cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AGU and Earth Science Women's Network sign memorandum of understanding

In furtherance of our strategic goal to be a diverse and inclusive organization that uses its position to build the global talent pool in Earth and space science, AGU signed a memorandum of understanding with the Earth Science Women's Network (ESWN) in spring 2012. Under the agreement, AGU will provide ESWN with an online platform through which to better connect its members. The agreement will allow AGU to further its strategic goal and help ESWN enhance cooperation and collaboration among women in Earth and space science. ESWN is a community of scientists dedicated to supporting collaborations and providing mentorship for its members, many of whom are in the early stages of their careers. The new online platform should help ESWN to connect with more individuals and create a stronger network of dedicated women pursuing research in Earth and space science.
Canola Meal, Cottonseed, and Soybean Meals as Protein Supplements for Calves,

Abstract Forty-five day-old Holstein calves were assigned randomly to one of three calf starter rations that differed in that Canola meal, cottonseed meal, or soybean meal were protein supplements. In each group there were seven female and eight male calves. Calves were offered fresh starter ration, free choice, daily during an 8-wk preweaning period and were fed 2.27 kg per head daily throughout an 8-wk postweaning period. For calves fed canola, cottonseed, and soybean meals, average daily gains for the preweaning period were .58, .62, and .62 kg and for the postweaning period were .89, .89, and .92 kg. In the same order, starter consumptions for the preweaning period were 20.6, 26.7, and 24.6 kg; milk consumptions were 161, 176, and 174 kg; packed blood cell volumes were 24.4, 22.9, and 24.9%; triiodothyronine concentrations were 1.78, 1.68, and 1.72 ng/ml, and thyroxine was 21.1, 23.6, and 21.1 ng/ml. There were no significant differences. Canola meal is acceptable nutritionally as a protein supplement for calf starters.
Structural and strategic dynamics in franchising

Abstract In this paper we examine the changes in ownership patterns of franchise systems as they mature. We compare the predictions made by three alternative theories within the context of the fast food industry. Signaling theory predicts that franchise systems will move toward a greater reliance on franchised outlets as systems mature, while resource acquisition theory (or as it is sometimes known, ownership redirection thesis) predicts a tendency in the opposite direction. A third theoretical perspective, tapered integration or plural forms, suggests a tendency toward maintaining a steady state of mixed distribution. Results indicate that although franchisors value the benefits of the mix of ownership types and do maintain that mix over time, there is some evidence of a greater tendency to permanently convert existing franchised outlets to company-owned outlets as fast food systems mature and gain greater access to resources.
Structure determination of N-acetyl amino sugar derivatives and disaccharides by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy.

Abstract Gas chromatography retention times and mass spectra fragmentation patterns were obtained for the trimethylsilyl ethers of 2-acetamindo-2-deoxy- d -glucose, -galactose, and -mannose, (GlcNAc, GalNAc, and ManNAc, respectively), β-1,3-dimethoxy-GlcNAc, the α- and β-methoxy glycosides of GlcNAc and GalNAc, the α- and β-methoxy furanosides of GalNAc, and β-1-4 and β-1-6 linked 2,2′-diacetamido-2,2-dideoxy-glucosylglucoses, and a glycopeptide linkage compound, 2-acetamido-1- N -β- l -aspartyl-2-deoxy-β- d -glycopyranosylamine (GlcNAc-Asn). The mass spectra of these derivatives are discussed in detail. From the mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of the free and partially methylated monosaccharides it is possible to determine which and how many positions are methylated and whether the ring is in the pyranose or furanose form. Fragmentation patterns of trimethylsilyl disaccharide derivatives show that it is possible to determine linkage position. Anomeric configuration and other steriochemical features such as axial or equatorial configuration cannot be easily determined from fragmentation patterns but can be determined from gas chromatography retention times, optical rotatory dispersion, and circular dichroism (3). A combination of these methods provides a means of solving the structural and stereochemical problems of carbohydrates.
Development of a biological detection platform utilizing a modular microfluidic stack

The goal of this project is to build a miniaturized, user-friendly cytometry setup (Datta et al. in Microfluidic platform for education and research. COMS, Baton Rouge, 2008; Frische et al. in Development of an miniaturized flow cytometry setup for visual cell inspection and sorting. Baton Rouge, Project Report, 2008) by combining a customized, microfluidic device with visual microscope inspection to detect and extract specific cells from a continuous sample flow. We developed a cytological tool, based on the Coulter particle counter principle, using a microelectrode array patterned on a borosilicate glass chip as electrical detection set-up which is fully embedded into a polymeric multi-layer microfluidic stack. The detection takes place between pairs of coplanar Cr/Au microelectrodes by sensing an impedance change caused by particles continuously carried within a microfluidic channel across the detection area under laminar flow conditions. A wide frequency range available for counting provides information on cell size, membrane capacitance, cytoplasm conductivity and is potentially of interest for in-depth cell diagnostic e.g. to detect damaged or cancerous cells and select them for extraction and further in-depth analysis.
The natural history of persistent peanut allergy.

Abstract Background Peanut allergy affects 1% of children, and for those with persistent disease, few data have been published on trends in peanut-specific immunoglobulin E (P-IgE) levels or the value of P-IgE in predicting reaction severity. Objective The primary outcome was the frequency of inadvertent peanut exposure. Secondary outcomes included clinical characteristics, trends in P-IgE, characteristics of accidental exposures, and predictors of reaction severity in patients with persistent peanut allergy. Methods Records of patients with persistent peanut allergy were reviewed. Other allergic conditions, P-IgE levels, and peanut exposures were documented. Results Seven hundred eighty-two patients were studied, 524 of them male. The median age at initial observation was 1.4 years; the median duration of follow-up was 5.3 years. Of the 782 patients, 93.1% were avoiding other foods, 70.8% had atopic dermatitis, 57.3% allergic rhinitis, and 55.8% asthma. The median initial P-IgE was 28.0 kU/L, and the median peak P-IgE was 68.1. Six hundred eighty-five exposures were seen among 455 patients: 75.9% ingestion, 13.6% contact, 4.5% airborne. 73.7% resulted in urticaria/angioedema, 22.2% lower respiratory symptoms, 21.2% gastrointestinal symptoms, and 7.7% oral erythema/pruritus. Treatment included antihistamines (33.4%), emergency department visits (16.5%), epinephrine (13.1%), corticosteroids (7.7%), albuterol (3.2%), no treatment (26.3%), and not recorded (29.6%). The rate of postdiagnosis ingestion was 4.7%/year; exposures with severe reactions, 1.6%/year; reactions treated with epinephrine, 1.1%/year. Reaction severity did not change with repeated exposure. Severe reactions were associated with higher P-IgE, but not with age, sex, or asthma. Conclusion In this referral population, the rates of accidental peanut exposures and severe reactions were low. There was a strong association between higher P-IgE levels and reaction severity.
Hypopigmentation in Angelman syndrome

Chromosome region 15q is thought to contain one or more genes that are important for melanin pigment synthesis in the hair, skin, and eyes. Hypopigmentation has been identified in the Prader-Willi (PWS) and Angelman (AS) syndromes. We have examined 6 individuals with AS to further characterize the pigment pattern in this condition. The age of the 5 girls and one boy ranged from 2.4 to 7.0 years. None had obvious albinism. Hair color ranged from light blond to brown. Skin was type I in 3 and type II in 3. Eye changes included nystagmus in 2, strabismus in 4, and reduced retinal pigment in 5. The mean hairbulb tyrosinase activity was 0.37 +/- 0.44 pmol/hb/120 min for the individuals with AS, with a range of 0.00 to 1.13 (normal brown control 1.49 +/- 0.79, normal blond control 1.50 +/- 0.85). Electron microscopic examination of hairbulb melanocytes showed normal melanosome and melanocyte architecture and number, but reduced melanin formation, with many stage II and III premelanosomes but few stage IV fully melanized melanosomes. Hypopigmentation characterized by light skin, reduced retinal pigment, low hairbulb tyrosinase activity, and incomplete melanization of melanosomes is part of the phenotype of AS, and is similar to that found in PWS.
Influencing factors of trust in consumer-to-consumer electronic commerce with gender and age

We developed an integrated trust model in C2CE.The model newly classified four antecedents of trust in C2CE with gender and age.PWSQ, OTBS, and TPR differently influenced C2CE by age factor.C2CE websites should make a different strategy based on the target consumer's age. Even though consumer-to-consumer (C2C) electronic commerce (e-commerce) has been found to be more popular, mainstream scholarship tends to focus on B2C e-commerce area without making a distinction between C2C and B2C e-commerce. In this study, a trust model in C2C e-commerce was developed, which incorporates four perspectives, namely, (1) natural propensity to trust (NPT) as a personality perspective, (2) perception of website quality (PWSQ) as a website feature perspective, (3) other's trust of buyers/sellers (OTBS) as an interpersonal transaction perspective, and (4) third party recognition (TPR) as an institutional feature perspective. This study also investigated the role of gender and age toward trust in C2C e-commerce. The results show that PWSQ and TPR influenced trust in C2C e-commerce in general. However, as far as those who are 40's and older than 40's go, only OTBS might influence trust in C2C e-commerce. Therefore, we found that trust in C2C e-commerce can be moderated by age factor. Overall, the model helps to increase our understanding of trust in C2C e-commerce. In particular, a deep understanding of this can be very useful to determine those strategies and actions leading the Internet users to become real online purchasers.
Effects of substrate orientation and surface reconstruction on patterned substrate OMVPE of GaAs

Organometallic vapor phase epitaxial growth of GaAs on 320 nm high mesas was used to study the dependence of lateral growth upon the substrate misorientation from (100) and the mesa wall orientation on the substrate. GaAs (100) substrates were misoriented by 3° toward eight major crystallographic directions, consisting of the four nearest [111] and [110] directions. The mesa sidewalls were oriented either parallel to the 〈011〉 and 〈01\(\bar 1\)〉 directions or rotated by 45° to be parallel to the 〈001〉 and 〈010〉 directions. GaAs films were grown with TMGa and TBA at T=575°C. The lateral growth rates were up to 25 times higher than the vertical growth rate of 1.3 µm/hour. Optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that under the given growth conditions lateral growth off mesa sidewalls is most rapid in the 〈011〉 and/or 〈0\(\overline {11} \)〉 directions and less in the perpendicular 〈01\(\bar 1\)〉 and 〈0\(\bar 1\)1〉 directions (lateral growth anisotropy). By raising the temperature to 625°C lateral growth in the 〈01\(\bar 1\)〉 -〈0\(\bar 1\)1〉 directions increased while it remained almost constant in the 〈011〉 -〈0\(\overline {11} \)〉 directions. Published results show that the partial pressure of As also affects lateral growth. Differences in the lateral growth rates in the 〈011〉 and its opposite 〈0\(\overline {11} \)〉 directions result from substrate misorientation but not from the orientation of the mesa walls on the substrate. Anisotropic lateral growth rates in different crystallographic directions appear to be caused by both, (1) 1-dimensional Ga diffusion defined by surface reconstruction, and (2) a relatively low energy barrier to atoms flowing over high-to-low terrace steps. A lateral growth model is proposed that describes anisotropic lateral growth at mesa sidewalls in terms of growth conditions and substrate misorientations. The model also explains the difference in the preferential lateral growth directions between MBE and OMVPE.
Baleen whale localization using hydrophone streamers during seismic reflection surveys

Seismic reflection surveys use acoustic energy to image the structure beneath the seafloor, but concern has been raised about their potential impact on marine animals. Most of the energy from seismic surveys is low frequency, so the concern about their impact is focused on Baleen whales that communicate in the same frequency range. To better mitigate against this impact, safety radii are established based on the criteria defined by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Marine mammal observers use visual and acoustic techniques to monitor safety radii during each experiment. However, additional acoustic monitoring, in particular, locating marine mammals, could demonstrate the effectiveness of the observations, and help us understand animal responses to seismic experiments. A novel sound source localization technique using a seismic streamer has been developed. Data from seismic reflection surveys conducted with the R/V Langseth are being analyzed with this method to locate baleen whales and verify the accuracy of visual detections during experiments. The streamer is 8 km long with 636 hydrophones sampled at 500 Hz. The work focuses on time intervals when only a mitigation gun is firing because of marine mammal sightings. [Sponsored by NSF.]
Embolization of a large left ventricular thrombus during two-dimensional and color flow Doppler examination in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract Recent studies indicate that left ventricular (LV) thrombi that protrude and have free intracavitary motion have a high incidence of embolization. 1,2 The reported incidence of embolization for protruding LV thrombi ranges from 41% 1 to 58%, 2 while for highly mobile thrombi the reported incidence varies between 61% 1 and 83%. 2 Two-dimensional echocardiography is a highly sensitive and specific technique for detection of LV thrombi. 3 We report the dislodgement and systemic embolization of a LV thrombus in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy occurring while undergoing a 2-dimensional echocardiogram examination.
A test of the DWIA at 135 MeV using the 207Pb(p, p′) reaction

Abstract Data for the excitation of the strongly collective octupole doublet in 207Pb at EX = 2.64 MeV is used to test the distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA) at a proton bombarding energy of 135 MeV. A complex, effective local interaction derived from the nucleon-nucleon phase shifts is used together with the wave functions of Ring and Speth for the low-lying octupole state in 208Pb. The DWIA (including central and spin-orbit terms) is found to be in reasonable agreement with both the magnitude and shape of the observed cross section.
Sparsity-inspired power allocation for network localization

High-accuracy localization is essential for many location-based applications. The position of an object can be obtained from range measurements based on wireless transmissions. Transmitting power allocation not only affects network lifetime and throughput, but also determines localization accuracy. The number of active transmitting nodes is also crucial since it is related to communication load and computation complexity. In this paper, we formulate the power optimization problem that provides the best localization accuracy under power constraints. We first prove the sparsity of the optimal power allocation, i.e., the optimal localization accuracy can be achieved by activating no more than (J) transmitting nodes in d-dimensional networks. Inspired by such sparsity, we derive the expressions of the optimal power allocation in 2-D networks. We also put forth a near-optimal algorithm for the power allocation problem with individual power constraints. Our results provide a theoretical basis for designing transmitting node selection and power allocation algorithms for network localization.
Competitive intelligence collection and use by sales and service representatives: how managers’ recognition and autonomy moderate individual performance

The importance of knowledge to the organization cannot be denied. However, to date little research has investigated the critical role individuals in sales and service representative positions play in the gathering and use of information in the organization and how this information can help them enhance their performance. Using social identity theory as a conceptual background, this paper reports two studies which investigate how organizational identification and role conflict impact the collection and use of individual competitive intelligence (ICI) and how this impacts individual performance. In addition, we look at the impact of managerial recognition and autonomy on these relationships. Tests across two firms using hierarchical linear modeling provide support for the hypothesized relationships. We conclude that firms can create an environment which facilitates the collection and use of ICI and that this, in turn, positively impacts individual performance.
Sugar-dependent rats show enhanced intake of unsweetened ethanol

Rats show signs of dependence on sugar when it is available intermittently, including bingeing, withdrawal, and cross-sensitization with amphetamine. In the current study, we sought to determine whether sugar-dependent rats would show increased intake of unsweetened ethanol and, conversely, whether intermittent access to ethanol would augment sugar consumption. In Experiment 1, with intermittent versus ad libitum access to ethanol, Sprague-Dawley rats were given escalating concentrations of ethanol (1%, 2%, 4%, 7%, and 9%) over the course of 20 days. Rats in the intermittent ethanol access group, with 12-h daily access, consumed more 4%, 7%, and 9% ethanol during the first hour of access, and more 9% ethanol daily, than did rats in the ad libitum ethanol access group. In Experiment 2, with ethanol as a gateway to sugar intake, the rats from Experiment 1 were switched to 10% sucrose with 12-h daily access for 1 week. Rats in the intermittent ethanol access group consumed significantly more sugar than was consumed by rats in a control group with no prior ethanol experience. In Experiment 3, with sugar as a gateway to ethanol to determine whether sugar dependence leads to increased ethanol intake, four groups were maintained for 21 days according to the following designations: intermittent access to sugar and chow, ad libitum access to sugar and chow, intermittent access to chow, or ad libitum access to chow. Four days later, all groups were switched to intermittent ethanol access, as described in Experiment 1. The group with intermittent access to sugar and chow consumed the most 9% ethanol, supporting the suggestion that sugar dependence alters a rat's proclivity to drink ethanol. These results may relate to the co-morbidity between binge-eating disorders and alcohol intake and the tendency of people abstaining from alcohol to consume excessive amounts of sugar. In conclusion, bingeing on either ethanol or sugar fosters intake of the other.
Levels of metabolites and production of glucose in the lamprey brain.

—The levels of ATP, phosphocreatine, glucose, glucose-6-P., lactate, and glycogen have been measured in brains and spinal cords of lamprey larvae. Levels of glycogen in the brains were high, sometimes exceeding 100 m-moles of glycosyl units/kg wet weight. Isolated brains incubated in oxygenated saline exhibited the same levels of ATP and phosphocreatine as brains of intact animals. The level of glucose in tissue water of isolated brains approximated that found in the medium, except at low concentrations where the brains maintained levels of glucose many times that of the medium. It is demonstrated that under metabolic stress lamprey brains produce glucose by the breakdown of glycogen and the probable action of a glucose-6-phosphatase. The hypothesis is proposed that cells of the brain exchange glucose by this mechanism.
Towards A Unified View of Service-Oriented Web

This paper discusses the current landscape of the services available over the Web and proposes a unified view for the future service-oriented Web. Apart from the current Web services accessible by Web applications, other services are directly provided to end users through Web pages, among which the "deep Web" provides online queries through Web pages for users to access the hidden databases. This paper presents our categorization examples to illustrate this concept, as well as the methodology used to categorize these hidden Web services. We illustrate how computational Web services can improvise supply chain management as well as delivery logistics.
Coffee consumption in NAFLD patients with lower insulin resistance is associated with lower risk of severe fibrosis

Background Coffee has inverse relationships with both type 2 diabetes and hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
The effect of the osmotic potential and specific ion concentration of the nutrient solution on the uptake and reduction of nitrate by barley seedlings

Short-term absorption experiments were conducted with intact barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings to observe the effects of the osmotic potential (Ψπ) and salt species on nitrate uptake andin vivo nitrate reduction. The experiments consisted of growing barley seedlings for 5 days in complete nutrient solutions salinized to (Ψπ) levels of −0.6, −1.8, −3.0, −4.2, and −5.4 bars with NaCl, CaCl2 or Na2SO4. After the absorption period, the seedlings were separated into shoots and roots, weighed, then analyzed for NO3. The nutrient solutions were sampled for NO3 analysis each day immediately before renewing the solutions. The accumulative loss of NO3 from the solutions was considered to be uptake whereas NO3 reduction was the difference between uptake and seedling content. Lowering the (Ψπ) of the nutrient solutions resulted in decreased concentrations of NO3 in the plant, little or no effect (except at the lowest (Ψπ) level) on uptake, and increased nitrate reductase activity. Increased rates of NO3 reduction were in particular associated with the Cl concentration of the nutrient solution.
A Fast Parallel Encoding Scheme for the Anger Camera

In an Anger camera, only seven photomultipliers generally receive any significant signal from any one event; more distant tubes contribute only noise and background. The basic unit for two-dimensional position determination is thus a "receptive field" of seven photomultipliers. In the new encoding scheme, position determination is performed in two steps: first, the PM with the largest signal is identified, giving the coarse position. Then linear combinations of that signal and its six neighbors are used to interpolate within that receptive field. Since the analog sums are used only for interpolation, less precision is needed and faster electronics can be used. Speed is also increased by forming the linear combinations of all possible fields in parallel; this is done in a circuit called the "brain". Total time to digitize the position of an event is 400 ns; the precision is 1/26 of the photomultiplier spacing.
Expression of the mitochondrial RNase P RNA subunit-encoding gene from a variant promoter sequence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a common tRNA processing enzyme that removes the 5′ leader sequence of precursor tRNAs. This activity is identified in yeast mitochondria as a separate enzyme from the nuclear RNase P. Like other RNase P enzymes, the mitochondrial (mt) RNase P is also a ribonucleoprotein composed of both RNA and protein subunits. The RNA subunit is encoded by a mt gene and the protein subunit is supplied by a nuclear gene. Earlier studies described one active promoter ( FP1 ) located 5′ to the mt tRNA fMet -RNase P RNA-tRNA Pro gene cluster, so that the mitochondrially encoded RNA subunit was thought to be co-transcribed with two of its substrate tRNAs. However, the results of in vitro transcription and primer extension experiments presented here demonstrate that the mt RNase P RNA subunit-encoding gene ( RPM1 ) is transcribed from a new promoter ( SP ) which is located between the tRNA fMet and RPM1 genes. The sequence [5′-TATAAGAA(+1)] of the new promoter varies from the conserved promoter sequence [5′-TATAAGTA(+1)], but is one of the sequences that is active in the in vitro transcription assay to determine the consensus promoter sequence [5′-T A T/a A A/g/c G T/a/c N(+1)]. This result demonstrates that a naturally occurring variant promoter is used by RPM1 . Identification of the novel SP promoter suggests that the synthesis of the mt RNase P RNA subunit might be uncoupled from the expression of upstream tRNA fMet gene, and that RPMI might be independently transcribed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Humanism and the futuristic perspective

(1980). Humanism and the futuristic perspective. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 19, Teaching Methods: Learning Applications, pp. 129-133.
Factors affecting the rates of food calls given by red-bellied tamarins

Food calls have been identified in a number of avian and mammalian species. Most investigations of the proximate elicitors of food calls have focused on palatability, quantity or divisibility of the food. Proposed, but mostly untested, functions of food calling have typically centred around the benefits associated with sharing food or attracting conspecifics to the food site. In two experiments involving five groups of captive red-bellied tamarins,Saguinus labiatus, rates of food calling were quantified in conjunction with four variables: quantity of food, food preference, food exchange, and visual contact with groupmates upon discovery of the food source. In agreement with other studies of food calling, calling rates increased when the food was particularly palatable, and when it was presented in large quantities. Food exchanges were not associated with food calling. There was also a social-location effect: when the food was discovered while the finder was temporarily out of visual contact with its groupmates, rates were higher than when groupmates were visible, even when the quantity of food was very small, and hence not ‘sharable’. These results suggest that red-bellied tamarin food calls are not entirely governed by opportunities or inclinations to share food, nor are they solely a function of arousal in the presence of large amounts of preferred food. Red-bellied tamarin food calls may be functionally analogous to those of house sparrows,Passer domesticus, which recruit flockmates to the vicinity of the caller. To the extent that a species is dependent on intra-group cohesion for critical daily activities and protection, food calls may benefit the caller by drawing its allies near, even if calling increases feeding competition.
Noise exposures of rail workers at a North American chemical facility.

Background Both continuous and impact noise exposures of rail yards and railways have been historically understudied. We summarize noise exposures to rail workers at a large chemical facility in North America. Methods Rail workers were surveyed over the course of three 12-hr shifts. Personal noise dosimeters were used to derive a 12-hr time-weighted average (LAVG), an 8-hr time-weighted average (LTWA), and a percent dose. Peak and maximum sound levels were also recorded during each sampling period. Six workers were sampled on three separate days for a total of 18 full-shift noise samples. Results Full-shift noise exposures were all below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) and action level for a 12-hr workday. Peak impact sound levels exceeded 140 dB in 17 of 18 samples (94%) with a mean peak sound level of 143.9 dB. Maximum continuous sound levels were greater than 115 dBA in 4 of 18 samples (22%) with a mean maximum sound level of 113.1 dBA. The source of peak impact sound levels was a daily exposure to a concussion caused by a sudden break in a freight airline. Conclusions Rail workers at this facility are at risk of noise induced hearing loss from high impact noise exposures. Peak impact and maximum continuous sound levels can be attenuated through the use of hearing protection or by increasing distances from railroad noise sources. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:364–369, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Analytical characterizations of some classes of optimal strongly attack-tolerant networks and their Laplacian spectra

This paper analytically characterizes certain classes of low-diameter strongly attack-tolerant networks of arbitrary size, which are globally optimal in the sense that they contain the minimum possible number of edges. Strong attack tolerance property of level $$R$$ R implies that a network preserves connectivity and diameter after the deletion of up to $$R-1$$ R - 1 network elements (vertices and/or edges). In addition to identifying such optimal network configurations, we explicitly derive their entire Laplacian spectra, that is, all eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the graph Laplacian matrix. Each of these eigenvalues is by itself a solution to a global optimization problem; thus, the results of this study show that these optimization problems yield analytical solutions for the considered classes of networks. As an important special case, we show that the algebraic connectivity (i.e., the second-smallest eigenvalue of the Laplacian) considered as a function on all networks with fixed vertex connectivity $$R$$ R reaches its maximum on the optimal $$R$$ R -robust 2-club, which has diameter 2 and strong attack tolerance of level $$R$$ R . We also demonstrate that the obtained results have direct implications on the exact calculation of convergence speed of consensus algorithms utilizing the entire Laplacian spectrum, which is in contrast to traditionally used simulation-based estimates through just the algebraic connectivity.
Systemic Inflammation Induced by Lipopolysaccharide Increases Neointimal Formation After Balloon and Stent Injury in Rabbits

Background— Emerging data indicate that the inflammatory response after mechanical arterial injury correlates with the severity of neointimal hyperplasia in animal models and postangioplasty restenosis in humans. The present study was designed to examine whether a nonspecific stimulation of the innate immune system, induced in close temporal proximity to the vascular injury, would modulate the results of the procedure. Methods and Results— Rabbits subjected to iliac artery balloon injury (balloon denudation with or without stent deployment) were injected twice with a bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (500 ng/rabbit) before and after surgery. The dose was chosen to be sufficient to induce systemic inflammation but not septic shock. A systemic marker of inflammation (serum interleukin-1β levels measured by ELISA) and monocytic stimulation (CD14 levels on monocytes measured by flow cytometry) were increased after LPS administration. Arterial macrophage infiltration at 7 days after injury was 1.7±1.2% of tot...
HYPOGLYCÆMIA AND HYPERINSULINÆMIA IN RESPONSE TO RAISED FREE-FATTY-ACID LEVELS

Abstract The rapid infusion of long-chain free fatty acids (F.F.A.) into unanaesthetised dogs raises the level of these acids in plasma. No hormone administration or any form of oral feeding is required to induce this change. This single-variable approach may be helpful in denning the responses initiated by high F.F.A. levels per se. Raised plasma-F.F.A. increased plasma immunoreactive insulin in dogs and decreased bloodglucose. Since short-chain fatty acids have been shown in vitro to stimulate the release of insulin from pancreas, a similar mechanism may be responsible for the present findings. Further investigations are needed to establish this.
Grain-scale channelization of pores due to gradients in temperature or composition of intergranular fluid or melt

[1] Pores in rocks synthesized at deep crustal and upper mantle conditions (1.0–1.5 GPa and 800°–1400°C) become aligned parallel to imposed temperature gradients. The extent of pore “channelization” varies with lithology and is strongest for calcite + quartz + wollastonite with a mixed H2O-CO2 fluid. Channelization of H2O fluids is strong but decreases in quartz, fluorite, and then olivine, and is weak for calcite + H2O. Melt-filled pores in dunite also become aligned with an imposed gradient in temperature. Channelization of pores may be rare in most natural settings because of the relatively low temperature gradients. Pores may, however, become aligned in rocks subjected to gradients in fluid composition alone (e.g., XCO2). Compared with rocks characterized by uniform pore geometry, channelized rocks, whether experimental or natural, may be subject to directionalized flow and to establishment of fluid connectivity at a relatively low fluid or melt fraction.
Convolution/superposition using the Monte Carlo method

The convolution/superposition calculations for radiotherapy dose distributions are traditionally performed by convolving polyenergetic energy deposition kernels with TERMA (total energy released per unit mass) precomputed in each voxel of the irradiated phantom. We propose an alternative method in which the TERMA calculation is replaced by random sampling of photon energy, direction and interaction point. Then, a direction is randomly sampled from the angular distribution of the monoenergetic kernel corresponding to the photon energy. The kernel ray is propagated across the phantom, and energy is deposited in each voxel traversed. An important advantage of the explicit sampling of energy is that spectral changes with depth are automatically accounted for. No spectral or kernel hardening corrections are needed. Furthermore, the continuous sampling of photon direction allows us to model sharp changes in fluence, such as those due to collimator tongue-and-groove. The use of explicit photon direction also facilitates modelling of situations where a given voxel is traversed by photons from many directions. Extra-focal radiation, for instance, can therefore be modelled accurately. Our method also allows efficient calculation of a multi-segment/multi-beam IMRT plan by sampling of beam angles and field segments according to their relative weights. For instance, an IMRT plan consisting of seven 14 x 12 cm2 beams with a total of 300 field segments can be computed in 15 min on a single CPU, with 2% statistical fluctuations at the isocentre of the patient's CT phantom divided into 4 x 4 x 4 mm3 voxels. The calculation contains all aperture-specific effects, such as tongue and groove, leaf curvature and head scatter. This contrasts with deterministic methods in which each segment is given equal importance, and the time taken scales with the number of segments. Thus, the Monte Carlo superposition provides a simple, accurate and efficient method for complex radiotherapy dose calculations.
Structure of the impulsive phase of solar flares from microwave observations

Variation of the microwave intensity and spectrum due to gyro-synchrotron radiation from semi-relativistic particles injected at the top of a closed magnetic loop is described. Using the recent high spatial resolution X-ray observations from the HXIS experiment of Solar Maximum Mission and from observations by the Very Large Array (VLA), it is shown that the high microwave brightness observed at the top of the flare loop can come about if (1) the magnetic field from top to footpoints of the loop does not increase very rapidly, and (2) the accelerated particles injected in the loop have a nearly isotropic pitch angle distribution. The limits on the rate of increase of the magnetic field and/or the average pitch angle depend on the geometry and location of the loop on the solar disk.
Automatic individual calibration in fall detection--an integrative ambulatory measurement framework.

The objective of the current study was to demonstrate the utility of a new integrative ambulatory measurement (IAM) framework by developing and evaluating an individual calibration function in fall detection application. Ten healthy elderly persons were involved in a laboratory study and tested in a protocol comprising various types of activities of daily living and slip-induced backward falls. Inertial measurement units attached to the trunk and thigh segments were used to measure trunk angular kinematics and thigh accelerations. The effect of individual calibration was evaluated with previously developed fall detection algorithm. The results indicated that with individual calibration, the fall detection performance achieved approximately the same level of sensitivity (100% vs. 100%) and specificity (95.25% vs. 95.65%); however, response time was significantly lower than without (249 ms vs. 255 ms). It was concluded that the automatic individual calibration using the IAM framework improves the performanc...
Plasma fat metabolites and hunger

In order to test the hypothesis that the fat metabolites are the blood-borne signals which suppress hunger during recovery from reversible obesity, experiments were designed to manipulate plasma fat metabolite levels directly. In order to elevate plasma glycerol levels, glycerol was infused intravenously into relatively unrestrained rats for 36 hours; this treatment greatly increased plasma glycerol levels but reduced voluntary food intake only slightly. Similar results were obtained when glycerol was mixed with powdered rat food. These results suggest that glycerol is not the "lipostatic hormone" although it may contribute to regulation. Similar experiments with a synthetic precursor of the ketone bodies (1,3 butanediol), suggest that the ketone bodies contribute to the decrease in food intake after reversible obesity, but cannot be a complete explanation. Dietary fat consumption raised plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels to the range seen during recovery from reversible obesity, suggesting that plasma FFAs may be a blood-borne signal of fat utilization in both cases. Intralipid, a synthetic triglyceride emulsion designed for intravenous administration, also increased plasma FFA levels but suppressed food intake by less than predicted. However, Intralipid may tend to cause spuriously high plasma FFA readings for reasons which are discussed. These results suggest that plasma fat metabolites, especially FFAs, may be blood-borne signals which contribute to the voluntary dieting after reversible obesity.
Informing the patient about a fatal disease: From paternalism to autonomy: The Jewish view

Until the late 20th century, withholding a fatal diagnosis functioned as a paradigm for sharing other medical information with patients. The obligation of confidentiality was emphasized and disclosure was ignored. Ethicists perceived the doctor-patient relationship as oriented to therapy, reassurance, and avoiding harm. Physicians were to provide lies and truth instrumentally only insofar as they aided therapy (Jameton, A. Information disclosure. Ethical issues. In Encyclopedia of Bioethics. Revised Ed.; Reich, T.N.T., Ed.; MacMillan: New York, 1995; Vol. 3, 1225-1232). This was the era of paternalism. Since the 1960s, opinion on the role of disclosure was changed rapidly in the United States stimulated by the patient's rights movement and the rise of bioethics. The current climate supports honest and complete disclosure of medical information. In 1972, the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association affirmed A Patient's Bill of Rights, which states that the patient has the right to obtain from his physician complete current information concerning his diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand (Lee, A.L.; Jacobs, G. Workshop airs patient's rights. Hospitals 1973, 47, 39-43). Bioethicists now favor full disclosure as a means of respecting patient autonomy (Katz, J. The Silent World of Doctor and Patient; Free Press: New York, 1984). The American College of Physician Ethics Manual states that disclosure to patients is a fundamental ethical requirement (American College of Physicians. American College of Physicians Ethics Manual, 3rd Ed. Ann. Intern. Med. 1992, 117, 947-960). The era of patient autonomy ended the traditional pattern of withholding information, which was characteristic of the previous era of paternalism. The Jewish view toward full disclosure of a fatal illness to a patient and especially a patient who is terminally ill is in general a negative one because of the fear that the patient may give up hope, suffer severe mental anguish (tiruf hadaat), become despondent, and die sooner than otherwise. Shortening a patient's life is strictly forbidden because Judaism espouses the concept that God given life is sacred, even only a short period thereof. Disclosure should be couched in the context of optimism. The most positive outlook should be imparted to the patient. Disclosure must be imparted with compassion, sensitivity and hope thus giving the patient an opportunity to "set his house in order" and recite the confessional penitent prayer known as viduy.
Airway management considerations in children with I-cell disease

Inclusion-cell disease (mucolipidosis II/I-cell disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by a constellation of physical findings which complicate airway management. There is currently a deficit of published literature describing appropriate strategies for acute management of these children's airways. This paper details emergency and anesthetic airway management concerns and potential solutions in a small series of children with I-cell disease.
A Novel Approach for Process Mining Based on Event Types

Process mining aims at distilling useful knowledge from the execution logs of process models. It has become a vivid research area in recent years. In this paper, a novel approach for process mining based on two event types, i.e., START and COMPLETE, is proposed. Information about the start and completion of tasks can be used to explicitly detect parallelism. The algorithm presented in this paper overcomes some of the limitations of existing algorithms such as the a-algorithm (e.g., short-loops) and therefore enhances the applicability of process mining in practical situations. Based on the completeness of the given event log and the behavior theory of Petri nets, the correctness of the algorithm can be proved theoretically.
Supported gold nanoparticles as anode catalyst for anion-exchange membrane-direct glycerol fuel cell (AEM-DGFC)

Abstract The carbon supported Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) catalyst with a small average size (3.5 nm) and narrow size distribution (2–6 nm) was synthesized by a solution phase-based nanocapsule method. The reactivity of glycerol oxidation on Au/C is much higher than that of methanol and ethylene glycol oxidations in alkaline electrolyte. The anion-exchange membrane-direct glycerol fuel cell (AEM-DGFC) with the Au/C anode catalyst and a Fe-based cathode catalyst shows high performances with both high-purity glycerol and crude glycerol fuel: the open circuit voltages (OCVs) are 0.67 and 0.66 V, and peak power densities are 57.9 and 30.7 mW cm−2 at 80 °C, respectively. Fed with crude glycerol, the Au/C anode catalyst-based AEM-DGFC also demonstrates high performance stability at 80 °C. The product analysis shows that the electrooxidation of glycerol on the Au/C anode catalyst in AEM-DGFCs favors production of deeper-oxidized chemicals: tartronic acid, mesoxalic acid and oxalic acid, which leads to higher fuel cell's Faradic efficiency.
Micromachined thermal imaging mesh for conformal sensing system

In this paper we present the development of micromachined thermal imaging mesh for conformal sensing system. The imaging mesh consists of an m-by-n matrix of gold thermal resistor network. The sensing and processing scheme allows us to image the presence of a localized heat source over a broad piece of imaging mesh. At the same time, this approach dramatically reduces the number of sensors hence the wiring required to image a given area. The mesh is fabricated on a piece of freestanding flexible polyimide fabric. Serpentine structure is specially designed to improve the conformability of the fabric to 3D objects. Thermal imaging data are presented in this paper
Quality of Life measures for dementia

Over the past 10 years, several instruments developed specifically for the assessment of Quality of Life (QOL) in dementia have been introduced. The goal of the current review is to present, compare, and critique existing QOL measures for dementia populations to assist investigators and clinicians in selecting the optimal inventory for their specific needs. Nine measures are reviewed with a focus on conceptualizations of QOL, psychometric data, targeted patient population, and administration and scoring procedures. Critical discussion and comparison of the instruments is presented after the scales are described individually. Differences in definitions of QOL, assessment procedures, and methods that were used to establish the validity of instruments are highlighted. An important direction for future research on QOL scales for dementia is to establish their responsiveness to change over time. It will also be important to identify factors that affect reports of QOL, determine the how perceived QOL affects decisions regarding the care of dementia patients, and evaluate interventions to increase patient QOL.
Tilting aplanat RF telescope

Beam steering by tilting the secondary is common in two-mirror RF telescopes, but it is not generally recognized that the optical quality need not suffer as the beam is steered: a tilting aplanat can maintain diffraction-limited performance over fields of a few degrees.
Mutant K-RAS Promotes Invasion and Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer Through GTPase Signaling Pathways

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies, characterized by the local invasion into surrounding tissues and early metastasis to distant organs. Oncogenic mutations of the K-RAS gene occur in more than 90% of human pancreatic cancers. The goal of this study was to investigate the functional significance and downstream effectors of mutant K-RAS oncogene in the pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis. We applied the homologous recombination technique to stably disrupt K-RAS oncogene in the human pancreatic cell line MiaPaCa-2, which carries the mutant K-RASG12C oncogene in both alleles. Using in vitro assays, we found that clones with disrupted mutant K-RAS gene exhibited low RAS activity, reduced growth rates, increased sensitivity to the apoptosis inducing agents, and suppressed motility and invasiveness. In vivo assays showed that clones with decreased RAS activity had reduced tumor formation ability in mouse xenograft model and increased survival rates in the mouse orthotopic pancreatic cancer model. We further examined molecular pathways downstream of mutant K-RAS and identified RhoA GTP activating protein 5, caveolin-1, and RAS-like small GTPase A (RalA) as key effector molecules, which control mutant K-RAS-dependent migration and invasion in MiaPaCa-2 cells. Our study provides rational for targeting RhoA and RalA GTPase signaling pathways for inhibition of pancreatic cancer metastasis.