cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inverse stable sampled low-pass systems

It is shown that for low-pass systems the fractional-order hold and the pulse amplitude modulation signal reconstruction methods produce an inverse stable sampled transfer function H(z) in some cases when zero-order hold fails to do so. Therefore they may be desirable alternatives to the zero-order hold reconstruction in certain control problems. The problem of how well H(z) models the continuous G(s) is also discussed.
Morphology, structure, and chemistry of nanoclusters in a mechanically alloyed nanostructured ferritic steel

Nanostructured ferritic steels have excellent elevated temperature strengths, creep resistances, and radiation tolerances due to the presence of a high density of Ti–Y–O-enriched nanoclusters. The compositions, morphologies, and structures of the smallest of these nanoclusters with maximum dimensions of ~2–4 nm were investigated in alloy 14YWT by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography. Nanoclusters are found to be coherent with truncated rhombic dodecahedron morphologies defined by the {100} and {110} planes in the Fe matrix. Particles have compositions rich in Ti, O, Y, and Cr that are inconsistent with known oxide structures. The smallest nanoclusters appear to lack an identifiable crystal structure. Both nano-diffraction and focal series imaging through the sample thickness suggest that they are amorphous.
Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency–Related Alleles Z and S and the Risk of Wegener’s Granulomatosis

Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) is a primary systemic small-vessel vasculitis that is associated in ~80–90% of cases with the production of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs). In WG, ANCAs most commonly display a cytoplasmic immunofluorescence pattern (cytoplasmic ANCAs [cANCA]) and are directed against the neutrophilic enzyme proteinase 3 (anti–PR3 ANCA). Cytoplasmic ANCA/anti–PR3 ANCA has been identified as a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of WG and may also be involved in its pathogenesis (1). While the etiology of WG remains unclear, current concepts support the involvement of both environmental and genetic factors in the development of this vasculitis (2). Several studies have shown that the functional genetic polymorphism determining a deficient production of the protease inhibitor α1-antitrypsin (α1AT) is significantly overrepresented in patients with WG (or in cANCA/anti–PR3 ANCA–positive vasculitis). Those studies found that the Z polymorphism of the α1AT gene (also called Serpin A1) was carried by 5–27% of patients with WG as compared with 2–5% of controls (3–11). However, most of these conclusions were based on small case sample sizes (3,5–12) that prevented a thorough investigation of the inheritance pattern of this genetic polymorphism. Data are inconclusive as to whether (6,10) or not (5,8) the S polymorphism, the other major α1AT deficiency allele, also contributes to the risk of WG. These issues considerably hamper the full acceptance and mechanistic understanding of α1AT deficiency as a factor predisposing to WG. Using a large genetic repository for patients with WG, we undertook a case–control association study to reexamine the relationship of the α1AT-deficiency alleles Z and S to WG.
Global health and service learning: lessons learned at US medical schools.

Background: Interest in global health is rapidly increasing amongst US medical students. Many students aspire to incorporate global health into their future careers, while others seek international opportunities to better prepare themselves for domestic practice. US medical schools have begun responding to this burgeoning interest with varying intensity and through a number of different strategies. Conclusions: Three important themes involved include: increasing the academic rigor of programming, fostering sustainable site partnerships, and encouraging mentorship and reflection for the students involved. Finally, the growing practice of service learning might also play a helpful role in integrating these themes into expanding global health programs. Keywords: service learning; global health; medical education (Published: 19 July 2012) Citation: Med Educ Online 2012, 17 : 18848 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v17i0.18848
Gas dynamics and radiation heat transfer in the vapor plume produced by pulsed laser irradiation of aluminum

The interaction of pulsed laser irradiation of nanosecond duration with a metal surface is studied by numerical simulation. The heat transfer in the solid substrate and the melted liquid is modeled as one‐dimensional transient heat conduction using the enthalpy formulation for the solution of phase change problems. A discontinuity layer is assumed just above the liquid surface. Mass, momentum, and energy conservation are expressed across this layer, while the vapor across the discontinuity is modeled as an ideal gas. The compressible gas dynamics is computed numerically by solving the system of Euler equations for mass, momentum, and energy, supplemented with an isentropic equation of state in a two‐dimensional axisymmetric system of coordinates. The excimer laser‐beam absorption and radiation transport in the vapor phase are modeled using the discrete ordinates method. The rates for ionization are computed using the Saha–Eggert equation assuming conditions of local thermal equilibrium. The inverse bremsstrahlung mechanism is considered as the main mechanism of plasma absorption. Results show that a thin, submicron vapor layer is formed above the target surface in the duration of laser pulse while thermal radiation plays the key role for plume cooling during the period of strong absorption by the plasma. The release of a very strong shock wave, propagating with a speed of 104 m/s, is observed in the evaporating plume.
Specific Heat of Germanium and Silicon at Low Temperatures

The specific heats of several samples of silicon have been measured between 1.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The Debye characteristic temperature ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{0}$ at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K is estimated to be 636\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, a value slightly lower than previously reported. Measurements of germanium between 0.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K yield ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{0}=363\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K, in very good agreement with older results.From knowledge of the electronic specific heat and the carrier concentration of several degenerate samples of germanium and silicon, information is deduced concerning the energy band structure of the crystals. Measurements of $n$-type germanium indicate that the conduction band of this substance has four minima. Similar measurements of silicon indicate that there are six minima in its conduction band. The density-of-states effective masses of both electrons and holes in germanium, calculated from this work on degenerate samples, are not appreciably different than found from cyclotron resonance experiments on pure crystals. This result is consistent with the assumption, used in the calculations, that the addition of impurities to a crystal does not change the density of states in the vicinity of the band edge. For silicon, however, the specific heat yields somewhat larger effective masses for the electrons and holes than obtained from cyclotron resonance. Thus, the addition of impurities to silicon affects the shape of the bands.
The Era of Meanness: Welfare Reform and Barriers to a College Degree

In response to the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and the accompanying block grant, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, broad-based advocacy coalitions formed in many states to lobby for meaningful college programs for welfare recipients. State by state, these coalitions wrestled with creating programs that would allow welfare recipients to remain in 4-year colleges, but only a few states managed to develop such programs. This article compares the advocacy coalitions in two states, Maine and New York, where welfare advocates struggled to achieve progressive state welfare higher educational policies and, in some instances, succeeded in keeping welfare recipients in 4-year colleges.
Effects of amphetamine on locomotion in mice pretreated with desmethylimipramine, tetrabenazine or both.

Amphetamine, at intraperitoneal doses of 0.1–3.2 mg/kg, significantly depresses the stimulated motor activity caused by combined treatment with desmethylimipramine (DMI) plus tetrabenazine (TBZ) in mice. The mechanism of this depressant effect probably differs from that for amphetamine's stimulant effect in saline-pretreated mice, since doses that produce the effects are dissimilar. DMI alone fails to potentiate or prolong amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice, probably because it does not block the degradation of amphetamine in mice, as it does in rats. TBZ alone does not potentiate, but rather partially blocks the motor stimulation caused by amphetamine.
Comparative efficacy of behavioral stress management versus propranolol in reducing psychophysiological reactivity in post-myocardial infarction patients.

The present study compared the relative efficacy of a behavioral stressmanagement procedure versus a pharmacologic method (the beta-blocker propranolol) in reducing psychophysiological reactivity in post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. A pretreatment-posttreatment assessment design was used, with 10 patients participating in six separate sessions. The first session involved evaluating psychophysiological reactivity to an emotional stressor (a public-speaking task). The subsequent five sessions involved the administration of the respective treatments, either stress management or drug. The patients were randomly assigned to each treatment group. The public-speaking stressor was readministered after the last treatment session. Results demonstrated that behavioral stress management reduced psychophysiological reactivity to public speaking to the same level seen with propranolol. The findings suggest that this nonpharmacological approach could be of use when beta-blocker therapy is not desired, not practical, or medically contraindicated.
Generation scheduling with integration of wind power and compressed air energy storage

The use of energy storage integrated with wind power is commonly considered in a system for increased operational flexibility. In past years, a fast growth in development of wind generation has been experienced in power system, due to many factors including environment and depletion of fossil fuel resources. With increasing installed wind capacity, the intermittency issues must be addressed. One way to mitigate the intermittency of wind generation is energy storage. In this paper, we study compressed air energy storage (CAES) as an alternative solution to deal with intermittency in wind generation. We present a formulation of security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) problem with emphasis on integration of wind power and CAES. Case studies with eight-bus system are presented in detail to validate the proposed model.
Movements of Adult Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) in the Savannah River, Georgia

Abstract During 1973, 1974, and 1975 movements of 33 striped bass [Morone saxatilis (Walbaum)] in the Savannah River, Georgia were followed through the use of ultrasonic and radio transmitters. During March through May striped bass congregate and spawn in a tidally influenced, relatively shallow, small branch of the river (Little Back River) near Savannah, Georgia, about 30 km upstream from the river mouth. During the spawning season striped bass do not exhibit any specific movement pattern, but remain in this particular sector of the river. Immediately after spawning, all tracked fish moved upstream, some as far as 301 km from the spawning area. Fish remained in the upstream areas at least 4 months. We detected no fish moving downstream during this period. Our data and those from previous work strongly suggest that individuals in this population of striped bass spend the majority, if not all, of their lives in the Savannah River.
Numerical investigation of Richtmyer–Meshkov instability using front tracking

Front tracking simulations of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability produce significantly better agreement with experimentally measured growth rates than obtained in non-tracking computations. Careful analysis of the early stages of the shock acceleration process show that nonlinearity and compressibility play a critical role in the behaviour of the shocked interface and are responsible for the deviations from the linear theories. The late-time behaviour of the interface growth rate is compared to a nonlinear potential flow model of Hecht et al.
Novel endourologic applications for holmium laser

The holmium laser is used routinely during endoscopic procedures to treat stones, strictures, and tumors of the urinary tract. We report two successful novel endourologic applications of a holmium laser: division and removal of a synthetic urethral sling mesh in one patient and fragmentation of a tempered stainless steel surgical needle in another.
Discriminant functions for linear comparisons of means when covariance matrices are unequal

Situations exist, as in the biological example of discriminant analysis for natural hybridization, cited in the text, where (a) not all populations have equal variances, and (b) comparisions based on single degrees of freedom must be planned. This paper presents a statistical methodology of estimating discriminant functions for linear comparisons among k(<2) multivariate normal populations, and of testing their significance, when these populations have unequal covariance matrices.
Influence of testosterone on pup killing in the rat is modified by prior experience.

Abstract The usual response of the adult male rat which is placed together with newborn rat pups for the first time is to kill and eat the pups. In past experiments castration of the male blocked this behavior, and replacement therapy with testosterone propionate (TP) maintained the behavior. In the present experiments this relationship between testosterone and pup-killing behavior was modified by giving the animals prior killing or nonkilling experience. In general, experienced killers continued to kill on a retest after 30 days of testosterone deprivation, and experienced nonkillers tended not to kill on the retest even though they were given daily treatment with testosterone for thirty days prior to retesting.
Microscopic theory of surface diffusion.

We develop a microscopic theory of surface diffusion of adatoms using the Mori continued-fraction formalism. Along the surface plane, the adatom motion is extended leading to diffusive behavior, while motion perpendicular to the plane is assumed bounded and oscillatory. In the high-friction limit, we find a novel analytic solution for the diffusion tensor in terms of generalized adiabatic potentials. We show how the inclusion of vertical motion can cause large quantitative changes in the values of the diffusion coefficients, while keeping the universal properties of surface diffusion in the high- and low-temperature limits qualitatively unaltered. We explicitly compute the diffusion tensor for a variety of different lattices and potentials. In the high-temperature limit, the theory recovers the diffusion of a Brownian particle in a viscous medium. In the low-temperature limit, we demonstrate how the Arrhenius form of activated diffusion and the geometric random-walk form of diffusion anisotropy arise from the theory.
Effective Boundary Conditions Resulting from Anisotropic and Optimally Aligned Coatings: The Two Dimensional Case

We discuss a thermally conducting body insulated by a thin anisotropically conducting coating. The coating is “optimally aligned” in the sense that the normal vector inside the coating is always an eigenvector of the thermal tensor. We study the effects of the coating by investigating the limiting behavior of solutions u of the heat equation with either Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions imposed on the outer boundary of the coating, as the thickness of the coating shrinks to zero. In the two-dimensional case, we find the complete list of “effective boundary conditions” satisfied by the limit of u on the boundary of the uncoated body. This list contains not only the usual Dirichlet, Neumann and Robin boundary conditions, but also some new and even nonlocal ones involving the Dirichlet-to-Neumann mapping and the Hilbert transform on the circle. We also prove that u converges to its limit in various norms that include the L2, the Sobolev and the Holder ones. During the course of this study, we establish a Schauder theory for the regularity of weak solutions of general second order parabolic equations near an interface where the “transmission condition” is satisfied.
The Effect of Various Calcium and Phosphorus Salts on the Severity of Perosis

Abstract THE anatomical deformity of the leg bones of young chickens, known commonly as “slipped tendons” or “enlarged hocks” and more recently as perosis (Titus, 1932), has been generally recognized as a disorder distinct from rickets. The symptoms of perosis have been described fully elsewhere (Hunter and Funk, 1930; Payne, 1930, and so forth). The literature on this subject has indicated that it is a nutritional problem, that excessive calcium and phosphorus induce it and that certain feed-stuffs, such as rice bran, wheat germ, wheat middlings, and oats, possess a preventive factor. This information has been of practical value in reducing the incidence of perosis. On the other hand, the deformity still appears in the field and in the laboratory. This is perhaps due in part to a difference in the susceptibility of different breeds and strains of chicks (Payne, Hughes, and Lienhardt, 1932; Serfontein and Payne, 1934) and to different . . .
Experimental Determination of the Generation Rate Conversion Factor Using a Pulse of Ionizing Radiation of Arbitrary Shape

A method was developed to determine experimentally the generation rate conversion factor, go (electron-hole pairs/m3-rad), using a pulse of ionizing radiation of arbitrary shape. The method involves measuring the photocurrent response of a p-n or Schottky barrier diode as a function of the applied reverse-bias voltage to the diode. The slope of the peak ph tocurrent versus (Vbi + VR)1/2 curve is used to calculate the value of go. The method was applied to Si, GaAs, and GaAs0.5P0.5 Schottky barrier diodes. The experimentally determined values were within ±7.5 percent of the accepted values in the case of silicon and gallium arsenide. The value of go for GaAs0.5P0.5 was found to be 7.45 × 1019 electron-hole pairs/m3-rad.
Netrin signaling breaks the equivalence between two identified zebrafish motoneurons revealing a new role of intermediate targets.

Background We previously showed that equivalence between two identified zebrafish motoneurons is broken by interactions with identified muscle fibers that act as an intermediate target for the axons of these motoneurons. Here we investigate the molecular basis of the signaling interaction between the intermediate target and the motoneurons.
Effect of dexamethasone on collagen metabolism in two strains of mice

Abstract The effect of dexamethasone on skin collagen was studied in adult mice from strains with a high frequency (A/J) or low frequency (NIH Swiss Webster) of spontaneous or stress-induced facial malformations. Dexamethasone inhibited synthesis of collagen in both strains of mice. The proportion of collagen in the skin of dexamethasone-treated A/J but not Swiss Webster mice appeared to increase slightly due to a greater loss of noncollagenous proteins in the skin. These results indicate that dexamethasone causes degenerative effects in the skin by altering both the synthesis and degradation of proteins and that A/J mice are more affected by glucocorticoid treatment.
Dual pools of actin at presynaptic terminals.

We investigated actin's function in vesicle recycling and exocytosis at lamprey synapses and show that FM1-43 puncta and phalloidin-labeled filamentous actin (F-actin) structures are colocalized, y...
Controlled Release of Scopolamine for Prophylaxis of Motion Sickness

(1983). Controlled Release of Scopolamine for Prophylaxis of Motion Sickness. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy: Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 627-646.
Influencing the effectiveness of IT governance practices through steering committees and communication policies

Information technology (IT) governance practices involve efforts by an organization's leadership to influence IT-related decisions through the location of decision rights and the structure of decision processes. Our focus is on two specific aspects of IT governance: IT steering committees and IT-related communication policies. Adopting an inductive research strategy examining qualitative data, we provide evidence on the influence of these governance practices from three small-/medium-sized organizations. While each firm evidenced a centralized IT governance posture, differences in these firms’ IT steering committees and governance-related communication policies were found to explain differences in the firms’ IT use outcomes. Inferences from our findings are presented in the form of propositions informing future research.
Surgical Site Infection Prevention: How We Do It

Abstract Background: Efforts to prevent surgical site infection (SSI) employ methods that are valid scientifically, but each institution and each surgeon also incorporates methods believed to be useful although this has not been proved by clinical trials. Methods: The surgical literature was reviewed, as were practices at the University of Virginia that the authors believe are of value for the prevention of SSI. Results: Preventive antibiotics are established measures. A case can be made for increasing the dose in patients with a large body mass, and antibiotics probably should be re-administered during procedures lasting longer than 3 h. Chlorhexidine showers for the patient are not proven; however, they are inexpensive and of potential benefit. Hair removal is always done with clippers and in the operating room at the time of the procedure. No scientific case can be made specifically for using antiseptic at the surgical site before the incision. Keeping the blood glucose concentration and the core body ...
Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia in Patients Receiving Capecitabine and Intratumor Thymidine Phosphorylase and Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase: Is There a Pharmacologic Explanation?

Abstract Background Palmar-plantar erythordysesthesia (PPE) is the most common toxicity of capecitabine. Preclinical studies have shown that radiation therapy (RT) upregulates thymidine phosphorylase (TP), which could in turn increase the efficacy of capecitabine. Capecitabine is degraded by dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), and a deficiency in this enzyme can increase the toxicity of capecitabine. However, the effect of radiation therapy on frequency of PPE and association with TP and DPD has not been fully characterized. Patients and Methods Toxicity data were collected prospectively in 33 patients and retrospectively in 25 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer enrolled in 3 clinical trials who received capecitabine/RT followed by capecitabine alone. Tumor specimens on 33 patients were procured via endoscopic ultrasonography standards 1 week befoer RT and 2 weeks after RT to evaluate TP and DPD messenger RNA levels. Roche grading was used to assess PPE. Results Among 58 patients, 14 (24%) developed PPE. The capecitabine group tended to have a higher incidence of PPE than the capecitabine/RT group (17.2% vs. 10.3%; P = .12). Grade 2/3 PPE, was observed in 15.5% of patients receiving capecitabine and 1.7% of patients receiving capecitabine/RT ( P = .0078; overall: 17.2%). Median cumulative dose of capecitabine for first development of PPE was 235,000 mg/m 2 in the capecitabine/RT group, and 3,185,000 mg/m 2 in the capecitabine group, with the relative frequency of an event occurring in the capecitabine/RT arm versus capecitabine of 0.59. Time to occurrence of first episode of PPE was a median of 5 weeks with capecitabine/RT and 6 weeks with capecitabine. Log-rank test showed that neither age, sex, performance status, nor ethnicity were associated with development of PPE. There was no clear difference in tumor responses of patients who had PPE versus those who did not have PPE. Mean tumor TP level was higher among patients with versus without PPE (275.77 vs. 215.29; P = .32). Mean tumor DPD level was lower among patients with versus without PPE (55.18 vs. 63.58; P = .49). Mean TP-DPD ratio was higher among patients with versus without PPE (10.29 vs. 3.04; P = .31). Conclusion No significant association of PPE with higher tumor thymidine phosphorylase or lower tumor DPD levels was found. There was no difference in the incidence, severity, or time to occurrence of PPE with capecitabine/RT versus capecitabine, indicating no effect of RT. Further studies to evaluate the underlying mechanism of PPE are required.
The disintegration rate of traditional and chemically modified plastic films in simulated fresh‐ and sea‐water environments

Six plastic films with varying chemical compositions in three different accelerated weathering environments were evaluated for disintegration. The films included two traditional films (LDPE and polystyrene), three with enhanced photodegradability (2% ECO and 10% ECO and LDPE with a vinyl ketone graft), and one with enhanced biodegradability (LDPE with 6% corn starch). The films were exposed to UVA-340 bulbs to simulate sunlight while in fresh water, salt water, or no water conditions. Both the chemical composition of the film and the exposure environment produced significant differences in disintegration rates.
In the throes of civilizational conflict

As the ideological conflict of the former superpowers has ended in the post‐Cold‐War era, some policymakers—in search of new enemies abroad—have discovered a new menace. Having declared victory over the threat from the East—communism—some intellectuals now warn us about a more ominous menace from the South. If the conflict between capitalism and communism arose from competing ideologies and economic systems that both originated in Judeo‐Christian tradition, the new global conflict with the South derives from primeval and civilizational loyalties that do not easily lend themselves to a rational or peaceful resolution. If George Kennan was the Cold War's chief theoretician, then Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington is the intellectual architect of civilizational war. The Third World poses not merely a political and economic threat but also a challenge to the West's cherished and superior values. It threatens Western civilization, which Huntington claims is on the verge of being overrun, polluted, a...
Identification of tubulins as substrates of serine protease HtrA1 by mixture-based oriented peptide library screening

Serine protease HtrA1 belongs to a family of chymotrypsin-like proteases that were first identified in bacteria and later in mammalian systems. These proteases were identified as components of protein quality control in prokaryotic systems and as regulators of diverse signaling pathways in mammalian systems. In particular, HtrA1 is implicated in trophoblast cell migration and invasion, tumor progression, chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity, osteoarthritis, age-related macular degeneration, and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, systematic analysis of its potential substrates in biological system is still lacking. Therefore, we performed a mixture-based oriented peptide library screening to identify putative substrates of HtrA1. We identified [AEGR]-[LAGR]-[IAMLR]-[TVIAL] as consensus residues for P1 to P4 sites. We identified several putative substrates of HtrA1 involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. In this study, we report on the identification of tubulins as potential substrates of HtrA1, and validated tubulins as in vitro and intracellular substrates of HtrA1. These results provide initial insights into substrate identification and functional characterization of HtrA1 in pathogenesis of various diseases.
Using non-dietary gastropods in coastal shell middens to infer kelp and seagrass harvesting and paleoenvironmental conditions

Abstract Archaeologists analyzing shell middens typically focus on larger (>2 cm) mollusks to examine subsistence practices, impacts on littoral habitats, and paleoenvironmental conditions as well as a host of other natural and cultural phenomena. Small (
Analysis of the shading coil magnet

THE MAGNETIC FORCE of attraction on the armature of a shading coil magnet varies at double the frequency of the impressed voltage. A chattering noise begins when an externally applied force, tending to pull the armature away, increases to the point where it is about equal to the minimum value of the variable magnetic force. The main purpose of this paper is to develop a simple method of design that will make the minimum value of the variable magnetic force as large as possible, for a given magnet.
Instrument Busy Time and Mass Measurement using Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (ATOFMS) instruments have been used widely to measure the size and composition of single ambient aerosol particles. ATOFMS data do not directly and quantitatively represent aerosol composition because the instruments exhibit non-linear response to particle concentration, size, and composition. Our approach is to analyze separately the components of non-linear ATOFMS response using field sampling data in order to understand ATOFMS response to ambient aerosols so that ATOFMS data can be scaled to more closely represent ambient aerosols. In this work we examine the effect of instrument busy time, mainly the time to process and save data, on ATOFMS response to ambient aerosols sampled during the 1999 Bakersfield Instrument Intercomparison Study (BIIS). During this study an ATOFMS instrument was operated alternately in normal and fast scatter data acquisition modes. In fast scatter mode, the instrument does not record mass spectra, minimizing instrument busy time; these...
Methods for the Determination of Specific Organic Pollutants in Water and Waste Water

This paper reviews methods for sample collection and pretreatment and for isolation and determination of specific organic compounds with emphasis on methods for determination. Methods for organochlorine, organophosphorus, and organonitrogen pesticides and phenoxy acid herbicides are presented. Methods for the determination of other chlorinated organics such as polychlorinated biphenyls, organic solvents, and other selected organic compounds are also presented. Gas chromatography is the most widely applicable and popular method for detecting and measuring specific organic compounds in water, waste water, and other environmental media. When coupled with selective detectors, gas chromatography becomes the most sensitive and selective method for qualitative and quantitative determination of organic compounds that is available. The recent development and application of the computer-controlled gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer adds a much needed extra dimension to organic analysis, that of unequivocal identification of compounds that can be only tentatively identified by other means. Gas chromatographic methods are selectively applied either directly on the raw sample or after concentration by adsorption or solvent extraction and evaporation. A variety of other determinative methods such as infrared, ultraviolet, and fluorescent spectroscopy; liquid chromatography; and thin-layer chromatography have application in the broad spectrum of organic analysis. Selected examples of the application of these methods are presented.
Protectionism, labor mobility, and immiserizing growth in developing economies

Abstract In a small, tariff-ridden, developing economy with imperfect labor mobility, we show that capital accumulation may not immiserize even with foreign rent repatriation. Employment creation effects can outweigh losses in tariff revenue. With perfect immobility, immiserization cannot occur without repatriation.
Thermal capillary waves relaxing on atomically thin liquid films

Atomistic simulations are used to investigate the relaxation dynamics of thermal capillary waves on thin flat liquid films. Short Lennard-Jones polymers (n=2, 4, and 8) model the liquid in films of thickness 6σ to 96σ, where σ is the Lennard-Jones atomic length-scale parameter. Assuming no-slip boundary conditions on the solid wall and constant surface tension and viscosity, the standard continuum model predicts that capillary waves decay with rates ω that scale with wavenumber q as ω∼q4 for long wavelengths and ω∼q for short wavelengths. The atomistic simulations do indeed show these scalings for ranges of q, and, of course, this model must fail for large q as wavelengths approach atomic scales. However, before a complete breakdown of the continuum description, an unexpected intermediate regime is found. Here the decay rates follow an apparent ω∼q2 power law. The behavior in this range collapses for all the cases simulated when q is scaled with the radius of gyration of the polymers, indicating that a mo...
Edward Lear Dismembered: Word Fragments and Body Parts

If waste is simply matter out of place, then nonsense, for Edward Lear, consists of parts out of place. Lear removes sections of words and bodies alike, going on to build new creations out of stray...
National Health Policy 1976

Excerpt If one accepts the statement that not making a decision is in fact making a decision to allow events to proceed without any overt action by the "nondecision" maker, then the United States d...
Magnetic resonance enterography and wireless capsule endoscopy in the evaluation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract Background Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) is increasingly used in children due to growing concerns of radiation. Objective To determine the performance of MRE, imaging findings were compared to wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) and histology results in children with/or suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Materials and methods Pathology and WCE reports were retrospectively reviewed in 23 patients who had MRE. Results The sensitivity of MRE was 75.0% while the sensitivity of WCE was 77.8%. Conclusion MRE and WCE are complementary techniques in evaluation of the small bowel in IBD.
Contingent predictability in evolution: key traits and diversification.

Key innovations have often been invoked to explain the exceptional diversification of particular groups. However, there are few convincing examples of traits that are repeatedly and consistently associated with increased diversification. The paucity of such cases may reflect the contingent nature of the diversifying effect of key traits. These contingencies can be viewed as statistical interactions between the trait and at least three kinds of factors: (1) other taxa, (2) other traits of the group itself, and (3) the physical environment. I describe tentative examples in each of these categories: (1) a dampening of the diversification of clades with image-forming eyes by groups that earlier evolved such eyes, (2) an effect of growth form (woody or herbaceous) on the diversifying effect of biotic seed dispersal in angiosperms, and (3) an effect of atmospheric CO 2 level on the diversifying effect of C 4 photosynthesis in monocots. These examples suggest the need for more complex analyses of the relationship between possible key traits and diversification. They also suggest that radiations may be predictable given certain circumstances, thus supporting a view of evolution as both predictable and contingent. Ironically, a certain degree of predictability may be critical to arguments for evolutionary contingency.
The Elasticity of Export Demand for U.S. Cotton

The conceptually relevant elasticity for policy analysis is the total export demand elasticity, which takes into account feedback effects of the U.S. price on other countries' prices. In this paper, a total export demand elasticity for U.S. cotton is estimated in an extended Armington framework. The results indicate that the export demand facing the United States is probably elastic; however, estimated total demand elasticities are considerably less elastic than the estimated direct demand elasticities, which do not account for feedback effects resulting from finite excess supply elasticities in the rest of the world. In designing agricultural policy, a knowledge of relevant elasticities is essential. Given the current economic climate characterized by volatile export markets and prices, the price elasticity of export demand has received considerable attention. Economists, however, have not reached a consensus about the magnitude of this parameter. In their review of studies of price elasticity of export demand for agricultural commodities, Gardiner and Dixit report seven estimates of the elasticity of export demand for U.S. cotton, ranging from -0.02 (Taylor and Collins) to -5.5 (Johnson). Because the policy recommendations based on the assumption of an elastic foreign demand could differ dramatically from those based on the assumption of inelastic foreign demand, further research in this area is warranted. The objective of this paper is to develop estimates of the elasticity of foreign demand for U.S. cotton. The Armington approach was used to formulate models for estimation because it is simple to formulate, is a powerful method for modeling U.S. crop exports (Sarris 1981, Thompson), and had not been used extensively in modeling cotton trade. The study differs from previous works by extending the Armington framework to estimate "total" elasticities of demand, in which feedback effects of U.S. price on the price of other countries' cotton is taken into account. Results from this paper should be useful in estimating the elasticity of export demand for U.S. cotton and in demonstrating the importance of estimating "total" export demand elasticities.
Metabolic clearance and secretion rates of human prolactin in normal subjects and in patients with chronic renal failure.

Hyperprolactinemia (PRL, >15 ng/ml plasma)was observed in 70% of 73 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on maintenance hemodialysis. Plasma GH was also elevated (>5 ng/ml) in 42%, but PRL, GH, and creatinine levels did not correlate with one another. The MCR of human [131I]-PRL was determined in 6 normal females and 6 females with CRF using a constant infusion method. The PRL MCR was decreased by 33% in the CRF patients compared with that in normals (26.8 ± 2.3 vs. 40.2 ± 2.5 ml/min/m2; P < 0.01). The PRL secretion rate was 367 ±63 ng/min/m2 in the normals and 1162 ± 385 (P <0.05) in the CRF group. The disappearance of [131I]hPRL from plasma after discontinuation of the constantinfusion was multiexponential. The initial phase (0–45 min) disappearance rate was significantly prolonged (P < 0.01) in CRF patients. Sephadex G-75 gel filtration of plasma from a CRF patient obtained 30 min after a single injection of human [131I]PRL revealed that 94% of the immunoprecipitable radioactivity eluted in the po...
The schizophrenic brain: A broken hermeneutic circle. Some new insights and results

Schizophrenia is often regarded as a set of symptoms caused by impairments in the cognitive control in macro-networks of the brain. To investigate this hypothesis, an fMRI study involving an associative learning task was conducted with schizophrenia patients and controls. A set of generative models of the BOLD signal generation were defined to describe the interaction of five brain regions (Primary Visual Cortex, Superior Parietal and Inferior Temporal Cortex, Hippocampus and Dorsal Prefrontal Cortex) and the experimental conditions. The models were fitted to the data using Bayesian model inversion. The comparison of different model connectivity structures lead to the finding that in schizophrenia, there are significant impairments in backward connections from prefrontal cortex to hippocampal and temporal regions in patients. These findings fit very well with the predictions of a neuron network model of encoding-recall switching dynamics we have described previously.
Identifying cancer-related microRNAs based on gene expression data.

Motivation MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that play important roles in post-transcriptional regulations as well as other important biological processes. Recently, accumulating evidences indicate that miRNAs are extensively involved in cancer. However, it is a big challenge to identify which miRNAs are related to which cancer considering the complex processes involved in tumors, where one miRNA may target hundreds or even thousands of genes and one gene may regulate multiple miRNAs. Despite integrative analysis of matched gene and miRNA expression data can help identify cancer-associated miRNAs, such kind of data is not commonly available. On the other hand, there are huge amount of gene expression data that are publicly accessible. It will significantly improve the efficiency of characterizing miRNA's function in cancer if we can identify cancer miRNAs directly from gene expression data. Results We present a novel computational framework to identify the cancer-related miRNAs based solely on gene expression profiles without requiring either miRNA expression data or the matched gene and miRNA expression data. The results on multiple cancer datasets show that our proposed method can effectively identify cancer-related miRNAs with higher precision compared with other popular approaches. Furthermore, some of our novel predictions are validated by both differentially expressed miRNAs and evidences from literature, implying the predictive power of our proposed method. In addition, we construct a cancer-miRNA-pathway network, which can help explain how miRNAs are involved in cancer. Availability and implementation The R code and data files for the proposed method are available at http://comp-sysbio.org/miR_Path/ Contact liukeq@gmail.com Supplementary information supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Oxygen radicals trigger activation of NF-κB and AP-1 and upregulation of ICAM-1 in reperfused canine heart

We investigated whether oxygen radicals generated during ischemia-reperfusion trigger postischemic inflammation in the heart. Closed-chest dogs underwent 90-min coronary artery occlusion, followed ...
A conservation law for generalization performance

Many aspects of concept learning research can be understood more clearly in light of a basic mathematical result stating, essentially, that positive performance in some learning situations must be offset by an equal degree of negative performance in others. We present a proof of this result and comment on some of its theoretical and practical ramifications.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type II

There are two general categories of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes, types I and II; type II is further subdivided into subtypes a and b. MEN I (Wermer’s syndrome) was described in 1954 (Wermer 1963) and is characterized by the concurrence of neoplasia of the parathyroid glands, pituitary gland, and pancreatic islet cells. Less commonly, adenomas of the adrenal cortex or the thyroid gland occur. Most often, the parathyroid glands are involved, and affected patients have hypercalcemia, although many are asymptomatic. Clinical syndromes or biochemical abnormalities associated with pituitary or pancreatic islet cell neoplasia occur much less commonly. Majewski and Wilson (1979) in a recent autopsy study noted evidence of pathologic changes in the pituitary gland, pancreatic islet cells, and parathyroid glands in virtually 100% of patients affected with MEN I even though many of the patients had no clinical or laboratory evidence of disease prior to death.
Effect of hypertriglyceridemia on endotoxin responsiveness in humans.

Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins can inhibit endotoxin activity in vitro and in rodents. We sought to determine whether Intralipid, a triglyceride-rich fat emulsion which in contact with plasma functions similarly to endogenous lipoproteins, can alter the human response to endotoxin. Intralipid inhibited endotoxin-induced cytokine production in human whole blood in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal inhibition (up to 70%) being achieved at a concentration of 10 g/liter. In healthy men, a bolus intravenous injection of endotoxin (lot EC-5; 20 U/kg of body weight) was given midway through a 4-h infusion (125 ml/h) of either 5% glucose (n = 5) or 20% Intralipid (n = 5). The infusion of Intralipid led to an increase in triglyceride levels in serum from 95 +/- 16 to 818 +/- 135 mg/dl prior to endotoxin administration, i.e., levels that importantly reduced cytokine production in endotoxin-stimulated whole blood. However, in vivo hypertriglyceridemia did not influence inflammatory responses to endotoxin (fever, release of tumor necrosis factor and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors, and leukocytosis) or even potentiated endotoxin responses (release of interleukins 6 and 8 and neutrophil degranulation). Hypertriglyceridemia does not inhibit the in vivo responses to endotoxin in humans.
Designing fuzzy logic systems

We present a formulation of a fuzzy logic system (FLS) that can be used to construct nonparametric models of nonlinear processes, given only input-output data. In order to effectively construct such models, we discuss several design methods with different properties and features. We compare and illustrate systems designed with each one of the methods, using an example on the predictive modeling of a nonlinear dynamic (chaotic) system.
Glass for the future: Displays and semiconductors

Glass has been a key material manipulated for human use throughout history. The earliest known glass vessels from 5,000 years ago show substantial composition sophistication in terms of color, strength, and applications. The increased diversity, complexity, and global connectivity of modern lives have driven a commensurate change in the evolution of the functionality of glass. As a substrate for displays, glass has evolved to encompass advanced display technologies from the very large to the very light and portable. As a thin strand it enables petabit communications [1, 2]. The fundamental material can be used as a high performance substrate for semiconductor applications, which is the subject of this paper. We will describe the underlying material technology innovations required to enable these applications. In conjunction with all of these materials platforms are the VLSI chips and software that work seamlessly across multiple appliance platforms.
Evaluating the relative importance of spectral, topographic, and texture features in the ecosystem classification

In the past decade, the ensemble of classifiers such as decision trees has been proposed as a new strategy for the improvement of the performance of individual tree classifiers. However, it posed a new challenge of feature selection for high-dimensional data classification. The traditional feature ranking methods for individual tree was not suitable for the AdaBoost trees algorithm. In this study, we proposed an improved method to evaluate the relative feature importance of multi-source input data in the AdaBoost tree algorithm. The feature selection algorithm has been applied to an ecosystem classification in the Eastern Mojave Desert through multi-season LANDSAT TM/ETM+ images, QuickBird images and terrain-related GIS data layers. A total of 60 spectral layers derived from multi-season TM/ETM+ images, 76 texture layers from high-spatial resolution QuickBird images, and 6 terrain-related GIS layers were pooled in the AdaBoost trees classifier. We analyzed and discussed the feature ranking in the AdaBoost trees, selected the top ranking features for the AdaBoost trees, and acquire the similar classification accuracy. The results showed that the topographic features had major influence for ecosystem classification, followed by spectral layers; and the texture layers derived from QuickBird images could further significantly increase the classification accuracy.