cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gel structure and crystal nucleation

Abstract An examination of vacuum freeze-dried silica and gelatin gels by scanning electron microscopy reveals distinct relationships between gel structure and crystal nucleation. Gel aging effects are also discussed.
SU-E-J-92: CERR: New Tools to Analyze Image Registration Precision.

Purpose: To present new tools in CERR (The Computational Environment for Radiotherapy Research) to analyzeimage registration and other software updates/additions. Methods: CERR continues to be a key environment (cited more than 129 times to date) for numerous RT‐research studies involving outcomes modeling, prototyping algorithms for segmentation, and registration, experiments with phantom dosimetry,IMRT research, etc. Image registration is one of the key technologies required in many research studies. CERR has been interfaced with popular image registration frameworks like Plastimatch and ITK. Once the images have been autoregistered, CERR provides tools to analyze the accuracy of registration using the following innovative approaches (1)Distance Discordance Histograms (DDH), described in detail in a separate paper and (2)‘MirrorScope’, explained as follows: for any view plane the 2‐d image is broken up into a 2d grid of medium‐sized squares. Each square contains a right‐half, which is the reference image, and a left‐half, which is the mirror flipped version of the overlay image. The user can increase or decrease the size of this grid to control the resolution of the analysis. Other updates to CERR include tools to extract image and dosimetric features programmatically and storage in a central database and tools to interface with Statistical analysis software like SPSS and Matlab Statistics toolbox. Results: MirrorScope was compared on various examples, including ‘perfect’ registration examples and ‘artificially translated’ registrations. for ‘perfect’ registration, the patterns obtained within each circles are symmetric, and are easily, visually recognized as aligned. For registrations that are off, the patterns obtained in the circles located in the regions of imperfections show unsymmetrical patterns that are easily recognized. Conclusions: The new updates to CERR further increase its utility for RT‐research. Mirrorscope is a visually intuitive method of monitoring the accuracy of image registration that improves on the visual confusion of standard methods.
Phase-transfer catalysis: a new rigorous mechanistic model for liquid-liquid systems

A general kinetic model for phase-transfer catalyzed reactions involving two liquid phases and a homogeneous catalyst has been developed. The proposed new model introduces the separation of the contributions of the phase-transfer catalysis (PTC)-enhanced reaction and the non-PTC reaction toward the overall conversion. The common approach in the past was that the non-PTC reaction was either ignored or incorporated in the PTC-enhanced reaction. Even more significantly, the model also incorporates terms for explaining the variability of catalyst phase distribution with changes in electrolyte composition in the aqueous phase, which subsequently affects the amount of inorganic nucleophile that reacts in the organic phase. The industrially important reaction, synthesis of benzaldehyde from benzyl chloride, has been used to validate the model. Three reaction steps, i.e. esterification, hydrolysis, and oxidation, as well as combinations thereof, were considered. It was found that the model was able to fit the experimental data well. Model verification was done, not by parameter estimation by regression, but by determining them from separate sets of experiments. This lends greater credibility to multiparameter models (like that in the present case). Further analysis showed that the parameter values of the individual reactions can be used to classify the reactions, based on an approach proposed earlier by Starks et al. (Phase Transfer Catalysis, Chapman and Hall, New York, USA, 1994) and extended by Satrio et al. (Chem. Eng. Sci. 55 (2000) 5013).
COSTLY SHORT SALES AND THE CORRELATION OF RETURNS WITH VOLUME

Previous researchers have documented an empirical correlation between returns and trading volume in some financial markets. In this paper, an explanation is proposed based on the notion that short positions are more costly than long positions in these markets. The hypothesis is consistent with previous findings and with futures markets data, in which the costs of assuming short and long positions are symmetric and in which the correlation between returns and volume is not significant.
Comparison of taxon calibrations, modern analogue techniques, and forest-stand simulation models for the quantitative reconstruction of past vegetation: A critique†

Taxon calibrations based on eastern North America or on the southeastern United States alone suggest a different forest composition from that based on Wisconsin/Michigan, which is argued as preferable. Questions are raised about how well comparison with modern analogues distinguishes forest characteristics. The simulation model used by Delcourt and Delcourt is thought to be inappropriate, partly because it is constrained by faulty climatic data. Models are seen as complementary to other techniques rather than as an alternative methodology.
Benthic nepheloid layers in the Gulf of Maine and Alexandrium cyst inventories

Abstract Cysts residing in benthic nepheloid layers (BNLs) documented in the Gulf of Maine have been proposed as a possible source of inoculum for annual blooms of a toxic dinoflagellate in the region. Herein we present a spatially extensive data set of the distribution and thickness of benthic nepheloid layers in the Gulf of Maine and the abundance and inventories of suspended Alexandrium fundyense cysts within these near-bottom layers. BNLs are pervasive throughout the gulf and adjacent Bay of Fundy with maximum layer thicknesses of 50–60 m observed. Mean BNL thickness is 30 m in the eastern gulf and Bay of Fundy, and 20 m in the western gulf. Cyst densities in the near-bottom particle resuspension layers varied by three orders of magnitude across the gulf with maxima of 105 cysts m−3. An important interconnection of elevated BNL cyst densities is observed between the Bay of Fundy, the Maine Coastal Current and the south-central region of the gulf. BNL cyst inventories estimated for the eastern and western gulf are each on the order of 1015 cysts, whereas the BNL inventory in the Bay of Fundy is on the order of 1016. Although BNL cyst inventories in the eastern and western gulf are 1–2 orders of magnitude smaller than the abundance of cysts in the upper 1 cm of sediment in those regions, BNL and sediment-bound cyst inventories are comparable in the Bay of Fundy. The existence of widespread BNLs containing substantial cyst inventories indicates that these near-bottom layers represent an important source of germinating A. fundyense cysts in the region.
Acquisition of small-signal frequency-domain measurements from switch-mode power supplies

An algorithm is presented for selecting an appropriate perturbation amplitude for acquisition of small-signal frequency-domain characteristics from switch-mode power supplies. Among a range of perturbation amplitudes, measured data characteristics are categorized as linear or nonlinear, based on user-specified tolerances. This algorithm is especially useful for computer-aided measurements which permit on-line control of the perturbation amplitude. The work represents one portion of a complete computer-aided measurement system containing hardware and software specifically designed to support the general sapes of measurements important to the design and analysis of switch-mode power supplies.
Theory of coherent transition radiation generated at a plasma-vacuum interface

Transition radiation generated by an electron beam, produced by a laser wakefield accelerator operating in the self-modulated regime, crossing the plasma-vacuum boundary is considered. The angular distributions and spectra are calculated for both the incoherent and coherent radiation. The effects of the longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions on the differential energy spectra are examined. Diffraction radiation from the finite transverse extent of the plasma is considered and shown to strongly modify the spectra and energy radiated for long wavelength radiation. This method of transition radiation generation has the capability of producing high peak power THz radiation, of order 100 (mu)J/pulse at the plasma-vacuum interface, which is several orders of magnitude beyond current state-of-the-art THz sources.
Public personnel administration

Sound management principles and methods of prime importance in the task of directing the more than three million employees of national, state, and local governments in this country.
Heaviside and Kelvin: A study in contrasts

Summary Oliver Heaviside and Sir William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) stand in such contrast that the life of each serves to illuminate the life of the other. Thomson's talents, which were recognized at an early age, were cultivated with possibly unsurpassed educational opportunities, whereas Heaviside had scarcely any educational opportunities and was essentially self-taught. Nevertheless, Heaviside's published and unpublished works suggest that the breadth and depth of his learning were more or less comparable to Thomson's. Being an outstanding student at Cambridge brought Thomson in contact with scientists of the first rank, and he learned without effort how to get along with his peers. That pleasing quality was essentially absent in Heaviside, whose personality was as prickly as a porcupine, almost without grace. But underneath this rough exterior was a noble genius who never exploited his rare talents to his own advantage, but instead dedicated them to learning the Truth for its own sake. As to person...
A Method for Estimation of the Fracture Toughness of CrMoV Rotor Steels Based on Composition

Assessment of the remaining life of steam turbine rotors in the presence of bore defects requires a knowledge of the fracture toughness (KIC ) of the rotors. Current procedures for estimating the KIC involve two steps; as a first step, the fracture appearance transition temperature (FATT) at the critical location is determined; the FATT value is then used to estimate the KIC , based on published correlations between the excess temperature (T-FATT) and KIC . Some problems arise in implementing both of these steps. To determine the FATT of the material, large pieces of material have to be removed, machined into charpy specimens and tested; this procedure is often time consuming and expensive and sometimes not feasible. The excess temperatures versus the KIC correlation that is used to derive the KIC values from the FATT data is based on a variety of low alloy steels and is therefore characterized by a large scatter band, thus leading to considerable uncertainty in the estimated KIC . In this work, FATT and KIC data reported for a number of retired CrMoV rotors were gathered and analyzed and correlations specific to CrMoV rotors were developed. Based on these correlations, a method for estimating KIC with greater accuracy, based on a knowledge of the steel chemistry alone, is proposed. The method offers the advantage that very small samples removed from noncritical locations in the rotor would be sufficient to get the desired data.
Information technology, systems and management: Education and training

The needs for training in information management are reviewed, and it is argued that there is a need for people with a broad training which is biased towards the I of IT. The City University's MSc in Information Systems and Technology is described, as are the kinds of student currently on the course. The problems of education in a changing IT environment are discussed.
"Seams" to make no difference

Over the past several years Tiled Displays have slowly evolved from expensive blended-projection systems to Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) tiled displays. The LCD systems are typically cheaper to construct and maintain, but the bezels introduced at screen edges are often a common source of complaints. Our long term research goal is to settle the debate between the two technologies to see if there really is any perceivable benefit to one versus the other. The work outlined here presents the first in a series of comparative experiments.
Carcinoma of the prostate: a model for management under impending health care system reform. 1994 RSNA annual oration in radiation oncology.

PURPOSE: To review past and possible future management of localized carcinoma of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases were reviewed of 963 patients with localized carcinoma of the prostate treated with external irradiation between 1967 and 1992. RESULTS: In 287 patients who underwent pretreatment pedal lymphangiography, there was a positive but not statistically significant correlation between normal or abnormal findings and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) with clinical stage A (T1a-T1c), B (T2), or C (T3) disease. In 483 patients who underwent pretreatment computed tomography (CT) of the pelvis and abdomen, there was no correlation between radiologic findings and outcome for stage A2 and B disease. With stage C disease and no evidence of positive pelvic lymph nodes, 10-year DFS was 50%. No patients with positive lymph nodes survived. With stage C disease and periprostatic or seminal vesicle involvement, 10-year DFS was 19%, and it was 42% without those findings (P < or = .01). CONCLUSION: Prosp...
Condensed-matter physics: atomic beads on strings of light.

A new regime of strongly correlated quantum behaviour has been reached with the creation of a one-dimensional Tonks–Girardeau gas from ultracold atoms trapped within thin tubes of light.
Determination of selected toxic organic vapors in air by adsorbent trapping and capillary gas chromatography

Abstract Selected volatile organic species, including chloroform, 1,2‐dichloroethane, 1,1,1‐trichloroethane, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, p‐dichlorobenzene, o‐dichlorobenzene, and nitrobenzene, are determined in ambient air by collection and concentration on Tenax‐filled traps. The samples are recovered for analysis by a novel thermal desorption system which allows the injection of an aliquot of the sample into a 50M fused silica methyl silicone gas chromatographic column, which is programmed from ‐90 to 140° C. A standard addition process for qualitative analysis and an external standard method for quantitation are described, both using compressed gas standards. GC/MS is used for confirmation of sample identity on approximately 10% of the samples.
Quantitative Patterns of Azathioprine Adherence After Renal Transplantation

Successful renal transplantation has dramatically altered the outcome of chronic kidney disease. Over the past few decades, several generations of newer immunosuppressive agents have propelled the 1-year patient and graft survival rates to greater than 90% (1-3). But to fully benefit from these pharmaceutical advances, first, patients must actually take their prescribed medications. The advent of this remarkably effective immunosuppressive drug therapy has highlighted the issue of medication nonadherence and its consequences (4-7). Previously, transplant recipients who overtly discontinued their medications usually were easily identified, whereas those patients with less dramatic lapses in their prescribed drug use more frequently went undetected. Today, physicians involved in transplant patient care suspect the role of even subtle nonadherence in initiating adverse events and impacting longer-term graft survival (4, 8, 9). Prospective information about the frequency and magnitude of posttransplant medication nonadherence is limited (9-12). Most studies of nonadherence after transplantation have been retrospective, with nonadherence suspected or confirmed only in recipients with adverse outcomes (e.g., rejection or graft loss). Consequently, the definitions of nonadherence have largely been qualitative and variable. Employing electronic medication monitors (MEMS), we obtained prospective, dynamic, and quantitative data on medication adherence in renal transplant recipients. Our initial report of this cohort (with daily monitored azathioprine [Aza] dosing) demonstrated that nonadherence appeared early in the posttransplant period and was pervasive (9). More than 50% of patients missed one or more days of Aza during the first 90 days after hospital discharge. Early adverse consequences, including acute transplant rejection and later loss, were proportional to the timing and extent of early nonadherence (9). We report here the results of multi-year electronic monitoring and later clinical follow-up of that prospective patient cohort.
Modelling problems in large electric - power systems: Application of Levinson algorithm for fault calculations in high phase order transmission systems

Ever increasing pressures against the construction of new high voltage transmission lines are forcing electric utilities to seek new ways of augmenting the power transmission capabilities of existing rights-of-way. One of the alternatives being contemplated is high phase order transmission, where the number of phases is raised from three to six, twelve or higher. In order to make full utilization of the idea, transmission line design with the phase conductors being located on the circumference of a circle is advocated. The primitive impedance matrix of such a configuration of phase conductors is a Toeplitz matrix and is also symmetric. A generalized approach based on the application of Levinson algorithm is developed in the present paper for the calculation of fault currents in an arbitrary N-phase transmission line. The fault currents due to faults involving any number of phases to ground are calculated using the algorithm. Results for six and twelve phase systems obtained using the method are included in the paper.
Axisymmetric vortex breakdown in a pipe

A recent theory of the nearly axisymmetric vortex breakdown in a pipe is presented. We study the motion of an axisymmetric and inviscid swirling flow in a pipe with certain boundary conditions that may reflect the physical situation. The theory is built of global analysis of solutions of the Squire-Long equation and linear stability analysis of these solutions. The theory unifies the major previous theoretical approaches and provides for the first time a consistent explanation of the physical mechanism leading to the vortex breakdown phenomenon as well as the conditions for its occurrence.
Multimorbidity Due to Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease and Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and are associated with poor outcomes. However, the impact of multimorbidity due to DM and CKD on outcomes, relative to co-morbidity due to DM alone, has not been well studied in these patients. Of the 7,788 patients with chronic HF in the Digitalis Investigation Group trial, 2,218 had DM. We categorized these patients into those with DM alone (DM-only n = 1,123) and those with both DM and CKD (DM-CKD n = 1,095). Propensity scores for DM-CKD, calculated for each of the 2,218 patients, were used to match 699 pairs of patients with DM-only or DM-CKD. Matched Cox regression models were used to estimate associations between DM-CKD and outcomes. All-cause mortality occurred in 44% (rate 1,648/10,000 person-years) of patients with DM-CKD and 39% (rate 1,349/10,000 person-years of follow-up) of patients with DM-only (hazard ratio when DM-CKD was compared with DM-only 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11 to 1.62, p = 0.003). All-cause hospitalization occurred in 76% (rate 5,799/10,000 person-years) and 73% (rate 4,909/10,000 person-years) of patients with DM-CKD and DM-only, respectively (hazard ratio 1.16, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.36, p = 0.064). Respective hazard ratios for other outcomes were cardiovascular mortality 1.33 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.66, p = 0.010), HF mortality 1.41 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.96, p = 0.040), cardiovascular hospitalization 1.17 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.39, p = 0.064), and HF hospitalization 1.26 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.55, p = 0.026). In conclusion, compared with co-morbidity due to DM alone, the presence of multimorbidity due to DM and CKD was associated with increased mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic HF.
Total-electron-yield current measurements for near-surface extended x-ray-absorption fine structure.

A total-electron-yield technique is described in which near-surface extended x-ray-absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) data are obtained from direct measurements of specimen current. Experiments with several model systems---amorphous germanium and crystalline germanium, nickel, and cobalt; and arsenic ion implanted into silicon---demonstrate that this technique can reproduce EXAFS \ensuremath{\chi}(k) functions obtained from transmission and fluorescence measurements. Experiments also reveal that EXAFS amplitudes from total-electron-yield data can be 5--10 % smaller than those from transmission measurements for samples where the very-near-surface structure, at depths of tens to hundreds of angstroms, differs from the bulk structure. Measurements with buried layers confirm that the sampling depth for this total-electron-yield technique is determined primarily by the penetration ranges of Auger electrons emitted from the absorbing atoms. For the model systems listed above, LMM Auger electrons have ranges of hundreds of angstroms and KLL Auger electrons have ranges of thousands of angstroms. Expressions are derived for the sampling depth for total-electron-yield EXAFS experiments. The total-electron-yield technique described here is particularly useful for studying impurities within a few thousand angstroms of the surface of single crystals, where Bragg diffraction complicates the use of fluorescence measurements.
Ends of graphed equivalence relations, II

Given a countable Borel equivalence relation E on a Polish space, we show: (1) E admits an endless graphing if and only if E is smooth; (2) E admits a locally finite single-ended graphing if and only if E is aperiodic; (3) E admits a graphing for which there is a Borel way of selecting two ends from each component if and only if E is hyperfinite; and (4) E admits a graphing for which there is a Borel way of selecting a finite set of at least three ends from each component if and only if E is smooth.
Antimicrobial Defense of the Intestine

The mammalian gastrointestinal tract is home to a dense community of resident bacteria and is also exposed to microorganisms from the external environment. The epithelial surface of the intestine plays a critical role in host protection by producing a diverse repertoire of antimicrobial proteins that directly kill or hinder the growth of microorganisms. Here we discuss the general principles that govern the mechanisms of action of epithelial antimicrobial proteins, regulation of antimicrobial protein expression and activity, and in vivo functions of intestinal antimicrobial proteins. We also consider how altered antimicrobial protein expression and function can contribute to disease and how these endogenous antibiotics might be harnessed for the benefit of human health.
Spatially heterogeneous burial and high-P/T metamorphism in the Crescent Formation, Olympic Peninsula, Washington

The 16 km thick early to middle Eocene Crescent Formation exposed on the Olympic Peninsula represents one of the thickest stacks of basalt on Earth. It is variably metamorphosed at low grade, with evidence of both medium- and high- P / T conditions. Metasomatism is localized within a small number of layers, with variation relative to average values of as much as five standard deviations. The upper section tends to be lower grade but few systematic trends in mineralogy or mineral composition correlate with stratigraphic position. The boundary region between the lower and upper members contains the most dramatic metasomatic alteration as well as the best examples of barroisitic amphibole. Observations are consistent with a model in which extrusion of the basalt stack led to medium- P / T burial recrystallization in the zeolite and prehnite-pumpellyite facies, followed by localized, possibly fluid-facilitated lower-blueschist facies metamorphism; this high- P / T metamorphism may reflect the lowering of isotherms caused by subduction-zone refrigeration to the west of these rocks.
Poor Metacomprehension Accuracy as a Result of Inappropriate Cue Use

Two studies attempt to determine the causes of poor metacomprehension accuracy and then, in turn, to identify interventions that circumvent these difficulties to support effective comprehension monitoring performance. The first study explored the cues that both at-risk and typical college readers use as a basis for their metacomprehension judgments in the context of a delayed-summarization paradigm. Improvement was seen in all readers, but at-risk readers did not reach the same level of metacomprehension accuracy as a sample of typical college readers. Further, whereas few readers reported using comprehension-related cues, more at-risk readers reported using surface-related cues as the basis for their judgments. To support the use of more predictive cues among the at-risk readers, a second study employed a concept-map intervention, which was intended to make situation-model level representations more salient. Concept mapping improved both the comprehension and metacomprehension accuracy of at-risk readers...
The 2014 National Nursing Research Roundtable: The science of caregiving.

The National Nursing Research Roundtable (NNRR) meets annually to provide an opportunity for the leaders of nursing organizations with a research mission to discuss and disseminate research findings to improve health outcomes. In 2014, the NNRR addressed the science of caregiving, a topic of increasing importance given that more people are living with chronic conditions and that managing chronic illness is shifting from providers to individuals, their families, and the communities where they live. The NNRR consisted of scientific presentations in which leading researchers discussed the latest advances in caregiving science across the life span and breakout sessions where specific questions were discussed. The questions focused on the policy and practice implications of caregiving science and provided an opportunity for nursing leaders to discuss ways to advance caregiving science. The nursing community is ideally positioned to design and test caregiver health interventions and to implement these interventions in clinical and community settings.
Ballistic transport in semiconductor at low temperatures for low-power high-speed logic

At low temperatures, a mean free path of electrons in semiconductors may exceed device dimensions. Current-voltage characteristics, potentials, electrical field, and carrier distributions are calculated for a two-terminal device under such conditions when the electron transport is ballistic. Current-voltage characteristics of a "ballistic" FET are analyzed using an approach similar to the Shockley model. It is shown that very high drift velocities can be obtained at low voltages leading to high speed and low power consumption in possible applications in logic circuits. For example, GaAs logic devices with characteristic dimensions about a micrometer or less at 77 K will be comparable with or better than Josephson tunneling logic gates.
Selective heat precipitability of reduced human hemoglobins in alkaline urea

Abstract Solutions of reduced hemoglobins from patients with either SS, SC, or CC hemoglobinopathies precipitated when heated for two minutes at 100°C at pH 9.20 in the presence of 3.64 M urea, while hemolysates of normal adult AA and newborns (FA hemoglobin) remained clear. In patients with hemoglobin C trait (AC) having 30% or more C hemoglobin, precipitation also occurred. The conditions of pH and urea concentration affording precipitation of hemoglobin S approximated those observed for hemoglobin C.
Gas transfer and liquid dispersion inside a deep airlift reactor

Gas transfer experiments in bubbly flow are conducted inside a deep bubble column/airlift reactor containing air and water with a maximum aerated water height of 23.4 m and diameter of 1.06 m. The effects of geometry and operating conditions on mixing and gas transfer are determined. Fluorescence measurements are used to estimate dispersion coefficients for several operating conditions, while bubble-water gas transfer measurements are made using dissolved oxygen (DO) probes. A two-phase convection-dispersion model is fit to the DO measurements using the liquid film coefficient (kL) as a fitting parameter. Sparger differences had a substantial effect upon kL, and the gas transfer coefficient for the airlift reactor was four times that of the bubble column. Results are characterized using Sherwood, Reynolds, and Bond numbers. A low Reynolds number exponent was found, indicating that kL in a deep column tends toward a constant and is not highly dependent upon air discharge. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
Synergism between resveratrol and other phytochemicals: Implications for obesity and osteoporosis

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin, has gained much attention recently due to its effects on sirtuins. While the anti-cancer properties of resveratrol have been extensively investigated, the anti-adipogenic and osteogenic effects of resveratrol are also gaining considerable interest. The finding that resveratrol supplementation mimics caloric restriction prompted researchers to study the effects of resveratrol on lipid metabolism. Mesenchymal stem cells are the precursors for both adipocytes and osteoblasts. In the aging population, differentiation to adipocytes dominates over the differentiation to osteoblasts in bone marrow, contributing to the increased tendency for fractures to occur in the elderly. Thus, an inverse relationship exists between adipocytes and osteoblasts in the bone marrow. Resveratrol acts on several molecular targets in adipocytes and osteoblasts leading to a decrease in adipocyte number and size and an increase in osteogenesis. Furthermore, resveratrol in combination with genistein and quercetin synergistically decreased adipogenesis in murine and human adipocytes. A recent in vivo study showed that phytochemicals including resveratrol in combination with vitamin D prevented weight gain and bone loss in a postmenopausal rat model. Therefore, combinations of resveratrol with other phytochemicals may lead to potential novel potent therapies for both obesity and osteoporosis.
Regulating Diversity: The Effect of Retransmission Consent on the Consolidation of the Television Industry

(2009). Regulating Diversity: The Effect of Retransmission Consent on the Consolidation of the Television Industry. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 85-94.
Solventogenesis in Clostridium acetobutylicum fermentations related to carboxylic acid and proton concentrations

The mechanism primarily implicated in the solventogenesis process in batch fermentations of Clostridium acetobutylicum is examined in considerable detail. A variety of fermentations with or without pH control in the pH range of 3.7-6 have been carried out in order to examine which of a host of suspect parameters correlate with the initiation of solventogenesis. The parameters that did not correlate are the external (pH(0)) and intracellular (pH(i)) pH, and DeltapH, and the external or intracellular butyrate and acetate concentrations. Undissociated butyric acid (UBA) correlated well with the initiation of solventogenesis. A linear relationship between UBA and butanol concentrations was found at the onset of solventogenesis in all fermentations examined. The intercept of this linear relationship was 6-13mM UBA for the pH(0) range of 3.7-5 and approximately zero for pH(0) at or above 6. The required minimal UBA was interpreted as a dependency of the solventogenesis process on both H(+) and butyrate concentrations. Undissociated acetic acid was found not to correlate with the initiation of solventogenesis. Addition of acetoacetate (AA) and propionate enhanced the effect of UBA on the solventogenesis process. The action of a nonmetabolizable (FCCP) and a metabolizable (AA) uncoupler on the DeltapH, pH(0), pH(i), and solventogenesis were also studied in order to gain further understanding of the solventogenesis mechanism.
The Use of Resistivity Techniques to Delineate Acid Mine Drainage in Ground Water

A resistivity survey was run in an area of good geologic control to determine if resistivity is a viable technique for delineating aquifers contaminated with acid mine drainage. Results show that due to the high conductivity of the acid water, it makes an excellent target to define electrically. Aquifers polluted in this fashion were traced from their surface expression back under clays, shales, and coal toward the point of origin. Based on these results along with chemical analysis of streams and ground-water samples, techniques are presented for the periodic monitoring of the ground water through surface resistivity techniques to determine both the extent and degree of contamination.
Activation of Nuclear Factor-κB by Depolarization and Ca2+ Influx in MIN6 Insulinoma Cells

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation is a component of the depolarization/Ca(2+)-dependent signaling in beta-cells. MIN6 cells were transfected with a plasmid containing five tandem repeats of NF-kappaB binding sites linked to a luciferase reporter. The results of these experiments showed that KCl induced depolarization-activated NF-kappaB-dependent transcription (3.8-fold at 45 mmol/l, P < 0.01) in a concentration-dependent manner. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a known inducer of NF-kappaB signaling, activated this construct by 3.4-fold (P < 0.01). The response of NF-kappaB to depolarization was inhibited by the Ca(2+)-channel blocker verapamil and by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 (70 and 62%, respectively). TNF-alpha, glucose, and KCl treatment resulted in inhibitory kappaBalpha degradation by Western blot analysis. TNF-alpha treatment and depolarization activation of NF-kappaB differed significantly in that TNF-alpha activation was not blocked by PD98059. Transfection with PKA, MEK, and MEK kinase induced NF-kappaB-dependent transcription by 20-, 90-, and 300-fold, respectively, suggesting that these pathways contribute to the activation in the depolarization response. These findings demonstrate that depolarization/Ca(2+) influx, as well as TNF-alpha treatment, can activate NF-kappaB-dependent transcription in pancreatic beta-cells, but by different signaling pathways. The current studies show that Ca(2+) signals in pancreatic beta-cells can activate transcription factors involved in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. These findings now add NF-kappaB to the list of depolarization-induced transcription factors in pancreatic beta-cells.
HSP70 binding modulates detachment of Na-K-ATPase following energy deprivation in renal epithelial cells

The molecular mechanisms associated with reestablishment of renal epithelial polarity after injury remain incompletely delineated. Stress proteins may act as molecular chaperones, potentially modulating injury or enhancing recovery. We tested whether overexpression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) would stabilize Na-K-ATPase attachment to the cytoskeleton, under conditions of ATP depletion, and whether a direct association existed between Na-K-ATPase and HSP70 in cultured renal epithelial cells. LLC-PK1 cells were transfected with a tagged HSP70 (70FLAG) or vector alone (VA). Detachment of Na-K-ATPase was detected in Triton soluble lysate after ATP depletion. 70FLAG cells demonstrated a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in detachment of Na-K-ATPase after either 2 or 4 h of ATP depletion. Interactions between HSP70 and Na-K-ATPase were determined by coimmunoprecipitation of 70FLAG and Na-K-ATPase, by direct and competitive binding assays and by immunocytochemical localization. Binding of HSP70 and Na-K-ATPase increased dramatically following injury. Interactions were: 1) reversible; 2) reciprocal to changes in the HSP70 binding protein clathrin; and 3) present only when ATP turnover was inhibited in cell lysate, an established characteristic of HSP binding. These studies indicate that 1) overexpression of HSP70 is associated with decreased detachment of Na-K-ATPase from the cytoskeleton following injury; 2) HSP70 binds to Na-K-ATPase; and 3) binding of HSP70 to Na-K-ATPase is dynamic and specific, increasing in response to injury and decreasing during recovery. Interaction between the molecular chaperone HSP70 and damaged or displaced Na-K-ATPase may represent a fundamental cellular mechanism underlying maintenance and recovery of renal tubule polarity following energy deprivation.
Fault-Tolerant Multiprocessor Link and Bus Network Architectures

This paper presents a general class of regular networks which provide optimal (near-optimal) fault tolerance.
Task-list manager - a CS2 lab on advanced graphical user interface and data structures

A lab assignment for CS2 students, first time in a team environment, to design and implement a task-list manager with advanced graphical user interface in two one-hour labs has been well received. Students had studied list and binary search tree implementations and Java I/O but with minimal knowledge of graphical user interface. A student acted as the system architect providing Unified Modeling Language diagrams for design. The Task-List Manager consists of a split-pane on the left side containing a tree (for task-list creation and selection), the right side containing another splitpane with a table (containing the tasks in the selected task-list) in the top side, and a text pane in the bottom for detailed notes of the selected task. Students were required to look up the Java documentation for appropriate classes. The tree may contain folders with nested folders and task-lists with layout adjustable with drag-and-drop. A right click on any folder or task-list produces a popup menu with editing options. Based on student feedback, the success stems from creating a practical product and learning through independently investigating the Java documentation for data structure and graphical user interface classes and hands-on software development in a team environment.
Association of an Inherited Genetic Variant With Vincristine-Related Peripheral Neuropathy in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

RESULTS Grade 2 to 4 vincristine-induced neuropathy during continuation therapy occurred in 28.8% of patients (64/222) in the St Jude cohort and in 22.2% (22/99) in the COG cohort. A SNP in the promoter region of the CEP72 gene, which encodes a centrosomal protein involved in microtubule formation, had a significant association with vincristine neuropathy (meta-analysis P = 6.3×10 −9 ). This SNP had a minor allele frequency of 37% (235/642), with 50 of 321 patients (16%; 95% CI, 11.6%-19.5%) homozygous for the risk allele (TT at rs924607). Among patients with the high-risk CEP72 genotype (TT at rs924607), 28 of 50 (56%; 95% CI, 41.2%-70.0%) developed at least 1 episode of grade 2 to 4 neuropathy, a higher rate than in patients with the CEP72 CC or CT genotypes (58/271 patients [21.4%; 95% CI, 16.9%-26.7%]; P = 2.4×10 −6 ). The severity of neuropathy was greater in patients homozygous for the TT genotype compared with patients with the CC or CT genotype (2.4-fold by Poisson regression [P<.0001] and 2.7-fold based on mean grade of neuropathy: 1.23 [95% CI, 0.74-1.72] vs 0.45 [95% CI, 0.3-0.6]; P = .004 by t test). Reducing CEP72 expression in human neurons and leukemia cells increased their sensitivity to vincristine. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this preliminary study of children with ALL, an inherited polymorphism in the promoter region of CEP72 was associated with increased risk and severity of vincristine-related peripheral neuropathy. If replicated in additional populations, this finding may provide a basis for safer dosing of this widely prescribed anticancer agent.
Real‐Time Spatial Gene Expression Analysis within Current‐Producing Biofilms

The expression of genes involved in central metabolism and extracellular electron transfer was examined in real-time in current-producing anode biofilms of Geobacter sulfurreducens. Strains of G. sulfurreducens were generated, in which the expression of the gene for a short half-life fluorescent protein was placed under control of the promoter of the genes of interest. Anode biofilms were grown in a chamber that permitted direct examination of the cell fluorescence with confocal scanning laser microscopy. Studies on nifD and citrate synthase expression in response to environmental changes demonstrated that the reporter system revealed initiation and termination of gene transcription. Uniform expression throughout the biofilms was noted for the genes for citrate synthase; PilA, the structural protein of the conductive pili; and OmcZ, a c-type cytochrome essential for optimal current production, which was localized at the anode-biofilm interface. These results demonstrate that even cells at great distance from the anode, or within expected low-pH zones, are metabolically active and likely to contribute to current production and that there are factors other than gene expression differences influencing the distribution of OmcZ. This real-time reporter approach is likely to be a useful tool in optimizing the design of technologies relying on microbe-electrode interactions.
Mapping of pastoral corridors: practices and politics in eastern Senegal

The delineation and protection of transhumance corridors are increasingly seen as critical to maintaining livestock mobility in agropastoral areas of West Africa by allowing passage through areas of increasing cropping pressure. Understanding the local politics surrounding the mapping and protection of transhumance corridors is important for policy formulation. This study reports the findings of group meetings in nine local districts (communaut's rurales) in eastern Senegal about recently mapped corridors. The focus of our observations include local perceptions of 1) the benefits and costs of corridors, 2) the effect of the recognition of corridors on competing land uses (particularly farming), 3) the need for and means to recognize and protect corridors, and 4) the appropriate level of authority to recognize and protect corridors. Our findings show significant geographical variation within the study area as to the perceived benefits and costs of corridors, with a major distinction between groups who view the function of corridors as protecting local farms from livestock passing through and those that understand corridors as critical for facilitating access to pastures. Given the significant overlap among multiple formal and informal poles of authority, the politics surrounding corridor delineation and protection are shaped less by the perceived costs to competing land uses than by contestation over the authority that designation and protection would require. Policy implications of findings for land use planning around corridors are discussed.
Preventing glycaemic relapse in recently controlled type 2 diabetes patients: a randomised controlled trial

Aims/hypothesis After achieving glycaemic control, many type 2 diabetic patients relapse to clinically significant levels of hyperglycaemia. We sought to determine the optimal frequency of telephone contact by nurse practitioners that was necessary to prevent glycaemic relapse.
A Theory of Galois Switching Functions

Galois switching functions (GSF's) are generalizations of binary functions in that the input and output variables can assume values over any finite field. The concepts of minterms, k-cubes and minimal complexity realizations as related to GSF are introduced.
Quadratic detectors for energy estimation

The estimation of signal energy is an important part of physics and signal processing. A commonly used energy estimate in signal processing is instantaneous energy that is defined by the square of the signal magnitude at time t, i.e.,.
TRAUMATIC DISLOCATION OF THE SHOULDER

1. Herein are described twelve instances of traumatic dislocation of the shoulder joint. Eight have been carefully studied: first in the cadaver, next by dissection, and lastly on the macerated skeletons. The other four are known only by the skeletons. 2. These twelve lesions emanate from a collection of 1826 complete skeletons of known individuals. The high percentage is probably due: first, to the class of patient who does not readily seek medical advice for a disability; and, secondly, to the relatively minor degree of disability apparently suffered by most of the twelve. 3. The classic description of the production of traumatic shoulder dislocation is not borne out by these examples. 4. In the original injury the humeral head has been forced over the glenoid margin in the region of the subscapular bursa. This is accompanied by either a stubbing fracture of the ventral glenoid margin or by a functional disability of the subscapularis muscle, or both. 5. In the subluxation or stub, the healed glenoid margin is no disability but the functional damage sustained by the subscapularis becomes the important feature. The humerus is externally rotated and is slightly eroded on its dorsal aspect adjacent to the greater tuberosity, even though the head never leaves the glenoid cavity. This condition may escape notice or be diagnosed as rheumatism. 6. Subscapularis bursitis seems to have some influence in predisposing the joint to traumatic dislocation through thinning of the glenoid margin. 7. In the true luxations the head leaves the glenoid and the final category depends upon the site of glenoid injury. If the mid-ventral margin is damaged, subcoracoid dislocation results; if the lower ventral margin is affected, subglenoid dislocation occurs. In such conditions the humeral erosion is more or less deep, depending upon extent of glenoid damage and muscular action. 8. This humeral erosion apparently continues long after the original pain and muscular spasm have given place to "rheumatism" and muscular contracture. 9. Stubbing fracture of the ventral glenoid margin, old synovitis of the subscapularis bursa, and traumatic functional deficiency in the subscapularis muscle are the three contributing causes to traumatic dislocation of the shoulder, so far as can be ascertained from our material. 10. It may be inferred that many of the cases herein described, especially those classified as stub, were cases of recurring subluxations of the shoulder joint. In view of the fact that we have definitely demonstrated the presence of bony defect, operative correction should be planned with view to correction of the subluxation by check ligaments and boneblock operations rather than by capsulorrhaphies.
Why is image quality assessment so difficult

Image quality assessment plays an important role in various image processing applications. A great deal of effort has been made in recent years to develop objective image quality metrics that correlate with perceived quality measurement. Unfortunately, only limited success has been achieved. In this paper, we provide some insights on why image quality assessment is so difficult by pointing out the weaknesses of the error sensitivity based framework, which has been used by most image quality assessment approaches in the literature. Furthermore, we propose a new philosophy in designing image quality metrics: The main function of the human eyes is to extract structural information from the viewing field, and the human visual system is highly adapted for this purpose. Therefore, a measurement of structural distortion should be a good approximation of perceived image distortion. Based on the new philosophy, we implemented a simple but effective image quality indexing algorithm, which is very promising as shown by our current results.