cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel photosensors for neutrino detectors and telescopes

The volume and the photosensitive area of next generation detectors of the numerous rarely occurring phenomena will greatly exceed the sizes of the current experiments. These phenomena include cosmic neutrinos, atmospheric neutrinos, long-baseline neutrino beams from accelerators, geo-neutrinos, geo-reactor neutrinos, and hypothetic proton decays. Similar requirements hold for a new type of a large scanning device for homeland security and nuclear proliferation control, and for the future widely accessible medical imaging devices. Photon detectors are the most important component of such detectors. Existing photosensors are based on vacuum tubes and dynode electron multipliers that are essentially hand-made, expensive and nearly impossible to produce in large enough quantities. Silicon detectors are too small for experiments requiring a very large photosensitive area. Our laboratory is developing novel detectors with a large photosensitive area that can be mass-produced, similar to large flat panel TV displays.
South Asia's water conundrum: hydroclimatic and geopolitical asymmetry, and brewing conflicts in the Eastern Himalayas

Few regions in the world are nearing a large-scale water crisis as rapidly as South Asia, especially the basins in the Eastern Himalayas. Despite being known to be a water-rich part of the world, lack of integrated planning, and unfavourable natural and political settings have pushed this populous region towards basin-wide water scarcity, flood hazards, water quality and ecosystem degradation, and public health problems. Rapid growth of population and an unforgiving future climate complicate the situation and put millions more at risk. Meanwhile, the riparian nations continue unilateral efforts to develop their water resources without addressing the ecological integrity of the complex transboundary river system. This article provides an overview of the asymmetry in hydroclimatic conditions and unhelpful political realities that have pushed the region towards a looming large-scale water conflict.
Politics as interruption: Rancière’s community of equals and governmentality

In this essay we explore Ranciere’s ‘politics of equals’ as an alternative conception of the political. Central to this conception is a division between instances of political contestation that add...
The Mechanism of Pore Assembly for a Cholesterol-Dependent Cytolysin: Formation of a Large Prepore Complex Precedes the Insertion of the Transmembrane β-Hairpins†

Perfringolysin O (PFO) is a member of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) family of membrane-penetrating toxins. The CDCs form large homooligomers (estimated to be comprised of up to 50 CDC m...
Gender differences in the relationship between symptoms of depression and high-sensitivity CRP

Gender differences in the relationship between symptoms of depression and high-sensitivity CRP
Thermal infrared properties of the Martian atmosphere: 2. The 15‐μm band measurements

Viking infrared thermal mapper observations of Mars in the 15-micron CO2 band reveal global atmospheric thermal behavior at the 0.3to 0.6-mbar level. Dust entrained by storms produces major modification of diurnal and latitudinal structure in the brightness temperature. In the dust-laden atmosphere of southern spring and summer 1977, the brightness temperature was a maximum in late afternoon at a latitude well south of the subsolar latitude. Diurnal amplitude was as great as 30 K, while diurnal mean temperatures exceeded 220 K. Over the northern winter polar cap, the brightness temperature increased dramatically following the second global dust storm of 1977; even in regions of polar night the change was up to 80 K. Inversions of similar magnitude resulted, and the change in downward radiance was sufficient to modify substantially the rate of CO2 condensation at the surface.
Reactions of Cyanocobalamin and Aquocobalamin with Proteins.

Summary1. A short-term dialysis procedure has been developed for studying cobalamin-protein reactions. 2. Aquocobalamin (vit. B12b) was much more reactive than cyanocobalamin, being bound in rather large amounts by several protein preparations of diverse origin. In several instances binding was increased by denaturation and decreased in acid media. It is suggested that this type of binding may occur via cobalichrome formation. 3. A gastric mucosal extract bound large and equal amounts of aquocobalamin and cyanocobalamin, apparently at the same binding site. Excess cyanide has no effect on the cyanocobalamin-gastric extract reaction in neutral media, but exhibits an inhibiting effect at high pH levels. In this reaction the cyano-group of cyanocobalamin is not released, but remains in a photolabile position. It is suggested that the cobalt atom participates in the reaction and that it is the position occupied by the substituted benzimi-dazole moiety that is involved.
A computerized mass spectrometer and flowmeter system for respiratory gas measurements

Instrumentation systems for breath-to-breath analysis of respiratory gas exchange have been faulted by phase lags between various flow and composition signals and by difficulties in gathering and processing large amounts of data. The system described here represents an attempt to overcome these problems. Phase delays have been minimized by using a direct, piezoelectrically operated mass spectrometer inlet rather than an inlet capillary, by locating the mass spectrometer inlet and flow sensors in the same plane, and by incorporating design features which enhance the mass spectrometer response. Convenience in system operation and data analysis has been enhanced by integrating a computer into the system design so that the computer performs on-line data analysis and control functions and provides the primary interface between the experimenter and the instruments. Miniaturization of the instruments permits close coupling to an exercising subject.
How reliable are forensic evaluations of legal sanity

When different clinicians evaluate the same criminal defendant's legal sanity, do they reach the same conclusion? Because Hawaii law requires multiple, independent evaluations when questions about legal sanity arise, Hawaii allows for the first contemporary study of the reliability of legal sanity opinions in routine practice in the United States. We examined 483 evaluation reports, addressing 165 criminal defendants, in which up to three forensic psychiatrists or psychologists offered independent opinions on a defendant's legal sanity. Evaluators reached unanimous agreement regarding legal sanity in only 55.1% of cases. Evaluators tended to disagree more often when a defendant was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the offense. But evaluators tended to agree more often when they agreed about diagnosing a psychotic disorder, or when the defendant had been psychiatrically hospitalized shortly before the offense. In court, judges followed the majority opinion among evaluators in 91% of cases. But when judges disagreed with the majority opinion, they usually did so to find defendants legally sane, rather than insane. Overall, this study indicates that reliability among practicing forensic evaluators addressing legal sanity may be poorer than the field has tended to assume. Although agreement appears more likely in some cases than others, the frequent disagreements suggest a need for improved training and practice.
Machiavelli's theory of foreign politics

(1995). Machiavelli's theory of foreign politics. Security Studies: Vol. 5, Roots of Realism, pp. 248-279.
Manganese Oxide Thin Films with Fast Ion-Exchange Properties

Department of Chemistry, UniVersity of Connecticut, U-6055 North EagleVille Rd., Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3060Department of Chemical Engineering andInstitute of Materials SciencesUniVersity of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269Stanton ChingDepartment of Chemistry, Connecticut College270 Mohegan AV., New London, Connecticut 06320ReceiVed May 30, 2000Confinement of inorganic and organic species into microporousmaterials such as zeolites and layered compounds is an importantand growing field of research.
On the existence of an elastic potential for a simple material without memory

It is shown that a compressible elastic body — not necessarily homogeneous or isotropic — is hyperelastic provided the work done by all external forces acting on an arbitrary part of the body vanishes for every sufficiently smooth cyclic motion in which each material point returns to its initial position with a velocity equal to its initial velocity.
Substrate Stiffness Affects Laminin-332 Matrix Deposition in Cultured Keretinocytes

It has been reported that the mechanical properties of a substrate influence cell motility, morphology, and adhesion [1–3]. This work is an attempt to move a step further beyond cells’ sensing the mechanical properties of their environment, by determining whether the secretion and assembly of laminin extracellular matrix is regulated by the mechanical environment in which the cell is placed. We hypothesize that this matrix then influences the behavior of the cell, particularly with regard to its motility.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Diacylglycerol-induced activation of protein kinase C attenuates Na+ currents by enhancing inactivation from the closed state

The causes of attenuation of Na+ currents by diacylglycerol (DAG)-induced protein kinase C (PKC) activation in mouse neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells were investigated using the cell-attached patch, and the perforated-patch (nystatin based) whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. Activation of PKC by DAG attenuated Na+ currents. Attenuation occurred in the absence of significant changes in the time-course of Na+ currents. However, the steady-state inactivation curve of these currents shifted to more negative voltages by approximately 20 mV. Here we demonstrate that the time-course of inactivation is accelerated by treatment with DAG-like substances in a voltage-dependent manner (time constant of inactivation decreased by 2- and 3.6-fold at −60, and −30 mV, respectively). In cell-attached patches, treatment with DAG compounds increased the percentage of current traces showing no single Na+ channel openings in response to depolarizing voltage-clamp pulses. Moreover, the average of current traces containing single Na+ channel openings was essentially the same in control conditions and after treatment with DAG compounds. Removal of Na+ channel inactivation by the alkaloid batrachotoxin prevented the attenuation of Na+ currents by PKC activation via DAGs. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that PKC-induced attenuation of Na+ currents is linked to an enhancement of Na+ channel inactivation. This attenuation is caused by an increase in the number of Na+ channels inactivating directly from the closed state(s). This inactivation pathway represents a simple and efficient physiological mechanism by which PKC activation might modulate the electrical activity of excitable cells.
On the Application of Finance Theory to the Insurance Firm

Traditional risk theory has tended to view the insurance firm too much from within. Although the insurance firm exists in an economic environment within which it must compete with other insurance firms as well as institutions which provide close substitutes to insurance services, this fact of life appears to have largely escaped the attention of risk theorists. While the implications of default risk for insurance company decision making and regulatory policy are widely discussed in the insurance solvency literature, this literature does not provide an internally consistent theoretical framework within which an acceptable ruin probability can be determined. As noted in the above quotation from Karl Borch’s well-known and highly regarded book, the literature treats the determination of the appropriate ruin probability as exogenous to the firm. One can only hope that Borch’s government inspector is endowed with King Solomon’s wisdom.
Adaptive control of a chemical process system

Modification of parameters in the conventional controller equation usually is necessitated by uncontrollable process parameter drifts which occur during the operation of the large scale continuous processes typically found in the chemical industry. To this end, a normalized version of the model reference adaptive control system, including suitable procedures for adjusting the adaptive loop gains, was developed and demonstrated to provide excellent adaptive performance for a single concentration control loop for a simulated stirred-tank chemical reactor. The three constants in a conventional PID controller were simultaneously adjusted to accomplish this adaptation. Equally excellent adaptive performance was achieved in an interacting control loop scheme simulated by control of both the concentration and the temperature in the same stirred-tank reactor. In both cases adaptation was achieved in a time interval which was sufficiently short to make this method of adaptive control feasible for use in a real processing situation. Models needed for implementation of the model reference adaptive control scheme were easily developed. In a real application these models could be easily developed from studies which could take place during prestartup or early operations of the process; hence no a priori knowledge would be required. A wide range of adaptive loop gains was demonstrated to provide a stable overall control system. A high degree of stability was demonstrated for the overall system despite the initiation of large extraneous load upsets occurring during the operation of the adaptive control system. The method presented has not been rigorously proven to be applicable to every real control problem requiring adaptive control. However, the method was demonstrated to be highly effective over a wide range of required controller adjustments in cases similar to those encountered in large continuous processes. Thus the method merits serious consideration for possible implementation whenever adaptive control is required.
Site-Selective Nonlinear Four-Wave Mixing by Multiply Enhanced Nonparametric and Parametric Spectroscopy

A family of nonlinear four-wave mixing techniques that are capable of site-selective organic spectroscopy are presented. Three lasers are used in the methods in order to achieve fully resonant mixing. Three lasers are shown to provide better sensitivity, selectivity, and versatility in the study of ground and excited electronic state vibrational spectroscopy. New approaches become possible in the establishment of resonances that translate the output signal from the normal Stokes or anti-Stokes side of the lasers to intermediate positions that are free of fluorescence interference. These new methods are divided into Multiply Enhanced Parametric Spectroscopy (MEPS) and Multiply Enhanced Nonparametric Spectroscopy (MENS), depending upon the spectroscopic characteristics for site-selective applications. The characteristics of MEPS and MENS are found to be quite different and depend upon the number and separation of the sites, the power of the lasers, the relative shifts of the levels, and the correlation effects in the inhomogeneous broadening. The feasibility of MENS and the site-selective capability of both CARS and MENS is demonstrated experimentally with the use of the pentacene: p-terphenyl system as a model.
The media: friend or foe?

Television, women's magazines, newspapers, and the Internet all are influential sources of information for patients interested in finding out about, or actually pursuing, plastic surgery. While most of the information that emanates from these media sources has been helpful and positive for our specialty, aesthetic surgery has also had its fair share of negative press. In some instances, the media has provided careless or even dangerous misinformation, or it has focused only on worst case scenarios, ignoring the vast majority of successful outcomes. Furthermore, many of us have had the personal experience of being misquoted by a reporter. Sometimes, we have been surprised to find that the reporter's “agenda” actually was diametrically opposed to our own. As a result, aesthetic surgeons generally remain somewhat “skittish” about our interactions with the media. We still are not sure whether we should regard the media as “friend” or “foe.” There are compelling arguments on both sides of the issue. We do know for certain that the number of plastic surgery procedures is on the rise, and the media has contributed substantially to an increased patient awareness of the available treatments. I have noted overall improvement, perhaps because of the influence of the Aesthetic Society and other organizations, with respect to the accuracy with which many procedures are now portrayed—with particular …
Specific amelogenin gene splice products have signaling effects on cells in culture and in implants in vivo.

Low molecular mass amelogenin-related polypeptides extracted from mineralized dentin have the ability to affect the differentiation pathway of embryonic muscle fibroblasts in culture and lead to the formation of mineralized matrix in in vivo implants. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the bioactive peptides could have been amelogenin protein degradation products or specific amelogenin gene splice products. Thus, the splice products were prepared, and their activities were determined in vitro and in vivo. A rat incisor tooth odontoblast pulp cDNA library was screened using probes based on the peptide amino acid sequencing data. Two specific cDNAs comprised from amelogenin gene exons 2,3,4,5,6d,7 and 2,3,5,6d,7 were identified. The corresponding recombinant proteins, designated r[A+4] (8.1 kDa) and r[A−4] (6.9 kDa), were produced. Both peptides enhanced in vitrosulfate incorporation into proteoglycan, the induction of type II collagen, and Sox9 or Cbfa1 mRNA expression. In vivoimplant assays demonstrated implant mineralization accompanied by vascularization and the presence of the bone matrix proteins, BSP and BAG-75. We postulate that during tooth development these specific amelogenin gene splice products, [A+4] and [A−4], may have a role in preodontoblast maturation. The [A+4] and [A−4] may thus be tissue-specific epithelial mesenchymal signaling molecules.
HOMOLYTIC BOND DISSOCIATION ENTHALPIES OF THE C-H BONDS ADJACENT TO RADICAL CENTERS

Homolytic bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) at 0 and 298 K of the C−H bonds adjacent to various radical centers have been obtained from ab initio CBS-4 (complete basis set) model calculations and experimental data available in the literature. The BDEs of the C−H bonds adjacent to the radical centers derived from 11 saturated hydrocarbons were found to be 33.5 ± 3 kcal/mol at 298 K. The BDEs of the C−H bonds adjacent to nine allylic and benzylic radical centers were found to be 48 ± 3 kcal/mol at 298 K, but the benzylic C−H BDE of the PhCH2CH2• radical was found to be only 29.7 and 30.5 kcal/mol at 0 and 298 K, respectively. The BDEs of the vinylic C−H bonds adjacent to four vinylic radical centers were found to be 35.5 ± 3.5 kcal/mol at 298 K. The BDEs of the vinylic C−H bonds adjacent to three allylic radical centers were found to be 56.5 ± 3 kcal/mol at 298 K. These results suggest that the radical centers weaken the adjacent C−H bond strengths by about 50−70 kcal/mol. The calculated BDEs agree within...
Turning field size and its effects upon computer-simulated klinotactic orientation*

The turning field is defined in the context of klinotaxis as the angular region(s) into which an organism may direct itself at any point in time and space while orienting within a stimulus gradient. The turning field size determines the size distribution of turns an organism can make during klinotaxis. Changes in turning field size affect the efficiency of klinotactic source location as measured by computer simulations of ideal behaviors. The optimal field size lies between 90 and 150 degrees. Turning field size also affects the appearance of search paths made by organisms locating an attractant source. The significance of turning field size is discussed and the described klinotactic model is proposed as a predictive model for orientation research.
Re-Locating Gender in Latin America. A Review Essay

What role do specific geographic, political, and historical contexts play in how gendered identities and practices are mobilized to negotiate larger structures of inequality? Through innovative efforts to come to terms with the very contingent and situated nature of gender formation, four recent books reconfirm the important contributions of gender studies of Latin America to feminist studies in general. These texts apply unique methods of analysis to investigate gender's production in specific places and moments, thus producing new insights into how gender is articulated within particular translocal configurations of power. In particular, these texts ask: How does biography inform social activism against global neoliberal economic adjustments? How do discourses on sex provide the foundation for gendered forms of modern national culture and social control? How do local production strategies engender neoliberal labor in new ways? Through questions like these, the texts push us to consider gender not as a ubiquitous concept that can be taken for granted, but rather as a varied and relational process grounded in distinct material and historical conditions.
Comparison between the effect of rabbit anti-rat lymphocyte sera raised by thymus, thoracic duct, and spleen lymphocytes on second-set tumor allograft in the rat.

Abstract Rabbit anti-rat sera have been prepared with rat thymocytes, rat thoracic duct lymphocytes, and rat spleen lymphocytes. Anti-lymphocyte globulins were extracted from the antisera. The ability of the antisera and their globulins to induce the take, and promote the growth of a Walker sarcoma tumor challenge in rats immune to the tumor, was studied, as well as their effect on peripheral blood lymphocytes. The toxicity of the products was defined by the mortality accompanying the treatment. Thymocytes and thoracic duct lymphocytes raised more potent and less toxic ALS than did spleen lymphocytes. The preferential role of thymus-derived over bone-marrow-derived lymphocytes, relative to the specificity, effectiveness, toxicity, and induced peripheral blood lymphopenia, of heterologous ALS is discussed. The second-set tumor allograft is proposed as a sensitive and convenient model to detect the differences of a small degree between immunosuppressive products.
Optically interconnected high performance data centers

We present an overview of the challenges and requirements for future optically-interconnected data centers and describe our end-to-end network validation platform that features a reprogrammable hybrid (electronic/optical and packet/circuit switched) switching fabric and transparent photonic interface solution.
Shell utilization, predation pressure, and thermal stress in panamanian hermit crabs: An interoceanic comparison

Abstract Shell preference patterns of two common hermit crabs from hard bottom reef flats on the Caribbean coast of Panama are examined in relation to the predation pressures and physical stresses of their habitat. Clibanarius antillensis Stimpson lives in the high intertidal habitat and minimizes exposure to predators by seeking refuge during high tides. It prefers high-spired shells which maximize protection from thermal stress. Calcinus tibicen Herbst avoids tidal emersion and prefers low-spired shells which enhance resistance to the predators common on Caribbean reef flats. The results are compared with similar results from the tropical eastern Pacific Bay of Panama. Shell-crushing predation on Caribbean hermit crabs is suggested to differ quantitatively and qualitatively from predation on hermit crabs in the Bay of Panama. Predation on hermit crabs in the Bay of Panama is more intense and effects larger individuals than predation on Caribbean reef flat hermit crabs. In addition, shell-crushing predation on hermit crabs in the Bay of Panama is primarily from teleost fish predators ( Diodon spp.), while predation on Caribbean hermit crabs is primarily by bottom-dwelling crustaceans. Differences in predation pressures and tidal regimes between the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama are reflected in the shell preferences and behavior of hermit crabs from the two areas.
A new device for measuring the viscoelastic properties of hydrated matrix gels.

Determinations of the viscoelastic properties of extracellular matrices (ECMs) are becoming increasingly important for accurate predictive modeling of biological systems. Since the interactions of the cells with the ECM and surrounding fluid (e.g., blood, media) each affect cell behavior; it is advantageous to evaluate the ECM's material properties in the presence of the hydrating fluid. Conventional rheometry methods evaluate the bulk material properties of gel materials while displacing the hydrating liquid film. Such systems are therefore nonideal for testing materials such as ECMs, whose properties change with dehydration. The new, patent pending, piezoelectrically actuated linear rheometer is designed to eliminate this problem. It uses a single cantilever to apply an oscillating load to the gel and to sense the gel's deflection. Composed of two thin film piezopolymer layers, the cantilever uses one layer as the actuator, and the second piezopolymer layer to measure the lateral movement of its attached probe. The viscoelastic nature of the ECM adds stiffness and damping to the system, resulting in the attenuation and phase shift of the sensor's output voltage. From these parameters, the ECM's shear storage and loss moduli are then determined. Initial tests on the BioMatrix I and type 1 collagen ECMs reveal that the first prototype of the piezoelectrically actuated linear rheometer is capable of accurately determining the trend and order of magnitude of an ECM's viscoelastic properties. In this paper, details of the rheometer's design and operating principles are described.
The Transit Route Arc-Node Service Maximization problem

This article presents a new method for determining optimal transit routes. The Transit Route Arc-Node Service Maximization model is a mathematical model that maximizes the service value of a route, rather than minimizing cost. Cost (distance) is considered as a budget constraint on the extent of the route. The mathematical formulation modifies and exploits the structure of linear programming problems designed for the traveling salesman problem. An innovative divide-and-conquer solution procedure is presented that not only makes the transit routing problem tractable, but also provides a range of high-quality alternate routes for consideration, some of which have substantially varying geometries. Variant formulations are provided for several common transit route types. The model is tested through its application to an existing street network in Richardson, TX. Optimal numeric results are obtained for several problem instances, and these results demonstrate that increased route cost is not correlated with increased service provision.
Differential effects of aging and exercise on intra-abdominal adipose arteriolar function and blood flow regulation.

Adipose tissue (AT), which typically comprises an increased percentage of body mass with advancing age, receives a large proportion of resting cardiac output. During exercise, an old age-associated...
Neurophysiological Markers for Child Emotion Regulation From the Perspective of Emotion–Cognition Integration: Current Directions and Future Challenges

Neuroscientific research on emotion regulation suggests that the interplay between emotion and cognition may be fundamental to the ability to adaptively regulate emotions. Although emotion and cognition have historically been considered to be in opposition, more recent research suggests that they are also integrated, coordinated, and complementary. In this article, I review studies showing that scalp-recorded event related potentials (ERPs) reflecting emotion-cognition integration can be used as clinically meaningful indices of emotion regulation in children and adults, and have the potential to serve as biomarkers for emotion regulation and risk for specific affective disorders. Drawing on neuroscience and behavioral research, I propose a model in which ERP measures of emotion-cognition integration rather than opposition is the guiding principle for detecting neural markers for emotion regulation. Suggestions for a future research agenda are then presented.
DisIClass: discriminative frequent pattern-based image classification

Owing to the rapid mounting of massive image data, image classification has attracted lots of research efforts. Several diverse research disciplines have been confluent on this important theme, looking for more powerful solutions. In this paper, we propose a novel image representation method B2S (Bag to Set) that keeps all frequency information and is more discriminative than traditional histogram based bag representation. Based on B2S, we construct two different image classification approaches. First, we apply B2S to a state-of-the-art image classification algorithm SPM in computer vision. Second, we design a framework DisIClass (Discriminative Frequent Pattern-Based Image Classification) to utilize data mining algorithms to classify images, which was hardly done before due to the intrinsic differences between the data of computer vision and data mining fields. DisIClass adapts the locality property of image data, and apply sequential covering method to induce the most discriminative feature sets from a closed frequent item set mining method. Our experiments with real image data show the high accuracy and good scalability of both approaches.
Case of Congenital Aneurysm of Sinus of Valsalva With Common Arterial Trunk

We describe an unusual case of a patient with common arterial trunk and interrupted aortic arch, complicated by congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, who underwent successful repair. To our knowledge, no such case has been reported in the English literature. The combination of common arterial trunk and congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva may yield insights into the morphogenesis of congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva.
Management of Diabetes Medications for Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Surgery

A stress-free actively managed perioperative experience is crucial to successful ambulatory surgery for diabetes patients. Practitioners who integrate diabetes treatment regimens into their perioperative management can facilitate a good outcome, smooth recovery, and rapid return to normal life. Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and glucose variability must be avoided and patients should be maintained near their usual blood glucose.
Brain Natriuretic Peptide Enhances Renal Actions of Furosemide and Suppresses Furosemide-Induced Aldosterone Activation in Experimental Heart Failure

Background— The renal actions of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in congestive heart failure (CHF) are associated with increased diuresis and natriuresis, preserved glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and lack of activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). In contrast, diuretic-induced natriuresis may be associated with reduced GFR and RAAS activation. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that exogenous BNP enhances the renal diuretic and natriuretic actions of furosemide (Fs) and retards the activation of aldosterone in a model of CHF. Methods and Results— CHF was produced in 2 groups of dogs by ventricular pacing. One group received continuous (90-minute) intravenous Fs (1 mg · kg−1 · h−1). A second group (Fs+BNP) received 45-minute intravenous coinfusion of Fs (1 mg · kg−1 · h−1) and low-dose (2 pmol · kg−1 · min−1) BNP followed by 45-minute coinfusion of Fs (1 mg · kg−1 · h−1) and high-dose (10 pmol · kg−1 · min−1) BNP. Fs increased urinary flow, but the effect of Fs...
Film‐splitting flows of shear‐thinning liquids in forward roll coating

Asymmetric film-splitting of shear-thinning liquid between rotating cylinders in forward roll coating is analyzed with the Carreau model of shear-sensitive liquid. The mass and momentum conservation equations for steady, two-dimensional flow are solved by means of the Galerkin finite-element method. A simpler model is also developed from the lubrication approximation and its range of validity is established. The major results are that the greater the shear thinning, the farther out of the gap the splitting meniscus moves, the higher the flow rate through the gap, and the more symmetrical the film split than with Newtonian liquid. Experiments reported in the literature confirm some of these predicted trends.
Optimal quadratic detection and estimation using generalized joint signal representations

Time-frequency analysis has significant advances in two main directions: statistically optimized methods that extend the scope of time-frequency-based techniques from merely exploratory data analysis to more quantitative application and generalized joint signal representations that extend time-frequency-based methods to a richer class of nonstationary signals. This paper fuses the two advances by developing optimal detection and estimation techniques based on generalized joint signal representations. By generalizing the statistical methods developed for time-frequency representations to arbitrary joint signal representations, this paper develops a unified theory applicable to a wide variety of problems in nonstationary statistical signal processing.
Theoretical study of hydrogen adsorption on the GaN(0001) surface

Abstract Ab initio density functional theory, using the B3LYP hybrid functional with all-electron basis sets, has been applied to the adsorption of H on the (0 0 0 1) surface of wurtzite GaN. For bulk GaN, good agreement is obtained with photoemission and X-ray emission data for the valence band and for the Ga 3d and N 2s shallow core levels. A band gap of Eg = 4.14 eV is computed vs the experimental value (at 0 K) of 3.50 eV. A simple model, consisting of a (2 × 2) structure with 3/4-monolayer (ML) of adsorbed H, is found to yield a density of states in poor agreement with photoemission data for H adsorbed on surfaces prepared by ion bombardment and annealing. A new model, consisting of co-adsorbed Ga (1/4 ML) and H (1/2 ML), is proposed to account for these data.
Video-based localization without 3D mapping for the visually impaired

In this paper, we present a system for indoor human localization that does not need 3D reconstruction of features or landmarks. We assume that a video sequence has been acquired and that keyframes have been registered with respect to 2D positions and orientations. In online mode, we use only a handheld monochrome fisheye camera and a synchronized IMU as sensory inputs. The query is not based on a single image but uses a HMM-based state estimator. Our image representation consists of initial global GIST vectors followed by local SURF features. We present a novel approach to localization by using search space reduction on global features, then HMM based position prediction and estimation on local features. Experimental results show that accurate localization is achieved and realtime performance is feasible. This work demonstrates that a working portable system could be designed for the visually impaired.
Simulation of Contaminant Transport in Fractured Porous Media on Triangular Meshes

A mathematical model for contaminant species passing through fractured porous media is presented. In the numerical model, we combine two locally conservative methods, i.e. mixed finite element (MFE) and the finite volume (FV) methods. Adaptive triangle mesh is used for effective treatment of the fractures. A hybrid MFE method is employed to provide an accurate approximation of velocities field for both the fractures and matrix which are crucial to the convection part of the transport equation. The FV method and the standard MFE method are used to approximate the convection and dispersion terms respectively. Numerical examples in a medium containing fracture network illustrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed numerical model.
Characteristics of Puerto Rican Homeowners in Florida and Their likelihood of Homeownership

Formato ISO 690-2 (Articulos de revistas electronicas) Villarrubia-Mendoza, Jacqueline, Characteristics of Puerto Rican Homeowners in Florida and Their likelihood of HomeownershipCentro Journal [en linea] 2010, XXII (Sin mes) : [Fecha de consulta: 25 de diciembre de 2017] Disponible en: ISSN 1538-6279
Unsupervised Tokenization for Machine Translation

Training a statistical machine translation starts with tokenizing a parallel corpus. Some languages such as Chinese do not incorporate spacing in their writing system, which creates a challenge for tokenization. Moreover, morphologically rich languages such as Korean present an even bigger challenge, since optimal token boundaries for machine translation in these languages are often unclear. Both rule-based solutions and statistical solutions are currently used. In this paper, we present unsupervised methods to solve tokenization problem. Our methods incorporate information available from parallel corpus to determine a good tokenization for machine translation.
Maximum throughput of clandestine relay

The maximum throughput of relaying information flows while concealing their presence is studied. The concealment is achieved by embedding transmissions of information flows into truly independent transmission schedules that resemble the normal transmission behaviors without any flow. Such embedding may reduce the throughput for delay-sensitive flows, and the paper provides a quantitative characterization of the level of reduction. Under a strict or average delay constraint, the maximum normalized throughput is measured by the efficiency of the optimal relay algorithms that embed the most flow into given transmission schedules. Exact analytical solutions and closed-form approximations are derived for renewal schedules, verified by simulations on both synthetic traffic and traces. The results reveal general relationships between the clandestine throughput and system parameters including delay constraints, traffic load, and traffic distributions. In particular, the throughput is found to be negatively related to the burstiness of the cover traffic. Moreover, simulations show that the throughputs of renewal traffic with certain power-law interarrival distributions can closely approximate those of actual traces.
SILICA DISTRIBUTION IN EQUISETUM HYEMALE VAR. AFFINE L. (ENGELM) IN RELATION TO THE NEGATIVE GEOTROPIC RESPONSE

Summary In young growing Equisetum shoots silica deposition proceeds basipetally in the internodes. The surface of the mature internode, including the stomata, becomes encrusted with silica. Only young shoots with active intercalary meristems and very little silica deposition show a negative geotropic response. As the internodes mature, the difference in silica deposition between intercalary meristem and upper part diminishes so that the failure of mature internodes to respond geotropically is most likely due to significant silica deposition in the once active intercalary meristem sites. Initiation of negative geotropic curvature in young Equisetum shoots takes 36 to 48 h, and six to nine internodes are involved. Control of the geotropic response is auxin-mediated as shown by experiments with the auxin transport inhibitors, triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and methyl-2-chloro-9-hydroxy fluorene (CFM, a morphactin). The former partially inhibited the response while the latter completely inhibited curvature.
Arsenic Trioxide as a Radiation Sensitizer for 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine Therapy: Results of a Phase II Study

Arsenic trioxide has in vitro and in vivo radiosensitizing properties. We hypothesized that arsenic trioxide would enhance the efficacy of the targeted radiotherapeutic agent 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) and tested the combination in a phase II clinical trial. Methods: Patients with recurrent or refractory stage 4 neuroblastoma or metastatic paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma (MP) were treated using an institutional review board–approved protocol (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00107289). The planned treatment was 131I-MIBG (444 or 666 MBq/kg) intravenously on day 1 plus arsenic trioxide (0.15 or 0.25 mg/m2) intravenously on days 6–10 and 13–17. Toxicity was evaluated using National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3.0. Response was assessed by International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria or (for MP) by changes in 123I-MIBG or PET scans. Results: Twenty-one patients were treated: 19 with neuroblastoma and 2 with MP. Fourteen patients received 131I-MIBG and arsenic trioxide, both at maximal dosages; 2 patients received a 444 MBq/kg dose of 131I-MIBG plus a 0.15 mg/kg dose of arsenic trioxide; and 3 patients received a 666 MBq/kg dose of 131I-MIBG plus a 0.15 mg/kg dose of arsenic trioxide. One did not receive arsenic trioxide because of transient central line–induced cardiac arrhythmia, and another received only 6 of 10 planned doses of arsenic trioxide because of grade 3 diarrhea and vomiting with concurrent grade 3 hypokalemia and hyponatremia. Nineteen patients experienced myelosuppression higher than grade 2, most frequently thrombocytopenia (n = 18), though none required autologous stem cell rescue. Twelve of 13 evaluable patients experienced hyperamylasemia higher than grade 2 from transient sialoadenitis. By International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria, 12 neuroblastoma patients had no response and 7 had progressive disease, including 6 of 8 entering the study with progressive disease. Objective improvements in semiquantitative 131I-MIBG scores were observed in 6 patients. No response was seen in MP. Seventeen of 19 neuroblastoma patients continued on further chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Mean 5-year overall survival (±SD) for neuroblastoma was 37% ± 11%. Mean absorbed dose of 131I-MIBG to blood was 0.134 cGy/MBq, well below myeloablative levels in all patients. Conclusion:131I-MIBG plus arsenic trioxide was well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to that of 131I-MIBG therapy alone. The addition of arsenic trioxide to 131I-MIBG did not significantly improve response rates when compared with historical data with 131I-MIBG alone.
Structure and Metabolism of Connective Tissue Proteoglycans

With the possible exception of hyaluronic acid, the connective tissue polysaccharides are all synthesized by their parent cells as components of proteoglycans. In these substances, a number of polysaccharide chains are covalently linked to a protein core; e.g., in the proteoglycan of bovine nasal cartilage, which is the prototype of molecules of this kind, close to 100 chondroitin sulfate chains, with a molecular weight of approximately 20,000, and slightly fewer keratan sulfate chains are linked to a core protein (mol. wt. 200,000) which constitutes 7–8% of the entire molecule. In many respects, the proteoglycans are similar to other protein-bound complex carbohydrates, and the conspicuous polysaccharide component per se does not distinguish the proteoglycans from the class of glycoproteins; e.g., there are members of the glycoprotein class, such as the blood group substances, which have a high relative content of carbohydrate consisting of a substantial number of monosaccharide units. Rather, the segregation of the proteoglycans into a separate category is based on a few specific characteristics: (1) each polysaccharide consists of repeating disaccharide units in which a hexosamine, d-glucosamine, or d-galactosamine is always present; (2) all connective tissue polysaccharides except keratan sulfate contain a uronic acid, either d-glucuronic acid or its 5-epimer, l-iduronic acid, or both; (3) ester sulfate groups are present in all members of the group except in hyaluronic acid; in addition, N-sulfate groups are found in heparin and heparan sulfate. Although certain other bipolymers are known to contain ester sulfate, e.g., some epithelial mucins (Horowitz, 1977), these compounds are clearly distinguishable from the connective tissue polysaccharides by the other criteria indicated above. It may also be mentioned that the d-glucuronic-acid-containing repeating disaccharide of chondroitin, N-acetylchondrosine, has recently been identified as a component of thyroglobulin (Spiro, 1977); however, since the disaccharide is present as a single unit, thyroglobulin may not be considered a proteoglycan.
Characterization of Rare Earth Inclusions from Cast 1010 Steel

An electron microscopy investigation was conducted on two cast 1010 steel plate samples that had rare earth silicide additions. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) characterized the inclusions found. The SEM primarily observed rare earth oxide particles. No particles less than 1 μm in diameter were found in the TEM which indicates that any possible heterogeneous nuclei are only about 1 μm in size. Electron diffraction and EDS spectra from the rare earth inclusions examined indicated that they were comprised of multiple rare earth phases. The matrix and one rare earth inclusion with a face centered cubic (FCC) like crystal structure had an eight degree alignment between crystallographic axes. This suggested that the body centered cubic (BCC) structure of ferrite and some of the FCC like rare earth compounds could align with each other. Such alignment would be necessary for any particle to act as a heterogeneous nucleus of δ-ferrite.
Temporal- and density-dependent impacts of an invasive plant on pollinators and pollination services to a native plant

United States Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), award #2012-67014-19365
Reinterpreting the best biomarker of oxidative stress: The 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α/prostaglandin F2α ratio shows complex origins of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in animal models

Oxidative stress is elevated in numerous environmental exposures and diseases. Millions of dollars have been spent to try to ameliorate this damaging process using anti-oxidant therapies. Currently, the best accepted biomarker of oxidative stress is the lipid oxidation product 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), which has been measured in over a thousand human and animal studies. 8-iso-PGF2α generation has been exclusively attributed to nonenzymatic chemical lipid peroxidation (CLP). However, 8-iso-PGF2α can also be produced enzymatically by prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthases (PGHS) in vivo. When failing to account for PGHS-dependent generation, 8-iso-PGF2α cannot be interpreted as a selective biomarker of oxidative stress. We investigated the formation of 8-iso-PGF2α in rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using the 8-iso-PGF2α/PGF2α ratio to quantitatively determine the source(s) of 8-iso-PGF2α. Upon exposure to a 120mg/kg dose of CCl4, the contribution of CLP accounted for only 55.6±19.4% of measured 8-iso-PGF2α, whereas in the 1200mg/kg dose, CLP was the predominant source of 8-iso-PGF2α (86.6±8.0% of total). In contrast to CCl4, exposure to 0.5mg/kg LPS was characterized by a significant increase in both the contribution of PGHS (59.5±7.0) and CLP (40.5±14.0%). In conclusion, significant generation of 8-iso-PGF2α occurs through enzymatic as well as chemical lipid peroxidation. The distribution of the contribution is dependent on the exposure agent as well as the dose. The 8-iso-PGF2α/PGF2α ratio accurately determines the source of 8-iso-PGF2α and provides an absolute measure of oxidative stress in vivo.
Making Course Content Conducive To A Marriage Between Theory And Practice: One Instructors Experience

This essay describes the changes made in the structure of a course on gender and economics that have the potential for improving undergraduate economics education by providing opportunities for students to “be economists” in their communities. Specifically, it describes the value of incorporating exercises that send students into the field to observe and gather data that they can bring back into the classroom to analyze and integrate into their own understanding of the issues.