cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of concentrating collectors of energy from a distant point source

Abstract A procedure to analyze the energy leaving a point source, being reflected from one surface, and striking another was applied to focusing collectors. This very flexible method is independent of flux, magnitude of reflectivity (it must be specular), or location of the source. It was applied to parabolic and circular cylindrical reflector surfaces for three different materials when the source was a function of wavelength. Besides finding the overall collector efficiency, the flux striking the receiver, the monochromatic collector efficiency as a function of wavelength, and the spatial collector efficiency as a function of the reflector position are present.
Last Word on Viewpoint: Justifying small-n research in scientifically amazing settings: Challenging the notion that only “big-n” studies are worthwhile

to the editor: We thank Drs. Bacchetti and Shelhamer (see Ref. [1][1]) for their comments, and we are glad to see they share our opinion that traditional methods and defaults for justifying sample size are overused and underscrutinized ([2][2]). We have become increasingly convinced of this problem
Highly stereoselective [4 + 3] cycloadditions of nitrogen-stabilized oxyallyl cations with pyrroles: an approach to parvineostemonine.

A highly stereoselective [4 + 3] cycloaddition of N-substituted pyrroles with allenamide-derived nitrogen-stabilized chiral oxyallyl cations is described here. This method provides an approach for constructing tropinone alkaloids.
Dual-electrolyte lithium–air batteries: influence of catalyst, temperature, and solid-electrolyte conductivity on the efficiency and power density

Two major issues limiting the conversion efficiency and power density of dual-electrolyte Li–air cells are the lack of efficient oxygen evolution catalysts and high internal resistance associated with the solid electrolyte. In this context, the charge voltage is lowered by 0.11 V at a charge current density of 2 mA cm−2 by employing nanocrystalline IrO2 synthesized by a modified Adams fusion method. Similarly, the overall internal resistance of the cell is reduced substantially by increasing the operating temperature of the cell from 20 to 40 °C, resulting in a nearly three-fold increase in the maximum power density. Overall, the conversion efficiency at 2 mA cm−2 is improved from 61% to 74% at 40 °C with the nanocrystalline IrO2. The internal resistance is further reduced by employing a more conductive solid electrolyte at 40 °C, resulting in a maximum power density and conversion efficiency at 2 mA cm−2 of, respectively, 40 mW cm−2 and 80%.
Biphasic emetic response of cyclophosphamide in the ferret.

Abstract Cyclophosphamide (177 mg/kg, IV; n = 8) produced a biphasic emetic response in the ferret with a mean ± SE of 23.3 ± 4.0 emetic episodes during a 4-h observation period. The emetic profile of cyclophosphamide showed a first phase with 18.6 ± 3.9 episodes and a second phase with 4.7 ± 1.2 episodes. Ondansetron (0.07 and 0.13 mg/kg, IV) and droperidol (0.25 and 0.79 mg/kg, IV) significantly reduced the number of emetic episodes in the first phase. Metoclopramide (2.24, 4.08, and 7.07 mg/kg, IV) also significantly reduced the number of emetic episodes in the first phase, and the dose of 7.07 mg/kg completely prevented emetic episodes in the second phase. In addition, ondansetron-treated ferrets (0.04, 0.07, and 0.13 mg/kg, IV) had a significant increase in the number of emetic episodes in the second phase.
The identity and typification of Smilax grandifolia Regel, nom. illeg. and S. regelii Killip & C. V. Morton (Smilacaceae)

Smilax regelii Killip & C. V. Morton (1936), universally applied to an economically important Central American sarsaparilla, is a nomen novum for an illegitimate later homonym, S. grandifolia Regel (1856, non Buckley, 1843), which has been declared recently to be a synonym of the South American S. longifolia Rich. and typified with material allegedly belonging thereto. Regel's description and relevant historical specimens indicate that Regel's concept of S. grandifolia does not make it synonymous with the South American S. longifolia but with the Central American taxon now called S. regelii. Demonstrably original material of S. grandifolia has not been located. A recently designated neotype of S. grandifolia, also not found and never seen by Regel, is in serious conflict with the protologue and must be rejected (Art. 9.17b). To maintain current nomenclature, S. grandifolia Regel is neotypified with an element, probably seen by Regel, whose origin is presumably from Central America. The correct name for Honduran or brown sarsaparilla remains S. regelii Killip & C. V. Morton.
Inflation does not explain time asymmetry

Davies1 has argued that the inflationary cosmological scenario2–5 provides a natural explanation for the time asymmetry of the Universe. Here I dispute this argument by noting that the inflationary scenario implicitly invokes time asymmetry with the assumption of an absence of initial spatial correlations. No scenario based on charge-parity-time (CPT)-invariant dynamical laws can explain the time asymmetry apart from postulating or explaining these special initial conditions, as Penrose6,7 has emphasized.
Design and Synthesis of Transition State Analogs for Induction of Hydride Transfer Catalytic Antibodies.

Alcohol dehydrogenases and related aldehyde reductase enzymes catalyze the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and the simultaneous reduction of a nicotinamide derivative (NAD+ or NADP+) to the corresponding 1,4-dihydronicotinamide. Herein we report the design and synthesis of a stable transition state analog for this hydride transfer process. Compound 1 is a rigid [3.2.2] bicyclic structure containing 3-piperidone oxime as a mimic for 1,4-dihydronicotinamide. The piperidone is held in the boat conformation corresponding to the transition state by a three-atom lactam bridge between N(1) and C(4). The oxime function mimics the carboxamide group in nicotinamide. The lactam nitrogen serves as an attachment point for the alkyl group of the alcohol substrate, and the amide oxygen atom mimics its hydroxyl group. Compound 1 was prepared in 10 steps from N-benzylpiperidone, functionalized with substrate and cofactor recognition elements into transition state analogs 2 and 3 and conjugated to carrier proteins for i...
Integral and rational completions of combinatorial matrices II

Abstract Earlier results by Marshall Hall on integral completions of matrices satisfying orthogonality conditions are extended as far as possible, with special attention given to the Hadamard case. A result on restricting the denominators of rational completions to a power of 2 is also given.
Evidence of taxa-, clone-, and kin-discrimination in protists: ecological and evolutionary implications

Unicellular eukaryotes, or protists, are among the most ancient organisms on Earth. Protists belong to multiple taxonomic groups; they are widely distributed geographically and in all environments. Their ability to discriminate among con- and heterospecifics has been documented during the past decade. Here we discuss exemplar cases of taxa-, clone-, and possible kin-discrimination in five major lineages: Mycetozoa (Dictyostelium, Polysphondylium), Dikarya (Saccharomyces), Ciliophora (Tetrahymena), Apicomplexa (Plasmodium) and Archamoebae (Entamoeba). We summarize the proposed genetic mechanisms involved in discrimination-mediated aggregation (self vs. different), including the csA, FLO and trg (formerly lag) genes, and the Proliferation Activation Factors, which facilitate clustering in some protistan taxa. We caution about the experimental challenges intrinsic to studying recognition in protists, and highlight the opportunities for exploring the ecology and evolution of complex forms of cell–cell communication, including social behavior, in a polyphyletic, still superficially understood group of organisms. Because unicellular eukaryotes are the evolutionary precursors of multicellular life, we infer that their mechanisms of taxa-, clone-, and possible kin-discrimination gave origin to the complex diversification and sophistication of traits associated with species and kin recognition in plants, fungi, invertebrates and vertebrates.
Development and Characterization of a Tissue-engineered Human Oral Mucosa Equivalent Produced in a Serum-free Culture System

A problem maxillofacial surgeons face is a lack of sufficient autogenous oral mucosa for reconstruction of the oral cavity. Split-thickness or oral mucosa grafts require more than one surgical procedure and can result in donor site morbidity. Skin has disadvantages of adnexal structures and a different keratinization pattern than oral mucosa. In this study, we successfully assembled, ex vivo, a human oral mucosa equivalent, consisting of epidermal and dermal components, in a defined, essential-fatty-acid-deficient, serum-free culture medium without a feeder layer, that could be used for intra-oral grafting in humans. Autogenous oral keratinocytes were seeded onto a cadaveric dermis, AlloDerm. The oral mucosa equivalent was cultured at an air-liquid interface for 2 wks. The resulting equivalent had a well-stratified parakeratinized epithelial layer similar to native oral keratinized mucosa. Expression of differentiation markers, filaggrin and cytokeratin 10/13, suggested a premature keratinized state. The presence of proliferation markers, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67, suggested a state of hyperproliferation. Fatty acid composition of the equivalent was similar to that of in vitro cultured oral keratinocytes but differed from the that of in vivo native tissue, showing a lower content of 18:2 and 20:4, and a higher content of 16:1 and 18:1 fatty acids, respectively. The keratinocytes of the equivalent appeared to be in a more active and proliferative state than native keratinized mucosa. The dynamic nature of the cell population on the oral mucosa equivalent may be beneficial for intra-oral grafting procedures and for transfection of the keratinocytes.
Comparison of vitamin E levels in plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung tissues of adult pulmonary patients.

Plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BAL), and lung parenchyma were analyzed for vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations in three groups of patients routinely receiving oxy...
A Match Made in Heaven? Religion-Based Marriage Decisions, Marital Quality, and the Moderating Effects of Spouse’s Religious Commitment

Studies examining the persistent link between religion and martial quality have focused exclusively on religion’s within-marriage influence on spousal attitudes and behaviors. The current study shifts the focus to examine how religion’s influence on pre-marital choices holds potential returns to marital quality, and under what conditions of spousal religiosity. Utilizing data from the 2006 Portraits of American Life Study, I examine how several key measures of marriage quality are affected by religious influences on the marriage decision; the religious commitment of one’s spouse; and interactions between these two factors. Multivariate analyses reveal that religion’s influence on the marriage decision does not directly predict respondents’ relationship-satisfaction or their spouse’s loving or hurtful behaviors, while the importance of religion to one’s spouse is strongly associated with all these marital outcomes. Interaction effects reveal that spouse’s religiosity does not greatly influence marital quality among persons whose marriage decision was uninfluenced by religion. However, among persons for whom religion figured prominently in their marriage decision, those with less-religious spouses experienced negative marital outcomes, while those with more-religious spouses reported positive marital outcomes. Pre-marriage religious influences thus predict higher marital quality under the conditions that persons for whom religion greatly influenced their marriage-decision are able to marry religiously-committed spouses.
Charge development in the transition state for decarboxylations in water: spontaneous and acetone-catalyzed decarboxylation of aminomalonate.

A covalent imminium adduct, formed by condensation of aminomalonate with acetone, undergoes decarboxylation (k = 0.03 s-1 at 25 °C) in water 30 000 times more rapidly than does aminomalonate in the absence of acetone. A Bronsted plot of the observed rates of decarboxylation of these and other ionized carboxylic acids, as a function of the pKC-H values of the carbon acids generated by their decarboxylation, exhibits a βlg value of 0.7, indicating that the structures of the transition states for decarboxylation of the carboxylate forms of these acids approaches the structures of the carbanions generated by their decarboxylation. On the basis of an estimated pKC-H value for benzene in water (∼ 43), extrapolation of that Bronsted plot leads to the prediction that benzoate decarboxylation should proceed at detectable rates in water at temperatures below the critical point. That prediction was confirmed experimentally. Using this same relationship, and extrapolating to the observed rate constant for enzymatic d...
Comparison of Meteorological Data with Fitted Values Extracted from a Trajectory

Atmospheric conditions are found by knowing only the projectile’ s trajectory and its aerodynamic coefe cients plusinitialatmosphericconditionsatgroundlevel.Thegoverningequationsarethemodie ed point-massequations, which are used to generate a test trajectory using data taken with a weather balloon. A nonlinear least-square method is used to e t the modie ed point-mass equations to the test trajectory by varying themeteorological parameters. Linear wind proe les now replace the previous constant wind proe les, and the yaw of repose is now included inthee tting procedure.A morecomplete erroranalysis ispresented. Density,temperature,and wind proe les agree well.
Dynamic modelling and control of distribution energy systems: comparison with transmission power systems

This paper explores the fundamental differences between distribution and transmission systems, regarding dynamic behaviour under a high penetration of distributed generators (DGs). The paper shows that because of large resistance to reactance ratio in distribution networks the frequency and voltage dynamics are strongly interdependent. Therefore only coupled models should be used for control design of DGs. Large resistance to reactance ratio and low inertia and fast dynamic response of DGs also result in strong interactions between DGs. These interactions can cause stability problems if DGs are connected electrically in close areas and/or the control of DGs is poorly tuned. Block Gerschgorin theorem is used to determine bounds on interactions between each DG with the rest of the system so that no interactions occur. Next, a more systematic fully decentralised, and, therefore simple control design is proposed. The logic of the decentralised control is to cancel out strong interactions between DGs and to improve the dynamic response of DGs. The theoretical findings are illustrated on two practical distribution systems.
Hand education for emergency medicine residents: results of a pilot program.

Purpose Multiple studies have demonstrated the lack of knowledge of hand anatomy and pathology among those who first see patients with hand disorders. The goal of this study was to determine whether a hand surgery rotation for emergency medicine residents would improve this group's knowledge of the hand and its disorders as assessed at the end of their residency training. Methods Seven postgraduate year (PGY) 2 emergency medicine residents completed a 4-week hand surgery rotation. Hand knowledge was assessed at the start, at the end, and 1 year after this rotation (end of PGY 3). Knowledge of a control group of 7 PGY 3 emergency medicine residents who did not have this rotation was also assessed. Results Hand knowledge in the residents who completed the rotation was significantly improved. This was true for overall test performance (88% vs 70% correct responses), as well as for each of the anatomy and function (89% vs 57%), diagnosis (96% vs 86%), and treatment (79% vs 51%) categories. Overall test performance (78% vs 66%) and anatomy and function category performance (75% vs 43%) were significantly better at the end of PGY 3 for the residents who completed the rotation as compared to the control residents. Conclusions A hand surgery rotation during an emergency medicine residency program improved the knowledge of hand anatomy and disorders. This knowledge was retained 1 year later and was greater than the knowledge of matched emergency medicine residents who did not have this rotation. Better knowledge of hand anatomy and disorders among emergency physicians might improve their ability to initially evaluate and treat patients with these conditions. Such knowledge might allow emergency department physicians to play a more important role in the management of hand emergencies. A hand surgery rotation has been incorporated into the PGY 2 curriculum for all emergency medicine residents at my institution.
Multiscale autoregressive models and wavelets

The multiscale autoregressive (MAR) framework was introduced to support the development of optimal multiscale statistical signal processing. Its power resides in the fast and flexible algorithms to which it leads. While the MAR framework was originally motivated by wavelets, the link between these two worlds has been previously established only in the simple case of the Haar wavelet. The first contribution of this paper is to provide a unification of the MAR framework and all compactly supported wavelets as well as a new view of the multiscale stochastic realization problem. The second contribution of this paper is to develop wavelet-based approximate internal MAR models for stochastic processes. This will be done by incorporating a powerful synthesis algorithm for the detail coefficients which complements the usual wavelet reconstruction algorithm for the scaling coefficients. Taking advantage of the statistical machinery provided by the MAR framework, we will illustrate the application of our models to sample-path generation and estimation from noisy, irregular, and sparse measurements.
Flow patterns in the ductus arteriosus during open fetal myelomeningocele repair.

Objective The objective of this study is to perform a longitudinal evaluation of blood flow patterns in the ductus arteriosus (DA) during the perioperative period in fetal myelomeningocele (MMC) surgical patients. Method Serial fetal echocardiograms were reviewed in 10 MMC cases where mothers received indomethacin and intravenous and inhaled anesthesia. One-way analysis of variance was utilized to evaluate for differences in peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time-averaged mean velocity (TAMV), and Pulsatility Index (PI) throughout the monitoring period. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between PI and maternal hemodynamics and medications. Results The DA TAMV and EDV increased between baseline and inhaled anesthesia and decreased between inhaled anesthesia and postoperative day 2. PI decreased to a nadir during inhaled anesthesia and then increased through postoperative day 2. Three distinct ductal flow patterns, characterizing degree of ductal constriction, were observed. Two fetuses exhibited a severely constricted ductal flow pattern with concurrent moderate tricuspid insufficiency and right ventricular dysfunction during inhaled anesthesia. Conclusion Abnormal DA flow patterns culminating in significant DA constriction occurred during fetal MMC repair. Limiting maternal exposure to indomethacin, supplemental oxygen, and inhaled anesthesia may reduce the incidence and severity of DA constriction and perhaps reduce fetal cardiac dysfunction during open fetal surgery. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant patients : Prophylactic versus preemptive therapy

Purpose. The advantages and disadvantages of universal prophylaxis and preemptive therapy and current evidence-based recommendations for preventing cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in solid organ transplant recipients are discussed. Summary. Advantages of universal prophylaxis include the ease of implementation, a reduced incidence of CMV disease, and possibly fewer indirect effects of CMV infection. Disadvantages of universal prophylaxis may include prolonged antiviral drug exposure, resistance, toxicity, the development of late-onset CMV disease, and greater drug costs. Advantages of preemptive therapy may include reduced drug exposure and decreased risk for toxicity and resistance. Disadvantages include the logistic demands of laboratory testing, uncertainty about the impact on the indirect effects of CMV disease, and the costs associated with failure to prevent CMV disease. Evidence-based guidelines call for universal prophylaxis for patients at highest risk for CMV disease. Preemptive therapy may be most appropriate for those at a moderate or low risk of CMV. Antiviral drug regimens used for universal prophylaxis depend on the type of organ transplanted and the donor–recipient CMV serostatus. The optimal preemptive drug regimen and laboratory monitoring strategy are unknown. Conclusion. Selection of a strategy for preventing CMV disease in solid organ transplant patients requires consideration of patient-specific risk factors as well as practical considerations, such as available resources.
The Mobile Home Monster: A Forensic Case in the Use of Public Records to Locate Assets

ABSTRACT: This case is designed for an introductory fraud examination or forensic accounting course. It is based upon an actual case that was investigated by the lead author while working as a forensic accountant. The case provides students with an opportunity to learn how useful public records can be to the forensic accountant. This case involves no allegations of fraud, but is a realistic example of how a forensic accountant can add value in other areas of litigation. Students must conduct a simulated asset tracing investigation using public records to help the U.S. Department of Justice collect punitive damages and a civil penalty from a defendant charged with violating the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act. The case utilizes the problem-based learning approach wherein students are put into the role of a forensic accountant and must request additional information from the instructor. Within the context of the present case study, students are also encouraged to identify other potentia...
A novel role for fatty acid transport protein 1 in the regulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondrial function in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs) are integral membrane acyl-CoA synthetases implicated in adipocyte fatty acid influx and esterification. Whereas some FATP1 translocates to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, the majority of FATP1 remains within intracellular structures and bioinformatic and immunofluorescence analysis of FATP1 suggests the protein primarily resides in the mitochondrion. To evaluate potential roles for FATP1 in mitochondrial metabolism, we used a proteomic approach following immunoprecipitation of endogenous FATP1 from 3T3-L1 adipocytes and identified mitochondrial 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase. To assess the functional consequence of the interaction, purified FATP1 was reconstituted into phospholipid-containing vesicles and its effect on 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity evaluated. FATP1 enhanced the activity of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase independently of its acyl-CoA synthetase activity whereas silencing of FATP1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes resulted in decreased activity of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase. FATP1 silenced 3T3-L1 adipocytes exhibited decreased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, increased cellular NAD+/NADH, increased fatty acid oxidation, and increased lactate production indicative of altered mitochondrial energy metabolism. These results reveal a novel role for FATP1 as a regulator of tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and mitochondrial function.
Wnt Secretion from Epithelial Cells and Subepithelial Myofibroblasts Is Not Required in the Mouse Intestinal Stem Cell Niche In Vivo

Wnt signaling is a crucial aspect of the intestinal stem cell niche required for crypt cell proliferation and differentiation. Paneth cells or subepithelial myofibroblasts are leading candidate sources of the required Wnt ligands, but this has not been tested in vivo. To abolish Wnt-ligand secretion, we used Porcupine (Porcn) conditional-null mice crossed to strains expressing inducible Cre recombinase in the epithelium, including Paneth cells (Villin-CreERT2); in smooth muscle, including subepithelial myofibroblasts (Myh11-CreERT2); and simultaneously in both compartments. Elimination of Wnt secretion from any of these compartments did not disrupt tissue morphology, cell proliferation, differentiation, or Wnt pathway activity. Thus, Wnt-ligand secretion from these cell populations is dispensable for intestinal homeostasis, revealing that a minor cell type or significant and unexpected redundancy is responsible for physiologic Wnt signaling in vivo.
Residual Elimination Algorithm Enhancements to Improve Foot Motion Tracking During Forward Dynamic Simulation of Gait

During inverse dynamic simulations of human movement, inaccuracies and noise in experimental data result in residual forces and torques acting on the pelvis [1]. These quantities are physically unrealistic but are necessary to balance the equations of motion. To circumvent this problem, Remy and Thelen developed a residual elimination algorithm (REA) that employs forward dynamic simulation to produce dynamically consistent accelerations that best agree with experimental marker motion data and satisfy the whole-body equations of motion [2]. While the kinematics are dynamically consistent and the pelvis residuals effectively eliminated, the inability of REA to reproduce foot marker motion accurately is a hindrance for applications requiring precise positioning of the feet (e.g., foot-ground contact models).Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A 20-dB quasi-integrated horn antenna

A multimode quasi-integrated dipole-fed horn antenna is presented with a performance comparable to that of waveguide-fed corrugated horn antennas. The antenna has been designed using full wave analysis and has been fabricated and tested at 91 GHz. The horn has a gain of 20 dB with very symmetric patterns, a Gaussian coupling efficiency of 97%, and a cross-polarization level of -22.7 dB. The antenna provides a significant improvement in integrated antenna designs and is suitable for millimeter-wave communication and radar systems and as a Gaussian-beam launcher in quasi-optical receiver systems. >
VISA: Netstation's virtual Internet SCSI adapter

In this paper we describe the implementation of VISA, our Virtual Internet SCSI Adapter. VISA was built to evaluate the performance impact on the host operating system of using IP to communicate with peripherals, especially storage devices. We have built and benchmarked file systems on VISA-attached emulated disk drives using UDP/IP. By using IP, we expect to take advantage of its scaling characteristics and support for heterogeneous media to build large, long-lived systems. Detailed file system and network CPU utilization and performance data indicate that it is possible for UDP/IP to reach more than 80% of SCSI's maximum throughput without the use of network coprocessors. We conclude that IP is a viable alternative to special-purpose storage network protocols, and presents numerous advantages.
Parameter Sweeps on the Grid with APST

SUMMARY Parameter sweep applications consist of large sets of independent tasks and arise in many fields of science and engineering. Due to their flexible task synchronization requirements, these applications are ideally suited to large-scale distributed platforms such as the Computational Grid. However, for users to readily benefit from such platforms, it is necessary to provide transparent application deployment and automatic application scheduling. We present here version 2.0 of the AppLeS Parameter Sweep Template (APST) software, an application execution environment which schedules and deploys large-scale parameter sweep applications on Grid platforms. We describe the main principles behind the design of APST, its current implementation, and the services and mechanisms it can leverage to deploy applications. We illustrate APST’s usability and explain how its XML-based interface allows users to easily direct Grid resources to run their applications. Finally, we briefly discuss applications that are currently using APST, and we highlight future developments.
An introduction to computer programming for students with no programming experience

The Department of Freshman Engineering at Purdue teaches a one-credit computer literacy course for students with no pre-college programming experience. The eight-week course, offered twice during the fall semester, serves as an introduction to computing on the Purdue campus. Students with a high probability of performing unsatisfactorily in a course that will satisfy the freshman requirements are recommended to take the literacy course. In its first two years, 80% of students who took the course were able to earn a C or better in a programming course that satisfied engineering requirements. >
Characterizing Surface Roughness and Shape of Sands Using Digital Microscopy

This paper presents detailed microscopic analyses of the surface roughness, roundness, and sphericity of sands. The surface roughness of three silica sands was studied using the optical interferometry approach. It was statistically characterized by a set of parameters. Optical interferometry yielded very accurate measurements of surface roughness of the three sands. It was found that, as the surface roughness increases, the friction and dilatancy angles of the sand increase. In addition, two new indices for particle roundness and sphericity are introduced, compared with the Powers classification, and used to classify the investigated sands.
Distributed Collaborative Adaptive Sensor networks for remote sensing applications

Enabled by a dense network of Doppler weather radars with overlapping coverage, Distributed Collaborative Adaptive Sensing (DCAS) represents a new paradigm in remote sensing. Rather than each radar periodically sampling its surroundings with sit-and-spin volume coverage patterns as with today's NEXRAD weather radars, DCAS is an end-user driven approach that targets sensitivity when and where the needs of its end-users are greatest. The advantage is that by adaptively allocating sensitivity, higher quality measurements are possible due to the ability to dwell longer in volumes where echoes are weak, sample faster in volumes with rapidly evolving dynamics, and obtain multi-Doppler looks for high accuracy wind field retrieval. This paper describes the multiuser, multi-attribute utilities-based approach being used to coordinate the scanning activities of the weather radars in the first prototype DCAS system being fielded by the National Science Foundation sponsored Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA- ERC).
Natural hybrids between Tragopogon mirus and T. miscellus (Asteraceae): A new perspective on karyotypic changes following hybridization at the polyploid level

 Premise of the study: Natural hybrids have formed in Pullman, Washington, United States between the recently formed allotetraploids Tragopogon miscellus and T. mirus . In addition to forming spontaneously, these hybrids are semifertile, propagating via achenes. Previous work indicated that the tetraploid hybrids have genetic contributions from three progenitor diploids: T. dubius , T. pratensis , and T. porrifolius . Because the hybrids contain genomes from three species, they should be karyotypically variable and have very low fertility. To better understand how these hybrids are semifertile, we applied fl uorescent probes to determine chromosome composition.  Methods: We sequentially conducted fl uorescence and genomic in situ hybridization to generate karyotypes for fi ve hybrid individuals grown from fi eld-collected achenes.  Key results: All plants had the expected somatic chromosome number (2 n = 24), but none showed an additive F 1 chromosome complement, i.e., two sets of chromosomes from T. dubius and one set of chromosomes each from T. porrifolius and T. pratensis . No individuals shared an identical karyotype, but chromosomal variation followed a compensatory pattern of substitutions, with all groups of putatively homeologous chromosomes consistently totaling four.  Conclusions: The hybrids appear to be shifting away from a parentally additive F 1 karyotype to chromosomal compositions that are mostly, or entirely, disomic. We hypothesize that this process may eventually lead to the elimination of chromosomes from a population and produce a stabilized karyotype distinct from both allotetraploid parents. This work has implications for other hybrids formed between polyploids, in that they may be hard to detect using sequence data alone due to multilateral patterns of chromosome elimination.
Surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives To provide an overview of the surgical management of early stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its impact on survival and quality of life. Data Sources Published articles, book chapters, websites, and research studies. Conclusion The primary treatment choice for early stage NSCLC is surgical resection. Advances have been made in all phases of care from diagnosis to rehabilitation, including better technology for staging, less invasive surgical techniques, and intra-operative and post-operative care that focuses on decreasing complications and improving survival and quality of life. New indications for the addition of adjuvant therapy to surgery can improve disease-free and long-term survival in a disease where the 5-year survival of stage I and II can be less than 50% and overall survival regardless of stage only 15%. Implications for Nursing Practice As health care educators and caregivers, nurses should be informed of the advancements in staging and surgical technique associated with early stage NSCLC and its impact on survival and quality of life.
Hyskon induced pulmonary hemorrhage

Hyskon, a distension medium composed of dextran 70 in 10% dextrose in water, is often used during hysteroscopic procedures. Coagulopathy and pulmonary edema are the most commonly reported side effects encountered during its use. We present the first case report in which a healthy patient developed pulmonary hemorrhage from Hyskon use. The major side effects of Hyskon are discussed, as are the possible etiologies of the reported complication and the implications for anesthesiologists.
Estimating the domain of attraction of a class of SIR epidemic model

Determining domains of attraction is one of the most important problems when it comes to investigating nonlinear dynamical systems. In this article, we exploit the stability of a class of SIR infection model. We estimate the domain of it with LMI methods based on the moment theory.
Multiterminal Source Coding With Action-Dependent Side Information

We consider multiterminal source coding with a single encoder and multiple decoders where either the encoder or the decoders can take cost-constrained actions which affect the quality of the side information present at the decoders. For the scenario where decoders take actions, we characterize the rate-cost tradeoff region for lossless source coding, and give an achievability scheme for lossy source coding for two decoders which is optimum for a variety of special cases of interest. For the case where the encoder takes actions, we characterize the rate-cost tradeoff for a class of lossless source coding scenarios with multiple decoders. Finally, we also consider extensions to other multiterminal source coding settings with actions, and characterize the rate-distortion-cost tradeoff for a case of successive refinement with actions.
Teaching Computation to Biologists

Carl Kingsford reviews R. Libeskind-Hadas and E. Bush's Computing for Biologists: Python Programming and Principles, declaring it good at avoiding intimidating students with unnecessary complexity while still providing a respectable programming and algorithmic introduction with a strong biology motivation.
Clinical significance of immunologic and immunogenetic evaluation in multiple sclerosis.

One hundred thirty-two patients were separated into clinically defined groups of definite, probable and possible multiple sclerosis (MS), the spinal cord variant of MS (SCV), and non MS neurologic disease. HLA antigens A3 and B7 occurred at increased frequencies in definite and probably MS patients when compared with neurologic controls and healthy adults. CSF elevations of either kappa/lambda ratio, IgG/ total protein ratio, or IgG were seen in 65% of the definite, probable and SCV groups. Patients with HLA A3 and 87 antigens had a higher than predicted incidence of elevated kappa/lambda ratio, suggesting that there may be immunogenetic control mechanisms which influence this CSF parameter. Neither HLA antigens nor CSF protein abnormalities correlated with the age of onset, progression, or degree of disability of disease, thus limiting their prognostic usefulness.
Lysyl oxidase: a family of multifunctional proteins

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a copper containing amine oxidase traditionally described as a secreted enzyme that crosslinks the extracellular matrix proteins elastin and fibrillar collagens. Recently, multiple novel biological functions have been attributed to LOX and experimental evidence indicates that LOX may have other, intra-cellular and intra-nuclear substrates involved in these functions. Our results suggest that several genetically different lysyl oxidases exist that individually function to perform these roles. We report here the gene structure, chromosomal localization, protein domain structure, evolutionary relationship, tissue specific expression and distribution of these novel lysyl oxidases, LOX, LOXL, LOXL2 and LOXL3 that could serve as a family of proteins present in distinct cellular and tissue locations, each with a related but different function.
Preparing family physicians for the care of patients with severe and persistent mental illness: Examples from two U.S. residency programs.

Individuals with severe and persistent mental illness have increased morbidity and mortality and significant barriers to accessing health care. Although primary care providers deliver most health care for this population, residency training programs generally lack specialized training in this area. This article describes the approaches of two family medicine residency programs in addressing this educational gap. Each program collaborated with external organizations to create service models that would enhance patient access, while immersing residents in the care of patients with severe and persistent mental illness. Residents educated in these programs gain experience with an underserved population, practice advanced skills in managing complex medical and psychiatric illness, and increase knowledge from collaborative work in unique care settings. Further implementation of programs like these, and rigorous study of such programs, could have significant benefits for family medicine education and the care of ...
The Historical Dynamics of the Maoist Insurgency in Nepal

With the Maoist insurgency in Nepal currently bound in the more pacific realm of electoral politics, questions arise about how an initially modest insurgency came so close to overwhelming the Nepali state. This paper seeks to address two primary questions: first, why did the insurgency arise where and when it did, and second, after its initial efforts what accounts for the rapid geographic spread of the insurgency? In order to address these questions, the paper engages in a subnational analysis of the dynamics of the civil conflict, systematically marshaling district-level information from the 75 districts of Nepal. At the same time, it places the rise and spread of the insurgency in historical context and argues that development over time is critical to understanding the nature of the civil war. In so doing, the paper offers a systematic analysis of the political history and geography of the war and offers a corrective to quantitative but generally ahistorical accounts of the war found in existing research.
Allocating Loss of Precision in the Sample Mean to Wrong Weights and Redundancy in Sampling with Replacement from a Finite Population

For samples of the same size, sampling with replacement instead of without replacement from a finite population enlarges the variance of the sample mean. The loss of precision has two sources: (1) from inappropriate weights because the same information is being used repeatedly and (2) from redundancy by not having the maximum possible number of distinct items in the sample. Because, in many statistical problems, variation in weights does not matter much (Tukey, 1948), intuition suggests that the lion’s share of the loss comes from attrition in distinct items in the sample. This intuition is incorrect, and for a large class of practical situations the loss divides nearly evenly between the two causes.
The Challenge of Diverse Public Schools

Decades of successful integration efforts are at stake when one school district fights over school proximity and school “balancing.”
Feather-busting bacteria

I ONCE HAD A COLLEAGUE who delighted in the aphorism, which he proudly coined himself, "If it's too small to see with the naked eye, it ain't there." Sadly, this view may as well be true for ornithologists who study birds only through unaided eyes, binoculars, or spotting scopes. But birds can also be studied through conventional and electron microscopes. A microscopic perspective soon reveals that birds are flying petri dishes, teeming with microbes inside and out. For example, researchers have known for decades that the plumage harbors a diverse community of bacteria and fungi, including yeast (Hubalek 1994). Unfortunately, the influence of these creatures on the birds themselves has received little attention. Little attention, that is, until now. In a pioneering paper in this issue of The Auk, E. H. Burtt and J. M. Ichida (1999) show that plumage microbes could influence birds in important ways. Burtt and Ichida provide evidence that many, if not most, species of birds have bacteria in their plumage, and that some of these bacteria can rapidly degrade feathers, at least under laboratory conditions. To test for the presence of bacteria, the authors rubbed sterile applicators over several feather tracts of freshly caught birds, then incubated these applicators in the lab. Viable samples were cultured on plates and the bacteria identified. In an ambitious survey of more than 1,500 individual birds, representing 83 species, Burtt and Ichida isolated bacteria from the feathers of nearly 10% of the individuals sampled. Because bacteria were probably undersampled at each step in the procedure, the incidence of 10% represents a minimum; the actual value could be much higher. Although feather-degrading bacteria were found in less than half of the species, the authors argue that this is an artifact of the small number of individuals sampled for many of the species (a common problem in parasitological field studies). Extrapolating from their data, they predict that most species of birds will have feather-degrading bacteria in their plumage.
Synthesis and characterization of the Mars-relevant phosphate minerals Fe- and Mg-whitlockite and merrillite and a possible mechanism that maintains charge balance during whitlockite to merrillite transformation

Merrillite [Ca9NaMg(PO4)7] occurs as a dominant primary Ca-phosphate mineral in martian meteorites and therefore presumably also on Mars. The mineral is an important phase in exploring differences in geologic processes between Earth and Mars, and also has astrobiological implications due to its potential role as a significant source of the bio-essential nutrient phosphate. Merrillite does not occur terrestrially as a discrete mineral phase, making it difficult to obtain for Mars-relevant studies. It can, however, be synthesized from a similar terrestrial mineral, whitlockite (natural or synthetic), through dehydrogenation. Here we present methods for synthesizing relatively large quantities (0.5 g or greater per batch) of coarse crystalline (75 μm+) Mg-whitlockite, Fe-whitlockite, mixed Fe/Mg-whitlockites, and from these synthesized minerals produce Mg-merrillite, ferrous and ferric Fe-merrillite, and ferrous and ferric mixed Fe/Mg-merrillite. Chemistry and atomic structures of synthesized Fe- and mixed Fe/Mg-whitlockite and ferrous and ferric Fe- and mixed Fe/Mg- merrillite resulting from single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and electron microprobe analyses are presented. We also present a mechanism for maintaining charge balance during the formation of merrillite from whitlockite. Our results shed light on these mineral structures for future martian studies, and provide methods for creating coarse crystalline merrillite for use in Mars-relevant thermodynamic, kinetic, soil/dust simulant, crystallographic, astrobiological, and other studies.
“How many slaves work for you?” Race, new media, and neoliberal consumer activism

This article analyzes the website slaveryfootprint.org, which purports to measure consumers’ reliance on slave labor in the Global South by analyzing the users’ consumption habits. The site offers neoliberal consumer solutions to “solve” the problem of what it terms modern-day slavery. I argue that the characterization of slavery on slaveryfootprint.org (and the process of de-fetishizing this labor) attempts to shore up a distinction between “free” and forced labor, but unwittingly illuminates the ambiguity of this divide. By understanding slavery as embedded in capitalism, I suggest that we can challenge slaveryfootprint.org’s distinction between “free” labor and slavery, and in the process, the notion of “ethical” consumption.
An atypical case of chronic diarrhoea: olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy.

Olmesartan use has been associated with chronic diarrhoea and weight loss due to severe sprue-like enteropathy, yet this is still not well known among clinicians. We present the unique case of an 84-year-old Filipino woman diagnosed with olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy after an extensive work up for chronic diarrhoea, and without improvement despite multiple empiric treatments for nearly 15 months. Withdrawal of olmesartan resulted in clinical and histological improvement. This case provides further evidence for olmesartan-induced sprue-like enteropathy, and emphasises the importance of its awareness and recognition among gastroenterologists and primary care physicians alike.