cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An improved algorithm for computing local fractal dimension using the triangular prism method

Despite the many applications of fractals in geosciences, the problem of inconsistent results derived from different fractal calculation algorithms remains. Previous research found that the modified triangular prism method was the most accurate for calculating the fractal dimension of complex surfaces such as remote sensing images. However, when extending the application of the technique into local measurements, new problems arise. Hence, adjustment to the existing technique is needed. This paper introduces a new algorithm for calculating the fractal dimension within a local window based on the triangular prism method. Instead of using arbitrary geometric steps, the new algorithm computes the number of steps needed for fractal calculation according to the window size. The new algorithm, called the divisor-step method, was tested using 4000 simulated surfaces and found to be more robust and accurate than the conventional geometric-step method. The new divisor-step method is recommended especially for local measurements.
Nature of Polyphenol−Protein Interactions

Proteins and polyphenols were combined in model systems, and the resulting hazes were measured by light scattering. The amount of haze formed depends both on the concentrations of protein and polyphenol and on their ratio. A conceptual model in which a protein molecule has a fixed number of polyphenol binding sites explains the observed behavior and has implications for turbidimetric methods for estimating haze-active protein and haze-active polyphenol in beverages. The ranking of haze-forming activity of the test polypeptides was different with tannic acid than with catechin; this indicates differences in binding site availability, bridging ability, or specificity for the two polyphenols. More haze was observed when model systems were heated, suggesting that polyphenol binding sites are exposed when protein hydrogen bonds are broken. Freshly formed haze dissolved when dimethylformamide or dioxane was added; this may be useful for recovering compounds from isolated hazes for analysis. Keywords: Haze-activ...
Mathematical Modeling of Some pH-Dependent Surface and Interfacial Properties of Stearic Acid

ABSTRACT Mathematical models to account for the dependence on sub-phase pH of numerous surface and interfacial properties of stearic acid are proposed. They describe quantitatively the variations in cross-sectional molecular areas and two-dimensional transition and collapse pressures (as determined using Langmuir-Blodgett techniques), and interfacial tensions and activities (using the conventional duNoiiy apparatus). Species arising as a result of acid-base dissociations have been shown to coexist independently at air/water and oil/water interfaces over the entire range of pH studied. Correspondence between theory and experiment based on correlation coefficients of linear regression analyses is excellent: R-square values range from 0.93 to 0.99. Additional evidence for the correctness of the model is gained from an application of the Phase Rule of Gibbs to two-dimensional systems. From a knowledge of (1) the apparent surface pKa values (from surface pressure-pH data) and (2) the distribution coefficient d...
Evidence of Time-dependent Sverdrup Circulation in the South Pacific from the Seasat Scatterometer and Altimeter

Abstract Seasat scatterometer and altimeter data are analyzed to investigate time-dependent Sverdrup dynamics in the Southern Ocean (40°S to 60°S) over seasonal time scales. Sverdrup dynamics are shown to be inadequate to describe the circulation in the South Atlantic and Indian oceans. The Sverdrup circulation in the South Pacific is reasonable north of 55°S. The changes in Sverdrup circulation from July to September 1978 indicate an eastward acceleration along 55°S and westward acceleration along 40°S, suggesting a southward shift in the subpolar eastward flow. Sea level in the South Pacific is estimated for July and September 1978 from scatterometer vector wind data based on Sverdrup dynamics assuming a flat-bottom ocean with barotropic flow. The changes in Sverdrup sea level are compared with the changes in sea level observed by the altimeter for the same time period. Both estimates indicate a rise in sea level along a zonal band centered at about 50°S. This sea level rise inferred from both the scatt...
Nanoporous membranes generated from self‐assembled block polymer precursors: Quo Vadis?

Nanoporous membranes based on self-assembled block polymer precursors are an emerging class of promising separation, purification, and sensing devices due to the ability of researchers to control the nanostructure and chemistry of these multifunctional materials and devices. In fact, modern polymer chemistry provides techniques for the facile, controlled synthesis of the block polymers that constitute these devices. These designer macromolecules, in turn, can then self-assemble into functional nanostructures depending upon the chemical identity of the synthesized block polymers and the thin film fabrication methods employed. After fabrication, these nanoporous membranes offer a highly tunable platform for applications that require high throughput, high surface area, homogeneous pore size, and varying material properties. And, with these readily tunable chemical and structural properties, block polymer membranes will allow for significant improvements in myriad applications. In this Review, we summarize the key advances, with a specific emphasis on the previous 5 years of work, that have allowed block polymer-based membranes to reach their current level of technology. Furthermore, we project how these state-of-art, self-assembled block polymer membrane technologies can be utilized in present-day and future application arenas. In this way, we aim to demonstrate that the rigorous work performed on block polymer-based membranes has laid a strong foundation that will allow these macromolecular systems to: (1) be major avenues of fundamental scientific research and (2) be parlayed into transferable technologies for the betterment of society in the imminent future. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41683.
Shifts in the Apparent Ionization Constant of the Carboxylic Acid Groups of Gelatin

Titration data of Type B gelatin were used to investigate shifts of the apparent ionization constant of the carboxylic acid groups caused by changes in the degree of ionization or net molecular charge and in ionic strength. The intrinsic ionization constant was estimated by comparison between titrations in water and in 0.10 molal NaCl. This estimated value of the carboxylic acid groups of gelatin was comparable to those reported for the carboxylic acid groups of poly(acrylic acid) and of a polyampholyte based on methacrylic acid. Neighboring cationic groups of the gelatin molecule assist in the removal of the proton from a carboxylic acid group by electrostatic repulsion while neighboring carboxylate ions hinder the ionization by electrostatic attraction of the proton. These interactions result in a negative or positive electrostatic free energy of ionization, respectively. This excess free energy was calculated by two analogous procedures difference between the apparent and intrinsic ionization constants, and from the slope of a plot of the apparent ionization constant versus net molecular charge. These two methods of calculation gave comparable values for gelatin. Maximum values for the electrostatic free energy of ionization, determined at nearly complete ionization, were of the same order of magnitude for gelatin and for the synthetic polyampholyte. They were an order of magnitude larger for poly(acrylic acid) due to the lack of cationic groups. Addition of 0.10 molal NaCl shifted the apparent ionization constant of the carboxylic acid groups of gelatin toward their intrinsic ionization constant and reduced the absolute value of the electrostatic free energy of ionization compared to its values in water at comparable degrees of ionization.
Ten-fold spectral resolution boosting using TEDI at the Mt. Palomar NIR Triplespec spectrograph

An optical technique called "interferometric spectral reconstruction" (ISR) is capable of increasing a spectrograph's resolution and stability by large factors, well beyond its classical limits. We have demonstrated a 6- to 11-fold increase in the Triplespec effective spectral resolution (R=2,700) to achieve R=16,000 at 4100 cm-^(1) to 30,000 at 9600 cm^(-1) by applying special Fourier processing to a series of exposures with different delays (optical path differences) taken with the TEDI interferometer and the near-infrared Triplespec spectrograph at the Mt. Palomar Observatory 200 inch telescope. The TEDI is an externally dispersed interferometer (EDI) used for Doppler radial velocity measurements on M-stars, and now also used for ISR. The resolution improvement is observed in both stellar and telluric features simultaneously over the entire spectrograph bandwidth (0.9-2.45 μm). By expanding the delay series, we anticipate achieving resolutions of R=45,000 or more. Since the delay is not continuously scanned, the technique is advantageous for measuring time-variable phenomena or in varying conditions (e.g. planetary fly-bys). The photon limited signal to noise ratio can be 100 times better than a classic Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) due to the benefit of dispersion.
Nonlethal adherence to human neutrophils mediated by Dr antigen-specific adhesins of Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains express a variety of adhesins, including members of the Dr adhesin family such as the Dr hemagglutinin, AFAI, and AFAIII. Certain E. coli adhesins (e.g., type 1 and S fimbriae) are known to mediate adherence to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The receptor on erythrocytes for Dr family adhesins, decay accelerating factor, is also present on PMNs. To determine whether Dr family adhesins mediate adherence to PMNs and to characterize the specificity and consequences of such adherence, we studied agglutination of PMNs and adherence to PMNs by recombinant E. coli strains expressing various mannose-resistant or mannose-sensitive adhesins, in the presence or absence of inhibitors of adherence. Dr family adhesins, like type 1 fimbriae, mediated concentration-dependent adherence to PMNs. Adherence to PMNs was mannose sensitive for type 1 fimbriae but mannose resistant for Dr family adhesins. Chloramphenicol inhibited PMN adherence for the Dr hemagglutinin with the same potency as that with which it inhibited hemagglutination, but it was inactive against PMN adherence and hemagglutination mediated by other members of the Dr adhesin family. In contrast to PMN adherence mediated by type 1 fimbriae, adherence mediated by the Dr hemagglutinin did not lead to significantly increased bacterial killing. These data suggest that Dr family adhesins mediate a novel pattern of adherence to PMNs, probably by recognizing decay accelerating factor, with minimal consequent bacterial killing.
Performance Evaluation of Decision Fusion in Wireless Sensor Networks

For networked sensors that report binary local decisions to a fusion center, we use a fusion rule that employs the summation of these local decisions for hypothesis testing. Based on the assumption that the received signal power decays as the distance from the target increases, exact system level detection performance measures are derived analytically. The evaluation of the probability of detection involves multiple-fold integrations. Two approximations of the probability of detection, by using binomial distribution with or without ignoring the border effect of the region of interest (ROI), are presented. It is shown that for various system parameters we have explored, the approximation that takes into account the border effect provides a very accurate estimation of the probability of detection. To achieve a better system level detection performance, the local sensor level decision threshold is chosen such that it maximizes the Kullback Leibler distance of the distributions conditioned on the two hypotheses.
Alterations in Phospholipid Composition of Egg Yolks from Laying Hens Fed Choline and Methionine-Supplemented Diets

A trial was conducted to assess the effects of choline and methionine supplementation of the diets of hens on phospholipid composition of egg yolk. By chemical analysis, the basal diet contained 16.6% protein, 1,041 parts per million (ppm) of choline, and .53% TSAA. The energy level was 2,899 kcal ME/kg diet, with no added fat. A rapid isocratic HPLC procedure using a Waters mu Bond-NH2 column (Waters Associates, Milford, MA) was developed to quantify phospholipid components. Analysis of egg samples at peak production (36 wk of age) showed significant (P less than .05) elevations in total phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine (PC), and the ratio of PC to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), when choline was added at 500 or 1,000 ppm. Phosphatidylethanolamine, in contrast, showed a decline with choline supplementation. Methionine supplementation (125 to 250 ppm) also caused elevations in the total phospholipid composition of the egg yolk but had only modest effects on PC and PE. There was a significant (P less than .05) correlation between the yolk weight and total phospholipid concentration, PC, and the PC:PE ratio. There was a relationship between phospholipid content and weight of eggs when diets of laying hens were supplemented with choline.
These American lives: becoming a culturally responsive teacher and the ‘risks of empathy’

Do teacher candidates who identify as White and European American think about issues of difference in ways that vary distinctly from teacher candidates who identify as Latina/o or Hispanic? In this article, we engage with the literature on culturally relevant teaching that suggests teacher candidates of color are more likely to have some of the characteristics of culturally responsive teachers than are White teacher candidates when they enter teacher preparation programs. By comparing the attitudes of teacher candidates from a majority Hispanic-serving university and a university that serves mostly White and European American students, we question the idea that certain bodies are coterminous with particular ideologies.
Whole spectrum fluorescence detection with ultrafast white light excitation

We use a single supercontinuum laser source to simultaneously excite multiple types of fluorescent dyes and collect the entire emission spectrum ranging from visible to near infrared, without using band pass filters and dichroic mirrors.
Birth size and breast cancer risk among young California-born women

Objective Evaluate the risk of breast cancer associated with birth size among young California-born women.
Squire Rantoul and His Drug Store, 1796-1824

For one hundred and forty-four years (or from 1796 to 1940) a certain drug store did business in the town of Beverly, Massachusetts, in the same location, for all but the first two years of this long span. To the writer's generation it was known as Baker's Drug Store, and it stood on the corner of Washington and Cabot streets. In 1796, when Robert Rantoul started his shop, there was no Washington Street and Cabot was called Country Lane. But the young man chose his business and its location well and when, an old man, he came to review his life for his grandchildren, he could point with pride to the success of this and his other ventures.
Calcium regulation of neural fold formation : visualization of the actin cytoskeleton in living chick embryos

The involvement of calcium ions during chick neurulation was studied by treating neural plate stage embryos with agonists and antagonists of calcium transport and with inhibitors of calmodulin activity. Organotypic shape changes were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Changes in size of cell apices were quantitated by computer image analysis of actin filaments labeled with fluorescent phallicidin in time lapse recordings of living embryos. Both ionomycin and A23187 caused precocious fold elevation around the median hinge point and convergence by bending at the lateral furrows only when Ca2+ was in the external medium. As judged by decreased perimeters of 100 fluorescent apical polygons, cell apices constricted medial to the lateral furrows but did not change significantly within the median hinge point. Pretreatment with dihydrocytochalasin B or cytochalasin D prevented precocious folding and apical constriction. Papaverine and verapamil prevented folding but could be reversed by subsequent ionophore treatment. Calmidazolium and trifluoperazine irreversibly blocked folding. The demonstration in living embryos of constriction of lateral cell apices in a calcium-dependent manner is consistent with a contractile process operating during the formation of neural folds.
Nuclear Localization and Cell Cycle-specific Expression of CtIP, a Protein That Associates with the BRCA1 Tumor Suppressor

The BRCA1 tumor suppressor has been implicated in a diverse spectrum of cellular processes, including transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, and cell cycle checkpoint control. CtIP was recently identified as a protein that associates with BRCA1 and two other nuclear factors, CtBP1 and Rb1. To understand the functions of CtIP, we have evaluated its biological properties with respect to those of BRCA1. Our results show that CtIP, like its associated factors, is predominantly a nuclear protein. A subset of the endogenous pool of CtIP polypeptides exists in a protein complex that includes both BRCA1 and the BRCA1-associated RING domain protein (BARD1). At the protein level, CtIP expression varies with cell cycle progression in a pattern identical to that of BRCA1. Thus, the steady-state levels of CtIP polypeptides, which remain low in resting cells and G1 cycling cells, increase dramatically as dividing cells traverse the G1/S boundary. In contrast to BRCA1, however, the G1/S induction of CtIP expression is mediated primarily by post-transcriptional mechanisms. Finally, the interaction between CtIP and BRCA1 is shown to be stable in the face of genotoxic stress elicited by treatment with UV light, adriamycin, or hydrogen peroxide. Together, these results indicate that CtIP can potentially modulate the functions ascribed to BRCA1 in transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, and/or cell cycle checkpoint control.
A comparison of bayes and maximum likelihood estimation of the intraclass correlation coefficient

Two methods of estimating the intraclass correlation coefficient (p) for the one-way random effects model were compared in several simulation experiments using balanced and unbalanced designs. Estimates based on a Bayes approach and a maximum likelihood approach were compared on the basis of their biases (differences between estimates and true values of p) and mean square errors (mean square errors of estimates of p) in each of the simulation experiments. The Bayes approach used the median of a conditional posterior density as its estimator.
Interaction-Free Multivalued Dependency Sets

Theorem 6 adds another fact to the arsenal of conditions that characterize acyclic join dependencies. In comparison to the other conditions that relate acyclic join dependencies to MVDs, we feel that the concept of interaction-free MVD sets has the advantage of providing a simple semantic characterization.
John Adams and the Spirit of Liberty

America's finest eighteenth-century student of political science, John Adams is also the least studied of the Revolution's key figures. By the time he became our second president, no American had written more about our government and not even Jefferson or Madison had read as widely about questions of human nature, natural right, political organization, and constitutional construction. Yet this staunch constitutionalist is perceived by many as having become reactionary in his later years and his ideas have been largely disregarded. In the first major work on Adams's political thought in over thirty years, C. Bradley Thompson takes issue with the notion that Adams's thought is irrelevant to the development of American ideas. Focusing on Adams's major writings, Thompson elucidates and reevaluates his political and constitutional thought by interpreting it within the tradition of political philosophy stretching from Plato to Montesquieu. This major revisionist study shows that the distinction Adams drew between "principles of liberty" and "principles of political architecture" is central to his entire political philosophy. Thompson first chronicles Adams's conceptualization of moral and political liberty during his confrontation with American Loyalists and British imperial officers over the true nature of justice and the British Constitution, illuminating Adams's two most important pre-Revolutionary essays, "A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law" and "The Letters of Novanglus." He then presents Adams's debate with French philosophers over the best form of government and provides an extended analysis of his "Defence of the Constitutions of Government" and "Discourses on Davila" to demonstrate his theory of political architecture. From these pages emerges a new John Adams. In reexamining his political thought, Thompson reconstructs the contours and influences of Adams's mental universe, the ideas he challenged, the problems he considered central to constitution-making, and the methods of his reasoning. Skillfully blending history and political science, Thompson's work shows how the spirit of liberty animated Adams's life and reestablishes this forgotten Revolutionary as an independent and important thinker.
The Least Likely Act: Overweighting Atypical Past Behavior in Behavioral Predictions

When people predict the future behavior of a person, thinking of that target as an individual decreases the accuracy of their predictions. The present research examined one potential source of this bias, whether and why predictors overweight the atypical past behavior of individuals. The results suggest that predictors do indeed overweight the atypical past behavior of an individual. Atypical past behavior is more cognitively accessible than typical past behavior, which leads it to be overweighted in the impressions that serve as the basis for their predictions. Predictions for group members appear less susceptible to this bias, presumably because predictors are less likely to form a coherent impression of a group than an individual before making their predictions.
Male-specific Iridescent Coloration in the Pipevine Swallowtail ( Battus philenor ) is Used in Mate Choice by Females but not Sexual Discrimination by Males

We investigated the potential roles in behavioral interactions of sexually dichromatic iridescent blue coloration found on the dorsal hindwing of male Pipevine Swallowtails (Battus philenor). Behavioral experiments in a large enclosure addressed whether male dorsal hindwing coloration mediated sexual recognition by males, female choice of mates, or both. Models presented to males in the enclosure produced responses that show that males discriminate females from other males using chemical but not visual cues. In contrast, ablation of male dorsal iridescence significantly reduced male mating success with virgin females in the enclosure. The results support the hypothesis that male-specific iridescent coloration in this species is a signal that is important for females in assessing either male species identity or quality in intersexual interactions.
Analysis of the far field of permanent-magnet motors and effects of geometric asymmetries and unbalance in magnet design

In the design of permanent-magnet synchronous machines for naval applications, exterior magnetic fields are of interest. These decay at a rate depending on the number of poles, with magnetic fields due to a higher number of poles decaying more rapidly. We have developed multipole expansion methods to study the effects of geometric asymmetries and unbalanced pole strength on the components of the far field. We have found that, if there is an imbalance in the set of poles, the lower order decay of the unbalanced poles dominates in the far field, and the advantage of using a higher number of poles is diminished. Multipole expansion in combination with the charge simulation method offers a quick and easy method of determining effects of imbalance on the far field of motors at the design stage. We present the results for a variety of imbalances and pole numbers, and discuss the unbalanced terms due to the demagnetization and space imbalance. We also explain the behavior of the far-field decay with the aid of analytical expressions.
Ocean objectives for the '80s

Seven goals and objectives for services to ocean operations in the coming decade are outlined in a recent report by a task group of the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmospheres (NACOA). The group also identified the principal driving forces expected to influence ocean use. NACOA (Eos, February 24, p. 76) advises the President on ocean and atmospheric affairs. The Task Group on Services to Ocean Operations, chaired by Robert M. White at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, is one of six task forces established by NACOA to identify goals for ocean activities. The task group's recent report focuses solely on civilian programs.
Profile of St. Jude Medical’s Allure Quadra quadripolar pacemaker system for cardiac resynchronization therapy

Congestive heart failure is a major public health epidemic and economic burden in the USA and worldwide. Cardiac resynchronization therapy is an effective therapy for treating congestive heart failure in conjunction with pharmacologic therapy. The average congestive heart failure admission costs approximately US$ 8 billion annually. Current cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker systems from various manufacturers deliver therapy-utilizing bipolar leads including the left ventricle, with electrode spacing ranging from 8 to 22 mm. The Quartet LV™ lead model 1458Q (St. Jude Medical Sylmar, CA) is a quadripolar lead with a 4.0 Fr. tip electrode and three 4.7 Fr. ring electrodes located 20, 30 and 47 mm from the tip. The Quartet lead and Allure Quadra TM allows 14 pacing configurations, providing benefits, including reductions in phrenic nerve stimulation, reduced pacing thresholds, improved battery longevity and potential reductions, in non-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy. In addition, th...
An IEEE meeting on subjective testing of voiceband codecs

Subjective testing of existing and proposed communication systems is an important element of network planning and equipment design. With the evolution over the years of world telecommunications, the nature and levels of impairments experienced by system users have changed,and as a consequence, a variety of subjective testing procedures have come into existence. Discusses the technologies, communications services, and applications that support effective network strategic planning.
Malunion and Nonunion of the Metacarpals and Phalanges

The management of nonunion and malunion in the metacarpals and phalanges is influenced by the multiple gliding structures and the propensity for stiffness, the ability of adjacent digits to substitute functionally for compromised digits, the small size of the bones, and associated complications. Amputation and arthrodesis are useful treatment options for nonunions in the hand because they are nearly always atrophic, are frequently associated with joint stiffness and tendon adhesions, and often occur in digits with poor nerve function, vascularity, or skin cover. Surgical fixation with autogenous bone grafts and stable internal fixation has a high union rate with resultant restoration of alignment and stability, but achieves modest improvements in motion. Slightly larger implants than one would use for a fracture at the same size and structural (corticocancellous) bone grafts are useful for obtaining adequate stability to initiate immediate exercises in order to limit the potential for stiffness. Malunion is treated only when doing so offers useful functional advantages. The optimal timing and site of intervention are debatable; however, it is usually easiest to restore alignment when operating at the site of the original fracture and prior to complete consolidation of the fracture. This is particularly true for articular fractures. Once these fractures are mature, it may be preferable to perform an extra-articular osteotomy. If a late intra-articular osteotomy is performed, it should be done in such a way as to create large fragments that are easier to repair and more likely to retain their blood supply.
Lymphomas Associated with FGFR1 Abnormalities

These are rare and aggressive neoplasms characterized by translocations involving chromosome locus 8p11, and therefore the disease is also known as 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS). The affected gene is the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1). The most common cytogenetic abnormality is t(8;13)(p11;q12), where FGFR1 on chromosome 8p11 is disrupted and combines with MYM2 (formerly known as ZNF198) in chromosome 13q12. A chimeric protein MYM2–FGFR1 has constitutive tyrosine kinase activity with an end result of cell proliferation. Eight other abnormalities involving FGFR1 have been reported. Patients with EMS can develop lymphoma and/or have peripheral blood and bone marrow findings suggestive of a myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). Most patients progress to acute myeloid leukemia. Therefore, patients with EMS can present with lymphadenopathy as a result of lymphoma, or present with elevated blood counts and eosinophilia suggestive of MPN, or they can be pancytopenic when they develop acute leukemia. In the current World Health Organization classification, these neoplasms are grouped with two other clinically similar disorders under the umbrella term myeloid and lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia and abnormalities of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) alpha, PDGFR beta, or FGFR1.
Estimation of Cost Efficiencies from Mergers: Application to U.S. Radio

This paper develops a way to estimate fixed-cost efficiencies from mergers. The estimates might be used to assess the total welfare impact of retrospective and counterfactual mergers. The procedure uses a structural model in which companies play a dynamic game with endogenous mergers and product-repositioning decisions. This formulation corrects for a sample selection of more profitable mergers and captures follow-up mergers as well as post-merger product repositionings. The basic idea behind the estimator is to treat mergers as endogenous, thereby allowing for a comparison between mergers observed in the data and counterfactual ones, based on simulated long-run gains for different levels of cost efficiencies. The framework is applied to estimate cost efficiencies after the 1996 de-regulation of U.S. radio. I find that average cost savings (across all owners), over the period 1996-2006, only from mergers after 1996, amount to about $1.2 billion per year (roughly $0.6b from economies of scale and another $0.6b from within-format cost synergies).
Reductive dechlorination of preexisting sediment polychlorinated biphenyls with long-term laboratory incubation

The dechlorination potential of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sediments from the St. Lawrence River was investigated in laboratory incubations over a 39-month period. During the first 4 months, dechlorination reduced the average total chlorines in the General Motors 001 sediments from 3.2 to 2.5 per biphenyl, an additional 22% beyond the in situ level, for an overall 36% reduction from the original Aroclor 1248 contaminant. With continued incubation, however, an additional dechlorination of a single peak 2,4{prime},5+2,4,4{prime}-chlorobiphenyl ensured after a lag that reduced the average chlorines from 2.5 to 2.4. After this, there was no further transformation until the end of incubation. The extent of dechlorination and congener pattern of Aroclor 1248-spiked sediments were similar to those of the native sediments after a comparable period of time despite differences in sediment sources and starting congener composition. The results indicate that most dechlorination occurs during a relatively short period of the initial rapid phase and any further transformation, if it occurs, would be extremely slow, and its contribution to the total dechlorination may not be significant.
Background subtraction in varying illuminations using an ensemble based on an enlarged feature set

Image sequences with dynamic backgrounds often cause false classification of pixels. In particular, varying illuminations cause significant changes in the representation of a scene in different color spaces, which in turn results in the high levels of failure in such conditions. Because mapping to alternate color spaces has largely failed to solve this problem, a solution of using alternate image features is proposed in this paper. In particular, the use of gradient and texture features along with the original color intensities are used in an ensemble of mixture of Gaussians background classifiers. A clear improvement is shown when using this method compared to the Mixture of Gaussians algorithm using only color intensities. In addition, this work shows that performing background subtraction using only gradient magnitude as an image feature performs at a much higher rate in varying illuminations then using color intensities. Results are generated on three separate datasets, each with unique, dynamic, illumination conditions.
Pathway graphical lasso

Graphical models provide a rich framework for summarizing the dependencies among variables. The graphical lasso approach attempts to learn the structure of a Gaussian graphical model (GGM) by maximizing the log likelihood of the data, subject to an l1 penalty on the elements of the inverse co-variance matrix. Most algorithms for solving the graphical lasso problem do not scale to a very large number of variables. Furthermore, the learned network structure is hard to interpret. To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel GGM structure learning method that exploits the fact that for many real-world problems we have prior knowledge that certain edges are unlikely to be present. For example, in gene regulatory networks, a pair of genes that does not participate together in any of the cellular processes, typically referred to as pathways, is less likely to be connected. In computer vision applications in which each variable corresponds to a pixel, each variable is likely to be connected to the nearby variables. In this paper, we propose the pathway graphical lasso, which learns the structure of a GGM subject to pathway-based constraints. In order to solve this problem, we decompose the network into smaller parts, and use a message-passing algorithm in order to communicate among the subnetworks. Our algorithm has orders of magnitude improvement in run time compared to the state-of-the-art optimization methods for the graphical lasso problem that were modified to handle pathway-based constraints.
Evolutionary systemic risk: Fisher information flow metric in financial network dynamics

Abstract Recently the topic of financial network dynamics has gained renewed interest from researchers in the field of empirical systemic risk measurements. We refer to this type of network analysis as information flow networks analysis (IFNA). This paper proposes a new method that applies Fisher information metric to the evolutionary dynamics of financial networks using IFNA. Our paper is the first to apply the Fisher information metric to a set of financial time series. We introduce Evolution Index (EI) as a measure of systemic risk in financial networks. It is shown, for concrete networks with actual data of several stock markets, that the EI can be implemented as a measure of fitness of the stock market and as a leading indicator of systemic risk.
Inequalities, Fraud and Caste Punishments: An American Saga

What is the nature of equality under the law? How should someone be treated who has created a confusion and caused people to lose millions as opposed to someone who cheats others of goods or services by deception? What is the difference in intent when one person executes a fraud on an- other but the value of that fraud is in billions of dollars as opposed to one carried out that has the value of hundreds or thousands of dollars? There appears to be a wall in our society between those crimes that are defined as such and those acts where are deceptive but cheat others of their property. An examination of this phenomenon provides an insight into the special caste people in the financial world have created for themselves. Banks claim that regulation of the Dodd-Frank legislation is ruining the financial system. The implication is that banks and bankers are exempt from fraud.
Left persistent superior vena cava lead extraction using a femoral approach.

A 27-year-old man with a double inlet left ventricle s/p a classic Fontan palliation and oversewing of a regurgitant tricuspid valve, transposition of the great arteries, and a left persistent superior vena cava (LSVC) underwent pacemaker implantation via the LSVC (Medtronic 4068), with the …
Biological Resources and Agriculture

Biological resources refer to the living landscape — the plants, animals, and other aspects of nature — and are important to society for the various services they provide, as well as problems they may create. Biological resources are grouped into those that affect agriculture, such as cultivated plants, pollinators, and pests; those that are sources of scientific inputs, such as agricultural plant varieties (and their wild relatives) that provide genetic resources; and those that provide natural goods and services, such as wildlife, fish, and scenic beauty. Traditional measures of agricultural productivity do not capture all the benefits of preserving biological resources on private lands. Because of this, private landowners may not have adequate incentives to consider the full range of goods and services produced by the biological resources under their control. In particular, it may not be profitable for farmers to adopt practices that provide the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat and genetic diversity desired by the American public. Similarly, farmers may not consider the full spectrum of indirect benefits when they make land use decisions.
SSZ-13 Crystallization by Particle Attachment and Deterministic Pathways to Crystal Size Control

Many synthetic and natural crystalline materials are either known or postulated to grow via nonclassical pathways involving the initial self-assembly of precursors that serve as putative growth units for crystallization. Elucidating the pathway(s) by which precursors attach to crystal surfaces and structurally rearrange (postattachment) to incorporate into the underlying crystalline lattice is an active and expanding area of research comprising many unanswered fundamental questions. Here, we examine the crystallization of SSZ-13, which is an aluminosilicate zeolite that possesses exceptional physicochemical properties for applications in separations and catalysis (e.g., methanol upgrading to chemicals and the environmental remediation of NO(x)). We show that SSZ-13 grows by two concerted mechanisms: nonclassical growth involving the attachment of amorphous aluminosilicate particles to crystal surfaces and classical layer-by-layer growth via the incorporation of molecules to advancing steps on the crystal surface. A facile, commercially viable method of tailoring SSZ-13 crystal size and morphology is introduced wherein growth modifiers are used to mediate precursor aggregation and attachment to crystal surfaces. We demonstrate that small quantities of polymers can be used to tune crystal size over 3 orders of magnitude (0.1-20 μm), alter crystal shape, and introduce mesoporosity. Given the ubiquitous presence of amorphous precursors in a wide variety of microporous crystals, insight of the SSZ-13 growth mechanism may prove to be broadly applicable to other materials. Moreover, the ability to selectively tailor the physical properties of SSZ-13 crystals through molecular design offers new routes to optimize their performance in a wide range of commercial applications.
294 Extensive alopecia areata is reversed by IL-12/23p40 cytokine antagonism

S | Clinical Research II: Pathophysiology and Therapeutics 294 Extensive alopecia areata is reversed by IL-12/23p40 cytokine antagonism E Guttman-Yassky, B Ungar, S Noda, M Suprun, A Shroff, R Dutt, S Khattri, M Min, Y Mansouri, X Zheng, YD Estrada, GK Singer, M Suarez-Farinas, JG Krueger and MG Lebwohl 1 Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, 2 Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY and 3 Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New
TECHNOLOGY IN A GIFTED AND TALENTED MATH CLASSROOM: HOW IT IMPACTS STUDENTS' PROBLEM SOLVING AND MATHEMATICAL LEARNING

OF THESIS TECHNOLOGY IN A GIFTED AND TALENTED MATH CLASSROOM: HOW IT IMPACTS STUDENTS’ PROBLEM SOLVING AND MATHEMATICAL LEARNING Technology has advanced greatly over the past few decades and the surge in the industry has impacted the workplace. As a result, K-12 education has worked to integrate 21 century skills into curriculum. Many times this is through STEM classes. This study examined the impact technology had on gifted and talented students’ achievement and creative construction. During a unit on Transformations, a control group received traditional instruction, while an experimental group received traditional instruction with an added technology component. A pre and posttest were given to both groups to measure student success with the geometry content. Results indicated that the technology component did not have a major impact on student achievement. Both the control and experimental group showed mastery of the standards and concepts. The technology component did increase students’ use of correct content vocabulary.
Effects of Slot Bottom Size on Stringing Pulley Friction Coefficient and Conductor Abrasion

Slot bottom size directly affects stringing pulley friction coefficient and conductor abrasion.Existing domestic standard requires that stringing pulley friction coefficient can not exceed 1.015,and calculated slot bottom size should be no less than 20 times of the size of conductors to be extended.The size of pulley slot bottom and positive pressure between conductor and slot bottom,etc.,are explained.It is important and necessary to select pulleys with large pulley ratios.
Evaluation of IRX Genes and Conserved Noncoding Elements in a Region on 5p13.3 Linked to Families with Familial Idiopathic Scoliosis and Kyphosis

Because of genetic heterogeneity present in idiopathic scoliosis, we previously defined clinical subsets (a priori) from a sample of families with idiopathic scoliosis to find genes involved with spinal curvature. Previous genome-wide linkage analysis of seven families with at least two individuals with kyphoscoliosis found linkage (P-value = 0.002) in a 3.5-Mb region on 5p13.3 containing only three known genes, IRX1, IRX2, and IRX4. In this study, the exons of IRX1, IRX2, and IRX4, the conserved noncoding elements in the region, and the exons of a nonprotein coding RNA, LOC285577, were sequenced. No functional sequence variants were identified. An intrafamilial test of association found several associated noncoding single nucleotide variants. The strongest association was with rs12517904 (P = 0.00004), located 6.5 kb downstream from IRX1. In one family, the genotypes of nine variants differed from the reference allele in all individuals with kyphoscoliosis, and two of three individuals with scoliosis, but did not differ from the reference allele in all other genotyped individuals. One of these variants, rs117273909, was located in a conserved noncoding region that functions as an enhancer in mice. To test whether the variant allele at rs117273909 had an effect on enhancer activity, zebrafish transgenesis was performed with overlapping fragments of 198 and 687 bp containing either the wild type or the variant allele. Our data suggests that this region acts as a regulatory element; however, its size and target gene(s) need to be identified to determine its role in idiopathic scoliosis.
Technetium Incorporation into Hematite (α-fe2O3)

Quantum-mechanical methods were used to evaluate mechanisms for possible structural incorporation of Tc species into the model iron oxide, hematite (α-Fe2O3). Using periodic supercell models, energ...
Student performance on a knowledge-based exam may predict student ability to communicate effectively with a standardized patient during an objective structured clinical examination.

Abstract Background The purpose of this article is to describe the extent that student performance on in-class exams in a drug information course is associated with student performance on medication counseling in a high-stakes assessment using standardized patients (SP). Methods Students completed two traditional knowledge-based exams during a drug information and communication course. The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) was the final exam for the course. The OSCE consisted of the student counseling an SP on the use of a medication. A counseling rubric was developed for use in a second-year (P2) OSCE based on the Indian Health Services counseling model and social cognitive theory. Multiple linear regression was used to examine if traditional exams and student admission characteristics were associated with student performance on the OSCE. Results: A total of 78 P2 students took the in-class exams and the OSCE. Students with higher scores on the second in-class traditional, knowledge-based exam had significantly higher scores on the OSCE. Conclusion A traditional knowledge-based exam on pharmacist-patient communication was associated with students’ actual counseling performance on an OSCE. Faculty may be able to use exam scores to target students at high risk of doing poorly on a medication counseling OSCE.
Allergenic extracts to diagnose and treat sensitivity to insect venoms and inhaled allergens.

Abstract Objective To review allergenic extracts used to diagnose or treat insect allergies, including how the extracts are manufactured and their measurements of potency or concentration. Data Sources Peer-reviewed articles derived from searching PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information) about insect allergies and extract preparation. Encyclopedia of Life (http://www.eol.org/) and http://allergome.org/ were also referenced for background information on insects and associated allergens. Study Selections Search terms used for the PubMed searches included insect allergens and allergies , Apidae , Vespidae , fire ants , cockroach allergies , insect allergen extract preparation , and standardization . Results Humans may be sensitized to insect allergens by inhalation or through stings. Cockroaches and moths are predominantly responsible for inhalation insect allergy and are a major indoor allergen in urban settings. Bees, fire ants, and wasps are responsible for sting allergy. In the United States, there are multiple insect allergen products commercially available that are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Of those extracts, honeybee venom and insect venom proteins are standardized with measurements of potency. The remaining insect allergen extracts are nonstandardized products that do not have potency measurements. Conclusion Sensitization to inhalational and stinging insect allergens is reported worldwide. Crude insect allergen extracts are used for diagnosis and specific immunotherapy. A variety of source materials are used by different manufacturers to prepare these extracts, which may result in qualitative differences that are not reflected in measurements of potency or protein concentration.
Psychosocial Aspects of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is more than a physiological disease. It is important to recognize quality of life indicators because clinical indicators of the disease often do not reflect related functional and social impairments or emotional distress.