cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Low Impedance Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar Techniques in the Characterization of Polyurea

The split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique has been widely employed for over fifty years in characterizing the high strain-rate properties of many common engineering materials. Historically, however, this technique has had limited success in characterizing soft materials, since their low mechanical impedances can increase delays in attaining dynamic equilibrium and result in transmission pulses with extremely low signal-to-noise ratios. Due to interest in improving characterization of soft materials at high strain rates, numerous modifications to the traditional SHPB technique have been proposed. These include: using more sensitive piezoelectric gauges, employing hollow transmission bars, utilizing lower impedance polymeric pressure bars, and the use of pulse shaping techniques. To date, there has been no comparative studies or consensus within the SHPB community as to which approach is most advantageous. The goal of this investigation is to compare a number of these techniques, specifically the use of PMMA pressure bars and a hollow aluminum transmission bar (both with and without pulse shaping), alongside more traditional solid aluminum pressure bars in the characterization of polyurea, a common low impedance polymer. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique in generating high strain-rate stress-strain curves are discussed.
An automatic incubator oxygen monitor and control system.

A system consisting of a temperature-compensated polarographic oxygen sensor, oxygen monitor, specially designed control adaptor, solenoid valve, and oxygen flow control valve was evaluated for its ability to monitor and control ambient oxygen concentration in an infant incubator. The response of the system to changes in environmental oxygen is linear, the life of the freshly charged sensor is satisfactory and the response time to changes in oxygen concentration (20–100 per cent) is 10 s. The system was successfully used with neonates requiring oxygen therapy. The ambient oxygen concentration was controlled to within ±1 per cent of the presselected level. High and low incubator oxygen flows had no effect on the skin, rectal, and ambient temperature, and there e was no accumulation of carbon dioxide. While monitoring the neonate's tissue oxygen, this system permits controlled ‘step down aclimatization’ from high to normal environmental oxygen concentrations thereby minimizing the untoward effects of hypoxaemia and hyperoxaemia often seen with current manual methods.
Integration over the group space of SUq(2), Clebsch-Gordan coefficients, and related identities

We calculate the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients of SUq(2) by a Woronowicz integration over the group manifold and obtain a representation differing from that reached by working with theq-group algebra. These apparently different results must agree, however, and their equivalence implies aq-identity. On lettingq = 1, we shall obtain two results of different structures for the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients of SU(2) and their equivalence similarly implies an identity among the usual binomial coefficients. With the same approach, one may extend the Woronowicz integral of the product of two irreducible representations to products of many irreducible representations.
Assessment of technical and biological parameters of volumetric quantitative computed tomography of the foot: a phantom study

Summary Few studies exist for bone densitometry of the whole foot. A phantom study demonstrated the sources of error and necessary controls for accurate quantitative computed tomography of the foot. A loss in bone mineral density (BMD) in the small foot bones may be an early indicator of diabetic foot complications.
Localization of the type III isozyme of hexokinase at the nuclear periphery

The distribution of the type III isozyme of hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) in rat kidney, liver, spleen, lung, and brain was determined immunohistochemically, using a monoclonal antibody generated against the enzyme purified from rat Novikoff hepatoma. In all tissues, specific cell types exhibited intense staining at the nuclear periphery, as confirmed by analysis using confocal microscopy. Isolated nuclei from kidney or liver were devoid of detectable type III hexokinase, although the enzyme was found in the "soluble" fraction from kidney or liver homogenates; these results suggest that the type III isozyme is associated in a labile manner with the external surface of the nucleus, with this association being disrupted by conventional homogenization and nuclear isolation procedures. The nuclear localization of the type III isozyme contrasts with previously demonstrated association of the type I and II isozymes with mitochondria. The physiological significance of a nuclear localization for the type III isozyme remains unclear. However, it was noted that many of the cells exhibiting prominent nuclear staining for type III hexokinase are endothelial or epithelial cells, suggesting a possible relationship between nuclear type III hexokinase and transport functions which are prominent in such cells.
Head Start Instructional Professionals' Inclusion Perceptions and Practices.

This study considered the facilitators and barriers of successful inclusion in Head Start classrooms by examining the perspectives and practices of instructional professionals. A cross-sectional survey design was combined with direct observation in inclusive Head Start classrooms. Survey data were collected from 71 Head Start instructional professionals in three Head Start programs. Observations took place in nine classrooms to examine the practices of 19 instructional professionals using an observation rating scale. Participants identified a lack of professional development as the greatest barrier to successful inclusion. Participants believed that their inclusion needs were greater than the inclusion supports available to them. Inclusive classroom quality varied significantly among different classrooms. Study findings suggested that the instructional professionals appear to be key to successful inclusion in Head Start settings. Additional professional development for Head Start instructional professiona...
Simulating realistic network worm traffic for worm warning system design and testing

Reproducing the effects of large-scale worm attacks in a laboratory setup in a realistic and reproducible manner is an important issue for the development of worm detection and defense systems. In this paper, we describe a worm simulation model we are developing to accurately model the large-scale spread dynamics of a worm and many aspects of its detailed effects on the network. We can model slow or fast worms with realistic scan rates on realistic IP address spaces and selectively model local detailed network behavior. We show how it can be used to generate realistic input traffic for a working prototype worm detection and tracking system, the Dartmouth ICMP BCC: System/Tracking and Fusion Engine (DIB:S/TRAFEN), allowing performance evaluation of the system under realistic conditions. Thus, we can answer important design questions relating to necessary detector coverage and noise filtering without deploying and operating a full system. Our experiments indicate that the tracking algorithms currently implemented in the DIB:S/TRAFEN system could detect attacks such as Code Red v2 and Sapphire/Slammer very early, even when monitoring a quite limited portion of the address space, but more sophisticated algorithms are being constructed to reduce the risk of false positives in the presence of significant "background noise" scanning.
My Life in Finance

I was invited by the editors to contribute a professional autobiography to the Annual Review of Financial Economics. I focus on what I think is my best stuff. Readers interested in the rest can download my vita from the Web site of the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. I only briefly discuss ideas and their origins to give the flavor of context and motivation. I do not attempt to review the contributions of others, which is likely to raise feathers. Mea culpa in advance.Finance is the most successful branch of economics in terms of theory and empirical work, the interplay between the two, and the penetration of financial research into other areas of economics and real-world applications. I have been doing research in finance almost since its start, when Markowitz (1952, 1959) and Modigliani & Miller (1958) set the field on the path to becoming a serious scientific discipline. It has been fun to see it all, to contribute, and to be a friend and colleague to the giants who created the field.
What’s the Payoff?: Assessing the Efficacy of Student Response Systems

Student response systems, or “clickers,” have been presented as a way of solving student engagement problems, particularly in large-enrollment classes. These devices provide real-time feedback to instructors, allowing them to understand what students are thinking and how well they comprehend material. As clickers become more common, it is important to assess their impact on student learning and engagement. Utilizing individual-level data from introductory courses in political science, we demonstrate that students both approve of clicker usage and that they are positively associated with class performance. Using clickers to test students’ understanding of class concepts has positive effects on exam and essay scores even after controlling for previous levels of academic achievement, students’ evaluation of the technology, and other socioeconomic traits.
Identification of multivariate responders and non-responders by using Bayesian growth curve latent class models

Summary. We propose a multivariate growth curve mixture model that groups subjects on the basis of multiple symptoms measured repeatedly over time. Our model synthesizes features of two models. First, we follow Roy and Lin in relating the multiple symptoms at each time point to a single latent variable. Second, we use the growth mixture model of Muthen and Shedden to group subjects on the basis of distinctive longitudinal profiles of this latent variable. The mean growth curve for the latent variable in each class defines that class's features. For example, a class of 'responders' would have a decline in the latent symptom summary variable over time. A Bayesian approach to estimation is employed where the methods of Elliott and co-workers are extended to estimate simultaneously the posterior distributions of the parameters from the latent variable and growth curve mixture portions of the model. We apply our model to data from a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guerin in treating symp toms of interstitial cystitis. In contrast with conventional approaches using a single subjective global response assessment, we use the multivariate symptom data to identify a class of sub jects where treatment demonstrates effectiveness. Simulations are used to confirm identifiability results and to evaluate the performance of our algorithm.
Statistical analysis of over‐represented words in human promoter sequences

The identification and characterization of regulatory sequence elements in the proximal promoter region of a gene can be facilitated by knowing the precise location of the transcriptional start site (TSS). Using known TSSs from over 5700 different human full-length cDNAs, this study extracted a set of 4737 distinct putative promoter regions (PPRs) from the human genome. Each PPR consisted of nucleotides from -2000 to +1000 bp, relative to the corresponding TSS. Since many regulatory regions contain short, highly conserved strings of less than 10 nucleotides, we counted eight-letter words within the PPRs, using z-scores and other related statistics to evaluate their over- and under-representation. Several over-represented eight-letter words have known biological functions described in the eukaryotic transcription factor database TRANSFAC; however, many did not. Besides calculating a P-value with the standard normal approximation associated with z-scores, we used two extra statistical controls to evaluate the significance of over-represented words. These controls have important implications for evaluating over- and under-represented words with z-scores.
Clearing the Dead: Apoptotic Cell Sensing, Recognition, Engulfment, and Digestion

Clearance of apoptotic cells is the final stage of programmed cell death. Uncleared corpses can become secondarily necrotic, promoting inflammation and autoimmunity. Remarkably, even in tissues with high cellular turnover, apoptotic cells are rarely seen because of efficient clearance mechanisms in healthy individuals. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding the steps involved in prompt cell clearance in vivo. These include the sensing of corpses via “find me” signals, the recognition of corpses via “eat me” signals and their cognate receptors, the signaling pathways that regulate cytoskeletal rearrangement necessary for engulfment, and the responses of the phagocyte that keep cell clearance events “immunologically silent.” This study focuses on our understanding of these steps.
The proto-oncoprotein SYT (SS18) controls ATP release and regulates cyst formation by polarized MDCK cells

The SYT proto-oncoprotein (also known as SS18) is a gene expression regulator conserved across species. Although its biological function is still unknown, the importance of SYT as a housekeeping protein is illustrated by the lethal phenotype of SYT-null embryos. Notably, SYT is a component of the synovial sarcoma-associated translocation product, the SYT-SSX oncogene. SYT was previously reported as a mediator of cell adhesion. In the present study we show that SYT possesses distinct domains that control MDCK cyst formation in three-dimensional collagen cultures. While the carboxy-half of SYT, the QPGY domain, is required for cyst growth, the amino-terminal region appears to exert on this process a regulatory effect. Further analysis suggested that the purinergic G protein-coupled P2Y receptor signaling is involved in SYT-induced cystogenesis. Activation of this cascade is due to facilitation of ATP release in the extracellular space of polarized MDCK cells by SYT. These studies allow us to begin to understand the vital role of SYT in controlling epithelial morphogenesis and might explain the lethality of its loss in the developing embryo.
Phosphate uptake, transport and transfer by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices is stimulated by increased carbohydrate availability.

Summary • The influence of carbohydrate availability to mycorrhizal roots on uptake, metabolism and translocation of phosphate (P) by the fungus was examined in axenic cultures of transformed carrot (Daucus carota) roots in symbiosis with Glomus intraradices. • 14C-labelled carbohydrates, 33P-phosphate and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis were used to follow the uptake and transfer of C and P in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. • The uptake of P by the extraradical mycelium (ERM) and its translocation to the mycorrhizal roots was stimulated and the metabolic and spatial distribution of P within the fungus were altered in response to increased carbohydrate availability. Sucrose supply resulted in a decrease of polyphosphates and an increased incorporation into phospholipids and other growth-related P pools and also caused elevated cytoplasmic P levels in the intraradical mycelium (IRM) within the root and higher cytoplasmic P levels in the root cortex. • These findings indicate that the uptake of P by the fungus and its transfer to the host is also stimulated by the transfer of carbon from plant to fungus across the mycorrhizal interface.
Wide-area Ethernet network configuration for system protection messaging

Southern California Edison Company (SCE) is now designing and installing one of the world's most extensive high-speed wide area protection systems — the Centralized Remedial Action Scheme (C-RAS) [1]. C-RAS uses protective relays installed in transmission substations across the SCE service territory to monitor critical transmission line flows and other electrical measurements, as well as relay or breaker operations that remove lines from service and might trigger rapid transmission system collapse. These monitoring relays transmit high speed data to a pair of redundant central controller arrays using IEC 61850 GOOSE messages over a wide area Ethernet network (WAN) comprised of dual-redundant T1 and Ethernet data links. The central controller arrays decide how to remediate a line loss within milliseconds of receiving the line trip message, and trip loads or generation to maintain system stability using WAN links, GOOSE messaging, and mitigation relays at shedding substation sites.
Evaluation of an immunoblot assay for serological confirmation and differentiation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I and II.

The confirmation of infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) currently involves multiple assays. These include Western blot (immunoblot) (WB) and/or radioimmunoprecipitation assay for detection of antibodies to HTLV-specific viral proteins and polymerase chain reaction and/or peptide-based enzyme immunoassays for differentiating between the two viruses. We undertook an evaluation of a modified WB assay that includes native HTLV-I viral proteins from MT-2 cells spiked with an HTLV-I transmembrane glycoprotein (recombinant p21e) and the HTLV-I- and HTLV-II-specific recombinant proteins MTA-1 and K55. The test panel consisted of well-characterized sera from U.S. blood donors, American Indians, intravenous drug users, and patients seen in sexually transmitted disease clinics. Of 158 HTLV-I/II-seropositive serum specimens tested, 156 (98.7%) were confirmed and typed as HTLV-I or HTLV-II. Of 82 HTLV-I/II-seroindeterminate or -seronegative serum specimens, only 1 was classified as HTLV-II positive: the sample had weak gag p19 and strong gag p24 and env p21e reactivity and was radioimmunoprecipitation assay negative for env gp61/68 but polymerase chain reaction positive for HTLV-II. The specificity of the modified WB for confirming and typing serum samples was therefore 100%. We conclude that this WB assay is useful for confirming and typing HTLV infection and can help simplify HTLV-I/II testing algorithms. Images
What If They Believed Us? How Well Prepared Are Art Educators to Deliver on the Promises of Art Education?

This article raises questions about the breadth and depth of content-area expertise in initial licensure programs for art teachers, K–12. An analysis of some of the promises made in the name of art education suggests that art teachers need a high level of expertise and deep understanding of art in order to deliver on these promises. To consider the odds of teacher preparation reflecting that depth, a study of art teacher preparation in the state of Maryland is used as an example of what may be the case in that state and may also reflect preparation elsewhere. Course requirements in the content area of art for all of Maryland's state-approved and nationally accredited programs for undergraduate and graduate certification are reported. The article concludes by posing ten questions to institutions of higher education, national accreditation agencies, and national leadership concerned with policy in art education.
Optical solitons in PT periodic potentials

We investigate the effect of nonlinearity in novel parity-time (PT) symmetric potentials. We show that new types of nonlinear self-trapped modes can exist in optical PT synthetic lattices.
Ascend: automatic bottom-up behavioral modeling tool for analog circuits

This paper describes a new fully automated, behavioral modeling tool, Ascend, which starts from the netlist description of the circuit and generates differential algebraic equation (DAE) based behavioral models. The physical modeling methodology in Ascend makes it possible to represent the nonlinear behavior of circuits. A modeling example is given for a better illustration of the behavioral modeling tool. Simulation results have demonstrated that both accuracy and efficiency can be achieved from the behavioral modeling tool.
Clinical Staging of Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

This article is the first in a planned series from the Section on Lung Cancer of the ACCP addressing the important and clinically relevant aspects of what is now the most common malignancy in the world, lung cancer. This initial report addresses the problem of staging of lung cancer. Staging, or identifying the anatomic extent of disease according to the AJCC TNM classification scheme, is the first clinical activity in caring for a patient with known or presumed lung cancer because the results determine appropriate types of therapy. This is, therefore, a critically important aspect of the patient's care which forms the foundation for subsequent treatment. In addition, consistent use of this system, based on appropriate clinical and pathologic staging, in stratifying patients in clinical reports is mandatory; otherwise, meaningful comparisons and conclusions are impossible.
Leveraging natural language processing of clinical narratives for phenotype modeling

This paper will explore methods for effectively extracting information from clinical narratives. The proposed research will investigate the application of state of the art natural language processing techniques to clinical narratives, such as medical admission notes, discharge summaries, progress notes, and pathology reports to extract information of interest. The objective of this knowledge discovery task is the ability to generate a chronology of events, for a given patient, ultimately leading to patient cohort discovery. This in turn facilitates efficient information retrieval and enables patient specific question answering.The paper details the proposed research problem which spans across areas of information extraction, temporal relation extraction and reasoning, and machine learning with the help of two use case scenarios: 1) Automatic patient accrual for clinical trials and 2) Information retrieval over a biorepository.
A protocol simulator for the Thunder and Lightning ATM network

Software simulators have often been used to test and validate new protocols, but the high bandwidth of newly emerging ATM networks implies prohibitive memory requirements. This paper describes several simulation techniques we have devised as part of the Thunder and Lightning project to build 40 and 100 gigabit per second ATM networks.
Global simulation of bioenergy crop productivity: analytical framework and case study for switchgrass

A global energy crop productivity model that provides geospatially explicit quantitative details on biomass potential and factors affecting sustainability would be useful, but does not exist now. This study describes a modeling platform capable of meeting many challenges associated with global-scale agro-ecosystem modeling. We designed an analytical framework for bioenergy crops consisting of six major components: (i) standardized natural resources datasets, (ii) global field-trial data and crop management practices, (iii) simulation units and management scenarios, (iv) model calibration and validation, (v) high-performance computing (HPC) simulation, and (vi) simulation output processing and analysis. The HPC-Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (HPC-EPIC) model simulated a perennial bioenergy crop, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), estimating feedstock production potentials and effects across the globe. This modeling platform can assess soil C sequestration, net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nonpoint source pollution (e.g., nutrient and pesticide loss), and energy exchange with the atmosphere. It can be expanded to include additional bioenergy crops (e.g., miscanthus, energy cane, and agave) and food crops under different management scenarios. The platform and switchgrass field-trial dataset are available to support global analysis of biomass feedstock production potential and corresponding metrics of sustainability.
Design and Analysis of Explosively Actuated Valves: The Interaction of the Plunger and the Housing

Explosive valves are generally composed of a tapered plunger which is explosively driven along the bore of a cylindrical housing and forced to stop at a location designed to alter a particular fluid flow configuration. The stopping point of the plunger is determined primarily by the friction between the plunger and the housing and the axial forces exerted on the taper. One way of calculating these forces is to model the valve as a series of thin disks and to assume an interference fit between the disks of the plunger and the disks of the housing. A previous paper described the modification necessary to account for plastic deformations and strain hardening of nontapered plungers. These modifications are not sufficient when considering tapered hollow plungers. This paper compares the disk model predictions with measured performances and shows that the differences are primarily due to the unusually high pressures developed at the interface between the plunger and the housing. These high pressures are shown to be the result of axial stresses induced by bending of the housing. Likewise, it is shown that the axial stresses induced by the bending of the hollow plunger walls has a significant effect upon the value of the coefficient of friction needed to achieve acceptable simulations.
High-Reynolds-number test requirements in low-speed aerodynamics

Presentation summarizes research needs in those areas of low-speed aerodynamics to which an ultra-high-Reynolds-number liquid helium facility could make a major contribution. Research areas discussed include high-Reynolds-number experimental requirements for: (a) wake vortex hazard, physics and alleviation (control of vortices) (b) supermaneuverability via body vortex control (control by vortices), and (c) high-lift device development and evaluation. Although compressibility effects are present in all of these low-speed aerodynamic application areas, observed differences between high-Reynolds-number flight and low-Reynolds-number wind-tunnel results are currently ascribed primarily to Reynolds number effects, and considerable insight into these discrepancies could be obtained in an (incompressible) liquid helium facility.
A Modern Twist on the Beaumont and St. Martin Case: Encouraging Analysis and Discussion in the Bioethics Classroom with Reflective Writing and Concept Mapping

Historical ethical dilemmas are a valuable tool in bioethics courses. However, garnering student interest in reading and discussing the assigned cases in the classroom can be challenging. In an effort to actively engage undergraduate and graduate students in an Ethical Issues in Biotechnology course, an activity was developed to encourage reflection on a classical ethical dilemma between a patient, St. Martin, and his employer/caretaker, Beaumont. Two different texts were used to analyze the ethical ramifications of this relationship: a chapter in a popular press book and a short perspective in a medical journal. Participants read the book chapter for homework and discussed it in class. This easy read highlights the fundamental ethical issues in the relationship between two men. Students were then provided with a second text focusing on the scientific accomplishments achieved through Beaumont's experimentation on St. Martin. A structured worksheet prompted participants to reflect on their feelings after reading each text and create a concept map depicting the dilemma. Student-generated concept maps and written reflections indicate participants were able to list the ethical issues, analyze the situation, and evaluate the information provided. This activity not only encouraged higher-level thinking and reflection, it also mirrored the course's structured approach of using concept mapping and reflection to dissect ethical dilemmas.
Real-world clinical and economic outcomes for daily teriparatide patients in Japan

A large medical and pharmacy claims database was used to evaluate outcomes in daily teriparatide (D-TPD) patients in Japan. 445 patients were identified (April 2008–July 2013) with 6+ months’ pre- and 18+ months’ post-index observation. D-TPD 20 µg subcutaneous injection is indicated for individuals at high risk of fracture. Descriptive analyses were conducted on clinical fractures, health care utilization, and costs. Adherence was measured by medication possession ratio (MPR) (High MPR > 0.8; 0.5 ≤ Medium MPR ≤ 0.8, Low MPR < 0.5). Adjusted analyses of Lower (Low + Medium) MPR vs. High MPR for fracture incidence and hospital admissions were performed using logistic and Poisson regression models; adjusted cost analyses used propensity bin bootstrapping methods. Baseline characteristics were: mean 74.7 years (standard deviation = 8.9); 90 % female; 20 % 1+ fracture. Post-index, 249 and 196 patients had High and Lower MPR, respectively. Mean incident fractures/1000 patient-years for Lower and High MPR patients were 77.4 and 57.7, respectively. Adjusted fracture risk was greater in Lower MPR patients [logistic odds ratio (OR) = 1.67, 95 % confidence interval 0.791–3.541; Poisson incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.505, 0.764–2.966]. Hospital admission risk was significantly greater in Lower than High MPR patients (OR = 1.85, 1.169–2.921; IRR = 1.47, 1.137–1.904). High MPR patients had numerically lower inpatient and total unadjusted costs than Lower MPR patients. Adjusted inpatient costs were significantly less in High MPR patients; outpatient and pharmacy costs were greater. Better adherence to D-TPD revealed a trend towards lower fracture risk, and significant reductions in hospital admissions and costs. The small sample size limited the robustness of these results.
Overcoming Emotional Barriers, Political Obstacles, and Control Imperatives in the Action- Science Approach to Individual and Organizational Learning

The action-science approach to individual learning and organizational change has highlighted the possibility and significance of “double-loop” transformational change. Here, I expand the action-science framework (Argyris & Schon, 1974, 1978) in two ways. I first identify three sources of barriers that may fundamentally constrain the effectiveness of the action-science approach: (1) emotional barriers, (2) political obstacles, and (3) managerial control imperatives. Second, drawing from theories of emotion, organizational power and politics, and institutional change, I suggest three ways to overcome each barrier: (1) up-building positive affect, (2) leveraging opposing forces, and (3) bringing external legitimacy into the organization.
Chemical Inhibition of Ozone Degradation of SBR

Abstract The standard rubber antioxidant types which are capable of imparting ozone resistance to SBR vulcanizates are summarized. The 6-ethoxy-l,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline and para phenylenediamines are shown to represent the most active structures. Steric, mesomeric, and resonance effects are shown to be important in imparting high levels of antiozone activity. When electronegative groups are substituted in an active structure, antiozone effectiveness is greatly reduced. Antiozonant activity is attributed to efficient stopping of ozone-induced free radical chain reactions in the polymeric structure.
Statistical significance of the seismic coupling coefficient

Abstract Variations in the seismic coupling coefficient ( χ ), the ratio of the observed to expected seismic moment release rates, at subduction zones are commonly used to make inferences about the physics of subduction. Taking into account the power-law form of the earthquake frequency-moment relation, it is shown that the observed distribution of χ at the world9s subduction zones based on the twentieth century9s earthquakes can be matched by a single value of χ ≈ 0.3 if, as is likely the case, the 90-yr observation time is less than or comparable to the repeat time of the largest possible earthquake. It is shown that because our reliable earthquake record is short, global variations in χ , based on seismicity alone, are poorly resolved and cannot be used to distinguish among subduction models.
Humoral Response to Disseminated Infection by Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Hairy Cell Leukemia

Antibody to Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare antigen was measured by immunodiffusion, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and indirect immunofluorescence in sera from 30 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 10 patients with hairy cell leukemia, and 33 hospitalized and healthy controls. Ten patients with AIDS and three patients with hairy cell leukemia in the study population had disseminated M. avium-M, intracellulare infection. Patients with AIDS and disseminated infection had antimycobacterial antibody levels, demonstrated by ELISA, that did not differ significantly from those in uninfected patients with AIDS or controls. Infected patients with hairy cell leukemia had significantly higher levels of antimycobacterial antibody, demonstrated by ELISA, than did uninfected patients with hairy cell leukemia or controls (P 100-fold rise in antibody titer with the onset of infection. These results further demonstrate that AIDS involves a functional defect in humoral immunity, in addition to impairment of cellular immune function.
Growth and Differentiation of the Golgi Apparatus in the Red Alga, Callithamnion Roseum

The fine structure of the Golgi apparatus during development of tetrasporangia of Calli-thamnion roseum is described. Dictyosomes and associated vesicles of 4 developmental stages of sporangia are examined. The wall of sporangia exhibits a heretofore unseen cuticle in red algae. Development of the spore wall and a new plasma membrane around spores occurs through fusion of adjacent Golgi vesicles along the periphery of cells. Observations are discussed in relation to wall formation and expansion of tetrads and in comparison with other work on growth and differentiation of the Golgi apparatus.
Leukodystrophy and Ovarian Dysgenesis

Clinical, biochemical, pathological, and spectroscopic findings in 4 women, aged 15 to 29 years, with leukodystrophy and primary ovarian dysgenesis, are reported from the National Institutes of Neurological Disease, and Child Health and Development, Bethesda, MD.
At the feet of Gamaliel

Commemoration du premier article du premier numero de Fertility Sterility, paru en 1950, et intitule «La datation de la biopsie endometriale» (les auteurs en etaient Hertig, Noyes et Rock)
Ten Years Too Long ― Reforming Social Security's Marriage Duration Requirement in Cases of Domestic Violence

Social Security's retirement program has evolved over time to become a major source of economic security in older age for workers' family members, including spouses and ex-spouses. To qualify for derivative retirement benefits as an ex-spouse, the applicant must have been married to the wage earner for at least ten years. This Article explores in-depth this so-called "ten-year rule" and critiques its application in cases involving domestic violence. Drawing on a gut-wrenching case study, the rule's legislative history, as well as social science and feminist literature on the impacts of domestic violence, this piece argues that the ten-year rule unfairly punishes and imperils victims of domestic violence. It serves as the final blow, felt long after the abuse has ended. The Article proposes and defends an amendment to the Social Security Act that would extend vital retirement benefits to victims divorced from shorter-term marriages.
Equilibrium analysis for a leader-follower game with noisy observations: A pace forward in Witsenhausen's counterexample conjecture

In this paper, we view Witsenhausen's problem as a leader-follower coordination game in which the action of the leader is corrupted by an additive normal noise, before reaching the follower. The leader who observes the realization of the state, chooses an action that minimizes her distance to the state of the world and the ex-ante expected deviation from the follower's action. The follower then makes a noisy observation of the leader's action and chooses an action minimizing her expected deviation from the leader's action. To this end, we analyze the perfect Bayesian equilibria of this game and show that strong complimentarily between the leader and the follower combined with a prior with poor enough precision can give rise to what we call “near piecewise-linear equilibria”. As a major consequence, we prove local optimality of a class of slopey quantization strategies which had been suspected of being the optimal solution in the past, based on numerical evidence for Witsenhausen's counterexample.
Bio-inspired display of polarization information using selected visual cues

For imaging systems the polarization of electromagnetic waves carries much potentially useful information about such features of the world as the surface shape, material contents, local curvature of objects, as well as about the relative locations of the source, object and imaging system. The imaging system of the human eye however, is “polarization-blind”, and cannot utilize the polarization of light without the aid of an artificial, polarization-sensitive instrument. Therefore, polarization information captured by a man-made polarimetric imaging system must be displayed to a human observer in the form of visual cues that are naturally processed by the human visual system, while essentially preserving the other important non-polarization information (such as spectral and intensity information) in an image. In other words, some forms of sensory substitution are needed for representing polarization “signals” without affecting other visual information such as color and brightness. We are investigating several bio-inspired representational methodologies for mapping polarization information into visual cues readily perceived by the human visual system, and determining which mappings are most suitable for specific applications such as object detection, navigation, sensing, scene classifications, and surface deformation. The visual cues and strategies we are exploring are the use of coherently moving dots superimposed on image to represent various range of polarization signals, overlaying textures with spatial and/or temporal signatures to segregate regions of image with differing polarization, modulating luminance and/or color contrast of scenes in terms of certain aspects of polarization values, and fusing polarization images into intensity-only images. In this talk, we will present samples of our findings in this area.
Psychological Impact of Vehicle Exhaust Exposure: Insights from an Animal Model

Air pollution resulting from exhaust emissions of vehicles has risen in the recent years, reportedly causing major adverse effects on the heart, lungs and the brain. Though respiratory and cardiovascular effects of these emissions are well identified, psychological and neurobiological complications of prolonged exposure to vehicle emissions remain unknown. Pro-oxidants are considered as major constituents of vehicle emissions. This is important considering causal link between oxidative stress and behavioral and cognitive impairments. We hypothesized that prolonged exposure to pro-oxidants in vehicle emissions result in behavioral and cognitive deficits. We developed a simulated vehicle exhaust exposure model in rats. The model used a simulated mixture of vehicle exhaust that comprised of pro-oxidant constituents of exhaust, namely, carbon dioxide (13%), carbon monoxide (0.68%) and nitrogen dioxide (1000 ppm) in air. Rats were exposed either to a high (1:10 dilution) or low (~1:1000 dilution) physiologically relevant dose of simulated mixture in air for two weeks in separate experiments followed by a comprehensive behavioral and cognitive analysis. We observed that prolonged exposure to pro-oxidants in vehicle exhaust increased anxiety-and depression-like behavior as well as led to impaired memory in rats. This is important preclinical evidence, particularly relevant to human population exposed to high vehicular traffic.
Barth and Relational Theology

Chapter 5 is a study of Barth’s relational theology in terms of a critical exegesis and renewal of Trinitarian election and analogia relationis. It concerns Eberhard Jungel’s divine ontology (“God’s being in becoming”) by critically examining his critique of Helmut Gollwitzer’s social critical theology of “God Is” as transforming reality. This critical exegesis, drawing upon Barth’s social category of “God Is” and analogia relationis, cuts through limitations of Jungel’s divine ontology underlying the subsequent project of the revisionist actualist ontology. A critical exegesis of Barth for social critical theology remains crucial in elaborating Barth as the exponent of relational theology for our development of comparative theology.
Climate Generated Disasters and Cataclysm in an Economy

I model the effects of climate change on a real business cycle model economy subjected to climate moderated disasters and the possibility of a worldwide cataclysm that destroys the economy. I find that the rise of greenhouse gas production in the economy leads to more frequent and more destructive disasters that affect the real economy, at the same time leading to lower risk-free rates and higher risk premiums.
Researcher Mobility at a US Research-Intensive University: Implications for Research and Internationalization Strategies.

This study offers a unique lens on the patterns, productivity, and impact of researcher mobility at a US research-intensive university. Bibliometric data for Washington State University (WSU) was extracted from Elsevier’s Scopus database and analyzed for the 10-year period from 2002 to 2012. We grouped researchers into four categories based on common patterns of movement into, within, and out of the USA: mobile (inflow, outflow, and transitory) versus non-mobile (stationary). We compared the research performances of these different groups using two normalized indicators: relative research productivity and the field-weighted citation impact of the researchers’ publications. Our analysis showed that 83% of active researchers at WSU were mobile during the 10-year period based on their having both publications affiliated with WSU and publications affiliated with at least one other institution. The publications of mobile researchers had higher impact compared to non-mobile researchers. Additionally, WSU researchers who primarily moved between other US-based institutions produced publications with higher impact compared to those of internationally mobile researchers, though the latter group was more prolific. Transitory researchers—those spending less than 2 years at either WSU or another institution—comprised the largest sub-group of mobile researchers at 59%. The results of this study offer additional evidence about the value to US universities of researcher mobility and greater research collaborations with both domestic and international partners.
Chapter 1 Business cycle fluctuations in us macroeconomic time series

Abstract This chapter examines the empirical relationship in the postwar United States between the aggregate business cycle and various aspects of the macroeconomy, such as production, interest rates, prices, productivity, sectoral employment, investment, income, and consumption. This is done by examining the strength of the relationship between the aggregate cycle and the cyclical components of individual time series, whether individual series lead or lag the cycle, and whether individual series are useful in predicting aggregate fluctuations. The chapter also reviews some additional empirical regularities in the US economy, including the Phillips curve and some long-run relationships, in particular long run money demand, long run properties of interest rates and the yield curve, and the long run properties of the shares in output of consumption, investment and government spending.
Explicit Equation of Motion of Constrained Systems

This chapter develops a new, simple, general, and explicit form of the equations of motion for general nonlinear constrained mechanical systems that can have holonomic and/or nonholonomic constraints that may or may not be ideal, and that may contain either positive semi-definite or positive definite mass matrices. This is done through the replacement of the actual unconstrained mechanical system, which may have a positive semi-definite mass matrix, with an unconstrained auxiliary system that is then subjected to the same holonomic and/or nonholonomic constraints as those applied to the actual unconstrained mechanical system. The unconstrained auxiliary system is subjected to the same “given” force as the actual mechanical system, and its mass matrix is appropriately augmented to make it positive definite so that the so-called fundamental equation can then be directly and simply applied to obtain the closed-form acceleration of the actual constrained mechanical system. Furthermore, it is shown that by appropriately augmenting the “given” force that acts on the actual unconstrained mechanical system, the auxiliary system directly provides the constraint force that needs to be imposed on the actual unconstrained mechanical system so that it satisfies the given holonomic and/or nonholonomic constraints. Thus, irrespective of whether the mass matrix of the actual unconstrained mechanical system is positive definite or positive semi-definite, a simple, unified fundamental equation results that give a closed-form representation of both the acceleration of the constrained mechanical system and the constraint force. The results herein provide deeper insights into the behavior of constrained motion and open up new approaches to modeling complex, constrained mechanical systems, such as those encountered in multi-body dynamics. Several examples are provided.
CD8+ T cells modulate autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease progression

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most prevalent inherited nephropathy. To date, therapies alleviating the disease have largely focused on targeting abnormalities in renal epithelial cell signaling. ADPKD has many hallmarks of cancer, where targeting T cells has brought novel therapeutic interventions. However, little is known about the role and therapeutic potential of T cells in ADPKD. Here, we used an orthologous ADPKD model, Pkd1 p.R3277C (RC), to begin to define the role of T cells in disease progression. Using flow cytometry, we found progressive increases in renal CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, correlative with disease severity, but with selective activation of CD8+ T cells. By immunofluorescence, T cells specifically localized to cystic lesions and increased levels of T-cell recruiting chemokines (CXCL9/CXCL10) were detected by qPCR/in situ hybridization in the kidneys of mice, patients, and ADPKD epithelial cell lines. Importantly, immunodepletion of CD8+ T cells from one to three months in C57Bl/6 Pkd1RC/RC mice resulted in worsening of ADPKD pathology, decreased apoptosis, and increased proliferation compared to IgG-control, consistent with a reno-protective role of CD8+ T cells. Thus, our studies suggest a functional role for T cells, specifically CD8+ T cells, in ADPKD progression. Hence, targeting this pathway using immune-oncology agents may represent a novel therapeutic approach for ADPKD.