wyoming, U.S.A.

The variation in diel activity patterns was determined by implanting transmitters in adult brown trout of various sizes in two montane streams in two summers in the central Rocky Mountains, U.S.A. More brown trout tended to be active, and to move greater distances, each hour during twilight and night than during the day. Mean hourly light intensity was significantly negatively correlated with the proportion of fish active and with the distance moved. Maximum water temperature was not correlated with any measure of diel activity. Brown trout displayed fidelity to diurnal positions within a given diel cycle. Overall, fish were active an average of 11 h, had an average home range of 41 m, and moved an average of 121 m over the diel cycle. Fish length and distance moved were significantly positively correlated. Water temperature, predator avoidance, and foraging tactics may influence these patterns of diel behaviour in adult brown trout in U.S. streams. ? 1999 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
The flow induced by periodic vortex rings wrapped around a columnar vortex core

A study has been performed of the interaction of periodic vortex rings with a central columnar vortex, both for the case of identical vortex rings and the case of rings of alternating sign. Numerical calculations, both based on an adaptation of the Lundgren–Ashurst (1989) model for the columnar vortex dynamics and by numerical solution of the axisymmetric Navier–Stokes and Euler equations in the vorticity–velocity formulation using a viscous vorticity collocation method, are used to investigate the response of the columnar vortex to the ring-induced velocity field. In all cases, waves of variable core radius are observed to build up on the columnar vortex core due to the periodic axial straining and compression exerted by the vortex rings. For sufficiently weak vortex rings, the forcing by the rings serves primarily to set an initial value for the axial velocity, after which the columnar vortex waves oscillate approximately as free standing waves. For the case of identical rings, the columnar vortex waves exhibit a slow upstream propagation due to the nonlinear forcing. The cores of the vortex rings can also become unstable due to the straining flow induced by the other vortex rings when the ring spacing is sufficiently small. This instability causes the ring vorticity to spread out into a sheath surrounding the columnar vortex. For the case of rings of alternating sign, the wave in core radius of the columnar vortex becomes progressively narrower with time as rings of opposite sign approach each other. Strong vortex rings cause the waves on the columnar vortex to grow until they form a sharp cusp at the crest, after which an abrupt ejection of vorticity from the columnar vortex is observed. For inviscid flow with identical rings, the ejected vorticity forms a thin spike, which wraps around the rings. The thickness of this spike increases in a viscous flow as the Reynolds number is decreased. Cases have also been observed, for identical rings, where a critical point forms on the columnar vortex core due to the ring-induced flow, at which the propagation velocity of upstream waves is exactly balanced by the axial flow within the vortex core when measured in a frame translating with the vortex rings. The occurrence of this critical point leads to trapping of wave energy downstream of the critical point, which results in large-amplitude wave growth in both the direct and model simulations. In the case of rings of alternating sign, the ejected vorticity from the columnar vortex is entrained and carried off by pairs of rings of opposite sign, which move toward each other and radially outward under their self- and mutually induced velocity fields, respectively.
Allograft dysfunction in a patient with an odd-looking kidney: case of renal lipomatosis and review of literature

Renal lipomatosis was diagnosed in a kidney transplant recipient who presented with acute kidney injury (AKI) several years after transplantation. The patient had an odd-looking kidney transplant on ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan, showing a medullary mass with resultant compression of the surrounding renal parenchyma. A biopsy of the renal medulla confirmed fatty infiltration of the renal parenchyma. The patient underwent percutaneous nephrostomy and AKI resolved with relief of the obstruction. Renal lipomatosis is a rare condition that should be differentiated from other neoplasms of the kidney. When it occurs in a functioning transplant kidney, the treatment approach proves to be very challenging.
A 6.39GHz–14GHz series resonator mode-switching oscillator with 186–188dB FoM and 197dB FoMA in 65nm CMOS

CMOS LC voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO) with octave frequency tuning-range (FTR) are attractive for wideband radios. An area and power-efficient resonant mode-switching approach is presented that enables wide-FTR oscillators without compromising inductor Q, resulting in low phase noise and high VCO Figure-of-Merit (FoM). The proposed series resonator mode-switching approach results in a 6.4GHz to 14GHz VCO (74.6% FTR) in 65nm CMOS that achieves 186dB–188dB FoM. The scalability of this approach towards achieving even larger FTR is also demonstrated by a triple-mode 2.2GHz to 8.7GHz (119% FTR) VCO.
Metaphysics and the Concept of a Person

In the first edition “Paralogisms of Pure Reason” Kant suggests that “the substance which in relation to outer sense possesses extension” might be “in itself the possessor of thoughts and that these thoughts can by means of its own inner sense be consciously represented.” On this hypothesis, which is a purely speculative one, “the thesis that only souls (as particular kinds of substances) think would have to be given up, and we should have to fall back on the common expression that men think, that is. that the very same being which, as outer appearance is extended is, in itself, internally a subject and is not composite, but is simple and thinks.” (A359–60).
Femtosecond Studies of Intraband Relaxation of Semiconductors and Molecules

In this talk we present a summary of our studies of the ultrafast relaxation dynamics of hot carriers in semiconductors [1] and of highly excited dye molecules in solution [2] using the equal pulse correlation technique [3]. These intraband processes occur on timescales comparable to the pulsewidths generated by current femtosecond (fs) technology, and hence present difficulties in extracting their relaxation times due to the presence of slow relaxation processes and of the coherent artifact.
The Shadow Of The Future: Effects Of Anticipated Interaction And Frequency Of Contact On Buyer-Seller Cooperation

This research examined cooperation between 136 industrial buyers and suppliers. We identified four domains of potential cooperation: flexibility, information exchange, shared problem solving, and r...
Evaluation of Excitonic Coupling and Charge Transport Integrals in P3HT Nanocrystal

An attempt has been made to predict the crystallographic packing parameters of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanocrystal with the help of both X-ray diffraction and computational methods. Excitonic coupling integrals were calculated using various methods such as point-dipole approximation (PDA), line-dipole approximation (LDA), ZINDO method, and transition density cube (TDC) method in crystallographic directions. ZINDO method leads to reasonably accurate integrals when compared to TDC results. PDA and LDA approaches fail badly in predicting the excitonic coupling integrals, though latter yields improved results. The calculations one more time show that PDA should be avoided in cases where interchromophoric distance is comparable to chromophore size. In general, the magnitude of both excitonic and charge transfer integrals are larger in stacking direction of chains than those in other crystallographic directions, suggesting preferential diffusion of both excitons and charge carriers between the chains. The...
In-Situ TEM Study of Copper-Tin Intermetallic Formation

The formation and growth of Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn at the interface of Sn-Pb solder/copper substrate are factors which affect the solderability and reliability of electronic solder joints. The addition of particles such as Ni to eutectic Sn-Pb solder drastically affects the activation energies of formation for both intermetallics. This study was performed to understand the mechanisms of intermetallic formation and the effects of Ni on intermetallic growth. Cu/Sn and Cu/Sn/Ni thin films were deposited by evaporation and observed in the TEM in real time using a hot stage. The diffusion of Sn through Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn followed by reaction with Cu must occur for intermetallic formation and growth to take place. Ni is an effective diffusion barrier which prevents Sn from diffusing into Cu.
Frequency Limited Adaptive Control Using a Quadratic Stability Framework: Stability and Convergence

Model Reference Adaptive Control systems have been receiving a lot of interest in the controls community because they offer the ability to handle larger amounts of uncertainty than linear control approaches. In theory, one usually wants the adaptive control law to adapt as fast a possible to obtain the best performance. However, this can inject high frequency signals into the control channels. These high frequency signals can destabilize unmodeled dynamics and exceed actuator performance limits. Experience suggests that inserting a filter in the control loop can attenuate these effects and this has recently been explored quite a bit in the literature by using the small-gain theorem to prove stability. It is well known that the small-gain theorem leads to conservative results. This paper presents a completely new theoretical framework for analyzing a filtered adaptive control signal using quadratic stability arguments instead. The limiting conditions on quadratic stability can be determined using algorithms developed in a companion paper to this one. Simulations examples illustrate that the new framework potentially captures the stability limit less conservatively than existing results.
miniMedical school: Library support for sophisticated consumers

The development of a set of subject specific resources by the Health Sciences Library (HSL), University at Buffalo (UB) to support the miniMedical School Program (MMS) lectures offered by UB's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is detailed. A brief background of the MMS phenomenon is given. An Internet scan of miniMedical School Web sites to assess linkage to medical library resources was performed, and future improvements in the relationship between UB's MMS and HSL in terms of assessment, development of Web resources, and instructional support is discussed.
Conversion of Methanol and Glycerol into Gasoline via ZSM-5 Catalysis

A quartz fixed-bed, microreactor was successfully constructed for both the catalytic methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) and methanol-and-glycerol-to-gasoline (MGTG) processes. The reaction products were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Process variables of temperature and reaction time were studied to determine the effects on conversion rates, product yield, and ZSM-5 catalyst lifetime for both systems. Moreover, the factor of glycerol additions (10, 25, and 40% in methanol) was also investigated for the MGTG process. The MTG and MGTG generated oil phase showed a similar composition, mainly methylbenzenes, to regular gasoline, and composition changed as the reaction proceeded to favor heavier aromatics. In the MTG process, the best catalytic performance was achieved at 425 °C, at which the product yield and catalyst lifetime were 11.0 wt % and 20 h, respectively. Generally, the methanol conversion rate and the total liquid and organic-phas...
A Note on the Equality of the Column and Row Rank of a Matrix

(1995). A Note on the Equality of the Column and Row Rank of a Matrix. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 68, No. 4, pp. 285-286.
Injury and inflammation detection by the application of microcurrent through the skin

Objective: To determine the efficacy and reliability of measuring direct current microcurrent applied through the skin to determine injury in the underlying tissues. Design: Case control study. Methods: First, microcurrent was measured as decreased blood flow induced hypoxia in healthy subjects. Next, reliability was assessed by measuring over ten days with set variations in pressure and distance between the electrodes. Finally, measurements over sprained ankle were compared to measurements over comparable uninjured areas on the same injured subject. Results: For the blood flow test phase, microcurrent significantly decreased an average of 17% after 5 minutes (p<0.05), remained decreased for 30 seconds, and returned to non-occlusive levels after 2 minutes of normal circulation. The results indicate that the microcurrent decrease was not due to blood flow, and most likely from hypoxic cellular damage. For the reliability phase, the coefficients of variation averaged 10.3% for the shoulder, 14.8% for the low back, and 29.1% for the knee. Changing distance 2.5 cm between the electrodes resulted in insignificant changes. Changes in pressure had some significant effect after an increase in force of 2.6 N, affirming the need for consistent pressure for measurement. For the injury test phase, a significant 69% decrease occurred comparing injured areas to the same area on the uninjured side, and a significant 74% occurred comparing injured and non-injured areas on the same limb. Conclusions: Microcurrent through the skin shows promise as an objective method of assessing a soft tissue injury by detecting damage likely due to hypoxia.
Purification and characterization of lupus anticoagulant like protein from Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus venom.

By means of CM-Sephadex C-25, DEAE-Sephadex A-50, Sephadex G-200, and Sephadex G-75 chromatographies, a lupus anticoagulant like protein (LALP) from Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus was purified. On SDS-PAGE, the purified LALP had a molecular weight of 25,500 daltons under non-reducing condition and 15,000 daltons under reducing condition. The isoelectric point was pH 5.6. Its N terminal amino acid sequencing revealed a mixture of 2 sequences : DCP(P/S)(D/G)WSSYEGH(C/R)Q(Q/K). It was devoid of phospholipase A, fibrino(geno)lytic, 5'-nucleotidase, L-amino acid oxidase, phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase and thrombin-like activities, which were found in crude venom. In the presence of LALP, PT, aPTT, and dRVVT of human plasma were markedly prolonged and its effects were concentration-dependent but time-independent. The inhibitory effect of LALP on the plasma clotting time was enhanced by decreasing phospholipid concentration in TTI test. The individual clotting factor activity was not affected by LALP when higher dilutions of LALP-plasma mixture were used for assay. Russell's viper venom time was shortened when high phospholipid confirmatory reagent was used. Therefore, the protein has lupus anticoagulant property.
Elementary C++ Program Structure

This chapter discusses how to construct new classes from old in C++ program. The idea is to determine the properties provided in the description of the old class that are appropriate for the desired new class and to use these properties as the start of the new class. These concepts are formalized in object-oriented language as a base class and a derived class. The presumption is that the base class is already defined along with the transformations that are appropriate for the abstract object described by the class. The derived class will inherit the basic structure and the defined functions. The derived class will be able to keep those portions of the base class that it needs and replace others with appropriate functions. A major advantage of this approach is that much of the code describing the base class can be used for the derived class. The ability of a derived class to inherit code from a base class is a major step toward software reuse. The chapter discusses some of the issues involved in any possible organization of classes. As C++ is essentially a superset of C, one viewpoint of functions is that they can be used in precisely the same way in C++ that they are used in C. The simplest way to attach a function to an object is to include the function in the description of the object. The functions can be attached to the class in the public, protected, or private parts.
Diarrheal disease on cruise ships, 1990-2000: the impact of environmental health programs.

Abstract Background In 1975, the then–Center for Disease Control (CDC) established the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) to minimize the risk for diarrheal disease among passengers and crew aboard ships by assisting the cruise ship industry in developing and implementing comprehensive environmental health programs. Objectives To evaluate the relationship between cruise ship sanitation scores and diarrheal disease incidence and outbreaks among cruise ship passengers. Methods Retrospective cohort study of ship inspection and diarrheal disease data from 1990 through 2000 from the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC database, for cruise ships entering the United States. Outcomes Yearly trends in number of ships inspected, number of inspections conducted, inspection scores, and risks of failing inspections; rates of diarrheal disease among passengers, by inspection year, cruise duration, incidence of outbreaks, and passing- or failing-score status of the associated ship. Results From 1990 through 2000, inspection scores gradually increased from a median of 89 in 1990 to 93 in 2000 ( p p Conclusions Environmental sanitation inspections conducted among ships sailing into the United States appear to continue to decrease diarrheal disease rates and outbreaks among passengers.
Reading News as Narrative

Scholars who use textual approaches to study news often blend theoretical perspectives in their work, asking some combination of questions about how news narratives function culturally, how news narratives are produced, and how news narratives are situated epistemologically. These perspectives often lead to compelling insights, and this article argues that a more fully fleshed-out approach to genre in journalism studies offers a robust means for contextualizing a wide array of theoretical concerns. Methodologically, attention to the textual conventions of a genre helps scholars attend to news narratives as both the products of standardized journalistic routines and evidence of broader cultural forces at play, cultural forces that rely upon journalism’s implicit authority over the truth. This article lays out guidelines for performing genre analysis while also offering examples for potential future studies.
Addressing Outcomes Expectancies in Behavior Change

Individuals commonly seek help for problem health behaviors, such as excessive drinking, smoking, and weight gain. Yet, there is a high rate of recidivism in these behaviors because outcome expectancies are either too high, negative outcome expectancies are not considered, or outcome expectancies are not properly addressed. Healthcare providers are recommended to list the outcome expectancy for the problem behavior and corresponding treatment for their patient. Through the process it is important to acknowledge both the positive and negative outcomes of engaging in the problem behavior. Healthcare providers are then encouraged to have their patient identify the goals and objectives that will assist in achieving the desired outcome. By recognizing and addressing outcome expectancies, it is more likely that the patient will be less resistant to the healthcare provider's recommendations to change problematic behavior.
Improving T-cell expansion and function for adoptive T-cell therapy using ex vivo treatment with PI3Kδ inhibitors and VIP antagonists.

Adoptive therapy with ex vivo–expanded genetically modified antigen-specific T cells can induce remissions in patients with relapsed/refractory cancer. The clinical success of this therapy depends upon efficient transduction and expansion of T cells ex vivo and their homing, persistence and cytotoxicity following reinfusion. Lower rates of ex vivo expansion and clinical response using anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been seen in heavily pretreated lymphoma patients compared with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients and motivate the development of novel strategies to enhance ex vivo T cell expansion and their persistence in vivo. We demonstrate that inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ) and antagonism of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) signaling partially inhibits the terminal differentiation of T cells during anti-CD3/CD28 bead-mediated expansion (mean, 54.4% CD27 + CD28 + T cells vs 27.4% in control cultures; P
Bot or not

In recent years, Twitter, a social networking website, has been affected by a steady rise in spam on its network. Hijacking of social media accounts has become a modern-day danger. Motivations for this can range from attempts in identity theft to simply skewing the perception of an audience. In this paper, we extend our previous work, Engineering Your Social Network to Detect Fraudulent Profiles, by doing an investigation of spam bots on Twitter. We propose an algorithm that will distinguish a spam bot, from a genuine user account by using a JavaScript testing framework that consumes Twitter's REST API. We ran a dataset of 700 Twitter accounts through our algorithm and identified that roughly 11% of the dataset were bots.
Tungsten Helical-Spring Microbalance

This paper describes a helical-spring microbalance made of 3-mil tungsten wire and enclosed in a Pyrex glass housing. It was used in connection with a problem involving measurement of rates of thermal degradation of polymers in a vacuum by the loss-of-weight method. The balance has a sensitivity of about 550 µ/mg and is so constructed as to avoid errors that might be caused by the thermal expansion of its parts or of the supports holding the balance and the cathetometer used in connection with it.
Endoluminal Procedures for Early Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world and the leading cause in Japan. Due to the relatively silent and aggressive nature of this tumor, most patients present with advanced disease and few therapeutic options. To address the epidemic incidence of gastric cancer in Japan, nationwide screening programs are in place and have led to the early diagnosis of this cancer and coined the term “Early Gastric Cancer” or EGC. Gastric cancer is not nearly as prevalent in the USA as it is in Japan, but even so 10% of gastric cancer in the USA is EGC. Retrospective studies coupled with long term outcome data suggest that lymph node involvement in the majority of these mucosal based cancers is negligible. This makes endoscopic resection for EGC an attractive option. The two most popular endoscopic resection techniques for EGC are Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD). This chapter describes the proper diagnosis and staging of EGC and reviews the techniques of EMR and ESD along with potential complications and expected outcomes.
Foreign-Injured Antitrust Plaintiffs in U.S. Courts: Ends and Means

Growing international trade has focused attention on the question of who should be allowed to bring antitrust claims in U.S. courts. It has become harder to distinguish domestic trade from international trade. As a result, courts have had to consider whether they have jurisdiction over antitrust cases with foreign and domestic impact. The Supreme Court’s decision in Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. California raised new questions about how open U.S. courts should be to international antitrust cases. A key aspect of this controversy is access to plaintiffs whose injury is deemed to have occurred abroad. Most commentators, along with the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), have concluded that only private antitrust plaintiffs who are injured in the United States should be able to sue in U.S. court. This “narrow” approach would constrict subject matter jurisdiction for international antitrust plaintiffs. By contrast, in Empagran S.A. v. F. Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd., the D.C. Circuit came down on the other side of this issue and joined the Second Circuit by adopting a “broad” view of jurisdiction. This broad view would make U.S. courts and U.S. antitrust lawsuits available to anyone who is injured by price fixing or other anticompetitive conduct that has direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effects on U.S. commerce. By contrast, the narrow approach would layer an
Impact of Body Mass Index on Postconcussion Symptoms in Teenagers Aged 13 to 18 Years.

CONTEXT Adolescent obesity and sports-related concussion are rising in prevalence, yet there is minimal research exploring the relationship between these two conditions. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) percentile on duration of recovery and reported symptoms after sports-related concussion in adolescents. DESIGN Retrospective chart review at a regional concussion program located at an academic medical center. Medical records of all patients aged 13 to 18 years treated from March 2006 through January 2012 were reviewed. Two hundred fifty-two patients met the inclusion criteria of sports-related concussion and having BMI data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcome variables included reported emotional symptoms, sleep-related symptoms, physical symptoms (headache), and time to recovery after a concussion. Explanatory variables in this analysis were BMI percentile and sex. RESULTS More male patients were obese and overweight than were females (42% vs 27%, p = 0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in recovery time between obese and overweight patients and others. Obese and overweight patients were more likely than healthy-weight patients to report symptoms of irritability (p = 0.05) and impulsivity (p = 0.01), and less likely to report headache (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION After concussion, irritability and impulsivity may be more likely than headaches in overweight and obese patients. There was no difference in recovery time between obese and healthy-weight teens. These findings may have importance in the evaluation, treatment, and anticipatory guidance of patients with concussions.
Community gardens and the making of organic subjects: a case study from the Peruvian Andes

This research contributes to emergent theories on subject formation by showing how community garden (CG) participants in a small rural town in Northern Peru came to embrace a set of ideas and practices related to organic agriculture. Most CG scholarship describes the myriad benefits for participants and their communities, as well as individuals’ motivations for wanting to grow their own food. Relatively little research has explored how various kinds of gardens and their organizers produce subjects. Drawing from scholarship on community gardens and subject formation, I examine the emergence of what I call an “organic subjectivity” among garden participants. Based on interviews and fieldwork conducted in Peru, I argue that the making of organic subjects in the CG is the result of three primary influences: (1) the changing agrarian context in the community marked by the adoption of conventional farming practices, (2) the influence of the garden organizer as the agent of an organic ideology, and (3) the material practices associated with CG participation. This case study reinforces the notion that CGs produce subjects and that such subjects could well be oriented towards an agenda of progressive agrarian change that promotes environmental awareness and ecological farming practices, key elements of emerging alternative food networks in the global North and South.
Good News About Women & HPV by Alexander Mortakis MD, PhD

Dr. Mortakis is recognized internationally as an expert in HPV infections and lower genital tract diseases. ‘Good News About Women & HPV’ was written to provide an accurate and informational resource for his many patients who are concerned about HPV infections and their health. This book is a practical, hands-on approach for women as well as their partners. In addition to well organized chapters (starting with definitions and an introduction to the HPV virus), he poses and answers over 300 questions. The format is straight forward and presents information using both medical terms and lay definitions to assist the reader in gaining a clear understanding of the information.