cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Butler groups of infinite rank

Abstract Butler groups are torsion-free abelian groups which — in the infinite rank case — can be defined in two different ways. One definition requires that all the balanced extensions of torsion groups by them are splitting, while the other stipulates that they admit continuous transfinite chains (with finite rank factors) of so-called decent subgroups. This paper is devoted to the three major questions for Butler groups of infinite rank: Are the two definitions equivalent? Are balanced subgroups of completely decomposable torsion-free groups always Butler groups? Which pure subgroups of Butler groups are again Butler groups? In attacking these problems, a new approach is used by utilizing ℵ 0 - prebalanced chains and relative balanced-projective resolutions introduced by Bican and Fuchs [5]. A noteworthy feature is that no additional set-theoretical hypotheses are needed.
Condiciónes, Drogas, y La Cárcel: Latino Arrestees in Miami, New York, San Antonio, and San Jose

This article begins to fill the gap in knowledge concerning Latinos and justice policy and challenges widely held assumptions about assimilation. Specifically examined were drug usage, arrest offense, and life conditions along ethnic lines. The ethnic lines examined here include the three largest U.S. Latino populations (Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban). Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring 2000 program data were used in this study. Recommendations are offered to increase the efficacy of drug control and rehabilitation programs for specific Latino populations in the site cities studied and to address other needs within the Latino arrestee populations. The authors also identify the need for additional research that requires greatly improved data collection and reporting by government agencies around issues of ethnicity. These data can then be used to reform the penal, legal, and justice systems to effectively and fairly address the needs, rights, and concerns of different populations, specifically Latinos.
Contrast-modulation flicker: Dynamics and spatial resolution of the light adaptation process

We report a perceptual phenomenon that originates from a nonlinear operation during the visual process, and we use these observations to study the functional organization of the responsible nonlinearity: the regulation of visual sensitivity to light. When the contrast of a high frequency grating was modulated while its spatial and temporal average luminance was kept constant, observers saw brightness changes or desaturation in the field. If the contrast was modulated periodically between zero and a peak value, observers saw vivid flicker (contrast-modulation flicker), and this flicker could be seen even when the grating was too fine to be visually resolved as a pattern. This uniform-field flicker can be nulled by a modulation of space-average luminance at the contrast-modulation frequency, with appropriate phase and modulation depth. Contrast-modulation flicker is still measurable with gratings at 100 cycles/deg. The dynamics of contrast-modulation flicker suggest that it results from an early sensitivity-controlling mechanism, acting very rapidly (within about 20 msec). Its dependence on stimulus spatial frequency implies a strictly local luminance nonlinearity, one that either resides within individual photoreceptors or operates on signals from individual receptors.
Image degradation in undersampled holograms

Abstract If we make a sampled hologram of an object with space-bandwidth product N but we use only M (⪡ N ) samples, the image will be degraded. The type of degradation (resolution or signal-to-noise ratio is determined by the type of sampling.
Septic shock: pathogenesis and treatment.

Septic shock is the host’s inflammatory response to infection. There are multiple endogenous mediators responsible for the pathogenesis of septic shock. Cytokines, nitric oxide and prostaglandins are some of the major mediators. The term sepsis syndrome allows for an earlier diagnosis and treatment. Management of septic shock is focused in maintaining hemodynamic stability and an adequate oxygen delivery and utilization. Careful attention to each organ-system is of paramount importance to prevent complications and improve outcome. Experimental therapies to modulate the inflammatory response are promising.
Proteolytically activated anti-bacterial hydrogel microspheres

Hydrogels are finding increased clinical utility as advances continue to exploit their favorable material properties. Hydrogels can be adapted for many applications, including surface coatings and drug delivery. Anti-infectious surfaces and delivery systems that actively destroy invading organisms are alternative ways to exploit the favorable material properties offered by hydrogels. Sterilization techniques are commonly employed to ensure the materials are non-infectious upon placement, but sterilization is not absolute and infections are still expected. Natural, anti-bacterial proteins have been discovered which have the potential to act as anti-infectious agents; however, the proteins are toxic and need localized release to have therapeutic efficacy without toxicity. In these studies, we explore the use of the glutathione s-transferase (GST) to anchor the bactericidal peptide, melittin, to the surface of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel microspheres. We show that therapeutic levels of protein can be anchored to the surface of the microspheres using the GST anchor. We compared the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant melittin released from PEGDA microspheres to melittin. We found that, when released by an activating enzyme, thrombin, recombinant melittin efficiently inhibits growth of the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes as effectively as melittin created by solid phase peptide synthesis. We conclude that a GST protein anchor can be used to immobilize functional protein to PEGDA microspheres and the protein will remain immobilized under physiological conditions until the protein is enzymatically released.
Determination of electronic structure of Ge-Si nanostructures by electroreflectance spectroscopy

Extensive measurements and theoretical calculations have provided strong evidence for the creation of direct bandgap superlattice structures from indirect bandgap Ge and Si. Much of the experimental evidence for this conclusion is drawn from electroreflectance measurements. Interpretation of this experiment begins with the standard lineshape fitting analysis, but it is complicated by local electric fields and interference effects. We will discuss these effects and how they can be separated from properties intrinsic to the electronic structure.
A New Linear Least Squares Method for T1 Estimation from SPGR Signals with Multiple TRs

Abstract The longitudinal relaxation time, T 1 , can be estimated from two or more spoiled gradient recalled echo x (SPGR) images with two or more flip angles and one or more repetition times ( TRs ). The function relating signal intensity and the parameters are nonlinear; T 1 maps can be computed from SPGR signals using nonlinear least squares regression. A widely-used linear method transforms the nonlinear model by assuming a fixed TR in SPGR images. This constraint is not desirable since multiple TRs are a clinically practical way to reduce the total acquisition time, to satisfy the required resolution, and/or to combine SPGR data acquired at different times. A new linear least squares method is proposed using the first order Taylor expansion. Monte Carlo simu lations of SPGR experiments are used to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the estimated T 1 from the proposed linear and the nonlinear methods. We show that the new linear least squares method provides T 1 estimates comparable in both pr ecision and accuracy to those from the nonlinear method, allowing multiple TRs and reducing computation time significantly.
Downstream effectors of oncogenic ras in multiple myeloma cells

Ectopic expression of mutated K-ras or N-ras in the interleukin 6 (IL-6)-dependent ANBL6 multiple myeloma cell line induces cytokine-independent growth. To investigate the signaling pathways activated by oncogenic ras that may stimulate IL-6-independent growth, we compared ANBL6 cells stably transfected with mutated K or N-ras genes with wild-type ras-expressing control cells identically transfected with an empty vector. Upon depletion of IL-6, both mutated ras-containing myeloma lines demonstrated constitutive activation of mitogen-activated extracellular kinase 2(MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-kinase)/AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70S6-kinase, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) pathways. In contrast, signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) was not constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in mutant ras-expressing cells. We used several maneuvers in attempts to selectively target these constitutively active pathways. The mTOR inhibitors rapamycin and CCI-779, the PI3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, and the MEK inhibitor PD98059 all significantly curtailed growth of mutant ras-containing cells. Farnesyl transferase inhibitors, used to target ras itself, had modest effects only against mutant N-ras-containing cells. Growth of mutant N-ras-containing myeloma cells was also inhibited by acute expression of the IKB superrepressor gene, which abrogated NF-kappa B activation. These results indicate that several pathways contributing to stimulation of cytokine-independent growth are activated downstream of oncogenic ras in myeloma cells. They also suggest that therapeutic strategies that target these pathways may be particularly efficacious in patients whose myeloma clones contain ras mutations.
Photoswitchable Fluorescent Nanoparticles: Preparation, Properties and Applications

This minireview highlights recent advances of research dedicated to photoswitchable fluorescent nanoparticles and their applications. Recently, several strategies have been developed to synthesize nanoparticles with optically switchable emission properties: either fluorescence on/off or dual-alternating-color fluorescence photoswitching. The underlying mechanisms of fluorescence photoswitching enable many different types of photoswitchable fluorescent nanoparticles to change fluorescence colors, thus validating the basis of the initial photoswitching design. Among all possible applications, the usage of photoswitchable fluorescent nanoparticles to empower super-resolution fluorescence imaging and to label biological targets was subsequently reviewed. Finally, we summarize the important areas regarding future research and development on photoswitchable fluorescent nanoparticles.
Assembly of Heterogeneous Functional Nanomaterials on DNA Origami Scaffolds

One on each side: gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) are integrated on a single DNA origami scaffold. Streptavidin-functionalized QDs bind to biotin anchors on one side of the DNA origami, while DNA-coated AuNPs bind through DNA hybridization to single-stranded DNA on the other side of the scaffold. This approach offers a new path toward the organization of complex systems consisting of disparate materials.
Information rates of time varying Rayleigh fading channels

In this paper, information rates of mobile radio channels without channel state information (CSI) at either the transmitter or the receiver are investigated. The channel is modeled as a time varying Rayleigh fading process whose dynamics are characterized by a Doppler spectrum with specified normalized fading rate. Results are presented in terms of the block length, the normalized fading rate, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), for the Clarke's Doppler spectrum and uniform spectrum.
Lithium Cyano(methyl)cuprate

[41753-78-0] C2H3CuLiN (MW 111.55) InChI = 1S/CN.CH3.Cu.Li/c1-2;;;/h;1H3;;/q;;-1;+1 InChIKey = ORIYSZGCTBKCGG-UHFFFAOYSA-N (regioselective organocuprate reagent for the 1,4-addition of a methyl group to vinyl epoxides and enones) Solubility: sol ether at −20 °C; precipitates from solution at −78 °C. Preparative Method: an ether solution of low-halide Methyllithium is added to 1 equiv of anhyd Copper(I) Cyanide at −78 °C;1 in order to maximize the 1,4-addition mode of lithium cyano(methyl)cuprate to vinyl epoxides, commercial methyl lithium with no halide present should be used. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: thermally stable up to a temperature of about 0 °C; more stable than most organocuprates at rt or 0 °C; oxygen- and moisture-sensitive.
The Nursing Home Culture-Change Movement: Recent Past, Present, and Future Directions for Research

This article uses a retrospective approach to critique the research base underlying the nursing home culture-change movement-an effort to radically transform the nation's nursing homes by delivering resident-directed care and empowering staff. The article traces the development of the movement from its inception 10 years ago to 2005, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented its own initiative to support the movement, thus giving it new momentum, to the present day. This historical overview provides context for a proposed research agenda aimed at strengthening the movement's empirical base, thereby facilitating culture-change interventions as well as helping the movement navigate the next step in its evolution.
The initial response of CD4+ IL-4-producing cells

Naive CD4 + T cells were reported to produce small amounts of IL-4 in vitro, which are implicated to be sufficient to initiate Th2 response in vivo. However, IL-4-producing naive CD4 + T cells are difficult to study in vivo because they are present in low numbers shortly after the first antigen exposure. Here, we used IL-4/green fluorescence protein (GFP) reporter mice (G4 mice) to track the initial response of CD4 + IL-4-producing cells. We first established a flow cytometry method to estimate the number of GFP + cells. We demonstrated the effectiveness of this method by showing that the responding CD4 + GFP + cells exhibited an activated phenotype, possessed the capacity to express IL-5 and IL-13, but not IFN-g mRNA, and showed enhanced levels of GATA3 and c-maf mRNA expression. More importantly, we showed that the cell lines derived from FACS-sorted CD4 + GFP + cells were antigen specific. By using this newly established method, we showed that the majority of responding GFP + cells were CD4 + T cells. Our study provides direct ex vivo evidence to show that a small percent of CD4 + T cells that have no previous experience of antigenic stimulation might produce IL-4 to initiate Th2 response.
Abatacept in relapsing polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is an uncommon but often life-threatening multisystem disease characterised by recurrent or persistent inflammation of cartilaginous tissues, with no known consistently efficacious treatment.1 A T cell-predominant autoimmune aetiology has been implicated.2 Abatacept is a costimulation modulator that suppresses T cell activity, and one report has suggested that abatacept may be efficacious in one case, but did not present disease endpoints.3 We report here our experience with abatacept in four subjects with RPC, which was performed in the context of a small open-label study (NCT01272856). Key clinical characteristics of the subjects, all meeting the Michet criteria for RPC,4 are shown in table 1. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. Abatacept 125 mg subcutaneously weekly was planned to be administered for 24 weeks, but two subjects discontinued early: subject 001 developed worsening pulmonary and neurological disease and discontinued at …
On the use of energy methods for interpretation of results of single-fiber fragmentation experiments

_We consider fragmentation experiments as a set of experimental results for fiber break density as a function of applied strain. This paper explores the potential for using fracture mechanics or energy methods in interpreting fragmentation experiments. We found that energy does not control fiber fracture; instead, fiber fracture releases much more energy than required to fracture the fiber. The excess released energy can lead to other damage mechanisms such as interfacial debonding. By assuming that all the excess released energy causes interfacial debonding and balancing energy using the energy release rate for debonding, we were able to determine interfacial toughness from fragmentation experiments. A reliable determination of interfacial toughness requires prior knowledge of interphase stress-transfer properties, fiber failure properties, actual damage mechanisms, and the coefficient of friction at the interface.
Endocannabinoid signaling in the brain.

The primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, Δ^9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ^9-THC), affects the brain mainly by activating a specific receptor (CB1). CB1 is expressed at high levels in many brain regions, and several endogenous brain lipids have been identified as CB1 ligands. In contrast to classical neurotransmitters, endogenous cannabinoids can function as retrograde synaptic messengers: They are released from postsynaptic neurons and travel backward across synapses, activating CB1 on presynaptic axons and suppressing neurotransmitter release. Cannabinoids may affect memory, cognition, and pain perception by means of this cellular mechanism.
Design of a Monolithic Automatic Substrate/Supply Multiplexer for DVS-Enabled Adaptive Power Converters

It allows the converters to seamlessly regulate the output voltage at any desired level without suffering large leakage current and latch-up. In addition, an automatic supply voltage multiplexing scheme is presented to significantly improve power efficiency and reduce chip area. The proposed ASSM circuit was fabricated with an IBM 130-nm CMOS process. Experimental results show a 4.44-mV/ns switching speed with a switching voltage ranging from 0.9 to 2.5 V. Due to an accurate voltage comparison, the tracking error in steady state is effectively minimized below 5 mV. The circuit only occupies a 0.015-mm2 silicon area, with maximum static power of 227 μW.
Examining Systems Change in the Response to Domestic Violence: Innovative Applications of Multilevel Modeling

Facilitating systems change in the response to domestic violence has been touted as a central goal in the effort to hold systems accountable and create a coordinated response for survivors. However, examination of systems change and whether particular social change efforts (e.g., coordinating councils) contribute to such change is a notoriously difficult research endeavor due in large part to methodological barriers, including those that stem from nonexperimental designs and complex data that are characterized as nested and measured in proportions. This article describes important methodological challenges and proposes innovative techniques to address these challenges. Specifically, multilevel modeling is applied to examine two key systems markers, including protection order and domestic violence program referral rates over time in one state. For each marker, the methodological approach is highlighted and innovations in employing multilevel modeling are discussed.
Functional properties of waxy wheat flours: genotypic and environmental effects

A set of waxy (amylose-free) experimental spring wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) of diverse parentage were grown, along with two nonwaxy and two partial waxy check cultivars, at diverse North American cultural environments. Grain yield and functional attributes of derived flours were determined. Average grain yield of the waxy lines did not differ significantly from the average yield of the check cultivars, but significant differences were observed amongst the waxy lines. Grain hardness varied significantly amongst the waxy lines, and both hard and soft textured waxy lines were identified. Analysis of flour quality traits showed few differences between waxy lines and check cultivars for traits primarily related to protein concentration or protein quality, but many significant differences between properties primarily dependent upon starch structure, or related to milling behavior. Protein-related quality attributes of waxy wheats demonstrated environmental and genotypic variances similar to those typical of non-waxy wheats. Starch-related quality attributes of waxy wheats showed remarkable stability across environments, but some significant genetic variation was observed. End-users interested in employing waxy wheats should be able to select desired waxy lines, and feel confident that the starch-related functional properties will be environmentally stable. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Quantitative determination of age-related geometric changes in the normal abdominal aorta

Abstract Purpose: We conducted a novel quantitative three-dimensional analysis of computed tomography (CT) angiograms to establish the relationship between aortic geometry and age, sex, and body surface area in healthy subjects. Methods: Abdominal helical CT angiograms from 77 healthy potential renal donors (33 men/44 women; mean age, 44 years; age range, 19-67 years) were selected. In each dataset, orthonormal cross-sectional area and diameter measurements were obtained at 1-mm intervals along the automatically calculated central axis of the abdominal aorta. The aorta was subdivided into six consecutive anatomic segments (supraceliac, supramesenteric, suprarenal, inter-renal, proximal infrarenal, and distal infrarenal). The interrelated effects of anatomic segment, age, sex, and body surface area on cross-sectional dimensions were analyzed with linear mixed-effects and varying-coefficient statistical models. Results: We found that significant effects of sex and of body surface area on aortic diameters were similar at all anatomic levels. The effect of age, however, was interrelated with anatomic position, and gradually decreasing slopes of significant diameter-versus-age relationships along the aorta, which ranged from 0.14 mm/y ( P P =.013) distally in the abdominal aorta, were shown. Conclusion: The abdominal aorta undergoes considerable geometric changes when a patient is between 19 and 67 years of age, leading to an increase of aortic taper with time. The hemodynamic consequences of this geometric evolution for the development of aortic disease still need to be established. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:97-105.)
Life history, fundamental motives, and sexual competition

When it comes to sexual competition, men and women play somewhat different games. To understand why, it helps to step back and consider our species in the context of elephants, pygmy shrews in Madagascar, and clownfish that change sex as they mature. From studying the wide range of vertebrate life histories, biological theorists have extracted a set of common principles that clarify many seemingly arbitrary variations in human mating behaviors. Application of life history theory to human beings has recently led to a number of interesting findings involving sex differences and similarities in mating and sexual competition across different developmental phases and ecological contexts.
A scalable and ontology-based P2P infrastructure for Semantic Web Services

Semantic Web Services are a promising combination of Semantic Web and Web service technology, aiming at providing means of automatically executing, discovering and composing semantically marked-up Web services. We envision peer-to-peer networks which allow for carrying out searches in real-time on permanently reconfiguring networks to be an ideal infrastructure for deploying a network of Semantic Web Service providers. However, P2P networks evolving in an unorganized manner suffer from serious scalability problems, limiting the number of nodes in the network, creating network overload and pushing search times to unacceptable limits. We address these problems by imposing a deterministic shape on P2P networks: We propose a graph topology which allows for very efficient broadcast and search, and we provide an efficient topology construction and maintenance algorithm which, crucial to symmetric peer-to-peer networks, does neither require a central server nor super nodes in the network. We show how our scheme can be made even more efficient by using a globally known ontology to determine the organization of peers in the graph topology, allowing for efficient concept-based search.
Diffraction of transient horizontal shear waves by a finite crack and a finite rigid ribbon

Abstract An infinite elastic medium containing an infinite discontinuity plane of finite width that is subjected to an impinging horizontal shear wave of arbitrary time dependence is considered. In the first of two studies presented, the discontinuity plane is a finite crack and in the second it becomes a finite rigid ribbon. Transform techniques and a generalized Wiener-Hopf method are employed to solve each problem exactly from the time that the incident wave first strikes the crack or ribbon to the time required for the wave to twice traverse the width of the barrier. In this time period, results based on an incident, step-function, stress profile, for the rigid-body motion of the ribbon have already reached their expected long time limiting values, and results for the crack tip stress intensity factors already have achieved their peak values. The latter are found to be 27 per cent larger than the analogous static values.
Fusing Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Virtual Worlds Behavioral Research

In this study, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) developed a quantitative-qualitative mixed methods research technique to investigate the extent to which real world characteristics of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) players can be predicted based on the characteristics and behavior of their avatars. SAIC used three primary assessment instruments to quantitatively rate videos of participant gameplay sessions, while GT produced detailed qualitative descriptions of avatar activities and behavior. Automated textual analysis was then used to identify conceptual themes across all of the descriptions produced by the qualitative team. Using the themes generated by the automated textual analysis in combination with the quantitative variables, we were able to demonstrate the efficacy of the hybrid method for the prediction of real world characteristics from avatar characteristics and behavior.
Cationic Rhodium and Iridium Complexes in Catalysis

Among the factors that affect the reactivity of transition metal compounds, the net charge carried by the complex has up to now tended to be neglected. In this review, we will first survey the effects of net charget on the reactivity of metal complexes in general, before going on to the specific case of cationic complexes of rhodium and iridium in catalysis. We will not discuss work bearing on asymmetric hydrogenation, since this is covered in Chapter 3.
A BOOK REVIEW: GRAPmc NOVELS: A FUN & CREATIVE WAY OF WRITING AND READING

The 21" century is marked for the vast development of digital media. I fbefore, communicating with people from another country is reached by the sending ofletters or making international phone calls, nowadays people can do all of those in one go with the internet. Whether it is writing to people or speaking to them, all can be done at once with a bonus of even seeing who and what the other end is doing. The chatting facilities of e.g. the Yahoo Messenger or Skype make it possible. Similarly, ifbefore students would spend hours of research at a library to fmd and read books, nowadays some of those same books can be read digitally in their own homes. Yet, Nancy Frey exclaims: "Readers in the 21 st century need to be able to analyze what they read and understand the motive of the author and the accuracy of the reading. They need to see themselves as active users, not merely vessels to be filled" (in http://www.educationworld.com /a_curr/profdev/profdevl05.sht m1, 2010). To do this, the traditional method of giving books to students to read either inside or outside the classroom, is a fact not to be argued. The problem is, with numerous instant facilities that a student can have now, may make them not patient enough to sit for long hours reading the pages and pages of books assigned by a teacher.
Upward Spirals of Mindfulness and Reappraisal: Testing the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory with Autoregressive Latent Trajectory Modeling

The mindful reappraisal hypothesis of the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory (Garland et al. in Psychol Inquiry 26(4):293–314, 2015a; Psychol Inquiry 26(4):377–387, 2015b) proposes that mindfulness generates eudaimonic well-being by promoting positive reappraisal, the positive psychological process through which stressful events are re-construed as benign, meaningful, or growth-promoting. To test this hypothesis, we examined prospective relations between state mindfulness and positive reappraisal in a community sample participating in a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI). At seven weekly time points throughout the MBI, participants (N = 234) engaged in a 10-min mindfulness meditation exercise at home and completed a measure of the degree of state mindfulness experienced during the meditation, as well as a measure of their use of positive reappraisal over the previous week. Support for the mindful reappraisal hypothesis of the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory was found: in latent growth curve and multivariate autoregressive latent trajectory models, increases in the trajectory of state mindfulness experienced during meditation were significantly and robustly associated with more frequent use of positive reappraisal over the course of participation in the 8 week-long MBI. Thus, mindfulness and reappraisal may reciprocally enhance one another as interdependent components of a positive feedback loop whose structure might be best described as an upward spiral.
Lactate, pyruvate, and acid-soluble phosphates in monkey brains treated with carbon dioxide and electric shock.

SummaryThe brains of normal monkeys and those treated with carbon dioxide and electric shock were fixed with liquid air and analysed for lactate, pyruvate, and acid-soluble phosphates. The levels of these constituents and their change under the above conditions were shown to be of the same magnitude and in the same direction as those found in similarly treated dogs, cats, and rats.
No Shortcuts to Progress: African Development Management in Perspective

(1985). No Shortcuts to Progress: African Development Management in Perspective. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 869-871.
Exercise performance of mammals: an allometric perspective.

We have examined aerobic exercise performance among the mammals with particular attention to the constraints that body size places on all aspects of muscle biomechanics, aerobic energetics, tissue oxygen diffusion, cardiovascular oxygen delivery, and pulmonary oxygen uptake. Several body-size-dependent patterns emerge that seemingly govern aerobic performance in mammals, with the caveat that at any given body size there is a range of aerobic capacities, the result of natural selection operating on the size-dependent "default values" of structure and function. Among these default values, the following apparent functional clusters surface: 1. In general, concentrations and pressures (e.g., of proteins and gases) are roughly independent of body size. Inspiratory and expiratory ventilation pressures, blood pressure and the partial pressures of O2 and CO2 in lungs, blood, and tissues do not vary with body size. Likewise, concentrations of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and hematocrit are independent of body size. 2. Most volumes and capacities scale linearly with body size (i.e., as a constant function of body mass). In addition to heart, lung, and total blood volumes, important examples relevant to exercise performance are the diffusing capacities for oxygen in the lung and, apparently, in the tissues. 3. Finally, most time-dependent variables related to oxygen delivery scale allometrically with body mass; they are of shorter duration in small animals than in large ones. Biological rates, for example, Vmax of working muscle, heart and respiratory rates, and transit times of blood through the muscles and lungs, all vary roughly as the -1/5 to -1/4 power of body mass.
Phase-Interchange Relations

We refer to expressions that link the effective properties of a two-phase heterogeneous material to the effective properties of the same microstructure but with the phases interchanged as phase-interchange relations. When such rigorous relations apply to a wide class of heterogeneous materials, they can provide useful tests of analytical and numerical estimates of the effective properties. We focus here on the effective conductivity and elastic moduli of two-phase composites and, to a lesser extent, of polycrystals. The two-dimensional relations are shown to have interesting implications for percolation behavior. Finally, we remark on phase-interchange relations for the trapping constant and fluid permeability.
Further Development of the Paradigm: 1858–1874

In his paper of 1858, Weierstrass had considered pairs of real quadratic forms \(\Phi = {x}^{t}Bx\), \(\Psi = {x}^{t}Ax\), with Φ definite, because his goal was to establish a generalization of the principal axes theorem for them that would provide the basis for a nongeneric treatment of \(B\ddot{y} = Ay\).
Dignity and the Limits of Liberal Individualism

This article accords with recent liberal defenses of the political significance of dignity and the value in distinguishing between assaults on dignity and assaults on the body aimed at causing phys...
How the Flattened Costs of Grassroots Lobbying Affect Legislator Responsiveness

Leading theories of grassroots lobbying assert that legislators should respond positively to the volume of grassroots lobbying messages because volume indicates the salience of an issue among constituents. This notion rests on the idea that the costs of producing a large volume of grassroots lobbying signals the value of the information to legislators. Advances in technology and strategy, however, have flattened the costs associated with producing such information—it costs much less to generate one additional e-mail message than before. In this environment, the volume of grassroots lobbying no longer signals the value of the information it contains. Instead, I believe trust becomes the critical factor in evaluating grassroots lobbying. I test this theory using a survey of state legislators. I find that lobbying message volume has no effect on legislator responses to higher salience issues, and a negative effect on lower salience issues.
Quality of life in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis

In order to assess quality of life, we administered the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) to 43 pediatric patients diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Statistical analyses demonstrated that girls with CF perceive themselves to have better general health and report greater optimism regarding their future health than do boys with CF. Findings also revealed that age negatively correlated with general health perception, such that patients report worse general health as they become older. In addition, we administered the parent version of the CHQ to one of each patient's parents for the purpose of comparing their perceptions to those of their children. Results indicated that in each of the domains assessed parents perceive their children to experience greater impairment than that reported by patients. Finally, comparisons of parents' perceptions of the quality of life (QOL) of their children with CF versus parents' perceptions of the QOL of their children who have other chronic illness revealed variable patterns of impairment.
Demographics, patterns of care, and survival in pediatric medulloblastoma.

We evaluated the American College of Surgeon’s National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to describe current hospital-based epidemiologic frequency, survival, and patterns of care of pediatric medulloblastoma. We analyzed NCDB 1998–2011 data on medulloblastoma for children ages 0–19 years using logistic and poisson regression, Kaplan–Meier survival estimates, and Cox proportional hazards models. 3647 cases of medulloblastoma in those aged 0–19 years were identified. Chemotherapy was received by 79 and 74% received radiation, with 65% receiving both therapies. Those who received radiation were more likely to be older than four, while those who received chemotherapy were more likely to be age four and younger. Variables associated with receipt of neither radiation nor chemotherapy included age at diagnosis of <1 year, female gender, being of race other than black or white, having no insurance, and living in a residential area with a low level of high school graduates. Better overall survival was observed as age at diagnosis increased, in females, and having received radiation. Compared to medulloblastoma, NOS, better survival was observed for those with demoplastic medulloblastoma, with worse survival in those with large cell medulloblastoma. Majority received multi- disciplinary therapy and radiation had the greatest effect on survival. Ages four and under were most likely to receive chemotherapy and least likely to receive radiation. Suboptimal treatment included 17.8% that did not receive chemotherapy, of which 11.8% received neither chemotherapy nor radiation. Disparities associated with medical access were characteristics for not receiving standard treatment, which resulted in poor outcome.
The role of D ⋆ ⋆ in B − → D s + K − π −

Abstract The BaBar Collaboration has recently reported the observation of the decay mode B − → D s + K − π − . We investigate the role played by the D ⋆ ⋆ resonances in this decay mode using HQET. Although these resonances cannot appear as physical intermediate states in this reaction, their mass is very close to the D s + K − production threshold and may, therefore, play a prominent role. We pursue this possibility to extract information on the properties of the strong D ⋆ ⋆ D M couplings. As a byproduct of this analysis we point out that future super- B factories may be able to measure the D 0 0 D ⋆ γ radiative coupling through the reaction B − → D ⋆ γ π − .
Complexation and Redox Buffering of Iron(II) by Dissolved Organic Matter.

Iron (Fe) bioavailability depends upon its solubility and oxidation state, which are strongly influenced by complexation with natural organic matter (NOM). Despite observations of Fe(II)–NOM associations under conditions favorable for Fe oxidation, the molecular mechanisms by which NOM influences Fe(II) oxidation remain poorly understood. In this study, we used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the coordination environment of Fe(II) associated with NOM (as-received and chemically reduced) at pH 7, and investigated the effect of NOM complexation on Fe(II) redox stability. Linear combination fitting of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data using reference organic ligands demonstrated that Fe(II) was complexed primarily by carboxyl functional groups in reduced NOM. Functional groups more likely to preserve Fe(II) represent much smaller fractions of NOM-bound Fe(II). Fe(II) added to anoxic solutions of as-received NOM oxidized to Fe(III) and remained organically complexed. Iron oxidat...
Nanocrystalline gradient engineering: Grain evolution and grain boundary networks

Abstract We study materials with spatial gradients in nanoscale grain size (5–120 nm), and quantitatively examine the effect of spatial gradient on microstructure evolution and thermal stability using mesoscale Monte Carlo modeling and statistical analysis. The spatial grain size gradient weakens and the grain size distribution widens at elevated temperatures, accompanied by grain rounding and movement of grains along the gradient direction. Introducing heterogeneous grain boundary networks into gradient materials leads to better preservation of the spatial grain size gradient but less equiaxed grains. Coarsening in small grain regions is accompanied by an increase in the local fraction of low-energy grain boundaries, as these are competing mechanisms for reducing total energy, and spatial gradients in grain boundary character distribution and triple junction character distribution develop in the material. We further compare concave, linear, and convex gradient materials with increasing grain size gradient for small grains. Grains in convex gradient materials have the highest grain growth rate compared to grains of the same size in linear and concave gradient materials. The accelerated grain growth in the presence of a steeper grain size gradient is attributed to a change in local grain neighbor environment that promotes grain boundary curvature (and pressure) and enhances the driving force for grain growth.
Projecting the future of an alpine ungulate under climate change scenarios

Climate change represents a primary threat to species persistence and biodiversity at a global scale. Cold adapted alpine species are especially sensitive to climate change and can offer key "early warning signs" about deleterious effects of predicted change. Among mountain ungulates, survival, a key determinant of demographic performance, may be influenced by future climate in complex, and possibly opposing ways. Demographic data collected from 447 mountain goats in 10 coastal Alaska, USA, populations over a 37-year time span indicated that survival is highest during low snowfall winters and cool summers. However, general circulation models (GCMs) predict future increase in summer temperature and decline in winter snowfall. To disentangle how these opposing climate-driven effects influence mountain goat populations, we developed an age-structured population model to project mountain goat population trajectories for 10 different GCM/emissions scenarios relevant for coastal Alaska. Projected increases in summer temperature had stronger negative effects on population trajectories than the positive demographic effects of reduced winter snowfall. In 5 of the 10 GCM/representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios, the net effect of projected climate change was extinction over a 70-year time window (2015-2085); smaller initial populations were more likely to go extinct faster than larger populations. Using a resource selection modeling approach, we determined that distributional shifts to higher elevation (i.e., "thermoneutral") summer range was unlikely to be a viable behavioral adaptation strategy; due to the conical shape of mountains, summer range was expected to decline by 17%-86% for 7 of the 10 GCM/RCP scenarios. Projected declines of mountain goat populations are driven by climate-linked bottom-up mechanisms and may have wide ranging implications for alpine ecosystems. These analyses elucidate how projected climate change can negatively alter population dynamics of a sentinel alpine species and provide insight into how demographic modeling can be used to assess risk to species persistence.
Autonomy for surface ship interception

In recent years, the use of autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs) for highly time-critical at-sea operations involving surface ships has received increased attention, magnifying the importance of optimal interception. Finding the optimal route to a moving target is a challenging procedure. In this work, we describe and apply our exact time-optimal path planning methodology and the corresponding software to such ship interception problems. A series of numerical ship interception experiments is completed in the southern littoral of Massachusetts, namely in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound around the Elizabeth Islands and Martha's Vineyard. Ocean currents are estimated from a regional ocean modeling system. We show that complex coastal geometry, ship proximity, and tidal current phases all play key roles influencing the time-optimal vehicle behavior. Favorable or adverse currents can shift the optimal route from one island passage to another, and can even cause the AUV to remain nearly stationary until a favorable current develops. We also integrate the Kelvin wedge wake model into our path planning software, and show that considering wake effects significantly complicates the shape of the time-optimal paths, requiring AUVs to execute sequences of abrupt turns and tacking maneuvers, even in highly idealized scenarios. Such behavior is reminiscent of ocean animals swimming in wakes. In all cases, it is shown that our level set partial differential equations successfully guide the time-optimal vehicles through regions with the most favorable currents, avoiding regions with adverse effects, and accounting for the ship wakes when present.
PCM Applications and an Outlook to the Future

This chapter will focus on how PCM may be used in systems and the potential value it can provide. To accomplish this, first it is necessary to understand the usage of DRAM and NAND in systems today and how any new memory physics (such as PCM) might supplement or replace these existing memories. The value of the new memory will be shown as being supplementary to DRAM and NAND, mitigating the deficiencies of these memories to provide both performance and power improvements to the system. An overview of the features of PCM, both the first generation which went into production and the second generation, which did not realize production, will be contrasted to the system requirements. The future challenges for PCM and possible future directions will be reviewed.
Pantoprazole-Induced Delirium: Review of a Case and Associated Literature.

Background. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently prescribed antiulcer agents in hospitals and are shown to be safer than H-2 blockers. We present a case report of PPI-induced delirium, regarding which not much has been written in the literature. Case Report. We present a case of a 93-year-old woman with no known past psychiatric history, who was hospitalized for syncope workup and who developed delirium after a double dose of pantoprazole. Discussion. Very few reports of PPI-induced delirium exist in the literature. In this case report, we attempt to highlight the mechanism of PPI induced delirium which in our case was most likely due to the primary effects of PPI and drug-drug interactions. Given the paucity of literature on this topic, we encourage further research into relationship between PPI and delirium and urge caution while using PPIs in geriatric population.
A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy approach for quantification of protein methylation stoichiometry.

Abstract Post-translational modifications are biologically important and wide-spread modulators of protein function. Although methods for detecting the presence of specific modifications are becoming established, approaches for quantifying their mol modification/mol protein stoichiometry are less well developed. Here we introduce a ratiometric, label-free, targeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy-based method for estimating Lys and Arg methylation stoichiometry on post-translationally modified proteins. Methylated Lys and Arg were detected with limits of quantification at low fmol and with linearity extending from 20 to 5000 fmol. This level of sensitivity allowed estimation of methylation stoichiometry from microgram quantities of various proteins, including those derived from either recombinant or tissue sources. The method also disaggregated total methylation stoichiometry into its elementary mono-, di-, and tri-methylated residue components. In addition to being compatible with kinetic experiments of protein methylation, the approach will be especially useful for characterizing methylation states of proteins isolated from cells and tissues.