cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crack-Size Effects on Cyclic and Monotonic Crack Growth in Polycrystalline Alumina: Quantification of the Role of Grain Bridging

The role of grain bridging in affecting the initial rising portion of the R-curve and the transient, non-steady-state behavior of short cracks during (cyclic) fatigue-crack propagation has been quantitatively examined in a 99.5% pure alumina. Fatigue-crack growth properties for both long and short (Δaf 10-8 m/cycle, however, non-steady-state behavior was observed at all crack sizes, indicating that achieving steady state at each ΔK level is difficult. The crack-tip shielding contribution due to such grain bridging was determined using both direct compliance and the more accurate multi-cutting/crack-opening profile techniques. Bridging stress-intensity factors were computed and subtracted from the applied stress intensities to estimate an effective (near-tip) driving force, ΔKeff These results provided (i) a lower threshold (in terms of ΔKeff) below which both long and short fatigue cracks should not propagate, and (ii) an estimate of the intrinsic toughness, K0, for the start of the R-curve. Such results quantitatively affirm that the reduced role of grain bridging is a primary source of the transient behavior of short cracks in grain-bridging alumina-based ceramics under cyclic loading.
Using Content Acquisition Podcasts to Deliver Core Content to Preservice Teacher Candidates.

Teacher educators are always looking for instructional strategies that are easy to create and use but are powerful for promoting learning among preservice teacher candidates. Content acquisition po...
A novel neutron detector for measuring the output of pulsed sources

Abstract A beryllium based detector has been developed which can be used to measure the output of pulsed neutron sources in the D, D and D, T fusion energy regions. The principle of this detector, and its construction, are discussed. The use of the detector in measuring the output from Kaman pulsed neutron sources and from the SPR III reactor at the Sandia National Lab. is discussed. The method used to calibrate the detector is described and theoretical calculations are presented of the variation of its efficiency with energy. The calculations were made using the MCNP and Tiger codes. Some incidental nuclear data measured during the testing of this detector are presented.
The interaction of uranium tetrachloride with hydrazine, ammonia and amines

Abstract Equilibrium vapour-pressure studies at 35° to 55° of the systems UCl4-m RNH2 (R = H, CH3, C2H5, n-C3H7) in the range of m = 2 to 5 revealed a univariant behaviour indicating a solid solution of UCl4 in the corresponding ligand. At m = 4 the ligand pressure increases very rapidly with further increase in the ligand composition indicating the approach of a saturation limit. Evidence obtained from X-ray and thermal desorption studies indicates the existence of addition compounds of the stoicheiometry: UCl4·2NH3, UCl4·2CH3NH2, UCl4·C2H5NH2, UCl4·2C2H5NH2, and UCl4·n-C3H7NH2. The addition compounds UCl4·6N2H4 and UO2·N2H4 also seem to exist although the latter was not isolated. All of the above-mentioned systems appear to be stable indefinitely when stored in sealed ampoules. They react, however, with water vapour and oxygen to give either UO2 or UO2Cl2 and ligand hydrochloride as the solid products. The enthalpy, free energy and entropy of formation in UCl4-amine systems were found to increase with increasing alkyl chain length. The values of these thermodynamic quantities at a given composition, however, depend on the history of preparation of the initial solid phase. A considerable improvement of the UCl4 X-ray powder diagram was observed after some gaseous amine was added to the solid UCl4 at room temperature to form a second, solid UCl4RNH2 phase. The infra-red spectrumof UCl4·4n-C3H7NH2 differs from the spectra of its components by having some additional absorption peaks. Since not enough is known at present concerning characteristic UN absorption frequencies no specific assignment of peaks was made.
A charge-transfer-induced spin transition in the discrete cyanide-bridged complex [[Co(tmphen)2]3[Fe(CN)6]2].

A charge-transfer-induced spin transition (CTIST) is observed in the discrete cyanide-bridged complex, {[Co(tmphen)2]3[Fe(CN)6]2}. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility were used collectively to describe the oxidation states of the Co and Fe ions in this cluster as a function of temperature. This pentanuclear complex represents the first example of a CTIST at the discrete molecular level.
A model for cadmium transport and distribution in CHO cells

A compartmental model is developed to study the transport and distribution of cadmium in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Of central importance to the model is the role played by sequestering components which bind free Cd2+ ions. The most important of these is a low-molecular-weight protein, metallothionein, which is produced by the cells in response to an increase in the cellular concentration of Cd2+. Monte Carlo techniques are used to generate a stochastic model based on existing experimental data describing the intracellular transport of cadmium between different compartments. This approach provides an alternative to the usual numerical solution of differential-delay equations that arise in deterministic models. Our model suggests subcellular structures which may be responsible for the accumulation of cadmium and, hence, could account for cadmium detoxification.
Heavy quark contributions to W pair production at hadron colliders

Abstract We investigate the effects of including fermion masses in calculating the W pair polarization density matrix for the process qq → W + W − , and in testing the neutral scalar and vector boson couplings to W + W − at hadron colliders. Appreciable effects are found at SSC energy and, in some cases, at Tevatron energy as well.
Patterns of Immigrant Political Behaviour in Australia: An Analysis of Immigrant Voting in Ethnic Context

Immigration is becoming an increasingly important issue in virtually every Western democracy. However, immigrants’ participation in politics varies greatly from country to country. This article identifies and explains the two key determinants of this variation. We establish that ethnicity along with traditional socioeconomic factors are the two primary forces that determine immigrant political behaviour. We theorise that immigrants’ ethnic differences from the native population, along indicators such as language and residential segregation, increase information costs and create barriers to participation in politics as well as influencing partisanship. To empirically evaluate our claims, we analyse data from the Australian Election Study from 1993 to 2010. The results of the analysis in this article provide strong empirical support for our hypotheses.
Test power reductions through computationally efficient, decoupled scan chain modifications

SOC test time minimization hinges on the attainment of core test parallelism; yet test power constraints hamper this parallelism as excessive power dissipation may damage the SOC being tested. We propose a test power reduction methodology for SOC cores through scan chain modification. By inserting logic gates between scan cells, a given set of test vectors & captured responses is transformed into a new set of inserted stimuli & observed responses that yield fewer scan chain transitions. In identifying the best possible scan chain modification, we pursue a decoupled strategy wherein test data are decomposed into blocks, which are optimized for power in a mutually independent manner. The decoupled handling of test data blocks not only ensures significantly high levels of overall power reduction but it furthermore delivers computational efficiency at the same time. The proposed methodology is applicable to both fully, and partially specified test data; test data analysis in the latter case is performed on the basis of stimuli-directed controllability measures which we introduce. To explore the tradeoff between the test power reduction attained by the proposed methodology & the computational cost, we carry out an analysis that establishes the relationship between block granularity & the number of scan chain modifications. Such an analysis enables the utilization of the proposed methodology in a computationally efficient manner, while delivering solutions that comply with the stringent area & layout constraints in SOC as well.
Enterococcus faecalis cytolysin without effect on the intestinal growth of susceptible enterococci in mice

A murine model was developed to determine whether the Enterococcus faecalis cytolysin, through its bacteriolytic action on gram-positive bacteria, could promote intestinal overgrowth of cytolytic strains. Sets of E. faecalis strains with varying cytolytic production and susceptibility to cytolytic activity were mixed 1 :1 and allowed to compete in vitro in broth or in vivo after orogastric administration in mice pretreated with antibiotics. In general, cytolytic strains outgrew, by as much as 2000-fold, competing cytolysin-susceptible or -hypersusceptible strains in vitro. In contrast, no growth advantage was observed in vivo, despite similar transient colonization of the murine intestinal tract by both cytolytic and cytolysin-susceptible strains. These data suggest that cytolysin plays little role in promoting intestinal overgrowth of enterococci through bacteriolytic activity.
An Error Model to Study the Behavior of Transient Errors in Sequential Circuits

In sequential logic circuits the transient errors that occur in a particular time frame will propagate to consecutive time frames thereby making the device more vulnerable. In this work we propose a probabilistic error model for sequential logic that can measure the expected output error probability, given a probabilistic input space, that account for both spatial dependencies and temporal correlations across the logic, using a time evolving causal network. We demonstrate our error model using MCNC and ISCAS benchmark circuits and validate it with HSpice simulations. Our observations show that, significantly low individual gate error probabilities produce at least 5 fold higher output error probabilities. The average error percentage of our results with reference to HSpice simulation results is only 4.43%. Our observations show that the order of temporal dependency of error varies for different sequential circuits.
Online credit card processing models: Critical issues to consider by small merchants

Electronic commerce is continuing as a thriving business for those companies that streamlined their online business processes; however, making payments over the Internet is still fearsome to customers. Although a variety of payment mechanisms have been developed, payment by credit cards remain the leading mechanism for online payments. For real-time online credit card processing, a merchant needs to install a third-party proprietary software in the merchant e-commerce server. However, many issues need to be resolved before integrating a third-party payment solution to a merchant e-commerce system. In this paper, we attempt to address the current state of the online credit card processing system, especially we discuss the available models of online real-time credit card processing systems. We also discuss several factors such as cost, complexity and security issues related to implementing such a system. The results can be extremely valuable to small businesses that are venturing into Internet commerce.
Assessing African Party Systems after the Third Wave

In this article, I explore the nature of party systems that have emerged in Africa in the wake of the adoption of democratic political systems after 1990. Although political parties help shape core...
Faculty Appointments and Scholarly Activity: A Changing of the Guard?.

American institutions of higher education are experiencing a rapid change in academic staffing, leaving the tenure model for a more flexible, contingent workforce. Nearly two in five of all full-time instructional staff holds non-tenure-eligible positions as term-limited academic appointments. This study compared faculty appointment types by traditional areas of teaching, research, and service by utilizing the National Study of Postsecondary Faculty 2004 data. Statistical results indicated tenured and tenure-track faculty far outperform contingent faculty in all three traditional areas: teaching, research, and service. This is of substantial concern. Since contingent faculty are rapidly increasing, it brings into question who is doing the work and how it affects production in areas of teaching, research, and service.
A New Way to Plan for the Future

Building on state-of-the-art techniques for forecasting future developments in technology, business, economics, and other areas of human endeavor, we describe a novel methodology for adaptive contingency planning at the strategic initiative level. Complementing normal business planning that uses a schedule based on predictions tied to dates in the future, we use a new kind of early warning signal called a signpost to trigger the execution of corresponding new recommended actions
Toward Better Solutions: An Analysis of the Ideation Literature in Light of Bounded Ideation Theory

Bounded ideation theory (BIT) proposes that the relationship between idea quantity and quality is limited by participant ability, scarcity of attention resources, mental and physical exhaustion, understanding of the problem, goal congruence, and the openness of solution space. A meta-analysis of ideation research published at the Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences (HICSS) from 1995 to 2011 is conducted to map interventions and findings to the propositions of BIT. The majority of research has focused on the attention, goal-congruency and understanding boundaries. Results demonstrate that certain interventions produce significant gains in the quantity of ideas produced but that more attention needs to be given to the good or high quality ideas that these interventions produce. Implications for future research, including the potential of hybrid interventions, are discussed.
Shopping as Symbolic Interaction: Race, Class, and Gender in the Toy Store

Presented as the Distinguished Lecture at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction in San Francisco, California, on August 15, 2004, this article discusses the relevance of symbolic interactionism for understanding labor processes. Based upon the author’s clerking experiences in two toy stores, she proposes that interactions between clerks and customers reproduce social inequalities based on race, gender, and class. Erving Goffman (1967, 1977) claimed that face-to-face public encounters with strangers typically rely on ritualized scripts to make them go smoothly. In service work, this insight has been transformed into a maxim. Visit McDonald’s and you are likely to encounter the “six steps of counter service” (Leidner 1993), beginning with the question, “May I take your order please?” and until recently ending with “Do you want to supersize that?” Usually, this scripted server-customer interaction comes off without a hitch. When it does not, the result is often conflict. If customers linger too long over their food order or request some special item not on the menu, they will likely face disapproval, mostly from the customers behind them. Workers who refuse to say their lines will likely be fired. This approach to understanding service work has been enormously popular and fruitful, especially in the gender literature where the “doing gender” approach (West and Zimmerman 1987), which was influenced by Goffman’s theory, has become practically hegemonic. I would argue, however, that Goffman’s perspective is limited for reasons that Herbert Blumer (1969) identified years ago. The meanings of these rituals are not self-evident. It is only through a process of symbolic interaction among active, creative, knowledgeable participants that the meanings and consequences of these rituals emerge. This article focuses on the rituals of toy shopping. But it also examines the ongoing innovations, negotiations, and reinterpretations of shopping from the perspective of salesclerks. I was employed for three months, a total of more than 300 hours, in two large stores that were parts of national chains. One of these stores, which I call Toy Ware
Child maltreatment and breast cancer survivors: Social support makes a difference for quality of life, fatigue and cancer stress

Purpose To identify how child maltreatment is associated with quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer survivors.
Vitamin E Reverses Impaired Linker for Activation of T Cells Activation in T Cells from Aged C57BL/6 Mice

Supplemental vitamin E alleviates age-related defects in interleukin (IL)-2 production, T cell proliferation, and immune synapse formation. Here, we evaluated the effect of in vitro supplementation with 46 mumol/L of vitamin E on T cell receptor-proximal signaling events of CD4(+) T cells from young (4-6 mo) and old (22-26 mo) C57BL mice. Aged murine CD4(+) T cells stimulated via CD3 and CD28, tyrosine 191 of the adaptor protein Linker for Activation of T cells (LAT), was hypo-phosphorylated. Supplementation with vitamin E eliminated this difference in the tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT. By using a flow cytometric assay, the age-related differences in the activation-induced phosphorylation of LAT were observed in both naive and memory T cell subsets. In addition, supplementation with vitamin E eliminates the age-related differences in LAT phosphorylation in both T cell subsets. Neither age nor vitamin E supplementation altered the fraction of LAT entering the membrane compartment. Furthermore, neither age nor vitamin E influenced the phosphorylation of Lck and Zap70, indicating that associated changes in LAT phosphorylation were not caused by alterations in activation states of the upstream kinases Lck and Zap70.
Ripped Pocket and Pickpocket, Novel Drosophila DEG/ENaC Subunits Expressed in Early Development and in Mechanosensory Neurons

Drosophila melanogaster has proven to be a good model for understanding the physiology of ion channels. We identified two novel Drosophila DEG/ ENaC proteins, Pickpocket (PPK) and Ripped Pocket (RPK). Both appear to be ion channel subunits. Expression of RPK generated multimeric Na+ channels that were dominantly activated by a mutation associated with neurodegeneration. Amiloride and gadolinium, which block mechanosensation in vivo, inhibited RPK channels. Although PPK did not form channels on its own, it associated with and reduced the current generated by a related human brain Na+ channel. RPK transcripts were abundant in early stage embryos, suggesting a role in development. In contrast, PPK was found in sensory dendrites of a subset of peripheral neurons in late stage embryos and early larvae. In insects, such multiple dendritic neurons play key roles in touch sensation and proprioception and their morphology resembles human mechanosensory free nerve endings. These results suggest that PPK may be a channel subunit involved in mechanosensation.
CallAssist: helping call center agents in preference elicitation

The increasing complexity of products and services being offered by businesses has made providing customers with easy access to technical assistance an important business function. Therefore, most businesses operate call centers to respond to product related queries from consumers. An emerging model is to let a third-party to run the contact center for a business. Preference elicitation - the process of asking queries to determine preferences is a key function performed by call-center agents. In this paper, our focus is on helping call-center agents to efficiently elicit customer's preference.
Erkrankungen der Muskeln, Sehnen, Sehnenscheiden und Bänder

Klinische Zeichen pathologischer Muskelfunktion sind z. B. Deformitaten, die durch langandauernden pathologischen Muskelzug entstehen. Der Zug kann infolge Spastik zu stark sein, es entwickeln sich Kontrakturen. Ist der Muskelzug zu schwach, so entwickeln sich entweder Wackelgelenke infolge verminderter muskularer Stabilisation oder auch Kontrakturen, falls die Antagonisten des zu schwachen Muskels ein Ubergewicht bekommen und das Gelenk in eine Fehlstellung ziehen. Bei einer Lahmung des M. quadriceps femoris entsteht so z. B. eine Kniebeugekontraktur.
Measurement of Mealtime Behaviors in Rural Overweight Children: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale

Objective The current study presents results of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) in a sample of rural children with overweight and obesity. Relationships between mealtime behavior and health outcomes are also explored. Methods EFA was used to assess the fit of the BPFAS in a group of 160 treatment-seeking children (Mage ¼ 9.11, SD ¼ 1.77) living in rural Midwest communities. Correlations were also computed between factor scores and select health variables (child body mass index z-score and diet variables). Results The EFA identified a 5-factor solution as the best fitting model (Tucker–Lewis Index ¼ .96, root mean square error of approximation ¼ .05), although several items (i.e., 7 of 25) did not load on any factor. 2 factors were correlated with health variables of interest. Conclusion Study results suggest that certain items on the BPFAS may not be appropriate for use with rural children with pediatric overweight or obesity. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Interplay between a Strong Memory Effect of Crystallization and Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation in Melts of Broadly Distributed Ethylene–1-Alkene Copolymers

Narrow metallocene-made random ethylene copolymers display a strong memory effect of crystallization above their equilibrium melting point akin to the melt memory effect observed in model ethylene–1-butene copolymers. The onset temperature for self-nucleation or surviving self-seeds displays a bell shape with increasing comonomer content with a maximum at ∼2 mol % branches. Self-seeds do not survive at temperatures above the equilibrium melting point for homopolymers and copolymers either with very low branching or with a branching content >4.5 mol %. The self-seeds are associated with clusters of ethylene sequences that remain in the melt in close proximity and accelerate a subsequent crystallization, as observed by higher crystallization peak temperatures and higher nucleation density. Contrasting this behavior, commercial ethylene–1-alkene copolymers with a broad, bimodal comonomer distribution display an inversion of the crystallization rate in a range of melt temperatures where narrow copolymers show...
Surgery of the thumb in rheumatoid arthritis.

Experiences in the treatment of rheumatoid deformities of the thumb at the University of Colorado Arthritis Clinic over the last eight years are described. The number of surgical cases (eighteen) is too small for any statistical analysis. In general the results have been gratifying. In most cases the patient, surgeon, and physician have been pleased with the results as all have realized that one is striving for a limited gain in function and that results in a chronic progressive disease cannot be compared with the results in static conditions. Many patients deserve evaluation for surgical reconstruction.
A Self-Directed Real Estate Field Trip

Executive Summary. Students use a form with instructions in undertaking a field trip during which they observe and record various aspects of real estate. The students may embark on the field trip on their own schedule. On an assigned date the results of the field trip are discussed in class. The information obtained during the field trip is relevant to portions of the textbook and allow the student to relate textbook material to the “real world.” Throughout the remainder of the semester the instructor has specific examples of actual real estate situations to which the students can relate.
NUMERICAL MODELING OF POROMECHANICS IN CONTINUOUS AND LOCALIZED REGIONS

We develop a model for porous flow, which includes both continuum and fractured flow regions using an enhanced strain finite element framework. Continuum flow is based on Darcy’s law, with an additional term for the flow on the fracture, based the dilation on the crack. The porous flow model is embedded in a finite element framework, with the flow along a fracture handled using an enhanced element that contains an additional permeability component for fluid flow along the fracture. The enhanced permeability element will be coupled with the enhanced element for deformation along the fracture. Such elements exist, and the important quantities of pore pressure and volumetric deformation, both in bulk material and along the fracture, are passed between the two problems.
Emotional and behavioral problems of children-adolescents aged 4-18 in Changsha

Objective:To investigate the state of children' s emotions and behaviors and to provide some basis of taking some concerning intervening measures.Methods:Totally 1657 children and adolescents in kindergarten,primary school and middle school were selected in the city of Changsha by stratified random sampling.They were assessed with the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ).Results:According to the SDQ total score,the rate of abnormal emotion and behavior among in this sample was 13.5%,and the rate of abnormal emotion in male students was lower than that in female students(9.3% vs.13.8%,P0.01),while the rates of behavior problem(14.7% vs.11.0%),hyperactivity-inattention(17.4% vs.10.2%),peer interaction(32.8% vs.27.7%),total point of difficulty(15.3% vs.11.9%) and the influence degree(8.7% vs.5.3%) in male students were all higher than those in the females(Ps0.05).The rates of behavior problem(15.7% vs.9.6%),peer interaction(35.2% vs.24.8%),prosocial behavior(18.9% vs.9.7%),total point of difficulty(15.4% vs.11.5%) were higher in those from rural areas than in those from urban areas(Ps0.05).The rates of aprosexia were higher in kindergarten students and primary school students were higher in than that in middle school students(18.2%,19.8% vs.9.0%,Ps0.05).The rates of peer interaction(34.2% vs.22.6%) and prosocial behavior(16.9% vs.10.3%) in middle school students were higher than that in primary school students(Ps0.01).Conclusion:The study suggests that the emotional and behavior problems of different genders,regions and ages may be different,thus the classified interventions are required.
Race and perceived stress independently affect the diurnal variation of blood pressure in women.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether race (black v white) and perceived stress were independent factors affecting the diurnal blood pressure variation of normal women. The 110 women studied (age = 29.7 +/- 7.2 years, range 20 to 50) were all employed in technical and clerical occupations from the same worksite. They were divided into four groups based on race and how they perceived work stress on the day of study. The results showed that there were no daytime differences in blood pressure levels in blacks or whites, but women who perceived greater stress at work on the day of study had higher pressures during work (123/78 v 115/74; p less than .01). Blacks, however, had higher pressures during sleep than whites, independent of the perception of work stress (109/65 v 104/60; P less than .01). These results suggest that the smaller drop in pressure during sleep in blacks is not related to perceived work stress, but that the effects of perceived stress on daytime pressures is independent of race.
Premixing, Remixing, and Scratch Mixing in the Marketing of Goods, Services, and Goods/Services Bundles

This paper builds upon two separate theoretical concepts previously reported in the literature. The goods/services classifcation matrix and the concept of tactical remixing are combined to produce a general model for determining the amount and character of remixing appropriate for each of nine types of goods/services combinations.
Sustainability communication: The effect of message construals on consumers’ attitudes towards green restaurants

Abstract As consumer preferences for environmentally conscious products have intensified in recent years, scholars have begun to more deeply explore the complex relationship between green practices and consumer behavior in the hospitality industry. Recently, this stream of research has been extended to the restaurant industry where consumers have become increasingly concerned about corporate social responsibility in general, and sustainable operations in particular. However, while there is general agreement about the importance of promoting a company’s sustainability message from a consumer marketing standpoint, an essential underlying question remains unanswered: What is it about sustainability messaging that leads to positive consumer attitudes? The purpose of this research is to explore this question via the complementary theoretical perspectives of construal level theory and information processing theory. Data collected from a sample of restaurant consumers in the United States suggest that consumers process information differently according to variations in the construals of a company’s sustainability message. The results indicate that messages congruent with the consumer’s perception of sustainability result in a more positive attitude toward the company.
'Les Liaisons Dangereuses,' from Luxembourg to Strasbourg: The Effect of the European Union's Accession to the ECHR on Judicial Autonomy of the Two Courts

In recent years, the legal relationship between different international courts and tribunals has attracted much scholarly and judicial attention. In particular, the relationship between the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) and the European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) “has been one of the prevailing issues in the human rights debate in Europe.”The main divide in the relationship between the two courts results from the fact that the EU is not a party to the ECHR: preventing the ECtHR from exercising judicial review over EU institutions, acts, and the CJEU. Therefore, the ECtHR has never been able to call the CJEU into responsibility and CJEU is not likely to accept an ECtHR ruling without an international obligation to do so. It has been rare that the two systems have been in conflict. Still, their respective case-law “illustrates a considerable degree of mandate demarcation,” that is an aspiration to protect their respective mission.Although accession has been discussed for over thirty years, under the older Treaty framework, the ECJ rejected direct applicability of European human rights law because of the autonomy of the Community’s legal order. However, the Treaty of Lisbon — changed this situation. Accession was not only made possible, but it became an obligation.
Shortest Multipath Routing using Labeled Distances

We present and verify SMLDR (Shortest Multipath Labeled Distance Routing), an on-demand loop free multipath routing protocol. It extends Labeled Distance Routing (LDR) to the multipath domain and enables loop freedom by maintaining the ordering of distance invariants. By modifying the route update conditions of LDR and by using the concept of limiting distance we demonstrate shortest multipath routing. Further we describe the fundamental multipath concepts for on-demand routing protocols and elucidate how SMLDR exercises each of these concepts in its routing mechanisms. The performance of SMLDR is compared against the performance of LDR, AODV and its multipath variant AOMDV. The simulation results corroborate the need for shortest multipath routing in terms of higher performance for the chosen metrics.
Abstract IA09: Molecular mechanisms controlling the T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment: Implications for therapy

Two major categories of melanoma metastases have been observed based on gene expression profiling and confirmatory technologies. One subgroup of patients has T cell-inflamed phenotype that includes expression of chemokines, T cell markers, and a type I IFN gene signature. In contrast, the other major subset lacks this phenotype and these tumors show a behavior of immune “exclusion”. The optimal immunotherapeutic intervention may be distinct for these two general subsets. The T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment subset contains the highest expression of negative regulatory factors, including PD-L1, IDO, and FoxP3+ Tregs, and evidence for T cell-intrinsic anergy has also emerged. In addition, the mechanism of induction of these inhibitory mechanisms has been elucidated—PD-L1 and IDO are induced by IFN-γ, and Tregs are largely recruited by chemokines such as CCL22, produced by activated CD8+ effector T cells. Preclinical experiments have confirmed a critical role for all 4 of these mechanisms in limiting anti-tumor T cell efficacy in vivo, giving a mechanism base for translation back into the clinic. These include anti-PD-1/PD-L1 mAbs, IDO inhibitors, and approaches to deplete CD25+ Tregs and/or reverse anergy. The presence of multiple inhibitory mechanisms in the same tumor microenvironment argues that combination therapies may be advantageous to overcome compensatory effects. Preclinical data indicated synergy between anti-CTLA-4 +/- anti-PD-L1 +/- IDO inhibition. The mechanism of synergy is striking, as it correlates with a marked improvement of IL-2 production and proliferation of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Clinical translation of these combination immunotherapies is promising and ongoing. In contrast to the T cell-inflamed melanomas, a new paradigm may be needed to promote de novo inflammation in cases of the non-T cell-infiltrated tumor microenvironment. Recent work has indicated that successful innate immune sensing of tumors involves the STING pathway and type I IFN production. Therefore, STING agonists are being developed to promote effective innate immune activation and generation of an adaptive immune response. Molecular mechanisms that explain the presence or absence of a T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment in patients are being elucidated, which is opening up new concepts for therapies that may overcome immune exclusion and render patients responsive to immunotherapies. Citation Format: Thomas Gajewski. Molecular mechanisms controlling the T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment: Implications for therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy: A New Chapter; December 1-4, 2014; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2015;3(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA09.
Submarine Basaltic Glass Colonization by the Heterotrophic Fe(II)-Oxidizing and Siderophore-Producing Deep-Sea Bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri VS-10: The Potential Role of Basalt in Enhancing Growth.

Phylogenetically and metabolically diverse bacterial communities have been found in association with submarine basaltic glass surfaces. The driving forces behind basalt colonization are for the most part unknown. It remains ambiguous if basalt provides ecological advantages beyond representing a substrate for surface colonization, such as supplying nutrients and/or energy. Pseudomonas stutzeri VS-10, a metabolically versatile bacterium isolated from Vailulu’u Seamount, was used as a model organism to investigate the physiological responses observed when biofilms are established on basaltic glasses. In Fe-limited heterotrophic media, P. stutzeri VS-10 exhibited elevated growth in the presence of basaltic glass. Diffusion chamber experiments demonstrated that physical attachment or contact of soluble metabolites such as siderophores with the basalt glass plays a pivotal role in this process. Electrochemical data indicated that P. stutzeri VS-10 is able to use solid substrates (electrodes) as terminal electron donors and acceptors. Siderophore production and heterotrophic Fe(II) oxidation are discussed as potential mechanisms enhancing growth of P. stutzeri VS-10 on the glass surfaces. In correlation with that we discuss the possibility that metabolic versatility could represent a common and beneficial physiological trait in marine microbial communities being subject to oligotrophic and rapidly changing deep-sea conditions.
A Combined Prognostic Model Based on Machine Learning for Tidal Current Prediction

This paper proposes a univariate prognostic approach based on wavelet transform and support vector regression (SVR) to predict the tidal current speed and direction with high accuracy. The proposed model decomposes the tidal current data into some subharmonic components. The details and approximation components are later fed to several SVR models to attend the prediction process. In order to increase the robustness of the model, the idea of combined prediction is used to model each subharmonic signal by several SVRs. The median operator is further used to determine the aggregated forecast tidal current data. Due to the high reliance of SVR model on the kernel function and hyperplane parameters, a new optimization method based on the bat algorithm is used to train the SVR model. The final forecast tidal current data are constructed using an aggregation operator in the output of the SVRs. The accuracy and satisfying performance of the proposed model are examined on the practical tidal data collected from the Bay of Fundy, NS, Canada. The experimental results reveal the high capability and robustness of the proposed hybrid model for the tidal current prediction.
Examining Media Management and Performance: A Taxonomy for Initiating a Research Agenda

This chapter examines the topic of media management and performance. Working from a grounded theory perspective, we review the literature on the subject and present some brief qualitative data drawn from a purposive sample of professionals who were asked for their opinions on how to assess managerial performance. The research suggests performance is best assessed using a combination of financial and nonfinancial variables across the different stages of management. The result is the preparation of an initial taxonomy to assess management performance in media organizations. In addition to establishing the taxonomy, the chapter concludes with a set of propositions and suggestions for initiating a research agenda.
Tracking Down Kinesin’s Achilles Heel with Balls of Gold

One of the most important duties of a kinesin molecular motor is to not fall off its microtubule track. However, despite considerable advances in our understanding of the structure and mechanism of kinesin in recent years, we have remained mostly in the dark about what enables this motor protein to take many steps in a row before detaching—a feature known as processivity. In this issue of the Biophysical Journal, Mickolajczyk and Hancock (1) give us valuable new insight into a kinetic race in the kinesin ATPase cycle that is central to processivity in these motors.
Organische Sauerstoffverbindungen – Sauerstoff erhöht die Molekülvielfalt

Bisher beschaftigten wir uns ausschlieslich mit Kohlenwasserstoffen (KW). Durch C-C-Mehrfachbindungen und Verzweigung resp. Cyclisierung des Kohlenstoffgerustes ergeben sich zahllose Strukturvariationen fur KW. Die Vielfalt erhoht sich erheblich, wenn zusatzlich Heteroatome wie Sauerstoff im Molekul enthalten sind. Auserdem nehmen aufgrund der hohen Elektronegativitat des Sauerstoffs die Polaritat und dadurch die Reaktivitat der Verbindungen erheblich zu. Atomgruppen, die Heteroatome, also andere Atome als Kohlenstoff und Wasserstoff enthalten, bestimmen masgeblich die physikalischen und chemischen Eigenschaften und werden deshalb als funktionelle Gruppen bezeichnet. Sauerstoff ist Element der 16. Gruppe (6. Hauptgruppe) des PSE und weist somit sechs Valenzelektronen auf. Sauerstoff geht zwei Kovalenzbindungen ein, um das energetisch praferierte Elektronenoktett zu erzielen. Dabei kann es zwei Einfachbindungen oder eine Doppelbindung eingehen. Abbildung 17.1 zeigt Beispiele wichtiger organischer Sauerstoffverbindungen.
Time between First and Second Posttonsillectomy Bleeds.

Objective. To determine the time between first and recurrent posttonsillectomy hemorrhages (PTHs) and find factors related to multiple PTHs. Methods. Retrospective chart review. Results. Of 112 patients, 91 had one PTH, while 21 had recurrent PTHs. Patients with recurrent bleeds had significant differences in indication for tonsillectomy (47.6% had recurrent tonsillitis), prior cardiac conditions (28.6%), transfusions (9.5%), and hematology consults during the initial PTH visit (19%). Bleeding occurred at a mean of 6.1 (range 1–13) days for the first episode and 10 (range 9–18) days for the second episode as compared to 6.65 (range 1–18) days for those who bled once. Recurrent PTH patients were less likely to have had surgical control of the initial bleed . Patients who bled at 7 days or later were more likely to bleed again within one day (OR 23.0, RR 12). Regression analysis showed that age, failure to have operative control of PTH, and surgical indication were most important in predicting recurrent PTH. Conclusions. Operative control of PTH is associated with a better outcome than monitoring alone. Patients with PTH within 7 days of tonsillectomy are likely safe to discharge soon after treatment; those who bleed after 7 days should be monitored longer.
The MiAge Calculator: a DNA methylation-based mitotic age calculator of human tissue types

ABSTRACTCell division is important in human aging and cancer. The estimation of the number of cell divisions (mitotic age) of a given tissue type in individuals is of great interest as it allows no...
Self-Concept Clarity and Psychopathology

Self-concept clarity refers to the coherence of an individual’s identity, how confident one is about one’s attributes, and how consistent and stable these attributes are (Stinson, Wood, & Doxey, 2008). Studies have linked low self-concept clarity to poor psychological adjustment and functioning and high self-concept clarity to adaptive psychological adjustment and functioning. Low self-concept clarity has also been linked to a variety of types of psychopathology, including depression, anxiety, and autism. However, the majority of work on the relations between self-concept clarity and psychopathology has focused on its role in schizophrenia spectrum disorders such as schizophrenia, attenuated psychotic disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder. In this chapter, the relations between self-concept clarity and depression, anxiety disorders, and autism spectrum disorders are briefly reviewed. Then, evidence for disturbances in self-concept clarity in schizophrenia is reviewed and linked to a long history of research dating back to the earliest descriptions of the disorder that conceptualized schizophrenia as a disorder primarily of the self.
Autonomous Calibration of Non-Contact Power Monitors

Non-contact power monitors use electromagnetic field sensors to measure voltage and current in multiphase power lines without any ohmic contact or geometric isolation of the conductors. The complex field geometry requires these sensors to be calibrated before use. Existing work has focused on manual calibration procedures requiring a service interruption, additional loads, or other intrusive techniques. This paper introduces an autonomous calibration technique that can be used to bootstrap additional non-contact power monitors from an existing power monitor located elsewhere in the distribution network. This provides the flexibility to “zoom-in” with downstream monitors or “zoom-out” with upstream monitors and efficiently target the loads of interest. Laboratory benchmarks and installations on the U.S. Coast Guard and Naval vessels show that autonomous calibration is accurate and robust with non-contact monitors reading within 1% of commercial power meters.
Analgesic efficacy using loss of resistance to air vs. saline in combined spinal epidural technique for labour analgesia.

Identification of the epidural space is often performed using the loss of resistance technique to either air or saline. We sought to investigate if the medium used affected the quality of analgesia...
An Ellipse-Drawing Algorithm for Raster Displays

An original algorithm is presented for generating discrete approximations to ellipses for display on raster devices. The approach is not new, but it is original in the sense that existing ideas have been combined to render a better algorithm. The new algorithm is evaluated from the benchmarks of efficiency, accuracy and elegance.
Multidimensional Almost-Periodic Schr\"odinger Operators with Cantor Spectrum

We construct multidimensional almost-periodic Schrodinger operators whose spectrum has zero lower box counting dimension. In particular, the spectrum in these cases is a generalized Cantor set of zero Lebesgue measure.
Effect of hydrophobicity on the water flow in carbon nanotube—A molecular dynamics study

ABSTRACT This work focuses on the study of the effect of hydrophobicity on the water flow in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a molecular dynamics (MD) approach for a wide range of potential applications such as water purification and high efficiency of nanofluid energy absorption systems (NEAS). The hydrophobicity between liquid water and surface of CNTs was characterized by interaction-energy-coefficient (IEC)—a parameter describing the energy interaction strength between water molecules and carbon atoms. It is shown that the static contact angles between water and carbon surface decrease from 155° to 44° when the values of IEC increase from 0.042 kJ/mol to 2.196 kJ/mol. In addition, the pressure drops in CNT became independent of IEC when the IEC value was higher than 1.192 kJ/mol for a given flow rate. It was found that the hydrophobicity of CNT surface has a significant impact on the pressure drop of water flow in the CNTs and MD method provides a quantitative evaluation of the impact.
Teaching Signal Processing Concepts to Digital Natives

Teaching is increasingly migrating to digital platforms, where relevant content can be quickly accessed and explored in small chunks within the appropriate context. A variety of on-line systems have been developed to cater to educational experience that is predominantly digital, contextually accurate, and personalized to learner’s conceptual understanding and needs. In this paper, we provide an update on our continuing efforts at Georgia Tech to transform an undergraduate signal processing course into a data-mining teaching environment that structures student learning through concept driven content and personalized programmed instruction.
Brief Underage Alcohol Use Screener Scores Predict Health Risk Behaviors

The aim of this study was to determine if adolescents' scores on a 2-item underage alcohol use screener predict risky consequences of past-year alcohol use and other health risk behaviors in a nonclinical, school-based sample of adolescents. A predominantly minority sample of 756 middle and high school students completed in-school tablet-based surveys on past-year underage alcohol use and a range of health risk behaviors. Higher scores for self alcohol risk and peer alcohol risk were associated with higher risk of past-year riding with a drunk driver and past 90-day measures of cigarette use, marijuana use, unplanned sex, and unprotected intercourse. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Brief Alcohol Screener is a useful tool for school-based service providers, including school nurses, to identify and address the needs of adolescents at high risk of the development of alcohol use disorders, as well as a range of preventable health risk behaviors.