cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supplemental Dietary Arginine Accelerates Intestinal Mucosal Regeneration and Enhances Bacterial Clearance Following Radiation Enteritis in Rats

Abstract Background.Arginine is a dibasic amino acid with significant metabolic and immunologic, effects especially in trauma and stress situations. Arginine supplementation has been shown to promote wound healing and improve immune system. We designed a study to evaluate the effects of supplemental dietary arginine on intestinal mucosal recovery and bacterial translocation and bacterial clearance after induction of radiation injury in rats. Methods.Twenty-one male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to a single dose of 1100 rads of abdominal X radiation. Rats were divided into three groups; the first group received diet enriched with 2% arginine, the second group with 4% arginine, and the third group with isonitrogenous 4% glycine. Rats were sacrificed 7 days after the radiation. Blood was drawn for arginine levels and mesenteric lymph nodes were harvested for quantitative aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Segments of ileum and jejunum were evaluated for villous height, number of villi per centimeter of intestine, and the number of mucous cells per villous. Results and conclusions.Arginine is absorbed reliably from the gut following oral administration. Dietary 4% arginine supplementation enhanced bacterial clearance from mesenteric lymph nodes compared to 2% arginine and 4% glycine supplemented diet following radiation enteritis in rats. Four percent arginine resulted in clear improvement in intestinal mucosal recovery when compared to 2% arginine and 4% glycine after abdominal irradiation in rats.
Hybrid multi‐scale epoxy composites containing conventional glass microfibers and electrospun glass nanofibers with improved mechanical properties

A mechanically flexible mat consisting of structurally amorphous SiO2 (glass) nanofibers was first prepared by electrospinning followed by pyrolysis under optimized conditions and procedures. Thereafter, two types of hybrid multi-scale epoxy composites were fabricated via the technique of vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. For the first type of composites, six layers of conventional glass microfiber (GF) fabrics were infused with the epoxy resin containing shortened electrospun glass nanofibers (S-EGNFs). For the second type of composites, five layers of electrospun glass nanofiber mats (EGNF-mats) were sandwiched between six layers of conventional GF fabrics followed by the infusion of neat epoxy resin. For comparison, the (conventional) epoxy composites with six layers of GF fabrics alone were also fabricated as the control sample. Incorporation of EGNFs (i.e., S-EGNFs and EGNF-mats) into GF/epoxy composites led to significant improvements in mechanical properties, while the EGNF-mats outperformed S-EGNFs in the reinforcement of resin-rich interlaminar regions. The composites reinforced with EGNF-mats exhibited the highest mechanical properties overall; specifically, the impact absorption energy, interlaminar shear strength, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and work of fracture were (1097.3 ± 48.5) J/m, (42.2 ± 1.4) MPa, (387.1 ± 9.9) MPa, (12.9 ± 1.3) GPa, and (30.6 ± 1.8) kJ/m2, corresponding to increases of 34.6%, 104.8%, 65.4%, 33.0%, and 56.1% compared to the control sample. This study suggests that EGNFs (particularly flexible EGNF-mats) would be an innovative type of nanoscale reinforcement for the development of high-performance structural composites. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42731.
The multiple roles of microRNA-155 in oncogenesis

The microRNA miR-155 is prominent in cancer biology. Among microRNAs that have been linked to cancer, it is the most commonly overexpressed in malignancies (PNAS 109:20047-20052, 2012). Since its discovery, miR-155 has been implicated in promoting cancers of the breast, lung, liver, and lymphatic system. As such, targeted therapies may prove beneficial to cancer treatment. This review discusses the important role of miR-155 in oncogenesis. It synthesizes information from ten recent papers on miR-155, and includes an analysis and discussion of its association with cancer, interactions with other miRNAs, mechanisms of action, and the most promising available treatment options. Current debates in the field include the importance of miRNAs in general and their utility as targets in preventing tumorigenesis (Blood 119:513-520, 2012). Most of the papers being reviewed here confirm the role of miR-155 in oncogenesis (EMBO Mol Med 1:288-295, 2009). While there is some controversy surrounding recent research that claims that miR-155 may display anti-oncogenic or pro-immunological benefits (Cell Rep 2:1697–1709, 2012), most research seems to point to the importance of anti-miRs, with anti-miR-155 in particular, for cancer therapy.
Deep levels in ion implanted field effect transistors on SiC

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is emerging as an important material for fabricating high power, high temperature and high frequency devices because it has high thermal conductivity, large saturation electron drift velocity, high electric breakdown field and excellent thermal stability. Ion implantation of donor and acceptor impurities into bulk SiC is an attractive method for making planar devices and it has been used to fabricate a variety of SiC based FETs in the past few years. However, the performance and reliability of these devices still remain a serious problem for industrial applications. This is due to channel/insulator or channel/substrate interface traps, which reduce the mobilities in MISFETs and MESFETs to values much lower than those measured in bulk material. Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) is an excellent way to evaluate these trap, but only a few studies have been done on the deep levels. In this work interface traps are studied in detail for two FET device structures: MISFET on p-type 6H-SiC and MESFET on semi-insulating (SI) bulk 4H-SiC. For MISFETs the traps at the gate insulator/semiconductor interface created during insulator deposition and for MESFETs, the traps at the channel/substrate interface introduced by the ion-implantation process are examined.
Increased Frequency of De Novo Copy Number Variants in Congenital Heart Disease by Integrative Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Array and Exome Sequence Data

Rationale:Congenital heart disease (CHD) is among the most common birth defects. Most cases are of unknown pathogenesis. Objective:To determine the contribution of de novo copy number variants (CNVs) in the pathogenesis of sporadic CHD. Methods and Results:We studied 538 CHD trios using genome-wide dense single nucleotide polymorphism arrays and whole exome sequencing. Results were experimentally validated using digital droplet polymerase chain reaction. We compared validated CNVs in CHD cases with CNVs in 1301 healthy control trios. The 2 complementary high-resolution technologies identified 63 validated de novo CNVs in 51 CHD cases. A significant increase in CNV burden was observed when comparing CHD trios with healthy trios, using either single nucleotide polymorphism array (P=7×10−5; odds ratio, 4.6) or whole exome sequencing data (P=6×10−4; odds ratio, 3.5) and remained after removing 16% of de novo CNV loci previously reported as pathogenic (P=0.02; odds ratio, 2.7). We observed recurrent de novo CN...
Assessing the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure for Measurement Equivalence Across Racial and Ethnic Groups

An increasing number of organizational researchers examine the effects of ethnic identity and other-group orientation. In doing so, many use Phinney's (1992) Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), which purportedly allows simultaneous assessment of various groups. Although several studies demonstrate adequate validity and reliability for scores on the MEIM, the only two studies that have assessed its measurement equivalence across racial and ethnic groups (a) focus exclusively on the ethnic identity component, (b) use entirely adolescent samples, and (c) obtain somewhat mixed results. Because ethnic identity is still developing during adolescence, it cannot be assumed that equivalence or lack thereof among adolescents will generalize to adults. The present study examines the measurement equivalence of both components of the MEIM across racial and ethnic groups using a sample of 1,349 White, Hispanic, African American, and Asian American adults. The results suggest that Roberts et al.'s revised version...
EBSCO's Communication & Mass Media Complete: An Appreciable Improvement Over Previous Communication Studies Indexing?

ABSTRACT In a prior edition of this study, we examined whether the established online communication studies indexes—Communication Abstracts, ComIndex, and ComAbstracts—provided a good avenue of access to the journal literature that researchers in the field cite and whether, where the current journal literature was concerned, that avenue of access might be equal or superior to that provided by large, multisubject online indexes. In this iteration of the study, we similarly address EBSCO's new product for communication studies, Communication & Mass Media Complete.
Radio-Frequency Interference Among Linear-FM Radars

The problem of radio-frequency interference (RFI) between radars using linear-FM pulses is examined. For a very large class of cases, the RFI is the same as if the FM were removed; for the cases not in that category, it is shown that the peak response of an unweighted receiver can be closely approximated by a hand calculation. The effects of cosine-on-a-pedestal weighting, in either the frequency or the . time domain, are then considered. Exact expressions for the RFI are developed, and it is shown that, if one is satisfied with knowing the peak of the response, the effect of the weighting can be well approximated by some quite simple expressions.
High speed redundant self-correcting circuits for radiation hardened by design logic

Self-correcting fine-grained triple redundant circuits using majority gate feedback for single event upset and transient radiation hardening are described and compared to other hardening approaches. The approach votes the triple modular redundant (TMR) state in the state element feedback path, which allows high performance commensurate with commercial integrated circuits. Clock gating is supported. The TMR self-correcting approach is used in a built-in self-test engine to evaluate a 16 k-byte cache design. The circuits have been fabricated on a 90 nm low standby power bulk CMOS process. Data paths have been tested at clock frequencies up to 500 MHz. TID tests using Co-60 indicate negligible standby current increase at over 2 Mrad(Si) and ion tests show SEE hardness beyond 100 MeV-cm2/mg LET.
Tailoring hot-exciton emission and lifetimes in semiconducting nanowires via whispering-gallery nanocavity plasmons

Typically, the light-emission of semiconductors always occurs from thermalized electrons, as electrons excited above the bandgap energy relax quickly. In contrast, non-thermalized excitonic light emission has now been observed in nanowires using resonant plasmonic nanocavities. The much higher radiative light-emission rates of the hot excitons suggest their use for ultrafast nanophotonic devices.
On the use of virtualization and service technologies to enable grid-computing

The In-VIGO approach to Grid-computing relies on the dynamic establishment of virtual grids on which application services are instantiated. In-VIGO was conceived to enable computational science to take place In Virtual Information Grid Organizations. Having its first version deployed on July of 2003, In-VIGO middleware is currently used by scientists from various disciplines, a noteworthy example being the computational nanoelectronics research community (http://www.nanohub.org). All components of an In-VIGO-generated virtual grid – machines, networks, applications and data – are themselves virtual and services are provided for their dynamic creation. This article reviews the In-VIGO approach to Grid-computing and overviews the associated middleware techniques and architectures for virtualizing Grid components, using services for creation of virtual grids and automatically Grid-enabling unmodified applications. The In-VIGO approach to the implementation of virtual networks and virtual application services are discussed as examples of Grid-motivated approaches to resource virtualization and Web-service creation.
A preference for development: the law and economics of GSP

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), authorized by the 1979 Enabling Clause under GATT, allows importing nations to extend preferential tariff treatment to the products of developing countries. India recently brought a successful WTO complaint challenging aspects of the EC preference scheme, claiming that it impermissibly discriminated among developing countries. We analyze the law and economics of discrimination within GSP schemes, assessing the implications of the Appellate Body decision in the case brought by India, and noting the economic costs and benefits of imposing tight nondiscrimination obligations on trade preferences for developing countries. We conclude that the case against discriminatory preferences is at best an uneasy one, both in legal and in economic terms. We also note that the ostensible justification for GSP schemes in the fist instance – to promote growth and development – is unlikely to be served terribly well by existing GSP policy.
Optical Multiplication And Division Using Modified-Signed-Digit Symbolic Substitution

The modified-signed-digit (MSD) number system offers parallel addition and subtraction of any two numbers, with carry propagation constrained only between two adjacent digits. Based on MSD addition, parallel algorithms for multiplication and division are developed in this paper. The optical implementations of these MSD arithmetic algorithms are developed on the basis of symbolic substitution (SS). The space-invariant nature of SS matches well with the parallel nature of the MSD arithmetic algorithms presented. The potential advantages of using these algorithms for optical computing include the significant increase in speed, full exploitation of parallelism, and higher system throughput compared with existing electronic arithmetic processors. The performance of the proposed optical arithmetic system is analyzed and compared with that of state-of-the-art electronic counterparts.
Hole density and capture of stored-product insect pests in grain probe traps.

The relationship between number of holes in a grain probe trap body and capture of stored-grain pests was determined in laboratory tests using adults of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), the sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Polyvinylchloride (PVC) probe bodies were attached to electronic sensor heads, and insect captures were recorded electronically using an Electronic Grain Probe Insect Counter (EGPIC) system. In comparisons among PVC probe trap bodies with 60–492 holes, tested at 71 insects per kg in 2.8 kg of soft wheat in cylindrical mini-silos, sawtoothed grain beetle and rice weevil captures were directly related to number of holes in the probe trap body, but there was no relationship for red flour beetle capture. Subsequent tests were conducted comparing sawtoothed grain beetle and rice weevil captures in a PVC probe body with 210 holes over a 40-cm long trapping surface with two commercially available probe traps, a polycarbonate (Lexan) probe trap with 180 holes over a 14-cm long trapping surface and a polyethylene (WBII) probe trap with 750 holes over a 34-cm long trapping surface. The highest percentage capture of both species was in the WBII probe trap, but the 210-hole PVC probe body was as effective as the Lexan probe body for rice weevils and sawtoothed grain beetles at 71 and 17 insects per kg of wheat, respectively.
Developmental increases in glucose transporter concentration in the sheep placenta

To explore the molecular basis for the gestational increase in glucose transport capacity of the sheep placenta in vivo, placentas from twin-pregnant ewes at days 75, 110, and 140 postcoitus (n = 6/group) were analyzed for glucose transporter (GT) concentration. Concentration (pmol/mg protein) of D-glucose-inhibitable binding sites, measured by [3H]cytochalasin B binding analysis, increased 3.4 times from mid- to late pregnancy. Concurrently, abundance of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 protein, measured by immunoblotting with specific polyclonal antibodies, increased 2.3 and 2.9 times, respectively, while abundance of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 mRNA, measured by Northern blotting, increased 1.8 and 3.9 times, respectively. GLUT-4 protein was undetectable at all stages of pregnancy. Quantitative immunoblotting indicated that GLUT-1 accounted for 86.8 +/- 1.6% at day 75 and 56.1 +/- 4.1% at day 140 of total cytochalasin B binding sites. Thus increases in GT concentration explain much of the gestational increase in glucose transfer capacity observed in vivo. The gestational decline in relative contribution of GLUT-1 to cytochalasin binding, together with the greater developmental increases in GLUT-3 mRNA and protein, further suggests that the relative importance of GLUT-3 increases with gestational age.
Variation in Mycorrhizal and Spore Morphology of Glomus Occultum and Glomus Diaphanum as Influenced by Plant Host and Soil Environment

Spore and mycorrhizal morphology were examined among isolates of Glomus occultum and Glomus diaphanum collected from soils with dissimilar physical and chemieal properties and maintained in pot culture on five plant species. Spore size, color, and structure were not influenced significantly by host or soil environmental interactions. Spore wall structure consistently separated G. occultum and G. diaphanum. Intraspecific variation in overlapping taxonomic characteristics such as spore size did not obscure significant differences between species. These results provide further evidence that spore morphological characteristics are valid criteria for identifying and classifying VA mycorrhizal fungi. However, mycorrhizal morphology also differentiated the two endophyte species. Intraradical structures formed by G. occultum stained weakly within two weeks after initial penetration of roots and disappeared thereafter. Glomus diaphanum produced arbuscules, vesicles, and spores in stained roots. Mycorrhizal morphology and ontogeny of each endophyte were similar in all hosts. Significant variation was expressed in the rate and degree of mycorrhizal development. Disparate, yet consistent, mycorrhizae formed by G. occultum and G. diaphanum indicate that mycorrhizal anatomy also may be important in the classification of VA mycorrhizal fungi.
A New Echinopodospora with a Chrysosporium Conidial State

Echinopodospora terrestris, isolated from a soil sample collected from Colombia, South America, is described as a new species. It is homothallic and characterized by ascospores with an ornamented surface consisting of hyaline, irregular, flat-topped ridges forming a very incomplete reticulum. The associated conidial state is assignable to the genus Chrysosporium. A dichotomous key to the species of Echinopodospora is also presented.
Transactional information is remarkably revelatory.

When Edward Snowden revealed that the United States government had been collecting domestic communications metadata in bulk, the administration responded that there was no great concern. The data were only how long, when, and which number called which, not what participants said. Two days after the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order ordering the collection was made public, President Obama said,When it comes to telephone calls, nobody is listening to your telephone calls. That’s not what this program is about. As was indicated, what the intelligence community is doing is looking at phone numbers and durations of calls. They are not looking at people’s names, and they’re not looking at content. (1)
Wittgenstein, Use, Functionalism

As I discuss meaning, the shade of Wittgenstein seems always at my side, aphoristically prompting or riddling, alternately confirming the MLM metaphor and calling it into question. But he is present also in another way, especially now, because during his career his thought underwent a sea change that summarizes in nuce the difference between the kind of conception of meaning with which the philosopher (especially if of a logicist bent) is typically concerned and the kind with which the modeller is — though, of course, the difference is not strictly applicable in all cases.
Positive Youth Development Life Skills Gained at the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference

Research suggests 4-H programs build Life Skills such as leadership, communication, citizenship and learning. However, 4-H programs vary from long-term on-going experiences to shorter, more intense opportunities. This paper discusses a program evaluation articulating the life skill development of participants in a 3-day residential State 4-H Conference on a Midwestern college campus. The Life Skills assessed were in the areas of leadership, citizenship, communication, and learning as part of overall Life Skill development. Participants were youth ages 14-18 years. A retrospective pretest-posttest was used to evaluate skill development and understanding. Analysis, including paired sample t-tests, indicated growth in each of the 12 common outcome measures evaluated. This study supports the importance of purposeful planning and youth engagement in the learning process to achieve desired life skill outcomes.
Reflectance-based skin detection in the short wave infrared band and its application to video

Robust reflectance-based skin detection is a potentially powerful tool for security and search and rescue applications, especially when applied to video. However, to be useful it must be able to account for the variations of human skin, as well as other items in the environment that could cause false detections. This effort focused on identifying a robust skin detection scheme that is appropriate for video application. Skin reflectance was modeled to identify unique skin features and compare them to potential false positive materials. Based on these comparisons, specific wavelength bands were selected and different combinations of two and three optical filters were used for actively identifying skin, as well as identifying and removing potential false positive materials. One wavelength combination (1072/1250 nm) was applied to video using both single- and dual-camera configurations based on its still image performance, as well as its appropriateness for video application. There are several important factors regarding the extension of still image skin detection to video, including light available for detection (solar irradiance and reflectance intensity), overall intensity differences between different optical filters, optical component light loss, frame rate, time lag when switching between filters, image coregistration, and camera auto gain behavior.
Using molecular imaging to assess the delivery and infection of protease activated virus in animal model of myocardial infarction

Cardiovascular diseases remain the greatest cause of death in the US and gene therapy has the potential to be an effective therapy. In this study, we demonstrated MMP-9 based protease-activatable virus (PAV) for selective infection of myocardial infarct (MI) that is associated with active MMP-9 expression. To test the specificity of PAV, we used expression of a far-red fluorescence protein (iRFP) delivered by the PAV together with a dual PET/NIRF imaging agent specific for active MMP-9 activity at the site of MI in a murine model. Calibrated fluorescence imaging employed a highly-sensitive intensified camera, laser diode excitation sources, and filtration schemes based upon the spectra of iRFP and the NIRF agent. One to two days after ligation of the left anterior descending artery, the PAV or WT AAV9 virus encoding for iRFP (5x1010 genomic particles) and radiolabeled MMP-9 imaging agent (3 nmol) were injected intravenously (i.v.). PET imaging showed MMP activity was associated with adverse tissue remodeling at the site of the MI. One week after, animals were again injected i.v. with the MMP-9 agent (3 nmol) and 18-24 h later, the animals were euthanized and the hearts were harvested, sliced, and imaged for congruent iRFP transgene expression and NIRF signals associated with MMP-9 tissue activity. The fluorescent margins of iRFP and NIRF contrasted tissues were quantified in terms Standard International units of mW/cm2/sr. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PAV and WT targeting to sites of MI was determined from these calibrated fluorescence measurements. The PAV demonstrated significantly higher delivery performance than that of the WT AAV9 virus.
Alpha-decay properties of Fr-205, Fr-206, Fr-207, Fr-208: Identification of Frm206

Alpha-particle and ..gamma..-ray spectral measurements were made for /sup 205-208/Fr. A new a emitter (T/sub 1/2/ = 0.7 +- 0.1 sec and E/sub a/ = 6.930 +- 0.005 MeV) was observed and identified with the decay of a previously unknown isomer in /sup 206/Fr. From the a particle and g ray intensities, a decay branching ratios were deduced for /sup 205-208/Fr utilizing available information concerning the nuclides' (electron capture+positron) decay properties. Reduced widths were calculated and compared with those of neighboring nuclei.
My Early Association with the Gest Oriental Library

The best way to know a library is to use its books. My earliest knowledge of the Gest Oriental Library at Princeton came through my use of its books in connection with my research work in the years 1943–1946.
Computed tomographic method to quantify electrode lead deformation and subdural gap after lead implantation for deep brain stimulation.

Abstract Background Deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment for movement disorders and psychiatric conditions. Intra-operative and post-operative events can result in brain tissue deformation (i.e. subdural gaps) which may cause lead deformation and its displacement from optimal target. We developed a method to quantify postoperative lead deformation and we present two DBS cases to illustrate the phenomena of lead deformation resulting from the development of subdural gaps. New method We present a semi-automatic computational algorithm using Computed Tomography scanning with reconstruction to determine lead curvature relative to a theoretical straight lead between the skull entry site and lead tip. Subdural gap was quantified from the CT scan. Results In 2 patients who had leads implanted, analysis of CT scans was completed within 5 min each. The maximum deviation of the observed lead from the theoretical linear path was 1.1 and 2.6 mm, and the subdural gap was 5.5 and 9.6 mL, respectively. Comparison with Existing Method(s) This is the first method allowing a comprehensive characterization of the lead deformation in situ. Conclusions The computational algorithms provide a simple, semiautomatic method to characterize in situ lead curvature related to brain tissue deformation after lead placement.
Elite interests and public spending: Evidence from Prussian cities

When do economic and political elites demand investment in public goods and services? The prevailing view is that non-democratic governments engage in low levels of government spending and taxation, because elites have interests in low taxation. Non-democracies exhibit significant variation in levels of government spending; the causes of these discrepancies have thus far not been thoroughly examined. I argue that where elites own capital that is conducive to government spending, regimes make higher investments. I test this argument using newly collected data on government spending as well as political and economic characteristics of 110 cities in 19th century Prussia. Using both standard regression models and instrumental variable analysis, I show that the economic needs of the local elites drove local government decisions on public spending.
Physical Evaluation of GPM DPR Single- and Dual-Wavelength Algorithms

AbstractA physical evaluation of the rain profiling retrieval algorithms for the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) on board the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory satell...
OTHER TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING OF ORAL CIRCULATION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the techniques for monitoring the oral circulation in humans and the effects of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors upon the vascular responses. It illustrates a typical recording of the blood flow as indicated by changes in the amplitude of the blood volume pulse (BVP) of the gingival papilla, recorded simultaneously with digital BVP and other physiological variables. The chapter describes the parameters in response to a standard physiological stress, such as the cold pressor test for 21 subjects. During cold pressor stimulation, apparent vasoconstriction of both papilla and finger is associated with decreased propagation time and increased crest time. This technique has been utilized to differentiate patients with oral disease, such as acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis or trench mouth from healthy controls. The chapter discusses monitoring of the circulation of the periodontal ligament by insertion of the probe through root canals.
What Disgusts Consumers in the Hospitality Industry: The Consumer Reaction to Environmental Contamination Model:

The consumer reaction to environmental contamination model explains how consumers’ perceptions about cleanliness influence their behavior in hospitality and tourism settings. Research literature su...
Smart City: Give the People What They Want

Data drives the smart city. From autonomous vehicles to air quality, from rain water and storm sewer systems to smart electric meters on homes and smart parking meters on the street, cities have big data plans. Along with their technology partners, city leaders are in the process of developing systems, ideally systems that their communities actually want. The tech world has often expressed concern over the great volume of data that will be generated in smart cities. The generated volume does justify that concern but data volume is not what citizens worry about. Our work has addressed the citizens of these communities and they have expressed a different concern,. Working at the intersection of anthropology, policy, and technology, we have been asking how citizens think "their" smart city should handle data.
Expert-Informed Habitat Suitability Analysis for At-Risk Species Assessment and Conservation Planning

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for reviewing the biological status of hundreds of species to determine federal status designations under the Endangered Species Act. The longleaf ...
Forest Carbon Resilience of Eastern Spruce Budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) Salvage Harvesting in the Northeastern United States

The next major eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) outbreak is likely to begin impacting the forests of the northeastern US over the next few years. More than 4.7 million ha of forest and 94.8 million Mg of carbon in spruce (Picea spp.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) are at risk. Vegetation shifts in at-risk forest stands are likely to occur as a direct result of mortality caused by spruce budworm and through post-outbreak salvage harvest operations designed to minimize economic impact. Management interventions have short-term and long-term consequences for the terrestrial carbon budget and have significant implications for the role of the region’s forests as a natural climate solution. We used regional forest inventory data and 40-year growth and harvest simulations from the USDA Forest Service Forest Vegetation Simulator to quantify a range of forest carbon outcomes for alternative silvicultural interventions in the northeastern US. We performed a life cycle assessment of harvested wood products, including bioenergy, to evaluate the full greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions consequences of salvage and business as usual silvicultural scenarios across a range of stand risk profiles in the presence and absence of spruce budworm attack. Salvaging dead trees in the most at-risk stands tends to produce net emissions of carbon dioxide for at least ten years compared to a baseline where dead trees are left standing. In most scenarios, GHG emissions reached parity with the baseline by year 20. Changes in forest carbon stocks were the biggest driver of net emission differences between salvage and no salvage scenarios. A benchmark scenario without timber harvesting or the occurrence of a spruce budworm outbreak had the greatest net carbon sequestration profile after 40 years compared to all other scenarios. Salvaging trees killed by a severe and widespread insect infestation has potential negative short-term implications for GHG emissions, but long-term resilience of these climate benefits is possible in the absence of future outbreaks or subsequent harvest activities. The results provide guidance on silvicultural interventions to minimize the impact of spruce budworm on forest carbon.
'Into the Bowels of Hell' Examining Online Defamation Law Through the Twitter Account of James Woods

Film actor James Woods is a conservative Twitter personality who uses the platform to provoke and attack celebrities, politicians, commentators, and news media that express liberal and progressive viewpoints – behavior commonly known on the internet as “trolling.” He also has his own trolls. Two lawsuits that stem from incidents on Twitter involving Woods offer an opportunity to explore the ways in which the medium and the law of defamation affect and are affected by one another. This Article analyzes these two lawsuits in an effort to explore the legal nuances and practical realities of asserting a defamation claim arising in a social media context. Section II discusses the factual bases of the lawsuits, their procedural histories, and their resolutions. Section III explores the merits of the defamation claims in both lawsuits by analyzing the elements of a defamation claim as they apply to the facts of each case. Section IV addresses the unique problems that social media defamation litigants face with respect to anonymity, the public figure doctrine, and the actual malice standard. Section V concludes by offering recommendations relating to the law and litigation process, and remedies for social media defamation claims.
Theranostic dendrimer-based lipid nanoparticles containing PEGylated BODIPY dyes for tumor imaging and systemic mRNA delivery in vivo.

Abstract mRNA-based therapeutics have emerged as a promising approach to treat cancer. However, creation of theranostic strategies to both deliver mRNA and simultaneously detect cancer is an important unmet goal. Here, we report the development of theranostic dendrimer-based lipid nanoparticle (DLNP) system containing PEGylated BODIPY dyes (PBD) for mRNA delivery and near-infrared (NIR) imaging in vitro and in vivo. DLNPs formulated with a pH-responsive PBD-lipid produced 5- to 35-fold more functional protein than control DLNPs formulated with traditional PEG-lipid in vitro and enabled higher mRNA delivery potency in vivo at a low dose of 0.1 mg kg-1 when formulated with a PBD-lipid containing a BODIPY core, indole linker, and PEG length between 1000 and 5000 g/mol. Moreover, we found the intensity of mRNA expression in the liver correlated with the pKa of DLNPs, indicating that DLNPs with a pKa close to 6.3 could generally produce more protein in livers. Notably, 4A3-SC8&PEG2k5d formulated DLNPs successfully mediated mRNA expression in tumors and simultaneously illuminated tumors via pH-responsive NIR imaging. The described theranostic lipid nanoparticles that combine mRNA delivery and NIR imaging hold promise as an applicable future approach to simultaneously detect and treat cancer.
Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition.

To evaluate how sexual pain influences changes in sexual frequency from the pregnancy to postpartum transition, and to examine how couple’s sexual communication interacts with sexual pain during pr...
The Drug Manufacturer as a Drug Information Resource

Pharmacists use a myriad of drug resources for patient care; however, the drug manufacturer is often overlooked and underutilized as a resource for drug information. Pharmaceutical companies have a...
What Have We Learned From Deterministic Geostatistics at Highly Resolved Field Sites, as Relevant to Mass Transport Processes in Sedimentary Aquifers?

Summary In the method of deterministic geostatistics (sensu Isaaks and Srivastava, 1988), highly-resolved data sets are used to compute sample spatial-bivariate statistics within a deterministic framework. The general goal is to observe what real, highly resolved, sample spatial-bivariate correlation looks like when it is well-quantified in naturally-occurring sedimentary aquifers. Furthermore, it is to understand how this correlation structure, (i.e. shape and correlation range) is related to independent and physically quantifiable attributes of the sedimentary architecture. The approach has evolved among work by Rubin (1995, 2003), Barrash and Clemo (2002), Ritzi et al. (2004, 2007, 2013), Dai et al. (2005), and Ramanathan et al. (2010). In this evolution, equations for sample statistics have been developed which allow tracking the facies types at the heads and tails of lag vectors. The goal is to observe and thereby understand how aspects of the sedimentary architecture affect the well-supported sample statistics. The approach has been used to study heterogeneity at a number of sites, representing a variety of depositional environments, with highly resolved data sets. What have we learned? We offer and support an opinion that the single most important insight derived from these studies is that the structure of spatial-bivariate correlation is essentially the cross-transition probability structure, determined by the sedimentary architecture. More than one scale of hierarchical sedimentary architecture has been represented in these studies, and a hierarchy of cross-transition probability structures was found to define the correlation structure in all cases. This insight allows decomposing contributions from different scales of the sedimentary architecture, and has led to a more fundamental understanding of mass transport processes including mechanical dispersion of solutes within aquifers, and the time-dependent retardation of reactive solutes. These processes can now be described in terms of quantifiable physical attributes of the sedimentary architecture. In addition to discussing the benefits to basic scientific understanding, we also discuss some of the practical benefits derived from this insight.
Studies on cytochrome c peroxidase. XI. A crystalline enzyme reconstituted from apoenzyme and manganese protoporphyrin IX.

Abstract A synthetic cytochrome c peroxidase was reconstituted from apoenzyme and manganese protoporphyrin IX. The manganese enzyme was crystallized by dialysis against distilled water. The Mn enzyme formed well defined complexes with fluoride and azide. However, neither the Mn enzyme nor its dithionite-reduced compound formed complexes with CO and cyanide. The Mn enzyme was allowed to react with hydroperoxide to form a relatively stable peroxide compound which exhibited an intense electron paramagnetic resonance absorption of a free radical type at g = 2.003. The Mn enzyme and its derivatives thus far examined showed no electron paramagnetic resonance absorption attributable to Mn at -196°. The Mn enzyme catalyzed the peroxidatic oxidation of ferrocyanide, ferrocytochrome c, and ascorbate at reasonable rates.
Fibrillar proteins from squid axons. I. Neurofilament protein.

Abstract The protein subunits of the neurofilaments in the axoplasm from the giant axons of the squid Dosidicus gigas have been isolated by selective extraction procedures. Neurofilaments may be dissociated in dilute urea and guanidine hydrochloride and reconstituted from the subunits in appropriate solvents. The subunit is an acidic protein of molecular weight approximately 80,000 and it is distinguished from the microtubule protein immunologically, and by size, electrophoretic behavior, chemical characteristics and amino-acid composition. No definite information about the quaternary structure of the neurofilament has been obtained. To assist other investigators of proteins from nervous tissue some of the experimental problems that were encountered are discussed.
Aeromedical Transport of the Mechanically Ventilated Patient

The logistical, technical, and medical considerations involved in the aeromedical transport of the mechanically ventilated patient arc considerable, and not well described in the literature. We rev...
Electromagnetic radiation from beam-plasma instabilities

The mechanism by which unstable electrostatic waves of an electron-beam plasma system are converted into observed electromagnetic waves is of great current interest in space plasma physics. Electromagnetic radiation arises from both natural beam-plasma systems, e.g., type III solar bursts (Papadopoulos, 1979) and kilometric radiation (Maggs, 1978), and from man-made electron beams injected from rockets and spacecraft (Grandal et al., 1980; Winckler et al., 1975; Kawashima, 1980). In spite of numerous laboratory experiments on beam-plasma instabilities, little attention has been paid to electromagnetic wave generation. Only the simplest process, i.e., the conversion of electrostatic to electromagnetic waves in nonuniform plasmas at the critical layer (ω = ωp) is well established in both theory (Piliya, 1966) and experiments (Stenzel et al., 1974). In uniform plasmas it has been theoretically shown (Tsytovitch, 1977) that the scattering of electron plasma waves off ion acoustic waves and other electron plasma waves produces electromagnetic waves near ω ≳ ωpe) and ω ≃ 2ωpe, respectively, where ωpe is the electron plasma frequency. In some three-wave interactions where the electrostatic plasma waves excited by the beam grow to very large amplitudes (eΦ≃ kTe), the normal modes of the system are modified.
An approach to the design of high speed networks for bursty traffic

The class of message flows that satisfy the condition that the amount of traffic in an interval is upper bounded by an affine function of the length of the interval has been found to be a useful class of models for traffic on internal links in networks that have to handle bursty traffic. We make the key observation that there is a simple recursively updatable number, which we call the virtual backlog, which plays the role of a state for these models, in that it completely summarizes the information gained at any time by having observed the flow and can be recursively updated. This allows the formulation of control and resource allocation problems at nodes within the network as a stochastic game. >
Methodology for connector reliability analysis

Connector suppliers as well as end users in the industry today lack a unified approach to environmental testing. In addition, the criterion on which a connector failure is based appears to be arbitrary. Moreover, the typical sample sizes used do not provide for an adequate prediction of the low failure rates required for high-end systems. This paper describes the rationale and methodology in which to perform a system level reliability analysis for a connector system. IBM Rochester uses four main environmental sequences to stress connectors. Each stress sequence is designed to create failures based on a specific set of failure mechanisms. Also, each stress has its own acceleration factors, which can be tailored to the specific application.
Observations on Living Cells, Made with the Microscope-Centrifuge

The microscope-centrifuge is described in detail, together with some observations on living Amoeba, Paramoecium and Stentor , and granule movement in unfertilised eggs of Arbacia, Cumingia and Chaetopterus .
Insulin-stimulated oocyte maturation requires insulin receptor substrate 1 and interaction with the SH2 domains of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Abstract Xenopus oocytes from unprimed frogs possess insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors but lack insulin and IGF-I receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), the endogenous substrate of this kinase, and fail to show downstream responses to hormonal stimulation. Microinjection of recombinant IRS-1 protein enhances insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase activity and restores the germinal vesicle breakdown response. Activation of PtdIns 3-kinase results from formation of a complex between phosphorylated IRS-1 and the p85 subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase. Microinjection of a phosphonopeptide containing a pYMXM motif with high affinity for the src homology 2 (SH2) domain of PtdIns 3-kinase p85 inhibits IRS-1 association with and activation of the PtdIns 3-kinase. Formation of the IRS-1-PtdIns 3-kinase complex and insulin-stimulated PtdIns 3-kinase activation are also inhibited by microinjection of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the SH2 domain of p85. This effect occurs in a concentration-dependent fashion and results in a parallel loss of hormone-stimulated oocyte maturation. These inhibitory effects are specific and are not mimicked by glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins expressing the SH2 domains of ras-GAP or phospholipase C gamma. Moreover, injection of the SH2 domains of p85, ras-GAP, and phospholipase C gamma do not interfere with progesterone-induced oocyte maturation. These data demonstrate that phosphorylation of IRS-1 plays an essential role in IGF-I and insulin signaling in oocyte maturation and that this effect occurs through interactions of the phosphorylated YMXM/YXXM motifs of IRS-1 with SH2 domains of PtdIns 3-kinase or some related molecules.
Comparative pharmacological actions of leucokinins V–VIII on the visceral muscles of Leucophaea maderae

Abstract 1. 1. Leucokinins V–VIII (Lem-K-V to VIII) did not activate visceral muscles of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae uniformly as a group but rather showed a selective action on the muscles of the hindgut. This organ showed a contractile response to all of the leucokinins at 3 × 10 −10 M that was 2–20% above the mean level of spontaneous activity. The maximum response for each peptide was recorded at 2.1 × 10 −7 M. 2. 2. Both the foregut and the oviduct were 100- to 1000-fold less sensitive than the hindgut, and each of the former required more than 10 −8 M to elicit a detectable excitation. The heart, by comparison, did not respond to any of these peptides. 3. 3. The leucokinins caused a protracted excitation of contractile events in the hindgut that lasted for more than 60 min. Moreover, all four peptides evoked contractions from hindguts after membrane depolarization with 158 mM potassium. These results suggest that nonsynaptic receptors for the peptides exist in visceral muscle.
Molecular parameters and their relation to the adhesive performance of emulsion acrylic pressure‐sensitive adhesives. II. Effect of crosslinking

Acrylic emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) films generally have much lower shear holding power than that of their solvent-borne counterparts for the same peel and tack. This is due to their discrete microgel morphology in the film. In contrast, film cast from solution-polymerized acrylic PSA forms a continuous network as a result of crosslinking acrylic acid and aluminum acetyl acetonate (AAA) in the film following the solvent evaporation. Novel acrylic emulsion PSA was made by copolymerizing ≤1 wt % isobutoxy methyl acrylamide (IBMA) in the polymer backbone. The IBMA grafted the linear portion of the acrylic polymer with the microgels upon heating the film, which resulted in a significant increase in the shear holding power. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 2558–2564, 2001