cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing the dynamics of intraband electronic coherences in cylindrical molecular aggregates

Electronic coherence transfer has been detected in only a small number of systems despite the potential impact of these dynamics on natural and artificial light harvesting. Nonlinear spectroscopies designed to probe the dynamics of electronic coherences are challenged by signal emission associated with electronic populations. This paper presents a newly developed nonlinear laser spectroscopy capable of measuring intraband electronic coherences (i.e., for pairs of single exciton states) in molecular aggregates with full suppression of undesired signal components. In comparison with methods applying all-femtosecond laser pulses, the present experiment uses both narrowband and broadband pulses to obtain similar information with a greater than 360-fold faster data acquisition rate. In addition, the technique enhances spectral resolution with experimental control of the measured line widths. High instrument throughput facilitates the comparison of measurements for a wide variety of materials. As the first application of this technique, we investigate the dynamics of intraband electronic coherences in double-walled cylindrical molecular aggregates possessing five slightly different morphologies controlled by varying the solvent conditions. Interfering coherences associated with pairs of exciton states give rise to well-resolved quantum beats in the measured signal fields. In addition, coherence transfer processes are investigated using a superposition of tensor elements (i.e., an analogue of probing population transfer with pump-probe anisotropy). The comparison of experimental measurements and calculations based on a theoretical model supports the finding of coherence transfer processes terminating in an electronic coherence between the inner and outer cylinder excitons.
Mutual persuasion as a model for doctor-patient communication.

From an ethical point of view, shared decision-making is preferable to either physician paternalism or patient sovereignty. The traditional model of doctor-patient communication is too directive and too unconcerned with the patient's values to support truly shared decision-making. The traditional distinction between rhetoric and sophistic can provide the basis for a new model of mutual persuasion that does not limit communication to information, and that avoids the spectre of manipulation.
Detecting Phenotype-Specific Interactions between Biological Processes from Microarray Data and Annotations

High throughput technologies enable researchers to measure expression levels on a genomic scale. However, the correct and efficient biological interpretation of such voluminous data remains a challenging problem. Many tools have been developed for the analysis of GO terms that are over- or under-represented in a list of differentially expressed genes. However, a previously unexplored aspect is the identification of changes in the way various biological processes interact in a given condition with respect to a reference. Here, we present a novel approach that aims at identifying such interactions between biological processes that are significantly different in a given phenotype with respect to normal. The proposed technique uses vector-space representation, SVD-based dimensionality reduction, differential weighting, and bootstrapping to asses the significance of the interactions under the multiple and complex dependencies expected between the biological processes. We illustrate our approach on two real data sets involving breast and lung cancer. More than 88 percent of the interactions found by our approach were deemed to be correct by an extensive manual review of literature. An interesting subset of such interactions is discussed in detail and shown to have the potential to open new avenues for research in lung and breast cancer.
Experimental characterization of ETDR sensors for crack monitoring in concrete structures

A novel approach for health monitoring of civil infrastructural systems using electrical time domain reflectometry (ETDR) sensors has been established. In this paper, experimental characterization results obtained when a coaxial cable is used as an ETDR sensor to monitor cracks in reinforced concrete structures will be provided. The first part of the paper shows simulation of cracks due to high pressure on the sensor when it is embedded in concrete. The results show that as the pressure on the sensor increases, the ETDR technique was able to detect exactly the location on the sensor where the high pressure is applied. The technique is able to detect the crack location and magnitude of pressure to an application point in a harsh environment. Furthermore, the ETDR technique was able to distinctly detect the locations on the sensors when multiple compressive high-pressure forces were applied on the sensor within a spatial resolution of less than one inch. This multiple sensing ability confirms the ETDR sensing approach as a fully distributed sensing technique. The second part of the paper will show the simulated effect of high temperature on the sensor when embedded in concrete. The results show that the ETDR sensor is reliable and durable with significant increases in temperature variations.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lysozyme as an alternative to antibiotics improves performance in nursery pigs during an indirect immune challenge.

Lysozyme is a 1,4-β-N-acetylmuramidase that has antimicrobial properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of lysozyme and antibiotics on growth performance and immune response during an indirect immune challenge. Two replicates of 600 pigs each were weaned from the sow at 26 d of age, blocked by litter and sex, and then randomly assigned to 1 of 24 pens in either a nursery room that had been fully disinfected or a nursery room left unclean since the previous group of pigs. Within a room, pigs were randomly assigned to either control diets (2 phase nursery regime), control diets + antibiotics (chlortetracycline/tiamulin hydrogen fumarate), or control diets + lysozyme (100 mg/kg diet). Pig weights and feed disappearance were measured and blood was collected on d 0, 14, and 28 of treatment. A group of 20 pigs were killed at 24 d of age for initial body composition analysis and 10 pigs of median weight were killed per diet room combination for body composition analysis after 28 d of treatment. Control + antibiotics and control + lysozyme-fed pigs grew at a faster rate for the 28-d study compared to control pigs (318 ± 14,320 ± 15 vs. 288 ± 15 g/d, respectively; P 0.05). The indirect immune challenge did not alter growth performance from d 0 to 14 of treatment but decreased ADG from d 14 to 28 of the study (415 ± 15 vs. 445 ± 13 g/d ;: P 0.61) or dietary treatments (P > 0.10), but feed efficiency was worsened by the indirect immune challenge (P 0.25), but both control + antibiotics and control + lysozyme pigs had decreased accretion of whole-body lipid (P < 0.01) and increased accretion of protein (P < 0.09). Blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; P < 0.01), haptoglobin (P < 0.09), and C-reactive protein (CRP; P < 0.01) were higher due to the indirect immune challenge compared to pigs reared in the clean nursery (P < 0.05). In addition, pigs consuming antibiotics or lysozyme had lower TNF-α, haptoglobin, and CRP compared to control pigs, regardless of nursery environment (P < 0.04). Thus, lysozyme is a suitable alternative to antibiotics in swine nursery diets, and lysozyme ameliorates the effects of a chronic indirect immune challenge.
Downlink Power Control for VBR Video Streaming in Cellular Networks: A Majorization Approach

In this paper, we investigate the problem of optimal power control for multiuser variable bit rate (VBR) video streaming in a cellular network with orthogonal channels. We adopt a deterministic model for VBR video traffic that incorporates video frame and playout buffer characteristics, and formulate a constrained stochastic optimization problem. We then develop a majorization-based solution approach. For the case of a single VBR video session with relaxed peak power constraint, we develop a power optimal algorithm with low complexity. We prove the power optimality of the proposed algorithm and the uniqueness of the global optimum, and demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is also smoothness optimal. For the case of multiuser VBR video streaming, we develop a heuristic algorithm that selectively suspends some video sessions when the peak power constraint is violated. The proposed algorithms are evaluated with trace-driven simulations, and are shown to achieve considerable power savings and improved video quality over a conventional "lazy" scheme.
Enhancement of Curie temperature in Ga1−xMnxAs epilayers grown on cross-hatched InyGa1−yAs buffer layers

Abstract Relaxed In y Ga 1− y As epilayers grown on (0 0 1) GaAs are known to exhibit a cross-hatched surface with ridges running along the [1 1 0] and [1 1 0] directions. We find that Ga 1− x Mn x As epilayers grown on such buffer layers can have as-grown Curie temperatures ( T C ) that are higher than the as-grown 110 K value typical of Ga 1− x Mn x As/GaAs heterostructures. Further, low-temperature annealing leads to only modest additional increases in T C , contrasting with the behavior in Ga 1− x Mn x As/GaAs where T C typically increases significantly upon annealing. Our observations suggest that the initial concentration of Mn interstitials in as-grown Ga 1− x Mn x As /In y Ga 1− y As heterostructures is smaller than that in as-grown Ga 1− x Mn x As/GaAs heterostructures. We propose that strain-dependent diffusion may drive Mn interstitials from the bulk of the growing crystal to more benign locations on the ridged surface, providing a possible route towards defect-engineering in these materials.
Nonisothermal Analysis of Solution Kinetics by Spreadsheet Simulation

A fast and generally applicable alternative solution to the problem of determining the useful shelf life of medicinal solutions is described. It illustrates the power and convenience of the combination of numerical simulation and nonlinear least squares with a practical pharmaceutical application of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, validated by comparison with literature data.
Glutathione peroxidase 7 protects against oxidative DNA damage in oesophageal cells

Objective Exposure of the oesophageal mucosa to gastric acid and bile acids leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a known risk factor for Barrett9s oesophagus and progression to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). This study investigated the functions of glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPX7), frequently silenced in OAC, and its capacity in regulating ROS and its associated oxidative DNA damage. Design Using in-vitro cell models, experiments were performed that included glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, Amplex UltraRed, CM-H 2 DCFDA, Annexin V, 8-oxoguanine, phospho-H2A.X, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot assays. Results Enzymatic assays demonstrated limited GPX activity of the recombinant GPX7 protein. GPX7 exhibited a strong capacity to neutralise hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) independent of glutathione. Reconstitution of GPX7 expression in immortalised Barrett9s oesophagus cells, BAR-T and CP-A led to resistance to H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress. Following exposure to acidic bile acids cocktail (pH4), these GPX7-expressing cells demonstrated lower levels of H 2 O 2 , intracellular ROS, oxidative DNA damage and double-strand breaks, compared with controls (p 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress. The knockdown of endogenous GPX7 in immortalised oesophageal squamous epithelial cells (HET1A) confirmed the protective functions of GPX7 against pH4 bile acids by showing an increase in the levels of H 2 O 2 , intracellular ROS, oxidative DNA damage, double-strand breaks, apoptosis, and ROS-dependent signalling (p Conclusion The dysfunction of GPX7 in oesophageal cells increases the levels of ROS and oxidative DNA damage, which are common risk factors for Barrett9s oesophagus and OAC.
Design guidelines for metallic-carbon-nanotube-tolerant digital logic circuits

Metallic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) create source-drain shorts in carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNFETs), causing excessive leakage, degraded noise margin and delay variation. There is no known CNT growth technique that guarantees 0% metallic CNTs. Therefore, metallic CNT removal techniques are necessary. Unfortunately, such removal techniques alone are imperfect and insufficient. This paper demonstrates the necessity for co-optimization of processing techniques for metallic CNT removal together with CNFET-based circuit design. We present a probabilistic CNFET circuit model which forms the basis for such co-optimization, and use the model to derive design and processing guidelines that enable design of CNFET-based digital circuits with practical constraints on leakage, noise margin and delay variations. These guidelines are essential for designing robust metallic- carbon-nanotube-tolerant digital circuits.
A multiscale approach to solving one dimensional inverse problems

A multiresolution approach to solving one dimensional inverse problems is explored. Inverse problems described by that class of operators which are made sparse under the action of the wavelet transform are considered. Statistically based inversion procedures utilizing multiscale a priori stochastic models are also considered. As a concrete example, a deconvolution problem arising in wellbore induction measurement of conductivity is examined. >
Identification and In-vivo Characterization of a Novel OhrR Transcriptional Regulator in Burkholderia xenovorans LB400

Transcriptional regulators (TRs) are an important and versatile group of proteins, yet very little progress has been achieved towards the discovery and annotation of their biological functions. We have characterized a previously unknown organic hydroperoxide resistance regulator from Burkholderia xenovoransLB400, Bxe_B2842, which is homologous to E. coli’s OhrR. Bxe_B2842 regulates the expression of an organic hydroperoxide resistance protein (OsmC). We utilized frontal affinity chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (FAC-MS) and electrophoretic mobility gel shift assays (EMSA) to identify and characterize the possible effectors of the regulation by Bxe_B2842. Without an effector, Bxe_B2842 binds a DNA operator sequence (DOS) upstream of osmC. FAC-MS results suggest that 2-aminophenol binds to the protein and is potentially an effector molecule. EMSA analysis shows that 2-aminophenol attenuates the Bxe_B2842’s affinity for its DOS. EMSA analysis also shows that organic peroxides attenuate Bxe_B2842/DOS affinity, suggesting that binding of the TR to its DOS is regulated by the two-cysteine mechanism, common to TRs in this family. Bxe_B2842 is the first OhrR TR to have both oxidative and effector-binding mechanisms of regulation. This paper reveals further mechanistic diversity TR mediated gene regulation and provides insights into methods for function discovery of TRs.
Interactive Simulation of Resin Transfer Molding

A computer code was developed for simulating the resin transfer molding process. The unique feature of the code is that it is interactive such that, during the simulation process, the user can (a) change the locations of the inlet ports and exhaust vents, and (b) add, remove, open and close ports and vents, and (c) change the inlet pressure of flow rate at the inlet ports. Additionally, the user can "rewind" the simulator to any previous time in the mold filling process, make any of the above changes and then continue the simulation. The computer code has two main components, the Simulator and the Graphic User Interface (GUI). The Simulator is a finite element code which calculates the resin flow, and the temperature, degree of cure and viscosity of the resin inside the fiber preform. The GUI serves as the interface between the user and the Simulator, and is used to provide the commands to the Simulator and to display the results. Sample results are presented which illustrate the use of the computer code ...
Automated design for boosting offshore Photovoltaic (PV) performance

This paper presents a novel automatic cleaning device used to enhance the output power of PV modules especially for offshore applications where efficiency and reliability are critical issues. The design described has also the capability of repelling birds from approaching near the PV systems, nesting and therefore preventing bird droppings. The system is powered and controlled by means of a programmable logic controller (PLC) which has the ability of program upgrading and low power consumption.
Phage integration and chromosome structure. A personal history.

In 1962, I proposed a model for integration of λ prophage into the bacterial chromosome. The model postulated two steps (i) circularization of the linear DNA molecule that had been injected into the cell from the phage particle; (ii) reciprocal recombination between phage and bacterial DNA at specific sites on both partners. This resulted in a cyclic permutation of gene order going from phage to prophage. This contrasted with integration models current at the time, which postulated that the prophage was not inserted into the continuity of the chromosome but rather laterally attached or synapsed with it. This chapter summarizes some of the steps leading up to the model including especially the genetic characterization of specialized transducing phages (λgal) by recombinational rescue of conditionally lethal mutations. The serendipitous discovery of the conditional lethals is also described.
Radiation Resistance of Advanced Ferritic-Martensitic Steel HCM12A

HCM12A is an advanced 12 Cr ferritic-martensitic steel designed for higher temperature operation than could be achieved using earlier generation steels such as HT9. HCM12A is one of the advanced alloys under consideration for application in core components in Generation IV nuclear energy systems, and is of particular interest to the supercritical water reactor, sodium fast reactor, and lead fast reactor designs. The radiation resistance of HCM12A has not previously been studied. This work provides information on the hardening and microstructural changes in HCM12A after irradiation using 2.0 MeV protons at 400°C to 10 dpa and 5 MeV Ni-ions at 500°C to 50 dpa. Following irradiation, changes in hardness were measured using Vickers hardness indentation, changes in microstructure and phase stability were studied using transmission electron microscopy, and changes in microchemistry were measured using scanning Auger microscopy. The hardness increases by roughly 70 % and saturates by roughly 5 dpa. The changes to the microstructure contributing to this hardness increase are primarily due to the formation of precipitate phases, with some contribution from changes in dislocation density. Chromium is enriched at grain boundaries prior to irradiation, likely due to grain boundary carbides, and increases further during the irradiation.
Machine learning for physical layer link adaptation in multiple-antenna wireless networks

Prototyping and experimentation are key to understanding the operation of wireless systems in practice. In this extended abstract we present an implementation of physical layer link adaptation, or data rate selection, through machine learning on Hydra: an IEEE 802.11n draft standard multihop wireless networking prototype. This implementation highlights both the utility of learning-based link adaptation in practical networks as well as the flexibility of Hydra.
Long-term mortality in minimally invasive compared with sternotomy coronary artery bypass surgery in the geriatric population (75 years and older patients)

OBJECTIVES: Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in the elderly population. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery via sternotomy remains the standard of care for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS)-CABG via left thoracotomy has been used as an alternative to sternotomy. The aim of our study was to assess the overall survival after MICS-CABG and sternotomy-CABG in elderly patients with CAD. METHODS: This observational study included patients who underwent coronary bypass from 2005 to 2008. Patients 75 years and older (n = 159) were included in the final analysis. Each arm was further divided into the MICS-CABG group or sternotomy-CABG group. Primary outcome and overall survival were obtained from our records and the social security death index. RESULTS: Among patients 75 years and older (159 patients), MICS-CABG had a significantly lower 5-year all-cause mortality than sternotomy-CABG (19.7 vs 47.7%, P < 0.001). Similarly, Kaplan–Meier curves showed significantly higher overall survival in the MICS-CABG group compared with sternotomy-CABG (log-rank P = 0.014). After adjusting for confounders, MICS-CABG demonstrated a lower mortality than sternotomy-CABG (HR 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.26–0.97, P = 0.04). For patients less than 75 years old, MICS and sternotomy groups had similar survival according to both uni- and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The adjusted models demonstrated that MICS-CABG has a significantly better long-term survival than sternotomy-CABG despite slightly differing baseline characteristics. Further studies are needed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of the two approaches among the elderly population.
A multi-scale assessment of human and environmental constraints on forest land cover change on the Oregon (USA) coast range

Human modification of forest habitats is a major component of global environmental change. Even areas that remain predominantly forested may be changed considerably by human alteration of historical disturbance regimes. To better understand human influences on the abundance and pattern of forest habitats, we studied forest land cover change from 1936 to 1996 in a 25 000 km 2 landscape in the Oregon (USA) Coast Range. We integrated historical forest survey data and maps from 1936 with satellite imagery and GIS data from 1996 to quantify changes in major forest cover types. Change in the total area of closed-canopy forests was relatively minor, decreasing from 68% of the landscape in 1936 to 65% in 1996. In contrast, large-conifer forests decreased from 42% in 1936 to 17% in 1996, whereas small-conifer forests increased from 21% of the landscape in 1936 to 39% in 1996. Linear regression models were used to predict changes in the proportion of large conifer forest as a function of socioeconomic and environmental variables at scales of subbasins (mean size = 1964 km 2 , n = 13), watersheds (mean size = 302 km 2 , n = 83), and subwatersheds (mean size = 18 km 2 , n = 1325). The proportion of land in private ownership was the strongest predictor at all three spatial scales (partial R 2 values 0.57–0.76). The amounts of variation explained by other independent variables were comparatively minor. Results corroborate the hypothesis that differing management regimes on private and public ownerships have led to different pathways of landscape change. Furthermore, these distinctive trajectories are consistent over a broad domain of spatial scales.
Bayesian Analysis of the Sequential Inspection Plan via the Gibbs Sampler

A complex product, such as a software system, is often inspected more than once in a sequential manner to further improve its quality and reliability. In such a case, a particularly important task is to accurately estimate the number of errors still remaining in the product after a series of multiple inspections. In the paper, we first develop a maximum likelihood method of estimating both the number of undiscovered errors in the product and the detection probability. We then compare its performance with that of an existing estimation method that has several limitations. We also propose a Bayesian method with noninformative priors, which performs very well in a Monte Carlo simulation study. As the prior knowledge is elicited and incorporated in the analysis, the prediction accuracy of the Bayesian method improves even further. Thus, it would be worthwhile to use various estimation methods and compare their estimates in a specific inspection environment.
Antibody Agents in Solid Organ Transplantation

Antibody agents play an important role in the pharmacotherapy of solid organ transplantation. These agents can be either monoclonal or polyclonal, derived from an animal source or genetically engineered utilizing human antibody sequences. This reviewpresents basic pharmacology and therapeutic issues related to the antibody preparations utilized in transplantation including equine and rabbit antithymocyte globulins, muromonab-CD3, daclizumab, and basiliximab. The parameters covered for these agents include mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic monitoring strategies, clinical dosing, adverse effects, and clinical trials. The brief overviewof current clinical data related to these agents focuses on kidney transplantation. The use of these very powerful agents in different patient populations needs to be individualized based on certain risks and these data are presented to help in the decision-making process, especially for renal allograft recipients.
An Equivalent Circuit Modeling of an Equispaced Metallic Nanoparticles (MNPs) Plasmon Wire

Based on the electric dipole moment (EDM) model of free oscillating electrons inside a single metallic nanoparticle (MNP), a comprehensive methodology is presented in the paper for calculating the equivalent circuit elements associated with an MNP. To find out the passive circuit elements for the MNP, the electromagnetic (EM) power flows are calculated by deriving the relaxation damping, radiation outflow, host matrix EM coupling, and applied signal interaction. The law of conservation of energy is then used to compute the extended oscillatory equation motion of a spherical MNP. The resonant behavior of a single MNP is represented by a lumped resonant circuit model, where the circuit parameters RLC are derived from the equation of motion of the EDM and EM near-field energy outside the MNP. Finally, equivalent circuit of a linearly equispaced MNPs plasmon wire is modeled as a voltage-controlled voltage source by using the nearest surface plasmon interactions.
Estimates of Cabbeling in the Global Ocean

AbstractOwing to the larger thermal expansion coefficient at higher temperatures, more buoyancy is put into the ocean by heating than is removed by cooling at low temperatures. The authors show that, even with globally balanced thermal and haline surface forcing at the ocean surface, there is a negative density flux and hence a positive buoyancy flux. As shown by McDougall and Garrett, this must be compensated by interior densification on mixing due to the nonlinearity of the equation of state (cabbeling). Three issues that arise from this are addressed: the estimation of the annual input of density forcing, the effects of the seasonal cycle, and the total cabbeling potential of the ocean upon complete mixing. The annual expansion through surface density forcing in a steady-state ocean driven by balanced evaporation–precipitation–runoff (E–P–R) and net radiative budget at the surface Qnet is estimated as 74 000 m3 s−1 (0.07 Sv; 1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1), which would be equivalent to a sea level rise of 6.3 mm yr...
Using the RxNorm Web Services API for Quality Assurance Purposes

Auditing large, rapidly evolving terminological systems is still a challenge. In the case of RxNorm, a standardized nomenclature for clinical drugs, we argue that quality assurance processes can benefit from the recently released application programming interface (API) provided by RxNav. We demonstrate the usefulness of the API by performing a systematic comparison of alternative paths in the RxNorm graph, over several thousands of drug entities. This study revealed potential errors in RxNorm, currently under review. The results also prompted us to modify the implementation of RxNav to navigate the RxNorm graph more accurately. The RxNorm web services API used in this experiment is robust and fast.
Estimating Long-term Effectiveness of Lung Cancer Screening in the Mayo CT Screening Study

Purpose: To use individual-level data provided from the single-arm study of helical computed tomographic (CT) screening at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn) to estimate the long-term effectiveness of screening in Mayo study participants and to compare estimates from an existing lung cancer simulation model with estimates from a different modeling approach that used the same data. Materials and Methods: The study was approved by institutional review boards and was HIPAA compliant. Deidentified individual-level data from participants (1520 current or former smokers aged 50–85 years) in the Mayo Clinic helical CT screening study were used to populate the Lung Cancer Policy Model, a comprehensive microsimulation model of lung cancer development, screening findings, treatment results, and long-term outcomes. The model predicted diagnosed cases of lung cancer and deaths per simulated study arm (five annual screening examinations vs no screening). Main outcome measures were predicted changes in lung cancer–speci...
Ansprüche und Gegensprüche auf dem Gebiet der ethischen Grundordnungen

Eigentliche ethische Anspruche und Gegenspruche (im selben Sinn wie das ethische Sollen, Nichtsollen und Freidurfen) kann es weder auf dem Gebiet der ethischen Grundordnungen noch auf dem der Vollkommenheitsordnungen geben. Denn das setzte voraus, das sie unmittelbar ein personales Eigenverhalten zum Inhalt hatten. Anspruche gehen aber auf ein Bekommensollen, gleich ob es in einem impersonalen Geschehen oder in personalem Fremdverhalten besteht. Es ist fur die Innenstruktur des Anspruchs auch bedeutungslos, ob sein Trager impersonal ist oder personal.
Triple Modes of Responding

A tea and rubber plantation in the tropical forests of central Ceylon would seem an unlikely place to begin a discussion of behavioral assessment. Yet, this was the location in 1944 for a well-organized and comprehensive program that set in motion a process that led to one of the more popular notions in behavioral assessment today.
Local analysis of MISR surface BRF and albedo over GSFC and mongu AERONET sites

We have developed an atmospheric correction algorithm to retrieve the surface bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) and albedo from Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) measurements for small areas around Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sunphotometer sites, using AERONET aerosol and column water vapor information. Our goal is to develop an indirect validation method for MISR surface reflectance products over heterogeneous land. Our algorithm makes independent retrievals with both the Li Sparse-Ross Thick kernel BRF model and the modified Rahman-Pinty-Verstraete BRF model used in the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and MISR land algorithms, respectively. In this study, we report the first results of processing MISR Collection 4 data for 2003-2004 for two sites, Mongu, Zambia, and Greenbelt, MD. We found that MISR generally provides accurate retrievals of BRF and albedo in both clear and hazy atmospheric conditions, correctly reproducing the parameter time series and spatial distribution. We found that the MISR BRF, on average, is less anisotropic in the visible bands. The difference is greatest in the blue band, but decreases with increasing wavelength such that it is negligible in the near-IR band. This discrepancy originates in part in the MISR aerosol retrieval algorithm over heterogeneous land, which tends to select an aerosol model that favors spectrally invariant shapes of surface BRF. The other part of the discrepancy comes from the surface hemispherical-directional reflectance factor retrieval algorithm where the iteration loop that removes the diffuse atmospheric transmittance is currently turned off. Our initial results suggest that the MISR surface albedo is on average lower than our retrievals by about 0.005 in the green and red bands. In the near-IR, it agreed with our retrievals with the modified Rahman-Pinty-Verstraete model for the Mongu site, but was systematically lower over the Greenbelt site by about 0.016. When significant aerosol absorption is present (Mongu), the albedo discrepancy is additionally biased by the difference between the MISR and AERONET retrievals of aerosol absorption
Bridging nonliving and living matter

Assembling non-biological materials (geomaterials) into a proto-organism constitutes a bridge between nonliving and living matter. In this article we present a simple step-by-step route to assemble a proto-organism. Many pictures have been proposed to describe this transition within the origins-of-life and artificial life communities, and more recently alternative pictures have been emerging from advances in nanoscience and biotechnology. The proposed proto-organism lends itself to both traditions and defines a new picture based on a simple idea: Given a set of required functionalities, minimize the physicochemical structures that support these functionalities, and make sure that all structures self-assemble and mutually enhance each other's existence. The result is the first concrete, rational design of a simple physicochemical system that integrates the key functionalities in a thermodynamically favorable manner as a lipid aggregate integrates protogenes and a proto-metabolism. Under external pumping of free energy, the metabolic processes produce the required building blocks, and only specific gene sequences enhance the metabolic kinetics sufficiently for the whole system to survive. We propose an experimental implementation of the proto-organism with a discussion of our experimental results, together with relevant results produced by other experimental groups, and we specify what is still missing experimentally. Identifying the missing steps is just as important as providing the road map for the transition. We derive the kinetic and thermodynamic conditions of each of the proto-organism subsystems together with relevant theoretical and computational results about these subsystems. We present and discuss detailed 3D simulations of the lipid aggregation processes. From the reaction kinetics we derive analytical aggregate size distributions, and derive key properties of the metabolic efficiency and stability. Thermodynamics and kinetics of the ligation directed self-replication of the proto-genes is discussed, and we summarize the full life cycle of the proto-organism by comparing size, replication time, and energy with the biomass efficiency of contemporary unicells. Finally, we also compare our proto-organism picture with existing origins-of-life and protocell pictures.By assembling one possible bridge between nonliving and living matter we hope to provide a piece in the ancient puzzle about who we are and where we come from.
Neck recurrence and mortality in esthesioneuroblastoma: Implications for management of the N0 neck

Objectives/Hypothesis To review the literature on neck recurrence in esthesioneuroblastoma. Study Design PubMed database. Methods A PubMed database search was performed using keywords “esthesioneuroblastoma,” “olfactory neuroblastoma,” and “esthesioneuroblastoma neck metastasis.” Articles written in English with greater than 10 subjects that had data regarding the association of neck recurrence and mortality and/or the association of neck recurrence with Kadish stage were included for analysis. Results Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria with information regarding the association of neck recurrence and mortality, and 15 studies had data associating neck recurrence and Kadish stage. The neck recurrence rate was 14.1% in studies analyzing mortality. Among those patients who developed regional metastases, mortality was 60%. Of patients without regional recurrence, the mortality rate from disease was 26% (P < 0.0001) and overall mortality was 32% (P < 0.0001). The rate of neck recurrence within each Kadish stage was 0%, 11%, 21%, and 18% for Kadish stages A, B, C, and D, respectively. The trend toward an increased incidence of neck recurrence from stage A to stage D is statistically significant, with P value 0.003. Conclusion The rate of neck recurrence in esthesioneuroblastoma is close to 15%. There is a strong association of recurrence with Kadish stage B and C. Mortality from disease in patients with recurrence in cervical lymph nodes is significant when compared to those who never develop neck disease. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate a potential role for elective neck dissection versus elective neck radiation for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 2015
Persistent Agrobiodiversity on Genetically Modified Cotton Farms in Telangana, India

Genetically modified (GM) crops may threaten agrobiodiversity because: (1) genetic material could escape into and subsequently alter non-GM species; and (2) GM crops encourage farmers along an agronomic feedback loop encouraging input-intensive monocultures. However, in the Warangal district of Telangana, India, GM cotton farms also contain nearly 100 semi-managed vegetables, trees, and wild plants belonging to 39 botanical families. While farmers continue to plant poorly understood, deceptively labeled Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner) cotton seeds in their fields, they also maintain an average of 17 other plants on the same farms for home economic needs. This paper draws on surveys, field interviews, and ethnography conducted among randomly sampled Bt cotton farmers to show the full range of economic plants cultivated on Warangal GM farms. In doing so, I argue that some farmers have been able to preserve agrobiodiversity despite the pressures of GM cotton cash cropping. That agrobiodiversity has potential benefits for Indigenous knowledge and drawbacks for environmental and health concerns.
Precise metabolic engineering of carotenoid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli towards a low-cost biosensor

Micronutrient deficiencies, including zinc deficiency, are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. A key obstacle to allocating scarce treatment resources is the ability to measure population blood micronutrient status inexpensively and quickly enough to identify those who most need treatment. This paper develops a metabolically engineered strain of Escherichia coli to produce different colored pigments (violacein, lycopene, and β-carotene) in response to different extracellular zinc levels, for eventual use in an inexpensive blood zinc diagnostic test. However, obtaining discrete color states in the carotenoid pathway required precise engineering of metabolism to prevent reaction at low zinc concentrations but allow complete reaction at higher concentrations, and all under the constraints of natural regulator limitations. Hence, the metabolic engineering challenge was not to improve titer, but to enable precise control of pathway state. A combination of gene dosage, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulation was necessary to allow visible color change over physiologically relevant ranges representing a small fraction of the regulator's dynamic response range, with further tuning possible by modulation of precursor availability. As metabolic engineering expands its applications and develops more complex systems, tight control of system components will likely become increasingly necessary, and the approach presented here can be generalized to other natural sensing systems for precise control of pathway state.
Combination of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and temozolomide: Study of cases

11522 Background: The prognosis for glioblastoma multiforme remains poor. Survival is generally limited to less than 1 year. Currently available standard treatments have not allowed, thus far, to p...
A note on inelastic resonances in F π

We consider briefly the following questions: if higher-mass vector mesons exist, how would they affect the peak of the pion form factor at the rho mass,\(\left| {F_\pi \left( {M_\rho ^2 } \right)} \right|^2\), and how prominent should they be in the cross-section for,e.g., ρ+ρ−→π+π− at the resonance mass. The questions are strongly related, and if certain physically reasonable zeros occur in the form factor the effect of such mesons can turn out to be quite small.
Ballistic and Dissipative Effects in Barrier-Limited Current Transport

Steady-state current transport over a simple parabolic energy barrier is studied in the context of dissipative and ballistic transport. The dissipative transport regime is described by the diffusion equation and the solution for the parabolic barrier is reviewed. The ballistic regime is treated using Euler’s equation of classical fluid mechanics. The procedure for solution of Euler’s equation for the parabolic barrier is described, and it is shown that the predicted current density is equal to approximately 1.52 times that predicted by the conventional thermionic emission theory.
Wallingford: toward a constraint reactive programming language

Wallingford is an experimental constraint reactive programming language that supports objects with state, persistent constraints on those objects, and reactive constraints that enable the system to respond to events by declaring constraints that become active when an event occurs, or while a condition holds. It is implemented in Rosette, a solver-aided programming language and environment for constructing DSLs in turn implemented in Racket. This short paper is a snapshot of work-in-progress on the system.
MORPHOLOGY AND BIOLOGY OF REPTILES

tion. Since nine-banded armadillos are born in litters of genetically identical quadruplets, there is no genetic variation within families. Therefore, there can be no selection within families as a result of interactions between sibs. The hypothetical evolution of strong sib altruism in the nine-banded armadillo would have to occur by selection at the family level operating upon the between family variation for the appropriate behaviors. Dawkins' misconception of the role of population structure in the evolution of social behaviors stems from his confusion of the effect of selection with the process of selection. He reasons as follows (chapter 3): Because evolution consists of changes in gene frequency and because genes persist unchanged longer than chromosomes, genomes, or gene pools, the gene must therefore be the unit of selection. Since genes reside on the chromosomes of individuals, all forces which affect gene frequencies can be reduced to increments or decrements in the fitness of individuals as a matter of mathematical convenience. This reductionist approach (employed by Hamilton in his mathematical formulation of kinship theory), however, does not mean that all selective changes can be attributed strictly to selection at the genic level. The differential proliferation of the various units of population structure can be the actual mechanism of gene frequency change. And, it is the variance between the units of population structure which determines the relative rates of gene frequency change caused by selection at any level. These aspects of population structure are of special interest in the study of the evolution of social behaviors because population structure per se can permit the evolution of traits which would be selected against in randomly mating and mixing populations. In addition to these shortcomings, many of Dawkins' arguments approach circularity as, for example, his discussion of why some male elephant seals win and hold harems. "Harem holders tend to win these fights against would-be usurpers, if only for the obvious reason that that is why they are harem holders. Usurpers do not often win fights, because if they were capable of winning they would have done so before!" (p. 173). In short, usurpers do not often win fights, because usurpers do not often win fights. I do not believe that arguments of this type can assist the average layperson in understanding the process of evolution by natural selection. Instead, I fear that arguments of this nature will add more anecdotes to that body of misconceptions known as the "common wisdom."
Multiscale Computer Simulation of Tensile Failure in Polymer-Coated Silica Aerogels

The low thermal conductivities of silica aerogels have made them of interest to the aerospace community for applications such as cryotank insulation. Recent advances in the application of conformal polymer coatings to these gels have made them significantly stronger, and potentially useful as lightweight materials for impact absorption as well. In this work, we perform multiscale computer simulations to investigate the tensile strength and failure behavior of silica and polymer-coated silica aerogels. The gels’ nanostructure is simulated via a Diffusion Limited Cluster Aggregation (DLCA) procedure. The procedure produces fractal aggregates that exhibit fractal dimensions similar to those observed in real aerogels. The largest distinct feature of the clusters is the so-called secondary particle, typically tens of nm in diameter, which is composed of primary particles of amorphous silica an order of magnitude smaller. The secondary particles are connected by amorphous silica bridges that are typically smaller in diameter than the particles they connect. We investigate tensile failure via the application of a uniaxial tensile strain to the DLCA clusters. In computing the energetics of tensile strain, the detailed structure of the secondary particles is ignored, and the interaction among secondary particles is described by Morse pair potentials, representing the strain energetics of the silica gel and the polymer coating, parameterized such that the potential ranges are much smaller than the secondary particle size. The Morse parameters are obtained by separate atomistic simulation of models of the interparticle bridges and polymer coatings, with the tensile behavior of these bridges modeled via molecular statics. We consider the energetics of tensile strain and tensile failure, and compare qualitative features of low-and high-density gel failure.
Control Study for Carbamazepine and Levetiracetam in Treating Children with Partial Epilepsy as Monotherapy

Objective:To compare the efficacy of carbamazepine and levetiracetam in treating pediatric partial seizures as first-line monotherapy.Methods:Fifty-three children with partial seizures were enrolled and evaluated.They had more than one seizure per month for three months before treatment and were diagnosed by typical seizures and video-EEG recording.These eligible patients were divided into two groups and treated with carbamazepine(CBZ)or levetiracetam(LEV).The initial dosage of LEV was 10 mg/(kg·d).It was gradually increased and the maintenance dosage was 20~30 mg/(kg·d)and would not exceed the maximum dosage of 40 mg/(kg·d).The initial dosage of CBZ was 5 mg/(kg·d),and it was weekly increased by 5 mg/(kg·d)to the dosage of 10~20 mg/(kg·d)as the maximum or till a plasma concentration of 6~10 mg/L was obtained.All patients had at least been followed up for six months.Results:Fifty-three children completed the study,27 children taking LEV while 26 taking CBZ.Fifteen children(57.7%)were seizure-free in the group with CBZ,and in the LEV-treated group,the number was ten(37.0%).No severe adverse effects were found among all patients.Conclusions:Both CBZ and LEV are efficacious for child partial seizures.