cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liver Assist by Cultured Cells on Artificial Capillaries

The artificial capillary cultured cell liver assist device (LAD) consists of a tissuelike mass of hepatic cultured cells grown in vitro on the exterior surfaces of numerous synthetic capillaries made of semipermeable membrane and bunched compactly together within an enclosing shell. Nutrient culture medium is circulated within the capillary lumens during formation of the device by proliferation of the cells. Host animal blood is subsequently circulated through them during its use as an LAD. The cells, resting on the capillaries’ exterior surfaces and within the shell, are separated from circulating fluid except as membrane permeability allows molecules to move between luminal and exterior compartments. The device is one of the class combining living whole cells, tissues or organs with artificial components in a hybrid natural/synthetic composite.
Variance Components in Generalizability Theory

Generalizability theory is described most extensively in a book by Cronbach, Gleser, Nanda, and Rajaratnam (1972) entitled The Dependability of Behavioral Measurements. Brennan (1983) has provided a monograph on generalizability theory that is less comprehensive than Cronbach et al. (1972) but still detailed enough to convey many of the conceptual and statistical issues inherent in generalizability theory. Also, Shavelson and Webb (1991) have provided a primer on generalizability theory. Recent overviews of generalizability theory are provided by Feldt and Brennan (1989) and Shavelson, Webb, and Rowley (1989).
Threads early: tutorial presentation

The goal of this tutorial is to present an approach and supporting artifacts for incorporating concurrent programming in the CS 2 and CS 3 courses employing Java Threads. This work represents a three-year effort to upgrade the CS 2 and CS 3 courses using an approach that balances objects and algorithms. The approach employs several Java Threads course modules that can be added to these courses by bringing Java threads into these courses by integrating thread-based material into the existing course material.
Wave formation in impact welding: Study of the Cu–Ti system

Abstract The cause of wavy interface morphology during impact welding is debated in the literature. In this paper, the effect of internal stress waves is investigated by varying the target (Cu 110) thickness during vaporizing foil actuator welding with constant thickness CP-Ti flyers. Experiments and smooth particle hydrodynamics simulations show that increasing target thickness causes the interfacial wavelength to increase, until it reaches about two times the flyer thickness. Also, to demonstrate the effects of consistency and transients of interfacial parameters, i.e., flyer velocity and wavy interface morphology, multi-probe photon Doppler velocimetry, electron microscopy and X-ray computed micro-tomography results are presented.
A study of two hundred forty-five cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Abstract A review is given of 245 cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy in one institution in twenty-four years, presenting a classification to aid discussion of the findings, and stressing the importance of “ectopic minded” medical men, in every case where a woman of childbearing age presents a diagnostic problem in the lower abdomen. Early ligation of the bleeding artery and adequate replacement of blood are the immediate responsibilities of the surgeon. The mortality in ectopic pregnancies is usually the result of neglect or procrastination. The mortality rate was 2.4 per cent. Some unusual cases in this series were mentioned.
Mean estimation for entangled single-sample distributions

We consider the problem of estimating the common mean of univariate data, when independent samples are drawn from non-identical symmetric, unimodal distributions. This captures the setting where all samples are Gaussian with different unknown variances. We propose an estimator that adapts to the level of heterogeneity in the data, achieving near-optimality in both the i.i.d. setting and some heterogeneous settings, where the fraction of "low-noise" points is as small as$\frac{{\log n}}{n}$. Our estimator is a hybrid of the modal interval, shorth, and median estimators from classical statistics. The rates depend on the percentile of the mixture distribution, making our estimators useful even for distributions with infinite variance.
Gender Discrepancies in Perceptions of the Bodies of Female Fashion Models

For over 30 years, researchers and journalists have made the claim that men do not prefer the level of thinness typically embodied by female fashion models, along with the secondary claim that women overestimate the extent to which men find these ultra-thin bodies attractive. The current studies examined men’s and women’s perceptions of the bodies of fashion models shown in media images, as well as how each gender believed the other would perceive the models’ bodies. In Study 1, 548 U.S. college students rated the body size and attractiveness of 13 images of models from women’s fashion magazines. Respondents also indicated how they thought the other gender would rate the models on these dimensions. In Study 2, 707 men and women recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk completed the same rating task. Overall, both men and women overestimated how ideal the other gender would find the models’ bodies (both in terms of thinness and attractiveness). This misperception was strongest when women estimated how men would react to the models’ bodies. Results were consistent with previous studies suggesting that men do not find the ultra-thin body ideal for women as attractive as women believe men do. These gender-based misconceptions may contribute to the negative effects of viewing ultra-thin media images on women’s body image.
The surface of halide perovskites from nano to bulk

The surface of a semiconductor often has a key role in determining its properties. For metal halide perovskites, understanding the surface features and their impact on the materials and devices is becoming increasingly important. At length scales down to the nanoscale regime, surface features become dominant in regulating the properties of perovskite materials, owing to the high surface-to-volume ratio. For perovskite bulk films in the micrometre range, defects and structural disorder readily form at the surface and affect device performance. Through concerted efforts to optimize processing techniques, high-quality perovskite thin films can now be fabricated with monolayer-like polycrystalline grains or even single crystals. Surface defects therefore remain the major obstacle to progress, pushing surface studies to the forefront of perovskite research. In this Review, we summarize and assess recent advances in the understanding of perovskite surfaces and surface strategies towards improving perovskite materials and the efficiency and stability of perovskite devices. The surface features of metal halide perovskites have a crucial role in determining their properties. This Review introduces the recent advances in the understanding of perovskite surfaces and surveys the surface strategies towards improving the properties of perovskite materials and the performance of perovskite optoelectronic devices.
Nocturnal blood pressure is associated with sympathetic nerve activity in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Elevated nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and nocturnal non-dipping are frequently observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are stronger predictors of cardiovascular complications and CKD progression than standard office BP. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is thought to modulate diurnal hemodynamic changes and the vascular endothelium plays a fundamental role in BP regulation. We hypothesized that SNS overactivity and endothelial dysfunction in CKD are linked to elevated nocturnal BP and non-dipping. In 32 CKD patients with hypertension (56 ± 7 years), office BP, 24-hr ambulatory BP, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and endothelial function via flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were measured. Participants were subsequently divided into dippers (nighttime average BP > 10% lower than the daytime average BP, n = 8) and non-dippers (n = 24). Non-dippers had higher nighttime BP (p < .05), but not office and daytime BP, compared to dippers. MSNA burst incidence (81 ± 13 versus 67 ± 13 bursts/100 HR, p = .019) was higher and brachial artery FMD (1.7 ± 1.5 versus 4.7 ± 1.9%, p < .001) was lower in non-dippers compared to dippers. MSNA and FMD each predicted nighttime systolic (β = 0.48,-0.46, p = .02, 0.07, respectively) and diastolic BP (β = 0.38,-0.47, p = .04, 0.03, respectively) in multivariate-adjusted analyses. Our novel findings demonstrate that unfavorable nocturnal BP profiles are associated with elevated SNS activity and endothelial dysfunction in CKD. Specifically, CKD patients with higher nighttime BP and the non-dipping pattern have higher MSNA and lower FMD. These support our hypothesis that SNS overactivation and endothelial dysfunction are linked to the dysregulation of nighttime BP as well as the magnitude of BP lowering at nighttime in CKD.
A Novel Risk Evaluation Procedure Using a Kriging-Based Surrogate Modeling for Offshore Structures

An innovative reliability estimation procedure for Jacket-type offshore platforms is proposed. The information on risk is extracted using multiple deterministic analyses using advanced mathematical theories resulting in compounding beneficial effects. The platforms are modeled by finite elements. Nonlinearity and major sources of uncertainty are incorporated. The wave loading model is realistically developed to satisfy the underlying physics. It is applied in three-dimension in time domain incorporating the uncertainties in the parameters. Implicit performance functions are expressed explicitly using several advanced factorial schemes and significantly improved response surface method. The efficiency and accuracy of the method are improved using a comprehensively improved Kriging-based surrogate modeling technique. The risk is evaluated for the serviceability and strength limit state functions for a jacket-type offshore platform using about two hundred nonlinear finite element analyses. The procedure was verified using simulation techniques. The concept can be considered an alternative to the conventional random vibration techniques and the standard Monte Carlo simulation procedure.
Analysis of dose, dose-rate and treatment time in the production of injuries by radium treatment for cancer of the uterine cervix.

In a recent paper with the above title by Lee et al. (1976), it is claimed that dose-rate is a more important parameter in modifying the risk of normal tissue injury in radium therapy than treatment time. However, this conclusion is based on an incorrectly plotted graph and data which is not self-consistent.
The Insomnia-Addiction Positive Feedback Loop: Role of the Orexin System

Significant sleep impairments often accompany substance use disorders (SUDs). Sleep disturbances in SUD patients are associated with poor clinical outcomes and treatment adherence, emphasizing the importance of normalizing sleep when treating SUDs. Orexins (hypocretins) are neuropeptides exclusively produced by neurons in the posterior hypothalamus that regulate various behavioral and physiological processes, including sleep-wakefulness and motivated drug taking. Given its dual role in sleep and addiction, the orexin system represents a promising therapeutic target for treating SUDs and their comorbid sleep deficits. Here, we review the literature on the role of the orexin system in sleep and drug addiction and discuss the therapeutic potential of orexin receptor antagonists for SUDs. We argue that orexin receptor antagonists may be effective therapeutics for treating addiction because they target orexin's regulation of sleep (top-down) and motivation (bottom-up) pathways.
New Insights into the Role of ENPP1 in Insulin Resistance.

New Insights into the Role of ENPP1 in Insulin Resistance Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed in adipocytes and also found in other tissues involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, including liver, skeletal muscle and beta cell of the pancreas. Early studies demonstrated that ENPP1 interacts with the insulin receptor at the level of the alpha subunit. This interaction results in decreased insulin-mediated activation of the tyrosine phosphorylation in the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor, and downstream insulin signaling activation.
Biofeedback and progressive relaxation treatment of sleep-onset insomnia

Previous research suggests that self-defined insomniacs are distinguished from normals by high levels of anxiety and physiological arousal, which might be mitigated by muscle relaxation. This study assessed the relative effects of frontal EMG biofeedback, progressive relaxation, and a placebo set of “relaxation” exercises on the sleep of 18 onset insomniacs. Each subject was trained in one of these three methods for six half-hour sessions and slept in the laboratory for two consecutive nights before and after training. The experimental groups demonstrated significant decreases in physiological activity during training while changes in the control group were minimal. Reductions in sleep-onset time were: biofeedback group, 29.66 minutes; progressive relaxation group, 22.92 minutes; control group, 2.79 minutes. The experimental groups improved significantly(p<.05) more than the control group, but did not differ from each other. No significant relationships between physiological levels and sleep-onset time were found, which suggests that muscle relaxation alone was not responsible for subjects' improvements. Since 20 minutes of daily practice were required to achieve an approximate 30-minute decrease in sleep-onset time, the practical utility of the methods is questioned.
Development of Warnings Resulting from Forensic Activity

One of the arguments given for pursuing the rights of injured parties through the legal system in cases involving ergonomics principles is that it encourages corporations to modify their products o...
Is it a tumor or is it eye movements? A method of greatly reducing eye movement artefacts in the frontal leads.

Abstract Frontal EEG waves resulting from vertical eye movements can be largely eliminated by using a frontal to midline derivation in which both electrodes are in the same coronal plane. Such a derivation shows the delta waves due to tumors well.
Strategies of Model Building in Population Genetics

In 1966, Richard Levins argued that there are different strategies in model building in population biology. In this paper, I reply to Orzack and Sober’s (1993) critiques of Levins and argue that his views on modeling strategies apply also in the context of evolutionary genetics. In particular, I argue that there are different ways in which models are used to ask and answer questions about the dynamics of evolutionary change, prospectively and retrospectively, in classical versus molecular evolutionary genetics. Further, I argue that robustness analysis is a tool for, if not confirmation, then something near enough, in this discipline.
LYSOSOMAL INSTABILITY AND CATHEPSIN B RELEASE DURING ACETAMINOPHEN HEPATOTOXICITY

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is currently the most frequent cause of drug-induced liver failure in the United States. Recently, it was shown that lysosomal iron translocates to mitochondria where it contributes to the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether cathepsin B, a lysosomal protease, is involved in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Cathepsin B activity was measured in subcellular liver fractions of C57Bl/6 mice 3 hr after 300 mg/kg APAP treatment. There was a significant increase in cytoplasmic cathepsin activity, concurrent with a decrease in microsomal activity, indicative of lysosomal cathepsin B release. To investigate the effect of cathepsin B on hepatotoxicity, the cathepsin inhibitor AC-LVK-CHO was given 1 hr prior to 300 mg/kg APAP treatment along with vehicle control. There was no difference between groups in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values, or by histological evaluation of necrosis, although cathepsin B activity was inhibited by 70–80% compared with controls. These findings were confirmed with a different inhibitor (z-FA-fmk) in vivo and in vitro. Hepatocytes were exposed to 5 mM acetaminophen. Lysotracker staining confirmed lysosomal instability and cathepsin B release, but there was no reduction in cell death after treatment with cathepsin B inhibitors. Finally, cathepsin B release was measured in clinical samples from patients with APAP-induced liver injury. Low levels of cathepsin B were released into plasma from overdose patients. APAP overdose causes lysosomal instability and release of cathepsin B into the cytosol but does not contribute to liver injury under these conditions.
Field Work/Data Collection Process

Field work is a process of data collection using survey methods such as face-to-face interviews; telephone, postal, and online surveys; or observation. Each of these methods require different amount of field work and different degrees of skills and effort to administer the data collection process, execute the task of actual collection of data, and to finally get the data ready for analysis. If the survey method requires interviewer(s) to conduct the actual survey, they need to be trained regarding sampling procedure, means to get cooperation from respondents, role of verbal and nonverbal cues in influencing respondents, and other procedures and skills. They also need to ensure the security of data especially to protect the respondent's privacy and confidentiality. Because administration of data collection and actual collection of data require personnel with specialized skills and administrative capacity, most firms tend to subcontract the task of collecting data to other vendors who are equipped to handle this task. A very important sourcebook of information called The Green Book contains a list of such research vendors. Keywords: field work; survey methods; research vendors; privacy and confidentiality of responses; interviewer training
Low noise device and amplifier characterization for deep space communication applications

A systematic cryogenic on-wafer study of advanced FET technology is performed, and an empirical model for the cryogenic operation of ion-planted MESFET technology is presented. Multistage HEMT (high electron mobility transistor)-based LNAs (low-noise amplifiers) have been fabricated and characterized for operation at Ka-band. The feasibility of broadband on-wafer S-parameter and noise parameter measurement has been demonstrated. Such a measurement tool should provide important data for LNA development. >
Expression and localization of Na+-HCO3− cotransporter in bovine corneal endothelium

Functional studies support the presence of the Na+-HCO3 −cotransporter (NBC) in corneal endothelium and possibly corneal epithelium; however, molecular identification and membrane localization have...
Editorial: Research Groups and Individual Scholarship

Exciting new research is emerging from Educational Techology research groups. Individual researchers are invited to consider their own scholarship in light of these groups’ work.
Golgi fragmentation in Alzheimer's disease

The Golgi apparatus is an essential cellular organelle for post-translational modifications, sorting, and trafficking of membrane and secretory proteins. Proper functionality of the Golgi requires the formation of its unique cisternal-stacking morphology. The Golgi structure is disrupted in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting a common mechanism and contribution of Golgi defects in neurodegenerative disorders. A recent study on Alzheimer's disease (AD) revealed that phosphorylation of the Golgi stacking protein GRASP65 disrupts its function in Golgi structure formation, resulting in Golgi fragmentation. Inhibiting GRASP65 phosphorylation restores the Golgi morphology from Aβ-induced fragmentation and reduces Aβ production. Perturbing Golgi structure and function in neurons may directly impact trafficking, processing, and sorting of a variety of proteins essential for synaptic and dendritic integrity. Therefore, Golgi defects may ultimately promote the development of AD. In the current review, we focus on the cellular impact of impaired Golgi morphology and its potential relationship to AD disease development.
On the role of perception in shaping phonological assimilation rules.

Assimilation of nasals to the place of articulation of following consonants is a common and natural process among the world's languages. Recent phonological theory attributes this naturalness to th...
Water quality management of estuarine systems

In this paper sensitivity analysis and specific optimal control theory are applied to the problem of water quality management of estuarine systems. The approach is based on the ultimate availability of a network of automatic monitoring stations along the stretch of the estuary under consideration. The stations will report to a central processing unit the current status of all conditions which seriously affect the functioning of the water eco-system. It is further assumed that water quality standards on a regional basis have been established according to water use and that physical aspects of the estuary (to be used as inputs to the mathematical models) are available or can be obtained through field measurements.
Identification of the developmental marker, JB3-antigen, as fibrillin-2 and its de novo organization into embryonic microfibrous arrays

The monoclonal antibody JB3 was previously shown to react with a protein antigen present in the bilateral primitive heart-forming regions and septation-stage embryonic hearts; in addition, primary axial structures at primitive streak stages are JB3-immunopositive (Wunsch et al. [1994] Dev. Biol. 165:585-601). The JB3 antigen has an overlapping distribution pattern with fibrillin-1, and a similar molecular mass (Gallagher et al. [1993] Dev. Dyn. 196:70-78; Wunsch et al. [1994] Dev. Biol. 165:585-601). Here we present immunoblot and immunoprecipitation data showing that the JB3 antigen is secreted into tissue culture medium by day 10 chicken embryonic fibroblasts, from which it can be harvested using JB3-immunoaffinity chromatography. A single polypeptide (Mr = 350,000), which was not immunoreactive with an antibody to fibrillin-1, eluted from the affinity column. Mass spectroscopy peptide microsequencing determined the identity of the JB3 antigen to be an avian homologue of fibrillin-2. Live, whole-mounted, quail embryos were immunolabeled using a novel microinjection approach, and subsequently fixed. Laser scanning confocal microscopy indicated an elaborate scaffold of fibrillin-2 filaments encasing formed somites. At more caudal axial positions, discrete, punctate foci of immunofluorescent fibrillin-2 were observed; this pattern corresponded to the position of segmental plate mesoderm. Between segmental plate mesoderm and fully-formed somites, progressively longer filamentous assemblies of fibrillin-2 were observed, suggesting a developmental progression of fibrillin-2 fibril assembly across the somite-forming region of avian embryos. Extensive filaments of fibrillin-2 connect somites to the notochord. Similarly, fibrillin-2 connects the mesoderm associated with the anterior intestinal portal to the midline. Thus, fibrillin-2 fibrils are organized by a diverse group of cells of mesodermal or mesodermally derived mesenchymal origin. Fibrillin-2 microfilaments are assembled in a temporal and spatial pattern that is coincident with cranial-to-caudal segmentation, and regression of the anterior intestinal portal. Fibrillin-2 may function to impart physical stability to embryonic tissues during morphogenesis of the basic vertebrate body plan.
Estimation of Vehicle Shaft Torque Using Nonlinear Observers

Current closed-loop automotive shift control algorithms could greatly benefit if a measurement of the drive axle shaft torque was available. Direct measurements using strain gauges are too expensive for commercial applications. Magnetic pickup sensors that count the passage of gear teeth provide very inexpensive RPM measurements and are currently being used in production vehicles. This paper shows through simulations how these sensors can be used with a nonlinear observer technique (sliding mode) to estimate axle shaft torque from measurements of transmission output speed and driven wheel speed
Comment on "Comparison Between Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis and Flood Frequency Analysis"

Despite providing an exceptionally clear example of the basics of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), Wang and Ormsbee [2005] nevertheless conclude that “…using PSHA for risk analysis is not only confusing, but is also inappropriate.” I argue here that (1) the results of a PSHA analysis are not confusing and have physical meaning, and (2) the authors' basis for declaring PSHA “inappropriate” is misguided. I note in passing that the authors consistently confuse “risk” with “hazard.” Both PSHA and flood frequency analysis provide estimates of hazard. Risk is the product of hazard, vulnerability and exposure. This discussion is only concerned with hazard.
Party Responsibility in Britain and the United States

Political parties in representative democracies have, as two of their most significant functions, to facilitate popular participation in the decision-making process and to implement, through control of governmental organs, those policies which are popularly favoured. Judged by these criteria, American parties are dysfunctional—so one critical school argues. American parties, they charge, are responsible neither to their members nor voters and are so organized and operated that they fail to govern effectively. When, in the early 1950s, this case against American parties had its greatest acceptance in the discipline, a number of critics contrasted American parties unfavourably with British parties. As an earlier generation of political scientists had urged Americans to adopt British institutions of government, so the critics of American parties favoured reforms which they thought were characteristic of British parties. If American parties became more like British parties, they argued, those parties would be more responsible and effective. Defenders of American parties refuted the critics' diagnosis and prescription by emphasizing the many environmental and institutional differences between Britain and the United States. British experience simply was not applicable in the U.S., they maintained. As study of British parties progressed an even more devastating rejoinder to critics of American parties emerged. Various findings began to suggest that although British parties obviously were much more cohesive in the legislature than were American parties, they were not nearly as responsible as the critics had assumed.
Motivation Filtering on a Multi-Institution Assessment of General College Outcomes

Possible lack of motivation is a perpetual concern when tests have no stakes attached to performance. Specifically, the validity of test score interpretations may be compromised when examinees are unmotivated to exert their best efforts. Motivation filtering, a procedure that filters out apparently unmotivated examinees, was applied to the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA), an open-ended test of general college outcomes. Filtering based on self-reported effort was compared to a new approach based on CLA performance relative to expected. Both approaches had expected positive effects on aggregate CLA scores, but the new approach achieved these gains while filtering out fewer students and maintaining sample representativeness. Motivation filtering had negligible effects on the relative standings of schools based on their average CLA scores, although the impact of filtering was slightly greater on lower-performing schools. Motivation filtering increased longitudinal estimates of growth on the CLA because o...
Studies on soluble ribonucleic acid of rabbit liver IV. Physical properties and structure

Abstract An investigation of the physical properties of rabbit-liver soluble RNA in 0.2M NaCl, revealed that the s 20,w 0 and the M are 4.2 and 23 300, respectively; the specific absorbancy and molar absorbancy per phosphate are 23.0 ml/mg/cm, and 7.7 ml/μmole/cm, respectively; the average nucleotide weight is 345 g/mole of nucleotide (i.e., 9.0 % phosphorous), yielding a chain length of 68 nucleotides per chain; and the apparent specific volume and intrinsic viscosity (after correction for shear dependence) are 0.47 ml/g and 0.15 dl/g, respectively. Ultracentrifugal analysis revealed that the preparation, consisting of a mixture of 15 amino acid-acceptor species, possesses about 12% sedimentation heterogeneity at low concentration, which increases due to aggregation as the concentration is raised. At low salt concentrations, s responds to a primary charge effect, but it is independent of salt concentration at the level used in this investigation. The absorbancy of the solutions, on the other hand, is relatively unaffected by ionic strength. These data were examined in terms of the existing theories of molecular configuration in solution. It was concluded that soluble RNA has a highly asymmetric, relatively rigid secondary structure, which is more like that of DNA than of high-molecular-weight RNA.
The neuropsychology of epilepsy: An overview

Abstract The contributions of neuropsychology to improved understanding of psychopathological and cognitive correlates/consequences of epilepsy have been increasingly recognized. Empirically documented relationships between these variables and lesion localization, seizure type, and effects of anticonvulsant medications are briefly reviewed. A critique of current sodium amytal language/memory assessment technique is presented, followed by some observations on new opportunities for innovative neuropsychology research presented by recent advances in neuro-imaging technology. The paper concludes by addressing the thesis that neuropsychology research to date has emphasized biological and neurological variables to the relative neglect of environmental/social/psychological factors for psychopathology and work/behavioral adjustment in persons with epilepsy. Implications of this perceived imbalance in our research endeavors are discussed with some suggestions on multi-etiologic models for further investigations.
Capacity expansion for water resource facilities: a control theoretic algorithm for nonstationary uncertain demands

Abstract Municipal water and waste water investments represent a large and important segment of the expenditures made by local governments. The response of designers to the problem of sizing increments to capacity has been to overbuild in order to assure safe and adequate supplies. A growing body of evidence suggests that the magnitude of overbuilding has been excessive. Earlier research has neglected to model demand growth as uncertain with the possibility of both nonstationary mean and variance. Also, failure to recognize the problem as one of closed loop control has resulted in erroneous modeling efforts. The basic approach in this research is to model using stochastic dynamic programming. The criterion was minimization of expected cost. Excess capacity, the state of the system, increases due to investment decisions. Negative excess capacity implies shortage. As time progresses known, but possibly uncertain demands impinge upon the system. Overall, several highly flexible capacity planning models for nonstationary demands can be formulated, are computationally feasible, and produce excellent approximations to known solutions. However, these models should only be used after sensitivity testing in conjunction with simpler approaches.
Sleep of unrestrained chimpanzee - Cortical and subcortical recordings

Unrestrained chimpanzees cortical and subcortical electrical activity during sleep recorded by telemetry and compared with human beings and other mammals
Anterior cervical approach for repair of laryngotracheoesophageal cleft

Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft is a very rare congenital malformation characterized by a long midline communication between the esophagus and trachea extending from the larynx down the trachea for a variable distance. The most common repair strategy involves separation of the trachea and esophagus by a lateral approach via both a thoracotomy and a neck incision. The authors report a case of complete repair (without thoracotomy) via a neck incision through the anterior wall of the trachea.
A Consideration of Archaeological Research Design

It is argued that the methodology most appropriate for the task of isolating and studying processes of cultural change and evolution is one which is regional in scope and executed with the aid of research designs based on the principles of probability sampling. The various types of observational populations which archaeologists must study are discussed, together with an evaluation of the methodological differences attendant upon adequate and reliable investigation of each. Two basic sampling universes are discussed, the region and the site, together with their methodological and research-design peculiarities. These are used as a basis for discussion and past and current research programs are evaluated in terms of what are believed to be major limitations in obtaining the "facts" pertinent to studies of cultural processes.
The midline dose distribution for a three-field radiotherapy technique.

Abstract At the University of Florida, head and neck cancer often is irradiated using parallel opposed lateral fields (with inferior borders slanted superiorly) and an anterior low neck field. A common criticism is that overlap may occur at the match-line junction of the three fields, resulting in an increased risk of radiation myelitis. One setup for treatment of the oropharynx and two for the larynx were irradiated in an anthropomorphic head and neck phantom made of tissue-equivalent polyacrylamide gel with a two-dimensional thermoluminescent dosimeter array in its sagittal midplane. The results showed that no excess radiation dose was measured at the junction of the three fields. The “spinal cord dose,” as percentage of dose to the central axis of the primary field, was as follows: oropharynx setup, 15% to 100%; larynx setup with midline tracheal block, 10% to 90%; larynx setup without tracheal block, 10% to 90%. In conclusion, the University of Florida three-field technique for head and neck cancer produces no measured increase in dose at field junctions.
Direct observation of nucleation and growth in amyloid self-assembly.

Access to native protein structure depends on precise polypeptide folding and assembly pathways. Identifying folding missteps that may lead to the nearly 40 protein misfolding diseases could feature prominently in the development of intervention strategies. Accordingly, we have investigated the earliest steps of assembly by the folding nucleus of the Alzheimer’s disease Aβ peptide with real-time imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. These analyses reveal the immediate formation of large micrometer size clusters maintaining properties of intermolecular molten globules. These dynamic unstructured aggregates serve as the nucleating sites for amyloid growth and, as with native protein folding, appear important for backbone desolvation. The resulting amyloid nucleus however is able to template monomer addition from solution at rates from 2K peptides/s at millimolar peptide concentrations. This direct observation of amyloid assembly unifies several divergent models that currently exist for protein ...
Mechanisms for ovarian cycle disruption by immune/inflammatory stress.

This review summarizes highlights of our experiments investigating mechanisms, mediators and sites by which endotoxin disrupts reproductive neuroendocrine activity and interferes with the estrous c...
Characterization of Technology Integration Based on Technology Readiness Levels

Integration is ubiquitous in systems development. Although much has been written about the need to explicitly characterize integration in the context of technology development and maturation, current technology readiness level evaluation methods do so implicitly or altogether incorrectly. It is argued that integration is an inherent subattribute of technology readiness and that technology readiness level descriptions hold some of the conceptual building blocks with which such an explicit characterization of integration may be constructed. To do so, the concept of integration in the context of technology maturation is elaborated on, drawn from well-established published work to generate characterizations of integration for each readiness level. These descriptions build upon fundamental concepts of systems integration such as system architectures, abstraction, interfaces, and interactions. The use of these generic descriptions to create specific ones for a representative emerging technology in aeronautics i...
Use of special collections as an opportunity for outreach in the academic library.

ABSTRACT Academic special collections librarians have made great strides in making their collections discoverable and accessible to a wide audience. This article examines use of special collections departments and the many kinds of outreach librarians undertake to increase access to and knowledge of their collections, including creating electronic finding aids, digitizing material, collaborating with faculty, increasing participation in instruction and reference, and using exhibits, social media, and relationships with community partners to further the mission and goals of the library and the college or university. The article uses the University of Illinois at Chicago Special Collections Department as a case study.
Potassium loss during galvanotaxis of slime mold.

The posterior reticulated regions of the plasmodia of the slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, whose migration has been oriented by direct current (3.0 to 5.0 µa/mm2 in the agar substrate), contain 30 per cent less potassium than the advancing non-reticulated region. The anterior regions have the same potassium concentration as that of the controls, approximately 32 meq/kg wet weight. Differences in potassium concentration between anterior and posterior regions of control plasmodia, not oriented by electric current, are less than 5 per cent. Sodium, in contrast to potassium, is generally less concentrated in the anterior than in the posterior regions of electrically oriented plasmodia, but sodium concentrations are extremely variable. No significant difference in protein concentration was found between oriented and control plasmodia. Thirty-five per cent of the total potassium, but none of the sodium, is found in acidified ethanol precipitates from plasmodial homogenates. Potassium, but not sodium, appears to be closely associated with processes which differentiate anterior from posterior in an oriented plasmodium.
An apolipoprotein A-I mimetic dose-dependently increases the formation of preβ1 HDL in human plasma

Preβ1 HDL is the initial plasma acceptor of cell-derived cholesterol in reverse cholesterol transport. Recently, small amphipathic peptides composed of D-amino acids have been shown to mimic apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) as a precursor for HDL formation. ApoA-I mimetic peptides have been proposed to stimulate the formation of preβ1 HDL and increase reverse cholesterol transport in apoE-null mice. The existence of a monoclonal antibody (MAb 55201) and a corresponding ELISA method that is selective for the detection of the preβ1 subclass of HDL provides a means of establishing a correlation between apoA-I mimetic dose and preβ1 HDL formation in human plasma. Using this preβ1 HDL ELISA, we demonstrate marked apoA-I mimetic dose-dependent preβ1 HDL formation in human plasma. These results correlated with increases in band density of the plasma preβ1 HDL, when observed by Western blotting, as a function of increased apoA-I mimetic concentration. Increased preβ1 HDL formation was observed after as little as 1 min and was maximal within 1 h. Together, these data suggest that a high-throughput preβ1 HDL ELISA provides a way to quantitatively measure a key component of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway in human plasma, thus providing a possible method for the identification of apoA-I mimetic molecules.
Modified technique for aortic cross-clamping during liver donor procurement

Undue tension on the donor vessels during organ procurement is associated with intimal dissection, which can form the nidus for the thrombosis of the hepatic artery (HA) and graft loss. According to the US OPTN database, 143 grafts were discarded in the last 15 yr due to vascular damage during procurement. The most common technique to expose the supraceliac aorta is dissection between the left lateral segment of the liver and the esophagus-stomach. In obese donors, due to restricted space and in pediatric donors where the vessels are very delicate and this space is very small, the replaced or accessory left HA(R/A LHA) is prone to damage if approached conventionally. We describe a technique for the exposure of the supraceliac aorta in which the aorta is approached from the left side behind the gastroesophageal junction that does not require division of the gastrohepatic ligament. From May 2007 to May 2013, 104 liver procurements were performed. Eighty-nine (85.6%) were adults, and 15 (14.4%) were pediatric donors. Twenty-three (22.1%) had R/A LHA. No donor organ suffered any damage. One adult recipient with R/A LHA suffered HA thrombosis not related to it. In summary, this technical modification offers improved safety during cadaveric procurement and increases the ease.
Saturable Ethanol Binding in Rat Liver Microsomes

The binding of ethanol to rat liver microsomes is shown to be saturable at clinically relevant ethanol concentrations, whereas this effect is not observed in extracted microsomal phospholipids. Brief exposure of the microsomes to heat abolishes saturable ethanol binding. Equilibrium binding data analysis, although only approximate in this context, suggests the presence of at least two groups of specific sites: high capacity sites with affinities near the pharmacological range and low capacity sites at lesser levels. The results indicate that the specificity of ethanol for tissue is considerably greater than previously recognized.
Subjective assessment using still bronchoscopic images misclassifies airway narrowing in laryngotracheal stenosis

OBJECTIVES: Severity of airway narrowing is relevant to management decision-making processes in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis. Airway lumen is frequently assessed subjectively based on still images obtained during airway examinations or objectively using image analysis software applied to radiological or bronchoscopic images. The purpose of this study was to determine whether strictures classified as mild, moderate or severe degrees of airway narrowing based on subjective assessments by a group of experienced bronchoscopists using still images, matched the classifications derived from morphometric bronchoscopy measurements and whether the results of subjective assessments correlated with the level of bronchoscopic experience. METHODS: Thirty-five bronchoscopic doublet still images of benign causes of laryngotracheal stenosis containing normal and abnormal airway cross-sectional areas were objectively analysed using morphometric bronchoscopy and classified as mild ( 70%). These images were then subjectively assessed by 42 experienced bronchoscopists participating in an interventional bronchoscopy course. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the accuracy of the participants’ classifications. Correlation coefficients were used to study the relationship between participants’ subjective assessments and bronchoscopy experience. RESULTS: Only 47% of strictures were correctly classified by study participants (mean 16.48 ± 2.8). Of the 1447 responses included in this analysis, 755 were incorrect: 71 (9%) were over-classifications of strictures’ severity and 684 (91%) were under-classifications. There was no correlation between number of strictures correctly classified and number of lifetime bronchoscopies or number of strictures seen by bronchoscopists in an average month.
Influence of sea ice on primary production in the Southern Ocean: A satellite perspective

Sea ice in the Southern Ocean is a major controlling factor on phytoplankton productivity and growth, but the relationship is modified by regional differences in atmospheric and oceanographic conditions. We used the phytoplankton biomass (binned at 7-day intervals), PAR and cloud cover data from SeaWiFS, ice concentrations data from SSM/I and AMSR-E, and sea-surface temperature data from AVHRR, in combination with a vertically integrated model to estimate primary productivity throughout the Southern Ocean (south of 60"s). We also selected six areas within the Southern Ocean and analyzed the variability of the primary productivity and trends through time, as well as the relationship of sea ice to productivity. We found substantial interannual variability in productivity from 1997 - 2005 in all regions of the Southern Ocean, and this variability appeared to be driven in large part by ice dynamics. The most productive regions of Antarctic waters were the continental shelves, which showed the earliest growth, the maximum biomass, and the greatest areal specific productivity. In contrast, no large, sustained blooms occurred in waters of greater depth (> 1,000 m). We suggest that this is due to the slightly greater mixed layer depths found in waters off the continental shelf, and that the interactive effects of iron and irradiance (that is, increased iron requirements in low irradiance environments) result in the limitation of phytoplankton biomass over large regions of the Southern Ocean.
J. Edward Berk distinguished lecture: avoiding burnout: finding balance between work and everything else.

J. Edward Berk Distinguished Lecture: Avoiding Burnout: Finding Balance Between Work and Everything Else
Common Mistakes Made by Students

We all make mistakes. It goes with the human condition. Someone has said, lHe who never made a mistake never made anything.r However, it is wise and better to learn from other people's mistakes and avoid them. In this article, we share seven common mistakes engineering students make and how to avoid them. We are talking about specific mistakes that create problems for students and prevent them from achieving the best possible results.
Colonization and recovery of lotic epilithic communities: A metabolic approach

Community respiration and net primary productivity measurements from precleaned and disturbed substrates of various sizes were collected to examine the colonization and recovery rates of lotic epilithic communities in situ. The assumptions and limitations of the technique for monitoring metabolic recovery are discussed. The results indicate that substrate size and heterogeneity affect the rates of metabolic recovery; metabolic recovery of the heterotrophic community component generally occurs before the autotrophic; following a physical disturbance 13–21 days are required for metabolic recovery while pre-cleaned mixed and homogenous large sized substrates require 15–21 days; a temporary summer metabolic equilibrium appears to exist in the Sheep River, the duration of which is dependent on abiotic environmental variables. Future metabolic studies should include structure and composition measurements to attain maximum information on the recovery of epilithic communities.
Degradation of tobacco mosaic virus with acetic acid.

Abstract A distinctly novel agent for the degradation of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has been found in 67% acetic acid. It greatly facilitates the preparation of native virus protein free of nucleic acid.