cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muscle Activity for Jaw Closing during Speech

The incidence and timing of activity in the jaw-closing muscles was investigated during speech. Electromyographic activity was analyzed from the masseter, anterior temporalis, medial pterygoid, and...
Trends in informatics publications and health policy

Published manuscripts with MESH "Informatics" did not follow increases in the percentage of office-based physicians using electronic medical records between 2001 and 2012.Display Omitted The sufficiency of the informatics research workforce is unquantified.We examined trends in published informatics manuscripts from 2001 to 2012.Manuscript publication was steady despite rapid increases in EMR adoption.We found evidence that the EMR adoption changes are outpacing informatics research.
Review of Quantitative Reasoning: Tools for Today's Informed Citizen by A. Sevilla and K. Somers

Alicia Sevilla and Kay Somers, Quantitative Reasoning: Tools for Today’s Informed Citizen. (Emeryville CA: Key College Publishing, 2007). 626 pp. Softcover with Student CD. $79.95 (USA) ISBN 1-931914-90-1. http://www.keycollege.com/catalog/titles/quantitative_reasoning.html From charts and graphs (Topic 1) to decision making (Topic 21), Quantitative Reasoning offers a good selection of topics that students in a general education mathematics course and other individuals in our society should understand. Organizing the 21 chapters (topics) under the headings of numerical reasoning, logical reasoning, and statistical reasoning, Sevilla and Somers focus their chapters on examples and devote the last 224 pages to 21 Excel activities. Parallel graphic-calculator activities are on the Student CD, together with the data bank for the Excel activities. The strong orientation toward exercises and activities will assist instructors in making their course an engaging numeracy experience for their students; however, it also likely means that some instructors will find that some explanations are not as fully developed as they would like. With the selection, structure, exercises and activities provided by Sevilla and Somers, instructors can easily add supplemental material according to their own interests and priorities.
Geochronology and geochemistry of lavas from the 1996 North Gorda Ridge eruption

Abstract Radiometric dating of three North Gorda Ridge lavas by the 210 Po– 210 Pb method confirms that an eruption occurred during a period of increased seismic activity along the ridge during late February/early March 1996. These lavas were collected following detection of enhanced T-phase seismicity and subsequent ocean bottom photographs documented the existence of a large pillow mound of fresh-appearing lavas. 210 Po– 210 Pb dating of these lavas indicates that an eruption coinciding with this seismicity did occur (within analytical error) and that followup efforts to sample the recent lava flows were successful. Compositions of the three confirmed young lavas and eleven other samples of this contiguous “new flow” sequence are distinct from older lavas from this area but are variable at a level outside analytical uncertainty. These intraflow variations can not easily be related to a single, common parent magma. Compositional variability within the new flow is compared to that of other recently documented individual flow sequences, and this comparison reveals a strong positive correlation of compositional variance with flow volumes spanning a range of >2 orders of magnitude. The geochemical heterogeneity in the North Gorda new flow probably reflects incomplete mixing of magmas generated from a heterogeneous mantle source or from slightly different melting conditions of a single source. The compositional variability, range in sample ages (up to 6 weeks) and range in active seismicity (4 weeks) imply that this relatively large flow was erupted over an interval of several weeks.
Cervicofacial actinomycosis following surgical trauma in rats

Cervicofacial actinomycosis in man is often associated with physical trauma. The presence of intrabony abscesses in rat mandibles following surgical trauma supports the clinical observation that antecedent trauma is an important factor in the pathogenesis of cervicofacial actinomycosis.
Pregelix: dataflow-based big graph analytics

Recently, Google has proposed the Pregel programming model [2] for Big Graph analytics, where application programmers need no knowledge of parallel or distributed systems. Instead, they just need to "think like a vertex" and write a few functions that encapsulate the logic for what one graph vertex does. The vertex-oriented programming model has been found to ease the implementation of distributed graph algorithms to a great extent.
Lysosome response of virus infected serum and serum-free mammalian cells cultured in vitro.

Abstract Three tissue culture cell lines employing serum as a growth factor along with two cell lines derived from one of the serum lins and using peptone dialysate as a growth factor were infected with four different viruses. Degrees of cytotoxicity and stages of acid phosphatase production were determined for each cell line after infection with each virus. The stage of acid phosphatase activation was indicative of lysosome involvement. In general, the serum lines exhibited good cytotoxicity and acid phosphatase activation. The serum lines were passed in media containing cortisone, infected with the viruses again, and assayed for cytotoxicity and acid phosphatase activation. Both were inhibited lending support to the stabilizing activity of cortisone. No concrete correlation could be made between cytotoxicity and acid phosphatase activation in serum and serum-free cells.
No effect of timing of biopsy in the menstrual cycle on incidence of bone marrow micrometastasis in patients with breast cancer

Background: The timing of breast cancer excision relative to the menstrual cycle has been debated to be of significant prognostic value. The differences in survival relative to the timing in the menstrual cycle have been attributed to the incidence of micrometastasis. Methods: All patients underwent bone marrow aspiration after the diagnostic surgical biopsy, immediately before definitive surgery. The timing of the diagnostic surgical biopsy in the menstrual cycle was calculated according to Senie. Monoclonal antibodies to epithelium-specific antigens were used to detect bone marrow micrometastasis (BMM). Results: This study reports on the effect of the phase of the menstrual cycle on incidence of BMM after surgical biopsy. Ninety-two patients with regular cycles underwent bone marrow aspiration an average of 12 days (range 0–32 days) after biopsy. Thirty-nine patients had undergone biopsy during the follicular phase and 53 patients during the luteal phase. BMM were detected in 31% of patients (29 of 92). We observed BMM in 33% of patients (13 of 39) in the follicular phase and in 30% of patients (16 of 53) in the luteal phase. This difference is not significant (p>0.70). The mean number of cells detected and the presence of clumps of cells is similar in the two groups. Conclusions: The incidence and characteristics of bone marrow micrometastases are independent of the timing of diagnostic excision biopsy in the menstrual cycle.
A generalized state-space for singular systems

Systems of the form E\dot{x}=Ax + Bu, y=Cx , with E singular, are studied. Of particular interest are the impulsive modes that may appear in the free-response of such systems when arbitrary initial conditions are permitted, modes that are associated with natural system frequencies at infinity. A generalized definition of system order that incorporates these impulsive degrees of freedom is proposed, and concepts of controllability and observability are defined for the impulsive modes. Allowable equivalence transformations of such singular systems are specified. The present framework is shown to overcome several difficulties inherent in other treatments of singular systems, and to extend, in a natural and satisfying way, many results previously known only for regular state-space systems.
A practical approach for optimization of infill well placement in tight gas reservoirs

Abstract Despite their low production rates, tight gas wells contribute significantly to the Nation's energy supply. Because permeabilities in tight reservoirs can be as low as fractions of a millidarcy, or even in the microdarcy range, drainage areas are small and many more wells are needed to drain tight gas fields than conventional gas fields. Infill drilling has been the most common and effective means to revitalize tight gas fields, by adding new reserves and accelerating recovery. Given the marginal nature of tight gas fields, optimization of infill well placement is extremely important to ensure economic viability of infill drilling programs. However, optimal placement of infill wells in tight gas fields is challenging. First, the reservoirs are usually quite complex and reservoir characteristics are often not well understood, even though most of these fields are mature. Second, data are usually scarce. It is not uncommon for only production data to be available in a marginal, tight gas field. Third, these fields often contain a large number of existing wells, which can require the evaluation of hundreds of potential infill drilling candidates. Finally, interference between wells affects placement of infill drilling wells and must be considered in the evaluation. Given the marginal nature of these gas fields, a conventional evaluation approach, such as detailed reservoir characterization and simulation, is usually prohibitively time-consuming and costly. Thus, a rapid and cost-effective approach to optimal infill drilling design that adequately addresses these issues would be quite valuable to operators. In this paper, we present a systematic methodology for efficient design of an infill drilling scheme for marginal gas reservoirs. The approach consists of two major components. The first is a sequential inversion algorithm for rapid history matching. The algorithm is conditional to the correlation between permeability and porosity, if any. The inversion provides not only the spatial distribution of both permeability and pore volume, but also the spatial distribution of remaining gas in place. The second component of the approach is a successive selection strategy for infill candidate locations. The method fully addresses well interference between existing and infill wells, as well as interference between infill wells. It is rapid and cost effective. Synthetic and field examples are provided to demonstrate the applicability and power of the method.
Identification of a new prp locus required for propionate catabolism in Salmonella typhimurium LT2

A new propionate (prp) locus of S. typhimurium was defined by mutation, was located to minute 8 of the chromosome, and was shown to be transcribed in the clockwise direction. A plasmid carrying the wild-type prp+ locus was isolated by complementation, and its initial physical characterization is presented. Transcriptional regulation of prp was studied using MudI1734(lacZ+) operon fusions. Propionate stimulated prp transcription in a merodiploid strain containing prp+ and a prp::MudI1734 fusion, but failed to stimulate transcription of the same fusion in a haploid genetic background, prp transcription was reduced by a factor of 2 in strains deficient in the synthesis of the global regulatory protein FruR; fruR mutants failed to grow on propionate. Propionate blocked growth of prp mutants on medium containing succinate as carbon/energy source.
Keratocyte Loss and Repopulation of Anterior Corneal Stroma After De-epithelialization

Objective: To quantitate corneal keratocyte loss and repopulation of anterior stroma after de-epithelialization. Methods: Fourteen white New Zealand rabbits, each weighing 2.3 to 3.2 kg, were divided into seven groups. Each rabbit underwent a bilateral 6-mm mechanical de-epithelialization procedure. The rabbits were killed two at a time after 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 28 days. The corneas were labeled for mitosis using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine and stained for keratocyte quantification. Three untreated rabbits were added as controls. Results: Corneas that were not operated on showed a higher density of keratocyte nuclei within the anterior corneal stroma than in the posterior stroma. Following de-epithelialization, there was a decrease in the ratio of anterior-posterior keratocytes, with maximal decrease on the third postoperative day. Keratocyte repopulation was completed by day 14. Mitotic activity was seen on days 1, 3, and 6 in the anterior half of the de-epithelialized stroma. Conclusions: Anterior stromal keratocytes are lost after epithelial removal, but repopulation is complete within 2 weeks. These findings demonstrate a loss of keratocytes and their recovery after corneal epithelial removal, as well as an interaction between corneal epithelium and stroma in rabbits.
Reverse Water‐Level Fluctuations Associated with Fracture Connectivity

Reverse water-level fluctuations (RWFs), a phenomenon in which water levels rise briefly in response to pumping, were detected in monitoring wells in a fractured siliciclastic aquifer system near a deep public supply well. The magnitude and timing of RWFs provide important information that can help interpret aquifer hydraulics near pumping wells. A RWF in a well is normally attributed to poroelastic coupling between the solid and fluid components in an aquifer system. In addition to revealing classical pumping-induced poroelastic RWFs, data from pressure transducers located at varying depths and distances from the public supply well suggest that the RWFs propagate rapidly through fractures to influence wells hundreds of meters from the pumping well. The rate and cycling frequency of pumping is an important factor in the magnitude of RWFs. The pattern of RWF propagation can be used to better define fracture connectivity in an aquifer system. Rapid, cyclic head changes due to RWFs may also serve as a mechanism for contaminant transport.
Members' Goals and Coalition-Building Strategies in the U. S. House: The Case of Tax Reform

An important issue raised by recent work which views members of the U.S. Congress as purposive actors is how to conceptualize members' goals. This note proposes that coalition-building strategies employed by congressional leaders may provide empirical evidence bearing on this question. Unlike other sources of evidence on members' goals, appeals made directly by leaders to rank-and-file legislators are not easily discounted as posturing or "position-taking." An analysis of the committee coalition-building strategy employed by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski (D-Illinois) on the issue of tax reform in 1985 supports earlier findings on the importance of prestige and policy goals for members of this committee and provides some additional empirical grounding for a conceptualization of members' goals of the type advanced by Richard F. Fenno, Jr.
Ohmic Contacts to High-Tc Superconductors

An essential need for all superconductor devices is to make ohmic, low resistivity contacts with normal conductors. Contacts made with indium solder, silver paint or epoxy, direct wire bonds, and pressure contacts have contact surface resistivities typically in the range 10-2-10 0-cm2, several orders of magnitude too high for many practical applications and critical current measurements. Contact resistivity levels on the order of 10-4-10-5 12-cm2 or lower are needed for critical current measurements to keep contact heating from becoming a problem (unless pulsed-current methods and sample necking techniques are used). For thin-film package inter-connects, contact resistivities in the 10-8 12-cm2 range are needed and finally, for on-chip interconnects, resistivities in the 10-10 Ω-cm2 range are required.
Temporal and Species Variation in Cold Hardiness Among Invasive Rhizophagous Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in a Northern Hardwood Forest

ABSTRACT A complex of invasive rhizophagous weevils has established in North American northern hardwood forests. Little is known regarding the overwintering biology of these weevils and thus how cold hardiness and weather affect population dynamics. Field data from winter 2006–2007 showed a decline in larval abundance but an increase in larval weight of the surviving individuals. During winter 2008–2009, we examined several aspects of overwintering biology of Phyllobius oblongus (L.), Polydrusus sericeus (Schaller), and Barypeithes pellucidus (Boheman). Larvae were collected in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and transported in bulk field soil to the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, for laboratory assays. Supercooling points (SCPs) of P. oblongus and B. pellucidus larvae not in contact with ice were highest in October and lowest in March, but SCPs of larvae that were in contact with ice did not differ among sampling dates. Larval cold tolerance increased over the winter, with 11% of P. oblongus a...
Genetic control of whisker antigen of bacteriophage T4D

An antigenic component of T4 whiskers (short fibrils located in the region of the head—tail junction) has been reported to be under the control of gene 49 (Yanagida & Ahmad-Zadeh, 1970; Yanagida, 1972). This was based on immunological evidence using antiserum to particles of T4D adsorbed with gene 49-defective extract made with the mutant amE727. The latter phage, however, is shown here to be a double mutant bearing amber mutations in gene 49 and another gene, herein referred to as wac (whisker antigen control gene). Gene wac maps in the general region of gene 16. Evidence is presented indicating that the whisker antigen is under the control of wac and not gene 49. In wac-defective infections phage are produced that lack a protein. This protein appears by electrophoretic analysis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels to be the major component of the antigen. The tail fibers of wac-defective bacteriophage are in an open configuration under conditions in which those of wild-type phage are folded alongside the tail. Thus, the wac gene may have a role in the regulation of tail-fiber configuration.
Identification of the γ Subunit-interacting Residues on Photoreceptor cGMP Phosphodiesterase, PDE6α′

Photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6) is the effector enzyme in the G protein-mediated visual transduction cascade. In the dark, the activity of PDE6 is shut off by the inhibitory γ subunit (Pγ). Chimeric proteins between cone PDE6α′ and cGMP-binding and cGMP-specific PDE (PDE5) have been constructed and expressed in Sf9 cells to study the mechanism of inhibition of PDE6 catalytic activity by Pγ. Substitution of the segment PDE5-(773–820) by the corresponding PDE6α′-(737–784) sequence in the wild-type PDE5 or in a PDE5/PDE6α′ chimera containing the catalytic domain of PDE5 results in chimeric enzymes capable of inhibitory interaction with Pγ. The catalytic properties of the chimeric PDEs remained similar to those of PDE5. Ala-scanning mutational analysis of the Pγ-binding region, PDE6α′-(750–760), revealed PDE6α′ residues essential for the interaction. The M758A mutation markedly impaired and the Q752A mutation moderately impaired the inhibition of chimeric PDE by Pγ. The analysis of the catalytic properties of mutant PDEs and a model of the PDE6 catalytic domain suggest that residues Met758 and Gln752directly bind Pγ. A model of the PDE6 catalytic site shows that PDE6α′-(750–760) forms a loop at the entrance to the cGMP-binding pocket. Binding of Pγ to Met758 would effectively block access of cGMP to the catalytic cavity, providing a structural basis for the mechanism of PDE6 inhibition.
Controlling ZnO morphology for improved methanol steam reforming reactivity

The selectivity towards CO2 during steam reforming of methanol on Pd increases in the order Al2O3 < ZrO2 < ZnO. However, conventional catalyst preparation can damage the ZnO surface, even causing complete dissolution. The faceted, prismatic ZnO crystals in the support (Aldrich) get easily destroyed during catalyst preparation. We show in this work that, by using organic precursors, the faceted ZnO particles can be preserved. The role of ZnO morphology on reactivity for methanol steam reforming (MSR) is explored. Since the MSR reactivity and selectivity is also a function of the particle size of the nanoparticles as well as the presence of the PdZn ordered alloy phase, we have controlled for both these parameters to derive the true influence of the support. We find that the catalyst prepared from an organic precursor is more active than one prepared from acidic precursors, despite having similar particle size and extent of bulk PdZn ordered alloy formation. The results suggest that preserving certain ZnO surfaces is beneficial, and the ZnO support may play an important role in the overall reaction of methanol steam reforming.
Intrashell variations in amino acid concentrations and isoleucine epimerization ratios in fossil Hiatella arctica

Twenty-four valves of fossil Hiatella arctica were analyzed to determine if amino acid ratios varied from one region of a shell to another. The ratio of D-alloisoleucine/L-isoleucine, routinely used as a stratigraphic correlation tool and an indicator of relative age, did not vary significantly between five anatomically different shell parts in Hiatella arctica . Sampling only the hinge or central part of all valves, however, resulted in less variation about the average value. Analyses of only this part of the shell should improve the resolution of stratigraphic units by amino acid geochronology. The absolute concentrations of aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, valine, alloisoleucine, isoleucine, and leucine (in picomoles/milligram of shell) are significantly higher in the hinge and central part of the shell, whereas the outer growth edge appears to have lower levels of amino acids. This is true in both the FREE and TOTAL hydrolysate fractions. The reasons are not clear; however, the high value may be caused by a thin, protein-rich inner layer lining the valve out to the pallial line and/or differences in the proportion of inorganic carbonate to protein produced in different areas during shell growth. Alternatively, it may suggest leaching of the thinner, more vulnerable part of the shell growth edge.
Semantic modeling and natural language processing for environmental compliance checking

There is an increasing need for improved environmental compliance, while reducing the time and cost of compliance checking (CC). This research offers a new approach for automated environmental CC. The approach utilizes semantic modeling and natural language processing (NLP) techniques. Semantic modeling aims at offering the level of knowledge representation and reasoning that is needed to process applicable environmental regulations and check compliance of construction plans to the rules that are prescribed by those regulations. NLP techniques will facilitate text analysis and processing for achieving human-like extraction and formalization of rules and information. The approach is intended to automatically detect non-compliance instances and provide a rich analysis of the non-compliance such as which regulation was violated, reason for violation, possible consequences of violation. To achieve such deep levels of text processing and automated reasoning, three algorithms are developed and combined into one computational platform: (1) a machine-learning-based text classification algorithm to classify relevant text (in documents such as environmental regulations), (2) a hybrid syntactic-semantic, utilizing grammatical and meaning-descriptive features of the text, information extraction algorithm to facilitate text processing for extraction and formalization of rules and information, and (3) a logic-based algorithm for compliance reasoning. Automated analysis will be facilitated by a semantic model for environmental knowledge representation and reasoning. The algorithms will be implemented in a proof-of-concept prototype software for automated environmental CC, and will be tested and validated using real-life-based test case scenarios. This research will transform the way we conceptualize and formally reason about complex regulatory schemes and associated CC processes, and will advance the research in the areas of deep NLP and deep semantic reasoning. The results of this research will also transform the way construction professionals and government regulators (e.g. environmental protection agencies) check the compliance of construction projects with environmental regulations and green practices. The ultimate goals of this research, in terms of benefits to the society, are: (1) increasing environmental compliance in construction, thereby protecting human health and the environment, (2) promoting compliance with non-regulatory green construction practices, thereby supporting green and sustainable construction, and (3) reducing the time and cost of environmental CC.2 2 This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1201170. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Posterior Cortical Atrophy Evidence for Discrete Syndromes of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) may represent a discrete syndrome of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rather than amnestic AD with visual deficits. Methods: We separated 30 patients with PCA b...
A Generic Time Hierarchy with One Bit of Advice

We show that for any reasonable semantic model of computation and for any positive integer a and rationals 1 ? c < d, there exists a language computable in time n d with a bits of advice but not in time n c with a bits of advice. Our result implies the first such hierarchy theorem for randomized machines with zero-sided error, quantum machines with one- or zero-sided error, unambiguous machines, symmetric alternation, Arthur.Merlin games of any signature, etc. Our argument yields considerably simpler proofs of known hierarchy theorems with one bit of advice for randomized and quantum machines with two-sided error. Our paradigm also allows us to derive stronger separation results in which the machine with the smaller running time can receive more advice than the one with the larger running time. We present a unified way to derive such results for randomized and quantum machines with two-sided error and for randomized machines with one-sided error.
Immunity to vacuolar pathogens: what can we learn from Legionella?

Summary Intracellular pathogens can manipulate host cellular pathways to create specialized organelles. These pathogen-modified vacuoles permit the survival and replication of bacterial and protozoan microorganisms inside of the host cell. By establishing an atypical organelle, intracellular pathogens present unique challenges to the host immune system. To understand pathogenesis, it is important to not only investigate how these organisms create unique subcellular compartments, but to also determine how mammalian immune systems have evolved to detect and respond to pathogens sequestered in specialized vacuoles. Recent studies have identified genes in the respiratory pathogen Legionella pneumophila that are essential for establishing a unique endoplasmic reticulum-derived organelle inside of mammalian macrophages, making this pathogen an attractive model system for investigations on host immune responses that are specific for bacteria that establish vacuoles disconnected from the endocytic pathway. This review will focus on the host immune response to Legionella and highlight areas of Legionella research that should help elucidate host strategies to combat infections by intracellular pathogens.
Identification of Cell-Specific Messenger Ribonucleic Acids in Oxytocinergic and Vasopressinergic Magnocellular Neurons in Rat Supraoptic Nucleus by Single-Cell Differential Hybridization

Magnocellular neurons (MCNs) in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system synthesize high levels of the peptides oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) in separate cells. We used RT-PCR amplification of the RNA from single-cells dissected from supraoptic nuclei of lactating rats to produce cDNAs from identified OT or VP MCNs, which were used to construct OT- and VP-MCN-specific cDNA libraries. These cDNA libraries were then screened using labeled probes from the OT- and VP-cells’ amplified cDNAs. Differentially hybridized colonies were isolated and characterized by slot blot hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, DNA sequencing, and in situ hybridization histochemistry. Using this approach, several novel cell-specific mRNAs were identified in the MCNs. One cell-specific clone, phosphofructokinase-C, was isolated from the OTcell library, and five cell-specific clones were isolated from the VP-cell library. These were identified as paternally expressed gene (Peg)5/neuronatin, metallothionein III, Peg3, synaptotagmin V, and a 3-phosphoadenosine 5-phosphosulfate synthase 2-related mRNA. None of these genes would have been predicted to be differentially expressed in OT and VP MCNs, based on our current knowledge; and hence, this single cell differential gene expression approach has begun to further define the MCN phenotypes by identifying selectively expressed molecules in them. (Endocrinology 143: 4464–4476, 2002)
Grassroots groups and poor women’s empowerment in rural India

Organizing grassroots groups, particularly among the deeply disadvantaged may require initial facilitation through a leader. This article suggests that such facilitative leadership will adopt a dif...
On Size Distributions of Cloud Droplets Growing by Condensation: A New Conceptual Model

Abstract Observed turbulence and fluctuating microphysical properties of clouds lead the authors to assume that a cloud droplet size distribution results from a large number of random events associated with turbulence and to consider a droplet system with fluctuating cloud droplet size distributions constrained by conservation laws. This assumption in turn suggests multiplicity rather than uniqueness of cloud droplet size distributions, that is, different cloud droplet size distributions occurring with different probability. The authors argue from a system point of view that two characteristic cloud droplet size distributions can be identified without knowing the specific probability of occurrence. The maximum likelihood cloud droplet size distribution is obtained by applying Shannon’s maximum entropy principle; the minimum likelihood cloud droplet size distribution is obtained by studying the functional relationship between a cloud droplet size distribution and the corresponding energy change to form suc...
A computational study of methods for solving polynomial geometric programs

A computational comparison of several methods for dealing with polynomial geometric programs is presented. Specifically, we compare the complementary programs of Avriel and Williams (Ref. 1) with the reversed programs and the harmonic programs of Duffin and Peterson (Refs. 2, 3). These methods are used to generate a sequence of posynomial geometric programs which are solved using a dual algorithm.
Bandwidth and group-velocity effects in nanosecond optical parametric amplifiers and oscillators

I numerically model broad-bandwidth optical parametric oscillation and amplification to explore the influence of pump bandwidth on conversion efficiency, injection seeding, and generated spectra. I also study narrow-bandwidth pumping of broad-bandwidth signal and idler waves. I show that the relative group velocities of the three waves have a critical effect on device performance in all cases and provide physical explanations for this.
Observations on under-the-row subsoiling after conventional tillage

Abstract A technique of subsoiling directly under the row to be planted has been found to be beneficial, because barriers to root development are pierced in a location that is difficult to recompact. Over a 15-year period, average yields increased substantially in the southeastern United States when this system was practiced. However, the increases were not consistent, and some reasons for those variations are analyzed.
Orientationally enhanced photorefractive effect in polymers

We present experimental data that show that the greatly improved performance of a new class of photorefractive polymers [see Donckers , Opt. Lett.18, 1044 ( 1993)] is too large to be explained by the simple electro-optic photorefractive effect alone. In these materials a photoconducting polymer host is doped with a small concentration of a sensitizer and a large concentration of a nonlinear optical chromophore that has orientational mobility at ambient temperatures. We present a theoretical model for a new orientational enhancement mechanism in which both the birefringence of the sample and the electro-optic coefficient are periodically modulated by the space-charge field itself. The predictions of this model for the size of the enhancement (which is greater than an order of magnitude in diffraction efficiency), the polarization anisotropy between p-polarized and s-polarized readout, and the presence of index modulation at twice the grating wave vector are in good agreement with the measured properties. This orientational enhancement mechanism should be important in any system in which the nonlinear optical chromophores have sufficient orientational mobility and dipole moment so as to be oriented by the space-charge field itself.
Are Early-Life Socioeconomic Conditions Directly Related to Birth Outcomes? Grandmaternal Education, Grandchild Birth Weight, and Associated Bias Analyses

Grandmaternal education may be related to grandchild birth weight (GBW) through maternal early-life development; however, conventional regression models may be endogenously confounded. Alternative models employing explicit structural assumptions may provide incrementally clearer evidence. We used data from the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (1995-2009; 1,681 mother-child pairs) to estimate "direct effects" of grandmaternal educational level (less than high school, high school diploma or equivalent, or college degree) at the time of the mother's birth on GBW, adjusted for maternal life-course factors: maltreatment as a child, education and income as an adult, prepregnancy overweight, and prenatal smoking. Using conventional and marginal structural model (MSM) approaches, we estimated 54-g (95% confidence interval: -14.0, 122.1) and 87-g (95% confidence interval: 10.9, 162.5) higher GBWs per increase in educational level, respectively. The MSM allowed simultaneous mediation by and adjustment for prepregnancy overweight. Estimates were insensitive to alternate structural assumptions and mediator parameterizations. Bias analysis suggested that a single unmeasured confounder would have to have a strong influence on GBW (approximately 150 g) or be greatly imbalanced across exposure groups (approximately 25%) to completely explain the findings. Coupling an MSM with sensitivity analyses provides some evidence that maternal early-life socioeconomic environment is directly associated with offspring birth weight.
Cis effect of the type 5 adenovirus E1A gene enhancer element on cellular transformation

Mutants of type 5 adenovirus that lack all or part of the early region IA(EIA) gene enhancer element transform rodent embryo fibroblast (CREF) cells at higher efficiencies than wild-type virus. An analysis of viral E1A cytoplasmic mRNA levels in mutant and wild-type virus-infected CREF cells revealed no differences in the levels of the E1A mRNAs. This implies that a decrease in the rate of viral E1A gene expression was not responsible for the transforming properties of the enhancer-less viruses. Unlike wild-type virus, however, the mutant viruses were able to replicate their genomes in the normally nonpermissive CREF cells. This change in viral DNA template concentration further resulted in an increase in early gene mRNA concen-trations in mutant-virus-infected CREF cells. These studies suggest several possible mechanisms that could be responsible for the increased transforming potentials of these viruses, including (1) a cis effect of removing the viral E1A enhancer element on the efficiency of viral DNA integration, (2) viral DNA replication, or (3) an increase in the levels of the viral E1A and EIB mRNAs owing to viral DNA replication in the virus-infected CREF cells.
Functional CD32 Molecules on Human NK Cells

Human NK cells are large granular lymphocytes that kill neoplastic or virally infected targets using perforin-dependent mechanisms. CD16 or FcγRIII is one of the cell surface molecules that can trigger the killing machinery following binding of the Fc portion of IgG to the receptor: a mechanism known as antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). We have recently shown that some individuals express an additional FcγR on their NK cells, CD32 or FcγRII. This receptor has now been characterized at the molecular, biochemical and functional level. The present review outlines our findings to date on the features of this novel receptor. These findings suggest that the presence of a functional FcγRII on the surface of NK cells could have important clinical consequences in both tumor immunotherapy and autoimmune disease.
A Prospective Randomized Trial of Combination Vindesine and Cisplatin Versus Single‐agent Vindesine in Advanced Non‐small Cell Lung Cancer

Antineoplastic agents, used alone or in combination, are capable of achieving objective remissions in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. Response rates have been modest, however, and responses are generally not durable. Furthermore, the toxicity of some regimens has been substantial, creating a narrow therapeutic ratio and a questionable impact on survival. The addition of cisplatin (DDP) to cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin (Adriamycin) resulted in major response rates that were superior to those obtained with cyclophosphamide or doxorubicin used alone or in combination. Vindesine (DVA) was evaluated in several phase II trials that demonstrated reproducible limited antitumor activity in nonsmall cell lung cancer. Gralla et al combined DVA with DDP in regimens of varying DDP dosage and noted a response rate of about 43%.
Battle for Survival: Porfirian Views of the International Marketplace

This article examines the ideas of Mexican elites about the international market during the porfiriato (i876-i910), an age marked by imperialism and monopoly capitalism. It focuses specifically on their thoughts about foreign trade, investment and workers. They viewed the international economy as a Darwinian battle for survival, but were not isolationists. In keeping with opinions articulated by US imperialists, they maintained that foreign blood, money and goods were essential to Mexico's economic progress. But they also feared that foreign economic penetration would undermine sovereignty. To resolve this dilemma, they championed state regulation of foreign economic interests. Thus, rather than extol the virtues of laissez-faire, members of the Porfirian intelligentsia were ambivalent internationalists. Laissez-faire economic ideology is hegemonic in Latin America today. Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo stated that the 'free market without limits' was the solution to Mexico's woes. 'Privatisation' has become a saviour and 'state intervention' has been transformed into a dirty word. This is a far cry from past decades. During the 'Mexican miracle' (194oS-1970s) state intervention was worshipped like a god that brought economic prosperity. Conventional wisdom holds that the historical roots of contemporary laissez-faire ideology are located in the porfiriato (i876-i9i0). In fact, some analysts label contemporary Mexico 'neo-Porfirian' and a review of the historiography supports such a link between the two eras. A classic work of intellectual history maintains that the Porfirian bourgeoisie adhered to a 'laissez-faire' economic philosophy.1 Similarly, a standard textbook asserts that Mexican economic policies during the reign of Porfirio Diaz were in accordance with the 'principles of economic liberalism'.2 (According to conventional wisdom, Mexico was not unique Richard Weiner is Assistant Professor of History at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. 1 Leopoldo Zea, Positivism in Mexico, trans. Josephine Schultze (Austin, I974), p. Io9. 2 Thomas Skidmore and Peter Smith, Modern Latin America, 4th ed. (New York and Oxford, I997), p. 23I. A few revisionist studies of Mexican economic policy have challenged this view, however. See Steven Topik, 'La revoluci6n, el estado y el desarrollo econ6mico en Mexico', Historia Mexicana XL: I (i990), pp. 79-I42. Edward Beatty, 'Commercial Policy in Porfirian Mexico: The Structure of Protection', in Institutional Change and Economic Performance in Mexico (Stanford, forthcoming). This content downloaded from 157.55.39.163 on Fri, 18 Nov 2016 04:13:24 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Peripheral Reduction of FGFR4 with Antisense Oligonucleotides Increases Metabolic Rate and Lowers Adiposity in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity is a primary risk factor for multiple metabolic disorders. Many drugs for the treatment of obesity, which mainly act through CNS as appetite suppressants, have failed during development or been removed from the market due to unacceptable adverse effects. Thus, there are very few efficacious drugs available and remains a great unmet medical need for anti-obesity drugs that increase energy expenditure by acting on peripheral tissues without severe side effects. Here, we report a novel approach involving antisense inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) in peripheral tissues. Treatment of diet-induce obese (DIO) mice with FGFR4 antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) specifically reduced liver FGFR4 expression that not only resulted in decrease in body weight (BW) and adiposity in free-feeding conditions, but also lowered BW and adiposity under caloric restriction. In addition, combination treatment with FGFR4 ASO and rimonabant showed additive reduction in BW and adiposity. FGFR4 ASO treatment increased basal metabolic rate during free-feeding conditions and, more importantly, prevented adaptive decreases of metabolic rate induced by caloric restriction. The treatment increased fatty acid oxidation while decreased lipogenesis in both liver and fat. Mechanistic studies indicated that anti-obesity effect of FGFR4 ASO was mediated at least in part through an induction of plasma FGF15 level resulted from reduction of hepatic FGFR4 expression. The anti-obesity effect was accompanied by improvement in plasma glycemia, whole body insulin sensitivity, plasma lipid levels and liver steatosis. Therefore, FGFR4 could be a potential novel target and antisense reduction of hepatic FGFR4 expression could be an efficacious therapy as an adjunct to diet restriction or to an appetite suppressant for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Disproportional representation of minorities in special education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a brief exploration of the disproportional representation of African American students in special education with a focus on addressing racial bias in the identification process at the school level. Design/methodology/approach – This inquiry was conducted through a literature search of data and extant literature on school-level remedies to disproportional representation, particularly bias in the process of special education identification. Findings – While racial bias in any process remains difficult to expose, it cannot be eliminated as a contributing factor in the disproportional representation of African American students in special education. This review will acquaint the reader with competing explanations and proposed remedies. Originality/value – Critics have proposed that the disproportional representation of African American students in special education and in discipline statistics has become a way to segregate minority students, therefore an explo...
A formulation model for use in family therapy

A model for simplifying complex information about a given presenting problem and integrating it into a formulation is described in this paper. The model contains three columns. In the right hand column, the cycle of interaction containing the symptom or presenting problem in which the identified patient and members of the network are caught up, is set out. In the left hand column, factors which predispose participants in this cycle to persist in this repetitive sequence of interactions are noted. In the central column (where pertinent) cognitive factors which mediate the influence of predisposing factors upon the present cycle of activity are listed. A sample formulation is first given to demonstrate the way in which the model may be used to simplify and integrate information. The implications of the model, from a clinical perspective, for assessment, treatment planning and the management of resistance, are then illustrated with a detailed case example.
Some Novel Designs for RFID Antennas and their Performance Enhancement with Metamaterials

In this presentation we will present the results of research on a number of UHF/RFID tag configurations, for which we have carried out extensive parametric studies. One of our objectives has been to examine tag designs that are less sensitive to their environment, in that their radiation patterns and impedance characteristics change little when placed on different types of platforms, e.g., metal, glass or cardboard. The paper will also explore tag designs that employ Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) surfaces as substrates to improve their performance. Results of computer simulation and experimental studies of some representative tag designs will be included in the paper. Some of the tag antenna designs to be discussed are presented. The integration of an RFID tag with an EBG screen is also shown.
Evaluation of phrasal query suggestions

This paper evaluates the uptake and efficacy of a unified approach to phrasal query suggestions in the context of a high-precision search engine. The search engine performs ranked extended-Boolean searches with the proximity operator NEAR being the default operation. Suggestions are offered to the searcher when the length of the result list falls outside predefined bounds. If the list is too long, the engine suggests narrowing the query through the use of super phrases; if the list is too short, the engine suggests broadening the query through the use of proximal subphrases.We evaluated uptake of phrasal query suggestions by analyzing search log data from before and after the suggestion feature was added to a commercial version of the search engine. We looked at approximately 1.5 million queries and found that, after they were added, suggestions represented nearly 30% of the total queries.We evaluated efficacy through a controlled study of 24 participants performing nine searches using three different search engines. We found that the engine with phrase suggestions had better high-precision recall than both the same search engine without suggestions and a search engine with a similar interface but using an Okapi BM25 ranking algorithm.
Scaling virtual worlds: simulation requirements and challenges

Virtual worlds use simulation to create a fully-immersive 3D space in which users interact and collaborate in real time. It is still a great challenge to scale virtual worlds to provide rich user experiences, high level of realism, and innovative usages. There are three unique simulation requirements in scaling virtual worlds: (1) large-scale, real time and perpetual simulations with distributed interaction, (2) simultaneous visualization for many endpoints with unique perspectives, and (3) multiple simulation engines with different operation characteristics. In this paper, we review the challenges in meeting these requirements, present the scalability barriers we observed in current virtual worlds, and discuss potential virtual world architecture and solutions to address the challenges and overcome the barriers.