cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Natural convection in porous media: effect of weak dispersion on bifurcation

We use weakly nonlinear analysis via a two-parameter expansion to study bifurcation of conduction into cellular convection of an internally heated fluid in a porous medium that forms a horizontal layer between two isothermal walls. The Darcy–Boussinesq model of convection is enhanced by including two nonlinear terms: (i) quadratic (Forchheimer) drag; and (ii) hydrodynamic dispersion enhancement of the thermal conductivity described by a weak linear relationship between effective conductivity and local amplitude of filtration velocity. The impact of the second term on the shape of the bifurcation curve for two-dimensional rolls is profound in the presence of uniform volumetric heating. The resulting bifurcation structure is unlike any pitchfork bifurcations typical of the classical Benard problem. Although direct experimental validation of the novel bifurcation is not available, we would like to register it as an alternative or a supplement to models of small imperfections, and as an attempt to account for the scatter of observed critical values for the first bifurcation.
Effect of indecainide in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

Indecainide, a new antiarrhythmic agent classified as type Ic was evaluated in 11 patients with heart disease who had greater than or equal to 30 ventricular premature complexes/hour, moderate-to-marked left ventricular dysfunction, and mean ejection fraction 34% +/- 8%. Patients received indecainide, 50 mg by mouth, every 6 hours and the dose was increased until greater than or equal to 80% suppression was noted, adverse effects occurred, or a maximum dose of 100 mg indecainide was given every 6 hours. Ventricular premature complexes were suppressed greater than or equal to 80% in nine patients (p less than 0.05) and ventricular tachycardia episodes were completely suppressed in five of eight patients. The effective or maximal mean daily indecainide dose was 191 +/- 32 mg; half of the responders achieved achieved efficacy at serum drug concentration greater than or equal to 600 ng/ml. Serum drug concentration was directly related to gender (r = 0.78, p less than 0.04) and inversely related to creatinine clearance (r = 0.74, p less than 0.05) and ejection fraction (r = 0.71, p less than 0.02). Indecainide prolonged mean PR and QRS intervals (p less than 0.05) but not QT or QTc. There was a linear relation between percent change in PR (r = 0.80, p less than 0.001) and QRS (r = 0.66, p less than 0.001) intervals and serum drug concentration. After starting or increasing the dose, careful observation of patients with decreased renal function or reduced ejection fraction should be exercised because they attain higher drug concentration than normal subjects.
Overview of female middle childhood in societal context: implications for research and practice.

Preadolescence represents a time of becoming and of change less emphasized in popular and empirical literature than adolescence. Yet it is an important period and a critical time to teach children, while they are still sufficiently adult-dependent and adult-centered, to help that learning to persist. These are formative years during which children experience marked increases in development (physical, cognitive, and psychosocial) and knowledge and an incremental shaping of values, attitudes, and behaviors that they will carry into adulthood. This period of life can also be called the “tween” years, as children during this period are transitioning to adolescence. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the societal context in which preteen girls are developing and provide some suggestions for testing and implementing health promotion strategies that may contribute toward a safe and successful transition for these children through adolescence to adulthood in this fast-paced society. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Limitations in the interpretation of rest-exercise ejection fraction changes after early thrombolytic therapy during acute myocardial infarction

The effect of exercise on left ventricular wall motion in the infarct and noninfarct regions, and their contribution to the global ejection fraction response to exercise was evaluated in 24 patients studied at least 2 weeks following thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. To achieve this goal, a nonstandard protocol was used: contrast ventriculography was performed at rest and immediately following 3 minutes of supine bicycle exercise at 50 watts. Wall motion in the infarct and noninfarct regions was measured using the centerline method. The global ejection fraction response to exercise correlated poorly with the exercise response of motion in the infarct region (r = 0.38). In 15 of the 24 patients, the function of the infarct and noninfarct regions changed in opposing directions, and in only 8 (53%) of these did the global ejection fraction response follow the exercise response of motion in the infarct region. The motion of the noninfarct region was the predominant influence on the ejection fraction response in the other 7 patients. Subgroup analysis revealed that the global ejection fraction response was more dependent on the response of motion in the anterior wall (r = 0.71, p < 0.001) than in the inferior wall (r = 0.16), regardless of infarct location. The regional wall motion response to exercise also better distinguished reperfused from nonreperfused patients than did the ejection fraction response. These results indicate that the global ejection fraction response to exercise may be an unreliable indicator of the functional status of the infarct region. The efficacy of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction in salvaging myocardium is more accurately evaluated from the rest-exercise change in regional wall motion.
Protective effects of nicotine on ethanol-induced toxicity in cultured cerebellar granule cells

Alcoholism is associated with a higher incidence of smoking. In addition to the stimulatory effects of both ethanol and nicotine on the mesolimbic reward pathway, nicotine's ability to counteract some of the adverse effects of ethanol (e.g. ataxia) may be a powerful incentive for alcohol consumers to increase their tobacco (nicotine) intake. The cerebellum is believed to play an important role in ethanol-induced ataxia. In this study, we sought to test the hypothesis that nicotine would protect against toxic effects of ethanol in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells. Moreover, it was postulated that the effects of nicotine would be mediated through nicotinic receptors. Primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells were prepared from 20-day embryos obtained from timed-pregnant Sprague Dawley rats. Cells were cultured for 10 days and were then exposed for 3 days to various concentrations of ethanol with and without pretreatment with nicotine and nicotinic antagonists. Cellular toxicity was evaluated by measuring the lactate dehydrogenase level. Administration of ethanol (10–100 mM) resulted in a dose-dependent toxicity. Pretreatment with nicotine 1–20 μM resulted in a dose-dependent protection against ethanol-induced toxicity. The effects of nicotine were blocked by pretreatment with nicotinic antagonists such as mecamylamine 1–20 μM, dihydro-β-erythroidine 1.0 nM–1.0 μM and methyllycaconitine 5 nM-5 μM in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells is blocked by pretreatment with nicotine. The effects of nicotine, in turn, may be blocked by nicotinic antagonists, implicating both high and low affinity nicotinic receptors in mediating the actions of nicotine. The exact mechanism of ethanol-induced toxicity and/or neuroprotection through activation of nicotinic receptors in this paradigm remains to be elucidated. The neuroprotective effect of nicotine against ethanol-induced toxicity in cerebellar neurons may be a contributing factor to the high incidence of smoking among alcoholics.
WVSNP-DASH: Name-Based Segmented Video Streaming

Video streaming from sensors and miniaturized devices is attractive for a wide range of web-based applications, e.g., remote surveillance. Existing web-based video streaming frameworks, such as the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) live streaming (HLS) and the motion picture experts group’s dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH), have dependencies between the individual video segments and a manifest file that contains video metadata. Also, existing web-based video players are limited to fetching video segments over TCP/IP networks. The video segment dependencies complicate video segment distribution by resource-constrained source nodes, which may employ non-TCP/IP protocols, such as Zigbee. This paper proposes and evaluates a wireless video sensor network platform compatible DASH (WVSNP-DASH) framework and a WVSNP-DASH player (WDP) for flexible web-based access of video from sensors and other miniaturized source nodes. The WVSNP-DASH framework is based on independently playable video segments with a specific naming syntax that conveys elementary metadata so as to facilitate flexible search, transfer, distribution, and playback. The WDP employs elementary processes of version 5 of the hypertext markup language (HTML5) for video buffering and playback. Video segments are fetched into the HTML5 file system space, permitting flexible video fetching over a wide range of protocols, including sensor network protocols. Comparative evaluations of a WDP prototype with optimized HLS and MPEG-DASH players indicate that WDP has low client (receiver) load, while providing significant potential for power savings on the source node serving the video streams.
Cost utility analyses in international disaster responses-where are they?

International health care providers have flocked to Haiti and other disaster-affected countries in record numbers. Anecdotal articles often give "body counts" to describe what was accomplished, followed months later by articles suggesting outcomes could have been better. Mention will be made that various interventions were "expensive," or not the best use of limited funds. But there is very little science to post-intervention evaluations, especially with regard to the value for the money spent. This is surprising, because a large body of literature exists with regard to the Cost Utility Analysis (CUA) of health care interventions. Applying reproducible metrics to disaster interventions will help improve performance.This study will: (1) introduce and explain basic CUA; (2) review why the application of CUA is difficult in disaster settings; (3) consider how disasters may be unique with regard to CUA; (4) demonstrate past and theoretical utilization of CUA in disaster settings; and (5) suggest future utilization of CUA by healthcare providers in Disaster Response.Zoraster R. Cost utility analyses in international disaster responses-where are they? Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):1-6. Language: en
Resolving oligomers from fully grown polymers with IMS-MS.

Ion mobility and mass spectrometry techniques, combined with electrospray ionization, have been used to examine distributions of poly(ethylene glycols) (PEG) with average molecular masses of 6550 and 17900 Da. The analysis provides information about the polymer size distributions as well as smaller oligomers existing over a wide range of charge states and sizes (i.e., [HO(CH2CH2O)xH + nCs]n+, where x ranges from 21 to 151 and n = 2 to 11 for the 6550 Da sample; and, x ranges from 21 to 362 and n = 2 to 23 for the 17 900 Da sample). The present data show that oligomer distributions also fall into families, corresponding to much narrower size distributions for individual charge states; this dramatically simplifies data analysis. For example, we show evidence for baseline resolution of the +10 charge state of polymers. Unlike the charge-state trends reported previously for peptide ion families, which show generally increasing mobilities with increasing charge state (for a given m/z value), the mobilities of ...
Engineering a multipurpose catalyst

D-Amino acids can be useful building blocks for pharmaceuticals, but synthesizing them at a low cost remains challenging. A good catalyst for generating unnatural D-amino acids has been created by expanding the substrate range of a highly specific dehydrogenase.
Theory of high-field electron transport and impact ionization in silicon dioxide.

A detailed theoretical study of impact-ionization-related transport phenomena in ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ thin films is presented. The Boltzmann transport equation is integrated by the Monte Carlo method using acoustic-phonon-scattering rates derived from photoinduced electron transmission experiments. It is shown that these empirical scattering rates necessitate the inclusion of impact ionization at fields Fg${\mathit{F}}_{\mathrm{th}}^{\mathrm{ii}}$=7 MV/cm because phonon scattering alone can no longer stabilize the electron energy distribution below the ionization energy of 9 eV. However, even above ${\mathit{F}}_{\mathrm{th}}^{\mathrm{ii}}$, acoustic-phonon scattering is found to considerably delay the heating of electrons, leading to a wide dark space in which impact ionization cannot take place or is strongly reduced. Therefore, the electron multiplication factors m(F,${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{ox}}$) decrease rapidly with decreasing oxide thickness, ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{ox}}$, for ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{ox}}$30 nm. These predictions are shown to be consistent with results of several high-field transport experiments in silicon--silicon-dioxide device structures. The calculated electron energy distributions develop high-energy tails which extend beyond the band-gap energy at fields larger than ${\mathit{F}}_{\mathrm{th}}^{\mathrm{ii}}$, as observed by vacuum emission experiments. The calculated impact-ionization coefficients are found to be in good agreement with values derived from experiments.The hole generation factors m-1 quantitatively agree with substrate hole-current to channel-current ratios measured by the carrier separation technique in n-channel field effect transistors with gate oxide thicknesses ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{ox}}$\ensuremath{\ge}25 nm. The field and thickness dependence of the measured positive charge buildup (hole trapping) near the Si/${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ interface can be quantified in terms of impact ionization in the oxide film. The calculated carrier multiplication, however, cannot fully account for the substrate hole currents and the hole trapping measured in thinner oxides, ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{ox}}$\ensuremath{\le}20 nm, indicating that another mechanism, likely related to hole injection from the anode, becomes the dominant source for hole currents in thin oxides. Dielectric breakdown of thin ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ films on silicon is reevaluated on the bases of all of these findings. It is proposed that time-dependent breakdown is the result of cumulative degradation of the oxide near its interfaces caused by impact ionization and by hot-electron-induced hydrogen release together. This ansatz is shown to yield a good understanding for the oxide field and thickness dependence of the interface-state generation and of the charge to breakdown. Since impact ionization is strongly suppressed in thin films, ${\mathit{t}}_{\mathrm{ox}}$25 nm, degradation and time-dependent breakdown appear to be largely caused by hydrogen release and its subsequent secondary reactions in these thin films.
Auditor Industry Expertise and Cost of Equity

SYNOPSIS: We examine the association between auditor industry expertise and clients' cost of equity. Prior research suggests that industry experts are associated with higher earnings quality than non-experts. If such improved earnings quality were recognized by investors, we would expect it to be reflected in a lower cost of equity. Following recent research in this area, we distinguish between national-only, city-only, and joint city-national industry-expert auditors. Our results suggest that clients audited by city-only or joint city-national industry experts have a lower cost of equity. We also examine whether changing from non-expert (expert) to expert (non-expert) auditors result in a decrease (increase) in cost of equity. We find that when firms change from non-experts to city-only or joint city-national experts, their cost of equity is significantly decreased.
Analysis of intermicellar structure factors with the mean spherical and hypernetted-chain approximations

Applicability of the mean spherical approximation (MSA) and hypernetted-chain approximation (HNCA) to the analysis of intermicellar structure factors was examined. For a strongly coupled micelle-counterion system at high volume fraction the MSA partial structure factors are close to the corresponding HNCA solutions provided the micellar charge is appropriately reduced in the case of MSA. The same agreement for the micelle-micelle structure factor can still be maintained at low volume fraction by using the previously proposed rescaled MSA. In certain cases, the experimental intermicellar structure factor can be satisfactorily reproduced within the HNCA by assuming the micellar charge to be substantially lower than the mean aggregation number of the micelle.
Simple algebraic method to solve a coupled-channel cavity QED model

In this paper, we present a simple purely algebraic method to solve a coupled-channel cavity QED model with three nondegenerate quantized field modes proposed by Wang, Puri, and Eberly [Phys. Rev. A 46, 7192 (1992)]. By transforming it into one describing a spin-1/2 particle in a magnetic field and utilizing the relations between field variables and an orbital angular momentum, we can easily obtain energy eigenvalues without the need to know concrete expressions for eigenstates in terms of the usual Fock states, and analytical expressions of evolution and atomic inversion operators. The eigenstates of energy and orbital angular momentum are also explicitly expressed in terms of Fock states. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
The Periplasmic Disulfide Oxidoreductase DsbA Contributes to Haemophilus influenzae Pathogenesis

Haemophilus influenzae is an obligate human pathogen that persistently colonizes the nasopharynx and causes disease when it invades the bloodstream, lungs, or middle ear. Proteins that mediate critical interactions with the host during invasive disease are likely to be secreted. Many secreted proteins require addition of disulfide bonds by the DsbA disulfide oxidoreductase for activity or stability. In this study, we evaluated the role in H. influenzae pathogenesis of DsbA, as well as HbpA, a substrate of DsbA. Mutants of H. influenzae Rd and type b strain Eagan having nonpolar deletions of dsbA were attenuated for bacteremia in animal models, and complemented strains exhibited virulence equivalent to that of the parental strains. Comparison of predicted secreted proteins in H. influenzae to known DsbA substrates in other species revealed several proteins that could contribute to the role of dsbA in virulence. One candidate, the heme transport protein, HbpA, was examined because of the importance of exogenous heme for aerobic growth of H. influenzae. The presence of a dsbA-dependent disulfide bond in HbpA was verified by an alkylation protection assay, and HbpA was less abundant in a dsbA mutant. The hbpA mutant exhibited reduced bacteremia in the mouse model, and complementation restored its in vivo phenotype to that of the parental strain. These results indicate that dsbA is required in vivo and that HbpA and additional DsbA-dependent factors are likely to participate in H. influenzae pathogenesis.
Light chains ahoy: pirating Thal/Dex for AL too

Comment on Palladini et al, page [2949][1] In patients with refractory or relapsed systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, salvage therapy with thalidomide and dexamethasone in modified doses is effective albeit with manageable toxicities. Despite the lack of a practical test to irrefutably
Reflexions on the kurtosis of samples of errors

This study, applicable to large samples of observational errors, examines the causes that may lead to curves of probability density functions exhibiting the phenomenon of kurtosis. The instability, which may be of a continuous or discontinuous nature, of an observed reference or target results in mixtures of individual distributions having different means. Hence, it may happen that the total mixture has a platykurtic tendency. However, other experimental changes can result in mixtures of distributions of differeing variances thereby leading to leptokurtosis of the combined sample. It is demonstrated how the presence of both kurtoses can produce quasi-normal curves. The dichotomy of 2252 output errors of groups of watt hour meters, subjected to varying environmental effects, illustrates the application of the theory and formulae to establish that the total set is a mixture of discrete normal and modulated distributions having different means and variances.
The impact of ethical cues on customer satisfaction with service

Abstract This study examines the effects of ethical and unethical cues on customers’ evaluations of the ethics of a service provider and their subsequent satisfaction with the service. The results of a disguised, laboratory experiment are used to suggest that customers respond to unethical cues in the environment through lower ethical assessments and satisfaction ratings, but that ethical cues may not necessarily increase satisfaction scores when compared to a neutral situation. The implications suggest that ethical cues and an honest service provider may be the expected norm, and thus will lead to (or maintain) satisfaction with the service encounter, while unethical cues will create dissatisfaction.
Perturbed 27 Al photon echo ENDOR double resonance in Pr3+:YAlO3 and Eu3+:YAlO3

Abstract Aluminum pure quadrupole spectra measured by photon echo ENDOR double resonance (PENDOR) are reported for crystals of YAlO3 doped with Pr3+ and for crystals doped with Eu3+. These spectra, which correspond to aluminum nuclei adjacent to a rare earth impurity, are compared to the results of a conventional NMR study of 27 Al in YAlO3.
Providing Cryptographic Security and Evidentiary Chain-of-Custody with the Advanced Forensic Format, Library, and Tools

The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/jdcf.2009010101
PETROLOGIC CONSTRAINTS ON AMORPHOUS AND CRYSTALLINE MAGNESIUM SILICATES: DUST FORMATION AND EVOLUTION IN SELECTED HERBIG Ae/Be SYSTEMS

The Infrared Space Observatory, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Herschel Space Observatory surveys provided a wealth of data on the Mg-silicate minerals (forsterite, enstatite), silica, and ''amorphous silicates with olivine and pyroxene stoichiometry'' around Herbig Ae/Be stars. These incredible findings do not resonate with the mainstream Earth Sciences because of (1) disconnecting ''astronomical nomenclature'' and the long existing mineralogical and petrologic terminology of minerals and amorphous materials, and (2) the fact that Earth scientists (formerly geologists) are bound by the ''Principle of Actualism'' that was put forward by James Hutton (1726-1797). This principle takes a process-oriented approach to understanding mineral and rock formation and evolution. This paper will (1) review and summarize the results of laboratory-based vapor phase condensation and thermal annealing experiments, (2) present the pathways of magnesiosilica condensates to Mg-silicate mineral (forsterite, enstatite) formation and processing, and (3) present mineralogical and petrologic implications of the properties and compositions of the infrared-observed crystalline and amorphous dust for the state of circumstellar disk evolution. That is, the IR-observation of smectite layer silicates in HD142527 suggests the break-up of asteroid-like parent bodies that had experienced aqueous alteration. We discuss the persistence of amorphous dust around some young stars and an ultrafast amorphous more » to crystalline dust transition in HD 163296 that leads to forsterite grains with numerous silica inclusions. These dust evolution processes to form forsterite, enstatite {+-} tridymite could occur due to amorphous magnesiosilica dust precursors with a serpentine- or smectite-dehydroxylate composition. « less
Short chain fatty acids alter HEp-2 cell association and invasion by stationary growth phase Salmonella typhimurium

: We examined the ability of stationary phase Salmonella typhimurium to adhere and invade cultured HEp-2 cells after growth in broth supplemented with acetate, propionate, butyrate, or a mixture of the three short chain fatty acids (SCFA). At pH 6, all concentrations, except 25 and 50 mM butyrate, reduced cell-association of S. typhimurium when compared to controls, while at pH 7 only 100 mM concentrations of acetate and butyrate reduced cell-association significantly. Invasion percentages were greater for S. typhimurium grown at an initial pH of 6 with 25 mM acetate when compared to controls, SCFA mixture, and all other single SCFA concentration combinations. At pH 7, invasion was greater with either the SCFA mixture or 25 or 50 mM acetate than with control and all other single SCFA concentration combinations.
Development and evaluation of vision rehabilitation devices

We have developed a range of vision rehabilitation devices and techniques for people with impaired vision due to either central vision loss or severely restricted peripheral visual field. We have conducted evaluation studies with patients to test the utilities of these techniques in an effort to document their advantages as well as their limitations. Here we describe our work on a visual field expander based on a head mounted display (HMD) for tunnel vision, a vision enhancement device for central vision loss, and a frequency domain JPEG/MPEG based image enhancement technique. All the evaluation studies included visual search paradigms that are suitable for conducting indoor controllable experiments.
Postural stability of hemodynamic responses during mental challenge

Laboratory stress testing is typically conducted while subjects are seated, whereas real-life stressors may often be encountered while standing. The present study of 20 healthy young men evaluated blood pressure and underlying hemodynamic adjustments to a standardized mental arithmetic task performed twice while seated and twice while standing. Blood pressure increased during mental arithmetic in both postures, but the underlying hemodynamic determinants of the pressor responses were different for the two postures. Augmented cardiac output was responsible for increasing blood pressure during seated task performance, whereas increased vascular resistance was the mechanism for the pressor response to the task performed while standing. Blood pressure and hemodynamic responses were reproducible subject characteristics for a given posture; test-retest correlations were significant for all cardiovascular measures. However, seated blood pressures responses were not significantly correlated with standing blood pressure responses. In contrast, significant between-posture correlations were found for cardiac output and vascular resistance responses. This preliminary evidence of postural stability of the hemodynamic determinants of blood pressure responses during stress is consistent with growing evidence that hemodynamic response tendencies are robust characteristics of reactivity. Ambulatory monitoring of hemodynamic response patterns during real-life stress may reveal more idiosyncratic profiles of stress reactivity than are displayed by blood pressure responses alone.
Dissociation of benzodiazepine-induced amnesia from sedation by flumazenil pretreatment

The human amnestic syndrome associated with lesions of the hippocampus and amygdala is characterized by a selective impairment of recent (explicit, episodic) memory. Benzodiazepine (BZ) treated normal subjects demonstrate similar, marked impairments in episodic memory, but in addition, BZ also induces sedation and inattention. Thus, the amnestic effects of BZ may be secondary to drug-induced sedation. However, when subjects were pretreated with the specific BZ receptor antagonist, flumazenil, the sedative and attentional effects of diazepam were blocked, but a marked impairment in episodic memory still occurred. This demonstrates that, using neuropharmacological methods, it is possible to produce a dissociation of memory impairment from inattention and sedation. Such distinct patterns of cognitive dysfunction may serve as models for clinical cognitive syndromes.
Relationship between the Action of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors on the Noradrenaline Uptake System and their Antidepressant Efficacy

MONOAMINE oxidase (MAO) inhibitors were the first clinically used antidepressant drugs. Several tricyclic compounds of iminodibenzyl or cycloheptadiene structure which do not inhibit MAO are also effective antidepressant drugs (refs. 1–3 and unpublished work of J. M. Davis, G. L. Klerman and J. J. Schildkraut), and seem to act by inhibiting the re-uptake inactivation of noradrenaline4–7 and potentiating its effects in the brain.
Interleukin-12 Converts Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells to Interferon–γ-Producing Foxp3+ T Cells That Inhibit Colitis

Background & Aims Regulatory T (Treg) cells are plastic, but the in vivo mechanisms by which they are converted into foxhead box p3 (Foxp3 + ) interferon (IFN)-γ + T cells and whether these converted cells retain the ability to inhibit colitis are not clear. Methods Foxp3 + Treg cells were generated by culture of naive CD4 + T cells from Foxp3 GFP CBir1 T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic (Tg) (CBir1-Tg) mice, which are specific for CBir1 flagellin (an immunodominant microbiota antigen), with transforming growth factor-β. Foxp3 GFP+ CBir1-Tg Treg cells were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and transferred into TCRβxδ −/− mice. Colitis was induced by transfer of naive CBir1-Tg CD4 + T cells into immunodeficient mice. Results Microbiota antigen-specific Foxp3 + Treg cells were converted, in the intestine, to IFN-γ + T-helper (Th)1 cells, interleukin (IL)-17 + Th17 cells, and Foxp3 + T cells that coexpress IFN-γ and/or IL-17. Conversion of Treg cells into IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells and Foxp3 + IFN-γ + T cells required innate cell production of IL-12 in the intestine; blocking IL-12 with an antibody inhibited their conversion to Th1 and Foxp3 + IFN-γ + T cells in the intestines of mice that were recipients of Treg cells. Addition of IL-12, but not IL-23, promoted conversion of Treg cells into Th1 and Foxp3 + IFN-γ + T cells, in vitro. Foxp3 + IFN-γ + T cells had regulatory activity because they suppressed proliferation of naive T cells, in vitro, and inhibited induction of colitis by microbiota antigen-specific T cells. IFN-γ + Th1 cells were not converted into Treg cells; Foxp3 + IFN-γ + T cells differentiated into IFN-γ + but not Foxp3 + T cells. Conclusions IL-12 promotes conversion of Treg cells into IFN-γ-expressing cells; Foxp3 + IFN-γ + T cells retain their regulatory functions and develop during the transition of Foxp3 + Treg cells into IFN-γ + Th1 cells.
Test Generation for State Retention Logic

As low power designs with multiple switchable power domains become more common, there is a need to ensure that the low power component structures in the design -such as isolation cells, state retention logic, and level shifters - are robustly tested during manufacturing test. This paper describes some of the challenges involved in testing low power components like state retention logic and proposes a novel method for testing them by cycling through the power modes of the chip to test their retention capability.
Summingbird: a framework for integrating batch and online MapReduce computations

Summingbird is an open-source domain-specific language implemented in Scala and designed to integrate online and batch MapReduce computations in a single framework. Summingbird programs are written using dataflow abstractions such as sources, sinks, and stores, and can run on different execution platforms: Hadoop for batch processing (via Scalding/Cascading) and Storm for online processing. Different execution modes require different bindings for the dataflow abstractions (e.g., HDFS files or message queues for the source) but do not require any changes to the program logic. Furthermore, Summingbird can operate in a hybrid processing mode that transparently integrates batch and online results to efficiently generate up-to-date aggregations over long time spans. The language was designed to improve developer productivity and address pain points in building analytics solutions at Twitter where often, the same code needs to be written twice (once for batch processing and again for online processing) and indefinitely maintained in parallel. Our key insight is that certain algebraic structures provide the theoretical foundation for integrating batch and online processing in a seamless fashion. This means that Summingbird imposes constraints on the types of aggregations that can be performed, although in practice we have not found these constraints to be overly restrictive for a broad range of analytics tasks at Twitter.
Discussion of "Multiobjective Optimization of Time-Cost Trade-Off Using Harmony Search" by Zong Woo Geem

Osama Moselhi, F.ASCE; and Nazila Roofigari-Esfahan, S.M.ASCE Professor, Dept. of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia Univ., 1455 Blvd. de Maisonneuve W, Montreal, PQ, H3G 1M8, Canada. E-mail: moselhi@encs.concordia.ca Graduate Student, Dept. of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia Univ., 1455 Blvd. de Maisonneuve W, Montreal, PQ, H3G 1M8, Canada (corresponding author). E-mail: n_roofig@encs .concordia.ca
Extraction and 1H NMR Analysis of Fats from Convenience Foods: A Laboratory Experiment for Organic Chemistry

The extraction and analysis of fats from convenience foods (crackers, cookies, chips, candies) has been developed as an experiment for a second-year undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory course. Students gravimetrically determine the fat content per serving and then perform a 1H NMR analysis of the recovered fat to determine the levels of saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats in the food. Students compare their results to the information provided on the food package label. This experiment engages students in the learning process by connecting with their prior knowledge and familiarity of the foods used. Students learn several important concepts and techniques, such as fat characteristics and structure, solid–liquid extraction, structure–solubility relationships, vacuum filtration, and 1H NMR spectroscopy.
Crandem systems: Conditional random field acoustic models for hidden Markov models

In recent years, Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) have been examined as a statistical model for speech recognition. In this paper, we explore the use of features derived via CRFs as inputs to a Tandem- style HMM ASR system (that is, a Crandem system). We present a model for deriving frame-level posterior features via CRFs to use in Crandem modeling and additionally provide experimental results that show the Crandem system can slightly significantly outperform both a comparable Tandem system and a comparable CRF system on the task of phone recognition.
A CAD-oriented modeling approach of frequency-dependent behavior of substrate noise coupling for mixed-signal IC design

A simple, efficient CAD-oriented equivalent circuit modeling approach of frequency-dependent behavior of substrate noise coupling is presented. It is shown that the substrate exhibits significant frequency-dependent characteristics for high frequency applications using epitaxial layers on a highly doped substrate. Using the proposed modeling approach, circuit topographies consisting of only ideal lumped circuit elements can be synthesized to accurately represent the frequency response using y-parameters. The proposed model is well-suited for use in standard circuit simulators. The extracted model is shown to be in good agreement with rigorous 3D device simulation results.
The inverse problem for heat flow data in the presence of thermal conductivity variations

Summary. We demonstrate a method of performing linear programming optimizations of functionals of subsurface temperature, when thermal conductivity is a known piecewise-constant function. Data comprise heat flow measurements on the flat isothermal surface of this structure, within which heat transfer is by steady-state conduction. Two-dimensionality is assumed. The approach involves establishing constraints which demand the continuity of temperature and the normal component of heat flow across all internal boundaries. These unknown functions are expanded as truncated Fourier series whose coefficients become unknowns of the linear programming solution vector; linear relations are established between these coefficients which guarantee harmonicity of temperature in each region of uniform conductivity, as well as the continuity requirements. Variations of the formalism are detailed for three simple types of geometry. As an example the method is applied to a heat flow data set from Sass, Killeen & Mustonen over the Quirke Lake Syncline of Ontario, Canada.
Molecular imaging of human tumor cells that naturally overexpress type 2 cannabinoid receptors using a quinolone-based near-infrared fluorescent probe

Cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2R) hold promise as therapeutic targets for treating diverse diseases, such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, pain, inflammation, osteoporosis, psychiatric disorders, addiction, and immune disorders. However, the fundamental role of CB2R in the regulation of diseases remains unclear, largely due to a lack of reliable imaging tools for the receptors. The goal of this study was to develop a CB2R-targeted molecular imaging probe and evaluate the specificity of the probe using human tumor cells that naturally overexpress CB2R. To synthesize the CB2R-targeted probe (NIR760-Q), a conjugable CB2R ligand based on the quinolone structure was first prepared, followed by bioconjugation with a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye, NIR760. In vitro fluorescence imaging and competitive binding studies showed higher uptake of NIR760-Q than free NIR760 dye in Jurkat human acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia cells. In addition, the high uptake of NIR760-Q was significantly inhibited by the blocking agent, 4-quinolone-3-carboxamide, indicating specific binding of NIR760-Q to the target receptors. These results indicate that the NIR760-Q has potential in diagnostic imaging of CB2R positive cancers and elucidating the role of CB2R in the regulation of disease progression.
Identification of windbreaks in Kansas using object-based image analysis, GIS techniques and field survey

Windbreaks are valuable resources in conserving soils and providing crop protection in Great Plains states in the US. Currently, Kansas has no up-to date inventory of windbreaks. The goal of this project was to assist foresters with future windbreak renovation planning and reporting, by outlining a series of semi-automated digital image processing methods that rapidly identify windbreak locations. There were two specific objectives of this research. First, to develop semi-automated methods to identify the location of windbreaks in Kansas, this can be applied to other regions in Kansas and the Great Plains. We used a remote sensing technique known as object-based image analysis (OBIA) to classify windbreaks visible in the color aerial imagery of National Agriculture Imagery Program. We also combined GIS techniques and field survey to complement OBIA in generating windbreak inventory. The techniques successfully located more than 4500, windbreaks covering an approximate area of 2500, hectares in 14 Kansas counties. The second purpose of this research is to determine how well the results of the automated classification schemes match with other available windbreak data and the selected sample collected in the field. The overall accuracy of OBIA method was 58.97 %. OBIA combined with ‘heads up’ digitizing and field survey method yielded better result in identifying and locating windbreaks in the studied counties with overall accuracy of 96 %.
Near-capacity dirty-paper code designs based on TCQ and IRA codes

This paper addresses near-capacity dirty-paper code designs based on TCQ and IRA codes, where the former is employed as the most efficient means of vector quantization and the latter for their capacity-approaching performance. By bringing together TCQ - the best quantizer from the source coding community and EXIT chart based IRA code designs - the best from the channel coding community, we are able to approach the theoretical limit of dirty-paper coding. For example, at 0.25 b/s, one of our code designs (with 1024-state TCQ) performs 0.83 dB away from the capacity
The Zinc Finger Protein Schnurri Acts as a Smad Partner in Mediating the Transcriptional Response to Decapentaplegic

In Drosophila, a BMP-related ligand Decapentaplegic (Dpp) is essential for cell fate specification during embryogenesis and in imaginal disc development. Dpp signaling culminates in the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Mothers against dpp (Mad), a receptor-specific Smad that can bind DNA and regulate the transcription of Dpp-responsive genes. Genetic analysis has implicated Schnurri (Shn), a zinc finger protein that shares homology with mammalian transcription factors, in the Dpp signal transduction pathway. However, a direct role for Shn in regulating the transcriptional response to Dpp has not been demonstrated. In this study we show that Shn acts as a DNA-binding Mad cofactor in the nuclear response to Dpp. Shn can bind DNA in a sequence-specific manner and recognizes sites within a well-characterized Dpp-responsive promoter element, the B enhancer of the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) gene. The Shn-binding sites are relevant for in vivo expression, since mutations in these sites affect the ability of the enhancer to respond to Dpp. Furthermore we find that Shn and Mad can interact directly through discrete domains. To examine the relative contribution of the two proteins in the regulation of endogenous Dpp target genes we developed a cell culture assay and show that Shn and Mad act synergistically to induce transcription. Our results suggest that cooperative interactions between these two transcription factors could play an important role in the regulation of Dpp target genes. This is the first evidence that Dpp/BMP signaling in flies requires the direct interaction of Mad with a partner transcription factor. © 2000 Academic Press
Dynamic ocean-tide effects on Earth's rotation

This article develops 'broad-band' Liouville equations which are capable of determining the effects on the rotation of the Earth of a periodic excitation even at frequencies as high as semi-diurnal; these equations are then used to predict the rotational effects of altimetric, numerical and 32-constituent spherical harmonic ocean-tide models. The rotational model includes a frequency-dependent decoupled core, the effects of which are especially marked near retrograde diurnal frequencies; and a fully dynamic oceanic response, whose effects appear to be minor despite significant frequency dependence. The model also includes solid-earth effects which are frequency dependent as the result of both anelasticity at long periods and the fluid-core resonance at nearly diurnal periods. The effects of both tidal inertia and relative angular momentum on Earth rotation (polar motion, length of day, 'nutation' and Universal Time) are presented for 32 long- and short-period ocean tides determined as solutions to the author's spherical harmonic tide theory. The lengthening of the Chandler wobble period by the pole tide is also re-computed using the author's full theory. Additionally, using the spherical harmonic theory, tidal currents and their effects on rotation are determined for available numerical and altimetric tide height models. For all models, we find that the effects of tidal currents are at least as important as those of tide height for diurnal and semi-diurnal constituents.
A Typology of Spatiotemporal Information Queries

This chapter presents the fundamentals of spatiotemporal information and queries that are central to understanding of the dynamic world. A typology of spatiotemporal information queries is developed to summarize distinct dimensionalities of inquired information in space and time. The typology distinguishes 11 query types: attribute queries, 3 types of spatial queries, 3 types of temporal queries, and 4 types of spatiotemporal queries. Mining spatiotemporal information requires functions to support automatic query for all 11 types of spatiotemporal queries to provide a full spectrum of information search for interesting patterns in space and time.
Synthesis and Properties of Barium Titanate Thin Films Deposited on Copper Foil Substrates

Barium titanate thin films have been deposited on copper foils in the absence of interfacial layers via a chemical solution process. The dielectric – base metal stacks have been processed in reductive atmospheres such that substrate oxidation is avoided while allowing the perovskite film phase to crystallize. This accomplishment has facilitated the pursuit of a new embedded capacitor technology offering compatibility with polymer printed wiring boards and capacitance densities in excess of 2.5 µF/cm2. This represents a distinct improvement beyond conventional foil-based capacitor strategies. Finally, two critical phenomena will be discussed: (1) the effect of grain size on the dielectric properties of barium titanate thin films and (2) the effect of the B-site substituent Zr on the lattice, microstructure, and dielectric properties. Most importantly, high processing temperatures have allowed for microstructural and dielectric properties similar to well-prepared bulk ceramics, including average grain diameters greater than 0.1 µm, relative permittivities in excess of 2000, and coercive fields below 10 kV/cm. These properties will be discussed in the context of bulk ceramic and thin film reference data and with regard to integration into printed wiring boards.
Colorectal neoplasia screening with virtual colonoscopy: when, at what cost, and with what national impact?

Abstract Background & Aims: When optimized, virtual colonoscopy may be highly sensitive for colorectal neoplasia. We evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of virtual colonoscopy screening (VC) vs. colonoscopy screening (COLO) and the potential impact at the national level. Methods: Using a Markov model, we estimated the clinical and economic consequences of VC and COLO from ages 50 to 80 years. Using census data, we made projections to the national level. Results: In the best case considered (95%, 94%, and 87% sensitivity for colorectal cancer [CRC], polyps ≥10 mm, and polyps $200,000/incremental life-year. The greater the likelihood of being referred for colonoscopy after VC, the greater the advantage of COLO. With 75% screening adherence in the United States, VC and COLO could decrease CRC incidence by 46%–54%, with COLO requiring 6.9 million colonoscopies/yr, and VC, 3.2 million colonoscopies/yr, plus 5.4 million virtual colonoscopies/yr with VC. Conclusions: Even if screening test sensitivities were similar, COLO is likely to be preferred over VC unless virtual colonoscopy costs significantly less than colonoscopy. VC may be most appropriate in persons unlikely to need colonoscopy, such as those at low CRC risk. If VC were substituted for COLO, the demand on resources would shift from endoscopic to radiologic services, but would not diminish.