cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of photon recycling, trapping, and reuse on thermophotovoltaic conversion efficiency and output power

Photonic management is a key issue for the optimization of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion systems. It is realized by selective emitters, front surface filters on TPV cells, and back surface reflectors (BSRs). Photonic management modifies photon energy transfer from the emitter to the TPV cell due to photon reuse and energy conversion processes in the TPV cell due to photon recycling and trapping in the cell. Our work has developed a comprehensive thermodynamic theory of photonic management in the TPV cell and in whole TPV systems to elucidate key optimization parameters. Our approach is based on the exact Lambert function solution of the generalized Shockley–Queisser model and the corresponding fundamental formulas of endoreversible thermodynamics for maximal electric power, emitted optical power, and dissipation losses. The model includes interrelated processes of photon recycling, photon trapping, nonradiative recombination, and parasitic absorption of the BSR. Optimization of a TPV system with photon reuse should take into account that the cell thickness that provides maximal output power does not correspond to the thickness, which gives the maximal conversion efficiency. The theory predicts the important limits for TPV efficiency and output power determined by the Auger recombination in low-bandgap semiconductor materials, various parasitic losses in the cell and conductive layers, and photon escape from the TPV system. For example, we consider the TPV system based on 0.6 eV InGaAs cells with a BSR and a front surface photon scattering layer, which provides Lambertian light trapping.
Reanalysis of equid faunal remains from the Blacks Fork River site (48SW8319): A unique look at a protohistoric horse in Wyoming

The reintroduction of Equus caballus (horse) into North America during European-American contact altered Native American life on the Plains. The horse influenced a variety of cultural practices, in...
Sources, mitigation and implications of skew-related concrete deck cracks in girder bridges

Characteristic cracks in skewed bridges, detrimental to service performance, form in deck acute corners and run diagonally across deck span. This paper presents the relationship between skew and de...
Asymptotically Stable Privacy Protection Technique for fMRI Shared Data over Distributed Computer Networks

This paper presents a computational technique that leverages the asymptotic-stabilization behavior of transition probabilities that are characterized by two-state Markov chain. These asymptotic probabilities help the computational technique to protect the privacy of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data that is shared over a public distributed computer network. In general, the fMRI signals reveal a large number of correlated brain features that can be utilized in the development of predictive models for extracting brain networks and infer privacy information of an individual. These features make fMRI data highly vulnerable to privacy attacks. To conceal these features for privacy protection, we transform them to an asymptotic state of an fMRI signal using the concepts of asymptotic stabilization with two-sate Markov chain, and the compressed sensing and compressed learning techniques. The proposed predictive model is built using the asymptotically stabilized fMRI signals, rather than the original signals, which enhance the protection of privacy. Hence, the transformed signal, instead of the original signal, may be shared in public computer networks, such as the cloud computing network. The computer simulations show that the proposed predictive model provides very high prediction accuracy, while providing very strong privacy protection.
Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Deletion Prevents Painful Diabetic Neuropathy by Restoring Mitochondrial Morphology and Dynamics

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is an intractable complication affecting 25% of diabetic patients. PDN is characterized by neuropathic pain accompanied by dorsal root ganglion (DRG) nociceptor hyperexcitability, resulting in calcium overload, axonal degeneration, and loss of cutaneous innervation. However, the underlying molecular pathways responsible for these effects are unknown. Using highly stringent quantitative proteomic analyses, we found that mitochondrial proteins are differentially expressed in DRG neurons from mice with PDN caused by a high fat diet (HFD). In particular, mitochondrial fission proteins were overexpressed. Electron microscopy demonstrated fragmented mitochondrial morphology in DRG nociceptors. In vivo calcium imaging revealed increased calcium signaling in Nav1.8-expressing DRG neurons of HFD mice. Selectively deleting the mitochondrial calcium uniporter from these neurons restored normal mitochondrial morphology and dynamics, prevented axonal degeneration, and reversed mechanical allodynia. Hence, we propose that targeting calcium entry into nociceptor mitochondria may be a promising therapeutic approach for PDN patients. Moreover, these results may illuminate other neurodegenerative diseases involving similar underlying events 5R01NS104295-02
A 10 per cent increase in global land evapotranspiration from 2003 to 2019.

Accurate quantification of global land evapotranspiration is necessary for understanding variability in the global water cycle, which is expected to intensify under climate change1–3. Current global evapotranspiration products are derived from a variety of sources, including models4,5, remote sensing6,7 and in situ observations8–10. However, existing approaches contain extensive uncertainties; for example, relating to model structure or the upscaling of observations to a global level11. As a result, variability and trends in global evapotranspiration remain unclear12. Here we show that global land evapotranspiration increased by 10 ± 2 per cent between 2003 and 2019, and that land precipitation is increasingly partitioned into evapotranspiration rather than runoff. Our results are based on an independent water-balance ensemble time series of global land evapotranspiration and the corresponding uncertainty distribution, using data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE-Follow On (GRACE-FO) satellites13. Variability in global land evapotranspiration is positively correlated with El Nino–Southern Oscillation. The main driver of the trend, however, is increasing land temperature. Our findings provide an observational constraint on global land evapotranspiration, and are consistent with the hypothesis that global evapotranspiration should increase in a warming climate. Using a global mass-balance approach to calculate evapotranspiration, it is shown that global land evapotranspiration increased by 10% between 2003 and 2019, driven mainly by warming land temperatures.
Respiratory droplet resuspension near surfaces: Modeling and analysis

Knowing the environmental spreading pathway of COVID-19 is crucial for improving safety practices, particularly for health care workers who are more susceptible to exposure. This paper focuses on the possible secondary transmission due to resuspension of virus-laden droplets from common surfaces, which several studies have shown to be possible under external disturbances. Such disturbances could be body motion during walking, running, clothes removal, or airflow in the environment. In this paper, a three-dimensional two-phase model is utilized to study respiratory droplet resuspension dynamics on various surfaces due to sudden agitation. The velocity range and variation during walking, surgical glove removal, and dropping an object are studied experimentally. A parametric study is performed to characterize the effects of droplet size and surface wettability on the minimum initial droplet velocity required for detachment from surfaces. The results are reported as average droplet velocity during the detachment process, total detachment time, and detached droplet volume. The obtained results indicate that respiratory droplets larger than 200 μm can detach from typical surfaces due to normal daily activities. Droplets are partially separated from hydrophilic surfaces with contact angle ≤ 90 °, while the entire droplet is detached from hydrophobic surfaces with contact angle > 90 °. Furthermore, the minimum initial droplet velocity to induce the resuspension depends on the droplet size. Droplet velocity immediately after detachment is a function of droplet size, initial droplet velocity, and surface wettability. Bigger droplets have larger detached volume percentage as well as higher velocity after detachment compared to smaller droplets. Finally, a higher initial velocity is needed to separate droplets from hydrophilic surfaces as compared to hydrophobic surfaces. In accordance with the results, the droplet minimum initial velocity to cause detachment is 2 m s−1, while our experiments show that surface velocity can reach up to 3 m s−1 during normal human activities. We also develop an analytical model to predict the required kinetic energy to detach droplets from different surfaces, which is in good agreement with numerical results. The mechanism of droplet detachment is dictated by a competition between droplet kinetic energy induced by surface motion and surface energy due to droplet–surface interaction as well as droplet–vapor and surface–vapor interactions. We believe that the results of this fundamental study can potentially be used to suggest proper surface wettability and safe motion that reduce respiratory droplet resuspension from various surfaces.
Depoliticization of educational reforms: the STEM story

Education reforms are rarely successful or free of controversies. However, efforts to STEM-ify public education in the USA by positioning education in STEM fields and training of future workforce as the central purposes of public schooling is proving to be remarkably successful and devoid of contention. This paper explains the success of STEM-ification of public education in the USA by examining these reform efforts from the perspective of depoliticization. With special reference to the implementation of STEM reforms in the state of Georgia, USA, we analyze STEM reforms as a case of network governance to elaborate its features that contribute to its depoliticization. Then, we examine these reforms as a case where we see three concurrent modes of depoliticization—governmental, societal, and discursive. Our analysis presents the depoliticization of STEM reforms in the USA as an example of governance techniques in the current times that legitimize neoliberalism as the dominant political rationality with profound implications for the diminution of democratic space and perpetuation of injustices of misrepresentation in advanced societies. The paper ends with an appeal for repoliticization of STEM reforms and sustained attention to this issue among educators and researchers.
Investigation of the effects of cerium concentration and overpotential on the morphology and purity of uranium dendrites

The applied overpotential (25 mV, 50, mV, 100 mV, 200 mV) and uranium to cerium mass ratios (1:0, 1:1, 2:1) in a LiCl–KCl molten salt eutectic were varied to observe their effects on the morphology and purity of uranium during potentiostatic electrodeposition. In general, rhomboidal-platelet type crystals were observed at lower overpotentials and dendritic, “tree-like” crystals were observed at higher overpotentials; in addition, a decrease in overall crystal size with increasing overpotential was observed. The addition of cerium to the melt achieves similar morphologies as that of the higher overpotential conditions without cerium present for all overpotentials explored. Compositional analysis techniques (e.g., scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) suggest that co-deposition is not present in the uranium electrodeposits; however, minimal presence of cerium found are likely due to salt occlusion and/or poor washing technique of the harvested uranium product. The results of this study provide additional evidence the uranium electrodeposit morphology varies with the presence of impurities in the melt.
Chlamydomonas ARMC2/PF27 is an obligate cargo adapter for IFT of radial spokes

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) carries proteins into flagella but how IFT trains interact with the large number of diverse proteins required to assemble flagella remains largely unknown. Here, we show that IFT of radial spokes in Chlamydomonas requires ARMC2/PF27, a conserved armadillo repeat protein associated with male infertility and reduced lung function. Chlamydomonas ARMC2 was highly enriched in growing flagella and tagged ARMC2 and the spoke protein RSP3 comigrated on anterograde trains. In contrast, a cargo and an adapter of inner and outer dynein arms moved independently of ARMC2, indicating that unrelated cargoes distribute stochastically onto the IFT trains. After concomitant unloading at the flagellar tip, RSP3 attached to the axoneme whereas ARMC2 diffused back to the cell body. In armc2/pf27 mutants, IFT of radial spokes was abolished and the presence of radial spokes was limited to the proximal region of flagella. We conclude that ARMC2 is a cargo adapter required for IFT of radial spokes to ensure their assembly along flagella. ARMC2 belongs to a growing class of cargo-specific adapters that enable flagellar transport of preassembled axonemal substructures by IFT.
The Rise of a Jazz Art World

Introduction: the quest for cultural legitimacy 1. Before the jazz age: professional musicians and good music 2. The jazz age: professional musicians and the cultivated vernacular 3. The swing craze: professional musicians, swing music and the art of improvisation 4. The rise of a jazz art world: jazz enthusiasts, professional musicians and the modernist revolt 5. The new jazz age: the jazz art world and the modern jazz renaissance Conclusion: the jazz art world and American culture.
CHARACTERIZATION OF PEANUT SPECIFIC T CELLS

Approximately 8% of children and 1-2% of adults have some type of food allergy (1). Peanuts, fish, tree nuts, and shellfish account for the majority of food hypersensitivity reactions in adults, while peanuts, milk, and eggs cause over 80% of food hypersensitivity reactions in children (2). Peanut hypersensitivity reactions usually last for a lifetime (3) and are often more severe than to other foods. Several reports (4,5) have detailed fatal and nearfatal anaphylactic reactions occurring in adolescents and adults following the ingestion of peanuts or peanut products. The development of an IgE response to an allergen involves a series of interactions between antigen-presenting cells (APCs), T cells, and B cells. Initially APCs present small peptide fragments (T-cell epitopes) in conjunction with MHC class II molecules to T cells. T cells bearing the appropriate complementary T-cell receptor (TCR) will bind to the peptide MHC complex leading to further cognate interactions that result in the generation of a “second” signal, T-cell proliferation and cytokine generation (Th2-like lymphocyte activation). Opposing effects of various cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-13 versus IFN-gamma and TGF-beta, are involved in the regulation of IgE production. Therefore, allergen specific Th2 lymphocytes that are known to secrete high levels of IL-4 and low levels of IL-2 and IFNplay an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic disease. The orderly sequence of events necessary to produce allergen-specific IgE, and the critical role T cells play in this process, has been studied in a variety of aero-allergens (6). However, the
AGN Activity in Giant LSB Galaxies

A search of large, HI-rich disk galaxies finds a significantly higher fraction of low luminosity AGN signatures compared to other late-type galaxies. Approximately half of the galaxies selected in this sample have AGN-like behavior in their cores, the rest have HII nuclei resulting from simple star formation. Since AGN behavior is not evident in all the sample galaxies, which where selected by high gas mass, we speculate that it is the fuel flow rate that is the common feature between late-type LSB disks and other active nuclear galaxies.
Links between self-organizing feature maps and weighted vector quantization

A novel learning algorithm for self-organizing feature maps (SOFMs) is presented. The learning algorithm is based on an extension of vector quantization called weighted vector quantization (WVQ). WVQ distortion is a weighted sum of the distortion between an input vector and each of the codevectors in the codebook. A formulation of WVQ is given, as well as two optimality conditions which are analogous to the nearest neighbor and centroid conditions of vector quantization. The authors then incorporate the SOFM neighborhood mechanism into WVQ, and use the WVQ optimality conditions to derive the algorithm. >
Bullous pemphigoid: the frequency of mucosal involvement and concurrent malignancy related to indirect immunofluorescence findings

A review of 124 cases of bullous pemphigoid was made and the clinical findings correlated with the results of indirect immunofluorescence. A circulating IgG basement membrane zone (BMZ) antibody was detected in the serum of eighty-nine (72%) of the patients. Antibody titres in these patients did not correlate with the extent of the disease or with the presence of mucous membrane lesions. Indeed, oral lesions were more common in the thirty-five sero-negative patients with 17% of such patients being affected compared to only 10% of those with positive indirect immunofluorescence findings. This difference, however, was not statistically significant. Concurrent malignant disease (i.e. malignancy occurring within 6 months of pemphigoid being diagnosed) occurred in eight of the seronegative group (23%) and in only four of the eighty-nine seropositive cases (4%); this difference was significant. The association of bullous pemphigoid and malignant disease still remains controversial, but those who believe that the relationship is coincidental must now explain why concurrent malignant disease is more common in patients who have bullous pemphigoid and negative indirect immunofluorescence findings.
Toxic concentrations of exogenously supplied methylglyoxal in hybridoma cell culture.

Concentrations at which methylglyoxal, a by-product of cellular metabolism, can be toxic to hybridoma cell cultures were determined using exogenously supplied doses. Trypan blue cell counts of 6-well cultures incubated for 24 h with various methylglyoxal concentrations revealed inhibition of cell growth at 300 μM and higher, with a median inhibitory concentration of 490±20 μM. The primary mode of death was apoptosis, as assessed by chromatin condensation, and the effects of methylglyoxal were observed to be complete by approximately eight hours. Yet, the impact of methylglyoxal was a function of the rate of dosing; stepwise addition of MG during the first 6 h of incubation inhibited growth but caused much less cell death than a comparable bolus dose. Inhibition of cellular metabolism by MG was found to coincide with inhibition of cell growth, with a comparable median inhibitory concentration of 360±20 μM. The effects on viable cell density and metabolism were both linear at doses approaching zero, with lowest observable effect levels of 54 and 77 μM, respectively. These results provide quantitative estimates for concentrations of methylglyoxal that may be inhibitory to biopharmaceutical-producing cell lines.
Cyberknife Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Nonresectable Tumors of the Liver: Preliminary Results

Purpose. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a treatment option for local tumor control of primary and secondary malignancies of the liver. We report on our updated experience with SBRT in patients with non-resectable tumors of the liver. Methods. Our first 17 consecutive patients (mean age 58.1 years) receiving SBRT for HCC ( 𝑛 = 6 ), IHC ( 𝑛 = 3 ), and LM ( 𝑛 = 8 ) are presented. Mean radiation dose was 34Gy delivered over 1–3 fractions. Results. Treated patients had a mean decrease in maximum pretreatment tumor diameter from 6 . 9 ± 4 . 6 cm to 5 . 0 ± 2 . 1 cm at three months after treatment ( 𝑃 . 0 5 ). The mean total tumor volume reduction was 44% at six months ( 𝑃 . 0 5 ). 82% of all patients (14/17) achieved local control with a median follow-up of 8 months. 100% of patients with HCC ( 𝑛 = 6 ) achieved local control. Patients with surgically placed fiducial markers had no complications related to marker placement. Conclusion. Our preliminary results showed that SBRT is a safe and effective local treatment modality in selected patients with liver malignancies with minimal adverse events. Further studies are needed to define its role in the management of these malignancies.
Alcohol and motion perception.

Three motion perception skills were measured under different levels of alcohol ingestion. Our method for detecting decrements in visual information processing proved sensitive to blood alcohol levels as low as .02%. Alcohol in small doses increased reaction times to the onset of motion, particularly to slow speeds, but did not reduce the ability to allocate attention effectively. In view of these findings, certain motion perception tests may be valuable assays for detecting impaired performance with low blood alcohol levels.
Effect of synthetic reducing agents on morphology and ORR activity of carbon-supported nano-Pd–Co alloy electrocatalysts

Abstract Three different reducing agents, ethylene glycol (EG), formaldehyde (HCHO), and sodium borohydrate (NaBH 4 ), were used in the synthesis of carbon-supported Pd–Co catalysts (Pd–Co/C–EG, Pd–Co/C–HCHO, and Pd–Co/C–NaBH 4 , respectively). The differences among these three catalysts in morphology and electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were observed and characterized using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectra, surface cyclic voltametry, and rotating disk electrode technique. It was observed that by using a mild reducing agent such as EG, well-controlled and homogenous nucleation and growth could be achieved during the catalyst synthesis. With respect to the morphology and ORR activity of synthesized catalysts, the order of preferred reducing agents was found to be EG > NaBH 4 > HCHO. In order to improve activity and stability, the catalysts were heat-treated at temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 700 °C. It was found that for all three Pd–Co/C catalysts, a temperature of 300 °C gave the best catalyst morphology and ORR activity. The investigation in ORR kinetics catalyzed by these three catalysts revealed that all three could catalyze a four-electron reduction of oxygen to produce water. The average Tafel slope of the catalyzed ORR was found to be ∼70 mV/dec, suggesting that the determining step in the mechanism is a one-electron transfer process. In an effort to validate the theoretical explanation, the ORR activity as a function of particle size, Pd lattice constant, and Pd–Pd bond distance of the three Pd–Co/C catalysts was also investigated. In addition, in the case of EG as reducing agent the impregnation–reduction method employed in this work was simplified, because the need for a stabilizing agent usage was removed and water was used as the solvent.
Microbiological Quality of Cowpea Paste Used to Prepare Nigerian Akara

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) paste used to prepare akara was collected from three Nigerian marketplaces and analyzed to determine populations and predominant types of bacteria, yeasts, and molds. Total aerobic microbial populations were initially high (106-108/g) and increased after 12 hr incubation at 30–32°C to ca. 109/g. Initial coliform populations were 102-104/g and decreased slightly between 6 hr and 12 hr; yeast/mold populations remained constant at 104-105/g. The average initial pH of 6.0 declined to 5.1 and 4.5 after 6 hr and 12 hr incubation, respectively. Predominant bacteria consisted of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Lactobacillus species; Candida species and Aspergillus mger were the predominant fungi isolated from the pastes.
Bronchopulmonary sarcoidosis confirmed by bronchoscopic biopsy. A report of two cases with a review of the gross and histologic descriptions of all 28 previously recorded cases in the literature.

It is less than a score of years (1941)’ since the first confirmatory bronchial biopsy was obtained from a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis. The literature concerning means of effecting a diagnosis in this pleomorphic, often systemic disease, is voluminous. In three large series including a combined study from the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital,3 a series by Riley4 from New York City and one from the Veterans Hospital,’9 totaling 321 cases, only one positive bronchial biopsy compatible with a sarcoid lesion was described. This case was the first described in the literature.’ It is curious that with hilar lymph node involvement and parenchymal changes listed in the majority of the cases, only one other case even mentions bronchoscopic abnormalities” in these three series, without substantiation of biopsy. In the series reported by Riley,” 6 of 52 cases (14 per cent) had symptoms of wheezing, suggestive of stenotic bronchial processes. This alone would indicate that with routine bronchoscopy and biopsy the yield of positive biopsy material would have been substantial in the 45 of Riley’s 52 cases presenting pulmonary involvement. It is known that sarcoid changes in the respiratory mucosa occur more frequently than is generally realized. A positive laryngeal biopsy was obtained relatively early.”5 It was not until Kalbian”‘ made a routine bronchoscopic study on 11 known cases of sarcoidosis, finding abnormalities in nine and positive biopsies in three cases, that the significance of bronchial biopsy as a source of diagnostic material was realized. In the Dunner et at.’7 series of 109 cases, 131 positive biopsies were obtained from various sites, namely, 56 per cent from lymph nodes, 15 per cent from the liver, 12 per cent from the lung by needle biopsy, 9 per cent from the skin and 8 per cent from other sites. Bronchial biopsies were not mentioned in spite of a high percentage of lung and hilar lymph node involvement, more than any other organic system. The following two cases (1956-57 and 1959), with histories and illustrations, are presented with suggestive findings on bronchoscopy and the positive diagnostic evidence obtained through biopsy material.
Relationships between 2X hordeum sp., 2X Secale sp. and 2X, 4X, 6X triticum spp. for stomatal frequency, size and distribution☆

Abstract Stomatal size, frequency, and distribution were examined on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of flag leaves sampled from 18 accessions of Hordeum vulgare, Secale cereale, Triticum monococcum L., T. turgidum L. var. durum, and T. aestivum L. var. aestivum. The cultivars differed in frequency on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces (P ≦ 0.01). The adaxial surface had a significantly higher stomatal frequency than the abaxial side. Interaction significance between accessions and surface was mainly contributed by Secale sp. and Triticum sp. since all Hordeum sp. accessions were similar. Diploid wheat had the highest stomatal frequency, which decreased with increasing ploidy. Plant height also influenced stomatal size and frequency in Secale sp. Stomatal size and frequency, along with pubescence, could serve as micromorphological markers in inheritance studies in interspecific and intergeneric hybridization.
Landscape of EGFR Signaling Network in Human Cancers: Biology and Therapeutic Response in Relation to Receptor Subcellular Locations

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway is one of the most dysregulated molecular pathways in human cancers. Despite its well-established importance in tumor growth, progression and drug-resistant phenotype over the past several decades, targeted therapy designed to circumvent EGFR has yielded only modest clinical success in cancer patients, except those with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying EGFR activation mutations. However, almost all of these NSCLC patients eventually developed resistance to small molecule EGFR kinase inhibitors. These disappointing outcomes are, in part, due to the high complexity and the interactive nature of the EGFR signaling network. More recent compelling evidence further indicates that EGFR functionality can be dependent on its subcellular location. In this regard, EGFR undergoes translocation into different organelles where it elicits distinctly different functions than its best known activity as a plasma membrane-bound receptor tyrosine kinase. EGFR can be shuttled into the cell nucleus and mitochondrion upon ligand binding, radiation, EGFR-targeted therapy and other stimuli. Nuclear EGFR behaves as transcriptional regulator, tyrosine kinase, and mediator of other physiological processes. The role of mitochondrial EGFR remains poorly understood but it appears to regulate apoptosis and autophagy. While studies using patient tumors have shown nuclear EGFR to be an indicator for poor clinical outcomes in cancer patients, the impact of mitochondrial EGFR on tumor behavior and patient prognosis remains to be defined. Most recently, several lines of evidence suggest that mislocated EGFR may regulate tumor response to therapy and that plasma membrane-bound EGFR elicits survival signals independent of its kinase activity. In light of these recent progresses and discoveries, we will outline in this minireview an emerging line of research that uncovers and functionally characterizes several novel modes of EGFR signaling that take center stage in the cell nucleus, mitochondrion and other subcellular compartments. We will also discuss the clinical implications of these findings in the rationale design for therapeutic strategy that overcomes tumor drug resistance.
Mutagenicity of commercial caramels.

Abstract Three liquid and a powdered commercial caramels were tested for mutagenicity with the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. The aqueous solution, acidic and basic organic extracts of each commercial caramel were tested with and without microsomal activation by liver S-9 preparation from Aroclor-treated rats. None of the samples tested exhibited significant mutagenicity over a wide range of concentrations.
Determination of Serum Iron and Iron Binding Capacity Using 4-(2-Pyridylazo) Resorcinol (Par)

Abstract Procedures are described for the determination of serum iron and iron binding capacity using the chromogenic reagent 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR). The high molar absorptivity of the iron (II) PAR complex makes possible an approximate two fold increase in sensitivity over previous methods. The described procedures have few interferences, and give linear results for samples containing 0 – 750 μg/dl of iron.
Coherence Properties of CdSe/ZnCdMgSe Selfassembled Quantum Dots Photoluminescence Under Femtosecond Pulse Excitation

The photoluminescence from quantum dots ensemble excited by femtosecond pulse excitation is shown to be mutually coherent by the observation of the high contrast of the interference fringes.
Intimacy, passion, and commitment in Chinese and US American romantic relationships

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine the triangular theory of love in China and the United States. It was predicted that intimacy, passion, and commitment would increase in both cultures as the relationship becomes more serious. It was also predicted that intimacy and passion would be higher in romantic relationships in the US than in China, and that commitment would be higher in China than in the US. Data were collected from 90 Chinese romantic couples in China and 77 American romantic couples in the United States. Multivariate analysis of variance using summation scores revealed that commitment, passion, and intimacy increased as a romantic relationship became more serious. Passion was significantly higher in US American couples than in Chinese couples, but the amount of intimacy and commitment did not vary cross-culturally (using both summation and dispersion scores).
Plate Tectonics in the Caribbean: a Reply

MATTSON'S critique is in accord with most of our views1. Here we answer most of his points by mentioning details omitted from the original paper because of space limitations.
Evidence for Specificity of Motor Impairments in Catching and Balance in Children with Autism.

To evaluate evidence for motor impairment specificity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children completed performance-based assessment of motor functioning (Movement Assessment Battery for Children: MABC-2). Logistic regression models were used to predict group membership. In the models comparing typically developing and developmental disability (DD), all three MABC subscale scores were significantly negatively associated with having a DD. In the models comparing ADHD and ASD, catching and static balance items were associated with ASD group membership, with a 1 point decrease in performance increasing odds of ASD by 36 and 39 %, respectively. Impairments in motor skills requiring the coupling of visual and temporal feedback to guide and adjust movement appear specifically deficient in ASD.
Reactivity, experimental strategy and reaction rate data evaluation in noncatalytic gas-solid systems

Abstract Important aspects of noncatalytic gas-solid reactions including mass transfer and pore structure, heat transfer, chemical reaction kinetics and equilibrium, mechanical stresses, phase change and sintering are briefly reviewed. An improved strategy for the determination of reaction kinetics is formulated, akin to the systematic procedure which exists for catalytic systems. The synthesis of titanium nitride is utilized as a case study. The approach includes the use of nonisothermal data in addition to the traditional isothermal data as a crucial step to obtain data with sufficient orthogonality to allow rigorous evaluation of competing rate laws. Two particle morphologies are tested and experiments are conducted over a wide range of conversion, temperature and heating rate. Four kinetic laws are evaluated by nonlinear optimization using the BET surface area as a measure of reactivity. The logarithmic law provides a surprisingly good fit of the experimental data. The apparent observed activation energy is a function of temperature, conversion and particle size even though the intrinsic activation energy remains constant. This offers an explanation for discrepancies that exist between kinetic parameters obtained in previous investigations.
Proteasome blockers inhibit TNF-α release by lipopolysaccharide stimulated macrophages and microglia: implications for HIV-1 dementia

HIV-1 infection of the central nervous system can cause severe neurologic disease although only microglial cells and brain macrophages are susceptible to productive viral infection. Substances secreted by infected cells are thought to cause disease indirectly. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is one candidate neurotoxin and is upregulated during HIV-1 infection of the brain, likely via activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. We used the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and ALLN (N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-Norleucinal), to inhibit NF-kappaB activation in primary human fetal microglia (PHFM) and primary monocyte derived-macrophages, and showed that they could block TNF-alpha release stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or TNF-alpha. In addition, we performed electrophoretic mobility shift analysis and determined that in microglia, the p50/p65 heterodimer of NF-kappaB is activated by LPS stimulation, and is inhibited by MG132. Thus, blockade of NF-kappaB activation in microglia in vitro can decrease production of TNF-alpha and may prove to be a novel strategy for treating HIV-1 dementia.
Faculty Participation in University Governance and the Effects on University Performance

This paper examines the relationship between faculty participation in university decision-making and university performance. Using an aggregated measure of faculty participation, McCormick and Meiners [The Journal of Law and Economics 31 (1989) 423] find that increased faculty control in decision-making is associated with lower levels of institutional performance. Building on the existing university governance literature, this paper argues that the optimal level of faculty participation varies by decision type. Disaggregating the data by faculty participation into different decision types produces results that are consistent with this hypothesis. Increased faculty participation may be good or bad; the effects vary by the type of decisions in which faculty participate.
Two particle correlations: Saturation and issues with universality

Abstract We study the universality issue of the transverse momentum dependent parton distributions at small- x , by comparing the initial/final state interaction effects in di-jet correlation in pA collisions with those in deep inelastic lepton–nucleus scattering. We demonstrate the non-universality by performing an explicit calculation in a particular model where the multiple gauge boson exchange contributions are summed up to all orders. In addition, we generalize the model calculation to the CGC formalism, and find the non-universality for quark distributions in CGC.
Continuous reconfiguration in the transient advantage economy

Purpose – The author identified a set of companies that have figured out how to cope, even to thrive, within the new transient advantage economy and explains how they did it. Design/methodology/approach – Her research team analyzed nearly 5,000 companies. Of that whole population, only ten companies were able to grow their net income by at least 5 percent a year for ten years in a row. These ten “outliers” have out-performed competitors while adapting to rapidly changing market forces. Findings – Organizations that have mastered transient-advantage environments have learned to continually free up resources from old advantages in order to fund the development of new ones. Additionally, innovation is continuous, mainstream and part of everyone's job. Research limitations/implications – The 5,000 companies analyzed included every publicly traded firm on any stock exchange with a market capitalization of over $1 billion. The article studies the practices of the ten most successful over ten years. Practical im...
Pure and Bayes-Nash Price of Anarchy for Generalized Second Price Auction

The Generalized Second Price Auction has been the main mechanism used by search companies to auction positions for advertisements on search pages. In this paper we study the social welfare of the Nash equilibria of this game in various models. In the full information setting, socially optimal Nash equilibria are known to exist (i.e., the Price of Stability is 1). This paper is the first to prove bounds on the price of anarchy, and to give any bounds in the Bayesian setting. Our main result is to show that the price of anarchy is small assuming that all bidders play un-dominated strategies. In the full information setting we prove a bound of 1.618 for the price of anarchy for pure Nash equilibria, and a bound of 4 for mixed Nash equilibria. We also prove a bound of 8 for the price of anarchy in the Bayesian setting, when valuations are drawn independently, and the valuation is known only to the bidder and only the distributions used are common knowledge. Our proof exhibits a combinatorial structure of Nash equilibria and uses this structure to bound the price of anarchy. While establishing the structure is simple in the case of pure and mixed Nash equilibria, the extension to the Bayesian setting requires the use of novel combinatorial techniques that can be of independent interest.
Precise algorithm to generate random sequential addition of hard hyperspheres at saturation

The study of the packing of hard hyperspheres in $d$-dimensional Euclidean space ${\mathbb{R}}^{d}$ has been a topic of great interest in statistical mechanics and condensed matter theory. While the densest known packings are ordered in sufficiently low dimensions, it has been suggested that in sufficiently large dimensions, the densest packings might be disordered. The random sequential addition (RSA) time-dependent packing process, in which congruent hard hyperspheres are randomly and sequentially placed into a system without interparticle overlap, is a useful packing model to study disorder in high dimensions. Of particular interest is the infinite-time saturation limit in which the available space for another sphere tends to zero. However, the associated saturation density has been determined in all previous investigations by extrapolating the density results for nearly saturated configurations to the saturation limit, which necessarily introduces numerical uncertainties. We have refined an algorithm devised by us [S. Torquato, O. U. Uche, and F. H. Stillinger, Phys. Rev. E 74, 061308 (2006)] to generate RSA packings of identical hyperspheres. The improved algorithm produce such packings that are guaranteed to contain no available space in a large simulation box using finite computational time with heretofore unattained precision and across the widest range of dimensions ($2\ensuremath{\le}d\ensuremath{\le}8$). We have also calculated the packing and covering densities, pair correlation function ${g}_{2}(r)$, and structure factor $S(k)$ of the saturated RSA configurations. As the space dimension increases, we find that pair correlations markedly diminish, consistent with a recently proposed ``decorrelation'' principle, and the degree of ``hyperuniformity'' (suppression of infinite-wavelength density fluctuations) increases. We have also calculated the void exclusion probability in order to compute the so-called quantizer error of the RSA packings, which is related to the second moment of inertia of the average Voronoi cell. Our algorithm is easily generalizable to generate saturated RSA packings of nonspherical particles.
Polar organizers in monoplastidic mitosis of hepatics (Bryophyta)

Archesporial cells of the hepatic Monoclea gottschei Lindb. undergo a series of monoplastidic mitotic divisions prior to enlarging into sporocytes. Interphase cells have a nuclear-based endoplasmic microtubule system that is predominantly aligned in the long axis of the cell and lack a hoop-like cortical system. No preprophase bands (PPBs) are formed. Prior to mitosis, the single plastid divides and daughter plastids move to the incipient spindle poles as is typical of monoplastidic cell division. However, the plastids do not serve as microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) as they do in both mitosis and meiosis of hornworts and lycopsids, and in meiosis of mosses. Rather, microtubules of the developing spindle emanate from distinct polar organizers (POs) arising just outside the nuclear envelope as in polyplastidic mitosis in other hepatics. The POs, which appear to arise de novo on opposite ends of the nucleus during preprophase, consist of vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum, and radiating microtubules. The developmental and evolutionary significance of distinct POs, plastid MTOCs, and the diffuse MTOCs of higher plants is discussed. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Creating Shared Responsibility through Respect for Military Culture: The Russian and American Cases

The key problem in civil-military relations in established polities such as Russia and the United States is not civilian control of the military, but rather how to create a symbiotic relationship of “shared responsibility” between senior military officers and civilian leaders. In such a situation, civilian leaders obtain much needed expertise from the military, but ultimately remain in control. The keys to symbiotic civil-military relations are a desire on the part of military officers to work with civilians and civilian respect for military culture. When civilians respect military culture—that is, the military’s (1) devotion to clear executive leadership, (2) commitment to corporate identity, (3) drive to increase professional expertise, and (4) dedication to political responsibility—a system of shared responsibility is likely to emerge. This thesis is elaborated by comparing recent civil-military relations in Russia and the United States.
Changing Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Coarctation of the Aorta

From 1974 through 1983, 107 patients 4 days to 27 years old underwent 115 operations for treatment of coarctation of the aorta. Thirty-two patients were infants (1 year old or younger), and 28 of them were newborns. All newborns were seen with congestive heart failure. Seventy-one patients were seen with hypertension. Associated anomalies were present in 72 patients (67%). Resection was performed in 48 patients, patch aortoplasty in 16, bypass of the coarcted segment in 15, and left subclavian artery flap angioplasty (LSAFA) in 36. Ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus was simultaneously performed in 28 patients and pulmonary artery banding, in 4. Follow-up was 6 months to 9.2 years. There was a significant difference in aortic cross-clamp time between 26 patients who had resection (37.9 +/- 12.9 minutes) (mean +/- standard deviation) and 32 patients who had LSAFA (22.9 +/- 7.7 minutes) (p less than 0.05). Six patients died within thirty days after operation; 5 of them had resection, and 1 had bypass. Major postoperative complications included bleeding requiring exploration in 3 patients (2 after resection and 1 after LSAFA) and paraplegia in 1 patient after reoperation (resection) for recurrent coarctation 3 years after patch aortoplasty. Paradoxical hypertension was observed in 13 patients, and sustained systemic postoperative hypertension developed in 11 after effective repair of coarctation. There was no significant difference in early postoperative arm-leg pressure gradients between the types of operation or the various age groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Receptor mechanisms of prenodal lymphatic constriction by dopamine.

It has been proposed that alterations in lymphatic smooth muscle activity significantly impact lymphatic function. Numerous endogenous vasoactive agents are known to constrict prenodal lymph vessels. In this study, we assessed the ability of dopamine to alter lymphatic smooth muscle tone in perfused prenodal lymph vessels. Additionally, the receptor mechanisms of dopamine's actions were elucidated. Both intralymphatic (i.l.) and intra-arterial (i.a.) dopamine significantly increased lymphatic perfusion pressure. The increase in lymphatic pressure was completely blocked by i.a. phentolamine, suggesting involvement of alpha(1)- and/or alpha(2)-adrenoreceptors. Intra-arterial infusion of the specific alpha(1)-receptor antagonist prazosin completely abolished the constriction seen during i.l. phenylephrine but only attenuated that produced by dopamine. Intralymphatic infusion of the DA(1)-receptor agonist SKF 82526-J and the DA(2)-receptor agonist LY 171555 caused significant relaxation of lymph vessels that had been previously constricted by i.a. norepinephrine infusion. These data indicate that the constriction produced by dopamine, in the concentrations employed in this study, is mediated by both alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenoreceptors. These lymph vessels do contain both DA(1)- and DA(2)-receptors but stimulation of these receptors results in lymphatic smooth muscle relaxation.