cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SIEVE‐TUBE DIFFERENTIATION IN VEGETATIVE SHOOT APICES OF COLEUS

Quantitative methods, with rounid-the-clock collecting of large samples in successive years. have uncovered several new phenomena of sieve-tube differentiation in young leaves of Coleus vegetative shoots. In small leaves (1-350 u), there are no sieve tubes in the leaf itself, but they differenitiate acropetally in the two traces to each leaf. Regression lines fitted to the data for leaf length vs. most distal position of sieve tubes in the traces support the view that differentiation is steady and acropetal, but they also reveal that differentiation in the traces falls steadily farther behind elongation of the leaf. Leaves more than 500 long have sieve tubes close to their tips. An intensive search of leaves of intermediate lengths revealed an isolated locus of sieve-tube differentiation. These relationships were reproducible year after year. Every plant with discontinuous strands of sieve tubes in the second leaf pair had discontinuous xylem in the third. This isolated locus was not seen before, probably because of small samples and daytime collections; most of our cases were from night col-
SiGe HBT Linearity Comparison Between CE and CB Configurations

In this paper, a comprehensive analytical study on the linearity of both CE and CB SiGe HBTs is presented for the first time. The linearity comparison between CE and CB SiGe HBTs was also made and experimentally verified at 1.9 GHz
Multiplicity of steroid-inducible cytochromes P-450 in rat liver microsomes.

Abstract Highly purified preparations of steroid-inducible cytochromes P -450 have been isolated from liver microsomes of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN), phenobarbital (PB), or triacetyloleandomycin (TAO). The interrelationships among these preparations as well as their relationship to the major forms of cytochrome P -450 of this gene family identified in other laboratories have been evaluated by amino-terminal sequence analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, and Ouchterlony double-immunodiffusion. The results indicate that a cytochrome P -450 previously isolated in this laboratory and referred to as PCNa ( P. E. Graves, L. S. Kaminsky, and J. Halpert (1987) , Biochemistry , 26 , 3887–3894) is the major cytochrome P -450 induced in rats by TAO, and corresponds to P -450p ( K. A. Hostetler, S. A. Wrighton, P. Kremers, and P. S. Guzelian (1987) , Biochem. J. , 245 , 27–33) and to P450PCN1 ( F. J. Gonzalez, B. J. Song, and J. P. Hardwick (1986) , Mol. Cell. Biol. , 6 , 2969–2976). A second previously isolated cytochrome P -450 termed PCNb in this laboratory appears to be identical to PB PCN-E ( F. P. Guengerich, G. A. Dannan, S. T. Wright, M. V. Martin, and L. S. Kaminsky (1982) Biochemistry , 21 , 6019–6030). PCNb as well as a third cytochrome P -450 termed PCNc isolated from PB-treated rats both correspond in amino-terminal sequence to the putative protein product of the pP 450 PCN2 cDNA clone of Gonzalez et al. These results document at the protein level the multiplicity of steroid-inducible rat liver cytochromes P -450.
Topologically associating domains are stable units of replication-timing regulation

Eukaryotic chromosomes replicate in a temporal order known as the replication-timing program. In mammals, replication timing is cell-type-specific with at least half the genome switching replication timing during development, primarily in units of 400-800 kilobases ('replication domains'), whose positions are preserved in different cell types, conserved between species, and appear to confine long-range effects of chromosome rearrangements. Early and late replication correlate, respectively, with open and closed three-dimensional chromatin compartments identified by high-resolution chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), and, to a lesser extent, late replication correlates with lamina-associated domains (LADs). Recent Hi-C mapping has unveiled substructure within chromatin compartments called topologically associating domains (TADs) that are largely conserved in their positions between cell types and are similar in size to replication domains. However, TADs can be further sub-stratified into smaller domains, challenging the significance of structures at any particular scale. Moreover, attempts to reconcile TADs and LADs to replication-timing data have not revealed a common, underlying domain structure. Here we localize boundaries of replication domains to the early-replicating border of replication-timing transitions and map their positions in 18 human and 13 mouse cell types. We demonstrate that, collectively, replication domain boundaries share a near one-to-one correlation with TAD boundaries, whereas within a cell type, adjacent TADs that replicate at similar times obscure replication domain boundaries, largely accounting for the previously reported lack of alignment. Moreover, cell-type-specific replication timing of TADs partitions the genome into two large-scale sub-nuclear compartments revealing that replication-timing transitions are indistinguishable from late-replicating regions in chromatin composition and lamina association and accounting for the reduced correlation of replication timing to LADs and heterochromatin. Our results reconcile cell-type-specific sub-nuclear compartmentalization and replication timing with developmentally stable structural domains and offer a unified model for large-scale chromosome structure and function.
Using product design strategically to create deeper consumer connections

Abstract Historically, product design has most often been considered a process for creating functional differentiation through added features, superior performance, and so forth. However, with the advent of more design-oriented companies, such as Apple, Dyson, and others, design is increasingly being seen as an important strategic tool in creating preference and deeper emotional value for the consumer. In this research, we show how different design elements may be used strategically to create two very different outcome chains from a consumer's perspective. This work shows that certain design elements are more likely to create functional product differentiation and transactional consumer outcomes, while other design strategies tap a more emotional form of value creation. As we show, an emotional focus in value creation is more likely to create desired and powerful outcomes such as loyalty, joy of use, and even passion. Given current business trends towards relationship-based customer management, this emphasis on emotional value creation through product design is particularly relevant. In order to make these ideas actionable, we offer specific product design strategies that managers can use to enhance the transactional and relational value of their customer relationships.
Limitations upon legitimate authority to suspend and expel K–12 public school students: A moral analysis

This article presents a moral analysis of the limitations upon legitimate authority to suspend and expel students in K–12 public schools, and it brings this analysis to bear on a pair of difficult ...
Characterizing air pollution patterns on multiple time scales in urban areas: a landscape ecological approach

Quantifying the spatiotemporal patterns of air pollution in urban areas is essential for studying ecological processes, environmental quality, and human health in cities. To adequately characterize or monitor air pollution patterns, one important issue is scale because the concentrations of air pollutants are temporally dynamic and spatially heterogeneous. Our research addresses the scale issue in air quality monitoring and analysis by considering the following research questions: (1) How does the spatial pattern of ozone change with the temporal scale of analysis? (2) How does the spatial pattern of PM10 change with the temporal scale of analysis? (3) What implications do these scale effects have for designing and evaluating air pollution monitoring networks? We systematically examined these questions based on data from official air pollution monitoring networks in the Phoenix metropolitan region, Arizona, USA. Our results showed that spatial patterns of both ozone and PM10 may change substantially with the temporal scale of analysis. Ozone patterns at broader (but not finer) temporal scales were more consistent across years, and exhibited a more uniform, regionalized pattern. PM10 patterns were less consistent across years than ozone, and exhibited a more localized effect. Spatial patterns of PM10 also varied seasonally. Our study demonstrates that it is critically important to consider the temporal and spatial scales in designing or evaluating air monitoring networks in particular and in conducting air pollution research in general.
Natural indoles, indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3,3 '-diindolylmethane (DIM), attenuate staphylococcal enterotoxin B-mediated liver injury by downregulating miR-31 expression and promoting caspase-2-mediated apoptosis

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a potent superantigen capable of inducing inflammation characterized by robust immune cell activation and proinflammatory cytokine release. Exposure to SEB can result in food poisoning as well as fatal conditions such as toxic shock syndrome. In the current study, we investigated the effect of natural indoles including indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) on SEB-mediated liver injury. Injection of SEB into D-galactosamine-sensitized female C57BL/6 mice resulted in liver injury as indicated by an increase in enzyme aspartate transaminase (AST) levels, induction of inflammatory cytokines, and massive infiltration of immune cells into the liver. Administration of I3C and DIM (40mg/kg), by intraperitonal injection, attenuated SEB-induced acute liver injury, as evidenced by decrease in AST levels, inflammatory cytokines and cellular infiltration in the liver. I3C and DIM triggered apoptosis in SEB-activated T cells primarily through activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. In addition, inhibitor studies involving caspases revealed that I3C and DIM-mediated apoptosis in these activated cells was dependent on caspase-2 but independent of caspase-8, 9 and 3. In addition, I3C and DIM caused a decrease in Bcl-2 expression. Both compounds also down-regulated miR-31, which directly targets caspase-2 and influences apoptosis in SEB-activated cells. Our data demonstrate for the first time that indoles can effectively suppress acute hepatic inflammation caused by SEB and that this may be mediated by decreased expression of miR-31 and consequent caspase-2-dependent apoptosis in T cells.
The binding of analogs of phosphorylcholine by the murine myeloma proteins McPC 603, MOPC 167 and S107.

Abstract The binding of three sets of compounds, analogs of phosphorylcholine, to the murine IgA myeloma proteins McPC 603, MOPC 167 and S107 has been studied by the method of hapten inhibition of precipitation. The three sites were of the general formulae (CH3)3N+(CH2(nCOOH, (CH3)3N+(CH2)nCH2OH and (CH3)3N+(CH2)nPh. All three proteins showed similar behavior with the carboxylate compounds, maximum activity occurring at n=3, the closest analog of phosphorylcholine. In contrast, the phenyl and alcohol series behaved in a different fashion with each protein. In the case of S107 the phenyl compounds were almost as effective as the carboxylate ones. Only MOPC 267 showed strong binding of the hydroxyl compounds. Thus, despite their structural similarities and common reactivity to the phosphorylcholine determinant the three proteins show significantly different reactivities towards related compounds.
Transport layer security: how much does it really cost?

The last couple of years has seen a growing momentum towards using the Internet for conducting business. One of the key enablers for business applications is the ability to setup secure channels across the Internet. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol provides this capability and it is the most widely used transport layer security protocol. In this paper we investigate the performance of SSL both from a latency as well as a throughput point of view. Since SSL is primarily used to secure Web transactions, we use the SPECWeb96 benchmark suitably modified for use with the SSL protocol. We benchmark two of the more popular Web servers that are in use today and find that they are a couple of orders of magnitude slower when it comes to serving secure Web pages. We investigate the reason for this deficiency by instrumenting the SSL protocol stack with a detailed profiling of the protocol processing components. Based on our findings we suggest two modifications to the protocol that reduce the latency as well as increase the throughput at the server.
Unique graph homomorphisms onto odd cycles, II

Abstract A natural generalization of graph colorings is graph homomorphisms. Let G and H be simple graphs. A map θ: V ( G ) → V ( H ) is called a homomorphism if θ preserves adjacency. The set of all homomorphism from G to H is denoted by Hom( G , H ). A graph G is uniquely H -colorable if Hom( G , H ) ≠ Π , and if for θ 1 , θ 2 ∈ Hom( G , H ), there is an automorphism π of H such that πθ 1 = θ 2 . In this paper, we investigate some necessary necessary conditions of unique C 2k+1 -colorings and prove a best possible sufficient condition involving δ ( G ) for G to be uniquely C 2k+1 -colorable under some necessary conditions. This generalizes a result of Bollobas on unique C 3 -colorings [ J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 25 (1978), 55–61]. We also find best possible conditions on the connectedness of the subgraphs of G induced by the preimages of θ, for any θ ∈ Hom( G , C 2 k +1 ).
On Implementing a Computational Facade Design Support Tool

As an alternative to conventional monodirectional simulation tools, we introduce a preference-based performance-driven tool to generate computationally single-room designs based on requirements of daylight availability and distribution. To extend the applicability of this tool beyond single-room configurations, we have developed a rule-based system for the generation and modification of facade designs. We discuss the structure, capabilities, and limitations of these tools.
Electron Injection and Trapping in Pyrolytic A12O3

Pyrolytic aluminum oxide has emerged as an MIS gate insulator which has good interface properties on silicon and is superior to SiO2 in radiation hardness. Experience has proven that this material and the pyrolytic deposition method are compatible with silicon technology and, in particular Al2O3 has been used to fabricate radiation-hard MOS integrated circuits, including the complementary-symmetry MOS (COS/MOS) circuits.
Complex posttransplantation abnormalities of renal allografts: evaluation with MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the evaluation of complex abnormalities of renal allografts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and radiologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 24 patients who underwent MR imaging of a renal allograft because ultrasonographic (US) findings were inconclusive or discordant with clinical findings. The final diagnoses were established with histopathologic analysis (n = 16) or clinical and imaging follow-up (n = 8). RESULTS: MR imaging diagnoses were correct in 16 patients (67%), whereas US diagnoses were correct in six patients (25%) (P < .05). Five cases of allograft involvement by posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) were found at histopathologic analysis; at MR imaging, PTLD appeared as hypointense masses on T1- and T2-weighted images with minimal enhancement. In four of the five cases of PTLD, the masses occurred at the renal hilum and encased hilar vessels. Normal morphology was correctly diagnosed with MR ima...
Infinite Jurisdiction: Managing Student Achievement In and Out of School

This article applies the framework of international development to the experiences of Teach for America corps members teaching in urban schools in an attempt to theorize how corps members respond to the extraordinary pressure placed on them to improve student achievement. Further, by closely examining the narratives corps members employ to describe students, families and communities, this chapter raises questions about how far the jurisdiction of the school should extend and suggests that efforts to regulate students’ home lives are analogous to colonialism’s aims to manage, contain and control the futures of its subjects.
Cisplatin and Etoposide Versus Carboplatin and Paclitaxel With Concurrent Radiotherapy for Stage III Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: An Analysis of Veterans Health Administration Data

Purpose The optimal chemotherapy regimen to use with radiotherapy in stage III non–small-cell lung cancer is unknown. Here, we compare the outcome of patents treated within the Veterans Health Administration with either etoposide-cisplatin (EP) or carboplatin-paclitaxel (CP). Methods We identified patients treated with EP and CP with concurrent radiotherapy from 2001 to 2010. Survival rates were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression models with adjustments for confounding provided by propensity score methods and an instrumental variables analysis. Comorbidities and treatment complications were identified through administrative data. Results A total of 1,842 patients were included; EP was used in 27% (n = 499). Treatment with EP was not associated with a survival advantage in a Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.10), a propensity score matched cohort (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.24), or a propensity score adjusted model (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.10). ...
Liver transplant and hepatitis C in methadone maintenance therapy: a case report

Methadone maintenance therapy for the treatment of opioid dependence continues to carry a social stigma. Until recently, patients on methadone were not considered for liver transplantation. We describe the first case of a patient on methadone who received a liver transplant for end stage liver disease and was successfully treated for recurrent hepatitis C. More than five years post transplant and three years post viral clearance, the patient continues to do well and is stable on low-dose methadone. This case emphasizes the need to reconsider the non-evidence based policy adopted by transplant centers that require methadone maintenance therapy patients to stop methadone prior to consideration for transplant evaluation.
A case for relativistic programming

Programmers traditionally assume we live and program in a sequentially consistent world. Hardware developers have long since abandoned sequential consistency in order to develop higher performance computers. In this paper, we argue that the natural world maintains causal consistency not sequential consistency. From that observation, we argue that concurrent programs only need to maintain causal consistency. Since causal consistency does not require a total order on operations, it can be implemented with less impact on scalability than more strict ordering guarantees.
Using gaming strategies for attacker and defender in recommender systems

Ratings are the prominent factors to decide the fate of any product in the present Internet Market and many people follow the ratings in a genuine sense. Unfortunately, the Sibyl attacks can affect the credibility of the genuine product. Influence limiter algorithms in recommender systems have been used extensively to overcome the Sibyl attacks but the effort could not reach the safe mark. This paper highlights an approach to generating gaming strategies for the attacker and defender in a recommender system. In a given recommender system environment, attackers and defenders play the most crucial part in a gaming strategy. A sequence of decision rules that an attacker or defender may use to achieve their desired goal is represented in these strategies involved in the game theory. The valid approaches to avoid the Sibyl attacks from the attackers are efficiently defended by the defenders. In our approach, we define attack graphs, use cases, and misuses cases in our gaming framework to analyze the vulnerabilities and security measures incorporated in a recommender system.
Beyond the Legal Environment: How Stigma Influences Invisible Identity Groups in the Workplace

Diversity research assumes that social interaction is influenced by a social categorization that arises from visible and readily detectable differences. How does this process work when the differences are not readily detectable? We explore the legal protections that shape the employment environment for people with invisible identities and how invisibility influences the common social dimensions of stigma these individuals experience. These social dimensions are resistant to change and therefore change occurs slowly: stigma cannot simply be legislated away. On the basis of our comparisons of social identity groups with invisible characteristics we discuss four dimensions that are especially relevant for understanding the social dynamics of invisible diversities.
A Review of ESTAT: An Innovative Program for Teaching Statistics

We review the benefits of using an interactive, graphics-based program called Estimating Statistics (ESTAT) as a teaching tool for statistics with psychology students. ESTAT incorporates two featur...
Modeling the competitive market efficiency of Egyptian companies: A probabilistic neural network analysis

Understanding efficiency levels is crucial for understanding the competitive structure of a market and/or segments of a market. This study uses two artificial neural networks (NN) and a traditional statistical classification method to classify the relative efficiency of top listed Egyptian companies. Accuracy indices derived from the application of a non-parametric data envelopment analysis approach are used to assess the classification accuracy of the models. Results indicate that the NN models are superior to the traditional statistical methods. The study shows that the NN models have a great potential for the classification of companies' relative efficiency due to their robustness and flexibility of modeling algorithms. The implications of these results for potential efficiency programs are discussed.
Perceptual Assessment of Voice Quality: Past, Present, and Future

Despite many years of research, we still do not know how to measure vocal quality. This paper reviews the history of quality assessment, describes some reasons why current approaches are unlikely t...
Facile chemical synthesis and equilibrium unfolding properties of CopG.

The 45-amino acid polypeptide chain of the homodimeric transcriptional repressor, CopG, was chemically synthesized by stepwise solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using a protocol based on Boc-chemistry. The product obtained from the synthesis was readily purified by reversed-phase HPLC to give a good overall yield (21% by weight). Moreover, the synthetic CopG constructs prepared in this work folded into three-dimensional structures similar to the wild-type protein prepared using conventional recombinant methods as judged by far UV-CD spectroscopy. A fluorescent CopG analog, (Y39W)CopG, was also designed and chemically synthesized to facilitate biophysical studies of CopG’s protein folding and assembly reaction. The guanidinium chloride-induced equilibrium unfolding properties of the wild-type CopG and (Y39W)CopG constructs in this work were characterized and used to develop a model for CopG’s equilibrium unfolding reaction. Our results indicate that CopG’s folding and assembly reaction is well modeled by a two-state process involving folded dimer and unfolded monomer. Using this model, ΔGf and m-values of −13.42 ± 0.04 kcal/mole dimer and 1.92 ± 0.01 kcal/(mole M) were calculated for CopG.
Immunogenicity of glutaraldehyde‐treated bovine pericardial tissue xenografts in rabbits

Xenograft valves of glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardial tissue have been claimed to be an excellent choice for the replacement of malfunctioning human heart valves. These valves exhibit low thrombogenicity, hemodynamic function, and transvalvular gradients superior to their mechanical and tissue counterparts. However, there are differences of opinion concerning the immunogenic properties of these valvular devices. This study was conducted to evaluate the immune reactivity of such implants. Data obtained indicated that whole xenograft sections of both untreated and treated valvular tissue remain immunogenic following initial and secondary subcutaneous implantations in rabbits. Homologous and cross-reacting antibodies were detected by means of indirect hemagglutination test 30 days after initial implantation of the grafts. Presence of cellular immune response as judged by skin reaction and leukocyte migration inhibition tests indicated that glutaraldehyde treatment of tissues does not destroy cellular immunity. Data obtained also suggest that chemical modification of such implants by glutaraldehyde probably alters, but does not abolish some antigenic determinant sites on the tissue surface. Glutaraldehyde treatment of bovine pericardial tissue does not render the tissue immunologically inert.
5.8 GHz circular polarized rectifying antenna for microwave power transmission

This paper reports a new 5.8 GHz circular polarized (CP) high gain, high-efficiency rectifying antenna (rectenna). The CP rectenna can be rotated and still maintain a constant output voltage. A high-gain dual rhombic loop antenna and a reflecting plane are used to achieve a circular polarized antenna gain of 10.5 dB, a 2:1 VSWR bandwidth of 10 %, and average beamwidths of 43/spl deg/ and 59/spl deg/ In the E- and H-planes, respectively. The rectenna circuit has a coplanar stripline (CPS) band reject filter (BRF) which suppresses the re-radiated harmonics by 20 dB. A highly efficient Schottky diode is used for RF to DC conversion with an efficiency of approximately 80%.
CAMRIT: control-based adaptive middleware for real-time image transmission

Real-time image transmission is crucial to an emerging class of distributed embedded systems operating in open network environments. Examples include avionics mission re-planning over Link-16, security systems based on wireless camera networks, and online collaboration using camera phones. Meeting image transmission deadlines is a key challenge in such systems due to unpredictable network conditions. In this paper, we present CAMRIT, a control-based adaptive middleware framework for real-time image transmission in distributed real-time embedded systems. CAMRIT features a distributed feedback control loop that meets image transmission deadlines by dynamically adjusting the quality of image tiles. We derive an analytic model that captures the dynamics of a distributed middleware architecture. A control theoretic methodology is applied to systematically design a control algorithm with analytic assurance of system stability and performance, despite uncertainties in network bandwidth. Experimental results demonstrate that CAMRIT can provide robust real-time guarantees for a representative application scenario.
Synthesis of Furans via Rhodium(II) Acetate‐Catalyzed Reaction of Acetylenes with α‐Diazocarbonyls: Ethyl 2‐Methyl‐5‐Phenyl‐3‐Furancarboxylate

Synthesis of furans via rhodium(II) acetate-catalyzed reaction of acetylenes with α-diazocarbonyls: ethyl 2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-furancarboxylate reactant: p-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl azide intermediate: ethyl diazoacetoacetate product: ethyl 2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-furancarboxylate Keywords: addition, to CC; annulation, heterocyclic-[5]; cyclization, cycloaddition; cyclization, free radical-carbenoid/nitrenoid; diazo transfer; metal-catalyzed reactions, rhodium; replacement reactions, halogen by azide; dichloromethane (methylene chloride); p-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl azide; diazo compounds; sodium azide, toxic, explosion hazard; sodium azide, disposal
Mission Interactive Scenario Studio (MISS) for autonomous spacecraft

We propose building a studio enabling the use of diverse existing mission activity and scenario patterns, the creation of new ones, and the modeling of their effects using existing modeling tools. The core of the studio is a component-based type library, which captures years of mission adaptation patterns in various forms. The studio works as a content server to capture the developed adaptation knowledge for reuse and provides bringing into different mission uplink implementations, including the Mission Data System (MDS) based on D. Dvorak et al. (2000) state/goal machinery. Various activities can be coordinated, controlled, and reused through the studio's component interface to establish and model a mission scenario. A special component factory mechanism is in place to facilitate the adaptation of projects into the studio. The architecture of the studio reflects and enforces a division of knowledge and actions into three parts: model, view, controller, (MVC). The model contains information about (a proposed version of) the spacecraft and mission. The controller contains logic for constructing scenarios of mission activities. The information in the model and controller is principally in the form of reusable patterns. For example, Activity Plan Generator (Apgen) according to P. Maldague et al. (1997) and P. Maldague et al. (1999) is one possible viewer; MDS is another. A 3-tiered infrastructure is used for the studio, reflecting the model, controller, viewer architecture. The studio is useful in pre-phase A of a project by enabling spacecraft design options to be played against desired mission scenarios. In later design options to be played against desired mission scenarios. In later design phases of a project, the construction and modeling of more detailed scenario is supported by the studio.
O(log n)-Localized Algorithms on the Coverage Problem in Heterogeneous Sensor Networks

In this paper, we study the maximum lifetime target coverage problem (MTC), which is to maximize the network lifetime while guaranteeing the complete coverage of all the targets. Many centralized algorithms have been proposed to solve this problem. A very few distributed versions have also been presented but none of them obtains a good approximation ratio. In this paper, we propose two O(log n) localized algorithms. In particular, we first reduce the MTC problem to the domatic number problem in directed graphs. This relation shows that a feasible solution to the domatic number problem is also a feasible solution to the MTC problem. We next prove the lower and upper bounds of this domatic number. Based on this proof, we present two O (log n)-localized algorithms to solve the MTC problem.
Blow-up solutions for singular nonlinear parabolic problems

We use differential inequality approaches to investigate the blow-up time of solutions of the following singular nonlinear parabolic problems Under certain conditions, upper and lower bounds for the blow-up time are determined. A criterion for blow-up to occur and sufficient conditions which ensure that blow-up cannot occur are also presented.
Reversible non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular dysfunction after liver transplantation: a single-centre experience.

AbstractBackground & Aims: Non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NIC) is an earlycomplication of liver transplantation (LT). Our aims were to deﬁne the prev-alence, associated clinical factors, and prognosis of this condition. Methods:A retrospective study was performed on patients undergoing LT at ourinstitution from January 2005 to December 2012. Patients who developedNIC were identiﬁed. Data collected included demographic and clinicaldata. Results: A total 1460 transplants were performed in this period andseventeen patients developed NIC. Pretransplant median QTc interval was459 (range, 405–530), and median E/A ratio was 1 (range, 0.71–1.67). Four-teen patients (82%) were severely malnourished and required nutritionalsupport. Thirteen patients (76%) had renal insufﬁciency. Median time toonset was 2 days post-transplant (range, 0–20). Echocardiograms showedglobal left ventricular hypokinesis and a decrease in ejection fraction (EF)from a median of 65% (range, 50–81) pretransplant to a median of 21%(range, 15–32). Median raw model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scorewas 29 in patients with NIC vs. 18 in patients without cardiomyopathy(P = 0.01). There was no signiﬁcant difference between recipients with NICvs. recipients without cardiomyopathy regarding donor age, donor risk index,and cold and warm ischaemia time. Recovery of cardiac function occurred in16 patients, with a median EF of 44% (range, 25–65%) at the time of dis-charge. The last echocardiogram available showed a median EF of 59%(range, 49–73%). One-year survival of NIC patients was 94.1%. Conclusion:Non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy is a rare complication after LT. Patients withNIC are critically ill, with high MELD score, and severe malnutrition.Cardiovascular complications are a leading cause ofnon-graft-related death following liver transplantation(LT) and have been reported to occur in up to 70% ofrecipients (1, 2). Cardiac assessment is an essential com-ponent of pretransplant evaluation. Candidates for LTundergo comprehensive cardiac evaluation prior to list-ing for LT to minimize complications and to ensureadequate cardiac function and reserve to withstandintra-operative haemodynamic instability and stressesduring LT (3). The speciﬁc cardiac tests used for pre-transplant evaluation vary amongst individual pro-grams, but they generally include electrocardiography(ECG), echocardiography, cardiac stress test, and car-diac catheterization (3, 4).Despite a negative pre-LT cardiac work-up, severalstudies have reported that some patients may developsymptomatic heart failure because of non-ischaemiccardiomyopathy (NIC) in the immediate post-operativeperiod (5–8). However, most of these studies includepatients who were listed and underwent LT before theimplementation of the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) scoring system (1, 5–7). Thus, our aims wereto establish the prevalence of new onset NIC after LT, toidentify associated clinical factors, and to determine theclinical course and survival of these patients in theMELD era.
Patients with small-cell lung cancer treated with combination chemotherapy with or without irradiation. Data on potential cures, chronic toxicities, and late relapses after a five- to eleven-year follow-up

We assessed the outcome in 252 patients with small-cell lung cancer 5 to 11 years after treatment with combination chemotherapy, with or without chest and cranial irradiation, in National Cancer Institute therapeutic trials from 1973 through 1978. Twenty-eight patients (11%) survived free of cancer for 30 months or more. Fourteen patients remain alive without evidence of cancer beyond 5 years (range, 6.4 to 11.3 years), and 7 patients have returned to a lifestyle similar to that before diagnosis. The other 14 patients who were cancer-free at 30 months have developed cancer or died; 6 patients had a relapse, 4 developed or died from non-small-cell lung cancer, and 4 died of unrelated causes. A few patients with small-cell lung cancer (5.6%) may be cured. Thirty-month, cancer-free survival is insufficient to show a cure. Although late toxicities are troublesome, they do not outweigh the benefits of prolonged survival and potential for cure with modern aggressive therapy in small-cell lung cancer.
Why our ethics curricula do work.

The purpose of this article is to respond to Dr. Charles Bertolami’s article “Why Our Ethics Curricula Don’t Work” in the April 2004 issue of the Journal of Dental Education. This article analyzes the arguments put forth by Bertolami and challenges his assumptions and conclusions. Several examples are given of the ways in which our current ethics curricula do, in fact, work.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in West Virginia Substate Regions, 2007‐2013

PURPOSE The opioid epidemic is a public health threat with consequences affecting newborns. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a constellation of withdrawal symptoms resulting primarily from in utero opioid exposure. The purpose of this study was to examine NAS and drug-specific trends in West Virginia (WV), where rurality-related issues are largely present. Methods The 2007-2013 WV Health Care Authority, Uniform Billing Data were analyzed for 119,605 newborn admissions with 1,974 NAS diagnoses. NAS (ICD9-CM 779.5) and exposure diagnostic codes for opioids, hallucinogens, and cocaine were utilized as incidence rate (IR) per 1,000 live births. Findings Between 2007 and 2013, NAS IR significantly increased from 7.74 to 31.56 per 1,000 live births per year (Z: -19.10, P Conclusions Statewide NAS IR increased 4-fold over the study period, with rates over 3 times the national annual averages. This alarming trend is deleterious for the health of WV mother-child dyads and it strains the state's health care system. Therefore, WV has a unique need for prenatal public health drug treatment and prevention resources, specifically targeting the southeastern region. Further examination of maternal drug-specific trends and general underutilization of neonatal exposure ICD-9-CM codes is indicated. Language: en
Diamond Nucleation Studies on Refractory Metals and Nickel

Diamond nucleation has been investigated on a variety of potential heteroepitaxial substrate materials. Previous work in this laboratory has demonstrated heteroepitaxial nucleation on both Si and SiC substrates via bias-enhanced nucleation (BEN). In this study the effects of BEN of diamond on refractory metal substrates is investigated in detail. Initial data suggest a strong correlation between the carbide forming nature of the substrate material and the rate of nucleation during biasing. Our second avenue of research involves low pressure diamond growth on nickel. This material is a promising material due to its close lattice match and recent evidence of epitaxy reported by other researchers. To form heteroepitaxial diamond on nickel a high temperature pretreatment routine has been established and is the basis for this area of research. The relative importance of hydrogen absorption during this routine is explored and correlated to the formation and degree of diamond epitaxy.
THE EVOLUTION OF FEMALE BODY SIZE IN RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS: THE EFFECTS OF TIMING OF BREEDING, SOCIAL COMPETITION, AND REPRODUCTIVE ENERGETICS.

We examined opposing selective forces on female body size in the sexually dimorphic red-winged blackbird: social competition favoring larger females, and energetic advantages favoring smaller females. Downhower proposed that selection might drive female birds to be smaller than the optimum for survival, if smaller females were able to exceed their energetic requirements for self-maintenance earlier in the season and therefore breed earlier. Since in most birds the earliest breeders fledge the most young, this could favor the evolution of smaller female size, and therefore contribute to the magnitude of sexual size dimorphism in these birds. We tested this hypothesis in 1987 and 1988 by comparing the size and breeding date of female red-winged blackbirds. Consistent with our preditions, early-nesting females had much higher nesting success, but contrary to prediction, larger females bred earlier. We then examined the effects of female size on competition. If large females have an advantage in social competition, and if competition influences breeding date and reproductive success, then larger females might breed earlier. Primary females, the first females to arrive and nest on a territory, were more aggressive than lower ranked females; more aggressive females settled on better territories and laid earlier than less aggressive females; and larger females were more aggressive. Social competition between females may therefore favor large females. Finally, we tested the prediction that selection favoring large females might be limited by energetic constraints on large females. We found that large females had less fat than small females during breeding, and that the levels of fat that females of a given size carried affected breeding date and egg size. Therefore, social competition may favor large females, but reproductive energetics favoring smaller females may constrain selection for large female body size.
Ring-Opening Polymerization of rac-Lactide with Aluminum Chiral Anilido-Oxazolinate Complexes.

A series of dimethylaluminum complexes (L1a–i)AlMe2 (2a–i, where HL1a–i = 2-(2′-ArNH)phenyl-4-R1-oxazoline) bearing chiral, bidentate anilido-oxazolinate ligands have been prepared and characterized. Six of the complexes, in the presence of an alcohol cocatalyst, are shown to be active initiators for the stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide in toluene solution and under bulk conditions, yielding polylactides with a range of tacticity from slightly isotactic to moderately heterotactic. The reactivity and selectivity of these catalysts are discussed on the basis of the effect of their substituents.
Parametric techno‐economic studies of coal/biomass co‐gasification for IGCC plants with carbon capture using various coal ranks, fuel‐feeding schemes, and syngas cooling methods

Summary Because of biomass's limited supply (as well as other issues involving its feeding and transportation), pure biomass plants tend to be small, which results in high production and capital costs (per unit power output) compared with much larger coal plants. Thus, it is more economically attractive to co-gasify biomass with coal. Biomass can also make an existing plant carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative if enough carbon dioxide is captured and sequestered (CCS). As a part of a series of studies examining the thermal and economic impact of different design implementations for an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant fed with blended coal and biomass, this paper focuses on investigating various parameters, including radiant cooling versus syngas quenching, dry-fed versus slurry-fed gasification (particularly in relation to sour-shift and sweet-shift carbon capture systems), oxygen-blown versus air-blown gasifiers, low-rank coals versus high-rank coals, and options for using syngas or alternative fuels in the duct burner for the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to achieve the desired steam turbine inlet temperature. Using the commercial software, Thermoflow®, the case studies were performed on a simulated 250-MW coal IGCC plant located near New Orleans, Louisiana, and the coal was co-fed with biomass using ratios ranging from 10% to 30% by weight. Using 2011 dollars as a basis for economic analysis, the results show that syngas coolers are more efficient than quench systems (by 5.5 percentage points), but are also more expensive (by $500/kW and 0.6 cents/kW h). For the feeding system, dry-fed is more efficient than slurry-fed (by 2.2–2.5 points) and less expensive (by $200/kW and 0.5 cents/kW h). Sour-shift CCS is both more efficient (by 3 percentage points) and cheaper (by $600/kW or 1.5 cents/kW h) than sweet-shift CCS. Higher-ranked coals are more efficient than lower-ranked coals (2.8 points without biomass, or 1.5 points with biomass) and have lower capital cost (by $600/kW without using biomass, or $400/kW with biomass). Finally, plants with biomass and low-rank coal feedstock are both more efficient and have lower costs than those with pure coal: just 10% biomass seems to increase the efficiency by 0.7 points and reduce costs by $400/kW and 0.3 cents/kW h. However, for high-rank coals, this trend is different: the efficiency decreases by 0.7 points, and the cost of electricity increases by 0.1 cents/kW h, but capital costs still decrease by about $160/kW. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Observations on the hereditary nature of Hageman trait.

A study was made of the family tree of two sisters with Hageman trait, an asymptomatic disorder of blood coagulation. In this family the defect behaves genetically as if it is due to the transmission of an autosomal recessive gene.
Granulomatous amebic encephalitis following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) is rare, but often fatal. The infection has been documented predominantly among the immunocompromised population or among those with chronic disease. To date, however, there have only been eight cases regarding the infection following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
The use of human menopausal and chorionic gonadotropins for induction of ovulation

Gonadotropin therapy for anovulation is highly successful: 58.6% of treated patients conceive. Better results are achieved in patients with galactorrhea-amenorrhea (77.1%) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (63.3%) than in patients with normal gonadotropin levels (45.4%). The spontaneous abortion rate (27.5%) is somewhat higher than that in spontaneous pregnancies. The multiple pregnancy rate is 31% and was slightly lower in cycles with preovulatory estrogen levels in the physiologic range. In patients treated with human menopausal and chorionic gonadotropins for 7 to 9 days per cycle, the multiple pregnancy rate is considerably less (12.9%) than in patients with longer treatment. The efficacy of treatment does not diminish with repeat-treatment cycles.
Communism and its Collapse in the USSR and Eastern Europe

In 1945 Russia emerged victorious from the greatest war in its history. Knowing what it wanted, and determined to obtain it, it was the Soviet Union that achieved most of its aims in the immediate postwar period. Having made the greatest sacrifices during the war, the Soviets felt that they were only taking their due. In creating buffer states of eastern Poland, Bessarabia, northern Bukovina, eastern Karelia, Ruthenia and northeast Prussia, they were ensuring their future safety (Map XV). The Soviet military occupation of eastern Europe settled all arguments. For the next 40 years an ‘iron curtain’ divided eastern from western Europe. Culturally isolated from the West, eastern Europe was compelled to look east.
Genetic Programming in Ovarian Development and Oogenesis

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the genetics of ovarian failure and the genes that are involved for normal function, as well as those genes that may be implicated in premature ovarian failure. Failure of germ cell development is associated with complete ovarian failure, resulting in lack of secondary sexual pubertal development. Decreased number but not total absence of germ cells is more likely associated with premature ovarian failure, presenting with infertility or secondary amenorrhea. Yet complete and premature ovarian failure may be different manifestations of the same underlying pathogenic and etiologic processes. Chromosomal abnormalities, mutations of autosomal or X-linked genes, and polygenic/multifactorial elements all play a role. Clinical disorders associated with germ cell abnormalities are enumerated, deducing etiologic factors responsible for ovarian differentiation and oogenesis in normal females.