cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal statistical analysis of laser speckle images and its application to retinal blood-flow imaging

Temporal-statistical analysis of laser-speckle image (TS-LSI) preserves the original spatial resolution, in contrast to conventional spatialstatistical analysis (SS-LSI). Concerns have been raised regarding the temporal independency of TS-LSI signals and its insensitivity toward stationary-speckle contamination. Our results from flow phantoms and in vivo rat retinas demonstrated that the TS-LSI signals are temporally statistically independent and TS-LSI minimizes stationary-speckle contamination. The latter is because the stationary speckle is “non-random” and thus non-ergodic where the temporal average of stationary speckle needs not equal its spatial ensemble average. TS-LSI detects blood flow in smaller blood vessels and is less susceptible to stationary-speckle artifacts.
Interactions between aboveground herbivores and the mycorrhizal mutualists of plants

Plant growth, reproduction and survival can be affected both by mycorrhizal fungi and aboveground herbivores, but few studies have examined the interactive effects of these factors on plants. Most of the available data suggest that severe herbivory reduces root colonization by vesicular-arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungi. However, the reverse interaction has also been documented - mycorrhizal fungi deter herbivores and interact with fungal endophytes to influence herbivory. Although consistent patterns and mechanistic explanations are yet to emerge, it is likely that aboveground herbivore-mycorrhiza interactions have important implications for plant populations and communities.
Appropriate vertical discretization of Richards' equation for two-dimensional watershed-scale modelling

A number of watershed-scale hydrological models include Richards' equation (RE) solutions, but the literature is sparse on information as to the appropriate application of RE at the watershed scale. In most published applications of RE in distributed watershed-scale hydrological modelling, coarse vertical resolutions are used to decrease the computational burden. Compared to point- or field-scale studies, application at the watershed scale is complicated by diverse runoff production mechanisms, groundwater effects on runoff production, runon phenomena and heterogeneous watershed characteristics. An essential element of the numerical solution of RE is that the solution converges as the spatial resolution increases. Spatial convergence studies can be used to identify the proper resolution that accurately describes the solution with maximum computational efficiency, when using physically realistic parameter values. In this study, spatial convergence studies are conducted using the two-dimensional, distributed-parameter, gridded surface subsurface hydrological analysis (GSSHA) model, which solves RE to simulate vadose zone fluxes. Tests to determine if the required discretization is strongly a function of dominant runoff production mechanism are conducted using data from two very different watersheds, the Hortonian Goodwin Creek Experimental Watershed and the non-Hortonian Muddy Brook watershed. Total infiltration, stream flow and evapotranspiration for the entire simulation period are used to compute comparison statistics. The influences of upper and lower boundary conditions on the solution accuracy are also explored. Results indicate that to simulate hydrological fluxes accurately at both watersheds small vertical cell sizes, of the order of 1 cm, are required near the soil surface, but not throughout the soil column. The appropriate choice of approximations for calculating the near soil-surface unsaturated hydraulic conductivity can yield modest increases in the required cell size. Results for both watersheds are quite similar, even though the soils and runoff production mechanisms differ greatly between the two catchments. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The History and Problems in the Making of Education Policy at the World Bank, 1960–2000

Abstract The reports seem contradictory. With about three billion dollars per year in new loan commitments, the World Bank has become the single largest source of development capital in the field of international education. These resources help expand educational opportunities for young women in South Asia and rebuild primary schools following civil conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa. They support textbooks, school meals, new curriculum, and teacher training in thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of locations in over 100 countries in six regions. But ‘the Bank’ as it is commonly referred to, is also the object of considerable criticism. Some argue that its loan covenants are too restrictive. Its policy reforms are based on narrow, neo-liberal assumptions about the role of the state. Local policy makers have become passive recipients of the Bank’s agendas. To obtain loans, countries have agreed to raise education fees, which has exacerbated divisions between rich and poor. How is it that a multilateral UN lending institution, managed by its owners in proportion to shares of equity, has become involved in education? How are educational lending priorities and policies actually established and how have they changed over time? Is there validity to the many criticisms of the World Bank in the field of education, and how has the Bank responded? Finally, what changes and recommendations might be considered to ameliorate the long standing tension between the interests which generate lending and those which stand for more intelligence or effectiveness of that lending? This article discusses how Bank lending priorities are established and loans designed and approved. It attempts to illustrate how and why the Bank, as opposed to other international organizations, has increasingly influenced the global education agenda. It highlights why the Bank’s policies on education have not been as effective as postulated, and in some cases have created significant educational distortions in a nation’s education sector. This analysis is predicated on the Bank’s tendency to become ‘captured’ by single methodologies beginning with manpower forecasting and later rate of return techniques. This tended to bias its views with respect to particular sub-sectors, educational functions and purposes. Some of these distortions can be traced back to its entry into the sector in the 1960s. The article raises the question of who should be held accountable when over time Bank policies prove to be dysfunctional. The article concludes that in spite of the importance of having intelligent education policies for social and economic development, there is no single international organization to effectively provide them. The article suggests three options for changing international organizations so as to deliver better analytic work, more intelligent policies and more effective programs of education assistance.
Submicroscopic Ca2+ diffusion mediates inhibitory coupling between individual Ca2+ channels

Dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels in heart demonstrate an important negative feedback property: they close, or inactivate, in response to prior Ca2+ entry. We now find that Ca2+ influx through one channel can selectively contribute to the inactivation of another adjacent channel, without a generalized elevation of bulk intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Intracellular application of the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA greatly diminishes such negative interactions within Ca2+ channel pairs. These findings demonstrate that Ca2+ currents are controlled not only by intrinsic channel properties, but also by local diffusive interactions among neighboring channels. Such inhibitory coupling among channels provides a concrete example of localized Ca2+ signaling, long proposed to exist on the basis of theoretical calculations.
Primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis in adults: prognostic value of histologic variants.

Abstract Primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is a clinicopathologic syndrome in which variable amounts of proteinuria are associated with the renal biopsy finding of segmental glomerular scarring in some, but not all, of the glomeruli. Additional histologic features have been described in FSGS, including the position of the scar relative to the vascular and tubular pole of the glomerulus, foam cells, hyalinosis, mesangial deposits of immunoglobulin M, diffuse mesangial hypercellularity, glomerular visceral epithelial cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy, and the extent of associated interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. We performed a retrospective study on 81 patients with biopsy-proven, primary FSGS to determine whether any of the histologic features of FSGS correlated with renal function at the time of biopsy and the incidence of end-stage renal disease at follow-up. Sixty patients were nephrotic and 21 had nonnephrotic proteinuria. Only the degree of interstitial fibrosis correlated with the initial serum creatinine ( r = 0.536) and none of the histologic features predicted the presence of nephrotic-range proteinuria at the time of biopsy. Segmental scars involved 21% ± 14% of the glomeruli per biopsy specimen, but their position within the glomerulus was uniform in only 13% of the cases. Diffuse mesangial hypercellularity was present in 17% of the biopsy specimens, and glomerular epithelial cell lesions were present in 57% of the biopsy specimens. Multivariate analysis showed that only the degree of interstitial fibrosis predicted end-stage renal disease in all 81 patients and in the 60 patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria. The current data do not support different therapeutic approaches in primary FSGS based on histologic subtypes.
LOSS OF CARDIOVASCULAR ADAPTATIONS AFTER PHYSICAL INACTIVITY

The cardiovascular system adapts to repetitive environmental challenges by increasing its functional reserve capacity. Although the rate and magnitude of the adaptive changes in response to a stimulus vary depending on the nature (i.e., physiologic versus pathologic), intensity, frequency, and duration of the inducing stimulus as well as genetic factors, they should nevertheless be rapid and sufficient to be useful for maintaining hemodynamic homeostasis. A typical example of repetitive physiologic stress is aerobic exercise training, which induces adaptations in the heart manifested by eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Although LVH induced by endurance exercise training is relatively modest, it plays a significant role in the adaptive increases in diastolic filling, stroke volume, and cardiac output. In the absence of heart failure, LVH in hypertension or aortic stenosis may also provide a useful mechanism in some patients to maintain stroke volume by preventing an excessive rise in left ventricular wall stress in response to pressure overload. Data from a number of studies suggest that removal of the adaptive stimulus may induce regression of LVH owing to physiologic or, under certain circumstances, pathologic processes. LVH induced by endurance exercise training is entirely reversible after removal of the inducing stimulus and physical inactivity. 15 28 29 Treatment of hypertension can result in regression of LVH even though it may not be complete. In other conditions, however, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, LVH may persist despite treatment. Although the main objective of this article is to focus on the loss of cardiovascular adaptations after cessation of exercise, a brief description of the nature of adaptive changes to chronic exercise is given to provide a background and understanding of physiologic mechanisms underlying cardiovascular adaptations to exercise training and their clinical implications.
Umbrales de representación y proporcionalidad

How can the proportionality of proportional representation (PR) systems be measured? This question has been confused with the question of the so-called «thresholds of representation». This article reviews the history of the discovery of thresholds by political science, attempting to clarify their conceptual foundation and the misapprehensions surrounding them. Their valid use as an electoral system proportionality measure is ruled out, and the notion of thinness (measured by Droop) is proposed for replacing them. The article concludes with possible conceptual contributions that are brought together in a terminological proposal.
Endogenous interleukin 10 does not protect against local or systemic injury in a murine model of intestinal ischemia and reperfusion1

Abstract Purpose: Ischemia/reperfusion of the small intestine disrupts gut barrier function and activates systemic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) is protective in murine models of acute sepsis, yet its role during gut injury is unknown. We therefore undertook to investigate this question. Methods: Mice genetically deficient in IL-10 (IL-10 −/− ) on a C57BL/10 background, their wild-type littermates, and Balb/c mice underwent 30 to 80 minutes of occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. Sixteen hours after reperfusion, survival was documented and the small bowel scored for histologic damage. Results: The LD 50 of IL-10 −/− mice was 35 minutes of occlusion, identical to that of the wild-type mice. The small bowel of all animals that died was distended, with localized jejunal hemorrhage. LD 50 Occlusion (min) Histologic Injury Score (n = 3) C57BL/10 (IL-10 +/+ ) 35 30 3.0 ± 1.0 C57BL/10 (IL-10 −/− ) 35 30 2.0 ± 0.0 Balb/c 60 50 4.3 ± 4.0 Balb/c 60 20 0.3 ± 0.6 No significant difference in intestinal damage was observed between surviving IL-10 −/− and IL-10 +/+ mice after 30 minutes of occlusion. Balb/c mice were more resistant to intestinal ischemia, demonstrated by an LD 50 at 60 minutes of occlusion. Furthermore, equivalent mucosal damage in Balb/c mice required 50 minutes of occlusion as compared with that seen in 30 minutes with occluded C57BL/10 mice. Conclusions: Interleukin-10 does not play a significant protective role either locally or systemically in this model of ischemia/reperfusion. The resistance of the Balb/c strain suggests that an alternate mechanism modulates the response to intestinal ischemic/reperfusion injury.
TROXEL v. GRANVILLE AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THERAPEUTIC JURISPRUDENCE

Troxel v. Granville, a case arising out of the application of a statute permitting court-ordered grandparent visitation based on a judicial determination of the best interest of the child, provided the opportunity for the U.S. Supreme Court to demonstrate its receptivity to therapeutic concerns. The decade preceding Troxel had seen the emergence of a school of thought labeled “therapeutic jurisprudence” that seemed a perfect fit for addressing the subject matter before the Court. In this article, the author discusses the rise of therapeutic jurisprudence, its relevance to the subject matter before the Court in Troxel, and the lessons to be learned from the Court's failure to embrace therapeutic concerns in its resolution of this case.
Role of Ubiquitination in PCSK9-mediated Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Degradation

The proprotein convertases subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) binds to the epidermal growth factor domain A (EGF-A) of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and leads to its destruction. However, the intracellular processes leading to LDLR degradation have not been fully delineated. In this report, we show that PCSK9 treatment can lead to ubiquitination of LDLR, which was enhanced in the presence of proteasome inhibitor MG132. Furthermore, LDLR protein carrying mutations in the C-terminal ubiquitination sites was resistant to PCSK9-mediated degradation. Our data suggest that the ubiquitination system is involved in PCSK9-induced LDLR degradation.
Risk and Design

RISK springs from uncertainty,1 uncertainty invites error, and, since error can be costly, we would prefer to avoid it (provided, of course, that avoidance is not more costly yet). While there is much in the Noll and Krier article2 about judgmental error under conditions of risk and uncertainty, there is little about ways to avoid it. So avoidance-more accurately, minimization-of error costs is the topic I want to address very briefly and partially here. As the discussion in Noll and Krier points out, cognitive psychologists in particular have given us fairly systematic insights into judgmental error, and some commentators have seized on this knowledge as a new kind of "market failure." Law professor Cass Sunstein, for example, uses precisely those words in talking about "the enormous difficulties people face in dealing with low-probability events. People tend to rely on heuristics that lead to systemic errors."3 Psychologist Paul Slovic and his colleagues make explicit what is probably implicit in Sunstein's remarksthat this newfound source of market failure is a good reason for government intervention in risk markets. In a review article on risk regulation, they summarize the research regarding "difficulties people have in thinking intuitively about risk and uncertainty." The results of that research, they observe, "run counter to the traditional presumptions of knowledge and rationality that underlie economic approaches to decisionmaking
A straightening law for the Drinfel'd Lagrangian Grassmannian

The Drinfel'd Lagrangian Grassmannian compacties the space of algebraic maps of fixed degree from the projective line into the Lagrangian Grassmannian. It has a natural projective embedding arising from the highest weight embedding of the ordinary Lagrangian Grassmannian. We show that the defining ideal of any Schubert subvariety is generated by polynomials which give a straightening law on an ordered set. Consequentially, any such subvariety is Cohen-Macaulay and Koszul.
Application of the Modified Log-Wake Law in Open-Channels

The modified log-wake law, which was developed for turbulent boundary layers and pipe flows, is extended to turbulent flows in open-channels. Turbulent velocity profiles in open-channels can be approximated with three components: (1) the law of the wall that results from the constant bed shear stress; (2) the law of the wake that reflects the effects of gravity, secondary currents and bed roughness; and (3) the cubic correction near the maximum velocity. A procedure to determine the four model parameters from velocity measurements while keeping κ = 0.41 is presented. The modified log-wake law compares very well with experimental data from Coleman, Lyn, Kironoto and Graf and Sarma et al. It also replicates the measured velocity profiles of the Mississippi River. In particular, it can well fit the velocity dip phenomenon in openchannels where the conventional log-wake law fails.
Characterization of the Complex between Bovine Osteocalcin and Type I Collagen

This study examined the association of bovine osteocalcin with type I collagen under a variety of conditions, including different buffers, pH, and concentrations of phosphate and Ca(II). The data showed that osteocalcin binds to type I collagen reversibly with a binding constant which varies from 4000 to 160,000 M(-1), depending upon the exact conditions. Furthermore, the results indicated that there is only one osteocalcin binding site per collagen molecule. The absence or presence of Ca(II) and/or phosphate in the buffer had little effect on complex formation.
Numerical analysis of barotropic currents on the black-sea shelf on the basis of the hydrodynamic model developed at the marine hydrophysical institute of the ukrainian national academy of sciences

We describe a three-dimensional nonlinear model of the Black Sea adapted for the numerical analyses of barotropic currents on the shelf. The specific features of finite-difference equations appearing in the presence of liquid boundaries are discussed. The problem of simulation of currents formed under the influence of climatic winds on the northwest shelf of the Black Sea is solved as an example. We analyze the results of three experiments in which the Dirichlet, free-flow, and mixed-type boundary conditions are imposed for the equations of motion in the open parts of the lateral boundaries. It is shown that the application of the Dirichlet conditions may lead to the inadequate vertical transfer near liquid boundaries. For the free-flow boundary conditions, the fields of sea level and current velocities in the nearboundary regions are characterized by the presence of significant errors. At the same time, the mixedtype boundary conditions enable us to decrease the errors of computed fields and describe the process of vertical transfer more accurately.
Composite route to “zero” expansion ceramics

The use of diphasic or multiphasic composites, involving one negativeα phase to control and lower the thermal expansion of a ceramic for substrate, laser mirror and anti-thermal shock applications, was studied. The two phases thermodynamically stable with each other — one with negativeα and the second with positiveα were mixed, sintered and characterized for thermal expansion behaviour. The negative-α phase was selected from the [NZP] or [CTP] structural family. Specific systems including NaZr2P3O12, CaZr4P6O24 + Nb2O5, GdPO4, ZrSiO4, Mg3(PO4)2, MgO and ZnO were investigated. Several compositions exhibited a near-zero expansion profile over a wide temperature range.
How economists persuade

(1994). How economists persuade. Journal of Economic Methodology: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 15-32.
Social Networking: Possible Risks to Nurses

NURSES USE THE internet for a variety of reasons related to their jobs, such as to search out clinical information, or to take online courses for licensure, certification, or for attaining a higher degree. Facebook currently has more than 845 million users around the world. Twitter records more than 200 million tweets a day. LinkedIn, a professional network, has more than 135 million users. YouTube offers the ability to upload, share, and view videos. Therefore, it is highly likely that nurses from around the world are participating in Twittering, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking interactions. The ease of making these interactions combined with the resulting interconnectedness provides individuals with a wealth of information. In fact, many of us probably interact on these networks on a daily basis.
Boundary layer dissipation and the nonlinear interaction of equatorial baroclinic and barotropic rossby waves

Two-layer equatorial primitive equations for the free troposphere in the presence of a thin atmospheric boundary layer and thermal dissipation are developed here. An asymptotic theory for the resonant nonlinear interaction of long equatorial baroclinic and barotropic Rossby waves is derived in the presence of such dissipation. In this model, a self-consistent asymptotic derivation establishes that boundary layer flows are generated by meridional pressure gradients in the lower troposphere and give rise to degenerate equatorial Ekman friction. That is to say, the asymptotic model has the property that the dissipation matrix has one eigenvalue which is nearly zero: therefore the dynamics rapidly dissipates flows with pressure at the base of the troposphere and creates barotropic/baroclinic spin up/spin down. The simplified asymptotic equations for the amplitudes of the dissipative equatorial barotropic and baroclinic waves are studied by linear theory and integrated numerically. The results indicate that al...
Sartre and the Phenomenon of Emotion

L'A. discute la these de Sartre selon laquelle les emotions sont des projets magiques diriges vers un but, et montre comment on peut la redefinir comme des flux de sentiment consistant en une tension affective envahissant l'ego empirique et les objets dans le monde.
Characterization of Binding Properties of the Immediate-Early Gene Product of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1

Abstract The equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) immediate-early (IE) gene encodes a phosphoprotein that is essential for the activation of transcription from viral early and late promoters and that regulates the transcription from its own promoter. Employment of EHV-1 IE promoter DNA probes and glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins harboring truncated portions of the IE gene product in gel shift assays, super shift assays with anti-IE monoclonal antibodies, and DNase I footprinting analyses revealed: (1) amino acid residues 422 to 597 within the 1487-amino-acid IE protein are sufficient for sequence-specific DNA binding; (2) the IE protein binds to EHV-1 DNA at sequences from -11 to +14 that overlap the transcription initiation site (+1); (3) the conserved pentanucleotide 5′-ATCG- 3′ in the IE promoter located at nucleotides (nt) -6 to -2, relative to the transcription initiation site (+1), is critical for IE protein binding; (4) a weak binding site for the IE protein is also present at nt -92 to -82 of the IE gene within the sequence (-86)ATCGA(-82) in which four of the five nt in the consensus binding sequence are conserved; (5) the IE protein binds to sequences in EHV-1 early and late promoters that contain a degenerate version of the consensus sequence 5′-ATCGT-3′ and (6) mutation of the C or G nt in the pentanucleotide 5′-ATCGT-3′ prevents sequence-specific binding of the IE protein, whereas mutation of each of the other three nt only reduces binding. These results suggest that the IE protein can recognize the sites which differ slightly from the proposed consensus sequence. Overall, these findings suggest that formation of a specific complex between an IE protein and its own gene promoter may be a common mechanism used by Alphaherpesvirinae to autoregulate transcription of an essential IE gene. In addition, the finding that the DNA binding domain of the IE protein maps within amino acids 422 to 597, a domain conserved in the IR2 early protein that is a truncated form of the IE protein, suggests that the IR2 protein plays a role in the regulation of the IE gene expression.
Heterogeneity of sea ice surface temperature at SHEBA from aircraft measurements

[1] Large variations in surface temperature of sea ice occur on a seasonal scale, and spatial variations are also significant due to exposure of open water in leads and varying thickness of sea ice. In this paper we examine aircraft, ground-based, and satellite measurements of sea ice surface temperature over the region surrounding the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) ice station. Aircraft measurements from May and July demonstrate the spatial and temporal variability of surface temperature for the consolidated ice pack and for leads over the local area (which is defined here as the 30 × 30 km square observed by the aircraft). Data from May show a large increase in surface temperature during the month, but spatial variability of the thick ice temperature over the local area is not large with standard deviations on the order of 0.5 K. Surface temperatures during the melt season (July) were more uniform and near freezing as expected. Standard deviations during this period are smaller than in spring. Our analysis shows that surface temperature at a point (the SHEBA ice station) approximates the mean value over the local area during late spring and summer with an RMS error of 0.75 K. Lead temperatures cannot be reliably represented by the point measurements at the ice station. Surface temperature retrievals from advanced very high resolution radar (AVHRR) were compared with aircraft and ground-based measurements in late May. Mean surface temperature values over the local area as derived from AVHRR and aircraft measurements were within 1.5 K of each other. Mean surface temperatures over varying spatial scales were calculated and found to differ by as much as 1.3 K from local to regional scales (500 km) in late May.
GROWTH IN CHILDREN TREATED FOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA

Growth was assessed in 82 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who achieved complete continuous first remission following treatment. 34 received prophylactic cranial irradiation at a total dose over 2000 cGy (group I) and 48 at a dose of 1800 cGy (group II). Chemotherapy was given over two or three years and was more intense in group II. Both groups showed a similar significant decrease in height standard deviation score (SDS) over four years (group I -0.31, group II -0.39). 15 children in group I were followed to ten years and continued to show restricted growth with a mean height SDS decrease of -0.84 (range 0 to -1.7). The greatest reduction in yearly decrements in height SDS occurred in the first year after diagnosis. In both groups height SDS increased significantly on completion of chemotherapy. Thus chemotherapy protocols contribute to growth retardation in ALL. In most of these children the mean loss of height over ten years was not sufficiently great to justify long-term growth hormone (GH) therapy.
NO-DAMAGES-FOR-DELAY CLAUSE: EVALUATING CONTRACT DELAY RISK

In recent years, there have been a number of construction disputes involving no-damages-for-delay clauses in construction contracts. This paper reviews the legal aspects of the no-damages-for-delay clause and presents in an easy-to-use flowchart the issues that need to be addressed to resolve disputes involving the no-damages-for-delay clause. Analysis shows that the clause presents a formidable obstacle for contractors to overcome if monetary damages are to be recovered. The contractor in most instances needs to show that the owner or the owner’s agent caused active hindrance or the owner demonstrated bad faith toward the contractor. The language of the clause is critical to determining the risk it conveys to the contractor. Examples of minimal, intermediate, and maximum risk language are given.
Absolute Stereochemistry of Precorrin-3x and Its Relevance to the Dichotomy of Ring Contraction Mechanism in Vitamin B12 Biosynthesis

In Nature, two pathways of vitamin B12 biosynthesis have been discovered. In the aerobe Pseudomonas denitrificans molecular oxygen is utilized in the formation of the novel hydroxy-γ-lactone intermediate precorrin-3x. In the subsequent conversion of precorrin-3x to hydrogenobyrinic acid catalyzed by the Ps. denitrificans Cob enzymes, we demonstrate that no oxygen exchange of the peripheral carboxylic acid functions with the medium takes place. This result is in sharp contrast to the anaerobic pathway in Propionibacterium shermanii, where a unique carboxylate function (ring A acetate) undergoes extensive oxygen exchange. The stereochemistry of precorrin-3x at the C-20 center was determined using NMR and it is proposed that the C-20 hydroxyl is cis to the oxygen terminus of the γ-lactone at C-1, a result that has a distinct bearing on the ring contraction mechanism of corrin biosynthesis in Ps. denitrificans. The implications of these findings for both the aerobic and anaerobic pathways are discussed and tw...
Deterministic multivalued logic scheme for information processing and routing in the brain

Abstract Driven by analogies with state vectors of quantum informatics and noise-based logic, we propose a general scheme and elements of neural circuitry for processing and addressing information in the brain. Specifically, we consider random (e.g., Poissonian) trains of finite-duration spikes, and, using the idealized concepts of excitatory and inhibitory synapses, offer a procedure for generating 2 N − 1 orthogonal vectors out of N partially overlapping trains (“neuro-bits”). We then show that these vectors can be used to construct 2 2 N − 1 − 1 different superpositions which represent the same number of logic values when carrying or routing information. In quantum informatics the above numbers are the same, however, the present logic scheme is more advantageous because it is deterministic in the sense that the presence of a vector in the spike train is detected by an appropriate coincidence circuit. For this reason it does not require time averaging or repeated measurements of the kind used in standard cross-correlation analysis or in quantum computing.
Detailed investigation of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer design space

In this study, we present general design guidelines for MEMS ultrasonic transducers, capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs), obtained from finite element models with a statistical design of experiment approach. The design space is illustrated using 2-D response surfaces as a function of various geometrical parameters and material selections. Important transducer figure of merits such as operation frequency, fractional bandwidth, collapse voltage and transformer ratio are investigated. Our study illustrates that while keeping geometrical parameters constant, changing the material selection to silicon carbide from silicon dioxide results in a 2.4 times increase in the transformer ratio, and more than 2.5 times increase in the operating frequency while keeping the bandwidth the same. Furthermore, our studies indicate that for a CMUT membrane with an aspect ratio of 4, using a spring constant value obtained analytically results in an error of 160% for the collapse voltage and transformer ratio values.
Thermoelectric Properties of Ce 1−x Sc x Pd 3

CePd3 is a well-known intermediate-valence compound with a peak figure of merit, ZT, of approximately 0.2 at 200 K, making it an attractive candidate for use in low-temperature thermoelectric applications. To search for improved thermoelectric behavior, we studied solid solutions of CePd3 and ScPd3. Samples of Ce1−x Sc x Pd3 (0 < x < 0.25) were prepared via arc melting, and their resulting structural and transport properties measured. Refinement of x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed single-phase materials with AuCu3 (Pm3m) structure type for all samples, with the lattice parameter decreasing linearly as a function of increasing scandium content. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity of the samples were measured, and the corresponding ZT values determined. Although significant variation in the properties of the two CePd3 control samples was observed, the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of the substituted samples consistently decreased with increasing scandium content, while the thermal conductivity remained essentially unchanged. The net result was a decrease in both the power factor and ZT as the substitution level was increased. The variation observed in the transport properties of the substituted samples was of the same magnitude as that seen between the two controls, suggesting that these properties are generally as sensitive to Ce-site substitutions as they are to the Ce-to-Pd ratio.
Effective Geographic Sample Size in the Presence of Spatial Autocorrelation

As spatial autocorrelation latent in georeferenced data increases, the amount of duplicate information contained in these data also increases. This property suggests the research question asking what the number of independent observations, say , is that is equivalent to the sample size, n, of a data set. This is the notion of effective sample size. Intuitively speaking, when zero spatial autocorrelation prevails, ; when perfect positive spatial autocorrelation prevails in a univariate regional mean problem, . Equations are presented for estimating based on the sampling distribution of a sample mean or sample correlation coefficient with the goal of obtaining some predetermined level of precision, using the following spatial statistical model specifications: (1) simultaneous autoregressive, (2) geostatistical semivariogram, and (3) spatial filter. These equations are evaluated with simulation experiments and are illustrated with selected empirical examples found in the literature.
Validation of nitrogen kinetics in high pressure flames

Abstract The reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions remains among the main technological issues in engine design and has been traditionally based on empiricism, as the very details of the pertinent processes can not be probed either experimentally or numerically. Recent advances in computer hardware and software provide hope that detailed modeling of engines may be possible in the near future. Such modeling, however, will require the use of reliable fluid mechanics, as well as chemical models. While nitrogen chemistry is well understood at low pressures, at pressures of relevance to engines, its validity remains questionable. In view of these considerations, a detailed numerical investigation was conducted on the effects of the addition of nitrogen containing compounds on the laminar flame speeds and extinction strain rates of H 2 /O 2 /N 2 and CO/H 2 /air flames. The main goal of the study was to introduce a new experimental methodology that would allow for the validation of nitrogen kinetics. The simulation was performed for one dimensional, planar, premixed flames for determination of laminar flame speeds, as well as for the opposed jet, strained, laminar premixed and non-premixed flames for the determination of extinction strain rates. The results indicate that the addition of nitrogen containing compounds can affect significantly these global properties. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses showed that there is a large number of nitrogen reactions which can be validated by using this approach, and these reactions depend on the additive type, the equivalence ratio, the pressure and the phenomenon of interest. Further studies of H 2 /N 2 O/N 2 and CH 4 /N 2 O/N 2 flames showed that their laminar flame speeds and extinction strain rates are also sensitive to the nitrogen elementary kinetics. Thus, it is proposed that such model mixtures are used for validation of the nitrogen kinetics in flames. The main advantage of the proposed approach is that the laminar flame speeds and extinction strain rates can be experimentally determined conveniently by measuring velocities in the hydrodynamic zone of the flame, so that resolution of the details of the flame zone is not required, and this is especially important at high pressures. The detailed analysis of the flame structure revealed that the effect of the addition of nitrogen containing compounds on the response of H 2 /O 2 /N 2 and CO/H 2 /air flames is of both thermal and kinetic nature. In particular, it was found that the NO addition has a catalytic effect on the flame dynamics, since it participates in a reaction cycle leading to the consumption of active H, O, and OH radicals by nitrogen containing species and results in reduction of the laminar flame speeds even though the flame temperature is essentially unaffected.
Marine snow: Microscale nutrient patches1

Measurements of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate indicate significant differences in nutrient concentrations associated with marine snow from those of the surrounding water, In eight sets of nutrient measurements, ammonia was more concentrated in aggregates in seven sets, nitrite in three sets, and nitrate in one set, Phosphate was more concentrated in one set, but less concentrated in three sets. Aggregates represent nutrient micropatches ranging in size from <I mm to several centimeters in diameter.
Black Metropolis and Mental Life: Beyond the “Burden of ‘Acting White’ ” Toward a Third Wave of Critical Racial Studies

In this article, I reflect on Signithia Fordham and John Ogbu's classic research on the “burden of ‘acting White’ ” to develop a long overdue dialogue between Africana studies and critical white studies. It highlights the dialectical nature of Fordham and Ogbu's philosophy of race and critical race theory by locating the origins of the “burden of ‘acting White’ ” in the work of W.E.B. Du Bois, who provides some of the intellectual foundations for this work. Following the work of F. W. Twine and C. Gallagher (2008), I then survey the field of critical whiteness studies and outline an emerging third wave in this interdisciplinary field. This new wave of research utilizes the following five elements that form its basic core: (1) the centrality of race and racism and their intersectionality with other forms of oppression; (2) challenging white supremacy, patriarchy, heteronormativity, and other dominant ideologies; (3) a critical reflexivity that addresses how various formulations of whiteness are situated in relation to contemporary formulations of Black/people of color identity formation, politics, and knowledge construction; (4) innovative research methodologies including asset-based research approaches; and, finally, (5) a racial elasticity that identifies the ways in which white racial power and pigmentocracy are continually reconstituting themselves in the color-blind era and beyond (see A. A. Akom 2008c).[oppositional identity, Black student achievement, youth development, acting white, Du Bois, critical whiteness studies, critical race theory, race, Black metropolis, double consciousness, twoness, hip-hop]
Laboratory-Frame Photoelectron Angular Distributions in Anion Photodetachment: Insight into Electronic Structure and Intermolecular Interactions

This article provides an overview of some recent advances in the modeling of photoelectron angular distributions in negative-ion photodetachment. Building on the past developments in threshold photodetachment spectroscopy that first tackled the scaling of the partial cross sections with energy, depending on the angular momentum quantum number l, it examines the corresponding formulation of the central potential model and extends it to the more general case of hybrid molecular orbitals. Several conceptual approaches to understanding photoelectron angular distributions are discussed. In one approach, the angular distributions are examined based on the contributions of the symmetry-allowed s and p partial waves of the photodetached electron. In another related approach, the parent molecular orbitals are described based on their dominant s and p characters, whereas the continuum electron is described in terms of interference of the corresponding Δl =±1 photodetachment channels.
Sleep quality and its association with delirium among veterans enrolled in hospice.

Objectives The objectives of this study were to describe sleep quality and evaluate the association of sleep quality with delirium onset among patients enrolled in hospice. Design The study utilized secondary data from a prospective, observational, longitudinal study. Setting Veterans enrolled in hospice were recruited from the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon. Participants The cohort consisted of 105 patients, of whom 73% had at least one sleep measurement. Measurements Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Delirium was measured with the Confusion Assessment Method. Other important variables were recorded from the medical record and/or longitudinal interviews with patients and their caregivers. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) to measure the association between sleep quality and delirium onset. Results Of the patients who could be assessed, 44% had poor average sleep quality and 58% reported at least one episode of poor sleep. Overall, sleep quality did not appear to worsen as patients neared death although an increasing number of patients were unable to report on sleep quality. Poor sleep quality was associated with an increased risk of developing delirium, with an HR of 2.37 (95% CI: 1.50–3.74), for every one point worsening in the sleep quality score on a 4-point scale. Conclusions Poor sleep quality was common among Veteran patients enrolled in hospice. These findings may help guide decision making between clinicians, patients, and families regarding the likely impact of sleep disturbance and may help identify patients at higher risk of developing delirium.
Growth of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3‐35 mol% PbTiO3 Single Crystals from (111) Substrates by Seeded Polycrystal Conversion

Fully dense disks, each consisting of a single crystal (111) plate of the relaxor-based ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-35 mol% PbTiO3 (PMN-35PT) embedded in a 0.48 ± 0.05 µm grain size polycrystalline matrix of the same composition, were formed by hot-pressing at 950°C for 30 min under 20 MPa. Specimens were subsequently annealed to promote migration of the single-crystal boundary through the polycrystal (a process termed seeded polycrystal conversion). An anneal of 10 h at 1150°C using PMN-35PT packing powder resulted in minimal single-crystal boundary migration, and was accompanied by matrix grain coarsening to 1.86 ± 0.20 µm. In contrast, an anneal of 10 h at 1150°C using PbZrO3 (PZ) sacrificial powder resulted in significant migration of the single-crystal boundary through the polycrystal, accompanied by matrix grain coarsening to 13.3 ± 0.3 µm. The shape of the grown crystal relative to the seed plate was consistent with the direction being the fastest growth direction. Based on the grown crystal dimensions, a lower bound growth velocity of 0.14 mm/h was calculated. The increased boundary mobility in the specimen that was annealed using PZ sacrificial powder is attributed to a boundary-wetting liquid PbO-based second phase that formed during the anneal. This phase is believed to have formed via PbO absorption from the surrounding vapor phase due to a higher equilibrium PbO vapor pressure above PZ than above PMN-35PT. The grown single crystal exhibited a promising strain of 0.5% at an applied electric field of 4 MV/m.
Cell-associated bacteria in the human lung microbiome

Recent studies have revealed that bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid contains previously unappreciated communities of bacteria. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that host inflammatory signals prompt bacteria to disperse from cell-associated biofilms and adopt a virulent free-living phenotype. The proportion of the lung microbiota that is cell-associated is unknown. Forty-six BAL specimens were obtained from lung transplant recipients and divided into two aliquots: ‘whole BAL’ and ‘acellular BAL,’ the latter processed with a low-speed, short-duration centrifugation step. Both aliquots were analyzed via bacterial 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. The BAL specimens represented a wide spectrum of lung health, ranging from healthy and asymptomatic to acutely infected. Bacterial signal was detected in 52% of acellular BAL aliquots, fewer than were detected in whole BAL (96%, p ≤ 0.0001). Detection of bacteria in acellular BAL was associated with indices of acute infection [BAL neutrophilia, high total bacterial (16S) DNA, low community diversity, p < 0.01 for all] and, independently, with low relative abundance of specific taxonomic groups (p < 0.05). When whole and acellular aliquots from the same bronchoscopy were directly compared, acellular BAL contained fewer bacterial species (p < 0.05); whole and acellular BAL similarity was positively associated with evidence of infection and negatively associated with relative abundance of several prominent taxa (p < 0.001). Acellular BAL contained decreased relative abundance of Prevotella spp. (p < 0.05) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (p < 0.05). We present a novel methodological and analytical approach to the localization of lung microbiota and show that prominent members of the lung microbiome are cell-associated, potentially via biofilms, cell adhesion, or intracellularity.
Essential resources for research: mentors, funding, and research tools.

Research is a multifaceted process that cannot be conducted in a vacuum. Rigorously designed investigations capable of addressing the issues inherent in emergency medical services (EMS) require many resources and a collaborative approach to research. This discussion delineates some of the resources that are useful for quality EMS research.
Travelers' Tales in the Tablighi Jamaat

The extensive Islamic missionary movement of Tablighi Jamaat, which originated in colonial India but is now worldwide, encourages participants to go out on small group tours to invite others, primarily nominal Muslims, to return to faithful adherence to Islamic teachings, above all the canonical prayer. At the conclusion of a tour, participants should report back, orally or in writing, their experiences to the mosque-based group (local, regional, or national) from which they set out. A sample of these reports, called karguzari, are the basis of this article. The reports reflect two discourses: one of jihad, in the sense of the nonmilitant “greater jihad” focused on self-discipline; and one of Sufism, embedded in the efforts of the charismatic group rather than in institutional tasawwuf.