cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imaging of acquired cerebral herniations

The consequences of cerebral herniation are compression of the brain, cranial nerves, and blood vessels that may result in serious neurologic morbidity, coma, and even death. A thorough understanding of the various patterns of cerebral herniation is essential, and it is important to remember that many of these patterns of herniation overlap. CT and MR imaging are effective at establishing the diagnosis of cerebral herniation, which will guide important decisions regarding therapeutic options and prognosis.
Hiv-1 Neutralizing Antibodies and Vaccine Antigen Selectively Interact with Phase-Separated Model Membranes

Evidence suggests that lipid membrane interactions with rare, broadly neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), 2F5 and 4E10, play a critical role in HIV-1 neutralization. The objective of this research is to understand how lipid domains contribute to 2F5/4E10 membrane interactions and antigen localization, with the ultimate vision of guiding immunogen designs. It is well established that the native viral membrane is heterogeneous, representing a mosaic of lipid rafts and protein clustering. However, the size, physical properties, and dynamics of these regions are poorly characterized and their potential roles in HIV-1 neutralization are also unknown. Methods: To understand how lipid domains contribute to 2F5/4E10 membrane interactions, we have engineered biomimetic supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) and are able to use atomic force microscopy to visualize membrane domains, antigen clustering, and antibody-membrane interactions.Our results showed that localized binding of HIV-1 antigens (MPER656) and NAbs were observed to interact preferentially with the most fluid membrane domain. This supports the theory that NAbs may interact with regions of low lateral lipid forces that allow antibody insertion into the bilayer. Presence of antigen within gel-liquid disordered bilayers prevented coalescence of gel domains while antigen within the model HIV-1 bilayer prevented observable domain formation altogether.Our research is significant in that it will help understand how vaccine antigen, MPER, is distributed in bilayers that model vaccine liposomes and the HIV envelope. It will also help understand the lipid environment most favorable for membrane-antibody interactions in the absence of antigen; which occurs during the first step of 2F5/4E10's proposed neutralizing mechanism.
User acceptance of complex electronic market mechanisms: Role of information feedback

Abstract This paper broadens the scope of evaluating the design of economic mechanisms that is traditionally done solely from an economic perspective. We introduce and demonstrate the application of acceptability to evaluate complex economic mechanisms. In particular, we apply our approach to the evaluation of continuous combinatorial auctions, which represent a complex, sophisticated market mechanism that has not been generally available in the online marketplace but has the potential to enhance the economic efficiency of trade for assets with interdependent values. Such auctions are being increasingly used in industry, e.g., to procure logistical services. Intuitively, acceptance and usage of a complex mechanism can be fostered by a design that provides information and tools that meet the users’ task demands. Based on prior research and an analysis of the auction tasks, we discuss practical and innovative information feedback schemes for reducing the cognitive burden of formulating bids in combinatorial auctions. Then, we use constructs from the technology acceptance model (TAM) – which have been consistently shown to be key determinants of technology acceptance in the extant literature – to compare the acceptability of the mechanism under three different information regimes. In addition, we borrow constructs from marketing theory to assess the potential growth in adoption of the mechanism. We compare user perceptions of the three alternative designs in a laboratory experiment with over 130 subjects. Our study constitutes a complementary and novel approach in evaluating the design of complex economic mechanisms. Results indicate a higher adoption and usage potential of the mechanism with advanced information feedback, supporting the potential of combinatorial auctions as a user-acceptable market mechanism with appropriate feedback.
Synthesis of DNA Dumbbells: Chemical vs. Enzymatic Ligation of Self-Complementary Oligonucleotides

Abstract The chemical (cyanogen bromide) and enzymatic (T4 DNA ligase) ligation of five different self-complementary oligonucleotide sequences which form 14-or 16-base pair dumbbells are described and compared here. A review of both chemical and enzymatic methods is presented; an improved enzymatic method is described as well. While both methods of ligation are effective, chemical ligation may be preferred since it is faster and less costly.
Conter et raconter: Montaigne and theconte

L'influence des conteurs et des contes, nouvelles et propos de table dans les Essais, la distinction clairement etablie chez M. entre histoires et discours (contes et comptes) et sa preference pour les premieres premettant le lien entre le mythe et l'Histoire et la relation a l'autobiographie
THE IN VITRO DIFFERENTIATION OF MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTES V. THE FORMATION OF MACROPHAGE LYSOSOMES

A combined morphological, autoradiographic, and cytochemical study at the electron microscope level has been directed towards the formation of electron-opaque granules of cultured macrophages. Labeling of the membrane-bound vesicular structures of pinocytic origin was accomplished with colloidal gold. The initial uptake of gold occurred within micropinocytic vesicles. These electron-lucent vesicles subsequently fused with and discharged their contents into larger pinocytic vacuoles. Colloidal gold was homogeneously distributed in the large pinosomes. In contrast, gold was initially deposited in the periphery of preformed dense granules indicating that these structures were also in constant interaction with the external environment. Colloidal gold was not observed within the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum nor within the saccules or vesicles of the Golgi apparatus. There were, however, many small, gold-free vesicles, indistinguishable from Golgi vesicles, which were preferentially aligned about and appeared to fuse with the large pinosomes. The intracellular flow of leucine-H(3)-labeled protein was followed by electron microscopic autoradiography. After a 15 min pulse of labeled amino acid there was initial labeling of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Subsequently, much of the label appeared in the Golgi complex. At still later time periods the cytoplasmic dense granules contained the majority of the isotope. Acid phosphatase activity was localized to the dense granules and in the majority of cells to the Golgi apparatus. It is suggested that hydrolytic enzymes are initially synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and are then transferred to the Golgi apparatus. Here they are packaged into small Golgi vesicles which represent the primary lysosome of macrophages. The Golgi vesicles subsequently fuse with pinosomes, thereby discharging their hydrolases and forming digestive granules or secondary lysosomes.
Acetone stimulation of ethanol production from d -xylose by Pachysolen tannophilus

Pachysolen tannophilus, a homothallic yeast, converts xylose to ethanol at a yield of 0.3 (g/g xylose). Concomitant with ethanol production, xylitol accumulates in the culture medium at similar yields (0.3 g/g xylose). The addition of the hydrogen-accepting compound, acetone, increases the amount of ethanol produced by this organism by 50–70%. The increase in ethanol is directly correlated with a decrease in xylitol secreted. The results indicate that conversion of acetone to 2-propanol by the cells provides the NAD+ used as a cofactor by xylitol dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for converting xylitol to xylulose.
Rotation and Shape of High Altitude Reflectors Controlled from the Ground

Passive, inverted-dish shaped communications mirrors made of a thin wire mesh may be maintained in a stationary position above most of the atmosphere by the pressure of reflected radiation beamed at the mirror from the ground. We show that by beaming at the mirror an appropriate mixture of linearly and circularly polarized radiation, and by inducing small periodic variations of the plane of polarization, one can monitor and sufficiently control wire orientation in the mirror, which allows one to reduce mirror weight and/or set the mirror in rotation. Mirror rotation in turn can modify mirror shape, open up flaps, and allow synchronized messages to be sent to prechosen locations.
Effects of oxygen on the electrical and electrochemical properties of ion-plated titanium nitride

Abstract Oxygen has been introduced into reactively ion-plated TiN to determine its effect on the film microstructure, resistivity and electrochemical properties. Oxygen levels incorporated into the films varied from 5 a/o to a maximum of 35 a/o as indicated by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). While no oxide phases were revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), results indicate increasing degrees of microcrystallinity with increasing bulk oxygen content. From electrochemical testing, films containing higher oxygen content appeared to have greater chemical stability; however, four-point probe analysis indicates increasing resistivity and the onset of insulating properties as the oxygen content in the films increases above 30 a/o.
Ages of Quaternary pluvial episodes determined by uranium-series and radiocarbon dating of lacustrine deposits of Eastern Sahara

Abstract As documented by radiocarbon dating and geoarchaeological investigations, the now hyperarid northwestern Sudan and southwestern Egypt experienced a period of greater effective moisture during early and middle Holocene time, about 10-5 ka. We have used the uranium-series technique to date lacustrine carbonates from Bir Tarfawi, Bir Sahara East, Wadi Hussein, Oyo Depression, and the Great Selima Sand Sheet localities. Results indicate five paleolakeforming episodes occurred at about 320-250, 240-190, 155-120, 90-65 and 10-5 ka. Four of these five pluvial episodes may be correlated with major interglacial stages 9, 7, 5e, and 1; the 90-65 ka episode may be correlated with substage 5c or 5a. Our results support the contention that past pluvial episodes in North Africa corresponded to the interglacial periods farther north. Ages of lacustrine carbonates from existing oases and from the sand sheet fail to indicate pluvial conditions between about 60 and 30 ka. Age results and field relationships suggest that the oldest lake- and ground-water-deposited carbonates were much more extensive than those of the younger period, and that carbonate of the latest wet periods were geographically localized within depressions and buried channels.
Alterations during the estrous cycle in the responsiveness of the pituitary to subcutaneous administration of synthetic LH-releasing hormone (LHRH).

To further evaluate the alterations in responsiveness of the pituitary to synthetic LHRH during the proestrous discharge of gonadotropins, LHRH was given SC in the hope of producing a release of FSH as well as LH, and blood samples were removed prior to and at various intervals after the injections of the neurohormone while the rats were anesthetized with tribromoethanol. The procedure of anesthesia and blood sampling produced small declines in both FSH and LH, but these only achieved significance in the case of FSH on the morning of estrus and diestrus day 2. An increase in plasma LH occurred in response to LHRH at all stages of the estrous cycle but was minimal during diestrus. The increment in plasma LH was already increased by 9 AM on proestrus and the titer remained elevated for 2 h. A further increase in response to LHRH occurred at 2 PM associated with an increase in initial plasma LH. The maximum response occurred at 5 PM together with maximal initial plasma LH, and the characteristics of the resp...
A distributed graphical environment for interactive fault simulation and analysis

Graphical user interfaces can provide interactive and intuitive visual communication to fault simulation and analysis application programs, enhancing the capabilities of engineers to conduct studies with ease and flexibility. Unfortunately, such benefits often come at the price of efficient CPU utilization and more complicated maintenance activities. Employing a distributed architecture can mitigate these costs by trading the one-time cost of more complex design activities for the long term benefits of ease of use and efficient resource utilization. TUFTsim, a multi-level concurrent simulation system, has been designed to address these concerns and demonstrates that an extensible, distributed architecture can be created without incurring excessive cost in processor and resource consumption. In addition, the investment in this architecture has also yielded benefits with respect to long-term maintenance and other software engineering considerations.
Using Silent Motion Pictures to Teach Complex Syntax to Adult Deaf Readers

This research tested whether silent motion pictures could be a source of contexts that fostered comprehension of relative clause and passive voice sentences during reading. These two syntactic structures are chronically difficult for some deaf readers. According to the instructional strategy, while subjects watched silent comedy stories, the video display intermittently focused attention on short segments of action and then called for a decision regarding which of two sentences printed in a workbook described the action segment. After this, a display on the video screen provided feedback on the accuracy of the decision. If successful here, this approach might be applied to other areas of competence in order to elevate the generally low level of reading performance by many deaf students. The study applied a single subject design in order to measure sentence comprehension accuracy before and following use of the materials. The computerized testing procedure also measured sentence reading time, an index of attention use. Thus, these data allowed an examination of whether any increases in comprehension were associated with slower, more laborious rates of reading. The instructional approach was an indirect one sharing multiple aspects of whole language methodology, and the sample included deaf subjects at a variety of reading ability levels. This permitted examination of whether an indirect instructional approach could be successful with readers demonstrating relatively low reading ability. The central research question of the study was the following 'Can this instructional method be effective with deaf readers?'.
Privacy and Internet-Based Telepractice

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists have historically been attuned to protecting the privacy of their clients. The recent proliferation of Internet-based communication for telepractice ha...
In-Hospital Morbidity and Mortality after Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in the United States, 1996–2000: Effect of Hospital and Physician Volume

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular therapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Our purpose was to determine the risk of adverse outcomes after contemporary endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the United States. Patient, treating physician, and hospital characteristics were tested as potential outcome predictors, with particular attention paid to volume of care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1996–2000. Multivariate logistic and ordinal regressions were used with end points of mortality, discharge other than to home, length of stay, and total hospital charges. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-one patients underwent endovascular treatment at 81 hospitals. The in-hospital mortality rate was 1.7%, and 7.6% were discharged to institutions other than home. Analysis was adjusted for age, sex, race, primary payer, year of treatment, and four variables measuring acuity of treatment and medical comorbidity. Median annual number of unruptured aneurysms treated was nine per hospital and three per treating physician. Higher volume hospitals had fewer adverse outcomes; discharge other than to home occurred after 5.2% of operations at high volume hospitals (>23 admissions per year) compared with 17.6% at low volume hospitals (fewer than four admissions per year) (P CONCLUSION: For patients with unruptured aneurysms treated in the United States from 1996 to 2000, endovascular treatment at high volume institutions or by high volume physicians was associated with significantly lower morbidity rates and modestly lower mortality rates. Length of stay was shorter and total hospital charges lower at high volume centers.
Convective instability of self-similar spherical expansion into a vacuum

The well-known class of self-similar solutions for an ideal polytropic gas sphere of radius R ( t ) expanding into a vacuum with velocity $u(r, t) = r\dot{R}/R$ is shown to be convectively unstable. The physical mechanism results from the buoyancy force experienced by anisentropic distributions in the inertial (effective gravitational) field. An equation for the perturbed displacement ξ( r , t ), derived from the linearized fluid equations in Lagrangian co-ordinates, is solved by separation of variables. Because the basic state is non-steady, the perturbations do not grow exponentially, but can be expressed in terms of hypergeometric functions. For initial density profiles \[ \rho_0(r)\sim(1-r^2/r^2_0)^{\kappa}, \] modes with angular dependence Y lm (θ, ϕ) are unstable provided l > 0 and κ l , the characteristic growth time of the perturbations varies as l −½ and the amplification increases exponentially as a function of l. The radial eigenfunctions are proportional to r l , and the compressibility and vorticity are both non-zero.
Phospholipid synthesis in Borrelia burgdorferi: BB0249 and BB0721 encode functional phosphatidylcholine synthase and phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase proteins.

Phospholipids are an important component of bacterial membranes. Borrelia burgdorferi differs from many other bacteria in that it contains only two major membrane phospholipids: phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylcholine (PC). B. burgdorferi appears to lack enzymes required for synthesis of PC through the well-described methylation pathway. However, B. burgdorferi does contain a gene (BB0249) with significant identity to a recently described phosphatidylcholine synthase gene (pcs) of Sinorhizobium meliloti. B. burgdorferi also contains a gene (BB0721) with significant identity to the gene (pgs) encoding phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase, an enzyme in the synthetic pathway of PG. Activity of BB0249 was confirmed by cloning the gene into Escherichia coli, which does not produce PC. Transformation with a plasmid carrying BB0249 resulted in production of PC by E. coli, but only in the presence of exogenously supplied choline, as would be predicted for a Pcs. Because loss of Pgs activity is lethal to E. coli, activity of BB0721 was confirmed by the ability of BB0721 to complement an E. coli Pgs− mutant. A plasmid containing BB0721 was transformed into a Pgs− mutant of E. coli containing a copy of the native gene on a temperature-regulated plasmid. The temperature-regulated plasmid was exchanged for a plasmid containing BB0721 and it was shown that BB0721 was able to replace the lost Pgs function and restore bacterial growth. This study has established the existence and function of two critical enzymes in the synthesis of PC and PG in B. burgdorferi. Understanding of the biosynthetic pathways of PC and PG in B. burgdorferi is the first step in delineating the role of these phospholipids in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease.
Inalienable possession and personhood in a Q'eqchi'-Mayan community

This essay interprets the relation between inalienable possessions and personhood among speakers of Q'eqchi'-Maya living in the cloud forests of Guatemala. In the broadest sense, inalienable possessions are things that are inherently possessed by human beings, such as arms and legs, mothers and fathers, hearts and names. The relation between inalienable possessions and human possessors is analyzed across a variety of domains, ranging from grammatical categories and discursive practices to illness cures and life-cycle rituals. While this relation is figured differently in each domain, a strong resonance between such relations is shown to exist across such domains. For example, the gain and loss of inalienable possessions is related to the expansion and contraction of personhood. This resonance is used as a means to interpret Q'eqchi' understandings of personhood in
Expression of Helicobacter pylori Vacuolating Toxin in Escherichia coli

VacA is a secreted toxin that plays a role in Helicobacter pylori colonization of the stomach and that contributes to the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease. Studies of VacA structure and function have been hindered by the lack of an efficient system for expression and genetic manipulation of this toxin. In this study, we developed methodology for expression of a functionally active VacA toxin in Escherichia coli. We then used a high-throughput screen to analyze a library of mutant toxins with pentapeptide insertions and identified six mutants that lacked the capacity to induce vacuolation of HeLa cells. The capacity to analyze VacA in this heterologous-expression system should greatly facilitate efforts to elucidate the structure and function of this toxin.
Arcing on Aluminum Anodized Plates Immersed in Low-Density Plasmas

A number of experiments have been done to study characteristics of the plasma contamination and electromagneticradiation generated by arcing on anodizedaluminum platesimmersedinlow-density plasma. Thelow-Earthorbit plasma environment was simulated in a plasma vacuum chamber, where the parameters could be controlled precisely. Diagnostic equipment included two antennas, a mass spectrometer, a spherical langmuir probe, a wire probe, and a very sensitive current probe to measure arc current. All data except for mass spectrometry were obtainedindigitalformwithasamplingintervalof2.5nsthatallowedustostudytheradiationspectrumatfrequencies up to 200 MHz. We found that the level of interference considerably exceeds the limitations on the level of electromagnetic noise set by technical requirements on Space Shuttle operation. Experiments with two independently biased plateshaveshown thatthearcing onset on oneplategeneratesa pulseof currentonthesecond plateand that the secondary current pulse has a signie cant amplitude. The sampling interval for mass spectrometry was 250 ms. This allowed us to obtain the rate of plasma contamination due to arcing. A signie cant degradation of the coating layer was determined by measurement of the resistance of the plate, which had experienced a few hundred arcs.
Unusual Clinical Presentation of Epidermotropic Cutaneous Lymphoma:Small Hypopigmented Macules

: A 35-year-old black woman developed numerous vitiligo-like small hypopigmented macules on the upper and lower extremities. Histologically the lesions were consistent with epidermotropic mycosis fungoides or pagetoid reliculosis. The patient is presented because of a clinical picture unusual for either of the above microscopic diagnoses.
Cut costs using working capital management

Managing working capital involves organizing your company's short-term resources to sustain ongoing activities, mobilize funds, and optimize liquidity. The two most critical cost efficiencies are float and processing expenses. The author gives some examples of firms using working capital management to control costs, and he includes a checklist of 20 actions companies should take to understand their working capital requirements—and produce cost savings. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessing Landscape Constraints on Species Abundance: Does the Neighborhood Limit Species Response to Local Habitat Conservation Programs?

Landscapes in agricultural systems continue to undergo significant change, and the loss of biodiversity is an ever-increasing threat. Although habitat restoration is beneficial, management actions do not always result in the desired outcome. Managers must understand why management actions fail; yet, past studies have focused on assessing habitat attributes at a single spatial scale, and often fail to consider the importance of ecological mechanisms that act across spatial scales. We located survey sites across southern Nebraska, USA and conducted point counts to estimate Ring-necked Pheasant abundance, an economically important species to the region, while simultaneously quantifying landscape effects using a geographic information system. To identify suitable areas for allocating limited management resources, we assessed land cover relationships to our counts using a Bayesian binomial-Poisson hierarchical model to construct predictive Species Distribution Models of relative abundance. Our results indicated that landscape scale land cover variables severely constrained or, alternatively, facilitated the positive effects of local land management for Ring-necked Pheasants.
The theory of non-stationary normal forms

We present a certain version of the ‘non-stationary’ normal forms theory for extensions of topological dynamical systems by smooth contractions of \mathbb{R}^n . The central concept is a notion of a sub-resonance relation which is an appropriate generalization of the notion of resonance between eigenvalues. Finitely differentiable, infinitely differentiable and analytic maps are considered.
Celebrating Now in Teaching-Learning

Nursing education often focuses attention on the interminable amount of information required of students to learn. This learning must be accomplished in a short time frame and at a rapid pace. With attention focused here, students and faculty may not recognize the importance of taking time to celebrate the now. In this column, the author recognizes Rosemarie Rizzo Parse as a prominent nurse theorist and offers a variety of ways to celebrate now moments through re-visiting Parse's teaching-learning model. The activities suggested require minimal time while encouraging reflection on self and respect for all.
Windup of flexion reflexes in chronic human spinal cord injury: a marker for neuronal plateau potentials?

The physiological basis of flexion spasms in individuals after spinal cord injury (SCI) may involve alterations in the properties of spinal neurons in the flexion reflex pathways. We hypothesize th...
Estimation of clock parameters and performance benchmarks for synchronization in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are a key vehicle for driving many future applications, most of which require the logical clocks of the constituent nodes to by closely synchronized in time with each other. Applying the concepts from the field of statistical signal processing in this area can yield many fruitful results and advance the state of the art in this technology. This paper illustrates a summary of the main results achieved so far by working in this particular direction, which includes the derivation of Maximum Likelihood Estimators (MLE) of the clock parameters, namely the clock offset, skew and drift as well as the link delays, the lower bounds on their performance and two simplified schemes for power conservation in the context of WSNs.
The bacterial nucleoid: A highly organized and dynamic structure

Recent advances in bacterial cell biology have revealed unanticipated structural and functional complexity, reminiscent of eukaryotic cells. Particular progress has been made in understanding the structure, replication, and segregation of the bacterial chromosome. It emerged that multiple mechanisms cooperate to establish a dynamic assembly of supercoiled domains, which are stacked in consecutive order to adopt a defined higher-level organization. The position of genetic loci on the chromosome is thereby linearly correlated with their position in the cell. SMC complexes and histone-like proteins continuously remodel the nucleoid to reconcile chromatin compaction with DNA replication and gene regulation. Moreover, active transport processes ensure the efficient segregation of sister chromosomes and the faithful restoration of nucleoid organization while DNA replication and condensation are in progress.
A Geometric Optimization Approach to Aircraft Conflict Resolution

This paper presents a geometric optimization approach to aircraft conflict resolution, utilizing information on current positions and velocity vectors. The resolutions are optimal in the sense that they minimize the velocity vector changes required for conflict resolution, resulting in minimum deviations from the nominal trajectory. This approach utilizes the geometric characteristics of aircraft trajectories, along with intuitive reasoning, to obtain closed-form analytical solutions for optimal combinations of heading and speed commands for conflict resolution in the horizontal plane. For two-aircraft conflicts, the optimality of these simple analytical solutions has been validated by comparison with numerical solutions from a compute-intens ive optimization process utilizing a Semi-Definite Programming approach. Solutions for efficient conflict resolution commands using heading change alone and speed change alone are also obtained. Application of the geometric optimization solution to a two-aircraft conflict results in a single discrete trajectory modification to avoid the conflict. Multiple-aircraft conflicts are resolved sequentially, with each aircraft resolving its most immediate conflict at each update cycle. Solution families for two-aircraft conflicts have been generated as functions of conflict angle and speed ratios. The general properties of efficient conflict resolution maneuvers have been determined, based on observations about the structure of these solution families.
Stresses in column-supported hyperboloidal shells subject to seismic loading

The computation of stresses within a finite element displacement method analysis of a shell of revolution is considered. The common procedure of applying the kinematic and constitutive laws to the displacement functions is examined and justified for models where the displacements are represented by high-order polynomial expansions. Also, two alternative computational formats within this technique are explored. The influence of the column-supported base condition on a hyperboloidal shell of revolution is studied with respect to the stresses calculated from a response spectrum analysis. These studies emphasize the importance of accurately modelling the base region of a column-supported shell such as a hyperbolic cooling tower.
On Evaluating Information Revelation Policies in Procurement Auctions: A Markov Decision Process Approach

Each market session in a reverse electronic marketplace features a procurer and many suppliers. An important attribute of a market session chosen by the procurer is its information revelation policy. The revelation policy determines the information (such as the number of competitors, the winning bids, etc.) that will be revealed to participating suppliers at the conclusion of each market session. Suppliers participating in multiple market sessions use strategic bidding and fake their own cost structure to obtain information revealed at the end of each market session. The information helps to reduce two types of uncertainties encountered in future market sessions, namely, their opponents' cost structure and an estimate of the number of their competitors. Whereas the first type of uncertainty is present in physical and e-marketplaces, the second type of uncertainty naturally arises in IT-enabled marketplaces. Through their effect on the uncertainty faced by suppliers, information revelation policies influence the bidding behavior of suppliers which, in turn, determines the expected price paid by the procurer. Therefore, the choice of information revelation policy has important consequences for the procurer. This paper develops a partially observable Markov decision process model of supplier bidding behavior and uses a multiagent e-marketplace simulation to analyze the effect that two commonly used information revelation policies---complete information policy and incomplete information policy---have on the expected price paid by the procurer. We find that the expected price under the complete information policy is lower than that under the incomplete information policy. The integration of ideas from the multiagents literature, the machine-learning literature, and the economics literature to develop a method to evaluate information revelation policies in e-marketplaces is a novel feature of this paper.
Wavelet based speckle reduction with application to SAR based ATD/R

The paper introduces a novel speckle reduction method based on thresholding the wavelet coefficients of the logarithmically transformed image. The method is computational efficient and can significantly reduce the speckle while preserving the resolution of the original image. Both soft and hard thresholding schemes are studied and the results are compared. When fully polarimetric SAR images are available, the authors propose several approaches to combine the data from different polarizations to achieve even better performance. Wavelet processed imagery is shown to provide better detection performance for the synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) based automatic target detection/recognition (ATD/R) problem. >
A Paradoxical Conception of Group Dynamics

Most of the research literature on group dynamics has either ignored the subject of within-group conflict or sought ways to "resolve" it as a consequence of its seemingly dysfunctional effects. We argue that there are many processes experienced as conflictual because of the models members use for understanding and managing actions, feelings, and thoughts that are in "apparent opposition." We contend that by understanding the paradoxical nature of these group processes many of the conflicts associated with these "apparent contradictions" are "released" and, hence, not in need of "resolving" because they are experienced as essential to group life, rather than extraneous. Underlying theory about the paradoxical nature of group experiences is expounded, and seven group dynamics are examined using a paradoxical epistemology. These are the paradoxes of identity, disclosure, trust, individuality, authority, regression, and creativity.
Mao and China's Relations with the Superpowers in the 1950s: A New Look at the Taiwan Strait Crises and the Sino–Soviet Split

This article reexamines the Taiwan Strait Crises of 1954—55 and 1958, and the initial Sino—Soviet conflict, with particular attention to Mao's dominant role in the events. In contrast to previous scholarship, based on newly available sources it finds Mao to have been an erratic dictator who micromanaged China's military and political operations in the Taiwan Strait against the U.S.—Taiwan alliance with neither a long-term strategy nor a short-term plan. Mao's grandiose ambition to be the leader of the communist world led him into a conflict with Moscow, and the Sino—Soviet alliance began to unravel when China most needed allies. In the end, Mao's policy behavior was counterproductive and self-defeating; China's national interest, which Mao thought he was protecting and enhancing, suffered a great deal of damage.
Vascular resistance and the efficacy of red cell substitutes in a rat hemorrhage model.

We have compared polyethylene glycol-modified bovine hemoglobin (PEG-Hb; high O2 affinity, high viscosity, high oncotic pressure) and human hemoglobin cross-linked between the α-chains (αα-Hb; low ...
Descriptive Qualities of Athletic Training Education Program Directors.

Context: Limited literature explores professional preparation of program directors (PD) to lead an athletic training education program (ATEP). Objective: To explore challenges, effectiveness, leadership, and PD role selection. Design: Descriptive and qualitative exploratory email survey. Setting: Educational. Participants: Emails were sent to 345 PDs from a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) listing. Main Outcome Measure(s): Measures of central tendency were used to observe years of experience, role selection (applied versus appointed), education level, and gender. Program Director effectiveness, leadership, and challenges were grouped according to common themes. Results: Most PDs (82.5%; n = 99) reported having one to ten years of experience. Mean years of experience was 7.46 (±6.36) years. A majority, 61.7% (n = 74), reported having applied for their position. Educationally, 54.2% (n = 65) held doctoral degrees compared to 45.8% (n = 55) whose highest degree was a masters...
SINGLE BOOK REVIEWS

Taking Charge: Native American Self-Determination and Federal Indian Policy, 1975–1993. George Pierre Castile. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2006. 164 pp.
Use of De Novo Transcriptome Libraries to Characterize a Novel Oleaginous Marine Chlorella Species during the Accumulation of Triacylglycerols.

Marine chlorophytes of the genus Chlorella are unicellular algae capable of accumulating a high proportion of cellular lipids that can be used for biodiesel production. In this study, we examined the broad physiological capabilities of a subtropical strain (C596) of Chlorella sp. “SAG-211-18” including its heterotrophic growth and tolerance to low salt. We found that the alga replicates more slowly at diluted salt concentrations and can grow on a wide range of carbon substrates in the dark. We then sequenced the RNA of Chlorella strain C596 to elucidate key metabolic genes and investigate the transcriptomic response of the organism when transitioning from a nutrient-replete to a nutrient-deficient condition when neutral lipids accumulate. Specific transcripts encoding for enzymes involved in both starch and lipid biosynthesis, among others, were up-regulated as the cultures transitioned into a lipid-accumulating state whereas photosynthesis-related genes were down-regulated. Transcripts encoding for two of the up-regulated enzymes—a galactoglycerolipid lipase and a diacylglyceride acyltransferase—were also monitored by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. The results of these assays confirmed the transcriptome-sequencing data. The present transcriptomic study will assist in the greater understanding, more effective application, and efficient design of Chlorella-based biofuel production systems.
CdS/CdTe Solar Cells Containing Directly Deposited CdSxTe1-x Alloy Layers: Preprint

A CdSxTe1-x layer forms by interdiffusion of CdS and CdTe during the fabrication of thin-film CdTe photovoltaic (PV) devices. The CdSxTe1-x layer is thought to be important because it relieves strain at the CdS/CdTe interface that would otherwise exist due to the 10% lattice mismatch between these two materials. Our previous work [1] has indicated that the electrical junction is located in this interdiffused CdSxTe1-x region. Further understanding, however, is essential to predict the role of this CdSxTe1-x layer in the operation of CdS/CdTe devices. In this study, CdSxTe1-x alloy films were deposited by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering and co-evaporation from CdTe and CdS sources. Both RF-magnetron-sputtered and co-evaporated CdSxTe1-x films of lower S content (x<0.3) have a cubic zincblende (ZB) structure akin to CdTe, whereas those of higher S content have a hexagonal wurtzite (WZ) structure like that of CdS. Films become less preferentially oriented as a result of a CdCl2 heat treatment (HT) at ~400 degrees C for 5 min. Films sputtered in a 1% O2/Ar ambient are amorphous as deposited, but show CdTe ZB, CdS WZ, and CdTe oxide phases after a CdCl2 HT. Films sputtered in O2 partial pressure have a much wider bandgap than expected.more » This may be explained by nanocrystalline size effects seen previously [2] for sputtered oxygenated CdS (CdS:O) films. Initial PV device results show that the introduction of a directly-deposited CdSxTe1-x alloy layer into the device structure produces devices of comparable performance to those without the alloy layer when a CdCl2 HT is performed. Further investigation is required to determine whether the CdCl2 heat treatment step can be altered or eliminated through direct deposition of the alloy layer.« less
Biochemical evidence for the exclusion of Zoophagus insidians from the Oomycetes.

Pantonemic fungi possess plant-like metabolic features and are presumed to have evolved from algal ancestors. These fungi are unable to synthesize ergosterol and its precursors, and produce mycolaminaran rather than glycogen as a storage material. Zoophagus insidians is considered an exception in that it produces ergosterol. In CsCl gradients of cell extracts from Z. insidians, a white band atypical of pantonemic fungi which gives a positive iodine test for glycogen was observed. To verify this finding we subjected a true fungus {Coprinus), a pantonemic fungus {Phytophthora), and Zoophagus to glycogen and mycolaminaran isolation procedures. Spectrophotometric and infrared spectra confirmed the presence of glycogen and absence of mycolaminaran in Zoophagus. Based on these data, and the previously reported presence of sterols, we conclude Z. insidians is not a pantonemic fungus.
Na/K-ATPase and Its Role in Signal Transduction

The Na/K-ATPase was discovered as an essential ion pump that maintains intracellular ionic balance by transporting potassium and sodium ions into and out of eukaryotic cells at the expense of ATP. The efforts of numerous investigators during the last two decades have revealed several important non-pumping functions of Na/K-ATPase. This chapter focuses on the molecular mechanism of Na/K-ATPase-mediated signal transduction and its potential regulatory role in animal physiology and diseases.
Technical Note: High temporal resolution characterization of gating response time.

Purpose: Low temporal latency between a gating ON/OFF signal and the LINAC beam ON/OFF during respiratory gating is critical for patient safety. Here the authors describe a novel method to precisely measure gating lag times at high temporal resolutions. Methods: A respiratory gating simulator with an oscillating platform was modified to include a linear potentiometer for position measurement. A photon diode was placed at linear accelerator isocenter for beam output measurement. The output signals of the potentiometer and diode were recorded simultaneously at 2500 Hz with an analog to digital converter for four different commercial respiratory gating systems. The ON and OFF of the beam signal were located and compared to the expected gating window for both phase and position based gating and the temporal lag times extracted. Results: For phase based gating, a real-time position management (RPM) infrared marker tracking system with a single camera and a RPM system with a stereoscopic camera were measured to have mean gate ON/OFF lag times of 98/90 and 86/44 ms, respectively. For position based gating, an AlignRT 3D surface system and a Calypso magnetic fiducial tracking system were measured to have mean gate ON/OFF lag times of 356/529 and 209/60 ms, respectively. Conclusions: Temporal resolution of the method was high enough to allow characterization of individual gate cycles and was primary limited by the sampling speed of the data recording device. Significant variation of mean gate ON/OFF lag time was found between different gating systems. For certain gating devices, individual gating cycle lag times can vary significantly.
Novel Insights/Translational Implication from the Emerging Biology of Melanoma

Melanoma is a main example of how applying advances in basic biology, pharmacology, and molecular diagnostics into the clinic results in unprecedented benefits to patients. After many years of lack of advances in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma, the advent of new therapies that block driver oncogenic signaling and modulate immune responses to cancer provided the first studies with a positive impact in overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced melanoma. The pace of progress in the treatment of this disease has been greatly accelerated by these initial breakthroughs, and it continues with new generation agents and combinatorial approaches.
A successful application of the intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay in tertiary hyperparathyroidism.

The role of the intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) assay in patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism (3HPT) is not well defined. To evaluate the utility of the IOPTH in 3HPT, we compared its use in 72 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (1HPT) and 3HPT undergoing parathyroidectomy. Sixty-three patients with 1HPT and nine patients with 3HPT were identified. There were 30 men and 42 women (mean age, 58 years). The mean serum calcium and preoperative intact PTH levels in 1HPT were 11.1 mg/dL and 214 pg/mL compared with 11.2 mg/dL and 849 pg/mL in 3HPT (Ca, non significant; PTH, P 50 per cent would have similar success rates. Seventy-one of 72 (98.6%) patients had a > 50 per cent decline from the baseline IOPTH at the end of the operation. The average reduction from baseline was 85.3 per cent in 1HPT and 88.6 per cent in 3HPT (not significant). Average follow-up was 9.8 months for 1HPT and 11.1 months in 3HPT. Three of 63 patients (4.8%) with 1HPT and five of nine patients (55.6%) with 3HPT had inappropriate elevations in PTH (P < 0.05). All patients with 3HPT were normocalcemic compared with 62 of 64 (97%) patients with 1HPT (not significant). The IOPTH assay can be used in 3HPT in an identical fashion with an equivalent rate of normocalcemia compared with its applications in 1HPT.
Tipping the magnetic instability in paramagnetic S r 3 R u 2 O 7 by Fe impurities

We report the magnetic and electronic properties of the bilayer ruthenate $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{3}\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ upon Fe substitution for Ru. We find that $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{3}{(\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{x})}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ shows a spin-glass-like phase below 4 K for $x=0.01$ and commensurate E-type antiferromagnetically ordered insulating ground state characterized by the propagation vector ${\mathbf{q}}_{\mathrm{c}}=(0.25\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0.25\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0)$ for $x\ensuremath{\ge}0.03$, respectively, in contrast to the paramagnetic metallic state in the parent compound with strong spin fluctuations occurring at wave vectors $\mathbf{q}=(0.09\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0)$ and (0.25 0 0). The observed antiferromagnetic ordering is quasi-two-dimensional with very short correlation length along the $c$ axis, a feature similar to the Mn-doped $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{3}\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$. Our results suggest that this ordered ground state is associated with the intrinsic magnetic instability in the pristine compound, which can be readily tipped by the local magnetic coupling between the $3d$ orbitals of the magnetic dopants and Ru $4d$ orbitals.