cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalized mean residual life models for case-cohort and nested case-control studies

Mean residual life (MRL) is the remaining life expectancy of a subject who has survived to a certain time point and can be used as an alternative to hazard function for characterizing the distribution of a time-to-event variable. Inference and application of MRL models have primarily focused on full-cohort studies. In practice, case-cohort and nested case-control designs have been commonly used within large cohorts that have long follow-up and study rare diseases, particularly when studying costly molecular biomarkers. They enable prospective inference as the full-cohort design with significant cost-saving benefits. In this paper, we study the modeling and inference of a family of generalized MRL models under case-cohort and nested case-control designs. Built upon the idea of inverse selection probability, the weighted estimating equations are constructed to estimate regression parameters and baseline MRL function. Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established and finite-sample performance is evaluated by extensive numerical simulations. An application to the New York University Women's Health Study is presented to illustrate the proposed models and demonstrate a model diagnostic method to guide practical implementation.
It’s not a cold war: competition and cooperation in US–China relations

For nearly 4 years now, the United States and China have experienced increased conflict and tension and diminished cooperation. This has been a costly trend for both countries, as it has led to heightened costs and forsaken potential gain. Heightened US–China security conflict and tension may well be inescapable. The United States and China are engaged in transformative power transition with implications for the balance of power in East Asia and for their respective national security interests. As the power transition continues to develop, it will necessarily contribute to increased great power competition. But the power transition neither precludes moderation in security and economic competition nor cooperation on common interests in bilateral and global affairs. Leadership and policy choices matter in international politics. The current trend toward unmitigated conflict in US–China relations is neither inevitable nor irreversible. Pragmatic leaders that focus on their respective country’s national interests can contribute to constrained conflict and greater cooperation in US–China relations.
Commentary: Michael Hand's 'On the Necessity of School Punishment'.

Michael Hand maintains that punishment is necessary for school children to insure compliance with the important rules – those he calls moral and scholastic. I make three arguments against this posi...
A structural framework for unidirectional transport by a bacterial ABC exporter

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter of mitochondria (Atm1) mediates iron homeostasis in eukaryotes, while the prokaryotic homolog from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans (NaAtm1) can export glutathione derivatives and confer protection against heavy-metal toxicity. To establish the structural framework underlying the NaAtm1 transport mechanism, we determined eight structures by X-ray crystallography and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy in distinct conformational states, stabilized by individual disulfide crosslinks and nucleotides. As NaAtm1 progresses through the transport cycle, conformational changes in transmembrane helix 6 (TM6) alter the glutathione-binding site and the associated substrate-binding cavity. Significantly, kinking of TM6 in the post-ATP hydrolysis state stabilized by MgADPVO4 eliminates this cavity, precluding uptake of glutathione derivatives. The presence of this cavity during the transition from the inward-facing to outward-facing conformational states, and its absence in the reverse direction, thereby provide an elegant and conceptually simple mechanism for enforcing the export directionality of transport by NaAtm1. One of the disulfide crosslinked NaAtm1 variants characterized in this work retains significant glutathione transport activity, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis and substrate transport by Atm1 may involve a limited set of conformational states with minimal separation of the nucleotide-binding domains in the inward-facing conformation.
Metaphor Detection using Ensembles of Bidirectional Recurrent Neural Networks

In this paper we present our results from the Second Shared Task on Metaphor Detection, hosted by the Second Workshop on Figurative Language Processing. We use an ensemble of RNN models with bidirectional LSTMs and bidirectional attention mechanisms. Some of the models were trained on all parts of speech. Each of the other models was trained on one of four categories for parts of speech: “nouns”, “verbs”, “adverbs/adjectives”, or “other”. The models were combined into voting pools and the voting pools were combined using the logical “OR” operator.
Some thoughts on the biogeochemical cycling of potassium in terrestrial ecosystems

Potassium presents a conundrum for biogeochemists. Potassium is cycled wastefully at the plant level, but it appears to be conserved in the nutrient budgets of entire ecosystems, where it sometimes limits net primary productivity. An increasing demand for K fertilizer may accompany the expansion of agriculture into highly weathered tropical soils, where limited supplies of K may control the distribution and productivity of natural vegetation. However, the molar ratios of 4.6 for N/K in herbaceous plants, 17.3 in current global fertilizer applications, and 0.33 in the commodity price of fertilizer suggest that N is vastly overused and K is vastly over-priced in modern agriculture.
Fluorescence Quantum Beats due to Long-Lived Entangled Triplet Excitons in Rubrene Crystals

Under an applied magnetic field of the order of 0.3 T, singlet exciton fission into two triplet excitons and the subsequent geminate fusion of the latter leads to long-lasting spin entanglement and quantum beats in the emitted fluorescence
Online parameter estimation of adaptive cruise control models with delays and lags

In this work we consider online parameter estimation of adaptive cruise control (ACC) equipped vehicles which may contain time delays (e.g., sensor delays) and lags (e.g., actuator lag). We extend a recursive least squares (RLS) method and apply it to calibrate models with various magnitudes of delay and lag, and study the performance of the method when measurement noise is present. We show that RLS can be applied to exactly recover model parameters given noise-free measurement data. In addition, the RLS estimator performs well under typical sensor noises associated with onboard sensors such as GPS and radars. The method is tested on data from a 2019 ACC-equipped vehicle, and the results show that the overall quality of fit via RLS is comparable to a commonly used batch optimization method (4% and 0.8% mean absolute error on the space gap and the velocity profiles, respectively). RLS is shown to run two orders of magnitude faster than the batch optimization method.
Whole Child Education in the Context of Islamic Schools in the United States: Principals’ Perspectives

In light of calls for renewal in Islamic schooling in the West, this study reconceptualizes the notion that Islamic education promotes wholeness through tarbiyah. The author conducted interviews wi...
Using radar observations to evaluate 3-D radar echo structure simulated by the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) version 1

Abstract. The Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) developed by the Department of Energy has a goal of addressing challenges in understanding the global water cycle. Success depends on correct simulation of cloud and precipitation elements. However, lack of appropriate evaluation metrics has hindered the accurate representation of these elements in general circulation models. We derive metrics from the three-dimensional data of the ground-based Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) network over the US to evaluate both horizontal and vertical structures of precipitation elements. We coarsened the resolution of the radar observations to be consistent with the model resolution and improved the coupling of the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project Observation Simulator Package (COSP) and E3SM Atmospheric Model Version 1 (EAMv1) to obtain the best possible model output for comparison with the observations. Three warm seasons (2014–2016) of EAMv1 simulations of 3-D radar reflectivity features at an hourly scale are evaluated. A general agreement in domain-mean radar reflectivity intensity is found between EAMv1 and NEXRAD below 4 km altitude; however, the model underestimates reflectivity over the central US, which suggests that the model does not capture the mesoscale convective systems that produce much of the precipitation in that region. The shape of the model-estimated histogram of subgrid-scale reflectivity is improved by correcting the microphysical assumptions in COSP. Different from previous studies that evaluated modeled cloud top height, we find the model severely underestimates radar reflectivity at upper levels – the simulated echo top height is about 5 km lower than in observations – and this result is not changed by tuning any single physics parameter. For more accurate model evaluation, a higher-order consistency between the COSP and the host model is warranted in future studies.
Excited-State Solvation Dynamics in 4-Aminophthalimide

Solvation plays a major role in nearly every liquid-phase chemical reaction. Picosecond measurements of the dynamics of excited-state solvation have been exploited in the past for the study of such processes as hydrogen bond formation, “solvent-assisted” intramolecular charge transfer, and conformational isomerization[1–5]. This work explores the solvation dynamics following electronic excitation of isolated solute molecules. Molecules initially undergo a vertical transition to a Franck-Condon excited state, producing electronically excited molecules in ground state solvent environments. The equilibrium solvent configuration around an excited molecule may be significantly different than the ground state solvent configuration. Relaxation to the excited-state configuration would result in a time-dependent red shift in the emission spectrum.
Structured and unstructured overlays under the microscope: a measurement-based view of two P2P systems that people use

Existing peer-to-peer systems rely on overlay network protocols for object storage and retrieval and message routing. These overlay protocols can be broadly classified as structured and unstructured - structured overlays impose constraints on the network topology for efficient object discovery, while unstructured overlays organize nodes in a random graph topology that is arguably more resilient to peer population transiency. There is an ongoing discussion on the pros and cons of both approaches. This paper contributes to the discussion a multiple-site, measurement-based study of two operational and widely-deployed file-sharing systems. The two protocols are evaluated in terms of resilience, message overhead, and query performance. We validate our findings and further extend our conclusions through detailed analysis and simulation experiments.
Consciousness and Representationalism

The representationalist theory of consciousness is the view that consciousness reduces to mental representation. This view comes in several variants which must explain introspective awareness of conscious mental states. Keywords: consciousness; representationalism; higher-order thought; inner sense; acquaintance
NITROGENOUS COMPOUNDS IN GERMINATION AND POSTGERMINATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM SPORES

Abstract Levinson, Hillel S. (Quartermaster Research and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass.) and Mildred T. Hyatt. Nitrogenous compounds in germination and postgerminative development of Bacillus megaterium spores. J. Bacteriol. 83:1224–1230. 1962.—Of the 48 inorganic and organic nitrogenous compounds tested, only l-alanine, glucosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine promote germination of unheated spores of Bacillus megaterium. Heated spores also germinate in nitrate, nitrite, l-cysteine, dl-isoleucine, l-leucine, dl-methionine, dl-norleucine, l-proline and l-valine. A source of nitrogen is required for postgerminative development, but nitrogenous compounds which effect germination do not necessarily support postgerminative development. Nitrogenous compounds which support postgerminative development include (NH4)2SO4, nitrates, d-alanine, l-alanine, l-arginine, l-asparagine, l-aspartic and l-glutamic acids, glutamine, l-proline, adenine, adenosine, and guanosine. Oxygen consumption rates during postgerminative development are different with different nitrogen sources, and these rates, in general, reflect the extent of postgerminative development. Utilization of amino and ammonium nitrogen during postgerminative development was followed, and the concentration requirements were determined (ca 10 mm for at least one cell division of 5 × 108 spores). Inhibitor studies on postgerminative development are included.
Ion Exchange - Simulation and Experiment

A FORTRAN program for simulating multicomponent adsorption by ion-exchange resins was adapted for use as both an ASPEN-callable module and as a free-standing simulator of the ion-exchange bed. Four polystyrene-divinylbenzene sulfonic acid resins have been characterized for three principal ions. It is concluded that a chelating resin appears appropriate as a heavy-metal trap. The same ASPEN-callable module is used to model this resin when Wilson parameters can be obtained.
Finding General Explicit Formulas for Ising Integral Recursions

Finding General Explicit Formulas for Ising Integral Recursions D.H. Bailey ∗ J.M. Borwein † October 2, 2006 In [2] and [4], we studied integrals of the form C n,k n! n! n j=1 (u j k+1 + 1/u j ) du 1 du n u 1 u n dx 1 dx 2 · · · dx n (cosh x 1 + · · · + cosh x n ) k+1 We also found it useful study normalized variants given by c n,k = n!k!2 −n C n,k . As it turns out, these integrals can be reduced to one-dimensional integrals by noting that c n,k t k K 0 (t) n dt, where K 0 is the modiﬁed Bessel function. In this form, these integrals can be evaluated to very high precision by means of the tanh-sinh quadrature scheme [6, 1], implemented using the ARPREC multiprecision software system [5]. We began the study in [4] by computing c n,k (and thus C n,k ) to very high precision (1000 decimal digits) for all n ∈ [2, 36] and for all k ∈ [0, 75], or in other words a total of 2660 separate 1000-digit quadrature calculations. These computations were performed on the Apple parallel computer system at Virginia Tech. Many of these values (to 500 digit accuracy) are available online at [3]. ∗ Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, dhbailey@lbl.gov. Sup- ported in part by the Director, Oﬃce of Computational and Technology Research, Division of Mathematical, Information, and Computational Sciences of the U.S. Department of Energy, under contract number DE-AC02-05CH11231. † Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 2W5, Canada, jborwein@cs.dal.ca. Supported in part by NSERC and the Canada Research Chair Pro- gramme.
Crossing changes in closed 3-braid diagrams

A crossing in a knot is nugatory if changing the crossing does not change the knot type. Using an invariant of certain types of closed 3-braid diagrams, we show that if a closed 3-braid contains a nugatory crossing then its braid index is one or two. This proves a special case of a conjecture on nugatory crossings due to Xiao-Song Lin.
The Maya Number of Time: Intervalic Time Reckoning in the Maya Codices, Part II:

Premiere partie d'un article consacree aux calendriers mayas. L'A. expose l'existence de certains modeles numerologiques dans les almanachs des codex et met en lumiere certains mecanismes et motifs que les devins mayas avaient a leur disposition pour rearranger les modeles pour en etablir d'autres
Neyman–Pearson Lemma

J. Neyman and E.S. Pearson showed in 1933 that, in testing a simple null hypothesis against a simple alternative, the most powerful test is based on the likelihood ratio. Extensions to other situations, and the connection with statistical decision theory, are briefly described. Keywords: critical region; power; likelihood ratio; unbiased test; decision theory
Dynamics of the Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism

This paper develops the dynamic equations of motion for the planetary roller screw mechanism (PRSM) accounting for the screw, rollers, and nut bodies. First, the linear and angular velocities and accelerations of the components are derived. Then, their angular momentums are presented. Next, the slip velocities at the contacts are derived in order to determine the direction of the forces of friction. The equations of motion are derived through the use of Lagrange's Method with viscous friction. The steady-state angular velocities and screw/roller slip velocities are also derived. An example demonstrates the magnitude of the slip velocity of the PRSM as a function of both the screw lead and the screw and nut contact angles. By allowing full dynamic simulation, the developed analysis can be used for much improved PRSM system design.
Genetically Modified Plants for Improved Trace Element Nutrition

Deficiencies of iron and zinc are common worldwide. Various strategies have been used to combat these deficiencies including supplementation, food fortification and modification of food preparation and processing methods. A new possible strategy is to use biotechnology to improve trace element nutrition. Genetic engineering can be used in several ways; the most obvious is to increase the trace element content of staple foods such as cereals and legumes. This may be achieved by introduction of genes that code for trace element-binding proteins, overexpression of storage proteins already present and/or increased expression of proteins that are responsible for trace element uptake into plants. However, even very high levels of expression may not substantially increase the iron and zinc contents unless many atoms of trace elements are bound per protein molecule. Another possibility is to introduce a protein that specifically enhances trace element absorption even in the presence of naturally occurring inhibitors, thus improving bioavailability. Genetically modifying plants so that their contents of inhibitors of trace element absorption such as phytate are substantially reduced is another approach. Increasing the expression of compounds that enhance trace element absorption such as ascorbic acid is also a possibility, although this has received limited attention so far. Iron absorption may be increased by higher ascorbic or citric acid content but require overexpression of enzymes that are involved in the synthetic pathways. Finally, a combination of all of these approaches perhaps complemented with conventional breeding techniques may prove successful.
A new hypothesis on thesimultaneous direct and indirect coupling mechanism in NADH–quinone oxidoreductase (Complex I)

Earlier, T. Ohnishi and her collaborators detected two distinct protein-associated semiquinone species (SQNf and SQNs). Only SQNf signal intensity is strongly dependent on the proton motive force, thus weproposed a novelmechanistic hypothesis of a “protonpumpgatedby SQNf and redox-driven conformational change of its binding protein (Ohnishi & Salerno, FEBS Lett., 2005, 579: 4555–4561). This model is nowmodified to include bothQNf andQNsmolecules. To investigate the indirect proton-pump mechanism, we focused on the largest transmembrane NuoL subunit which has a high sequence similarity to the multi-subunit (Na/H) antiporter, like NuoM and N. (NuoN, however, does not contain active acidic residues, and localizes most likely the SQNs-binding site.) We constructed 13 NuoL mutants of highly conserved acidic residues. Similar amount of fully assembled protein were obtained inmostof thesemutants. Their dNADH–oxidase activities were mostly at the control level or modestly reduced. The proton pumping efficiency, however, was decreased in these NuoL mutants by 30–50%without affecting IC50 values for asimicin (a potent inhibitor for E. coli complex I). This suggests that the (H+/e−) stoichiometry has changed from (4H+/2e−) to either (3H+/2e−) or (2H+/2e−). Furthermore, 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA), a specific inhibitor for (Na/H) antiporters, caused a 38±5% decrease in the initial (H) pump activity in the wild-type membranes. However, no change was observed in D178N, D303A and D400A mutants (in which the (H) pumping efficiency had already been decreased by the NuoL mutation). The electron transfer activities were unaffected by EIPA in all of themutants. Ourdata indicate that theNuoL subunit is involved in the indirect protonpump, although theNuoM subunitmay also be involved. Thus, we propose that electron–proton coupling in complex I consists of “QNf-gated (H) pump” and “QNs-induced conformationally-driven (H) pump”, each of which transports (2H) coupled with 2 electron transfer. Both pumps must be operated by the redox energy. In the indirect pump, the conformational linkage to the (Na/H) antiporter homologs is provided by quinone binding site occupancy. After the uptake of scalar (H) from the N-side, the binding of quinone to the SQNs site, and the release of quinol fromthere, conformationally triggers ion pump reorientation, enabling vectorial (H) movement. We propose that QNf carries (2H) (direct pump) and QNs induces the transport of (2H) (indirect pump).
Simulation of cooking cylindrical beef roasts.

A mathematical model was developed to predict temperature and mass transfer of cylindrical beef roasts cooked in a forced-air-convection oven. The finite difference method was used to solve the simultaneous heat and mass transfer equations. Dynamic transport properties were estimated during the cooking process. The model was tested using beef semitendinosus muscles. No difference (P>0.05) occurred between the predicted and observed cooking times. Moisture loss generally was underestimated because of the lack of compensation for dripped moisture loss during cooking. Our model is suitable for predicting cooking times.
The effect of inferotemporal or foveal prestriate ablation on serial reversal learning in monkeys.

Abstract Visual discrimination performance during serial reversal learning was studied in monkeys with inferotemporal or foveal prestriate lesions. Both groups were equally impaired in acquisition of the discrimination when compared with normal monkeys. They also learned the reversal series more slowly than control subjects. The reversal deficit of monkeys with inferotemporal lesions was more severe than their acquisition deficit though over successive reversals they achieved normal performance. Monkeys with foveal prestriate lesions were less impaired in reversal learning than in acquisition of the discrimination problem. These results are interpreted in terms of qualitative differences in the effects of the two lesions.
Optimal strategies for testing nondeterministic systems

This paper deals with testing of nondeterministic software systems. We assume that a model of the nondeterministic system is given by a directed graph with two kind of vertices: states and choice points. Choice points represent the nondeterministic behaviour of the implementation under test (IUT). Edges represent transitions. They have costs and probabilities. Test case generation in this setting amounts to generation of a game strategy. The two players are the testing tool (TT) and the IUT. The game explores the graph. The TT leads the IUT by selecting an edge at the state vertices. At the choice points the control goes to the IUT. A game strategy decides which edge should be taken by the TT in each state. This paper presents three novel algorithms 1) to determine an optimal strategy for the bounded reachability game, where optimality means maximizing the probability to reach any of the given final states from a given start state while at the same time minimizing the costs of traversal; 2) to determine a winning strategy for the bounded reachability game, which guarantees that given final vertices are reached, regardless how the IUT reacts; 3) to determine a fast converging edge covering strategy, which guarantees that the probability to cover all edges quickly converges to 1 if TT follows the strategy.
Research on Emergent Phenomena: Responses and Speculations

These comments run the gamut, from Joe Nathan's, which argues that we have fundamentally mischaracterized the charter school phenomenon and implies that we may be doing harm in the process, to John Witte's, which says our findings are probably accurate but possibly irrelevant. Katrina Bulkley, on these and other dimensions, strikes a middle ground; she suggests we are onto something significant but that there may be other and better ways to go from here. On at least three things they agree. They wish we had gone about things differently. They agree with our general point that it is important theoretically and empirically to disaggregate the charter school phenomenon. They think a dichotomous distinction-between EMO and non-EMO or between market and mission-is insufficient; the real world of educational practice is more nuanced and complex than such simple classifications can accommodate. Space does not allow for a point-by-point rebuttal and that would not be the most useful exercise in any event. Our approach instead takes the following form. We begin with responses to what we consider some of the most important criticisms and observations; in some cases to take issue but more often to nod in appreciation and with the sincere hope that we and others will use these as points of departure for future analysis. Following that, we conclude with some speculations about the particular challenges of studying emergent policy regimes.
The activation of the human neutrophil respiratory burst occurs only at temperatures above 17°C: Evidence that activation requires membrane fusion

Abstract By considering the effects of temperature on the respiratory burst activity of human neutrophils stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate, we have found that activation only occurs at 17°C and above. Between 20 and 30°C, the rates of oxygen consumption rose dramatically in correspondence with cellular release of gelatinase and lactoferrin. Inasmuch as these mark tertiary and specific granules, respectively, a necessity for membrane fusion of one or both granules with the plasma membrane during triggering of the respiratory burst is very probable.
1466 MATERNAL REFERRAL VERSUS NEONATAL TRANSPORT TO A PERINATAL CENTER: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE OUTCOME OF MATCHED MOTHERS AND THEIR INFANTS

1466 MATERNAL REFERRAL VERSUS NEONATAL TRANSPORT TO A PERINATAL CENTER: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE OUTCOME OF MATCHED MOTHERS AND THEIR INFANTS
Teaching NeuroImages: treatment-resistant rapidly progressive amyloid β-related angiitis.

A 76-year-old woman presented with 1 month of progressive aphasia, headache, and subsequent right hemiparesis. Initial brain MRI showed a punctate infarct (figure 1, A and C). Susceptibility-weighted imaging was unremarkable. A repeat study 16 days later demonstrated bihemispheric infarcts with multifocal attenuation of intracranial vessels on magnetic resonance angiography (figure 1, B and D). CSF showed a lymphocytic pleocytosis (101 leukocytes/µL) and elevated protein (480 mg/dL). Brain biopsy showed granulomatous angiitis with amyloid deposition and fibrinoid necrosis surrounded by inflammatory cells (figure 2). She rapidly deteriorated on immunosuppression with high-dose IV steroids and has not improved despite a combination of oral steroids and monthly cyclophosphamide.
Manipulation and Confinement of Single Particles Using Fluid Flow

High precision control of micro- and nanoscale objects in aqueous media is an essential technology for nanoscience and engineering. Existing methods for particle trapping primarily depend on optical, magnetic, electrokinetic, and acoustic fields. In this work, we report a new hydrodynamic flow based approach that allows for fine-scale manipulation and positioning of single micro- and nanoscale particles using automated fluid flow. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate trapping and two-dimensional (2D) manipulation of 500 nm and 2.2 μm diameter particles with a positioning precision as small as 180 nm during confinement. By adjusting a single flow parameter, we further show that the shape of the effective trap potential can be efficiently controlled. Finally, we demonstrate two distinct features of the flow-based trapping method, including isolation of a single particle from a crowded particle solution and active control over the surrounding medium of a trapped object. The 2D flow-based trapping method described here further expands the micro/nanomanipulation toolbox for small particles and holds strong promise for applications in biology, chemistry, and materials research.
Sucrose octaacetate tasting in a heterogeneous population of CFW mice.

Three experiments investigated the genetic underpinnings of the sucrose octaacetate (SOA) avoidance-indifference dimorphism that exists among outbred CFW mice. In the first experiment, results from 687 subjects across three generations of segregation were consistent with predictions from a single-autosomal, two-allele model, with dominance for the avoidance (Taster) phenotype. In the second experiment, heterogeneous CFW Tasters and Nontasters were mated with SWR/J (Taster) and C57BL/6J (Nontaster) inbred mice. The SWR and CFW mice are both derived from Swiss mice, and the results were consistent with the possibility that the Taster animals share an allele which is identical by descent. The second and third experiments also investigated sensitivity to SOA across an extended range of concentrations. Nontaster CFWs avoided SOA at the near-saturation 10−3 M concentration but did not avoid any weaker concentrations. Taster CFWs avoided all concentrations down to approximately 10−6 M SOA.
High-throughput screening of dioxins in sediment and soil using selective pressurized liquid extraction with immunochemical detection

Abstract A high-throughput screening method using selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for monitoring dioxins in sediment and soil is described. SPLE conditions were developed by extracting sediment or soil together with alumina, 10% AgNO3 in silica, and sulfuric acid impregnated silica (acid silica) using dichloromethane (DCM) as the solvent at 100 °C and 2000 psi. Post-extraction cleanups were not required for ELISA. Two reference sediments (National Institute of Standards and Technology SRM 1944 and Wellington Laboratories WMS01) were analyzed by the SPLE–ELISA method. The ELISA utilized a polyclonal antibody and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as the calibrant. Recoveries of ELISA-derived TCDD equivalents (EQ) relative to the expected gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS) derived dioxin toxic equivalent (TEQ) values were 116 ± 11% for SRM 1944 and 102 ± 13% for WMS01. ELISA TCDD EQs were consistent with the dioxin TEQs as measured by GC/HRMS for 25 soil/sediment samples from seven different contaminated sites. The ELISA had an approximate method detection limit of 10 pg g−1 with a precision of 2.6–29% based on the relative percentage difference (%RPD) for duplicate samples. Estimated sample throughput for the SPLE–ELISA was three times or more than that of the GC/HRMS method employing PLE with a multi-column cleanup.
Correlations between the Cognitive Abilities Test, Form 3, and the Ross Test of Higher Cognitive Processes for Gifted Students:

Scores on the Cognitive Abilities Test, Form 3, Verbal and Non-verbal Batteries correlated with The Ross Test of Higher Cognitive Processes at .44 and .22, respectively, for 79 elementary gifted st...
Do convicted felons go to prison

Data from the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics provide nationwide sampling of dispositions by state courts. The findings from a representative national sample of the approximately 583,000 felons convicted in state courts in 1986 show that many felons convicted in state courts either were not incarcerated or served only a few months' incarceration in conjunction with probation. Only 40% went to prison. The percentage going to jail was 6%, while 31% received probation only and 21% received brief jail or prison sentences along with probation. Implications are discussed.
Switched-capacitor LDI lowpass filters with improved selectivity

Generalised expressions are given for transfer functions of an extensive family of lowpass switched-capacitor LDI ladder filters with optimum equiripple (or maximally flat) passbands and an arbitrary number of transmission zeros at half the sampling frequency. These allow greater flexibility in the design and permit tradeoffs to be made among factors such as sampling frequency, element value spread and dynamic range. The previously studied LDI filters with monotonic stopbands can be recovered as degenerate special cases of the generalised ones presented here.
Enhanced air operations using JView for an air-ground fused situation awareness udop

Successful management of air assets coordinates many different types of information sources from the air and on the ground for air transportation safety. An example of a combined air-ground operation is air traffic control (ATC), which requires effective visualization of information for users. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of different visualization techniques to support air-ground coordination to enhance situation awareness. Situation awareness is afforded through strategic collection, fusion and presentation of air, ground, and space data. Visual analytics examples are presented using the Java Viewer (JView) User Defined Operating Picture (UDOP) that utilizes the Airspace Concepts Evaluation System (ACES) for civilian aviation applications.
Strategy in action: analyzing online search behavior bymining search strategies

Analyzing people's Web search behavior has been a significant topic of interest in the Information Retrieval domain and search engine industry over the past decade. Research in this area has focused on improving search and retrieval capabilities leading to high demands and expectations of Web search users. Understanding and analyzing the Web search process when users are performing Web search tasks is a challenging problem due to many reasons such as subjectivity, dynamic nature, difficulty in measurement of success and difficulty in evaluation. I propose to analyze the users' Web search behavior in order to identify the strategies and tactics they use in fulfilling their task. In order to achieve this, I intend to use data mining and machine learning methods with an emphasis on time series analysis given that the user search process can be considered as a sequence of time related events.
Posterior Cerebral Artery Stenosis With Midbrain Infarction

Background Brain infarction secondary to stenosis of the posterior cerebral artery is uncommon. We report a patient with midbrain infarction and symptoms of both Benedikt’s and pupil-sparing oculomotor palsy syndromes secondary to posterior cerebral artery stenosis. Case Description A 51-year-old woman developed diplopia, left ptosis, and right hemiataxia and hyperactive tendon reflexes. Pupils were equal and reactive. Radiological examination revealed stenosis of the posterior cerebral artery and a left-sided midbrain infarct. Conclusions Stenosis of the posterior cerebral artery may cause only midbrain infarction and may be responsible for Benedikt’s and pupil-sparing oculomotor palsy syndromes.
Truncation artifact suppression in cone-beam radionuclide transmission CT using maximum likelihood techniques: evaluation with human subjects

The author presents a reconstruction method to reduce or eliminate the artifacts resulting from the truncation. The method uses a previously published transmission maximum likelihood EM algorithm, adapted to the cone-beam geometry. The reconstruction method is evaluated qualitatively using three human subjects of various dimensions and various degrees of truncation. For the two smaller subjects, with moderate truncation, the maximum likelihood method is very successful, nearly eliminating the artifacts seen with conventional filtered backprojection of truncated geometries. The use of an expanded reconstructed space, which contains the entire transverse slice of the subject, is necessary for optimal truncation removal. For the largest subject investigated, the truncation was substantial, and the artifacts were only partially removed by the maximum likelihood reconstruction. Nonetheless, the images were qualitatively superior to those obtained with filtered backprojection. An added elliptical support prior moderately increased the rate of convergence, and helped to force a reasonable body contour.
First Report of Fusarium Wilt of Lettuce Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in Arizona

A new wilt and root rot disease was observed in 6 and 11 commercial fields of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in western Arizona during the fall of 2001 and 2002, respectively. Distance between infested sites ranged from approximately 0.5 to 39 km. Five head lettuce cultivars as well as a red leaf lettuce cultivar were affected. Disease symptoms included yellowing and wilting of leaves, as well as stunting and plant death. The cortex of the crown and upper root of infected plants usually was decayed and reddish brown. Disease symptoms first appeared at the time of plant thinning and continued to develop up to plant maturity. Fusarium oxysporum was consistently isolated from symptomatic plant roots. Seeds of cv. Lighthouse were planted in nonsterile vermiculite within 3.0-cm-square × 7.0-cm-deep cells in a transplant tray and thinned to a single plant per cell. When the first true leaves were emerging, 10 individual seedlings were inoculated with a single-spore isolate of F. oxysporum recovered from diseased lett...
The Subtleties of Social Exclusion: Race, Social Class, and the Exclusion of Blacks in a Racially Mixed Neighborhood

We use interviews, content analysis, and surveys to describe how a neighborhood association in a racially mixed neighborhood in Portland, Oregon (USA) subtly excludes many blacks from being full members of the neighborhood. In contrast to explicit cases of social exclusion, this neighborhood association excludes blacks without ever referring to race. They instead justify their actions—e.g., helping close down a black social club and discouraging more affordable housing—based on such nonracial goals as increasing homeownership, minimizing crime, and maximizing “economic diversity.” We argue that without the inclusion of black residents and their neighborhood organizations (e.g., churches) in the decision-making process, mixed-race neighborhoods will continue to lose their diversity.
An Analysis of Tension Methods for Convexity-Preserving Interpolation

We introduce a Hermite-interpolating space general enough to include most commonly used tensioned interpolants, with conditions that allow others to be easily constructed. Each of these spaces may be associated with a convexity interval that gives a quantitative measure of its ability to produce convexity-preserving interpolants. This analysis is applied to produce a simple algorithm for constructing piecewise univariate C1 interpolants that preserve convexity of the data by adaptive tension application.
A VIRUS-INDUCED MAMMALIAN GROWTH WITH THE CHARACTERS OF A TUMOR (THE SHOPE RABBIT PAPILLOMA) : III. FURTHER CHARACTERS OF THE GROWTH: GENERAL DISCUSSION

Experimental study of the rabbit papilloma of Shope, a growth caused by a virus, has shown that it possesses the immediate characters whereby tumors are recognized. Often it looks and acts like a malignant neoplasm. It differs from the tumors as a group, however, in its incidence which is that of an infectious process, and from other mammalian tumors in that its cause has been demonstrated. The possible bearing of the findings upon the problem of tumor causation is discussed. The morphology and behavior of the generality of tumors can no longer be taken to exclude the possibility that these are produced by extraneous, living entities. The incidence of some of the tumors at least, and the failure to demonstrate their cause can both be explained on the assumption that they are due to such entities, widely distributed in or upon the animal population but effective only under special circumstances. Present knowledge makes this assumption reasonable as a basis for further work.
Note on the Production of Showers in Various Materials

Data are presented on the increased counting rate due to shower production by layers of equal atomic density for copper, tin and lead. The observed increases of counting rate in the case of these elements are found to vary as a power of the atomic number which is slightly although significantly greater than the second. These results appear qualitatively consistent with our previously reported observations in which the mass per unit area of the producing materials was kept constant for the various elements and for which a dependence on the atomic number of the second power was reported.
THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE CA+-N2 AND CA2+-N2 COMPLEXES

Abstract The structures, harmonic frequencies and binding energies for the ground states of Ca + –N 2 and Ca 2+ –N 2 are computed at several theoretical levels, including Moller–Plesset second-order perturbation with full electron correlation and density functional theory. The charge–quadrupole interaction yields linear geometries as minima for both complexes, while the C 2v geometries are transition states. At the MP2 level, Ca + –N 2 has a dissociation energy ( D e ) of 5.3 kcal/mol and a Ca + –N bond distance of 2.78 A. Ca 2+ –N 2 has a dissociation energy ( D e ) of 23.8 kcal/mol and a shorter metal–ligand bond of 2.48 A.
Probing the invasiveness of prostate cancer cells in a 3D microfabricated landscape

The metastatic invasion of cancer cells from primary tumors to distant ecological niches, rather than the primary tumors, is the cause of much cancer mortality [Zhang QB, et al. (2010) Int J Cancer 126:2534–2541; Chambers AF, Goss PE (2008) Breast Cancer Res 10:114]. Metastasis is a three-dimensional invasion process where cells spread from their site of origin and colonize distant microenvironmental niches. It is critical to be able to assess quantitatively the metastatic potential of cancer cells [Harma V, et al. (2010) PLoS ONE 5:e10431]. We have constructed a microfabricated chip with a three-dimensional topology consisting of lowlands and isolated square highlands (Tepuis), which stand hundreds of microns above the lowlands, in order to assess cancer cell metastatic potential as they invade the highlands. As a test case, the invasive ascents of the Tepui by highly metastatic PC-3 and noninvasive LNCaP prostate cancer cells were used. The vertical ascent by prostate cancer cells from the lowlands to the tops of the Tepui was imaged using confocal microscopy and used as a measure of the relative invasiveness. The less-metastatic cells (LNCaP) never populated all available tops, leaving about 15% of them unoccupied, whereas the more metastatic PC-3 cells occupied all available Tepuis. We argue that this distinct difference in invasiveness is due to contact inhibition.
SOLUTION STRUCTURES OF LITHIUM MONOALKYLAMIDES (RNHLI)

6Li, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopic studies of lithiated monoalkylamides (RNHLi) reveal a range of structural types. Lithium tert-butylamide (t-BuNHLi) is a single oligomer, assigned as either a cyclic trimer or prismatic oligomer (tetramer, hexamer, or octamer). Lithium N,N-dimethylethylenediamine (Me2NCH2CH2NHLi, LiDMEDA) is a prismatic higher oligomer (hexamer or octamer) of ill-defined stereochemistry. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopic studies reveal several dynamic processes within the LiDMEDA oligomer. (R)-PhCH(NHLi)CH2N(CH2)4 both in hydrocarbons and in hydrocarbons containing small concentrations of THF exists as a single D2-symmetric tetramer whose symmetry properties allow for a complete structural and stereochemical assignment. The tetramer is converted to a cyclic dimer at elevated THF concentrations. A mixed dimer of t-BuNHLi and lithium phenylacetylide is readily characterized. A more complex mixed aggregate of (R)-PhCH(NHLi)CH2N(CH2)4 and lithium phenylacetylide is shown to be a 4:2 mi...
Ab Initio Study of the Most Stable C4H5 Isomers

Ab initio calculations have been carried out on the lowest energy isomers of C4H5 to predict spectroscopic properties and relative stabilities. Geometry optimizations were carried out on stationary point conformations of seven configurational isomers at UHF, B3LYP, MP2, CISD, QCISD, MCSCF(7,7), and MCSCF(9,9) levels of theory. Single-point energies were evaluated at the MP4, CCSD(T), MCSCF(11,11), and multireference CISD levels. Disparities as large as 70 kJ mol-1 are found between relative energies predicted by single- and multireference methods for the same isomer. Comparison to experimental values suggests that the multireference methods inadequately model the relative correlation energy. Zero-point corrected relative energies (in kJ mol-1) obtained at the QCISD level with a 6-311G(d,p) basis set are the following: 2-butyn-1-yl (0); 1-butyn-3-yl (10); 1,2-butadien-4-yl (13); cyclobuten-3-yl (17); 1,3-butadien-2-yl (50); 1,3-butadien-1-yl (59); and 1-butyn-4-yl (64). Relative energies calculated by mul...
Environmental Externalities and the Optimal Level of Market Power

This article derives the condition under which agricultural chemical producers' desire to under-produce, associated with market power, exactly offsets the tendency to overproduce, due to their failure to consider externality costs of agricultural chemicals. This condition is satisfied when the price markup in the chemical industries equals the marginal environmental damages caused by chemicals. Our estimates of price markup for nitrogen, phosphate, and pesticides industries indicate that the welfare loss caused by market power is exactly offset by environmental benefits if the marginal pollution costs are, respectively, eight, nine, and twenty-two cents for each dollar's worth of these chemicals.