cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A fully implemented 12 /spl times/ 12 data vortex optical packet switching interconnection network

A fully functional optical packet switching (OPS) interconnection network based on the data vortex architecture is presented. The photonic switching fabric uniquely capitalizes on the enormous bandwidth advantage of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) wavelength parallelism while delivering minimal packet transit latency. Utilizing semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based switching nodes and conventional fiber-optic technology, the 12-port system exhibits a capacity of nearly 1 Tb/s. Optical packets containing an eight-wavelength WDM payload with 10 Gb/s per wavelength are routed successfully to all 12 ports while maintaining a bit error rate (BER) of 10/sup -12/ or better. Median port-to-port latencies of 110 ns are achieved with a distributed deflection routing network that resolves packet contention on-the-fly without the use of optical buffers and maintains the entire payload path in the optical domain.
Forecasting and management ability: a response to Wolfe

This article is a response to a critique of an article published in Simulation & Gaming titled: "Profits: The False Prophet in Business Games. " This article answers the critique point by point, counters the reproaches and points out the errors of logic in the critique.
Conditions for maximal synthesis of cyclic AMP by mouse macrophages in response to β-adrenergic stimulation

The synthesis of cyclic AMP by mouse peritoneal macrophages in response to stimulation by isoproterenol was studied as a function of drug concentration, incubation time and cell density. Cyclic AMP levels of macrophages increased 3 to 3.5 times over the control level 20 sec after the addition of 10(-3) M isoproterenol. Under these conditions the dose response could be followed down to an isoproterenol concentration of 10(-6) to 10(-7) M. When cell suspensions were inactivated as early as 1 sec after the addition of the drug, the increase in cyclic AMP was much greater (153 vs. 25 pmol/10(7) cells). Macrophage suspensions of high cell density were less responsive than those of low cell density. In the absence of any inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, the stimulatory effect of isoproterenol was always of short duration. The maximum effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation probably occurs in less than 1 sec at a cell density less than 2 x 10(6) cells/ml. The beta-blocking drug Visken abolished the observed effects.
Desktop video conferencing in virtual workgroups: anticipation, system evaluation and performance

Abstract. This study investigates the applicability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to the process of adoption of desktop video conferencing (DTVC). In this study, we create virtual office environments using DTVC and then examine how our participants interact with each other using the DTVC medium. Specifically, we examine the effect of users' anticipated system utility on actual system satisfaction, and in turn, system satisfaction on their workgroup performance. As in other applications of the TAM model, we find that those participants that anticipated DTVC in a positive manner were more likely to evaluate it positively after using it and were more likely to perform well during their use of the system.
Time Travel, Parahistory and Hume

Should I have the opportunity to travel back in time to converse with great philosophers, Hume would be high on my itinerary. My gratitude for his insights and hospitality would surely tempt me to reciprocate by telling him about my time travels. But I fear he would not believe me. For the reasoning underlying Hume's famous scepticism about miracles dooms my tales of time travel to an incredulous reception. The ensuing paragraphs will be dedicated to an elucidation of this fear. This elucidation is of more than historical interest, since Hume's reasoning about miracles still strikes many contemporary philosophers y as cogent. Thus the scepticism about time travel that I attribute to Hume should also be shared by his followers. It should be noted that the scepticism at issue is epistemological rather than metaphysical. The key question will not be ‘Is time travel possible?’ We shall instead ask whether it is possible to justify a belief in a report of time travel. The metaphysical issue will only be addressed in response to the question of whether one can be an epistemological sceptic about time travel without being a metaphysical sceptic.
Explicit and Iterative Numerical Approaches to Solving Queueing Models

This paper considers two approaches to the numerical solution of single node queueing models. Both approaches use a phase-type distribution to model very general service processes. The first approach is explicit and sometimes can exploit the structure of certain balance equations to reduce the global balance equations from a set of second order difference equations to a set of first order difference equations. This reduction permits the steady-state probability distribution to be written explicitly as a function of the model parameters. The second approach, due to Neuts, uses the fact that most queues that have a matrix-geometric steady-state probability distribution can be solved by means of a recursive technique. We compare the approaches and present a theorem that specifies necessary conditions for the computation of an explicit solution. A number of examples are provided.
The Environmental and Public Health Risks Associated with Arsenical Use in Animal Feeds

Arsenic exposures contribute significantly to the burden of preventable disease worldwide, specifically related to increased risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Most exposures are associated with natural contamination of groundwater, which is difficult to mitigate when these sources are used for drinking water. An anthropogenic source of arsenic exposure stems from the widespread use of arsenical drugs in food-animal production in the United States and China, among many countries. This use results in residual contamination of food products from animals raised with the drugs, as well as environmental contamination associated with disposal of wastes from these animals. Land disposal of these wastes can contaminate surface and ground water, and the conversion of animal wastes into fertilizer pellets for home use as well as the introduction of animal waste incinerators may increase opportunities for exposure. As an intentional additive to animal feed, use of arsenical drugs is a preventable source of human exposure. The domestic practice of using these drugs in poultry production has been the subject of media attention and limited research, though the use of these drugs in domestic swine production and in the rapidly growing foreign animal production industry remains largely uncharacterized. This continued expansion of arsenical drug use may likely increase the burden of global human arsenic exposure and risk.
The medical ethics of Dr J Marion Sims: a fresh look at the historical record

Vesicovaginal fistula was a catastrophic complication of childbirth among 19th century American women. The first consistently successful operation for this condition was developed by Dr J Marion Sims, an Alabama surgeon who carried out a series of experimental operations on black slave women between 1845 and 1849. Numerous modern authors have attacked Sims's medical ethics, arguing that he manipulated the institution of slavery to perform ethically unacceptable human experiments on powerless, unconsenting women. This article reviews these allegations using primary historical source material and concludes that the charges that have been made against Sims are largely without merit. Sims's modern critics have discounted the enormous suffering experienced by fistula victims, have ignored the controversies that surrounded the introduction of anaesthesia into surgical practice in the middle of the 19th century, and have consistently misrepresented the historical record in their attacks on Sims. Although enslaved African American women certainly represented a "vulnerable population" in the 19th century American South, the evidence suggests that Sims's original patients were willing participants in his surgical attempts to cure their affliction-a condition for which no other viable therapy existed at that time.
Partial Purification and Characterization of the Vacuolar H+‐ATPase of Mammalian Synaptic Vesicles

Several major proteins of synaptic vesicles from rat or cow brain sediment as a large complex on sucrose density gradients when solubilized in nonionic detergents. A vacuolar H(+)-ATPase identified by sensitivity to bafilomycin A1 appears to be associated with this oligomeric protein complex. Two subunits of this complex, synaptic vesicle proteins S and U, correspond to the 57-kDa (B) and 39-kDa accessory (Ac39) subunits, respectively, of bovine chromaffin granule vacuolar H(+)-ATPase as shown by Western immunoblot analysis. The five subunits of the oligomeric complex constitute approximately 20% of the total protein of rat brain synaptic vesicles. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the abundant, multisubunit complex partially purified from brain synaptic vesicles by density gradient centrifugation is a vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. Bafilomycin A1 completely blocks proton pumping in rat brain synaptic vesicles as measured by [14C]methylamine uptake and also blocks catecholamine accumulation measured by [3H]dopamine uptake. Moreover, ATPase activity, [14C]methylamine uptake, and [3H]dopamine uptake are inhibited by bafilomycin A1 at similar I50 values of approximately 1.7 nmol/mg of protein. These findings indicate that the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase is essential for proton pumping as well as catecholamine uptake by mammalian synaptic vesicles.
Mixed regimes and political violence in Africa

Political violence in sub-Saharan Africa is down. The number of military dictatorships and one-party states is also down. Are the two trends related? Conventional democratic peace theory says the answer is yes, because the relationship between democracy and peace is linear and positive. A revisionist view, however, raises questions. The majority of Africa's new regimes are not full democracies but mixed regimes that some studies find to have the greatest propensity to violent behaviour. Using statistical analysis of a trichotomous classification of African regimes from 1960 to 2008, this article suggests that neither argument fits the facts. Autocracies and partial democracies in this region appear to have similar exposure to conflict, with both types of systems suffering more conflict than full democracies. Variables other than regime type appear to be the driving forces behind these trends.
Does Urban Density Promote Social Interaction? Evidence from Instrumental Variable Estimation

To test the common assumption that increased local area population density implies high levels of social interaction, I use instrumental variable estimation to examine a causal link between social interaction and urban population density. I instrument for local population density using earthquake and landslide hazard rates in addition to the presence of hard rock beneath the soil. I find the social interaction type matters when determining the relationship with population density. Social interaction with friends is positively related with population density, whereas neighbor interaction is negatively related. Group involvement does not seem to be systematically related to population density.
The relationship between membrane pathology and language disorder in schizophrenia

Receptive language disorder in schizophrenia has been hypothesized to involve a fundamental deficit in the temporal (time-based) dynamics of brain function that includes disruptions to patterns of activation and synchronization. In this paper, candidate mechanisms and pathways that could account for this basic deficit are discussed. Parallels are identified between the patterns of language dysfunction observed for schizophrenia and dyslexia, two separate clinical disorders that may share a common abnormality in cell membrane phospholipids. A heuristic is proposed which details a trajectory involving an interaction of brain fatty acids and second-messenger function that modulates synaptic efficacy, and, in turn, influences language processing in schizophrenia patients. It is additionally hypothesized that a primary deficit of functional excitation originating in the cerebellum, in combination with a compensatory decrease of functional inhibition in the prefrontal cortex, influences receptive language dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Approximating dependability measures of FDDI networks

An approximation technique is presented to evaluate the dependability of computer networks. This technique, based on the most likely paths to failure, is simple and practical. It may easily be applied by a network designer in evaluating and comparing different network configurations. The approximation technique is applied to a variety of FDDI network configurations. The effect of certain network parameters on the network availability are examined. From these results the authors conclude that, in order to guarantee high availability, an FDDI network backbone should be interconnected using dual attachment concentrators. Furthermore, dual-homing configurations are required for high availability paths between end-stations and the backbone. For less stringent availability requirements, single attachment concentrator trees with single attachment stations may suffice. >
CdS mineralization of hexagonal, lamellar, and cubic lyotropic liquid crystals

Abstract Growth of CdS was studied in three different liquid crystalline phases demonstrating the versatility of liquid crystal templating of inorganic solids. Semiconductor growth in a hexagonal liquid crystal yielded a nanostructure with hexagonal symmetry, a lamellar liquid crystal yielded a lamellar nanostructure, and a cubic liquid crystal (consisting of spherical micelles) yielded a hollow, spherical product. The product grown in the hexagonal liquid crystal contains rod-like pores of 3 nm diameter, spaced 8 nm apart in a hexagonal lattice. The product grown in the lamellar liquid crystal consists of CdS sheets 5 nm thick, with 2 nm spaces between layers, which presumably contain the organic template. Both these superlattices have virtually identical symmetries and characteristic dimensions as the liquid crystal in which they were formed. The mineralization of the cubic phase yielded hollow spheres of CdS, 20–100 nm in diameter, 1–5 times the diameter of the micelles making up the liquid crystal.
Request combining in multiprocessors with arbitrary interconnection networks

Several techniques have been proposed to allow parallel access to a shared memory location by combining requests. They have one or more of the following attributes: requirements for a priori knowledge of the request to combine, restrictions on the routing of messages in the network, or the use of sophisticated interconnection network nodes. We present a new method of combining requests that does not have the above requirements. We obtain this new method for request combining by developing a classification scheme for the existing methods of request combining. This classification scheme is facilitated by separating the request combining process into a two part operation: determining the combining set, which is the set of requests that participate in a combined access; and distributing the results of the combined access to the members of the combining set. The classification of combining strategies is based upon which system component, processor elements, or interconnection network performs each of these tasks. Our approach, which uses the interconnection network to establish the combining set and the processor elements to distribute the results, lies in an unexplored area of the design space. We also present simulation results to assess the benefits of the proposed approach. >
Helicobacter-induced chronic active lymphoid aggregates have characteristics of tertiary lymphoid tissue.

Susceptible strains of mice that are naturally or experimentally infected with murine intestinal helicobacter species develop hepatic inflammatory lesions that have previously been described as chronic active hepatitis. The inflammatory infiltrates in some models of chronic autoimmunity or inflammation resemble tertiary lymphoid organs hypothesized to arise by a process termed lymphoid organ neogenesis. To determine whether hepatic inflammation caused by infection with helicobacter could give rise to tertiary lymphoid organs, we used fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization techniques to identify specific components characteristic of lymphoid organs in liver tissue sections and liver cell suspensions from helicobacter-infected mice. Small venules (high endothelial venules [HEVs]) in inflammatory lesions in Helicobacter species-infected livers were positive for peripheral node addressin. Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule also stained HEVs and cells with a staining pattern consistent with scattered stromal cells. The chemokines SLC (CCL 21) and BLC (CXCL13) were present, as were B220-positive B cells and T cells. The latter included a naive (CD45lo-CD62Lhi) population. These findings suggest that helicobacter-induced chronic active hepatitis arises through the process of lymphoid organ neogenesis.
Systematic review of medial versus lateral survivorship in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Abstract Background Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has gained popularity in patients with isolated unicompartmental osteoarthritis. To our knowledge no systematic review has assessed and compared survivorship of medial and lateral UKA. We performed a systematic review assessing medial and lateral UKA survivorship and comparing survivorship in cohort studies and registry-based studies. Methods A search was performed using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane systems. Ninety-six eligible studies reported survivorship, of which fifty-eight reported medial and sixteen reported lateral UKA survivorship. Nineteen cohort studies and seven registry-based studies reported combined medial and lateral survivorship. Results The five-year, ten-year and fifteen-year medial UKA survivorship was 93.9%, 91.7% and 88.9%, respectively. Lateral UKA survivorship was 93.2%, 91.4% and 89.4% at five-year, ten-year and fifteen-year, respectively. No statistical difference between both compartments was found. At twenty years and twenty-five years survivorship of medial UKA was 84.7% and 80%, respectively, but no studies reported lateral UKA survivorship at these follow-up intervals. Survivorship of cohort studies was not significantly higher compared to registry-based studies at five years (94.3 vs. 91.7, respectively, p =0.133) but was significantly higher at ten years (90.5 vs. 84.1, p =0.015). Conclusion This is the first systematic review that shows no difference in the five-, ten- and fifteen-year survivorship of medial and lateral UKA. We found a lower survivorship in the registry-based studies compared to cohort studies. Level of evidence Systematic Review of level IV studies.
Coupled onshore erosion and offshore sediment loading as causes of lower crust flow on the margins of South China Sea

Hot, thick continental crust is susceptible to ductile flow within the middle and lower crust where quartz controls mechanical behavior. Reconstruction of subsidence in several sedimentary basins around the South China Sea, most notably the Baiyun Sag, suggests that accelerated phases of basement subsidence are associated with phases of fast erosion onshore and deposition of thick sediments offshore. Working together these two processes induce pressure gradients that drive flow of the ductile crust from offshore towards the continental interior after the end of active extension, partly reversing the flow that occurs during continental breakup. This has the effect of thinning the continental crust under super-deep basins along these continental margins after active extension has finished. This is a newly recognized form of climate-tectonic coupling, similar to that recognized in orogenic belts, especially the Himalaya. Climatically modulated surface processes, especially involving the monsoon in Southeast Asia, affects the crustal structure offshore passive margins, resulting in these “load-flow basins”. This further suggests that reorganization of continental drainage systems may also have a role in governing margin structure. If some crustal thinning occurs after the end of active extension this has implications for the thermal history of hydrocarbon-bearing basins throughout the area where application of classical models results in over predictions of heatflow based on observed accommodation space.
Renal Protection by Genetic Deletion of the Atypical Chemokine Receptor ACKR2 in Diabetic OVE Mice

In diabetic nephropathy (DN) proinflammatory chemokines and leukocyte infiltration correlate with tubulointerstitial injury and declining renal function. The atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2 is a chemokine scavenger receptor which binds and sequesters many inflammatory CC chemokines but does not transduce typical G-protein mediated signaling events. ACKR2 is known to regulate diverse inflammatory diseases but its role in DN has not been tested. In this study, we utilized ACKR2−/− mice to test whether ACKR2 elimination alters progression of diabetic kidney disease. Elimination of ACKR2 greatly reduced DN in OVE26 mice, an established DN model. Albuminuria was significantly lower at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. ACKR2 deletion did not affect diabetic blood glucose levels but significantly decreased parameters of renal inflammation including leukocyte infiltration and fibrosis. Activation of pathways that increase inflammatory gene expression was attenuated. Human biopsies stained with ACKR2 antibody revealed increased staining in diabetic kidney, especially in some tubule and interstitial cells. The results demonstrate a significant interaction between diabetes and ACKR2 protein in the kidney. Unexpectedly, ACKR2 deletion reduced renal inflammation in diabetes and the ultimate response was a high degree of protection from diabetic nephropathy.
A gamma variate model that includes stretched exponential is a better fit for gastric emptying data from mice

Noninvasive breath tests for gastric emptying are important techniques for understanding the changes in gastric motility that occur in disease or in response to drugs. Mice are often used as an ani...
Effect of Biofouling on the Performance of Amidoxime-Based Polymeric Uranium Adsorbents

The Marine Science Laboratory at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory evaluated the impact of biofouling on the performance or uranium adsorbents. A surface-modified polyethylene adsorbent fiber provided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, AF adsorbent, was tested in either the presence or absence of light to simulate deployment in shallow or deep marine environments. Samples of the adsorbent fiber were exposed to seawater as loose fibers packed with glass beads in columns and as >10-cm-long braids of fiber placed in a flume that provided a continuous flow representative of natural ocean currents. Exposure tests (42 days) in column and flume settings showed that biofouling resulted in decreased uranium uptake by the adsorbent fiber. Uranium uptake was reduced by up to 30%, in the presence of simulated sunlight, which also increased biomass accumulation and altered the microbial community composition on the fibers. These results suggest that deployment below the photic zone would mitigate the effects of...
Pityriasis Rosea-Like Cutaneous Eruption as the Presenting Symptom of Hodgkin Lymphoma. Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background: Cutaneous involvement by Hodgkin lymphoma is extremely rare and usually follows extensive involvement of the lymph nodes. Cutaneous manifestations of Hodgkin lymphoma may be divided into specific and non-specific. Generalized pruritus is one of the most common non-specific presentations of Hodgkin lymphoma as is cutaneous granulomas. Such signs and symptoms should prompt thorough physical exam, including evaluation of lymph nodes, especially in a young patient. Main observation: We report a case of a 22-year-old man who presented with night sweats, weight loss, dry cough, and generalized maculopapular eruption that started with a large patch in the center of the chest and spread to the extremities. Biopsy of the rash revealed pityriasis rosea-like findings. A computerized tomography scan of the chest revealed a mediastinal mass. Biopsy of the mediastinal mass revealed Reed-Sternberg cells in a fibrotic background, diagnostic of Hodgkin lymphoma, nodular sclerosis type. Conclusion: In conclusion, the presentation of Hodgkin lymphoma as a pityriasis rosea-like cutaneous eruption is rare and clinicians should be aware of this presentation. In this paper we review the non-specific cutaneousmanifestations of Hodgkin lymphoma in an effort to raise awareness of the diversity of early cutaneous signs of Hodgkin lymphoma. ( J Dermatol Case Rep . 2015; 9(3): 81-84)
Molecular Chromophore–Catalyst Assemblies for Solar Fuel Applications

Applications Dennis L. Ashford,† Melissa K. Gish,† Aaron K. Vannucci,‡ M. Kyle Brennaman,† Joseph L. Templeton,† John M. Papanikolas,† and Thomas J. Meyer*,† †Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 3290, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
$B_s^0 \ndash - \bar B_s^0 $ MIXING IN THE FOUR GENERATION STANDARD MODEL

We examine the constraints imposed by recent data on mixing, e′/e, and |Vub|/|Vcb| on the size of mixing in the four generation standard model (SM). We show that, unlike the SM with only three generations, mixing need not be maximal in the four generation case. In particular, we show that it is quite likely that mixing is smaller than mixing.
Characterizing dynamic hysteresis and fractal statistics of chaotic two-phase flow and application to fuel cells

In this study, we analyze the stability of two-phase flow regimes and their transitions using chaotic and fractal statistics, and we report new measurements of dynamic two-phase pressure drop hysteresis that is related to flow regime stability and channel water content. Two-phase flow dynamics are relevant to a variety of real-world systems, and quantifying transient two-phase flow phenomena is important for efficient design. We recorded two-phase (air and water) pressure drops and flow images in a microchannel under both steady and transient conditions. Using Lyapunov exponents and Hurst exponents to characterize the steady-state pressure fluctuations, we develop a new, measurable regime identification criteria based on the dynamic stability of the two-phase pressure signal. We also applied a new experimental technique by continuously cycling the air flow rate to study dynamic hysteresis in two-phase pressure drops, which is separate from steady-state hysteresis and can be used to understand two-phase flow development time scales. Using recorded images of the two-phase flow, we show that the capacitive dynamic hysteresis is related to channel water content and flow regime stability. The mixed-wettability microchannel and in-channel water introduction used in this study simulate a polymer electrolyte fuel cell cathode air flow channel.
Molecular characterization of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma: analysis of 33 cases

Several targetable genetic alterations have been found in lung cancer, predominantly in adenocarcinomas, which have led to important therapeutic advancements with the advent of targeted therapy. In contrast, the molecular features and presence of targetable genetic abnormalities in pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinomas are largely unknown. Thirty-three cases of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma were tested for approximately 2800 mutations in 50 oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes, including EGFR, KRAS, NRAS, TP53, BRAF, ERBB2, JAK3, AKT1, ATM, MET, KIT, and PIK3CA. ALK immunostaining was performed, and ALK FISH was performed on cases with any degree of staining. Twenty-four of the 33 cases (72%) had at least one genetic abnormality: 19 cases (58%) had TP53 mutations; 10 cases (30%) had KRAS mutations; AKT1, JAK3, BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA mutations were observed in 1 case each (3%). Six of the 19 cases (32%) with a mutation in TP53 had simultaneous mutations in KRAS (18%). The cases with alterations in JAK3, BRAF, and NRAS also had mutations in TP53. The case showing a mutation in PIK3CA had a mutation in KRAS. No EGFR mutations were observed. One case had ALK gene rearrangement. ALK rearrangement was observed in a single case of sarcomatoid carcinoma (3%), which has currently available targeted therapy. Four tumors had mutations in genes with experimental molecular-based therapy, including BRAF, NRAS, PIK3CA, and AKT1. Testing for targetable mutations should be considered for patients with pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma, as a subset may benefit from currently approved drugs or clinical trials of novel therapeutic options available for other types of lung cancer.
Patient-reported Outcomes across Categories of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Objective. Although there is increasing reliance on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) for disease management, there is little known about the differences in PRO across juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) categories. The purpose of our study was to assess PRO across JIA categories, including pain, quality of life, and physical function, and to determine clinical factors associated with differences in these measures across categories. Methods. This was a longitudinal cohort study of patients with JIA at a tertiary care pediatric rheumatology clinic. Subjects, PRO, and clinical variables were identified by querying the electronic medical record. Mixed-effects regression assessed pain, quality of life, and function. Results. Subjects with enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) and undifferentiated JIA had significantly more pain, poorer quality of life, and poorer physical function. The ERA and undifferentiated JIA categories, physician’s global disease activity assessment, female sex, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use were significantly associated with more pain, poorer quality of life, and poorer function. In models limited to ERA, female sex and tender enthesis count were significant predictors of decreased function. Conclusion. ERA and undifferentiated JIA categories had poorer PRO than other JIA categories. Further work is needed to address ways to improve PRO in children with JIA, with a special focus on children with ERA and undifferentiated JIA.
When inputs are outputs: The case of graduate student instructors

Abstract We examine graduate student teaching as an input to two production processes: the education of undergraduates and the development of graduate students themselves. Using fluctuations in full-time faculty availability as an instrument, we find undergraduates are more likely to major in a subject if their first course in the subject was taught by a graduate student, a result opposite of estimates that ignore selection. Additionally, graduate students who teach more frequently graduate earlier and are more likely to subsequently be employed by a college or university.
The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities

Prologue 1. Corn wars and civil wars: the Revolution comes to Indian country 2. Odanak: Abenaki ambiguity in the north 3. Stockbridge: the New England patriots 4. Oquaga: dissension and destruction on the Susquehanna 5. Fort Niagara: the politics of hunger in a refugee community 6. Maquachake: the perils of neutrality in the Ohio country 7. Chota: Cherokee beloved town in a world at war 8. Tchoukafala: the continuing: Chickasaw struggle for independence 9. Cuscowilla: Seminole loyalism and Seminole genesis 10. The peace that brought no peace Epilogue: a world without Indians?
Theory of Hydrogen on Metal Surfaces

The embedded atom method [6.1, 2] is used to study the classical behavior of hydrogen at all coverages on the Ni(110) and Pd(lll) surfaces. For both surfaces, the hydrogen adsorption site is predicted to be the threefold site in agreement with the experimental observations. For Ni(110) the lowest energy ordered structure at ⊝=1 is computed to be the (2 × 1). Molecular dynamics simulations of this system show a critical temperature for the order-disorder transition to be between 150 K and 200 K. For the Pd(lll) surface, two structures $$\left( {\sqrt 3 \times \sqrt 3 } \right)$$ and $$\left( {\sqrt 12 \times \sqrt 12 } \right)$$ R30o are predicted to be very close in energy. Quantum corrections are expected to make the $$\left( {\sqrt 3 \times \sqrt 3 } \right)$$ R30o lower in energy. Monte Carlo simulations at θ=1/3 and 2/3 indicate that the order-disorder transition occurs near 125 K at both of these coverages with lower critical temperatures away from these ideal coverages. These predictions agree well with experimental observations.
Experimental Methods for Studying Kingella kingae

Kingella kingae is a naturally competent organism, allowing the use of natural transformation as an efficient mechanism for introducing exogenous DNA into the organism and facilitating genetic manipulation. While no plasmids for the introduction and extrachromosomal replication of cloned DNA into K. kingae have been identified, the generation of targeted mutations in the chromosome is a relatively straightforward process. Gene deletions, site-directed mutations, gene complements, and random transposon libraries have been generated in K. kingae, all relying on insertion of a selectable antibiotic resistance marker into the chromosome. Beyond genetic manipulation, a variety of techniques for isolation of K. kingae surface factors such as type IV pili, outer membrane proteins, polysaccharide capsule, and a secreted exopolysaccharide have been developed, largely based on methods used for research on other gram-negative bacteria. Methods for circumventing the activity of the potent K. kingae RTX toxin to enable investigation of the interaction of the organism with eukaryotic cells in vitro have been developed. Lastly, a juvenile rat intraperitoneal infection model is the only in vivo model shown to demonstrate virulence differences between different clinical isolates of K. kingae and between wild-type and isogenic mutants lacking putative virulence factors.
Adding Excitement to Your Proposals

With the passage of California’s Proposition 13, and the movement for tax relief in many other states, arts organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to find grant support. When funding cutbacks occur in local school budgets, arts programs are often labeled “luxuries” and eliminated.
An improved method for total organic iodine in drinking water

A concise, rapid, and sensitive method is developed to measure organically-bound iodine in water. Total organic iodine (TOI) is used as an integrative surrogate that reflects the amount of iodinated organics in a water sample and is quantified using a refined method that builds on previous adsorption and detection approaches. The proposed method combines adsorption, combustion, and trapping of combustion products, with an offline inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for iodide detection. During method development, three analytical variables (factors) were varied across two levels each in order to optimize the method for iodine recovery: 1) the sample pH prior to adsorption on the granular activated carbon (GAC); 2) the amount of base addition to the trap solution; and 3) composition of the ICP-MS wash solution. These factors were tested with solutions of eight iodinated model organic compounds, two iodinated inorganic compounds, and field water samples using a full factorial experimental design. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and related statistical methods were deployed to identify the best combination of conditions (i.e., treatment) that results in the most complete recovery of iodine from the model compounds and the highest rejection of inorganic iodine. The chosen treatment for TOI measurement incorporates a sample pH of less than 1 prior to adsorption onto the GAC, a solution of 2% (v/v) tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for trapping of combustion products, and a TMAH wash solution of 0.1% (v/v) for the ICP-MS.
The management of dangerous goods transport: The European approach

The work of monitoring of dangerous goods which is being undertaken within the CEC's Advanced Transport Telematics Program is discussed, and the work being undertaken within the FRAME (Freight Management in Europe) is described. The FRAME project undertook a major analysis of user requirements, clearly defined these, and then proceeded with a functional and system design. The legislative framework, commercial benefit and cost, and institutional support are factors involved in the implementation of any architecture which is used to monitor dangerous goods. The system described is cognizant of all these factors.
In-Plane Bending and Buckling of Arches

The state of knowledge of the in-plane bending and buckling of arches is summarized herein. There is a remarkable correlation between the critical thrusts for arches and columns. The buckling strength of nonprismatic arches can be accurately estimated by using prismatic arch equations with an average flexural stiffness which is easily determined. The buckling strength of symmetric prismatic and nonprismatic arch ribs of any shape and any symmetric loading can be estimated with good accuracy for any of the common support conditions. A review is given of methods for the bending analysis of slender arches and of simple, approximate methods for estimating the maximum effects. The approximate methods may be useful for the preliminary design of very slender arches and for the final design of less slender arches where the axial thrust is small compared with the critical value. In general, an accurate deflection theory analysis is recommended for the final design of very slender arches. The presentation is concerned with the available experimental and analytical data and with useful design concepts rather than with the various mathematical theories. The information is presented in a way which will make it helpful for design purposes. The review does not include shallow arches.
Do storm synoptic patterns affect biogeochemical fluxes from temperate deciduous forest canopies

The volumetric quantity and biogeochemical quality of throughfall and stemflow in forested ecosystems are influenced by biological characteristics as well environmental and storm meteorological conditions. Previous attempts at connecting forest water and nutrient cycles to storm characteristics have focused on individual meteorological variables, but we propose a unified approach by examining the storm system in its entirety. In this study, we use methods from synoptic climatology to distinguish sub-canopy biogeochemical fluxes between storm events to understand the response of forest ecosystems to daily weather patterns. For solute inputs tied to atmospheric deposition (NH4 +, NO3 −, SO4 2−, Na+, Cl−), stagnant air masses resulted in high inputs in rainfall (273.42, 81.81, 52.30, 156.99, 128.70 μmol L−1), throughfall (355.05, 130.66, 83.24, 239.55, 261.32 μmol L−1), and stemflow (338.34, 182.75, 153.74, 125.75, 272.88 μmol L−1). For inputs tied to canopy exchange (DOC, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+), a clear distinction was observed between throughfall and stemflow pathways. The largest throughfall concentrations were in the Great Lakes Low (1794.80, 352.96, 72.75, 74.37 μmol L−1) while the largest stemflow concentrations were in the Weak Upper Trough (3681.78, 497.34, 82.36, 72.46 μmol L−1). Stemflow leaching is likely derived from a larger reservoir of leachable cations in the tree canopy than throughfall, with stemflow fluxes maximized during synoptic types with greater rainfall amounts and throughfall fluxes diluted. For flux-based enrichment ratios, water volume, storm magnitude, antecedent dry period, and seasonality were important factors, further illustrating the influence of synoptic characteristics on wash-off, leaching and, ultimately, dilution processes within the canopy.
Interpreting Patient Reported Urinary and Sexual Function Outcomes across Multiple Validated Instruments

Purpose: Comparing patient reported outcomes such as urinary and erectile function across institutions is critical for prostate cancer research and quality assurance. Such comparisons are complicated due to the use of different questionnaires. We aimed to develop a method to convert scores among 4 commonly used instruments.Materials and Methods: Patient reported data on urinary and sexual function were collected on 1,284 men with localized prostate cancer using the EPIC-26 (Expanded Prostate Index Composite), PCI (UCLA Prostate Cancer Index), SHIM (Sexual Health Inventory for Men) and I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Scale) questionnaires. We investigated several methods to convert scores among questionnaires.Results: Conversion between EPIC and PCI urinary and sexual function subscales was best achieved using only the subset of questions asked on both questionnaires. For the conversion between EPIC or PCI erectile function scores and SHIM scores, we defined thresholds of poor, intermediate and good ...
Liquid-Crystalline Nanostructured Optical Metamaterials

In this chapter, we present a complete self-contained discussion on all the electromagnetic and material fundamentals needed to understand the synthesis and properties of tunable metamaterials made possible by inclusion of liquid crystals as a constituent material, and a thorough discussion of the reflection and transmission properties at interfaces formed between positive and negative index materials. Two principal classes of metamaterials are treated: (1) metamaterials made of nematic liquid crystals containing nanoparticulates and (2) metamaterials made of nanostructures infiltrated with liquid crystals. We also studied the special case involving laser dye-doped nematic liquid crystals that could provide optical gain; it is shown that the overall loss can be minimized, while the effective real part of the refractive index can be tailored toward the desired value (positive or negative). In comparison with other metamaterial systems that tend to be passive and nonreconfigurable, the presence of electro-optic active and nonlinear optical materials, such as liquid crystals, enable tremendous tuning flexibility and new forms/shapes enabled by their dual (fluid/crystalline) physical properties. As a result of the broadband birefringence of liquid crystals, the operation wavelengths of these metamaterials cover the entire visible–near infrared–far infrared to terahertz and microwave regime. These tunable optical metamaterials, which combine the unique properties of liquid crystals and specific properties from engineered nanoparticulates and nanostructures, will enable a wide range of application possibilities in next-generation reflective, transmissive, modulation, and switching elements and devices.
Beyond Black and White: British Identity in Achebe’s Fiction

A glance at Achebe’s early novels may lead one to surmise that he approaches the English missionaries and colonial administrators as ruthless and bigoted interlopers who deceive and coerce Africans into submission. However, later works clearly demonstrate that Achebe does not reflexively stereotype the British, or more broadly whites. Examination, too, of the early novels reveals that the English characters are not inevitably straw men, held to account for British exploitation and oppression in Africa. To be sure, several English characters are exposed for their arrogance and prejudice, but Achebe’s representations of these characters, as with African ones, are at various points also multidimensional and sympathetic. “Sugar Baby” and Anthills of the Savannah bring Achebe’s representations of British and white identity full circle insofar as Father Doherty and John Kent, respectively, actualize the altruistic impulse that had motivated some previous Europeans in West Africa.
VPA Inhibits P19 Neural Differentiation through Redox Dysregulation and Oxidative Stress

Valproic acid (VPA), a common anti-epileptic drug and migraine reducer, causes deficiencies in developing nervous systems and can be manifested as neural tube defects (NTDs). The appearance of these defects is believed to be due to the disruption of the redox state of differentiating cells. P19 cells are embryo carcinoma cells and are an established model for neurogenesis. Preliminary work in P19 cells shows that during neural differentiation, the glutathione (GSH) redox potential (Eh) shifts from a reducing state to a more oxidizing one. The effects of VPA exposure during distinct stages of neural differentiation are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if specific states of neural differentiation are more susceptible to redox disruption. In undifferentiated cells, GSH Eh were much more easily disrupted with VPA treatment than differentiated cells, suggesting earlier periods of development are more susceptible to redox dysregulation. Cellular proteins in undifferentiated P19 cells also demonstrate a greater degree of redox dysregulation, where VPA altered protein redox states to a greater extent in undifferentiated cells. Furthermore, P19 cells treated early in pro-differentiation conditions with VPA decreased the expression of neurogenic terminal differentiation markers (B III tubulin) compared to control, untreated cultures. Interestingly, pretreatment with D3T, a Nrf2 inducer, prior to VPA exposure, diminished GSH Eh oxidative shifts, increased differentiation and reduced alterations to protein redox states. Together, these data suggest that VPA-induced oxidative stress is a critical factor regulating P19 neurogenesis and may serve as an important mediator in VPA-induced NTDs. Clearly, VPA-induced oxidative stress in the embryo elicits further study.
NANOG restores the impaired myogenic differentiation potential of skeletal myoblasts after multiple population doublings

Adult skeletal muscle regeneration relies on the activity of satellite cells residing in the skeletal muscle niche. However, systemic and intrinsic factors decrease the myogenic differentiation potential of satellite cells thereby impairing muscle regeneration. Here we present data showing that late passage C2C12 myoblasts exhibited significantly impaired myogenic differentiation potential that was accompanied by impaired expression of myogenic regulatory factors (Myf5, MyoD, Myogenin, and MRF4) and members of myocyte enhancer factor 2 family. Notably, ectopic expression of NANOG preserved the morphology and restored the myogenic differentiation capacity of late passage myoblasts, possibly by restoring the expression level of these myogenic factors. Muscle regeneration was effective in 2D cultures and in 3D skeletal microtissues mimicking the skeletal muscle niche. The presence of NANOG was required for at least 15days to reverse the impaired differentiation potential of myoblasts. However, it was critical to remove NANOG during the process of maturation, as it inhibited myotube formation. Finally, myoblasts that were primed by NANOG maintained their differentiation capacity for 20days after NANOG withdrawal, suggesting potential epigenetic changes. In conclusion, these results shed light on the potential of NANOG to restore the myogenic differentiation potential of myoblasts, which is impaired after multiple rounds of cellular division, and to reverse the loss of muscle regeneration.