cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Munsell, Albert Henry 1858–1918

Munsell was born on January 6, 1858, in Boston MA where his father was in the piano business. After high school, he attended the Massachusetts Normal Art School in Boston. In 1879, he studied Ogden Rood’s influential book Modern Chromatics. In 1881, he was named an instructor and later a lecturer at this school, positions he held for 25 years. He was awarded a scholarship that made it possible for him to study from 1885 to 1888 at the Academie Julian and the Ecole Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris and one year in Rome. After he returned, he was an active painter of portraits and seascapes.
Aerospace Radio Frequency Propagation Tool

To assess accurately the radio frequency (RF) interference between operational satellite tracking stations and commercial wireless stations (current or future cell towers), validated and accurate RF path loss estimates are needed. The Aerospace Radio Frequency Propagation Tool (ARPT) provides validated long-distance RF path loss predictions.
High-Resolution Synaptic Connectomics

High-speed, high-resolution connectomics enables unambiguous mapping of synapses, gap junctions, adherens junctions, and other forms of adjacency among neurons in complex neural systems such as brain and retina. This chapter reviews the motivations for generating complete network architectures; the technologies available for large-scale network acquisition, visualization, and analysis; the fusion of molecular markers with a high-resolution ultrastructure; new networks and organelles discovered by ultrastructural connectomics; and new technological advances needed to expand the applications of connectomics.
Renewable traitor tracing: a trace-revoke-trace system for anonymous attack

In this paper we design renewable traitor tracing scheme for anonymous attack. When pirated copies of some copyrighted content or content decrypting key are found, a traitor tracing scheme could identify at least one of the real users (traitors) who participate in the construction of the pirated content/key. When traitors are identified, the renewable scheme can revoke and exclude the decryption keys used by the traitors during piracy. Moreover, the revocation information included in the newly released content needs not only to disallow traitors to playback the new content, but also provide new tracing information for continuous tracing. This trace-revoke-trace system is the first such system for anonymous attack. It poses new challenges over the trace-revoke system that has extensively studied in the literatures for the pirate decoder attack. We hope the technologies described in this paper can shed new insights on future directions in this area for academia research.
Expression of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor and its receptor in human Ewing sarcoma cells and patient tumor specimens: potential consequences of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor administration

BACKGROUND. Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a highly vascular malignancy. It has been demonstrated that both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis contribute to the growth of ES tumors. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), a cytokine known to stimulate bone marrow (BM) stem cell production and angiogenesis, is routinely administered to ES patients after chemotherapy. Whether ES cells and patient tumor samples express G-CSF and its receptor (G-CSFR) and whether treatment with this factor enhances tumor growth was examined. METHODS. Human ES cell lines were analyzed for expression of G-CSF and G-CSFR in vitro and in vivo. Sixty-eight paraffin-embedded and 15 frozen tumor specimens from patients with ES were also evaluated for the presence of G-CSF and G-CSFR. The in vivo effect of G-CSF on angiogenesis and BM cell migration was determined. Using a TC/7-1 human ES mouse model, the effect of G-CSF administration on ES tumors was investigated. RESULTS. G-CSF and G-CSFR protein and RNA expression was identified in all ES cell lines and patient samples analyzed. In addition, G-CSF was found to stimulate angiogenesis and BM cell migration in vivo. Tumor growth was found to be significantly increased in mice treated with G-CSF. The average tumor volume for the group treated with G-CSF was 1218 mm3 compared with 577 mm3 for the control group (P = .006). CONCLUSIONS. The findings that ES cells and patient tumors expressed both G-CSF and its receptor in vitro and in vivo and that the administration of G-CSF promoted tumor growth in vivo suggest that the potential consequences of G-CSF administration should be investigated further. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Casein kinase I is regulated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in native membranes.

Casein kinase I activity is present in cells as a cytosolic and a membrane-bound enzyme. Previously, the erythroid membrane-bound casein kinase I was shown to associate with purified integral membrane proteins; this association and protein kinase activity was regulated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) (Bazenet, C.E., Brockman, J.L., Lewis, D., Chan, C., and Anderson, R.A. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7369-7376). Here we show that both the membrane-bound and the cytosolic casein kinase interact with native membranes and that this interaction is regulated by the membrane content of PIP2. On native membranes, casein kinase I activity is potently inhibited by small increases (10-20%) in the membrane content of either exogenously added or intrinsic PIP2. However, the majority of the intrinsic content of PIP2 in isolated membranes does not inhibit casein kinase, suggesting that this PIP2 is not accessible. Regulation of the casein kinases on membranes is sensitive to detergents and to chymotrypsin treatment of membranes.
Electronic Alliances: Outsourcing for Competitive Advantage

While several studies have examined the role of strategic alliances in outsourcing, as a way to manage the client-vendor relationship, no systematic attempt has been made to integrate the knowledge from the strategic management literature. The study contributes to this line of research, by developing a framework that weaves the Relational-Theory View with the outsourcing literature. This synthesis leads to the proposition that the more an outsourcing alliance meets the conditions of Relational-Theory, the higher the rent generating potential for the partners. Specific scenarios are generated based on the strategic value of the considered process, as well as the existence and the visibility of the appropriate capability.
HIGH QUALITY SPLATTING AND VOLUME SYNTHESIS

Our recent improvements to volume rendering using splatting allow for an accurate functional reconstruction and volume integration, occlusion-based acceleration, post-rendering classification and shading, 3D texture mapping, bump mapping, anti-aliasing and gaseous animation. A pure software implementation requiring low storage and using simple operations has been implemented to easily support these operations. This paper presents a unified framework and discussion of these enhancements, as well as extensions to support hypertextures efficiently. Discussions on appropriate volume models for effective usage of these techniques is also presented.
On Computing Canonical Subsets of Graph-Based Behavioral Representations

The collection of behavior protocols is a common practice in human factors research, but the analysis of these large data sets has always been a tedious and time-consuming process. We are interested in automatically finding canonical behaviors : a small subset of behavioral protocols that is most representative of the full data set, providing a view of the data with as few protocols as possible. Behavior protocols often have a natural graph-based representation, yet there has been little work applying graph theory to their study. In this paper we extend our recent algorithm by taking into account the graph topology induced by the paths taken through the space of possible behaviors. We applied this technique to find canonical web-browsing behaviors for computer users. By comparing identified canonical sets to a ground truth determined by expert human coders, we found that this graph-based metric outperforms our previous metric based on edit distance.
Improved Chemical Method for Hypersensitization of Infrared Emulsions

Bath temperature, duration, and composition were the primary variables analyzed to find an optimum combination of speed gain and low mean fog-level for Eastman Kodak IV-N emulsions. Speed gains of 14 to 20 can be realized by 3- to 6-min bathing in a water–alcohol solution containing 6% ammonia, at bath temperatures from 6° to 10°C, for exposure times of 5 min. Equivalent speed gains can be obtained by using pure water baths. However, if the alcohol is left out of the baths in the ammoniating procedure, the speed gains can be doubled.Hypersensitized IV-N emulsions are found to have a very small reciprocity failure, compared to untreated plates. The speed gains are presented for other infrared emulsions which have been hypersensitized by this method. Hypersensitized infrared emulsions can be stored up to three months at dry-ice temperatures (−57°C) without loss of speed gain or increase of fog level.
Three-Dimensional Fluid Flow Phenomena in the Blade End Wall Corner Region

Flow visualization, static and total pressure measurements, and mean velocity profile measurements with a single-sensor inclined hot wire probe, are used in a study of three-dimensional flow at a turbine blade end wall corner region for six critical axial stations along the blade chord. Three vortices are identified: (1) a horseshoe vortex near the leading edge; (2) a corner eddy between the horseshoe vortex and the corner; and (3) a vortex at the rear portion of the corner due to the corner eddy's secondary flow. Attention is given to the relative size and rate-of-spread of the vortices in the streamwise direction.
Relation between mitral annular calcium and complex intraaortic debris

Abstract Mitral annular calcium (MAC) is a degenerative process within the cardiovascular fibrous skeleton. Although originally thought to be a benign process, MAC has been associated with multiple cardiovascular complications, including conduction system abnormalities, mitral regurgitation, atrial fibrillation and bacterial endocarditis. 1 More recently, clinical studies have suggested that there is an association between MAC and the risk of stroke. 2–5 In a population-based study, Benjamin et al 3 found that the presence of MAC doubled the risk of stroke independent of traditional stroke risk factors including atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, and risk factors for atherosclerosis. This study did not specifically evaluate for the presence of coexisting carotid artery disease. Aronow et al 4 recently reported that MAC was seen more often in patients with than without significant extracranial carotid artery disease. The presence of MAC in patients with carotid artery disease conferred an additional risk of new thromboembolic stroke above that found in patients with similar carotid disease but without MAC. 3 Thus, MAC may not only serve as a marker of atherosclerotic disease, but also may confer an increased risk of stroke over and above that due to carotid disease, coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure. These data leave open the controversy as to the actual source of emboli in patients with MAC. We have previously demonstrated an association between complex intraaortic debris and cerebral embolic strokes. 6 The present study evaluates the relation between MAC and complex intraaortic debris in the patient population referred to our transesophageal echocardiography laboratory, in a prospective manner. Such an association would provide a potential source of emboli in patients with MAC which could, in part, account for their increased risk of stroke. To our knowledge, complex intraaortic debris has not previously been evaluated as a potential source of emboli in patients with MAC.
A New Oscillating-Foil Power Generator for Sailingship-Based Renewable Energy Generation

The wind energy available over the globe’s vast ocean areas offers the opportunity to make a decisive contribution to the solution of the energy and climate crisis. In this paper we propose the use of sailing ships equipped with hydropower generators to convert the ocean wind energy into electricity. We describe a new oscillating-foil hydropower generator to achieve this objective. Our preliminary performance estimates indicate the feasibility of generating at least one megawatt of electrical power output per ship for electrolytic conversion of sea water into hydrogen and oxygen. Tests of a small-scale prototype confirmed the expected operational characteristics of the new generator.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Animal and Dietary Factors Affecting Feed Intake During the Prefresh Transition Period in Holsteins

Parity, body condition score (BCS), and dry matter intake (DMI) data of 699 Holsteins fed 49 different diets during the final 3 wk of gestation (prefresh transition period) were compiled from 16 experiments conducted at eight universities. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of animal and dietary factors on DMI and to elucidate interactions between animal and dietary factors and among dietary factors on DMI during the prefresh transition period. Animal factors examined were parity and BCS, whereas dietary factors examined were rumen undegradable protein (RUP), rumen degradable protein (RDP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and ether extract (EE). DMI decreased 32% during the final 3 wk of gestation, and 89% of that decline occurred during the final week of gestation. Day of gestation, animal factors, and dietary factors accounted for 56.1, 19.7, and 24.2% of explained variation in DMI, respectively, and R2 of this linear multivariable model was 0.18. Cows had higher DMI than heifers. DMI decreased linearly as BCS, RUP, and NDF increased, decreased quadratically as EE increased, and increased quadratically as RDP increased. Moreover, the magnitude of DMI depression as animals approached parturition was affected by characteristics of animals and dietary nutrient composition. There were significant parity x EE, BCS x NDF, RUP x NDF, RDP x NDF, NDF x EE, and RUP x EE interactions on DMI. In conclusion, parity, BCS, and concentrations of organic macronutrients in diets affected DMI during the prefresh transition period, and the magnitude of DMI depression as animals approached parturition.
Response of the coronary vasculature to myocardial hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy is often characterized by abnormalities in myocardial perfusion, including decreased coronary reserve, increased minimal coronary vascular resistance, underperfusion of the subendomyocardium during conditions of high oxygen demand and increased risk of infarction in the presence of coronary occlusion. Two major anatomic variables may cause these perfusion deficits. First, the coronary resistance vessels may not grow in proportion to the magnitude of the cardiac enlargement. Second, the luminal diameter of resistance vessels may become reduced as a consequence of medial hypertrophy, hyperplasia or fibrosis. A luminal narrowing coupled with a lack or inadequate numeric proliferation of resistance vessels can markedly limit maximal myocardial perfusion. However, not all models of cardiac hypertrophy are characterized by perfusion abnormalities. A substantial growth of arterioles and capillaries has been documented in exercise- and thyroxine-induced left ventricular hypertrophy. Moreover, at least in some models, angiogenesis occurs when the duration of the ventricular hypertrophy is sufficient. The hypothesis that coronary angiogenesis is stimulated by increased blood flow or prolongation of diastole appears to have support from a number of experimental studies. However, the cascade of events underlying angiogenesis and the numerous variables that characterize the various models of hypertrophy are complex and require elucidation.
Dynamic Behavior of Rod Photoreceptor Disks

Abstract Eukaryotic cells use membrane organelles, like the endoplasmic reticulum or the Golgi, to carry out different functions. Vertebrate rod photoreceptors use hundreds of membrane sacs (the disks) for the detection of light. We have used fluorescent tracers and single cell imaging to study the properties of rod photoreceptor disks. Labeling of intact rod photoreceptors with membrane markers and polar tracers revealed communication between intradiskal and extracellular space. Internalized tracers moved along the length of the rod outer segment, indicating communication between the disks as well. This communication involved the exchange of both membrane and aqueous phase and had a time constant in the order of minutes. The communication pathway uses ∼2% of the available membrane disk area and does not allow the passage of molecules larger than 10 kDa. It was possible to load the intradiskal space with fluorescent Ca 2+ and pH dyes, which reported an intradiskal Ca 2+ concentration in the order of 1 μ M and an acidic pH 6.5, both of them significantly different than intracellular and extracellular Ca 2+ concentrations and pH. The results suggest that the rod photoreceptor disks are not discrete, passive sacs but rather comprise an active cellular organelle. The communication between disks may be important for membrane remodeling as well as for providing access to the intradiskal space of the whole outer segment.
Short-term and long-term effects of postnatal exposure to an adult male in C57BL/6J mice

Rodent models provide a valuable approach to elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of childhood trauma and stress. Neonatal rats and mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) when separated from the dam and litter. USVs are suppressed in rat pups by exposure to the putatively infanticidal threat of an adult male. In the present study, C57BL/6J mouse pups were exposed to an anaesthetized (non-sire) adult C57BL/6J male for 3-min/day from postnatal days 2-14, and subsequently tested for anxiety-related behaviors (using the novel open field, elevated plus-maze, light/dark exploration tests) and depression-related behavior (using the forced swim test) at 11 weeks of age. In a separate cohort, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis activation was measured via plasma corticosterone levels following either a single male-exposure or separation episode. Results showed that pups exposed to an adult male emitted significantly fewer USVs than separation-only counterparts. Corticosterone levels were significantly lower following single exposure to the adult male than separation alone. Repeated neonatal male-exposure did not lead to significant alterations in anxiety- or depression-related behaviors in adulthood. Taken together, present data suggest that the form of adult male-exposure employed did not act as a significant stressor, at least in this mouse strain. Further studies will be needed to determine whether alternative mouse strains, exposure protocols or adult behavioral assays will produce a different pattern of short-term and long-term effects.
The preconditions and consequences of social movement actions: Opinions of immigrant assimilation among local polity members in France

Abstract A new branch of the social movements literature calls attention to the lack of research on the unintended consequences rather than intended outcomes of social movements. This paper examines one of these potential unintended consequences: negative attitudes toward the intended beneficiaries of the movement. The paper departs from past analysis of public opinion, however, by focusing on the views of local polity members. Specifically, the paper analyzes French mayors' attitudes toward immigrant assimilation to evaluate the impact of the immigrants' rights movement in France during the 1980s. Contrary to the expectations of the literature on the unintended consequences of social movements, immigrant protests have little influence on local polity members' attitudes toward immigrant assimilation. Instead, the macro-level preconditions for immigrant mobilization, particularly the size of the immigrant population, are far more important in shaping mayors' attitudes. These findings suggest that research ...
Transcription factors in glutamatergic neurogenesis : Conserved programs in neocortex, cerebellum, and adult hippocampus

Glutamatergic, pyramidal-projection neurons are produced in the embryonic cerebral cortex by a series of genetically programmed fate choices, implemented in large part by developmental transcription factors. Our work has focused on Pax6, Tbr2/Eomes, NeuroD, and Tbr1, which are expressed sequentially during the neurogenesis of pyramidal-projection neurons. Recently, we have found that the same transcription factors are expressed, in the same order, during glutamatergic neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus, and (with modifications) in the developing cerebellum. While the precise functional significance of this transcription factor expression sequence is unknown, its common appearance in embryonic and adult neurogenesis, and in different brain regions, suggests it is part of a conserved genetic program that specifies general properties of glutamatergic neurons in these regions. Subtypes of glutamatergic neurons (e.g., layer-specific fates in the cortex) are further determined by combinations of transcription factors, superimposed on general sequential programs. These new perspectives on neurogenesis add to the conceptual framework for strategies to engineer neural stem cells for the repair of specific brain circuits.
The diagnostic utility of a genetics evaluation in children with pervasive developmental disorders.

Purpose: A genetics evaluation of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) identifies a diagnosis in 6% to 15% of cases. However, previous studies have not measured the incidence of genetic disorders among children with autistic-like features who do not necessarily meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for PDD. Methods: We identified 101 patients at our institution referred for PDD, autism, Asperger syndrome, or autistic features. Seventy-eight were males and 23 were females, giving a male-to-female ratio of 3.4:1. No diagnosis was identified on examination alone, although Rett syndrome was suspected in six females. Seventeen patients did not undergo any type of testing because of noncompliance. Results: Of the remaining 84 patients analyzed, seven (8.3%) were found to have abnormalities on testing. Three chromosomal anomalies were found: one with 5p duplication, one with low-level mosaicism for trisomy 21, and one with an unbalanced 10;22 translocation. Three females were diagnosed with Rett syndrome after MECP2 analysis identified a disease-causing mutation. The remaining patient was found to have an elevated urine orotic acid, with a normal ammonia level, of unknown significance. Conclusion: On the basis of our series, the yield of a genetics evaluation in patients with features of PDD who do not necessarily meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria is 8.3%. Approximately half of these were the result of a chromosomal abnormality. Three cases of Rett syndrome were identified for which autistic behaviors are a well-described feature. These findings suggest that a high-resolution karyotype provides the greatest diagnostic yield for patients with autistic-like features. MECP2 analysis should be considered for females who present with autistic behaviors.
Heterogeneity of myofibrillar proteins in lobster fast and slow muscles: Variants of troponin, paramyosin, and myosin light chains comprise four distinct protein assemblages

Fast and slow muscles from the claws and abdomen of the American lobster Homarus americanus were examined for adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity and for differences in myofibrillar proteins. Both myosin and actomyosin ATPase were correlated with fiber composition and contractile speed. Four distinct patterns of myofibrillar proteins observed in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels were distinguished by different assemblages of regulatory and contractile protein variants. A total of three species of troponin-T, five species of troponin-I, and three species of troponin-C were observed. Lobster myosins contained two groups of light chains (LC), termed "alpha" and "beta." There were three alpha-LC variants and two beta-LC variants. There were no apparent differences in myosin heavy chain, actin, and tropomyosin. Only paramyosin showed a pattern completely consistent with muscle fiber type: slow fibers contained a species (105 kD) slightly smaller than the principle variant (110 kD) in fast fibers. It is proposed that the type of paramyosin present could provide a biochemical marker to identify the fiber composition of muscles that have not been fully characterized. The diversity of troponin and myosin LC variants suggests that subtle differences in physiological performance exist within the broader categories of fast- and slow-twitch muscles.
771 SKIN FIBROBLAST AND CARTILAGE PROTEOGLYCAMS (PG) IN OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA (01) TYPES I AND II

771 SKIN FIBROBLAST AND CARTILAGE PROTEOGLYCAMS (PG) IN OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA (01) TYPES I AND II
Micromechanical Crack Propagation in Nicalon Fiber Toughened Composites

Increasing the toughness of brittle ceramics with fibers has received much attention in the last five years. Many models have been put forth to describe the various facets of cracking in these materials. The intent here is to evaluate how well a relatively simple computational representation of the crack openings for a fracture in a fibrous material predicts the crack openings actually measured in an experimental specimen. The cracks are modeled as distributions of discontinuities within a surface integral representation. The influence of the fibers are accounted for through closing tractions applied at the fracture surfaces. Experimental specimens were loaded using a tensile substage mounted in a scanning electron microscope in visually monitor the crack and damage development. Some of the physical processes associated with matrix crack-fiber interactions were also evident.Copyright © 1995 by ASME
Wireless telephone systems and the impact on patient satisfaction scoring: a pilot study.

A review of patient and family satisfaction measures on one pediatric acute care inpatient unit of 27 beds rated the nurses' promptness in responding to patient call bells in the 40%–50% excellence range. As a process improvement initiative, a wireless telephone system was implemented on the unit for enhancing communications between caregivers. Interventions: During this 6-week trial, each registered nurse (RN) and patient care technician (PCT) was assigned a wireless telephone at the beginning of their shift, thus becoming their communication vehicle for 12 hours. As patient requests came to the nurses' station via the current nurse call system, the health unit coordinator was instructed to call either the RN or PCT on his or her wireless telephone, depending on the patient request. Outcomes: After the 6-week trial, data revealed an increase of 10% to 60% excellence. Both patient and families revealed a faster response time to their need with the implementation of the wireless telephone system pilot.
Influence of contraceptive and other sex steroids on aortic collagen and elastin

Abstract The effects of estradiol, progesterone, the contraceptive steroid combination mestranol-norethynodrel (M-N), and testosterone on aortic connective tissue were studied in ovariectomized and intact female rats. Estradiol and M-N administration to ovariectomized rats resulted in decreased accumulation of aortic collagen and elastin and, after injection of rats with [14C]proline, a lower specific activity of hydroxyproline in aortic collagen and elastin. The ratio of collagen to elastin ( C E ), which is an index of passive stiffness, was relatively low in aortas of all rats receiving female hormones and high in ovariectomized oil-treated and in testosterone-treated rats. Estradiol and M-N reduced C E mainly by decreasing the percentage collagen, but progesterone reduced it by increasing the percentage elastin. It is concluded that sex hormones differentially alter aortic collagen and elastin synthesis and degradation and in so doing alter the accumulation and proportions of the two fibers in the vessel wall.
From minimax value to low-regret algorithms for online Markov decision processes

The standard Markov Decision Process (MDP) framework assumes a stationary (or at least predictable) environment. Online learning algorithms can deal with non-stationary or unpredictable environments, but there is no notion of a state that might be changing throughout the learning process as a function of past actions. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in combining the above two frameworks and considering an MDP setting, where the cost function is allowed to change arbitrarily after each time step. However, most of the work in this area has been algorithmic: given a problem, one would design an algorithm from scratch and analyze its performance on a case-by-case basis. Moreover, the presence of the state and the assumption of an arbitrarily varying environment complicate both the theoretical analysis and the development of computationally efficient methods. This paper builds on recent results of Rakhlin et al. to give a general framework for deriving algorithms in an MDP setting with arbitrarily changing costs. This framework leads to a unifying view of existing methods and provides a general procedure for constructing new ones.
Effects of Iproniazid on Tetrahymena pyriformis

Abstract The effect of iproniazid on the rate of increase of cell mass and on the respiration of the cells and homogenates of Tetrahymena pyriformis has been studied for the purpose of obtaining information concerning the biological action of this drug. A number of different substrates were employed in the respiration studies. Among these, L-tyrosine had a marked stimulating effect on the respiration in both the cells and homogenates. In the presence of L-tyrosine there was a twofold increase in the drug-produced depression of homogenate respiration. Tyramine was not metabolized and had no effect on the drug-produced depression of respiration.
Comparative in vitro neutralization of heparin.

Four classes of antiheparinics have been examined for the in vitro restoration of spontaneous coagulability to heparinized human blood. Of the four antiheparinics studied, toluidine blue was found to be more effective than modified human globin, hematoxylin, or lactose.
Modification of ultrafiltration membranes with block copolymer nanolayers for produced water treatment: The roles of polymer chain density and polymerization time on performance

Abstract This contribution describes the development of advanced membranes for produced water treatment through modification of low molecular weight cut-off regenerated cellulose ultrafiltration membranes with uniquely structured block copolymer nanolayers. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)- block -poly((polyethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PNIPAAm- b -PPEGMA) nanolayers were grafted from the membrane using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. A focus of this study was to better understand the role of polymer nanolayer structure on performance. Specifically, the objective of this work was to use initiator grafting density and PNIPAAm and PPEGMA polymerization times as independent variables to optimize the performance of the surface-modified membranes. Membrane performance was evaluated by measuring water flux using deionized water, synthetic produced water developed from an oil-in-water emulsion, and actual oil-field produced water. Optimization of nanolayer structure yielded membranes with stable permeabilities that compare well to commercial membranes used for removal of organics with high salt passage. The results show that nanolayer structure plays an important role in determining the effectiveness of a polymer coating for fouling prevention, even for polymers that are recognized by the community to have good antifouling characteristics. The membrane surface modification protocol allows optimization of nanolayer structure in ways not achievable by standard coating methods. Visualization by confocal laser scanning microscopy shows that the modification occurs at the membrane external surface and internally within the porous cellulose layer. The modification protocol was used in this study to design highly advanced membranes to separate emulsified oils from produced water.
Reliability in complex electronic equipment

As equipment becomes increasingly complex, component reliability becomes more vital. A statistical study of operational failures of various types of electronic components and ways of reducing these failures are presented. Methods for minimizing maintenance problems through the use of plug-in subassemblies are also discussed.
DNA hypo‐methylating agents and sickle cell disease

Fetal haemoglobin (HbF, alpha2) decreases polymerization of sickle haemoglobin (HbS) and high levels correlate with decreased morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease (SSD). Therefore, a therapeutic goal in SSD is the pharmacologic reactivation of HbF. Silencing of the globin (HbF) gene is associated with DNA methylation. The cytosine analogues 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine) hypomethylate DNA by inhibiting DNA methyl-transferase. In clinical trials, 5-azacytidine and decitabine have demonstrated the greatest efficacy in HbF reactivation. Clinical development of these drugs has been delayed by concerns regarding the carcinogenic potential of 5-azacytidine. Furthermore, controversy regarding DNA hypomethylation versus more generic cytotoxic effects as the mechanism of action suggested that other cytotoxic/cytostatic agents might be as effective. Additional preclinical data and clinical studies of decitabine have tempered many safety concerns and have confirmed that DNA hypomethylation is the mechanism of action. Pharmacologic reactivation of HbF through DNA hypomethylation holds promise as an effective disease modifying intervention for patients with SSD. Larger studies are required to confirm safety and effectiveness with chronic use.
The economic costs to fisheries from marine sediment disposal: case study of Providence, RI, USA

Abstract Ports worldwide are under pressure to dredge channels and berths to accommodate deep-draft vessels. Marine disposal of the dredged sediments, however, often is a controversial issue due, in part, to potential impacts on commercial and recreational fisheries. We use an integrated framework employing engineering, economic, and biological data and concepts to estimate the economic costs to fisheries from disposal of clean dredged sediments from in and around Providence Harbor, RI, USA. The fishery impacts considered include short-term, direct effects that occur during disposal, long-term effects that arise during the recovery period following disposal, and indirect effects that occur through the food web. Economic damages to commercial and recreational fisheries are assessed for seven potential disposal sites, using conservative assumptions that tend to overstate costs. Damages across sites range from about $256 thousand to $1.9 million. A series of sensitivity analyses is done in recognition of the many uncertainties involved. The sensitivity analyses increase the estimated disposal costs, but do not affect to relative sizes of costs across sites. Considering all sensitivity analyses simultaneously, estimated damages range from about $460 thousand to $3.4 million between the lowest- and highest-cost sites.
Negative Affect Predicts Adults' Ratings of the Current, but Not Childhood, Impact of Adverse Childhood Events

Adverse childhood events (ACE’s) have been empirically related to a wide range of negative health and mental health outcomes. However, not all individuals who experience ACE’s follow a trajectory of poor outcomes, and not all individuals perceive the impact of ACE’s as necessarily negative. The purpose of this study was to investigate positive and negative affect as predictors of adults’ ratings of both the childhood and adult impact of their childhood adversity. Self-report data on ACE experiences, including number, severity, and ‘impact’ were collected from 158 community members recruited on the basis of having adverse childhood experiences. Results indicated that, regardless of event severity and number of different types of adverse events experienced, high levels of negative affect were the strongest predictor of whether the adult impact of the adverse childhood events was rated as negative. All individuals rated the childhood impact of events the same. Implications are discussed.
Optical neural networks using a new radial nonlinear neural layer

Abstract Radially nonlinear neurons are introduced, and back propagation learning for multi-layer networks of these simple hidden units is derived and simulated. The nonlineartransformation performed by a hidden layer of radial units can be represented asa simple multiplication of the summed net input to each neuron by a single valuewhich is only dependent on the total input to the hidden layer. This allows a simpleoptical implementation, in which a single modulator/detector is able to act as anentire hidden layer by multiplexing the neuron net inputs and processed outputs. 1. Introduction A unique advantage of optical systems in computing is the ability of many free space optical beams to cross through the same volume without interacting. This property has been used advantageously for linear transfor-mations, interconnections,1 and has been suggested for simultaneous parallel access to the pixels of an optical memory by multiple processor elements.21 However, this property has not been used in a nonlinear optical systemperforming a logical or neural type of operation. Even the idea of multiple nonlinear logic gates sharing the samehardware is foreign to the notion of point nonlinearities for logic, which of course requires no cross talk betweengates. In this paper we introduce a new type of neural nonlinearity that relies on a radial nonlinear mapping in anN-dimensional vector space, as opposed to pointwise nonlinearities normally performed by a layer of independentneurons. We have found a way to incorporate this new radial nonlinearity into an optical neural network in orderto achieve a fundamental advantage in energy per operation for an optical radial neuron.
Knowledge Management Education and Training in Academic Institutions in 2012

The academic discipline of Knowledge Management is maturing. The maturity of knowledge management scholarship has been considered as well as its curricular coverage and alignment with the needs of business. This research suggests that a mature academic discipline is grounded on a mature academic programme. The research defines five dimensions of a mature academic discipline, including: (1) curriculum design; (2) nature and coverage of research programmes; (3) faculty credentials and status; (4) academic programme administration; and (5) programme goals. Maturity factors are identified for each of the five dimensions. In 2012, an open public survey was conducted to determine the level of maturity of academic programmes in knowledge management. The survey results suggest that while there is notable maturity in curriculum design, the remaining four dimensions — research, faculty credentials, programme administration and programme goals — are immature. The research suggests that additional focus be given to these maturity factors in terms of standards. The research further suggests that an annual survey is needed to track progress towards a mature academic discipline.
Nanoprocessing of subcellular targets using femtosecond laser pulses

Abstract In this paper we review the work done in our laboratory on femtosecond laser dissection within single cells and living organisms. Precise dissection of biological material with ultrashort laser pulses requires a clear understanding of the pulse-energy dependence of the onset and extent of plasma-mediated ablation (i.e., the removal of material). We carried out a systematic study of the energy dependence of the plasma-mediated ablation of fluorescently-labeled subcellular structures in the cytoskeleton and in nuclei of fixed endothelial cells using femtosecond, near-infrared laser pulses focused through a high-numerical aperture objective lens (1.4 NA). We performed laser nanosurgery in live cells, where we ablated a single mitochondria and severed cytoskeletal filaments without compromising the cell membrane or the cell's viability. We also cut dendrites in living C. elegans without affecting the neighboring neurons. This nanoprocessing technique enables non-invasive manipulation of the structural machinery of cells and tissues down to several hundred nanometer resolution.
Characterization of antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence genes of Salmonella serovars collected at a commercial turkey processing plant.

Aims: To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, distribution of class 1 integrons, virulence genes and genes encoding resistance to tetracycline (tetA, tetC, tetD and tetE) and streptomycin (strA, strB and aadA1) in Salmonella recovered from turkeys. Methods and Results: The antimicrobial susceptibility of 80 isolates was determined using National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. The distribution of resistance genes, class 1 integrons and virulence genes was determined using PCR. Resistances to tetracycline (76·3%) and streptomycin (40%) were common. Sixty-two (77·5%) isolates displayed resistance against one or more antimicrobials and 33 were multi-drug resistant. tetA was detected in 72·5% of the isolates, while tetC, tetD and tetE were not detected. The strA and strB genes were detected in 73·8% of the isolates. Two isolates possessed class 1 integrons of 1 kb in size, containing the aadA1 gene conferring resistance to streptomycin and spectinomycin. Fourteen of the virulence genes were detected in over 80% of the isolates. Conclusions: This study shows that continuous use of tetracycline and streptomycin in poultry production selects for resistant strains. The Salmonella isolates recovered possess significant ability to cause human illness. Significance and Impact of the Study: Information from this study can be employed in guiding future strategies for the use of antimicrobials in poultry production.
Static score bucketing in inverted indexes

Maintaining strict static score order of inverted lists is a heuristic used by search engines to improve the quality of query results when the entire inverted lists cannot be processed. This heuristic, however, increases the cost of index generation and requires complex index build algorithms. In this paper, we study a new index organization based on static score bucketing. We show that this new technique significantly improves in index build performance while having minimal impact on the quality of search results.
Guanylyl cyclase receptors and guanylin-like peptides in reptilian intestine

Abstract Receptors for guanylin and uroguanylin were identified on the mucosal surface of enterocytes lining the intestine of the bobtail skink ( Tiliqua rugosa ), king's skink ( Egernia kingii ), and knight anole ( Anolis equestris ) by receptor autoradiography using 125 I-ST ( Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin) as the radioligand. Specific, high-affinity binding of 125 I-ST to receptors was found on the microvillus border of enterocytes and little or no specific binding of 125 I-ST was observed in other strata comprising the gut wall. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippensis ) also exhibited receptor binding, but unlike the other three species had relatively high levels of apparent nonspecific binding. A comparison of intestinal cGMP accumulation responses between the American alligator and the knight anole demonstrated a greater magnitude of cGMP responses to ST and guanylin in vitro in the knight anole relative to the tissue cGMP accumulation responses of alligators. Treatment with ST resulted in markedly greater tissue cGMP accumulation responses in both species compared to treatment with guanylin. To complete a paracrine signaling pathway in reptilian intestine, guanylin-like peptides that stimulated cGMP accumulation in human T 84 intestinal cells were isolated from the intestinal mucosa of alligators. We conclude that functional receptor-guanylyl cyclases and one or more endogenous guanylin/uroguanylin-like peptides occur in the intestinal tract of reptiles as well as in the intestines of mammals and birds. Thus, higher vertebrates have a conserved signaling pathway that regulates intestinal function through the first-messenger peptides, guanylin and/or uroguanylin, and the intracellular second messenger, cGMP.
Differential actions of dopamine receptor antagonism in rats upon food intake elicited by either mercaptoacetate or exposure to a palatable high-fat diet.

Selective dopamine receptor antagonists have been shown to reduce food intake of rats under such regulatory challenge conditions as food deprivation and 2-deoxy-d-glucose-induced glucoprivation, and under such palatable conditions as acute exposure to sucrose solutions. Food intake is increased following either pretreatment with the free fatty acid oxidation inhibitor, mercaptoacetate (MA), or acute exposure to a palatable high-fat source. The present study examined whether equimolar doses (50–800 nmol/kg, sc) of either the selective D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390, or the selective D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride, would alter food intake elicited by either MA (70 mg/kg, ip) or acute exposure to a high-fat diet (67% ground rat chow, 33% vegetable shortening). SCH23390 significantly and dose-dependently reduced MA-induced feeding with the two higher (400 and 800 nmol/kg) doses eliminating this response after the first 2 h and the two lower (50 and 200 nmol/kg) doses preventing the occurrence of significant MA-induced feeding. Raclopride eliminated MA-induced feeding at the highest dose, and produced dose-dependent reductions at lower doses. A different pattern of dopamine antagonist effects emerged for high-fat intake. The identical dose range of SCH23390 failed to alter high-fat intake. In contrast, whereas the highest (800 nmol/kg) dose of raclopride significantly reduced high-fat intake after 1 h, the middle (200 and 400 nmol/kg) doses of raclopride significantly increased high-fat intake after 2 h. These data are discussed in terms of the modulatory actions of dopamine upon food intake, of the differential actions of dopamine receptor subtypes upon intake under challenge and palatable conditions, and of the potential participation of presynaptic and postsynaptic receptor populations in these responses.
Displacive phase transformations in solids

Abstract We study diffusionless transformations in solids which involve a sudden change of shape at a certain temperature. We assume the existence of a free energy which depends on the local change of shape and the temperature. Properties of this function reflect the underlying symmetry of the parent and product phases and an exchange of stability from parent to product phase as the body is cooled through the transformation temperature θ0. We concentrate on two questions: (i) How can loads be applied to cause the body to transform to a particular variant of the product phase at or above θ0? (ii) Can the parent phase be recovered by applying some system of loads at or below θ0? Theory and experiment are compared for thermoelastic martensitic transformations in shape-memory materials and for the α-β transformation in quartz.
Glycoconjugate vaccine strategies for protection against invasive Salmonella infections.

Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A and B and certain non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) serovars are important causes of invasive Salmonella disease worldwide. NTS serovars Typ...