cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noise waves and passive linear multiports

Noise waves are a powerful means for characterizing noise in microwave circuits. A simple derivation is given for the relation between a passive circuit's noise-wave correlation matrix and its scattering matrix. It is shown that this relation, referred to as Bosma's theorem, can be readily derived from the fundamental principle that a passive multiport in thermodynamic equilibrium with reflectionless terminations produces uncorrelated output waves. >
B-HIVE: hardware and software for an experimental multiprocessor

B-HIVE, a 24-node experimental multiprocessor computer, is based on a generalized hypercube interconnection structure and features two processors at each node: one to perform application processing and the other to handle communication. The design of the B-HIVE hardware and software is intended to keep run-time overhead to a minimum, and thus provide high performance on a variety of problems, especially signal and image processing. Topics addressed include the B-HIVE multicomputer architecture and node structure, interprocessor communication, software support, and project status. >
A comparison of high current and low voltage electrical stunning systems on broiler breast rigor development and meat quality

Experiments were conducted to compare the effects of a high current (HC) stunning system to a low voltage (LV) stunning system on broiler carcass and meat quality. A total of 360 broiler chickens were individually stunned using either 125 mA, 50 Hz, constant AC for 5 s (HC) or using 10.5 V, 500 Hz pulsed DC for 10 s (LV). Birds were individually weighted, killed by conventional neck cut, bled for 150 s, and reweighed to determine blood loss. Breast fillets (Pectoralis major) were removed from the carcass immediately after picking (0 h) or after aging for 24 h in a static ice-water slush. Breast muscle pH was determined at both 0 and 24 h. Raw breast meat color (CIELAB) and cooked breast meat Allo-Kramer shear values were determined on samples held at 2 C for 48 h. The LV stunning treatment significantly increased (P < 0.05) blood loss (4.0 vs 3.7%) and significantly reduced initial muscle pH (6.47 vs 6.67) when compared to the HC stunning treatment. There were no significant differences between the stunning systems for 24 h pH, raw breast color, and Allo-Kramer shear. High current stunning reduced initial blood loss and delayed early rigor development compared to the LV treatment, but appeared to have little effect on final meat quality.
Topside Ionogram Scaler With True Height Algorithm (TOPIST): Automated processing of ISIS topside ionograms

[1] The United States/Canadian ISIS-1 and ISIS-2 satellites collected several million topside ionograms in the 1960s and 1970s with a multinational network of ground stations that provided good global coverage. However, processing of these ionograms into electron density profiles required time-consuming manual scaling of the traces from the analog ionograms, and as a result, only a few percent of the ionograms had been processed into electron density profiles. In recent years an effort began to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. As of November 2002, approximately 390,000 ISIS-1 and ISIS-2 digital topside-sounder ionograms have been produced. The Topside Ionogram Scaler With True Height Algorithm (TOPIST) program was developed for the automated scaling of the echo traces and for the inversion of these traces into topside electron density profiles. The program is based on the techniques that have been successfully applied in the analysis of ground-based Digisonde ionograms. The TOPIST software also includes an “editing option” for manual scaling of the more difficult ionograms, which could not be scaled during the automated TOPIST run. TOPIST is now successfully scaling ∼60% of the ISIS ionograms, and the electron density profiles are available through the online archive of the National Space Science Data Center at ftp://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/isis/topside_sounder. This data restoration effort is producing a unique global database of topside electron densities over more than one solar cycle, which will be of particular importance for improvements of topside ionosphere models, especially the International Reference Ionosphere.
A comparative analysis of simulated and observed landslide locations triggered by Hurricane Camille in Nelson County, Virginia

In 1969, Nelson County, Virginia received up to 71 cm of rain within 12 h starting at 7 p.m. on August 19. The total rainfall from the storm exceeded the 1000-year return period in the region. Several thousands of landslides were induced by rainfall associated with Hurricane Camille causing fatalities and destroying infrastructure. We apply a distributed transient response model for regional slope stability analysis to shallow landslides. Initiation points of over 3000 debris flows and effects of flooding from this storm are applied to the model. Geotechnical data used in the calculations are published data from samples of colluvium. Results from these calculations are compared with field observations such as landslide trigger location and timing of debris flows to assess how well the model predicts the spatial and temporal distribution of landslide initiation locations. The model predicts many of the initiation locations in areas where debris flows are observed.
Bressoud polynomials, Rogers–Ramanujan type identities, and applications

In his paper providing an easy proof of the Rogers–Ramanujan identities, D. Bressoud extended his work to multiple series identities. Intrinsic in his works are polynomials with diverse applications to several aspects of $$q$$ -series. This paper provides an initial exploration of these polynomials.
Chemistry, commentary, and community: discussion of “an examination of the vaporization enthalpies and vapor pressures of pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, and 1,3,5-triazine” by Lipkind and Chickos

Vaporization enthalpies for the isomeric diazines were discussed within the context of recent measurements and estimation techniques. It is suggested that pyridazine shows enigmatic behavior.
Color of whole-wheat foods prepared from a bright-white hard winter wheat and the phenolic acids in its coarse bran.

: The color of wheat kernels often impacts the color and thereby the value of wheat-based foods. A line of hard white winter wheat (B-W HW) with bright appearing kernels has been developed at the Kansas State Agricultural Research Center. The objective of this study was to compare the color of several foods made from the B-W HW wheat with those of 2 hard white wheat cultivars, Trego and Lakin. The B-W HW kernels showed higher lightness (L*, 57.6) than Trego (55.5) and Lakin (56.8), and the increased lightness was carried over to its bran and whole-wheat flour. Alkaline noodle and bread crumb made from the B-W HW whole-wheat flour showed slightly higher lightness (L*) than those made from Trego and Lakin. The sum of soluble and bound phenolics extracted from the 3 wheat brans, which had not been preextracted to remove lipids, was found to be 17.22 to 18.98 mg/g. The soluble phenolic acids in the brans were principally vanillic, ferulic, and syringic. The bound phenolic acids in the brans were dominated by ferulic, which accounted for 50.1% to 82.2% of total identified bound phenolic acids. Other bound phenolic acids were protocatechuic, caffeic, syringic, trans-cinnamic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, and vanillic. The lightness (L*) values of coarse wheat brans correlated positively with their levels of bound protocatechuic (r = 0.72, P < 0.01) and p-hydroxybenzoic acids (r = 0.75, P < 0.01).
Measurements and Analysis of Advanced Field Emission Cold Cathodes

Summary form only given. We report the measurements and analysis of metal cold field emission cathodes utilizing an advanced cathode test facility and a TMM (transfer matrix method) model. The facility is designed to measure the field emission currents from cathodes on the micro- and macroscale. Measurements are obtained under UHV (10-10 torr) conditions. The vacuum chamber is a stainless steel six-way cross. We use a scroll pump, turbo pump, and ion pump to achieve UHV. We bake the system at 450degC for several days to eliminate residual water vapor and other possible contaminants inside. The current vs. electric field characteristics incorporating the effects of uniformity, edge effects, space charge, and thermal effects are examined. With two sets of high-voltage pulse supplies, 0~20 kV, 1 mus~5000 ms duration negative pulses with rise times as fast as 60 ns are applied between the cathode and anode to obtain current-voltage characteristics. A high voltage probe is used to monitor the cathode-anode voltage. An XYZ micro-positioner is used to adjust the gap between the cathode and anode from 0-1 cm with a resolution less than 0.1 mm. It also moves the cathode along an anode with a hole of diameter between 100 mum and 1 mm located in front of another stainless steel anode to obtain the emission current distribution. This diagnostic is for examination of the local emission current variation and edge effects. Carefully designed shielded amplification circuits and signal averaging techniques are used to measure the emission current from the nA to A range. Measurements have been made for CKE (Copper Knife Edge) cathodes fabricated by electrode discharge machining. The I-E curve and extracted effective betas, effective emission area ratios, and effective work functions have been obtained for these cathodes. A TMM simulation which can precisely estimate emission current density with finite temperature effects has been developed. It shows that for low electric fields, the emission current density is much higher at room and elevated temperatures (277-350degC) than for the 0 K Fowler-Nordheim equation. A break point will divide the expected linear relationship between ln(J/E2) and 1/E into two regions with different slopes. Using a fitting procedure in the low-E-field (thermionic) and high-E-field regimes, CKE cathode work functions of 1.7-1.8 eV and field enhancement betas of 8-9 are obtained. Both single sharp tip and multi-tip cathodes made of different materials (Cu and W) are being measured to determine the local J(r) current density character, in order to determine the interaction between neighboring tips during electron emission.
Energy-Water Nexus: Potential Energy Savings and Implications for Sustainable Integrated Water Management in Urban Areas from Rainwater Harvesting and Gray-Water Reuse

AbstractSaving water saves energy. Consequently, implementing integrated water management (IWM) measures that reduce potable water consumption, stormwater runoff, and wastewater generation can potentially translate into significant energy savings. In this paper, the energy savings associated with IWM measures of rainwater harvesting and gray-water reuse are estimated, both at national and local utility scales using published data. At the national scale, it is estimated in this paper that up to 3.8 billion kWh and $270 million can potentially be saved annually by replacing landscape irrigation and other outdoor water uses through rainwater harvesting alone, and up to 14 billion kWh and $950 million in combination with gray-water reuse. Similarly, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the local water utility can potentially save up to 31 million kWh and $1.8 million annually. However, annual energy and associated cost savings per household are low at either scale, ranging between 1 and 120 kWh with associated co...
Chondrogenic differentiation of adult mesenchymal stem cells and embryonic stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) contraction associated with chondrogenesis is attributed to the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In this study, pluripotent embryonic carcinoma cells (ECCs) and MSCs were compared for cartilage histogensis. Both cell types expressed α-SMA in monolayer. However, when cultured in pellets and in 3-D scaffolds, only MSCs contracted and formed glycosaminoglycan (GAG)- and type II collagen-rich tissue. Under these culture conditions, MSCs appear to be superior over ECCs for cartilage regeneration.
Information technology in B2B e-procurement: open vs. proprietary systems

This article presents an economic model of a monopoly retailer with supply and demand uncertainties that enables the study of incentives for B2B e-procurement technology investments that permit inventory coordination and operating cost control. In this context, we focus on the information technology (IT) adoption behavior of firms, emphasizing the trade-offs they make between managing supply procurement uncertainties and procurement costs. We distinguish among three kinds of B2B e-procurement technology platforms: traditional interorganizational systems (IOSs), open B2B platforms (especially electronic markets), and hybrid solutions. We find that larger firms tend to adopt costlier, but rely upon more certain procurement technologies, such as proprietary EDI. Smaller firms tend to adopt less costly procurement technologies that entail greater supply uncertainties, such as open B2B procurement platforms.
Transistors based on proximity effect control of the critical current of a superconductor

The critical current of a bilayer consisting of a thin superconductor in contact with a normal conductor depends on the thickness of the normal layer due to the proximity effect. Using one electrode of a semiconductor pn junction as the normal material, it is possible to vary the normal layer thickness by applying a voltage to the pn junction. The author discusses the feasibility of transistors based on such structures. He concludes that there is no fundamental impediment to operating a transistor based on proximity effect control of a superconductor. However, the proposed device requires that both superconductor and semiconductor layers be no thicker than roughly a coherence length. The large mismatch at the superconductor-semiconductor interface reduces the size of the proximity effect, possibly making the desired effect too small to be useful. It is difficult to construct a nonlatching device, or one with voltage gain. Thus, the proposed device has major drawbacks which prevent it from being considered as more than a scientific curiosity. >
On the radius of convergence of self-excited feedback connected analytic nonlinear systems: The local case

This paper describes the radius of convergence of a self-excited feedback interconnection of two locally convergent Fliess operators. A fundamental and achievable positive lower bound on the radius of convergence for the composite system is computed.
DARK MATTER AND DARK ENERGY - FACT OR FANTASY?

We show that the origin of the dark matter and dark energy problems originates in the assumption of standard Einstein gravity that Newton's constant is fundamental. We discuss an alternate, conformal invariant, metric theory of gravity in which Newton's constant is induced dynamically, with the global induced one which is effective for cosmology being altogether weaker than the local induced one needed for the solar system. We find that in the theory dark matter is no longer needed, and that the accelerating universe data can be fitted without fine-tuning using a cosmological constant as large as particle physics suggests. In the conformal theory then it is not the cosmological constant which is quenched but rather the amount of gravity that it produces.
The relationship between body mass index/body composition and survival in patients with heart failure.

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to summarize the literature on the relationship between obesity and survival in persons with heart failure (HF). In particular, the article examines the ways in which studies define body size/composition (body mass index [BMI], body composition, weight, cachexia, fluid retention, or albumin) and the relationship of BMI and survival after controlling for factors such as HF severity, etiology of the HF, gender, race, age, and/or time since HF diagnosis. Data sources: The keywords heart failure and body mass index, heart failure and obesity, and heart failure and body composition were indexed in PubMed. Articles published from 1999 to 2006 that used multivariate analyses to examine the relationship between obesity and survival in persons with HF were included in the review. Conclusions: BMI is the standard most often used for measuring body weight in patients with HF. Yet, BMI does not address other major components of body weight (fat, lean body mass, and fluid) that may factor into the mortality of patients with HF. Four of the six studies reviewed reported a positive relationship between obesity and improved survival. However, the studies are limited by design, with the majority being cross-sectional. Furthermore, most of the data were collected through secondary data analysis from patient records in the 1990s, before contemporary HF treatment was used. Implications for practice: Until further research solidifies a clear association between higher BMIs and improved survival in patients with HF, nurse practitioners and others should continue to counsel their patients with HF who are overweight to lose weight. Assessing BMI alone as a predictor of survival for patients with HF may be misleading and should be performed in the context of other factors. Moreover, care should be taken in managing patients with HF who are cachexic because these patients have a worrisome prognosis.
An Introduction to Frames

This survey gives an introduction to redundant signal representations called frames. These representations have recently emerged as yet another powerful tool in the signal processing toolbox and have become popular through use in numerous applications. Our aim is to familiarize a general audience with the area, while at the same time giving a snapshot of the current state-of-the-art.
Oxidation of molybdenum disilicide

The oxidation kinetics of molybdenum disilicide over the temperature interval, 1328 to 1765° K, has been studied using a thermal conductivity method. The rates of oxidation were found to follow a parabolic relationship once a protective coating was formed. From the temperature dependence of the parabolic rate constants, an activation energy of 20 kcal/mole was obtained.
On the correlation of indices of vegetation and surface temperature over south-eastern Australia

Relationships between radiant surface temperature and vegetation indices for scenes with equal areas of forest and agricultural land use were studied using a Landsat TM scene during spring and an NOAA AVHRR scene during summer. The relationships between T sub R and the normalized difference (ND) index of vegetation for agricultural land use were different from those for forests. At the same T sub R, the forest had lower near infrared reflectance. This caused the ND of forests to fall below the T sub R/ND relationships formed by agricultural land use. This difference between forest and agricultural land use did not exist when visible reflectance was used as the index of vegetation.
l-Canavanine modulates cellular growth, chemosensitivity and P-glycoprotein substrate accumulation in cultured human tumor cell lines

Abstract l -Canavanine (L-CAV) is a naturally occurring l -arginine analog that induces the formation of non-functional proteins in a variety of organisms. Previous studies have shown that L-CAV is cytotoxic for several human tumor cell lines. In this study, we have evaluated the cytotoxicity of L-CAV for both parental and multi-drug resistant (MDR) human tumor cells. We have also determined the effect of L-CAV exposure on cellular expression and activity of the MDR P-glycoprotein (P-gp) membrane efflux pump, and the effect of L-CAV on cellular accumulation of P-gp substrates. The effect of pre-treatment with non-cytotoxic doses of L-CAV on cellular sensitivity to ten standard antineoplastic agents was also evaluated, in order to assess the chemosensitization potential of L-CAV. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assays revealed that the MDR variants of human uterine sarcoma and leukemic cells were equally sensitive to L-CAV as compared with their respective parental controls. Although the presence of free L-CAV in the uptake media did not influence cellular accumulation of P-gp substrates, cells cultured for 72 h in 250 μ M L-CAV accumulated from 16 to 23% less P-gp substrate than untreated controls. Although L-CAV-cultured sarcoma cells accumulated 17% less doxorubicin (DOX) than untreated controls, they were three times more sensitive to its cytotoxic effects. L-CAV-treated cells were also significantly more sensitive to cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, mitoxantrone and bleomycin than were untreated controls. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that 72-h exposure to as much as 1000 μ M L-CAV did not alter cellular expression of P-gp. These studies suggest that L-CAV may be equally cytotoxic for both parental and MDR tumor cells, and that L-CAV neither induces the expression of, nor is a substrate for, P-gp. The observation that L-CAV pre-treatment reduces cellular accumulation of DOX, yet sensitizes tumor cells to DOX and other DNA-targeting antineoplastic drugs, suggests a role for L-CAV as a chemosensitizer for the chemotherapy of cancer.
The N-terminus of the yeast G protein-coupled receptor Ste2p plays critical roles in surface expression, signaling, and negative regulation

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are found in all eukaryotic cells examined to date where they function as membrane-bound proteins that bind a multitude of extracellular ligands to initiate intracellular signal transduction systems controlling cellular physiology. GPCRs have seven heptahelical membrane spanning domains connected by extracellular and intracellular loops with an extracellular N-terminus and an intracellular C-terminus. The N-terminus has been the least studied domain of most GPCRs. The yeast Ste2p protein, the receptor for the thirteen amino acid peptide pheromone α-factor, has been used extensively as a model to study GPCR structure and function. In this study we constructed a number of deletions of the Ste2p N-terminus and uncovered an unexpected function as a negative regulatory domain. We examined the role of the N-terminus in expression, signaling function and ligand-binding properties and found that the residues 11-30 play a critical role in receptor expression on the cell surface. The studies also indicated that residues 2-10 of the N-terminus are involved in negative regulation of signaling as shown by the observation that deletion of these residues enhanced mating and gene induction. Furthermore, our results indicated that the residues 21-30 are essential for optimal signaling. Overall, we propose that the N-terminus of Ste2p plays multiple regulatory roles in controlling receptor function.
Hemolysis in Preterm Neonates

Hemolysis can be an important cause of hyperbilirubinemia in premature and term neonates. It can result from genetic abnormalities intrinsic to or factors exogenous to normal to red blood cells (RBCs). Hemolysis can lead to a relatively rapid increase in total serum/plasma bilirubin, hyperbilirubinemia that is somewhat slow to fall with phototherapy, or hyperbilirubinemia that is likely to rebound after phototherapy. Laboratory methods for diagnosing hemolysis are more difficult to apply, or less conclusive, in preterm infants. Transfusion of donor RBCs can present a bilirubin load that must be metabolized. Genetic causes can be identified by next-generation sequencing panels.
The ‘Collegium Conundrum’: The Role of the Executive in Higher Judicial Appointments in India

The political projects of constitutional amendment and the academic and popular criticism of the existing collegium system are united in their lack of recognition of, and rigorous investigation into the constitutionally envisaged role for executive in the judicial appointment process. Serious academic discussions are very rare on the issue and the constitutional role for the executive in appointment process has never been explored properly. Against this background, I intend to conduct a research into the constitutional role of the executive in the judicial appointment process in the backdrop of accountability-independence conundrum.In Chapter I, I will examine how deeply the tension between judicial independence and democratic accountability remained at the core of the evolution of the constitutional provisions regarding judicial appointments in India since the days of Constituent Assembly debates. I will clearly identify the constitutional plan regarding the role of the executive in the judicial appointment process, against which the working of the constitutional provisions till the formation of the collegium and thereafter could be analyzed in the subsequent chapters.In Chapter II, I will examine the working of the constitutional provisions till 1993 when the collegium system of appointment was established in the Second Judge’s case. I will analyze relevant case law and various law commission and other reports to evaluate how far the constitutional scheme for judicial appointment as discussed in Chapter I had reflected in the actual working of the provisions till 1993.In Chapter II, I will examine the formulation of the collegium system in the Second Judges case and it’s the working as reflected in the Third Judges case and subsequent controversies regarding judicial appointments to understand how far the does the working conform to the constitutional plan for executive decision-making in the appointment process.
Oligocene through Pliocene foraminifera from the Yakataga Reef section, Gulf of Alaska Tertiary Province, Alaska

Oligocene through Pliocene foraminifera in the Yakataga Reef section, Gulf of Alaska Tertiary Province, help reconstruct the depositional history of the upper Poul Creek and lower Yakataga formations. Biofacies patterns reflect middle bathyal conditions during the Oligocene and Early Miocene, a Middle Miocene hiatus and upper bathyal to shelfedge depths during the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene. A regressive episode in the lowermost Yakataga Formation may represent a terminal Miocene event. Surface water temperatures during the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene change upsection from cold subarctic to cool temperate. The foraminifera also indicate that the Poul Creek-Yakataga Formation contact is Late Miocene. Oligocene through Pliocene foraminifera from the Yakataga Reef section, Gulf of Alaska Tertiary Province, Alaska INTRODUCTION Objectives The Gulf of Alaska Tertiary Province contains an impressive accumulation of Middle and Late Cenozoic marine rocks (7500 m, 25,000 ft; Miller, 1957). In the Yakataga District this accumulation is represented by two major marine units-the Poul Creek and the Yakataga formations. Study of these rocks can provide important insights into the geologic, climatic, and tectonic history of the northeast Pacific margin. The Yakataga Reef section (text-fig. 1) is a useful reference for studying the Middle Cenozoic rocks of the Yakataga District. This tidewater section exposes a relatively unweathered and accessible sequence of rocks across the contact of the Poul Creek and Yakataga formations. The objectives of this study are to: 1) document the major foraminiferal trends in the Yakataga Reef section; 2) briefly describe the major lithologic units in the Yakataga Reef section; 3) infer the paleoenvironments in which the rocks were deposited; 4) determine provisional biostratigraphic units for use in a general study of the Miocene of the Yakataga District (Lagoe, in preparation); 5) determine the age of the Poul Creek/Yakataga contact at Yakataga Reef.
The pathophysiology of demyelination and the ionic basis of nerve conduction in multiple sclerosis: an overview.

Abstract:Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects young adults during the prime of life, complicating child-rearing and work-related activities, often resulting in significant disability. New treatment options are rapidly becoming available. Persons with MS and their families rely on nurses to provide curren
Assessing Financial Education: Evidence from Boot Camp

This study estimates the effects of Personal Financial Management Course attendance and enrollment assistance using a natural exper iment in the US Army. New enlistees’ course attendance reduces the probability of having credit account balances, average balances, delinquencies, and adverse legal actions in the first year after the course, but it has no effects on accounts in the second year or credit scores in either year. The course and its enrollment assistance substantially increase retirement savings rates and average monthly contributions, with effects that persist through at least two years. The course has no significant effects on military labor market outcomes. (JEL D14, I21, J45) Financial literacy and education remain popular topics among the media, policymakers, and academics. In the United States, increasing personal responsibility for retirement planning and concerns over savings rates have generated calls for more financial education. Federal government responses have included President George W. Bush’s 2008 Financial Literacy Advisory Council, President Obama’s 2009 financial literacy campaign, and no less than 16 federal programs among 14 agencies (Government Accountability Office ( GAO) 2012). Yet there exists little robust evidence that financial education improves individuals’ economic decision making. In this paper, I estimate the causal effects of financial education and enrollment assistance on several financial outcomes using administrative data related to the 2007–2008 rollout of a Personal Financial Management Course (
Neutron Polarization and Analyzing Power in the H(\(\overrightarrow t ,\overrightarrow n \))3He Reaction using a Polarized Triton Beam

We have measured the polarization transfer coefficient K y y′ at θ = 0° in the H(\(\overrightarrow t ,\overrightarrow n \) )3He reaction for incident triton energies from 6.5 to 16 MeV. In addition, we have measured an angular distribution at 13.6 MeV of the polarization observables K y y′ , Py′, and Ay. These data extend the study of neutron polarization in light nuclei to polarized triton beam observables.
Long Term Feeding Study of Ginseng Powder on Metabolism Of Blood Lipid of Normal Rats

[Objective]To study the effect of ginseng powder on normal rats' blood lipid metabolism following long term exposure via daily oral consumption.[Methods]The rats were fed with the dose of 4、6、8 g/(kg·d)ginseng powder mixed with basal feed for 180 days.Another basal feed group was formed.On the 45th,90th,180th day of the test,the serum biochemistry(TC,TG,GLU) were measured in fasting blood of rats.The differences of biochemical indexes at different test stages were compared between groups.[Results]At different stages,the differences of serum TC,TG、GlU between each dose group and basal feed group were not significant(P0.05)[Conclusion]There is no adverse influence on rats' blood lipid metabolism after long-term exposure via daily oral consumption with ginseng powder at a certain dose.
Mechanosensitive modulation of myosin phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol turnover in smooth muscle

Myosin light chain phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol turnover were measured at different muscle lengths in bovine tracheal smooth muscle. The relationship between myosin phosphorylation and muscle length was linear between optimal length (Lo) and 0.1 Lo in both unstimulated and carbachol-activated tissues. However, myosin phosphorylation in carbachol-activated tissues was more sensitive to changes in muscle length. As a result, suprabasal myosin phosphorylation induced by carbachol was significant at Lo but became insignificant at 0.1 Lo. Phosphatidylinositol turnover was assayed by measuring the formation of myo-[3H]inositol phosphates in unstimulated and carbachol-activated tissues using the Li+ method. Pairs of time-matched and length-matched muscle strips were used for control (unstimulated) and activation by carbachol. Phosphatidylinositol turnover in carbachol-activated tissues was more sensitive than that in unstimulated tissues to changing length. As a result, suprabasal phosphatidylinositol turnover induced by carbachol was significant at Lo but became insignificant at 0.1 Lo. These results indicated that myosin phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol turnover mediated by muscarinic receptor activation were modulated by the mechanical state of smooth muscle.
Vehicle routing for shared-mobility systems with time-varying demand

This work considers mobility systems in which a shared fleet of self-driving vehicles is used to transport passengers. More specifically, we focus on policies to route both passenger-filled and empty vehicles when the travel demand is time-varying. In this setting, we argue that metrics, such as the cost to relocate empty vehicles, which are well-defined in a stand-alone capacity under steady-state conditions, now make sense only within a framework that reflects inherent tradeoffs with other metrics, e.g., the fleet size and the quality of service provided. As a first step toward developing a general theory of time-varying, shared-mobility systems, we provide an optimization framework that models passengers and vehicles as continuous fluids, and their movement as fluid flows. The model is used to develop some initial performance results related to the minimum number of vehicles required to avoid passenger queueing. Finally, simulation results of a hypothetical shared mobility system based in Singapore demonstrate how a fleet manager could use our optimization approach to select a vehicle routing policy.
Web Resources on Environmental Quality

Earth scientists, particularly practitioners of earth system science, share this appreciation of system interactions, whether studying water/air pollution, soil degradation, climate modification, or land-use change. This review highlights exemplary resources useful when discussing issues relating to environmental quality. Recommended sites are organized by "Atmosphere," "Hydrosphere," "Geosphere," and "Biosphere" headings. The "Biocomplexity from Space" section features resources dedicated to satellite imagery of resource extraction, pollution, and land-use change, themes that often surface in instruction and research. It should be noted that some data archived for water and air quality are "provisional" in nature and might change after undergoing later review. In addition, successful data retrieval at several sites will mean learning on-line GIS or GIS-like interfaces. The recommended sites below are practical, are well organized, have authentic content, and have few, if any, grammatical errors. While the sites chosen are certainly excellent, the list is by no means exhaustive; many worthy resources do not appear because of space limitations. The sites reviewed are archived at "Resources For Earth Science And Geography Instruction" (http://webs.cmich.edu/resgi) and were featured on the weekly "Earth Science Sites of the Week Listserv." To suggest useful sites for listing in future installments or to be added to the listserv please contact Mark.Francek@cmich.edu .
The Early Period of the Mössbauer Effect and the Beginning of the Iron Age

As the first papers of Mossbauer became known in late 1958 and early 1959, they first generated skepticism. Then, as the observations were reproduced at several laboratories, skepticism was followed by curiosity. The discovery of the huge recoil-free fraction in 57Fe in late 1959 generated enormous excitement and intense activity, and by early 1960 the door was opening to large classes of hitherto inaccessible measurements. In the following article, I give a personal account of my involvement with the Mossbauer effect as a 29-year old nuclear physicist in 1959–1960, which includes the discovery of 57Fe as the ideal nucleus for this effect, and the activities that sprung from this in the following months. What is presented is mostly in the form of photographs and old letters, recalling some of the events of that period and is largely connected with my own work. I surely had some correspondence with Mossbauer, we certainly sent him preprints of our papers and there is a reference to a private communication from him in our first paper. But I have not found any copies of this correspondence. I believe that I did not meet Rudolf Mossbauer until later, probably in 1961 in the US.
Multiple Resonances Mitigation of Paralleled Inverters in a Solid-State Transformer (SST) Enabled AC Microgrid

Solid-state transformer (SST) becomes a promising technology in smart grid applications due to its multiple functionalities and control flexibility compared to line-frequency transformers. In a SST enabled ac microgrid, the grid impedance represented by the SST output impedance is frequency-dependent, which is different from the inductive grid impedance in a conventional ac microgrid. The frequency-dependent SST output impedance can interact with those of paralleled inverters and result in multiple resonances locating in a wide frequency range. In this paper, a combination of a lead-lag compensator and a negative impedance feedback control has been proposed to enhance the system stability. With proposed methods, the multiple resonances are decoupled and thus more feasible to be mitigated. The negative effect of digital control delay on the high frequency resonance damping is attenuated with proposed methods. In addition, the tradeoff design of virtual impedance is also analyzed with consideration of both system-level resonance mitigation function and single inverter stability. Consequently, the stability of paralleled inverters in the SST-enabled ac microgrid has been improved. Finally, an OPAL-RT-based hardware-in-the-loop verification has been provided to prove the validity of proposed methods.
The erosion of US‒Israeli relations during Obama’s second term

AbstractThe ugly rhetoric that erupted between Israeli and American leaders in 2014 epitomized the rapid deterioration of the relations between the two leaderships, if not yet the two countries, since Barack Obama became the American president and Binyamin Netanyahu the Israeli prime minister in 2009. To be sure, there have been conflicts between Israeli and American leaders in the past, yet none of them reached the level of personal rancour seen in 2014 with Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon disparaging Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace efforts as ‘obsessive and messianic’ and ‘senior administration officials’ deriding Netanyahu as a ‘chickenshit’ and a ‘coward’. Even the much vaunted security relationship between the two states began to suffer in 2014 as the US held up shipments of Hellfire missiles to Israel during its summer 2014 war against Hamas. While a renewal of the bilateral 10-year military aid agreement was signed in 2016, and the ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency may herald...
Colorectal Bleeding Emergencies

Acute blood loss presenting as hematochezia and melena due to colorectal bleeding (CRB) is a common cause of hospitalization and frequently results in significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly. CRB stops spontaneously in the majority of patients; however, the recurrence rate can be quite high. Endoscopy remains the gold standard for both diagnosis and treatment. However, when endoscopic techniques are not available or are unable to localize or resolve bleeding, there are a number of alternative diagnostic and treatment methods including computed tomography, angiography, and surgery. Mortality due to CRB tends to be lower than that for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), but is increased among the elderly and those with poor physiologic reserve.
New Mechanisms of ECM Production during Wound Healing: A Role for Parathyroid Hormone 2 Receptor Signaling.

Extracellular matrix deposition is required for wound healing. Studies by Sato et al. reveal a role for parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (PTH2R) in extracellular matrix production in wounds. Deficiencies in PTH2R or its ligand tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues (TIP39) delayed repair, and TIP39 treatment accelerated healing. TIP39-PTH2R signaling induced decorin expression, which may explain the beneficial effects of PTH2R signaling on healing. These studies identify a novel role for PTH2R signaling in extracellular matrix production.
Deals, Duds, And Caveats: What Do The Estimates Reveal?

The estimates presented in the previous chapter are based on a theoretical approach to valuing players. Though the method is intuitive and has a strong economic foundation, the model requires further testing. The measure of any model is its predictive power: good models generate predictions similar to actual outcomes, while bad models have poor predictive accuracy. Comparing the estimates to actual player salaries provides information regarding the model’s efficacy and may shed some light on how well baseball’s labor market values talent.
Variations of Arc Length, Jacobi Fields, the Effect of Curvature

In this section, we use the method of differential forms to describe the first variation. There is another approach which uses vector fields and covariant differentiation. That is explored in a series of guided exercises at the end of 5.2. (Those exercises involve the second variation as well.) A systematic self-contained account can also be found in [BC1].
Photonic Properties and Applications of Cellulose Nanocrystal Films with Planar Anchoring

Above a critical concentration, aqueous dispersions of sulfonated cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) form chiral nematic liquid crystalline phases. Retention of microstructural order and planar anchoring of the helix during drying should result in films that exhibit selective reflection of specific wavelengths of light. Such films are of interest for use in a variety of photonic applications including display components, narrow band optical filters, low-threshold mirrorless lasing, sensors, and architectural, decorative, and security coatings. However, nonuniformities in the initial CNC dispersions and microstructural changes during drying typically result in uniform selective reflection only being achieved over length scales on the order of tens of microns. In this research, uniform photonic properties were achieved over orders of magnitude greater length scales by understanding the effects of initial concentration, orbital shear, surface anchoring, and drying conditions on films' microstructure and photonic p...
Data Assimilation in Cardiovascular Fluid–Structure Interaction Problems: An Introduction

Numerical methods for incompressible fluid dynamics have recently received a strong impulse from the applications to the cardiovascular system. In particular, fluid–structure interaction methods have been extensively investigated in view of an accurate and possibly fast simulation of blood flow in arteries and veins. This has been strongly motivated by the progressive interest in using numerical tools not only for understanding the general physiology and pathology of the vascular system. The opportunity offered by medical images properly preprocessed and elaborated to simulate blood flow in real patients highlighted the potential impact of scientific computing on the clinical practice. Therefore, in silico experiments are currently extensively used in bioengineering for completing (and sometimes driving) more traditional in vivo and in vitro investigations. Parallel to the development of numerical models, the need for quantitative analysis for diagnostic purposes has strongly stimulated the design of new methods and instruments for measurements and imaging. Thanks to these developments, a huge amount of data is nowadays available. Data Assimilation is the accurate merging of measures (including images) and numerical simulations for a mathematically sound integration of different sources of information. The outcome of this process includes both the patient-specific measures and the general principles underlying the development of mathematical models. In this way, simulations are adapted to the availability of individual data and are therefore supposed to be more reliable; measures are correspondingly filtered by the mathematical models assumed to describe the underlying phenomena, resulting in a (hopefully) significant reduction of the noise.
The Inverse Scattering Problem

In the usual scattering-theory problem the hamiltonian of the system or the interparticle forces are known and a cross section, polarization, etc., are to be calculated and subsequently confronted with experimental results. The “inverse” problem is posed in the opposite direction: given certain kinds of information obtained more or less directly from scattering experiments, we are to determine the interparticle forces. Or before this problem can be solved: Is the given amount of information sufficient to determine these forces uniquely? If not, what kinds of ambiquity are there?
Effects of Acute Exercise on State Anxiety in Breast Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of an acute bout of exercise on state anxiety in breast cancer survivors. DESIGN: A two-group (high and low state anxiety) by two-time (pre- and postexercise) mixed factorial design. SETTING: Exercise physiology lab at the University of Alberta. SAMPLE: 34 stage I or II breast cancer survivors ranging in age from 39-65 (X = 50.50; SD = 6.62). METHODS: Participants completed the State Anxiety Inventory prior to and five minutes following an acute bout of exercise. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: State anxiety. FINDINGS: A main effect resulted for group (p 0.05); however, state anxiety significantly decreased in the high state anxiety group (p < 0.03). CONCLUSION: Acute exercise may be an effective intervention in reducing state anxiety in breast cancer survivors, especially those with high state anxiety. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses should be aware that in addition to other traditional anxiolytic therapies (e.g., relaxation therapy) commonly prescribed, acute exercise is an effective method for reducing state anxiety in breast cancer survivors.
Adventures with Smart Chemical Sensing

There is intense interest in the development of photonic crystal materials for applications in optics, optical computing and for the control of electromagnetic radiation propagation.1, 2, 3 The excitement in this area stems from the recent development of a deep understanding of light propagation within materials with periodic optical dielectric constant modulations, and the development of fabrication methods for forming these materials.4
The strategic management challenge for research i universities

University planning documents and vision statements now routinely state the importance of internationalization. These statements often go beyond vague affirmations of global commitment and include specific goals for leveraging key international partnerships, to advance broader institutional strategic objectives and priorities.
Survival implications of transbronchial cryobiopsy and other diagnostic modalities in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentlessly progressive fibrotic lung disease with a median survival of only 2 to 3 years (1). Approximately half of IPF diagnoses are established by characteristic features on high resolution computerized tomographic scan of the chest (HRCT).