cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate and competition effects on tree growth in Rocky Mountain forests

Summary Climate is widely assumed to influence physiological and demographic processes in trees, and hence forest composition, biomass and range limits. Growth in trees is an important barometer of climate change impacts on forests as growth is highly correlated with other demographic processes including tree mortality and fecundity. We investigated the main drivers of diameter growth for five common tree species occurring in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States using nonlinear regression methods. We quantified growth at the individual tree level from tree core samples collected across broad environmental gradients. We estimated the effects of both climate variation and biotic interactions on growth processes and tested for evidence that disjunct populations of a species respond differentially to climate. Relationships between tree growth and climate varied by species and location. Growth in all species responded positively to increases in annual moisture up to a threshold level. Modest linear responses to temperature, both positive and negative, were observed at many sites. However, model results also revealed evidence for differentiated responses to local site conditions in all species. In severe environments in particular, growth responses varied nonlinearly with temperature. For example, in northerly cold locations pronounced positive growth responses to increasing temperatures were observed. In warmer southerly climates, growth responses were unimodal, declining markedly above a threshold temperature level. Net effects from biotic interactions on diameter growth were negative for all study species. Evidence for facilitative effects was not detected. For some species, competitive effects more strongly influenced growth performance than climate. Competitive interactions also modified growth responses to climate to some degree. Synthesis. These analyses suggest that climate change will have complex, species-specific effects on tree growth in the Rocky Mountains due to nonlinear responses to climate, differentiated growth processes that vary by location and complex species interactions that impact growth and potentially modify responses to climate. Thus, robust model simulations of future growth responses to climate trends may need to integrate realistic scenarios of neighbourhood effects as well as variability in tree performance attributed to differentiated populations.
Random if Not "Rare"? The Eighth Amendment Weaknesses of Post- Miller Legislation

First, this Article surveys the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to analogize life without parole for juveniles to the death penalty for adults, and discusses the Eighth Amendment law regarding the parameters around death penalty statutory schemes. Second, this Article examines the state legislative response to Miller v. Alabama, and scrutinizes it with the Court’s Eighth Amendment death penalty law — and the states’ responses to this case law — in mind. This Article highlights the failure of juvenile homicide sentencing provisions to: 1) narrow offenses that are eligible for life without parole sentences; 2) further limit, once a guilty finding is made, the categories of offenders to the most likely to have demonstrated “irreparable corruption,”; and 3) provide for meaningful appellate review, among other deficiencies.
Bacteriophages immobilized on electrospun cellulose microfibers by non-specific adsorption, protein–ligand binding, and electrostatic interactions

Phage therapy has significant potential in specifically targeting bacterial pathogens in food and medicine. There is a significant interest to combine phages with materials to enhance and broaden potential applications of phages. This study compares non-specific adsorption, protein–ligand binding, and electrostatic interactions on cellulose microfibers without any chemical or genetic modification of phages. Success in immobilization of phages on biomaterials without genetic and chemical modification can enable effective translation of naturally occurring phages and their cocktails for antimicrobial applications. The immobilization approaches were characterized by phage loading efficiency, phage distribution, and phage release from fibers. The results indicated that non-specific adsorption and protein–ligand binding had insignificant phage loading while electrostatic interactions yielded approximately 15–25% phage loading normalized to the initial titer of the phage loading solution. Confocal imaging of the electrostatically immobilized phage fibers revealed a random phage distribution on the fiber surface. Phage release from the electrostatically immobilized phage fibers indicated a slow release over a period of 24 h. Overall, the electrostatic immobilization approach bound more active phages than non-specific adsorption and protein–ligand binding and thus may be considered the optimal approach to immobilizing phages onto biomaterial surfaces.
A meta-analysis of the association between body mass index and risk of vertebral fracture

We conducted a meta-analysis of prospective studies to assess the association between BMI and incident vertebral fracture. We found that as body mass index (BMI) increases, the risk of vertebral fracture decreases in men, but not in women, suggesting possible gender differences in the relationship of BMI with risk of vertebral fracture. Recent evidence suggests that the relationship between BMI and fracture risk may be site-specific. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies to investigate the association between BMI and risk of incident vertebral fracture. PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant articles published from inception through February 15, 2017. Extracted relative risks (RR) from the prospective studies were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Six studies were included, with a total of 105,129 participants followed for 3 to 19 years. The pooled RR (95% confidence interval [CI]) for vertebral fracture per each standard deviation increase in BMI was 0.94 (95% CI = 0.80–1.10) with significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 88.0%, p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis by gender, we found a significant inverse association between BMI and risk of vertebral fracture in men (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.73–0.98, n = 25,617 participants) but not in women (RR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.81–1.20, n = 79,512 participants). Across studies of women not adjusting for bone mineral density (BMD), there was no significant association between BMI and risk of vertebral fracture (RR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.80–1.04, p = 0.18, n = 72,755 participants). However, BMI was associated with an increased risk of vertebral fracture in studies of women that adjusted for BMD (RR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.17–1.40, p < 0.001, n = 6757 participants). Substantial heterogeneity was found among studies of women (I 2 = 90.1%, p < 0.001), which was partly explained by the adjustment for BMD (adjusted R 2 = 61%). We found no evidence of publication bias (p = 0.40). In conclusion, our findings suggest that there might be gender differences in the relationship of BMI with risk of vertebral fracture. Further research is needed, including the assessment of other measures of adiposity, such as visceral adiposity, on the risk of vertebral fracture.
A Summary of the Workshop on Training and Sustaining Research Computing Systems Professionals: A Path to a Profession

Currently high performance computing institutions have a difficult time finding and retaining qualified systems staff, and as HPC becomes more ubiquitous and more institutions stand up large computational and storage systems, this shortage will become worse. "The use of HPCs [sic] is growing very rapidly in the academic world and also expanding into businesses and government. Its use is becoming more and more integrated into the culture, much like the expansion of personal computers from the 1980s onward."[14] Due to this expansion and the specialized nature of the field, the recruitment and retention of research computing staff is reaching a crisis.A workshop was held in March, 2017 where attendees addressed the research computing systems staffing issues. These issues largely centered around lack of standardized job descriptions in research computing, inability to properly compensate specialized staff, no clear career path for research computing systems professionals, few opportunities for professional development for systems staff, and ineffective recruitment of staff at a junior level. A set of recommendations and next steps were defined and a report was produced for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Internet2 organization.[11]
Plasma corticosterone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels increase during administration of nitrous oxide in rats.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a gaseous drug with abuse potential. Despite its common clinical use, little is known about whether N2O administration activates the HPA axis and/or the sympathetic adrenomed...
Diversities, Continuities and Discontinuities of Tradition in the Contemporary Sikh Diaspora: Gender and Social Dimensions

The 2 million strong Sikh Punjabi diaspora, now predominantly located in the rich countries of the West, emerged during the colonial and postcolonial period spanning over 145 years. As a diaspora, it exhibits all the diversity and heterogeneity expected in any diasporan community. Thus, periods of migration and settlement, economic and political status, class, caste, gender, religion and locality define the heterogeneity within the Sikh Punjabi diaspora. In fact, it may be more accurate to state that there are many Sikh diasporas. This heterogeneity and diversity generates inter-generational tensions, discourses on nature of diaspora identities and modes of engagements with the homeland. Needless to say, conflicts over tradition to be transmitted, extent to which it is adapted or reinvented generates continuities but also discontinuities, demonstrating considerable diversity in the lived experiences and practices of diasporan Sikhs. This paper explores several community tensions, which have risen to the fore in recent years, especially as they pertain to family life and gender relations. The latter sections of the paper examines different narratives on the position of Sikh women in the domestic and workplace domains, role of education and social mobility, challenges posed by transnational marriages and rise in domestic violence.
Structures for Research on the Dynamics of Residential Mobility

The exponential growth rate of new published and unpublished research on residential mobility has created a situation in which synthesis of existing models is at least as important as the creation of new models. The proliferation of different models and different research strategies calls for an organization and evaluation of the literature, a clarification of the research accomplished to date, and the identification of problems for research in the future. The focus on an examination of evolving geographical structures by this NATO Advanced Study Institute serves as an appropriate context for such an organizational approach. Two recent papers (Clark, 1981, 1982) have reviewed current research on migration and mobility. In these reviews, the major concern was with the way in which research could be classified rather than with the organization of a modelling strategy. That is, there was more of a concern with arranging research topics under general classifications than considering the elements of a research paradigm. The approach of this paper is with the research paradigm itself, with the mobility, housing search, and relocation outcomes of individual households.
Bereavement, Depression, and Immunity: The Role of Age

Research scientists in psychiatry, psychology, and immunology have become increasingly interested in the influence of the environment on the immune system. Currently many researchers are investigating the effects of mood states and everyday stress on immune system function. Results of our own work corroborate claims of intriguing connections between emotional distress and immunity. The expected pervasiveness of such effects, however, is best not overstated without corroborating evidence since an assumption that the immune system is susceptible to even minor environmental stressors does not appear to be consistent with an adaptive evolutionary process.
Organic Solar Cells Enhanced by Carbon Nanotubes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses carbon nanotube-enhanced organic solar cells with bulk heterojunctions. It has been found that the performance of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells can be significantly increased by introducing carbon nanotubes into the active layer. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely used in different aspects of photovoltaics. First, CNTs could be a good replacement for indium tin oxide as the transparent electrode of solar cell devices; second, the multiple exciton generation in CNTs, arising from the quantum confinement effect in the low-dimensional materials, could increase the internal quantum efficiency and hence the short circuit current in CNT-based solar cells; third, introduction of CNTs in solar cells could increase the carrier mobility because CNTs can provide a ballistic pathway for a photoexcited carrier to transport. The Kelvin probe force microscopy study suggests that the increased performance is due to increased hole mobility as carbon nanotubes are donor materials. However, it has also been found that excessive carbon nanotubes degrade the performance of organic solar cells because of the increased bimolecular recombination due to the existence of metallic CNTs. Therefore, it is critical to find new ways to fabricate pure semiconductor CNTs for enhancing the performance of OSCs with bulk heterojunctions.
Equity or Equality for Women? Understanding CEDAW's Equality Principles

This essay argues that CEDAW’s concept of equality is what is needed to end discrimination against women. It first traces the background of the controversy over the use of the terms equity and equality in international human rights law. It then describes the CEDAW Committee’s recent attempts to emphasize the distinction between “equality” and “equity” and its continuing efforts to clarify the meaning of CEDAW’s broad concept of gender equality.
Small Animal Models for the Study of Cancer in Bone

Advanced cancers commonly result in metastasis to bone where interactions between the cancer cell and the bone microenvironment produce predominantly osteoblastic or osteolytic lesions. In humans bone metastasis is observed in 60–85% of advanced cancers from tissues as disparate as prostate, breast, kidney, and lung [9]. In animals, however, spontaneous bone metastases are uncommon and investigation of the patterns of bone metastasis mimicking human cancer dissemination is challenging. Experimental models of bone metastasis consist of injections of cancer cells or tissue orthotopically, intracardially, intravenously (via the tail vein), or directly intraosseously into immunocompromised hosts, mostly mice, and, rarely, other small mammals such as dogs and cats.
Three flaws in defining a formal ‘Anthropocene’:

The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) of the Subcommission of Quaternary Stratigraphy of the International Commission on Stratigraphy is moving toward recommending that the start of a formally desig...
Localized phonon-polariton modes in periodic GaN nanowire arrays grown by selective area epitaxy (Conference Presentation)

Localized surface phonon-polariton (SPhP) resonances in polar semiconductor nanostructures can provide highly sub-diffractional electromagnetic fields. Furthermore, SPhP resonances offer enhanced resonant quality factors when compared to plasmon-polariton based systems. The various material platforms and nanostructure geometries achievable in polar semiconductors suggest they would be ideal platforms for tunable, long-wavelength photonics applications. Moreover, the constituent atomic basis defines the operating frequency regime for SPhP resonances; tunable from the mid-infrared to THz. Here, we investigate Raman active aspects of SPhP modes in GaN nanowire arrays that are grown via selective area molecular beam epitaxy. We detect strong Raman peaks within the Reststrahlen band of GaN that are not found in the bulk GaN Raman spectrum. These SPhP modes occur around 700 cm^-1 (~ 14.3 microns), offering a spectral region for device applications which is currently not accessible by plasmonic based systems or other SPhP enabled materials. Utilizing selective area epitaxy, we created GaN nanowire arrays with various diameters and pitches, from which the Raman spectra showed tuning of the apparent SPhP resonances. Infrared reflectance measurements were also performed with an FTIR microscope to further establish the physical properties of the resonances. Finally, computational studies of the structures’ reflectance were used to solidify our understanding of the geometry/SPhP-resonance-tuning relationship.
Evaluation of Compton Imaging Efficiency Degradation Factors in Large Volume, Pixelated CdZnTe Sensors

For large volume CdZnTe sensors with the 3D position sensitivity, the Compton imaging efficiency varies strongly as a function of incident photon energy and direction. In order to correct the systematic error in simulated Compton imaging efficiency for the $4 \pi $ imaging field of view, system response models for sensor-specific imaging event losses are used to accurately approximate observed system performance. System response models for imaging event loss mechanisms are constructed from a single 137 Cs calibration measurement and used to correct simulated imaging efficiencies. Analysis shows that among the modeled loss mechanisms, programmatic depth reconstruction errors most severely degrade the Compton imaging efficiency at 662 keV. The relative contribution of the loss mechanisms varies as a function of the incident photon direction.
Physically cross-linked xanthan hydrogels as solid electrolytes for Al/air batteries

This paper presents the results of an experimental study aimed at preparing high-conductivity solid electrolytes for Al-air primary cells, starting from an eco-friendly polysaccharide (xanthan) and KOH or HCl concentrated solutions (up to 11 M). Xanthan permits all-solid-state Al-air cells to be prepared with both KOH and HCl solutions but, differently from the already acquired knowledge, the best performance are obtained with acid electrolytes. The results evidence that different formation mechanisms can explain the ionic conductivities of acid and alkaline gels, and then the cell discharge performance. However, the cell capacities at higher current density are enhanced with acid hydrogels, thanks to the capability of xanthan to inhibit the anodic self-corrosion in an acid medium. In particular, a solid electrolyte prepared with 5 M HCl solution and a xanthan/liquid ratio of 0.7 g/ml provides a cell capacity higher than 70 mAh cm−2 at discharge current density of 10 mA cm−2, corresponding to 2.2 Ah gAl−1 consumed (or 1430 Wh kg−1).
Fall Recovery Intervention and its Effect on Fear of Falling in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to measure effects of a fall education program and a floor-rise intervention on fear of falling. FOF was established in 63 independent older adults (range = 73–102 years). Educational materials (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2013) were presented to participants who were subdivided into education-only and fall-recovery floor-rise training groups. FOF was measured after the educational materials were discussed and again post- floor-rise training. RMANOVA detected no change in FOF across groups or administrations; FOF trended downward post-intervention. Participants had low levels of FOF at baseline, making additional change difficult. Interviews suggested increased confidence following the training intervention. Further study with groups exhibiting higher initial FOF is recommended.
Electric power infrastructure planning under uncertainty: stochastic dual dynamic integer programming (SDDiP) and parallelization scheme

We address the long-term planning of electric power infrastructure under uncertainty. We propose a Multistage Stochastic Mixed-integer Programming formulation that optimizes the generation expansion to meet the projected electricity demand over multiple years while considering detailed operational constraints, intermittency of renewable generation, power flow between regions, storage options, and multiscale representation of uncertainty (strategic and operational). To be able to solve this large-scale model, which grows exponentially with the number of stages in the scenario tree, we decompose the problem using Stochastic Dual Dynamic Integer Programming (SDDiP). The SDDiP algorithm is computationally expensive but we take advantage of parallel processing to solve it more efficiently. The proposed formulation and algorithm are applied to a case study in the region managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for scenario trees considering natural gas price and carbon tax uncertainty for the reference case, and a hypothetical case without nuclear power. We show that the parallelized SDDiP algorithm allows in reasonable amounts of time the solution of multistage stochastic programming models of which the extensive form has quadrillions of variables and constraints.
Time-lapse gravity monitoring of CO2 migration based on numerical modeling of a faulted storage complex

Abstract In this study, the performance of both surface and borehole time-lapse gravity monitoring to detect CO2 leakage from a carbon storage site is evaluated. Several hypothetical scenarios of CO2 migration in a leaky fault, and thief zones at different depths at the Kimberlina site (California, USA) constitute the basis of the approach. The CO2 displacement is simulated using the TOUGH2 simulator applied to a detailed geological model of the site. The gravity responses to these CO2 plumes are simulated using forward modeling with sensors at ground surface and in vertical boreholes. Results of inversion on one scenario are also presented. The surface-based gravity responses obtained for the different leakage scenarios demonstrate that leakage can be detected at the surface in all the scenarios but the time to detection is highly variable (10–40 years) and dependent on the detection threshold considered. Borehole measurements of the vertical component of gravity provide excellent constraints in depth when they are located in proximity of the density anomaly associated with the presence of CO2, thus discriminating multiple leaks in different thief zones. Joint inversion of surface and borehole data can bring valuable information of the occurrence of leakages and their importance by providing a reasonable estimate of mass of displaced fluids. This study demonstrates the importance of combining multiphase flow simulations with gravity modeling in order to define if and when gravity monitoring would be applicable at a given storage site.
2 – Principles of Criminal Liability

Publisher Summary Most modern statutes and the Model Penal Code dispense with the distinctions between principals and accessories, and hold persons legally accountable if they commit the act, solicit the commission of offense, aid in commission, or, in some instances, fail to take proper efforts to prevent it. In order for a person to be convicted of a crime, the prosecution must show that the person charged committed a prohibited act or failed to act when he or she had the legal obligation to do so. This principle, referred to as actus reus, may involve an actual physical movement or may consist of verbal acts. However, one cannot be punished for evil intent without an act, nor for a violation of a statute that makes status alone a violation. Although in the usual case an affirmative act is required to support a conviction, in some instances, liability can rest upon the failure to act if there was a legal responsibility to do so.
Construction of Janus dendrimers through a self-assembly approach involving chiral discrimination at a focal point.

A strategy to build Janus dendrimers via the chirality-directed self-assembly of heteroleptic Zn(II) BOX complexes is reported. The method allows quantitative synthesis of Janus dendrimers in situ without the need for purifications. Each dendritic domain of the Janus dendrimers can be recycled upon disassembly at the focal point.
Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Experiences Working in Service Organizations

Survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) need multiple services to reintegrate into society including vocational assistance and career planning. Survivor mentors are being employed in agen...
Frenet oscillations and Frenet–Euler angles: curvature singularity and motion-trajectory analysis

Motion-trajectory (MT) curves are used to introduce Frenet oscillations. Time-varying orientation of the motion plane that contains the absolute velocity and acceleration vectors is defined in terms of three Frenet–Euler angles; the curvature, vertical-development, and bank angles, referred to as the Frenet angles for brevity. The Frenet bank angle and the associated Frenet super-elevation of the motion plane, which measure deviation of the centrifugal inertia force from the horizontal plane, can be used to shed light on definition of the balance speed used in practice. The concept of the pre-super-elevated osculating (PSEO) plane is introduced and Rodrigues’ formula is employed to develop an orthogonal rotation matrix that provides a geometric interpretation of the PSEO plane. A new inverse-dynamics problem that utilizes experimentally or simulation recorded motion trajectories (RMT) is used to define the Frenet inertia forces and demonstrate their equivalence to the Cartesian form of the inertia forces. New expressions for the curvature vector in terms of the velocity and acceleration, limit on the magnitude of the tangential acceleration for a given forward velocity, condition required for the centrifugal force to remain horizontal, and condition of curvature singular points are derived. The Frenet bank angle can be used to prove existence of the normal vectors at the curvature singular points. It is shown that the inertia force can assume different forms, depending on the curve parameter used. The results of a simple analytical curve demonstrate Frenet oscillations and importance of distinguishing between the highway-ramp and railroad track bank angles and super-elevations, which are time-invariant, and the Frenet bank angle and super-elevation, which are motion-dependent.
Developing parallel programming and soft skills: A project based learning approach

Abstract Upon graduation, a computer science student should have a good understanding of the current technology and have the soft skills necessary to secure a position in industry. Considering that typical computers and even the common smartphone are multicore, students should be skilled in parallel programming. Integrating parallel programming and soft skills within courses can help educate students on these essential skills. Our goal is to explore the effectiveness of using Project Based Learning (PBL) to teach these skills when classes are at content capacity. We divide 247 students into 51 diverse groups and assigned five projects, each of two-week duration. We use pre- and post-surveys to measure growth and found that incorporating PBL has a significant effect on the students' parallel programming and soft skills. We show that through teamwork, students collaboratively learn and apply fundamental parallel programming and soft skills without direct guidance, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of PBL. The implementation was conducted in a course that does not traditionally teach parallel programming concepts, but with the use of a PBL approach, students were able to acquire this new knowledge.
An interferon inducible signature of airway disease from blood gene expression profiling

BACKGROUND The molecular basis of airway remodeling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains poorly understood. We identified gene expression signatures associated with chest CT scan airway measures to understand molecular pathways associated with airway disease. METHODS In 2,396 subjects in the COPDGene Study, we examined the relationship between quantitative CT airway phenotypes and blood transcriptomes to identify airway disease-specific genes and to define an airway wall thickness (AWT) gene set score. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify associations of the AWT score with clinical phenotypes, bronchial gene expression and genetic variants. RESULTS Type 1 interferon induced genes were consistently associated with airway wall thickness, Pi10, and wall area percent, with the strongest enrichment in airway wall thickness. A score derived from 18 genes whose expression was associated with AWT was associated with COPD-related phenotypes including reduced lung function (FEV1% predicted -3.4, p<0.05) and increased exacerbations (incidence rate ratio 1.6, p<0.05). The AWT score was reproducibly associated with airway wall thickness in bronchial samples from 23 subjects (beta 3.22, p<0.05). The blood AWT score was associated with genetic variant rs876039, an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) for IKZF1, a gene which regulates interferon signaling and is associated with inflammatory diseases. CONCLUSION A gene expression signature with interferon stimulated genes from peripheral blood and bronchial brushings is associated with CT airway wall thickness, lung function, and exacerbations. Shared genes and genetic associations suggest viral responses and/or autoimmune dysregulation as potential underlying mechanisms of airway disease in COPD.
Characteristics of completed clinical trials for spinal cord injury from 1999 to 2020

Abstract Numerous clinical trials are being conducted in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI). These trials are typically registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of the completed SCI trials and characterize the potential factors associated with publication. ClinicalTrials.gov database was queried for all the completed trials on patients with SCI. Baseline characteristics of the completed trials were assessed. The publication status of these trials was identified using PubMed or Google Scholar. The secondary and primary outcomes reported in the publication were then compared to the outcomes registered in ClinicalTrial.gov. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the characteristics associated with publication status and time to publication. A total of 457 of 1,061 trials on SCI were completed. Of those, 60% were ultimately published. Trials that had received funding from sources besides the NIH, private industries, or the federal government were more likely to remain unpublished. The median time to publish was three years, with larger trials taking a longer time. The median sample size for completed trials was 30. Assessment of mismatch rates in primary outcomes of published data to registered outcomes was 8.9%. In SCI trials, outcomes registered on ClinicalTrial.gov often matched published results. Additionally, sample size and funding source play a significant role in the publication rate of these trials. Published data represents a reliable source for clinicians, researchers, and patients; efforts to curb publication bias and reporting bias are paramount for implementing evidence-based practices and ensure proper scientific conduct.
Transition fracture toughness testing with notched round bars (NRB)

The notched round bar (NRB) geometry was assessed for use with ASTM E 1921-97 Standard for Test Method for the Determination of Reference Temperature, T 0 , for Ferritic Steels in the Transition Range. Instead of precracking the NRB specimens, apparent fracture toughness using three different notch root radii was extrapolated to a zero radius to infer sharp crack fracture toughness. The reference temperature using A302B NRB specimens was determined to be -89°C, while A3028 C(T) specimens yield To of -87.3°C. In applying ASTM E 1921 to the NRB geometry, a simple scheme to remove notch root radius bias from apparent fracture toughness was developed. In addition, a size correction for converting NRB results to comparable IT-C(T) results was investigated.
Structural Change and International Strategies in Science and Technology

The development and diffusion of new technologies is a major aspect of the current transformations in advanced countries. Innovation in products, processes and forms of organization is a critical factor for greater productivity, competitiveness, growth and employment, as indicated by a large number of theoretical and empirical analyses.1
Belief Logic Programming with Cyclic Dependencies

Our previous work [26] introduced Belief Logic Programming (BLP), a novel form of quantitative logic programming with correlation of evidence. Unlike other quantitative approaches to logic programming, this new theory is able to provide accurate conclusions in the presence of uncertainty when the sources of information are not independent. However, the semantics defined in [26] is not sufficiently general--it does not allow cyclic dependencies among beliefs, which is a serious limitation of expressive power. This paper extends the semantics of BLP to allow cyclic dependencies. We show that the new semantics is backward compatible with the semantics for acyclic BLP and has the expected properties. The results are illustrated with examples of inference in a simple diagnostic expert system.
A novel information hiding scheme based on BTC

The general hiding strategy is to embed the confidential image such as a weaponry plan, called secret image in this paper, into an in-confidential image. However, we have found that sometimes people also transmit the compression codes generated by a compression technique, such as VQ or BTC, via the Internet in order to save the transmission time. The key point of this paper is to embed the secret image into the compression codes generated by the BTC algorithm, such as means and the bitmap of each block. The experimental results have confirmed that the proposed approach would indeed allow legal receivers to retrieve the secret images without distorting them. Although the original means and bitmaps are modified in order to hide the secret images, the difference between the PSNRs generated by original BTC and our scheme is insignificant.
Phosphorylation State-Specific Antibodies : Applications in Investigative and Diagnostic Pathology

Until recently, the investigation of protein phosphorylation was limited to biochemical studies of enzyme activities in homogenized tissues. The availability of hundreds of phosphorylation state-specific antibodies (PSSAs) now makes possible the study of protein phosphorylation in situ, and is opening many exciting opportunities in investigative and diagnostic pathology. This review illustrates the power of PSSAs, especially in immunohistochemical applications to human disease and animal models. Technical considerations, including antibody specificity and lability of phosphoepitopes, are covered, along with potential pitfalls, illustrated by a case study. In the arena of oncology, PSSAs may prove especially valuable in directly demonstrating the efficacy of chemotherapies targeted at protein kinase cascades. Novel applications of PSSAs are also beginning to reveal molecular mechanisms of inflammatory, degenerative, and toxin-induced diseases.
Analysis of H 3 and He 3 Form Factors and the Determination of the Charge Form Factor of the Neutron

>Elastic scattering of high-energy electrons from H/sup 3/ and He/sup 3/ provided information on the distributions of charge densities, magnetic moment densities, and sizes of the two mirror nuclei. The form factors that describe some of the internal dynamics of nucleons in the ground state of H/sup 3/ and He/ sup 3/ were analyzed. The charge form factor of the neutron was also determined. (C.E.S.)
Spleen cells transmit osteopetrosis in mice

Osteopetrosis was induced in lethally irradiated, normal mice of grey-lethal and microphthalmic stocks by cell infusions prepared from the spleens of osteopetrotic littermates. Failure of skeletal remodeling became evident within a few weeks after transplantation as calcified cartilage and bone accumulated excessively in the active metaphyses of the long bones. The massive lesions produced were extensively infiltrated with abnormal osteoclasts.
Anticancer agent development. 5. X-ray structure and1H nmr spectral analysis of (1α,2α,5α,6α)-2,6-bis(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-4,8-dione

The title compound, C20H14O8, Mr=382.3, crystallized from chloroform in the centric space group P¯1 witha=6.516(4),b=6.798(3),c=9.545(7) A,α=85.31(5),β=73.87(5), γ=79.59(4)°,V=399.2 A3, and Dcalc=1.59 g cm−3 forZ=1. Least-squares refinement of 1035 observed [Fo≥5σ(Fo)] reflections led to the final agreement index ofR=0.074. The molecule resides on a crystallographic center of inversion and is disordered into two different conformations. This manifests itself as a 50/50 disorder at O(4), C(2), and C(3). The observed structure reveals acis relationship between the bridgehead hydrogen atoms and the aryl rings. The 90 MHz1H nmr spectrum of the title compound exhibits an AA′XX′ spin system with a H(1)C(2) to H(1)C(3) and H(1)C(2)′ to H(1)C(3)′ coupling constant of 2.8 Hz. Computer spectral simulation and Karplus equation analysis are utilized to illustrate a relaxation of the torsion angles between H(1)C(2) and H(1)C(3), and H(1)C(2)′ and H(1)C(3)′ is solution.
The relationship between ankle, hindfoot, and forefoot position and posterior tibial muscle excursion.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of forefoot position in the transverse plane (abduction/adduction), hindfoot position in the frontal plane (eversion/inversion), and ankle position in the sagittal plane (plantarflexion/dorsiflexion) with posterior tibialis (PT) muscle excursion using an in vitro cadaver model. Methods: Seven fresh-frozen cadaver specimens were potted and mounted on a frame. The PT tendon was dissected 15 cm proximal to the medial malleolus, and a 5-kg weight was sutured to the tendon. A six-camera motion analysis system (Optotrak, Northern Digital, Inc.) was used to track three-dimensional (3D) motion of the tibia, calcaneus (hindfoot) and first metatarsal (forefoot) using bone pins. The ankle, hindfoot, and forefoot were manually placed in 24 different ankle and foot positions. A stepwise regression analysis was used to examine the relationship among ankle, hindfoot, and forefoot kinematics and PT muscle excursion. Results: Hindfoot eversion/inversion...
BK Virus-Associated Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma With Prominent Micropapillary Carcinoma Component in a Cardiac Transplant Patient: Case Report and Review of Literature

BK virus is a polyomavirus, which causes a ubiquitous infection with an asymptomatic course in immunocompetent individuals and is latent in the genitourinary tract. BK virus reactivation can occur with immunosuppression such as in patients after organ transplantation, which might lead to nephropathy, hemorrhagic cystitis, and has been associated with development of malignancy in the genitourinary tract and nervous system. We present a rare case of urothelial carcinoma with a prominent micropapillary component in a patient 8 years after a cardiac transplantation. Micropapillary urothelial carcinoma (MPUC) is a rare variant of bladder cancer with an aggressive course and poor prognosis. Because of its resistance to intravesical immunotherapy, radical cystectomy is the preferred treatment for nonmuscle-invasive MPUC. This case report adds to the growing body of evidence linking BK virus infection in immunosuppressed patients and the development of MPUC. This aggressive tumor should be suspected in this patient population who present with hematuria.
Electrostatic potential drop across the ionospheric signature of the low‐latitude boundary layer

[1] A study of the behavior of the ionospheric signature of the low-latitude boundary layer is conducted from signatures of the precipitating electrons and the ionospheric convection velocity. Observations are made under southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions in a highly dynamic environment where temporal changes produce large excursions in the location of both the convection reversal boundary and the poleward edge of the particle precipitation associated with the outer edge of the low-latitude boundary layer. We describe the latitudinal width of the boundary layer as the displacement between these boundaries and the bulk plasma flow as the potential difference across the region. On either side of local noon the boundary layer has a latitudinal width of about one degree, widening to about two degrees near dawn and dusk. The potential drop across the boundary layer increases toward local noon and accounts for no more than 30% of the total potential across the polar cap. While the boundary layer is physically wider on the duskside than on the dawnside, the average potential across the dawnside boundary layer is larger than that across the duskside layer. The resulting electric field across the dawnside layer is approximately twice that found in the duskside layer. We also find a higher level of variability in the boundary layer width and potential on the dawnside than on the duskside that may be related to higher levels of turbulence and wave activity associated with the orientation of the IMF with respect to the bow shock.
Construction of soliton solutions and periodic solutions of the Boussinesq equation by the modified decomposition method

Abstract In this paper, we present a reliable algorithm to study the known model of nonlinear dispersive waves proposed by Boussinesq. The modified algorithm of Adomian decomposition method is used with an emphasis on the single soliton solution. New exact periodic solutions and polynomial solutions are obtained. The results of numerical examples are presented and only few terms are required to obtain accurate solutions.
Nonlinear State Estimation in a Polymerization Reactor

This paper concerns nonlinear state estimation in a continuous polymerization reactor where free-radical solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate takes place. Initiator and solvent concentrations and the leading moments of the molecular weight distribution of the polymer are estimated in three measurement cases. For one of the measurement cases, the global convergence of the nonlinear observer is proved. The convergence of the nonlinear observers is shown by numerical simulations, for different values of observer gains, for different observer initial conditions, and in the presence of a measurable disturbance. Furthermore, in each case, the implementation and performance of the nonlinear observer are compared with those of a deterministic extended Kalman filter.
Morbid obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and weight loss surgery.

Objective This study examines the impact of biliopancreatic diversion, a malabsorptive variant of gastric bypass, on liver histology. Methods Liver samples were collected from 689 severely obese (BMI 47 ± 9 kg m2) patients undergoing biliopancreatic diversion. Exclusion criteria included: history of hepatitis, exposure to hepatotoxic medications, prior weight loss surgery, and alcohol consumption greater than 100 grams per week. One group of 14 patients had cirrhosis in their initial biopsy. Eleven of those 14 patients underwent multiple biopsies to monitor their liver disease. A second group of 104 patients had re-operations and a second liver biopsy. A hepatopathologist conducted blind evaluations of all biopsy specimens looking for steatosis and fibrosis. Results All patients lost weight and showed improvement in their metabolic syndrome. Of the 104 patients undergoing re-operation with a second liver biopsy, 28 showed a decrease in severe fibrosis, while 42 patients developed mild fibrosis. On average, this group lost 38 ± 18 kg over 41 ± 25 post-surgical months. A sub-group analysis revealed an association between increased fibrosis and post-operative low serum albumin, diarrhea, pre-operative alcohol consumption, and menopausal status. The eleven patients with cirrhosis in their initial biopsy showed a reduction in their fibrosis grade (mean fibrosis grade from 5 to 3) during nine years of follow-up care. Conclusion These findings indicate that significant weight loss after biliopancreatic diversion can improve liver histology in patients with advanced fibrosis.
Age-dependent stimulation or inhibitoin of calcium release from bone cultures by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

Abstract The effect of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1α,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ) on calcium release fron neonatal and young adult mouse calvaria in tissue culture was studied. At concentrations form 2.3 × 10 −6 M to 2.6 × 10 −9 M, 1α,25-Z(OH) 2 D 3 enhanced calcium release from 5-day-old calvaria. At the same concentrations, 1α,25-(OH) 2 D 3 either inhibited or failed to enhanced calcium release from 75-day-old calvaria. Parathyroid hormone-enhance calcium release from 75-day-old calvaria was inhibited considerably by 1α,25-(OH) 2 D 3 at 2.6 × 10 −6 M and 2.6 × 10 −7 M. These findings suggest that cells involved in the bone resorption process may respond differently to the same stimulus at different stages in the development of the organism. This direct inhibitory effect of 1α,25-(OH) 2 D 3 on bone resorption in cultured calvaria of older animals may explain, in part, its beneficial effect in the treatment of osteoporosis.
What are lipoproteins doing in the brain

Lipoproteins in plasma transport lipids between tissues, however, only high-density lipoproteins (HDL) appear to traverse the blood–brain barrier (BBB); thus, lipoproteins found in the brain must be produced within the central nervous system. Apolipoproteins E (ApoE) and ApoJ are the most abundant apolipoproteins in the brain, are mostly synthesized by astrocytes, and are found on HDL. In the hippocampus and other brain regions, lipoproteins help to regulate neurobehavioral functions by processes that are lipoprotein receptor-mediated. Moreover, lipoproteins and their receptors also have roles in the regulation of body weight and energy balance, acting through lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein (LRP). Thus, understanding lipoproteins and their metabolism in the brain provides a new opportunity with potential therapeutic relevance.
Formation of the cysteinyl form of slow reacting substance (leukotriene E4) in human plasma.

Abstract The two major species of slow reacting substance (SRS) contain either a glutathionyl or cysteinyl-glycyl side chain. Incubation of these SRS's with undiluted or diluted (usually 1:10 or 1:50) human plasma at 37°C resulted in marked losses of smooth muscle contracting activity due primarily to conversion of their oligopeptide side chains to cysteine.
Crack-stability analysis and fracture toughness of ceramic bend bars with a modified circular cross section

Previous analysis has shown that the round bend bar is more stable than the rectangular bend beam. The geometry of the round bend bar was slightly modified to permit precracking of ceramic bars for subsequent fracture-toughness testing. Stability solutions of this new modified round bend bar were found as a function of precrack length for several machine-compliance values. A threshold crack length was determined which predicted the transition from unstable to stable fracture behavior. Experiments with silicon nitride and alumina specimens verified the results of the analysis.