cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reactions of methylcyclohexane and n-heptane over supported Pt and Pt−Re catalysts

Reactions of methylcyclohexane (MCH) and n-heptane were compared, using industrialPtAl2O3 or PtReAl2O3 catalysts. Although the same products were generally observed, product selectivity and rate of catalyst deactivation differed substantially for the two reactants. With n-heptane, greater amounts of light cracked products (C1C5), heavy alkylated aromatics, and coke were produced. With n-heptane the total aromatic yield (benzene + toluene yields) was substantially less and the decline in the total aromatic yield during the first feed cycle was in general much greater. Selectivity for aromatic products immediately following hydrogen treatment of the coked PtRe catalysts was less with MCH than with n-heptane. Presulfiding the Pt catalyst slightly poisoned the dehydrogenation and dehydrocyclization activities. However, the presulfided PtReAl2O3 catalyst was very selective for these reactions and a high total aromatic yield was observed with either MCH or n-heptane. Sulfur quenched hydrogenolysis, demethylation, and reactions which form alkylated aromatics of higher molecular weight than toluene.
A comparative study of the cutting forces in high speed machining of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 with a round cutting edge tool

Titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V and nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 have been widely employed in modern manufacturing. The published literature on high speed machining (HSM) of the two materials often involves different machining set-up, which makes it difficult to directly apply the research findings from one material to the other to select the most appropriate tool geometry and cutting conditions. A comparative experimental study of HSM of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 is conducted in this paper using the same machining set-up. The scope of this study is limited in high speed finish machining, where the tool edge geometry plays a significant role. The experimental set-up and the methods of measuring the cutting forces and the tool edge radius are introduced. A total of 40 orthogonal high speed tube-cutting tests were performed, involving five levels of cutting speeds and four levels of feed rates. Based on extensive experimental data, the similarities and differences between HSM of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 are quantitatively compared and qualitatively explained in terms of four quantities: (1) the cutting force Fc, (2) the thrust force Ft, (3) the resultant force R, and (4) the force ratio Fc/Ft. A total of 12 empirical regression relationships are obtained.
Percutaneous Cochlear Access Using Bone-Mounted, Customized Drill Guides: Demonstration of Concept In Vitro

Hypothesis:Percutaneous cochlear access can be performed using bone-mounted drill guides that are custom made on the basis of preintervention computed tomographic scans.Background:We have previously demonstrated the ability to use image guidance based on fiducial markers to obtain percutaneous cochl
The Effect of State Early Intervention Eligibility Policy on Participation Among a Cohort of Young CSHCN

OBJECTIVE: This purpose of this study was to describe differences in early intervention (EI) participation according to state among a cohort of young children with parent-reported developmental delays and disabilities. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2005–2006 National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs to describe state differences in EI participation. Multilevel modeling was used to estimate the relative contributions of child sociodemographic and developmental characteristics, and state EI eligibility policy on EI participation. RESULTS: The overall rate of EI participation was 45.7% (23.1%–83.3% across the states). EI participants were less likely to be Hispanic, live in a multiracial family, be poor, have a developmental delay, or have a less severe condition/delay. The predicted probability of receiving EI was lower for children who lived in states with more strict EI eligibility criteria than those with liberal criteria (.43 vs .52). Poverty influenced this association, with the adjusted probabilities of receiving EI for poor ( 185% federal poverty level) children being .18 and .36, respectively ( P P CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal marked disparities and unmet needs in EI participation as a function of both characteristics of the child and the state program. Improving developmental services for vulnerable populations requires addressing these sources of disparity.
X-ray test facility for diffraction gratings

The University of Colorado maintains a grating evaluation facility to characterize optics from the far ultraviolet to the X-ray. The newest addition to this facility is a novel X-ray monochromator. Light is generated by a Manson electron impact X-ray source and passes through a monochromator which incorporates a grating in the off-plane mount at grazing incidence followed by an aluminum filter. From here, the light enters another vacuum chamber to illuminate the test grating, which disperses light onto a resistive anode MCP. This monochromator is characterized utilizing a variety of source anodes and voltages. Preliminary results from a high density test grating, also in the off-plane mount, display that this system is a highly effective tool for determining grating efficiencies.
Conceptualizing human variation

What is the relationship between the patterns of biological and sociocultural variation in extant humans? Is this relationship accurately described, or best explained, by the term 'race' and the schema of 'racial' classification? What is the relationship between 'race', genetics and the demographic groups of society? Can extant humans be categorized into units that can scientifically be called 'races'? These questions underlie the discussions that address the explanations for the observed differences in many domains between named demographic groups across societies. These domains include disease incidence and prevalence and other variables studied by biologists and social scientists. Here, we offer a perspective on understanding human variation by exploring the meaning and use of the term 'race' and its relationship to a range of data. The quest is for a more useful approach with which to understand human biological variation, one that may provide better research designs and inform public policy.
Multiplanar Visualization in 3D Transthoracic Echocardiography for Precise Delineation of Mitral Valve Pathology

A novel multiplanar reformatting (MPR) technique in three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D TTE) was used to precisely localize the prolapsed lateral segment of posterior mitral valve leaflet in a patient symptomatic with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) before undergoing mitral valve repair surgery. Transesophageal echocardiography was avoided based on the findings of this new technique by 3D TTE. It was noninvasive, quick, reproducible and reliable. Also, it did not need the time-consuming reconstruction of multiple cardiac images. Mitral valve repair surgery was subsequently performed based on the MPR findings and corroborated the findings from the MPR examination.
Immigration and US native workers’ wages: differential responses by education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess how wages of US native workers with various educational backgrounds are affected by immigration.Design/methodology/approach – This paper estimates the responses of these workers’ wages to the concentration of immigrants with various educational backgrounds in their local labour markets, using 1980‐2000 US Census data and instrumental variables approach.Findings – Wages of native high school dropouts fall slightly in the presence of immigrant high school dropouts and high school graduates; wages of native high school graduates fall slightly in the presence of immigrant high school graduates, but rise in the presence of immigrants with higher levels of education; wages of native workers with some college education fall slightly with larger concentrations of immigrant high school graduates but rise slightly with larger concentrations of immigrant college graduates; and there is no evidence that wages of native college graduates are affected by immigration.Orig...
Isolation and characterization of the rabbit prt gene product

Abstract The product of the rabbit prt gene (PRT), a gene linked to the immunoglobulin κ-light chain gene ab, was purified from rabbit serum by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and by chromotography on DEAE-Sephadex and Sephacryl S300. Analysis of PRT indicated that it was associated rabbit hemopexin; the molecular weight of PRT (i.e., 68,000), as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was similar to the reported molecular weight of rabbit hemopexin; the PRT phenotypes correlated with the phenotypes of a hematin binding protein; PRT itself bound hematin; and the amino acid composition of PRT was similar to the amino acid composition of rabbit hemopexin. The prt gene, however, need not be the structural gene for hemopexin; it may encode a glycosyl transferase responsible in part for the carbohydrate associated with the protein.
No NP problems averaging over ranking of distributions are harder

Abstract This paper aims to provide a comparison between the notion of T time on average over ranking of distributions, proposed by Reischuk and Schindelhauer (1993), and the notion of T time on average, proposed by Ben-David et al. (1992). The latter is a direct generalization of Levin's notion of average polynomial time (Levin, 1986). In particular, we show that for any problem D and any ranking function ρ, if ρ(D) is solvable in time T on average over a uniform distribution and ρ is computable in polynomial time, then Dis solvable in time T ο p + q on average over ρ, where p and q are polynomials depending on ρ. We then show that, under a randomized reduction, there is a complete problem (D,ρ) for distributional NP problems with respect to ranking such that ρ(D) ϵ NP and if ρ(D) is solvable in time T on average over a uniform distribution, then D is solvable in time T(O(n)) + p(n) on average over ρ, where p is the time bound for computing ρ. Hence, no NP problems averaging over ranking of distributions are harder than averaging over uniform distributions in the notions of polynomial-time or sub-exponential-time solvability. Finally, we show that there is a reasonable tight hierarchy for the notion of T time on average over uniform distributions.
Diverse syntrophic partnerships from deep-sea methane vents revealed by direct cell capture and metagenomics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in the cycling of nutrients and energy on our planet. A common strategy for many microorganisms mediating biogeochemical cycles in anoxic environments is syntrophy, frequently necessitating close spatial proximity between microbial partners. We are only now beginning to fully appreciate the diversity and pervasiveness of microbial partnerships in nature, the majority of which cannot be replicated in the laboratory. One notable example of such cooperation is the interspecies association between anaerobic methane oxidizing archaea (ANME) and sulfate-reducing bacteria. These consortia are globally distributed in the environment and provide a significant sink for methane by substantially reducing the export of this potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. The interdependence of these currently uncultured microbes renders them difficult to study, and our knowledge of their physiological capabilities in nature is limited. Here, we have developed a method to capture select microorganisms directly from the environment, using combined fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunomagnetic cell capture. We used this method to purify syntrophic anaerobic methane oxidizing ANME-2c archaea and physically associated microorganisms directly from deep-sea marine sediment. Metagenomics, PCR, and microscopy of these purified consortia revealed unexpected diversity of associated bacteria, including Betaproteobacteria and a second sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacterial partner. The detection of nitrogenase genes within the metagenome and subsequent demonstration of 15N2 incorporation in the biomass of these methane-oxidizing consortia suggest a possible role in new nitrogen inputs by these syntrophic assemblages.
An Electromagnetic Clutch for High Accelerations

Certain of the design considerations, construction detail and performance data are presented on a low-inertia electromagnetic clutch used to satisfy high-acceleration requirements. The clutch has many possible applications in the digital computer field. Unidirectional and bidirectional models are discussed.
Discrete conductance switching in conducting polymer wires

Charge transport in conducting polymers (polyaniline and polypyrrole) bridged between two gold nanoelectrodes separated with a nanoscale gap (varying from \ensuremath{\sim}1 nm to a few tens of nm was studied by controlling the polymer redox states electrochemically. In sharp contrast to the macroscopic samples, the conductance switches abruptly between insulating (off) and conducting (on) states like a telegraphic signal. The time durations of the on and off states depend on the potential of the nanoelectrodes, indicating the important role of the redox states in the signal. We attribute the telegraphic signal to the fluctuation between the insulating reduced state and conducting oxidized state of the polymer, which rises as electrons trap into the oxidized state and escape from the reduced state.
The Wall Shear Stress of a Pulsatile Blood Flow in a Patient Specific Stenotic Right Coronary Artery

A computer simulation of the blood flow in a patient specific atherosclerotic right coronary artery is carried out to study the blood flow pattern and the wall shear stress (WSS) distribution in the artery. Both temporal and special distribution patterns of the WSS of the non-Newtonian blood flow are presented and the regions on the lumen surface where the WSS is constantly lower than 1N/m2are identified.
Teaching young people who are blind and have autism to make requests using a variation on the picture exchange communication system with tactile symbols: a preliminary investigation.

This study used a single-subject multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified picture exchange communication system (PECS) teaching protocol with tactile symbols. Three students (two male, one female) aged 12–17 years who had autism and were blind participated in the study. The instructional program involved three phases. First, each participant learned to exchange a tactile symbol with his/her communication partner to request a preferred item/activity. Second, the distance between the communication partner and the participant was increased. Third, the participants were required to discriminate between two dissimilar tactile symbols. One out of three participants completed all phases of the instructional program. Although the other two participants did not complete the program, they demonstrated improvement from baseline responding rates. This study provided preliminary results that using tactile symbols with strategies from PECS may be an effective method to teach requesting to youth who are blind and have autism.
On a question of Sós about 3‐uniform friendship hypergraphs

The well-known Friendship Theorem states that if G is a graph in which every pair of vertices has exactly one common neighbor, then G has a single vertex joined to all others (a “universal friend”). V. Sos defined an analogous friendship property for 3-uniform hypergraphs, and gave a construction satisfying the friendship property that has a universal friend. We present new 3-uniform hypergraphs on 8, 16, and 32 vertices that satisfy the friendship property without containing a universal friend. We also prove that if n ≤ 10 and n ≠ 8, then there are no friendship hypergraphs on n vertices without a universal friend. These results were obtained by computer search using integer programming. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 16: 253–261, 2008
Effect of amygdalectomy on stimulus threshold of the monkey

Abstract To determine whether the apparent loss of fear of amygdalectomized monkeys is due to a loss of sensitivity, stimulus-threshold measurements were made using the galvanic skin response. Amygdalectomized subjects were found to have a lower threshold than normal monkeys. In addition they failed to respond differentially to different intensities of stimulus.
Reversible parkinsonian syndrome complicating cysticercus midbrain encephalitis

We describe a clinical picture similar to Parkinson's disease in a patient with midbrain encephalitis due to cysticercosis. The clinical, radiographic, and cerebrospinal fluid findings suggested an inflammatory reaction to a dying cyst that involved midbrain structures. The encephalopathy appeared to worsen temporarily after the institution of anticysticercus therapy. A discordance between worsening parkinsonian symptoms and improving pyramidal features was noted. Virtually a complete clinical recovery eventually ensued.
Drugs and the Fetus: A Consumer's Guide by Generic and Brand Name

ABSTRACT: The principles of various mechanisms of drug transport across the placenta are described and difficulties in testing for adverse fetal effects of drugs are discussed. Drugs are listed as to purpose, brand name and generic name, and the results of any human testing and adverse effects are reported.
Recent changes in the child welfare system: One state's experience

Abstract Nationwide over the past 5 years there has been a substantial reduction in the number of children involved with the child welfare system entering out-of-home care as well as a reduction in the lengths of stay among those who do enter the system. This article compares national data on children entering out-of-home care and the length of stay with data from Florida over a 7-year period (2005–2011). Findings are shared on the strategies and services that stakeholders in one state reported as contributing to preventing out-of-home placements and reducing lengths of stay in residential settings. Federal policies such as IV-E Waivers that support this reduction also are discussed. The article concludes with policy and research recommendations regarding how to sustain this reduction while ensuring that child safety and well-being are preserved.
Poetry as praxis: An exploration of poetry discourse as qualitative inquiry

To capture the essence of an experience, poetry as research may manifest itself in two ways: (i) creating a research poem from existing data, often transcripts, or (ii) using participants' poetry as a data-set for harvesting patterns and themes. This research focuses on the second form of poetic inquiry as a means of praxis by using the poetry of inservice teachers, preservice teachers, and elementary students to discover themes in regard to the teaching and learning process. As literacy teacher educators, creating praxis (moving from the theoretical to the practical) remains the ultimate goal of teaching and learning experiences. We gathered poems as data-sets in order to explore the possible benefits and limitations of poetic inquiry. As we approached the notion of poetry as a form of inquiry, we probed whether this art-based inquiry might also equate educational praxis. After considering several poetry data-sets, this research provides evidence of possible benefits related to the praxis that poetry as ...
Initial experience using histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution in clinical pancreas transplantation.

: Background: The colloid-based University of Wisconsin (UW) preservation solution has been used extensively in clinical pancreas transplantation. Experimental studies support the use of the crystalloid-based histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) preservation solution for this purpose. Aim: We report our initial experience with HTK for pancreas allograft preservation and compare this to a contemporary experience with UW solution in conventional multiorgan deceased donors (<50 yr). Materials and methods: Retrospectively collected information on 33 pancreas transplants between September 2001 and October 2002 were analyzed for early graft function and complications up to 30 d after procurement and storage in either HTK or UW solutions. During multi-organ recovery, either UW solution (4–5 L) or HTK solution (8–10 L) was used for aortic perfusion and subsequent back-table flush and storage. Exocrine drainage of 31 pancreas allografts was enteric, while the bladder was used for drainage in two cases. Patient outcomes were analyzed according to the preservation solution used. Sixteen pancreata were used in combination with a kidney allograft (SPK), seven were used in patients after prior kidney transplantation (PAK), while 10 were used in patients who were not in renal failure (PTA). Results: The UW group consisted of 17 patients (10 SPK, three PAK, four PTA) with a mean donor age of 29.5 ± 10.7, and a mean cold ischemia time of 15.1 ± 2.1 h. The mean post-transplant pancreas and kidney function on days 1 and 10 were amylase (315 and 99 IU/L), lipase (1727 and 346 IU/L), glucose (121 and 100 mg/dL) and creatinine (5.01 and 1.77 mg/dL). Patient and graft survival was 100% at 1-month post transplant. In the HTK group there were 16 patients (six SPK, four PAK, six PTA) with a mean donor age 21.9 ± 5.7 and a mean cold ischemia time 14.0 ± 1.3 h. The mean post-transplant pancreas and kidney function on days 1 and 10 were amylase (588 and 126 IU/L), lipase (4711 and 441 IU/L), glucose (97 and 109 mg/dL) and creatinine (5.28 and 2.42 mg/dL). Patient survival was 100% while graft survival was 94% at 1-month post-transplant. Conclusions: Early graft function and complications are comparable with HTK and UW solutions for pancreas allograft preservation.
The Opinions of Mental Health Facility Administrators on the Effects of Children's Rights and Deinstitutionalization

This paper reports the results of a survey of opinions of mental health administrators in regards to children's rights and deinstitutionalization. Data from 107 respondents (45% of those to whom a survey was mailed) revealed wide variability in responses unrelated to professional discipline, type of agency, or years of experience. While both positive and negative specific effects were noted, the majority of respondents seemed to endorse both movements overall. There was a sufficient degree of agreement by respondents about adverse consequences to suggest that empirical research into the effects of both movements is clearly in order. If empirical findings support expert opinion, a closer look-at the means by which both movements are actualized would be warranted.
Imaging and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor response in dementia with Lewy bodies

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are commonly used to treat patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Hippocampal atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging and amyloid-β load on positron emission tomography are associated with the Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. To date, few studies have investigated imaging markers that predict treatment response in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Our objective was to determine whether imaging markers of Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology such as hippocampal volume, brain amyloid-β load on 11C Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography predict treatment response to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. We performed a retrospective analysis on consecutive treatment-naive patients with dementia with Lewy bodies ( n = 54) from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre who subsequently received acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and underwent magnetic resonance imaging with hippocampal volumetry. Baseline and follow-up assessments were obtained with the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale. Subjects were divided into three groups (reliable improvement, stable or reliable decline) using Dementia Rating Scale reliable change indices determined previously. Associations between hippocampal volumes and treatment response were tested with analysis of covariance adjusting for baseline Dementia Rating Scale, age, gender, magnetic resonance field strength and Dementia Rating Scale interval. Seven subjects underwent 11C Pittsburgh compound B imaging within 12 weeks of magnetic resonance imaging. Global cortical 11C Pittsburgh compound B retention (scaled to cerebellar retention) was calculated in these patients. Using a conservative psychometric method of assessing treatment response, there were 12 patients with reliable decline, 29 stable cases and 13 patients with reliable improvement. The improvers had significantly larger hippocampi than those that declined ( P = 0.02) and the stable ( P = 0.04) group. An exploratory analysis demonstrated larger grey matter volumes in the temporal and parietal lobes in improvers compared with those who declined ( P < 0.05). The two patients who had a positive 11C Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography scan declined and those who had a negative 11C Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography scan improved or were stable after treatment. Patients with dementia with Lewy bodies who do not have the imaging features of coexistent Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology are more likely to cognitively improve with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor treatment. * Abbreviations : DLB : dementia with Lewy bodies DRS : Mattis dementia rating scale PiB : 11C Pittsburgh compound B
Parametric optimization for EPGVF snake using ANOVA and Taguchi method

In this study, Taguchi experimental design method is used to determine the optimal parameters for EPGVF snake segmentation algorithm. Optimum factor levels of processing parameters as well as quantitative contributions of each parameter are obtained by performing analysis of mean (ANOM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA), respectively. A verification test is also performed to prove the effectiveness of Taguchi technique after the optimum levels of parameters are determined. The results show better performance is obtained by using optimal parameters than the empirical parameters.
The impact of diabetes on outcome in traumatically injured patients: an analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank

Abstract Background Studies on stress hyperglycemia in trauma patients have largely ignored diabetes, a potential confounder. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between diabetes and outcome in trauma patients. Methods Data were obtained from the National Trauma Data Bank (version 4.0). The primary outcome measures were mortality and infections. Age, injury severity, and comorbidities were analyzed as independent variables using logistic regression. Results A total of 343,250 patients were analyzed, of whom 2.7% were diabetic. On multivariate analysis, insulin-dependent diabetes was an independent although weak predictor of infectious morbidity and intensive care unit length of stay. However, diabetes was not associated with mortality or hospital length of stay. Age and injury severity were the main predictors for all outcome measures. Conclusions Diabetes was an independent, although weak, risk factor for infectious complications in trauma patients. Age and injury severity were the most important predictors of outcome.
Evaluation Research on Quality Circles: Technical and Analytical Implications

The unprecedented rapidity with which quality circle principles and techniques have caught on in U.S. and European industry belies the fact that a dearth of evaluation research exists documenting quality circle program outcomes. A review of the available studies constituting this literature revealed that this research has frequently been susceptible to a common set of methodological deficiencies. However, even the results of well-designed quality circle evaluation studies may be misleading if relevant organizational circumstances are not given due consideration when a change agent selects quality circles from his or her repertoire of organizational development (OD) interventions. The effectiveness of quality circles, and for that matter organizational intervention procedures in general, depends upon the compatibility of the intervention and attributes of the organization's situation, the demand placed upon tangible and intangible resources, and the type of response desired from participants.
Time-varying channel equalization using multiresolution analysis

The equalization problem for rapidly varying channels is addressed, using multiresolution analysis tools. The time variations of the channel are modeled directly by expanding each time-varying (TV) tap coefficient onto a P-band wavelet basis. Only the low-resolution signal is then retained as a natural approximation of the channel's trajectory. The choice of the wavelet basis so that the approximation is optimal in the mean square sense is discussed. An algorithm based on higher-order statistics, which estimates the wavelet coefficients from output-only data, is proposed. Once the channel has been estimated, the Viterbi algorithm is used to complete this blind equalization approach. >
B7-H1 Expressed by Activated CD8 T Cells Is Essential for Their Survival

An immunoinhibitory role of B7 homologue 1 (B7-H1) expressed by non-T cells has been established; however, the function of B7-H1 expressed by T cells is not clear. Peak expression of B7-H1 on Ag-primed CD8 T cells was observed during the contraction phase of an immune response. Unexpectedly, B7-H1 blockade at this stage reduced the numbers of effector CD8 T cells, suggesting B7-H1 blocking Ab may disturb an unknown function of B7-H1 expressed by CD8 T cells. To exclusively examine the role of B7-H1 expressed by T cells, we introduced B7-H1 deficiency into TCR transgenic (OT-1) mice. Naive B7-H1–deficient CD8 T cells proliferated normally following Ag stimulation; however, once activated, they underwent more robust contraction in vivo and more apoptosis in vitro. In addition, B7-H1–deficient CD8 T cells were more sensitive to Ca-dependent and Fas ligand-dependent killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Activation-induced Bcl-xL expression was lower in activated B7-H1–deficient CD8 T cells, whereas Bcl-2 and Bim expression were comparable to the wild type. Transfer of effector B7-H1–deficient CD8 T cells failed to suppress tumor growth in vivo. Thus, upregulation of B7-H1 on primed T cells helps effector T cells survive the contraction phase and consequently generate optimal protective immunity.
Regulating chemical emissions with risk-based environmental taxation

This paper develops a policy of risk-based environmental taxation for chemical emissions. A scoring index of chemical risk values for target pollutants first takes into account potential human health risk and ecological risk. A common tax base called the risk unit, which reflects the risk values from the scoring index, is then identified for individual pollutants. By determining the number of risk units for target emissions and levying a single tax rate on one risk unit, the risk-based tax system assigns a different pollution price to each chemical release. The policy sets rates according to marginal damage and provides target industry with permanent incentive for pollution abatement. By narrowing the gap between the marginal private cost and constrained marginal social cost of the chemical emission externality, the environmental tax system creates efficiency gains.
Videology and the future of online video advertising

Videology is an online video ad serving company. For Videology, browser cookies are an important tool that allows them to gather information about users in order to better target advertisements to relevant consumers. However, Videology is concerned that increased disabling or deletion of cookies by internet users will adversely affect their ability to accurately identify user demographics and therefore hurt their business. We will investigate whether cookie deletion is a problem and seek an alternative technology that could possibly replace browser cookies. To investigate the extent of cookie deletion, we integrated sample Videology and Experian data sets for online user traffic. Since unique users identified by Videology represent individual online users, and Experian labels identify individual households, we used this data to project the average number of Internet users identified per household. When compared to the average number of persons per household, it became clear that cookie deletion did not significantly inflate the number of identified users per household, which signifies that cookie deletion is not as prevalent an issue as previously thought. Additionally, we investigated alternative techniques for identifying Internet users, focusing particularly on device fingerprinting and examining how it could be adopted by Videology. At the time of project completion, we expect to have determined the impact of cookie deletion on Videology's business. We will also evaluate alternative identification technologies that Videology may pursue in an effort to mitigate the negative impact of cookie deletion.
Development and Motivation in/for Critical Thinking.

An explicit link between the issues of development and critical thinking is provided by Elder and Paul (1996). In their stage theory of critical thinking, Elder and Paul argued that the first stage beyond unreflective thinking is that of the challenged thinker. The challenged thinker is one who has become aware of the actual role of thinking in life and of significant problems caused by unreflective thinking. This is in accord with our experience, which we will describe and analyze in this article. History and contemporary society are saturated with and driven by thinking, much of which is developmentally immature and disastrous. Scriven and Paul (1987) made the crucial point that shoddy thinking is costly. Our approach to fostering critical thinking deals with the issue of motivation to think critically by focusing on the costs of not doing so. We agree with McPeck (1994) that some course content areas are more suitable than others for fostering critical thinking. In the courses we will describe here, we are able to challenge students to think about issues that have significant impact in the social world. Our goal is to move students to recognize that they can, and should, become critical thinkers and that recognizing meaningful challenges is the first developmental step.
Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in range beef calves at weaning.

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection of beef calves at weaning, prior to arrival at the feedlot or mixing with cattle from other sources. Fifteen range cow-calf herds, which weaned calves in October and November, were sampled in Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota. Faecal culture for E. coli O157:H7 was performed and anti-O157 serum antibody titres were determined by blocking ELISA. Thirteen of the 15 herds (87%) were found to have at least one positive isolation of E. coli O157:H7 in faecal samples. Within positive herds, prevalence ranged from 1.7-20.0%, with an average of 7.4+/-6.2% S.D. of individual animals shedding E. coli O157:H7 in faeces. All herds had high prevalence of anti-O157 antibodies, ranging 63-100% of individuals within herds seropositive. This study indicates that E. coli O157:H7 infection before weaning, prior to entry into feedlots, is widespread. Furthermore, serologic evidence suggests that most calves (83%) and all herds (100%) have been exposed to E. coli O157.
Identification of genes regulated by 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) in multiple myeloma cells using oligonucleotide arrays

Our previous study demonstrated that 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), an estrogen derivative, induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma (MM) cells; however, the related transcriptional events are unclear. In the present study, we used oligonucleotide microarrays to identify genes altered during 2ME2-induced apoptosis in MM cells. 2ME2 triggers an early transient induction of genes known to trigger cell death and repression of growth/survival-related genes. Many genes regulating cell defense/repair machinery also were transiently induced. Since 2ME2 also induces apoptosis in MM cells resistant to conventional therapies such as dexamethasone (Dex), we compared the gene profiles of 2ME2-treated and Dex-resistant MM cells. Our results suggest that 2ME2 overcomes Dex resistance by modulating genes that confer chemoresistance in MM cells. Microarray results were confirmed by Northern and Western blot analyses. A comparative analysis of selected genes from freshly isolated MM patient cells and 2ME2-treated MM.1S MM cells further provides an in vivo relevance of our in vitro studies. Collectively, these findings suggest genetic events mediating anti-MM activity of 2ME2, as well as mechanisms whereby 2ME2 overcomes Dex resistance in MM cells. These studies may therefore allow improved therapeutic use of 2ME2, based upon targeting genes that regulate MM cell growth and survival.
Synthesis and characterization of hazelnut oil-based biodiesel.

The demand for diesel fuel far exceeds the current and future biodiesel production capabilities of the vegetable oil and animal fat industries. New oilseed crops that do not compete with tradi- tional food crop are needed to meet existing energy demands. Hybrid hazelnut oil is just such an attractive raw material for production of biodiesel. Hazelnut oil was extracted from hybrid hazel- nuts and the crude oil was refined. Hazelnut oil-based biodiesel was prepared via the transester - ification of the refined hazelnut oil with excess methanol using an alkaline catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature, time and catalyst concentration on the yield of diesel were examined, and selected physical and chemical properties of the biodiesel were evaluated. The biodiesel yield in- creased with increasing temperature from 25 to 65 °C and with increasing catalyst concentration from 0.1 to 0.7 wt%. The increase in yield with reaction time was nonlinear and characterized by an initial faster rate, followed by a slow rate. Hazelnut oil-based biodiesel had an average vis- cosity of 8.82 cP at 25 °C, which was slightly higher than that of the commercial soy-based diesel (7.92 cP at 25 °C). An approximate 12 °C higher onset oxidative temperature and a 10 °C lower cloud point of hazelnut oil biodiesel than those of its commercial soy counterpart indicated a better oxidative stability and flowability at low temperature. The average heat of combustion of hazelnut oil biodiesel was 40.23 kJ/g, and accounted for approximately 88% of energy content of diesel fuel. The fatty acid composition of hazelnut oil-based biodiesel was the same as the nature oil.
Three Concepts of Causation

I distinguish three different concepts of causation: The scientific concept, or causal structure, is the subject of recent work in causal modeling. The folk attributive concept has been studied by philosophers of law and social psychologists. The metaphysical concept is the one that metaphysicians have attempted to analyze. I explore the relationships between these three concepts, and suggest that the metaphysical concept is an untenable and dispensable mixture of the other two.
Modifications of a Separated Impedance Match/Torch Assembly for Inductively Coupled Plasmas:

Diagnostic studies of the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharge are essential to the understanding of atomization, ionization, and excitation processes in this emission source. In these investigations, it is often desirable to view or scan distinct plasma regions. Several scanning methods have been described in which an imaging detector or moveable optical components scan while the plasma is held stationary. For emission signals, these techniques provide an acceptable method of data collection. However, when a source beam is used (i.e., for absorption, fluorescence, or scattering measurements), the problem of accurately and reproducibly positioning the source and detector optics becomes formidable.
Breadth-first numbering: lessons from a small exercise in algorithm design

Every programmer has blind spots. Breadth-first numbering is an interesting toy problem that exposes a blind spot common to many---perhaps most---functional programmers.
Cooperative Search and Survey Using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)

In this work, we study algorithms for cooperative search and survey using a fleet of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Due to the limited energy, communication range/bandwidth, and sensing range of the AUVs, underwater search and survey with multiple AUVs brings about several new challenges since a large amount of data needs to be collected by each AUV, and any AUV may fail unexpectedly. To address the challenges and meet our objectives of minimizing the total survey time and traveled distance of AUVs, we propose a cooperative rendezvous scheme called Synchronization-Based Survey (SBS) to facilitate cooperation among a large number of AUVs when surveying a large area. In SBS, AUVs form an intermittently connected network (ICN) in that they periodically meet each other for data aggregation, control signal dissemination, and AUV failure detection/recovery. Numerical analysis and simulations have been performed to compare the performance of three variants of SBS schemes, namely, Alternating Column Synchronization (ACS), Strict Line Synchronization (SLS), and X Synchronization (XS). The results show that XS can outperform other SBS schemes in terms of the survey time and the traveled distance of AUVs. We also compare XS with nonsynchronization-based survey and the lower bound on the survey time and traveled distance. The results show that XS achieves a close to optimal performance.
Optimal Power Modes Scheduling Using Hybrid Systems

This paper studies a class of dynamic buffer management problem with one buffer inserted between two interacting components. Different from many previous studies, the component to be controlled is assumed to have multiple power modes, each of which corresponds to a different data processing rate. The overall system is modeled as a hybrid system and the buffer management problem is formulated as an optimal control problem. The cost function of the proposed problem depends on the switching cost and the size of the continuous state space, making its solutions much more challenging. By exploiting some particular features of the proposed problem, the best mode sequence and the optimal switching instants are characterized analytically using some variational approach. Simulation result shows that the proposed method can save at least 30% of energies compared with another heuristic scheme in several typical situations.
Characterization of wild-type and cidofovir-resistant strains of camelpox, cowpox, monkeypox, and vaccinia viruses

Cidofovir {[( S )-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)cytosine] [HPMPC]}-resistant forms of camelpox, cowpox, monkeypox, and vaccinia viruses were developed by prolonged passage in Vero 76 cells in the presence of drug. Eight- to 27-fold-higher concentrations of cidofovir were required to inhibit the resistant viruses than were needed to inhibit the wild-type (WT) viruses. Resistant viruses were characterized by determining their cross-resistance to other antiviral compounds, examining their different replication abilities in two cell lines, studying the biochemical basis of their drug resistance, and assessing the degrees of their virulence in mice. These viruses were cross resistant to cyclic HPMPC and, with the exception of vaccinia virus, to ( S )-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine. Three of the four resistant cowpox and monkeypox viruses exhibited reduced abilities to infect and replicate in 3T3 cells compared to their abilities in Vero 76 cells. Compared to the WT virus polymers the resistant cowpox virus DNA polymerase was 8.5-fold less sensitive to inhibition by cidofovir diphosphate, the active form of the drug. Intracellular phosphorylation of [ 3 H]cidofovir was not stimulated or inhibited by infection with resistant cowpox virus. In intranasally infected BALB/c mice, WT cowpox virus was 80-fold more virulent than the resistant virus. Cidofovir treatment (100 mg/kg of body weight, given one time only as early as 5 min after virus challenge) of a resistant cowpox virus infection could not protect mice from mortality. However, the drug prevented mortality in 80 to 100% of the mice treated with a single 100-mg/kg dose at 1, 2, 3, or 4 days after WT virus challenge. By application of these results to human orthopoxvirus infections, it is anticipated that resistant viruses may be untreatable with cidofovir but their virulence may be attenuated. Studies will need to be conducted with cidofovir-resistant monkeypox virus in monkeys to further support these hypotheses.
Apolipoprotein E and Apolipoprotein E Receptors: Normal Biology and Roles in Alzheimer Disease

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is the major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD); the e4 allele increases risk and the e2 allele is protective. In the central nervous system (CNS), apoE is produced by glial cells, is present in high-density-like lipoproteins, interacts with several receptors that are members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family, and is a protein that binds to the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. There are a variety of mechanisms by which apoE isoform may influence risk for AD. There is substantial evidence that differential effects of apoE isoform on AD risk are influenced by the ability of apoE to affect Aβ aggregation and clearance in the brain. Other mechanisms are also likely to play a role in the ability of apoE to influence CNS function as well as AD, including effects on synaptic plasticity, cell signaling, lipid transport and metabolism, and neuroinflammation. ApoE receptors, including LDLRs, Apoer2, very low-density lipoprotein receptors (VLDLRs), and lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) appear to influence both the CNS effects of apoE as well as Aβ metabolism and toxicity. Therapeutic strategies based on apoE and apoE receptors may include influencing apoE/Aβ interactions, apoE structure, apoE lipidation, LDLR receptor family member function, and signaling. Understanding the normal and disease-related biology connecting apoE, apoE receptors, and AD is likely to provide novel insights into AD pathogenesis and treatment.
Mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma of the eyelid: diagnostic and prognostic considerations.

Purpose To describe the clinical and pathologic characteristics of mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma of the eyelid and to determine whether neuroendocrine differentiation is of prognostic significance. Design Retrospective interventional case series. Methods Search of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary pathology database between 1990 and 2011 identified 16 patients with mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma. Clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on all identified cases. Results The patients presented with vascularized, focally cystic, nonulcerated eyelid margin lesions. Histopathologic evaluation showed that 4 lesions (25%) had a cystic, papillary, and solid growth pattern with an in situ component, 7 (44%) were pure invasive mucinous carcinomas, and 5 (31%) demonstrated both growth patterns. Immunohistochemical analysis of 15 tumors showed that pure cystic/papillary lesions had a significantly greater percentage of synaptophysin-immunoreactive cells ( P = .036). There was no significant difference in the number of neuroendocrine markers expressed or in the intensity of immunostaining among the 3 different growth patterns. Re-excision for margin clearance was performed in 8 of 13 cases (61.5%). Two of 13 lesions recurred (15%); 1 of these was an in situ tumor with cystic morphology and neuroendocrine differentiation and the other was pure invasive mucinous carcinoma. None of the lesions metastasized. Conclusions Mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma pathologically represents a continuum, from an in situ lesion to a classic, invasive mucinous carcinoma. Immunohistochemical evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation can be observed in all lesions and does not appear to have a prognostic significance, arguing against the utility of immunohistochemical subtyping of mucinous sweat gland carcinomas.