cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving thermodynamic profile retrievals from microwave radiometers by including Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) observations

Abstract. Thermodynamic profiles are often retrieved from the multi-wavelength brightness temperature observations made by microwave radiometers (MWRs) using regression methods (linear, quadratic approaches), artificial intelligence (neural networks), or physical-iterative methods. Regression and neural network methods are tuned to mean conditions derived from a climatological dataset of thermodynamic profiles collected nearby. In contrast, physical-iterative retrievals use a radiative transfer model starting from a climatologically reasonable value of temperature and water vapor, with the model run iteratively until the derived brightness temperatures match those observed by the MWR within a specified uncertainty. In this study, a physical-iterative approach is used to retrieve temperature and humidity profiles from data collected during XPIA (eXperimental Planetary boundary layer Instrument Assessment), a field campaign held from March to May 2015 at NOAA's Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) facility. During the campaign, several passive and active remote sensing instruments as well as in-situ platforms were deployed and evaluated to determine their suitability for the verification and validation of meteorological processes. Among the deployed remote sensing instruments was a multi-channel MWR, as well as two radio acoustic sounding systems (RASS), associated with 915-MHz and 449-MHz wind profiling radars. Having the possibility to combine the information provided by the MWR and RASS systems, in this study the physical-iterative approach is tested with different observational inputs: first using data from surface sensors and the MWR in different configurations, and then including data from the RASSs. These temperature retrievals are also compared to those derived by a neural network method, assessing their relative accuracy against 58 co-located radiosonde profiles. Results show that the combination of the MWR and RASS observations in the physical-iterative approach allows for a more accurate characterization of low-level temperature inversions, and that these retrieved temperature profiles match the radiosonde observations better than all other approaches, including the neural network, in the atmospheric layer between the surface and 5 km AGL. Specifically, in this layer of the atmosphere, both root mean square errors and standard deviations of the difference between radiosonde and retrievals that combine MWR and RASS are improved by ~0.5 °C compared to the other methods. Pearson correlation coefficients are also improved.
Trends in hospitalization, mortality, and timing of colonoscopy in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background and study aims Current guidelines conditionally recommend performing early colonoscopy (EC) ( Patients and methods Adult patients with LGIB admitted from 2005 to 2014 were examined. ICD-9-CM codes were used to extract LGIB discharges. Trends were assessed using Cochrane-Armitage test. Factors associated with mortality, cost of hospitalization, and length of stay (LOS) were assessed by multivariable mixed-effects and exact-matched logistic, linear regression, and accelerated-failure time models, respectively. Results A total of 814,647 patients with LGIB were included. The most common etiology of LGIB was diverticular bleeding (49 %) and 45 % of patients underwent EC. Over the study period, there was no change in the trend of colonoscopy timing. Although admission with LGIB increased over the study period, the mortality rate decreased for patients undergoing colonoscopy. Independent predictors of mortality were age, surgery (colostomy/colectomy) during admission, intensive care unit admission, acute kidney injury, and blood transfusion requirement. Timing of colonoscopy was not associated with mortality benefit. However, cost of hospitalization was $ 1,946 lower and LOS was 1.6 days shorter with EC. Conclusion Trends in colonoscopy timing in management of LGIB have not changed over the years. EC is associated with lower LOS and cost of hospitalization but it does not appear to improve inpatient mortality.
Understanding elevated real-world NOx emissions: Heavy-duty diesel engine certification testing versus in-use vehicle testing

Abstract For the first time, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions were systematically investigated during different operating conditions from a single test article on a chassis dynamometer, under real-world (on-road) conditions, on an engine dynamometer after the engine was pulled out of the vehicle, and again on a chassis dynamometer when the engine was installed back in the vehicle. The main goal of this study was to understand the discrepancies between certification and in-use NOx emission rates from a heavy-duty diesel vehicle (HDDV) with an engine with diesel particulate filter (DPF) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment. The results showed that in-use NOx emissions over urban driving cycles were above the 0.2 g/bhp-hr NOx standard for most test conditions, ranging from 0.16 to 0.7 g/bhp-hr, with the highest NOx emissions for the chassis dynamometer testing. For the freeway/steady-state testing, the results were generally lower compared with the results of urban driving cycles, with values of 0.3 g/bhp-hr or less. For the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) cycle, NOx emissions were lowest for the engine dynamometer testing, followed by the on-road testing, and the chassis dynamometer testing. The differences between the tailpipe NOx emissions for the different types of tests could be attributed to differences in SCR inlet temperatures and engine-out NOx emissions.
Structure of mitotic chromosomes.

Summary Chromatin fibers must fold or coil in the process of chromosome condensation. Patterns of coiling have been demonstrated for reconstituted chromatin, but the actual trajectories of fibers in condensed states of chromosomes could not be visualized because of the high density of the material. We have exploited partial decondensation of mitotic chromosomes to reveal their internal structure at sub-nucleosomal resolution by cryo-electron tomography, without the use of stains, fixatives, milling, or sectioning. DNA gyres around nucleosomes were visible, allowing the nucleosomes to be identified and their orientations to be determined. Linker DNA regions were traced, revealing the trajectories of the chromatin fibers. The trajectories were irregular, with almost no evidence of coiling and no short- or long-range order of the chromosomal material. The 146-bp core particle, long known as a product of nuclease digestion, is identified as the native state of the nucleosome, with no regular spacing along the chromatin fibers.
Means And Ends In City Of Arlington v. FCC: Ignoring The Lawyer's Craft to Reshape the Scope of Chevron Deference

In last year’s term, the United States Supreme Court considered the question of the scope of Chevron deference in City of Arlington v. FCC. This article discusses how the decision is an example of the work of an activist Court. The case should have been resolved by a straight forward determination under the analysis of United States v. Mead that Chevron deference simply did not apply to the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) legal determination. The Court ignored this restrained approach to the case and instead addressed the question the Justices desired to decide: the reach of Chevron deference. The article discusses and criticizes the approach of Justice Scalia writing for the majority and of Chief Justice Roberts writing for three dissenting Justices. Practitioners and scholars of administrative law can only be confused by the Court’s willingness to apply Chevron in City of Arlington, given the informal administrative action being reviewed and the fact that neither reviewing court actually applied each of the two parts of the Mead test. The Court’s flawed administrative law analysis results from the activist concerns of Justice Scalia and Chief Justice Roberts. Justice Scalia uses the case as a vehicle to undermine Mead, a decision that Justice Scalia loathes. Chief Justice Roberts uses the case as a vehicle to advocate for less judicial deference and less law defining power for increasingly powerful agencies. Neither member of the Court allowed the applicable rules of contemporary administrative law to hinder his efforts to achieve his broader goals. Administrative law would have been better served if a properly restrained Court had considered and applied the previously determined rules for judicial review of administrative agencies.
Advances in ICF Power Reactor Design

Fifteen ICF power reactor design studies published since 1980 are reviewed to illuminate the design trends they represent. There is a clear, continuing trend toward making ICF reactors inherently safer and environmentally benign. Since this trend accentuates inherent advantages of ICF reactors, we expect it to be further emphasized in the future. An emphasis on economic competitiveness appears to be a somewhat newer trend. Lower cost of electricity, smaller initial size (and capital cost), and more affordable development paths are three of the issues being addressed with new studies.
Disruption of Laminin β2 Chain Production Causes Alterations in Morphology and Function in the CNS

From the elegant studies of Ramon y Cajal (1909) to the current advances in molecular cloning (e.g., Farber and Danciger, 1997), the retina has served as an ideal model for the entire CNS. We have taken advantage of the well described anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology of the retina to begin to examine the role of the laminins, one component of the extracellular matrix, on the processes of neuronal differentiation and synapse formation in the CNS. We have examined the effect of the deletion of one laminin chain, the beta2 chain, on retinal development. The gross development of retinas from laminin beta2 chain-deficient animals appears normal, and photoreceptors are formed. However, these retinas exhibit several pathologies: laminin beta2 chain-deficient mice display abnormal outer segment elongation, abnormal electroretinograms, and abnormal rod photoreceptor synapses. Morphologically, the outer segments are reduced by 50% in length; the outer plexiform layer of mutant animals is disrupted specifically, because only 7% of observed rod invaginating synapses appear normal, whereas the inner plexiform layer is undisturbed; finally, the rate of apoptosis in the mutant photoreceptor layer is twice that of control mice. Physiologically, the electroretinogram is altered; the amplitude of the b-wave and the slope of the b-wave intensity-response function are both decreased, consistent with synaptic disruption in the outer retina. Together, these results emphasize the prominence of the extracellular matrix and, in particular, the laminins in the development and maintenance of synaptic function and morphogenesis in the CNS.
Comparing Tax and Spending Multipliers: It's All About Controlling for Monetary Policy

This paper derives empirical estimates for tax and spending multipliers. To deal with endogeneity concerns, I employ a large sample of fiscal consolidations identified through the narrative approach. To control for monetary policy, I study the output effects of fiscal consolidations in countries where monetary authorities are constrained in their ability to counteract shocks because they are in either a monetary union (and hence, lack an independent central bank) or a liquidity trap. My results suggest that for fiscal consolidations, the tax multiplier is larger than the spending multiplier. My estimates indicate that whereas the tax multiplier is roughly 3 — similar to the recent estimates derived by Romer and Romer (2010), the spending multiplier is close to zero. A number of caveats accompany these results, however.
An organizational design of experiments statistical approach to investigate the effect of extrusion process manufacturing on the mechanical behavior of an aluminum alloy

The purpose of this investigation was to utilize a statistical organization design of experiments method to analyze and evaluate the influence of the extrusion process manufacturing parameters on some given mechanical properties for an aluminum alloy containing lithium with a given composition and post-extrusion thermal processing. This would assist in determining the necessary human resources required for the manufacturing, and also the required level quality control during the manufacturing. The statistical strategy was to analyze and determine if variations in specific extrusion processing variables or parameters had a statistically significant effect on some given mechanical properties such as yield strength; ultimate tensile strength, and ductility. The layout for the organizational design experiment consisted of two extrusion temperatures and two extrusion geometries. The layout also included six cross section areas nested in two extrusion geometries. Thus, the design of the experiment was a mixture of a nested structure and a factorial structure, i.e., a nested factorial design. This design included interactions crossed between the extrusion temperature and the extrusion geometry, and the extrusion temperature with the cross sectional area. Thus there was a possibility of twelve different treatment combinations that made up the design of experiments method. It was found that the extrusion geometry was at least 95% statistically significant with respect to the mechanical properties of interest and that the extrusion temperature was not significant at this level.
Fluorescence image guided surgical instruments and contrast agents for intraoperative visualization of nerves

Fluorescence image-guided surgery (FIGS) improves intraoperative visualization of critical structures. We describe the advancement of handheld and minimally invasive imaging hardware, coupled with myelin-targeting contrast agents, to bring FIGS nerve labeling closer to clinical translation.
The Kelch Protein KLHDC8B Guards against Mitotic Errors, Centrosomal Amplification, and Chromosomal Instability

The malignant cell in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is the binucleated giant Reed-Sternberg cell. Chromosomal instability and mitotic errors may contribute to HL pathogenesis; one potential mitotic regulator is the kelch protein KLHDC8B, which localizes to the midbody, is expressed during mitosis, and is mutated in a subset of familial and sporadic HL. We report that disrupting KLHDC8B function in HeLa cells, B lymphoblasts, and fibroblasts leads to significant increases in multinucleation, multipolar mitoses, failed abscission, asymmetric segregation of daughter nuclei, formation of anucleated daughter cells, centrosomal amplification, and aneuploidy. We recapitulated the major pathologic features of the Reed-Sternberg cell and concluded that KLHDC8B is essential for mitotic integrity and maintenance of chromosomal stability. The significant impact of KLHDC8B implicates the central roles of mitotic regulation and chromosomal segregation in the pathogenesis of HL and provides a novel molecular mechanism for chromosomal instability in HL.
Successful Aging at Work: Annual Review, 1992-1996: The Older Worker and Transitions to Retirement.

Abstract This article reviews the literature on aging in the workplace for the years 1992–1996. The review is organized into seven general sections: Aging, job performance and occupational well-being; Successful aging in the workplace; Aging, health, and safety; Careers; Retirement; Older working women; and Age discrimination. Strategies for integrating these diverse research perspectives are examined and recommendations for needed research are provided.
Acute pediatric potentially thrombogenic craniocervical infections: A consecutive series of Lemierre and Lemierre-like syndrome cases

Summary Background: Major venous thrombophlebitis and/or thrombosis in association with acute head and neck infection is a serious but uncommon event. The action of specific bacterial toxins causes the thrombophlebitis, which has the propensity of systemic complications and local circulatory effects. Lemierre's syndrome (LS) is a specific entity within this group, often caused by the anaerobe Fusobacterium necrophorum (FN). Objective: Review of six consecutive pediatric cases and a critical revision of diagnostic categories. Setup: Tertiary referral center. Study design: Case series of pediatric craniocervical infections complicated by internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis (IJVT). Demographics, record of anti-thrombosis management, imaging, and antimicrobial management, duration of admission, clinical picture and sequelae were retrospectively collected. Results: Six cases (three girls and three boys; age range from 7 to 16 years old) were identified over a period of 3 years. One case was a certain LS; four were probable LS cases and one possible diagnosis. Six children had IJVT diagnosed on imaging, which also demonstrated embolic seeding to the knee on one occasion and to the ankle in another. Anti-thrombosis management as outpatients was instituted for 3 months in five out of the six. None had permanent sequelae except one (unilateral high tone sensory hearing loss). In four cases, the duration of admission was 10 days or less, whereas the other two cases stayed for 2 and 5 weeks, respectively. Conclusions: Thrombogenic head and neck infections may occur in children more readily than currently believed. Failure to detect the characteristic anaerobe and the low index of suspicion of IJVT may contribute to missing cases. Modern imaging modalities represent a window of opportunity to detect the key pathogenic process to arguably the most morbid event, namely the IJVT. By incorporating their findings from the outset, the disease is categorized and its devastating complications prevented.
Short Communication: A note on exact image reconstruction from a limited number of projections

In a recent paper in this journal by Kesidis and Papamarkos ''A new method for the exact reconstruction of any gray-scale image from its projections is proposed.'' In this note we point out that this method is a special case of a well-known approach (peeling) and that it can produce exact reconstructions only under assumptions that are not realistic for practical methods of data collection. Further, we point out that some statements made in the paper regarding disadvantages of the algebraic reconstruction techniques (ART) as compared to the method of the paper are false.
adaptive fourier threshold filtering: A method to reduce noise and incoherent artifacts in high resolution cardiac images

We introduce an image processing method which reduces white noise and random artifacts in sets of high resolution, time resolved images. At each pixel, the processing consists of: 1) the isolation of a time intensity curve (TIC), 2) Fourier transformation of each TIC, 3) application of a threshold to remove low intensity coefficients, 4) inverse transformation to generate noise reduced TICs which are recombined to form images with improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Noise filtering by Fourier thresholding is demonstrated on a set of cardiac images, resulting in a reduction of the noise energy by approximately 90%.
Long-term results of endoureterotomy and open surgical revision for the management of ureteroenteric strictures after urinary diversion.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Prior studies have demonstrated that while endoureterotomy offers a reasonable initial treatment option, open anastomotic revision should remain the gold standard for managing ureteroenteric strictures. However, to our knowledge the results of contemporary endoureterotomy series have not been compared with those of open anastomotic revision, and no study has assessed the morbidity or success rate of secondary open anastomotic revision after failed endoureterotomy.Materials and Methods: Between May 1997 and August 2002 a total of 31 renal units in 22 patients were treated for ureteroenteric strictures after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion. A total of 16 renal units were treated endoscopically, including 9 on the left and 7 on the right side, and open revision was performed in 15 renal units, including 9 on the left and 6 on the right side. Success was defined as radiological improvement and/or the ability to return to full activity in the absence of flank pain, infection, or the n...
Abstract 5017: Prox1-happloinsuficiency contributes to the transforming effects of Kras in the pancreas.

Invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal solid malignancies. PDAC arises from distinctive forms of neoplasia, with pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) being the most common lesion. Mutational activation of Kras is nearly universal in PanINs and PDAC. We previously reported expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Prox1 in multipotent progenitors and in specific cell lineages of the mouse embryonic pancreas. We also uncovered that Prox1 controls growth and morphogenesis in the early developing pancreas (Wang et al., Dev.Dyn. 2005), and showed that the lack of its activity results in congenital ductal malformations, prominent loss of acinar cells, and gradual deterioration of the exocrine parenchyma (Westmoreland et al, Gastroenterology 2012). Prox1 expression persists in centroacinar and ductal cells in the adult mouse pancreas. In contrast, in mature pancreatic acinar cells Prox1 expression is never observed, except when these cells undergo acinar-to-ductal metaplastic conversion. Interestingly, different from other ductal transcription factors (e.g., Sox9, Pdx1, Hnf1β), Prox1 expression rapidly decays in developing PanINs whereas PDAC specimens from mice or humans completely lack Prox1 expression. This dynamic expression of Prox1 in the adult exocrine pancreas raised the possibility that Prox1 down-regulation could be necessary for pancreatic neoplastic transformation. We generated mice expressing both oncogenic Kras (KrasG12D) and normal Prox1 levels in the pancreas (KrasG12DPanc), and mice expressing KrasG12D which are also Prox1-happloinsufficient (Prox1ΔPanc/+;KrasG12DPanc), to investigate the effects of reducing the Prox1 dosage in PDAC formation. We found that Prox1-happloinsufficiency significantly increases the formation of both, PanINs and PDAC, in pancreatic tissues carrying oncogenic Kras. In addition, pancreatic tissues with combined Prox1-happloinsufficiency and KrasG12D expression also exhibited more prominent fibrosis, higher infiltration of inflammatory cells, and increased proliferation, in comparison to KrasG12DPanc mice. In line with these results, expression of Prox1 in Capan1 cells (which are Prox1-negative) using retroviruses significantly reduced CyclinD1 transcript levels and induced growth arrest. We are currently undertaking a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches to uncover how Prox1 function counteracts Kras-driven transformation in pancreatic epithelial cells. Citation Format: Yiannis Drosos, Jianming Ye, Emin Kuliyev, Jerold Rehg, Anirban Maitra, Anna Means, Ramon Klein-Geltink, Gerard Grosveld, Beatriz Sosa-Pineda. Prox1-happloinsuficiency contributes to the transforming effects of Kras in the pancreas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5017. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5017
Subsurface target imaging using a multi-resolution 3D quadtree algorithm

ABSTRACT The imaging of subsurface targets, such as landmines, using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is becomingan increasingly important area of research. Conventional image formation techniques expend large amounts ofcomputational resources on fully resolving a region, even if there is a large amount of clutter. For example,standard backprojection algorithms require O (N 3 ). However, by using multi-resolution techniques - such asquadtree - potential targets and clutter can be discriminated more eciently with O (N 2 log 2 N ). Because priorwork has focused on the imaging of surface targets, quadtree techniques have mostly been developed for 2Dimaging. Target depth adds another dimension to the imaging problem; therefore, we have developed a 3Dquadtree algorithm. In this case, the mine eld is modeled as a volume that is sub-divided at each stage ofthe quadtree algorithm. From each of these sub-volumes, the energy intensity is calculated. As the algorithmproceeds to ner resolutions, the energy in region containing a potential target increases, while that of backgroundnoise decreases. A multi-stage detector applied on intermediate quadtree data uses this change in energy todiscriminate between regions of targets and clutter. This is advantageous because only the regions containinglikely targets are investigated by additional sensors that are relatively slow in comparison to GPR (e.g. seismicor EMI sensors). This algorithm is tested on synthetic and experimental data collected from a model mine eldat Georgia Institute of Technology. Even under near eld and small aperture conditions, which hold for the minedetection case, test results show that target location information can be gathered with processing using the 3Dquadtree algorithm.Keywords: Quadtree Backprojection, Subsurface Imaging, 3D Imaging, Mine Detection, Ground PenetratingRadar
Towards computer-assisted maintenance of medical knowledge bases

Abstract The problem of knowledge acquisition is especially severe for medical knowledge bases. At least two strategies can help alleviate the problem: creating computer-based tools which assist experts in entering knowledge into the knowledge base, and promoting situations where several organizations contribute simultaneously and independently to a single knowledge base. This article describes a set of tools currently under development at the Section of Medical Informatics of the University of Pittsburgh which incorporate both strategies. The tools, which operate within the framework of the Quick Medical Reference (QMR) knowledge base, perform tasks ranging from checking syntax and semantics to suggesting initial skeletons for new knowledge base entries. Extensive use of interactive direct-manipulation techniques and built-in knowledge of many details of the knowledge base makes these tools very effective in supporting the creation and maintenance of new knowledge base entries.
Pars and polarity: taking control of Rac

In this issue, two groups have examined the role of the Par proteins in the regulation of small G proteins, in two different models of cell polarity — mammalian epithelia and neuronal axon specification. They concurrently report the intriguing finding that the Par-3/Par-6/aPKC complex can regulate the activation of Rac by interaction with the guanine nucleotide exchanger, Tiam1/STEF. Furthermore, they also demonstrate a hitherto under-appreciated role for the Par-3/Par-6/aPKC complex in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.
Computation of normal modes of three-dimensional resonators by semiclassical and variational methods: seismological implications

Abstract The problem investigated in this paper is that of calculating the eigenfrequencies of the bouncing-ball modes of oscillation of scalar waves in a three-dimensiol, arbitrarily shaped enclosure or resonator. With a view to future applications in seismology, we consider wave resonators limited above by a flat reflector—the earth's surface—and below by a curved one—the sediment/rock interface. The surface of the curved reflector is smooth but otherwise of arbitrary shape. The EBK (Einstein-Brillouin-Keller) method of semiclassical quantization is used to compute the eigenfrequencies. Conventional ray tracing is used to determine the trajectories of the rays in configuration space as well as in the Poincare surfaces of section needed for the application of the method. For a prescribed set of mode numbers the EBK conditions produce a set of algebraic equations whose solution gives the required eigenfrequency and the corresponding eigentrajectory. Additionally, a system of four nonlinearly coupled ODE's is derived that simulates accurately the trajectories of the bouncing points of rays and can be used as a fast alternative to ray tracing. A variational method based upon the Rayleigh-Ritz formulation is used to obtain bounds on the eigenfrequencies and to determine the resonator's eigenfunctions. For separable and smooth nonseparable domains both approaches give consistent results. If the curvature of the reflector is convex towards the approaching ray, repeated reflections will result in highly unstable ray trajectories which ultimately becomne chaotic. In this case the EBK method fails. A brief discussion of the inherent tendency to chaotic behavior of the multiply reflecting ray system inside arbitrarily shaped enclosures is presented.
Broadly tunable wavelength-selectable WDM source using a Sagnac fiber multiwavelength grid filter

We report the first demonstration of a broadly tunable discretely wavelength-selectable 1.5 μm source based on an all-fiber low insertion loss (1.8 dB) Sagnac Hi-Bi fiber loop filter. We demonstrate 25 channel (up to ~70 channels possible) outputs with precise 50 GHz channel spacings and 65 dB side mode suppression ratios.
The adsorption of oxygen on discontinuous metal films

Gas adsorption on extremely thin metal films has been studied by a resistance method under the following conditions: temperature, —196 to 100 °C; pressure, 10−6 to 10−9 torr; gases, oxygen, nitrogen; hydrogen, metal, stitanium, nickel, gold, copper, aluminum; and film resistance, 2 to 400 kω. Film structure was studied by electron microscopy, electron diffraction, temperature coefficient of resistance, AC resistance, and DC current-voltage characteristics. The films were found to be composed of discontinuous metal islands. Electronic conduction between the islands was by a tunnelling mechanism which was affected by oxygen adsorption in all cases except gold. A pressure dependent induction period due to chemisorption was followed by a temperature dependent oxidation. Values for the inter-island distance (2 to 12 a) and the room temperature oxidation rate constant for titanium and nickel (K ≈ 2 × 10−9 cm for Ti and ≈ 1 × 10−9 cm for Ni) were calculated and found to agree with published data. In the case of low melting point metals (Cu, Al), surface migration prevented any analysis of the change in resistance caused by oxygen adsorption.
Climate and body shape in hominid evolution

The very broad pelvis of small early hominids (AL 288-1, STS 14, etc.) has previously been interpreted in obstetrical and biomechanical terms. However, neither of these considerations can explain the subsequent decrease in maximum pelvic breadth relative to stature in larger more recent hominids. It is shown here that this increase in relative linearity of the body with an increase in body size is consistent with basic thermoregulatory principles. Specifically, to maintain a constant surface area/body mass ratio, absolute body breadth should remain constant despite differences in body height. Variation among modern humans supports the prediction: populations living in the tropics vary greatly in stature, but show little variation in body breadth. In contrast, populations living in colder climates have absolutely wider bodies, and thus lower surface area/body mass, regardless of stature. All African early hominids—small australopithecines as well as the very tallHomo erectus KNM-WT 15000—have absolute body breadths within the modern human tropical-subtropical range; variations in relative body linearity are due almost entirely to variations in stature. A later hominid from a cold temperate climate (the Kebara 2 Neandertal) has an absolutely wide body, similar to living higher latitude populations. Thermoregulatory constraints on absolute body breadth, together with obstetric and biomechanical factors, may have contributed to the evolution of the rotational birth process and secondary altriciality with increased body and brain size inHomo erectus. Thermoregulatory considerations also suggest that AfricanH. erectus would most likely have been limited to relatively open/dry environments, while australopithecines could have inhabited either open/dry or closed/wet environments.
The Gelfand–Graev Representation of U(3, q)

Abstract In this paper we explicitly calculate the irreducible representations of the endomorphism algebra of the Gelfand–Graev representation of the unitary group U(3, q). In addition, we compute the structure constants of this endomorhphism algebra.
Lessons from the past: Opportunities to improve childhood cancer survivor care through outcomes investigations of historical therapeutic approaches for pediatric hematological malignancies

Investigations of long-term outcomes have been instrumental in designing safer and more effective contemporary therapies for pediatric hematological malignancies. Despite the significant therapeutic changes that have occurred over the last five decades, therapy modifications largely represent refinements of treatment protocols using agents and modalities that have been available for more than 30 years. This review summarizes major trends in the evolution of treatment of pediatric hematological malignancies since 1960 to support the relevance of the study of late effects of historical therapeutic approaches to the design and evaluation of contemporary treatment protocols and the follow-up of present-day survivors.
Data mining of maps and their automatic region-time-theme classification

The goal of this research is to organize maps mined from journal articles into categories for hierarchical browsing within region, time and theme facets. A 150-map training set collected manually was used to develop classifiers. Metadata pertinent to the maps were harvested and then run separately though knowledge sources and our classifiers for region, time and theme. Evaluation of the system based on a 54-map test set of unseen maps showed 69%--93% classification accuracy when compared with two human classifications for the same maps. Data mining and semantic analysis methods used here could support systems that index other types of article components such as diagrams or charts by region, time and theme.
Studies of fly ash using thermal analysis techniques

Improved thermoanalytical methods have been developed that are capable of quantitative identification of various components of fly ash from a laboratory-scale fluidized bed combustion system. The thermogravimetric procedure developed can determine quantities of H2O, Ca(OH)2, CaCO3, CaSO4 and carbonaceous matter in fly ash with accuracy comparable to more time-consuming ASTM methods. This procedure is a modification of the Mikhail-Turcotte methods that can accurately analyze bed ash, with higher accuracy regarding the greater amount of carbonaceous matter in fly ash. In addition, in conjunction with FTIR and SEM/EDS analyses, the reduction mechanism of CaSO4 as CaSO4+4H2 ↔ CaS + 4H2O has been confirmed in this study. This mechanism is important in analyzing and evaluating sulfur capture in fluidized-bed combustion systems.
Trehalose-functionalized block copolymers form serum-stable micelles

Well-defined amphiphilic diblock terpolymers of poly(ethylene-alt-propylene)–poly[(N,N′-dimethylacrylamide)-grad-poly(6-deoxy-6-methacrylamido trehalose)] (denoted as PEP–poly(DMA-grad-MAT, or PT) have been synthesized using a PEP macromolecular chain transfer agent by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The content of MAT was varied from 5 to 14 mole percent in the hydrophilic block of the amphiphilic polymers yielding a family of diblock terpolymers. The reactivity ratios of DMA and trimethyl silyl protected MAT were determined to be r1 = 0.09 ± 0.01 and r2 = 1.6 ± 0.1 and thus, the hydrophilic block was a gradient copolymer consisting of a higher DMA ratio (closer to the PEP) that was terminated with a higher MAT ratio. The silyl groups were subsequently deprotected and micellar dispersions were prepared by two different techniques: nanoprecipitation (NP) and direct dissolution (DD). Micelles formed by the two methods were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). These PT diblock terpolymers self-assembled into spherical nanostructures in aqueous media with hydrodynamic radii of ca. 16 nm in the dispersions formed by nanoprecipitation. Micellar dispersions with greater MAT content (11 mole percent in the hydrophilic block) exhibited sufficient contrast in cryoTEM images and the corona were clearly seen as gray halos around the micellar cores. The stability of each micellar dispersion in different biological media was examined over a period of 14 h using DLS. These results indicated that micellar dispersions are stable in 100 percent fetal bovine serum (FBS), which offer promise for in vivo actives delivery applications.
The effect of pre-heating on jet cutting of rocks

Abstract The pre-heating of hard rock before mechanical or hydraulic impact has been proposed as a method of enhancing rock disintegration. A study of the efficiency of surface heating as a function of time leads to the conclusion that the heating time must be short for an economical process. A simple formula allows judgements to be easily mader regarding the duration of the heating time. A fundamental principle is developed which states that a critical heating time exists such that the total specific fragmentation energy is a minimum for a heating time equal to the critical time. The total specific fragmentation energy is increased for heating times other than the critical time. Surface heating does not lower the energy requirements in all situations; that is, the critical heating time may be zero in some cases. A study of the relationship of the time of pre-heating on the rate of kerf cutting yields useful guidelines for defining the conditions under which supplemental heat addition can increase the rate of excavation.
Plebes, dogs, and robots: simulating without data

As a general rule, simulation requires detailed data to properly represent a problem. Occasionally, a problem may be successfully solved using only reasonable approximations to the data. This paper describes such a situation. The Army's health services conceived the Personal Information Carrier (PIC) as a replacement for the "dog tag." The concept was to support portable personal health records. The problem was to determine the contents of the records to be stored in the PIC.
The dynamic effects of aggregate demand and supply disturbances in the G7 countries

This paper uses post-World War II and pre-World War I data on output and the unemployment rate from the G7 countries to estimate Blanchard and Quah's (1989) model. Their model is identified by assuming that permanent movements in output obtain from aggregate supply shocks and that aggregate demand shocks have temporary effects on output. We find that these demand shocks typically explain more output variance in the post-World War II period than in the pre-World War I period. This result is consistent with the view that price adjustment was slower in the latter half of the twentieth century. A second finding is that supply shocks cause the unemployment rate to rise for some countries and fall for others. This result implies that at least two different kinds of supply shocks are at work. However, if a country is subject to various kinds of supply shocks which have qualitatively different effects on the unemployment rate, Blanchard and Quah have shown that their model is unable to identify structural effects. The paper concludes by discussing implications of this result for macroeconometric research.
Simplified equations for the distribution of chloride in body water

According to the theory of Boyle and Conway, chloride leaves the extracellular fluid to enter cells, particularly muscle, when the plasma potassium concentrationK rises. Simplified equations are presented to describe in terms ofK the distribution of chloride expected when the quantity of the saltKp in the body fluids changes in health and disease.
The distribution of bovine pancreatic polypeptide-like immunoreactive neurons in rat brain

Using the indirect immunofluorescent technique, bovine pancreatic polypeptide (BPP)-like immunoreactive nerve fibers and cell bodies were observed widely distributed in rat brain. A detailed stereotaxic atlas of BPP-immunoreactive neurons was prepared. Large numbers of BPP-containing perikarya were observed in the arcuate nucleus, with scattered cells in the cerebral cortex, nucleus olfactorius anterior, nucleus tractus diagonalis, olfactory tuberele, nucleus accumbens, neostriatum, nucleus interstitialis stria terminalis, nucleus preopticus medialis, area retrochiasmatica, zona interna of the median eminence, substantia grisea centralis, locus coeruleus, nucleus tractus solitarius, and in the region of the nucleus reticularis lateralis. Large numbers of varicose BPP-like nerve fibers were observed in the following nuclei: accumbens, interstitialis stria terminalis, preopticus medialis, preopticus suprachiasmaticus, suprachiasmaticus, periventricular thalamic and hypothalamic, paraventricularis, dorsomedialis, ventromedialis, arcuatus, parabrachialis dorsalis, tractus solitarius and the substantia gelatinosa trigemini. The present findings suggest that a BPP-like peptide may be involved in significant neuronal circuitry, possibly in a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator role. However, the exact identity of this peptide and its physiological role remain to be determined.
Histotypic organization of the rat retina in vitro

Retinae from two- and three-day-old rats were explanted in plasma clots and grown in vitro with the flying coverslip method. After seven to seventeen days in culture, the retinal tissue was fixed with aldehydes and osmium tetroxide and embedded for examination with the electron microscope. Study of cross sections (perpendicular to the coverslip) revealed a histotypic pattern of organization, especially in the thicker regions of the explants. Layering of cells quite similar to that in the intact retina was seen to develop from the relatively primitive, explanted retinal epithelium. However, each layer contained fewer cells than its counterpart in vivo. All major neuronal cell types were distinguished by their location and cytological characteristics. Development of the saccules of sensory cell outer segments was observed to occur in vitro by an infolding of the plasma membrane. Synaptic ribbon complexes developed to the mature form in the outer plexiform layers, while conventional synapses were numerous in the inner plexiform layers. Synaptic ribbons were also seen in bipolar cell axons in the inner plexiform layers. Amacrine and ganglion cells in these regions were relatively sparse. A survey of posterior regions of noncultured three-day-old rat retinae showed no synapses of any sort; therefore the synapses in the cultures formed in vitro. The retina is recommended for studies of synaptogenesis in tissue culture, for it offers several advantages over expiants from other areas of the neuraxis, including a clear layering pattern, many identifiable cell processes with characteristic synaptic relationships between them, and a well-defined sequence of developmental events.
Prevention of T1DM: feeding the ultimate goal

Preliminary results of the randomized, double-blinded TRIGR trial suggest that dietary manipulation can affect progression of autoimmunity in those at risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus. These findings highlight the interplay of genetic and environmental factors that regulate tolerance and might be targeted by preventative interventions.
Genomic instability and tumorigenic induction in immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells by heavy ions.

Abstract Carcinogenesis is postulated to be a progressive multistage process characterized by an increase in genomic instability and clonal selection with each mutational event endowing a selective growth advantage. Genomic instability as manifested by the amplification of specific gene fragments is common among tumor and transformed cells. In the present study, immortalized human bronchial (BEP2D) cells were irradiated with graded doses of either 1GeV/nucleon 56 Fe ions or 150 keV/μm alpha particles. Transformed cells developed through a series of successive steps before becoming tumorigenic in nude mice. Tumorigenic cells showed neither ras mutations nor deletion in the p16 tumor suppressor gene. In contrast, they harbored mutations in the p53 gene and over-expressed cyclin D1. Genomic instability among transformed cells at various stage of the carcinogenic process was examined based on frequencies of PALA resistance. Incidence of genomic instability was highest among established tumor cell lines relative to transformed, non-tumorigenic and control cell lines. Treatment of BEP2D cells with a 4 mM dose of the aminothiol WR-1065 significantly reduced their neoplastic transforming response to 56 Fe particles. This model provides an opportunity to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in malignant transformation of human epithelial cells by heavy ions.
Resolution of cosmological singularities in string theory

We show that a class of (3+1)-dimensional Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmologies can be embedded within a variety of solutions of string theory. In some realizations, the apparent singularities associated with the big bang or big crunch are resolved at nonsingular horizons of higher-dimensional quasi-black hole solutions (with compactified real time); in others, plausibly they are resolved at $D$-brane bound states having no conventional space-time interpretation.
Systematic review: the quality of the scientific evidence and conflicts of interest in international inflammatory bowel disease practice guidelines.

SummaryBackground Guidelines published by the international gastroenterology societies establish standards of care and seek to improve patient outcomes. Aim We examined inflammatory bowel disease guidelines (IBD) for quality of evidence, methods of grading evidence and conflicts of interest (COI). Methods All 182 guidelines published by the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, British Society of Gastroenterology, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation as of 27 September 2012 were reviewed. Nineteen IBD guidelines were found. Results Eighty-nine per cent (n = 17/19) of the guidelines graded the levels of evidence using seven different systems. Of the 1070 recommendations reviewed, 23% (n = 249) cited level A evidence; 28% (n = 302) level B; 36% (n = 383) level C and 13% (n = 136) level D. The mean age of the guidelines was 4.2 years. In addition, 61% (n = 11/19) of the guidelines failed to comment on COI. All eight articles commenting on COI had conflicts with 81% (n = 92/113) of authors reported an average 11.7 COI. Lastly, there were variations in the recommendations between societies. Conclusions Nearly half the IBD guideline recommendations are based on expert opinion or no evidence. Majority of the guidelines fail to disclose any COI, and when commenting, all have numerous COI. Furthermore, the guidelines are not updated frequently and there is a lack of consensus between societal guidelines. This study highlights the critical need to centralize and redesign the guidelines development process.