cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of sodium butyrate on primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes.

Sodium butyrate, at millimolar concentrations, seems to mediate or initiate multiple effects on many mammalian cells in culture. Although many transformed cell lines respond to butyrate treatment with acquisition of normal cellular characteristics, the effect of butyrate on a normal cell type, the parenchymal hepatocyte, has not been studied. Serum-free primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes maintain many adult characteristics, yet after several days in culture a loss of adult characteristics occurs while fetal characteristics are often reexpressed. Therefore, we investigated whether butyrate treatment would improve the morphologic and biochemical characteristics of cultured hepatocytes. Exposure to 5 mM butyrate for 3 d did not affect hepatocyte viability or morphology but retarded the progressive decline in cytochrome P-450 levels and 5′-nucleotidase activity. The spontaneous increase in alkaline phosphatase activity was reduced and the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase was inhibited after 3 d in culture. The fetal liver characteristic, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, was not affected by butyrate treatment. Results of this study suggest that butyrate represents a nontoxic compound capable of improving the maintenance of cell culture characteristics of adult rat hepatocytes.
OPTIMIZATION OF RESOLUTION IN MICELLAR ELECTROKINETIC CHROMATOGRAPHY

A comparison of separations conducted in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and SDS modified with Brij 35 indicates that selectivity, in Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (MEKC), is governed by the composition of the micellar phase. Beyond selectivity optimization, resolution may be improved by increasing efficiency or decreasing electroosmotic flow. Of these approaches, increasing capillary length (to improve efficiency) should be a more time effective means of improving separation.
Re-examination of the localization of Mg-chelatase within the chloroplast

In a plastid-free assay, Mg-chelatase from pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Spring) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Sumter) chloroplasts is inhibited to equal extents by the mercurial reagents, p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) and p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS). However, in intact chloroplasts PCMB inhibits Mg-chelatase fourfold more strongly than does PCMBS. Since PCMBS cannot penetrate membranes as readily as PCMB, Mg-chelatase may be localized interior to the inner chloroplast envelope. When Mg-chelatase is assayed with photosynthetically generated ATP, the presence of an external ATP trap does not inhibit activity, suggesting that the enzyme is not located in the interenvelope space. None of the components of Mg-chelatase are integral membrane proteins: Mg-chelatase activity is readily solubilized by washing the total chloroplast membranes in buffers of low MgCl 2 content. This precludes localization by purifying individual thylakoid and envelope membranes which requires low MgCl 2 concentrations.
Inhibition by Metabolic Intermediates of Pyrophosphate : Fructose 6-Phosphate Phosphotransferase from Germinating Castor Bean Endosperm

Summary The aim of this work was to study the effects of metabolic intermediates on pyrophosphate: fructose 6-phosphate phosphotransferase (PFP) from endosperm of germinating castor bean ( Ricinus communis ). Glucose 1-phosphate, glucose 6-phosphate, UDPglucose, glucose, fructose, sucrose and pyruvate, each at 1 mM, and malate, succinate and glycolate, each at up to 5mM, had no significant effect on enzyme activity. PFP was inhibited by 3-phosphoglycerate, 2-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate, citrate and all nucleotides tested. Inhibition by MgATP, 3-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate and citrate was due primarily to their effect on the affinity of PFP for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, a potent activator of the enzyme. These inhibitors each increased the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate required for half maximum activation of PFP up to 30-fold, from 6 to 180 nanomolar. The possible roles of these compounds in the control of PFP are discussed.
Comparative statics in matching markets

Abstract This paper studies the comparative statics of adding agents to matching markets that generalize the marriage and college-admissions markets of D. Gale and L. Shapley (Amer. Math. Monthly 69, 1962, 9–15). It is shown, for the wide class of matching markets studied by A. Roth (Econometrica 52, 1984, 47–57), that adding an agent to one side of the market weakens the competitive positions of the other agents on that side and strengthens the competitive positions of the agents on the other side.
Does peer mentoring increase retention of the mentor

The Michigan Tech's GUIDE (graduate and undergraduate initiative for development and enhancement) and ExSEL (excelling in science and engineering learning) programs have been using peer mentoring to help retain female and underrepresented minority engineering students for over five years. Mentoring has been a successful retention strategy. Most mentoring programs measure success by looking at the retention of the mentee. This paper will address the question, "Does a peer mentoring program also increase retention of the mentor?" To demonstrate how being a peer mentor helps retain the students who are mentoring, retention data will be analyzed and anecdotal evidence will be presented. Survey results regarding how the mentoring experience has helped the mentor academically, socially and professionally will be provided. Additionally, peer mentor performance data regarding job placement, campus activities, and academic success will be examined and compared to the Michigan Tech College of Engineering (COE) average.
Adaptive Vehicle Stability Control With Optimal Tire Force Allocation

Vehicle stability control systems have been receiving increasing attention, especially over the past decade, owing to the advances in on-board electronics that enables successful implementation of complex algorithms. Another major reason for their increasing popularity lies in their effectiveness. Considering the studies that expose supporting results for reducing crash risk or fatality, organizations such as E.U. and NHTSA are taking steps to mandate the use of such safety systems on vehicles. The current technology has advanced in many aspects, and undoubtedly has improved vehicle stability as mentioned above; however there are still many areas of potential improvements. Especially being able to utilize information about tire-vehicle states (tire forces, tire-slip angle, and tire-road friction) would be significant due to the key role tires play in providing directional stability and control. This paper presents an adaptive vehicle stability controller that makes use of tire force and slip-angle information from an online tire monitoring system. Solving the optimality problem for the tire force allocation ensures that the control system does not push the tires into the saturation region where neither the driver nor the controller commands are implemented properly. The proposed control algorithm is implemented using MATLAB/CarSim® software packages. The performance of the system is evaluated under an evasive double lane change maneuver on high and low friction surfaces. The results indicate that the system can successfully stabilize the vehicle as well as adapting to the changes in surface conditions.© 2012 ASME
Semiclassical theory of phonon-drag magnetothermoelectricity in metals

Using semi-classical transport theory, exact expressions are obtained for the low temperature phonon-drag contribution to the thermoelectric tensor of a metal in a high transverse magnetic field, H. It is shown that the off diagonal elements (exy and eyx)of the thermoelectric tensor to leading order go as 1/H and, under certain symmetry conditions, are independent of the impurity scattering. It is also shown that under the same conditions the diagonal elements to leading order go as 1/H2. It is especially significant that exy does not contain any of the complex many-body effects predicted by Nielsen and Taylor1 and by Hasegawa2. Since exy is also amenable to measurement, the real possibility exists, for the first time, of testing the theory of phonon-drag in metals.
Intercultural Perspectives on Cyberspace: An Updated Examination

Cyberspace is the Global Village, a sphere for interaction between users from multiple cultural backgrounds. It can unite people or divide them for motives rooted in ideology, politics, historical background, race, or religion. Readers will find it useful to read an article on cyberspace from an intercultural perspective because, most likely, they will be able to relate their experience and knowledge of cyberspace to the analytical and theoretical framework presented in this article. An important conclusion is that cyberspace facilitates the creation of a second order of culture, which differs from the synchronous exchange of symbols and sounds between people in three-dimensional space.
Diet of age-0 tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in anthropogenically-modified and natural nursery habitats along the Indian River Lagoon, Florida

As human development in coastal areas increases, the role of anthropogenically-created habitats in the life history of marine organisms is becoming increasingly important. We examined the diet of age-0 tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, in and around man-made mosquito control impoundments along the Indian River Lagoon in east-central Florida, with a particular focus on identifying dietary patterns associated with tarpon size and nursery habitat type (i.e., between perimeter pool habitats in established impoundments and newly-created restoration marsh habitats). Age-0 tarpon were found to consume a wide variety of prey organisms, and exhibited considerable dietary variation among study sites. Smaller juvenile tarpon consumed a limited number of small prey taxa, while larger individuals fed on a greater range of prey taxa and sizes. Overall, copepods and fishes were the dominant prey items; however, the consumption of these organisms varied considerably among size classes and sites. There was no clear difference in tarpon diet between the two types of habitat we examined. The ability of juvenile tarpon to utilize such a diverse range of prey organisms may allow populations to inhabit a variety of habitats, including man-made marshes. When natural systems have been degraded or destroyed, human-altered habitats can assume a nursery role for the species.
The interdisciplinary laboratory program in materials sciences

IT seems particularly timely to offer a broad discussion of the background and implementation of the Interdisciplinary Materials Sciences Program of the Advanced Research Projects Agency. It is one which is unique in many respects and has attracted considerable interest within the scientific community. It is revolutionary in character, and there have been numerous inquiries concerning the program from the agencies of the government as well as from industry, research institutes, and university personnel engaged in or associated with materials research. Our purpose is to present some of the fundamental aspects of the program and to provide an insight from which the philosophy, objectives, and implementation will become a coherent pattern.
A generalization of Fan's condition for Hamiltonicity, pancyclicity, and Hamiltonian connectedness

Abstract A weakened version of Fan's condition for Hamiltonicity is shown to be sufficient for a 2-connected graph to be pancyclic (with a few exceptions). Also, a similar condition is shown to be sufficient for a 3-connected graph to be Hamiltonian-connected. These results generalize the earlier work of Benhocine and Wodja (1987).
A Note on Optimal and Robust Spacing Selection.

The problem of quantile selection for the asymptotically best linear unbiased estimators of location and scale parameters is considered. The asymptotic properties of several quantile selection methods for simultaneous parameter estimation are derived and simple approximate solutions are provided. A robust scheme for quantile selection is also developed.
Deformation within foreland thrust sheets by populations of minor faults

The dominant deformation mechanism within foreland thrust sheets is the displacement of blocks of weakly deformed rock on discrete, mineral-coated minor faults. In highly deformed layers at the bases of three Southern Appalachian foreland sheets, such minor faults are members of families or populations of consistently oriented structures. The deformation style is similar in all three sheets. Rock nearest each thrust was shortened in the direction of sheet transport and thickened by a family of faults oriented at low angles to the thrusts. Rock further above each thrust experienced only the first of these two deformation stages. Statistical analyses of fault populations from these three sheets demonstrate that their deformation is quantitatively as well as qualitatively similar. Deformation due to movement on minor faults is statistically homogeneous at the scale of an outcrop in one of these sheets; strain due to minor faults can be measured in that sheet. A strain profile across this sheet is similar to strain profiles across continuously deformed sheets from internal portions of mountain belts, suggesting that their responses to emplacement are similar.
An Examination of the Technology Acceptance Model in Uruguay and the US: A Focus on Culture

AbstractIn recent years, there has been a large body of literature devoted to the acceptance and use of information technology. Researchers have built on the work of Davis to refine the technology acceptance model (TAM) and to use it in various research settings to predict acceptance of information systems. The present study extends that research into Latin America by examining email usage among two distinct populations and investigating possible moderating effects that Hofstede's four cultural dimensions have on the TAM constructs. We examine potential moderating effects by using inferential statistics to test the hypotheses of this research. Our findings indicate that TAM functions well across cross-cultural boundaries but in their current form, it is impossible to test the impact of the individual culture dimensions on the relationships in the TAM model. To address this obstacle an alternative to Hofstede's measurement is suggested for future research.
Miscibility in Blends of Chlorinated Polyethylene and Chlorinated Poly(vinyl chloride).

Miscibility in blends of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC) has been determined as a function of polymer composition at 170°C. The phase state was determined by differential scanning calorimetry to observe glass transition behavior. Experimental results were analyzed using a first-order mean-field treatment for binary mixtures of random copolymers in which it was assumed that both polymers could be regarded as containing only two randomly disposed repeating units. The miscibility-immiscibility boundary was calculated to provide a best fit of the experimental results and fitted to a segment of an ellipse as predicted by theory. A major result was that mixtures of CPEs and CPVCs with identical chlorine content were found to be immiscible; this effect arises from differences in the microstructures of these polymers.
Optimization of the TFA-MOD Process for Introduction of ${\rm BaZrO}_{3}$ Pinning Centers in YBCO Films

We present results of a study aimed at understanding the formation of BaZrO3 (BZO) precipitates in YBCO using the TFA-MOD process, as well as optimizing the BZO concentration with respect to the flux pinning performance. A reference YBCO sample containing no BZO, as well as three samples containing 4, 5 and 6% BZO were made and characterized with respect to in-field critical current (IC) performance and angular field IC dependence. Furthermore, the samples were analysed using transmission electron microscopy to identify the morphology of pinning precipitates and correlate it to the flux pinning behavior. The introduction of BZO does not result in formation of c-axis peaks in the angular field IC behavior, but rather in considerable widening of the ab-plane peaks in the field angular IC behavior with increasing BZO content, as well as in decreased field-angular anisotropy of IC. This behavior is analysed and correlated to the underlying microstructure of pinning precipitates.
Twisted supersymmetric invariant formulation of Chern-Simons gauge theory on a lattice

We propose a twisted supersymmetric (SUSY) invariant formulation of the Chern-Simons theory on a Euclidean three-dimensional lattice. The SUSY algebra to be realized on the lattice is the N=4 D=3 twisted algebra that was recently proposed by D'Adda et al. In order to keep the manifest anti-Hermiticity of the action, we introduce oppositely oriented supercharges. Accordingly, the naive continuum limit of the action formally corresponds to the Landau-gauge fixed version of the Chern-Simons theory with complex gauge group which was originally proposed by Witten. We also show that the resulting action consists of parity even and odd parts with different coefficients.
Effect of chip geometry on breakdown voltage of GaInN light-emitting diodes

Reverse leakage current characteristics of GaInN/GaN multiple quantum well light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with various chip geometries are examined. The effect of chip geometry on the reverse leakage current is negligible at a low voltage, but becomes apparent at a high voltage. The reverse breakdown voltage of LEDs decreases as the angle of vertex in the chip geometry decreases presumably because of a highly localised electric field strength near the vertex. This suggests that a chip geometry with a rounded vertex is suitable for reliable high-power LEDs.
A short note on cheap fine-grained time measurement

High resolution processor time bookkeeping for user and kernel threads can be done without degrading kernel performance. On a PC, threads with active intervals of 2 μs are measured sufficiently precisely. The overhead can be reduced down to 0.1% of overall processor time.
A unified analysis for the single-machine scheduling problem with controllable and non-controllable variable job processing times

Abstract We present a unified analysis for single-machine scheduling problems in which the actual job processing times are controlled by either a linear or a convex resource allocation function and also vary concurrently depending on either the job’s position in the sequence and/or on the total processing time of the already processed jobs. We show that the problem is solvable in O ( n log n ) time by using a weight-matching approach when a convex resource allocation function is in effect. In the case of a linear resource allocation function, we show that the problem can be solved in O ( n 3 ) time by using an assignment formulation. Our approach generalizes the solution approach for the corresponding problems with controllable job processing times to incorporate the variability of the job processing times stemming from either the job’s position in the sequence and/or the total processing time of the already processed jobs.
Cardiac hemodynamic and coronary angiographic characteristics of patients being evaluated for liver transplantation.

With improved survival after liver transplantation (LT), the referral of older candidates has increased. The increasing demand for, and the decreased supply of, liver donors makes careful preoperative cardiac risk assessment imperative. There is a paucity of information regarding the cardiac characteristics of patients being referred for LT in the current era. This study aimed to describe the cardiac hemodynamic and coronary angiographic characteristics of a cohort of patients with end-stage liver disease without known coronary artery disease (CAD) being evaluated for LT. One hundred sixty-one consecutive patients aged ≥45 years with end-stage liver disease who were referred for right- and left-sided cardiac catheterization as part of a liver transplant evaluation were identified. There was a high prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors; half had hypertension or diabetes, and more than half had ≥2 coronary risk factors other than age. There was a high prevalence of CAD, with 26% having unknown moderate to severe coronary narrowing. Patients with moderate to severe CAD were older, were more likely to be men, and were more likely to have hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Right- and left-sided filling pressures were elevated, suggesting abnormalities in left ventricular diastolic compliance. In conclusion, this study showed a high prevalence of coronary risk factors and unknown moderate to severe CAD in patients with end-stage liver disease being referred for LT.
Three-dimensional growth of endothelial cells in the microgravity-based rotating wall vessel bioreactor

We characterized bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) continuously cultured in the rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor for up to 30 d. Cultures grew as large tissue-like aggregates (containing 20 or more beads) after 30 d. These cultures appeared to be growing in multilayers around the aggregates, where single beads were covered with confluent BAEC, which displayed the typical endothelial cell (EC) morphology. The 30-d multibead aggregate cultures have a different and smoother surface when viewed under a higher-magnification scanning electron microscope. Transmission electron microscopy of these large BAEC aggregates showed that the cells were viable and formed multilayered sheets that were separated by an extracellular space containing matrix-like material. These three-dimensional cultures also were found to have a basal production of nitric oxide (NO) that was 10-fold higher for the RWV than for the Spinner flask bioreactor (SFB). The BAEC in the RWV showed increased basal NO production, which was dependent on the RWV rotation rate: 73% increase at 8 rpm, 262% increase at 15 rpm, and 500% increase at 20 rpm as compared with control SFB cultures. The addition of l-arginine to the RWV cultures resulted in a fourfold increase in NO production over untreated RWV cultures, which was completely blocked by L-NAME [N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methylester]. Cells in the SFB responded similarly. The RWV cultures showed an increase in barrier properties with an up-regulation of tight junction protein expression. We believe that this study is the first report of a unique growth pattern for ECs, resulting in enhanced NO production and barrier properties, and it suggests that RWV provides a unique model for investigating EC biology and differentiated function.
Cladribine in indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Before the advent of rationally designed targeted antineoplastic therapies, cladribine was identified as a lymphocyte-specific cytotoxic agent. Cladribine is a purine nucleoside analogue that is resistant to cellular catabolism. Through diverse mechanisms, cladribine is equally toxic to dividing and nondividing cells, making it highly active in indolent lymphoproliferative diseases. In clinical practice, cladribine is mostly used in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. However, its remarkable activity in follicular lymphoma and other indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subtypes has not been more widely appreciated. Cladribine compares favorably to other standard treatments for these conditions. Future Phase III clinical studies should incorporate cladribine into multiagent chemotherapy programs to more fully evaluate its potential in indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction during liver transplantation: the role of transesophageal echocardiography.

p ATIENTS WITH advanced liver disease are prone to multiple hemodynamic abnormalities.1,2 This susceptibility can e attributed to several factors, including a hyperdynamic left entricle and chronically lowered systemic vascular resistance SVR). Surgical manipulation and blood loss during liver translantation can further worsen this precarious hemodynamic alance. A case of refractory hypotension secondary to dynamic left entricular outflow tract obstruction (DLVOTO) in a patient ith a normal preoperative cardiac evaluation is presented. ntraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) played vital role in the diagnosis and management of this disorder fter standard pharmacologic therapies failed to improve the lood pressure. The authors believe that intraoperative TEE hould be used whenever hemodynamic instability is refractory o standard therapy during liver transplantation.
Doped Polymer Microstructures and Devices

This paper describes the novel development of micro-scale structures and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) composed of polydimethylsiloxane, moldable polymer, whose optical properties have been tailored to suit different applications. By doping the polymer with a photo-absorbing material, its optical properties were altered depending on the application. The development of such doped polymer microstructures offers additional optical functionality to the present day MEMS devices.
Detecting elusive surface atoms with atomic force microscopy

In his famous 1959 speech titled “There is plenty of room at the bottom” (1), Nobel prize winning physicist Richard P. Feynman predicts that matter will be controlled and manipulated at the atomic scale in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, he proclaims that “it should be possible to see... individual atoms.” In many ways, Feynman's vision was realized with the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer in 1982, for which they were awarded the Nobel prize in physics (2). With the STM, quantum mechanical tunneling of electrons from a sharp metal tip to a conductive substrate is used to detect individual surface atoms with atomic resolution. The ability to “see” atoms in real space immediately solved many controversies in surface science including the complicated 7 × 7 reconstruction of the Si(111) surface (3). One complication with the STM is that the tunneling current is a function of not only the surface topography but also the local electronic structure. On the graphite surface, there are two different types of carbon atoms in the basal plane, as distinguished by the presence (α) or absence (β) of a carbon atom in the plane immediately below the surface. Coupling of 2pz orbitals from α carbon atoms of adjacent layers lowers their bonding energies. Thus, the 2pz orbitals from β carbon atoms form the highest occupied (and lowest unoccupied) orbitals where the Fermi level crosses. These local electronic structure variations imply that the STM can only detect every other atom on the graphite surface. Consequently, an alternative imaging mechanism is required to detect the “hidden” α atoms on the graphite surface. The article by Hembacher et al. (4) in this issue of PNAS outlines a novel scanning probe microscope that solves the hidden atom problem. Their …
Explicit generalized Pieri maps

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe explicitly in a characteristic-free setting certain maps between skew Weyl modules for the general linear group. As an application, we indicate briefly how our generalized Pieri maps are utilized to obtain new results concerning nonzero homomorphisms between certain skew Weyl modules over fields of positive characteristics. In particular, we obtain a new proof of the special case of the Carter-Payne theorem considered in this paper.
Integrated exposure modeling: a model using GIS and GLM.

Traffic exhaust is a source of air contaminants that have adverse health effects. Quantification of traffic as an exposure variable is complicated by aerosol dispersion related to variation in layout of roads, traffic density, meteorology, and topography. A statistical model is presented which uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to incorporate variables into a generalized linear model that estimates distribution of traffic-related pollution. Exposure from a source is expressed as an integral of a function proportional to average daily traffic and a nonparametric dispersion function which takes the form of a step, polynomial or spline model. The method may be applied using standard regression techniques for fitting generalized linear models. Modifiers of pollutant dispersion such as wind direction, meteorology, and landscape features can also be included. Two examples are given to illustrate the method. The first employs data from a study in which NO2 (a known pollutant from automobile exhaust) was monitored outside of 138 Connecticut homes, providing a model for estimating NO2 exposure. In a second example, estimated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the model, as well as a separate spatial model, were used to analyze traffic-related health effects in a study of 761 infants.
The Voltage Sensor in Voltage-Dependent Ion Channels

In voltage-dependent Na, K, or Ca channels, the probability of opening is modified by the membrane potential. This is achieved through a voltage sensor that detects the voltage and transfers its energy to the pore to control its gate. We present here the theoretical basis of the energy coupling between the electric field and the voltage, which allows the interpretation of the gating charge that moves in one channel. Movement of the gating charge constitutes the gating current. The properties are described, along with macroscopic data and gating current noise analysis, in relation to the operation of the voltage sensor and the opening of the channel. Structural details of the voltage sensor operation were resolved initially by locating the residues that make up the voltage sensor using mutagenesis experiments and determining the number of charges per channel. The changes in conformation are then analyzed based on the differential exposure of cysteine or histidine-substituted residues. Site-directed fluorescence labeling is then analyzed as another powerful indicator of conformational changes that allows time and voltage correlation of local changes seen by the fluorophores with the global change seen by the electrophysiology of gating currents and ionic currents. Finally, we describe the novel results on lanthanide-based resonance energy transfer that show small distance changes between residues in the channel molecule. All of the electrophysiological and the structural information are finally summarized in a physical model of a voltage-dependent channel in which a change in membrane potential causes rotation of the S4 segment that changes the exposure of the basic residues from an internally connected aqueous crevice at hyperpolarized potentials to an externally connected aqueous crevice at depolarized potentials.
Reliable Tracking With Intermittent Communications

We consider the problem of distributed target tracking of a linear dynamical system via networked sensors. Our setup consists of a set of sensors connected to a fusion center by means of communication links. Unreliable communication channels leads to communication delays and loss of information. To address this problem we model the arrival of messages from the sensors to the fusion center by a random process. The question arises as to what messages to encode for the fusion center. One possibility that has recently received much attention is to transmit local observations to the fusion center, which then fuses these intermittent observations through Kalman filtering techniques. In contrast we develop a scheme for fusion of intermittent local state estimates. The salient aspects of the scheme are: (a) efficiency, i.e., covariance of local estimate is no larger than covariance of observation; (b) robustness, i.e., the error covariance is bounded with high probability even under vanishing link-connectivity. In contrast, fusion of intermittent observations leads to unbounded errors even for moderate values for link-connectivity; (c) scalable performance, i.e., a K-node sensor network with K guaranteed communication links is inferior to an N-node sensor network with K functioning communication links on average
Theoretical investigation of the thermodynamic stability of nano-scale systems—II: Relaxation of a junction profile

Abstract Nonlinear relaxation of a sharp density profile typical of layered semiconductor junctions is studied using an irreversible statistical mechanical technique, the Path Probability Method, taking into account nearest neighbor correlations. The vacancy mechanism and the pair approximation are used. It is found that atoms near a sharp density profile diffuse up against the density gradient. Our numerical examples demonstrate that in this range there is a possibility that the atom flux can go either down along or up against the local chemical potential (μ) gradient. However, the calculations do not deny the possibility of modifying the definition of μ in such a way that the atoms always flow toward the direction of decreasing μ.
Physically meaningful virtual unenhanced image reconstruction from dual-energy CT

Virtual unenhanced (VUE) image reconstruction techniques have the potential to eliminate the need for the acquisition of a non-contrast exam in imaging protocols that currently require both contrast and non-contrast computed tomographic (CT) scans. Here, we propose a new physically meaningful approach for the generation of VUE images as an application of a recently introduced technique for multi-material decomposition (MMD) from dual-energy CT. Rather than subtracting an estimate of the contribution to the image intensity in Hounsfield units due to contrast agent from the original image, the new algorithm replaces the estimated volume of contrast in each voxel by the same volume of the material that the contrast has displaced, namely, blood. Our results on both phantom and patient data demonstrate that VUE images can replace true unenhanced images effectively, thereby reducing radiation exposure and scan time of CT exams.
Leaning Against the Wind: Do Central Banks Necessarily Lose?

A leaning-against-the-wind intervention that has only a temporary effect on the exchange rate and that is not too aggressive can be shown analytically to yield positive expected profits to a central bank even when the exchange-rate process is nonstationary. These profits arise if there are some transitory shocks to the exchange rate. Furthermore, very aggressive intervention will yield positive expected profits eventually when there is a tendency for exchange rates to return to a long-run equilibrium level.
Investigating the role of the Est3 protein in yeast telomere replication

The Est3 subunit of yeast telomerase, which adopts a predicted OB-fold, is essential for telomere replication. To assess the possible contributions that Est3 might make to enzyme catalysis, we compared telomerase activity from wild type and est3-Δ strains of Saccharomyces castellii, which revealed that loss of the Est3 subunit results in a 2- to 3-fold decline in nucleotide addition. This effect was not primer-specific, based on assessment of a panel of primers that spanned the template of the S. castellii telomerase RNA. Furthermore, using nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift perturbation, no chemical shift change was observed at any site in the protein upon addition of single-stranded DNA, arguing against a role for Est3 in recognition of telomeric substrates by telomerase. Addition of exogenous Est3 protein, including mutant Est3 proteins that are severely impaired for telomere replication in vivo, fully restored activity in est3-Δ telomerase reactions. Thus, Est3 performs an in vivo regulatory function in telomere replication, which is distinct from any potential contribution that Est3 might make to telomerase activity.
Intrapreneurship strategy for internal markets — corporate, non‐profit and government institution cases

When an organization tries to realize better its central mission, it is often important to maintain both line and staff units' integration with the central mission while flexibly and innovatively responding to evolving and changing external markets and environments. However, internal flexibility/innovation and integration needs often conflict. Thus, how to resolve these conflicting needs becomes somewhat of a dilemma (Lorsch and Allen, 1973; Nielsen, 1981, 1983d).
Canonical small-signal model of double-input converters based on H-bridge cells

This paper concludes previous works on the synthesis and analysis of double input converters based on H-bridge cells. First it reviews the procedure of deriving double-input converters based on cascaded H-bridge cells. Next it presents a method of small-signal modeling for the derived converters and extracts the canonical small-signal model of the derived double-input converters. Finally, it provides simulation and experimental results to support the theoretical outcomes.
Distributed Identification of Top-l Inner Product Elements and its Application in a Peer-to-Peer Network

The inner product measures how closely two feature vectors are related. It is an important primitive for many popular data mining tasks, for example, clustering, classification, correlation computation, and decision tree construction. If the entire data set is available at a single site, then computing the inner product matrix and identifying the top (in terms of magnitude) entries is trivial. However, in many real-world scenarios, data is distributed across many locations and transmitting the data to a central server would be quite communication intensive and not scalable. This paper presents an approximate local algorithm for identifying top-l, inner products among pairs of feature vectors in a large asynchronous distributed environment such as a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. We develop a probabilistic algorithm for this purpose using order statistics and the Hoeffding bound. We present experimental results to show the effectiveness and scalability of the algorithm. Finally, we demonstrate an application of this technique for interest-based community formation in a P2P environment.
Implementation of quality improvement skills by primary care teams: case study of a large academic practice.

Background: Continuous quality improvement (QI) is important to primary care in general, and is emphasized as a key tenet of the primary care patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model. While team-...
Nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles accelerate wound healing in NOD-SCID mice.

Abstract Wound healing is a complex process, coordinated by various biological factors. In immunocompromised states wound healing can be interrupted as a result of decreased numbers of immune cells, impairing the production of effector molecules such as nitric oxide (NO). Therefore, topical NO-releasing platforms, such as diethylenetriamine (DETA NONOate), have been investigated to enhance wound healing. Recently, we demonstrated a nanoparticle platform that releases NO (NO-NPs) in a sustained manner, accelerating wound healing in both uninfected and infected murine wound models. Here, NO-NPs were investigated and compared to DETA NONOate in an immunocompromised wound model using non-obese, diabetic, severe combined immunodeficiency mice. NO-NP treatment accelerated wound closure as compared to controls and DETA NONOate treatment. In addition, histological assessment revealed that wounds treated with NO-NPs had less inflammation, more collagen deposition, and more blood vessel formation as compared to other groups, consistent with our previous data in immunocompetent animals. These data suggest that NO-NPs may serve as a novel wound-healing therapy in the setting of immunocompromised states associated with impaired wound healing. From the Clinical Editor Wound healing in an immunocompromised host is often incomplete and is a source of major concern in such conditions. This work demonstrates in a murine model that in these settings NO releasing nanoparticles significantly enhance wound healing.
Brain creatine elevation and N-Acetylaspartate reduction indicates neuronal dysfunction in the setting of enhanced glial energy metabolism in a macaque model of neuroAIDS.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy has emerged as one of the most informative neuroimaging modalities for studying the effect of HIV infection in the brain, providing surrogate markers by which to assess disease progression and monitor treatment. Reductions in the level of N-Acetylaspartate and N-Acetylaspartate/creatine are established markers of neuronal injury or loss. However, the biochemical basis of altered creatine levels in neuroAIDS is not well understood. This study used a rapid progression macaque model of neuroAIDS to elucidate the changes in creatine. As the disease progressed, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed a decrease in N-Acetylaspartate, indicative of neuronal injury, and an increase in creatine yet to be elucidated. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry and stereology measures of decreased synaptophysin, microtubule-associated protein 2, and neuronal density confirmed neuronal injury. Furthermore, increases in ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein indicated microglial and astroglial activation, respectively. Given these data, elevated creatine may reflect enhanced high-energy phosphate turnover in highly metabolizing activated astrocytes and microglia. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Isentropic Analysis of a Simulated Hurricane

Hurricanes, like many other atmospheric flows, are associated with turbulent motions over a wide range of scales. Here the authors adapt a new technique based on the isentropic analysis of convective motions to study the thermodynamic structure of the overturning circulation in hurricane simulations. This approach separates the vertical mass transport in terms of the equivalent potential temperature of air parcels. In doing so, one separates the rising air parcels at high entropy from the subsiding air at low entropy. This technique filters out oscillatory motions associated with gravity waves and separates convective overturning from the secondary circulation. This approach is applied here to study the flow of an idealized hurricane simulation with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The isentropic circulation for a hurricane exhibits similar characteristics to that of moist convection, with a maximum mass transport near the surface associated with a shallow convection and entrainment. There are also important differences. For instance, ascent in the eyewall can be readily identified in the isentropic analysis as an upward mass flux of air with unusually high equivalent potential temperature. The isentropic circulation is further compared here to the Eulerian secondary circulation of the simulated hurricane to show that the mass transport in the isentropic circulation is much larger than the one in secondary circulation. This difference can be directly attributed to the mass transport by convection in the outer rainband and confirms that, even for a strongly organized flow like a hurricane, most of the atmospheric overturning is tied to the smaller scales.
Model Comparison in Regression

Summary The instructor can help begining students master the numerous results of regression analysis by using helpful notation and by providing a framework for organising regression outputs. For the latter, model comparison is a useful operating notion.
A 14.8μV RMS integrated noise output capacitor-less low dropout regulator with a switched-RC bandgap reference

Achieving low noise is becoming an important requirement in linear supply regulators for RF and mixed-signal SoC applications. A low-noise, low dropout regulator using switched-RC bandgap reference and a multi-loop, unconditionally stable error amplifier for output capacitor-less operation is presented. Switched-RC sample-and-hold filtered bandgap reference and current-mode chopped error amplifier techniques are used for reducing output noise of the LDO. A switched capacitor notch filter is used to ensure chopping ripple free output voltage. The proposed techniques reduce the 10Hz to 100kHz integrated output noise of the LDO from 95.3uVrms to 14.8μVrms. The LDO delivers a maximum load current of 100mA with a dropout voltage of 230mV and quiescent current consumption of 40μA. It achieves a PSR of 50dB at 10kHz for programmable output voltage range of 1V-3.3V. Fabricated in a 0.25μm CMOS process, the LDO core occupies an area of 0.18mm2.
Geometric and homological considerations of local crossings of n-foams

Foams in all dimensions are defined by being modeled on a dual structure found in an n-dimensional simplex. Their crossings are studied from geometric and homological points of view. A process of defining invariants thereof is outlined. Interesting research level problems are proposed. From considerations of foams, a partial order on certain families of forests is given via Hasse diagrams.
The Transformative and Healing Powers of Compassion, Forgiveness, and Wonder

Since time immemorial, humankind has struggled to coexist peacefully together. As human beings, we strive on our relationships with each other and, yet, with actions of hatred and prejudice, we seem to consistently destroy those very relationships we value so deeply. Our current society is plagued by fear, which seems to run more rampant now – more than ever – with assistance of our rapidly evolving communication technology. The question must be asked, “How can we end this madness and heal ourselves into a kinder and more fulfilling future?” By providing up-to-date scientific research on the human emotions of compassion, forgiveness, wonder and awe, I will show how the existence and awareness of these emotions can positively impact our current global society and substantially lessen the hold that fear so often has on humanity. I will also provide current examples of existing smaller societies that have adopted this behavioral model and have begun to flourish. Lastly, I will explore some of the teachings from various renowned spiritual leaders who espouse the crucial importance of these emotions in our world today.
Tactical Separation Algorithms and Their Interaction with Collision Avoidance Systems

The nation’s air transportation system is currently unable to support the forecasted demand for air travel. New airborne and ground-based capabilities are being investigated to address the myriad of challenges that pilots, operators, and air navigation service providers will face. One approach being studied considers a layered architecture involving a strategic and a tactical system to provide automated separation assurance. Because the tactical system will operate in a time horizon that may overlap with on-board collision-avoidance systems, it must be designed not to interfere with these systems. This paper presents a new set of vertical conflict resolutions for a conflict aircraft pair. Heuristics are presented which govern the use of the new vertical and recently-developed horizontal conflict resolution algorithms to minimize interference with an on-board collision-avoidance system. To address the expected increase in traffic density, an algorithm for globally resolving conflicts involving multiple aircraft is also presented. Evaluation using real-world encounters in both en route and terminal airspace demonstrates the effectiveness of both the vertical algorithm and the heuristics used to reduce the interference.
Air stable, photosensitive, phase pure iron pyrite nanocrystal thin films for photovoltaic application.

Iron pyrite (FeS2) is a naturally abundant and nontoxic photovoltaic material that can potentially make de- vices as efficient as silicon-based ones; however existing iron pyrite photovoltaic devices contain thermodynamically un- stable FeS2 film surfaces that lead to low open circuit voltages. Wereporttherationalsynthesisofphasepure,highlycrystalline cubic FeS2 nanocrystals (NCs) using a trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) assisted hot-injection method. The synthesized pyrite NC films have excellent air stability over one year. In contrast, obvious surface decomposition was observed on the surface of FeS2 NCs synthesized without TOPO. A high carrier mobility of 80 cm 2 /(V s) and a strong photoconductivity were observed for the first time for pyrite films at room temperature. Our results indicate that TOPO passivates both iron and sulfur atoms on FeS2 NC surfaces, efficiently inhibiting surface decomposition.