cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced cell ingrowth and proliferation through three-dimensional nanocomposite scaffolds with controlled pore structures

We present enhanced cell ingrowth and proliferation through cross-linked three-dimensional (3D) nanocomposite scaffolds fabricated using poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles. Scaffolds with controlled internal pore structures were produced from computer-aided design (CAD) models and solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technique, while those with random pore structures were fabricated by a NaCl leaching technique for comparison. The morphology and mechanical properties of scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical testing, respectively. Pore interconnectivity of scaffolds was assessed using X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and 3D imaging analysis. In vitro cell studies have been performed using MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblasts and cultured scaffolds in a rotating-wall-vessel bioreactor for 4 and 7 days to assess cell attachment, viability, ingrowth depth, and proliferation. The mechanical properties of cross-linked nanocomposite s...
Breast cancer screening in women with chronic kidney disease: the unrecognized effects of metastatic soft-tissue calcification

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are known to develop metastatic soft-tissue calcification, secondary to hyperparathyroidism, in tissues including the breast. Such calcifications in women could pose a problem for interpretation of mammograms, since they are thought to mimic malignant lesions and interfere with differentiation of benign from malignant disease. Investigation of this issue is important to provide high-quality, accurate breast care to women with CKD or ESRD, but little evidence is so far available. In a systematic review of the literature on the types and patterns of breast calcifications, we found only three studies that examined metastatic soft-tissue calcifications of the breast. The studies did, however, confirm that women with CKD or ESRD have a higher frequency of breast calcification than women with normal kidney function. The two older studies reported that these breast calcifications are not associated with malignancy, but the later study reported a raised rate of suspicious breast calcification among women with ESRD receiving hemodialysis, leading to an increased biopsy referral rate. In this Review we discuss the strengths and limitations of the available data and whether mammography is recommended in women with CKD or ESRD.
A Guide to Delineate the Logic of Neurovascular Signaling in the Brain

The neurovascular system may be viewed as a distributed nervous system within the brain. It transforms local neuronal activity into a change in the tone of smooth muscle that lines the walls of arterioles and microvessels. We review the current state of neurovascular coupling, with an emphasis on signaling molecules that convey information from neurons to neighboring vessels. At the level of neocortex, this coupling is mediated by: (i) a likely direct interaction with inhibitory neurons, (ii) indirect interaction, via astrocytes, with excitatory neurons, and (iii) fiber tracts from subcortical layers. Substantial evidence shows that control involves competition between signals that promote vasoconstriction versus vasodilation. Consistent with this picture is evidence that, under certain circumstances, increased neuronal activity can lead to vasoconstriction rather than vasodilation. This confounds naive interpretations of functional brain images. We discuss experimental approaches to detect signaling molecules in vivo with the goal of formulating an empirical basis for the observed logic of neurovascular control.
STa and cGMP stimulate CFTR translocation to the surface of villus enterocytes in rat jejunum and is regulated by protein kinase G

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is critical to cAMP- and cGMP-activated intestinal anion secretion and the pathogenesis of secretory diarrhea. Enterotoxins released b...
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY OF SOILS FROM GRAIN-SIZE DISTRIBUTION: NEW MODELS

This paper presents new developments of regression-based models to predict the saturated hydraulic conductivity of compacted soils from grain-size distribution. The models incorporate parameter values that adequately represent the distribution of grain sizes. Alternative representations of the grain-size distribution, the fractal dimension and entropy of the distributions, as well as porosity, soil density, and fines content are used in the models to estimate the hydraulic conductivity. These parameters that characterize the textural and hydraulic properties of the soil are combined and used in a multidimensional analysis to estimate the hydraulic conductivity. The predictions of the developed models are compared with those of existing models and laboratory measurements of hydraulic conductivity. The results suggest that the newly developed models outperform the existing models in predicting hydraulic conductivity using information from grain-size distribution. The presented models are suggested as alternatives to, for example, laboratory measurements of the hydraulic conductivity of certain soils that may be difficult to prepare or that may take several days or perhaps weeks to perform. In certain circumstances it may also be used to give first-hand information about the hydraulic properties in a field environment.
Analytical Modeling of Calcium Carbonate Deposition for Laminar Falling Films and Turbulent Flow in Annuli: Part I—Formulation and Single-Species Model

This is a two-part series to model scaling of heat transfer surfaces by calcium carbonate based on the first conservation principle approach. In Part 1, general physical and chemical processes in CaCO{sub 3} fouling are described and a single-species model is proposed whereby only Ca{sup +2} species transport needs to be of concern. The deposition process is assumed to be controlled by the two processes of mass transport to and crystallization reaction on the heat transfer surface. The model is then used to solve for CaCO{sub 3} scaling in a laminar falling film system and to assess which of the two types of prevailing reaction rate expressions is more appropriate for the CaCO{sub 3} fouling analysis. The predicted deposition rate, scale thickness, and its profile are compared with experimental data. The comparison shows that the single-species model yields satisfactory predictions only for a limited range of concentrations. It reveals that the type of reaction rate expression used in a single-species model is less accurate than the other type used in the multispecies model. The latter is described in Part 2 of the series.
Histologic spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in morbidly obese adolescents.

Background & Aims: To characterize the spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in morbidly obese adolescents, we correlated liver histology with clinical features and compared findings with reported adult data. We hypothesized that NAFLD would be less severe as a result of younger age and shorter duration of obesity, but portal inflammation and fibrosis would be more prevalent. Methods: Cross-sectional study was made of 41 adolescent subjects, 13–19 years old (mean, 16 years), 61% female, 83% non-Hispanic white, mean body mass index 59 kg/m 2 , undergoing gastric bypass with liver biopsy. Liver biopsies were graded and staged as proposed by the NASH Clinical Research Network. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and Fisher exact tests. Results: Eighty-three percent had NAFLD: 24% steatosis alone, 7% isolated fibrosis with steatosis, 32% nonspecific inflammation and steatosis, and 20% nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Twenty-nine percent had fibrosis; none had cirrhosis. Abnormal ALT ( P = .05) and AST ( P = .01) were more prevalent in NASH. Mean fasting glucose was significantly higher in NASH ( P = .05), but prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was not significantly different. Conclusions: NAFLD was very prevalent in morbidly obese adolescents, but severe NASH was uncommon. In contrast to morbidly obese adults, lobular inflammation, significant ballooning, and perisinusoidal fibrosis were rare, whereas portal inflammation and portal fibrosis were more prevalent, even in those who did not meet criteria for NASH. These findings might support use of a modified scoring system for pediatric NASH. Presence of the metabolic syndrome in morbidly obese adolescents did not distinguish NASH from steatosis alone.
Characterization and cloning of celR, a transcriptional regulator of cellulase genes from Thermomonospora fusca.

Abstract CelR, a protein that regulates transcription of cellulase genes in Thermomonospora fusca(Actinomycetaceae) was purified to homogeneity. A 6-kilobase NotI-SacI fragment of T. fuscaDNA containing the celR gene was cloned intoEsherichia coli and sequenced. The celR gene encodes a 340-residue polypeptide that is highly homologous to members of the GalR-LacI family of bacterial transcriptional regulators. CelR specifically binds to a 14-base pair inverted repeat, which has sequence similarity to the binding sites of other family members. This site is present in regions upstream of all six cellulase genes inT. fusca. The binding of CelR to the celEpromoter is inhibited specifically by low concentrations of cellobiose (0.2–0.5 mm), the major end product of cellulases. The other sugars tested did not affect binding at equivalent or 50-fold higher concentrations. The results suggest that CelR may act as a repressor, and that the mechanism of induction involves a direct interaction of CelR with cellobiose.
The α7 nicotinic receptor agonist 4OH-GTS-21 protects axotomized septohippocampal cholinergic neurons in wild type but not amyloid-overexpressing transgenic mice

Abstract While activation of α7 nicotinic receptors protects neurons from a variety of apoptotic insults in vitro , little is known about this neuroprotective action in vivo , especially under amyloidogenic conditions that mimic Alzheimer’s disease. We therefore investigated the effects of 4OH-GTS-21, a selective partial agonist for these receptors, on septohippocampal cholinergic and GABAergic neuron survival following fimbria fornix (FFX) lesions in three strains of mice: C57BL/6J wild type mice; human presenilin-1 mutant M146L (PS1) transgenic mice; and mice expressing both mutant PS1 and Swedish mutant K670N/M671L amyloid precursor protein (APP). Initial studies to demonstrated that 4OH-GTS-21 is likely brain permeant based on its ability to improve passive avoidance and Morris water task behaviors in nucleus basalis–lesioned rats. In FFX-lesioned mice, twice per day i.p. injections of 1 mg/kg of 4OH-GTS-21 for 2 weeks promoted the survival and prevented the atrophy of septal cholinergic neurons. Septal parvalbumin-staining GABAergic neurons were not protected by this treatment, although they also express α7 nicotinic receptors, suggesting an indirect, nerve growth factor (NGF)–mediated mechanism. No protection of cholinergic neurons was observed in similarly treated PS1 or APP/PS1 transgenic mice. 4OH-GTS-21 treatment actually reduced cholinergic neuronal size in APP/PS1 mice. Hippocampal amyloid deposition was not affected by FFX lesions or treatment with this α7 nicotinic receptor agonist in APP/PS1 mice under these conditions. These results indicate that brain α7 nicotinic receptors are potential targets for protecting at-risk brain neurons in Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps via their effects on NGF receptors; however, this protection may be sensitive under some conditions to environmental factors such as inhibitory amyloid-peptides.
Observer agreement in assessing flexion-extension X-rays of the cervical spine, with and without the use of quantitative measurements of intervertebral motion.

Abstract Background context Flexion-extension X-rays are commonly used to identify abnormalities in intervertebral motion, despite little evidence for the reliability of the information that clinicians derive from these test. Purpose Quantify observer agreement on intervertebral motion abnormalities assessed with and without the use of computer-assisted technology. Study design Assess interobserver agreement among clinicians when they evaluate cervical flexion-extension X-rays using the methods they now use in clinical practice, and compare this to observer agreement when the same clinicians reassess the X-rays using computer-assisted technology. Methods Seventy-five flexion-extension X-rays of the cervical spine, obtained from several clinical practices, were assessed by seven practicing physicians who routinely assess these X-rays. Observers assessed the studies using the methods they routinely use, and then reassessed the studies, at least a month later, using validated computer-assisted methods. Agreement among clinicians with and without computer-assisted technology was assessed using kappa statistics. Results Agreement was poor (kappa=0.17) with methods routinely used in clinical practice. Computer-assisted analysis improved interobserver agreement (kappa=0.77). With computer-assisted methods, disagreements involved cases with severe degeneration or static misalignment where motion was within normal limits, or in fusion cases where there was between 1 and 1.5 degrees of motion at the fusion site. Conclusions This study suggests that commonly used methods to assess flexion-extension X-rays of the cervical spine may not provide reliable clinical information about intervertebral motion abnormalities, and that validated, computer-assisted methods can dramatically improve agreement among clinicians. The lack of definitions of instability and fusion acceptable to all the clinicians was likely a primary source of disagreement with both manual and computer-assisted assessments.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF LEFT ATRIAL PRESSURE AND VOLUME IN PATIENTS WITH HEART DISEASE.

Abstract The relationship between left atrial pressure and volume was studied in 39 patients with valvular heart disease or idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Left atrial pressure and left atrial volume were correlated in patients with aortic stenosis or with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Patients with mitral stenosis showed a correlation between pressure at the peak of the v-wave and maximum left atrial volume. No correlation between left atrial pressure and volume was found in patients with mitral insufficiency.
Source seeking for a three-link model of fish locomotion

We present a method of locomotion control for underwater vehicles which are propelled by a periodic deformation of the vehicle body, similar to the way a fish moves. The control law employs extremum seeking, which is a non-model based method that has been used recently in “source seeking” control for nonholonomic mobile robots. In this paper we present a design for a fish model consisting of three rigid body links and employing a two degree of freedom, non-reciprocal, movement which propels the fish through a perfect fluid without the use of a Kutta condition to shed vortices. In a companion paper we present results for a second fish model based on a Joukowski airfoil which has only one degree of freedom in its movement, and thus relies on vortex shedding to move through a perfect fluid. With the use of extremum seeking, we achieve the same results in each case: The fish is capable of performing ‘source seeking’ in GPS-denied underwater environments, and, if position measurement is available, it is capable of navigating from point A to point B, as well as along a predetermined path.
Small Players, Large Role: Microbial Influence on Biogeochemical Processes in Pelagic Aquatic Ecosystems

Although prokaryotes are small in size, they are a significant biomass component in aquatic planktonic ecosystems and play a major role in biogeochemical processes. A review of the recent literature shows that the relative importance of prokaryotes to material and energy fluxes is maximized in low-productivity (oligotrophic) ecosystems and decreases in high-productivity (eutrophic) ecosystems. We conclude that competition with eukaryotic autotrophs for dissolved nutrients and competition with phagotrophic heterotrophs and physical processes (sinking, photooxidation) for organic carbon (C) play important roles in determining the relative abundance and impact of prokaryotes in aquatic systems. Oligotrophic systems have low nutrient concentrations, with high proportions of dissolved nutrients in organic form, which favors prokaryotic heterotrophs over phytoplankton. Furthermore, a high proportion of the available organic C is dissolved rather than particulate, which favors prokaryotic heterotrophs over phagotrophic heterotrophs. In eutrophic systems, increased relative concentrations and loading of inorganic nutrients and increased relative concentrations of particulate organic C select for phytoplankton and phagotrophic heterotrophs over prokaryotic heterotrophs. Increased particle sinking fluxes and/or decreased excretion of organic carbon (EOC) may also decrease the relative importance of prokaryotic heterotrophs in eutrophic systems. In oligotrophic systems, interactions between autotrophs and heterotrophs are tightly coupled because the dominant heterotrophs are similar in size and growth rates, as well as having similar nutrient composition to the dominant autotrophs, small phytoplankton. In eutrophic systems, increased productivity passes through zooplankton that are larger and have slower growth rates than the autotrophs, leading to a greater potential for decoupled auto- and heterotrophic production and increased export production.
Remaking Work, Remaking Space: Spaces of Production and Accumulation in the Reconstruction of American Capitalism, 1865–1920

The era of US capitalist development between 1865 and 1920 offers a good opportunity to analyze the relational nature of social change at multiple scales precisely because it was a time of transition, for US and world capitalism alike. Existing accounts of the transition to monopoly capitalism in the US have focused on one or two geographical scales, such as the national economy or the shop floor. In this literature, scales are essentially treated as “containers” within which social change occurs. The possibility that the containers themselves may be fundamentally altered is not addressed. In contrast, this paper views labor process transformations, and transformations of the social division of labor, as dialectically bound. In particular, I seek to explain how the American transition to monopoly capitalism shaped, and was shaped by, class conflict and competitive pressures at multiple scales—the shop floor, the region, and the national and global divisions of labor.
Two Heme-Dependent Terminal Oxidases Power Staphylococcus aureus Organ-Specific Colonization of the Vertebrate Host

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of infections worldwide and is able to utilize aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, or fermentation as the means by which it generates the energy needed for proliferation. Aerobic respiration is supported by heme-dependent terminal oxidases that catalyze the final step of aerobic respiration, the reduction of O 2 to H 2 O. An inability to respire forces bacteria to generate energy via fermentation, resulting in reduced growth. Elucidating the roles of these energy-generating pathways during colonization of the host could uncover attractive therapeutic targets. Consistent with this idea, we report that inhibiting aerobic respiration by inactivating heme biosynthesis significantly impairs the ability of S. aureus to colonize the host. Two heme-dependent terminal oxidases support aerobic respiration of S. aureus, implying that the staphylococcal respiratory chain is branched. Systemic infection with S. aureus mutants limited to a single terminal oxidase results in an organ-specific colonization defect, resulting in reduced bacterial burdens in either the liver or the heart. Finally, inhibition of aerobic respiration can be achieved by exposing S. aureus to noniron heme analogues. These data provide evidence that aerobic respiration plays a major role in S. aureus colonization of the host and that this energy-generating process is a viable therapeutic target. IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus aureus poses a significant threat to public health as antibiotic-resistant isolates of this pathogen continue to emerge. Our understanding of the energy-generating processes that allow S. aureus to proliferate within the host is incomplete. Host-derived heme is the preferred source of nutrient iron during infection; however, S. aureus can synthesize heme de novo and use it to facilitate aerobic respiration. We demonstrate that S. aureus heme biosynthesis powers a branched aerobic respiratory chain composed of two terminal oxidases. The importance of having two terminal oxidases is demonstrated by the finding that each plays an essential role in colonizing distinct organs during systemic infection. Additionally, this process can be targeted by small-molecule heme analogues called noniron protoporphyrins. This study serves to demonstrate that heme biosynthesis supports two terminal oxidases that are required for aerobic respiration and are also essential for S. aureus pathogenesis.
Joint staff J7 environment development support for NATO simulation activities

The Environment Development Branch (ED), United States Joint Staff J7 (JS J7), formerly the Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) J7, supports a variety of simulation environment development activities in concert with NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries. Recent activities include development of the NATO Training Federation (NTF) in support of an experiment running in parallel with the "traditional" Southeastern Europe Simulation (SEESIM) training exercise, support for NATO Research & Technology Organization (RTO) Task Group MSG-106, Enhanced CAX Architecture, Design and Methodology, and development of NTF to support NATO Joint Force training. This paper introduces each of these activities, discusses synergies achieved among them, and addresses the influence JS J7 participation in NATO/PfP activities has had on ED development activities in support of US Joint Force training.
Ultrasensitive absorption spectroscopy with a high-finesse optical cavity and off-axis alignment

A simple and easy to use method that allows high-finesse optical cavities to be used as absorption cells for spectroscopic purposes is presented. This method introduces a single-mode continuous-wave laser into the cavity by use of an off-axis cavity alignment geometry to eliminate systematically the resonances commonly associated with optical cavities, while preserving the absorption signal amplifying properties of such cavities. This considerably reduces the complexity of the apparatus compared with other high-resolution cavity-based absorption methods. Application of this technique in conjunction with either cavity ringdown spectroscopy or integrated cavity output spectroscopy produced absorption sensitivities of 1.5 x 10(-9) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2) and 1.8 x 10(-10) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2), respectively.
Implementation approaches for the Advanced Encryption Standard algorithm

This paper addresses various approaches for efficient hardware implementation of the Advanced Encryption Standard algorithm. The optimization methods can be divided into two classes: architectural optimization and algorithmic optimization. Architectural optimization exploits the strength of pipelining, loop unrolling and sub-pipelining. Speed is increased by processing multiple rounds simultaneously at the cost of increased area. Architectural optimization is not an effective solution infeed-back mode. Loop unrolling is the only architecture that can achieve a slight speedup with significantly increased area. In non-feedback mode, subpipelining can achieve maximum speedup and the best speed/area ratio. Algorithmic optimization exploits algorithmic strength inside each round unit. Various methods to reduce the critical path and area of each round unit are presented. Resource sharing issues between encryptor and decryptor are also discussed. They become important issues when both encryptor and decryptor need to be implemented in a small area.
The Otology Data Collection project: report from the CHEER network.

Objective. To describe and communicate data collected in the CHEER (Creating Healthcare Excellence through Education and Research) infrastructure proof-of-concept study to facilitate understanding of the potential capabilities of practice-based research networks and to present pilot data for development of future research initiatives.Study Design. Prospective observational study of CHEER infrastructure operational capacity using a convenience sample of all patients presenting to the practices with tinnitus, dizziness, or a combination of these symptoms.Setting. The CHEER network of community and academic practice sites.Subjects and Methods. The data collection exercise collected demographic, clinical, treatment, and health-related quality-of-life surveys on tinnitus, dizziness, and migraine disorders. Descriptive analysis of the data is presented.Results. Of the sites in the CHEER network, 73% (16/22) successfully enrolled subjects; a total of 1532 patients were enrolled in 8 months. Tinnitus alone, dizzi...
Temperature dependence of transverse acoustic phonons in semiconductors.

The temperature dependence of TA phonons due to (i) electron-phonon interaction, (ii) lattice expansion, and (iii) phonon-phonon interaction is estimated using the simple dielectric model of any tetrahedral semiconductor. It is found that the phonon-phonon interaction has the greatest effect. For the case of Ge near its melting point the estimate is in agreement with recent neutron-scattering measurements of Hennion and Schott.
SEASONAL SURVIVAL AND CAUSE-SPECIFIC MORTALITY OF URBAN AND RURAL STRIPED SKUNKS IN THE ABSENCE OF RABIES

Identifying factors that are limiting to populations is fundamental to understanding population dynamics of wildlife, and such knowledge is important for conservation and management. I compared survival and cause-specific mortality patterns between urban and rural populations of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in northeastern Illinois. Rabies, an important mortality factor for skunks, was absent from the study populations. Body weights of skunks declined during winter in both areas, but there was a slightly greater decline for rural skunks. Estimates of annual survival were similar (P > 0.1) between areas, as were seasonal patterns of survival. Disease or poor physical condition was the greatest cause of mortality at the urban site throughout the year, whereas it was the most common mortality factor at the rural site only during winter and spring; vehicle collision was the most common cause of death at the rural site during summer and autumn. I found little evidence that body weight or condition before winter denning, sex, or age were related to survival during winter; however, relationships between these covariates and survival may have been obfuscated by parasites. Results from this study suggest that the winter season is a critical period for survival for skunks from rural and urban areas at temperate climates, anthropogenic factors associated with urban landscapes have minimal effects on skunk survival distributions, and disease is a major cause of mortality even in the absence of rabies.
Experiences with capsule-based active networking

Active networking adds programmability to the elements of the network, most aggressively by using programmable packets, or capsules. ANTS [22, 21] and PLANet [10, 8] are the most mature examples of capsule-based systems, both having been publicly available for several years. This paper presents our experience with these systems and the lessons they hold for the future of capsule-based active networking. The paper focuses on four key issues: flexibility, performance, security, and usability. We consider how ANTS and PLANet address these issues, noting that despite substantial surface differences, both systems identify similar key problems and use closely related solutions. Based on our experience with these systems we conclude that capsule-based systems can achieve useful levels of flexibility, performance, and usability. Many aspects of security can also be adequately addressed, but some important problems related to denial of service remain as open problems.
FLUID DYNAMIC GAUGING-BASED ASSAYS FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT INVESTIGATION OF CELLULAR MECHANOTRANSDUCTION

Within bone, the mechanotransduction pathway is recognized as one of the primary pathways determining bone strength. However, despite an intense research effort over the last 30 years seeking to identify potential mechanosensing molecules in bone cells, only a handful of candidates have been identified. This is due in large part to the low throughput of existing mechanotransduction assays, which preclude them from powerful approaches for de novo discovery such as high-throughput screens and systems biology-based investigations.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Analysis of biodiesel/petroleum diesel blends with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is used to analyze petroleum diesel, biodiesel, and biodiesel/petroleum diesel blends. The GCxGC instrument is assembled from a conventional gas chromatograph fitted with a simple, in-line fluidic modulator. A 5% phenyl polydimethylsiloxane primary column is coupled to a polyethylene glycol secondary column. This column combination generates chromatograms where the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) found in biodiesel occupy a region that is also populated by numerous cyclic alkanes and monoaromatics found in petroleum. Fortunately, the intensities of the petroleum hydrocarbon peaks are far lower than the intensities of the FAME peaks, even for blends with low biodiesel content. This allows the FAMEs to be accurately quantitated by direct integration. The method is calibrated by analyzing standard mixtures of soybean biodiesel in petroleum diesel with concentrations ranging from 1 to 20% v/v. The resulting calibration curve displays excellent linearity. This curve is used to determine the concentration of a B20 biodiesel/petroleum diesel blend obtained from a local retailer. Excellent precision and accuracy are obtained.
Kerr electro-optic measurements of space charge effects in high voltage pulsed propylene carbonate using parallel-plate electrodes

The Kerr electro-optic field mapping technique has been used to study space charge effects in high voltage pulsed propylene carbonate (C/sub 4/H/sub 6/O/sub 3/) using stainless steel parallel-plate electrodes. Measurements presented here were taken using a circular polariscope with aligned polarizers at room temperature (T/spl sim/20/spl deg/C) with average initial electric field strengths of E/sub 0//spl sim/52 kV/cm and for measurement times ranging from 10 /spl mu/s to 1 ms. The light intensity pictures were analyzed along a line in the center of the electrode gap. From the light intensity distribution the electric field and space charge were calculated as a function of position and time. The calculated space charge distributions show both positive and negative charge injections from the electrodes as well as bulk charge dissociation.
Lighten Up: The citation dilemma in qualitative research

The balance between what we learn from research and what others have said about similar topics can pose dilemmas for qualitative researchers. How many citations are enough? How much allegiance do we owe to other scholars and how much to informants’ lived experiences, our theoretical analyses, and the lessons we draw about methods and methodologies from our own experience as researchers? The various reasons we use or do not use citations in writing up results and writing about methods are the topics of this article.
KANSAS GAP ANALYSIS: THE IMPORTANCE OF VALIDATING DISTRIBUTIONAL MODELS BEFORE USING THEM

Maps of vertebrate distributions resulting from the Kansas Gap Analysis were com- pared with maps based on ecological-niche modeling of primary point-occurrence information. The latter maps were considerably more predictive of independent sets of test data than were the Gap maps, further supporting the idea that the method of Gap wildlife-habitat modeling has little analytical power. In general, the Kansas Gap maps were untested and unchecked, thus being heterogeneous, unreliable, and of little use for further analyses. R ESUMEN Se compararon los mapas de distribuciones de vertebrados que resultaron del pro- grama de analisis de ''Gap'' del estado de Kansas con mapas que se derivaron de modelaje de nichos ecologicos de datos de informacion primaria de puntos de ocurrencia. Estos ultimos re- sultaron con bastante mas poder predictivo de juegos de datos de pruebas independientes que los mapas de Gap, apoyando aun ma a la idea de que el metodo de modelaje de habitat silvestre de Gap tiene poco poder analitico. En general los mapas que se produjeron en el proyecto de Gap en Kansas no fueron probados ni revisados, y finalmente fueron heterogeneos, no confiables, y de poco valor para analisis posteriores. Gap analysis consists of the integration of in- formation on geographic distributions of spe- cies with information on land use, land cover, and land tenure, with the aim of improving
Measurement of Undissolved Water Content in Jet Engine Fuels by a Dielcometric Transducer

A method and a device are developed to determine the undissolved water content in jet engine fuels under dynamic conditions. The device consists of a sampler, a thermostatically controlled chamber, an undissolved water separation unit, and a unit for measuring the dielectric constant of dewatered and water-containing fuel. Dewatered fuel acts as internal ethanol, and the dielectric constant of ethanol and dewatered fuel is measured at the same temperature.
Computation of pKa from Dielectric Continuum Theory

This work considers calculation of pKa for a series of related alcohols, carboxylic acids, and ammonium ions spanning a wide range of acidities, using quantum mechanical treatment of solute electronic structure in conjunction with a dielectric continuum model for solvation of each bare solute. The electronic structure methods used are of sufficiently high quality to give very good agreement with experimental gas phase acidities. Dielectric continuum theory of solvation is used in a recently developed form that accurately takes account of solute charge density penetrating outside the solvent cavity that nominally encloses it. The cavity surface is defined by a single parameter characterizing an electronic isodensity contour, and contours are examined at and near the value 0.001 e/ that has previously led to a good account of solvation effects on properties of neutral solutes in various solvents. In water, the pKa values calculated for alcohols and carboxylic acids are generally much higher than experiment,...
Thinking about Theory Innovation of Ideological and Political Work in Higher Institutions

Ideological and political work in higher intitutions is considered very important and has been put in a lot of manpower and material resources,but its effects are not always satisfying.Analyzing the social existence and thinking about ideological and political work by using Maxism's fundamental principles,the paper thinks that only theory innovation can bring in a new prospect for the work.
Application of Spatial Interpolation Technology on Forecasting Winter Wheat Yield

The spatial interpolation technology was applied on forecasting winter wheat yield in the study of agro-meteorology forecasting.That was to say,spatial interpolation of agro-meteorology factors included precipitation and temperature.This technology not only interpolated the regional meteorological factors from point data into polygon data,but also solved the spatial extrapolation of agro-meteorology model in yield forecasting.As a result,the study could improve the precision of forecasting winter wheat yield and had some practicability.
The Investigation and Study of the Sports Consumption of Graduate Students in Universities of Shanxi Province

With methods of survey and mathematical statistics,this paper investigates and studies the level and structure of sports consumption of graduate students in some colleges and universities of Shanxi Province.The results show that the sports consumption is becoming an important component of daily consumption of graduate students in universities of Shanxi Province.However the structure of sports consumption is not rational enough,and the overall level is relatively low.
Application of parameters identification theory in generator excitation system modeling

This paper expounds the application of identification theory in generator excitation system parameters testing and illustrates the measurement for the parameters identification of power plant. The parameters satisfying modeling excitation system request can be finally obtained by FFT/LSE and genetic algorithm.Moreover,the result of identification from phase margin and gain margin is analyzed. The identification results of both a simulation system in Matlab and a real excitation system show that the result of identification is able to obtain the accurate parameters of the excitation system.
General Meteorological Optics

The phenomena of meteorological optics are not as generally well known as those of other branches of meteorology. For this reason, the subsequent sections are introduced with a brief description of the major phenomena and a summary of known facts. For abnormal variations the reader is referred to the multitude of meteorological, astronomical, and general science periodicals. Visible sound waves in the sky, frequently observed during World War II,1 could not be considered here.
Abstract 65:In vivopooled shRNA library screens identify cancer genes driving epithelial ovarian cancer

Background & Aims: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the 5th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the USA. Most cases of EOC are diagnosed at an advanced stage with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), which seriously affects mortality. To identify therapeutic targets for EOC, we performed in vivo loss of function screens using pooled shRNA libraries. Methods: To discover tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) involved in PC formation, the human EOC cell line, SKOV3, was transduced with a pooled shRNA library containing 42,450 shRNAs targeting 7490 druggable genes. Transduced cells that were highly evasive as measured in Boyden chamber assays were then injected intraperitonealy into female nude mice. Eighteen PC tumors that developed were then sequenced and enriched shRNAs identified. SKOV3 cells transduced with the druggable shRNA library were also injected into nude mice without further in vitro manipulation and 12 PC tumors sequenced in order to identify potential oncogenes as measured by shRNA depletion. Results: Enrichment screening of invasive cells identified 34 potential TSGs targeted by two or more shRNAs. Knockdown of the two most highly ranked genes, RAD51C and TXN, by individual shRNAs, was subsequently shown to accelerate PC formation following intraperitoneal injection of transduced SKOV3 cells. Individual knockdown of these two genes was subsequently shown to increase cell invasion in Boyden chamber assays and adhesion to the extracellular matrix in vitro. These results suggest that RAD51C and TXN are suppressors of human EOC metastasis through their negative regulation of cell adhesion and cell invasion. Finally, shRNA depletion screening identified 17 potential oncogenes. These genes included three known oncogenes, ERBB2, RAF1 and FOS, in addition to eight genes that showed a significant positive correlation between their mRNA levels and poor patient survival in human EOCs. Knockdown of the second ranked oncogene, KPNB1, significantly decreased in vitro cell proliferation in multiple human EOC cell lines, suggesting that KPNB1 may be a new potential therapeutic target of human EOC. KPNB1 knockdown in SKOV3 cells downregulated AURKA, MYBL2, CCNE1 and CDK2 mRNA levels, suggesting that KPNB1 may function by positively regulating the cell cycle. Conclusion: In vivo pooled shRNA library screens are a powerful tool for identifying novel cancer genes and new potential drug targets in human epithelial ovarian cancer. Citation Format: Michiko Kodama, Takahiro Kodama, Justin Newberg, Neal G. Copeland, Nancy A. Jenkins. In vivo pooled shRNA library screens identify cancer genes driving epithelial ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 65.
Impact of Conformality and Crystallinity for Ultrathin 4 nm Compact TiO2 Layers in Perovskite Solar Cells

The rapid rise in power conversion efficiencies of lead-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has established their promise, motivating scale-up and commercialization. As a thin film solar cell, interfacial properties are key to the performance of PSCs; there is a need to further understand which properties are critical to control. In this work, the impact of the compact TiO2 (com-TiO2) film properties on the performance of mesoporous PSCs is studied. Com-TiO2 layers are fabricated by spray pyrolysis as well as by atomic layer deposition (ALD), using ALD as a proof-of-concept method to achieve highly conformal films of precisely controlled thickness. The com-TiO2 layers' conformality and surface roughness are examined by microscopy techniques; their relative crystallinity is studied by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction with a synchrotron source and an in situ annealing chamber; and completed devices are analyzed by J–V and impedance spectroscopy techniques. The results show that an ultraconformal com-TiO2 layer can be thinned to 4 nm and match the performance of a ≈50 nm spray-pyrolysis TiO2 layer. This work concludes that film conformality is the primary consideration for creating a high-performing com-TiO2 layer, overriding any effects of film crystallinity—a finding that can guide fabrication choices for the scale-up of PSCs.
We’re All Creatives Now: Democratized Creativity and Education

This article draws attention to and lays a critique against the relationship between creativity and neoliberalism within society, art, and education in order to both denaturalize and challenge its progression. I explore the following question: What might the implications be if contemporary education concerns itself with facilitating creativity for economic good at the expense of other conceptions of creativity? Here I confine myself to charting how creativity acts as a discursive term representing political, educational, artistic, economic, and social processes of our times. I maintain that creativity is profoundly transforming through processes of colonization and democratization associated with neoliberal economics and entrepreneurial innovation. In response to these changes, this article aims to re-appropriate creativity for education by pushing back against the current business bias with expanded meanings and purposes for creativity that do not align with creativity for industry alone.
Identification of a vacuolar proton channel that triggers the bioluminescent flash in dinoflagellates

In 1972, J. Woodland Hastings and colleagues predicted the existence of a proton selective channel (HV1) that opens in response to depolarizing voltage across the vacuole membrane of bioluminescent dinoflagellates and conducts protons into specialized luminescence compartments (scintillons), thereby causing a pH drop that triggers light emission. HV1 channels were subsequently identified and demonstrated to have important functions in a multitude of eukaryotic cells. Here we report a predicted protein from Lingulodinium polyedrum that displays hallmark properties of bona fide HV1, including time-dependent opening with depolarization, perfect proton selectivity, and characteristic ΔpH dependent gating. Western blotting and fluorescence confocal microscopy of isolated L. polyedrum scintillons immunostained with antibody to LpHV1 confirm LpHV1’s predicted organellar location. Proteomics analysis demonstrates that isolated scintillon preparations contain peptides that map to LpHV1. Finally, Zn2+ inhibits both LpHV1 proton current and the acid-induced flash in isolated scintillons. These results implicate LpHV1 as the voltage gated proton channel that triggers bioluminescence in L. polyedrum, confirming Hastings’ hypothesis. The same channel likely mediates the action potential that communicates the signal along the tonoplast to the scintillon.
Moral Luck and the Possibility of Agential Disjunctivism

Most presentations of the problem of moral luck invoke the notion of control, but little has been said about what control amounts to. We propose a necessary condition on an agent's having been in control of performing an action: that the agent's effort to perform the action ensured that the agent performed the action. The difficulty of satisfying this condition (or one like it) leads many on both sides of the moral luck debate to conclude that much of what we do is not within our control, and, at the limit, underpins agential skepticism, the view that no one has ever been in control of having performed an action in the external world. We propose a response to the agential skeptic modeled on the epistemological disjunctivist's response to the skeptic about perceptual experience. According to agential disjunctivism, the necessary condition on control can be met, thus undermining agential skepticism and one motivation for the problem of moral luck. Our view can be understood as resisting moral luck not by shrinking the domain of robust moral evaluation but by refusing to contract the realm of robust control.
Abdominal-pelvic scanning parameters revisited: a case for Z-axis reduction in patients with clinical suspicion for acute appendicitis

The purpose of this study was to determine if CT for appendicitis can be abbreviated to begin at the top of the L2 vertebral body level and still maintain the detection rate of appendicitis and other symptomatic pathology without omitting significant incidental findings. Retrospective review of CT abdomen-pelvis exams for suspected appendicitis over a 5-month period was performed. The Z-axis scan length of the original full scans and theoretical limited scans from the top of L2 were recorded and calculated. Images were reviewed for incidental findings above the L2 vertebral body level and categorized by severity per American College of Radiology (ACR) white paper guidelines. Final diagnoses based on imaging findings were also recorded. One hundred nineteen patients (46 males, 73 females, mean age 29 ± 14) were included. Appendicitis was present in 26 cases (22%). Using a theoretical scan beginning at the top of the L2 vertebral body, none of the findings leading to diagnosis of appendicitis would have been missed. A total of 30 incidental findings were found above the L2 vertebral body. Per ACR white paper guidelines, 26 of these findings did not require additional imaging follow-up. Additional follow-up imaging was recommended for 3 of the findings above L2, and 1 right adrenal metastasis was found above L2 in a patient with previously undiagnosed NSCLC. This patient coincidentally also had appendicitis. No symptomatic pathology would have been missed had the scans begun at the top of the L2 vertebral body. Such an abbreviated scan would have resulted in a mean Z-axis reduction of 12.9 cm (30.3%). CT using abbreviated Z-axis scan length can reduce radiation dose and provide necessary imaging needed to diagnose appendicitis or other symptomatic pathology without omitting significant incidental findings.