cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Three-Dimensional Shallow Water Equations

We describe the application of a local discontinuous Galerkin method to the numerical solution of the three-dimensional shallow water equations. The shallow water equations are used to model surface water flows where the hydrostatic pressure assumption is valid. The authors recently developed a DG\linebreak method for the depth-integrated shallow water equations. The method described here is an extension of these ideas to non-depth-integrated models. The method and its implementation are discussed, followed by numerical examples on several test problems.
The effects of autocorrelation among errors on the consistency property of OLS variance estimator

Abstract In a linear regression model the ordinary least squares (OLS) variance estimator ( S 2 ) converges in probability to E ( S 2 ) even when the errors are autocorrelated. Of interest, however, is the rate of convergence. In this paper we shed some light on this question for the case of a linear trend model. In particular the relation between the rate of convergence and the correlation property of the errors is explored. It is shown that the retardation of the rate of convergence is not appreciable if the correlation is moderate, but it can be severe for extreme correlations.
Substrate Binding and Calmodulin Binding to Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Coregulate Its Enzymatic Activity

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is a constitutively expressed flavin-containing heme protein that catalyzes the formation of NO from L-arginine, NADPH, and molecular oxygen. We purified bovine endothelial NOS from transfected embryonic kidney cells by conventional chromatographic techniques and characterized the activity of the detergent-solubilized enzyme. Endothelial NOS displays a much lower specific activity of NO synthesis (143 +/- 11 nmol NO/min/mg enzyme) than the constitutive neuronal NOS or inducible NOS isoforms. Like the neuronal isoform, endothelial NOS requires binding of Ca2+/calmodulin to achieve Vmax NO synthase activity; however, we observed a basal level of NO synthesis even when Ca2+/calmodulin was omitted and 0.5 mM EDTA was present in the assay solution. Moreover, endothelial NOS demonstrates a high-affinity bonding interaction with calmodulin such that the enzyme as purified has a NO synthase activity at about 80% of Vmax. We also observed a more than twofold increase in NADPH consumption by endothelial NOS when it was coupled to arginine oxygenation as opposed to when oxygen is activated in the absence of substrate. Substrate binding was also shown to stimulate heme reduction in the absence of added calmodulin. Thus, the enzymatic synthesis of NO from L-arginine by endothelial NOS appears to be partially regulated by binding of both calmodulin and substrate. These findings for endothelial NOS represent a significant departure from the enzymatic properties of the other constitutive NOS isoform, neuronal NOS, and we interpret this result in terms of the physiological implications.
Cost sensitive hierarchical document classification to triage PubMed abstracts for manual curation

Background The Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) project manually curates information from published journal articles that describe immune epitopes derived from a wide variety of organisms and associated with different diseases. In the past, abstracts of scientific articles were retrieved by broad keyword queries of PubMed, and were classified as relevant (curatable) or irrelevant (not curatable) to the scope of the database by a Naive Bayes classifier. The curatable abstracts were subsequently manually classified into categories corresponding to different disease domains. Over the past four years, we have examined how to further improve this approach in order to enhance classification performance and to reduce the need for manual intervention.
New Methodology for Transportation Investment Decisions with Consideration of Project Interdependencies

A new methodology for transportation project evaluation and selection explicitly addresses issues of networkwide impacts of a project and interdependencies of multiple projects. The methodology consists of two key elements: a multicommodity minimum-cost network model to estimate networkwide benefits of a single project or multiple interdependent projects and a hypergraph Knapsack model to identify the best subcollection of projects to yield maximized overall benefits. The proposed methodology is applied in a computational study with data on roadway network design, geometrics, travel demand, and traffic operations as well as the scope and costs of six major projects proposed for investment in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. The study reveals that the overall benefits with consideration of project networkwide impacts and their interdependencies are significantly lower by 38% to 64% as compared with those benefits established without consideration of project interdependencies, and the rate of increase in...
Toolspaces and glances: storing, accessing, and retrieving objects in 3D desktop applications

Users of 3D desktop applications perform tasks that require accessing data storage, moving objects, and navigation. These operations are typically performed using 2D GUI elements or 3D widgets. We wish to focus on interaction with 3D widgets directly in the 3D world, rather than forcing our users to repeatedly switch contexts between 2D and 3D. However, the use of 3D widgets requires a mechanism for storing, accessing, and retrieving these widgets. In this paper we present foolspuces and glances to provide this capability for 3D widgets and other objects in interactive 3D worlds. Toolspaces are storage spaces attached to the user’s virtual body; objects placed in these spaces are always accessible yet out of the user’s view until needed. Users access these toolspaces to store and retrieve objects through a type of lightweight and ephemeral navigation we call glances. CR
Methodology for evaluating the economics of biologically producing chemicals and materials from alternative feedstocks

A wide range of chemicals and materials can be produced from renewable feedstocks through bioconversions. An iterative, progressively detailed technology screening approach was developed to identify the most promising candidates. Initially, candidates are selected into a portfolio based on their future potential as large-volume industrial chemicals or materials. Second, the candidates are ranked with respect to a simple economic criterion based on the market value, the price of the starting material, and the product yield. Simple comparisons are then made, where possible, between producing the product via the most competitive conventional route and via the proposed bioprocessing route. Next, qualitative information is gathered from industrial experts on the advantages and disadvantages of each product with respect to energy impacts, environmental quality, and economic competitiveness. Finally, engineering and economic evaluations are performed for the most promising candidates to assess the profitability of the bioprocessing route and to identify the research and development opportunities that have the greatest impact on energy savings, environmental quality, and economics. Forty chemicals and materials that could potentially be produced from renewable feedstocks were initially selected for evaluation by this methodology. From this, succinic acid was chosen for the first more detailed evaluation based on the initial screening results. The approach described in this article could be used by potential industrial producers to complement their forecasting of the technical and economic feasibility of producing chemicals and materials from renewable resources, and by researchers to identify opportunities for focused research and development.
INFLUENCE OF HEPATIC FUNCTION ON SERUM LEVELS OF PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN

AbstractPurpose: Recent studies have suggested that the primary site of metabolism for prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the liver. We evaluated men undergoing liver transplantation to determine whether chronic hepatic insufficiency affected serum PSA levels and whether improved hepatic function altered serum PSA levels.Materials and Methods: Ten men with a mean age of 46 years (range 23 to 67) undergoing liver transplantation were evaluated. Liver function tests, including serum bilirubin, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, as well as serum PSA were determined 1 day before and a mean of 12.6 months (range 4 to 18) after transplantation.Results: Serum bilirubin and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase declined significantly after liver transplantation. There was no difference in mean serum PSA levels before and after liver transplantation.Conclusions: Our results suggest that severe hepatic dysfunction does not significantly alter the serum concentration o...
Small Scale Reforming Separation Systems with Nanomembrane Reactors for Direct Fuel Cell Applications

Our recent communication focuses on small scale and nanoscale type engineering applications of alumina inorganic membrane reactors and reactor-permeator systems for the conversion of renewable and non-renewable hydrocarbons and methane rich streams into hydrogen rich gas for direct inner application and operation of fuel cell systems. This study elaborates on new nanomembrane reactors for the steam-methane/hydrocarbon reforming and water gas shift reactions, including work in the synthesis, manufacturing, modeling and operation of such microreaction systems. The projected small scale reactors, separators and overall reaction systems are of current significance in the area of multifunctional microreactor and nanoreactor design and operation in connection with the operation of fuel cells for transportation, stationary, and portable power generation applications. An added advantage of such systems is the reactive and separative operations of the fuel cell membrane-processor which are combined to convert the hydrocarbon with steam to valuable fuel gas for continuous fuel cell operation. Moreover, the nanomembrane systems under development have the unique characteristics to perform multiple operations per unit volume, such as to utilize beneficial equilibrium shift principles in reactant conversion and product yield through the removal of permselective species (i.e., hydrogen) via the inorganic membrane out of the conversion/reaction zone. In this way, improved hydrogen and product yields can be achieved which exceed the equilibrium calculated yields. Simultaneously, the reaction products, such as synthesis gas (i.e., H2, CO and CO2) at the reactor exit can be used as fuel in mostly solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells. The role of the alumina nanomembrane is also in the main conversion and upgrading sections of these feedstocks in order to overcome existing heat and mass transfer limitations and increase the overall efficiency of the microreactor-fuel cell system.
Steady state bifurcations and exact multiplicity conditions via Carleman linearization

The problem of steady-state bifurcations of vector fields under parameter perturbation is resolved by a linear algebraic method. Exact multiplicity conditions for any steady state are obtained in terms of the system parameters. No reduction of the steady-state system to one equation is required. Instead the one-dimensional case is included as a subspace in this generalized framework. The key point that this paper highlights is that the order of the steady multiplicity at bifurcation can be determined by examining the dimension of the kernel of the successive Carleman linear operators for all cases of practical interest. In particular, the dimension of the kernel of any Carleman linear operator of order l, equals l if l is less than the multiplicity, μ. However, the μth order Carleman operator retains a (μ − 1)-dimensional kernel.
Convective penetrations and observable consequences of helium shell flashes in 3 and 6 solar-mass red supergiants

The results of 61 detailed numerical flash calculations are examined, with particular reference to 3 and 6 solar-mass stars with core masses ranging from 0.56 to 0.60 the solar mass and 0.94 to 0.95 the solar mass, respectively. First penetration of the convective envelope into pockets of carbon in the intershell region was found for the 15th flash for the 6 solar-mass case, with continuing deeper penetration for the flashes thereafter. However, no such type of envelope penetration could be found for the 3 solar-mass case.
The physicochemical approach to drug design and discovery (QSAR)

The study of physicochemical parameters to correlate mathematically chemical structure with biological activity induced by sets of congeneric drugs is now generally referred to as QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationships). The ways in which the QSAR paradigm are developing are becoming more varied and complex. Many kinds of parameters are under study in many different groups; various types of mathematical models have been proposed and are being evaluated. Drug researchers are turning more to enzyme modulation to control various biological processes. It is the study of enzyme-ligand reactions of enzymes whose x-ray crystallographic structure is known that affords us the means for developing a deeper understanding of QSAR and, at the same time, enhancing our ability to make drugs more selective for various forms of a given enzyme. The union of x-ray crystallography, moleculargraphics, and QSAR is one of the most exciting new areas of drug development. This report is an introduction to how QSAR is being used to gain insight into the interaction of drugs with macromolecules and macromolecular systems.
Cooperative alignment of nu bodies during chromosome replication in the presence of cycloheximide

Abstract 50% of control DNA is resistant to staphylococcal nuclease after digestion in isolated nuclei, while only 25% of the labeled DNA made in the presence of cycloheximide is resistant to nuclease. Nevertheless, cycloheximide DNA is folded into normal chromosomal subunits as evidenced by the observation that it generates nuclese limit-digest DNA fragments that are indistinguishable from controls. These results indicate that cycloheximide chromatin is associated with half the number of normal nu bodies. These nu bodies are probably recycled from the parental chromosome. Partial nuclease digestion of cycloheximide chromatin reveals that a normal pattern of monomer and multimer DNA fragments is generated up to octamers. The data are consistent with the idea that in the presence of cycloheximide, recycled parental histones become cooperatively aligned along the daughter double helices.
A decade of rescue robots

This video offers a retrospective of the 26 disasters where land, marine, or aerial robots have been deployed, starting with the first use of rescue robots at the 2001 World Trade Center Collapse and continuing through the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami/Fukushima nuclear event. While robots have not found a living survivor, possibly because they arrive on average 4.5 days after the event, the video clips illustrate the contributions of robots to searching for survivors, reconnaissance and mapping, inspection of buildings, and inspection of bridges and shipping channels. The clips also highlight four open research questions: human-robot interaction, mobile manipulation, reliable wireless networks, and obstacle avoidance for UAVs and UMVs. Use of robots is accelerating and their contributions to disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery will grow and lead to new challenges for research.
Lead Toxicity and Metabolism from Lead Sulfate Fed to Holstein Calves

Sixteen Holstein intact male calves averaging 85 kg and 74 days of age were assigned randomly to four dietary lead treatments according to body weight. They were fed for ad libitum consumption a control diet containing no added lead or the control diet supplemented with 500, 1500, or 4500 ppm lead as lead sulfate. One calf fed 1500 ppm lead and all four calves fed 4500 ppm lead died within 6 to 10 days after initiation of treatments. Death was sudden with few or no clinical signs prior to death. Those clinical signs that did appear included muscular tremors, gnashing of teeth, bellowing, and convulsions. Four control, four 500 ppm lead, and two 1500 ppm lead-fed calves survived the 7-wk experimental period. Feed consumption, body weight changes, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activity in blood plasma, and hemoglobin were not affected significantly by lead treatments. Packed cell volume in calves fed 500 and 1500 ppm added lead was reduced. Lead concentrations in blood, kidney, liver, bone, brain, and muscle were elevated in lead supplemented calves above those of controls. The highest concentrations of lead were in kidney and liver.
The regulation of cystogenesis in a tissue engineered kidney disease system by abnormal matrix interactions

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) remains a major health care concern affecting several million patients worldwide and for which there is no specific treatment. We have employed a 3D tissue engineered disease-like system to emulate cystic structures in vitro and analyzed the extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions in it. The tissue system was developed by culturing normal or polycystin-1 silenced mouse Inner Medullary Collecting Duct (mIMCD) cells in ECM infused into 3D porous silk protein biomaterial scaffolds. In this system, the silk scaffolds provide slow degradation, biocompatibility, and maintain structure and transport for the 3D system, while the ECM molecules retain biological signaling. Using this 3D tissue system we provide evidence for an autocrine signaling loop involving abnormal matrix deposition (collagen type IV and laminin) and its integrin receptor subunit protein (Integrin-β1) in Pkd1 silenced mIMCD cells. In addition, we report that abnormal pericystic ECM interactions between matrix molecules and integrin subunit proteins regulate the rate of cystogenesis in the disease system. Molecular signaling showed abnormalities in cyclin proteins and cell-cycle progression upon Pkd1 knockdown. Importantly, disruption of the abnormal matrix interactions by an additional knockdown (double-silencing) of integrin-β1 in Pkd1 silenced cells reversed the abnormalities and reduced the rate of cystogenesis. Together, these findings indicate that abnormal matrix deposition and altered integrin profile distribution as observed in ADPKD and are critical in cystogenesis and should be considered a target for the development of therapeutics.
Runtime specialization with optimistic heap analysis

We describe a highly practical program specializer for Java programs. The specializer is powerful, because it specializes optimistically, using (potentially transient) constants in the heap; it is precise, because it specializes using data structures that are only partially invariant; it is deployable, because it is hidden in a JIT compiler and does not require any user annotations or offline preprocessing; it is simple, because it uses existing JIT compiler ingredients; and it is fast, because it specializes programs in under 1s.These properties are the result of (1) a new algorithm for selecting specializable code fragments, based on a notion of influence; (2) a precise store profile for identifying constant heap locations; and (3) an efficient invalidation mechanism for monitoring optimistic assumptions about heap constants. Our implementation of the specializer in the Jikes RVM has low overhead, selects specialization points that would be chosen manually, and produces speedups ranging from a factor of 1.2 to 6.4, comparable with annotation-guided specializers.
Evolution of the Dark Matter Distribution at the Galactic Center

Annihilation radiation from neutralino dark matter at the Galactic center (GC) would be greatly enhanced if the dark matter were strongly clustered around the supermassive black hole (SBH). The existence of a dark matter "spike" is made plausible by the observed, steeply rising stellar density near the GC SBH. Here the time-dependent equations describing gravitational interaction of the dark matter with the stars are solved. Scattering of dark matter particles by stars would substantially lower the dark matter density near the GC SBH over 10 Gyr, due both to kinetic heating and to capture of dark matter particles by the SBH. This evolution implies a decrease by several orders of magnitude in the observable flux of annihilation products compared with models that associate a steep, dark matter spike with the SBH.
The removal of substituted phenols by a photocatalytic oxidation process with cadmium sulfide

Abstract The visible light photo-irradiation of aqueous cadmium sulfide produces conduction band holes that oxidize organic compounds. The oxidation rates of some substituted phenols depend upon the type of substituent as well as the degree of substitution. These rates do not correspond with those expected for electrophilic oxidation. Evidence for the rate dependence on the degree of phenol adsorption is presented which includes a correlation with the octanol-water partition coefficient as well as pH-surface charge dependencies.
Organic matter in anoxic sediments off Central Peru: Relations of porosity, microbial decomposition and deformation properties

Abstract Microstructure of Central Peru continental margin sediments suggests that in environments of rapid hemipelagic sedimentation organic matter decomposition has a significant effect on geotechnical properties. In highly porous surface sediments particles resembling the remains of fecal pellets appear to be coated by bacterial “sheaths”, but after burial sheaths disappear as an increasingly uniform and closed structure of organo-mineral aggregates develops. Interstitial water nutrient and solid phase C, N and P profiles support the interpretation that this progression corresponds to decomposition and metabolite regeneration from labile organic matter by microbial sulfate reduction. It is proposed that early aggregation has a strengthening effect and that this combined with the low density of near-surface sediments results in an effective overburden pressure lower than experimentally determined preconsolidation pressures. More basic knowledge of the “lifetime” of organo-mineral aggregates and the influence of gross and local microstructure on the rates and products of diagenetic reactions is needed in order to verify the relationship between organic matter accumulation and sediment stability in continental margin environments.
Traveling waves in a one-dimensional heterogeneous medium

Abstract We consider solutions of a scalar reaction–diffusion equation of the ignition type with a random, stationary and ergodic reaction rate. We show that solutions of the Cauchy problem spread with a deterministic rate in the long time limit. We also establish existence of generalized random traveling waves and of transition fronts in general heterogeneous media.
Distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of Rhodococcus equi from clinical specimens.

Rhodococcus equi, an unusual gram positive aerobic actinomycete, was first described as a respiratory pathogen of livestock in 1923. Reports of human clinical illness have emphasized R. equi as a cause of invasive pulmonary infection in severely immunocompromised patients and, recently, have implicated it as a cause of pneumonia, bacteremia and disseminated infection in HIV-infected patients. To determine the distribution of R. equi we evaluated 107 isolates referred to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) during the period January 1973 through December 1990. The sites of these 107 isolates (101 patient and 6 animal isolates) were: blood (32 isolates), sputum (30), lung tissue (13) and other site (32). Before 1983, when the first R. equi isolate from an HIV-infected patient was received, CDC received a total of 52 patient isolates. In addition, during this 10 year period, R. equi isolates were received from more than one site from only one patient. However, during the two year period 1989–1990, we identified 8 patients with underlying HIV infection and R. equi pneumonia who accounted for 29 of 35 (83%) R. equi patient isolates; 6 of these patients also had bacteremia and three died with disseminated R. equi infection. No isolates were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanate, ampicillin-sulbactam, gentamicin or imipenem, and few (< 5%) isolates were resistant to erythromycin, rifampin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. These results suggest that HIV-infected patients, in particular, are predisposed to develop invasive pulmonary, fatal disseminated R. equi infection (or both), and appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility testing of clinical isolates may improve the effectiveness of therapy of R. equi-infected patients.
Catalytic hydrogenation of graphite by platinum, iridium, and platinum-iridium

Abstract The interaction of Pt, Ir, and PtIr with graphite under 1 Torr of hydrogen has been studied using controlled-atmosphere electron microscopy. As the sample temperature was progressively increased for each of these systems, three predominant phenomena were observed after initial nucleation of metallic particles: (i) spreading (or wetting) of the metallic particles over the graphite surface, (ii) renucleation of smaller, metallic particles on the graphite, and (iii) channeling of these metallic particles across the graphite basal plane due to catalytic hydrogenation of carbon. For platinum, spreading was observed at 755 †C followed by renucleation and channeling at 845 °C, for iridium, spreading took place at 965 °C followed by renucleation and channeling at 1050 °C; and for PtIr, spreading was observed at 850 °c followed by renucleation and channeling at 970 †C. From the temperature dependence of the channel propagation rate for metal particles of constant diameter (25 nm) and channels of constant depth, apparent activation energies for the catalytic hydrogenation of graphite were determined to be approximately 50 kcal mol− for Pt, Ir, and PtIr. The absolute values of the channel propagation rates for Pt and PtIr were essentially equal, while the corresponding rate for Ir was substantially faster. It is suggested that the surface of Pt-Ir alloy particles is enriched in platinum under the reducing conditions of the present study. The driving force for particle spreading over the graphite surface is discussed in terms of “activation” of the graphite surface by atomic hydrogen produced on the metallic particles.
Chaos for Liouville probability densities

Using the method of symbolic dynamics, we show that a large class of classical chaotic maps exhibits exponential hypersensitivity to perturbation, i.e., a rapid increase with time of the information needed to describe the perturbed time evolution of the Liouville density, the information attaining values that are exponentially larger than the entropy increase that results from averaging over the perturbation. The exponential rate of growth of the ratio of information to entropy is given by the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy of the map. These findings generalize and extend results obtained for the baker's map [R. Schack and C. M. Caves, Phys. Rev. Lett. 69, 3413 (1992)].
Respiratory Mechanisms in the Aroid Spadix

The flowers of Skunk-cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), like the spadix tissues of other Aroids, have a rapid, carbon monoxide and cyanide (HCN) resistant respiration ; oxygen uptake is independent of the oxygen partial pressure over a wide range. Cell fractions were isolated by differential centrifugation and their oxidative activities studied. Oxidation of succinate and citrate by mitochondria can be inhibited 50 to 60 per cent, by 1 X io-3 M. HCN, and antimycin A (AA) causes partial inhibitions. An active mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase is present, and it shows a typical sensitivity to cyanide. The mitochondria possess an active reduced diphosphopyridine-nucleotide (DPNH) oxidase system, which is inhibited roughly 80 per cent, by 1 X io-3 M. HCN and 1-7 /rg./ml. AA. The microsomal DPNH oxidase, which is less sensitive to inhibitors, is less active per gramme of tissue than that on the mitochondria. The final supernatant shows little DPNH oxidase. With all fractions, reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) is oxidized much more slowly than DPNH. DPNH-cyto chrome-e reductase activity was measured ; the mitochondrial system is partially blocked by AA, whereas the microsomal activity is AA-insensitive. Spectro photometric examination of a preparation of solubilized mitochondria showed that cytochromes a, b, and c are present. The results are discussed with reference to the pathway and localization of hydrogen and electron transport in the Aroid spadix.
Practitioners' perceptions of the importance of specific corporate tax knowledge of new hires working in tax

Abstract This study reports accounting practitioners' perceptions of the importance of new hires having certain tax knowledge normally addressed and developed in a corporate tax class. Variables related to the administration of a tax course are also examined. The results suggest that topics dealing with Subchapter S Corporations, determination of the corporate tax liability, and definition of the corporation are perceived as most important and should be covered in depth. Collapsible corporations and preferred stock bailouts are considered the least important topics. The survey results also are analyzed by firm size (large, medium, and small). Respondents from small firms place more importance on the accumulated earnings tax than the respondents from large firms. Respondents from large firms place more importance on reorganizations than respondents from medium or small firms. When asked about corporate tax course administration, respondents recommend the use of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and Regulations as a supplement to a standard textbook. They think it is important for any new hire to have at least one corporate tax course and be familiar with corporate tax forms. The only disagreement among the respondents from the different size firms is related to the number of courses students should complete. The respondents from the large firms indicate one course in corporate tax is not sufficient while the respondents from the medium and small firms indicate it is. The study also compares practitioners' recommendations concerning the amount of coverage for various corporate tax topics with the coverage of the topics in two corporate tax textbooks. These results have implications for accounting academicians who teach corporate tax. The results are useful in determining course coverage and in identifying topics that need additional attention as well as areas that need to be deemphasized or eliminated. The results also provide insight into the corporate tax course administration.
Perturbation theory for solitons in optical fibers.

Using a singular perturbation expansion, we study the evolution of a Raman loss compensated soliton in an optical fiber. Our analytical results agree quite well with the numerical results of Mollenauer, Gordon, and Islam [IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-22, 157 (1986)]. However, there are some differences in that our theory predicts an additional structure that was only partially seen in the numerical calculations. Our analytical results do give a quite good qualitative and quantitative check of the numerical results.
The Short List: The Most Effective Actions U.S. Households Can Take to Curb Climate Change

(2008). The Short List: The Most Effective Actions U.S. Households Can Take to Curb Climate Change. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development: Vol. 50, No. 5, pp. 12-25.
Essential Radiographic Evaluation for Distal Radius Fractures

Because the interpretation of the radiographs of distal radius fractures has such a profound impact on care of these injuries, accurate assessment of standard radiographs is essential for appropriate management [1,2]. Radiographs are a twodimensional representation of a three-dimensional structure. Subtle changes in radiographic landmarks can provide significant information that can be used to understand the pattern of fragmentation and extent of the injury. Unfortunately much of this information often goes unnoticed simply because the physician is not trained to recognize it. Although computed axial tomography and MRI can provide more detailed imaging of the fracture pattern, the extra expense and delay in treatment from obtaining a CT scan at the time of a reduction are often practical limitations limiting its routine use [3–8]. By recognizing detailed features on standard radiographic images and identifying abnormal variation of certain key parameters, the surgeon can create a more accurate visual image of the actual osseous deformity, resulting in a more informed and rational approach to treatment [9]. The purpose of this article is to provide specific guidelines for improved interpretation of radiographs in patients with distal radius fractures.
VEGF expression predicts survival in patients with peritoneal surface metastases from mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix and colon.

High levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ovarian cancer metastases are associated with a worse prognosis in patients treated with chemotherapy. VEGF-directed therapy improves survival for those with metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients with mucinous adenocarcinomas metastatic to the peritoneal surfaces can be treated with cytoreductive surgery, and both tumor grade and cytoreduction status are prognostic. We hypothesized that angiogenic indices may be prognostic in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix and colon. Cytoreductive cases from a 5-year period from the University of Cincinnati peritoneal malignancy database were reviewed. CD 34 counts (blood vessels) and VEGF expression was evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry on specimens from patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP) for mucinous adenocarcinoma. A total of 26 males and 9 females, with a mean age of 50 years, underwent cytoreductive surgery and IPHP for mucinous adenocarcinoma of appendiceal (n = 32) or colonic (n = 3) origin. With a mean follow-up of 18 months (range 1–63 months), 23 had disease recurrence and 12 were alive without recurrence. The mean survival was 19 months (range 1–63 months). CD34 counts did not correlate with recurrence or survival; however, average VEGF counts correlated with survival (P = 0.017), and, for patients with recurrence, this correlation was stronger (P = 0.002). These results suggest that markers of tumor angiogenesis may predict survival in patients with peritoneal surface metastases from mucinous adenocarcinoma. These findings provoke the hypothesis that antiangiogenic therapies may be effective in patients with this devastating disease.
Dendritic counterflow heat exchanger experiments

In this paper we report experimentally the hydraulic and thermal behavior of a balanced counterflow heat exchanger in which each stream flows through a tree-shaped structure covering a circular area. The tree structure is the same on both sides of the heat exchanger: they have three channels reaching/leaving the center, and three branching levels (i.e., 24 channels on the periphery of the circular area). On the hot side, fluid is pumped from the center to the periphery. On the cold side, fluid is pumped from the periphery to the center, and leaves the heat exchanger as a single stream. Two experimental apparatuses were built and tested. In the first design, the body of the heat exchanger was made out of plexiglass and a peripheral plenum was used to collect or distribute the working fluid to the tree structure. The measurements showed that the use of a plenum generates undesirable volumetric flow asymmetries. These lessons led to a second design, which has two major improvements: (i) the heat exchanger core was made out of aluminum and (ii) individual ports (inlets/outlets) were used for each of the peripheral channels. The hydraulic results show a relation between the appearance of volumetric flow rate asymmetries and the bifurcation angles throughout the dendritic structure. The heat transfer results are also discussed.
A Latent Variable Analysis of Couple Closeness, Attributions, and Relational Satisfaction:

Evidence has shown that couple closeness is positively correlated with relational satisfaction, but explanatory constructs have not been identified. Also, much research on relational satisfaction t...
Metal ion complex formation constants of some sedimentary humic acids with Zn(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II)

Abstract Metal ion complex formation constants were determined for several sedimentary humic acids (SHA) derived from a fresh water lake and several coastal marine environments, using a method based on size exclusion chromatography. Only one type of binding site was observed in all cases, and conditional log K f values of between 5 and 7 (at pH 8, I = 0.01 M) were found. Elemental composition of the SHA was similar to soil HA, except that nitrogen content was significantly higher in the SHA. Other chemical properties of the SHA were consistent with those reported by other workers. While spectroscopic measurements indicated that the SHA may have contained significant amounts of polysaccharide compounds which were not removed by conventional separation and purification procedures, analysis indicated only very low levels of polysaccharides were present in the SHA.
Unipotent groups and curves of genus two

In this paper we study unipotent groups associated to degenerations of smooth curves. In particular, we obtain results on the exponent of these groups, and use these to get an almost complete description of the structure of unipotent groups associated to curves of genus two.
Effect of extracellular K+ on saliva secretion by isolated, perfused rat submandibular glands

Changes in perfusate K+ concentration altered the secretory response of the glands to 10(-6) M acetylcholine. Lack of extracellular K+ caused a transient fluid secretory response lasting less than 10 min, and a 91 per cent reduction in the overall volume of saliva secreted in 60 min; it inhibited the response to acetylcholine even when the perfusate was changed to K+-containing solutions after 30 min. Absence of K+ in the perfusate resulted in increased Na+ and decreased K+ and Cl- concentrations in saliva. An increase in the perfusate K+ concentration to 50 mM/l caused a reduced but more sustained secretory response, although the volume of saliva secreted in 60 min was still reduced by 76 per cent compared to that obtained when the perfusate contained 4.6 m-equiv./l K+. Acetylcholine release induced by the high K seemed mostly responsible as the response was inhibited by atropine. However, in the presence of excess of exogenous acetylcholine, perfusion with high K+ medium resulted in reduced Na+ and elevated K+ and Cl- concentrations in saliva. It seems that a physiological (4-5 m-equiv./l) extracellular K+ concentration is required for acinar fluid secretion and for transductal electrolyte transport in the rat glands; lack of external K+ hyperpolarizes salivary cells and, although allowing an initial increase in Na+ conductance capable of causing secretion, prevents the further influx of this ion required to sustain saliva secretion. It also inhibits K+ secretion and Na+ re-absorption in salivary ducts, probably by inhibiting the Na+, K+ pump in duct cells; high external K+ depolarizes acinar cells and may reduce Na+ conductance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Heme Transfer to the Bacterial Cell Envelope Occurs via a Secreted Hemophore in the Gram-positive Pathogen Bacillus anthracis

To initiate and sustain an infection in mammals, bacterial pathogens must acquire host iron. However, the host's compartmentalization of large amounts of iron in heme, which is bound primarily by hemoglobin in red blood cells, acts as a barrier to bacterial iron assimilation. Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of the disease anthrax, secretes two NEAT (near iron transporter) proteins, IsdX1 and IsdX2, which scavenge heme from host hemoglobin and promote growth under low iron conditions. The mechanism of heme transfer from these hemophores to the bacterial cell is not known. We present evidence that the heme-bound form of IsdX1 rapidly and directionally transfers heme to IsdC, a NEAT protein covalently attached to the cell wall, as well as to IsdX2. In both cases, the transfer of heme is mediated by a physical association between the donor and recipient. Unlike Staphylococcus aureus, whose NEAT proteins acquire heme from hemoglobin directly at the bacterial surface, B. anthracis secretes IsdX1 to capture heme in the extracellular milieu and relies on NEAT-NEAT interactions to deliver the bound heme to the envelope via IsdC. Understanding the mechanism of NEAT-mediated iron transport into pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria may provide an avenue for the development of therapeutics to combat infection.
Sizing it up: cellular MRI using micron-sized iron oxide particles.

There is rapidly increasing interest in the use of MRI to track cell migration in intact animals. Currently, cell labeling is usually accomplished by endocytosis of nanometer-sized, dextran-coated iron oxide particles. The limitations of using nanometer-sized particles, however, are that millions of particles are required to achieve sufficient contrast, the label can be diluted beyond observability by cell division, and the label is biodegradable. These problems make it difficult to label cells other than macrophages in vivo, and to conduct long-term engraftment studies. It was recently demonstrated that micron-sized iron oxide particles (MPIOs) can be taken up by a number of cell types. In this study we examined the MRI properties of single MPIOs with sizes of 0.96, 1.63, 2.79, 4.50, and 5.80 μm. Furthermore, the capacity of cells to endocytose these MPIOs was investigated, and the MRI properties of the labeled cells at 7.0 and 11.7 Tesla were measured as a function of image resolution and echo time (TE). Cells labeled with MPIOs generally contained iron levels of ∼100 pg, which is approximately threefold higher than those obtained with the best strategies to label cells using nanometer-sized particles. On occasion, some cells had levels as high as ∼400 pg. We demonstrate that these large particles and the cells labeled with them can be detected by spin echo (SE)-based imaging methods. These measurements indicate that MPIOs should be useful for improving cell tracking by MRI. Magn Reson Med 53:329–338, 2005. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ending Transportation Neglect in America

America is a consumption addicted commuter nation, but our once beloved transportation infrastructure is suffering from years of neglect jeopardizing this way of life. Public administration seems to have all but abandoned the subject and, thus, transportation policies and the implementation of those policies are seriously flawed. This article explores the progression of transportation policy in the United States as it relates to our federal system of governance. The focus is on the nexus of control and how this control could be shifted locally due to freight planning requirements of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. It also discusses the expanded role in freight planning for localities and the private sector outlined in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. It emphasizes the growing significance of public administrators in implementing complex, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional policy and calls on them to embrace this expanded role.
Kinetics of etching in inductively coupled plasmas

Abstract A modified Langmuir type surface kinetics model was developed in our previous work for interpreting the overall etching behavior of silicon based materials in fluorocarbon discharges using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactors. This kinetics model was tested for the global applicability to the ICP etching, either for the etching of non-silicon-based materials or for the etching in non-fluorocarbon-based discharges. Though this model has some limitations, e.g. not applicable for the etching in which the etch rate decreases with the bias voltage at some higher bias voltages, it successfully describes the behavior of etching of a wide variety of materials in various ICPs. To meet the expectation of the model, the inverse etch rate presented in the literature was fairly linearly dependent on (the bias voltage) −3/2 , which allows to evaluate some kinetics parameters for the ICP etching, and thus to characterize the etch behavior in a quantitative manner.
A Monte Carlo Model to Produce Baryons in $e^+ e^-$ Annihilation

A simple model is described extending the Field-Feynman model to baryon production in quark fragmentation. The model predicts baryon baryon correlations within jets and in opposite jets produced in electron-positron annihilation. Existing data is well described by the model.
Structuring Senior Design Capstone to Develop Competencies

Senior Design Capstone is a required component of many undergraduate engineering programs. The School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma has incorporated industry sponsored design projects, with Experiential Learning as the model, to develop technical and meta-competencies through the Senior Design Practicum Program. The Mechanical Engineering Capstone program has been developed to provide a learning environment, where students in teams work closely with an industry sponsor and a faculty advisor. The student teams work as a consulting group to produce useful results on an open-ended project to the sponsors’ satisfaction within the constraints of time and budget. Three major program elements, are (1) Student teams to learn and perform the tasks to achieve the desired goals of the project (2) Sponsor to define the problem, guide and accept or reject the results, and (3) Faculty to advise, coordinate, and evaluate. The Capstone program has targeted the energy industry, with a focus on oil and gas, which has a very strong presence in the region. The program, working closely with industry partners as mentors, prepares students for the energy industry. The student outcome and program are evaluated with extensive participation from industry. The program was implemented during 2002–2003. Over the last 10-years the program been able to sustain and grow. The plan that was used to sustain the program relied on developing a learning community of students, faculty and industry to support development of student competencies.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The multiple-pulse driver line on the OMEGA laser

The multiple-pulse driver line (MPD) provides on-shot co-propagation of two separate pulse shapes in all 60 OMEGA beams at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). The two co-propagating pulse shapes would typically be (1) a series of 100-ps “picket” pulses followed by (2) a longer square or shaped “drive” pulse. Smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD), which increases the laser bandwidth, can be applied to either one of the two pulse shapes. Therefore, MPD allows for dynamic bandwidth reduction, where the bandwidth is applied only to the picket portion of a pulse shape. Since the use of SSD decreases the efficiency of frequency conversion from the IR to the UV, dynamic bandwidth reduction provides an increase in the drive-pulse energy. The design of the MPD required careful consideration of beam combination as well as the minimum pulse separation for two pulses generated by two separate sources. A new combined-pulse-shape diagnostic needed to be designed and installed after the last grating used for SSD. This new driver-line flexibility is built into the OMEGA front end as one component of the initiative to mitigate cross-beam energy transfer on target and to demonstrate hydro-equivalent ignition on the OMEGA laser at LLE.