cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constraints on the abstraction of solutions.

Students in college algebra classes attempted to solve a series of three mixture problems and three distance problems and to match concepts between the first two problems in a series. The detailed comparison of two isomorphs did not result in the abstraction of a solution schema, as it was found to do by Gick and Holyoak (1983) for convergence problems. Attempts to promote abstraction by not allowing students to refer to a specific analogue (Experiment 2) and by providing information about corresponding concepts and principles (Experiment 3) were unsuccessful. These findings suggest that the bottom-up, similarity-based approaches encouraged by mapping concepts may need to be supplemented by top-down, principle-driven instruction
Combination therapy with radiation, mitomycin C, and 5-fluorouracil in EMT6 tumors

Abstract Purpose: The primary purpose of these studies was to assess whether concomitant treatment with 5-fluorouracil increased the cytotoxicity of radiation, mitomycin C, or the combination of these two agents to cells in solid tumors. Methods and Materials: All studies were performed using EMT6 mouse mammary tumor cells. In vitro studies used exponentially-growing monolayers. In vivo studies used solid EMT6 tumors growing in BALB/c Rw mice. The effects of treatment on tumors or cultures were assessed using clonogenic assays which considered both the colony forming abilities of the intact cells and the numbers of cells in the cultures or tumors. Results: EMT6 cells in vitro were killed effectively by 5-fluorouracil. The cytotoxicity increased as the drug concentration increased from 1 μM to 1 mM or as the treatment time increased from 1 to 48 hr. However, 5-fluorouracil was only marginally active against solid EMT6 tumors: treatment with doses of up to 400 μg/gm killed less than 50% of the tumor cells, regardless of whether the drug was given as an injection or an infusion over 48 hr and regardless of the time between injection of the drug and assay of cell survival. Treatment with 5-fluorouracil produced only a statistically insignificant increase in the effect of 15 Gy of x-rays, whether the drug was given by injection or infusion over 48 hr. Both injection of 200 μg/g 5 FU and infusion of 100 μg/g 5-fluorouracil decreased the cytotoxicity of 6 μg/g of MC to cells in solid tumors. Injection of 200 μg/g of 5-fluorouracil decreased the cytotoxic effects of a regimen combining 6 μg/g MC plus 15 Gy of x-rays. Conclusion: In this solid tumor system, a regimen combining single doses of mitomycin C and x-rays was more effective in killing the tumor cells than was the same regimen combined with 5-fluorouracil.
Application of silicon diodes to cyclotron oscillator and magnet power supplies

Silicon diodes have proved to be convenient and reliable in all types of power supplies throughout the Berkeley 88-inch cyclotron. The paper includes practical design data, a discussion of the pitfalls our experience has taught us to avoid, and comparison of silicon power supplies with other types of power supplies with respect to cost and performance.
Organ Regeneration from Leaf Disks of Solanum nigrum, S. dulcamara and S. khasianum

Summary Leaf disk explants were cultured in 16 hr photoperiods on a 0.8% agar medium containing inorganic salts (MURASHIGE and SKOOG, 1962) vitamins (GAMBORG et al., 1968), 3% sucrose and combinations of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and benzyladenine (BA) from 0.1 to 10 µM. Explants from mature leaves of 10 week old S. nigrum plants formed shoots with 100% frequency in media containing 8 of 9 IAA/BA combinations but explants from 15 week plants regenerated shoots in only 3 media, and at 100% frequency only at 10/10 µM IAA/BA. Explants from young leaves of 15 week S. nigrum plants formed shoots on 7 of 8 media containing 1 or 10 µM BA; explants from mature and old leaves regenerated on fewer media. The time to shoot initiation on leaf explants was shortened by increasing the concentration of BA and was lengthened by increasing the concentration of IAA. Explants from young leaves of S. dulcamara regenerated in the largest number of different media, forming shoots on all media that contained 0 or 0.1 µM IAA and on all media that contained 1 or 10 µM BA. Leaf explants of S. khasianum did not regenerate on any of the tested media in the light but did so when cultured in darkness. Shoots formed from explants of S. nigrum produced flowers in some of the media.
VEGF and VEGF receptor levels in retinal and brain-derived endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell-specific angiogenic and permeability-inducing factor that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. The objectives of this study are to compare VEGF and VEGF receptor expression between retinal and brain-derived endothelial cells cultured in 5 or 30 mM glucose for 5 days. Our results show that expression of cell-surface VEGF receptors, assessed by flow cytometry, is higher in retinal-derived endothelial cells. RT-PCR results show that both retinal and brain-derived endothelial cells express comparable levels and types of VEGF. Exposure to 30 mM glucose for 5 days did not alter levels of VEGF or VEGF receptors. The higher level of VEGF receptor expression in retinal endothelial cells suggests that the retinal microcirculation may be more sensitive to the effects of VEGF and this may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.
Improvements to a Method for Estimating the Maximum Radiated Emissions From PCBs With Cables

It has been shown in previous studies that the coupling from ICs, traces, or heatsinks on a printed circuit board to an attached cable can be modeled by placing equivalent common-mode sources between the board and the cable. In a 2008 paper published in the IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, a closed-form expression was developed to estimate the maximum radiated emissions from board-source-cable structures. While this expression is reasonably accurate for frequencies not exceeding 500 MHz, it may unnecessarily overestimate the emissions in some situations, especially when the maximum frequency of interest is extended beyond 500 MHz. This paper introduces two enhancements to the previously introduced closed-form expression based on improved methods for determining the maximum value of F(θ,k,l ) and the effective board size. The new closed-form expression is evaluated for various board geometries and frequency ranges by comparing the estimated maximum radiated emissions to full-wave simulation results.
32 channel array of Ge-on-GaAs photodiodes operating at 1.3 µm

Integrated optoelectronics is enabling a revolution in intrasystem communication by facilitating multifiber (parallel) optical communication. The use of 12-channel ribbon optical fiber interconnects is becoming commonplace to provide high aggregate data rate communication between different racks or boards of a computing or switching system, the so-called optical backplane. Going to higher channel count by using two-dimensional arrays would increase this data rate proportionally. Such two-dimensional transmitters or receivers are achieved by integrating the lasers or detectors directly onto the receiver or driver circuits. 1,2 Alternatively, higher aggregate data rates can be achieved by increasing the data rate per channel, but there again intimate integration may be required to reduce the electrical parasitics.
Raman Spectroscopy Of Synthesized Diamond Grown By Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition

Raman microprobe studies of individual microcrystals of diamond and of thin diamond films deposited by the hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method are focused on the determination of the purity of the diamond phase and on the extent and nature of defects of the diamond structure. The findings are discussed in relation to deposition parameters, growth mechanisms, and diamond morphology. The specimens consisted of single microparticles of sizes 3 to 40 µm, particle clusters, and continuous polycrystalline films of 3 to 8 μm thickness grown on silicon substrates. The interpretation of the results is based on the line shape, line width, and frequency position of the diamond line nominally at 1333 cm-1 Raman shift, as well as on other characteristic Raman bands in the region 1300 to 1600 cm-1 attributed to graphitic carbon components. Examined also are the relationship of the spectral background signal to the signal of the Raman features. Luminescence emissions arising from either structural imperfections or substitutional impurities in the diamond lattice are observed. A luminescence band centered around 738 nm (1.68 eV), attributed to either the neutral lattice vacancy in diamond, or possibly a silicon pair substitution in the diamond lattice, widely varied in intensity among the samples analyzed. The observation of this photoluminescence band is correlated with results from concurrent cathodoluminescence measurements.
Plasma Electron Detector Using an Open Electron Multiplier

The Triaxial Electron Spectrometer, scheduled for flight on the OGO-E spacecraft, measures flux and energy distributions of electrons reaching the detector with from zero to 10 kilovolts energy. Electrons are analyzed in a curved-plate, electrostatic analyzer, and detected with a windowless continuous-dynode electron multiplier. The multiplier is operated in a constant-output, variablegain, current mode as the null detector in a feedback circuit. Five decades of dynamic range for flux measurements are obtained with a logarithmically compressed analog telemetry signal. Tests of the gain stability of two different channel multipliers have been made for periods of up to 850 hours. These tests indicate that the gain loss can be limited to a factor of two or three during the one year lifetime of the spacecraft.
Mach 5 bow shock control by a nanosecond pulse surface dielectric barrier discharge

Bow shock perturbations in a Mach 5 air flow, produced by low-temperature, nanosecond pulse, and surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), are detected by phase-locked schlieren imaging. A diffuse nanosecond pulse discharge is generated in a DBD plasma actuator on a surface of a cylinder model placed in air flow in a small scale blow-down supersonic wind tunnel. Discharge energy coupled to the actuator is 7.3–7.8 mJ/pulse. Plasma temperature inferred from nitrogen emission spectra is a few tens of degrees higher than flow stagnation temperature, T = 340 ± 30 K. Phase-locked Schlieren images are used to detect compression waves generated by individual nanosecond discharge pulses near the actuator surface. The compression wave propagates upstream toward the baseline bow shock standing in front of the cylinder model. Interaction of the compression wave and the bow shock causes its displacement in the upstream direction, increasing shock stand-off distance by up to 25%. The compression wave speed behind the...
Toward Gravity-Independent Climbing Using a Biologically Inspired Distributed Inward Gripping Strategy

The biologically inspired strategy of distributed inward gripping (DIG) is presented in this study as a method for foot attachment and adhesion during gravity-independent climbing. As observed in nature, this strategy enables climbing animals to maneuver rapidly on surfaces in any orientation with respect to gravity, and does not require significant energy expenditure for attachment or detachment. DIG is an advanced implementation of directional attachment mechanisms that directs contralateral legs to engage their cockroach-inspired prehensile spines by pulling inward toward the body, rather than downward opposing gravity. By using opposing foot forces to engage the spines, the dependency on gravity is removed and the experimental system designed to test the attachment strategy, DIGbot, is able to climb and make turns on both vertical and inverted mesh screen. This behavior has not been achieved previously by a legged system, and requires novel design and algorithmic features that will be discussed. The spacing in the mesh screen requires each foot to perform a local search for an adequate foothold, which mimics what has been observed in climbing insects. The inward gripping principle is also suited for use with microspine arrays and gecko-inspired dry adhesive pads that require pulling tangential to the surface for attachment, and ultimately will allow for rapid and complex maneuvers on irregular terrain.
The natural history of the benign thyroid nodule: what is the appropriate follow-up strategy?

Background Long-term monitoring of benign thyroid nodules is not addressed in the present American Thyroid Association guidelines. The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate nature and length of follow-up for patients with a benign thyroid nodule. Study Design A retrospective review was performed of all patients referred to single endocrine surgeon for evaluation of thyroid nodules between 2006 and 2012. The review included 263 patients who had benign fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology and either underwent thyroidectomy or had at least a 1-year follow-up ultrasound. Main outcomes measures were repeat FNA and pathology results. Results There were 231 women and 32 men. Forty-eight patients underwent immediate thyroidectomy, with pathology showing 2 papillary thyroid cancers (PTC), and 215 patients were followed with annual ultrasounds. During follow-up, 89 (41.3%) nodules underwent repeat FNA after initial biopsy. The repeat FNA cytology showed 91% benign, 7% follicular neoplasm, and 2% PTC. During follow-up, 81 (37.6%) patients underwent thyroidectomy after 3.3 ± 2.8 years. Reasons for surgery included development of symptoms in 58 (71.6%), a non-benign repeat FNA in 8 (9.8%), or patient preference in 15 (18.5%). Surgical pathology identified 70 (86.4%) benign, 7 (8.6%) PTC, 3 (4%) follicular thyroid cancers, and 1 (1.2%) lymphoma. Median time from initial FNA to thyroidectomy in patients who had malignancy was 4.3 years. The maximum initial nodule size and average increase in nodule size did not differ between benign and malignant nodules (p = 0.54 and p = 0.75, respectively). Conclusions Significant numbers of benign thyroid nodules enlarge more than 5 mm over 3 years, triggering repeat FNA or thyroidectomy. Larger diameter nodules and more rapidly growing nodules were not predictive of malignancy. The practice of annually obtaining ultrasound for benign thyroid nodules should be discouraged.
Structural and optical verification of residual strain effect in single crystalline CdTe nanowires

Single crystalline CdTe nanowires have been synthesized using Au-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition. X-ray diffraction reveals the existence of nonnegligible inhomogeneous compressive strain in the nanowires along the 〈111〉 growth direction. The effect of the strain on the electronic structure is manifested by the blue-shifted and broadened photoluminescence spectra involving shallow donor/acceptor states. Such residual strain is of great importance for a better understanding of the optical and electrical behaviors of various semiconductor nanomaterials as well as for device design and applications.
Equine back pain reviewed from a motor control perspective

Back pain is recognized as a common and often recurrent problem in people and horses. Although there are many inciting causes of back pain, these often lead to a common pathway involving changes in neuromotor control and neurogenic atrophy of m. multifidi. The multi-layered and multi-directional fibres of this muscle stabilize the intervertebral joints in the face of bending and torsional moments. Inactivation and atrophy result in spinal instability and micromotion of the joints that predispose to further injury and degenerative changes, thus setting the scene for recurrent episodes of back pain. This review explores similarities between human and equine back pain, especially with regard to pathophysiology and prevention.
Statistical Analysis of Glovebox Glove Failure

The Nuclear Materials Technology (NMT) Division has the largest inventory of glovebox gloves at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Consequently, the minimization of unplanned breaches of the glove material, typically resulting in glove failures, is a significant safety concern in the daily operations in NMT Division facilities. To investigate processes and procedures that minimize unplanned breaches in the glovebox, information on glovebox glove failures has been compiled from formal records. This research analyzed and interpreted this data by employing statistical methods. Statistical models were also developed to perform reliability analysis for glove failures. In this research, to utilize all available data including incomplete data, data censoring techniques are used in the statistical analysis.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Three-dimensional numerical simulation of a circulating fluidized bed reactor for multi-pollutant control

Abstract Circulating fluidized bed adsorber (CFBA) technology is regarded as a potentially effective method for simultaneously controlling emissions of sulfur dioxide, fine particulate matter, and trace heavy metals, such as mercury vapor. In order to analyze CFBA systems in detail, a gas mixture/solids mixture model based on the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations is developed for particle flow, agglomeration, physical and chemical adsorption in a circulating fluidized bed. The solids mixture consists of two solids, one with components of CaO and CaSO 4 , and the other being an activated carbon. The gas mixture is composed of fine particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide, mercury vapor, oxygen and inert gas. Source terms representing fine particulate matter agglomeration onto sorbent particles, sulfur dioxide removal through chemical adsorption onto calcined lime, and mercury vapor removal through physical adsorption onto activated carbon are formulated and included into the model. The governing equations are solved using high-resolution upwind-differencing methods, combined with a time-derivative preconditioning method for efficient time-integration. Numerical simulations of bench-scale operation of a prototype CFBA reactor for multi-pollutant control are described.
Supercomputers for the nineties: making the powerful accessible

It is pointed out that providing access to the power of a supercomputer is the best way to foster supercomputer use. Accessibility has several dimensions. First, the system must provide a cost-effective solution to the problem. If the user determines that the computational cost is too high, the system is really not accessible. Secondly, many users want to submit larger problems without increased solution wait time. The system must provide connectivity. Thirdly, the cost of a classic supercomputer requires that in most cases users must share the resource. This normally places the system in a central location and adds the requirement of network access to the CPUs and to the file systems. Fourthly, the system must be reliable. Finally the user demands ease of use through familiar, friendly operating system software and intelligent compilers which automatically detect inherent problem parallelism and map it to the hardware. >
Relative value unit impact of complex skin closures to academic surgical melanoma practices

Background Melanoma excisions frequently are associated with significant soft-tissue defects, creating the need for complex closures. These closures could be performed by either surgical oncologists or plastic surgeons. We sought to quantify the relative value units (RVUs) and describe the practice patterns of 2 academic surgical subspecialties after a melanoma excision. Methods After institutional review board approval, a retrospective data analysis of a billing database was conducted on all melanoma patients undergoing an excision and closure by surgical oncology and plastic surgery departments in 2007. Data were obtained using billing records for Current Procedural Terminology diagnosis codes. RVUs were used to quantify the value added to each practice from these closures. The surgical oncologist and patient decided if a plastic surgeon was needed. Results A total of 270 closures were performed, 53 (19.9%) primary and 217 (80.1%) complex. The surgical oncologists performed most complex closures (188; 86.6%), and the plastic surgeons performed the remainder (29; 13.4%), generating a total of 1,921 RVUs (1,630 by the surgical oncologists and 291 by the plastic surgeons). For analysis, complex closures were divided among 4 anatomic sites: trunk, upper extremity, lower extremity, and head and neck. Most closures by the surgical oncologists were adjacent tissue rearrangements (155; 82%) and the remainder were skin grafts (33; 18%). Closures by the plastic surgeons were more likely to be a full-thickness skin graft (P < .0027) in the head and neck region (P < .0001), with a higher associated median RVU/case (10.15 compared with 8.44 for the surgical oncologists; P < .0002). Conclusions At our institution, the majority of melanoma closures were performed by surgical oncologists. However, plastic surgery often was involved in more complex closures in the head and neck. This data set quantifies the RVUs added and describes the types of closures performed in an academic melanoma practice.
Ultrasonic measurements in fine powders using a photoacoustic pulse-generation technique

In this paper, we demonstrate the applicability of PA pulse generation for the monitoring of ultrasonic properties of powders, for example, uncured carbon-loaded epoxy resin powders, whose average particle diameter is ~15 μm. The acoustic pulse is generated by a short laser pulse (10-nsec or 1-μsec duration) of 1–10-mJ energy and is detected by a piezoelectric detector (polyvinylidene difluoride foil or commercial lead zirconate titanate transducer). This allows ultrasonic measurements over a broad range of porosity and pressure conditions, from loose unconsolidated powers to heat- and pressure-sintered pellets. For loose powders at atmospheric pressures (with a porosity of ~50%), the acoustic velocity is remarkably small (typically 3 × 103 cm/sec), and attenuation and dispersion are large. This appears to be the first demonstration of the use of a PA technique to measure ultrasonic properties in powders.
POTENTIAL BIOLOGIC AGENTS FOR TREATING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Advances in bench research and biotechnology over the past several years have led to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is now a significant interest in "biologic response modifiers" (BMRs) as potential therapeutic agents for RA. The initial BMRs (etanercept and infliximab) approved for treating RA, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, are reviewed in the article by Keystone in this issue. This article reviews other BMRs that have been or are currently being evaluated as therapies for RA. These BMRs are recombinant molecules that target specific molecules in the immune or inflammatory process. Examples include monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), recombinant cytokines, and cytokine inhibitors as well as fusion proteins consisting of biologic "targeting" segments fused with toxins or immunoglobulins (Table 1). In addition to providing potentially better therapy for patients, these agents facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms operative in RA. RA is an immunologically mediated chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by synovial cell proliferation and inflammation with destruction of adjacent articular tissue. 172 The prevailing view is that RA is mediated by antigen-activated T cells that infiltrate the synovial membrane, 243,357 which leads to a series of inflammatory processes, resulting in vascular and synovial cell proliferation with resorption of cartilage and bone. Nonimmunologic pathways also probably contribute to tissue injury and destruction in established RA (Fig. 1). 243 Degradation of articular extracellular matrix components is a hallmark of RA and is largely mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The model illustrated in Figure 1 suggests several potential therapeutic opportunities for interruption of these pathways using cellular-or cytokine-specific targets.
Outcome expectations and self-regulation in cancer patients: reliability, initial factor structure, and relationships with benefit finding.

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate outcome expectation and self-regulation measures within a sample of cancer patients and to explore relationships of these variables with benefit finding. The outcome expectation and self-regulation measures were evaluated for reliability and initial factor structure. Method: A convenience sample of 141 cancer patients completed study measures while waiting for appointments at a cancer center. Results: The measures demonstrated good reliability (alphas = .88 and .92, for outcome expectation and self-regulation respectively). Initial factor structure suggested six outcome expectation factors (managing symptoms, expressing emotions, talking about cancer, learning about cancer, managing self-image, and managing needs) and one self-regulation factor. Gender and treatment status were related to outcome expectations but not self-regulation. Outcome expectations and self-regulation were significant predictors of benefit-finding, F (8, 80) = 3.1, p = .005. Significance of the research: Measures of outcome expectations and self-regulation are reliable, are related to gender and clinical variables, and may be useful as predictors of cancer patients' ability to find benefits in their cancer experience.
Primary surgical prevention of post-operative atrial re-entry tachycardia

Abstract Despite continual improvements in the results of the repair of congenital heart defects, atrial re-entry tachycardia remains a significant source of morbidity. Certain subsets of patients following surgical repair, such as those with a Fontan palliation, tetralogy of Fallot, or Ebstein's anomaly, are at higher risk for the development of post-operative tachyarrhythmia. An improved understanding of the etiology of atrial re-entry tachycardia has led to attempts at preventing arrhythmia during the initial repair. These techniques include the addition of surgical or cryolesions along areas of potential re-entry pathways, and the use of the extracardiac Fontan modification. Atrial pacing to restore a regular atrial rate is another technique known to decrease the incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmia. Ongoing research is improving our understanding of the role of these prophylactic approaches as primary prevention of atrial re-entry tachycardia.
Six microsatellite loci from the deep‐sea coral Corallium lauuense (Octocorallia: Coralliidae) from the islands and seamounts of the Hawaiian archipelago

Gorgonian octocorals are among the dominant deep-sea benthic taxa of many seamounts. Seamount fauna are threatened by destructive fisheries practices, yet little is known about the physical and biological processes that maintain species on seamounts. Few informative molecular markers have been found in deep-water corals or in gorgonian octocorals. Here we report the characterization of six highly polymorphic microsatellite loci for the deep-sea precious coral Corallium lauuense from Hawaii using enriched genomic DNA libraries. These loci are being used to examine gene flow and stock structure among seamount and island populations to better understand dispersal and connectivity of seamount species.
Landscape‐scale extent, height, biomass, and carbon estimation of Mozambique's mangrove forests with Landsat ETM+ and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission elevation data

[1] Mangroves are salt tolerant plants that grow within the intertidal zone along tropical and subtropical coasts. They are important barriers for mitigating coastal disturbances, provide habitat for over 1300 animal species and are one of the most productive ecosystems. Mozambique's mangroves extend along 2700 km and cover one of the largest areas in Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the countrywide mean tree height spatial distribution and biomass of Mozambique's mangrove forests using Landsat ETM+ and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data. The SRTM data were calibrated using the Landsat derived land-cover map and height calibration equations. Stand-specific canopy height-biomass allometric equations developed from field measurements and published height-biomass equations were used to calculate aboveground biomass of the mangrove forests on a landscape scale. The results showed that mangrove forests covered a total of 2909 km2 in Mozambique, a 27% smaller area than previously estimated. The SRTM calibration indicated that average tree heights changed with geographical settings. Even though the coast of Mozambique spans across 16 degrees latitude, we did not find a relationship between latitude and biomass. These results confirm that geological setting has a greater influence than latitude alone on mangrove production. The total mangrove dry aboveground biomass in Mozambique was 23.6 million tons and the total carbon was 11.8 million tons.
Copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) and cyclization (ATRC) reactions in the presence of environmentally benign ascorbic acid as a reducing agent

In recent years, copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) has emerged as a viable organic procedure for the formation of carbon–carbon bonds starting from alkyl halides and alkenes. Studies have primarily focused on the use of free-radical initiators to regenerate the copper(I) complex or activator in situ. Although these initiators led to a significant decrease in the amount of metal catalyst, they were much less effective for highly active alkenes that readily undergo free-radical polymerization. In this study, the non-radical reducing agent ascorbic acid (commonly known as Vitamin C) was effectively employed resulting in TONs as high as 15 200 in the homogenous ATRA of polyhalogenated compounds to α-olefins, and enabling selective monoadduct formation for highly active alkenes such as acrylonitrile (TONs as high as 11 800). As low as 7–20 mol% of ascorbic acid relative to substrate was sufficient for all ATRA and ATRC reactions examined. Further, product isolations for all selected syntheses were quite facile and nearly quantitative, requiring only simple liquid–liquid extraction techniques. Reactions in the presence of ascorbic acid were also examined kinetically via1H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. A half order rate dependence on reducing agent concentration was observed, but the first order kinetic plots became nonlinear as the concentration of ascorbic acid was increased. Finally, the use of ascorbic acid circumvented otherwise necessary purging techniques, successfully furthering the utility of these reactions in organic synthesis.
BuildingSherlock: fault management framework for HVAC systems: demo abstract

HVAC systems constitute ~ 40% of energy in commercial buildings, and faults in HVAC account for 5% to 20% of its energy consumption. Typically, HVAC in modern buildings are managed using Building Managing Systems (BMS), and fault detection is one of the essential services provided by BMS to keep HVAC operational. The current techniques used for fault detection fail to detect large number of efficiency related faults. We developed BuildingSherlock (BDSherlock), which is a web service based fault management framework that exposes building information to automatically detect faults using useful algorithms. We deploy BDSherlock in a 145000 sqft building at UC San Diego, successfully demonstrate faults using data driven analysis.
Domestic factors influencing Ukrainian foreign policy

Ukraine is currently undergoing several large‐scale transitions: political, economic and democratic. At the same time Ukraine is gaining in importance internationally. These facts make Ukraine an important country to understand. This article explores the internal factors that affect Ukraine's foreign policy decision making, with the goal of providing an insight into the Ukrainian government. Internal influences are dividing into five broad categories: military capabilities, economic capabilities, political structure, interest groups, and competing elites. It has been found that economic factors, the presidential administration, and competing elites prove to have the most influence on Ukrainian foreign policy.
Processing and creep characterization of a model metal matrix composite: Lead reinforced with nickel fibers

A metal matrix composite material consisting of short nickel fibers in a lead matrix has been produced by foil lamination and press bonding. A good degree of fiber alignment has been achieved by passing the laminate through a weak magnetic field prior to press bonding. Tension creep tests of the composite material were conducted in the temperature range of 423 to 523 K (150 °C to 250 °C). The steady-state creep rate was seen to depend strongly on stress and temperature. The measured stress exponent for the steady-state creep rate is 9.9 over the range of test temperatures. The creep activation energy for the composite is calculated to be 152 kJ/mol. Analysis of the fracture surfaces of the composite shows that the composite fails by debonding at the interface and by void formation in the matrix. Simple continuum mechanics modeling of the creep of this composite gives qualitative agreement with the experimental results in the steady state but falls short of accurately predicting the steady-state creep rate.
Facilitating the Gibbs Sampler: The Gibbs Stopper and the Griddy-Gibbs Sampler

Abstract The article briefly reviews the history, literature, and form of the Gibbs sampler. An importance sampling device is proposed for converting the output of the Gibbs sampler to a sample from the exact posterior. This Gibbs stopper technique is also useful for assessing convergence of the Gibbs sampler for moderate sized problems. Also presented is an approach for implementing the Gibbs sampler in nonconjugate situations. The basic idea is to approximate the true cdf of each conditional distribution by a piecewise linear function and then sample from the approximation. Questions relating to the number of nodes in the approximation, gap size between successive nodes, and the treatment of unbounded intervals for a given conditional are discussed. The methodology is illustrated using a genetic linkage model, a nonlinear regression model, and the Cox model.
Success of Seeding Native Compared with Introduced Perennial Vegetation for Revegetating Medusahead-Invaded Sagebrush Rangeland ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Millions of hectares of Wyoming big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Beetle &Young) rangeland have been invaded by medusahead ( Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski), an exotic annual grass that degrades wildlife habitat, reduces forage production, and decreases biodiversity. Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush plant communities is necessary to restore ecosystem services. Disagreement, however, exists over whether to seed native or introduced perennial species to revegetate communities after controlling medusahead. Though native species generally do not establish as well as introduced species, interference from co-seeded introduced species has often been attributed to the limited success of natives. The potential for seeding natives to revegetate communities after medusahead control is relatively unknown because they have been largely co-seeded with introduced species. We compared the results of seeding native and introduced perennial species after controlling medusahead with prescribed burning followed with an imazapic herbicide application at five sites. Perennial bunchgrass cover and density were 5- and 10-fold greater in areas seeded with introduced compared with native species 3 years post seeding. Furthermore, exotic annual grass cover and density were less in areas seeded with introduced compared with native species. Seeded introduced and native shrubs largely failed to establish. High perennial bunchgrass density (15 individuals · m - 2 ) in areas seeded with introduced species in the third year post seeding suggests that the succession trajectory of these communities has shifted to becoming perennial dominated. Average perennial bunchgrass density of 1.5 individuals · m - 2 with seeding native species will likely not limit medusahead and appears to already be converting back to exotic annual grass-dominated communities. These results suggest that seeding introduced compared with native species after medusahead control will likely be more successful. Our results also imply that if natives are selected to seed after medusahead control, additional resources may be necessary to recontrol medusahead and repeatedly sow native species.
High-level bacterial secretion of single-chain αβ T-cell receptors

While numerous antibody-antigen systems have been structurally characterized, studies of structurally analogous T-cell receptor MHC systems have lagged behind largely due to the lack of a general TCR expression system. Efforts to develop bacterial systems have resulted in low yields (< 0.5 mg/l) of active material which is prone to proteolysis and aggregation. Here we report a strategy to secrete folded, soluble single chain T-cell receptors (scTCR) in the Escherichia coli periplasm using three representative alphabeta TCRs (172.10, 1934.4/c19 and 2B4). Shake flask yields between 0.5 and 30 mg/l active, purified material were attained for all TCRs studied and found to depend on the introduction of solubility-increasing amino acid substitutions, skp chaperone co-expression and C-terminal fusion to a human kappa constant domain in the context of a tightly regulated expression vector. This system will greatly enable crystallographic, thermodynamic and other biophysical analyses of TCRs which require large quantities of homogeneous material.
Growth of continuous bonelike mineral within porous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds in vitro.

Strategies to engineer bone have focused on the use of natural or synthetic degradable materials as scaffolds for cell transplantation or as substrates to guide bone regeneration. The basic requirements of the scaffold material are biocompatibility, degradability, mechanical integrity, and osteoconductivity. A major design problem is satisfying each of these requirements with a single scaffold material. This study addresses this problem by describing an approach to combine the biocompatibility and degradability of a polymer scaffold with the osteoconductivity and mechanical reinforcement of a bonelike mineral film. We report the nucleation and growth of a continuous carbonated apatite mineral on the interior pore surfaces of a porous, degradable polymer scaffold via a one step, room temperature incubation process. A 3-dimensional, porous scaffold of the copolymer 85:15 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) was fabricated by a solvent casting, particulate leaching process. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis after different incubation times in a simulated body fluid (SBF) demonstrate the growth of a continuous bonelike apatite layer within the pores of the polymer scaffold. Quantification of phosphate on the scaffold displays the growth and development of the mineral film over time with an incorporation of 0.43 mg of phosphate (equivalent to 0.76 mg of hydroxyapatite) per scaffold after 14 days in SBF. The compressive moduli of polymer scaffolds increased fivefold with formation of a mineral film after a 16-day incubation time as compared to control scaffolds. In summary, this biomimetic treatment provides a simple, one step, room temperature method for surface functionalization and subsequent mineral nucleation and growth on biodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Phonon-assisted radiative transfer

The radiative-transfer rate for inhomogeneously broadened optical lines is calculated. Photon emission and absorption is supplemented by one- and two-phonon processes to achieve energy conservation. These photon-assisted radiative transfer processes are shown to be effective at low concentrations, where electrostatic and exchange processes are weak, in the intermediate or strong radiative trapping regime. Specific application is made to the case of dilute ruby, and explicit transfer rates are calculated. The coherence factors, which undermine nonradiative single-phonon-assisted energy transfer for a small energy mismatch, are not important for radiative transfer, if the photon mean free path is longer than the wavelength of the energy matching phonon. The one-phonon process is found to vary linearly with temperature, and to be independent of the energy mismatch. However, the calculated rate for the case of ruby is found to be very slow. The two-phonon-assisted radiative-transfer process rates are calculated. They dominate the one-phonon-assisted rate for all reasonable temperatures. The results of an earlier paper are shown to be related to phonon-assisted radiative transfer if one replaces the exchange coupling between transfer sites $J$ by $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{R}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\hbar}}{(\frac{{r}_{0}}{\ensuremath{\lambda}})}$. Here ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{R}$ is the radiative lifetime, ${r}_{0}$ the distance between sites, and $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ the photon wavelength involved in the radiative transfer. This replacement results in a line center to wing transfer rate equal to 1.1 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{2}$ ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{42}{T}}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for ruby (independent of concentration for a photon mean free path smaller than the sample size).
Linking strategies and interventions in Asian American Studies to K–12 classrooms and teacher preparation

This article documents a series of programmatic strategies developed within an Asian American Studies Program at one urban public university to impact positively the education of K–12 students and teachers—especially, but not exclusively, those who are Asian American. The article first presents four critical challenges facing practitioners in the Asian American Studies field who wish to intervene more actively within the domain of K–12 education. These include the complex demographic realities of Asian American populations; the exclusion of Asian American Studies content in the K–12 curriculum; the limited flow of Asian Americans into the field of education; and the confounding impact of high-stakes testing across all these areas. The article then describes six specific interventions by a university-based Asian American Studies program that have ecologically supported Asian American teacher education and professional development as well as K–12 curriculum development, parent/family training and high schoo...
The Effect of Serum from Patients with Pancreatic Disease on the Short Circuit Current of Rat Jejunum

The short circuit current rat jejunum bioassay, first employed in an attempt to discern the cystic fibrosis (CF) serum "factor," was evaluated using sera from patients with pancreatic disease. The data suggest other pancreatic diseases, specifically genetic diabetes and alcoholic pancreatitis, also present with a serum "factor" (or "factors") which reduce the short circuit current of rat jejunum, an effect very similar to that of the CF serum "factor." A large number of sera from presumed normal subjects also exhibited a significant reduction in short circuit current; these (false positives) represent a yet to be defined mechanism, however, they do decrease the likelihood that the observed effect is merely due to pancreatic destruction. Detailed procedure and equipment specifications for the bioassay system are included.
A pulsar model from an oscillating black hole

The first part of this paper examines conditions in accord with Einstein's criterion of regularity on the field solutions everywhere that would correspond to the existence of a black hole star, following from solutions of his (nonvacuum) field equations. ‘Black hole’ is defined here as a star whose matter is so condensed as to correspond to a complete family of spatially closed geodesics. The condition imposed is that the angular momentum of a test body in each of the closed geodesics is a constant of the motion. The second part of the paper examines the implications in the problem of the condensed star of a generalized (factorized) version of the metrical field equations, discovered earlier by the author. It is found that in general relativity stars should naturally pulsate, and in its succeeding cycles the gravitational radius of the star is attenuated by a factor exp(−0.349T), where T is the pulsation period. Conditions are discussed for the possibility that the (relatively) regular emissions of radiation from a pulsar may be dynamically rooted in a (smaller) part of the pulsation cycle when the star is out of the black hole state (less dense → open geodesics)—when radiation would be emitted to the outside world—and the (greater) part of the cycle when it is in the black hole state (more dense → closed geodesics)—when radiation would not be emitted.
Experimental facial nerve paralysis: influence of decompression.

An experimental model was employed to establish an endotemporal bone facial nerve paralysis in cats. Twelve facial nerves were initially surgically decompressed— Both bony decompression and sheath decompression—to determine if any harm was done to the nerves by these procedures. Transient harm was found in 3 of the 12 nerves. After the course of the facial paralysis without any decompression was determined, 39 cats underwent either bony or sheath nerve decompression, both immediately after injury and after a delay. The cats were followed clinically and electrophysiologically; the nerve excitability test and the amplitude and latency of muscle response evoked by nerve stimulation were used to evaluate nerve function. While immediate postinjury bony decompression resulted in slightly earlier recovery times, immediate sheath splitting significantly lengthened recovery times and worsened the electrophysiologic test results. Histologic studies confirmed the clinical and electrophysiologic results anatomically....
Profile-Based Focused Crawler for Social Media-Sharing Websites

In this paper, we present a novel profile based focused crawling system for dealing with increasingly popular social media-sharing Web sites. In this system, we treat users' profiles as ranking criteria for guiding the crawling process. Furthermore, we divide a user's profile into two parts, an internal part, which comes from the user's own contribution, and an external part, which comes from the user's social contacts. In order to efficiently and effectively extract data from a social media-sharing website for focused crawling, a path string based page-classification method was first developed for identifying list pages, detail pages and profile pages.
Difference equations and conservation laws

The classical and quantum versions of discrete mechanics are reviewed. Application to lattice field theory and quantum gravity are considered. (AIP)
Temporal and spatial rearrangements of a repetitive element array on C57BL/6J mouse genome

Abstract Repetitive elements (REs) make up the vast majority of the mammalian genomes. We identified species-specific genomic libraries of RE arrays. The non-random configurations of RE arrays suggest their functions. We tested whether RE arrays undergo age- and tissue/cell-specific rearrangements. An RE array of C57BL/6J mice, containing tandem repeats of a mosaic of transposable REs, was selected to examine rearrangements in different ages and tissues. There were marked changes in the array configuration in the genomes of the skin and brain in all mice of six weeks and older, whereas the heart and liver had alterations at 29 weeks. The temporal variations were confirmed by identifying putative rearrangement junctions. Temporal and spatial rearrangements of certain RE arrays may contribute to the acquired characteristics of the genome information system.