cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of reservoir water level fluctuations on sediment methylmercury concentrations downstream of the historical Black Butte mercury mine, OR

Abstract Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant of global concern due to its ability to accumulate as methylmercury (MeHg) in biota. Mercury is methylated by anaerobic microorganisms such as sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in water and sediment. Throughout North America, reservoirs tend to have elevated methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations compared to natural lakes and rivers. This impact is most pronounced in newly created reservoirs where methylation is fueled by the decomposition of flooded organic material, which can release Hg and enhance microbial activity. Much less is known about the longer-term water-level management impacts on Hg cycling in older reservoirs. The objective of our study was to understand the role of on-going water-level fluctuations on sediment MeHg concentrations and sulfur speciation within a reservoir 75 years after initial impoundment. The study was performed at the Cottage Grove Reservoir located 15 km downstream of the historical Black Butte Hg mine. For 8 months each year, the water level is lowered resulting in roughly half of the reservoir’s sediment being exposed to the atmosphere. Water samples from the inflow, water-column, outflow, and sediment were collected seasonally over a year for total-Hg, MeHg, and several ancillary parameters. The results showed that conditions in the reservoir were favorable to methylation with a much higher %MeHg observed in the outflowing water (34%) compared to the inflow (7%) during the late-summer. An anoxic hypolimnion did not develop in the reservoir indicating that methylation was predominantly occurring in the sediments. In the sediments subjected to seasonal inundation, MeHg production was highest in the top 2 cm of the sediments and declined with depth. The seasonally inundated sediments also had significantly higher methylation activity than the permanently inundated area of the reservoir. Oxidizing conditions in the sediments during periods of exposure to air resulted in an increase in sulfate concentrations which likely stimulated SRB methylation following the raising of the water levels. In contrast, the sulfur in the permanently inundated sediments was all in a reduced form (sulfide) and sulfate remained below detection throughout the year. Overall, our results indicate that reservoir water level fluctuations can affect sediment redox conditions and enhance MeHg production. This process can result in a continued elevation of MeHg concentrations in older reservoirs after the initial impact of landscape flooding has subsided.
Shortest Path and Network Flow Algorithms

Publisher Summary A truly remarkable variety of discrete optimization problems can be formulated and solved as shortest path or network flow problems or can be solved by procedures that employ shortest path or network flow algorithms as subroutines. It follows that these network computations are among the most fundamental and important in the entire area of discrete optimization. This chapter presents a survey of several more “classic” results for some of the more “standard” problem formulations. In each case, an estimate of the worst-case running time of the algorithm is presented in the chapter. Bellman's equations is also discussed; virtually, all the methods for finding the length of a shortest path between two specified nodes embed the problem in the larger problem of finding the lengths of shortest paths from an origin to each of the other nodes in the network.
Calcium Release Channels (Ryanodine Receptors) and Arrhythmogenesis

Intracellular calcium release channels (ryanodine receptors, RyR) are present on the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in cardiomyocytes and are required for excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in cardiac muscle. Each RyR channel consists of four pore-forming subunits that contain large cytoplasmic domains, which serve as scaffolds for proteins that regulate the activity of the channel. An important regulatory protein is calstabin2 (FKBP12.6), a subunit that stabilizes the closed state of the channel to prevent aberrant calcium (Ca2+) leak from the SR.1 Direct targeting of several protein kinases and phosphatases to the type 2 cardiac RyR channel (RyR2) allows for rapid and localized modulation of SR Ca2+ release in response to extracellular signals.2
PPP Rules, Macroeconomic (In)stability and Learning

Governments in emerging economies have pursued real exchange rate targeting through Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) rules that link the nominal depreciation rate to either the deviation of the real exchange rate from its long run level or to the difference between the domestic and the foreign CPI-inflation rates. In this paper we disentangle the conditions under which these rules may lead to endogenous fluctuations due to self-fulfilling expectations in a small open economy that faces nominal rigidities. We find that besides the specification of the rule, structural parameters such as the share of traded goods (that measures the degree of openness of the economy) and the degrees of imperfect competition and price stickiness in the non-traded sector play a crucial role in the determinacy of equilibrium. To evaluate the relevance of the real (in)determinacy results we pursue a learnability (E-stability) analysis for the aforementioned PPP rules. We show that for rules that guarantee a unique equilibrium, the fundamental solution that represents this equilibrium is learnable in the E-stability sense. Similarly we show that for PPP rules that open the possibility of sunspot equilibria, a common factor representation that describes these equilibria is also E-stable. In this sense sunspot equilibria and therefore aggregate instability are more likely to occur due to PPP rules than previously recognized.
Validated solution of ODEs with parametric uncertainties

Abstract We introduce a new methodology for computing a validated enclosure of all solutions of an ODE system with interval-valued parameters and/or initial values. The method is based on a traditional interval approach, but involves a novel use of Taylor models to address the dependency problem of interval arithmetic. Numerical results on a bioreactor kinetics problem, with uncertain initial biomass concentration and uncertain kinetic parameters, demonstrate that this approach provides a very effective way to obtain an enclosure of all possible solutions to a parametric ODE system under uncertain conditions.
Forest fire causes and extent on United States Forest Service lands

Nationally, the causes and extent of fire on lands administrated by the United States Forest Service varied significantly from 1940 to 2000, with California experiencing the largest relative annual burned areas. The south-east and California experienced the largest relative area burned by fires from human ignitions. No significant differences were detected in the relative area burned by lightning in California, the upper and central Rocky Mountains, and the south-west, which all experienced the highest levels. The north-west and Rocky Mountains have experienced significant increases in the relative total area burned; the north-east, south-east, California, and coastal Alaska all remained unchanged. The northern Rocky Mountains, south-west, and north-east have all experienced significant increases in the amount of area burned by lightning without significant increases in lightning ignitions. Increasing fuel hazards in these areas probably contributed to the increasing area burned by lightning fires; changing climate could have also contributed to the increase in wildfire area from 1940 to 2000. To be effective across the diverse forest types and conditions in the USA, fire policy should better recognize and respond to the diversity of US forests and how they have burned in the past. This analysis determined that there is high geographical diversity on wildfire occurrence and causes. Local input is therefore important in designing diverse, ground-based solutions to address fire management challenges in the United States.
Distributed Cell-averaging Cfar Detection of Signal Returns

Constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection techniques have been of much interest in radar and sonar applications. In this paper we consider CFAR detection in a decentralized, multisensor context and show some interesting characteristics of cell averaging (CA) in this setting. We investigate cases with observations which are dependent from sensor to sensor, for which results have been lacking. The in-phase and quadrature components of the received narrowband observation at each sensor consist of a weak random signal in additive clutter and noise. Each sensor transmits a single binary decision to a fusion center which uses either an AND or an OR fusion rule to develop a final decision. The forms of the best sensor detector rules are found and a set of necessary conditions are given for their thresholds. Solutions are obtained for some representative cases and their detection probability performance is studied. Their ability to maintain constant false alarm probability in the face of clutter edges is also studied. We show that solutions which use different fusion rules may excel for each of these different criteria.
Programmable Radar Signal Processing Using the Rap

This paper describes the architecture of the Raytheon Associative/Array Processor (RAP) and its application to real-time radar signal processing. The nature of radar computations is analyzed and parallel processing requirements are characterized. The effects of these requirements upon the design of the RAP are described. Features of the operational RAP system are discussed. Finally, an implementation of a Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) Processor is given.
Characterization of Expression of Drought- and Abscisic Acid-Regulated Tomato Genes in the Drought-Resistant Species Lycopersicon pennellii

A number of genes are induced by drought stress, and some of these genes are regulated by the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). In tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), four genes have been identified and isolated that require elevated levels of endogenous ABA for expression: le4, le16, le20, and le25. To gain a better understanding of the role of these genes during stress, their expression has been studied in the drought-resistant relative of tomato, Lycopersicon pennellii. It was determined that homologous genes to all four of the L. esculentum genes were present in the L. pennellii genome. Studies were undertaken to compare the expression characteristics of these genes in L. esculentum, L. pennellii, and their F1. Using two methods of water-deficit imposition, whole plants to which water was withheld and detached leaves that were wilted to 88% of their original fresh weight, it was demonstrated that transcripts of these genes accumulated in L. pennellii in response to water deficit. In general, the increase occurred after a longer period of water deficit in L. pennellii than in tomato. As in drought-sensitive species, ABA levels were elevated by drought stress in L. pennellii, although the levels were reduced compared with those in tomato. All four tomato genes were responsive to ABA in L. esculentum and the F1, but only three of the four genes (le16, le20, and le25) were induced in response to exogenous application of ABA in L. pennellii. The patterns of expression of these genes in L. pennellii are generally similar to that of L esculentum; therefore, it is suggested that these genes play a similar, yet undefined, role in both genotypes rather than being genes that are responsible for the greater drought resistance of L. pennellii.
Volume holograms constructed from computer-generated masks

A new type of hologram that combines computer-generated holograms with volume holograms is described. This hologram allows arbitrary selection of the location and color of a computer-generated image when white light illumination is used. Potential applications include optical information processing, holographic optical elements, multicolor displays, and lens testing. Calculations are made to determine the range of wavelengths possible for image reconstruction. Experimental results are given and discussed.
Track quality estimation for multiple-target tracking radars

A method is developed for estimating track quality for a multiple-target tracking radar, such as an electronically scanned array radar or track-while-scan system. It is assumed that tracking error residuals and error variance estimates are available, as is the case when minimum-variance track filters are used. A normalized distance function is selected as the direct measure of a target's instantaneous track quality. It is smoothed using a recursive fading memory filter to provide an estimate of track quality. A statistical hypothesis test is then applied to the track quality estimates to determine when target tracks have achieved a specified quality for the given application. This procedure can be implemented for each target in track, and it uses only data already required by the return-to-track association algorithms used by many multiple-target tracking radars. In addition, the technique is applicable to both active and passive radar operation, and it can easily be extended to incorporate alternate or additional quality criteria. >
Gating Transitions in Bacterial Ion Channels Measured at 3 μs Resolution

Ion channels of high conductance (>200 pS) are widespread among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Two examples, the Escherichia coli mechanosensitive ion channels Ec-MscS and Ec-MscL, pass currents of 125–300 pA. To resolve temporal details of conductance transitions, a patch-clamp setup was optimized for low-noise recordings at a time resolution of 3 µs (10–20 times faster than usual). Analyses of the high-resolution recordings confirm that Ec-MscL visits many subconductance states and show that most of the intersubstate transitions occur more slowly than the effective resolution of 3 µs. There is a clear trend toward longer transition times for the larger transitions. In Ec-MscS recordings, the majority of the observed full conductance transitions are also composite. We detected a short-lived (~20 µs) Ec-MscS substate at 2/3 of full conductance; transitions between 2/3 and full conductance did not show fine structure and had a time course limited by the achieved resolution. Opening and closing transitions in MscS are symmetrical and are not preceded or followed by smaller, rapid currents ("anticipations" or "regrets"). Compared with other, lower-conductance channels, these measurements may detect unusually early states in the transitions from fully closed to fully open. Increased temporal resolution at the single-molecule level reveals that some elementary steps of structural transitions are composite and follow several alternative pathways, while others still escape resolution. High-bandwidth, low-noise single-channel measurements may provide details about state transitions in other high-conductance channels; and similar procedures may also be applied to channel- and nanopore-based single-molecule DNA measurements.
Red cells from the original JAL+ proband are also DAK+ and STEM+

Background The low-prevalence Rh antigen, JAL, was named after the index case, Mr. J. Allen. Based on reactivity of seven multi-specific sera with his RBCs, it was apparent that they express at least one additional low-prevalence antigen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the other low-prevalence antigen(s) on J. Allen’s RBCs. Methods Blood samples and reagents were from our collections. Hemagglutination and DNA analyses were performed by standard methods. Results Our DNA analyses confirmed the presence of RHCE*ceS(340T) in J. Allen and revealed the presence of RHCE*ceBI (ce 48C, 712G, 818T, 1132G) and RHD*DOL (509T, 667T). RBCs from J. Allen were agglutinated by anti-JAL, anti-STEM, and anti-DAK. Two of the reactive multi-specific sera reported in the original paper reacted with RBCs from J. Allen, and with RBCs from four other people with RHCE*ceBI, including the original STEM+ index case (P. Stemper) but not with RBCs with the DIIIa, DAK+ phenotype. We conclude that they contain anti-STEM. Conclusion J.Allen’s RBCs express the low-prevalence Rh antigens, JAL, V/VS (extremely weakly), STEM, and DAK. The presence of JAL on the variant Rhce, RhceJAL (16Cys, 114Trp, 245Val), STEM on the variant Rhce, RhceBI (16Cys, 238Val, 273Val, 378Val), and DAK on the variant RhD (170Thr, 223Val), encoded by RHD*DOL in trans to RHCE*ceBI is consistent with expression of these antigens. When J. Allen RBCs are used to detect and identify an anti-JAL, it is important to remember that they also express STEM and DAK.
Memory, Tradition, and the Construction of the Past in Ancient Israel

The article discusses the role of social memory over against historiography in the formation of historical tradition in ancient Israel with special reference to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE and its aftermath. The collective memory of the past cannot be adequately accounted for by oral tradition detached from rituals of re-enactment, commemorative ceremonies, bodily gestures, and the like, for which the Passover ceremony provides the best example. Survival of the disaster of 586 was possible only by remembering in this way.
Growth rate of a clam from the Galapagos Rise hot spring field using natural radionuclide ratios

THE submarine hydrothermal springs on the Galapagos Rift are the sites of lush biological populations supported ultimately by sulphur-oxidising bacteria utilising hydrogen sulphide transported from depth by the springs1. Two types of bivalves, one a mytilid mussel and the other a vesicomyid, have been recovered from these thermal regions. The shells of these organisms are as much as 30 cm long. We are determining growth rates of these organisms using a method which measures natural radionuclide content2. In this report we present our first results on a clam collected in the February–March 1977 Alvin dive series.
Epidemiology of osteoarthritis: An update

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a leading cause of disability in the elderly. Given the anticipated increase in osteoarthritis prevalence, the need to identify risk factors for incident osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis progression, osteoarthritis-associated physical function decline, and disability is an especially high priority. Findings have implicated several factors, including genetic factors, aging, joint deformity and injury, obesity, and hormonal deficiencies in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Recent studies have identified risk factors associated with progression of the disease including varus-valgus alignment, bone marrow edema lesions, varus thrust, a reduced hip abduction moment, and obesity. Predictors of function decline in osteoarthritis include lower self-efficacy, knee laxity, less aerobic exercise, worse joint proprioception, and greater knee pain.
SYSTEMIC AND MUCOSAL CELL MEDIATED CYTOTOXIC IMMUNE RESPONSES TO RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV)

The development of natural killer cell and other cellular antibody independent cytotoxic (CTX) responses to RSV were studied in the splenic and pulmonary mononuclear effector cells obtained from groups of six week old cotton rats after subcutaneous (S/C) or intranasal (I/N) immunization with live virulent or inactivated RSV. Virus induced CTX activity was determined by employing radiolabeled chromium release assay, using RSV-infected cotton rat fibroblast (CRF) or HEp-2 cell cultures as specific targets. No RSV induced CTX activity was observed after S/C immunization with live virus or after I/N inoculation of inactivated virus. On the other hand, significant activity was observed after I/N inoculation of live RSV. Peak responses appeared on Day 4 in the pulmonary cells and on Day 7 in the spleen. The CTX activity declined to baseline levels 10 and 15 days after immunization in the pulmonary and splenic cells respectively. Although CTX activity could be demonstrated both with CRF or HEp-2 cells as the targets, the activity was 30-40% higher with HEp-2 cell targets. These observations demonstrate appearance of natural killer cells as well as other cytotoxic effector cells after in vivo infection with RSV. It is suggested that viral replication at the mucosal site is essential for induction of such activity during RSV infection. The appearance of such cellular reactivity may be important in viral elimination during human infection.
A Distance-based Prior Model Parameterization for Constraining Solutions of Spatial Inverse Problems

Spatial inverse problems in the Earth Sciences are often ill-posed, requiring the specification of a prior model to constrain the nature of the inverse solutions. Otherwise, inverted model realizations lack geological realism. In spatial modeling, such prior model determines the spatial variability of the inverse solution, for example as constrained by a variogram, a Boolean model, or a training image-based model. In many cases, particularly in subsurface modeling, one lacks the amount of data to fully determine the nature of the spatial variability. For example, many different training images could be proposed for a given study area. Such alternative training images or scenarios relate to the different possible geological concepts each exhibiting a distinctive geological architecture. Many inverse methods rely on priors that represent a single subjectively chosen geological concept (a single variogram within a multi-Gaussian model or a single training image). This paper proposes a novel and practical parameterization of the prior model allowing several discrete choices of geological architectures within the prior. This method does not attempt to parameterize the possibly complex architectures by a set of model parameters. Instead, a large set of prior model realizations is provided in advance, by means of Monte Carlo simulation, where the training image is randomized. The parameterization is achieved by defining a metric space which accommodates this large set of model realizations. This metric space is equipped with a “similarity distance” function or a distance function that measures the similarity of geometry between any two model realizations relevant to the problem at hand. Through examples, inverse solutions can be efficiently found in this metric space using a simple stochastic search method.
Declaring independence via the sketching of sketches

We consider the problem of identifying correlations in data streams. Surprisingly, our work seems to be the first to consider this natural problem. In the centralized model, we consider a stream of pairs (i,j) ∈ [n]2 whose frequencies define a joint distribution (X,Y). In the distributed model, each coordinate of the pair may appear separately in the stream. We present a range of algorithms for approximating to what extent X and Y are independent, i.e., how close the joint distribution is to the product of the marginals. We consider various measures of closeness including e1, e2, and the mutual information between X and Y. Our algorithms are based on "sketching sketches", i.e., composing small-space linear synopses of the distributions. Perhaps ironically, the biggest technical challenges that arise relate to ensuring that different components of our estimates are sufficiently independent.
Depolarizing the perceptual magnet effect.

In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in demonstrations of the so-called “Perceptual-Magnet Effect” (PME). In these studies, AX-discrimination tasks purportedly reveal that discriminability of speech sounds from a single category varies with judged phonetic “goodness” of the sounds. However, one possible confound is that category membership is determined by identification of sounds in isolation, whereas, discrimination tasks include pairs of stimuli. In the first experiment of the current study, identifications and goodness judgments were obtained for vowels (/i/–/e/) presented in pairs. A substantial shift in phonetic identity was evidenced with changes in the context vowel. In a second experiment, listeners participated in an AX-discrimination task with the vowel pairs from the first experiment. Using the contextual identification functions from the first experiment, predictions of discriminability were calculated using the classic tenets of Categorical Perception. Obtained discriminability functions were well accounted for by predictions from identification. There was no additional unexplained variance that required the proposal of “perceptual magnets.” These results suggest that PME may be nothing more than further demonstration that general discriminability is greater for cross-category stimulus pairs than for within-category pairs.
Sadness Is Believed to Signal Competence When Displayed With Passionate Restraint

A longstanding Western belief is that emotionality, such as sadness, is the antithesis to rational thinking and leads to ineffective behavior. We propose that people believe that sadness can actually signal competence when it is expressed in a way that demonstrates control and awareness of one’s authentic emotion, which we label passionate restraint (PR). In two studies, participants rated protagonists displaying sadness either openly or suppressed, or using PR, on their competence, authenticity, and emotional control. We find that PR is rated as more competent than open displays of emotion because of perceived control, and more competent than suppressed emotion displays because of emotional authenticity. Results demonstrate the importance that beliefs about emotions have on how others are perceived and judged.
Analysis of crack growth and crack-tip plasticity in ductile materials using cohesive zone models

Abstract Crack initiation and crack growth resistance in elastic plastic materials, dominated by crack-tip plasticity are analyzed with the crack modeled as a cohesive zone. Two different types (exponential and bilinear) of cohesive zone models (CZMs) have been used to represent the mechanical behavior of the cohesive zones. In this work, it is suggested that different forms of CZMs (e.g., exponential, bilinear) are the manifestations of different micromechanisms-based inelastic processes that participate in dissipating energy during the fracture process and each form is specific to each material system. It is postulated that the total energy release rate comprises the plastic dissipation rate in the bounding material and the separation energy rate within the fracture process zone, the latter is determined by CZMs. The total energy release rate then becomes a function of the material properties (e.g., yield strength, strain hardening exponent) and cohesive properties of the fracture process zone (e.g., cohesive strength and cohesive energy), and the form of cohesive zone model (CZM) that determines the rate of energy dissipation in the forward and wake regions of the crack. The effects of material parameters, cohesive zone parameters as well as the form/shape of CZMs in predicting the crack growth resistance and the size of plastic zone (SPZ) surrounding the crack tip are systematically examined. It is found that in addition to the cohesive strength and cohesive energy, the form (shape) of the traction–separation law of CZM plays a very critical role in determining the crack growth resistance (R-curve) of a given material. It is further observed that the shape of the CZM corresponds to inelastic processes active in the forward and wake regions of the crack, and has a profound influence on the R-curve and SPZ.
NFBD1/MDC1 regulates ionizing radiation-induced focus formation by DNA checkpoint signaling and repair factors.

NFBD1/MDC1 (mediator of DNA damage checkpoint 1) is a nuclear factor with an amino-terminal FHA (forkhead-associated) domain and a tandem repeat of BRCT (breast cancer susceptibility gene-1 carboxyl terminus) domains. We have previously shown that NFBD1 is an early participant in DNA damage signaling pathways and that ionizing radiation-induced nuclear foci (IRIF) of NFBD1 colocalize with several DNA checkpoint signaling and repair factors. We report here that NFBD1 physically associates with ATM, p53, components of the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex, and γ-H2AX. An overexpressed FHA domain-containing fragment of NFBD1 binds to endogenous NFBD1 and components of the MRN complex, but not to γ-H2AX. This fragment interferes with IRIF formation by endogenous NFBD1, MRE11, or NBS1. A BRCT domain-containing fragment of NFBD1 binds to γ-H2AX and 53BP1, but not to components of the MRN complex, and abolishes IRIF formation by NFBD1, MRE11, NBS1, 53BP1, CHK2 phospho-T68, γ-H2AX, and possible ATM/ATR substrates re...
Development and scale-up of a fed-batch process for the production of capsular polysaccharide from Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract The production of the capsular polysaccharide, polyribosylribitolphosphate, from Haemophilus influenzae type b is important for the production of effective conjugate vaccines. Factors limiting the production of this polysaccharide from H . influenzae type b in liquid culture were investigated. A fed-batch fermentation was developed that increased cell density and PRP titer approximately four fold when compared to the batch fermentation. This fed-batch process was successfully scaled from the 1.5 l development scale to the 500 l manufacturing scale. The maximum cell density in the 500 l fermentation was 6 g dry cell weight per liter and the PRP concentration was 1.3 g l −1 .
Sjögren's syndrome and infectious mononucleosis.

Excerpt To the editor: Whittingham and associates (1) report the case of a young woman who developed Sjogren's syndrome with autoimmune sialadenitis about 10 years after an episode of "protracted" ...
Conceptual design methodology for vibration isolation

High performance dynamic structures have strict requirements on structural motion that are emphasized by the flexibility inherent in lightweight space systems. Vibration isolation is used to prevent disturbances from affecting critical payload components where motion is to be minimized. Isolation, however, is often an engineering solution that is not properly considered in the early conceptual design of the spacecraft. It is at this key stage of a program that mission driving performance targets and resource allocations are made yet little analysis has been performed. A conceptual design methodology for isolation is developed and applied to the conceptual design of a proposed space shuttle based telescope system. In the developed methodology, frequency domain computation of the closed loop performance without isolation pinpoints frequency regimes and disturbance to performance channels targeted for improvement. A coarse fidelity structural model, with well defined disturbance and performance characterization, is more useful than a costly high fidelity analysis when evaluating the many isolation options available early in a project. Isolation design choices are made by trading their performance improvement against their complexity/cost. Simple, idealized mechanical descriptions of the passive or active isolation system provide the needed frequency domain effect on performance without the costly analysis that a detailed isolator design entails. Similarly, the effects of other integrating subsystems, such as structural or optical control are approximated by frequency domain descriptions.
Smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, and risk of renal cell cancer: a population-based case-control study

Background Kidney and renal pelvis cancers account for 4% of all new cancer cases in the United States, among which 85% are renal cell carcinomas (RCC). While cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for RCC, little is known about the contribution of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) to RCC incidence. This study assesses the role of smoking and ETS on RCC incidence using a population-based case-control design in Florida and Georgia.
Effect of Wake-Disturbed Flow on Heat (Mass) Transfer to a Turbine Blade

This study investigates the effect of wakes in the presence of varying levels of background freestream turbulence on the heat (mass) transfer from gas turbine blades. Measurements using the naphthalene sublimation technique provide local values of the mass transfer coefficient on the pressure and suction surfaces of a simulated turbine blade in a linear cascade. Experimental parameters studied include the pitch of the wake-generating blades (vanes), blade-row separation, Reynolds number, and the freestream turbulence level. The disturbed flow strongly affects the mass transfer Stanton number on both sides of the blade, particularly along the suction surface. An earlier transition to a turbulent boundary layer occurs with increased background turbulence, higher Reynolds number, and from wakes shed from vanes placed upstream of the linear cascade. Note that once the effects on mass transfer are known, similar variation on heat transfer can be inferred from the heat/mass transfer analogy.
The post-Proposition 13 environment in California and its consequences for education

Any analysis of California’s Revenue Limitation movement must consider not merely Proposition 13 but also its various legislative responses. In this spirit, I will briefly review Proposition 13 passed in June 1978 and key legislative responses that followed. Next, I will analyze direct effects of these constitutional and statutory steps, particularly on public education in California; finally secondary effects resulting from private and public responses to the new environment which, in turn, affect public education will be assessed.
The Normal Automobile Driver as a Traffic Problem

(1939). The Normal Automobile Driver as a Traffic Problem. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 471-474.
Management of Delayed Postpolypectomy Bleeding: A Decision Analysis

OBJECTIVES The benefit of repeat colonoscopy in managing delayed postpolypectomy bleeding is unknown. This study aimed to assess the outcome of repeat colonoscopy to achieve hemostasis. METHODS Endoscopic management of postpolypectomy bleeding is modeled as a decision tree, measuring the expected overall fraction of patients who benefit from therapeutic hemostasis and the number of patients needed to treat (NNT) in order to achieve one beneficial hemostasis. RESULTS A repeat colonoscopy to identify and treat postpolypectomy bleeding is beneficial in about 22% of patients, corresponding to an NNT of 4.5 patients. The outcome of the model is sensitive to assumptions underlying the fractions of patients who need treatment and would benefit from successful endoscopic hemostasis. Varying these probabilities over a broad range changes the fraction of patients benefiting from endoscopy between 3% and 33% and the NNT between 28 and 3 patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The expected outcome of repeat colonoscopy justifies the endoscopic attempts at therapeutic hemostasis. The results also suggest that in many patients expectant management aimed at spontaneous resolution of the bleeding remains a valid option.
Isotope-plankton comparisons in a late Quaternary core with a stable temperature history

We have analyzed variations of foraminifera and planktonic 18 O in a core from the stable central waters of the North Atlantic gyre. The record of low sedimentation rate (1.2 cm/10 3 yr) covers 18 O stages 2 through 6. Results indicate a 1.75‰ variation of 18 O over the glacial cycle. This value is comparable to previous estimates from benthonic records of high sedimentation rate. The general shape of the 18 O record also agrees well with patterns derived from cores showing higher sedimentation rates. The low degree of record modification by bioturbation may reflect the core location within the low-productivity region of the subtropical gyre; low delivery rates of organic matter to the seafloor should support smaller populations of burrowing organisms. Documentation of the standard 18 O record in a low-sedimentation-rate province indicates that geographic regions where the planktonic 18 O record is dominated by the ice volume effect can be extended from the equatorial to the subtropical oceans. Although both regions are characterized by temperature stability, there is a greater annual range of temperatures in the subtropics. These results therefore suggest that covarying benthonic-planktonic 18 O changes in Tertiary records can be interpreted primarily in terms of ice volume changes over a broader range of conditions than has been previously proposed.
PC Software for Artificial Intelligence Applications.

Our review has emphasized that AI tools are programming languages inspired by some problem-solving paradigm. We want to underscore their status as programming languages; even if an AI tool seems to fit a problem perfectly, its proficient use still requires the training and practice associated with any programming language. The programming manuals for PC-Plus, Smalltalk/ V, and Nexpert Object are all tutorial in nature, and the corresponding software packages come with sample applications. We find the manuals to be uniformly good introductions that try to anticipate the problems of a user who is new to the technology. All three vendors offer free technical support by telephone to licensed users. AI tools are sometimes oversold as a way to make programming easy or to avoid it altogether. The truth is that AI tools demand programming—but programming that allows you to concentrate on the essentials of the problem. If we had to implement a diagnostic system, we would look first to a product such as PC-Plus rather than BASIC or C, because PC-Plus is designed specifically for such a problem, whereas these conventional languages are not. If we had to implement a system that required graphical interfaces and could benefit from inheritance, we would look first to an object-oriented system such as Smalltalk/V that provides built-in mechanisms for both. If we had to implement an expert system that called for some mix of AI and conventional techniques, we would look first to a product such as Nexpert Object that integrates various problem-solving technologies. Finally, we might use FORTRAN if we were concerned primarily with programming a well-defined numerical algorithm. AI tools are a valuable complement to traditional languages.
Education and physical activity mediate the relationship between ethnicity and cognitive function in late middle-aged adults

Objective. Minority status has been implicated as a risk factor for disparate scores on cognitive function tests in older adults. Research on ethnicity and cognitive function has yielded socioeconomic status, particularly education, as a primary reason for the discrepancy. Other factors, such as physical activity may provide insight into the relationship. Despite this knowledge, few studies have thoroughly examined the mediating characteristics of education or physical activity in the relationship between ethnicity and cognitive function in younger aged groups. Most research conducted focuses only on older adults during a time when degeneration of brain tissue may complicate the exploration of the relationships among ethnicity and cognitive function. The current research will expand existing knowledge about education, physical activity, and cognitive function in minority groups. Design. The study presents data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of late middle-aged Whi...
Simulating energy flow in biomolecules: Application to tuna cytochrome c

By constructing a continuity equation of energy flow, one can utilize results from a molecular dynamics simulation to calculate the energy flux or flow in different parts of a biomolecule. Such calculations can yield useful insights into the pathways of energy flow in biomolecules. The method was first tested on a small system of a cluster of 13 argon atoms and then applied to the study of the pathways of energy flow after a tuna ferrocytochrome c molecule was oxidized. Initially, energy propagated faster along the direction perpendicular to the heme plane. This was due to an efficient through-bond mechanism, because the heme iron in cytochrome c was covalently bonded to a cysteine and a histidine. For the oxidation of cytochrome c, electrostatic interactions also facilitated a long-range through-space mechanism of energy flow. As a result, polar or charged groups that were further away from the oxidation site could receive energy earlier than nonpolar groups closer to the site. Another bridging mechanism facilitating efficient long-range responses to cytochrome c oxidation involved the coupling of far-off atoms with atoms that were nearer to, and interacted directly with, the oxidation site. The different characteristics of these energy transfer mechanisms defied a simple correlation between the time that the excess energy of the oxidation site first dissipated to an atom and the distance of the atom from the oxidation site. For tuna cytochrome c, all of the atoms of the protein had sensed the effects of the oxidation within approximately 40 fs. For the length scale of energy transfer considered in this study, the speed of the energy propagation in the protein was on the order of 10(5) m/s.
GATA-1 Transactivates the WT1 Hematopoietic Specific Enhancer

Abstract The Wilms' tumor gene, WT1, is believed to play a role in hematopoiesis as it is expressed in the spleen and in immature leukemias in addition to the developing genitourinary system. WT1 is down-regulated in differentiated leukemia cells both in vivo and in vitro and is up-regulated in fetal spleen and immature leukemia cells. The modulation of WT1 expression was examined in many cell types, and a hematopoietic-specific enhancer element has been identified. Here we describe the transcriptional response of this enhancer to hematopoietic-specific transcription factors. We found co-expression of WT1 and GATA-1 mRNA in K562 cells and in mouse spleen, suggesting potential interactions between these two transcription factors. We find that the activity of the 3′ WT1 enhancer is positively correlated with the expression of GATA-1. Gel shift competition experiments and transactivation studies revealed that this functional activity is mediated via binding at a GATA-binding site in the WT1 enhancer. The transactivation of the WT1 enhancer by GATA-1 implies that GATA-1 plays a role in the regulation of WT1 during hematopoiesis.
A Proposed New Concept for a Solar-Energy Converter

The potential advantages of terrestrially utilizing nonpolluting solar energy are well-known. One of the more promising approaches to achieving the desired high solar-electrical conversion efficiency is the direct process, avoiding Carnot efficiency limitations of heat engines. The chief present-art example is the large area silicon solar cell based on utilization of quantum properties of light. In the United States it is now an established technology created from the space program. This paper presents the results of some preliminary new research exploring the possibilities of creating high efficiency solar-electricity converters utilizing wave-like properties of radiation interacting with absorber-converter elements. The concept is revealed for what is believed to be a new, unique, and potentially useful pyramidical solar radiation absorber-converter structure. It is based on the possibility of extending concepts of power absorbing antennas and converters to the visible light range. The resulting proposed converter structure would have a rough surface texture and yield a d-c output. It may have, if subsequently researched, significant efficiency, cost, and fabricating advantages, particularly for large-scale terrestrial utilization of solar energy. The concept is called an Electromagnetic Wave Energy Converter (EWEC). Concept validity evidences of a preliminary kind at both microwave and near light wavelengths are presented.
KINETICS OF IN VIVO GLYCOGEN SYNTHESIS IN THE ESTROGEN-STIMULATED RAT UTERUS.

Characterization of in vivo glycogen synthesis in the rat uterus after estrogen administration revealed: a) an initial lag phase of less than 2 hr; b) a period, from 2 to 10 hr, when glycogen concentrations increased at a constant rate; c) an equilibrium period from 10 to 24 hr, followed by: d) a decline in glycogen concentration approximately 24 hr after estrogen administration. The glycogen synthesis induced by 1 μg of estradiol, which was 3 to 4 times control levels at 10–12 hr, appeared to be maximal. Larger doses (10 μg) of estradiol or repeated estrogen injections did not result in a reaction rate different from that observed with 1 μg, suggesting that maximal stimulation of the glycogenic systems had probably been attained. Glycogen synthesis adhered to first order reaction rate kinetics. The rate constant (K) was 1.94 ×1O-3 min-1, which resulted in an increase in glycogen synthesis of about 12% each hour. (Endocrinology 76: 63, 1965)
A 172mm 2 32Gb MLC NAND flash memory in 34nm CMOS

As applications for NAND continue to grow and cost remains a primary market driver, it is necessary to deliver increased storage capacities at smaller process lithography while meeting high performance requirements [1,2]. Design plays a pivotal role by providing architectures and design solutions that minimize the impact of bitline and wordline resistance and capacitance (RC) requirements and cell-reliability constraints. This paper presents a device that employs chip architecture, datapath, and analog architecture solutions that address these challenges while meeting high performance requirements. This 32Gb MLC NAND delivers 50µs tREAD, 900µs tPROG and 9MB/s write throughput in a 34nm technology.
VARIATION-PERTURBATION METHOD FOR EXCITED STATES

The first-order wave function, ${\mathbf{X}}_{1}$, in the perturbation method can be obtained by a variational principle instead of summing the usual infinite series with a large continuum contribution. For a ground state or the lowest state of a given symmetry suitable trial functions, ${\stackrel{\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}$, are chosen to attain ${E}_{2}$, the second-order contribution to the energy, as a minimum. This method is extended here to any excited state, $m$, regardless of its symmetry. To obtain ${{\mathrm{X}}_{1}}^{m}$, the expression ${{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{E}}_{2}}^{m}={2〈{{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}}^{m}, ({H}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{{E}_{1}}^{m}){{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}}^{m}〉+〈{{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}}^{m}, ({H}_{0}\ensuremath{-}{{E}_{0}}^{m}){{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}}^{m}〉}g~{{E}_{2}}^{m},$ is to be minimized with ${{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}}^{m}$ in the form ${{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}}^{m}={{\overline{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}}^{m}+\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{m\ensuremath{-}1}{k=0}\frac{{{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}}^{k}〈{{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}}^{k}, {H}_{1}{{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{0}}^{m}〉}{({{E}_{0}}^{m}\ensuremath{-}{E}_{0})},$ with ${{\overline{\mathrm{X}}}_{1}}^{m}$ orthogonal to the known unperturbed functions of the states lower than $m$. The ${\mathbf{X}}_{1}$ gives also the third-order energy. The method may be applied to such excited states as $(1s2s)^{1}S$ of He-like ions and to the similar electron pairs that arise in the writer's theory of a many-electron atom or molecule.
On hierarchies:: response to hilgetag et Al.

D. C. Van Essen and D. J. Felleman [comment][1] on the analysis of Hilgetag et al. In addition, Hilgetag et al. have a brief [rejoinder.][1] [Further commentary][1] by D. J. Felleman and D. C. Van Essen can be found in the [Enhanced Perspective.][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.271.5250.776
Integrals of (Πi = 1n xi) exp(Πi = 1n xi) and the gamma function

Abstract The sequence of integrals I n = ∝ 0 1 ··· ∝ 0 1 ( x 1 ··· x n )( x 1 ··· x n ) dx 1 ··· dx n is investigated. It is shown that lim n →∞ I n = 1 with I 1 = I 2 , and I n +1 > I n for all n ⩾ 2. Further I n is generalized to I ( t ) for any real t with I n = I ( n ). I ( t ) is the ratio of two functions, the denominator being the gamma function and the numerator a function similar to the gamma function.