cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of nitrogen addition on soil microbial diversity and methane cycling capacity depend on drainage conditions in a pine forest soil

Abstract Two forested study sites, one well and one poorly drained, were used for investigation of the effects of variation in drainage, microclimate, and addition of inorganic nitrogen (N) on the whole soil microbial community and its methane cycling capacity. Both sites were capable of consuming and releasing large quantities of methane. The composition of the soil microbial community was investigated using the 3rd generation PhyloChip, a bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene microarray. The PhyloChip was also used to target the composition of methane- and some N-cycling microorganisms. Relative abundance of functional genes involved in methane production and consumption was evaluated with qPCR. Soil drainage condition determined the microbial community structure within and between sites. Greater community structure variation, richness of methanotrophs, and higher abundances of both methanotrophs and methanogens were all found in the poorly drained site, as was higher soil moisture and C content and methane release. In the poorly drained site, high N (67 kg NH 4 NO 3 ha −1 yr −1 ) increased methanotroph and methanogen abundance, overall taxonomic richness of Bacteria and Archaea, and richness of nitrifiers and methanotrophs. In the well drained site, high N decreased taxonomic richness. Results may indicate that high N concentrations stimulated oxidative reactions, including ammonia and methane oxidation and nitrification in the short term. The resultant increase in release of methane from the high N plots of the poorly-drained site may have been due to indirect inhibition of methane oxidation by the increase in other oxidative reactions. Alternatively, both methanogens and methanotrophs may have been stimulated by high N. Well-drained site high N decreased the taxonomic richness of the soil, but did not impact methane-cycling microbes. These findings begin to bridge the gap between microbial-scale community dynamics and ecosystem-scale ecological functions.
Educators' insights in using chronicle diabetes: a data management system for diabetes education.

PurposeDiabetes educators lack data systems to monitor diabetes self-management education processes and programs. The purpose of the study is to explore diabetes educator’s insights in using a diabetes education data management program: the Chronicle Diabetes system.MethodsWe conducted 1 focus group with 8 diabetes educators who use the Chronicle system in western Pennsylvania. The focus group was audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Themes were categorized according to system facilitators and barriers in using Chronicle.ResultsEducators report 4 system facilitators and 4 barrier features. System facilitators include (1) ability to extract data from Chronicle for education program recognition, (2) central location for collecting and documenting all patient and education data, (3) capability to monitor behavioral goal setting and clinical outcomes, and (4) use of a patient snapshot report that automatically summarizes behavioral goal setting and an education plan. Barriers reported are (1) initially time-c...
Time-Resolved Raman Measurements of Hydrocarbon Interactions with Poly-α-olefin Films

Laser Raman spectroscopy was used to study the dissolution of volatile hydrocarbon molecules in thin films of poly-α-olefin oil. Above the boiling point of the hydrocarbon, or when no liquid hydrocarbon was present, the dissolution was driven by Henry's law solubilities in line with previous models. However, below the boiling point and when significant liquid hydrocarbon was present, dissolution was entropically driven. Under these conditions, where equilibrium solubilities were not achievable, the Raman spectra were used to determine dissolution rates. Over the range of conditions studied, and particularly for a given class of volatile hydrocarbons, pressure and temperature influenced the dissolution rate primarily by affecting the vapor pressure and concentration of the volatile hydrocarbon. The rate-limiting step for the dissolution involved mass transport at the vapor/film interface.
Luminescence Quenching in Supramolecular Systems: A Comparison of DNA- and SDS Micelle-Mediated Photoinduced Electron Transfer between Metal Complexes

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions between photoexcited Ru(phen)2dppz2+ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dppz = dipyridophenazine) and acceptors Rh(phi)2bpy3+ and Rh(phen)2phi3+ (phi = 9,10-phena...
Kinetic and stereoselectivity effects of phosphite ligands in dirhodium catalysis

A phosphite additive that can act as an axial ligand for a dirhodium tetracarboxylate catalyst improves the enantioselectivity of silane insertion of a diazo substrate. A kinetic study enables measurement of the catalytic rate constant for the catalyst bound to an axial ligand. Although a single axial ligand has an inhibitory effect on reactivity at the distal rhodium center, axially-bound catalysts are the predominant active species in solution for phosphite concentrations above 6 mol % under our reaction conditions. We examine changes in product enantioselectivity as a function of ligand to shed light on the structure and kinetics of product formation steps.
Net energy production associated with pathogen inactivation during mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge.

Abstract The potential for anaerobic digester energy production must be balanced with the sustainability of reusing the resultant biosolids for land application. Mesophilic, thermophilic, temperature-phased, and high temperature (60 or 70 °C) batch pre-treatment digester configurations have been systematically evaluated for net energy production and pathogen inactivation potential. Energy input requirements and net energy production were modeled for each digester scheme. First-order inactivation rate coefficients for Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and bacteriophage MS-2 were measured at each digester temperature and full-scale pathogen inactivation performance was estimated for each indicator organism and each digester configuration. Inactivation rates were found to increase dramatically at temperatures above 55 °C. Modeling full-scale performance using retention times based on U.S. EPA time and temperature constraints predicts a 1–2 log inactivation in mesophilic treatment, and a 2–5 log inactivation in 50–55 °C thermophilic and temperature-phased treatments. Incorporating a 60 or 70 °C batch pre-treatment phase resulted in dramatically higher potency, achieving MS-2 inactivation of 14 and 16 logs respectively, and complete inactivation (over 100 log reduction) of E. coli and E. faecalis. For temperatures less than 70 °C, viability staining of thermally-treated E. coli showed significantly reduced inactivation relative to standard culture enumeration. Due to shorter residence times in thermophilic reactors, the net energy production for all digesters was similar (less than 20% difference) with the 60 or 70 °C batch treatment configurations producing the most net energy and the mesophilic treatment producing the least. Incorporating a 60 or 70 °C pre-treatment phase can dramatically increase pathogen inactivation performance without decreasing net energy capture from anaerobic digestion. Energy consumption is not a significant barrier against improving the pathogen quality of biosolids.
Temporal extent of surface potentials between closely spaced metals.

Variations in the electrostatic surface potential between the proof mass and electrode housing in the space-based gravitational wave mission Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is one of the largest contributors of noise at frequencies below a few mHz. Torsion balances provide an ideal test bed for investigating these effects in conditions emulative of LISA. Our apparatus consists of a Au coated Cu plate brought near a Au coated Si plate pendulum suspended from a thin W wire. We have measured a white noise level of $30\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{V}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ above approximately 0.1 mHz, rising at lower frequencies, for the surface potential variations between these two closely spaced metals.
Flow about a growing sphere in contact with a plane surface

Abstract A solution is presented describing the potential flow pattern in a semi infinite liquid surrounding a sphere that is growing while remaining tangent to a plane solid surface. An exact integral representation of the solution for the potential distribution is given. A simple analytic representation for the integrand was chosen to replace the exact form and thus provide closed form analytic results for both the potential and velocity distribution. Properties of the flow field are examined. The total kinetic energy of the fluid agrees well with the result of an earlier but less detailed calculation by Shiffman and Friedman. For one specific gowth law the prlssure distribution was evaluated and used to form a new criterion for detachment of the sphere from the surface. The solution should find application in boiling bubble dynamics, underwater explosions and cavitation studies.
Raising Revenue for Persons with Disabilities

Whereas right-libertarians do not think that it is a requirement of justice that we raise revenues for persons with disabilities, both left-libertarians and liberal egalitarians think that there is such a requirement. An issue remains for the latter two theorists—how ought we to raise this revenue? Liberal egalitarians typically endorse either universal taxation or taxation of the wealthy. Left-libertarians, on the other hand, cannot so easily appeal to the methods of universal taxation and taxation of the wealthy, as they are illegitimately coercive. One such method left open to the left-libertarian is one proposed by Michael Otsuka. He argues that both left-libertarians and liberal egalitarians should find the method of taxation of the unjust to be a reasonably strong way of raising revenue. In this paper, I point out problems with Otsuka’s argument, as well as directly criticize the method of taxation of the unjust.
Matched Comparison of Robotic-assisted and Open Radical Cystectomy

Objective To evaluate our initial robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) experience compared with a robust open radical cystectomy (ORC) series performed at a single institution using a matched-pair analysis. Although early results suggest that RARC is safe, with favorable perioperative and early oncologic outcomes, limited data exist comparing ORC and RARC. Methods RARC and ORC patients were identified through a prospectively maintained institutional review board-approved bladder cancer database. RARC and ORC cases performed from September 2007 to November 2010 were matched 1:2 by age, sex, urinary diversion, and clinical stage. The perioperative, complication, and pathologic outcomes were compared. Results A total of 50 RARC and 100 ORC cases were reviewed, with a median follow-up of 8 and 13.5 months, respectively. No differences in the demographic parameters were present between the 2 groups. RARC was associated with a significantly decreased median estimated blood loss (350 vs 475 mL) and 30-day transfusion rate (2% vs 24%) but with longer operative times (454.9 vs 349.1 minutes). No difference was found in the rate of 30-day minor or major Clavien complications, length of stay, or 30-day readmissions between groups. The 90-day mortality rate was 3% versus 0% for ORC and RARC, respectively. No difference in the final pathologic findings, number of lymph nodes removed, or margin status was identified. Conclusion Early experience with RARC compared with a robust ORC experience demonstrated similar perioperative and pathologic outcomes. Continued experience with RARC has the potential to bring improved perioperative results.
The integrated ionospheric response to internal atmospheric gravity waves

Abstract The effect of internal atmospheric gravity waves upon columnar electron content is studied using a model consisting of plane internal gravity waves propagating in a viscous atmosphere composed of a number of isothermal layers and a description of the wave-ionization interaction which includes the effects of the wave upon diffusion, photoionization and losses. Attention is restricted to columnar electron content obtained using transmissions from geostationary satellites. The geometry of the problem is then determined by the geomagnetic latitude of the observing location and the longitudinal separation between observer and satellite. The effect of variations in these quantities upon the integrated response to the waves is studied as a function of wave azimuth for various waves. The response obtained is quite dependent upon the wave parameters and the geometry of the observing situation. However, under certain circumstances, the integrated response to larger-scale waves behaves similarly to the response of the electron concentration at a single height. Some suggestions for the use of electron content measurements for the study of atmospheric gravity waves are outlined. Since the accuracy of the determination of the perturbations in electron content is limited almost entirely by the accuracy of the description of the perturbations in the electron concentration at all heights, considerable attention is paid to the problem of the effect of the waves upon the electron concentration. Inclusion of wave-induced perturbations in diffusion and loss are important for the situations studied, while perturbations in photoionization are relatively unimportant. The response of the electron concentration below 200 km is very sensitive to the loss rates used.
Thermal transport in MWCNT sheets and yarns

Abstract Laser flash and self-heating 3 ω techniques were employed to determine the anisotropic thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of a highly oriented, free-standing multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) sheet and a yarn drawn from a sidewall of the MWCNT forest grown by chemical-vapor deposition. Normalized to ideal high density structure the thermal conductivity and the thermal diffusivity along the alignment are 50 ± 5 W/m K and 45 ± 5 mm 2 /s, respectively, and are mostly limited by dangling terminals of bundles, intrinsic defects of individual nanotubes and phonon scattering within the bundles, which form the supporting matrix of the MWCNT sheet. The high degree of tube–tube overlap substantially decreases the electrical and thermal interconnection resistance, which usually dominates in randomly deposited mat-like nanotube assemblies. The extremely high surface area of the MWCNT sheet leads to excessive radial heat radiation that does not allow transferring the heat energy along the MWCNT sheet by means of phonons to distances >2 mm. On the other hand, the high surface area and negligible heat capacitance make it a perfect material for bolometric sensing ( r = 38 V/W) and heat dissipation.
Electric and magnetic energy density distributions inside and outside dielectric particles illuminated by a plane electromagnetic wave

We have studied the distribution of the electric and magnetic energy densities within and in the vicinity outside a dielectric particle illuminated by a plane electromagnetic wave. Numerical simulations were performed by using the Lorenz-Mie theory and the finite-difference time-domain method for spheres and spheroids, respectively. We found that the electric and magnetic energy densities are locally different within the scatterers. The knowledge of the two components of the electromagnetic energy density is essential to the study of the dipole (electric or magnetic) transitions that have potential applications to Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Exstrophy of the cloaca in a 47,XXX child: Review of genitourinary malformations in triple‐X patients

Cloacal exstrophy, unilateral renal agenesis, and Mullerian anomalies occurred in a liveborn infant with a 47,XXX chromosome constitution. The patient extends the range of genitourinary anomalies reported in triple-X patients. Screening asymptomatic patients for urinary tract abnormalities may be useful in searching for silent malformations potentially associated with this karyotype.
The SNS laser profile monitor design and implementation

After a successful demonstration of a nonintercepting beam profile monitor for the H/sup -/ beams at the 750 KeV and the 200 MeV LINAC at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the SNS project approved using a Nd:YAG laser rather than the traditional carbon wire for transverse profile monitors in the SNS superconducting LINAC. Experiments have also been performed on SNS 2.5 MeV medium energy beam transport line at LBNL. The design and the implementation of a multistation profile monitoring system using a single laser will be presented. The laser beam is scanned across the H/sup -/ beam to photoneutralize narrow slices. The liberated electrons are collected to provide a measurement of the transverse beam profile. The prototype system has been tested; the measurement and performance results will be presented.
The recognition event between virus and host cell receptor: a target for antiviral agents.

Conclusion The initial stage in the viral infectious cycle is the attachment of the virus particle to the host cell membrane. Attachment is mediated by the interaction of a viral surface protein, the VAP, with a normal component of the plasma membrane, of either protein, carbohydrate or lipid, which acts as a virus receptor. Information is accumulating rapidly not only on the nature of the VAPs and of viral receptors but also on the specific domains involved in binding. This knowledge is allowing the development of molecular models for the virus-host cell interaction. Such models permit the rational design of agents which might be effective in preventing virus infection by blocking the attachment stage of the infectious cycle. One group of agents (ligand mimics) will resemble, chemically or structurally, the binding domain of the ligand (in this case the VAP) and competitively inhibit binding of virus to the receptor. The second group of agents will resemble the binding domain of the receptor (receptor mimics) and prevent binding of virus with the host cell by attaching to the binding domain of the VAP.
Using quad trees for parallelizing conflict detection in a sequential simulation

This paper describes a parallel proximity detection algorithm and illustrates its application to the problem of conflict detection in an aviation simulation. The algorithm invokes a previously designed sequential function in parallel, using spatial information acquired during the traversal of a quad tree, to keep the separate invocations of the function as independent as possible. The method is generally applicable to any function (not just conflict detection) whose arguments are spatially organized. Empirical results show that a single-threaded version of the algorithm sped up the simulation by 57%, while a four-threaded parallel version extracted 30% of the remaining additional speedup. These results are even more noteworthy given that the architecture of the simulation remains intact: we only replace the invocation mechanism for one function.
Jason microwave radiometer performance and on-orbit calibration

Results are presented from the on-orbit calibration of the Jason Microwave Radiometer (JMR). The JMR brightness temperatures (TBs) are calibrated at the hottest and coldest ends of the instrument's dynamic range, using Amazon rain forest and vicarious cold on-Earth theoretical brightness temperature references. The retrieved path delay values are validated using collocated TOPEX Microwave Radiometer and Radiosonde Observation path delay (PD) values. Offsets of 1–4 K in the JMR TBs and 8–12 mm in the JMR PDs, relative to TMR measurements, were initially observed. There were also initial TB offsets of 2 K between the satellite's yaw state. The calibration was adjusted by tuning coefficients in the antenna temperature calibration algorithm and the antenna pattern correction algorithm. The calibrated path delay values are demonstrated to have no significant bias or scale errors with consistent performance in all nonprecipitating weather conditions. The uncertainty of the individual path delay measurements is ...
Crystal chemical control of clinopyroxene-melt partitioning in the Di-Ab-An system: implications for elemental fractionations in the depleted mantle

Abstract The partitioning of fifteen trace elements (Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Yb, Hf, Ta, Pb, and Th) between clinopyroxene and synthetic melt has been studied in two compositions along an isotherm in the diopside-albite-anorthite ternary at 1 bar pressure. The two compositions correspond to ∼Di65An35 and ∼Di55Ab45 and produce clinopyroxenes distinct in chemistry while melt compositions range from 49 wt% SiO2 to 61 wt% SiO2. The partition coefficients of high field strength elements (HFSE) increase by factors of 2–8 in Di-An experiments relative to Di-Ab experiments while other elements show very little change (±20%) between compositions. The change in HFSE partitioning correlates with increases in tetrahedral Al203 (IVAl) content of clinopyroxenes in the anorthite-bearing experiments. Changes in DTa/DNb also correlate with IVAl based on a survey of previously published determinations. Tests of models of trace element substitution energetics produce values for Young’s modulus (E) and optimum D (Do) consistent with previous results for clinopyroxene for mono-, di-, and trivalent cations. The wide variations in partitioning behavior for tetra- and pentavalent cations are also consistent with these models because the high values for E make partition coefficients and relative HFSE partitioning sensitive to small changes in composition. The overall increase in HFSE partitioning and Do for the DiAn composition is consistent with Do increasing as a function of IVAl, consistent with the role of IVAl in charge balancing HFSE. However, IVAl must also cause lattice changes that affect the ability of the clinopyroxene to discriminate between Nb and Ta. There are two important implications to the observed dependence of HFSE partition coefficients on clinopyroxene aluminum content. First, HFSE will be fractionated from their adjacent REE within ultramafic samples during melting of spinel lherzolite as clinopyroxene Al2O3 content decreases. Second, fractionations between Nb and Ta and Zr and Hf observed in mantle-derived magmas are consistent with extraction of melt in equilibrium with spinel lherzolite having clinopyroxenes with ∼5 wt% Al2O3. The fractionations among HFSE (Nb/Ta, Hf/Zr) and between HFSE and REE observed in both arc magmas and upper mantle peridotites may simply reflect prior depletion by major melting events (F > 10%) which left clinopyroxene as a residual phase. We speculate that the peridotitic sources for MORB and arc lavas are similar in composition with both having significant HFSE anomalies. However, MORB do not typically record HFSE anomalies because of the complementary contribution of HFSE from enriched mafic veins interspersed within the peridotite.
Intensity-modulated stereotactic radiosurgery using dynamic micro-multileaf collimation.

Abstract Purpose: The implementation of dynamic leaf motion on a micro-multileaf collimator system provides the capability for intensity-modulated stereotactic radiosurgery (IMSRS), and the consequent potential for improved dose distributions for irregularly shaped tumor volumes adjacent to critical organs. This study explores the use of IMSRS to provide improved tumor coverage and normal tissue sparing for small cranial tumors relative to plans based on multiple fixed uniform-intensity beams or traditional circular collimator arc-based stereotactic techniques. Methods and Materials: Four patient cases involving small brain lesions are presented and analyzed. The cases were chosen to include a representative selection of target shapes, number of targets, and adjacent critical areas. Patient plans generated for these comparisons include standard arcs with multiple circular collimators, and fixed noncoplanar static fields with uniform-intensity beams and IMSRS. Parameters used for evaluation of the plans include the percentage of irradiated volume to tumor volume (PITV), normal tissue dose–volume histograms, and dose–homogeneity ratios. All IMSRS plans were computed using previously established IMRT techniques adapted for use with the BrainLAB M3 micro-multileaf collimator. The algorithms comprising the IMRT system for optimization of intensity distributions and conversion into leaf trajectories of the BrainLab M3 were developed at our institution. The ADAC Pinnacle 3 radiation treatment-planning system was used for dose calculations and for input of contours for target volumes and normal critical structures. Results: For all cases, the IMSRS plans showed a high degree of conformity of the dose distribution with the target shape. The IMSRS plans provided either ( 1 ) a smaller volume of normal tissue irradiated to significant dose levels, generally taken as doses greater than 50% of the prescription, or ( 2 ) a lower dose to an important adjacent critical organ. The reduction in volume of normal tissue irradiated in the IMSRS plans ranged from 10% to 50% relative to the other arc and uniform fixed-field plans. Conclusion: The case studies presented for IMSRS demonstrate significant dosimetric improvements for small, irregularly shaped lesions of the brain when compared to treatments using multiple static fields or standard SRS arc techniques with circular collimators. For all cases, the IMSRS plan yielded a smaller volume of normal tissue irradiated, and/or a reduction in the volume of an adjacent critical organ (i.e., brainstem) irradiated to significant dose levels.
What we can Learn from General Circulation Models about the Spectrum of Middle Atmospheric Motions

This article presents an informal survey of some recent results from the GFDL “SKYHI” general circulation model that relate to the spectrum of stratospheric and mesospheric gravity waves. Attention is focussed on the extratropical summer hemisphere where upward propagating gravity waves should dominate the eddy component of the circulation. After a brief description of the SKYHI model, an examination is made of the large scale simulation and its dependence on model resolution. Then a comparison is made of statistics relating to the gravity wave field derived from rocketsonde observations at a number of extratropical stations with comparable model results. The spatial spectra of both kinetic energy and vertical eddy momentum transport in the simulated summer middle atmosphere are then discussed. The results of these investigations show that the SKYHI model gravity wave field has some impressively realistic features. On the other hand the present results also strongly suggest that much of the gravity wave vertical momentum flux resides at scales that are not practically resolvable in current global models.
Efficient common-mode feedback circuits for pseudo-differential switched-capacitor stages

Novel common-mode feedback circuits are proposed for use in pseudo-differential switched-capacitor circuits. They can be implemented by incorporating just four additional capacitors (and switches) for an integrator, and only two additional capacitors for a residue gain amplifier. The circuits are applicable to very low-voltage switched-capacitor stages realized in submicron low-voltage CMOS processes.
Evaluating Teacher Evaluation: Who Is Responsible for Teacher Probation?

Teaching is an ongoing growth pro cess, not an end that can be evaluat ed each year, according to these writ ers, who took a careful look at how one state's evaluation process does—or does not—work.
Altered Hypothalamic Functional Connectivity with Autonomic Circuits and the Locus Coeruleus in Migraine

The hypothalamus has been implicated in migraine based on the manifestation of autonomic symptoms with the disease, as well as neuroimaging evidence of hypothalamic activation during attacks. Our objective was to determine functional connectivity (FC) changes between the hypothalamus and the rest of the brain in migraine patients vs. control subjects. This study uses fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to acquire resting state scans in 12 interictal migraine patients and 12 healthy matched controls. Hypothalamic connectivity seeds were anatomically defined based on high-resolution structural scans, and FC was assessed in the resting state scans. Migraine patients had increased hypothalamic FC with a number of brain regions involved in regulation of autonomic functions, including the locus coeruleus, caudate, parahippocampal gyrus, cerebellum, and the temporal pole. Stronger functional connections between the hypothalamus and brain areas that regulate sympathetic and parasympathetic functions may explain some of the hypothalamic-mediated autonomic symptoms that accompany or precede migraine attacks.
Two decades of photonic analog-to-digital converters

For over two decades, researchers have developed a number of optically based techniques for addressing the increasing demands for analog-to-digital converters that operate at high sampling rates with a large numbers of effective bits
Applications of thermal neutron generators driven with a repetitively pulsed electron linac

Summary form only given. There are many uses for neutrons in both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications. Examples of non-therapeutic applications include neutron radiography and Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA). Neutron radiography is used for imaging as well as flaw and crack detection in various materials. PGNAA has many applications, including: explosives detection, waste drum characterization, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) such as measuring chlorine permeation in concrete roadways and bridges, and feed stream analysis such as analyzing coal for the presence of heavy metals. Examples of therapeutic applications include various forms of Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) and neutron radiotherapy. In clinical applications, NCT often exploits the /sup 10/B(n,&alpha)/sup 7/Li reaction, although other nuclear reactions are possible., A well known example of NCT using, /sup 10/B and epithermal neutrons is Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) for the treatment of brain cancers. A proposed application of NCT utilizing thermal neutrons is Boron Neutron Capture Synovectomy (BNCS) for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin, characterized by swelling and gross inflammation of the joint tissue resulting in pain and disability. RA affects approximately 3% of the population, and women are affected 3 times more often than men. There is no cure for RA, and it usually requires life-long treatment. Thermal neutrons are optimum for BNCS because the target for the therapy, the synovial tissue, lies only 1.5 to 2.0 cm below the surface of the skin. The viable commercial implementation of these applications requires a compact, low cost, high-flux thermal neutron generator. Presently, no such source exists. A neutron source based on the photonuclear dissociation of deuterium and driven by a repetitively pulsed electron linac fitted with a standard X-ray converter holds the promise of fulfilling this role.
IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES OF PURIFIED HUMAN AND BOVINE THYROTROPIN.

The specificity of antisera to highly purified human and bovine thyrotropin (TSH) has been demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo techniques. High titer rabbit anti-TSH sera were prepared to both antigens. Each of these antisera gave a single precipitin band with the homologous antigen and crude pituitary extract in agar gel diffusion studies. A TSH assay was developed employing radioimmunoprecipitation of purified TSH-I131 of high specific activity. This assay was capable of detecting as little as 0.01 mU of unlabeled homologous TSH. In both systems, no reaction was observed between either of the antisera to heterologous TSH, heterologous crude pituitary extract, or a variety of other pituitary hormones. Nonspecific inhibitors have prevented the assay of endogenous TSH in biological fluids. Biological neutralization studies were also performed using the newborn chick assay for TSH. The antisera in high dilution blocked the biological action of homologous TSH. Antisera to human TSH failed to neutralize...
Chemical stability of gold dental alloys

The biocompatibility and desirable working characteristics of gold-based alloys are widely recognized in dentistry. Although there has been considerable activity in understanding such characteristics as hardenability, there is perhaps more significance to the chemical stability of a dental alloy since degradation of a dental alloy during service can induce a toxic response and promote gingival tissue irritaion.
Modeling the power consumption of audio signal processing computations using customized numerical representations

This paper explores the impact that numerical representation has on the power consumption of audio signal processing applications. The motivation is digital hearing aids, for which minimizing the power consumption is a critical design goal. We investigate two aspects of this problem. First, we evaluate the validity of using signal transition counts to model actual power consumption within this problem domain, and second, we compare the relative power consumption of multiply-accumulate operations for several customized numerical representations.
Shame And Contempt In Kant's Moral Theory

Attitudes like shame and contempt seem to be at odds with basic tenets of Kantian moral theory. I argue on the contrary that both attitudes play a central role in Kantian morality. Shame and contempt are attitudes that protect our love of honour, or the esteem we have for ourselves as moral persons. The question arises: how are these attitudes compatible with Kant's claim that all persons deserve respect? I argue that the proper object of shame and contempt is not the humanity within a person, but rather her self-conceit, or the false esteem that competes with love of honour.
Semantic search of schema repositories

With XML fast becoming the de facto standard for representing structured metadata in databases and internet applications, there is a rise in the need for efficient search mechanisms for the searching such repositories in several application domains. In this poster, we outline the requirements of a search engine, and lay the theoretical foundations for a fast and efficient search mechanism for these XML (and other) repositories. We formulate the problem of finding matching schemas as the problem of computing a maximum matching in the pairwise bipartite graph formed from the query and repository schema attributes. The edges of the bipartite graph capture the similarity between corresponding attributes in the schema. To ensure meaningful matches, we use both name and type semantics in modeling attribute similarity. Since detailed graph matching is compute-intensive, our approach uses upper and lower bounds on the size of the matching to prune candidate schemas. Finally, we develop a technique for schema indexing called attribute hashing for fast database schema indexing. The matching schemas of the database are then found by indexing the hash table using query attributes, performing lower bound computations for maximum matching, and recording peaks in the resulting histogram of hits. The key rationale used is that related schemas in the database have an overwhelming number of attributes semantically-related to query attributes so that indexing based on query attributes could only point to relevant matching schemas.
Historical Synopsis of Human Semen Cryobanking

Since history does not change, much of the information in this brief historical synopsis of human semen cryobanking has been previously presented except for a bit of up dating with current events and predicting of the future.
An Array of Nitrogen Producing Cells for Microthrusters

Presented here is a method for selectively depositing solid sodium azide (NaN3 ) upon a substrate. An array of nitrogen producing cells fabricated using this method can be sequentially activated to produce small quanta of nitrogen gas. This is of interest in creating microscale thrusters for positioning and aligning pico-, nano-, and micro-satellites, which require minimum thrust impulses on the order of 10μN·s and thrust levels of 1–10mN. A 1cm × 1cm thruster chip is expected to provide 34mN·s of thrust impulse.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The Effect of Alcohol upon the Chemotactic Response of Leukocytes

Pickrell1 has recently studied experimentally the mechanism involved in the lowered resistance to pneumococcal infections of rabbits following the ingestion of alcohol. He has shown that an induced passive immunity of these animals to intradermal pneumococcal infection is interfered with when stuporous alcoholic intoxication is maintained. He also found deep ether or avertin anesthesia had the same effect as alcoholic intoxication. Because phagocytosis itself was not impaired and the leukocytes were still alive and motile, Pickrell attributed the loss of resistance to a decreased permeability of the capillaries. However, opposed to this theory is the fact that most toxic substances increase capillary permeability. Moreover, alcohol is well known to have the effect of causing dilatation of capillaries. The failure of leukocytic emigration noted by Pickrell may be due to a change in the chemotactic response of the leukocytes themselves rather than to a decreased vascular permeability. The present study, a phase of a general consideration of the mechanisms of lowered resistance to pneumonia,2 is an application of the technic of McCutcheon, Wartman, and Dixon3 to a study of the problems involved. We have compared the response of leukocytes in vitro from alcoholintoxicated rats and normal rats; also of leukocytes from normal human blood and similar leukocytes to which varying amounts of alcohol had been added.
Analysis on Accommodating Capability of Renewable Energy and Assessment on Low-carbon Benefits Based on Time Sequence Simulation

Proceeding from the accommodating capability of renewable energy,some key factors that affect low-carbon benefits resulting from renewable energy integration are analyzed,and an index of curtailment rate of renewable energy is utilized to measure low-carbon benefits.Based on this,an annual sequence production simulation model with large-scale wind power and photovoltaic(PV)power is proposed,which takes into account wind power and PV power output characteristics,load characteristics,load regulation characteristics of units,thermoelectric coupling characteristics of heating units,transmission capacity and some other factors.This mixed integer programming model is solved by the branch and bound method.With a certain provincial power grid as an example,the factors influencing grid low-carbon economy are quantitatively analyzed.The rationality of the model proposed and the correctness of theoretical analysis are verified by the results of calculation,which is of great guiding significance to electrical source planning and the formulation of relevant government policies required by lowcarbon economy.
Do Stock Prices Move Too Much to Be Justified by Changes in Cash Flows? New Evidence from Parallel Asset Markets

We take advantage of two parallel markets for a set of cash flows to show that better cash flow measurement improves the performance of a dividend discount model. Unlike previous literature, we use out-of-sample estimation. We construct a natural laboratory, by using a unique dataset of commercial real estate and augmenting the dividend information for REITs with cash flow information from this parallel market. The results improve dramatically when information from direct property cash flows is added. These findings suggest that the performance of dividend pricing models improves greatly with better measurement of cash flows, and thus contribute to the resolution of the excess volatility puzzle.
Migration of an ingested fish bone into the paraglottic space.

Background: Ingested foreign bodies are common emergencies encountered in otolaryngology practice. The vast majority can be managed with endoscopic removal. Migration of foreign bodies into the paraglottic space is a rare event that often necessitates using a more invasive procedure for removal. Case report: A 68-year-old man presented with sore throat and odynophagia 4 days after ingesting a fish bone. Results: A computed tomography scan revealed a 2.5 cm linear foreign body embedded in the larynx within the right paraglottic space. The patient underwent endoscopic examination and transcervical exploration of the paraglottic space via a posterolateral approach, with successful removal of the foreign body on the second attempt. Conclusion: This is the first case report of an ingested paraglottic space foreign body managed by transcervical exploration using a posterolateral approach to the paraglottic space.
Neonatal Transfusion Testing, Manufacturing, Standards, and Storage

The neonatal population is a heavily transfused group, particularly very-low-birth weight infants (<1500 g) and extremely low birth weight infants (<1000 g). A neonate is defined as an infant during the period between birth and 4 months. Preterm neonates, defined as infants born before the 37th week of gestation, are one of the most frequently transfused populations in tertiary care centers (Wong E. et al. Pediatric transfusion: a physician’s handbook. Bethesda: AABB; 2015). Given the differences in immunologic status, blood volume, physiologic response to hypovolemia, and heterogeneity of the population, the approach to neonatal transfusion is vastly different from that of any other patient group.
The Civil War and the Origins of the Colorado Territory

We commonly acknowledge that the extension of slavery into the West was a primary cause of the sectional crisis. Yet we tend to treat these two mid-nineteenth-century narratives as geographically distinct: a battle over slavery engulfs the East while mineral rushes and migration transform the West. Here the creation of the Colorado Territory is framed within both these developments as well as in the shifting conception of American geography in the 1850s.
Abstract 4097: Small molecule mediated transcriptional derepression of E-cadherin and inhibition of epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA BACKGROUND: Transcriptional repression of E-Cadherin is a hallmark of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and is associated with metastasis in cancer. Understanding mechanisms behind E-cadherin repression may provide important insights into the regulation of EMT and novel therapeutic strategies for cancer. In this report, we applied a medicinal chemistry approach to generate a novel EMT-reversing compound, ML327. We tested the hypothesis that ML327 activity impinges directly on the mechanism of EMT in cancer and represents a potential therapeutic agent to block or reverse EMT in vivo. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used cell based biochemical approaches to show that ML327 increases E-cadherin expression in 5 cancer cell lines and 2 non-transformed cell lines. ML327 was shown to induce global changes in histone modifications, but through a distinct mechanism than similar chemical agents such as Histone De-Acetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Cell based assays were used to show that ML327 inhibits cell invasion, partially reverses EMT, and inhibits metastasis in vivo. We examined gene expression changes induced by ML327 within 3 hrs in the presence of cycloheximide by RNA-seq and determined a mechanistic requirement for Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α (HNF4α) in ML327 activity on E-cadherin gene expression. Through direct testing, we have determined the ML327 is not a promiscuous chemical probe and that it lacks direct HDAC inhibitory and kinase inhibitory activity, however, our study is limited by the lack of identification of the direct cellular target. Significant ongoing studies are designed to address this limitation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: ML327 increases E-cadherin in cells and translate to an important biological behavior in vivo that may be exploited for therapeutic potential in cancer. Furthermore, ML327 represents a novel chemical structure for continued pharmacological optimization toward the development of novel therapeutics. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This work was supported by NIH through the Molecular Library Probe Center Network (MPLCN) under grant U54MH084659 to CWL. DISCLOSURE of POTENTIAL CONFLICT of INTEREST: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed. DISCLOSURE of CHEMICAL STRUCTURES: Chemical compounds were used in this scientific work to generate the data, and the structures of the compounds will be disclosed at the time of presentation at the meeting. Citation Format: Hanbing An, Natasha Deane, Sydney Stoops, Jing Zhu, Alex Waterson, Andries Zijlstra, Craig Lindsley, Robert Daniel Beauchamp. Small molecule mediated transcriptional derepression of E-cadherin and inhibition of epithelial to mesenchymal transition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4097. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4097
For and Against Methodologies: Some Perspectives on Recent Causal and Statistical Inference Debates

I present an overview of two methods controversies that are central to analysis and inference: That surrounding causal modeling as reflected in the "causal inference" movement, and that surrounding null bias in statistical methods as applied to causal questions. Human factors have expanded what might otherwise have been narrow technical discussions into broad philosophical debates. There seem to be misconceptions about the requirements and capabilities of formal methods, especially in notions that certain assumptions or models (such as potential-outcome models) are necessary or sufficient for valid inference. I argue that, once these misconceptions are removed, most elements of the opposing views can be reconciled. The chief problem of causal inference then becomes one of how to teach sound use of formal methods (such as causal modeling, statistical inference, and sensitivity analysis), and how to apply them without generating the overconfidence and misinterpretations that have ruined so many statistical practices.
An Empirical Study of Debugging Patterns Among Novices Programmers

Students taking introductory computer science courses often have difficulty with the debugging process. This work investigates a number of different logical errors that novice programmers encounter and the associated debugging behaviors. Data is collected and analyzed data in two different experiments from 142 subjects. The results show some errors are more difficult than others. Different types of bugs and novices' debugging behaviors are identified. Years of experience showed a significant role in the process of debugging in terms of correctness level and time required for debugging
Recurrent aphthous ulceration: a review of potential causes and novel treatments

Purpose of article: This review examines studies published between May 2012 and 2017 with a specific interest in potential recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) etiologies and treatment modalities/ef...