cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Speed Bump on Market Quality and Exchange Competition

After a long period of high-speed trading, exchanges are now trying to slow down trading with speed bumps. We study how this market design innovation affects traders’ reaction times, the market quality of stocks, and the operators of competing exchanges. Post speed bump, we find slower reaction times to order book events, and depth changes consistent with reduced order detection and back-running. Reduction in quote-to-trade ratio and flickering quotes improves market quality. Exchanges without planned speed bumps lose market share, with reduced return on assets, stock returns, and enterprise value. Their stocks become attractive for short sellers.
Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions of Their Preparation and Confidence for Providing Dysphagia Services

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) regarding their academic preparation and current confidence levels for providing dysphagi...
Behavioral control by depolarized and hyperpolarized states of an integrating neuron by

ABSTRACT Coordinated transitions between mutually exclusive motor states are central to behavioral decisions. During locomotion, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans spontaneously cycles between forward runs, reversals, and turns with complex but predictable dynamics. Here we provide insight into these dynamics by demonstrating how RIM interneurons, which are active during reversals, act in two modes to stabilize both forward runs and reversals. By systematically quantifying the roles of RIM outputs during spontaneous behavior, we show that RIM lengthens reversals when depolarized through glutamate and tyramine neurotransmitters and lengthens forward runs when hyperpolarized through its gap junctions. RIM is not merely silent upon hyperpolarization: RIM gap junctions actively reinforce a hyperpolarized state of the reversal circuit. Additionally, the combined outputs of chemical synapses and gap junctions from RIM regulate forward-to-reversal transitions. Our results indicate that multiple classes of RIM synapses create behavioral inertia during spontaneous locomotion.
Driven one-particle quantum cyclotron

A quantum cyclotron is one trapped electron or positron that occupies only its lowest cyclotron and spin states. A master equation is solved for a driven quantum cyclotron with a QND (quantum nondemolition) coupling to a detection oscillator in thermal equilibrium, the latter making this an open quantum system. The predicted rate of a cyclotron and spin quantum jumps as a function of drive frequency, for a small coupling between the detection motion and its thermal reservoir, differs sharply from what has been predicted and used for past measurements. The calculation suggests a ten times more precise electron magnetic moment measurement is possible, as needed to investigate current differences between the most precise prediction of the standard model of particle physics, and the most accurate measurement of a property of an elementary particle.
Intermediates and mechanism in iron-catalyzed C–H methylation with trimethylaluminum

A mechanistic study is performed on the reaction method for iron-catalyzed C-H methylation with AlMe3 reagent, previously proposed to involve cyclometalated iron(III) intermediates and an iron(III)/(I) reaction cycle. Detailed spectroscopic studies (57Fe Mossbauer, EPR) during catalysis and in stoichiometric reactions identify iron(II) complexes, including cyclometalated iron(II) intermediates, as the major iron species formed in situ under catalytic reaction conditions. Reaction studies identify a cyclometalated iron(II)-methyl species as the key intermediate leading to C-H methylated product upon reaction with oxidant, consistent with a previously proposed iron(II)/iron(III)/iron(I) reaction manifold for C-H arylation.
Exchange rate exposure and competition: evidence from the automotive industry ☆

This study examines the e!ect of real exchange rate changes on multinational"rms and incorporates the e!ect of intra-industry competition on the relation between exchange rates and "rm value. To test the relation more e!ectively, tests are conducted using a sample of automotive "rms from the United States and Japan. Consistent with theoretical predictions, there is signi"cant exposure to exchange rate shocks. Moreover, there is evidence of time-variation in exchange rate exposure, which is consistent with changes in the competitive environment within the industry. Finally, evidence is presented that is consistent with foreign sales being a major determinant of exposure and the e!ectiveness of operational hedging through foreign production. ( 2001 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved. JEL classixcation: F31; G30; G39
Hall Mobility in SrTi O 3

Electron mobilities in reduced and doped SrTi${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ have been deduced from measurements of the conductivity and Hall coefficient between 1 and 1000\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Above room temperature, scattering by the highest two longitudinal optical modes determines the mobility. Expressions based on intermediate electron-phonon coupling yield good agreement with experimental results. Below 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K experiments indicate that ionized impurity scattering is the dominant collision process. Using a screened Coulomb potential, one obtains mobility values of the right order of magnitude.
Arguing for the Arts

Leann Logsdon and Deron Boyles’ fine essay makes a worthwhile contribution to the ongoing conversation about schooling and the arts. I assume they are aware that they have entered a particular current of this conversation at mid-stream. The research of Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland has been the focus of much debate and controversy at least since the 2000 article, “The Arts in Education,” which concerns the arts and academic achievement. This piece offers a meta-analysis of hundreds of research articles on the relationship between arts education and the broader domains of academic achievement. Some relationships were found between the arts and achievement in music, spatio-temporal reasoning, and some verbal skills. However, there were no causal relationships between arts education and other areas of academic achievement. More generally, Winner and Hetland found very few studies that were rigorous enough to count in considerations of causality or even robust correlation. In truth, this is not a surprising indictment since there is very little causal research in any genre of the social sciences. The relevant element of this research for our purposes is in their use of terms. Winner and Hetland call arguments that endorse the use of the arts to enhance academic achievement in other areas instrumental arguments. Thus, they are concerned that instrumental arguments for the arts will fail if research does not confirm their validity as mechanisms of learning transfer and generalizability. This work has prompted a debate among arts advocates about how to argue for the arts. Winner, Hetland, and others responded to this criticism and warning by developing the Studio Arts model as an alternative to the instrumental approach. Logsdon and Boyles in the current essay cite the Studio Arts model as an example of the instrumental approach. Oh, what a tangled web we weave!
A male-fertile Lycopersicon esculentum × Solanum lycopersicoides hybrid enables direct backcrossing to tomato at the diploid level

Solanum lycopersicoides Dun. is a wild nightshade native to Chile and Peru that possesses many traits of potential interest to tomato breeders, including environmental stress tolerance, resistances to disease and insect pests, and certain fruit quality characteristics. Sexual and somatic hybrids with the cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) are readily obtained, yet have a strong tendency towards male-sterility combined with unilateral incompatibility, barriers that have deterred breeding efforts in the past. We report herein the synthesis of a partially male-fertile F1 hybrid by sexual crosses between tomato and a recently collected population of S. lycopersicoides. Over 280 BC1 plants were obtained by directed backcrossing to tomato at the diploid level, of which 58 were sufficiently fertile to permit selfing or additional backcrosses. The transmission of S. lycopersicoides genetic markers into a uniform L. esculentum background was confirmed with 24 isozyme or morphological loci on 11 of the 12 alien chromosomes. Potentially useful tolerance to gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) was demonstrated by inoculation of stem cuttings with mycelial plugs: at 6 days post-inoculation, the intergeneric hybrid showed little evidence of disease progression and the length of stem lesions averaged only one third that of susceptible controls.
Abstract W P312: Pre-Hospital and Hospital Data Linkage in an Organized Stroke System of Care: A Pilot Study

Objective: Quality improvement within organized stroke systems of care, where policies such as diversion to primary stroke centers (PSC) integrate pre-hospital strategies with hospital performance and patient outcomes, are dependent on accurate linkage of emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital patient data. Currently, such linkage is difficult due to patient privacy concerns, heterogeneous and discrete databases, and variability in data collection. The objective of this pilot project was to create and validate a linkage algorithm for EMS and hospital data from 2 primary stroke centers (PSC) in Chicago. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) Stroke registry identified confirmed stroke patients treated at 2 regional PSCs during the first 2 months of 2013. Data from the EMS SafetyPAD database on all patients arriving to those 2 PSCs during the same period were also retrieved. These datasets were provided in CSV format without patient identifiers and inserted it into the Oracle Database for schema matching. We then used a deterministic matching process using 4 non-identifying variables (destination hospital, arrival date/time, age, and gender) in both pre-hospital (EMS) and hospital (GWTG) datasets to create an algorithm for probabilistic matching. A time difference of 30 minutes was used for arrival time to allow for the human error in the time documentation. The algorithm was first evaluated at PSC 1 then validated against data from PSC 2. Results: At PSC 1, there were 13 EMS arriving stroke patients during the study period. Of these, 11 were matched (84.6%) to EMS records using the deterministic matching algorithm. At PSC 2, there were 7 EMS arriving stroke patients during the same period, of which 5 (71.4%) were matched to EMS records. The overall matching rate was 80%. In the 4 non-matches, inaccurate date/time entry occurred. Conclusions: Implementing a pre-hospital to hospital data linkage system is feasible using 4 commonly included non-identifying data elements. Quality improvement initiatives such as decreasing scene-to-hospital time and assessing pre-hospital stroke assessment tools would be greatly facilitated by having these databases linked.
Set covering number for a finite set

Given a finite set S of cardinality N, the minimum number of j-subsets of S needed to cover all the r-subsets of S is called the covering number C(N, j, r). While Erdos and Hanani's conjecture that was proved by Rodl, no nontrivial upper bound for C(N, j, r) was known for finite N. In this note we obtain a nontrivial upper bound by showing that for finite N,
Phosphorylation of adenylyl cyclase VI upon chronic δ-opioid receptor stimulation

Abstract An immunoprecipitation method was used to measure [ 32 P ]phosphate incorporation into the adenylyl cyclase VI protein in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing the human δ-opioid receptor. Chronic SNC 80 ((+)-4-[(αR)-α-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethyl-benzamide) (1 μM, 24 h) treatment increased the incorporation of [ 32 P ] into a 200 kDa protein band 2.5-fold after gel electrophoresis. The increase in phosphorylation of adenylyl cyclase VI was antagonized by naltrindole (1 μM) and the immunoprecipitation was prevented by the saturation of the antibody with the blocking peptide.
Aminoboranediyl-Bridged Zirconocenes: Highly Active Olefin Polymerization Catalysts

Novel aminoboranediyl-bridged zirconocenes [i-Pr2NB(η5-C5H4)2]ZrCl2 (8b) and [i-Pr2NB(η5-1-C9H8)2]ZrCl2 (4b) have been prepared and structurally characterized. When activated by excess methylaluminoxane, 4b and 8b form highly active catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene. The catalyst derived from 4b converts propylene to isotactic polypropylene.
A fast partial Fourier transform (FPFT) for data compression and filtering

A discrete Fourier transform (DFT) or the closely related discrete cosine transform (DCT) is often employed as part of a data compression scheme. This paper presents a fast partial Fourier transform (FPFT) algorithm that is useful for calculating a subset of M Fourier transform coefficients for a data set comprised of N points (M < N). This algorithm reduces to the standard DFT when M = 1 and it reduces to the radix-2, decimation-in-time FFT when M = N and N is a power of 2. The DFT requires on the order of MN complex floating point multiplications to calculate M coefficients for N data points, a complete FFT requires on the order of (N/2)log 2 N multiplications independent of M, and the new FPFT algorithm requires on the order of (N/2)log 2 M + N multiplications. The FPFT algorithm introduced in this paper could be readily adapted to parallel processing. In addition to data compression, the FPFT algorithm described in this paper might be useful for very narrow band filter operations that pass only a small number of non-zero frequency coefficients such that M << N.
The Structure of Dominant Invertebrate Assemblages in a Small Southeastern Stream

ABSTRACT Invertebrates were collected following near-average extremely low, and above-average discharge in the winters of 1987, 1988, and 1989, respectively, in Luxapalila Creek, Mississippi and Alabama. Total invertebrate density was lower in pools (mean −7,364, range −5,427-12,561 individuals/sq m) than in riffles where it was also more variable (mean −15,964, range −9,662-28,820 individuals/sq m). There were no significant seasonal density differences among pools (p>0.05) In samples collected during the fall, total density in riffles was two times higher than in pools. Following high discharge in December-February 1988–89, there were no significant density differences between pools and riffles. Interhabitat differences in chironomid and oligochaete species composition existed in Luxapalila Creek; seasonal periods of high water had a greater effect on invertebrates in riffles than pools.
Phencyclidine (PCP) self-administration and withdrawal in rhesus monkeys : effects of buprenorphine and dizocilpine (MK-801) pretreatment

The effects of dizocilpine and buprenorphine pretreatment on behavior reinforced by orally delivered phencyclidine (PCP) and saccharin, and on PCP withdrawal-induced disruptions in food-maintained responding were examined. Sixteen male rhesus monkeys were used in six different experimental protocols. Two groups of monkeys (N = 4-5) self-administered PCP (0.25 mg/ml) and water under concurrent FR 16 schedules, and were pretreated with IM injections of saline, and dizocilpine (0.001-0.1 mg/kg), or buprenorphine (0.003-0.8 mg/kg) 30 min before the 3-h sessions for 5 days. Two other groups (N = 5) were treated similarly except they had access to saccharin (0.03% or 0.3% w/v) and water under concurrent FR 16 schedules. In two other groups (N = 3), the effects of saline, dizocilpine (0.005-0.1 mg/kg), or buprenorphine (0.2 and 0.8 mg/kg) pretreatment were studied on PCP (0.25 mg/ml) withdrawal-induced disruptions in food-maintained responding. Dizocilpine and buprenorphine reduced both PCP (0.25 mg/ml) and saccharin (0.03% or 0.3% w/v) self-administration, especially at the 0.1-mg/kg dizocilpine dose and 0.2-mg/kg buprenorphine dose. Dizocilpine attenuated the PCP withdrawal effect, but buprenorphine had no effect on behavioral disruptions induced by PCP withdrawal. When dizocilpine was administered 2 days after PCP withdrawal began, the withdrawal effects were almost completely reversed. These results suggest that although drugs from the same and different pharmacological classes can suppress self-administration of drug and nondrug reinforcers, the same doses may produce an opposite effect or no effect on food-maintained behavior during PCP withdrawal.
Worms, waves and robots

The Biologically Inspired Robotics group at Case Western Reserve University has developed several innovative designs for a new kind of robot that uses peristalsis, the method of locomotion used by earthworms. Unlike previous wormlike robots, our concept uses a continuously deformable outer mesh that interpolates the body position between discrete actuators. Here, we summarize our progress with this soft hyper-redundant robot.
Characterization of the thylakoid membranes of the tobacco aurea mutant Su/su and of three green revertant plants.

Phenotypic characterizations of the semidominant aurea tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) mutant Su/su, the homozygous mutant Su/Su and three green revertants (R1, R2, and R3) are presented. The leaf color of Su/su plants varies from yellow to light-green when grown under high and low energy fluence rates (33.0 and 3.3 W m−2), respectively. The change in visual phenotype under high-light conditions is correlated with decreased content of chlorophyll per leaf area, agranal chloroplast ultrastructure, changes in the number of chlorophyll-protein complexes, and absence of two or more of the light harvesting chlorophyll-polypeptides of 25,000–29,000 dalton. The homozygous mutant grown under low light was shown to be completely lacking in grana stacks and to be deficient in chlorophyll-protein complexes. Revertant R1 was found to be identical to wild-type plants in all parameters examined (leaf color, chloroplast ultrastructure, chlorophyll-protein complexes, chlorophyll-protein complex polypeptides) except in chlorophyll content. It did not show an increased chlorophyll and carotenoid content as did the wild-type plants when exposed to high light. Revertants R2 and R3 were similar to the heterozygous mutant Su/su in most of the parameters examined. They yellowed because of a loss of chlorophyll and an increase in the amount of carotenoids, had agranal chloroplasts, and had variant chlorophyll-protein complexes when grown under high light intensities. However, each appeared to contain some of the light-harvesting pigment-protein complex polypeptides found to be absent in Su/su when grown under high-light conditions.
Identification of nuclear type II [3H]estradiol binding sites as histone H4

Abstract [3H]Luteolin binds covalently to uterine nuclear type II sites [B. Markaverich, K. Shoulars, M.A. Alejandro, T. Brown, Steroids 66 (2001) 707] and was used to identify this protein(s). SDS–PAGE analyses of [3H]luteolin-labeled type II site preparations revealed specific binding to 11- and 35-kDa proteins. The 11-kDa protein was identified as histone H4 by amino acid sequencing. Western blotting confirmed that the 11- and 35-kDa proteins were acetylated forms of histone H4. Anti-histone H4 antibodies (but not H2A, H2B, or H3 antibodies) quantitatively immunoadsorbed type II binding sites from nuclear extracts. Binding analyses by [3H]estradiol exchange, using luteolin as a competitor, detected specific type II binding activity to histone H4 (but not histones H2A, H2B, or H3) generated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate translation system and confirmed that histone H4 is the type II site.
The electronic structure of iron complexes of bleomycin

Bleomycin (BLM), a glycopeptide antibiotic, is activated in an Fe-dependent reaction and, when O2 is present, catalyzes the cleavage of DNA. Drug activation takes place via two pathways. In the first, Fe(II)-BLM, an S = 2 species, and O2 react to form a diamagnetic, ternary complex, ‘oxygenated bleomycin’. The quadrupole splitting and isomer shift (ΔEq = 2.96 mm/sec, δ = 0.16 mm/sec) are suggestive of an electronic structure best described as low spin ferric bound to superoxide anion. Single electron reduction of oxygenated bleomycin yields ‘activated bleomycin’, a form of the drug that is kinetically competent to cleave DNA. As a second pathway for activation, Fe(III)-BLM reacts with peroxide; Fe(II)-BLM is not produced as an intermediate. Activated bleomycin is an S =1tf species with a well resolved EPR spectrum ( g= 2.26, 2.17, 1.94). When prepared with 57Fe, the g = 1.94 EPR feature is split by 22 gauss, demonstrating that the electron spin resides primarily on the iron. When activated bleomycin is prepared from Fe(II)-BLM and 17O2, the EPR spectrum is broadened, demonstrating the presence of at least a single oxygen atom derived from O2. Concomitant with DNA cleavage, activated bleomycin decomposes to form Fe(III)-BLM, an S =1t species with EPR features (g = 2.45, 2.18, 1.89) and Mossbauer parameters (ΔEq = 2.85 mm/sec andδ = 0.20 mm/sec) closely resembling those of cytochrome P−450. Fe(III)-BLM, in the presence of phosphate or arsenate, or at pH below 4.5, becomes high spin with geff = 4.3 at 77 °K (E/D ∼ 0.3). Yet, Fe(III) remains bound to the drug. The bonding of iron to BLM is affected by the presence of DNA. Changes are observed in the g =1.94 EPR feature for the activated complex, and in the hyperfine interaction with 14N in the low spin ferric complex, as determined from the differences in the electron spin echo spectrum. DNA also prevents the conversion of the iron in the low spin ferric complex to an S =5t species by phosphate or arsenate.
Crystal Structure of Histidine Hydrochloride Monohydrate

CRYSTALS of the hydrochloride monohydrate of the important amino-acid histidine can be obtained as rather thick tablets by evaporation of aqueous solutions containing a little hydrochloric acid. X-ray examination shows that the crystals are orthorhombic, with unit cell edges a = 15.36 A., b = 8.92 A. and c 6.88 A. The space group is P212121, and there are four molecules in the unit cell. The structure was obtained from a three-dimensional Patterson function which was interpreted by means of the vector convergence method1.
Radhakrishnan as advocate of the class/caste system as a universal religio-social system

On January 4,1943, Indian philosopher and statesman Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975) in an address to the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute told his listeners: 'While the spirit of India can never die, the social institutions which do not embody it must be scrapped' (1943: 6). One of these social institutions, one might expect, would be the caste system. In his latter writings and speeches he would appear to speak as if there were no place for the caste system in India. In the introduction to The Brahma S?tra, written in 1959, he wrote:
A microfiltration technique for cleaning polymer latices

A microfiltration technique for cleaning polymer latices is evaluated. The modified millipore microfiltration cell employed is described and optimum operating conditions given: the cell consists of a 47 mm diameter millipore filter supported on a stainless steel mesh and contained within a PTFE body. Double distilled water is pumped through the cell, removing impurities from the latex. The latex particles are retained by the filter: pore blockage is prevented by PTFE coated magnetic stirrer bar. The nature and location (water or polymer phases) of the major impurities encountered with polystyrene latices are identified. The efficiency with which microfiltration removes these impurities is compared with dialysis and ion exchange. Monomer, low molecular weight oligomer, benzaldehyde, and surface active agent are completely removed. However, electrolytic material associated with the polymer phase is not completely removed by this technique. Microfiltration may also be used to concentrate a latex and separate latex particles of different sizes.
Galactic Cosmic-Ray Energy Spectra and Composition during the 2009-2010 Solar Minimum Period

We report new measurements of the elemental energy spectra and composition of galactic cosmic rays during the 2009-2010 solar minimum period using observations from the Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer (CRIS) onboard the Advanced Composition Explorer. This period of time exhibited record-setting cosmic-ray intensities and very low levels of solar activity. Results are given for particles with nuclear charge 5 <= Z <= 28 in the energy range approx. 50-550 MeV / nucleon. Several recent improvements have been made to the earlier CRIS data analysis, and therefore updates of our previous observations for the 1997-1998 solar minimum and 2001-2003 solar maximum are also given here. For most species, the reported intensities changed by less than approx. 7%, and the relative abundances changed by less than approx. 4%. Compared with the 1997-1998 solar minimum relative abundances, the 2009-2010 abundances differ by less than 2sigma, with a trend of fewer secondary species observed in the more recent time period. The new 2009-2010 data are also compared with results of a simple "leaky-box" galactic transport model combined with a spherically symmetric solar modulation model. We demonstrate that this model is able to give reasonable fits to the energy spectra and the secondary-to-primary ratios B/C and (Sc+Ti+V)/Fe. These results are also shown to be comparable to a GALPROP numerical model that includes the effects of diffusive reacceleration in the interstellar medium.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt improves oxygenation in hepatopulmonary syndrome

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a complication of chronic liver disease in which arterial hypoxemia results from abnormalities in pulmonary blood flow. Severe hypoxemia can lead to clinical deterioration and death. Although the etiology is unknown, portal hypertension seems to be an important factor in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome. No effective pharmacological therapy has been identified, but liver transplantation may be curative. Arterial hypoxemia may complicate transplant surgery, however, and resolution of the syndrome after liver transplantation is performed may be delayed. In addition, it seems that complete reversal of oxygenation abnormalities after liver transplantation is performed is unpredictable. We describe a patient with hepatopulmonary syndrome who noted improvement in symptoms of dyspnea after the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Arterial oxygenation and calculated shunt fraction improved significantly during the follow-up period, and liver transplantation was subsequently performed without difficulty. Portal decompression using transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may represent a palliative therapy for hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients awaiting liver transplantation.
The identification of self-stimulation elements for adjacent electrodes in the cat.

Abstract Multiple adjacent metal electrodes were implanted into the region of the lateral hypothalamus in cats. Self-stimulation rates for monophasic pulse trains were recorded for all arrangements of anode and cathode under bipolar and monopolar stimulation. Results showed marked differences within tissue volumes of less than 1 mm, when rates for adjacent cathodes were compared. Over a row of electrodes, bipolar cathodal rate profiles were similar to monopolar cathodal profiles, and both tended to show higher rates for medial than for lateral loci. For the same wires, monopolar and bipolar absolute rates usually differed, and the direction of the difference was determined frequently by the position of the bipolar anode. Results were considered in terms of best estimating the extent of self-stimulation input zones.
Surgery for Diverticulitis: A Re-Evaluation of the Changing Trends

Abstract The surgical management of diverticulitis continues to evolve but recent literature has not qualified just how different current practice is compared with the previous era. This study aims to update the seminal paper by Rodkey and Welch regarding indications and operation types performed for diverticulitis by comparing their findings with present practice at a community based institution. The charts of 407 patients admitted with “diverticular disease” between 2005 and 2010 were identified. For each admission, patients' demographics, presentations and management were recorded. Direct comparisons were made with results from the study by Rodkey and Welch. Of the 407 admissions studied, the distribution was 335 emergency and 72 elective. Medical management alone treated 90% of emergency admissions, while 4% required additional radiologic intervention. Emergency surgery was necessary in only 6% of cases with Hartmann's procedure being the most common procedure. Recurrent diverticulitis was a prime ind...
CXCL10 + T cells and NK cells assist in the recruitment and activation of CXCR3 + and CXCL11 + leukocytes during Mycobacteria -enhanced colitis

The role of Mycobacteria in the etiology of Crohn's disease (CD) has been a contentious subject for many years. Recently, our laboratory showed that spontaneous colitis in IL-10-/- mice is driven in part by antigens (Ags) conserved in Mycobacteria. The present study dissects some of the common cellular and molecular mechanism that drive Mycobacteria-mediated and spontaneous colitis in IL-10-/- mice. We show that serum from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients contain significantly higher levels of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis-specific IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies (Abs), serum amyloid A (SAA) as well as CXCR3 ligands than serum from healthy donors. To study the cellular mechanisms of Mycobacteria-associated colitis, pathogen-free IL-10-/- mice were given heat-killed or live M. avium paratuberculosis. The numbers of mucosal T cells, neutrophils, NK/NKT cells that expressed TNFα, IFN-γ, and/or CXCL10 were significantly higher in mice that received live Mycobacteria than other groups. The numbers of mucosal CXCR3+, CXCL9+, CXCL11+ and/or IFN-γ+ dendritic cells (DCs) were also significantly higher in M. avium paratuberculosis-challenged mice, than compared to control mice. The present study shows that CD and UC patients mount significant Mycobacteria-specific IgG1 > IgG2 and CXCR3 ligand responses. Several cellular mechanisms that drive spontaneous colitis also mediate Mycobacteria-enhanced colitis in IL-10-/- mice. Similar to IL-10-/- mice under conventional housing, we show that Mycobacteria-challenge IL-10-/- mice housed under otherwise pathogen-free conditions develop colitis that is driven by CXCR3- and CXCR3 ligand-expressing leukocytes, which underscores another important hallmark and molecular mechanism of colitis. Together, the data show that Mycobacteria-dependent host responses, namely CXCL10+ T cells and NK cells, assist in the recruitment and activation of CXCR3+ and CXCL11+ leukocytes to enhance colitis of susceptible hosts.
Exergoeconomic analysis of high concentration photovoltaic thermal co-generation system for space cooling

Abstract This paper provides an exergetic analysis of a 10 MW high concentration photovoltaic thermal (HCPVT) power plant case study located in Hammam Bou Hadjar, Algeria. The novel HCPVT multi-energy carrier plant converts 25% of the direct normal irradiance (DNI) into electrical energy and 62.5% to low grade heat for a combined efficiency of 87.5%. The HCPVT system employs a point focus dish concentrator with a cooled PV receiver module. The novel “hot-water” cooling approach is used for energy reuse purposes and is enabled by our state-of-the-art substrate integrated micro-cooling technology. The high performance cooler of the receiver with a thermal resistance of The valuation method presented here for the HCPVT multi-energy carrier plant comprises both the technical and economic perspectives. The proposed model determines how the cost structure is evolving in four different scenarios by quantifying the potential thermal energy demand in Hammam Bou Hadjar. The model pins down the influence of technical details such as the exergetic efficiency to the economic value of the otherwise wasted heat. The thermal energy reuse boosts the power station׳s overall yield, reduces total average costs and optimizes power supply as fixed capital is deployed more efficiently. It is observed that even though potential cooling demand can be substantial (19,490 MWh per household), prices for cooling should be 3 times lower than those of electricity in Algeria (18 USD/MWh) to be competitive. This implies a need to reach economies of scale in the production of individual key components of the HCPVT system. The net present value (NPV) is calculated taking growth rates and the system׳s modular efficiencies into account, discounted over 25 years. Scenario 1 shows that even though Algeria currently has no market for thermal energy, a break-even quantity (49,728 MWh) can be deduced by taking into account the relation between fixed costs and the marginal profit. Scenario 2 focuses on the national growth rate needed to break even, i.e. +10.92%. Scenario 3 illustrates thermal price variations given an increase in the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of a thermally driven adsorption chiller after year 10. In this case, the price for cooling will decrease from 18 USD/MWh to 14 USD/MWh. Finally, scenario 4 depicts Hammam Bou Hadjar׳s potential cooling demand per household and the growth rate needed to break even if a market for heat would exist.
Consumer ethics: The possible effects of terrorism and civil unrest on the ethical values of consumers

Research investigating the consumer's ethical beliefs, ideologies and orientation has been limited. Additionally, despite the repeated call in the literature for cross cultural research, virtually no studies have examined the ethical beliefs and ideologies of consumers from cultures other than those in North America. This study partially fills this “gap” in the literature by investigating the ethical beliefs, preferred ethical ideology, and degree of Machiavellianism of consumers from Egypt and Lebanon. The results indicate that consumers in Lebanon, which has been torn by civil unrest and terrorism, tend to be more Machiavellian, less idealistic, and more relativistic than their Egyptian counterparts. Additionally, the Lebanese consumers tend to be more accepting of “questionable” consumer practices.
Handoff management in wireless data networks using topography-aware mobility prediction

In this paper, we introduce a Handoff prediction and enhancement scheme (HOPES) that aims to explore the use of prediction techniques in mobility managements in order to improve the end-to-end traffic quality. The fundamental difference between HOPES and other predictive mobility management techniques is that HOPES uses topography-aware predictive approach that combines the mobile host's movement history, current state, and the topography of the cells. The proposed architecture provides the network with timely information necessary to proactively respond to user movements instead of passively handling it after it happens. The effectiveness of this work is demonstrated through a comparative study that included other mobility prediction models. The comparison involves monitoring of several performance metrics to asses the end-to-end traffic improvement achieved from the proposed model. These metrics include; Packet Loss, Data Delivery Ratio, Reserved Bandwidth, Retransmitted Packets per Received Packet, and TCP Session Duration. The results obtained for HOPES show a significant improvement in traffic quality without sacrificing the utilization of network resources. This can be attributed to the nature of the topography-aware mobility modeling and prediction suggested by HOPES which is more accurate in predicting mobility patterns when topographical features have impact on mobile users' movements.
PHOTOREDUCTION OF NICOTINAMIDE-ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE BY A CELL-FREE SYSTEM FROM CHROMATIUM.

A small particle fraction has been prepared from Chromatium which reduces NAD by both photo and dark reactions. The reductions are stimulated by the addition of two Chromatium enzymes, a flavoprotein and cyrstalline ferredoxin.
Miniature Moisture Sensor Based on Ultracapacitor Technology

This paper introduces a new ultraminiature, ultrahigh sensitivity moisture sensor that is based on ultracapacitor technology. An ultracapacitor is assembled from ordinary activated carbon electrodes, however, unlike ordinary ultracapacitors, no liquid electrolyte exists inside the device. The ultracapacitor electrodes are placed on both sides of a layer of porous silicon in which potassium hydroxide in powder form is embedded. As moisture penetrates the porous silicon layer, a liquid electrolyte starts to form. The conductivity of the electrolyte, and hence the capacitance of the ultracapacitor assembly, increase as the amount of moisture increases. In the present prototype, an increase in the relative humidity from 5% to 80% results in a capacitance variation from 0 to 17 μF. The sensor can be very useful for monitoring moisture penetration inside small electronic devices and packages that are sensitive to moisture.
BDDC preconditioning for high-order Galerkin Least-Squares methods using inexact solvers

A high-order Galerkin Least-Squares (GLS) finite element discretization is combined with a Balancing Domain Decomposition by Constraints (BDDC) preconditioner and inexact local solvers to provide an efficient solution technique for large-scale, convection-dominated problems. The algorithm is applied to the linear system arising from the discretization of the two-dimensional advection-diffusion equation and Euler equations for compressible, inviscid flow. A Robin-Robin interface condition is extended to the Euler equations using entropy-symmetrized variables. The BDDC method maintains scalability for the high-order discretization of the diffusion-dominated flows, and achieves low iteration count in the advection-dominated regime. The BDDC method based on inexact local solvers with incomplete factorization and p = 1 coarse correction maintains the performance of the exact counterpart for the wide range of the Peclet numbers considered
Chronic stress-induced alterations of dendritic spine subtypes predict functional decrements in an hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal-inhibitory prefrontal circuit.

Activation of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis plays a vital role in promoting adaptation during acute stress, but adverse effects of chronic stress may result from overactivity of this system. Recent evidence highlights a subdivision of GABAergic neurons within anterior bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (aBST) that integrates and relays inhibitory influences to HPA-effector neurons in paraventricular hypothalamus during acute stress, notably from medial prefrontal [prelimbic (PL)] and hippocampal [ventral subiculum (vSUB)] cortical fields. Here we localize the site and candidate mechanism of neuroplasticity within upstream regions of this inhibitory network after chronic variable stress (CVS). Rats bearing retrograde tracer injections in aBST underwent CVS for 14 d. Retrogradely labeled and unlabeled neurons in vSUB and PL were selected for intracellular dye filling, followed by three-dimensional imaging and analysis of dendritic arborization and spine morphometry. Whereas PL neurons displayed decreases in dendritic branching and spine density after CVS, aBST-projecting cells showed a selective loss of mature mushroom-shaped spines. In a follow-up experiment, CVS-treated and control rats were exposed to a novel restraint challenge for assay of HPA activation and engagement of aBST-projecting cortical regions. CVS animals showed enhanced HPA output and decreased Fos activation in aBST-projecting PL neurons compared with acutely stressed controls. In contrast, vSUB failed to show any significant differences in structural plasticity or functional activation patterns after CVS. These findings define a mechanism whereby synaptic destabilization in the PL → aBST pathway may dampen its ability to impart inhibitory control over the HPA axis after chronic stress exposure.
Polymorphism and heterosis: Old wine in new bottles and vice versa

In the struggle over some contested scientific issue, one of the contending parties may introduce an argument that is meant to support the main thesis, but which itself evolves into the chief question, becoming a kind of proxy for the original problem. For example, when A. R. Jensen posed the problem, "How much can we boost IQ and scholastic achievement?" he devoted considerable attention to the claimed demonstration that IQ test abilities were highly heritable.' The technical issue of the estimation of heritability of IQ quickly became a central question in the debate over the changeability of intellectual performance (although, ironically, the answer to this technical question is irrelevant to the problem originally posed). Thus, one's position on whether IQ had a large or small heritability became a proxy for one's view on the malleability of intellectual performance. This process of substitution seems to be what happened in the ,6classical/balance" debate. The original question, one of relatively long standing in evolutionary genetics, was whether populations were mostly homozygous for "wild-type" genes, or whether a substantial fraction of genes within a population were polymorphic. This is the problem of monomorphism/polymorphism. At its origin, the monomorphism/polymorphism problem was motivated by the question of the rate-limiting factor in evolutionary change. If genes were essentially monomorphic with only an occasional mutant present in natural populations, then natural selection would have to await new favorable genetic variation; evolution in new environments would be uncertain, and might often fail to occur. On the other hand, widespread polymorphism would mean that new selective forces would have ready to hand the genetic variation necessary for evolutionary change. The link between the
THE EFFECT OF A NON-UNIFORM SURFACE TEMPERATURE ON LAMINAR NATURAL CONVECTION IN A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE

Abstract Three dimensional solutions were developed for natural convection in a 2 × 1 × 1 rectangular enclosure by finite-difference calculations. Sawtooth temperature distributions with different amplitudes and orientations were imposed on the lower (2×1) surface to simulate the effect of cooling coils or jackets on the collector plate of a flat-plate solar heater. The shorter dimension of the enclosure was progressively inclined. The circulation patterns were not changed significantly by the surface temperature distributions. The variation of the Nusselt number with inclination was not changed significantly but the magnitude increased with the amplitude of the surface temperature variations for inclinations of less than 90 degrees. It is concluded that the collecting plate of a solar collector should be maintained as nearly isothermal as possible to minimize heat losses by natural convection through the air gap.
Spiritual well-being among older african americans in a midwestern city.

More than many other cities in America, older African Americans in Milwaukee, WI contend with negative environmental, socio-economic and health challenges in one of the most hyper-segregated cities in America. This research examines the role of spirituality and religion in their lives and the ways that spirituality and religious affiliation contribute to their quality of life. Over 500 elderly respondents aged 55–105 completed a questionnaire. The analysis found: (a) strong identification with religious institutions and high levels of attendance and participation in religious activities, (b) a substantial number felt support from fellow church members, and (c) strong reliance on spirituality and their sense of connection to God as sources of strength in coping with personal challenges. This study adds to the findings of other research done which stressed the importance of spirituality, religious practice and congregational assistance in serving critical survival functions for older African Americans. This is the first such research done, however, reporting on Milwaukee’s African American older adults. This study used mixed methods of research, conducting both a descriptive statistical analysis of African American elderly in Milwaukee County to develop a profile while simultaneously gathering, where possible, qualitative data as well, in the form of narratives, written comments and field notes of first hand observations on this growing population.
Use of an Adjoint Model for Finding Triggers for Alpine Lee Cyclogenesis

The authors propose a new procedure, designated the adjoint-based genesis diagnostic (AGD) procedure, for studying triggering mechanisms and the subsequent genesis of the synoptic phenomena of interest. This procedure makes use of a numerical model sensitivity to initial conditions and the nonlinear evolution of the initial perturbations that are designed using this sensitivity. The model sensitivity is evaluated using the associated adjoint model. This study uses the dry version of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Adjoint Modeling System (MAMS) for the numerical experiments. The authors apply the AGD procedure to two cases of Alpine lee cyclogenesis that were observed during the Alpine Experiment special observations period. The results show that the sensitivity fields that are produced by the adjoint model and the associated initial perturbations are readily related to the probable triggering mechanisms for these cyclones. Additionally, the nonlinear evolution of these initial perturbations points toward the physical processes involved in the lee cyclone formation. The AGD experiments for a weak cyclone case indicate that the MAMS forecast model has an underrepresented topographic forcing due to the sigma vertical coordinate and that this model error can be compensated by adjustments in the initial conditions that are related to the triggering mechanisms, which is not associated with the topographic blocking mechanism.
Integrated photonics using colloidal quantum dots

Integrated photonic devices were realized using colloidal quantum dot composites such as flexible microcavity laser, microdisk emitters and integrated active-passive waveguides. The microcavity laser structure was realized using spin coating and consisted of an all-polymer distributed Bragg reflector with a poly-vinyl carbazole cavity layer embedded with InGaP/ZnS colloidal quantum dots. These microcavities can be peeled off the substrate yielding a flexible structure that can conform to any shape and whose emission spectra can be mechanically tuned. Planar photonic devices consisting of vertically coupled microring resonators, microdisk emitters, active-passive integrated waveguide structures and coupled active microdisk resonators were realized using soft lithography, photo-lithography, and electron beam lithography, respectively. The gain medium in all these devices was a composite consisting of quantum dots embedded in SU8 matrix. Finally, the effect of the host matrix on the optical properties of the quantum dots using results of steady-state and time-resolved luminescence measurements was determined. In addition to their specific functionalities, these novel device demonstrations and their development present a low-cost alternative to the traditional photonic device fabrication techniques.