cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human exposure to respiratory aerosols in a ventilated room: Effects of ventilation condition, emission mode, and social distancing

Abstract Airborne transmission of virus via respiratory aerosols plays an important role in the spread of infectious diseases in indoor environments. Ventilation and social distancing are two major control strategies to reduce the indoor airborne infection risk. However, there is a present lack of science-based information on how the human exposure to viral aerosols vary with ventilation condition and social distance. The objective of this study is to explore the transport patterns of respiratory aerosols in occupied spaces and assess the occupant exposure risk under different ventilation strategies, social distances and aerosol emission modes. The study results show that buoyancy-driven flow regime (can be found in many residential settings) can lead to a longer transmission distance and elevated exposure to viral aerosols than the mixing airflow, thereby causing higher cross-infection risk in indoor environments. The results also suggest that a 2 m (6 ft) social distance alone may not ensure control of indoor airborne infections.
The Space of American Public Opinion: Ideological Dimensionality in Models of Political Behavior

We use a novel approach to study how citizens structure their political preferences in ideological space. Specifically, we analyze belief systems in relational terms, modeling citizens' patterns of policy disagreements using nonmetric multidimensional scaling. The results support the proposition that a basic ideological space (consisting of a small number of interwoven policy domains) anchors the policy component of mass voting behavior. We show that voters---especially those meeting a minimum threshold of political sophistication---neither lack meaningful attitudes nor hold distinct preferences across a wide range of issues. Rather, they organize policy attitudes alongside relevant core values and affective evaluations in a common, low-dimensional cognitive space. A unidimensional approximation of these belief structures often exhausts the explanatory power of vote choice models, though our approach can also detect dimensions that may be relevant for certain voters or have the potential to evolve into meaningful cleavages.
Intermetallic Phase Formation and Growth in the Mg-Y System

Rare earths have been added to magnesium alloys in order to improve the creep resistance, corrosion resistance and strength. Solid-to-solid diffusion couples were assembled between Mg (99.9%) and Y (99.9%) to investigate the formation and growth of intermetallic phases and interdiffusion in the Mg-Y system. The diffusion anneals were performed at 450, 500 and 550°C for 360, 240 and 120 hours, respectively. The intermetallic layers that developed were the δ-Mg2Y and e-Mg24Y5 phases, however the MgY phase did not form. A substantial penetration of Y in Mg was observed, however along with Kirkendall porosity that indicates faster diffusion of Mg than Y in Mg solid solution. The activation energies for parabolic growth in e-Mg24Y5 and δ-Mg2Y were calculated to be 84 kJ/mol and 77 kJ/mol, respectively.
Biosynthesis of Amino Sugars by Pseudomonas saccharophila

Abstract Pseudomonas saccharophila growing on specifically labeled glucose incorporated isotope into cell wall glucosamine and muramic acid with less than 5% randomization of carbons. Glucosamine contained isotope in both the 1 and 6 positions when cells were grown on either galactose-6-14C or gluconate-6-14C. With galactose-1-14C, only muramic acid was labeled. Specific activities of the carboxyl group of muramic acid obtained from the glucose-grown cells did not indicate whether the origin of the side chain of muramic acid is pyruvate or phosphoenolpyruvate. However, the high specific activity obtained from galactose-1-14C suggested that induced cells preferentially incorporate C-1 of galactose into the side chain of muramic acid. Addition of unlabeled glucosamine to growing cultures repressed incorporation of substrate isotope into glucosamine, but muramic acid contained activity in the lactyl side chain.
Priority Network Access Pricing for Electric Power

We propose a priority-pricing scheme for zonal access to the electric power grid that is uniform across all buses in a zone. The independent system operator (ISO) charges bulk power traders a per unit ex ante transmission access fee. The zonal access fee serves as an access insurance premium that entitles a bulk power trader to either physical injection of one unit of energy or a compensation payment. The access fee per MWh depends on the injection zone and a self-selected strike price that serves as an insurance “deductible” that determines the scheduling priority of the insured transaction and the compensation level in case of curtailment. Inter-zonal transactions are charged (or credited) with an additional ex post congestion fee equal to the differences in zonal spot prices. The compensation for curtailed transactions equals the difference between the realized zonal spot price and the selected strike price (deductible level). The ISO manages congestion so as to minimize net compensation payments and thus, curtailment probabilities increase with strike price and for any particular strike price may vary from bus to bus. We calculate the rational expectations equilibrium for three-, four- and six-node systems and demonstrate that the efficiency losses of the proposed second best scheme relative to the efficient dispatch solutions are modest.
Review of Paul de Man, The Post-Romantic Predicament. Ed. Martin McQuillan. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2012.

This is a book reveiw of Paul de Man, The Post-Romantic Predicament . Ed. Martin McQuillan. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2012.
Polyphosphate: From Bugs to Brains

PolyP is an ancient and ubiquitous energy-rich molecule that has been shown to have many cellular roles in biology, yet a new fundamental biological role(s) may still await discovery. Keywords: actin; endopolyphosphatase; exopolyphosphatase; polyP kinase; VTC proteins
The octameric histone core of the nucleosome. Structural issues resolved.

Abstract The crystal structure of the histone octamer has now been determined at 3·1 A resolution and refined to a crystallographic R value of 25·5%. The overall shape of the structure is significantly different from that originally reported by Burlingame et al. and its length is now in agreement with that observed by Klug et al. in their low-resolution studies. The experimental intensity data used in constructing the new electron map were the same as those used by Burlingame et al. for the original electron density map. In addition, the methods used in producing the new density map were also the same as those for the original map. The only difference between the two calculations was the selection of the heavy-atom location. The large change seen in the structural image (110 A × 70 A × 70 A versus 55 A × 70 A × 70 A) was due to a relatively small change (2·27 A shift) of the heavy-atom site. The fact that the shape and size of the original structure were incorrect is surprising and unusual, since the electron density map that produced the original model was clear for most parts of the structure; one could easily see the well-formed right-handed helices of the H2A and H2B molecules, and the ordered parts of the H2A and H2B molecules could be easily traced from end to end. A comparison of the two maps shows that the original image was derived from two fused copies of the correct structure rotated by ±120° from its true location along a rotation axis parallel to the z-axis and the image seen was a partial (about 19·5%) overlap of two molecules. An explanation is given as to how such a small shift of the heavy-atom position could create such a double image in the unit cell, and how the original electron density map could be converted to the new map by a phase modification in the Fourier synthesis. This study resolves the differences between the analyses of the shape and size of the histone octamer structure.
Time domain current waveform simulation of CMOS circuits

A time-domain current waveform simulator for the power buses of CMOS circuits is presented. The use of the simulated waveform helps solve VLSI reliability problems due to electromigration and excessive voltage drops in the power bus. Based on the event-driven technique and the precharacterized switch-level delay model, the simulator can handle circuits as large as 10/sup 3/ approximately 10/sup 4/ transistors in 10 approximately 100 CPU seconds on the Sun-3 workstation. The simulated waveform in worst cases may deviate only 20% from those computed by SPICE. >
Estimating the benefits of electric vehicle smart charging at non-residential locations: A data-driven approach

Abstract In this paper, we use data collected from over 2000 non-residential electric vehicle supply equipments (EVSEs) located in Northern California for the year of 2013 to estimate the potential benefits of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging. We develop a smart charging framework to identify the benefits of non-residential EV charging to the load aggregators and the distribution grid. Using this extensive dataset, we aim to improve upon past studies focusing on the benefits of smart EV charging by relaxing the assumptions made in these studies regarding: (i) driving patterns, driver behavior and driver types; (ii) the scalability of a limited number of simulated vehicles to represent different load aggregation points in the power system with different customer characteristics; and (iii) the charging profile of EVs. First, we study the benefits of EV aggregations behind-the-meter, where a time-of-use pricing schema is used to understand the benefits to the owner when EV aggregations shift load from high cost periods to lower cost periods. For the year of 2013, we show a reduction of up to 24.8% in the monthly bill is possible. Then, following a similar aggregation strategy, we show that EV aggregations decrease their contribution to the system peak load by approximately 37% (median) when charging is controlled within arrival and departure times. Our results also show that it could be expected to shift approximately 0.25 kW h (∼2.8%) of energy per non-residential EV charging session from peak periods (12 PM–6 PM) to off-peak periods (after 6 PM) in Northern California for the year of 2013.
Originalism and Constructive Interpretation

This essay argues that a number of Dworkin’s signature jurisprudential claims -- including his criticism of Hart’s model of rules, his moralized reading of the Constitution, and his defense of constructive interpretation -- cohere reasonably well around a distinctive form of originalism -- originalism of principle. This may seem surprising because originalist insistence on fidelity to the original meaning of constitutional language or the intentions of the framers is often seen as the antithesis of the sort of moralized interpretation that Dworkin defends, and Dworkin explicitly criticizes some forms of originalism. But there are different ways of understanding meaning and intention and fidelity to either. Dworkin consistently opposed conceptions of interpretation that would constrain the meaning of legal provisions by conventional beliefs about the extension of the language in which those provisions are formulated or by the framers’ conceptions of the normative concepts underlying those provisions. That opposition reflects a plausible view about the semantics of legal disagreement. If we associated originalism with these discredited semantic assumptions, then Dworkin should be a critic of originalism. But once we are clear about the semantic mistake such interpretive conceptions make, we can understand why Dworkin was attracted to a different form of originalism -- an originalism of principle according to which interpreters must ascertain the best conception of the normative concepts that the framers of the provision introduced. This kind of originalism of principle can be understood either as fidelity to the correct public meaning of legal provisions or as fidelity to the abstract intentions of the framers of those provisions. Either way, it implies that the interpretation of legal provisions employing normative concepts cannot be done without making and defending substantive normative commitments about the extension of those concepts. Originalism of principle is an important part of constructive interpretation, but it does not exhaust constructive interpretation, because constructive interpretation includes in its account of fit a role for precedent and continuity of interpretive conception. But within constructive interpretation interpretive history and sameness of conception have only pro tanto significance that can be overridden when a rival conception is sufficiently normatively superior.
Breast cancer diagnosis using spatial light interference microscopy

The standard practice in histopathology of breast cancers is to examine a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue biopsy under a microscope to diagnose whether a lesion is benign or malignant. This determination is made based on a manual, qualitative inspection, making it subject to investigator bias and resulting in low throughput. Hence, a quantitative, label-free, and high-throughput diagnosis method is highly desirable. We present here preliminary results showing the potential of quantitative phase imaging for breast cancer screening and help with differential diagnosis. We generated phase maps of unstained breast tissue biopsies using spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM). As a first step toward quantitative diagnosis based on SLIM, we carried out a qualitative evaluation of our label-free images. These images were shown to two pathologists who classified each case as either benign or malignant. This diagnosis was then compared against the diagnosis of the two pathologists on corresponding H&E stained tissue images and the number of agreements were counted. The agreement between SLIM and H&E based diagnosis was 88% for the first pathologist and 87% for the second. Our results demonstrate the potential and promise of SLIM for quantitative, label-free, and high-throughput diagnosis.
El intelectual español y el problema de la nación: Del franquismo a la Constitución de 1978

El tema de la nacion se debate y gestiona tanto desde la politica como el ambito cultural durante el periodo de la Transicion, especialmente a partir de la definicion que de esta en la redaccion del texto de la Constitucion de 1978. Dentro de este debate, la discusion sobre el uso y la ensenanza del catalan sirve para ilustrar una especial relacion que tienen los intelectuales con la idea de nacion y el nacionalismo. A partir del final de la dictadura el discurso nacionalista parece ausentarse por su previa asociacion con el franquismo, pero la preocupacion por el futuro de Espana surge como consecuencia de las gestiones politicas en torno a la organizacion y reconocimient­o del Estado de las autonomias.
Sympathetic noradrenergic innervation of immune organs

Evidence from many fields, including immunology, neuroscience, endocrinology, and behavioral medicine, points toward bidirectional communication channels between the nervous system and immune system. The nervous system may influence the immune system through two major outflow channels: (1) neuroendocrine release of neurohormones that then can travel via the circulation to immune effector organs, and (2) direct autonomic innervation of lymphoid organs. The presence of autonomic nerve fibers in lymphoid tissue provides a possible anatomical link between the nervous and immune systems that can translate central nervous system (CNS) activity into signals that in turn can influence cells of the immune system. In light of findings from our laboratories and others that (1) noradrenergic (NA) nerve fibers are present in specific lymphoid compartments, (2) norepinephrine (NE) is released from nerve fiber following stimulation, (3) cells of the immune system possess adrenoceptors. and (4) surgical and pharmacological manipulation of NA fibers result in predictable altered immune responses (see D. Felten et al., 1987b, for review), we have proposed that NE in the spleen fulfills the criteria for neurotransmission. Recent work from our laboratory has focused on aspects of development, aging, and plasticity of NA innervation of lymphoid organs to seek new insights into its role in modulation of the immune system.
Chronic insomnia and its negative consequences for health and functioning of adolescents: a 12-month prospective study.

Purpose To estimate prevalence and chronicity of insomnia and the impact of chronic insomnia on health and functioning of adolescents.
A self-powered piezoelectric vibration control system with switch pre-charged inductor (SPCI) method

A self-powered piezoelectric vibration control system is proposed and investigated for flexible structures in this paper. The objective of the system is to minimize the vibration of the flexible structure and at the same time to harvest energy for the self-powered control implementation. The whole system is comprised of four parts, i.e., flexible-beam mechanism, H2 control algorithm, switch pre-charged inductor (SPCI) based control implementation, and energy storage unit. A cantilever beam with a tip mass, which is a typical type of flexible structures, is partly covered by a PZT film at the fixed end. The output feedback H2 control algorithm produces desired values of control voltage. The circuit part uses a novel SPCI technique to realize the desired control voltage. The energy storage unit has both functions of accumulating energy and providing electricity needed in the control. Theoretical analysis and simulation are carried out. The simulation results show that the vibration of the cantilever beam can be effectively reduced under white-noise random excitation. It also indicates that the accumulated harvested energy is more than the consumed energy in the system.
1 INDOMETHACIN AS AN INHIBITOR OF PREMATURE LABOUR: THE EFFECT ON RENAL FUNCTION POSTNATALLY

Indomethacin (ID) which is used with increasing frequency to stop preterm labor, impairs renal function in the preterm infant, when given postnatally. We studied serum ID levels and renal function in premature infants born despite ID therapy during pregnancy. Ten preterm infants, mean gestational age 29.5 wk (range 27.5 to 31 wk), were studied (group I). We used the continuous inuline infusion technique for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR, serum creatlnine (Screat), osmolal clearance (Cosm), free H^O clearance (CH2O) and fractional sodium excretion (FeNa) were measured on day 2, 3 and 4. Six preterm infants whose mother did not receive ID served as controls (group II). Serum ID levels measured directly after birth varied from 1.9 ng/ml to 0.1 ng/ml in group I. For renal function parameters (±SD) see table.
Mode-specific decay widths in vibrational predissociation of D2HF

Abstract In a recent paper, we employed a time-dependent golden rule method to calculate the decay widths for vibrational predissociation of D2HF(υ=1) from the lowest van der Waals (vdW) state in both para and ortho cases. We examine the state dependence of the decay widths in D2HF, by calculating the decay widths for a couple of excited van der Waals modes. It is shown that the total decay width is sensitive to the initial low frequency vdW state, while partial decay widths (final rotational state distribution) vary little for the initial states considered. It is discussed that excitation of the vdW stretching vibration, which characterizes the first excited state in both para- and ortho-D2HF, is responsible for this mode sensitivity of the total decay width and the insensitivity of the partial decay widths.
Increased winter precipitation over the North Pacific from 1984-1994 to 1995-2005 inferred from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project

[1] An analysis of the results from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) reveals a trend of increased wintertime precipitation over the North Pacific from 1984 to 2005. The precipitation over the North Pacific increases by about 1.5 mm/year in winter during the period of 1984 to 2005. Statistic analyses are performed to validate the observed precipitation trend, showing the f-test and t-test significances of greater than 99%. A cloud-resolving weather research and forecast (CR-WRF) model with a two-moment bulk microphysical scheme is employed to consider the effects of an increasing Asian pollution outflow on wintertime precipitation over the North Pacific. The CR-WRF simulations demonstrate more precipitation with elevated polluted continental aerosols than that with typical maritime aerosols, reproducing the observed precipitation trend. The results suggest that the increasing Asian pollution outflow represents one of the most plausible explanations for the increased precipitation trend observed in winter over the North Pacific, likely with important climate implications.
How Good Does the Information Have to Be to Justify a Press Conference

This case involves a dilemma that school district evaluators frequently face. A superintendent directs an evaluator to participate in a press conference and present data validating the superintendent's program to improve high school course-passing rates. The evaluator presents his analysis to the superintendent, who directs him to remove some data with the result that the report will reflect more positively on the program. The evaluator believes it is improper evaluation procedure to remove the data. The teachers, meanwhile, have registered their opposition to the superintendent's program, since it negatively impacts their working conditions.
Effect of Nickel as Dopant in Mn/TiO2 Catalysts for the Low-Temperature Selective Reduction of NO with NH3

Nickel doped manganese oxide supported on titania materials were investigated for the low-temperature NH3-SCR. For this purpose, a series of Ni modified Mn/TiO2 catalysts were prepared and evaluated for the low-temperature SCR of NO with ammonia in the presence of excess oxygen. The catalytic performance of these materials was compared with respect to the nickel weight percentage in order to examine the correlation between physicochemical characteristics and reactivity of optimized materials. It was found that the 5% Mn–2% Ni/TiO2 catalyst showed the highest activity and yielded 100% NO conversion at 200 °C. XRD results reveal highly dispersed manganese–nickel species on TiO2 support for the Mn–Ni/TiO2 catalysts. Our TPR data results suggested an increase in reducibility of manganese species in Mn–Ni/TiO2 catalysts. The absence of the high-temperature (736 K) peak indicates that the dominant phase is MnO2. This increase of reducibility and dominant MnO2 phase seems to be the reason for the enhanced activity and time on stream patterns of nickel-promoted titania-supported manganese catalysts. BET results illustrate that the high NO conversion is strongly dependant on the specific surface area and pore volume of this catalyst. All the physicochemical techniques we used suggested that the composition of manganese and nickel oxides on the support surface is playing an important role for the enhancement of NO conversion and the prominent time on stream stability.
Higher order solution of the Euler equations on unstructured grids using quadratic reconstruction

High order accurate finite-volume schemes for solving the Euler equations of gasdynamics are developed. Central to the development of these methods are the construction of a k-exact reconstruction operator given cell-averaged quantities and the use of high order flux quadrature formulas. General polygonal control volumes (with curved boundary edges) are considered. The formulations presented make no explicit assumption as to complexity or convexity of control volumes. Numerical examples are presented for Ringleb flow to validate the methodology.
Combination of alpha‐1 antitrypsin and doxycycline suppresses collagen‐induced arthritis

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex disease characterized by autoimmune inflammation and joint destruction. Despite recent advances in RA treatment, current therapies require further improvement to overcome adverse events and ineffectiveness in some cases. By targeting different pathways/molecules using drug combinations, a better treatment can be obtained, whereas adverse events are reduced. In order to develop a new treatment option, the present study employs a gene therapy-based combination therapy using doxycycline and human alpha-1 antitrypsin (hAAT). Methods DBA/1 mice were immunized with type II collagen to induce arthritis. Four weeks before immunization, they received a doxycycline containing diet and a single injection of adeno-associated virus vector expressing hAAT under the control of a tetracycline-dependent promoter. Control groups received doxycycline alone or saline. Macroscopic arthritis development as well as histopathological changes in the joint were evaluated. In addition, the effects of hAAT and doxycycline on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or tumor necrosis factor-α-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production from mouse fibroblast cells were also determined. Results Combination therapy significantly reduced arthritis development and progression compared to the control group in respect to macroscopic as well as histopathological changes. Doxycycline and hAAT in combination also inhibited IL-6 expression from LPS-stimulated NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, indicating a contributing mechanism of arthritis inhibition. Conclusions The results obtained in the present study indicate that a combination therapy using AAT and doxycycline holds promising potential as a new therapy for RA. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Energy dissipation due to viscosity during deformation of a capillary surface subject to contact angle hysteresis

Abstract A capillary surface is the boundary between two immiscible fluids. When the two fluids are in contact with a solid surface, there is a contact line. The physical phenomena that cause dissipation of energy during a motion of the contact line are hysteresis in the contact angle dynamics, and viscosity of the fluids involved. In this paper, we consider a simplified problem where a liquid and a gas are bounded between two parallel plane surfaces with a capillary surface between the liquid–gas interface. The liquid–plane interface is considered to be non-ideal, which implies that the contact angle of the capillary surface at the interface is set-valued, and change in the contact angle exhibits hysteresis. We analyze a two-point boundary value problem for the fluid flow described by the Navier–Stokes and continuity equations, wherein a capillary surface with one contact angle is deformed to another with a different contact angle. The main contribution of this paper is that we show the existence of non-unique classical solutions to this problem, and numerically compute the dissipation.
Abstraction and Modeling Hypothesis for Future Transportation Architectures

The goal of a future transportation architecture is an expansion in mobility, enabling new types of travel and commerce currently not affordable and thus pro- ducing induced societal benefit. From the design per- spective, the complexity, high dimensionality and di- verse nature of the design space make study of such architectures extremely difficult. An abstraction frame- work and modeling hypothesis are proposed, steps vital to the proper start of such an aggressive challenge. The core entities within a transportation architecture are abstracted: stakeholders (consumers, regulators, service providers, etc.), resources (vehicles, infrastructure, etc.) and networks (both explicit for resources and implicit for stakeholders). This abstraction leads to a general description for transportation that is useful from a con- ceptual modeling point of view - stakeholders employ particular resources, organized in networks, in order to achieve mobility objectives. The modeling hypothesis is created stemming from the description and focused upon the need to examine the architecture from a sys- tem-of-systems perspective, under the belief that the organization of transportation resources is just as im- portant as the nature and performance of those re- sources. Subsets of the methodologies are tested on three exploratory research thrusts and the findings are used to project a future path towards full validation of the modeling hypothesis. Ultimately, decision-makers at multiple levels can use the methodologies to quickly understand and visualize the relative merits of alterna- tive architectures.
Friendship networks of inner-city adults: a latent class analysis and multi-level regression of supporter types and the association of supporter latent class membership with supporter and recipient drug use.

Abstract Background Social support is a multi-dimensional construct that is important to drug use cessation. The present study identified types of supportive friends among the social network members in a community-based sample and examined the relationship of supporter-type classes with supporter, recipient, and supporter–recipient relationship characteristics. We hypothesized that the most supportive network members and their support recipients would be less likely to be current heroin/cocaine users. Methods Participants (n = 1453) were recruited from low-income neighborhoods with a high prevalence of drug use. Participants identified their friends via a network inventory, and all nominated friends were included in a latent class analysis and grouped based on their probability of providing seven types of support. These latent classes were included as the dependent variable in a multi-level regression of supporter drug use, recipient drug use, and other characteristics. Results The best-fitting latent class model identified five support patterns: friends who provided Little/No Support, Low/Moderate Support, High Support, Socialization Support, and Financial Support. In bivariate models, friends in the High, Low/Moderate, and Financial Support were less likely to use heroin or cocaine and had less conflict with and were more trusted by the support recipient than friends in the Low/No Support class. Individuals with supporters in those same support classes compared to the Low/No Support class were less likely to use heroin or cocaine, or to be homeless or female. Multivariable models suggested similar trends. Conclusions Those with current heroin/cocaine use were less likely to provide or receive comprehensive support from friends.
Glucocorticoid regulation of cyclin D3 gene transcription and mRNA stability in lymphoid cells.

Glucocorticoids cause G0/G1 arrest of lymphoid cells. This is due, at least in part, to a decrease in the abundance of the G1 progression factor, cyclin D3. The mRNA encoding cyclin D3 (CcnD3 mRNA) is rapidly down-regulated when dexamethasone is added to P1798 murine T lymphoma cells. Fifty percent maximum inhibition is observed within about 2 h. Maximum inhibition of 75-85% obtains within 4-5 h. Cyclin D3 protein has a half-life of about 0.5 h in P1798 cells. Consequently, the abundance of cyclin D3 protein decreases in parallel with the abundance of CcnD3 mRNA. The effects of glucocorticoids are reversible. CcnD3 mRNA returns to near control levels within 2-3 h after removal of dexamethasone. Cyclin D3 protein recovers somewhat more slowly. The data indicate that glucocorticoids regulate the abundance of cyclin D3 mRNA. There is no significant decrease in nuclear run-on transcription of CcnD3 within 6 h after addition of glucocorticoids, although transcription is inhibited more than 80% after 24 h in th...
Vibration sensing in flexible structures using a distributed-effect modal domain optical fiber sensor

Modal domain optical fiber sensors have recently been employed in the implementation of system identification algorithms and the closed-loop control of vibrations in flexible structures. The mathematical model of the modal domain optical fiber sensor used in these applications, however, only accounted for the effects of strain in the direction of the fiber's longitudinal axis. In this paper, we extend this model to include the effects of arbitrary stress. Using this sensor model, we characterize the sensor's sensitivity and dynamic range.
Sharp Concentration of Hitting Size for Random Set Systems

Consider the random set system $${\mathcal A}=R(n,p)$$ A = R ( n , p ) of $$[n]:=\{1,2, \dots n\}$$ [ n ] : = { 1 , 2 , ? n } , where $${\mathcal A}=\{A_j:A_j \in \mathcal{P}([n]), \, \hbox {and} \; A_j \; \hbox {selected with probability}\; p=p_n\}$$ A = { A j : A j ? P ( [ n ] ) , and A j selected with probability p = p n } . A set $$H \subseteq [n]$$ H ⊆ [ n ] is said to be a hitting set for $${\mathcal A}$$ A if $$\forall A_j \in {\mathcal A}$$ ? A j ? A $$\vert A_j \cap H\vert \ge 1$$ | A j ? H | ? 1 . The second moment method is used to exhibit the sharp concentration of the minimal size of $$H$$ H for a variety of values of $$p$$ p .
Evidence of cooperative grain boundary sliding in superplastically deformed γ-TiAl

A study of the prepolished surface of γ-TiAl specimens superplastically deformed in tension showed evidence of macroscopic surfaces at which grain boundary sliding occurs. In a scanning electron microscope these surfaces are observed as black bands on the deformed surface because of the difference in the appearance of these bands and grain regions situated in between these bands. It has been suggested that cooperative grain boundary sliding, i.e., sliding of grain groups, occurs during superplastic deformation, giving rise to these bands.
THE MINIMUM ESSENTIAL GEOGRAPHY: KEY TO EFFECTIVE TEACHER-TRAINING

(1966). THE MINIMUM ESSENTIAL GEOGRAPHY: KEY TO EFFECTIVE TEACHER-TRAINING. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 140-142.
Iatrogenic aorto-coronary venous fistula as a complication of coronary artery bypass surgery: Patient report and review of the literature

We report a patient and review the literature of an unusual complication of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, an acquired aorto-coronary venous fistula. This report reviews the clinical presentation, physical findings, and management of this rare finding.
Religiosity and Attitudes toward Suicide

The relationship between religiosity and attitudes toward suicide was assessed in a sample of 186 Christian adults, most affiliated with churches or church-related organizations. A significant correlational pattern was obtained, such that persons higher on religiosity tended to perceive suicide as reflective of mental illness, as less of a cry for help, as not being an individual's prerogative, as highly related to a lack of religious influence, as “abnormal” behavior, as evidence of the aggressiveness of human nature, and as a moral evil not to be condoned.
Sodium hyaluronate carboxymethylcellulose-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm)--does it affect tumor implantation at abdominal wound sites?

PURPOSE: This study examines the effects of a sodium hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm™) on tumor implantation at surgical wound and laparoscopic trocar sites. METHODS: GW-39, an established human colon cancer line carried in immunocompetent golden Syrian hamsters was used as the experimental model. Under general anesthesia, a 2-cm midline incision was made to allow placement of four 5-mm abdominal trocars. Hamsters were then randomly assigned to preSeprafilm™, postSeprafilm™, and control (no Seprafilm™) groups. In the preSeprafilm™ group 0.5 ml of a 5 percent (vol/vol) suspension of the GW-39 tumor cells (∼1.675 × 106 cells) was injected into the abdomen of each hamstervia midline incision. Trocars were removed, the wounds were closed, and 1 cm2 of Seprafilm™ was placed on the peritoneal surface of each trocar site. In the postSeprafilm™ group the membrane was placed at each site before injection of tumor cells. The control group did not receive Seprafilm™. The animals were killed after seven weeks, and the abdominal wound sites were excised. Sites without gross tumor underwent histologic evaluation. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two animals were randomly assigned to the three groups. The preSeprafilm™ group had an 87 percent tumor implantation rate. The postSeprafilm™ group had a 90 percent tumor implantation rate. The control group had an 88 percent tumor implantation rate. Chi squared analysis demonstrated that these total tumor implant rates and mean tumor mass were similar at all wound sites and between groups. No toxicity was observed in any of the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm™) does not influence GW-39 human colon cancer implantation at abdominal wound sites in this hamster model.
NANOG modulates stemness in human colorectal cancer

NANOG is a stem cell transcription factor that is essential for embryonic development, reprogramming normal adult cells and malignant transformation and progression. The nearly identical retrogene NANOGP8 is expressed in multiple cancers, but generally not in normal tissues and its function is not well defined. Our postulate is that NANOGP8 directly modulates the stemness of individual human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells. Stemness was measured in vitro as the spherogenicity of single CRC cells in serum-free medium and the size of the side population (SP) and in vivo as tumorigenicity and experimental metastatic potential in NOD/SCID mice. We found that 80% of clinical liver metastases express a NANOG with 75% of the positive metastases containing NANOGP8 transcripts. In all, 3-62% of single cells within six CRC lines form spheroids in serum-free medium in suspension. NANOGP8 is translated into protein. The relative expression of a NANOG gene increased 8- to 122-fold during spheroid formation, more than the increase in OCT4 or SOX2 transcripts with NANOGP8 the more prevalent family member. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to NANOG not only inhibits spherogenicity but also reduces expression of OCT4 and SOX2, the size of the SP and tumor growth in vivo. Inhibition of NANOG gene expression is associated with inhibition of proliferation and decreased phosphorylation of G2-related cell-cycle proteins. Overexpression of NANOGP8 rescues single-cell spherogenicity when NANOG gene expression is inhibited and increases the SP in CRC. Thus, NANOGP8 can substitute for NANOG in directly promoting stemness in CRC.
Estrogen and thymic hormone interactions in the female mouse.

Abstract This study showed that there are relationships between thymic and adrenal/ovarian endocrine actions. A 4 mg/kg dose of thymosin fraction 5 (TSN 5 ) advanced vaginal opening and elevated estrogen levels. Single estradiol benzoate (EB) injections decreased thymus weight and caused a transient reduction in circulating plasma levels of thymosine α 1 (TSN α 1 ), a peptide component of TSN 5 . Circulating estrogen levels were elevated when TSN α 1 levels were undetectable. Also, TSN α 1 levels decreased with age and after a prolonged athymic state. The thymus was shown to involute after a single TSN 5 injection, suggesting the existence of a negative hormonal feedback on the thymus. Additionally thymectomy at 3 days of age was shown to delay vaginal opening while thymectomy at 30 days of age failed to produce any significant effect on reproductive maturation. Although much research is still needed, our results provide additional evidence of a relationship between the endocrine thymus and ovary.
Stoichiometry and microstructural effects on electrical conduction in pulsed dc sputtered vanadium oxide thin films

Vanadium oxide thin films were deposited using pulsed direct current (dc) magnetron sputtering in an atmosphere containing argon and oxygen. The total pressure was varied from 2.5 to 15 mTorr, and the oxygen-to-argon ratio was varied from 2.5 to 30%. The resulting films were characterized using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and glancing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXRD). Electrical resistivity was calculated from I–V curves acquired from two-point-probe measurements and thicknesses measured from bright-field TEM images of cross-sectioned samples. TEM and GIXRD were used to characterize the crystallinity of each film. A transition from nanocrystalline to amorphous growth was observed with increasing partial pressure of oxygen. In all samples, the only crystalline phase observed was cubic vanadium oxide with the sodium chloride structure. Though the cubic VOx equilibrium phase field is limited to a maximum of x = 1.3, the cubic phase was observed with a value of x up to 2 in the present work. It was apparent from electron diffraction data that increased oxygen content correlated with an increase in the film disorder. The increase in oxygen content also corresponded with an increase in the film resistivity, which varied over 7 orders of magnitude from 1.18 × 10−3 to 2.98 × 104 Ω·cm. The temperature coefficient of resistance was found to increase with increasing oxygen content from −0.1 to −3.5%/°C. A direct correlation between film disorder and temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) was observed and could be exploited to engineer materials with the desired TCR.
Critical Older Driver Errors in a National Sample of Serious U.S. Crashes

OBJECTIVE: Older drivers are at increased risk of crash involvement per mile traveled. The purpose of this study was to examine older driver errors in serious crashes to determine which errors are most prevalent. METHODS: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey collected in-depth, on-scene data for a nationally representative sample of 5470 U.S. police-reported passenger vehicle crashes during 2005-2007 for which emergency medical services were dispatched. There were 620 crashes involving 647 drivers aged 70 and older, representing 250,504 crash-involved older drivers. The proportion of various critical errors made by drivers aged 70 and older were compared with those made by drivers aged 35-54. RESULTS: Driver error was the critical reason for 97% of crashes involving older drivers. Among older drivers who made critical errors, the most common were inadequate surveillance (33%) and misjudgment of the length of a gap between vehicles or of another vehicle's speed, illegal maneuvers, medical events, and daydreaming (6% each). Inadequate surveillance (33% vs. 22%) and gap or speed misjudgment errors (6% vs. 3%) were more prevalent among older drivers than middle-aged drivers. Seventy-one percent of older drivers' inadequate surveillance errors were due to looking and not seeing another vehicle or failing to see a traffic control rather than failing to look, compared with 40% of inadequate surveillance errors among middle-aged drivers. About two-thirds (66%) of older drivers' inadequate surveillance errors and 77% of their gap or speed misjudgment errors were made when turning left at intersections. When older drivers traveled off the edge of the road or traveled over the lane line, this was most commonly due to non-performance errors such as medical events (51% and 44%, respectively), whereas middle-aged drivers were involved in these crash types for other reasons. Gap or speed misjudgment errors and inadequate surveillance errors were significantly more prevalent among female older drivers than among female middle-aged drivers, but the prevalence of these errors did not differ significantly between older and middle-aged male drivers. These errors comprised 51% of errors among older female drivers but only 31% among older male drivers. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to reduce older driver crash involvements should focus on diminishing the likelihood of the most common driver errors. Countermeasures that simplify or remove the need to make left turns across traffic such as roundabouts, protected left turn signals, and diverging diamond intersection designs could decrease the frequency of inadequate surveillance and gap or speed misjudgment errors. In the future, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications may also help protect older drivers from these errors. Language: en
Flow dynamics and potential for Biodegradation of Organic Contaminants in Fractured Rock Vadose Zones

We present an experimental approach for investigating the potential for bioremediation of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in fractured-rock vadose zones. This approach is based on the coupling of fluid flow dynamics and biotransformation processes. Fluid flow and distribution within fracture networks may be a significant factor in the ability of microorganisms to degrade VOCs, as they affect the availability of substrate, moisture and nutrients. Biological activity can change liquid surface tension and generate biofilms that may change the nettability of solid surfaces, locally alter fracture permeability and redirect infiltrating liquids. Our approach has four components: (1) establishing a conceptual model for fluid and contaminant distribution in the geologic matrix of interest; (2) physical and numerical experiments of liquid seepage in the fracture plane; (3) non-destructive monitoring of biotransformations on rock surfaces at the micron-scale; and, (4) integration of flow and biological activity in natural rock ''geocosms''. Geocosms are core-scale flow cells that incorporate some aspects of natural conditions, such as liquid seepage in the fracture plane and moisture content. The experimental work was performed with rock samples and indigenous microorganisms from the site of the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), located in a basalt flow basin where VOC contamination threatens the Snake River Aquifer. The insights gained from this approach should contribute to the design of techniques to monitor and stimulate naturally occurring biological activity and control the spread of organic contaminants.
Shape control of solar collectors using torsional shape memory alloy actuators

Solar collectors that are focused on a central receiver are designed with a mechanism for defocusing the collector or disabling it by turning it out of the path of the sun's rays. This is required to avoid damaging the receiver during periods of inoperability. In either of these two cases a fail-safe operation is very desirable where during power outages the collector passively goes to its defocused or deactivated state. This paper will be principally concerned with focusing and defocusing the collector in a fail-safe manner using shape memory alloy actuators. Shape memory alloys are well suited to this application in that once calibrated the actuators can be operated in an on/off mode using a small amount of electric power. Also, in contrast to other smart materials that were investigated for this application, shape memory alloys are capable of providing enough stroke at the appropriate force levels to focus the collector. In order to accommodate the large, nonlinear deformations required in the solar collector plate to obtain desired focal lengths, a torsional shape memory alloy actuator was developed that produces a stroke of 0.5 inches. Design and analysis details presented, along with comparisons to test data taken from an actual prototype, demonstrate that the collector can be repeatedly focused and defocused within accuracies required by typical solar energy systems.