cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Magiscan Image Analyzer for Asbestos Fiber Counting

The Magiscan 2 (M-2) image analysis system with asbestos fiber counting software was evaluated. The M-2 takes a video image from a standard phase contrast light microscope used for human (manual) counting of asbestos fibers, processes the video image and then analyzes the particle shapes to count the number of fibers. Operator attention is required to the extent of placing the slide in the microscope, selecting the areas for analysis and focusing the microscope. A set of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) quality control field samples was analyzed by the M-2, and the results were compared to the OSHA counts. The data indicated good precision by the M-2 and reasonably good agreement with the OSHA counts. A subset of these samples also was analyzed by a group of 12 proficient laboratories. The M-2 results agreed well with the inter-laboratory means. Finally, the performance of the M-2 was observed for individual fibers. The M-2 did not always agree with the observer (e.g., sometimes missin...
The “Unacceptables”: American Foundations and Refugee Scholars between the Two Wars and After

Contents: Giuliana Gemelli: Introduction. Scholars in Adversity and Science Policies (1933-1945) - Claus-Dieter Krohn: American Foundations and Refugee Scholars between the Two Wars - Christian Fleck: Long-Term Consequences of Short-Term Fellowships - Reinhard Siegmund-Schultze: Rockefeller Support for Mathematicians Fleeing from the Nazi Purge - Rosario J. Tosiello: Max Ascoli: A Lifetime of Rockefeller Connections - Paola Zambelli: Refugee Philosophers. An Emigre's Career: Koyre at the New School for Social Research - Paola Zambelli: Refugee Philosophers. The Gulf between Continental and Analytical Philosophy as Registered in H. Spiegelberg's Interviews - Diane Dosso: The Rescue of French Scientists. Respective Roles of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Biochemist Louis Rapkine (1904-1948) - Pnina G. Abir-Am: The Rockefeller Foundation and Refugee Biologists: European and American Careers of Leading RF Grantees from England, France, Germany, and Italy - Giuliana Gemelli: Permanent Connections: Paul Lazarsfeld, American Foundations and Europe (1930s-1960s) - Giovanni Paoloni: Vito Volterra and the International Board of Education. A Correspondence (1924-1930) - Albert Mueller: Uses of Adversity: Considering Structures, Networks, and Coincidence in the Context of Alexander Gerschenkron's Emigrations and Career.
Pass the Mealworms, Please: Using Mealworms to Develop Science Process Skills

Mealworms, yum yum! Insects are an exciting way for middle school students to acquire science process skills. A teacher eating a mealworm will certainly capture the attention of students, and explaining the common practice of insect eating among people in other countries is a great way to include culture in a science lesson. This article provides the teacher with basic information on: (a) how to set up and maintain a mealworm colony, (b) instructions on setting up an observational journal as well as a sample organizational template, and (c) a number of explorations and activities to do with mealworms.
"New" lunar meteorites: Impact melt and regolith breccias and large-scale heterogeneities of the upper lunar crust

We have analyzed nine highland lunar meteorites (lunaites) using mainly INAA. Several of these rocks are difficult to classify. Dhofar 081 is basically a fragmental breccia, but much of its groundmass features a glassy-fluidized texture that is indicative of localized shock melting. Also, much of the matrix glass is swirly-brown, suggesting a possible regolith derivation. We interpret Dar al Gani (DaG) 400 as an extremely immature regolith breccia consisting mainly of impact-melt breccia clasts; we interpret Dhofar 026 as an unusually complex anorthositic impact-melt breccia with scattered ovoid globules that formed as clasts of mafic, subophitic impact melt. The presence of mafic crystalline globules in a lunar material, even one so clearly impact-heated, suggests that it may have originated as a regolith. Our new data and a synthesis of literature data suggest a contrast in Al2O3- incompatible element systematics between impact melts from the central nearside highlands, where Apollo sampling occurred, and those from the general highland surface of the Moon. Impact melts from the general highland surface tend to have systematically lower incompatible element concentration at any given Al2O3 concentration than those from Apollo 16. In the case of Dhofar 026, both the bulk rock and a comparatively Al-poor composition (14 wt% Al2O3, 7 μg/g Sm) extrapolated for the globules, manifest incompatible element contents well below the Apollo 16 trend. Impact melts from Luna 20 (57E) distribute more along the general highland trend than along the Apollo 16 trend. Siderophile elements also show a distinctive composition for Apollo 16 impact melts: Ni/Ir averaging ~1.8x chondritic. In contrast, lunaite impact-melt breccias have consistently chondritic Ni/ Ir. Impact melts from Luna 20 and other Apollo sites show average Ni/Ir almost as high as those from Apollo 16. The prevalence of this distinctive Ni/Ir ratio at such widely separated nearside sites suggests that debris from one extraordinarily large impact may dominate the megaregolith siderophile component of a nearside region 2300 km or more across. Highland polymict breccia lunaites and other KREEP-poor highland regolith samples manifest a strong anticorrelation between Al2O3 and mg. The magnesian component probably represents the chemical signature of the Mg-suite of pristine nonmare rocks in its most pure form, unaltered by the major KREEP-assimilation that is so common among Apollo Mg-suite samples. The average composition of the ferroan anorthositic component is now well constrained at Al2O3 ~29-30 wt(implying about 17-19 wt% modal mafic silicates), in good agreement with the composition predicted for flotation crust over a ferroan magma ocean (Warren 1990).
Influence functionals: General methodology for subsystem calculations

Feynman path integrals offer a convenient and elegant tool for dealing with the statistical physics of quantum-mechanical systems. By using the Trotter product formula, one can evaluate directly the propagation of many-body quantum systems in imaginary time. The idea of an influence functional arises when one wishes to consider division of the physical system into a primary system and a bath. We present a general approach to the problem of constructing influence functionals, one that is capable of dealing both with Boltzmann baths (classical oscillators) and quantum baths of bosons or fermions. The fermion bath of special interest is generally a submanifold of the electronic state such as the bridge structure connecting chromophores or electron localization subunits which are common in problems of mixed valency and superexchange. The fermion bath is treated by a general rewriting of the influence phase S as a sum of an eigenvalue part ${S}_{\mathrm{EV}}$ and a remainder, ${S}^{0}$, that describes transitions. Reduction of the original Hamiltonian leads to a reduced Hamiltonian with effective off-diagonal matrix elements and influence functionals which can include memory effects. We present a general formalism for construction of influence functionals, and discuss particular applications to systems of interest, especially in electronic-structure problems. The following paper presents a variational technique for finding effective Hamiltonians.
Corporate venturing: alternatives, obstacles encountered, and experience effects☆

Abstract In this study of a relatively small number of corporate executives with line experience in corporate venturing, some clues are uncovered that could help those corporations contemplating the initiation of acquisition, joint venturing, or corporate start-up activities to avoid or overcome the obstacles that our sample of managers encountered. The preliminary indications are; 1. 1. Joint ventures appear to be a highly useful way of starting off in venturing activity while at the same time reducing the initial risk. 2. 2. The excutives in this sample indicated that experience at venturing resulted in improvement in venturing performance, but only after several venture attempts. From this observation, two suggestions appear reasonable: 1) Start venturing with few relatively small ventures and keep ventures relatively small until experience is gained. Start perhaps with joint ventures to learn your way in and “graduate” to grass-roots start ups once significant learning has taken place; and 2) The experience gained will reside in people who may have been part of an unsuccessful venture, perhaps several unsuccessful ventures. If this experience is to be useful, the people who have gained it need to be retained and recycled to other new ventures. 3. 3. Although some of the obstacles perceived by the executives diminish with experience, others do not. Regardless of experience, inability to plan for new ventures is a recurrently cited obstacle, as is the inability of the corporation to provide adequate support to the venture. The last point may be the most significant observation in this study. Prevailing corporate values call for the ability to plan and to meet the plan as one of the primary measures of managerial competence. New ventures, however, rarely conform to plan, especially the quantitative projections. As a result, corporate support either dwindles when plans are not achieved or desperate spending efforts are made to achiev unachievable planned results, which often results in large losses. Very different planning methods are needed for ventures, methods that, in the highly uncertain surroundings of venturing activity, address what realistic corporate expectations should be, how progress should be measured and venture managers evaluated, and in what ways and at what times support will be provided by the parent corporation. These are discussed in the main body of the article.
Human Carrying Capacity Is Determined by Food Availability

Simple mathematical models have illustrated the relationship between human carrying capacity and population growth. In this study, food supply is proposed as the variable which best accounts for the human carrying capacity. The logistic equation, using food supply data as a variable carrying capacity, yields population estimates which are in accord with actual population numbers. That food supply data adequately fits the logistic model of human population dynamics provides evidence that, consistent with ecological notions typically applied only to nonhuman species, human population increases are a function of increased food availability.
Direct Synthesis of Band-Pass Transmission Line Structures

Realizable band-pass (zero of transmission, i.e., infinite loss, at dc) equiripple gain functions are constructed which permit exact physical realization of systems consisting of cascaded lines and stubs. The problem of the realization of a prescribed load resistance is solved when a dc zero of transmission is present due to a shunt short-circuiting stub. The exact limits of realizable load resistance are given for equiripple band-pass gain functions and a straight-forward method is presented to synthesize any desired value of load between the predetermined limits. The basis of the synthesis technique is the choice of location of the shunt stub in the cascaded chain.
FunMap: functional mapping of complex traits

Summary: FunMap is a Web-based user interface designed to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting function-valued traits or infinite-dimensional traits in well-structured pedigrees or natural populations. User input includes three files: longitudinal trait data, marker genotypes and/or a linkage map. This software allows for a systematic genome-wide scan and significance test of QTL throughout the map. The dynamic change of QTL effects during the time course of growth is automatically drawn, from which specific biological hypotheses regarding the genetic control mechanisms of growth and development can be tested. Availability: http://web.biostat.ufl.edu/~cma/genetics/software.html
The relationship between gastric pH and the emptying of solid, semisolid and liquid meals

The effect of three different meal constituents, solid, semisolid and liquid, on gastric pH, recorded in the proximal and distal stomach, was evaluated in a prospective study of 20 normal volunteers. The solid and liquid were ingested together as one meal and the semisolid as another. Simultaneous recordings of the rate of gastric emptying of the isotopically labelled meal constituents and the gastric pH were made. The rate of gastric emptying was more rapid for the liquid and semisolid constituents (t1/2= 35.6, range 9.8–103.3 min and 47.4, range 33.5–120 min, respectively) than for the solid meal constituent (t1/2= 72.0, range 45.0–103.8 min), P < 0.01. Both the combined meal of solid and liquid and the semisolid meal produced a higher pH response in the proximal stomach than in the distal stomach (5.2, range 2.4–6.1 vs 2.9, range 0.8–5.3 and 5.9, range 4.3–6.6 vs 4.3, range 1.1–5.9), P < 0.01. There were significant correlations between the rate of gastric emptying of all three meal constituents and the decline phase in the gastric pH recorded at both the proximal and distal probes, P < 0.01 (Pearson's correlation). The strongest correlations were found between the rate of gastric emptying and the gastric pH recorded in the proximal stomach. The decline phase of gastric pH followed the emptying of semisolid more closely than the emptying of either solid or liquid.
Branching of fungal hyphae: regulation, mechanisms and comparison with other branching systems

The ability of rapidly growing hyphae to generate new polarity axes that result in the formation of a branch represents one of the most important yet least understood aspects of fungal cell biology. Branching is central to the development of mycelial colonies and also appears to play a key role in fungal interactions with other organisms. This review presents a description of the two major patterns of hyphal branching, apical and lateral, and highlights the roles of internal and external factors in the induction of branch formation. In addition, potential mechanisms underlying branch site selection are outlined, and the possible roles of multiple signaling pathways (i.e., G protein alpha, Cdc42, NDR kinases) and subcellular structures (i.e., the Spitzenkorper, septins) are discussed. Finally, other forms of branching in the plant and animal kingdoms are briefly summarized and compared to hyphal branching.
In vivo echocardiographic detection of enhanced left ventricular function in gene-targeted mice with phospholamban deficiency.

Abstract We evaluated the ability of M-mode and Doppler echocardiography to assess left ventricular (LV) function reliably and repeatedly in mice and tested whether these techniques could detect physiological alterations in phospholamban (PLB)–deficient mice. Anesthetized wild-type mice (n=7) and mice deficient in PLB (n=8) were studied with two-dimensional guided M-mode and Doppler echocardiography using a 9-MHz imaging and 5- to 7.5-MHz Doppler transducer. Data were acquired in the baseline state and after intraperitoneal isoproterenol administration (2.0 μg/g IP). Interobserver and intraobserver variability and reproducibility were excellent. PLB-deficient mice were associated with significant ( P <.05) increases in several physiological parameters (mean±SD) compared with wild-type control mice: normalized mean velocity of circumferential shortening (7.7±2.1 versus 5.5±1.0 circ/sec), peak aortic velocity (105±13 versus 75±9.2 cm/s), mean aortic acceleration (57±16 versus 31±4 m/s2), and peak early-diastolic transmitral velocity (80.0±7.2 versus 66.9±7.7 cm/s). LV dimensions, shortening fractions, heart rates, late diastolic transmitral (A) velocities, and early to late (E/A) diastolic velocity ratios were similar in both groups. Isoproterenol administration resulted in significant increases in Doppler indices of ventricular function in control but not PLB-deficient mice. These findings indicate that assessment of LV function can be performed noninvasively in mice under varying physiological conditions and that PLB regulates basal LV function in vivo.
Exciton Raman coherence revealed in two-dimensional fourier transform spectroscopy of semiconductors

Raman coherence between heavy-hole and light-hole excitons in quantum wells is isolated in an alternative spectrum and contributions from single exciton and correlated two-exciton states are studied experimentally and theoretically by excitation with different polarizations.
A Dual-Label Stable-Isotopic Protocol Is Suitable for Determination of Folate Bioavailability in Humans: Evaluation of Urinary Excretion and Plasma Folate Kinetics of Intravenous and Oral Doses of [13C5] and [2H2]Folic Acid

Stable isotopic protocols for the study of folate absorption were conducted to determine the following: (1) the equivalence of the [13C5] and [2H2] forms of folic acid, and (2) the merits of short-term plasma kinetics from injected and oral doses vs. urinary excretion of [13C5] and [2H2]folates. Another objective was to evaluate the merits of protocols not involving "saturation" of subjects with nonlabeled folate. Oral administration of [13C5] and [2H2]folic acid ( approximately 500 nmol each) to adult subjects (n = 4) yielded an equivalent 24-h urinary excretion of approximately 2% of each dose (molar ratio of urinary [13C5]/[2H2]folates = 0.96 +/- 0.055; mean +/- SEM). Expression of urinary excretion as a ratio of [13C5]/[2H2]folates yielded less within-group variability than seen for absolute excretion of each form of labeled folate. In the second study, subjects received 226 nmol of [2H2]folic acid intravenously and 1010 nmol of [13C5]folic acid orally. Isotopic enrichment of plasma [2H2]folates rose rapidly and returned to near basal values by approximately 2 h postdose. In contrast, enrichment of plasma [13C5]folates was detected until 4 h after dose, whereas enrichment values were far lower than seen with [2H2]folate. Adjusting for the difference in dose, the molar response of plasma area under the curve for isotopic enrichment was 15- to 20-fold greater for injected folates. In view of this very limited short-term plasma response even with a relatively large oral dose, presumably due to hepatic first-pass uptake, these findings suggest that plasma kinetics would be of limited usefulness in assessing the relative bioavailability of nutritionally relevant oral doses of labeled folate.
The Microfoundations of Mass Polarization

Although there has been considerable attention to the question of how much polarization there is in the mass electorate, there has been much less attention paid to the mechanism that causes polarization. I provide evidence demonstrating the occurrence of individual-level conversion—individual Democrats and Republicans becoming more liberal and conservative. Although over the short term most of the observed changes are quite small and cannot be distinguished from measurement error, over time and many respondents, these movements aggregate to generate polarization. Small individual-level preference shifts provide an important foundation for aggregate polarization.
Processor Grain Size and Overhead for Massive Parallelism

*L? &:TA4 " Abstract !l%w+pw presents a model of parallel system performance, ancludang the effect acal sequentaal sequences and parallel overhead. o surveys two archztectures whzch attempt to aze parallel overhead for communacatzon, synchronazataon, namang, and task and storage management. 1 Pursuit of Parallelism Parallel architectures have been studied for over twenty five years. The goal is harness the power of thousands of processing elements to obtain performance greater than can be obtained via a sequential system. A range of obstacles in algorithms, languages, compilation, networks, and processor design have thwarted this goal. This paper addresses one aspect of a parallel system: the design of the processing element. It defines a model to examine issues in parallel execution, including the effect of parallel overhead. It then surveys two architectures designed to minimize parallel overhead: the MIT MDP [a] and the Georgia Tech Pica [lo] architectures.
Data mining cDNAs reveals three new single stranded RNA viruses in Nasonia (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

We report three novel small RNA viruses uncovered from cDNA libraries from parasitoid wasps in the genus Nasonia. The genome of this kind of virus is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA with a 3' poly(A), which facilitates cloning from cDNAs. Two of the viruses, NvitV-1 and NvitV-2, possess a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that associates them with the family Iflaviridae of the order Picornavirales. A third virus, NvitV-3, is most similar to the Nora virus from Drosophila. A reverse transcription-PCR method developed for NvitV-1 indicates that it is a persistent commensal infection of Nasonia.
Update on treatment strategies

Antipsychotic drugs are an essential component in the acute and long-term management of schizophrenia. Although most patients derive some benefit from currently available agents, many patients are left with residual psychopathology, particularly negative symptoms, as well as cognitive dysfunction and psychosocial and vocational disability. There is hope that new antipsychotic medications can improve overall effectiveness and that better knowledge transfer and integration of pharmacologic and psychosocial treatment strategies can also facilitate the achievement of optimum outcome.
Human and Macaque Transcriptomes: A Comparison

The initial deciphering of entire genomes from several mammalian species including human, chimpanzee and macaque has now been accomplished and the massive datasets are publicly available in the form of high-quality draft sequences. As a direct result, the development and commercialization of an ever-increasing number of sensitive tools to measure global gene expression (the ‘transcriptome’) is providing unique opportunities to evaluate and compare biological systems. One particularly important application is to use tissues derived from macaque models of toxicity and disease to infer responses in their human counterparts. Understanding the similarities and differences in how macaques and humans respond, at the functional genomic level, to perturbations in their environments has significant relevance in biomedical research. Keywords: macaque; microarray; transcriptome; gene expression; genome
Watermelon juice: a promising feedstock supplement, diluent, and nitrogen supplement for ethanol biofuel production.

Background Two economic factors make watermelon worthy of consideration as a feedstock for ethanol biofuel production. First, about 20% of each annual watermelon crop is left in the field because of surface blemishes or because they are misshapen; currently these are lost to growers as a source of revenue. Second, the neutraceutical value of lycopene and L-citrulline obtained from watermelon is at a threshold whereby watermelon could serve as starting material to extract and manufacture these products. Processing of watermelons to produce lycopene and L-citrulline, yields a waste stream of watermelon juice at the rate of over 500 L/t of watermelons. Since watermelon juice contains 7 to 10% (w/v) directly fermentable sugars and 15 to 35 μmol/ml of free amino acids, its potential as feedstock, diluent, and nitrogen supplement was investigated in fermentations to produce bioethanol.
Scheduling Support Times for Satellites with Overlapping Visibilities

We consider the scheduling of ground station support times to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with overlapping visibilities. LEO satellites typically complete a revolution around the Earth in less than four hours at an altitude of a few hundred miles and are part of the critical infrastructure for natural resource management, crop yield estimation, meteorology, flood control, communication, and space research. Because these satellites are quite expensive to launch and operate, utilizing them in the best possible manner is of paramount importance for the agencies that own them. A ground station provides support time to a satellite to perform a variety of tasks when the satellite is visible to the station over a prespecified planning horizon; the payoff from providing such support is a function of the support time. When two or more satellites pass over the ground station, their visibility time windows may overlap. Thus, under overlapping visibilities, a relevant problem is that of scheduling ground station support time for each satellite with the objective of maximizing the total utility generated from supporting the satellites. We propose four basic scheduling models to address a variety of scenarios and investigate their computational complexities. For each model, we also identify special cases that are polynomially solvable.
Shifting ecological baselines and the demise of Acropora cervicornis in the western North Atlantic and Caribbean Province: a Pleistocene perspective

In recent years, marine scientists have become increasingly alarmed over the decline of live coral cover throughout the Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic region. The Holocene and Pleistocene fossil record of coral reefs from this region potentially provides a wealth of long-term ecologic information with which to assess the historical record of changes in shallow water coral reef communities. Before fossil data can be applied to the modern reef system, critical problems involving fossil preservation must be addressed. Moreover, it must be demonstrated that the classic reef coral zonation pat- terns described in the early days of coral reef ecology, and upon which ''healthy'' versus ''unhealthy'' reefs are determined, are themselves representative of reefs that existed prior to any human influence. To address these issues, we have conducted systematic censuses of life and death assemblages on modern ''healthy'' patch reefs in the Florida reef tract that conform to the classic Cari- bbean model of reef coral zonation, and a patch reef in the Bahamas that is currently undergoing a transition in coral dominance that is part of a greater Caribbean-wide phenomenon. Results were compared to censuses of ancient reef assemblages preserved in Pleistocene lime- stones in close proximity to each modern reef. We have determined that the Pleistocene fossil record of coral reefs may be used to calibrate an ecological baseline with which to compare modern reef assemblages, and suggest that the current and rapid decline of Acropora cervicor- nis observed on a Bahamian patch reef may be a unique event that contrasts with the long-term persistence of this taxon during Pleistocene and Holocene time.
College Philosophy and Teaching

This article delineates critical practices for effective college teaching and learning. In addition, the author contendsan internal transformation in philosophy, to facilitate a better college teaching environment. Moreover, a review andadaptation of Socratic paradigm techniques are included. The author outlines specific instructional and curricularfacilitation modes for advanced learners.
A Review of Oxaliplatin and Its Clinical Use in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death from malignant diseases in the Western world. Worldwide, approximately 50% of patients who present with colorectal cancer will develop metastatic disease and eventually die from this malignancy. Recently, significant advances have been made in the medical treatment of advanced colorectal cancer with the introduction of novel cytotoxic drugs, such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Based on the results of recent Phase III trials, combination regimens of infusional 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) have emerged as a new standard of care in the palliative and adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer. The addition of biological agents targeting angiogenesis or oncogenes such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to FOLFOX will conceivably further enhance the activity of treatment regimens. Making use of all available active therapeutic options in the course of disease has significantly improved median overall survival of metastatic colorectal cancer into a chronic disease, with implications for treatment strategies and pharmacoeconomic considerations.
The First Year of 'Say on Pay' Under Dodd-Frank: An Empirical Analysis and Look Forward

Using voting data from the first year of “say on pay” votes under Dodd-Frank, we look at the patterns of shareholder voting in advisory votes on executive pay. Consistent with the more limited “say on pay” voting before Dodd-Frank, we find that shareholders in the first year under Dodd-Frank gave generally broad support to management pay packages. But not all pay packages received strong shareholder support. At some companies, management suffered the embarrassment of failed “say on pay” votes – that is, less than 50% of their company’s shareholders voted in favor of the proposal. In particular, we find that poorly-performing companies with high levels of “excess” executive pay, low total shareholder return, and negative ISS voting recommendations experienced greater shareholder “against” votes than at other firms.Although “say on pay” votes are non-binding and corporate boards need not take action even if the proposal fails, most companies receiving negative ISS recommendations or experiencing low levels of “say on pay” support undertook additional communication with shareholders or made changes to their pay practices – reflecting a shift in the management-shareholder dynamic. During 2012, the second year of “say on pay” under Dodd-Frank, we find similar patterns, with companies responding proactively to an unfavorable ISS recommendation or a prior failed (or even weak) “say on pay” vote in 2011. We use four case studies to illustrate this new corporate governance dynamic, which we view as an important consequence of the Dodd-Frank Act.
CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN‐ALTERED FLOODS: LEVEES, FLOODS, AND FLOODPLAIN FORESTS ALONG THE WISCONSIN RIVER

Flood-control levees are generally thought to increase flood height and ve- locity for a given discharge. While extensive areas of floodplain in the United States are leveed, the ecological impacts of levees have largely been ignored relative to other an- thropogenic impacts to large river floodplains. We examined a century of flood control along the Wisconsin River by comparing simulated flood regimes under ''levee'' and ''levee- removal'' scenarios. We also used field sampling to determine if levees had altered the distribution of dominant floodplain forest trees. Increases in flood stage (height) due to levees were minor, only a few centimeters. This was primarily due to the location of the levees, set back hundreds of meters into the floodplain in some areas. Increases in overbank flood velocities due to levees were minimal compared to increases caused by channel constriction and by increased flood magnitude. Generally, levees had a greater impact on stage and overbank flood velocities of larger magnitude events. The mean number of floods and number of days flooded were lower in areas outside (on upland sides) of levees, and stream power was zero in these areas due to a lack of any inundation. These areas also had lower importance values (IV) for several flood-tolerant tree species ( Acer saccharinum and Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and higher IVs for some flood-intolerant species ( Quercus velutina and Q. ellipsoidalis). Furthermore, areas inside levees (between the levee and the channel) were no different from completely unleveed areas in the number of floods, number of days flooded and in IVs of several dominant tree species. The levee location (set back into the floodplain) resulted in a similar historic flood regime, and thus, similar abundances of floodplain tree species in areas inside levees as compared to completely unleveed areas. Setback levees can provide an important compromise by maintaining the relative abundance of tree species normally found in unleveed areas, while also allowing some flood control. Floodplain restoration involving levee removal should generally target the removal of mainline levees (those adjacent to the channel) rather than removal of setback levees.
Timing the implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

The prophylactic use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in selected patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) is unequivocally valuable ([1][1]). Clinicians are nevertheless confronted with decision making related to two fundamental aspects in the selection of patients for an
Integrating Transgenic Vector Manipulation with Clinical Interventions to Manage Vector-Borne Diseases

Many vector-borne diseases lack effective vaccines and medications, and the limitations of traditional vector control have inspired novel approaches based on using genetic engineering to manipulate vector populations and thereby reduce transmission. Yet both the short- and long-term epidemiological effects of these transgenic strategies are highly uncertain. If neither vaccines, medications, nor transgenic strategies can by themselves suffice for managing vector-borne diseases, integrating these approaches becomes key. Here we develop a framework to evaluate how clinical interventions (i.e., vaccination and medication) can be integrated with transgenic vector manipulation strategies to prevent disease invasion and reduce disease incidence. We show that the ability of clinical interventions to accelerate disease suppression can depend on the nature of the transgenic manipulation deployed (e.g., whether vector population reduction or replacement is attempted). We find that making a specific, individual strategy highly effective may not be necessary for attaining public-health objectives, provided suitable combinations can be adopted. However, we show how combining only partially effective antimicrobial drugs or vaccination with transgenic vector manipulations that merely temporarily lower vector competence can amplify disease resurgence following transient suppression. Thus, transgenic vector manipulation that cannot be sustained can have adverse consequences-consequences which ineffective clinical interventions can at best only mitigate, and at worst temporarily exacerbate. This result, which arises from differences between the time scale on which the interventions affect disease dynamics and the time scale of host population dynamics, highlights the importance of accounting for the potential delay in the effects of deploying public health strategies on long-term disease incidence. We find that for systems at the disease-endemic equilibrium, even modest perturbations induced by weak interventions can exhibit strong, albeit transient, epidemiological effects. This, together with our finding that under some conditions combining strategies could have transient adverse epidemiological effects suggests that a relatively long time horizon may be necessary to discern the efficacy of alternative intervention strategies.
Structural Criteria for Conjugated Polymer Design

Electroactive polymers belong to an exciting group of new materials possessing a variety of unusual properties [1,2] amenable to ”property engineering” by advanced theoretical tools. The microscopic elucidation of the geometrical and electronic structures of these systems including their ground and excited states and various defect structures [3 – 5] forms the basis of understanding their physical properties. One of the beauties of this field is connected to the difficulties to experimentally determine the geometrical structures of these materials [6,7], and to the fact, that due to their quasi-one dimensional topology their electrons at the Fermi level are strongly coupled to certain geometrical modes [3,5,8], usually called amplitude modes [9]. The challenge in the theoretical determination of the geometrical parameters is due to the large number of internal degrees of freedom characteristic for most electroactive polymers [10]
Difference frequency generation at 9μm wavelength using a compact all-fiber laser source based on Thulium and Erbium fiber amplifiers

We demonstrate a mid-infrared frequency comb spanning from 7.5 to 11.6µm using difference frequency generation in a AgGaS2 crystal with a compact all-fiber source based on Tm and Er-amplifiers.
Abstract 615: Knock-down of base excision repair genes increases susceptibility to organophospate pesticide toxicity.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Organophosphates are chemicals that inhibit cholinesterases and are employed widely as pesticides. Concerns are increasing regarding the relative safety of these chemicals to the environment. Recent studies suggest organophosphate exposure is associated with increased expression of fragile sites and DNA damage at concentrations that are not associated with cholinesterase inhibition. Chronic exposure to the organophosphate has been associated with high incidences of prostate cancer in farm workers as well as leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults and children. Moreover, a higher degree of DNA damage has been reported in pesticide applicators that have polymorphisms in the base excision repair genes XRCC1 and OGG1. Our laboratory reports that cells deficient in BER enzymes APE1 and OGG1 exhibit a higher cytotoxicity when exposed, in a dose-dependent manner, to organophosphates Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-oxon and Isofenphos. However, it should be noted that other organophosphates such as Diazinon and Dichlorvos had very little effects on cellular viability within the APE1 and OGG1 deficient cells. It should be noted that Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-oxon and Isofenphos also produce significant oxidative stress in cells. Our data is consistent with previous studies which report a higher degree of DNA damage has been reported in pesticide applicators that have polymorphisms in the base excision repair genes XRCC1 and OGG1. Moreover, our data further suggests that only certain organophosphates, particularly those that induce oxidative stress, may be responsible for toxicity in APE1 and OGG1 deficient cells. Citation Format: Marilyn D. Saulsbury, Simone Heyliger, Feng Li, KiTani A. Parker-Johnson. Knock-down of base excision repair genes increases susceptibility to organophospate pesticide toxicity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 615. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-615
Change of soil organic carbon in Baicheng district of western Jilin during the last 50 years

Taking Baicheng district,western Jilin as a case,change of soil organic carbon density(SOD) and soil organic carbon storage(SOC) of 11 soil types in this area is estimated and analyzed in the last 50 years(1950 s ~2000 s).By referencing the data and sampling location of 193 soil profiles in the first and second national soil surveys in Baicheng district,additional 24 soil profiles were sampled in the county in 2009.By calculating the SOD of 11 soil types,certain phenomenon can be listed as follows.①SOD in paddy soil and chestnut soil has ascended in the last 50 years while others has descended.The top and lowest SOD are retained which are peat soil and saline-alkali soil.②SOD in this district has descended 28.25%(from 92.22±21.13 t?hm-2 in 1950s to 68.01±10.76 t?hm-2 in 2000 s) which dropped from north to south,from west to east.③SOC has descended 6.2×107t in the last 50 years while ones in each county were steady declining.The rank of SOC in each county is TaonanZhenlaiTongyuDa'anTaobei.Building irrigation works and expanding area of paddy field should be taken to stabilize and increase SOD in this area.
Semimartingales and General Stochastic Integration

Predictable covariation and L2-integral; semimartingale integral and covariation; general substitution rule; Doleans’ exponential and change of measure; norm and exponential inequalities; martingale integral; decomposition of semimartingales; quasi-martingales and stochastic integrators
Testosterone replacement attenuates intimal hyperplasia development in an androgen deficient model of vascular injury

Abstract Background Androgen deficiency (AD) is associated with increased risk of vascular disease. Dysfunctional remodeling of the vessel wall and atypical proliferative potential of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are fundamental processes in the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH). We have demonstrated an inverse relationship between dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, matrix metalloproteinase activity, and VSMC migration and proliferation in vitro. Here, we investigated the role of AD and testosterone (TST) replacement in IH development in an animal model of vascular injury to elucidate mechanisms modulated by AD that could be playing a role in the development of vascular pathogenesis. Methods Aged orchiectomized male rats underwent TST supplementation via controlled release pellet (0.5-35 mg). Young adult and middle-age adult intact (MI) and orchiectomized placebo (Plac) groups served as controls. All groups underwent balloon angioplasty of the left common carotid at a 14-d post-TST. Carotid tissue was collected at a 14-d post-balloon angioplasty and subjected to morphologic and immunohistochemical analyses. Human male VSMCs were treated with DHT (0-3000 nM) for 24 h then subjected to quantitative PCR for gene expression analyses and costained for F-actin and G-actin for visualization of cytoskeletal organization. Results I:M ratio was increased in Plac, subphysiological, low-physiological, and high pharmacologic level TST animals compared with MI controls but was decreased with high-physiological TST supplementation. Injury-induced expression of previously defined matrix metalloproteinase remodeling enzymes was not significantly affected by TST status. Urotensin (UTS) receptor (UTSR) staining was low in injured vessels of all young adult intact, MI, and Plac controls but was significantly upregulated in all groups receiving exogenous TST supplementation, irrespective of dose. In vitro DHT exposure increased the expression of UTSR in VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner. However, this did not correlate with any change in proliferative markers. F:G actin staining revealed that DHT-induced cytoskeletal organization in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions AD increased IH development in response to vascular injury, whereas physiological TST replacement attenuated this effect. AD-induced IH occurs independent of matrix remodeling mechanisms known to be heavily involved in vascular dysfunction, and AD alone does not affect the UTS and/or UTSR mechanism. Exogenous TST and/or DHT increases UTSR pathway signaling in vitro and in vivo. This modulation correlates to a shift in cytoskeletal organization and may exacerbate vasoconstrictive pathogenesis. While physiological TST replacement attenuates AD-modulated IH development, its UTS-mediated effect on vasotone may prove deleterious to overall vascular function.
Powerful New Analytical Technique Directly Images a Material’s Atomic Structure and Composition

(1991). Powerful New Analytical Technique Directly Images a Material’s Atomic Structure and Composition. Materials and Processing Report: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 1-3.
Privacy Self-Management and the Consent Dilemma

The current regulatory approach for protecting privacy involves what I refer to as “privacy self-management” — the law provides people with a set of rights to enable them to decide how to weigh the costs and benefits of the collection, use, or disclosure of their information. People’s consent legitimizes nearly any form of collection, use, and disclosure of personal data. Although privacy self-management is certainly a necessary component of any regulatory regime, I contend in this Article that it is being asked to do work beyond its capabilities. Privacy self-management does not provide meaningful control. Empirical and social science research has undermined key assumptions about how people make decisions regarding their data, assumptions that underpin and legitimize the privacy self-management model. Moreover, people cannot appropriately self-manage their privacy due to a series of structural problems. There are too many entities collecting and using personal data to make it feasible for people to manage their privacy separately with each entity. Moreover, many privacy harms are the result of an aggregation of pieces of data over a period of time by different entities. It is virtually impossible for people to weigh the costs and benefits of revealing information or permitting its use or transfer without an understanding of the potential downstream uses, further limiting the effectiveness of the privacy self-management framework. In addition, privacy self-management addresses privacy in a series of isolated transactions guided by particular individuals. Privacy costs and benefits, however, are more appropriately assessed cumulatively and holistically — not merely at the individual level.In order to advance, privacy law and policy must confront a complex and confounding dilemma with consent. Consent to collection, use, and disclosure of personal data is often not meaningful, and the most apparent solution — paternalistic measures — even more directly denies people the freedom to make consensual choices about their data. In this Article, I propose several ways privacy law can grapple with the consent dilemma and move beyond relying too heavily on privacy self-management.
Tuning electrical properties of PZT film deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Abstract The variation of the chemical composition and properties of PZT films as a function of oxygen pressure and laser fluence during pulsed laser deposition is used to tune the electrical properties of the PZT thin films. It is found that the deposition using a 248 nm laser fluence of 1.7 J/cm 2 and an oxygen pressure of 400 mtorr results the PZT films very similar to that of target material. Changing the laser fluences or oxygen pressure, affects the lead content of the deposited film. In the range of oxygen pressure 50–200 mtorr, the Zr/Zr+Ti and Ti/Zr+Ti ratio varies with oxygen pressure while the Pb/Zr+Ti ratio is almost uniform. Using oxygen pressure as a control parameter to tune the chemical compound and electrical properties of the deposited PZT films, the remnant polarization of the PZT films is tuned in the range of 6.6–42.2 µC/cm 2 , the dielectric constant is controlled in the range of 29–130, and the piezoelectric constant d 33 is controlled in the range of 3.82–4.96 pm/V for a 40 nm thick PZT film.
Finite Element Simulation of Three Full-Scale Crash Tests for Cessna 172 Aircraft

The NASA Emergency Locator Transmitter Survivability and Reliability (ELT-SAR) project was initiated in 2013 to assess the crash performance standards for the next generation of emergency locator transmitter (ELT) systems. Three Cessna 172 aircraft were acquired to perform crash testing at NASA Langley Research Center's Landing and Impact Research Facility. Full-scale crash tests were conducted in the summer of 2015 and each test article was subjected to severe, but survivable, impact conditions including a flare-to-stall during emergency landing, and two controlled-flight-into-terrain scenarios. Full-scale finite element analyses were performed using a commercial explicit solver, ABAQUS. The first test simulated impacting a concrete surface represented analytically by a rigid plane. Tests 2 and 3 simulated impacting a dirt surface represented analytically by an Eulerian grid of brick elements using a Mohr-Coulomb material model. The objective of this paper is to summarize the test and analysis results for the three full-scale crash tests. Simulation models of the airframe which correlate well with the tests are needed for future studies of alternate ELT mounting configurations.
Anne O’Tate

Anne O’Tate is an alternative interface for searching PubMed developed by the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).